The question that I ask myself is...the economy under Trump is performing better than under
BO. So was BO's ideological sentiment and policies that much of a detriment to the economy? Or are the gains in economic activity due to a short term for the consumer tax reduction and tax break on offshore corporate profit? With the attendant deficit spending. Or is it a little bit of both? That remains to be seen?

At this time I have to reaffirm my thinking that the systemic macro economic problems with the economy have not been solved. That nothing has been fixed with continuing Trillion USD deficit spending. Instead of the US consumer being the foundation for the economy the US govt has picked up the slack with/through deficit spending...(23M Americans are in one way or another getting MC paychecks from the American local, state and Fed govt).

Another thing that I am aware of in my calculations is that America appears to be a wreck based upon what has gone on before in America (post WW2). But is it a wreck? Today America is certainly not as prosperous and hegemonic as it once was, it certainly is a lot messier (turmoil) than in has been in the past...and is getting messier by the day. One would think that America is transitioning or morphing into a new normal. That in it's trajectory might include some pretty dire things happening along the way. Which given your circumstance of today might come as quite a shock to Americans.

To see through that "eye of the needle" I have to take into account my own bias, set them aside and look at what the facts are using history as a precedent for potential outcomes. When you move through the eye of the needle and are walking on that ground beyond the conclusion is that the situation we are facing is not a very happy one.

So true.

I could expand upon the rational behind that rhetoric of MAGA..I used that metaphor as a short hand descriptive. It is not a partisan issue of right or left, of which is the basis of you agreement with.

A closer examination of the American mental disease is evidence by a Thread on this Board about renting a sic performance type of car while on vacation.. We can afford to live it up...we deserve it we are rich.The reality is, it is being frivolous with money that can better applied elsewhere. One that has a roi. That small amount of money eventually adds up into some real money.

I went to the MD this week where the nurse said we are headed for socialized medicine...that once the insurance companies suck off all the money they will go bk, leaving the govt to pick up the bills. At which time the govt will tell the people we wont cover this or that. Then it will come down to you having the cash to pay for the bills yourself, or go off and die. Pretty grim huh?

So what will that do to consumerism? The Chinese don't have social safety nets so they have to save for a rainy day. The Chinese govt wants the people to consume more but they don't. Americans not being that different will start to save more and spend less...which means for the economy? OMG!