How will Trump economics fix anything? If there is a stock increase temporarily that helps the gangster corporations and it is due to destroying more of the biosphere we need to live. It is temporary at best leaving a legacy of environmental destruction for the next generation. Republican party continual deregulating our banking system over time has led us into the divides of the rich and poor and Supreme court allowing Citizen's United and being corrupt. The people voting for Trump are not paying attention -- how could they trust a felon, liar, while espousing fascist remarks, and accusing immigrants of eating pets. They plan to slash social programs which hurt the various people who voted for Trump it seems and who are easily swayed by his charisma. The latinos, white men, and black men who may have voted for him will lose a lot of the help from Social Security, medicaid, all of which Maga's plan to go after. I still think it was a case of voting for a man who is a racist narcissist and not wanting to vote for a intelligent capable woman of color.
Trump is a huckster with a sharp sense for what people want, and he promised it. He will “fix America.” Bring the jobs back. Of course, he won’t deliver. But a con man never does.
You have to look at the polling data linked in this piece. The way the economy is not working for most people is the major reason people voted for him, white, Black, Latino. If Harris had offered a compelling economic agenda she could have overcome the obvious obstacles of being a woman and Black. Instead her campaign relied on the story of a great Biden economy that 2/3rds of people didn’t buy.
Trump's previous tax cuts in 2017 were skewed to the rich and when Biden came into office, Trump's economic policies set the stage to harm most working people and along with the aftermath of the Covid epidemic harming our economy. The dynamics are very complex, and a huckster with charisma can shift the blame onto the Dems who have to deal with the aftermath of GOP failed trickle down economy. Still how could any one vote for Trump given his racist fascist commentaries and vitriolic diatribes? That is what is frightening and only shows how poorly educated people are not to see through this. Reference on economy: 'The 2017 Trump Tax Law Was Skewed to the Rich, Expensive, and Failed to Deliver on Its Promises': https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/the-2017-trump-tax-law-was-skewed-to-the-rich-expensive-and-failed-to-deliver. However written June 13, 2024 before election. Perhaps if Harris had had more time for her campaign, she could have offered more on the economy. I believe fake ads, fake news, millions in dark money, the GOP got more voters registered and to the polls along with disinformation, caused it to tip to Trump.
Trump increased the deficit and Biden inherited the problem:
"Federal debt: The federal government’s national debt of $35.8 trillion is 29% higher than the day Biden took office, after rising 39% during Trump’s presidency, up from $19.95 trillion in Jan. 2017—with the U.S. running a total deficit of $5.85 trillion from its 2021 to 2023 fiscal years, compared to $2.43 trillion from 2017 to 2019 and a record $3.13 trillion in 2020 alone." How The Economy Really Fared Under Biden/Harris And Trump—From Jobs To Inflation (Final Update) https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/11/01/how-the-economy-really-fared-under-bidenharris-and-trump-from-jobs-to-inflation-final-update/ Updated Nov 1, 2024, 10:21am EDT
From that article: “The economy is the top issue named by voters ahead of the November presidential election, according to many polls. Surveys also indicate Americans have more belief in Trump than Harris to oversee the economy, and a noticeably higher proportion of Americans believe they’ll be better off financially under Trump than they’d be under Harris.”
But sadly they have elected a very dangerous man into the top office. This is what is sad; of the people who voted for him chose to ignore his dangerous behavior and that is what is frightening. I don't think the economy will be better as generally historically with republicans have been in office, it follows later with a depression or recession. I guess we will see as what is done is done. I appreciate the exchanges with you, Patrick.
After a devastating result in Tuesday’s presidential election, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all your hard work and reflect on what just happened. This email will be on the longer side, but I hope you’ll take the time to read it, because it’s important to where we go from here.
First of all, thank you for leaving nothing on the table. Because of you, we raised millions of dollars for Democrats in tough races and our organizing on the ground. We made more than 83,000 calls, and knocked thousands of doors. And despite a devastating loss at the top of the ticket, that work will continue to make a difference for years to come.
Here in Washington state, we became even more blue. I’m honored to have been re-elected with 85% of the votes to continue serving the Seventh Congressional District in the House, and I’m so proud that Democrats in general won just about everything that was on our ballot.
But despite our wins in Washington, this is a tough, tough, time in our country. Particularly for our friends and family who now fear for their safety, whether they are immigrants, trans, or a member of so many other marginalized communities who are relentlessly targeted by Donald Trump.
What we know right now is this: the Democratic Party was not able to articulate to enough voters what we would do to make their lives materially better.
It’s also clear that beating Trump won’t be as easy as saying we’ll build a diverse coalition of Black, Brown, Indigenous, young people to overcome him — because we are losing too many of that coalition too.
So part of what the Democratic Party has to decide is what do we stand for? What are our principles and how do we fight for them? How do we respond to the urgency of people’s economic concerns? What contrast do we offer to the Republican Party?
For decades, Americans have felt that the system is not working for them — both because Republicans have defunded and attacked government and because Democrats haven’t always used our power when we had it to lift them up. Many saw Donald Trump as someone who is willing to buck the system that doesn’t serve them instead of keeping it in place.
And in several Trump states, voters simultaneously went around their state governments to vote for ballot initiatives that raised the minimum wage, implemented paid sick leave, and protected abortion access.
So while I imagine we share a lot of theories about what led us here, I believe strongly that we should resist playing the blame game for now. We need to test our theories with clear data in front of us after some deep introspection and analysis. That’s the only way we can start to rebuild what has been for years an incredibly fragile coalition into something more sustainable and lasting.
For now, as we start to look ahead, we still don’t know what will happen in the House. We have a slim path to the majority, but if we lose it, we’ll be in full throated defensive mode. In either case, we still need to do the work to rebuild and call people back in to our coalition — and for that, we will need the movement desperately.
You will be absolutely essential to the work we need to do in the streets, in the courts, in people’s homes, and in Congress as we completely rebuild from the bottom up.
So whatever you feel today, don’t let anyone tell you that we are powerless. And don’t forget that we know how to do this work. We have experienced victory against Trump before and we will again.
Remember that it was our inside-outside movement that won against Trump in his first term — together, we forced him to stop the horrific family separations, prevented him from abolishing healthcare, and yes, pushed him out in 2020. We can do it again.
I’ll have more to say soon, but for now, take the time you need. And then come back and take your rightful place in this incredible movement filled with generous, loving, strategic, brilliant, caring people building sustained power for the poor and working class.
You belong here, Nancy. While the months and years ahead may look dark, we have the power to bring back the light together.
Do remember what Jon Haidt's Righteous Mind book taught us. That one half of every national population are conservative, and submit every either/or decision to meet the requirement that themselves obey 2 forces of nature: that their tribe approve of them1and too 2, that they not disrespect the Big Chief. These mental pictures are verifiably at play in the consrvtv mind, one would have to charm this half of a country with stories and promises and charisma overflowing. Mars missions, an economic enemy Eurasia trussed and ripe for plunder, you name it Ain't a politician, but the science seems plausible to me, based on surveys that ask people how relatively important tribe and loyalty are to them, tens of thousands of these surveys in different national populations, leaving a campaign to change behavior in need of Some minor victories to attract these loyal true believers.
Thanks Patrick, I look forward to reading and listening to these much-appreciated items in detail (all very credible). But maybe the first thing I think of is, are the two issues - of rightward movement and the economy - necessarily mutually exclusive? I'm wondering how the financialised gutting of the economy, feelings of austerity, economic disenfranchisement, dissociation from the actions of American government outside the US, and the rise of the extreme right are interlinked. The simple observation that the right appears to capitalise on any given political or economic circumstance gives me reason to inquire. So even the apparently neutral 'economy' can be a medium for extremism, which it is.
Since I posted this piece, another by Robert Reich came out making basically the same case. https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/lesson-of-2024-election
How will Trump economics fix anything? If there is a stock increase temporarily that helps the gangster corporations and it is due to destroying more of the biosphere we need to live. It is temporary at best leaving a legacy of environmental destruction for the next generation. Republican party continual deregulating our banking system over time has led us into the divides of the rich and poor and Supreme court allowing Citizen's United and being corrupt. The people voting for Trump are not paying attention -- how could they trust a felon, liar, while espousing fascist remarks, and accusing immigrants of eating pets. They plan to slash social programs which hurt the various people who voted for Trump it seems and who are easily swayed by his charisma. The latinos, white men, and black men who may have voted for him will lose a lot of the help from Social Security, medicaid, all of which Maga's plan to go after. I still think it was a case of voting for a man who is a racist narcissist and not wanting to vote for a intelligent capable woman of color.
Trump is a huckster with a sharp sense for what people want, and he promised it. He will “fix America.” Bring the jobs back. Of course, he won’t deliver. But a con man never does.
You have to look at the polling data linked in this piece. The way the economy is not working for most people is the major reason people voted for him, white, Black, Latino. If Harris had offered a compelling economic agenda she could have overcome the obvious obstacles of being a woman and Black. Instead her campaign relied on the story of a great Biden economy that 2/3rds of people didn’t buy.
Trump's previous tax cuts in 2017 were skewed to the rich and when Biden came into office, Trump's economic policies set the stage to harm most working people and along with the aftermath of the Covid epidemic harming our economy. The dynamics are very complex, and a huckster with charisma can shift the blame onto the Dems who have to deal with the aftermath of GOP failed trickle down economy. Still how could any one vote for Trump given his racist fascist commentaries and vitriolic diatribes? That is what is frightening and only shows how poorly educated people are not to see through this. Reference on economy: 'The 2017 Trump Tax Law Was Skewed to the Rich, Expensive, and Failed to Deliver on Its Promises': https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/the-2017-trump-tax-law-was-skewed-to-the-rich-expensive-and-failed-to-deliver. However written June 13, 2024 before election. Perhaps if Harris had had more time for her campaign, she could have offered more on the economy. I believe fake ads, fake news, millions in dark money, the GOP got more voters registered and to the polls along with disinformation, caused it to tip to Trump.
Trump increased the deficit and Biden inherited the problem:
"Federal debt: The federal government’s national debt of $35.8 trillion is 29% higher than the day Biden took office, after rising 39% during Trump’s presidency, up from $19.95 trillion in Jan. 2017—with the U.S. running a total deficit of $5.85 trillion from its 2021 to 2023 fiscal years, compared to $2.43 trillion from 2017 to 2019 and a record $3.13 trillion in 2020 alone." How The Economy Really Fared Under Biden/Harris And Trump—From Jobs To Inflation (Final Update) https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/11/01/how-the-economy-really-fared-under-bidenharris-and-trump-from-jobs-to-inflation-final-update/ Updated Nov 1, 2024, 10:21am EDT
From that article: “The economy is the top issue named by voters ahead of the November presidential election, according to many polls. Surveys also indicate Americans have more belief in Trump than Harris to oversee the economy, and a noticeably higher proportion of Americans believe they’ll be better off financially under Trump than they’d be under Harris.”
But sadly they have elected a very dangerous man into the top office. This is what is sad; of the people who voted for him chose to ignore his dangerous behavior and that is what is frightening. I don't think the economy will be better as generally historically with republicans have been in office, it follows later with a depression or recession. I guess we will see as what is done is done. I appreciate the exchanges with you, Patrick.
When Trump fails what will progressives have to offer? Thst is the key question.
I am aware of that, and knew the seriousness of the Dem messaging several years ago. I can provide this from Pramila Jayapal as it is well written:
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Pramila Jayapal" <info@e.pramilaforcongress.com>
Subject: You belong here, Nancy.
Date: November 7, 2024 at 3:29:32 PM PST
Reply-To: <info@pramilaforcongress.com>
Pramila Jayapal
Nancy,
After a devastating result in Tuesday’s presidential election, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all your hard work and reflect on what just happened. This email will be on the longer side, but I hope you’ll take the time to read it, because it’s important to where we go from here.
First of all, thank you for leaving nothing on the table. Because of you, we raised millions of dollars for Democrats in tough races and our organizing on the ground. We made more than 83,000 calls, and knocked thousands of doors. And despite a devastating loss at the top of the ticket, that work will continue to make a difference for years to come.
Here in Washington state, we became even more blue. I’m honored to have been re-elected with 85% of the votes to continue serving the Seventh Congressional District in the House, and I’m so proud that Democrats in general won just about everything that was on our ballot.
But despite our wins in Washington, this is a tough, tough, time in our country. Particularly for our friends and family who now fear for their safety, whether they are immigrants, trans, or a member of so many other marginalized communities who are relentlessly targeted by Donald Trump.
What we know right now is this: the Democratic Party was not able to articulate to enough voters what we would do to make their lives materially better.
It’s also clear that beating Trump won’t be as easy as saying we’ll build a diverse coalition of Black, Brown, Indigenous, young people to overcome him — because we are losing too many of that coalition too.
So part of what the Democratic Party has to decide is what do we stand for? What are our principles and how do we fight for them? How do we respond to the urgency of people’s economic concerns? What contrast do we offer to the Republican Party?
For decades, Americans have felt that the system is not working for them — both because Republicans have defunded and attacked government and because Democrats haven’t always used our power when we had it to lift them up. Many saw Donald Trump as someone who is willing to buck the system that doesn’t serve them instead of keeping it in place.
And in several Trump states, voters simultaneously went around their state governments to vote for ballot initiatives that raised the minimum wage, implemented paid sick leave, and protected abortion access.
So while I imagine we share a lot of theories about what led us here, I believe strongly that we should resist playing the blame game for now. We need to test our theories with clear data in front of us after some deep introspection and analysis. That’s the only way we can start to rebuild what has been for years an incredibly fragile coalition into something more sustainable and lasting.
For now, as we start to look ahead, we still don’t know what will happen in the House. We have a slim path to the majority, but if we lose it, we’ll be in full throated defensive mode. In either case, we still need to do the work to rebuild and call people back in to our coalition — and for that, we will need the movement desperately.
You will be absolutely essential to the work we need to do in the streets, in the courts, in people’s homes, and in Congress as we completely rebuild from the bottom up.
So whatever you feel today, don’t let anyone tell you that we are powerless. And don’t forget that we know how to do this work. We have experienced victory against Trump before and we will again.
Remember that it was our inside-outside movement that won against Trump in his first term — together, we forced him to stop the horrific family separations, prevented him from abolishing healthcare, and yes, pushed him out in 2020. We can do it again.
I’ll have more to say soon, but for now, take the time you need. And then come back and take your rightful place in this incredible movement filled with generous, loving, strategic, brilliant, caring people building sustained power for the poor and working class.
You belong here, Nancy. While the months and years ahead may look dark, we have the power to bring back the light together.
In solidarity always,
Pramila Jayapal
Do remember what Jon Haidt's Righteous Mind book taught us. That one half of every national population are conservative, and submit every either/or decision to meet the requirement that themselves obey 2 forces of nature: that their tribe approve of them1and too 2, that they not disrespect the Big Chief. These mental pictures are verifiably at play in the consrvtv mind, one would have to charm this half of a country with stories and promises and charisma overflowing. Mars missions, an economic enemy Eurasia trussed and ripe for plunder, you name it Ain't a politician, but the science seems plausible to me, based on surveys that ask people how relatively important tribe and loyalty are to them, tens of thousands of these surveys in different national populations, leaving a campaign to change behavior in need of Some minor victories to attract these loyal true believers.
Thanks Patrick, I look forward to reading and listening to these much-appreciated items in detail (all very credible). But maybe the first thing I think of is, are the two issues - of rightward movement and the economy - necessarily mutually exclusive? I'm wondering how the financialised gutting of the economy, feelings of austerity, economic disenfranchisement, dissociation from the actions of American government outside the US, and the rise of the extreme right are interlinked. The simple observation that the right appears to capitalise on any given political or economic circumstance gives me reason to inquire. So even the apparently neutral 'economy' can be a medium for extremism, which it is.
A great roundup of important perspectives -- thanks!