Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrumps economic boasts grow increasingly divorced from reality
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trumps-economic-boasts-grow-increasingly-divorced-reality?cid=eml_mra_20180402Trumps economic boasts grow increasingly divorced from reality
04/02/18 12:00 PM
By Steve Benen
In his speech in Ohio last week, which was ostensibly about infrastructure, Donald Trump predictably bragged about the health of the economy. What was surprising, however, was the specific nature of the boasts.
Weve got the greatest economy maybe ever, maybe in history. We have the greatest economy weve ever had.
You know the expression, from I guess, it was Bill Clinton its the economy, stupid. Well, it is the economy Theres never been an economy like this.
You know the expression, from I guess, it was Bill Clinton its the economy, stupid. Well, it is the economy Theres never been an economy like this.
Look, Americans should generally be pleased with the overall health of the economy, but to believe this is the greatest economy in the history of the United States is plainly ridiculous.
Its not even the strongest economy of the 21st century. GDP growth, for example, looked good in Trumps first year, but it fell short, not only of Trumps campaign promises, but also of GDP growth across much of Barack Obamas presidency.
Similarly, job growth was encouraging in 2017, but the number of jobs created in Trumps first year fell short of the annual totals in Obamas second term. The unemployment rate looks great continuing a trend that began several years before Trump took office but it was even lower in 2000, the final year of Bill Clintons second term.
And while the White House has been eager to make a fuss about the job data from the first two months of 2018, the truth is theres nothing especially historic about those figures.
In American history, weve experienced several enormous economic booms. The status quo is good, but its not that good.
Just so theres no ambiguity here, my point is not to criticize the health of the economy. The recent data looks good, and thats heartening news, regardless of any political considerations. If the president wanted to claim credit for not making things worse, itd make sense.
But the economy is healthy enough that Trump shouldnt feel the need to lie about it. The idea that theres never been an economy like this is absurd. On many occasions, and by every relevant metric, weve seen vastly stronger economies throughout American history.
Circling back to a point we discussed a few weeks ago, when the economy is in good shape, theres no reason for Trump or anyone else to spin it, massage it, or repackage it in misleading ways. Telling the truth works fine. Maybe the White House should try it.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 833 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (1)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trumps economic boasts grow increasingly divorced from reality (Original Post)
babylonsister
Apr 2018
OP
Cary
(11,746 posts)1. That's the thing about pathological liars
They lie just to lie. It doesn't matter whether they need to lie, or whether they get caught.
Squinch
(50,955 posts)2. Give it 6 months. This thing is crashing.
JHB
(37,160 posts)3. They were never anywhere near it to begin with.
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)4. The stock market always fell whenever Trump's poll numbers would rise
during the 2016 campaign. The market's first reaction was the right one.
Trump destroys everything he touches.
scarytomcat
(1,706 posts)5. this congress and president
have done nothing, nothing to affect the economy
Obama pulled our economy from brink of disasters with no help from republicans, they didn't even want to help auto manufactures or banks
if anything he has cost jobs by de-regulation