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The same comments could be applied to HRC. YEARS of MULTIPLE investigations by the rabid GOPTPers, with ZERO evidence found of the 1st crime. Yet, Trumpet and his minions (you too bmac32) can’t stop saying, “But, but, but, what about Hillary?!” Also, Mueller has managed to get admissions of guilt and several indictments. The GOPTPers can't even come close to that. Plus, Manafort’s trial doesn’t seem to be going well for him.

It’s a short hop from Manafort’s illegal dealings with the Russians to finding out Trumpet and the NRA are tied-in with them, financially, too. Manafort's business partner and former Trump campaign advisor, Gates has admitted that he and Manafort, BOTH, knowingly committed crimes while they were working for the Trump campaign.

Now, Trumpet and his legal team are busy trying to organize their lies and spin in their efforts to protect Don Jr. and others from jail over Don Jr’s ever-changing tale about Trumpet’s, “I didn’t know anything about the meeting with the Russians,” to, “It was about adoption,” to, “Yes, I knew about it, it was to get dirt on HRC, but it wasn’t illegal to have the meeting because everyone does it,” story (emphasis on “story”).

As to your “... a good economy, good employment numbers and a lot less food stamps,” any non-partisian economist will testify to the FACT that the “good economy” is STILL due to the programs and policies that Obama put in place. Unfortunately for the country, you GOPTPers can’t overturn Obama’s policies fast enough. It’s like you have no regard to the causes and effects of the Great Recession and are determined to return to the same set of circumstances that allowed it in the first place.

While I'm sincerely happy the economy continues to improve (only until Trumpet’s ridiculous tariffs really kick-in), when will we see a reduction in the number of people without affordable medical insurance? When will we see wages catching-up with inflation?

In a cantankerous political environment (to put it lightly), it is not easy to think about the long term. But, thanks to the magic of compound interest, measures that marginally raise long-term growth matter a lot.

For example, the t***sportation deregulation policies of President Jimmy Carter’s administration, in the late 1970s, set the stage for the internet retail revolution. President Ronald Reagan’s massive tax cuts, in the 1980s, helped restore U.S. growth in the ensuing decades (but also exacerbated ine******y trends). And President Barack Obama’s efforts (and before him President George W. Bush’s) to contain the damage from the 2008 financial crisis underpin the strong economy for which Trump still wants to take full credit.

What will be the cumulative effect of Trump’s economic policies on the economy 10 years from now? Political BS aside, the jury remains out.

Let’s start with the likely positive side of the ledger. The end-2017 corporate tax reform was one of those rare instances where the Congress and Trumpet have claimed to have streamlined and improved the U.S.’s tax system, though the corporate tax rate should have been set at 25%, not 21%.

Obama would very likely have been very happy to pass a similar bill. But, during his presidency, the Republican-controlled Congress insisted that any proposal had to be “revenue neutral” even in the short term, which is a tough political hurdle for any fundamental tax reform. Too bad these same Republicans were more than happy to add $1.6 TRILLION to the national debt as long as it was one of them who requested the tax overhaul. I have no doubt the GOPTPers would have fought, tooth and nail, to prevent addition to the debt under an Obama proposal.

Trump’s efforts to scale back regulation, particularly on small and medium-size businesses, are might become a plus for long-term growth, though Trump is throwing out a lot of good regulations with a few bad ones.

Another area where the Trump administration seems to be trying out “re-hashed” thinking is in proposing the retraining of displaced workers and the improvement of vocational training at the high-school level. In principle, technology and big data allow the federal government to help provide better information to parents and workers on what sk**ls are most in demand, and well as the geographic location of jobs. The president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, is spearheading the effort. While it is easy to be cynical (some say the new program is just an excuse to cut funds from existing retraining programs), the idea that digital platforms can massively improve re-education and training is a good one.

But, while the Trump administration has claimed to have strengthened the economy’s long-term growth potential in some ways, the other side of the ledger is looking rather grim. For starters, a wide range of studies — from the work of the late economist David Landes to more recent research by MIT’s Daron Acemoglu and the University of Chicago’s James A. Robinson — find that institutions and political culture are the single most important “positive determinants” of long-term growth.

Recovery from the damage Trump is inflicting on institutions and political culture in the U.S. may take years; if so, the economic costs could be considerable.
Moreover, in accordance with the administration’s disdain for science, the proposed budgets for basic research, including for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, were reduced sharply (fortunately, Congress rejected the cuts). And antitrust enforcement, needed to counter excessive monopoly power in many parts of the economy, is essentially dormant. That will exacerbate ine******y over the long term; Trump’s coal mines and trade tariffs are, at best, only band-aids on a bullet wound.

Last, but not least, most of the regulations that Trump is targeting ought to be strengthened, not eliminated. It is hard to imagine that gutting the Environmental Protection Agency and withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement are helpful for long-run growth, given that the costs of cleaning up pollution later vastly exceed the costs of mitigating it today.

As for financial regulation, the reams of new rules adopted after the 2008 financial crisis have been a dream come true for lawyers. Rather than try to micromanage banking, it would be far better to ensure that shareholders have more “skin in the game,” so that big banks are more inclined to avoid excessive risk. On the other hand, neutering existing legislation without putting anything adequate in its place only sets the stage for another financial crisis.

So, although the economy is indeed growing, the full extent of Trump’s economic legacy might not be felt for a decade or more. In the meantime, in the likely event that a downturn comes, it will not be Trump’s fault — at least according to Trump, who is already gearing up to blame the Federal Reserve for raising interest rates and “ruining all [his] good work.” Yea, right....

It’s truly amazing how much credit Trumpet takes for things he had little to nothing to do with, yet is the first to point his finger at anyone but himself should something he’s tied to fails. Of course, what do you expect from a pathological liar and narcissist like Trumpet is?

——————————-

The same comments could be applied to HRC. YEARS of MULTIPLE investigations by the rabid GOPTPers, with ZERO evidence found of the 1st crime. Yet, Trumpet and his minions (you too bmac32) can’t stop saying, “But, but, but, what about Hillary?!” Also, Mueller has managed to get admissions of guilt and several indictments. The GOPTPers can't even come close to that. Plus, Manafort’s trial doesn’t seem to be going well for him.

It’s a short hop from Manafort’s illegal dealings with the Russians to finding out Trumpet and the NRA are tied-in with them, financially, too. Manafort's business partner and former Trump campaign advisor, Gates has admitted that he and Manafort, BOTH, knowingly committed crimes while they were working for the Trump campaign.

Now, Trumpet and his legal team are busy trying to organize their lies and spin in their efforts to protect Don Jr. and others from jail over Don Jr’s ever-changing tale about Trumpet’s, “I didn’t know anything about the meeting with the Russians,” to, “It was about adoption,” to, “Yes, I knew about it, it was to get dirt on HRC, but it wasn’t illegal to have the meeting because everyone does it,” story (emphasis on “story”).

As to your “... a good economy, good employment numbers and a lot less food stamps,” any non-partisian economist will testify to the FACT that the “good economy” is STILL due to the programs and policies that Obama put in place. Unfortunately for the country, you GOPTPers can’t overturn Obama’s policies fast enough. It’s like you have no regard to the causes and effects of the Great Recession and are determined to return to the same set of circumstances that allowed it in the first place.

While I'm sincerely happy the economy continues to improve (only until Trumpet’s ridiculous tariffs really kick-in), when will we see a reduction in the number of people without affordable medical insurance? When will we see wages catching-up with inflation?

In a cantankerous political environment (to put it lightly), it is not easy to think about the long term. But, thanks to the magic of compound interest, measures that marginally raise long-term growth matter a lot.

For example, the t***sportation deregulation policies of President Jimmy Carter’s administration, in the late 1970s, set the stage for the internet retail revolution. President Ronald Reagan’s massive tax cuts, in the 1980s, helped restore U.S. growth in the ensuing decades (but also exacerbated ine******y trends). And President Barack Obama’s efforts (and before him President George W. Bush’s) to contain the damage from the 2008 financial crisis underpin the strong economy for which Trump still wants to take full credit.

What will be the cumulative effect of Trump’s economic policies on the economy 10 years from now? Political BS aside, the jury remains out.

Let’s start with the likely positive side of the ledger. The end-2017 corporate tax reform was one of those rare instances where the Congress and Trumpet have claimed to have streamlined and improved the U.S.’s tax system, though the corporate tax rate should have been set at 25%, not 21%.

Obama would very likely have been very happy to pass a similar bill. But, during his presidency, the Republican-controlled Congress insisted that any proposal had to be “revenue neutral” even in the short term, which is a tough political hurdle for any fundamental tax reform. Too bad these same Republicans were more than happy to add $1.6 TRILLION to the national debt as long as it was one of them who requested the tax overhaul. I have no doubt the GOPTPers would have fought, tooth and nail, to prevent addition to the debt under an Obama proposal.

Trump’s efforts to scale back regulation, particularly on small and medium-size businesses, “might” become a plus for long-term growth, though Trump is throwing out a lot of good regulations with a few bad ones.

Another area where the Trump administration seems to be trying out “re-hashed” thinking is in proposing the retraining of displaced workers and the improvement of vocational training at the high-school level. In principle, technology and big data allow the federal government to help provide better information to parents and workers on what sk**ls are most in demand, and well as the geographic location of jobs. The president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, is spearheading the effort. While it is easy to be cynical (some say the new program is just an excuse to cut funds from existing retraining programs), the idea that digital platforms can massively improve re-education and training is a good one.

But, while the Trump administration has claimed to have strengthened the economy’s long-term growth potential in some ways, the other side of the ledger is looking rather grim. For starters, a wide range of studies — from the work of the late economist David Landes to more recent research by MIT’s Daron Acemoglu and the University of Chicago’s James A. Robinson — find that institutions and political culture are the single most important “positive determinants” of long-term growth.

Recovery from the damage Trump is inflicting on institutions and political culture in the U.S. may take years; if so, the economic costs could be considerable.
Moreover, in accordance with the administration’s disdain for science, the proposed budgets for basic research, including for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, were reduced sharply (fortunately, Congress rejected the cuts). And antitrust enforcement, needed to counter excessive monopoly power in many parts of the economy, is essentially dormant. That will exacerbate ine******y over the long term; Trump’s coal mines and trade tariffs are, at best, only band-aids on a bullet wound.

Last, but not least, most of the regulations that Trump is targeting ought to be strengthened, not eliminated. It is hard to imagine that gutting the Environmental Protection Agency and withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement are helpful for long-run growth, given that the costs of cleaning up pollution later vastly exceed the costs of mitigating it today.

As for financial regulation, the reams of new rules adopted after the 2008 financial crisis have been a dream come true for lawyers. Rather than try to micromanage banking, it would be far better to ensure that shareholders have more “skin in the game,” so that big banks are more inclined to avoid excessive risk. On the other hand, neutering existing legislation without putting anything adequate in its place only sets the stage for another financial crisis.

So, although the economy is indeed growing, the full extent of Trump’s economic legacy might not be felt for a decade or more. In the meantime, in the likely event that a downturn comes, it will not be Trump’s fault — at least according to Trump, who is already gearing up to blame the Federal Reserve for raising interest rates and “ruining all [his] good work.” Yea, right....

It’s truly amazing how much credit Trumpet takes for things he had little to nothing to do with, yet is the first to point his finger at anyone but himself should something he’s tied to fails. Of course, what do you expect from a pathological liar and narcissist like Trumpet is?