22 Work Weeks on the Golf Course

[Typhon]

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2.06 million jobs created in 2017 were actually the fewest in a year since 2011.

Also from B of LS, when Trump took office the unemployment rate was 4.8%.  It is now 4.1%.

[Zzzptm]

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2.06 million jobs created in 2017 were actually the fewest in a year since 2011.

Also from B of LS, when Trump took office the unemployment rate was 4.8%.  It is now 4.1%.

True, more jobs usually lowers the unemployment rate. But with that rate of job addition possibly slowing down, we may be looking at a transition into a recession. If we avoid a recession in this year because of the recent repeal of Frank-Dodd laws, then it means we'll have a harder crash when the market turns down. Repeal of banking regulations has consistently led to major crashes in US economic history.

For me, job numbers aren't really a province of the POTUS. He just takes the blame when they're down and takes the praise when they're up. One of the best examples of this was the Panic of 1837, which started one week after Martin Van Buren took office. The guy had barely started to change the drapes in the White House, and he was blamed for a major financial disruption. He was blamed not because he had been VP under Jackson, but because the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court had whispered something to Van Buren during his inauguration and everyone speculated that it was some kind of tip-off to Van Buren.

[Typhon]

While things that he has done that are good only get a brief mention.  That's how people everywhere can get the wrong impression. 

Could you name some of those things, then? It would be nice to crosscheck if the impression one gets from, say, Norwegian news (random example ) are the same as your impression.

So you couldn't even mention one specific thing, Typh? Interesting...

I just named one in the previous post!  

[Billy Underdog]

I just named one in the previous post!

Yeah, that was posted as i wrote that. One thing, though... Congrats

[Zzzptm]

So you couldn't even mention one specific thing, Typh? Interesting...

I just named one in the previous post!  

That he did! False start, Billy Underdog, 5 yards, repeat second down!

[Typhon]

I just named one in the previous post!

Yeah, that was posted as i wrote that. One thing, though... Congrats

To go along with this "one thing", once the bill was signed there was a list of major companies who announced that they were passing on to their employees $500 and $1000 bonuses this year, because of the tax savings.  Barely mentioned.

These items come and go, and I don't keep recordings of everything where I could just whip them out when needed.

[Zzzptm]

To go along with this "one thing", once the bill was signed there was a list of major companies who announced that they were passing on to their employees $500 and $1000 bonuses this year, because of the tax savings.  Barely mentioned.

These items come and go, and I don't keep recordings of everything where I could just whip them out when needed.

Fair enough.

I guess I'd like to ask if there's anything in particular about Trump's presidency thus far that gives you concern?

For example, I was not a fan of Obama continuing Bush's practice of drone strikes. Really, Obama was expected to change course on Bush's foreign policy and that never truly came to pass.

[Typhon]

I disagree with the President on climate change, and I believe we should have not left the Paris agreement.

For the record, I am not a member of any political party.  I am independent.

[Zzzptm]

Duly noted, sir, and thank you for the candid response.

[Typhon]

While things that he has done that are good only get a brief mention.  That's how people everywhere can get the wrong impression. 

Could you name some of those things, then? It would be nice to crosscheck if the impression one gets from, say, Norwegian news (random example ) are the same as your impression.

A few months back, President Trump decided to allow the sale of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, to help them with their conflict with Russia.  This is something that Obama did not allow because he feared tensions with Russia would increase.  I doubt you would have heard about this.

[Zzzptm]

On the other hand, he seems to have kicked off a trade war with China. Those things have low odds for ending peacefully, and never end well, regardless.

[Typhon]

On the other hand, he seems to have kicked off a trade war with China. Those things have low odds for ending peacefully, and never end well, regardless.

We'll see.   

[Billy Underdog]

A few months back, President Trump decided to allow the sale of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, to help them with their conflict with Russia.  This is something that Obama did not allow because he feared tensions with Russia would increase.  I doubt you would have heard about this.

One small good thing in a bigger, bad picture. Maybe Obamas reasons was right? I support the independence of Ukraine, don't get me wrong, but doing it by means of war is always wrong. You don't win peace and freedom by war.
And seeing how the relationship with North Korea and China is at the moment, getting at odds with yet another nuclear power might not be for the best. It seems like Trump is set on making an enemy again out of all old enemies.
Ask yourself, do you think he've alloved for this because he actually support their "fight for freedom", or to send a message to Russia?

[Typhon]

You don't win peace and freedom by war.

You are wrong.  A war is how my country got its freedom.

Ask yourself, do you think he've alloved for this because he actually support their "fight for freedom", or to send a message to Russia?

Both.

[Zzzptm]

This morning, the report was about how the head of the EPA is rolling back vehicular emissions rules while, at the same time, is living in a condo subsidized by the lobbying firm that requested said lowering of standards. This troubles me because:

1. It's not the first time Mr. Pruitt has performed a quid pro quo ruling for this lobbying firm after receiving gifts from that firm.

2. I will set aside arguments about humans causing global warming: this, however, seems to doubt the extremely real science that cars cause air pollution. The purpose of the regulations may have had an eye towards a long-range climate goal, but the impact of the regulations was to directly make my air more breathable, and I'm in favor of that.

3. This is proof that the EPA is in a condition known as "regulatory capture", where the regulated industries control the regulators.

4. Regulatory capture is an aspect of Washington D.C. swampiness. For a Trump appointee to not just support the status quo but to actually make it worse is completely contrary to the electoral promises of Mr. Trump.