Anybody watch state of the union?

[Savagenut]

Trump gave your money to corporate America! Get a clue. Trumps version of socialism is tax everyone and give it to the corporatations. Don’t be bamboozled.

 

[EastMT]

The national debt makes me a bit nervous, especially as we are loosing baby boomers to retirement at a fast pace.

There aren’t many first world countries ahead of us on the Debt to GDP ratio. I’ve had people say well that doesn’t matter because we are a healthy country. Well if you make 100k or 1 million, it doesn’t matter if your debt out paces your income, and that’s where we are. A few more free things and we will be right up there with Venezuela’s ratio by the time I retire.

Something will have to give at some point, and there’s not enough cajones in the govt to fix it until it’s an emergency.

 

[KurtR]

Trump gave your money to corporate America! Get a clue. Trumps version of socialism is tax everyone and give it to the rich. Don’t be bamboozled.

My bank, savings and retirement account beg to differ.

 

[tdhanses]

Not to defend Obama, but some of that was to stimulate economic growth to pull the US out of recession. Not so under Trump. So, even if the national debt increases less under Trump than it did under Obama, no one should take that as a feather in his cap. It's just more of the same but with less benefit to us as citizens.

I understand what your saying and historic lows in unemployment, vast increases in investments and 401k, higher wages, fewer people leaching off tax payers etc manufacturing slowly coming back are all huge differences though. Change is happening it just won’t be overnight, probably will not see it’s fully effect for many years. It be interesting to see what long term benefits come from all the trade deal changes but they won’t be visible immediately.

I also wonder why so many experts that know so much don’t go into politics or why the ones that do fail so often? I think many could do a much better job then 90% of those that are in it but we have to limit their time.

 

[tdhanses]

The national debt makes me a bit nervous, especially as we are loosing baby boomers to retirement at a fast pace.

There aren’t many first world countries ahead of us on the Debt to GDP ratio. I’ve had people say well that doesn’t matter because we are a healthy country. Well if you make 100k or 1 million, it doesn’t matter if your debt out paces your income, and that’s where we are. A few more free things and we will be right up there with Venezuela’s ratio by the time I retire.

Something will have to give at some point, and there’s not enough cajones in the govt to fix it until it’s an emergency.

Quick question, so who is going to collect on this debt in the near term and what will they repo if we don’t pay when they demand it? Also what are the terms of our debt?

I’d vote to sell CA to pay off our debt.

 

[Oregon]

Very interesting thoughts on the SOTU and politics in general.

Trump is a jerk. I would probably rather stick a stick in my eye than spend an hour talking to him.

He wasn’t in my top 10 during the primaries. With all that said, WOW! Doing work!
Everything he ran on he has actually tried to accomplish. Unbelievable in politics.
Call me crazy, but based on the results, I’m all in! I don’t even pay that much attention to the day to day politics, but my home value, wife’s pay raises, retirement account, etc etc is phenomenal.
Killing terrorists, wiping out the JV squad of ISIS, and doing something about the border....

With all that said, the SOTU was extremely patriotic and uplifting to me. 4 more years please!!!!

 

[Whisky]

Quick question, so who is going to collect on this debt in the near term and what will they repo if we don’t pay when they demand it? Also what are the terms of our debt?

I’d vote to sell CA to pay off our debt.

Haven't you heard, we are selling Alaska!!

 

[Whisky]

Very interesting thoughts on the SOTU and politics in general.

Trump is a jerk. I would probably rather stick a stick in my eye than spend an hour talking to him.

He wasn’t in my top 10 during the primaries. With all that said, WOW! Doing work!
Everything he ran on he has actually tried to accomplish. Unbelievable in politics.
Call me crazy, but based on the results, I’m all in! I don’t even pay that much attention to the day to day politics, but my home value, wife’s pay raises, retirement account, etc etc is phenomenal.
Killing terrorists, wiping out the JV squad of ISIS, and doing something about the border....

With all that said, the SOTU was extremely patriotic and uplifting to me. 4 more years please!!!!

Well said, and exactly why I think Trump wins by a much bigger margin in 2020 as he did in 2016.
You don't have to love the guy, but most logical thinking people can understand what he has done is good for them, and the country.

 

[tdhanses]

Haven't you heard, we are selling Alaska!!

Naw we can’t sell Alaska, we’re still paying it off. CA was paid off long ago.

 

[Rich M]

Mea Culpa
I made two mistakes:
1. The www.statista.com and justfacts.com websites are correct. "As of 2/3/20 the official debt of the US government is $23.2 trillion...which amounts to $70,484 for every person living in the US". I was quoting for US households a 3-person family ($180k) or 4-person family ($240K) and my typo was the US debt per household. My bad.
2. With family, both immediate and extended, in the scientific community, who are not looking to soak the Federal Gov't for the next useless grant, but possess a moral compass to provide accurate and precise data, I was assuming that respectful discourse would be carried out, not expecting such stultissimus est. I was wrong-such colorful and illuminating rebuttals.
Best,
DWD

What fun is it if we can't be colorful?

Yer Okay.

1. You obviously didn't know my grandfather. And don't you dare tell me what "would tickle him pink" haha!
The office of the president has been devalued by the entire governing body for the past 20 years.

2. Your inference that I believe that past presidents were men of integrity, is miss founded. I believe that the general masses don't even understand those concepts so they generally don't vote for them. All leaders should be judged individually, never based on what came before. The actions of the previous do not excuse the actions of the current. Do you really think that your president should only meet the same standard as a tradesman? Why would you put a man on such a pedestal? Would you be happy if your daughter dated or wanted to marry such a man? He doesn't even command the respect of his entire party.

3. Most people do love when "leaders" dumb things down for them. That is why Trump was ultimately elected. Difficult problems like immigration/taxes/healthcare/trade are easier for people understand when the the solution is as simple as building a wall. (this in itself is an oversimplification but I think i've illustrated my point.)

4. I am well aware of the vote that is forthcoming. It will not be easy for me determine who gets my vote. But rest assured you nor anyone on this forum will sway or determine MY vote.


I contemplated not even wading into this mess on here, but I did. I probably won't be back to this thread because it always leads to the same place. Just remember that the freedom we all love, means that there will be different opinions.

I respect your opinion. No issues with that.

If you let me sway your vote you wouldn't much of an opinion or conviction. Nothing wrong with us having diff opinions, just don't let it change the idea that folks are generally good and will help each other.

I wish you the best.

 

[EastMT]

Quick question, so who is going to collect on this debt in the near term and what will they repo if we don’t pay when they demand it? Also what are the terms of our debt?

I’d vote to sell CA to pay off our debt.

SOLD! Just kidding, no hate mail.

It’s not that they can repo, at some point the interest just becomes so high that you can’t keep up without a huge tax increase, and at some point (maybe 50 years) it will become a crisis to the point the majority in DC will approve big taxes, and we know they can’t let a good crisis pass without raising or spending something

 

[tdhanses]

SOLD! Just kidding, no hate mail.

It’s not that they can repo, at some point the interest just becomes so high that you can’t keep up without a huge tax increase, and at some point (maybe 50 years) it will become a crisis to the point the majority in DC will approve big taxes, and we know they can’t let a good crisis pass without raising or spending something

And if we miss an interest payment, bet this is all negotiable as it isn’t like consumer debt.

 

[MattB]

I understand what your saying and historic lows in unemployment, vast increases in investments and 401k, higher wages, fewer people leaching off tax payers etc manufacturing slowly coming back are all huge differences though. Change is happening it just won’t be overnight, probably will not see it’s fully effect for many years. It be interesting to see what long term benefits come from all the trade deal changes but they won’t be visible immediately.

I also wonder why so many experts that know so much don’t go into politics or why the ones that do fail so often? I think many could do a much better job then 90% of those that are in it but we have to limit their time.

I very much agree that the impact of Trump's stimulus will take time to evolve so it is likely too early to call success or failure, but I've read (not researched independently) that GDP growth has not been as strong as projected.

 

[MattB]

Quick question, so who is going to collect on this debt in the near term and what will they repo if we don’t pay when they demand it? Also what are the terms of our debt?

I’d vote to sell CA to pay off our debt.

CA generates ~1\7th of US GDP and a really large % of the nation's food. Might not want to kill the economic golden goose as your first move.

We would be better served selling off some of the mid-westerner south eastern states which contribute relatively little. If only those good 'ole red states could figure out how to contribute more economically.

 

[tdhanses]

CA generates ~1\7th of US GDP and a really large % of the nation's food. Might not want to kill the economic golden goose as your first move.

We would be better served selling off some of the mid-westerner south eastern states which contribute relatively little. If only those good 'ole red states could figure out how to contribute more economically.

That business is replaceable, the wealth also comes from interstate commerce, not just business within CA, the companies just happen to be located there.

Personally it would be replaceable . Also we would get more for CA do to the value it holds currently, haha, we need $30T out of the sale, that gives us $6T to spend improving our infrastructure

Only negative is China would probably be the only buyer.

 

[Oregon]

Yep. Let’s get rid of Kalifornia.

 

[brsnow]

Maybe 1 or 4 more years of trump, then it swings back left before eventually going back right, the cycle continues. Be gracious while in victory and gracious when your in loss. American history is pretty cyclical.

 

[MattB]

That business is replaceable, the wealth also comes from interstate commerce, not just business within CA, the companies just happen to be located there.

You lost me there. The deficit relates to the federal receipts and disbursements, and GDP relates to goods and services generated within the state. Interstate commerce isn't a relevant concept here. The state in which businesses just happen to be located is however relevant.

 

[tdhanses]

You lost me there. The deficit relates to the federal receipts and disbursements, and GDP relates to goods and services generated within the state. Interstate commerce isn't a relevant concept here. The state in which businesses just happen to be located is however relevant.

New businesses in other states would be able to replace some businesses that are headquartered in CA, mainly tech jobs, which would reduce the hit to GDP. The revenue or GDP % CA earns can be shifted into other states as it related to interstate and global commerce as they are not creating all that $$ or their portion of the GDP within their borders from industries only within CA and only from CA resident to CA business,they need customers to earn that cash which is where interstate commerce comes into play. I get they are a major port state, which adds to its value unless we change to say WA. Wonder what our federal costs of funding CA are compared to most states, yes this doesn’t relate directly to GDP but does towards deficit spending, I would assume they get a substantial amount of federal dollars back as well.

So guess what I’m saying is new businesses/opportunities would develop and could replace the businesses within CA currently, the GDP hit wouldn’t be a 1/7th reduction as it would shift once business wasn’t done with CA. CA businesses make tons of money from services provided to the rest of the country, that could shift to other states. Also I’m sure many companies would leave CA to remain in the US.

All that said to say we would adjust and survive it just fine, CA isn’t the glue holding our country together.

 

[ODB]

As an aside, recent comments by James Carville and Chris Matthews gives you a good indication that the hard left turn the Ds have made is terrifying a lot of moderate Ds. Even Biden said it well, that Bernie, if chosen as candidate will stain the entire party with his self-selected political ideologies.