Economy

It can be a struggle in daily conversations to explain the impacts this election has every day on the decisions being made to govern our society.  Trump's handlers are putting individuals in positions of real, tangible power who are spending every hour of every day implementing policies in an efficient, destructive manner.  They are doing the exact things their prior words, actions, and lobbyist bosses should have made obvious.

Last week, Trump named Jerome Powell to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve.

If confirmed by the Senate, Powell, 64, will succeed Janet Yellen — the first woman to head the Fed — whose term expires in February. Powell, a current member of the Fed's board of governors, is expected to pursue policies largely in line with the gradual interest rate hikes of the Yellen-led Fed.

Last week, Republicans proposed to cap the amount that Americans can contribute before taxes to 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts.  The details of this proposal came to light publicly and was reported by nearly all media sources.  It was intended to increase the tax burden on middle class Americans to offset the cost of tax cuts to the wealthiest. Fortunately The Resistance heard this, spoke up, and exhibited Smart Dissent.  Thus, this specific proposal did not make it into the House GOP tax plan.  Numerous other things did which we will cover in a new post next week.

Government at its purest exists solely to protect The People it serves.  We elect officials to work on OUR behalf.  It's been apparent for decades, but likely never more so, that the Republican Party works on behalf of corporate interests, their lobbyists and donors with zero regard for The People.  They repeatedly take actions that harm nearly every living, breathing human being in our country yet millions of ignorant people continue support and enable them.

Senate Republicans passed a $4 trillion budget blueprint late Thursday by a narrow 51-49 vote, with Kentucky's Senator Rand Paul joining Democrats in opposing the measure considered a key step in forward on President Trump's promises of a tax overhaul.  The White House praised the bill, saying it "creates a pathway to unleash the potential of the American economy through tax reform and tax cuts." 

Trump campaigned on ending NAFTA.  It was an understatement when Smart Dissent reported back in May that NAFTA's Days Appear Numbered.  

Renegotiating international trade agreements (and governing in general) is much harder than being full of hot air on the campaign trail.  So while Trump may not have outright withdrawn from NAFTA, he is aiming to kill it another way.

Trump and Republicans are destroying the Affordable Care Act despite the inability to repeal or replace it.  Trump's sabotage hit a disgusting new low last week ending the funding of subsidies paid to insurance companies to make coverage affordable for millions.  They're known as "cost-sharing reduction" payments.   This action will destroy the Affordable Care Act insurance markets and eliminate healthcare for millions and that's exactly why Trump team suggested it.

Trump and Republicans are destroying the Affordable Care Act and making coverage unaffordable for millions of Americans.  They consider their actions to be praiseworthy despite causing an inability to afford coverage for sick children and adults. 

In 2008-2009, the United States went through its longest, and by most measures worst economic recession since the Great Depression.  The impacts were felt for years beyond that as 8.7 million jobs were lost ruining the lives of tens of millions more.  The culprit was wreckless activity by traditional and investment banks.  It seems like forever ago but you may recall a huge movement called Occupy Wall Street which sought to hold these financial institutions responsible for destroying our nation.  Meanwhile, as the government bailed out the banks with billions of taxpayer dollars during the

In late August, Smart Dissent discussed the destruction of the Environmental Protection Agency occurring behind closed door which will endanger our world forever.  Then earlier this month we detailed several additional ways the EPA is doing the opposite of their mission and destroying our environment and future.