How did Trump live up to his slogan and Make America Great Again?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Also, how was your life better under Trump than it was under Obama? And how is it deteriorating under Biden? 

 

Discuss.

[Steeleballz 7,550]

 

  My understanding is MAGA stood for "morons are governing America", in which case the Trump administration lived up to their slogan 110%.

 

  My life hasn't ever changed much with whoever is governing. I guess except that all my relatives in Canada and Europe aren't giving me such a hard time about the president being an obnoxious jerk anymore.

[TBoneTX 45,469]

Felonia Mihous von Pantsuit wasn't elected to "0bummer's third term."

Regular, normal people had a voice, and an ear, and a buffer between them and the Deep State.

Taxes were lowered.

The 0bummercare penalty was neutralized.

Gasoline prices fell.

Inflation was not a concerning factor.

Israel was tangibly supported.

Illegals were (finally) prevented from entering freely, and CBP agents' morale improved.

The intellectual dishonesty of the mainstream media was exposed (largely through the Tweets).

The coronavirus vaccines were produced in unbelievable time.

The most awesome SOTU address of all time was delivered.

Lowest unemployment rates in recent history or ever for various demographics.

These are just tip-of-the-forebrain (vs. "occasional-cortex") observations.

Edited March 22, 2021 by TBoneTX

[spookyturtle 9,466]

6 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Felonia Mihous von Pantsuit wasn't elected to "0bummer's third term."

Regular, normal people had a voice, and an ear, and a buffer between them and the Deep State.

Taxes were lowered.

The 0bummercare penalty was neutralized.

Gasoline prices fell.

Inflation was not a concerning factor.

Israel was tangibly supported.

Illegals were (finally) prevented from entering freely, and CBP agents' morale improved.

The intellectual dishonesty of the mainstream media was exposed (largely through the Tweets).

The coronavirus vaccines were produced in unbelievable time.

The most awesome SOTU address of all time was delivered.

Lowest unemployment rates in recent history or ever for various demographics.

These are just tip-of-the-forebrain (vs. "occasional-cortex") observations.

Wow. 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

9 hours ago, spookyturtle said:

Also, how was your life better under Trump than it was under Obama? And how is it deteriorating under Biden? 

 

Discuss.

He concentrated on a America First policy that I liked and generally wanted to take care of Americans. Also gas was consistently below what we have now for almost the entire 4 years of his presidency

[Dashinka 24,579]

10 hours ago, spookyturtle said:

Also, how was your life better under Trump than it was under Obama? And how is it deteriorating under Biden? 

 

Discuss.

Might be a little too early to judge Biden/Harris, but if inflation starts building with all the additional planned spending, we shall see.

[Steeleballz 7,550]

10 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Felonia Mihous von Pantsuit wasn't elected to "0bummer's third term."

Regular, normal people had a voice, and an ear, and a buffer between them and the Deep State.

Taxes were lowered.

The 0bummercare penalty was neutralized.

Gasoline prices fell.

Inflation was not a concerning factor.

Israel was tangibly supported.

Illegals were (finally) prevented from entering freely, and CBP agents' morale improved.

The intellectual dishonesty of the mainstream media was exposed (largely through the Tweets).

The coronavirus vaccines were produced in unbelievable time.

The most awesome SOTU address of all time was delivered.

Lowest unemployment rates in recent history or ever for various demographics.

These are just tip-of-the-forebrain (vs. "occasional-cortex") observations.

 

  I'm glad you weren't concerned, but increasing inflation and stagnant real wages were both major issues and we are still seeing the effects of the ill advised tariff escalation.  We saw the highest CPI and PPI in years during the Trump administration, and before anyone tries the usual deflection, all these things all happened before the pandemic while the economy was doing well, and only got worse at the end of the term, as did employment rates.

 

  Ultimately, I'm not sure why there is so much celebration over tax rates when consumer cost, producer cost and the federal deficit all increased and real wages stayed the same. The tax cuts did not ( and could never) generate the economic growth to offset the loss of revenue that the administration pretended it would. People take home an extra $200 a month, while their cost of living increases by $400. Yay! More winning?

[Dashinka 24,579]

22 minutes ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  I'm glad you weren't concerned, but increasing inflation and stagnant real wages were both major issues and we are still seeing the effects of the ill advised tariff escalation.  We saw the highest CPI and PPI in years during the Trump administration, and before anyone tries the usual deflection, all these things all happened before the pandemic while the economy was doing well, and only got worse at the end of the term, as did employment rates.

 

  Ultimately, I'm not sure why there is so much celebration over tax rates when consumer cost, producer cost and the federal deficit all increased and real wages stayed the same. The tax cuts did not ( and could never) generate the economic growth to offset the loss of revenue that the administration pretended it would. People take home an extra $200 a month, while their cost of living increases by $400. Yay! More winning?

So this all started with Trump?  While I agree some of the tariffs were not good, Trump should have focused more on just China and not the EU/Canada even though our trade agreements with them are also laughable, but it is interesting to see the fiscal responsibility seeping into some.

[Steeleballz 7,550]

2 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

So this all started with Trump? 

 

  Obviously not, but this thread is specifically about how Trump made things better, and TBone swung and missed on the specific example of inflation not being a concerning factor. 

 

  Debt has been monetized for years and continues to increase. Inflation will always be a concerning factor. Kind of like the iceberg below the surface of the water. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.

 

7 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

 but it is interesting to see the fiscal responsibility seeping into some.

 

  What I find interesting is Republicans all of a sudden become preoccupied with fiscal responsibility once they are no longer in office. Constant deficit spending is a bad thing no matter who is in control of the government.

[Dashinka 24,579]

10 minutes ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  Obviously not, but this thread is specifically about how Trump made things better, and TBone swung and missed on the specific example of inflation not being a concerning factor. 

 

  Debt has been monetized for years and continues to increase. Inflation will always be a concerning factor. Kind of like the iceberg below the surface of the water. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.

 

 

  What I find interesting is Republicans all of a sudden become preoccupied with fiscal responsibility once they are no longer in office. Constant deficit spending is a bad thing no matter who is in control of the government.

Like I said, no one in DC is interested in fiscal responsibility.  There are almost no calls for cutting the federal budget or for paying down the debt, and if they do raise taxes on the "so called" rich, they will simply spend that increased revenue on new pet projects and the debt will continue to grow.  The GOP in DC are only slightly less spendthrift than the Democrats, but they are real bad as well, and when we did have a grassroots political movement to start trying to reign in the debt, it was quashed very effectively by President Obama.  Personally, I think it is a lost cause, but I am sure if a "Fiscally Responsible Party" movement resurfaces with any support, you will be on board.  

[Steeleballz 7,550]

10 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Like I said, no one in DC is interested in fiscal responsibility.  

 

  Not yet. At some point they will have to. It will become a political issue. The question is will it be too late by then.

 

10 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

  Personally, I think it is a lost cause, but I am sure if a "Fiscally Responsible Party" movement resurfaces with any support, you will be on board.  

 

   I have always been on board with fiscal responsibility. That doesn't mean you can't run a deficit when the situation requires one. What it does mean you have to put it back, even if you have to make tough choices in order to do so. I think that's one of the big Keynesian principles really. Or the biblical granary example. You can't just do the easy half.

 

  Just to add, I have no problem with Trump or Biden running a deficit when we are in the middle of a pandemic and economic disaster. We don't need to whine about deficit spending when we need to do it, but we should make it an issue when we have a great economic period and they can't come up with a balanced budget or a surplus.

Edited March 22, 2021 by Steeleballz

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

5 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Might be a little too early to judge Biden/Harris, but if inflation starts building with all the additional planned spending, we shall see.

Inflation has already started to go up haven't you noticed? I heard this quick tip on how to find out. Look at something on Amazon that is fairly common and put it into your cart. Then come back a couple weeks later to see what the price is now

[Dashinka 24,579]

14 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Inflation has already started to go up haven't you noticed? I heard this quick tip on how to find out. Look at something on Amazon that is fairly common and put it into your cart. Then come back a couple weeks later to see what the price is now

Yes, inflation is hear, and will be growing.  I had not heard of that trick, but just running through a drive-thru at any fast-food restaurant will show that prices have been inching up rather quickly.  I do find it surprising that a person that was tasked with trying to keep inflation in check, Janet Y., is now all for runaway spending.

 

36 minutes ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  Not yet. At some point they will have to. It will become a political issue. The question is will it be too late by then.

 

 

   I have always been on board with fiscal responsibility. That doesn't mean you can't run a deficit when the situation requires one. What it does mean you have to put it back, even if you have to make tough choices in order to do so. I think that's one of the big Keynesian principles really. Or the biblical granary example. You can't just do the easy half.

 

  Just to add, I have no problem with Trump or Biden running a deficit when we are in the middle of a pandemic and economic disaster. We don't need to whine about deficit spending when we need to do it, but we should make it an issue when we have a great economic period and they can't come up with a balanced budget or a surplus.

Other than WWII, and this most recent pandemic, what other major event in US history required large deficit spending?  The pandemic spending is quite questionable though much of it was government made, and several states showed it was not completely necessary.  It seems to me it was more a program to grow dependency.

Edited March 22, 2021 by Dashinka

[Steeleballz 7,550]

1 hour ago, Dashinka said:

Yes, inflation is hear, and will be growing.  I had not heard of that trick, but just running through a drive-thru at any fast-food restaurant will show that prices have been inching up rather quickly.  I do find it surprising that a person that was tasked with trying to keep inflation in check, Janet Y., is now all for runaway spending.

 

Other than WWII, and this most recent pandemic, what other major event in US history required large deficit spending?  The pandemic spending is quite questionable though much of it was government made, and several states showed it was not completely necessary.  It seems to me it was more a program to grow dependency.

 

  Any recession might benefit, but at the same time, paying it back down would slow economic recovery when things turn around. So the trend seems to be not paying it back down, a political tradeoff which means you save up all the economic pain for one big smash down the road. When that happens, lets hope we all remember Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden for their contributions.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

2 hours ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Inflation has already started to go up haven't you noticed? I heard this quick tip on how to find out. Look at something on Amazon that is fairly common and put it into your cart. Then come back a couple weeks later to see what the price is now

Funny, I found prices rising on Amazon and just about everywhere else a year or so ago.