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I can’t afford this Trump economy

The Thriller said:
Really good post. Everyone should see their taxes go up. I think billionaires and millionaires should see significant increases. But I’m fine with everyone paying a little more. I’d like to get deficit spending under control under good economic times. Especially since Trump is plunging us into another recession which will likely require more bailouts to keep the recession from becoming a depression.
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IDK .. The balance of upping taxes in times if looming recession is also a very delicate thing. If lower income people get even a bit too much tax axe (and it might be relatively small amount that will affect), their consumption might go down more than needed. That will lead into expanded probability of smaller entrepreneurs also facing issues, as they rely on mid class and lower income people use their services. If I'd up taxes in times of recession it should focus on mega rich, but also on things that are harmful to our health like tobacco, alcohol, sugar, etc.
 
Step-Back Lauri said:
IDK .. The balance of upping taxes in times if looming recession is also a very delicate thing. If lower income people get even a bit too much tax axe (and it might be relatively small amount that will affect), their consumption might go down more than needed. That will lead into expanded probability of smaller entrepreneurs also facing issues, as they rely on mid class and lower income people use their services. If I'd up taxes in times of recession it should focus on mega rich, but also on things that are harmful to our health like tobacco, alcohol, sugar, etc.
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Admittedly, it’s precarious to do so now that Trump is plunging the country into recession again. But at some point, taxes need to go up. We’re so under taxed in this nation. We really need to visit other countries to gain perspective. Probably would also help Americans to see how others deal with gun violence, health care, mass transit, etc.
 
The Thriller said:
Admittedly, it’s precarious to do so now that Trump is plunging the country into recession again. But at some point, taxes need to go up. We’re so under taxed in this nation. We really need to visit other countries to gain perspective. Probably would also help Americans to see how others deal with gun violence, health care, mass transit, etc.
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But the billionaires have put so much effort into making SOCILISM the ultimate boogey-man, there is no way anyone can gain any perspective on it. And the only group we do have spend any appreciably amount of time overseas are doing it as part the only truly socialist part of our society, the military. So they can feel like they are still true blue 'murrcans while living as purely socialist as any group of americans ever do. But boy just try telling one of them that. I had this discussion with a friend of ours during the first Trump admin, a guy who served 20+ years in the army. Had 3 kids all delivered on base hospitals, lived in Germany, Korea, somewhere else, can't remember. When I asked him what he paid out of pocket for his kids, it was nothing of course. What did he pay for dental? Nothing. How about clothing and food, all subsidized and cheap cheap cheap, really missed going to the commissary. When I pointed out that was straight up socialism he flew off the handle. No it wasn't it was him serving his country and being compensated for that. I asked what he did most of the time, like in Germany, for instance. Well, he spent a lot of time working with a civilian group arranging activities for the youth of the families that were serving there (one of our own here did something like this in a civilian capacity in Germany as well). Oh he did his tours in country, Iraq and Afghanistan, but he spent the rest of his time in logistics and in coordinating civilian activities and such. He just could not see that he was living in a socialist environment and that it worked very very well, and why can't we all live like that? No, socialism will always be the bad guy, it will take a monumental effort to change that in any meaningful way. And we will continue to slide down the list of developed nations as our cost of health care and health care outcomes have steadily dropped over the past 50 years. It will get way way way worse before it gets better, if it ever does. We are firmly THE capitalist society in this global experiment and we are winning in literally only one metric: who has the most billionaires and millionaires. That is the only place we are winning. Oh and who has the most wealth in the fewest hands. We win that by a landslide in all but third world dictatorships, and thanks to the Insane Orange Clown Posse we might leave a few of them in the dirt in that race too before all is said and done.
 
Could Trump be gaming the markets at Elon's direction with all this tariffs, no tariffs, extra tariffs, hold on tariffs maybe next Tuesday, oh no tariffs right now?

I'm not in favor of indiscriminate tariffs against Canada and Mexico because we have a trade agreement with them. However, I'm not 100% opposed to ANY tariffs ever. I just think they should be soberly considered and deliberately enacted as to have the least amount of harm to the overall economy. I'm even okay if there is a valid argument that Mexico and/or Canada are engaging in unfavorable trade practices in regard to the U.S. and those tariffs are specifically targeted at addressing those practices. I just want them to be clear, intentional, and consistent.

We have had nothing but chaos.
 
LogGrad98 said:
But the billionaires have put so much effort into making SOCILISM the ultimate boogey-man, there is no way anyone can gain any perspective on it. And the only group we do have spend any appreciably amount of time overseas are doing it as part the only truly socialist part of our society, the military. So they can feel like they are still true blue 'murrcans while living as purely socialist as any group of americans ever do. But boy just try telling one of them that. I had this discussion with a friend of ours during the first Trump admin, a guy who served 20+ years in the army. Had 3 kids all delivered on base hospitals, lived in Germany, Korea, somewhere else, can't remember. When I asked him what he paid out of pocket for his kids, it was nothing of course. What did he pay for dental? Nothing. How about clothing and food, all subsidized and cheap cheap cheap, really missed going to the commissary. When I pointed out that was straight up socialism he flew off the handle. No it wasn't it was him serving his country and being compensated for that. I asked what he did most of the time, like in Germany, for instance. Well, he spent a lot of time working with a civilian group arranging activities for the youth of the families that were serving there (one of our own here did something like this in a civilian capacity in Germany as well). Oh he did his tours in country, Iraq and Afghanistan, but he spent the rest of his time in logistics and in coordinating civilian activities and such. He just could not see that he was living in a socialist environment and that it worked very very well, and why can't we all live like that? No, socialism will always be the bad guy, it will take a monumental effort to change that in any meaningful way. And we will continue to slide down the list of developed nations as our cost of health care and health care outcomes have steadily dropped over the past 50 years. It will get way way way worse before it gets better, if it ever does. We are firmly THE capitalist society in this global experiment and we are winning in literally only one metric: who has the most billionaires and millionaires. That is the only place we are winning. Oh and who has the most wealth in the fewest hands. We win that by a landslide in all but third world dictatorships, and thanks to the Insane Orange Clown Posse we might leave a few of them in the dirt in that race too before all is said and done.
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The top 1% in the U.S. own 30% of the wealth. The bottom 50% own 5%. And 2781 billionaires of the world control $14.2 trillion while the top 1% in the U.S. control $43 trillion.
 
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Welp my most basic investments, in a rollover IRA I have had for years, I am down over 10% since Feb 20th, all of it invested in various index funds, just something I use as a "set it and forget it" kind of portfolio. I am also using other investments to get a down payment for a house together, and those have lost even more, being in more stocks than bonds, kind of thing. So now my house purchase is at risk. Luckily I liquidated some of it a couple weeks ago to stabilize the losses. Can we stop winning now and go back to 2024? I gained a ****-ton in 2024 even on my index funds, and now we have wiped out more than half of those gains in a month. But I sure hope we can free up enough money to bail out poor Tesla, as Elon dropped in the richest men rankings, and we can't have that. He needs to be on top, we better use all of our social security and medicaid to prop him up, poor poor Musk. So sad to not be the richest billionaire in the world, how can he stand it? But with the obvious favoritism from the white house, I am sure he will be fine. Most retirees on fixed income will be happy to stop paying all their bills to help get poor poor Musk back into the top spot. After all, that is our focus as a nation right now: #1) prop up the billionaires, #2) build "Russia West" and expand our fascist state, and #3) gut the federal government to fund #1 and #2. Those are our new priorities. We finally reached the pinnacle of conservatism and capitalism, long reign King Musk and his lackey, the Orange God-jester.
 
LogGrad98 said:
But the billionaires have put so much effort into making SOCILISM the ultimate boogey-man, there is no way anyone can gain any perspective on it. And the only group we do have spend any appreciably amount of time overseas are doing it as part the only truly socialist part of our society, the military. So they can feel like they are still true blue 'murrcans while living as purely socialist as any group of americans ever do. But boy just try telling one of them that. I had this discussion with a friend of ours during the first Trump admin, a guy who served 20+ years in the army. Had 3 kids all delivered on base hospitals, lived in Germany, Korea, somewhere else, can't remember. When I asked him what he paid out of pocket for his kids, it was nothing of course. What did he pay for dental? Nothing. How about clothing and food, all subsidized and cheap cheap cheap, really missed going to the commissary. When I pointed out that was straight up socialism he flew off the handle. No it wasn't it was him serving his country and being compensated for that. I asked what he did most of the time, like in Germany, for instance. Well, he spent a lot of time working with a civilian group arranging activities for the youth of the families that were serving there (one of our own here did something like this in a civilian capacity in Germany as well). Oh he did his tours in country, Iraq and Afghanistan, but he spent the rest of his time in logistics and in coordinating civilian activities and such. He just could not see that he was living in a socialist environment and that it worked very very well, and why can't we all live like that? No, socialism will always be the bad guy, it will take a monumental effort to change that in any meaningful way. And we will continue to slide down the list of developed nations as our cost of health care and health care outcomes have steadily dropped over the past 50 years. It will get way way way worse before it gets better, if it ever does. We are firmly THE capitalist society in this global experiment and we are winning in literally only one metric: who has the most billionaires and millionaires. That is the only place we are winning. Oh and who has the most wealth in the fewest hands. We win that by a landslide in all but third world dictatorships, and thanks to the Insane Orange Clown Posse we might leave a few of them in the dirt in that race too before all is said and done.
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Maybe the electorate should pick up a book? Or use their brains? Or use their memories to realize that they’ve been lied to many many many times by these billionaires? I mean… again, the electorate as the power to change things. They choose not to. Race and misogyny consistently get in the way of the American electorate in ways that other countries don’t. Germany had a female head of state just a few years ago. As did the UK. As did NZ. America? Ew. Females are moody and unpredictable, as if Trump has been the model for calm effective leadership.

Like how many ****ing times must Americans choose between a candidate promising health care for all and a candidate promising trickle down (free monies for the richest) and the morons choose, “der health care is socialism. I’m going with guy tinkle down cuz I’m gonna be a millionaire too someday! Der”
 
The Thriller said:
Maybe the electorate should pick up a book? Or use their brains? Or use their memories to realize that they’ve been lied to many many many times by these billionaires? I mean… again, the electorate as the power to change things. They choose not to. Race and misogyny consistently get in the way of the American electorate in ways that other countries don’t. Germany had a female head of state just a few years ago. As did the UK. As did NZ. America? Ew. Females are moody and unpredictable, as if Trump has been the model for calm effective leadership.

Like how many ****ing times must Americans choose between a candidate promising health care for all and a candidate promising trickle down (free monies for the richest) and the morons choose, “der health care is socialism. I’m going with guy tinkle down cuz I’m gonna be a millionaire too someday! Der”
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There are lots of things they should do, but straight up just won't, and we know that. It is a known issue that isn't going away as long as we denigrate true news media, push news media further into the sound-bite spaces of Xtwitter and facebook and tiktok, et al, and elevate these pseudo-news sources as viable and authentic, which they decidedly are not. However, the vast majority of the electorate get their "news" from these pseudo-sources. And frankly, there is virtually no way to break that trend, especially with the current "administration" (needs to be in quotes since they are destroying and decidedly NOT administering anything productive for our society) who feeds and feeds off of the hysteria. So that is a pie in the sky way of thinking right now. But it is a battle that needs to be waged, sooner rather than later, to try to wrest back control of the minds that are so entangled in the web of lies and deceit. But it will NOT come from the electorate themselves picking up a book or anything of the like, it will require fierce intervention and trench warfare in the information space to get their way of thinking to start changing. If we can't do that, or won't, or stay on our high horses, then the battle is lost and we may as well welcome the coronation of King Musk, and his Jester, Trump.
 
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Europe v. Red states.

apnews.com

The EU retaliates against Trump's trade moves and slaps tariffs on produce from Republican states

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said as the United States is “applying tariffs worth 28 billion dollars, we are responding with countermeasures worth 26 billion euros,” or about $28 billion.
apnews.com apnews.com

The EU measures will cover goods from the United States worth some 26 billion euros ($28 billion), and not just steel and aluminum products, but also textiles, home appliances and agricultural goods. Motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans will be hit, as they were during President Donald Trump’s first term.

The EU duties aim for pressure points in the U.S. while minimizing additional damage to Europe. The tariffs — taxes on imports — primarily target Republican-held states, hitting soybeans in House speaker Mike Johnson’s Louisiana, but also beef and poultry in Kansas and Nebraska. Produce in Alabama, Georgia and Virginia is also on the list.
 
str8line said:
Yeah it's even worse than I said.
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And it is in a position to get dramatically worse over the next few years, as the plan to start killing off the poor (by eliminating or greatly reducing the money they get or the healthcare they have access to) and insanely enriching the billionaire class is in full swing. Tariffs to allow oligopolies to artificially raise prices far in excess of the tariffs? Check! Plan to gut Medicaid and social security to expand the tax cuts for the rich? Check check! Plan to eliminate the government's ability to regulate trade and destroy consumer protection to allow huge cash grabs by oligopolies at the expense of the poor and middle class? Triple-check!! Shouldn't be too long and we will be barely above a banana republic, maybe the world's first true Oligopoly-Dictatorship.
 
Meanwhile in reality.....

Inflation is down more than expected. Even negotiated wholesale prices for eggs “declined sharply”. It may not have been on day one, but eight weeks is pretty effing fast to address elevated food prices, inflation, and making substantive steps toward peace to Ukraine.

US inflation cooled in February​

Inflation slowed more than expected in February and cooled for the first time in four months, but that progress may be short lived as President Donald Trump ramps up his trade war, which threatens to increase prices for Americans.

The Consumer Price Index, which measures price changes across commonly purchased goods and services, was 2.8% for the 12 months ended in February, a cooldown from the 3% annual rate notched in January, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Wednesday. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.2%, versus 0.5% in January.

Economists were expecting inflation to slow for the month amid falling gas prices and continued disinflation in housing-related costs. FactSet consensus estimates called for prices to rise 0.3% from January and 2.9% annually.

US stocks rallied Wednesday after the report was released, bouncing back after three weeks of declines. The Dow gained 140 points, or 0.3%, the S&P 500 rose by 1.1% and the Nasdaq Composite was 1.9% higher.

February’s inflation numbers came in better than expected thanks in part to two big — and very welcome — reasons: Grocery prices were flat for the month and gas prices fell.

Egg inflation slows​

Consumers got some relief on the egg front as well.

Egg prices, which have soared because an ongoing bout of avian flu is ravaging the industry, rose 10.4% for the month, a cooler reading than the 15.2% increase logged in January. Still, egg prices remain high, up 58.8% from a year ago.

The US Department of Agriculture last week noted that negotiated wholesale prices for eggs “declined sharply” as outbreaks have slowed, providing some breathing room for unaffected producers to fill gaps in supply.
 
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