[detbuch]

Originally Posted by Pete F.

Let's see


GDP
Jun 30, 2019 2.28%
Dec 31, 2018 2.52%
Dec 31, 2017 2.80%
Dec 31, 2016 2.03%
Dec 31, 2015 1.90%
Dec 31, 2014 2.88%
Dec 31, 2013 2.61%
Dec 31, 2012 1.47%
Dec 31, 2011 1.61%
Dec 31, 2010 2.57%
Dec 31, 2009 0.18%
Dec 31, 2008 -2.75%

Where's the damage that must be fixed? Also keep in mind that growth rate is not the monetary value of the economy. Rate would naturally slow when the size has reached a big enough level. A similar growth rate between a weak and a strong economy does not mean the economies are equal in value. In fact, a similar growth rate between a strong economy and a weak one would indicate an actual greater economic value in growth attained by the stronger economy.

Sales of new homes steadily grew under Trump and are much better than under Obama

Consumer comfort index constantly rose under Trump and is much better than under Obama.

People in employment rose steadily under Trump and are much better than under Obama.

Unemployment steadily declined under Trump and is much better than under Obama.

Size of the Economy is larger and healthier under Trump.


Median income

Dec 31, 2018 61,937.00
I didn't bother with 2017 since Trump needs a 2 year jump to not look so bad
Dec 31, 2016 59,039.00
Dec 31, 2015 56,515.84
Dec 31, 2014 53,657.47
Dec 31, 2013 51,939.48
Dec 31, 2012 51,016.86
Dec 31, 2011 50,053.97

What's the damage that must be fixed?

Wage growth
Trump’s own Council of Economic Advisers contradicts his “decades of flat wages” claim, saying 2018 was “the sixth consecutive year of positive real hourly earnings growth for nonsupervisory workers and the longest streak since the eight years of consecutive earnings growth from 1995 through 2002.” (The CEA adjusts for inflation using the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, or PCE, not the Consumer Price Index that BLS uses.)

What's the damage that needs to be fixed?

Socialism
Trump’s tariffs are not only a new tax for Americans, but a policy of directly picking winners and losers in the economy. The interests of steel workers, for example, are being placed above the interest of consumers and farmers. This leads to the government using tax dollars to prop up farmers. Of course this spending means that tax-paying consumers are hit yet again, with their tax dollars being used for this new welfare program.

Government interventionism doesn’t simply stop there. The natural result of these new government barriers is for businesses to seek ways around them, such as Harley’s decision to move some manufacturing to Europe. This, of course, sparked backlash from President Trump, threatening further retaliation for such a move. As we've seen time and time again, the more Trump digs in to his support for protectionism, the more he will seek to interfere with the actions of individual companies.

Welcome to your New Normal of Lies and Exaggerations by the Greatest Con man

Tariffs are not a new tax for Americans. They were the main source of Federal income for the new nation. The Founders were also in favor of tariffs on foreign competitors of American business. They were very much in favor of protecting American business from foreign predation. They were absolutely "America First."

They were also very much for free trade so long as it was not destructive of American business or of national security. Tariffs would be applied to equalize imbalances in trade when foreign governments created it with its own tariffs or regulations that made their goods cheaper to make and sell and American goods difficult to sell. Tariffs also made it more possible for the manufacture of necessary weapons, critical for our defense and sovereignty, to be made in America rather than depending on foreign sources, especially when those sources might be inimical to our interests.

And Tariffs are not socialism. And they don't directly pick winners and losers in the American economy. They create the ability to have winners in the American economy. Harley is FREE to move if it cannot compete with other American companies. That is not socialism.

Trump's new "new normal" is much better than Obama's.