Separating the Chaff

Announcements today are almost all political in nature. Observe: Greatest Christmas Gift to the American People Ever! – a generous tax cut; There was no collusion with Russia; the tax cut will hurt the trump family, not help it; the tax cut will stimulate the economy, just watch it soar; the stock market growth in recent months is totally due to trump policies; tax cuts for employers will create new jobs; 6% growth of the economy is nearby. The headlines go on and on.

The only problem with them: they are most all contrary to fact. They are assertions of what some people want the rest of us to think. The truth of the matter lies in quite different landscapes.

Here’s something to think about: during the presidential election of 2016 trump claimed to have a plan for infrastructure repair, maintenance and replacement; also expansion. So far no plan has been discussed or unveiled. Yesterday’s derailment in Washington state he tweeted this accident would not have happened if his infrastructure plan had been enacted. He never proposed the plan so smoke and mirrors from his tweets!

Our nation does need fresh investment in infrastructure. Perhaps as much as $1 trillion worth. That investment would help all of us commute, travel and transact business and commerce. The earnings from this investment would build the economy, create jobs and improve wealth development throughout the economy.

Jobs development is needed in new industries making new products and services. This takes new skills and knowledge, not the old stuff. A new world is emerging and fresh new ways of working, doing business and building wealth is evolving. Supporting those developments makes good policy; so far such policy does not exist. Instead taxes will be cut with the hope that people and corporations will spend newfound funds on job creation and business expansion. Such is not in the offing. Nothing guarantees that the money will be spent in this fashion.

A healthy economy relies on a balanced economy. That does not describe our economy of today.

The rhetoric and the reality are very different. It I time we all know this and act accordingly. Congress should not pass the tax bill but rather explore better ways to invest in a renewed America.

December 19, 2017