[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

"But the virus’ spread across the United States is exposing racial fault lines, with early data showing that African-Americans are more likely to die from the disease than white Americans."

It's true that blacks are dying in disproportionate numbers. But is that because of race? Or is it because of socioeconomics? To answer that, you need to look at how wealthy blacks are faring who live in places with low mortality - are they still dying in disproportionate numbers? And you need to see how poor whites are faring who live in hard-hit areas - are the whites there faring better than their black neighbors? Only if the answer to those two questions is yes, can it be because of race. And I'll bet you dollars-to-donuts, it's not race. Race is a often surrogate for socioeconomic indicators, which are the true link. But racism serves your narrative, so you take racism and run with it.
You stated race because it served your narrative or is that a misinterpretation?

"I'm glad you're impressed, are you better off now than 4 years ago"

Even accounting for the virus (which was not his fault), the answer is hell yes. My retirement/college savings accounts are up, my tax rate is meaningfully down. And when the economy eventually recovers, with the moves I made, I will make out like a bandit. I'm going to be able to retire earlier and send my kids to better schools, than I otherwise would have.
It ain't over yet.

"What happens when/if a vaccine is developed outside our borders?'

Obviously in that case, because everyone hates Trump, the whole world will develop the vaccine together and leave us out of it, and we'll all die. Why is it so terrible if someone else makes the discovery?

Why do you think that America should be the follower and not the leader?
Do you think our position in the economy of the world is somehow promised?
That it is our due?

That no matter what we will have the most vibrant economy and the currency that is the world standard?

So did the British Empire.