Having Biden as president was comforting. He led us out of the pandemic in a sensible manner, his handling of foreign affairs was wise, his infrastructure bill addressed long-neglected repairs and upgrades to the sinews of America’s economy. His leadership style was compassionate and upbeat, a[...]
Archive for the ‘Economics’ Category
November 11th, 2024 - 6:16 pm § in Donald Trump, Economics
Will Trump help you buy a home?
Let’s hear what Realtors have to say. But first, let’s define the problem. “The main problem facing the housing market, a historic lack of supply caused by years of underbuilding after the financial crisis of 2007-2008, is a shortage on the order of 2.5 – 7.2 million homes ac[...]
Biden’s gift to Trump
When Trump left office in 2021, he bequeathed Biden a nation mired in a deadly pandemic, which he had managed poorly. Biden led America out of it, and to an economic recovery featuring full employment, rising wages, expanded worker rights, and near-normal inflation. Voters punished his stand-in, H[...]
November 6th, 2024 - 10:53 pm § in Donald Trump, Economics
Hello inflation, old friend
Brace for it: “Trump’s win could lead companies to push up prices. Here’s why.” ” … U.S. retailers that depend on foreign suppliers are prepared to pass along the cost of his proposed import tariffs to consumers, potentially leading to higher prices for a range of[...]
November 6th, 2024 - 12:55 pm § in America, Democrats, Donald Trump, Economics, Politics, Republicans
Silver linings in the 2024 elections
Trump’s re-election delivered a shock to Democrats and liberals, but all is not lost. First, however, a couple of preliminary observations. The pollsters were right; the White House race was a 50-50 tie. It really was close; Trump got 50% to 51% in all the battleground states. It was soooo clo[...]
Which is better for you, tariffs or income tax?
Trump, in his Joe Rogan podcast appearance, made clear he likes the 19th century tariffs system, and feels the income tax was a mistake. He also made clear he favors completely replacing the income tax with tariffs (watch video here). Would that be a better tax system for average American households[...]
Are mass deportations feasible?
Sure they are, our government could do that if a political administration is committed and organized enough, and invests enough taxpayer resources. During World War 2, the U.S. rounded up and imprisoned 120,000 Japanese-Americans, two-thirds of whom were American-born citizens. This violated their c[...]
October 11th, 2024 - 1:17 am § in America, Biden, Democrats, Donald Trump, Economics, Foreign Affairs, Israel/Palestine, Jews, News Media, Politics, Racism, Republicans
How the Middle East could cost Harris the election
Grossly simplified, the Middle East conflict boils down to two peoples living in the same space. As you know, the latest stage of the conflict began Oct. 7, 2023, when Palestinian terrorists from Gaza invaded Israel, massacred over 1,100 people, and took about 250 hostages. Israel responded with a m[...]
Harris’s “billionaire tax” spawns rightwing lies on social media
Kamala Harris’s proposal to tax wealthy people’s unrealized capital gains is a bad idea, but not for the reasons claimed on social media. First, definitions. I’ll use an illustration. Let’s say you buy 100 shares of Stock A for $60 a share and sell it for $75 a share. Your pr[...]
Dockworkers’ strike shuts down East and Gulf coast ports
West coast ports remain open, because those dockworkers have a different union and negotiated a new contract a couple years ago. What’s behind the strike? Wages are front and center. West coast longshoremen, under their new contract, will make $60 an hour by 2027; the East and Gulf coast longshore[...]