President Trump: Making America Great Again...

[SCcoug]

The main cause of the coming recession is the trade war. Wouldn't it make sense to cut interest rates now to offset the negative economic impact of the trade war?

Ending the trade war would make the most sense to me.

[creekster]

That, and the fact that no one knows for sure if one will come or when it will happen. The Fed tends to be a bit reactive instead of proactive, which has mostly worked.

Uncle Milty Friedman might disagree. Their reactions are almost always too late and can even be contra-cyclical. This is not to say that Trump's idea is better, as his reaction is based only on his perception of what he needs to win the next election. Which brings me to what I think is the most objectionable aspect of Trump's outburst; his insistence on politicizing the FRB. The Fed must be independent or, at least and maybe more importantly, it must be perceived as being independent. Otherwise its actions lose signifying impact, which sometimes is their most important function. Trump's bleating about the disloyalty of the Fed chair that he appointed completely undermines the legitimacy and efficacy of the FRB. This is the last thing we need in a system teetering on the edge of a recession.

[PaloAltoCougar]

The main cause of the coming recession is the trade war. Wouldn't it make sense to cut interest rates now to offset the negative economic impact of the trade war?

I'm no economist, but I think the trade war is an accelerant, not a cause. Recessions are an inevitable occurrence with our economy, and we've enjoyed an unusually long period of continued growth, albeit one that's been fueled, especially recently, by historically low interest rates and massive deficit spending. Lowering the rates further may postpone the inevitable, but it also deprives the Fed of a useful tool in reversing a recession when it finally arrives.

Unrelated to that topic, but consistent with the thread generally, I've been trying to think as positively about Trump as I can, which is a herculean task. I can point to a few things that he or his administration has done that I"m at least okay with. But I've been trying to find anything genuinely positive to say about Trump at the personal level, and other than the somewhat positive trait of adhering to the Word of Wisdom like many members of TCOJCOLDS (abstinence from alcohol and tobacco while eating very poorly (burgers, fried foods, and well done steaks)), I can't come up with anything. With pretty much every other politician, I see personal traits that I admire or at least respect--with Trump, nada. I'm open to correction--can anyone identify a personal trait in Trump they'd sincerely like their children to adopt? Have we ever had a President who, at the personal level, was as bad a role model? Sure, Bill Clinton figures in the discussion here but I can think of some compensating personal virtues in his case.

[BigFatMeanie]

The main cause of the coming recession is the trade war. Wouldn't it make sense to cut interest rates now to offset the negative economic impact of the trade war?

<sigh> This analysis is way too shallow. The recession will happen with or without the trade war. I detest Trump and I don't care if he gets saddled with the reputation of "causing" the recession - fine by me. But the reality is he no more caused the recession than his predecessor caused the previous decade of economic expansion.

[creekster]

I'm no economist, but I think the trade war is an accelerant, not a cause. Recessions are an inevitable occurrence with our economy, and we've enjoyed an unusually long period of continued growth, albeit one that's been fueled, especially recently, by historically low interest rates and massive deficit spending. Lowering the rates further may postpone the inevitable, but it also deprives the Fed of a useful tool in reversing a recession when it finally arrives.

Unrelated to that topic, but consistent with the thread generally, I've been trying to think as positively about Trump as I can, which is a herculean task. I can point to a few things that he or his administration has done that I"m at least okay with. But I've been trying to find anything genuinely positive to say about Trump at the personal level, and other than the somewhat positive trait of adhering to the Word of Wisdom like many members of TCOJCOLDS (abstinence from alcohol and tobacco while eating very poorly (burgers, fried foods, and well done steaks)), I can't come up with anything. With pretty much every other politician, I see personal traits that I admire or at least respect--with Trump, nada. I'm open to correction--can anyone identify a personal trait in Trump they'd sincerely like their children to adopt? Have we ever had a President who, at the personal level, was as bad a role model? Sure, Bill Clinton figures in the discussion here but I can think of some compensating personal virtues in his case.

People are complicated, so I suppose there are some things about him that may be admirable that we don't see or know about. In general, however, I find nothing about him with respect his personal traits that are admirable or that I would hope my children emulate.

[BlueK]

Uncle Milty Friedman might disagree. Their reactions are almost always too late and can even be contra-cyclical. This is not to say that Trump's idea is better, as his reaction is based only on his perception of what he needs to win the next election. Which brings me to what I think is the most objectionable aspect of Trump's outburst; his insistence on politicizing the FRB. The Fed must be independent or, at least and maybe more importantly, it must be perceived as being independent. Otherwise its actions lose signifying impact, which sometimes is their most important function. Trump's bleating about the disloyalty of the Fed chair that he appointed completely undermines the legitimacy and efficacy of the FRB. This is the last thing we need in a system teetering on the edge of a recession.

Trump has shown that nothing in government should not be politicized or should be independent. Not the fed, not the judiciary, not the justice dept, not any other federal agency. All of these long standing practices and norms that have helped make us stable need to be torn down. Same as despots have tried in other countries. Fortunately the US is probably strong enough to withstand it. At least I hope so.

[creekster]

Trump has shown that nothing in government should not be politicized or should be independent. Not the fed, not the judiciary, not the justice dept, not any other federal agency. All of these long standing practices and norms that have helped make us stable need to be torn down. Same as despots have tried in other countries. Fortunately the US is probably strong enough to withstand it. At least I hope so.

This is worthy of chicken little. Trump's campaigning for supreme court justices, for example, is not the same as his demands of the Fed.

You know what else is a threat to the viability of our system? People telling each other that our system might not survive Trump.

[Northwestcoug]

Just remember, trade wars are good and easy to win!

[Moliere]

The main cause of the coming recession is the trade war.

No it’s not

[Copelius]

I'm no economist, but I think the trade war is an accelerant, not a cause. Recessions are an inevitable occurrence with our economy, and we've enjoyed an unusually long period of continued growth, albeit one that's been fueled, especially recently, by historically low interest rates and massive deficit spending. Lowering the rates further may postpone the inevitable, but it also deprives the Fed of a useful tool in reversing a recession when it finally arrives.

Unrelated to that topic, but consistent with the thread generally, I've been trying to think as positively about Trump as I can, which is a herculean task. I can point to a few things that he or his administration has done that I"m at least okay with. But I've been trying to find anything genuinely positive to say about Trump at the personal level, and other than the somewhat positive trait of adhering to the Word of Wisdom like many members of TCOJCOLDS (abstinence from alcohol and tobacco while eating very poorly (burgers, fried foods, and well done steaks)), I can't come up with anything. With pretty much every other politician, I see personal traits that I admire or at least respect--with Trump, nada. I'm open to correction--can anyone identify a personal trait in Trump they'd sincerely like their children to adopt? Have we ever had a President who, at the personal level, was as bad a role model? Sure, Bill Clinton figures in the discussion here but I can think of some compensating personal virtues in his case.

I am in complete agreement that well done steaks are against the WoW.

[All-American]

I never liked trump and have made no secret of that.

But I will deem America made great again and vote for him if BYU beats Utah.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I never liked trump and have made no secret of that.

But I will deem America made great again and vote for him if BYU beats Utah.

I will pray that Utah wins so that your soul can be spared the humiliation and despair.

[frank ryan]

No it’s not

It can’t be helping things and surely will make the recession worse than it otherwise would be.

[chrisrenrut]

I'm no economist, but I think the trade war is an accelerant, not a cause. Recessions are an inevitable occurrence with our economy, and we've enjoyed an unusually long period of continued growth, albeit one that's been fueled, especially recently, by historically low interest rates and massive deficit spending. Lowering the rates further may postpone the inevitable, but it also deprives the Fed of a useful tool in reversing a recession when it finally arrives.

Unrelated to that topic, but consistent with the thread generally, I've been trying to think as positively about Trump as I can, which is a herculean task. I can point to a few things that he or his administration has done that I"m at least okay with. But I've been trying to find anything genuinely positive to say about Trump at the personal level, and other than the somewhat positive trait of adhering to the Word of Wisdom like many members of TCOJCOLDS (abstinence from alcohol and tobacco while eating very poorly (burgers, fried foods, and well done steaks)), I can't come up with anything. With pretty much every other politician, I see personal traits that I admire or at least respect--with Trump, nada. I'm open to correction--can anyone identify a personal trait in Trump they'd sincerely like their children to adopt? Have we ever had a President who, at the personal level, was as bad a role model? Sure, Bill Clinton figures in the discussion here but I can think of some compensating personal virtues in his case.

I'm reminded of The Office episode when Jim and Pam are putting together a resume for Dwight to get him a job in another city. They mention some of his worst faults, and spin them into something that sounds almost admirable.

With Trump, you could say he is loyal and trusting of his family, he doesn't accept status quo and paves his own path. Apparently he golfs pretty well (or has learned to cheat at golf pretty well). He has tried his best to befriend enemies (Putin, Kim Jong Un).

[frank ryan]

I'm reminded of The Office episode when Jim and Pam are putting together a resume for Dwight to get him a job in another city. They mention some of his worst faults, and spin them into something that sounds almost admirable.

With Trump, you could say he is loyal and trusting of his family, he doesn't accept status quo and paves his own path. Apparently he golfs pretty well (or has learned to cheat at golf pretty well). He has tried his best to befriend enemies (Putin, Kim Jong Un).

Putin is not Trump’s enemy. He our nation’s enemy but Trump has always regarded him as a friend. I’ll give him credit for his intentions with the DPRK