Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833

Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833

There Goes Your Tax Cut

How’s the price of gas these days? How’s the price of diesel? We pay nearly 3 dollars a gallon or more at the pump. Especially for diesel. Republicans always talk about lower taxes. Not Trump. The president wants at least a 15 cent per gallon increase in the federal gas tax. Find out why in Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833.

What The Lord Giveth, He Taketh Away

Most noteworthy is the existing 18 cent federal tax on gas and almost 25 cents a gallon for diesel. Even more, most state lawmakers want increases in their state gas taxes.

Drunken Sailors Fighting on The Dance Floor

Sure they take in a lot of money in Washington and the state capitol. In contrast states and the federal government actually spend piles of money. Not to mention your local town or city. For information about that, click here.

Bonding Bonding Bonding

I live in Minnesota. They’re not supposed to, but here politicians throw in bonding packages in just about every legislative session.

You Can’t Get There From Anywhere During ‘Construction Season’

The result? Bonding on bonding. Some projects fully funded, haven’t even been started. Even more, there’s so much construction people are tearing their hair out trying to get to work.

Gas Taxes – Not Just For Highways Anymore

Stadiums. Light Rail. Train Stations. Bus Lanes. Bike Trails. Subsidized bike rentals. Running paths. Signs. Talking Traffic Lights. Roundabouts. Federally compliant intersections and curbs. Sometimes projects finished a couple of years ago are torn up and redone. Notice there are no highways or roads in that list. We still need more money for all those highway projects too. Add Trump’s airports and bridges and it means tax increases. Corporations aren’t going to pay for it.

Five Floors of 1800 Dollar A Month Rentals and a Starbucks On Every Corner

Moreover subsidies for ‘affordable’ housing projects which are really five story condos and 1800 dollar a month rentals with a Starbucks on the ground floor everywhere. Funding for these projects are cobbled together from Federal Transit Authority money.

Thanks Taxpayers!

That is, your money. Learn more in Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833.

Republicans Love Lower Taxes, More Spending and Ballooning Deficits

Finally, as republicans ballyhoo their 2017 tax cut and campaign on lower taxes, they keep spending. In Minnesota they passed a five hundred million dollar bonding bill and a 48 billion dollar budget last week and they think they did a great job. This year the federal budget is 4.4 trillion. That’s a trillion more than Barack Obama’s average. The US Budget Deficit this year will be more than a trillion dollars. Our total debt is estimated at 22 trillion.

Buddy Can You Spare 67 Thousand Dollars?

The raw dollar amounts these governments take in will make you sick. Especially relevant is the fact that every American is on the hook for 67 thousand dollars in federal debt alone, and counting. Because despite the revenue, they keep spending more and more, whether they have a D or an R in front of their name. Sooner or later the piper has to be paid. Spending, whether it comes from tax collections or bonds, always ends up as a tax.

The Man Who Lost Billions Wants You To Pay For … Another New Airport

And here comes the man who built skyscrapers and lost billions doing it, Donald Trump. He wants to put his name on airports, subways and bridges we don’t need, and make us pay for it.

What would Ben Franklin say to the woman about our government today?

“It’s a Hypo-cracy Madam. If you can keep it”.

Why would you want to?

Sponsored by John D Scott of JDS Injury Law and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833

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Time Like No Other-Bob Davis Podcast 826

Time Like No Other-Bob Davis Podcast 826

We’re living through a time like no other. Talking heads constantly compare our time to other times. Does that make sense these days? We’ll talk about it in Time Like No Other-Bob Davis Podcast 826.

Fall Of Rome Anyone?

We’re living through an era ‘like’ the end of the Roman Empire, the foundation of the American Republic, the Civil War, even the 1920’s, say pundits.

Civil War?

Our political divisions are ‘just like‘ those before the Civil War. Is this valid? We’ll talk about it in Time Like No Other-Bob Davis Podcast 826.

World War One On The Menu?

In addition our time is supposedly just like the time before World War One because we face trouble in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and there is a backlash to free trade. Does this make sense?

Trump and Hayes

Hapless political figures are compared to President Trump. Andrew Jackson. James Buchanan. Even Abe Lincoln, Andrew Jackson and Richard Nixon. Rutherford B. Hates and George Wallace. These comparisons are inaccurate. Comparisons suggest an outcome. Also inaccurate.

Ours Is A Unique Era

Finally these comparisons hide the fact that we are living through a unique time. Institutions that have existed for hundreds and even thousands of years appear to be in rapid decline today. At the same time scientific and technological advancements promise even more disruption in the days to come.

Borders, Drones, Social Media As A Weapon and AI

From Border issues to Artificial Intelligence to the rise of Social Media as a weapon. New companies and new products generate unprecedented profits. People seem to be losing faith in their governments. How will we handle these issues?

This Is Not A Movie

Above all comparing our population and technology to ancient and bygone times might make great movies, but bad reality.

In conclusion, we don’t address critical challenges when we look to the past.

By all means let’s learn from history but history isn’t a simple template you can apply to the present time. We’re making it up as we go. Maybe it’s time to accept this really is a new and unique age and act accordingly.

(Editor’s Note: This is a complex podcast. When I do these kinds of podcasts I rush a little to get through necessary details, so I can get to the conclusions. And of course, when rush I can misspeak. The most glaring example in this podcast? I confused President Andrew Jackson with President Andrew Johnson. Seconds before speaking about Jackson, I jumped ahead to the 1860’s when Johnson, not Jackson was impeached.)

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Time Like No Other-Bob Davis Podcast 826

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Sushi-Shutdown-Emergency-Bully-Pulpit-Bob Davis Podcast 794

Sushi-Shutdown-Emergency-Bully-Pulpit-Bob Davis Podcast 794

These days we content creators have to post advisories and disclaimers. This podcast is not a list of reasons to ‘build the wall’. It does not include 5 reasons to impeach Trump. Learn more in Sushi-Shutdown-Emergency-Bully-Pulpit-Bob Davis Podcast 794.

Trump Blew It In 2018

Especially relevant is the fact that less than a month ago the so called conservative base was furious at the president and the republican party for taking a ‘shellacking’ in the midterm elections.

It Is Trump’s Fault

Furthermore I did several podcasts on the midterms explaining polling showed the GOP did not have to lose congress.

Raise The Stakes To Win

Therefore it is most noteworthy that the president opened the new year by raising the stakes. First a government shut down. Then threats to declare an national emergency.

What’s the issue?

A campaign promise by Donald Trump to solve what he has described as a crisis on the border.

Consequently, the solution he hit upon? ‘Build A Wall‘.

First of all. the president failed to get a republican congress to fund a wall. Now he has redoubled his efforts to get a democrat house to fund the wall, which they say they won’t. Enter the shut down. Enter the specter of a ‘National Emergency‘.

Outrage Controversy and Emotional Outpouring

If outrage and controversy over the shut down wasn’t enough, Trump is raising the stakes with threats to declare a national emergency. Under an emergency the military can build what is now described as a steel barrier by the president. Or at least he thinks so. Is he right? Find out in Sushi-Shutdown-Emergency-Bully-Pulpit-Bob Davis Podcast 794.

The Sushi Shutdown

After a late evening sushi happy hour, I came to my studio to tell the truth about this whole episode. It’s not about the shut down or even a national emergency. Trump is doing what Roy Cohn taught him to do many years ago. Make threats. Throw tantrums. Demand. Raise the stakes until the other guy gives you what he wants. Above all force the opposition to talk about what you want to talk about. Control the media battle space. Use the ‘bully pulpit‘.

Throwing Blood In The Water To Shore Up The Base

In conclusion, Trump does this again and again. And everyone takes the bait, hook line and sinker.

Every time.

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Sushi-Shutdown-Emergency-Bully-Pulpit-Bob Davis Podcast 794

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