Be ready for another 4 years of Trump and be ready for the economy melt down at the end of his second term. I think we have seen this movie before but obviously have learnt zilch from it. How many times will this cycle be repeated before people will think that maybe this is bad.
137
I think your last sentence nails it, Mr. Krugman. Democrats will blow the next election on some tangential issue that either won't gain traction or be lost in all the hoo-ha of the election.
I'm not looking forward to it.
11
Dicatorship wins because someone down the street's medical care might affect someone else's bank account.
I give up.
17
I'm seeing a lot of comments about what "the real problems are" but ultimately and undeniably, the real problem is this: With frightening speed and utter totality, Trump tapped into a giant swath of America that was seething with anger, corruption, and immorality. Never before has there been such a brilliant and unerring representation of this horrible state of humanity (in the form of one of its worst examples - Trump) and it has been helped along by the plague of social media, the conspiracy theory propagandists, and the right-wing's false and outrageous narratives (to name the most destructive.) And through these factions, and the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, lest we forget; this unbelievable scourge is able to permeate such a large group of troubled people. What do we do? US Presidential elections?? I mean I hope there's still a point to this.
22
Trump is, unabashedly, peeling back the veneer of civility and decorum that Republicans have feigned in the past. He chooses to not camouflage his meanness. Like most Republicans his wickedness is the intent, and he wears that badge proudly.
25
"He was lying". The question is: is he capable of telling the truth? He is congenitally limited to lying. They say he has made 14,500+ false and misleading statements since he took office. Even when he comes close to making a true statement, he exaggerates it so much with his superlatives that it turns to a lie. He has made billions and become president by lying and cheating. It is a sure-bet winning strategy for him. And 94% of Republicans and 49% of Americans are enabling him.
17
Watch him win again. Dems have no passion. His followers have all the passion.
3
And I think maybe the American people know he was lying too.
after Iowa-
“Among all registered voters, Democratic candidates lead President Trump in general election matchups by between 4 and 9 percentage points, with Bloomberg claiming the biggest numerical lead against Trump: “
https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=3655
Maybe. . . .let's don't get complacent. We've a long way to go.
4
That this man and his deplorable values have been normalized is nothing less or more than a mark of shame on this nation. No amount of time or backtracking will undo the fact that one fateful year this nation decided that THIS was the best we had to offer the world.
Shameful.
19
This is really... too bad. There may be a gem buried in the quarry of Democratic hopefuls, but internecine warfare is taking care of that. Incredible though it may to any rational person, the field is wide open to any ignoramus who has a con man's schtick, the morals of Vlad the Impaler and enough money to convince a huge array of idiots - that means you, or many of you - that he has the right stuff to do what he thinks he ought to do whether it really makes sense to do it or not. (What's sense got to do with it?)
Gets silly, doesn't it. But that's appropriate, because that's where we are. We really did get what we deserved.
2
What a splendid image: trickled-down Trump.
It's just like that of the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz,
when she was melting.
6
Prof Krugman.......
Who, what is driving up the Stock market......
I can't but believe this is orchestrated for political purposes.
3
It's called "normalizing" and it's deadly. It's why I've been warning about its dangers from the moment he descended that asinine escalator (yes, I'm even mad at the escalator).
The press has done it. Pundits have done it. Journalists have done it. We all have. We treat his blats, threats, tantrums, and passing thoughts as if they were actual policies. We let him break every social media platform's stated rules, even though you and I would be banned permanently for even one day of his tweets and posts. The GOP just became derelict in its duty--aka committed a crime by covering up a crime--rather than confront him.
It's mass psychosis. And that is the very state that has ushered in every despot, tyrant, and fascist regime in history.
It's long past time that this nation got a backbone and stood up to this bully. Romney did it and the world did not fall. Manchin is doing it as we write and he's still standing.
One of the most ridiculous myths out there is this notion that we have to fear him. No. What we have to fear is not taking the threat he poses seriously. Like all bullies, he blubbers and runs away when called on his atrocious behavior.
This nation has become a shocking collection of cowards and enablers. Quite simply, it's disgusting. And deadly.
26
Trump dumbed down US foreign policy and trade policy to what he could understand: a bi-lateral negotiation between two parties just like a real estate deal. He's been wrong about trade for decades. Bannon and Putin influenced him on evils of alliances. All conveniently done to fit Trump's limited mental bandwidth and experience. In every other respect Trump is a conventional conservative Republican, a useful idiot for McConnell's policies to keep the rich and powerful firmly in place and the masses kept down where the rich and powerful Republicans believe they deserve to be. Trump is a godsend for McConnell and his ilk. He distracts the masses with his circus act, and they pick their pockets.
12
Can't we just be rid of this awful man.
14
How do you know if Trump is lying? His mouth is open.
7
Dirty. Rotten. Republicans.
11
Nothing new here. Trump and Republicans have no healthcare reform because they care about big money making profit above all else. The current system does that. No reform IS their plan.
Krugman is self contradictory in his conclusion. ... 'Democrats won in 2018 running on healthcare. But Democrats can't win in 2020 running on healthcare'. It is so frustrating that Krugman is, weirdly, so anti Medicare for all. It is very strange and out of character. It's inconsistent with his other economic/political positions.
The M4A plan, as a healthcare plan is far far better than any private plan I've ever seen save the Senate's health plan which includes a pool and hot tub. It is incomprensible that anyone would resent "losing their private insurance" for a 'plan' that is radically superior to it. M4A will have the same popularity or more than social security does.
One of the single most obvious and direct wealth equalization reforms that can be made is genuine healthcare security for every citizen. No one goes bankrupt due to health costs. Everyone can afford the tax required to pay for healthcare because, yes, it has to be paid for. In exchange no one has to pay premiums or any other other out of pocket expenses. Security.
Every other wealthy and most less wealthy countries manages to have universal healthcare. It is incomprensible that the wealthiest and most powerful nation on Earth could not easily do this. So why haven't we?
11
It's sad, but the DNC and the rest of the Democratic Party leadership would clearly rather see Trump re-elected than allow Bernie to win. That's the real danger for the country. It's also what makes Mike Bloomberg a very attractive candidate.
4
Nobody appreciates and decries the viciousness of Donald J. Trump more than me, but in all objectivity he seems to be a victim of "heads we win, tails you lose" analysis here:
Dr. K writes that we have "a generally strong economy," but it's really weak in certain places, and, besides, Trump had nothing to do with it. All good hails from Obama; all bad, from Trump.
Has a nation's economy ever been strong in every area? Aren't there always some problems in some industry?
Confirmation bias, prejudice, revenge, and plain old disdain for the Other seem at work here: "He's not only bad, even the good stuff is really bad if you look at it properly."
Granted, Trump must go home and stay, but we have enough reasons to dump him without any exaggerations or distortions. If a Democrat had this economy, I bet we wouldn't see such comments from this NYTimes Nobel-Prize winner.
Let's own up: We have a strong economy, and Trump has been president for over three years. Maybe it's who or what Trump stands for: little or no government interference, low taxes, pro-business; Fat Cats dance long into the night to that tune. Something's working.
Of course, economics is only part of the big picture. Trump has violated about every prohibition, law, code, regulation, and accepted way of governing that we have. He's a loveless, vain, proud, greedy, narcissist, a huge negative force in our government and the world. But more of us have more money. The tradeoff isn't worth it, at least not for me.
6
Trump is different and he was not pretending to be different. After criticizing Trump for being different for the past 4 years, thinking differently and doing differently is refreshing. What is bothering his critics is that he gets along with Republicans including those who wanted to prevent him from getting the nomination in 2016.
Sour grapes that there are major difference dividing the Democratic party right in the middle. The dems are divided between those who want to push socialist ideas to grab power and then there are those that want to keep Obama era policies. The nation has moved beyond both those extremes while Americans would like the current state of the Union to stay where it is with economic stability, record high stock market, low unemployment. Rest does not matter. If Trump was allegedly lying then he was just getting ready to join the Washington liars club.
1
The rest does not matter? Gutting the EPA and clean water? Children and families in cages? Deficits as far as the eye can see with no lasting benefit other than a “strong” stock market? Drilling in the Arctic Refuge for oil? Gutting the CFPB?? I could go on and on. You get what you pay for and this pact with the devil will be paid for, sooner or later!
27
The Vietnam War draft dodger and the castrated Republican Party consummated their Faustian bargain predicated upon massive mutual egotism of each other, mutual tolerance of abuse of power, and mutual disdain for the exponentially increasing racial and ethnic immigrant demographics here. When the GOP House under John Boehner had the golden opportunity to pass effective immigration reform that the Senate approved, he refused to bring the bill to the floor. Abject fear and outright apprehension of their base, resistive to such need federal legislation, forced Republicans to abandon this noble quest. Enter the draft dodger railing against immigrants, bringing crime and drugs, sending rapists, and the inexhaustible litany of made up horrors America faced by the brown invasion, the GOP found a ready ally to aid in their efforts to claim the presidency. It worked. The incessant pandering to racial fearmongering, the intensely toxic anti immigrant backlash, and the seething paranoia of facing racial internecine combined to infect the electorate - Caucasian blue collar, less than college educated, and woefully lacking appreciation of racial diversity - assured the GOP 2016 triumph. Once secured, the fiscal giveaways started, and the Republicans in the Senate and the House did not care. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. The great and powerful Oz has spoken." Thank God for Senator John McCain and his Profiles in Courage thumbs down vote to save the ACA. Race matters.
3
Trump is incapable of the long-term thinking.
Never let him bait you into the shallow tit-for-tat scrambling because he’s the master of it.
Trump is deploying the blitzkrieg strategy. He wants to knock you out in the first round because he doesn’t have any plan for the second one or for continued maneuvering.
It means you have to carefully choose the battlefield where his strength is irrelevant and easily neutralized.
Ignore his insults and cheap rhetoric because you want to focus on the strategic policies and issues.
Trump was able to lure even the big banks to fund his childish dream to construct the megalomaniac casino in Atlantic City.
He indeed built and opened it with all the celebrities and media circus in attendance.
The problem is the casino went bankrupt after several years. All those who trusted Trump lost their investment and jobs.
He could have tried to protect his allies in that business endeavor but he sacrificed all of them to save his personal wealth.
That’s why Trump’s refusing to open his tax returns.
Shouldn’t the great businessman be proud of his business achievements?
A lack of the long term thinking dooms those leaders.
That’s what’s going to happen to theour federal government.
Trump is saddling it up with the colossal debt.
Would anybody smart try to alienate a bunch of countries across the world simultaneously?
It wouldn’t because the stable genius understands it’s not in his country best interest.
3
"How Trump Got Trickled Down?" I'm not going to touch that one.
3
It seems that everything Trump touches gets burned because of his ego and lack of morals. His suppliers, his renters and now the country's citizens en masse.
Soon to come, his enablers going to jail when he is out of office, perhaps Donald himself too, a fitting end to this story.
'So Sad' that so many suffer because of one cheating, self deluded Willy Loman.
5
As a Bernie Sanders supporter, what concerns me about him is not his policies, which if presented in ways that eschew labels, are mostly very popular. It is rather that he seems so rigid in his approach. On one hand it is good that he is passionate and consistent (i.e. honest). But I worry that he does not listen well, a critically important quality, and can be dogmatic. I agree with Krugman that there should be widespread efforts to highlight this draconian Trump budget, as an illustration of his true agenda. But democrats have long shown a knack for being tone deaf.
4
Frustrating to read in the comments mention of the cost of GOP tax cuts. It is always expressed in annual terms- Commenters point out a few hundred or a few thousand dollars of extra cost or benefit each year. This is the thinking of people buying furniture by the week and not realizing the $1,000 couch will cost them $6,000 at $50/week.
$3 trillion in new debt ÷ 138 million income tax payers = $21,700 per payer, or about $43,500 for joint filers. That is the cost. All else is merely comments regarding temporary cash flow.
We tend to discuss the state of the economy by measuring the gross income and ignoring the liabilities. Outstanding infrastructure in need of repair is a cost and obligation regardless of whether we "recognize" it. It was stupid to not do these repairs when America needed investment and jobs and interest rates were less than inflation. Free money!
Unfortunately, that Russian favorite, Mitch McConnell, was willing to sacrifice the country and the homes and jobs of his fellow citizens to improve the Republican Party's chances in the next election. It seems swing voters in the midwest auto states don't remember who saved their economy and which party suggested letting it die. Will they nowl vote to lose their health care?
15
Here is the issue: Trump is president.
How to defeat him?
Run a 78 year old Socialist who calls for a revolution, wants to take away your health insurance and sings "Solidarity Forever!"
HOw does this make sense?
5
Poor man wanna be rich
Rich man wanna be king
And the king ain't satisfied
until he rules everything
"Badlands," Bruce Springsteen, 1978
Forty years ago, a rock singer had more wisdom around this subject than reams of doctoral dissertations.
Nothing will change. Apparently we are such sheep that we'll take any level of degradation in order not to have to make our own decisions. God help us.
176
@Miss Dovey
Doesn't this 'trump golden age" look something like the moments before the economy took a giant nose dive
in 2007, 2008 when we nearly fell into a full throated
Depression?...destroying jobs throwing people out of their homes, bankruptcies....et al......another Golden age built
on the rich in over-glut, and unsatisfied greed....
This is not a good economy. The rest of us don't have
'an economy'......we don't even have the famous trickle....
and someone or some group is pushing the stock market to
new heights as if that is in any way reflective of what a 'good economy looks like...... This is all slight of hand
18
"there’s a real danger that Democrats will blow the election by making it a referendum on ambitious ideas like so-called Medicare for all that are unlikely to become reality, rather than on Trump’s ongoing efforts to destroy programs Americans love."
Listen to Paul, my favorite liberal. We can unite under Bernie or Liz, and even borrow Tom Steyer's fave phrase, that Trump is a "fraud and a failure" (please repeat endlessly--it's so efficient a phrase), but we'll have the best chance of achieving our primary goal--defeating "the Great Divider"--uniting behind Mayor Pete or Senator Amy.
3
I feel as if none of this type of reporting, conjecture, opinion matters. The people who support Trump will not be swayed; the people who don't, need not be persuaded. After reading the other op piece about Trump's rallies, I am picking up on his supporters saying "great jobs" and "great president" in one breath. Somehow they believe that because he speaks his mind (often beyond bluntly and into vulgarly), he is honest. Somehow because they are okay with their economic situation, he gets a pass. Where do we go from here?
4
@Em K
Relentlessly exposing the rot so that it's self-evident to most people, and offering something self-evidently better to same group. Yes, the Dems can say with conviction that they (we) offer something better, but it has to be clearer and more appealing to that broad majority to assure that the rot is properly, relentlessly exposed.
5
Imagine that, Trump lying.
Imagine over 40% of Americans believing him.
Imagine over 40% of Americans believing everything he doesn’t say is a lie.
Imagine it’s 1934.
22
The pied piper is Trump! He is, presumably, their elected tool to dismantle a Washington establishment that has ignored them since the Reagan era. Why we so revere the trickledown economics policies enshrining the redistribution of wealth that ultimately left them behind is a stretch in logic they can't see... because Trump keeps them in a fevered pitch over immigration, race, the second amendment, religious freedom (which is quite ironic), etc. They are primed to fall in line behind the fear mongers stoking infernal heat beneath them. And they are convinced that the left will continue the charge against them.
I sometimes sense that, as our country continues to become more and more diverse in religious belief and race, the inclination to preserve the Christianity and whiteness of our country by the Trump base is becoming more and more fierce... and does indeed pose an existential threat to our democracy.
6
The real problem is with liberal progressives and the failure to create a coherent vision. Or to live by it.
Could someone please create a defining label for market socialism that works?
2
Let's assume that Donald Trump only cares about Donald Trump. This level of self importance might lead you to believe that Trump will do anything to get re-elected. Ukraine is a case in point on that one. His election for 4 more years of unbridled power will justify in his mind any action to accomplish that, much like it was explained and sanctioned by Dershowitz at his impeachment trial. So short rethinking is the strategy here, which has always been the case for the Donald Trump. More trillions on the deficit? Pfffffffffft.......his successor can deal with that after another Trump term. Because in the end, Donald Trump cares about just one person.
2
Trump emerged as a populist on economic matters as Paul Krugman wrote today. Trump has evolved into a fascist-lite populist as president and has remarkably been able to keep his coalition of disaffected working class, capitalist plutocrats, religious fundamentalists and vicious racists together throughout his various scandals. This is an example of force of will usurping the rule of law or the desires of the polity. Trump rules with an ethos of "I will do as I please (without policies) and force others to stop me." What is remarkable are the many compromises his constituency has made to perpetuate fealty to the supreme leader. Certain people like power, like to attach themselves to it, worship it and do anything necessary to perpetuate it and in so doing ensure their own self image of cultural and political supremacy. This is not about public policy. Bernie's policies are no more radical than FDR's (even Nixon wanted universal healthcare access). But Bernie (and to an extent Warren) is a threat to both the powerful and the angry, sheep-like downtrodden Trumpists - and this is unacceptable to this coalition of appeasers. This election will be about will and about which candidate, party and voters see their own well being linked to the pugilist who demonstrates superior indifference to maturity and ethics. It will be infuriating at best, horrifying at worst. Wish us luck.
1
The Republican long-term goal of dumbing down America by cutting funding for education at every opportunity has paid off and their gift to America of Trump is the proof that it has
worked. Just check out the level of academic achievement in the states who are most responsive to Trump's mis-representations and you will find a direct correlation between those two factors. You don't have to be poorly educated to buy Trump's lies, but it doesn't hurt. (Maybe that's why he identifies so naturally with those who got stuck on the bottom rungs of the educational ladder just as he did.) It may explain why he makes so much up (lies?). When you don't want to admit repeatedly that you just don't know, you have to fake it.
4
Mr. Krugman is on target except for calling Medicare for All something that is too ambitious. More than 60% of the public has wanted something like what about 40 other nations have enacted for healthcare for about 40 years!
6
Democrats should focus on economy during the campaign. The fact that Trump is lying about that is easy to prove. Democrats should explain, like school teachers if needed, they should go to these crowds acclaiming Trump. All the rest : the insults, the constant lies, the obstruction of congress and the Ukraine scandal, to name just a few presidential realizations won't just go away. There's still time to pursue the work started by congress with the impeachment. Now, it's just economic facts that could really make the difference, elect a democrat and oust Trump. It's a necessity before it's too late.
All this analysis is great, Paul, but how do you reach the masses that don't seem to care about all of his lies? How do you convince an identity-focused mass that there is a better way to move forward?
6
I live in California and the elimination of the SALT deductions has raised my taxes. Paul Krugman is willfully denying this tax increase on the rich and misrepresents the 2017 tax law.
2
People say our democracy is headed for a cliff. I say it's in free fall and will hurt the mindless trump rally crowds worse than most. Is there no bottom to this citizen knowledge vacuum?
237
@Paul Wertz:
We are slowly losing our democracy to a Republican dictatorship. Anybody notice we just had a Senate trial – but trump would not allow witnesses or documents? Notice the House had an investigation – people and documents were subpoenaed, but trump told them to ignore all subpoenas. The NSA and CIA appears to have withheld information it was required to turn over to the House Committees. Border Patrol and ICE are still illegally separating children from their parents and locking them in cages. Trump has the EPA doing the bidding of Big Oil. Trump can ignore the emoluments clause. The Justice Department and Bill Barr are now owned by Trump. Justice refused to investigate anything the House brings them and Barr has posted an order that only he can allow an investigation into campaign finance fraud. We are slowly losing our democracy to a Republican dictatorship.
61
@Paul Wertz
Indeed, Paul. It is not the economy, stupid, it's the education stupid.
It is also no wonder that the half-literate man now sitting in the Oval Office declared his love for the 'under'-educated.
21
@Paul Wertz Sorry, no bottom! A nation of ignoramuses is led by one.
19
The real answer is obvious, Trump will say anything and do anything to stay in power. The reality is that he knows how to play the GOP game, and it isn't all that hard. While tweeting up a storm of 'facts' (backed by Fox News) on how great he is doing, he plays the tough guy with China (to show the white working class Obama was a wimp, and not entirely without merit), he blames immigrants for the loss of jobs (while, I might add, not getting rid of the real threat, the visa programs he himself abused as an employer), he told people Obamacare was a give away to the poor, promised brilliant health care..then all he has done is tried to wipe out obamacare. He said the economy would grow at 6% (it is growing where it was under Obama), he said wages would rise (they haven't)..and it doesn't matter, the base believes him.
Meanwhile, he gave away the store to the rich and corporations, that inflated stock prices, made the rich even more rich, and the base says "look at the Dow"..not bothering to realize, of course, that the stock market does not reflect the real economy, it doesn't cause ordinary workers income to rise, and even with 401k's it helps only those who have large ones (35% of people have no retirement savings, and among those who do, the typical account has 35,000 in it)..and while 50% of people own stock, the typical holding is like 1 grand. So the rich love him, the suburban types love him, the boobs love him, ipso facto he gets re-elected.
3
Excellent article
4
Grand Wizard of White Collar Crime
White collar crime by definition is largely committed for monetary /financial gain by businessmen and governments. What the GOP in Congress has given a slap on the back to the current occupant of the White House. Pretending he's' Presidential' isn't going to change the fact he isn't. Pretending our next election is safe from Russian influence isn't patriotic.No American president as ever gotten away with high crimes and gone unpunished by patriotic statesmen. Republicans pretending it's ok to bait and stwitch the culprits in 2016 election are only fooling themselves. The world is watching the demise of American democracy in real time. Mitt Romney was the single voice of reason for a Republican Party that's lost its credibility.
.
5
This is what you get wrong here: President Trump has TREMENDOUS empathy. Empathy for Donald J. Trump.
So why doesn't your paper call him a liar? Call him out for every single lie. Remind us every day that he has reneged on every thing he said except for the tax cuts for the rich? Every day. Every single day. Call him out.
Also, Medicare for all is less expensive than keeping things the way they are or worse, letting it all go back to how it was before! And as for the lifetime caps? A really bad day can wipe out anyone's lifetime cap in a single day. Single payer is the only option that can ever work long term. Healthcare should not and can not be profit-based!
8
The idea that Trump only cares about protectionism is wrong. There are other things that he cares about deeply:
1) Helping Russia at the expense of America
2) Allowing Nazism to flourish
3) Being as racist as possible
4) Making the world a less stable place
10
The truth about Trump is that he believes that he is not only different but also the greatest leader of all times. His whole behavior is out of wack for one simple reason. Even though his mind is brilliant he has an insane brain that projects an extremely jingoistic brainset.
The bigger tragedy is that rump is just the symptom in chief of what is wrong with most of America.
Our experts list the brain and mind as just the mind when these are two separate entities. As a result we have just mind education and the equally essential brain education is not only missing, the brain is miseducated into projecting a trophy self-image. So we make good money with our well educated brains but we spend it with our miseducated brains.
The trophy self-image is the cause for all these ills of society. From crime, drug addictions, wars to bloated defense budgets, & abuse etc., are all caused by the trophy self-image.
You are the most incisive expert on economics. Please highlight the fact that the reason why the ills of society are as bad as ever when civilization is improving is due to our miseducated brains. Just crime drains a trillion dollars from the economy. Imagine the state of the world if our brain education was on par with our mind education.
The disasters caused by Trump can be used to highlight what is wrong with Trump is also wrong with much of America. Using Trump's example we can change America from an emotionally challenged country into an emotional health super power.
Krugman is undoubtedly correct, "... that Trump’s trade policy has been motivated less by any substantive goals than by the desire to look like a tough guy." But there are aspects. Tariff Man is unconstrained by Congress on tariffs, so he can grab headlines and engage in cronyism. He's a pompous ignoramus who wants to show he's the big cheese, control the news cycle, and funnel millions of public funds to those who kiss his ring.
7
Trump was lying? No! Never! 45* only states 'alternative facts'. Lying? No! Never!
Dear American friends, please get rid of the 'not-lying' 45*.
3
So, the Republican Party lost whatever little soul it had to make a deal with the devil. Who would have thought? Anyone with the ability to think. Looking back, what will future generations think about this period in history? Hopefully, the history books won’t whitewash the Trump era. Hopefully, he won’t get a second term. A fully unhinged Trump is a very scary image.
2
Professor Krugman,
(1) An ideal single-payer health care system is superior to an ideal
ACA system, let alone the mess we now have.
(2) A single-payer health care system will be politically difficult to enact at present in the US.
You have great expertise in evaluating #1. Please provide your opinion of #1 alone, setting aside #2.
I am skeptical of political pundits who profess the ability to predict #2 accurately.
Single-payer will certainly be politically impossible if it is never forcefully advocated.
7
Acting tough on trade deals is just part of Trump's role as a reality TV star. The meaning or consequences of policy are unknown to Trump. He has never heard of the law of comparative advantage.
He does not know that we have a fossil fuel economy that must convert to non-fossil or face extinction of our species. He does not know that when the ice melts and the weight of the water runs down to the sea, the volcano erupts and the earthquakes occur, with coastal flooding, high winds and other extreme weather.
The first shoe to drop will be Brexit as England is pushed back to the home island under a deep recession.
The second shoe is the bond market, the interest rate on US government debt. We cannot print money and transfer it to billionaires forever.
Autocrats always start out spending and end up over their heads in inflation.
2
Viewing this economy from SC, it seems less than impressive. The so-called "opportunity zones" that Senator Tim Scott pushed have not helped the poor communities along the I-95 corridor. Schools there are still sub-standard even by the low SC requirement of a "minimally adequate education."
Block grants were popular in the 1970s. They failed in SC, though perhaps they met the goal of providing even less of a safety net than already available. That's what will happen this time too.
The whole plan is penny-wise and pound-foolish at best. For poor children to grow up to become participants in the workforce, they need good schools and good healthcare, as well as good food. Anything less, such as cutting benefits to punish them for being poor, leaves the entire country worse off.
3
Dr. Krugman observes:
"...the economy has indeed been strong —[and] largely reflects the reality that after hobbling the economy with fiscal austerity under Barack Obama, Republicans have embraced runaway deficit spending under Trump."
So, as with blocking Judge Garland without even a salutary consideration, the Republicans are simply playing pure politics with the budget and economy as well. No big news really, but it's become some blatantly partisan, that one has to pause and gasp.
At some point the economy will implode. Nothing goes straight up forever, certainly not with ballooning deficits. I hope the Republicans are around to take the blame for what they've done. It would be the ultimate irony if a Democrat is in the White House, and the GOP tries blame the result of these Republican strategies on him or her.
Wait. What am I saying? That's exactly what they'll do!
3
When all is said and done, Donald J. Trump will be remembered for the total fraud that he is and has always been. His currently voiced threats to cut healthcare, combined with removing protection for those with "pre-existing conditions" is just one more example of the soulless, heartless fraud that he is and has always been. Combine that with his threat to cut Social Security benefits and you have a universal threat to all average American individuals and families. This is a prescription for the end of Donald J. Trump's tenure in office.
If there ever was a "dark period" in our nation's history, DJT's tenure has to be right up there with the worst of them. Republican politicians will suffer the dire consequences at the polls as well as they will be inextricably "tied" to his policies.
5
He only likes using tariffs because he can easily and quickly enact them on his own to punish countries he doesn't like.
As for his domestic policy, we all know he doesn't care about that stuff, he is not that smart of a man. He lets the GOP leadership tell him what to focus on while he gets to be the showman in chief.
The GOP leadership knows that they just need to give him simple graphs and flatter him to get their policy objectives done.
1
Any attempt to ascribe any rationale to Donald Trump's actions other than being front page news every day is an exercise in foolishness. That said, the Affordable Care Act stands as unconstitutional in full pending review by the court to perhaps save some odds and ends like mandatory calorie counts on restaurant menus, a sick joke no doubt meant for the amusement of Donald Trump. As such, a public option which is meaningless outside the context of Obamacare is no less unlikely than Medicare For All.
Trump taking credit for the economy is like the guy picking fruit taking credit for planting the trees
6
The Dems will stay back on their heels and trump will keep being successful with fear mongering about a left revolution UNLESS we have a candidate that pushes back, repeatedly, on don the con. It’s a case of who is going to fall on theIr petard. That will be the one that looses. Hurry up mayor Bloomberg or the Dems will have nailed themselves to the proverbial cross. I can only that Bloomberg can transcend the clutches of the purity enforcers.
1
Even more malignant is asking SCOTUS to put off decision regarding demolishing the Affordable Care Act and undermining Medicare and SNAP until next calendar year, obviously post-election. They understand voters’ want to keep and improve these programs, so will mislead them into re-electing Trump, but will stab them in the back later. Intentional cruelty is certainly not “Christian.”
2
I this what we want for this country? The Trump administration has increased the budget deficit from less than $600 billion to more than $1 trillion...SO now is the time to cut programs that actually help people.
Among the programs President Trump wants to cut or eliminate are Social Security, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act subsidies, home energy assistance for seniors and people with disabilities, groundbreaking medical research, tools that help local communities fight poverty, job training programs, programs to combat climate change, funding to enforce our trade agreements, pre-school grants, teen pregnancy prevention programs, anti-hunger programs like SNAP, after school programs, federal work study programs, and much more.”
Sure, let's take from the poor and middle class and give more to the wealthy. Do members of the GOP think that Americans won't ever notice?
7
Yet again, and again....and again.....and yet, What?....again: Krugman is utterly correct down to each detail. (I remember all this stuff).
Among the amazing things: the electorate keep buying it.
I have been coming around to the view that the populace simply want to believe the Tory arguments, like they want to believe theology. Something is so compelling in the story line that no amount of contrary facts will budge. Combine that with guilt on the part of regular folks that they can't "stand on their own two feet" economically -- live well without any common supports, also called civilization, and you have this Zombie Arguments situation PK talks about...
Micheal Bloomberg should be advertising on all the points that you raise in this article.
2
Yeah, Paul, but look at all the great things Trump has done for our country. Like, he led that really cool Fourth of July party in DC last summer, where he gave that great speech about how the Revolutionary Army took over all the airports and stuff. And his rallies are really super, what with all the American flags and him making fun of those socialist Democrats and all. And how about that SOTU speech last week—wasn’t it thrilling to see the soldier reunited with his family and Melania presenting the Medal of Freedom to Rush? So inspiring! So patriotic! Really, Paul, you’re such a killjoy.
1
"He was lying."
Trump's epitaph on his golden tombstone.
6
No one writes more insightfully about the current political landscape than Professor Krugman.
1
So he was happy to make what amounts to an implicit deal with the Republican establishment: You get to implement your usual policy agenda, and I get a free pass on my corruption and abuse of power.
Says it all.
305
@axiom7
Yes, they got their tax-cuts and judges, and all other hard-right agenda. Donald Trump couldn't care much about these things. And he got his selfish impulses remain unchecked.
So sad. Hope he won't get a second term. A ray of hope is that Democrats think there's a good chance that he will be reelected, unlike in 2016 when few gave him a chance.
As in 2016, however, Bernie voters may not cooperate. They may not vote for Trump but they may not vote for the eventual nominee.
Democrats' problem is Bernie Sanders, still.
11
@axiom7 Sure looks that way, I agree. So what to do, practically, unpretentiously? Play Republicans as much as POTUS 45.. what do you think?
2
Americans love Medicare. They like the idea of Medicare for All. They will never feel or believe it is possible, or some form of single payer where all are covered, if you continue to use Medicare for All as the death knell of Democratic dreams.
4
Since Clinton, Reagan's trickle-down economics has turned into trickle-up (why don't I see this term more often?): the poor and middle class giving to the rich and ever widening the wealth gap. In France, this led to the revolution. 140 million Americans near poor, poor or destitute is not sustainable and will inevitably lead to a cataclysmic situation that cannot be controlled, not to mention the pending reckoning with an ever exploding deficit.
8
Shocking that Donald Trump would like about loving poor folks, promising to make THEIR America great again, and all the rest.
Simply shocking.
More shocking: That they would believe him.
6
“ My guess, however, is that Trump’s trade policy has been motivated less by any substantive goals than by the desire to look like a tough guy.”
Yes Paul.
Above all else, Trump is a bully.
And his base is probably most energized by his bullying, demeaning, and humiliating of other Americans.
It makes them feel powerful.
14
I love Krugman's economic and ethical analysis, but his political thinking is pretty mushy.
The real problem is that Democrats, when given a deluge of Trumpian policy radicalism, are novices when it comes to translating Trump's attack on Democracy, our planet's ecosystems and ordinary Americans into a loud and sustained moral argument against Trump. Impeaching Trump was a good idea, but it can't become the main thing in the election. The main thing has to be arguments for livable wages, child care, health care, infrastructure, ecosystem protection, clean air and water and ending perpetual warfare, and reminding voters that Trump failed to live up to what he said he would do.
He said he would replace Obamacare with something that was better. He didn't. Instead he tried to simply remove it and throw people with pre-existing conditions off. He said he would end the foreign wars. He didn't. Instead he's blasted some Iranian General right as he's being impeached. He said we would create infra-structure jobs. He didn't. He said he would bring back all those coal jobs. He didn't.
Dems could build a successful campaign simply by vociferously stating unto a tumultuous crescendo all the things Trump said he would do but didn't do at all. It was a bait and switch all along.
That has to be the message. Trump is a huckster who whose mouth twits in hyperactive spasms in a carnival of the grotesque in order to deflect attention from the real suffering he causes.
5
The GOP/Trump/plutocracy nexus has worked out a really neat trick. They effectively have two wings of the Republican Party going simultaneously. The front room operation is the cult of Trump. They rely on the gerrymandered/electoral college advantage to get enough of the population to vote against their own self interests with a sort of professional wrestling marketing language that appeals to fear, disgust, and promises of privilege. Then, the backroom operation run by Mitch McConnell gifts the nation's resources to his plutocrat overlords. Meanwhile, Trump stacks the courts with business friendly justices to guaranteed that the ruse will never be thwarted by the law. Tin pot dictators, company towns, and banana republic despots would be jealous.
5
I have a different take on the Trumpian bargain made between the GOP and a Trump.
Trump is all about power..and a sociopathic, relentless, amoral, dishonest no rules quest for domination by vanquishing all foes, Even Machiavellian Mitch is not as cold blooded as Trump (are turtles cold blooded?). Trump,cares little about actual policy...he isn’t he living proof of the old adage about absolute power corrupting absolutely.
2
"But why is he a self-proclaimed Tariff Man?"
Because it makes him look tough. This is a person - with tens of millions of deluded followers - who thinks machismo and manliness are the same thing.
6
@Steve Including abusing women. My that is really a manly thing to do!
As usual, cogent commentary from the good professor. Doing good work exposing the misconceptions, false assertions and outright lies and hypocrisy of the modern GOP.
2
Pretty well nailed it, Prof.
With t rump it's all about preening and looking like one of the movie tough guys he always wanted to be.
With McConnell it's all about the fascist coup the oligarchs have been paying him to accomplish these last few decades.
One small quibble, this in to up to the Democratic party. It is up to We the People. And the 4th estate. Are the squabbles and mistakes among democrats really the lead stories on all the papers. Or should the lead stories be about corruption and the death of democracy.
3
I think Democrats are more likely to "blow the election" by running a weak candidate than by promoting a "referendum" or any other approach to obtaining universal coverage.
2
As all but one of the Republican Senators voted against impeachment or even calling witnesses, it isn't as though Mr Trump is operating unassisted and in a vacuum.
Unsurprisingly, this will not deter the minority of the electorate from returning them to office at which point he and they will suck our nation's freedom dry and we will never return to the well of liberty.
While we are in for a rough ride, our kids and theirs may never know incorrupt governance.
2
You almost got this piece right. Trump promised many things and didn’t even start following up on any of them. Warren and Sanders talk about giving everyone in the country health care via a Medicare for All program that we all know they will do their best to move us in that direction. On the other hand, you have the audacity to put them down without espousing a real alternative.
"You’ve got to have a dream, if you don’t have a dream, how you gonna make the dream come true.” from the musical "South Pacific”
You and other so-called moderates are stomping on the dream. Please think before you stomp.
3
It's Republican trickle down policies meets En-Trumpy... where hypergreed and powerlust meets a lot of random actions time capsuled in the 1980s.
1
Krugman nails it. Trump has one motive, his brand and one ideology, spread the lies to his fellow Trumpanzees.
Trump is a reality tv star that got cancelled, often failed real estate developer with a failed University, failed airline, failed football franchise, failed food and beverage companies and on and on and on.
Trump is also by far the most pathological liar ever to grace to public sphere.
Let's hope the American voters can wake up, do their homework and vote to get rid of this cancer in November.
6
I am an enrolled agent in New York City and I do over 700 tax returns a year. I have clients that make $20,000 a year to clients who make over $2 million a year. I can tell you that the effective tax rate, in general, has gone down for both. The lower income people have had a bonanza with the $2000 child credit and the earned income credit.. The higher income people are really feeling the hit because their property taxes and state and local taxes have been limited to $10,000. Which is usually not the case with the lower income people. I think this represents a pretty good cross-section of people who live in The tri-state area.
2
To win the general election, Democrats need to make the election about the dumpster fire that is the Trump presidency. By highlighting his corruption and incompetence, especially his efforts to destroy the biosphere and the rule of law, any Democratic nominee should cruise to victory. This is because the unreliable members of the Democratic coalition are driven to the pools far more by fear of disaster than rosy projections of ambitious policy ideas.
Of course, Trump will also be out there, selling the unreliable members of the Republican coalition on the disaster - economically, culturally, demographically, morally - that election of the Democrat will cause. Again, this is what motivates unreliable voters to come vote.
While it is important for Democrats to actually offer and practice good government, we need to get over the fact that this has absolutely no impact on general elections, and will do nothing to convince Republican partisans to change allegiance.
Just win, baby. Catastrophize Trump. Not only is it true, it's also absolutely necessary to win.
7
@Joel
For more than half of our history, U.S. Senators were elected by the legislature of the state they represented. In 1912, the 17th Amendment allowed for the direct election of federal senators by the voters. Senators no longer represent state legislatures. They represent people.
California has 77 times as many citizens as does Wyoming. Both states have the right to elect two senators.
The democratic principle of “one man, one vote” is trampled in our present system. This is grossly unfair and is being currently used by the minority party to its unjust advantage.
Joel, you point out that the smaller states will never willingly give up their unfair advantage. This points to adherence to undemocratic, reprehensible values.
7
Jeez, don't over think it, Paul.
He doesn't care about anything but himself. Never has, never will. How hard is that to understand?
9
winning the Senate is way more useful and important than just voting DT out of office
6
I talked yesterday with a Baptist pastor: He comes from a very poor family in Mexico. He supports Trump. I told him that I could not understand him: Trump insulted whole nations, the Mexicans, he is a rapist, an adulterer, a consummated liar with more than 15,000 lies as measured by the Washington Post, takes advantage of his presidency to promote his hotel business, among other "jewels"... the pastor answer? "God put bad kings to punish the nations, like Israel, but in this case, Trump supports Israel, and that is good"... Like if God needed a nation to protect another.
Like Bertrand Russell "Why I am not a Christian"... in my case, the above mentioned reasons are.
No hope with those blind people, Dr. Krugman. Trump can incrase the deficit, cut social services beyond the bone, enrich the billionaires and drive into bankruptcy this nation, and millions would go down happily with a big smile.
7
The buzz around democrats is how can these republicans support this man after he has insulted them, Rubio, Paul, Cruz and the rest. The answer is they and their deep pocketed supporters are winning. Everything they have wanted has come to pass and if Ginsburg or one of the liberal judges on SC does not make it until the republicans lose the senate they will get abortion and Trump will get a 3rd term. Watching our democracy and other democracies around the world head towards extinction I also question the motives of McCain with his thumbs down vote to save Obamacare. He is being praised as the "maverick" however, maybe he was smart enough to realize that if the republicans repealed Obamacare they would have lost the senate in 2016. He actually saved the senate for the republicans so they can rule with an iron fist and just keep on winning.
4
I remember Trump claiming before his nomination that he was different in not needing donations because he would fund his campaign with his own money.
He pretended he was different. He was lying.
14
Like conservative hero Ronald Reagan said: Social Security cuts would not impact the deficit at all, they are totally funded by the Payroll tax we have been paying since our first W2.
i agree that Trump cares not for people who need help in our Society or even Seniors, he is callous in all regards.
Republicans have made a deal with the Devil...the question is: will the deal continue, or will the Dems come to their senses and tout reasonable changes that fly over Country can get behind? Think Amy Klobuchar
4
As you note, Dr. Krugman, there's a serious danger that the Democrats will blow it with the young passionate about Bernie as well as seniors who are romantics or just too deluded. Socialism is here, and Bernie's variety while not Heinz 57, not so wild, either, as Krugman has said, and it's democratic socialism. Nuance is not the word of the day from the trumpet Trump blares to voters. While he brays and plays that false note, he'll "...destroy the very programs Americans love."
1
republicans obstructed Obama's efforts to 'help the economy' in 2009, VP Pence. They happily splashed in the mud of their real goal, making Obama hated. That's about it. So when infrastructure really would have helped in every. single. way, republicans whined about inflation dangers. Seriously. With interest rates at zero. Oh, and with the Bush wars suddenly put back on the books.
Remember that Twilight Zone episode with William Shatner on the plane? The gremlin was real. The damage was real, and the gremlin was delighted with the mischief, regardless of the possibility that the plane might actually crash. In fact, if it DID crash, the crew and plane's crew could blame the 'fake news' passenger, since HE upset everyone.
I don't expect any trumpie to get the analogy, but the republican party is bent only on one party rule. They warn about enemies of the people (their fellow Americans!) while welcoming totalitarianism with happy, open arms. White supremacy literally TRUMPS America's values, when push comes to shove.
4
The GOP, with the support of the Koch Brothers and other right-wing billionaires, has been on a mission now for several decades to undermine democracy, literally by eliminating majority rule. They know that the majority want government programs that make their lives easier or which improve their well being, so the right-wing agenda is to ensure that the majority cannot vote to overrule the elites they want to put in charge. The GOP agenda has been to eliminate (not just cut back) Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, employer-provided pensions and insurance, public schools, voting rights, and environmental and other government regulations that protect air, water, and consumer rights. This all goes back at least to the 1994 Contract with America, but it has been in the works even longer. As noted in the article, Trump is willing to support all aspects of this agenda as long as he can continue to enrich himself in the process by using the presidency for his private gain. This agenda has been documented in many recent books. Nancy MacLean's Democracy in Chains, focuses especially on James Buchanan who provided the intellectual rationale for these goals. She says quoting Buchanan (p. 149-50): "Why must the rich be made to suffer?" he asked pointedly. If "simple majority voting allowed the government to impose higher taxes on a dissenting individual in the minority . . . what distinguished that from "the thug who takes his wallet in Central Park?"
6
Mr. Krugman, I have no problem with your message, except your constant digging on Senator Sanders. It matters not if a broken door knob is our only choice versus trump, we vote for that other choice.
3
"He was lying."
Understatement of the century.
But people often confuse liars with cynics--and might claim Trump is a cynic. Well--maybe because common misuse can result in new senses of a word.
Cynics--recall Antisthenes, Diogenes--doubt people are as virtuous as they seem, certainly not as they say, even more certain for politicians. But they doubt themselves too.
Trump obviously thinks the American electorate is not as virtuous as they think--he thinks them fools.
Cynics want people to shape up. Trump wants them foolish--deluded and phobic--so he can bilk them.
Nor does the "stable genius" ever doubt himself--at least in public. He thinks it's bad self marketing. He brags all the way to the bank--on his legal milking of the US treasury. His conception of human virtue ranks with Putin's and Stalin's.
3
Of course Krugman knows that Trump's followers don't care if he lies. By now they are well aware that he lies all the time.
But they will continue to remain supportive of him until he dies as long as he continues to ram down the country's throats a right wing agenda. And that includes less government to help those people the right wing hates, primarily non whites. As long as Trump supports turning the clock back to a time when everyone knew their place in society, including blacks, women and non heterosexuals, he will have the sycophantic support of Republican voters.
7
As a result of the Trump tax cuts Federal Revenue increased
......2018 $3.3 trillion.......2019 $3.4 trillion.....2020 $3.6 trillion (projected). Looks like it worked, perhaps we have a spending problem
2
@Doug
Good Morning. Indeed we do have a spending problem. It is a result of shooting ourselves in the foot (again) with a tragically mistimed tax cut reducing revenue. Take a look at https://www.thebalance.com/current-u-s-federal-government-tax-revenue-3305762 a table that lists federal revenue by year. Try to remember what the economy was like in 2007 and then 2010, then 2016 and now. Then look at https://www.thebalance.com/us-deficit-by-year-3306306 a table that lists the federal deficit by year, from 2009 to 2016, years when the Obama administration was saving the US economy from Armageddon. What was the trajectory of the deficit?
The deficit is climbing, again. What are we, the taxpayers getting from this crazy debacle? Are our roads and highways being repaired? How about bridges? flood control? air traffic control? a functioning CDC to protect us from pandemics? improved educational systems to provide the knowledge workers that we need? No we get ever larger military budgets and a collapsing wall on the southern border.
The government is actually supposed to be doing things that are important. Those things must be paid for. The Trump - Bannon - Miller - McConnell philosophy is destroy the Deep State; in other words, the government of the US. The society of the country and the collective welfare of the populace is just collateral damage.
We have long bought in to the "American Dream" that statistics bely, and now it is not just false upward mobility. It is a dream that by going backward and digging in our heels, we will return to white male heaven. It promises that if we can just control women's reproduction, them gays, and the wicked guvmint, order will be restored.
Putin does order; Trump does messy mob boss chaos.
The rest of us will reap the whirlwind of grotesque deficit spending and unqualified ultra-conservative judges.
6
Paul nails it with this Deal-With-The-Devil analysis - "You get to implement your usual policy agenda, and I get a free pass on my corruption and abuse of power." All that's left is to figure out which is the 'Devil', McConnell or Trump.
3
Agree with article and can’t understand why Democratic candidates can’t do a better job communicating their differences with Trump and Republicans. Instead many Democrats demonize wealth and successful business people, want government to completely run healthcare, pander to minorities and ignore majorities. At this rate, Trump will win the presidency and Republicans will flip the house, then watch out!
Any economically literate person should know that this economy is still Obama's (& Bernanke's) and that Trump has done little to enhance it. But the average voter is not going to listen to me; they're not even going to listen to Krugman! It will be up to the Democratic candidate to make a clear and simple case that if you think the economy is doing well, credit the last Democratic administration, not Trump. And to make an understandable case that a cyclical crest in employment and wages does not change the structural disadvantages that have left working families behind the past 40 years.
2
The "opportunity zone" scam has taken many local names. In northeastern Pa., it was (and apparently still is) known as the Keystone Opportunity Zone program. It was huge subsidy for big outfits that got tax breaks for destroying natural areas by paving them over and building huge warehouses, etc. A real debacle.
3
The way Democrats will blow the election is to nominate another middle roader like Hillary Clinton. Healthcare was not nearly as important in the 1918 election as Professor Krugman suggests and it won't be nearly as important in 2020 unless it is because there is huge support for Medicare for All.
1
I just read "What a Trump rally looks like from the inside". Where to begin....
1
Michael Bloomberg.
Please!!!
2
To register one point of disagreement, Trump’s desire to bring back manufacturing to this country is more than just posturing. Aside from bringing back higher paying jobs to his perceived base, his mercantilist trade “deals” reflect a view of manufacturing that is deeply interconnected with his militarism and the projection of American power abroad. From Trump’s perspective, a weak manufacturing base is a strategic vulnerability. True, his trade deals are very unlikely to achieve the desired result but they do reflect his sense of threat,personal or otherwise. All of which is to say that focusing on the inequalities of his budget priorities without considering the military side of the ledger and what it portends is a big mistake.
Krugman continues to deflect from his own statement in 2016 when he claimed that the American stock markets and economy would collapse under a Trump presidency. He has been proven 100% wrong, as every economic indicator is at or near record highs, while unemployment has fallen to record lows. The Noble Prize winner in economics needs to return the prize. It was awarded to someone who refuses to accept economic success when it stares him right in the face.
3
"In other words, Trump in practice, as opposed to Trump in pretense, has turned out to be every bit as committed to trickle-down economics as Republicans in Congress have been for decades."
It sounds to me more like millions of trickles up from the pockets of the poor combining into a flood for the rich than it sounds like trickle down.
3
What has happened to the review of Trump's taxes? IRS has been sidelined not unlike Congress, but presenting the information to the Public would be the best check on his power to avoid accountability.
8
Well, Mr. Krugman, what about all the Democrats who pretended they were there to help the middle and working classes and ended up being shills for the banks and large corporations? If the Democrats nominate another such candidate, people will vote for the real Republican. What this country needs is a real socialist party that will really oppose the interests of capital. Maybe the younger generation who seem to favor socialism (i.e., AOC and friends) will finally do it, and maybe, just maybe, this time the Democratic Party establishment will let Bernie win and real change will take place. Not holding my breath, though.
1
The deficit went up by 10 trillion dollars under Obama, he virtually doubled it and pushed the rate of increase to never before seen highs, and yet Mr. Krugman calls this "austerity". Moreover he calls this austerity compared to Trump, where if his rate of deficit increases continue, will still end up shy of Obama's 10 trillion deficit increase over two terms.
And on top of all of this, the stock market is doing well, unemployment is at historic lows, wages are going up.
I'm sorry but trying to run on economic doom and gloom is not going to work. It's just patently ridiculous to think Democrats have a leg to stand on criticizing the economy under Trump.
Stick to healthcare reform. That's a popular platform that most Americans support. A moderate democrat that promises to reduce the cost of medicine and extortionate hospital prices could sleep through November and not worry about the results.
4
@Joel Oh, jeez, yeah, at the tail end of the financial crisis and caused by Republican style lax regulation of banks, Wall Street and the entire housing and mortgage industries along with good old fashioned Republican style greed.
4
@Joel, ten billion deficit eh? yea, thanks to Republican GW, get your facts straight. Austerity?, yea thanks to Republicans who blocked every significant boost in spending to pull the nation out of impending financial collapse of their own making (with a nod to Clinton)..again get your facts straight. Obama reduced the long term deficit....again, get your facts straight and no, I didn’t vote for him.
4
@Joel He had to save us from the GOP Pump and Dump Collapse of 2008!
2
More euphemisms. When are people going to realize that the deal between the GOP and Trump was made to create what Karl Rove termed “a permanent Republican majority” and I call an autocracy. This deal, I call a coup has already transformed, “deconstructed” as Steve Bannon described it, our democracy. The GOP found in Trump the perfect cult leader, king wannabe to dupe followers into accepting the Republican policies that will ultimately undermine all of us. By the time we all understand what has transpired I fear it will be too late to salvage the infrastructure of our precious democracy. This is why the 2020 election is so important. We are not just electing a president and representatives; we are choosing the path for our nation. Will we continue our great “experiment” in democracy or fall prey to the dark forces of authoritarianism so admired by Trump?
18
Democrats' attempts to bring Trump down on the grounds of his scandals and crimes, in the 2016 campaign, in the Mueller hearings and in Ukrainegate, have flopped badly - his approval ratings have been untouched. He has to be attacked on his failed economic promises - these are things that swing voters should be able to relate directly to their own lives. Abortion laws and some other social issues will also directly affect many. To do this Democrats will probably have to have have economic programs that promise real improvement, not just a return to the pre-2016 status quo. What programs are proposed will obviously not be determined until after the nomination is decided and how far left to go is a major problem, but the major media are not helping by using phony Republican arguments, for example about the total cost of universal health care, and claiming that the more leftish candidates have no chance of election. The media including most pundits are actually coming down pretty solidly against real progressive action. What Democrats promise should not be limited by what Mitch McConnell will allow.
7
Trump is very good at mentioning what people want to hear , the first soundbite, but never following through. He only wanted the President of Ukraine to announce an investigation not actually do one.
Have we caught on, the country and the media, that you have to do a little digging and see what really happened past the first soundbite? And please, a little more discussion about the economy Trump inherited is the Obama economy, back from almost a new Depression and Republican obstruction of any good for the American people; it has been an expanding economy for almost 11 years. Same with the military; each president inherits the last president's armed forces and usually sends a letter to the former president thanking them. I am sure that wasn't done.
1
Trump lavishes favors on those who proclaim his genius and/or run his dirty errands.
3
But why has Trump turned out to be such a conventional Republican?
Since he really know absolutely nothing about governing or even our government (as seen from his ham-handed approach to be to boss of the other two branches) he appointed and hired people who are conventional republicans.
I dare say that it may have been wise of him to install those republican institutional nimrods. If they had not been in place, what we may have seen if it were Trump and only Trump making important decisions is a his talent for filing for bankruptcy applied to our nation - which in pieces we have seen - but it could be much worse.
2
The Democrats may "blow" the election, but the ambitions ideas are coming whether you like it or not, for all the reasons you have outlined here. We are at an important inflection point where it is becoming clearer and clearer to more and more people that the centrist polices of the last several decades have been a huge failure.
4
I couldn’t agree more. The democratic candidate field must narrow down sooner rather than later, and center around how to win the White House in 2020. Their platforms are more similar than opposite, and there is not much of a chance that any policies too far from the middle will actually be enacted - that’s just a plain fact in this era and they all know it. I firmly believe that there will be a continuation of the current administration if Bernie Sanders is the democratic nominee, and that can’t happen. This is not “politics as usual” and while it is good that people speak out in any forum, we’re mainly preaching to the choir here. We need to get behind a candidate who actually has a chance of beating the current occupant of the White House, and I’m starting to see Mike Bloomberg as that person. I am not wild about him buying the nomination, but he’s looking like someone who can win. That’s all I’m looking for in a candidate this time around.
3
Mike Bloomberg promises to take fundraising out of the equation of this election.
Krugman’ s observation that Trump has melded his personal grifter desires with traditional Republican trickle down economics is the most salient aspect of this column. In effect both parties are giving each other political steroids to enhance future performance.
The truly scary aspect of this union is the accelerating and relentless rate at which the nation is moving toward what many scholars refer to as neofeudalism. I don’t disagree with this term, but it makes short shrift of the much more ominous and threat of fascism which is choking out Democracy without much more than whimpering by learned observers like Krugman.
It’s kinda like this folks. Bernie and his coat tails to take back the Senate is really our last best hope. Blow this opportunity and you will be left with 30 years teeth gnashing fear and misery.
13
Why the endless paying of "policy wonks" to look at a president who is not even there? There was NEVER any infrastructure plan. As there was none with Reagan.
When do the majority of Americans get it? It happened when Reagan was sworn into office.
There are two standards now-accountability for Democrats and excuses for Republicans.
As a 61 year old lifelong Democrat who has always voted Democrat, in part because I lived through the criminal era of Nixon, I'd suggest Americans figure it out. To some degree all of you who supported Reagan brought Trump onto us yourselves. Stop acting surprised. You have been promoting sociopath behavior since 1968 with the nomination of Richard Nixon.
18
There is no election democrats can’t blow. I predict that unless they nominate someone like Mike Bloomberg, with a VP with strong foreign policy chops, they will again.
8
Somebody please tell me that the Democratic candidates will read this column.
3
Mr. Krugman —can you give us your top five stock picks for 2020? I want to short them before it’s too late!
4
@Pjlit Good try, but the facts remain. You can insult, but the facts remain. Trump can lie to you, but the facts remain. Sorry: "And there has, of course, been no infrastructure bill; in fact, the Trump administration’s repeated proclamations of “Infrastructure Week” have become a running joke."
3
Oh, please. Trump doesn't even know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid. They were just lines in a stump speech that sounded good to him. Expecting any policy knowledge from this shyster is ridiculous.
7
@RS but McConnell knows, and that’s what matters. Trump only matters insofar as he can wield a pen and curb his most vicious instincts, when it comes to loyal Republicans.
3
lol. "Republicans lie" should be enough to bury the party, yet in America, this makes them win more. Lying is what wins, not truth.
7
This country took a fatal wrong turn when it allowed the powerful Democratic Party of the former Confederate states to bring Reconstruction and the empowerment of African Americans living in the South to a halt in the mid 1870s. Most of the nation’s ills can be traced directly to that horrible turning point in our history,
Since then, the two parties have been flipped on their heads. The so-called ‘Party of Lincoln’ has become the party of the wealthy and the trusts, i.e., big banks, wealthy investors and corporations. And it has not only absorbed but has been dominated by the Dixiecrats of the former Confederacy - thus its stranglehold on the politics of Alabama, Mississippi, et al. But for its transformation from the “Party of Lincoln” into its polar opposite, the Republican Party likely would have ceased to exist more than a century ago.
Like the Southern Democrats of yesteryear, the GOP of the 21st century leverages willful ignorance, xenophobia and racism to stay in power. It relies on a sleight of hand - while purporting to be ‘the party of the little guy’ and ‘the party of freedom,’ it screws the little guy and tramples on our freedoms. That’s the strategy that wealthy Southern slave owners and industrialists used to subjugate and exploit dirt poor, uneducated white sharecroppers to their own detriment and send them off to die in the Civil War; and that’s the Republican Party of Trump today.
If Lincoln came back today, he’d curse the whole lot of them.
10
addition's tricky pal math shows why supply side
is just a gigantic con. it has never worked and will
never work.
yeah, the zombie lie that will not die
1
I'm at a loss... trump lies, his minions swear to it and his base, for some reason, thinks he is making America great again and jumps up and down???
The ballot box is our only salvation!
VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!
6
Really ? '....after hobbling the economy with fiscal austerity under Barack Obama...' . I guess ten trillion in added debt is fiscal austerity? Come on, Paul, your hatred of Trump is now just getting silly.
4
Gee, Trump lying? What a shock.
2
A president who lost to his opponent by nearly 3 million votes, and a Senate controlled by a party which lost to the Democrats by a combined total of 18 million votes continue to enact policies consistently opposed by a majority of Americans.
This is what democracy looks like in the 21st century?
14
@pczisny
Let's look at the vote break down by state shall we? In California 8,753,788 people voted for Hillary, and only 4,483,810 voted for Trump. A difference of more than 4 million. That right there is your "majority". It's entirely in the margins of stronghold states like California or New York (another state where Hillary's victory margin encompassed the entirety of her 3 million national lead).
How then did Trump manage to win? Because he won a plurality of states rather than focusing on a few densely populated states. Winning the popular vote doesn't matter in American politics, it's never mattered. What matters is having more states, because states are sovereign entities that represent the collective will of their citizens.
Calling this unfair is pointless, because you cannot alter this part of the US political process without getting states to voluntarily give up their own franchise in the Senate. And small Republican states will never do this. You cannot disenfranchise states even by constitutional amendment because to do so would be to unravel the very fabric of the United States, which is, as you might guess by the name United STATES, a union of states.
At this point Democrats harping on about the electoral college are practicing willful ignorance.
@Joel , Hillary did not just win CA for heavens sake. She won 20 states, plus DC. Funny how we in CA accept that our presidential votes don't count, but your tribe also wants to write off the people in very populated states like NY and NJ just to make your point about California. That said, the EC is very outdated and undemocratic, a slave era relic that no other country has anything like. In fact no individual state uses anything similar to determine their statewide elections. Why not? Because other entities understand that a representative democracy is intended to represent people, not acres.
2
Everyday I thank heaven that All In The Family is no longer aired on TV because Trump's base prefers to pick their candidates from TV and Archie Bunker and Donald Trump share the same positions on just about everything. I think they would have gone for Archie Bunker over Trump because he has a bit more class.
3
As usual Prof. Krugman, right on target! Keep it up. You are one of the most consistently focused opponents to the lies that have been foisted by the Republicans on the public for the past 40 years. Your clarity of thinking and ability to educate the rest of us is commendable.
The US is hierarchical in a very peculiar way. Wherever one fits into the pyramid, one is obliged to take whatever abuse one gets from above and pass it down onto those below. Woe be to those who break the chain out of egalitarianism.
1
Medicare for all? I want that.
If not, then Trump it is.
The GOP, once the proud party of Lincoln, has now become the POT, the shameful party of Trump and is sycophants. It would be comical if our republican form of democracy was not facing the threat of becoming a monarchy, as Trump has hinted might be a good idea.
It will be very difficult to “un-see” what we’ve witnessed of the GOP and our fellow citizens.
4
Perhaps the most infuriating thing about the Trump years--which is saying a lot--is that every time he seems about to hit a devastating political obstacle, he avoids it through no action of his own and comes out undamaged.
--ACA repeal, or SCOTUS upholding this most recent bananas challenge, would have put his worst issue front and center.
--The extreme pseudo-tough guy version of trade policy might have killed him in the midwest, showing for all the vapid cruelty behind his "policy agenda."
--Even with the Russia investigation, he was arguably saved by Mueller being conscientious and institutionalist to a fault and declining to draw obvious conclusions as to where the evidence led, and what the obstruction blocked.
You can see it all falling apart for the country, and that this guy seems to have the luck of the devil does not help.
2
Paul, You are absolutely right. It's a shame you didn't raise these points three years ago.
Trickle down economics has been a winning ticket for Republicans since Reagan touted it 40 years ago. Does it really take 40 years to flesh it out?
Reagan and Trump are birds of a feather, con artists there to sell Republican policy. Reagan got his cues from America's corporation, GE, when his job was as their pitch man. Trump gained his reputation as a slippery con man in New York over a number of years. He was less refined than Reagan and is a genuine artful dodger and liar.
Both Reagan and Trump used the same format, a hat with the motto Make America Great Again. It would be hard to determine which man made the greatest contribution to the financial destruction of the middle class and its workers. Reagan said, If you are not happy with your situation, vote for me. Trump said, at his lying best, vote for me and I'll bring your jobs back.
I hope it doesn't take another 40 years to realize that they were both con men, touting the same Republican policy.
It's really hard to get your mind around the fact that American corporations would intentionally outsource American jobs to increase their profits. But that is exactly what they did. Manufacturing jobs are down now at the level of 2008, a recession.
3
Why do Democrats have this holier than thou attitude, and feel compelled to put extreme left policies as necessary fixes for our economy.
It just makes us look stupid and out of touch with reality.
Some of these social programs have gone so far out left that they make no fiscal sense and only encourage dependence.
We are capable of collectively solving fundamental needs of our people and also ensuring all programs - such as education, healthcare, infrastructure and balanced entitlements are well funded.
Medicare for all should be sensible and practical so more people are covered with better quality of life care rather than a free for all program. Yes, food programs in school should be fully funded to encourage lower income children to attend school. Medicaid is flagrantly abused, let's admit it.
I'm appalled at this new program to allow illegal immigrants drivers licenses. No country does this for illegal residents who have overstayed their visa dates.
We should have asylum laws that are sensible and well thought out rather than knee jerk and emotionally driven.
I'm a proud Democrat, but enough is enough!
We're losing our credibility of being the educated grownups in the room with a majority of Americans because we sound fiscally out of touch and emotional.
6
I’m starting to get the feeling that Krugman doesn’t like Trump.
2
ecce homo.
Trump's clearly unfit. He doesn't put place or time or duration to any of the qualifiers in his utterances.
His followers should've unfollowed him, long ago.
You can argue they don't have functioning brains,
You can posit facts.
Rationality isn't as useful as it should be.
Viz, Stalin. Viz, Ceaucescu. Viz, Aldoph.
In the meantime, get your friends
and not your friends,
to go VOTE.
1
I think Trump's trade war against the Chinese is based in the same disease that compels his fixation with overturning everything Obama, ridding the USA of Latinos & blocking disaster aid to Puerto Rico: Racism.
Trump just couldn't stand that the Chinese People work so much harder & more skillfully, for so much less & at such great personal sacrifice & with such greater sense of work-ethic, that they absolutely stomped American manufacturing within a generation.
Trump wasn't trying to protect American Workers, he just hates the Chinese.
3
his policies (are there any)
1
Didn't know that Mike Pence was actually a closeted Keynsian...Outstanding news!
Never forget this: repealing Obamacare is also a 3.8% tax cut on large investment incomes.
Trump's base won't punish him, and many "independents" will support him, because th manufacturing sector is now a minor job provider. So the negative effects of the tariffs are almost invisible. Out of sight, out of mind.
What's everyone complaining about? GDP growth is 2.3%, stocks are up double digits the past few years, jobs are being created at a pace of 200k per month, corporate profits are at or near all time highs, consumer confidence is rising, wages are rising above inflation, more Americans are working than ever before, consumer spending is at all time highs, etc.
Ooops! That was actually the trend from 2014 to 2016, metrics that practically match the US economy in 2019. The difference is a Republican is in office, so the economy is like the best ever in the entire history of our nation, while 2014 to 2016 was a massive economic disaster and depression because a Democrat was in office.
7
"...there’s a real danger that Democrats will blow the election by making it a referendum on ambitious ideas like so-called Medicare for all that are unlikely to become reality, rather than on Trump’s ongoing efforts to destroy programs Americans love."
Not very brave, Professor Krugman. This is a chance for the country to step up and change the disastrous course of wealth concentration we've suffered for four decades, and the Democratic establishment can't work up the courage to do it. When climate change displaces millions of people, you'll be gone, but your contribution to the ultimate failure will be remembered.
1
If memory serves, Obama pretended to be different too.
Obama campaigned as a progressive.
Obama preached change.
In the end, nothing changed.
90% of the gains went to the <1%. The middle class fell below 50% for the 1st time in decades in 2014 year 6 for Obama. The trends before the Great Recession continued well after.
Yes he did get us through the Great Recession but just barely w/ minimal stimulus, 1/3 of which was tax cuts. Cash for Clunkers may have been the saving event.
(A proper response to the Great Recession was done in S.Korea. They did a Keynesian stimulant equivalent to 25% of GNP over 4 years much of it poured into infrastructure. S.Korea was 1 of only 2 countries to show net growth in 2009. By 2010 unemployment in S. Korea was at 4% many years in advance of the US. In the US a similar policy would have been $1 trillion a year for 4 years. A stimulus of less than $1 trillion just wasn't serious. We got $900 billion, a third was tax cuts, arguably a cause of the problem. The short fall in GNP was $1 tril per year about the size of Bush tax cuts made during his 1st 4 years. The difference between collapse & recovery may have been the stimulus Cash for Clunkers created for cars). Obama had an opportunity to change the country & upgrade our infrastructure: he punted.
What Obama showed (& Hillary failed to learn) that a Dem can't win w/out a progressive campaign. Voters are weary of progressive promises by candidates w/out credibility. That leaves only Bernie.
5
Remember Congress, led in that year six by Ryan and McConnell? Apparently not.
4
Apparently, military aid for Ukraine is not the only quid pro quo in this administration and this one is likely far more damaging to us in the long run. It would be interesting to see how much money has flowed from Trump's super-PACs into the coffers of senators who are in squishy zones for re-election - just in time for a rigged result in the impeachment trial.
3
The Democratic Party should build an advertising campaign precisely on Dr. Krugman's point - Trump appealed to the anxiety and alienation of the working class but has revealed himself in gleeful league with the aristocrats.
However, the DNC, funded largely by its own aristocrats, is afraid that doing so will push support to progressives, like Sanders or Warren, and away from its softly corrupt ruling-class cupbearers, like Biden. So, once again, they are caught with their drawers down, feckless and discombobulated.
2
I am looking “forward” to retirement with only my personal savings providing the support. In ten years (my target retirement date), the probability of ANY money remaining in the Social Security Trust Fund will asymptotically approach zero. Do the math: cut taxes for the wealthy, shaft the working class. That is the only way to have a sound economy.
1
No, Trump will most likely not pay a price for disregarding many of his promises, often the most beneficial for the poorer classes. Mainly because his voters believe that he has kept them---as much as he could in spite of the opposition. He is a slick, suave liar, and will say that he kept all his promises. At the same time as His Justice Dept. (Barr ) was fighting coverage for preexisting conditions in the courts he was proclaiming that under his watch preexisting conditions will not be touched. And he gets away with all these lies and his pushing all kinds of conspiracy theories---he gets away with these distortions and lies because he yells a lot and has a Bully Pulpit.
5
George Bush got vooodo economics right. Trickle down like a water leak will corrode our infrastructure to the sorry state of today. As an artist I have received trickled down support. More than starvation but less to live on. The economy is growing with new fast food joints or dollar stores on every vacant store space in NJ. Not much else and luxury rental signs everywhere.
I am always struck by how little Trump actually does. He tweets frequently, true. But he doesn't do much actual governing
The tax cut for millionaires was written by Republican Senators and passed with handwritten text in many places. The revised NAFTA was negotiated by Robert Lighthizer. I doubt Trump even read it. Speeches aren't prepped and facts are falsified for effect. They all sound like reruns.
He often talks as though he hasn't a clue what the laws are or even what the Constitution demands of him. He says he knows everything and doesn't need advisers, but we all know -- and in his heart he also knows -- that he knows very, very little. He is a fraud.
9
Statistics tells us that half the people are below average intelligence. But I think the percentage must be much higher in the USA.
3
@Bugs Apparently math skills are just as bad in Canada. If we're talking about half the population they would be below the median not the average.
Trump ran on the Personal Ego Platform and lied to and conned anyone he could get a vote from.
There are suckers born every minute. Unfortunately they also vote.
6
Unskilled Employment
Prison, the big house, warehoused for ten -
So undeserving to be up there again;
On parole and probation, never reported
Out on mean streets till I’m deported;
Sell quality product; coke at short measure,
Dodging detection, the mean streets a pleasure;
Good times for the summer; they couldn’t last,
Dodging the law; I just wasn’t that fast.
Yes, he WAS lying, and a large percentage of his supporters realize this. But they're going to stick to their guns because:
1) No one likes to admit he was duped.
2) Their hatred for those who scorn them for their support-- people who've always looked down on the type who attends trump rallies-- overrides all else, including their responsibility to their country.
7
Oh. This was an article about Bernie Sanders on NH Primary Day.
Everything sounded exactly as Prof. Krugman had opined in the past.
It's always inspiring to have the NYTimes leading Economics columnist remind us not to have any economic "ambition."
He did get out there with the idea that "Americans love" spiraling premiums and deductibles in the ACA, Max Baucus' barely Constitutional gift to the health insurance industry. So there's that.
2
It's been a given for 3 years. He cannot tell the truth. Who else has racked up over 16,000 fact checked lies. People go to his rallies not because they are all his supporters but because he puts on a show.
1
Trump is not about trickle down. He is flat out about monetizing US power for his and his families personal gain. They are looting our country.
12
Fox has there ears only real pain in the pocket will get there attention, other than that they are followers. Government debt is not there issue most I know on the right have been brain washed it would seem they will follow this guy off a cliff it is hard to be in our country and watch.
One has only to look at the adjacent column:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/opinion/trump-rally-new-hampshire.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage
to realize that people are not paying attention to the full economy or total impact of the current administration on the future of our country and of the world. As long as DJT brings "bread and circuses" to the rally, there will be no questions asked.
2
Putting this in a macro-American context ...
"In America today, 140 million people are poor or low wealth. While three individuals own as much wealth as all of them put together, the real cost of living has soared as wages have stagnated. Since the 1970s, the number of people who are paying more than a third of their monthly income in rent has doubled, and there is not a single county in the nation where a person working full-time at minimum wage can afford to rent a two-bedroom apartment. Sixty per cent of African Americans are poor or low-income, as are 64% of Hispanics, but the largest single racial group among America’s poor and low-income – 66 million Americans – are white.
-- Rev. William Barber, author of https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/11/trump-economy-poor-americans-vulnerability
... makes the clarity of Dr. Krugman's article all the more critical for the people trying to bring constructive change to the US to grasp.
3
What is it that Democrats don't like about Trump?
The fact that over 50% of the jobs created on his watch have gone to women, or that unemployment for minorities is the lowest ever, or that the 50%of Americans who own stock have seen their 401KS and IRAS grown, or that we are not in a major war?
Or just what is it?
4
@RD We are still in Iraq and Afghanistan and Syria. Don't give me he kept us out of war.
4
Stick around long enough, and you’ll figure it out.
3
The Trump administration - Never forget.
Trump is the president for foreign policy and trade. Federalist,Heritage,AEI and Cato are the president for everything else!
1
Trump is just the latest, and most likely the worst, republican elected to federal office.
He follows the same party line: cut spending and benefits for workers and the poor, and shift national income to the wealthy, using their favorite tool - tax cuts.
What’s our trouble? The republicans.
8
I much prefer the government run deficits rather than running my own personal deficits.
The government can print money.
I cannot.
2
The more concentrated the power, the greater the threat of corruption.
Trump’s push for bilateral trade agreements negotiated under threat of escalating tariffs controlled solely by Trump himself is a classic, third-world recipe for secret side deals, bribery, and self-enrichment.
Foreign leaders developing a negotiating strategy only have to ask themselves one question: is Trump an honest man?
1
The ongoing effort to deconstruct Trumpism and the tsunami of lies behind it, in an effort to convince Trump supporters that the man is a con artist is pointless. Will Trump pay a price for betraying his promises? Not with a base that raucously cheers his "Promises Made, Promises Kept" rallying cry. Will lengthy dissertations on the true source and complexion of economic growth, or the complicated effects of deficits on securities markets lift the veil? Not with a base that enjoys raising a middle finger to truth, logic and anything bearing a "liberal" label.
Dr Krugman gets everything right in this column except his conclusion, that Democrats must focus on Trump's ongoing efforts to destroy programs Americans love. His supporters do not care if those programs are destroyed, even if they are swept away with the rubble. Their intractable fear of the progressive agenda far outweighs their fear of losing any of those programs, and left wing appeals to their self interest do nothing but reinforce those fears.
Democrats must focus on one thing, and one thing only: Democratic voter turnout. We must do everything we can to overcome the structural deficiencies in our electoral system that has given the minority party majority power.
8
@Jim: The judiciary is already mined.
Time to abandon all opinion pieces about Trump. Personally, I long ago quit reading "news" articles simply reporting on something Trump said that day. We know all we need to know about Trump, and there can't be any basis for forming any new opinion about him. Apparently he really can do anything, without any accountability, so the best thing is to just boycott even mentioning him any further. The task now is, to paraphrase Trump himself, "get him out of there. Do it tomorrow" (or, let's say, in November). Unfortunately, even that won't rid us of the GOP, but it's a healthy step in the right direction.
10
The candidates in the Democratic primaries could learn from the lessons of the election in Ireland. While pleased with the incumbent leadership’s Brexit outcome, voters placed a priority on fixing, not trashing and replacing, the current public health system. Young voters also voted for government investment in living standards, improved public investment and equitable taxes on tax-free multinational corporations. The nation lacks affordable housing, has a severe homeless problem and lacks prompt medical treatment. Sinn Féin’s campaign addressed these concerns.
3
'It is also supporting things like work requirements for food stamps and block grants that would de facto lead to major cuts in Medicaid compared with current law.'
Why can't we have work requirements when we give tax cuts to the wealthy: ensure they hire, create new jobs, move businesses to enterprise zones? Of course the GOP would say, "You can't shackle job creators with requirements".
6
A few years ago, was invited by daughter and husband to accompany them on a trip to the Grand Canyon a destination I've always wanted to see. . One stop along the way was Las Vegas, not my kind of town, but anyway got a chance to take in it's many offerings. Tickets were bought to see what many claim to be the worlds greatest illusionist, David Copperfield. He plays to audiences night after night entertaining them with his tricks.
Illusion took on a new form of expression in donald trumps ability to convince millions with his lies and distortion of fact. For three years they continue to believe his illusions are in fact real. That is more frightening then perpetrator himself.
6
When Paul Krugman is to the right of Bernie Sanders, at least as related to Medicare for All, one can understand why a Bernie Sanders nomination would guarantee another four years of Trump. Wake up Democrats.
5
I am not sure what "conservative" means anymore. Certainly the Republican budget-busting Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was anything but conservative. Nor was the increase in military spending, to a level usually only seen in wartime, when we are not really at war, "conservative".
I am not so sure about "progressive" (formerly known as "liberal") either. Even longtime Democrats appear horrified at the prospect of universal healthcare or widely affordable good education.
Seems to me we need to refresh our nomenclature. How about "radical capitalists" and "center-right moderates" ?
3
It seems to me that Mike Pence’s comment about not worrying about the deficit if it boosts the economy is really saying he and the Trump Administration really don’t care what happens to the economy once they aren’t in charge.
Let the Democrats pull us out of a free fall. Again.
Fiscal conservatives? I’d say the Democrats can lay claim to that term at this point.
9
I'm not sure about the red flag concerning Medicare For All. Polling suggests most Americans are in favor of some form of universal health care. How we get there will be a subject of robust policy debate but taking a jab at Bernie's signature proposal misses the target. Trump and his minions launched a revolution because most Americans do not trust the "establishment". Democrats must do the same or face the consequences.
4
@LH: The US cannot negotiate a public health care plan because triage is the first parameter of the process. It does not make sense to invest medical resources in hopeless cases. It is tough to accept that one will have to die at some point.
1
Steve Bolger, The same was said about many diseases that have since been cured, or at the least, created treatments for a longer, comfortable life for those with incurable conditions. Just because their lives may be impaired or cut short does not negate their right to healthcare! Exactly what do you think hospice is?! Universal healthcare for all citizens is the right thing to do for a healthy society physically, emotionally and intellectually. Believe it or not, there are areas of the country of which citizens are being put in jail for not showing up in court when they're being sued by a healthcare provider. To those who do not know what this is called- its DEBTERS JAIL under the guise of failure to appear. America needs to be proactive, not reactive! Prevention can go a long way..
3
@LH
Waving the red flag to warn against universal healthcare is part of Krugman's job description.
My fear is that the enthusiasm for things like Medicare For All, free college etc., will result in voting for a "revolutionary" candidate who won't be able to get anything passed unless the Democrats capture the Senate.
If one of the Senators who are in the 2020 race wins that further decimates the Senate.
Vote Blue No Matter Who.
2
Trump claims the economy is the greatest ever. If you think it, that implies we're in a situation where there is little need to save money by harsh measures such as reducing food stamp programs.
The juxtaposition of "greatest economy ever" with support program cuts shows this has nothing to do with budgetary needs. A better explanation is that those cuts are proposed simply because Republicans don't like the government helping people with those programs.
It's actually pretty obvious if you just listen closely.
4
The road to the White House for Democrats is the issue of healthcare. Healthcare in the the U.S. is a $4 Trillion disaster, and every single American is effected by healthcare.
There is no other issue that so directly impacts every single American like healthcare. Not immigration, education, foreign policy, day care, or even social security or housing or even the economy, all important issues but healthcare and the desire of the Republicans to destroy existing healthcare without any plan to repair or replace is the issue that will get the White House back.
The aim of the GOP is to get rid of the ACA, Medicaid and yes, Medicare without any replacement, and leave each and every American to fend for themselves for healthcare in the marketplace. C'mon candidates - Drive this issue to the White House.
9
An economy based on tax cuts and fees for managing wealth - that is if you have any wealth to invest.
And even if you have the wealth to invest, you're only gradually transferring your wealth to the uber-rich fund managers, bit by bit, in the form of ridiculous fees and hidden charges. Why are many of the fees legal?
Campaign "donations" by the uber-wealthy.
Can't forget to give a special shoutout to the military industrial complex. They certainly do their part to keep the economy humming along.
This economy is not sustainable - unless we have a full blown war.
How else do you create a market for military equipment?
6
The Republican Party is destroying the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which insures that millions of lives receive comprehensive healthcare. Led by Texas State Attorney General, Ken Paxton, Republicans are slow walking the finish of ACA's headstone after "US District Court Judge Reed O'Connor agreed and struck down the full law. The appeals court majority agreed."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/politics/obamacare-appeal-ruling/index.html
Paxton has recently argued that the Supreme Court should stay out, for now. Republicans don't want to draw fire in an election year for their activist judges' foul deed. But, be assured, the last nail in ACA's coffin is ready to be driven after the November 3rd contests.
Remember THE REPUBLICAN LIE:
Pre-existing conditions are covered by our plan.
Guard your voter registration card. Guard your life.
11
Don't tell me. Tell his supporters.
3
Wow, what a perfect horror-move photo of the Frankenstein monster president. But give us a break. We don't need such pictures to help us 'form an opinion'.
What? Our Tsar Trump is a liar and hypocrite? Doesn't care about policy, has no empathy? Thank you for the tip! But
couldn't be more painfully obvious.
Oh, he 'came close to taking away health insurance from 30 million Americans? But what about the similar number of millions who don't have any insurance to take away, despite ACA? Have you at least 1 idea for solutions to that scandal? Or too trivial?
Tough guy? Sure, gross & blatant. Trump and his mafia are right out of a Hwd crime film noir. We need a Nobel economist to tell us that?
One candidate who talks all the time about US job loss to offshoring and tech is Edward Yang. Just curious what you think of him. Interesting discussion?
Then you inform readers of The Question--will Trump will pay any price for his betryal of promises? Oh, that's the Question? Thanks.
For some maybe comic relief, we'd be interested in your opinion of this editorial NYT Feb 1.
“More Money, More Problems for Democracy --- Countering private campaign funding with public funding is the most viable way to limit the political influence of the wealthy."
It's the 10th Anniv of Citizens United! Wow. Do you think more public funding might protect us from future Trump-type swamp creatures rising to the surface to take power?
Any opinion on that, Mr. Krugman? If not too boring a topic.
3
Deficits went up under Reagan. It’s the reason they put the debt clock in Manhattan. We got 16 Million jobs.
Deficits went down under Clinton. In fact Clinton balanced the budget.
And we got 23 Million jobs, almost 50% more jobs than under Reagan.
W Bush took the balanced budget from Clinton, zero deficit, and gave Obama a whopping $1.4 Trillion deficit. Also the worst recession since the Great Depression.
And with two "tax cuts for the jobs creators" we got 3 Million jobs.
Obama got us through the Great Recession, cut the deficit by almost 2/3 to $550 Billion.
And we got 11.5 Million jobs, almost 400% more than W Bush.
And that was with the “jobs killing” Obama-care.
And 20 Million people got healthcare.
Now after 8 years of Republicans relentlessly railing against the debt, the Ryan / McConnell / Trump tax bill will increase the deficit from $600 Billion to $1 Trillion.
The projected ten-year increase in the debt is $12 Trillion which is $80,000 per taxpayer.
To be paid for by our children and grandchildren.
Every Republican senator voted for it. Not one Democratic senator voted for it.
JOBS:
2011 - 2.09 Million
2012 - 2.14 Million
2013 - 2.30 Million
2014 - 3.00 Million
2015 - 2.71 Million
2016 - 2.24 Million
2017 - 2.06 Million
2018 - 2.40 Million
I wouldn't mind if Trump voters got fleeced but the rest of the country is getting fleeced, too.
16
@Independent And we should note that the population of working age adults has grown by the millions since 2011.
4
Mr. Krugman uses facts. Feelings and assertion motivate Trumpsters. Those savvy enough to own a 401k think today’s market value and the deficit driven GDP are facts. Real investors know these indicators are ephemeral and they are hedged against the illusion.
Democrats are also in danger when important columnists are warning about a candidate's policy proposal, and if that candidate becomes the nominee. Our nominee will need all the support he can get.
3
Trump’s trade war has hurt farmers and small businesses, but they’ll still vote for him. People in the middle class saw their taxes increase, some significantly, solely to allow the ultra wealthy to pay lower taxes, but many of them will still vote for Trump. Why? Trump fights the culture wars for them. He has remade the Republican Party according to his personal beliefs, which are to lie about anything and everything, to demand loyalty only for himself, to fight any attempts to hold him accountable for illegal actions, and to hurt anyone who goes against him, as we saw with his firing of impeachment witnesses. Trump supporters have convinced themselves that he is remaking the country the way they want it to be, not the way it really is. The US is not a white nation—it never has been and never will be, yet that reality does not matter because they want it to be. Trump gives religious conservatives what they want to hear about eliminating abortion and rolling back protections and rights for LGBTQ. Their notion of religious freedom is the right to discriminate and the right to tell other people, especially women, that they must forget their own beliefs and live according to the beliefs of the religious right. Never mind that 61% of people support abortion rights, and 61% support same-sex marriage (from Pew). Trump has created a reality that isn’t real, but that’s the reality they want and will vote for, no matter how Trump destroys democratic principles.
12
A character like Trump in a movie, someone who lies, cheats, steals, bullies, insults, abuses women, demands corruption as loyalty... such a character in a movie would universally viewed as the villain.
Yet, in our real world politic, to half the nation, this same character is a hero. Go figure. Perhaps the successful popularity of movies such as The Godfather that glamorize the villain help explain the dark underside of the real American culture, that we are not necessarily the pious religious nation we pretend to be. There is half of America that admires the crook, the bully, the fake and liar, and deceiver, and believe such behavior is OK becasue they believe this is what life is all about; and the place of religion as also a charade of falsity.
6
@ John Warwick Disabusing people of their beliefs, no matter how misguided, is nearly impossible.
1
I dare anyone to plot ANY economic graph spanning 2000 to 2020 and show ANY inflection starting at 2016. Every single one you can pull up is trending roughly LINEAR from the 2008 crash until now. It's PATHETIC.
1
Zing ! Mr. Krugman rails against the easy target but in conclusion gets to his point: Medicare for all is foolish.
1
Trump is a narcissist populist. So whatever policies his supporters want he is for. His supporters want to repeal the mandatory insurance aspect of Obama Care. So he was for that. His supporters wanted to reduce regulations on business, (including the requirement for insuring patients with pre-existing medical conditions, so he was for that. Many of his supporters embrace an old-fashioned idea of American, from the 1920s, a small-town America before welfare, headed by the Noble Obligations of the Upper Class, so supports that. Etc etc. the question is: who are his supporters?
What a sick relationship; "You can cause unmitigated suffering and do whatever damage you want to American society and its standing in the world, and to the planet, so long as I get to look like a tough guy, can tell monstrous lies, insult decent, honourable people and destroy their careers and lives, make money out of my presidency, indulge my ego to whatever extremes I want and abuse my power in every way I can think of."
As for Republicans, the devil has been doing roaring trade in souls for a while now.
6
Reaganomics on steroids without the American ideals...
2
“People often say that Trump has captured the G.O.P., which is true as far as things like rule of law and support for democracy are concerned. But it’s equally true that the G.O.P. has captured Trump when it comes to domestic policy.”
And then Sir, there is the undeniable fact that The USC has been actively assaulted, neglected & discredited over decades by Public Leader’s to the point in most minds it is a historical document but not The Current Supreme Law of our Republic. What did its dead Founders intent by it; we study & surmise? Who cares? I certainly don’t because they have not been in charge of governing in two hundred years.
Jefferson Davis the President of the Confederacy would be so proud that two governmental approaches, a perplexing notion and although ended by bloodshed has been resurrected as New Federalism by Those in Charge as Supreme.
Democrat official’s have been fiddling with good ideas for decades while Republicans have set The USC ablaze with glee destroying foundational law & order.
The former now see Trump as our chief problem & not a mere element in a vast and thus far successful conspiracy to Defraud The People’s Republic!
All Congressional Rules of Proceedings, Federal & State laws are all pursuant to The USC (1994) as The Supreme Secular Consciousness. Lead with that & get rid of those who won’t.
1
Every person I know who voted for Trump now sees for themselves what a lying, self-serving, childish, immoral con artist he is and always has been. Every one of these people intends to vote for the Democratic candidate, no matter who it is. I foresee Trump sweeping the South (what's new?) but losing the important states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
6
@Panthiest I doubt he will win Michigan.
Hillary Clinton called him on it in the debates, saying he “trumped up trickle-down.”
Got that right.
"History is written by the victors." Winston Churchill
“There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.” Warren Buffett
So, tell me again how slimy, worthless, anti-democratic, predatory Republicans like Trump, McConnell, the Republican controlled Senate and rest of the Republican Party will be judged by "history."
If Churchill and Buffett are right, unless Bernie Sanders wins the 2020 election, Americans are waiting for a "happy ending" that ain't gonna happen.
If you're disturbed by such an outcome for yourself and your fellow Americans, get out and vote and vote accordingly.
Bernie 2020
1
No surprises here.
Those who go along with opposing HC for all, might stop avoiding how dozens of nations pay for it—with wide citizen support.
For the center of US politics, it seems untreated illness, earlier death, disability, and medical bankruptcy--- while lamentable---are just the price we pay for a HC system based on profit. And that's equated with 'Freedom'--a Trump type lie we've heard from both parties.
The truth is --govts of other democracies respect the citizens who elect them enough to protect them from a medical industry profiting off their sickness.
One reason reform here is blocked---both parties have to compete for campaign funding from big insurance/pharma donors. Krugman avoids this obvious cause/effect.
A decent HC system can't be passed? Only since the media perpetuates the view that our high profit HC system is OK---just 'improve it', while HC for all is dangerously radical.
But the media could interview a few people just over the border in Canada--which started HC for all in 1966!
Seems our columnists and TV pundits wouldn't be caught dead being pro HC for All. The media, proud of its independence from explicit govt censorship, has other pressures on it that keep its reporting within certain boundaries.
We the People are being fleeced and trickled on. Our proud, free, independent media protected by the 1st Amendment isn't talking about it. Sounds unAmerican!
See NYT op ed “The Fake Freedom of American Health Care”, by a Finnish journalist living here.
2
It should be obvious even to a neolib like Krugman that campaigning to implement the putative Medicare for All inherently strengthens and expands programs that Americans love. Social Security and medical care are of a piece, not mutually exclusive. Krugman is incapable of writing a column without devoting the last sentence to a gratuitous criticism of universal healthcare whatever it's called, independent of the topic that preceded this predictable ritual.
1
California, Oregon and Washington need to switch to Canada. I bet New England, New York, and Minnesota would also join. Justin, get out your sharpie!
P.S.- How much of the US GDP is this?
PPS- How much will it be after everyone is driving an electric car?
The learned professor, Nobel in hand, opines endlessly about the horrors of DJT but has rarely been right. Such a waste of talent, etc.
Maybe he should refocus his career back to the university and leave the presentation of leftist boilerplate to ‘progressive’ polemicists.
1
Do the serious school of economics ever teaches “ trickle down economics” as a formal curriculum?
2
I can understand why Trump hates Vindman.
A man who gets caught red handed with his hand in the till naturally hates the man who caught him.
What’s harder to understand is why the man who got caught believes that everything he does is 100% perfect.
4
@A. Stanton I think when says "perfect" he means "I got away with it."
2
What’s harder to understand is why the man who just got caught still believes that everything he does is 100% perfect.
3
@A. Stanton Because he gets away with it.
1
Trump is the melanoma we see, it is the cancer below the surface with the cash that must be defeated in 2020 as well.
2
TRUMP IS WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE....
Don't they lie when they want to be elected and then they do what's best for their agenda....?
Never for the people. Always for their own purposes...
3
Fool us once, shame on you.
Fool us 16,000 times, shame on us.
the word trump is a synonym for deception.
VOTE HIM OUT!
6
Now that the current occupant of the White House is even more untethered, given one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in our history, we can only speculate about what his next outrage will be. My money is on pardoning Roger Stone, the Republican dirty trickster who may get a substantial, years long sentence, for his nefarious deeds. Subverting the rule of law? That has become a quaint concept in these times.
If you don't like this, you know what you can do about it. November 3, 2020.
3
Krugman says....don’t blow this election by making it 'a referendum on ambitious ideas like so-called Medicare for all that are unlikely to become reality'.
Really? Clarify what does 'so called' mean? It's clear that Americans are being fleeced and exploited by the medical industry and politicians it supports. How 'ambitious' is it for citizens to aim to redress that legitimate grievance, in a democracy?
Even our Democratic party can't protect us? So maybe it's our democracy that isn't a reality.
Is HC for all unlikely to become reality also in 2024 and 28? How long, Oh Lord, how long? As MLK would say. HC is a civil right.
For some contrasting reality, see The True Cost Blog list of dates when the various world democracies started universal HC for citizens that elect their govts.
Partial list:
Norway 1912 Single Payer
New Zealand 1938 Two Tier
UK 1948 Single Payer
Canada 1966 Single Payer
Netherlands 1966 Two-Tier
Finland 1972 Single Payer
France 1974 Two-Tier
Australia 1975 Two Tier
Switzerland 1994 Insurance Mandate
As an award winning economist with expertise in inequality and international economics, writing for the NY Times---our most influential newspaper, proud of “All The News Fit To Print”--- please explain the reason why dozens of countries could make HC for all a reality. But in America, it’s still ‘unrealistic’ --in the 21st Century.
10
How's that? A critique of work requirements for able-bodied human beings to receive food stamps?
1
Trump wants more nuclear weapons.. Who is rocket man now?
1
Unfortunately Trump’s supporters won’t learn of Trump gutting their beloved Social Security or Medicare because they watch Fox News where they learn nothing but praise of their Dear Leader.
3
I decided I'd like to try being rich for a change. Since I don't play the lottery and there's no prayer I'd inherit Big Bucks from my slumlord Pappy, I figured I'd try getting rich the (R)onald (R)eagan (my personal hero) way.
So I gathered all my credit cards and borrowed them to the limit. Then I gave most of my new wad-o'-cash to my rich brother-in-law, the loan shark. He said he'd spend it for me in ways that would "trickle-down" and "stimulate my economy" and make me rich, too. Sounded good to me.
Dang! Must have done it the wrong way. Now, I'm in debt up to my gunnels, the collection agencies are beating my door down and my brother-in-law has a new Porsche.
MAGA!
3
why does every article that mentions Trump has to have yet another file picture included with the story? Does anyone NOT know what he looks like?
2
I cannot understand why socialized health care, or Medicare for all, should not become a reality in America since its equivalence is already reality in Canada and Europe.
6
@Robert Dole
I think there are two reasons why "Medicare for all" is a tough sell in the U.S.: (1) It would be expensive, and no convincing plan for how to pay for it has been forthcoming. (2) The people who get to influence healthcare policy in the U.S. already have good health insurance and are afraid of a major change in the status quo.
2
@William Wroblicka
The richest country the world has ever known can afford a war machine ($1.245 trillion and growing) which only benefits merchants of death, but can't find the money to pay for socialized medical care that would benefit everyone including those with employment based "good health insurance" if they lose their jobs, the employer decides to downsize coverage, or a new corporation takes over and changes the insurance plan to something more "cost effective".
1
It must be a vice presidential thing: Cheney once said deficits don't matter, too. They do matter--when a Democrat is in TWC. That's the only time.
The economy reminds me of putting one of my patients on steroids--they felt great, super, wonderful, almost manic in some cases. But at some point either the steroid had to be reduced slowly, which wasn't so much fun, the disease for which the steroid was given continued to progress, or there were really nasty side effects, which steroids are known for.
There will be a reckoning in the coming few years. If Trump is in office, we are going to have it dealt with by his economic "team" (sort of like the 20 mule team, but I date myself.) That and the fact we won't be able to cut interest rates much will make it a real mess, to put it lightly. Probably at the same time will come either a new nuclear country, climate change, or another coronavirus. We will be truly blessed.
2
Looking in from outside, I hope someone will enlighten me concerning the difference, if any, between the current administration's economic policies and your president's prior personal business plan. He has declared bankruptcy six times and left hundreds if not thousands of sub-contractors receiving a few cents on the dollars they are owed. Now I am told that your country may balance its budget by 2035 and again it may not. Is this approach genuinely viable?
4
@Frank: Trump exploits all the corrupt features of the US judicial system. He just connived to get all Congressional inquiries of the Executive steered into the judiciary.
3
If you think the economy is great, do a little research on property and casualty insurance agencies in any major city. You will find there is a booming business for individuals who have to pay their auto insurance by the month. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why. For people who pay semi-annually when that premium comes due it is a major trauma and undertaking to come up with the money. I know single mothers working 2 jobs who can't afford a tank of gas the week before payday. Sure, it's great for the oligarchs but not so much for the proletariat.
8
Humans are strange creatures, a large number of Trump supporters, support any action that liberals are against regardless of whether it is actually going to effect them and their families or the country at large in a negative way. No wonder why Republicans love the uneducated.
9
So Trump is nothing more than a liar who said whatever it took to get elected, broke his promises, and carried out the same old Republican trickle-down playbook. And regularly pummels his most ardent supporters.
This is news?
9
Tax breaks for the privileged elite. The stock market squeals in delight for all the asset classes that are being kited to outwards of the orbit of Pluto.
On his and the Republican watch the volume on the national debt gets pumped to the moon and stars. It's a tsunami of (QE-like) free money that is causing an orgy of glee and greed by all asset holders.
For all that money, all that kiting of the debt, do you see even one thing that is truly benefiting average America? Truly?
Typically when a government slathers on the debt they're doing so with programs and policies designed, or focused, on securing the longer term future of the country. Do you see ANYTHING like that going on here in America? Anything at all?
We have a crumbling infrastructure. We have laughable domestic policy agendas that do nothing for the average citizen. We have a governing body bereft of any ability to actually do their job, and seem only interested in keeping secure tribal loyalties.
Yet all the while the debt balloons.
So let me ask average America...how much of your tax dollars do you think it will take to pay the INTEREST on multi-trillions of obligations for which you are being held accountable? How long to pay off multi-Trillions in debt?
Then consider that your leadership wishes to slather on even more of it. This is what you need to consider when you step into the booth at the next election.
John~
American Net'Zen
5
The revered Dr. Krugman has been wrong on virtually everything since before trumps election. Remember the stock market crash he predicted? The recession/depression? I keep reading here in the New York Times, 95% from the left, about equality. There is no such thing in a capitalist system that is Equal. If the Liberals want equality, take a look at the US SR. 98% there had equality. Equality of misery. Equality of shortages. Equality of alcoholism. And equality of despair. Is that what the Democrats think can defeat Trump?
1
Democrats can walk and chew by going hard on these lies and failures and asking are YOU better off. Are WE?
Also people want a vision going forward from a leader with integrity that they know will work for them.
The Democrats get no credit for trying to help Trump keep some of his election promises.
Particularity his promise to release his tax returns if elected. …
1
No one really cares. Trump has given his media oligarchs what they need. He has kissed Zuckerbergs ring, he has anointed the family Murdoch. He has appeased the Koch’s, hires the DeVoss, and given so many other billionaires the biggest tax cut they could have dreamed for. The Facebook mind control system will keep his people angry and voting. So no Paul, this doesn’t matter. It’s all academic and academics no longer matter.
2
Don't you want Medicare (another word for health care) for all Americans, Dr. Krugman? That's what the Democrats want, and not what the Republicans want and that is the point. Unless they are pounded with the hysteria of YOU WILL LOSE IF YOU DEMAND HEALTHCARE FOR EVERYONE!!!!! why wouldn't the Democrats win on this platform?
Unless I am mistaken, the press and the Republicans were anxious about Medicare in the first place. It was going to ruin the economy, not to mention the hysterical claims about the devastation Social Security would create when FDR was proposing it.
Don't be so afraid yourself, and please don't plant hysterical fears in the rest of us.
1
however vile trump may be, it remains true that he was elected by the U.S voters. yes I know the gop cheats in ever imaginable way with voter suppression, redistricting, etc., but the gop in the congress were elected too and this country needs to own up to the fact that they elected this buffoon and dictator in training and his cretinous enablers. what does that say about us? if u.s. exceptionalism was ever true, that's no longer the case. we are as bad as Weimer Germany and may well end up in a similar experience place in history
3
"Let me be corrupt and you get your tax cuts and your policies". That is a bigger quid pro quo. Trump now can do Ukraine 10 times more, Russia 7 and China (and who knows who else) many times over again. In order to win re-election and, to amend the constitution and get re-elected a third time. As "perfect" as the Ukranian phone call.
I also agree that Democrats have a better chance defending Obama care, Concentrate on what you will not let Trump take away from you. Bloomberg said he will support the Democrat candidate. So there is a budget to get this accomplished Bloomberg on the ticket or not.
1
The tariff stuff is about using federal power to strong arm other countries leaders to make personal deals with him (Turkey).
I thought you said not to worry about deficit spending when Obama was in office?
3
I simply do not see what other Americans see in Trump or many other GOP members. Between the many, many lies being told daily, and their obvious corrupt actions meant to divide Americans for their personal and political objectives; I don't see any ethical or professional characteristics among them that should be demanded by ALL Americans! "Drained the swamp" to allow their much more sleazy, corrupt elites slither in for their benefits, NOT America or the majority of her citizens!
For Ryan, debt was only an existential threat when Obama was president.
Ryan was part of the 2017 tax cuts that is raising the deficit from $600 Billion to $1 Trillion.
The projected ten year increase to the debt is $12 Trillion which is $80,000 per taxpayer.
To be paid for by us, our children, and grandchildren.
This was after 8 years of relentlessly railing against the debt during Obama.
Every Republican senator voted for it. Not one Democratic senator voted for it.
3
Trump has sold himself as a populist, taken up the cause of rust belt unemployeds, of people that feel that the economy has left them behind and those that imagine the country run over by illegal immigrants...and those that believed that tax cuts would cause an economic expansion resulting in higher paying jobs.His rallies fan emotions of the " us against them" variety...unfortunately this works. He avoids the reality of who benefited from his tax cuts and does not go near ballooning deficits or spoken a word about his policy failures that have crippled farmers.
Trump has played the role of the populist as he might for a television series and this is no accident. If he is aware of anything , it is that acting has rewarded him with being elected president and he continues to act. Trump knows that the truth of his administration would not get him a second season so he is sticking to his script as the outsider taking on the washington establishment that turned its back on the hard workers of the heartland.
Democrats know Trump lies to keep his base and so to win the next election they will have to begin speaking " heartland", begin speaking to americans that feel existentially excluded from the economy and find concrete proposals that address fears of job losses to AI, China and Mexico. Health care costs are on everybody's mind and Democrats must convince americans that they need not a TV actor to fix healthcare, but programs that can work for all americans.
3
Growing up, we heard Fairy Tales and Fables. All seemed to have a "Moral of The Story" that was supposed to be instructive. I thought every person in the country had seen the Wizard of OZ at least once growing up, and now of voting age would have learned the "Moral of The Story" when Toto pulled the curtain back and exposed the Wizard for what he really was, smoke and mirrors. Nope, there stands trump with the curtain drawn back and his supporters are still in denial. Its not that I want to get back to Kansas, just reality.
6
Word.
Trickle Down: Not
Wage gap be damned, those who can’t must make do,
Earning good money is just for the few;
No education, no skills, they won’t work
At skills acquisition – they don’t earn a perk
For just having less, no summers in France
You don’t learn the steps; you don’t get to dance.
Vote People. Forgawdsakes vote this time.
-C
8
Other countries have this thing called class war, the rich against everybody. Trump is waging a No-Class War. Same thing, only with more insults.
What makes it possible is because there is so much disinformation being spread, people believe everything and nothing.
6
"People often say that Trump has captured the G.O.P., which is true as far as things like rule of law and support for democracy are concerned."
Irony is not helpful with this administration: The recent impeachment process clearly revealed that G.O.P. has also been lying about believing in actual rule of law and support for democracy. They have now stripped themselves to reveal their naked cynical greed for power regardless of the constitution, in defiance of the clearly known intent of the framers, and against the will of the people of the U.S.A. who overwhelmingly wanted witnesses to testify in a fair trial. The G.O.P. is now revealed as the official party of liars willing to embrace criminal behavior in order to attain power.
8
Trump doesn’t just not care about policies, he has none. He doesn’t understand the intricacies of a policy. His aides take papers off his desk so he won’t sign them. He doesn’t miss them because he never understood what was in them. He just has slogans. As a salesman, he lies.
Lies told. Lies believed.
He will get re-elected because the average voter also doesn’t understand the concept of policies. They believe in sound bites. Democratic candidates are spending an enormous amount of time explaining their policies while Trump is convincing a largely uneducated electorate that he has their interests at heart.
4
The single most amazing thing about trump is his ability/skill/magic in getting people to forget what he said, what he did. Its like amnesia sets in after a few moment in his company. After how he cheated his business partners and contractors, why would anybody do business with him? After his string of business failures/bankruptcies, why would anybody loan him money? After all his lies, why would anybody believe him? And yet they do.
6
As a democrat, I agreed with the decision to impeach trump. But now we have to move on to an election to defeat trump. I believe that we need to emphasize health care as the main argument against trump. Everything else runs second. Forget medicare for all for now, but continue to show what trump's actions against Obamacare will do to most Americans. It's not the economy stupid, it's healthcare.
Trump always "Got" Trickled Down being from "The Wall st". And the real Trickle Down is Trickle up and out of the country like it's been for decades. Big money has bled America and stashed the businesses and loot for the future in foreign nations as a safe haven for themselves later. Rich people are not stupid. I never underestimate anyone's intelligence. The rich are students of history just as you or I and we all know the rich are ultimately the fattest just before the destruction. That's why they saw the future of America as I did because every civilization has always risen up against it's wealthiest. The rich are ready to leave having pillaged the nation and rebuilt their money makers elsewhere. They need only make it to their Lear Jets and Citations, and you know the cops who always serve the moneyed will help them get there. Just ask yourself this about Trump; why did he negotiate building a Trump Tower in Moscow during his campaign? It appears all the rich believe it is near time.
The idea of block grants for Medicaid is a vicious license for red states to murder the elderly poor and minorities. The turnout of these constituencies in swing states is the margin of victory for Mike Bloomberg. Roll out the ads showing the cruel victimizing of people and what it will wrought if Trump is not defeated.
2
Democrats are terrible, no awful, communicators. Cons are great communicators because they will put something out they coalesce around and then the echo chamber beats it to death.
Here is the communication dems need to coalesce around: The real problem in America isn't taxation, it's corporate governance.
We need to return to the capitalism of the 70's when unionization was about 30%. When stock buybacks and dividends were mostly illegal. When organic growth was considered normal. Finally when he had not financialized our economy to flip paper instead of growing our businesses.
You want to tax them more, fine, but that won't get folks paid. Change the rules and laws they've changed to rig the system in their favor.
The Democratic Candidates are turning on each other over the Iowa dysfunction, thereby making themselves dysfunctional. Trump is acting like a fox at a pulled chicken dinner disassembling what little the country has in social benefits. These candidates are so 'in the box' thinking that their free college education, health care for all will seat them in the Oval Office. WRONG !! Neither will become reality as there isn't a Republican worth his/her salt that will allow those dreams to pass. Attention DNC - advise your flock to concentrate on saving Social Security by reminding the less-than-attentive voting public what their lives would be like without this less than perfect but existing safety net. Drive that home by repeating and repeating loud and clear. Then and only then will a Democrat be seated in the Oval Office.
3
Trump always "Got" Trickled Down being from "The Wall st". And the real Trickle Down is Trickle up and out of the country like it's been for decades. Big money has bled America and stashed the businesses and loot for the future in foreign nations as a safe haven for themselves later. Rich people are not stupid. I never underestimate anyone's intelligence. The rich are students of history just as you or I and we all know the rich are ultimately the fattest just before the destruction. That's why they saw the future of America as I did because every civilization has always risen up against it's wealthiest. The rich are ready to leave having pillaged the nation and rebuilt their money makers elsewhere. They need only make it to their Lear Jets and Citations, and you know the cops who always serve the moneyed will help them get there. Just ask yourself this about Trump; why did he negotiate building a Trump Tower in Moscow during his campaign? It appears all the rich believe it is near time.
And Dr. Krugman; I've long thought about Trump's hatred of Hispanic and refugee immigrants, and you may agree that Trump, being elected by Wall Street and serving same all this time, even with members of his administration from there ruling the economy now, has been trying to stem the ingress of poor people that would have serious implications for the banks and investment houses. Imagine what millions of poor people using banks and government help would do to the banks. Like raising taxes.
Excellent summary of the Trump problem. Trump is, in addition to these facts, simply the worst person for the job. This is particularly true in regard to foreign policy. In the past, the US, Japan and Germany stood together against Russia. Now Trump has succeeded in helping Putin destroy this solidarity. And the GOP stands by Trump. I can only pray that Trump and the GOP are crushed in the November elections.
2
Trump probably won't pay much of a backlash because the majority of his supporters live in an insulated information bubble, from which everything that is mildly critical of the regime gets automatically filtered out. These people live on a constant diet of Fox News, cheap tabloids and heavily biased social media feeds. I have seen interviews where people in the streets were asked about the impeachment process: the ignorance was appalling, most people had no idea what Trump was being impeached for, and many dismissed it as irrelevant or inconsequential.
The decades-long effort to dumb down the average American has largely succeeded, and now the Republicans and Trump can rely on a solid core of ill-informed, ignorant drones all too willing to drink the kool-aid when ordered to.
4
Paul,
You are indeed correct. Trump was lying about being different.
However, that is not surprising. Trump lies about almost everything he says.
Everything about Trump is a lie.
However, that fact, that Trump lies all the time, brings up a better question and a resultant answer.
Q? Why do so many Americans worship, yes, worship Trump?
A? Americans WANT lies and a liar.
Yes, America and Americans are at a place in its/their history where the fundamental desire is to be lied to.
Although this is the overall state of affairs, it is a nuanced state of affairs.
Believers who are trained, from birth, to believe, well, no surprise, they believe Trump.
Non-readers who have no source of independent reading material, they believe what they hear on TV and at rallies.
The above grouping covers, now, something greater than 50% of the population.
That segment? Yes, they LOVE Trump.
Trump has done something that the founding father's openly discussed at the 1787 convention at various points that summer (See, "Miracle at Philadelphia, Katherine Drinker Bowen)....
Trump has managed to hijack those easy pickings people who get little real information but hunger to feed on lies.
What our founding fathers worked mightily to build a system to avoid has now occurred, and, through open Democracy.
This state outcome has occurred because what the founding fathers wanted, an educated and alert electorate, has waned.
2
The local Trump supporters have one thing in common. Not just Fox News but local and national talk radio stations praising Trump's fake claims and lies. All day in their pick ups within a sound bubble. None of them read at all. Just sports and talk radio. And I am in a Blue state. Even their own not so great to really bad reality does not penetrate the feel good, angry myth about "getting theirs" via Trump. Won't happen but they will vote for it.
5
The Democrats may blow this election because they're not grasping the basic idea that all elections are a referendum on the incumbent. It's fine to have policy ideas but they should always be presented in contrast to the failures of this president. Then follow up with the sheer cruelty of this administration.
1
At least he was promising to tax the rich, build infrastructure, etc. Better than telling us we are deplorable and should learn to code. Maybe this time we'll have 2 candidates running on those kind of issues and after that representatives. Cancel NAFTA, close the border, tariffs, increase SS, UBI, etc. all music to my ears.
No doubt, Trump has played to GOP efforts to neuter and corrupt the regulatory powers of the federal government and transfer that power to the states where regulatory power has been neutered by corruption and austerity. Meanwhile, the "cleanest air and water", only in the most Orwellian sense. It is the cabal of robbing the future for their cheap, cheating win by putting this flim- flam artist up to cover their great heist.
Not for one second did I believe Trump's promises during his campaign. How anybody believed that this two bit huckster from Queens was serious about being working class hero is beyond me. I suppose there's the story. The Republican platform is simply a commercial for a new blue laundry detergent that gets your shirts whiter than white. The party even before Trump was able to sell a mainly donor class agenda to main street with manipulative ads. Trump's persona has built up a cult following who believe the lies, or just don't care about truth. Let the buyer beware.
1
He is "different."
No American President has been as big, as regular, as tirelessly a liar as this con man.
You are right however in that Democrats need to commandeer the public airwaves on his "ongoing efforts to destroy programs Americans love." Democrats' repeated and chronic failure to dominate the airwaves even when their case is the case the country desperately wants, does not however leave much hope on this front.
1
Trump is the mouthpiece of obfuscation, McConnell the referee saying, 'play is continuous.'
Americans are divided into two camps: those complaining of Trump's cheating and those encouraging him to cheat more.
1
The Republicans have always coveted the treasury. Now they’ve got it in their hot little hands. Unless you’re in the .1 pct. your economic future looks pretty weak.
Democrats Unite! Don’t fight amongst yourselves. Focus on trump, not policy or cultural issues.
1
Trump has one plan. Goose the economy with deficit spending and get reelected. That's it.
I hope the American electorate will look past their own bank accounts and send this evil man to a fate he so richly deserves.
1
Trump is neither tough nor smart, and he knows it.
But he cannot admit it, to himself or to others, because he simply lives for this fictitious image of a tough, smart, great-looking, popular guy. He will likely take this image all the way to the grave.
But in the mean time, America is suffering untold damage, in so many aspects: tearing apart of values and the social fabric, denying people healthcare and reducing their life expectancy, causing long term economic damage, irreversibly damaging the environment, eroding freedom, ruining the US reputation and influence, etc., etc.
Is the ego of a single man worth so much damage to a nation, to its people and its land?
Clearly not.
I just wish he can be voted out asap
2
Ah, the conscience of a liberal, or perhaps I should say, the fear: “But there’s a real danger that Democrats will blow the election by making it a referendum on ambitious ideas...”
Certainly wouldn’t want that! Small ball, don’t swing for the fences! Don’t rock the boat! Careful!
If a candidate supporting genuinely “liberal” ideas can’t win an election when the opponent is a troglodyte incapable of finishing a thought, then what’s the point of having liberal ideas?
Why not just give up? Why not just promise Republicans to support whatever policies they like, but just in a kinder, gentler way?
Over the past few decades, the Democratic party has been a sea anchor, resisting, but not stopping, our government’s drift to the right. And at times, like with the crime bill, W’s tax cuts, and his illegal wars, Democrats have been (almost) all in.
I’m done. I don’t want that anymore. If Democrats want to just be nice Republicans, they can win without my vote.
Democrats: show me ambition, show me vision, convince me that you will actually fight for average Americans, hard, and win for a change. Stop offering up Social Security for cuts. Stop voting for mindless increases in military spending. And stop feeding at the trough of corporate campaign bribes. It’s revolting.
2
Among the very people hurt the most by this fellow's moves (I can't call them policies because that implies thought) are the people indoctrinated by State TV and Radio, wearing their MAGA hats and screaming support. It's incredible.
3
why are my east and west coast friends complaining about their taxes on their higher priced homes?
My taxes went up last under the "tax cut." With childcare credits are no longer what they were under Obama, I got a pittance in return. And, surprise, my salary did not rise a single cent for cost of living. Not one cent.
Yes, it's all a lie. Then again, what isn't a lie about this presidency and his Republican sheep in wolves clothing?
3
...and Obama said he would end the war in Afghanistan-instead he escalated the war - sent more troops - lost more US lives and spent over $1 trillion.
Did he ‘lie’?
Mr. Krugman, all politicians say things they don’t mean and they most certainly don’t follow through on promises made.
Pathetic.
Dear Paul Krugman,
Have you ever heard of negotiation? It’s this strategy where you start a conversation with an effort to attain your goals end typically end up in a compromise of sorts that is less than you hoped for, but better than simply going for your negotiating partner’s opening position. You know how negotiation does *not* work? Starting from a compromise (and compromised!) position, because then that becomes your starting point and you end up with much, much less than what you wanted. This is the “Obama” mentality: “let’s propose a center-right solution like Romneycare in order to convince Sue Collins and Olympia Snow to vote for it, even though we explicitly do not need their votes.” Buttigieg promises to be precisely the same (if not worse) - come on, Krugman, you know better for this - I know that you do because you usuallu express more reasonable ideas - when Sanders isn’t running for president at least.
It is the reverse trickle down theory favouring the rich and the tax evading corporates that was in fact offered in sugar-coated bitter pills wrecking havoc with the daily lives of the common people.
The simple truth is that Donald Trump cars only about his own image, his fortune and his narrow point-of-view. The result is cruelty, racism and division. This is all the self-defined personae of megalomaniac.
1
It’s time to more deeply analyze the mantra about the good economic news of recent years. New York State, for instance, is becoming a veritable “Cool World” with burgeoning casinos, playlands like Legoland, breweries, expanded access to shopping malls by buiding hotels right next door. Job creation numbers will increase but consider the reality of service-sector salaries. Job creation that pays good salaries, enough to live in expensive New York: now that would be good economic news.
Please do not continue to refer to "Trump's policies". He has zero policies - his MO is running from one shiny object to the next. How do you think he managed to self- impeach? Vladi gave him a new crazy idea to follow and follow he did.
This is indeed a man with no empathy - he is also a man who is in capable of planning his next meal, forget about planning an economy. The American oligarch's are now running the show and Trump is simply along for the ride.
2
The D Party so right but such political losers.
Pity because it MUST win to save our Nation from itself, to advance liberal democracy for the benefit of We the People, and to address the real existential problems Nature and enemies will foist on us and the World.
D Party seems to not have the political stuff to be formidable given how apathetic, irrational, or just culturally regressive voters are. Ironic because that Party actually does govern/legislate exceptionally well.
Indeed in modern times Ds in one form or the other saved the day and made brighter futures over the last 100 years.
I know the GOP's mendacious propaganda machine does a stellar job of obscuring, miscasting, or erroneously claiming D accomplishments but what I said in the above paragraph is fact. Too bad many of the electorate believe and passionately hold fantasy over this existential reality.
I said paragraph starting with "Indeed" was fact. Why?
Do this test: clinically look at our journey, our struggles for fairness, equality, our collective social security, infrastructure, etc.
Look at the future and what you'll need as you fade physically and mentally.
Look at how little the big corporations really care or ever really did for workers without government incentive.
The Ds and D like Rs of the past gave us most of what we clinically should claim as good and proper. GOP obvious wrong side of History. D Party NOT!
Think about that!
As others have said but worth repeating again, do not listen to what the president says. Watch what he does.
Actions do indeed speak louder than words. And the president's actions are of a piece with those of a lustful courtier who says, "Of course, I'll respect you in the morning", then to vanish like the morning dew.
2
For years, I had the honor of playing The Ghost of Christmas Present in an experimental version of A Christmas Carol. (There was time for the Ghosts to wander in the audience with Scrooge, ad-libing.)  If I were the Ghost of Christmas Present in 2020 and the spirit of Fred Trump asked me to intercede with his son, I would flatly refuse. Scrooge, when presented with the scene at the Cratchet’s house, had enough of a heart to be concerned with the fate of Tiny Tim. DJT would spend the whole time asking the Ghost why Tiny Tim was not working in a shoe blacking factory on Christmas Day, not worrying if he would be there the next Christmas.
DJT’s plan for 2020, spend billions more on nuclear weapons and cut aid to the poor and make them work for whatever tiny dredges they receive, is way beyond any Scrooge would think up. Scrooge was redeemable. Trump, like Rafe Nickelby or Bill Sikes, is not. With Trump it would be, “If he is to die, let him die and decrease the budget for the poor so we can have more weapons.”
1
Economically Trump has not kept his promises but look at his strong efforts to fulfill social promises: the wall to keep out illegal immigrants, bans on immigrants from mostly Islamic countries, supporting religious freedom meaning religious intervention in government, bans on transgender in military, etc. Trump also lies about everything--that is, he tweets and exaggerates every action or inaction to be the best, the highest, the most popular ad nauseam! A well known economic dictate to describe linking two unrelated variables to explain an outcome is "post hoc ergo propter hoc" or this because of this. Trump wrongly claims, but his supporters proclaim: the economy is great therefore Trump made it great! This "belief" will motivate Trump supporters to vote to defeat the "socialist" democrats, who will raise taxes to support immigrants and those who will not work, rather than broken economic promises made by Trump in 2016.
Who is able to "walk the walk and talk the talk" like Trump in the Democratic Party?
At this time: None.
Wake up Dems. y'all need a tough street type fighter that won't let Trump bully and bulldoze him/her like he did to Clinton. In a debate you need strong moderators not afraid to ask hard questions.
"....Trump’s trade policy has been motivated less by any substantive goals than by the desire to look like a tough guy. "
Replace "trade policy" with anything else this miserable creature has done and there's the answer to all these questions and wonderings about why, how, when, etc: he just wants to look like a tough guy.
His (Jungian) Shadow rules.
Funny how the trump show loyalist fail to see the hypocrisy of his campaign promises and the now opposite.
And pence, he finally speaks! and he just paraphrases cheeny who said deficits don't matter (except when you do it not me).
I have seen and spoken to many trump supporters who are dependent on Social Security, and other benefits. They don't believe it will impact them
But then again, I think they would rather just suffer than be subject to a beneficial socialist agenda
1
Actually the GOP stopped supporting the rule of law and democracy long before Trump. Ford pardoned Nixon, Bush senior pardoned everyone involved in Iran/contra and Bush junior mislead the County into a war and legalized torture. Not much respect for the law or accountability there. The GOP has also pushed voter id and gerrymandering to disenfranchise minority voters and lets not forget the Republican Supreme Court Justices who awarded the presidency to Bush junior, gutted the Voting Rights Act and allowed unlimited dark money into politics.
1002
@FW Excellent post. The only difference I see in Trump is that he is a childish blowhard.
60
@FW But this country keeps electing them so unfortunately this is who and what we are as a nation. If he is reelected than this foul identity has become permanent and truly representative of our populous. Gotta change it or own it.
50
@FW You forgot. The Republicans have no problem with Putin interfering in our elections as long as it helps them.
72
I am not wealthy but you could place my household in the top 20 percent category. We are a salaried, college educated, two income middle management family that stayed married and lived within our means. As we head toward 60 our goal is to stay employed, see the kids through college and retire somewhere cheaper.
After a lifetime of paying taxes, it infuriates me to see Republicans give tax break after tax break to the wealthy while saps like me pay and pay and pay.
Most of my friends are frightened of Bernie. They don’t want to pay more. They despise Trump. That leaves us with Bloomberg.
I was furious at Bush for lowering the capital gains rate -- my anger at Trump is ten fold. Our whole future is at risk because the rich want it all -- the greed has no limit -- why is 'billions' never enough?
1226
@Deirdre: "After a lifetime of paying taxes, it infuriates me to see republicans give tax break after tax break to the wealthy while saps like me pay and pay and pay."
After a lifetime of paying taxes, it infuriates me that the federal government can't seem to spend less than they take in, so much in fact that we have a $20 trillion-plus debt. That's the result of both parties in Congress and the White House.
15
@Deirdre Agree with most of this post, but not that we have to nominate Bloomberg. Elisabeth Warren would be more electable than Sanders, but is a real progressive Democrat not Republican lite like Bloomberg.
68
@Deirdre The Democrats aren't doing themselves a big favor by this spectacle of the traveling caravan of candidates trying to outtalk each other. It is not a process designed to generate a lot of enthusiasm from Democratic voters who have nothing to do with these early primaries. it is, instead, a turnoff. I want Trump to lose. He is an evil disaster that this country brought on itself. Personally I have decided to abandon this traveling circus and focus on Michael Bloomberg. (Who has, we can recall, been there and done that in both the public and private sectors. ) We will see what happens on Super Tuesday.
67
As usual I found Paul Krugman's column very interesting, informative and logical. He points out the flaws in Trump's financial policies with clarity and logic. I thought all of it was accurate and easy to understand. So why are Trump's approval ratings close to fifty percent? Based on conversations I have had with the few Trump supporters I know, I would make this conjecture. These individuals are concerned primarily with issues of immigration, race, welfare and benefit payments to people other than themselves and "socialist Democrats". They do not appear to be the least bit concerned about how much taxes the wealthy pay or whether the national deficit is zero or two trillion dollars. In other words their focus is on issues which I would describe as emotional or gut. It's sad, depressing and discouraging. My conclusion. Do not overestimate the importance of rational arguments in this election and do not underestimate the significance of emotion, bias and prejudice even if you find them very difficult to understand or rationalize.
827
@Howard
"In other words their focus is on issues which I would describe as emotional or gut. It's sad, depressing and discouraging."
How well you have stated something that should be so obvious to anyone who takes time to think. Advertisers certainly know this and have used it to their advantage for decades and have contributed to this flash card, buzz word type mentality that allows people like DJT to thrive.
...but the field already has to be fertilized for the seeds to flourish. ...and, in the case of immigration, people who have been affected by increased numbers of immigrants, legal and illegal, have someone telling them their experience is real and that affirmation is the hook that allows them to believe everything a con man like Trump says.
On the other hand, there is the other side, in spoken and unspoken ways, being entirely dismissive of the problem and seemingly bent on proving their concerns are irrelevant.
You are so right in warning that the significance of emotion should not be underestimated because, just as in the jungle, it is a tool that warns us of danger and it functions the same way in a civilized society.
A man like Trump knows how to manipulate people. ...and when he picked immigration as his hook, the Democrats should have done something other than seeming to throw open the doors and pretty much sponsor the name calling which further infuriates everyone.
Democrats should look at Germany which just recently lost to the AFD.
38
@Howard Yes. It seems to me that we have two countries in terms of voter orientation at this point. Broad brushstrokes using the words liberal and conservative hint at these two countries' basic wants and drives. People like Rush Limbaugh have been driving our electorate apart for decades now and defining the field of battle for all. Both sides think the other is the problem (https://medium.com/@teresadlonghawkes/who-is-stupid-f2891f550f25). How do we talk to each other? Reason or emotion or some combination of both? I suggest we have to redefine the battlefield upon which we face each other and begin rapprochement before we finish tearing our country apart both economically and politically? I am not sanguine that can happen, but a tiny subset of my neurons keep pushing me to have some small hope and to act on that instead of wimping out and emigrating to the EU.
13
@Howard : An immutable constant of history is that the rich get richer,and will continue to do so, and the poor get poorer, and with the increase in automation, more working class folks will be replaced,made redundant by machines, robots.There is really no saving the middle classes. They will continue to diminish in terms of numbers, and chances that a skilled professional at mid career but laid off because of someone who comes in with a B-1 visa are overwhelming.For those who blame the "heartless G0P,"consider that most of Silicon Valley votes Democrat.Days of Democrats supporting the working man and GOP standing for the rich, that distinction no longer holds:Both parties represent, populist rhetoric notwithstanding, the wealthy and the powerful. AUTHOR fails to mention that Trump represents ultimately a protest against elitism, and cannot think of a more egregious example than someone who has sinecures @3 different universities while not having to teach a class.You ask why millions, who work hard to feed families and pets and see others with cushy positions and 6,7 figure incomes and not lifting a finger to contribute to the commonweal are for Trump and therein lies 1 of the reasons,
9
Carefully hidden among the verbiage we find this, "...the desire to look like a tough guy." That is the explanation for everything Trump does. Start there and the truth won't be able to hide.
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@Charles Becker
A weak guy's idea of a tough guy.
3
"Pretend" is the operative word here describing Trump. He's been pretending all his life that he's richer, smarter, only hires the best people, and is a better deal maker than anyone, which clearly is not the case. He does say the right dog whistle words regularly to his supporters in his rallies, but there is no substance behind them. His supporters just love to hear the words, and believe every one of them regardless of veracity, as most of them are outright lies. There is a sizable portion of the American public that believes in this magical thinking, and that, coupled with the disturbing fact that absolutely nothing that he does weakens his rule over Republicans, will make it hard for any Democrat to unseat him. Democrats better get their act together or we're looking at another 4 years of this most unfit man in the White House - presuming that he would ever leave voluntarily.
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@Michael Gilbert
The Donald is the Apprentice President. His administration is a continuation of The Apprentice. His greatest success in life was as a pretend business man on The Apprentice.
Best wishes and stay positive.
58
@Michael Gilbert
Democrats must put Trump under the microscope and take him apart inspecting him. He needs to be called on the carpet, he is vindictive, vicious, sadistic, hateful, characterless, in short, a real monster. He must be confronted and called out for what he really is.
56
@Michael Gilbert to quote Jim Croce, DJT “ is our bleached blond bomber with a streak of mean” and too many people have fallen in love with the roller derby queen. From a cute song to a real nightmare.
17
It is time to stop calling Trumponomics "trickle down." It is "flood up." It is the greatest income redistribution of all time from the bottom and the middle to the top. Trump and the Republicans pretend to be horrified by class warfare while engaging in drastic class warfare. But I don't hear any of the Democratic candidates talking about it.
514
Have you never listened to Elizabeth Warren??!!!
27
@James Ricciardi
Unfortunately, the Democrats are too busy tearing each other down. It astonishes me that during such a critical time, when greedy Republicans are working to take away Social Security, Medicare, and many of the accomplishments of the New Deal, many people whose families only survived because of those acts are now supporting a buffoon who wants to take them away in order to further enrich himself and other billionaires. What a sad day it will be for the USA if Trump is re-elected... the end of the American Dream.
31
@James Ricciardi
To describe Trump (and other Republicans' tax scheme (to "starve the beast"), you propose it shouldn't be called "trickle down" but instead "flood up."
Sounds good.
In addition to re-framing the "trickle down" phrase which celebrates the capital (and, therefore, Capitol) class, instead to emphasize the remaining 99%, what about calling it the "peer-to-peer profit-sharing" economy?
1
I've been busy with work this past few months and the impeachment and trial of our... it's still hard to get out... president... consumed my attention and wasn't able to pay attention to the award season hoopla.
I was at dinner with friends in Mexico City on Sunday when "Parasite" started winning multiple Oscars. I was confused. Prior to the show and learning that "Parasite" was a feature film, I had assumed it was a documentary about Trump. My laughing friends disabused me of this.
7
Trump has been not bad (hard to say good) for us who get most of our annual income via the financial markets rather than from actual labor, intellectual or physical. I am still willing to part with a good share of my income to make America a better place for all Americans. I do not understand how so many Americans who are not making ends meet from their labors are still willing to support someone as unconcerned about the direction of country and eventual direction of the economy as is Donald J. Trump. How can 49% of Americans really approve of Trump's performance during the first 3 years of his administration? What has Trump and the Republicans in this Congress done to improve life for most of the workforce in America? How can so many believe that the Republican tax plan will help their children achieve the wealth that we from the Boomer and Silent generations have achieved?
516
Simple, a large swath of Americans vote against their own self-interest. They look to social or religious issues as being more important to them as a basis for voting for a party/candidate. Baffling? Absolutely...when day to day, economic policies/taxes, etc. are what effect everyone, rather than whether a candidate/party is “pro-life” or “Christian.”
“What’s the Matter with Kansas?” by Thomas Frank spells it out pretty well.
97
@RLW
Yours is the great question of our age.
Tens of millions of people are completely unreachable
through use of reasoned arguments using facts. Its downright scary.
64
@DanMess ......well said.....you beat me to it !!
7
We have an agreement. Trump gets to play President and McConnell and the Republicans get to push their long term social and economic agenda. There is no other reason to acquit Trump on impeachment or keep him in office except to cover for Republicans.
2008
Some of my other favorite 2016 prmises: I won't have time for golf. I'll be far too busy working; I'd love to release my tax returns, only I can't because they are being audited; I'll "drain the swamp" (284 lobbyists hired so far); great factory jobs will return with high pay and benefits packages; and, of course, Mexico will pay for the big, beautiful wall.
It's no wonder so many desperate former Obama voters voted for Trump. He was the only candidate who seemed to speak to them. Certainly HRC didn't seem to. She was busy raising money from Wall Street and corporate types to even visit the Milwaukees of the country. And now the DNC wants to do it again.
So who doesn't take big money donations? Who is least likely to be bought? Hmm. If only there was such a candidate.
114
@Tom
Exactly correct. The real GOP braintrust knows that Trump is the best thing they could have hoped for: a cartoon frontman who creates such distractions that nobody has time or energy to notice the real agenda being implemented. Courts packed with right-wing judges, regulations and regulatory agencies gutted, privatization of government functions, corporations and the wealthy benefit from items snuck into all kinds of bills, etc.
312
@Tom
Right, it is effectively a train wreck in the Senate hiding behind an F5 tornado.
77
Trump always "Got" Trickled Down being from "The Wall st". And the real Trickle Down is Trickle up and out of the country like it's been for decades. Big money has bled America and stashed the businesses for the future and loot in foreign nations as a safe haven for themselves later. Rich people are not stupid. I never underestimate anyone's intelligence. The rich are students of history just as you or I and we all know the rich are ultimately the fattest just before the destruction. That's why they saws the future of America as I did because every civilization has always risen up against it's wealthiest. The rich are ready to leave having pillaged the nation and rebuilt their money makers elsewhere. They need only make to their Lear Jets and Citations, and you know the cops will help them get there. Just ask yourself this about Trump; why did he negotiate building a Trump Tower in Moscow during his campaign? It appears all the rich believe it is near time.
9
I was a Bernie supporter in 2015. I am not this time around. I want a younger, less shrill. more centrist candidate who will live well long enough to make a lasting impact. I will, however, vote for whoever wins the Democrat nomination because the primary goal of the 2020 election is to get ride of Trump.
285
I believe that there are enough of us who think like this and we'll be able to get the Democrat candidate we need elected.
I am old enough so that I can't be accused of agism, simply pragmatism, in arguing that the someone who runs - who wins - should be capable of lasting 8 years. Not Bernie, not Biden.
It's about getting someone who can pull enough people together to make critical policy changes. Not perfect ones -- good grief, this is politics! - but going in the right direction. Which means we have to get more Senators elected as well. But considering the blowback that Obama got -- when he was much more the equivalent of the now extinct race of progressive Republicans than a left leaning Dem. - Bernie would end up fighting less left figures in his own party.
20
@lighthouse girl 1
Agree, still I will vote for whoever is the candidate that can beat trump, and Sanders doesn't have it.
14
@lighthouse girl 1 Agreed on a more centrist candidate. And as an added bonus I might not be yelled or pointed at, which seems to be Bernie's standard more of operation.
6
: There doesn’t seem to be any major disagreements with your assessment of Trump’s policies nor your projections of the likely outcomes of the policies implemented. It’s also obvious that Trump’s policies do help the one-percent of America’s population. That one percent may all be concentrated in the Republican Party but there aren’t 50 million of them. So why do the 49 million of the disenfranchised middle class and the remaining lower classes follow Trump and with seemingly more joining?
There have been hundreds of books and thousands of intellectual columns explaining Trump and his destructive behavior, but no one tries to explain why those who are, and going to be, hurt most by Trump are his most ardent followers.
If Trump were just one man, acting alone, he wouldn’t be worth the discussion, but there are millions, poor and ill-used people who follow trump zealously and, as is evident, will kill for him. Fifty million people are not outliers.
Can you or anyone explain?
6
@Peter P. Bernard You're absolutely right about the root cause question, and the only thing I can offer about Trump's deep base (not the larger total of people who approve of his performance, after reading numerous psychological explanations, is that some people are inclined, maybe even programmed, to hate groups of other people. And if you're not so inclined/programmed, which includes you and me, you find those people to be a mystery.
1
@Peter P. Bernard: Trumpism is theocracy. People vote for Trump to improve their prospects after death.
1
It very much looks as though self-identified conservatives who need programs such as Medicaid and Obamacare are prepared to give Donald Trump a free pass as long as he hasn't been successful yet in wrecking them. In other words, to some extent congressional Democrats and others who have fought to preserve these programs have, unintentionally and unavoidably, been aiding Donald Trump's reelection campaign. Donald Trump has been hinting that he'd like to go after Medicare and Social Security. Don't expect significant number of voters who are even slightly sympathetic to Donald Trump to refrain from voting for him out of fear that he might actually do so. There's no real hope of converting any significant number of Trump voters to vote for any Democratic candidate, no matter who that candidate is. The only hope for the Democrats is to increase turn out, including and especially in all states that Donald Trump won by comparatively small margins in 2016. And, of course, to be as prepared as possible for the lies, hacking etc. to come. I don't actually see much sign of anyone doing this. I hope that important efforts are taking place that I don't know about.
11
@Stephen Merritt: In Heaven, there will be no Democrats to make people feel ignorant.
I wonder who co-opted whom? Pundits say the GOP is 45's Party. You write on policy, the Republicans co-opted 45. Perhaps this like a functioning dysfunctional marriage. That would explain after the impeachment trial many Republicans thought he learned his lesson. The next day he ignored the wise counsel given at the National Prayer Breakfast to remove political resentment from one's heart and he followed that with a WH purge. 45 appears to be on a Mission of Revenge having survived two major investigations. Revenge requires two shovels; one to dig a grave for the victim and one for the victor. 45 is his own worst enemy. Enablers provide no help. Revenge by its very nature is violent, divisive, and generally a short term solution. Christianity at its best teaches meeting hate with love, division with inclusion, and fear with hope. Some of the messages and campaign slogans of the Democratic candidates for POTUS reflect that spirit; e.g. Sanders "Not Me, US", Mayor Pete broadening inclusion to mean an invitation to both the rich and poor and everyone in between, and Mayor Bloomberg's ad on Be Presidential.
4
Blow the election? You make all the points that Trump is way out of bounds in his pursuit of using the tax system to enrich the rich and hamstring the gov't for years to come to make genuine efforts to work for Americans. You rail about Obama's bailing out the banks while watching the foreclosure disaster engulf millions of Americans. Every deal that the Fed and the Congress has benefitted capital, especially since 2009, but where is the counter push of democracy? The growth in wealth has concentrated power in the US in fewer and fewer hands. 40% of campaign contributions come from the highest strata of wealth. Money talks you know the rest. The desire of the Democrat establishment to put another corporatist in power will have piece meal effective, like with Obama a person with his heart in right place, but outmaneuvered. In 2016 the Democrats suffered a huge self inflicted defeat. The GOP does not want to share the helm. Their is sole goal is to have plutocratic friendly tax policy and their wedge issue agenda accepted without restraint.
3
@c harris: Hardly any of the perpetrators of the collapse suffered from it.
Dr. Krugman wonders why Trump is a tariff man. I believe that he uses it to shake down businesses. Every tariff has exceptions and the filing/granting process isn’t transparent. This forces almost every business in the industry being taxed to apply and, to make sure their case is approved, spend money at a Trump facility or donate to his campaign.
I sure wish the press would investigate this — or better yet, an economist or business researcher cover it in a research project.
22
@Lance BAIRD: Every tariff announcement has immediate effects in financial markets that can be exploited by those with advance notice of them.
1
While I respect Dr. Krugman's expertise and opinions, I am bothered by the fact that twice in this column he refers to a "strong economy." Looking at the numbers closely, this just does not seem to be the case. Real wages adjusted for inflation barely rose at all last year. While the average US salary may be $47,000 a year, for those in the service industry (representing 44% of the workforce and 53 million people) the average is only $30,500. In most places, this is not nearly enough to live, much less raise a family, pay for emergencies, pay for college or vacations and certainly not enough to save for retirement. The fact thatTrump and the media keeps telling people that the economy is so good has made people believe it, even though it is no better than it was 8 years ago. If people are employed, but have to work three jobs and still fall behind, is that a strong economy? If the wealth and income gap continue to expand at a rapid pace, is that not a recipe for disaster. I ask Dr. Krugman and his media colleagues to be more circumspect when describing the econmy. Let's look beyond the rhetoric or the outdated metrics used to measure the economy. People need the truth before the election.
18
@qantas25 " Looking at the numbers closely, this just does not seem to be the case. "
I guess all the people buying more stocks believe it . Dummies!
If anyone wants to know the Trump Regime's priorities for America, check out the latest federal budget submission. Spoiler alert: there's nothing in it for you, your family or your community. Instead, it seeks to drastically cut Medicare/Medicaid funding, provide more obscene tax breaks to those who need to pay more, not less, and comes up with the insane objective of investing in more nuclear weapons at a time when cyber warfare threatens our democracy.
Trump's "acting" budget director couldn't muster even a basic explanation for the Medicare/Medicaid plans; he was so flummoxed that no one could make sense of what was actually being proposed, other than reporters who, thankfully, smelled a rat.
But the real kernel of the regime's economic "philosophy," is that there is nothing -- zilch -- addressing the surging costs of health care. Meantime, the regime is in court trying to overturn the prohibition on deny coverage for folks with pre-existing conditions.
Trump's priorities, and the GOP's priorities, ignore the wishes and needs of their most vigorous "base." To twist Amy Klobucher's campaign mantra, Trump doesn't know you. Nor does he care about you.
22
@PaulB67 most people in the military did not like Obama, but do like Trump. Wondering why?
It infuriates me each time I hear the Republicans attack “entitlements.” They say it like the dirty word they believe it to be. The reality is that they are highly selective in their dislike of “entitlements.” They dislike only those entitlements that do not benefit themselves and their principal constituents —- the super wealthy and large corporations. They have no objections at all to the various schemes, programs, and policies that shift wealth from the poor and the middle class to the already wealthy. Those are entitlements too but they have been given a far less inflammatory designation. They are called instruments of “fiscal policy.” Tax benefits, tax cuts, subsidies, defense spending, programs like economic development and enterprise zones, and hundreds and hundreds of others that go by largely unnoticed, are also entitlements. The hypocrisy of the Republicans and the Republican-in-Chief knows no limits. Maybe one of these days his supporters will wake up and realize they have been had. I can only hope it is not too late.
33
One becomes “entitled” by paying into these programs for one’s whole working life.
13
@Donald Seberger
"Entitlements" is welfare for poor folks.
"Economic Stimulus" is welfare for rich folks.
Any questions?
Chuck Schumer the minority leader in the Senate barely speaks about the failed policies of the GOP. Instead of attacking the Republican Party for waging class warfare against the poor, he is concerned about drinking water on Long Island, a local issue, not a national issue. The Democrats should be attacking the policies of the GOP. Michael Bloomberg is doing this in his commercials. Hopefully the Democrats will wage a successful campaign against Trump.
13
Keeping the financial industry in NYC is Chuck’s prime concern.
The mechanics of Medicare For All notwithstanding, the Democratic Party needs to wrestle with the problem in the face of the Republican push to go back to the way things were before Obamacare. Politically, it's the same with policies as it is with people: you can't beat somebody with nobody.
3
@Daniel J. Drazen The public needs a wake up call when concerning pre-existing conditions. They will defined by healthcare companies. If you have been hospitalized or were seen by a doctor for any condition you have a preexisting condition. Anything from acne to pregnancy to a skin rash, sorry you have a PEC therefore choose your option, you can be covered if you pay through the nose or you can choose to be uninsured and have a nice day. This country/Gov't has becoming more vicious every week.
1
I am curious, how does Trump and the Congressional Republicans
expect an elderly person who needs food stamps to eat, be able to get a job. They are not getting hired because of their age. Do they have a fix for that?
Before any cuts in Food Stamps, perhaps all of the Congress, everyone in the Trump family and in the White House be forced to live on food stamps and work for minimum wage for a year.
Also, how are they going to decide how to supply anyone who is food deprived in this Country, like children, the homeless, the disabled.
Zero heart, compassion and intelligence in the GOP.
31
@Jean
Sadly, the answer to your questions is simple: They do not give a damn.
Krugman: Trump in practice, as opposed to Trump in pretense, has turned out to be every bit as committed to trickle-down economics as Republicans in Congress have been for decades.
And yet 40% of the American middle class routinely vote Republican. And the same folks will vote for Trump with zest. Go figure. Not a shot fired.
17
@wilt
"Not a shot fired." -- And of course there's no need to. If you can convince hoi polloi that what you want to do is actually good for *them*, you can rob them blind, & with an unloaded gun.
2
Public spending funded by taxation is the fundamental stabilizer of mixed economies.
4
Democrats have already blown this election. They are divided between moderates and progressives. Whichever side prevails, the other side will lack the enthusiasm. Since almost nobody in America is changing his or her mind about which party he or she will vote for, and the country is divided in half between parties, the election will depend on who gets more people to vote. The vote will be based on enthusiasm, and Democrats will have alienated half or their constituency when they make their choice between moderation and progressivism.
9
@R. Adelman
A four party system seems to be needed, and wanted.
In reality one could easily fit two parties into the present
Republican one, and two into the Democratic one. These four groups would better represent the voters and politics could be carried out more like it is done in Canada or Europe. In these times of niche politics sticking to two parties seems outdated and undemocratic.
3
I guess that economic theory is not mathematics and like weather is hard to predict. It is likely true that a deep recession based on fear and technical glitches will eventually recover and we are still recovering, due neither to Obama nor Trump. Artificially stimulating the economy is probably still a dangerous preview to recurrent cycles. So like weather we can predict a Hurricane but can't tell where it will land. So it is likely that using fiscal and monetary stimulus during upswings to garner political support will lead to a new recession, we don't know when. Or perhaps the reverse Robin Hood approach really does lead to more economic growth at the cost of more misery for those left behind. As a system, I still don't see how this is sustainable in the very long run, depending on what your values are. Monarchy, with a wealthy elite, and miserable serfs was sustainable for centuries, but returning to that paradigm is also dangerous because it leads to rebellion. We should remove the Monarchists from political power immediately.
7
As for infrastructure, Trump did keep his promise...sort of; only his idea of infrastructure was that "big, beautiful wall."
16
@Ponsobny Britt
He hasn’t built much of that wall, if at all.
What he did build was like his hairpiece: vulnerable to a stiff wind.
Unfortunately, the electorate not only falls for Trump's lies, but the Dems refuse to make use of the lies, as Dr. Krugman concludes. How can Dem presidential candidates, who are supposed to understand the economic policy, not call out Trump on his willingness to toe the GOP company line?
19
@Anthony
Actually, Warren has been doing that for years. Before she was a senator, she was often telling anybody who would listen about the "fixed" unbalanced capitalism running amok. She did it in layman's terms too.
Republicans across the board have a singular economic policy: place the entire tax burden on this nation on the backs of those who work for a living.
It's as simple a concept as that of the party now being a cult of personality rather than a political entity.
Once you realize both statements are true, it explains the present day quite succinctly.
37
Trumps camp boasted that three thousand people couldn’t get into the New Hampshire Trump rally. Perhaps those were the Trump supporters who have jobs and could not afford to waste a day standing in line.
Then of course there were the 11,000 people who did get into the rally. These are the people who DID have An entire day to waste a standing in line. Perhaps the sheer number of people who waste days getting into a Trump rally has a correlation with the number of people under-employed or unemployed.
21
Paul, you have been wrong all along - admit it and move on. Trump won, the economy is great, I am employing 35 people instead of the 20 of three years ago. All is well, and hopefully, Trump will be re-elected. If Bernie wins, I will go bankrupt and with me my 35 employees. Move on, Paul.
4
If Trump wins, the entire country will go bankrupt, and not just morally. Trump is on the precipice of taking it all down, just like his casinos and so many of his other ventures. It's unfortunate that so many people like Chris see the world only through economic lenses and excuse the behavior of Trump and the republican party citing a strong economy. The ends don't justify the means, folks.
26
@Chris Glad to hear of your recent business hiring expansion. If you fear that your business will go bankrupt because of anyone other than Tump's being elected, then maybe you're in the wrong, or a weak business. Perhaps unionizing your shop might help it survive BERNIE? I would rather like to think that your business success was and is due to your smart business practices under any political or economic currents. I hope you continue your success either way.
@Chris M
trumpism in a nutshell: it's been good to me so it must be good.
We have come a long way from a generation that was willing to die so that others could live free to one that celebrates filling its own pockets while others go hungry.
2
In answer to your question “will Trump pay any price for failing to keep his promises?” Absolutely not.
In answer to your second question “will democrats blow the election over issues like Medicare for all? Absolutely not.
Whether Trump wins or not has nothing to do with policy and everything to do with how successful his campaign is at frightening people about socialism, immigrants, liberals, gun control, gay marriage and abortion. And how successful his campaign is at voter suppression. That’s it folks. They did it in 2016 and their voter data and tools are much much better now.
Pretend all you want this is a campaign about policy because this is a campaign about fear.
And for the record, trillion dollar deficits are prosperity borrowed from our young people. And Free money from the fed just raises the price of stocks and homes and other such assets. If interest rates ever rise again the stock market and housing market will collapse, so we’re stuck with these low rates while the rich get richer until stocks and homes reach unsustainable prices on their own.
35
@KPH "Pretend all you want this is a campaign about policy because this is a campaign about fear."
no it's about where we are heading as a nation.
@KPH Thank you for that bit of realism
1
Trump’s “Trade War” is simply a campaign commercial to get votes from working folks. It does not matter if it works, he just wants the perception that he’s bringing back jobs from China. He made the economy appear to be horrible when he ran in 2016 and he’ll make it out to be great in 2020. And at least 40% of Americans will believe him because he’s convinced them the media is fake. Everything he does is a lie to make him look good.
32
@Roscoe
"He just wants the perception."
Like the announcement of a Biden/Ukraine investigation.
Do you think Trump will hold his rallies after the election on November 3? It will be telling depending on the outcome - win or lose. Where will his fanatics and roadies go if the spectacle ends and after they have served his agenda? Trump may fade, but Trumpism will continue to fester. This brand of politics has been simmering since Agnew. We need to rebalance politcally and economically for equilibrium not stagnation or regression. Who is best suited to deliver and capture the attention of voters?
6
Paul. The election is over. No one is going to vote for ANY progressive/democrat with the current policies being floated by the bunch.
The market is near 30,000 and would instantly drop to 20,000 if Trump doesn't win.
Public and private unions as well as everyone who has a pension is going to start shaking once they enter that voting booth.
The enactment of any progressive "green new deal" at 100 trillion or "Medicare for All" at 50 trillion would send the market to 2008/2009 levels or below and wipeout retirement accounts for 10's of millions of Americans.
6
@Charles Segal
I don't believe that the choice is between funding our children's education and infrastructure or funding the pensions of the elderly.
If it was, I would expect those who are old (like me) to support funding their children over funding themselves. That's the christian thing to do.
1
@Charles Segal
Hardly.
The market is going to tank because trickle down policies and tax cut sugar highs only last so long. This correction will be yuge.
1
@Charles Segal. Too bad we can’t all be expats...
Even after four years of deriding Trump for his unpopular, unconventional ways of running the government, it hasn't accomplished a single positive thing or point that strengthens the Dems changes of winning in 2020. Rather pitiful isn't it? The middle and lower income groups continue to make the wealthy even richer, and businesses pay less taxes resulting in shareholders being well rewarded. Just what is Krugman trying to accomplish in his articles? Hasn't it become clear reminding us of Trump's lies, of his failed trade and foreign policies, of breaking laws that aren't impeachable, and it goes on and on hasn't resulted in The GOP losing its base, or the president becoming unpopular such that he will lose the 2020 election. Maybe it is time for a change, wouldn't you say Paul? A new approach is needed.
4
If the only thing you ever inherited was white privilege, the Trump economy is reason enough to re-elect him. Say what you want, but the 401k exerts an irresistible pull.
8
@Peter
We have to address wealth polarization. I wouldn’t mind moving my stuff into treasuries and accept conservative slow growth if the investor class is planning on tanking the market as a political, war like, maneuver.
5
@Brian
Yeah, and I need to lose weight. I’m planning to stop drinking and start eating vegetables as soon as I finish off all the desserts and liquor I can get my hands on. Likewise the thinking of the investor class - sure, what they are doing will destroy civilization eventually, but for now, it’s fabulous! So tell me, when are you planning to move your stuff into treasuries? I’m guessing it’s some time after the end of Trump’s second term...
1
@Peter: Yup, but that fat 401k will melt like snow in the hot sun with one cancer diagnosis and treatment if you don't have adequate health insurance coverage. Pooofff - gone are your life savings within a year!
On just two issues, albeit existential each, in any sane nation the entire GOP, especially including Trump, would be toast in the election - climate and health care. The GOP is slow-walking the effort to finally kill ACA through their court system, delaying the decision until after the election. That is the height of cynicism about the intelligence of the electorate. But, as the companion editorial about coronavirus explains, the human species is engineered to resort to emotions in the face of fear, leaving reason out in the cold. The GOP figured this out decades ago, and continues to feast on it, and on us.
39
@Michael very us/them mentality. Can you see the we in US
If a government deliberately allows budget deficits to rise, eventually a price has to be paid, and with GOP government that will mean either cuts in public expenditure, tax and /or interest increases, impacting on employment and public provision. And ultimately with continued low rates and irresponsible bank lending another Crash is likely, showing the lessons from 2008 have not been learned. This might be connected to Trump's business history which has been fuelled by massive indebtedness and frequent brushes with near-bankruptcy. But someone could always be found, to bail him out, including Russian oligarchs. Who is going to bail out the federal government when the crunch comes?
14
@Tom he got bailed out. Those who trusted and got sucked in by him did lose their money.
@Tom ,
Let's ask Saint Obama. 9 Trillion-21 Trillion in 8 years. Perhaps the president will address his moderate addition to the deficit to adequately fund our military, gutted by the saint, when the obstructionist impeachers are promptly tossed into the dustbin of history.
Standard GOP procedure: Irresponsible tax cut, start a couple of wars, crash the economy, then turn it all over to Democrats and blame them when the bills start coming due. How are things going at the Ministry of Information, Winston?
I teach economics and it's truly shocking how many of my colleagues and students automatically rush to tax cuts, and spending cuts, as a panacea for all. But tax increases? Impossible they say... I encourage them to look at the data but the years of faux news and propaganda make for a tough hill to climb...
37
@sue denim: The US is so brainwashed into idiocy it doesn't even know that all public sectors of mixed economies practice socialism for the interests that control the government. The US is basically run as a war machine for the weapons industry.
@sue denim The scary thing is how many we’ll educated folks have bought into this myth for forty years now. Americans want government services, they just don’t want to pay for them! The cognitive dissonance is breathtaking............
1
@1115swo: The US public doesn't even understand why double-entry bookkeeping evolved.
Given all the information Krugman lays out, I cannot understand how any low to middle class American can defend Trump’s behavior and support his economic policies.
I remember in 2016 it was very popular for the media to interview “blue collar” white male high school graduates who would complained that Obama didn’t do enough for them. I’ll spare the readers from listing all that the Obama administration did for this population
Where are these same white males today? Why are these same white males who complained about Obama not being interviewed by the media? And lastly, what is it about Trump, and Republican economic policy, which does not benefit them, and will definitely hurt them and their families, that appeals to these very same white males (and I might add their spouses)?
My view is that first with respect to Trump, he is able to say and do what they wish they could do, I.e., get over (don’t pay taxes, bully adversaries and lie and get away with it; and re:Republican policies,they want to deny, any and all, benefits to people who are different then themselves, and not as patriotic as they are, in order to ensure that they and their families get what they believe is owed them and is coming to them.
22
His trade policy swung the formerly solid Democratic rust belt. Don’t forget the campaign for a negative federal funds rate-how does that work? The Fed loans $100k and you only pay back $95k-nothing like a direct government handout with no strings attached.
5
@Powderchords , Actually, with negative Fed fund rates, you lend the government 100 k and get back 95 k.
1
I was in complete agreement until the last line "But there’s a real danger that Democrats will blow the election by making it a referendum on ambitious ideas like so-called Medicare for all that are unlikely to become reality, rather than on Trump’s ongoing efforts to destroy programs Americans love."
Enough with the alternative facts. What is the quantitative probability the Dems will win the election running on a "moderate" platform as compared to running on a progressive platform? That's right, no one knows or can know. So please stop presenting your preferences as improved odds to win an election that all honest and decent and patriotic Americans know has to be won. Whoever the nominee is should, and I'm sure will, focus and hammer away at "Trump’s ongoing efforts to destroy programs Americans loves." The question is do we replace Trumpism with - programs that benefit all Americans or with programs that ignore the interests of the bottom 50%, to benefit the moderately as well as the ultra wealthy, as "moderate" Democrats have done or at least gone along with for the past 40 years.
18
@KenC Thank you. Well said.
Much Of The Strong Stock Market Is Being Driven By the Fed
First, if you look at growth between Sept. 2018-19, not much happened. Then last Sept. stocks cratered again because the repo market (where banks lend to each other overnight) blew up, prompting the Fed to announce it would provide about $60B/mth in liquidity which took the form of purchasing T bills. And though it claimed this wasn't QE, the market traded it as such and we saw a spectacular finish to year's end, with a gain of nearly 20% from the lows of Sept.
Actually, 2019 started off as a calendar accident. In Dec. the Fed made noises about multiple rate increases, which caused the S&P to crater over 16%. But then they quickly did a complete 180 on policy and the market gained over 19% by late Feb. just to get back where it had been.
4
@Chris Manjaro: Interest rates used to be higher than stock dividends. Not any more.
4
@Steve Bolger Let's see what happens when the Fed starts warning markets it plans to end this latest round of 'electronic' money printing.
Conventional measures of the economy hide its weakness. This is a strong economy only for those with large corporate portfolios, not for people who work for a living. That economy, the one for everyone, disappeared with Reagan. Wages are now making small gains, but not enough to make up for years of declining real income from wages. Health costs and other corporate scams are funneling income upstairs. Greed and corruption rule.
Warren is right about this. Sanders has long been right about this. Moderation means denial. Denial and lies elected Trump. Let's tell the truth for a change.
20
Prof. Krugman you are unclear on trade. Is trade good for the same corporations that Trump gives billions in tax breaks to? Is it good for the working Americans that Trump is robbing in so many other ways? Is NAFTA, or USMCA, it’s mutated new version, which you say the GOP establishment kept from having any substantive changes, protecting American workers, or is it also a part of trickle down economics? In a recent interview Jared Kushner said that since NAFTA and China’s entry into the WTO the US has seen 70,000 factories shuttered. Kushner claimed that USMCA would restore 200,000 American factory jobs. That’s THREE (3) workers’ jobs restored per lost factory!!! Not very impressive, even considering the effects of automation, wouldn’t you agree? Are you and the entire Democratic field of candidates, especially the so-called centrists, refusing to address trade issues frankly, hoping the policies of the last 25 years and their consequences appear normal compared to the clumsy, bullying, ham-handed approach of Trump, Peter Navarro, et al? Are you telling us that along with all his other deceptions Trump’s trade policies are really pretty much status quo? Which is okay? Okay for whom?
5
@Deja Vu: It is stupid to put factories in the US if one doesn't have too. The health care system, the judicial system, and even the measurement system, are all off the wall. Not to mention all the guns.
@Steve Bolger So, the answer is just a simple change in tax policy, and everything will follow from that? It doesn't matter that Ross Perot correctly heard the sucking sound of jobs leaving the US with the passage of NAFTA? And Lee Iacocca was wrong when he posited: "What do you call a nation that exports raw goods and imports finished ones? A colony."?
Democrats won those elections in 2018 because they were local elections and although also controlled by the influence of gerrymandering and voter restriction, the GREAT ELECTORAL COLLEGE did NOT apply.
4
@esp: Democrats may well win the local elections in 2020 as well. Better a majority Democratic House and Senate than a Democratic president with a majority Republican Senate, as Obama can attest to.
6
"Mike Pence told CNBC that rising deficits aren’t a concern as long as they help boost the economy." That rings of Dick Cheney saying "deficits don't matter."
And truly, deficits don't matter so long as you don't care that the nation devotes your tax dollars exclusively to building the military and paying the interest on the debt.
At some point paying the interest on our debt will squeeze out all other spending. There will be no infrastructure spending by the federal government, it will be up to state and local governments to increase their debt and raise taxes to rebuild the bridges that collapse, repair the overpasses that are crumbling, close the roads and tunnels that are no longer safe and too expensive to repair.
And who is going to argue that Social Security benefits can't be cut when the only thing the federal budget can cover is the military spending and the interest on the debt?
And don't even think about cutting the military spending! When we can no longer make payments on the debt we are going to need that military to protect us from the nations who loaned us the money and now want it back.
40
@JABarry: Pence even claims to know what God thinks. They don't come much dumber.
1
The cost of this President's leisure activities and weekends away from DC are the highest in US history. Where is the GOP outrage? The Tea Party may have re-branded but most of the individuals whose reason for living was to constantly harp on government spending are still around. Federal taxes keep Airforce One up in the air much more than necessary.
And what really goes on during "Excutive Time"? Office hours appear to be 11am-6pm. Who is paying the transport costs of all these campaign rallies?
75
A very liberal friend of mine who loves golf was the first person I heard bring up the utter hypocrisy of Trump supporters when it comes to funding Trump’s golf vacations. He knew very well how they whined and cried about having to fund Obama’s golfing. And how they used it as an attack against Obama. Yet Trump in his very first months showed they he would spend way more money and time on golfing than Obama did in his full eight years, and the Trump supporters were silent. They still are, mostly. I’ve heard one or two say some vague things about “deals on the golf course” as though Trump is still a two-bit real estate hustler.
3
It was said by a Trump administration official that our coming economic growth rate will be 3%.
In light of the fact that on demand inventory flows, meaning almost no inventory in companies, the economy will suffer with the advent of the Chinese novel Coronavirus. Even the stock market reflected that. They know like I do, production and fear of imports is a looming problem.
So it goes without saying; don't believe anything coming out of the Administration as they are leading the pillaging of the nation, and now the thieves will have no place safe.
30
There needs to be limits on inherited wealth and on charitable corporations.
Look at the Walton Family - a half dozen people worth 190 BILLION dollars who've seen the dividends paid to them grow by leaps and bounds while Walmart employees are told how to apply for food stamps.
The earliest employees at Microsoft made a fortune on stock options but now employees are likely to be contract workers.
A HUGE amount of wealth has been created over the last 40 years but most has gone to a very few hands instead of being shared with workers.
82
@cynicalskeptic: The Earned income Credit subsidizes the Waltons more than the people who get it.
9
@Steve Bolger
I’m going to start cutting and pasting your terse comments into a Word document. This one, and “Public spending funded by taxation is the fundamental stabilizer of mixed economies” are keepers.
There are days when I wish the Republican base would get everything they think they want just so I can read all the creative ways Democrats will be blamed for the corrupt, violent, third world country we’ll all be living in.
3
@cynicalskeptic
"People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage.
Intellectual myopia, often called stupidity, is no doubt a reason. But the privileged also feel that their privileges, however egregious they may seem to others, are a solemn, basic, God-given right."
John Kenneth Galbraith – in The Age of Uncertainty
6
Did Trump really say he was going to raise taxes on the rich? I genuinely never heard that. I can’t believe it was a major reason for his voters to support him. I completely agree with the idea, mind you, but I am not a Trump supporter. Was this something he said often during his campaign? I have a tendency to tune him out, as I do with blowhards, so I can’t be sure.
13
@Ben
Yes. Early in his campaign — I think it was Fall of 2015 — Trump said his tax plan would close loopholes, causing the wealthy to pay more taxes. Trump claimed that his tax plan would cost him a fortune.
Anyone, who knew anything about Trump’s behavior since the 1980s, figured Trump was lying. Trump’s daily mantra seems to be “Lie, Cheat, Exploit.”
25
@donna: Thanks for answering! it wasn’t a rhetorical question. I genuinely didn’t remember him saying that. When looked it up, a got a vague Trumpian quote from the Wall Street Journal where he said something about taxing the rich and he seemed to be speaking off the cuff. So, is it possible that Trump was originally willing to tax the rich but was convinced to do the opposite by the hard right people around him? I am of the basic opinion that Trump’s politics, now, are merely transactional and a matter of convenience. The only constant he has had throughout his life is his position on international trade, which is misguided at best.
13
@Ben
Please take two seconds and Google "Trump says he wants to raise taxes on the rich."
He has said it many times.
But, you are right, that's not why people support him. People support him because he's the kind of person who hangs the Presidential Medal of Freedom around Rush Limbaugh's neck.
1
Starting with the premise that "Trickle Down Economics" was always a lie repeated for years to brainwash everyone, the fact is Trump is "The Wall" street representative complete with Wall street Mnuchen running the Treasury. It's no accident Trump was elected in what was a shock and awe election, as usual, so close that everyone was too shocked to question it's legitimacy. It was noted the Television industry "devoted" a Billion dollars worth of free airtime to Trump during his campaign. There is more but not enough space to elaborate.
So it's a given, Wall Street elected Trump. They got their payback with the massive tax cuts and deregulation, but then I figured out why Trump is hateful of Immigrants and Refugees. It's because of Wall street's bottom line. If millions of new people arrive, they will dilute the economy, burden the banks with lower income people and the ultimate taxes reinstituted to help the poor.
Trump's genocide is occurring, from immigrants, to health care, to deregulation and now his new budget victimizes the poor in so many ways including taking away their life sustaining health care. Like any wild animal predator, Trump is preying on the least among us probably because they have no means to defend themselves.
That is why it is of paramount importance to vote for any Democrat except Bloomberg the Billionaire Wall Street alternative so we can save millions from certain death.
14
@PATRICK: James Comey's stunt with Anthony Weiner's computer should have disqualified the election. And it isn't being investigated at all, even with players like Rudy Giuliani probably involved.
1
And what is wrong with Medicare for all? If so many successful countries around the globe have it and support it and prove that it works and that it's not socialist dogma then why can't Americans have it as well? Simple question needs a simple answer.
42
The Republican Party has successfully framed this as Democrats “taking away precious employer provided insurance” while the truth is that no one loves their employer provided insurance - except perhaps union employees who have very rich plans. And the public is suspicious of any takeaway so this framing plays to that fear.
And they don’t realize this is the same Medicare they happily embrace when they turn 65.
41
@Wiley People are afraid of government run healthcare. I think the first step of a public option and then to ease into medicare for all is the best way. Also it would be a logistical nightmare to switch overnight from what we have now (which admittedly is a mess) to a fully socialized medical system.
16
@Wiley Is medicare for all a wining platform and will it ever get past the congress. Remember President Obama had a democratic house and senate and he barely got his health care bill through. Right now we should be concentrating on winning. and how trump policies are hurting this country and the world.
19
There isn't a financially powerful entity that Republicans are not willing to support and spend money on: oil, big farming, millionaires, pharmaceuticals, military contractors, Subsidies, freedom from regulations, tax cuts, removal of hereditary tax, the monies keep on flowing like rivers. Is there a tight budget? The reflexive reaction is to cut social services, education, health care, aid to the poor. The pattern is always the same and as long as people can scrape by, they will grumble, blame inexistent outside dangers and do nothing... or worse, follow snake oil salesmen.
24
"And as I wrote last week, the economic good news of recent years — not as good as Trump claims, but the economy has indeed been strong..."
I give up. GDP was 2.2% in 2019.
When Obama had 2.2% it was 'the new normal of subpar growth.'
Now a liberal, nobel prize winning economist says 2.2% is strong.
There's no point anymore. Might as well just gi ve up and vote tRump.
2
@Chris Manjaro
Unemployment has been over 20% since 2009, inflation has been in double digits in most cities and GDP has been negative most years since 2000.
Government numbers are all lies.
2
That’s exactly what’s wrong: a nation built by rugged individualists has now become a nation of negativists (“I voted for him because I did not like the other candidate”), quitters (“Don’t understand both sides so might as well vote for the side I do), or people lacking a moral compass in the style of the US senate.
16
“Rugged individualists” did not build this nation. They just claimed the land we have built our nation on. This nation has been built by many, many kinds of people.
19
Republicans: when my party does it it’s right. When your party does it it’s wrong.
Voters: what happened last summer? I can’t remember.
21
I can't imagine Trump understands how our economy works. Therefore, I assume most of his "actions" are based on his supposed bargaining skills. According to New Yorkers, these skills involve ripping off the people who actually do the work... those who actually take actions to getting things done.
41
Prof Krugman,
Democrats are going to blow up the election for sure, just like they did last time. But not because of treating it as referendum for ambitious plans, but because of betting on the wrong horse.
Establishment Democrats still behave like Joe Biden is the only person who counts even after the Iowa debacle.
The one thing Democrats can do is meet over coffee and decide what is the correct course of action and start speaking in once voice.
And of course, send Joe Biden to his long due holiday!
4
@RaVi Kiran K
Biden is another old school pol who feels entitled. No thanks.
But too many of the other Dems are off in some never-never land. Yes, equality is nice but endless focus on 'preferred pronouns' and such is rather ridiculous when so many people can't find a job that pays a living wage.
The only way to expose Trump for what he is is to let some of his plans take place. Let Obama Care fail, let millions lose their health benefits, cut and eliminate Medicaid and cut Medicare, eliminate food stamps, child care, lunch programs, Seciton 8 housing. Raise taxes on the middle class and make further tax cuts for the wealthy. Oh and reduce Social Security by 50% so that we can pay for the tax cuts for the wealthy. Oh-and let them eat cake.
22
@Den
So...... when we have rioting in the streets by starving, homeless sick people things will get better?
Remember how the Occupy Movement was treated by police?
They've been militarizing the police for decades in preparation for just such a scenario. Same reason so many people are in prison or addicted to drugs. Keeps the most desperate people from rioting in the streets.
1
This is the big question:
Do Democrats go big on Sanders, Warren or small on Butitieg, Klobuchar, Biden, Bloomberg?
Priority One is to beat Trump, and the best shot is a smart moderate who can take Trump apart in a debate?
--OR--
Enough with corporations owning the country and us, it's time to truly take back the country from a tyranny of the 1% and make it 'great' for most people, by joining the rest of the Western world and providing genuine universal healthcare, quality public education, and a revised progressive tax code that pays for these big budget items?
Krugman is my favorite and most reliable pundit, and while my heart is with Bernie, Krugman's skepticism about Sanders (in addition to the reporting on Sanders' ineffectiveness as a senator) platform worries me about both his electability and his effectiveness should he manage to get elected.
I truly don't know the answer, though I'm leaning toward saying, Enough is enough, it's time to shake the tree! The flagrant corruption of Senate Republicans is evidence of a political system with way too much money in it.
Unless a Bernie or Warren get elected, we'll never neutralize Citizens United by having publicly funded elections. Which is what also absolutely must happen if the republic has any hope of being kept.
30
I think that we need Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren in the Senate to champion those policies and have any chance of maintaining socially responsible agenda and trying to limit the power of corporations and lobbies.
17
@Jimbo
"Who do I want to be elected?"
"Who actually can be elected?"
Why do so many people confuse these two questions?
1
Or do we want Lizzie as Sec. of the Treasury?
The winner of the 2020 presidential election will have a hornet's nest to contend with, no doubt. The candidates of my party are lost in the weeds of the voters confusion over too much information. While usually a very good thing to be aware of policy differences among candidates of both parties, this year's contests are rife with twin evils of disinformation and misinformation in all things trump.
The biggest casualty is confused truth by the blind men and the elephant, or better known as the republicans' deceit to the public. Their rampit levels of coordinated, targeted slick lies on the least knowledgeable among us is the fools game. Ultimately the country is becoming too unstable en masse. Anybody that thinks that they will be immune to the chaos of a sluggishly downed economy and few reliable services outside of engendered economic boundaries are tragically misled.
Trump himself will be overwhelmed by the brokenness of a disunited nation that has too many poor people banging at the gates, especially if he wins a 2nd term. But this kind of unrest is very fertile ground for two types of outcomes:
1) The authoritarian opportunity exists that could more easily create serious, encroaching scapegoat blame on more populations other than the current non-citizens.
2) The Congress is completely compelled to step in to re-establish itself as a responsible governing body.
In either case, and depending on who wins in a 2020 mixture, the die is clearly cast.
7
@C. Coffey you are so right, like you i'm afraid that too much ignorance exists on both sides, sadly i think that we might be headed for#1. nancy pelosi is only 1 person.
Four Republicans have instituted "supply side economics" and all gave tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations that failed to increase wages or create living wage jobs equal to lost tax revenue. In other words, trickle down continues to fail to flow from the 1% to the 99%.
Trump has increased the national debt $3 Trillion in 3 years. His 2021 proposed budget would add another $5 Trillion to that debt requiring another Congressional raising of the debt ceiling. Oddly, Republicans have touted themselves fiscal conservatives but have proven that position extremely hypocritical.
In the White House 2021 budget, Trump seeks to cut funding to domestic and safety-net programs (e.g. Medicare, CHIP, HUD, Agriculture, the EPA, Education, HUD and the CDC) while dramatically increasing military spending. Note that increased military spending far exceeds what the Pentagon has requested.
20
@Question Everything The increase in military spending would no doubt be redirected to his border wall.
Whatever "motivated" Trump's trade policies, they seem to be working pretty well.
When Professor Krugman says that Trump is "betraying all his promises," Krugman brands himself as a kook. Generally speaking, Trump has managed to keep most of his promises, or at least made an effort to do so.
That's why the Pubs are surging. With this brand of intellectual leadership on the left, it's easy to see why the Dems are in disarray. Krugman would do better for the Dems just by telling them how to count beans. And votes.
1
@Dave Oedel
I'm sorry but what?
No wall.
No new NAFTA deal of any consequence.
No surge in manufacturing.
No reversal in trade deficit.
No improvement on health care.
No infrastructure plan.
All while ballooning the deficit so when the downturn inevitably does come there's less readily available to use.
57
@Dave Oedel
Welfare for the wealthy that fails to trickle down.
You do recall that the $1.5 Trillion tax cut needed 4% to balance that action yet last year saw 2.3%?
Are Republicans are okay with Trump adding $3 Trillion in national debt in 3 years? Trump's 2021 proposed budget add another $5 Trillion to the debt.
So Republicans are fiscal conservative hypocrites after years of railing against raising the national debt. The GOP says one thing and does the opposite while the lies are obvious and in black & white, or in this case... green.
37
@Question Everything
It's true that the government coffers have not overflowed under Trump, but if you count the aggregate economic improvements felt across the economic spectrum, the success has been broad-based. We see it up close and personal in Macon, which is majority African American. Hiring signs everywhere. Unemployment at this point only by choice. Come on down and see for yourself.
I read the article about Trump's New Hampshire rally and noted a crowd that was overwhelmingly white and trended male. All ages appeared to be represented. The rallygoers are Trump fans so they think he is doing a fantastic job. Others, even those who voted for him in 2016, may be more discerning.
15
@mmk
Bet some of those rally people have been bussed in.
I read an article recently when Joe Walsh was in Iowa for the caucus and he was trying to get Republicans to reject Trump. He approached one gentleman who agreed to hear him out. The interesting thing about that is the man was from Texas?
...and you know how DJT likes crowds. It probably takes all 50 states to produce one for him!
1
@mmk
Nixon had a 27% approval rating after he resigned and on the day he boarded Marine One for that last flight from the White House.
Trump's MAGA sheeple are about that percentage. The 2020 election will be a Blue Tsunami considering Trump's ludicrous budget, his promises failed to be kept lies proven after 3 years and radical increases in the national debt (now projected at $8 Trillion).
1
“The question now is whether Trump will pay any price for betraying all his promises.”
Judging from the ubiquitous “Promises Made, Promises Kept” signs being held aloft by the supporters at his rallies, I believe that the answer is clearly “no.”
24
@Susan
and for being waaaaay in
over his head to begin with....
Remember before the 2018 mid terms Trump stated that if the Democrats had a big win in the House the markets would crash and all the gains in the market would be gone? Well they did and it didn't. The fact that Trump inherited a strong economy from Obama and is kind of surfing on its success. There has not been one initiative that he has taken that made the economy stronger - or fairer. We will hear the same meme going into the election about how Trump is the only one who can prevent economic disaster. No truth to it but unfortunately some will buy it as they have bought his many other lies and fantasies.
48
Dr. Krugman,
Excellent snapshot here of Putin's friend, thank you.
There's plenty of low hanging fruit that the Democrats could be taking advantage of but it seems, this buffet, is being ignored by the DNC and all the candidates.
If I could tell the Dems how to handle this campaign, I would suggest that the primary strategy should be an "anti-corruption" focus.
That banner could be carried to the White House with a ticket headed by Senator Warren and Governor Bullock. Warren already has the credibility and credentials for this effort. She appeals to the progressives and more of the moderates than the media points out.
Her choice of Bullock, with his years of work against "dark" money, would be the ideal combination for such a campaign and it would calm objections, by some, that she courts the left when she selects a more conservative VP.
...and, I would hope that this winning ticket would proceed with a little caution on some of the big plans but the goal would be "over the next 16 yrs." that Bullock who, under Warren, has begun to see the merits of her agenda, would be a convert and would ultimately complete the mission of remaking the middle class and transforming inequality to the degree that any working person, working full time, could pay their way.
The only way for this to happen is for the Dems to capture the WH for four terms and make steady but ever longer strides to remaking our society. That ticket has to have a broad appeal and headed by a woman.
25
The release of this proposed budget pretty well outlines what Trump will be hammering away at if he is elected again for President. It will take all the Democrat’s tactical strength to save American lives, especially children and keep food stamps and Medicaid and other entitlement programs, that we have paid for with our taxes with the understanding this is how we want those monies spent. Trump is creating big problems for our country.
30
No one, not Democrats or Democratic Republicans like Trump, will escape the results of his protectionist policies: short term stimulus vs long term pain of rising costs.
Go look at Japan. A very expensive country where an apple costs $5.00.
9
Paul is correct that Trump’s deplorable acts may escape attention if the Dems focus on policy per se. But policy can be presented as Amy Klobuchar expressed it in New Hampshire, as the implementation of a sane society in contrast to a facade, an echo chamber, promoting chaos to be exploited by a cabal of billionaires eager to establish themselves as out-and-out Oligarchs.
12
Mike Bloomberg, please read this Krugman column and use it as subject matter for several TV commercials. Thank you.
32
Democrats need to understand it is pointless trying to win over Trump voters. Their entire voting premise is based on a mantra of I have nothing and will not rest till the rest of the folks are exactly in my situation. Ergo, everyone will be poor, uneducated and without a future. They do not care about facts. So unless you give them a new idea to hate, they are sticking with the hate memes defined by Trump. As for the educated Trump voters.....that is the biggest oxymoron, ever.
The rest of us Democrats, we better get under one umbrella under a very blue sky. No divided votes. Yes let the candidates fight it to the top, but when the nominee happens, let us all forget our petty differences and with one stroke, turn this country BLUE!
65
@Meena
This!^
What is needed is state referendums on secession. It is all about turnout and why would you vote when your nation has only one gear reverse. There are no policy issues it is only about democracy and authoritarianism and with 18% of the population electing over 50% of the Senate the choice is between stagnation or going backwards.
19
Yep he lied and lied and lied. And lies some more and keeps on lying around ad finitum. The biggest quandary to me is how to show his supporters their own fragility and losses of national stability under this term much less another. They have no concept of the economy or the fragile bubble of the stock market because they are just getting by and giving the finger to the Libs and don’t have wealth managers to explain to them how cyclical and vulnerable our economy is. They may figure it out in the future but, If form holds true, either Obama, Clinton or Pelosi will be responsible for that, too. The skies ahead are stormy.
16
That Trump claims he is responsible for the great economy is his biggest lie. Back in July 2008, the price of oil surged to a peak of 147 dollars per barrel precipitating the WORLD recession that lasted a few years. Since then we have recovered and grown steadily for one reason alone; the price of oil has remained basically steady and low since then.
As a matter of fact, in January 2015, the price of a barrel of oil was only 29 dollars. Since then it has reached up to 60 dollars and has now declined to fifty due to the Coronavirus reducing demand. Oil actually got more expensive under Trump and Republicans. But since 2008, it has always been relatively low allowing the economy to surge.
6
Prof. Krugman's record of inaccurate predictions in long and distinguished. Just for example "Paul Krugman, who warned shortly after the 2016 election that Trump’s victory would trigger a global recession “with no end in sight.” Only the first among several.
I presume this is as a result of his political opposition to President. Trump.
As regards manufacturing jobs, in Jan 19 the following market watch article reports "Some food for thought: the U.S. had as many people working in the manufacturing sector in December as it did 69 years ago.
The 32,000 positions added in December took the total number of positions in manufacturing to 12.84 million. In November 1949, there were 12.88 million manufacturing workers, at the end of a sharp recession."
In view of this statistic above I think that after period of rapid growth some decline in manufacturing jobs is not a unexpected phenomenon.
I would be inclined to invest more credibility in Prof.'s Krugsmans views if he was not such a reliable contra-indicator.
Not content with this record of economic predictions, Prof. Krugman is happy to share his mind-reading abilities with his reading public. "My guess, however, is that Trump’s trade policy has been motivated less by any substantive goals than by the desire to look like a tough guy." His ability to read the President's mind and to so divine his "real" intentions mark Paul out as a man of rare and hidden talents. We of the provinces are unused to such clarity of clairvoyance.
@Mark
You can't argue about economic predictions unless you include environmental impact, right? Even insurance companies do it. Can you include some factor... ANY little thing about the environment? Say the dramatic increase in environmental harm that is expected from actions of the Trump administration? Examples: no or little consequences for business practices that kill birds (Birds are declining in number dramatically and we need them), cities allowed to release more sewage into rivers (ick!), more ash and toxins allowed to leak from coal plants and holding pools, weaker car emission standards (more air pollution which we know harms urban health), no mitigation of lead pipes in vulnerable areas. I could go on and on. The Trump administration is creating an environmental wasteland that we will be cleaning up for decades or possibly may not recover from. You must include those costs because they are real.
21
Mr. Krugman assumes that Democrats want to tax the wealthy at high rates. But a lot of Democrats are wealthy and would prefer to spend their money on a second Mercedes or on that addition to their 3500 sq. ft. home. Yes, Mr. Krugman, there are lots of materialistic Democrats.
1
@michjas
Mike Bloomberg will tax the heck out of the wealthy. I'm sure he enjoys his wealth and would love a new electric Mercedes, but now that he has seen that massive wealth inequality can lead to the likes of Trump he's more than happy to chip in a bit more to ensure we have a more stable middle class.
Most wealthy Democrats feel the same, most wealthy Republicans don't.
3
If Trump wins the election, he likely will have to deal with the damage he did in his first term: disabled State Department, loss of expertise throughout the government, loss of programs to deal with climate change, no idea of how to control exploding health care costs. A forthcoming book by Anne Case and Angus Deaton might serve as a partial Democratic manifesto: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691190785/deaths-of-despair-and-the-future-of-capitalism
Should a Democrat become president, they will have to confront the same problems, but will likely as not be hamstrung by a Republican Senate. Appointees will be turned down or not considered, legislation not considered. Two, maybe four years without a single new federal judge? It's almost enough to make one wish to see Trump living in his own mess.
6
@David Martin
I think it is much worse than that. There is no room in our liberal democracies for a nation that shares none of our ethics or values.
They say form follows function and right now the USA looks more like Russia than either Canada or Mexico (at least structurally. The largest country on the planet has a smaller economy than Italy.
6
@Montreal Moe And will those liberal democracies be threatened by our bloated and insane military, which is used to acting like the bully on the block. Trump surely likes his new nuclear weapons, and he wonders aloud why ne can't use them.
When will the liberal democracies find the USA a credible world threat and act thereupon?
1
Trump is focusing on the electoral college "again" to win the election, he doesn't care what the people need.
The Kochs spent a billion dollars putting the Republicans into office.
Trump is abiding by what the Koch Brothers want [see below]
Here are just a few excerpts of the Libertarian Party platform that David Koch ran on in 1980:
“Abolish Medicare and Medicaid”
“Abolish the Social Security system”
“Abolish welfare, relief projects, aid to children and ‘aid to the poor”
“Abolish compulsory insurance/tax-supported health and abortion services”
“Abolish government regulated schools and compulsory education”
“Abolish the regulation of the medical insurance industry”
“Abolish the Environmental Protection Agency”
“Abolish all taxation”
“Abolish minimum wage laws”
“Abolish the Postal Service”
“Abolish the Federal Aviation Administration”
“Abolish the Consumer Product Safety Commission”
“Abolish the Federal Election Commission”
“Abolish the Food and Drug Administration”
“Abolish the Department of Energy”
“Abolish the Department of Transportation”
“Abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Act”
“Abolish all public roads and national highways”
“Abolish requiring safety belts, air bags, or crash helmets”
“Privatization inland waterways and control of all water”
“Abolish all lending laws”
“Abolish all branches of the service except the Army”
16
@Pray for Help - " Abolish America"
8
@Pray for Help
It looks like Trump's "to do" list, which the effects of we're experiencing, today.
15
@RMW The Koch Brothers are my Brother [HP]
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/the-koch-brothers-are-my-brothers_b_8292670.html
--Facing accusations of patent violations, Koch looked abroad, including what was then Stalin-era Russia, where he set up Russia’s oil refineries. After setting up Stalin with refineries, Stalin kicked Koch out of Russia. Back in the US, Koch went about fighting Stalin for payback.
--The Koch brothers didn’t just inherit their father’s fortune. They also inherited his politics. In 1958, Fred Koch was a founding member of the John Birch Society, the right-wing extremist group that opposed civil rights and claimed that both the Democratic and Republican Parties were infiltrated by the Communist Party. In his 1960 self-published book, A Business Man Looks at Communism, Fred Koch wrote that “The colored man looms large in the Communist plan to take over America,” and that welfare was a secret plot to attract rural blacks and Puerto Ricans to Eastern cities to vote for Communist causes and “getting a vicious race war started.” The John Birch Society helped fuel a wave of hysteria against unions, civil rights groups, intellectuals, public schools, liberal clergy and others whom they considered a threat to America…
The John Birch Society was instrumental in Trump’s campaign (Politico)
--You can see their father’s words in David Koch’s 1980 presidential campaign platform AND in the actions of the republicans of today.
I occasionally watch bits of Fox News. They report none of the facts that Paul posts. Instead, they have adopted the President’s less than presidential puerile name calling (“quid pro quo Joe” is the latest for Biden) and pummel the viewer with the Hunter Biden as sycophant son without any acknowledgment of the reason for or the parties behind Biden’s quid pro quo. The only way to win in the fall is to break into the bubble. Paul, can you get an interview on Hannity? Bring your news and media clips.
13
His constituents view the poor as “undeserving” so are unmoved as to how it will hurt the marginalized and poor (they simply read as those statistics as undeserving people of color and welfare cheats). Show them how seniors in nursing homes and seniors on fixed incomes will be hurt — they will listen up! Show how it will hit working class and small business owners like farmers — and they are all ears.
7
@Garry they don’t care, as far as they’re concerned, the poor, disabled, seniors citizens and less fortunate should disappear and die. The interesting thing is that a lot of folks who are worse off under Trump, are also supporting him. I have come across people who have no health insurance, barely a teeth in their mouth, because they cannot afford to see a dentist, and not a penny in their savings, yet they love Trump and think the economy is fantastic. What gives, what are we missing?
24
Paul, I read your columns for many years. I learnt many economic issues and politics. you are right about GOP and deficit during Obama administration and now the GOP likes it.
6
Americans will never admit that Democracy is a fundamentally flawed system, no matter how many times Donald Trump & Brexit are used as prime exhibits of self-inflicted wound. American politics has a systemic problem that perpetuated numerous problems such as gerrymandering, voter suppression, voter apathy, two party antagonism, endless campaign cycles, big money, etc. Check & balance is a joke, as amply demonstrated in the Trump impeachment show. How many on the street can explain the Electoral College?
21
@Observer the problem is human being by nature have instincts that will undermine any system of government.
Change human instincts they you can create a better system.
I challenge you to show me a sustainable system that has been resistant to human corruption.
4
@Observer
John Adams did not believe in democracy , Thomas Jefferson did. The GOP no longer refers to the USA as a democracy it is a constitutional republic. The Federalist descendants of John Adams now control the Federal Benches and the justice department. The USA hasn't been a democracy since Scalia's appointment to the Supreme Court.
Brexit was a statement by the English working class that they saw no future for they themselves or their children. England and the USA are the poster children for wealth inequality and restricted social mobility.
Trump and Brexit are simply punishment for those above them in the social hierarchy. Johnson like Trump was born into wealth, Johnson like Trump flouts social norms .
This is the time of the antihero heroes.
9
@Montreal Moe
It really mystifies me why you are comparing Boris Johnson with Trump. Boris Johnson is a very clever man, he is an intellectual . he does come from well to do family, but nothing like Trump. He is an adult. Boris Johnson is no crook; he is not a socialist, he is an opposite of Trump in every way. He was an award winning columnist, a former MP.
Brexit happened because it stopped working for GB. Anybody was let in, any crook, criminal, murderer and we ended up paying for them. EU failed to work out many aspects of its policy and in the end it became too expensive generally.
Trump's campaign and his 3 years in office have been based on lies, phony priorities and antics to deceive and distract the public. His administration and the elected Republican members of Congress have used this three years of distraction to focus the resources of government to benefit a very narrow segment of the population whilst they increase their wealth.
As a result, we see increased insider trading, accelerated movement to monopoly, an increasing concentration of wealth, and special campaign donations to get a waiver from the tariff initiatives.
I note from the President's address to the Governors today that he takes pride in his administration's achievement in removing regulations, including those directed at clean water and air.
Clearly, the Republicans in the Congress have not worked for the common good, with special obstructive activism in fighting better healthcare and using government resources and capabilities to slow global warming.
We have a lot of good and honest people working in the media but they have not been as aggressive as they should be on the major issues that affect the quality of life and life expectancy of the American people.
Anyone with any sense will vote blue in the 2020 Election. It is extremely important to create a Democratic Majority in the Senate and House.
29
"Trump's" entire life has "been based on lies, phony priorities and antics to deceive and distract the public. "
22
Yes, Trump was lying during his campaign. But, it worked and he got elected and that is what matters. Again, he is lying after he got elected, may be he is doing it to get re-elected. After he gets re-elected, would he tell the truth? My answer is NO. The reason is he needs to swindle the US Treasury during his second term. Will the Republican Senators Would be free from Trump after he leaves the office? The answer is NO. The reason is his supporters follow him, any republican goes against his wishes, he looses the election. So, whether Trump is in the office or out of office, he will have control over the government as long as the Senate is in Republican control. We will be living in a pseudo autocratic society for a long time to come. Hi Trump!
5
The real trickle-down economics is coming from the world's central bankers who have pumped asset prices benefiting the rich asset-holders while increasing the cost of living for/harming the poor (more expensive housing, cars, medical care and education with largely stagnant wages). Krugman has been a supporter of these central bank efforts and an advocate against letting the price of toxic assets collapse/ the market to clear.
The central banksters are a bunch of unelected bureaucrats who think they can centrally plan the most important price in the entire economy--the price of money (interest rates). There's nothing more undemocratic than that.
Why focus on the minor partisan differences in tax policy instead of the asset-pumping central banker elephants in the room?
8
The Democrats would be better off focusing on microeconomics as opposed to macroeconomics.
1
I disagree. The macro view is a quantitative easing into Peso status.
1
The current political situation is as mind-boggling as it is distressing. Yes, it is true that working class, white Republicans have always voted against their economic interests in return for support for their cultural values, including racism,gun rights,religion,and pro-life beliefs.But that paradox has been raised to a completely new level. Trump has lied about a fairer tax code more favorable to the middle class and preserving health care coverage for pre-existing conditions and even expanding mental health coverage and protecting social security, and it still has not cost him any support from his base. Republicans now consists of two fairly distinct groups: 1.people with money who like lower taxes and appreciate a rising stock market and 2. a cult-like following who want a strong, nationalist leader and are susceptible to a demagogue who feeds their fears and resentments. Facts and reason have become virtually useless in political debate. Democrats have yet to find either a charismatic leader or an emotionally persuasive narrative that appeals to non- cultist working class and moderate swing state voters. Until they do, they will continue to be seen as weak and ineffectual or radical and elitist.
20
@ron l
Liberals fail to specify exactly how it hits working class and middle class voters. Speak to “joe six pack” in language he can readily understand with specifics that hit his pocket book. The White House occupant just attacks “elitists” who only protest how the undocumented are being hurt. He brags about saving jobs, bringing back jobs — Democrats just slam his claims. They see him standing up to China and NAFTA — Democrats just say he hasn’t accomplished much — but his supporters see him on television making big claims on successes. What do liberals brag about? Does it matter to swing state voters? Get smart. Do what he does and constantly hammer home his failure and their successes with big media attention grabbing events.
9
It’s been about looting the country since Reagan.
And wedge issues have been a powerful tool in duping the American Public.
Cons as far as the eye can see.
Infrastructure costs money, and the only way Republicans would consent to it would be to privatize every aspect of it, from construction to implementation. No regulations. No protection for the American people. One giant rip off.
It’s been a con for 40 years, and it’s killing the country.
Which, coincidentally, is the goal.
30
"My sense is that he doesn’t really care about policy," indeed Paul, you nailed the essence of Trump in that sentence. He doesn't care about anybody either. He's a confidence man, gains the confidence of the gullible with fear and his promise to come to the rescue. Only the gullible believe that he believes in Christ, come on, he admitted he has never asked for forgiveness, because he doesn't think he needs any forgiveness. And look at his 'charities,' fake, frauds like he is, the ultimate confidence man...con man. He's gaining power and wealth for himself nonstop. Trump Tower everywhere if he gets four more years. Bloomberg right now in polls beats Trump by 9 points, I know Bernie, he's 'buying the election.' But Bloomberg's policies are sound. And are we to prefer Trump, a con man who cheated his way into the White House?
29
Trump has mastered the art of communication. He has bypassed every filter of diplomacy and he (and an array of the public) seems to be enjoying it.
2
@Harold A Maio
He’s has dragged everyone to grade school level.
He is the pied piper.
5
@Harold A Maio
He speaks to the groundlings. The rest of us are repelled, while they cheer. It's a completely parallel communication channel that mirrors the country in many ways - political, social, economic, cultural.
It's very hard to say when and how and even if it will end.
5
President Trump is the crowning achievement of the trickle down crowd, and there's plenty of blame to go around - in both parties.
When will enough be enough, or are we all doomed to be serfs on a hamster wheel?
That the richest nation in the world has to claim 50,000 people homeless on the streets of Los Angeles, how much lower can we stoop??
Why do people need three yachts, five house, ten cars when others go humgry at night?
Vote out those enabling this behavior. All of them.Candidates backed by millionaires and billionaires will not be chosen by me.
This venal, cruel, and vengeful president needs to be sent packing in November.
23
@EB "Why do people need three yachts, five house, ten cars when others go humgry at night?"
this is a pathological form of greed, where no matter how much you have, it is never, ever enough. and those with this pathologic personality disorder are in power and destroying the world for everyone else. they need to be treated as the psychiatric cases that they are, but also as a threat to the rest of us because of their pathology.
6
@EB
What is astounding is that half of the homeless people in America live in California. Rather than placing blame on the single party Democrat rule in California, a resident of San Diego blames Trump, who's been in office for three years.
It is similar to blaming Trump for the fact that 50% of Americans who routinely experience unhealthy air quality.
@ebmem They live in California because they come from all over the country to do so. The homeless congregate here because they think they'll have a better chance of not freezing to death. There are lots in Florida and other warmer areas too.
1
Even after all the compromises , and the deals made with Republicans , Trump is STILL a liar , and a fraud , and a clear and present danger to American democracy .
The question for the he 2020 election is : who do you trust ?
9
The budget is a calculated bet by Trump and the Republicans that the Democrats are going to nominate Bernie for president, and he wil run on medicare for all, abolish ICE, and given Bernie's socialist ideology and overall appearance of incompetence, the Republicans will have a massive victory and be able to say that their budget was endorsed in their landslide victory. Thus, the Democratic lurch toward radical revolution is defeated by a more powerful right wing reactionary move, that enables the Republicans to at last dismantle the Great Society and the New Deal. Thanks a lot Bernie and Bros.
5
@Bananahead I would rather fight for justice, even if the fight were lost, than meekly submit to tyranny.
I now firmly believe that Paul Krugman and his weekly rage, which he sprinkles with cherry-picked statistics and misleading nuance, is why voters like me gravitate to Trump.
Sure the tax cuts mostly benefitted the wealthy in nominal terms. I don’t think it takes a Nobel prize to understand that any tax cuts will mostly benefit the wealthy because (wait for it)... they pay most of the taxes.
But unless you’re in an expensive suburb and itemizing more than $10k in SALT, you got a tax cut. That’s a fact that I’m sure people on this message board don’t even know.
But keep on pushing the narrative that the tax cuts were bad and a handout to the rich. The only people who are going to buy that lie are (wait for it)... those who don’t pay any taxes.
2
@Jason No. You got a temporary tax cut. Much of the tax cuts, but not the provision that specifically benefit the ultrawealthy are scheduled to expire in his second term and turn into tax hikes in the end. This provision was designed to pretend the cuts were revenue neutral, and all the Republicans said out loud that they would make the cuts permanent when the time came for it. Well the time came for it, and they are still set to expire.
You've been played, sir.
19
@Jason: A small tax cut for man and a huge deficit increase for mankind. My kids say “no thanks.”
15
It's important to mention that Trump has also advanced Republican interests by rolling back nearly 100 environmental rules and regulations.
29
@Martha Reis
During his last two t=years in office, Obama imposed many regulations that were not authorized by the law and did more harm to the environment than good.
It was in American interests when Congress passed some 17 bills under the Congressional Review Act and voided those regulations. It is preferable for Congress to pass laws rather than an autocrat like Obama.
It is frustrating to authoritarian Democrats when they are not permitted to ignore the rule of law.
@ebmen
Soon after Obama’s election Sen. Mitch McConnell publicly proclaimed his primary goal was to make Obama a one term
President. Obama chose a Republican (Mitt Romney’s) plan for his affordable healthcare effort and was immediately rewarded with a Republican pledge to oppose it. Today the Affordable Care Act has made a big difference for tens of millions and is now more popular than the president. Obama was not perfect but he certainly did not ever use his office for his personal financial gain.
9
@ebmem Every assertion you make is the exact opposite of the truth. Defending an autocrat and authoritarian like Trump by accusing Obama and Democrats of being autocrats and authoritarians is gaslighting at its most audacious. Congratulations, I guess.
If you are for the environment, women's rights, sensible immigration, sensible gun regulation, gay rights, voting rights, democracy, fair capitalism without corporate welfare, lobby laws, tax fairness, living wage, limited military expenditures, green energy revolution, sane international policy, consumer protections, and breaking up big banks and internet companies and amazon, then you would not ever -- never -- vote for a Republican. Trump spends money like a drunken sailor and the ones reaping the most rewards are the super rich, while your children will still be paying back the government. Trump got rich in America because he was allowed to file bankruptcy after bankruptcy, and now he's allowed to give his money to his kids with little tax consequences and stiff the Americans who enabled him to get rich. Oh yeah, and Republicans have allowed corporations to buy your internet browsing history.
26
@LD
After the financial meltdown and the bailout of the banks that were too big to fail, the Democrat majority Congress passed financial reform legislation Dodd-Frank that was supposed to protect the American taxpayer from having to bail out the big banks again.
We now have fewer banks that are too big to fail, but they are even bigger than the larger number of TBTF banks of 2008. Democrats made rules that increased risk.
1
Republicans spending recklessly into debt is America’s chronic pre-existing condition.
15
"But there’s a real danger that Democrats will blow the election by making it a referendum on"... Donald Trump and those who voted for him. If Trump did not deliver on what he promised to his supporters then Democrats should inform them of this - and not treat them as deplorables, racists, bigots, fools who don't know what's in their own interest. After all, many of his campaign promises then still make sense. If he sold out to the Republican establishment it is opportunity knocking for Democrats - unless they still prefer to represent the socially liberal, professional class rather than the working class and America's "have nots".
Fortunately, the curtain is being pulled back on the Democrat establishment. They can't keep pretending that they represent the under-privileged and under-educated (except if they belong to a nonthreatening minority group dissimilar to them). The working class and true progressives that represent them will make establishment Democrats either get on-board with serious economic reforms - or stop pretending and join the Republican party.
The pretense is working on fewer and fewer people. After the last debate, Elizabeth Warren repeatedly attacked "the rich" in an interview. All six of the moderators accepted this without question even though Ms. Warren has probably been a millionaire for forty years (since her days as a Republican). But much of America wouldn't be surprised by this because they KNOW none of these people shop at Dollar General.
4
@carl bumba So here's the rub: "If Trump did not deliver on what he promised to his supporters then Democrats should inform them of this - and not treat them as deplorables, racists, bigots, fools who don't know what's in their own interest." They don't care, period. Tribalism, and a safe space to be bigoted, racist, misogynist, you name it, is way more important than any healthcare or economic policy. These people all knew Trump had no intention delivering on anything, but are more than willing to take the bad with the ugly.
4
@carl bumba Warren has actually done concrete work for a large swarth of Americans even before entering any public office. I hope she's doing great financially. Remember, FDR was hated by his fellow class.
5
@Seattle Slow that’s why democrats lose elections. You believe that because someone doesn’t want to vote for a socialist, they are racist or worse. In a twisted way - your own statement is laced with tropes and stereotypes. Some people voting for
Trump are Ivy League educated physicians without a racist bone in their body.
1
In 2016 Trump portrayed himself as a businessman, when in fact, he was just another lying politician. To be clear, Trump will not pay the price for betraying all his promises. The poorly educated and low income Americans will pay the price.
A better question may be why is it that they continue to be such staunch supporters of this President?
The answer to that question may provide the needed insight to defeat him in November.
13
@Enrique Puertos
Poorly educated and low income Americans vote Democrat. They voted for Hillary, but she lost anyway. Since after three years of Trump there are fewer low income individuals, Democrats seem to be losing the demographic shifts.
@ebmem
And even more poorly educated Americans vote Republican, regardless of their income.
1
Oh no, he's different all right.
This is the first time in my life I have come into contact with a person who is rotted from the inside and wholly invested in evil.
It's a revelation, sad, dangerous, and civilization ending if it is not stopped.
24
Europeans tax the wealthy until it hurts. American Republicans don’t. American Democrats don’t. End of story.
2
I moved to Europe part time. I know wealthy people. They enjoy their life. Few complain about taxes.
7
Lying sure hasn't hurt him with his base, and of course the Republicans won't pressure him because he makes enemies easy. He will do his best effort to ruin any dissent
1
At least twice you cite a strong economy. The latest GDP estimate for Q 4 2019 is 2%. Have you developed a new definition for “ strong?” I am puzzled.
5
I have been a lifelong Republican and a New York resident. I did not vote for DJT in 2016 and certainly won’t this year. My disappointment with his performance, actions and statements has only increased since his election. I am equally disappointed with the action of the Republicans in Congress. Last week was the breaking point.
There is no Democratic candidate other than Mike Bloomberg who is capable of defeating DJT this fall. Tomorrow morning I will be mailing a completed form to my county Board of Elections changing my party of enrollment to Democratic. It’s very easy to do:
https://www.elections.ny.gov/votingregister.html
The current Republican Party and its nominee no longer represent my values. I want to vote in the New York primary (for Bloomberg). Together, we Democrats can make a difference this fall.
31
@G Man I too changed my party registration from Non Affiliated to Democrat. In Oregon, it takes about 1 minute online. I pray this was the smart thing to do.
Very few career pols represent my values. My two senators and all Dem OR representatives give me hope. I contact them regularly. Strangely, Bloomberg looking better all the time.
9
@G Man
It's good that you changed your registered party now, and you might want to confirm that the change is correctly processed before the April 3 deadline. You might want to remind all of the people who are registered as members of the leftist and progressive parties in NY that they do not get to vote in the Democrat primary unless they are registered as Democrats.
That's how Hillary won in NY in 2016, beating our Bernie.
Oh, wait, as a Democrat, you wouldn't want people to be able to choose Bernie. There will be no big push in NY to encourage participation in the Democrat primary. Disenfranchisement is a way of life in blue states.
2
To me, it feels like our public institutions: the press, education, religion, and all three branches of our government, have been co-opted by the billionaire class. Among the current conspiracy of elected republicans, their primary guiding principle is serving the greed of the uber wealthy, who have no allegiance to anything but their own net worth and relative standing to the other billionaires. They have quite adeptly been able to distract the less fortunate with a propaganda machine marketed as "Fair and Balanced" laden with ethnic and racist red herrings.
6
@tjsiii
Why is it that if you examine the Forbes list of the richest Americans, the Democrat donors outnumber Republican donors eight to one?
Because Democrat cronies don't make contributions to candidates they are supporting, they contribute to dark funds that buy super delegates and also buy expensive advertising without admitting who they are.
"He was lying"?
He is still lying, only more often and on larger areas.
12
The best description I ever saw of the Trump economic plan was a comment here that said something to this effect:
“Trump is burning the furniture to heat the house.”
Apologies that I don’t recall whom to credit for this apt analogy.
17
Let’s add this: he is burning your furniture to heat his house.
13
Trump is the walking dead avatar of what Krugman has called zombie economics, including trickle down theories. Not only doesn't it work, but its attempterd at the expense of degrading the environment, rending the social safety net, and ballooning the debt without investment in a crumbling and outdated infrastructure.
11
I am still laughing from the Trump administration claims slashing Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are only "adjustments' as the cuts fulfill a republican dream of socking it to those living on fixed incomes and the disabled. the only surprise is that Trump has revealed his true colors before the election. But the biggest lie of all is that Trump and the GOP care about deficits. Welfare for the rich is just fine and can generate as large as deficits need to be to win an election, but the rest of us struggling along, well, we become the cause of deficits so must be made to eat dirt. Insanity. Will his followers who will also suffer see it? Nah.
25
@just Robert
Gee, where were the complaints when Obama suggested deducing corporate income taxes and changing the inflation measure used to calculate COLA's. Those were good ideas when Obama suggested them but evil if suggested by Republicans.
Watching the Republican party become the Trump party speaks volumes about Trump's ability to con groups of normally rational people and keep them conned so they overlook every falsehood and broken promises. In other words, the best empty suit politician in a generation.
12
@Tom: Respectfully, when have most Republicans over the past 50 years demonstrated themselves to be “normally rational people?” It’s their party’s propensity for hate — of women, the poor, LGBTs, non-whites, non-Christians, etc. and et al — and runaway lust for power and greed that made them vulnerable to being conned in the first place. Now, their party is nothing more than a straight up personality cult. The relatively few Republicans who are actually decent people with different ideological principles fled the sinking ship as soon as the current conman captured his mark.
14
How can Medicare for all be an 'ambitious' program when it has long been an ordinary feature of life in developed countries outside the United States? Maybe it is easier than you think?
20
@James
There are things that are much simpler in countries that have homogeneous populations that are less than a tenth of the population of the US. Like Australia.
1
Paul, some data, at least when you are trying to
make a comparative point on data, would be nice.
1
Paul mentions the big economic zones of risk engulfing brand Trump: the national debt growing under Republicans, old infrastructure and recessed manufacturing. Those together could be enough to win an election for the challenger.
The greatest windfalls of the age, economically and politically, that DJT has completely squandered is the environment. If he could just imagine all of the health insurance lobbying efforts to dismantle ACA multiplied ten times, then he might not only see his self-destroyed opportunity, but also have some clue of what his political future is up against.
If America turns into a dump, DJT’s overexposed family brand would rhyme too easily with a dump.
6
Trump only cares about getting praise from everyone he meets, and agreement from everyone who works for him, so he can brag that he's the "greatest president ever".
All of the rest of being President is just "details".
12
Emily Dickinson called hope the thing with feathers and ends by saying that "never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me." Sometimes I think Americans have it all wrong. We do not hold our elected officials accountable enough when they do horrendous things under the guise of doing what's best for America.
What about the "tax cut" Trump and the GOP senate gave us was best for working Americans? That tax cut expires.
What about the abolition of the SALT was best for working Americans? It was revenge against the states that didn't vote for Trump.
What about denying climate change and rolling back regulations designed to protect our air, water, and land is beneficial to real Americans? Real Americans are not corporations.
What is wrong with instituting a national medical care system? It would be a huge benefit to public health, for all Americans, and it might even help end some of the fraud we see. Real Americans are finding it difficult to pay monthly premiums, meet deductibles and co-pays. Real Americans need affordable medical care when and where they are, not when they can afford it.
Last of all, Trump had no mandate from the people. He lost the popular vote. He just didn't lose it in the right states. Perhaps this time he will. Like Emily Dickinson we can hope but we must vote.
25
But there’s a real danger that Democrats will blow the election by making it a referendum on ambitious ideas like so-called Medicare for all that are unlikely to become reality, rather than on Trump’s ongoing efforts to destroy programs Americans love.....
5
No matter how much Trump fails, he hasn't failed in the mind of his disinformed base. Trump's constant lies coupled with reinforcement by Faux Noise (Hannity and others) and conservative talk radio (Limbaugh) have created an alternate reality that 40% of Americans believe in. So strong is this alternate reality that many Democrats are starting to believe it as well. They're also beginning to accept Trump's outrageous behavior as the new normal.
If Democrats can't figure out a way of countering the lies and find some way to excite the entire Democratic base, Trump will begin his reign of unlimited destruction of the nation in Jan. 2021.
If you think Trump has been a disaster during the past 3 years, which he most certainly has, a second term will put the nail in America's coffin for good!
27
@NY Times Fan Agreed, great comment. I respect everyone's choice in Democratic candidate, but I think the progressive candidates are the guys to excite the base, their policies are universally popular, Americans all over are tired of the wars and the tax breaks to billionaires, these bedrock issues are undebatable at this point. Tackling the corruption behind these horrific policy decisions (campaign finance reform) is pivotal in being able to fight back against the forces and weaknesses in our government that allowed someone like Trump to be elected. Only Bernie and Warren come close to showing the commitment to addressing the root causes of these issues in any meaningful way. The enormous financial corporate interests pouring billions of dollars into politics in this country in the last few decades all agree that these are the first politicians that can maybe get it done, otherwise they wouldn't be trying so hard to get you to not vote for these highly popular, high approval rating, strong and capable leaders proposing policies that are highly popular in polling (70% of Americans want Medicare for All), and tax levels that aren't "too radical", but are similar to what we used to have in this country when we were doing great things and flying to the moon. The progressives have the mettle to take it to Trump and the GOP with policies and solutions that benefit the most amount of Americans.
7
@NY Times Fan
I dont know why this is so hard. Everything Trump states is a lie, counter point it and stay fighting. fight for democracy and our freedom. He stands behind you at a debate go after him.
Minorities know how to street fight with their knowledge and their mouths and its about time that white people use their mouths with knowledge do the same thing.
Minorities are in this to win so get ready to rumble
Trump and his Russian GOP minions are nothing but what they are COWARDS and a man who has been IMPEACHED for his lies.
Democracy is on the march
9
@Marc
I agree with you as well, but I'm worried about Black voters. So far as I know, only Joe Biden seems to pass muster with the Black Community. Mayor Pete does the worst on this issue, but I don't see any love lost on Warren, Sanders, Klobuchar, Yang or any of the others either. I'm not sure about Bloomberg, but his "stop and frisk" policy was an anti-Black, racist policy and though he has apologized upon entering the race, I'm not sure that apology is enough. Too little too late seems a likely characterization.
In short, Biden may be in the best position to beat Trump, though he doesn't excite the base, especially not the progressives, like Sanders does. I think White, anti-Trump voters will come out for ANY Democrat. But I'm not sure Black voters will, even in this desperate emergency situation.
Worse yet, during his SOTU speech Trump clearly was making a appeal to Black voters from his Criminal Justice Reform claim to a scholarship for a Black woman, to support for HBCU's, to honoring a Black Tuskegee Airman. All Trump would need to do is shave off a small percentage of Black voters in order to win in 2020!
This is a dangerous situation for the nation.
2
No, Trump will not pay for not delivering. He made a visceral connection with the gullible, getting them to swallow his strong-man, liberal-bashing image. So now all he has to do is say something is true, and they believe him. Facts are easy to bend in a complex world.
Trump reopened steel mills, achieved Middle East peace, kEpt Americans from being murdered by hordes of criminal illegals, and cut taxes for average folk—just ask any trumpster, they believe it all.
17
Trump is putting a silencer on the massive economic explosion that may occur just in time for a Democrat to lead. You can't misappropriate money this carelessly on a useless wall, lower taxes on the wealthy, introduce relentless, oversized and misguided tariffs, destroy the State Department and international relations, and abuse the Constitution with no consequences for the economy and markets.
Enjoy the short run "sugar high." Withdrawal could be impossibly difficult, and the ensuing coma could be deadly.
15
Of course he is lying. That is how he was refused for loans except for one bank tied to illegitimate funding from an oligarchy. He is lying about everything. Anyone who buys what he is selling, he doesn't care about. They bought it. Not his problem. Their choice was buying it. He is at heart a conman. There is no there, there. No heart. No values. Nothing.
26
Great article. I too am worried some Democrats and Independents are going to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory again in a modern Nixon/McGovern moment. You know like if we lose the election over medicare for all or the like. Except now, Trump and his crew are worse than Nixon and all the presidents men of that era.
Again, I do like reading a rational fact based article like this, because if I'm careful how it I present facts from the article she may listen. It works better than dwelling on Trumps hypocrisy and lies, which lead to talk of fake news and aren't productive. Thanks.
3
@Patrick Roebuck Don't forget that McGovern was absolutely right about Vietnam and Nixon had to resign. The United States paid the price in lives lost and tarnished reputation for it's poor decision in the 1972 election.
8
@Patrick Roebuck Patrick, try to understand, the Medicare For All you're skeptical of is something millions of Americans can't wait another day for, our system is wildly inefficient for a number of reasons I'll let Bernie spell out; but at the end of it all, what I'm saying is that these policies are popular, they poll well, they attract Independents and non-voters to a party they thought was too corrupt. That's not my opinion, that's what polling of Independents says, that's what Bernie head-to-head polling vs. Trump says (he outperforms Biden and ties the untouched Bloomberg), that's what Bernie head-to-head polling vs. Trump in battlegrounds and the Rust Belt says. A handful of corporations have really tightened the noose on a ton of Americans, they're hurting, and have seen neither Party as committed enough to stopping it, not when they take these corporations' money (isn't that common sense by now?).. they're looking for someone genuine and committed (not just rhetorically) to improving their lives and their communities; rebuilding our infrastructure, transit, education system; taking our money out of failed Middle East wars and nation-building, and investing it in American society; balancing the budget (yes, Republicans are not doing that, they are blowing it up, Clinton was the last to do it). Americans like what they hear, but the corrupt establishment of the Party needs to step aside, the most amount of Americans support progressive policies, and Bernie Sanders.
4
Visit any local tavern, diner, gym and assorted any other place where the TV is prominently displayed, they will inevitably see only some FoxNews talking head pushing the Trump and party line --- less taxes for the means everyone is better off. Call it what it really is: Republican propaganda.
Trickle-down economics really means the very rich accumulate more wealth at the expense of the masses. Unfortunately, the guy we have running the country now is an expert at gaming the system for the betterment of the “ruling” class. Eventually, the USA will look like any other third world country where the rich live in gated communities or high rise towers and masses live outside in the slums.
When we reach that point, perhaps, things will change and will return to taxing the rich for the betterment of all.
15
I appreciate Paul Krugman's clarity. Now the question is how to get that clarity out to more people when the Republicans in both houses of Congress are so good at confusing and misleading their 'bases'.
Democrats in Congress appear to be able to make good good legal cases that Trump has abused his power (and must be be expected to continue to do so, I regret to have to write), but getting the validity of those cases out to more people appears not yet to be a strength of Democrats.
Likewise, the economic case that Republican trickle-down-anomics is proving to be nonsense is clearly now cast-iron But, unless Krugmanesque analyses of the summary statistics of unemployment, GDP and budgetary and trading deficits reach the sensibilities of more independent opinion leaders, and through them voters, the errors and cruelties of Trumpanomic/GOP 'dysfunctional simplictudes' will continue to plague Americans and the US's trading partners.
18
The facts disagree, Paul.
As someone pointed out already, the deficit spending was approved by the Democrats in the House, despite opposition by Republicans:
House: 284-to-149 with 132 Republican no votes
Senate: 67-28 bipartisan majority, but with Republicans at least trying to pass a cap on spending which failed to get 60 votes.
The bill also ended the 2011 Budget Control Act, which mandated $125 billion in automatic spending cuts without congressional action. So Democrats are not even interested in returning Paul Ryan's favor.
It seems, many Republicans are still true to conservative spending despite Trump but it's Pelosi who opened the floodgates.
Trump is laughing all the way to November.
3
@Jack , you could not be more wrong. From January 2017-8 the Republicans held both chambers of Congress and the White House and passed without a single Democratic vote the tax reform bill which put us on the path of trillion dollar annual deficits as far as the eye can see. The floodgates to deficits had already been flung wide open.
184
@jonathan How is that being wrong?
Democrats had the chance in 2019 to reign Trump's deficit spending in but instead gave their approval for more of it.
What/who exactly is Krugman railing against here then?
3
@Jack When Obama was president, the GOP in Congress chirped on a daily basis about the "Obama deficit." While the current GOP may not have fully embraced the trump budgeting and overspending, they have nevertheless been absolutely silent on the ever growing debt. Total hypocrites.
38
Usually don't agree with all Mr. Freidman's articles, but his one hit it on the head.
Supply side trickle down economics has never worked. Tax cuts have never "paid for themselves." Never. The whole thing is a fraud--a kind of Ponzi scheme foisted on the public. After 40-odd years, why has this garbage not been thoroughly discredited. Surely even some among the absurdly rich and powerful know that this is a fraud. Trump gives a medal to Laffer, and that is supposed to sanctify this public cheat?
Trump will bankrupt us all--except of course the .01%
576
Ronald Reagan was not known for his logical approach.
18
@William O, Beeman The fact that they can sell this lie is a testament and proof of their control of the narrative. Without Right Wing Media and Fox News these lies would have been laid bare but after decades of spewing garbage into the souls of Middle America - the left, the truth, reality, and democracy are all remade into what the wealthy wants you to believe. There is nothing worse or more evil than a liberal in the eyes of many in this country which makes a truly venal human like Trump seem angelic in comparison.
51
@Lucas Lynch Should Democrats be talking about what benefits liberalism has brought them? Social Security, unemployment benefits, pro labor laws which promoted safety in the work place, welfare benefits which even the family of Paul Ryan had to use for some time, medicare, great universities in the states, and on and on. How has the right been able to demonize a wonderful word? Don't agonize, liberals, combat the lies. Make some rallies where you expose what they are doing!
54
Well, ONE thing about Trump is completely different than any other Republican President or nominee: He's the most vulgar man to run for the position. Ever. Even Aaron Burr had better manners. And the fact that Republicans tolerate and apologize or just flat-out deny his vulgarity, while sniffing at ANYTHING they can get away with looking down on Dems (Like Speaker Pelosi tearing up the turgid pile of lies) shows yet another facet of their hypocrisy.
Then, again, one of the senators who voted to "acquit" Trump did so despite the fact that Trump claimed his father was part of the plot to assassinate President Kennedy, that his wife is "ugly", on top of the overwhelming evidence of Trump's guilt.
There's one good thing about Trump's budget--it won't pass the House and I doubt Nancy Pelosi is likely to give in on much. She doesn't have to. She knows it's as trashy and fake as the guy pushing it.
9
Trump's is a false economy.
4
Mr. Krugman we get it. Trump is the total snake oil salesman, huckster, flim-flam man, liar, and a cheat. Always has been always will be. With this performance the real question is why do so many fall for it?
8
To steal a line from Mary McCarthy, every word out of his mouth is a lie, including “and” and “the.”
3
Bob Gillam was the richest man in the state of Alaska before he died and a Trump classmate at Wharton. When Trump was just a candidate he called the man an idiot out loud on several occasions in my presence and suggested that Trump’s dad’s donations were the only reason Trump made it through Wharton because apparently Trump never went to class and was “a moron” - those are Bob’s words - not mine. However, as soon as Trump was the Republican candidate Bob changed his tune and even gave a whole lot of money to the Trump victory campaign when Trump won. Maybe it was his desire to be the Director of the Interior (he wasn’t selected obviously), or maybe it was the assistance to block the pebble mine (which threatened the Salmon filled lake and streams where he has a lodge in the Alaska wilderness), or maybe it was the deregulation of investment rules and the tax cut to help his struggling investment business. Regardless, Bob was suddenly full of praise for the man who was making him richer. My point is this - Rich Republicans like Bob could care less about integrity, abortions, or supporting the military or anything else; that is all lip service the get votes from snowflake conservative-culture-warriors still fighting for a return to Jim Crow era America. All Bob cared about was putting folks in office that would make him richer ... and courtesy of a stolen Supreme Court and Citizens United folks like Bob are now able to get their way every time. Oligarchy - pure and simple.
20
@J.C. you are so right, not in the sense of being left or right. Wake up people you are in the hot water of the kettle and it is starting to steam. This man , boy really. speaks out of all four side of his mouth. Will not cut social programs . That is a laugh , will not cut social security, another laugh. I like clean water, clean air and cars that get better gas mileage and I will be buying a car that will. Thanks JC it is good to hear from you. Richard.
6
Paul Krugman is an eminent economist. I always appreciate his columns. This column is great, as far as it goes, as it dives into economics and social policy.
Before I continue, let me assure you that I think Donald Trump is the worst president this country has ever seen. I want him to be soundly defeated in November.
That said, I find this discussion somewhat one-sided when we don't talk about religion. My own background is Protestant, of the liberal variety. My cousin Tom belongs to a "Bible church". Two years ago, Republican Sen. Cruz(R-TX) was running for re-election. We had a sign for Cruz's opponent, Democratic Congressman Beto O'Rourke. Tom said he'd like to visit. I said I'd take down the "Beto" sign for purposes of his visit. I haven't heard from Tom since then, though I've called, and emailed.
There are lots of religious fundamentalists, like cousin Tom, estimable people, who see the world as saved and dammed, individuals after death to Heaven or Hell. For many of them economic and climate change etc. are minuscule concerns in the cosmic scheme of things.
Democrats support abortion.
Republicans are Right to Life.
Trump appoints "good" judges, for Right to Life etc.
Trump is not nice, he lies, he's crass, but he's like the pagan Cyrus the Persian in the 6th century BC, who let the Jews return to Jerusalem. Trump appointments indicates he might be the "good pagan" God sent for our time.
8
@JohnKeohane
Yes, and your comment is the reason I daily wish we could separate into two nations.
We have a severe global situation on our hands: climate change. I wait, daily, for the religious right to proclaim that God is so pleased with Trump that climate change will not happen further and may even reverse as long as Trump is president, and we can continue to burn all the fossil fuels we want because, after all, why would God have put fossil fuels in the ground if we’re not allowed to use them.
I’m not even joking.
I have no particular problem with these people, I just want them to live in their own country and mind their own business.
1
Brilliant.
3
My family was ripped apart by two maniacs...Stalin and Hitler. Now having found refuge in America I fear my family will be again ripped apart by Trump, a megalomaniac. Americans have no idea the tragedy someone like a Trump can inflict on their families. Half of America is so naive about this mans ability to inflict evil on them and their children! History may repeat itself again, this time in our beautiful America! All I can do is hope that this never happens.
25
@JAB
I worry, too. The words of Lt. Col. Vindman still ring in my ears when he testified at the House impeachment hearings and related his conversation with his father's fear of his son telling the truth and testifying against Trump's phone call to Zelensky.
“Dad, my sitting here today, in the U.S. Capitol talking to our elected officials is proof that you made the right decision forty years ago to leave the Soviet Union... Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth.” Yes. This is America.
Trump fired him for no reason other than his testimony; he also without any reason fired his brother; others who testified and told the truth were fired, Sondland, and career diplomat Yovanovitch.
Trump is dangerous, unfit and unqualified be Commander in Chief. He is a wannabe dictator.
5
Paul mentions the big economic zones of risk which have brand Trump surrounded once again:
- Record debts,
- Lack of larger scale and 21st century construction works,
- No big manufacturing purchases from the Midwest anywhere as great as in the 1950s
The greatest opportunity cost will have been the environment. Even Boris knows better on that front.
6
We will continue to wonder how the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy affected one of the most wealthy - himself!
8
@Mike Wrong. He may be wealthy but not one of the most wealthy. Don't forget his self proclaimed wealthiness is just that: self proclaimed. Remember nobody has seen his tax return, let alone net worth statement? Remember he is a liar?
5
It does seem like Trump wants to make America safe for the rich and he could care less about the rest of the world (that’s Jared’s business). When Jimmy Valentine was asked why he robbed banks he said, ‘ because it’s where the money is.’ For Trump, social services is where all the money is, so services for the poor, elderly, disabled, and children must be cut. As far as promises go, his base believes he has kept them all, and more, because he said he has and Fox News backs him up. Every news article and editorial exposing Trump’s avarice or incompetence is a lost cause since it depresses his opponents and is never read by his mob. Regardless of what is said, there is virtually no no who will vote who hasn’t made up their mind.
18
@DO5 "there is virtually no no who will vote who hasn’t made up their mind."
I am increasingly convinced that modern elections are primarily about "getting out the vote". Hillary's problem was not that Obama voters crossed over to Trump. Her problem was that they stayed home.
8
@DO5
I disagree on one point...Trump doesn't believe for a second that he keeps promises, he learned from his dad, cheat, lie, steal, it's all OK, as long as you "win". No morals; he doesn't believe that he keeps his promises, he believes that breaking them is totally OK.
3
During the 2016 campaign debates Trump was criticized for his for his several bankruptcies and how he walked away financially unscathed after beating contractors and others.
Trump's answer was that he was simply taking advantage of the laws that are in place and that once elected "And I'm going to fix that" Now is there anyone who believed or believes that he would ever do anything to nullify those laws that preserved his wealth at the expense of people who he beat out of receiving payment for services they rendered to the Trump Organization ? Anyone ?
26
JPS, DJT would have to go around to each state’s legislature to amend laws of mostly state subject matter jurisdiction the would apply.
He would be better off building something comfortable in Siberia before going out West in America to try such a welcoming.
1
Republicans only care about deficits when they're not in control. Extend that concept to anything.
If a Supreme Court spot opened up tomorrow, the GOP would have it filled before the DNC convention this summer.
If a Democrat had made the quid pro quo with Ukraine, as was repeatedly proven by clear and convincing evidence, there would have been a conviction.
Sadly, Mr Krugman, we're far, far past the point where pointing out the hypocrisy between Paul Ryan (who was always an intellectual fraud) and Trump (self proclaimed "stable genius") has any meaning or relevancy.
Beside, the outbreak of Coronavirus will essentially lock Trump's reelection. See you in 2024 for Romney v ClownCar
11
@Thomas He hasn't done anything about the Coronavirus, except request to cut funding for the CDC. If and when it spreads to the US, he is looking at a crisis he is in no position to lead the nation through. Anything that requires Trump to look responsible and presidential will always be a losing issue for him.
11
@David Weintraub To be fair, he didn't propose cutting infectious disease control.
You're making it too complicated. Trump would say anything to get elected, and has no compunction about lying or breaking promises to those without the means to hold him accountable, or for that matter, even understand that they have been hoodwinked.
34
Trump wants tariffs for the power. He wants industries on bended knee making special pleas for dispensation in exchange for fealty. It's the model his boss, Putin, taught him.
Other aspects of American political life serve the same purpose.
For example, culture wars issues, regardless of their origins, now serve to divide Americans, in order to maintain minority rule by preserving a large enough base to sustain the divide.
If only America could be divided culturally, geographically, and politically, along contiguous lines, it could be broken. That's what Putin is after, with the help of his favorite apt pupil.
20
Although you provided what this reader considers many stellar insights with this op-ed, there is one question you asked that I highlighted when reading this piece: "But why has Trump turned out to be such a conventional Republican?"
Your answer to that question was spot on: "So he was happy to make what amounts to an implicit deal with the Republican establishment: You get to implement your usual policy agenda, and I get a free pass on my corruption and abuse of power."
The evidence that you got this right was the vote by Republicans --except for Romney's vote, a religious man that takes seriously his oaths before God--to absolve Trump of any wrongdoing during the recent trial in the Senate regarding the articles of impeachment. The evidence was overwhelming against Trump, but Republicans preferred to remain loyal to their Faustian deal with Trump rather than their oath to protect and defend our Constitution.
99
@Robert Stewart Spot on!
4
In one crucial way Trump is very much like every other Republican president preceding him: he wants to pump up military spending and cut social welfare programs and drive up the deficit so there is a good excuse to cut social welfare programs. The GOP, in every one of its modern incarnations, never meets a tax cut it doesn't love. That these tax cuts hurt the Americans they claim to care about is incidental.
However, my fears are more than financial at this point. Given his acquittal my concern is that no matter what happens in November, he will be a problem. If he loses he'll say the election was rigged. He might decide not to leave the White House. (And I see the GOP supporting him in that. McConnell has a lot to lose if Trump doesn't win.) Or if he does accept his loss, he'll destroy as much as he can before he's out. Trump and the GOP have been extremely lucky so far. The economy has been upbeat because of how Obama left it, not because of anything Trump did. It would be poetic justice if he wins and the economy goes sour.
The GOP has never had the interests of 99% of us in mind. Its policies and platforms work for the richest who can afford to pay for the best medical care, who don't live paycheck to paycheck, who have deep pockets and will survive almost anything. The rest of us aren't as lucky. We want Corollas but they don't understand that.
2/10/2020 9:54pm first submit
53
@hen3ry
The GOP is a wholly owned and operated enterprise of the oligarchy. They have no interests outside serving their lieges.
They have no policies other than enriching those who are already rich even more. Trump's new budget, among many others, cuts deeply into "his farmers." No more student aid. No more a lot of things - to the point where his Republican budget committee chair in the Senate won't bring it up at hearings because "warning that it will turn into a “diatribe against the president.” That's doublespeak for this is an election year.
43
@hen3ry
You're assuming that McConnell will win in November. But his approval rating in Kentucky is hovering around 17%...he may very well lose. For that matter, the Republicans could very well lose the Senate and the Dems keep the House. I don't understand why everyone seems to think that McConnell will always be the Senate Majority Whip.
15
@lynchburglady Because he will probably be re-elected and he has the most seniority. I will be very surprised if the Democrats win the senate. The way things are set up and the way the Democrats work, they are going to lose the election. And America will lose with that loss.
3
How did trump turn out to be a common republican? You flatter him with your assumptions of opinion on his part. He doesn't know anything. Like Reagan and W before him he is merely the front man.
88
@caljn if Trump weren't president or rich he'd be considered a common criminal for what he's done. And McConnell would be charged with aiding and abetting. It's a truly disgusting thing to watch as Trump and the GOP defile the country and offices they were elected to serve.
5
@caljn You underestimate Reagan. He knew very well what he was ushering in and how to make it happen. At least he did before his mental decline.
4
How is Medicare For All any different than Build That Wall? If it’s an empty promise that gets a Democrat elected then so be it.
Trump has been showing the Democrats how to win an election for four years and no one is paying attention on the moronic Dem side.
It’s so painful being a Democrat right now and watching these imbeciles, looking at you Iowa, blow our chance to win.
18
@Moorea Medicare for All is not an empty promise if it is recognised that it will take a long time to fully implement, as it did in Canada (some twenty years from the first election to power of Tommy Douglas in Saskatchewan). Incremental extension of the existing Medicare may be a way to do it, or one state implenting it.
8
@czarnajama But that twenty year saga ended 50 odd years ago. The US is severely behind the times.
2
I find it amusing that Dr. Krugman describes what trump promised as a candidate and then delivers the punch line in a separate paragraph for effect:
“ He was lying”
Trump lying is the same as: “ I breathe oxygen”
“ it is dark at night”. “ water is liquid”,
51
@Climate Change
Actually, you breath air. And it's going to get a lot dirtier.
5
@Climate Change water is sometimes a liquid, check our shrinking polar ice caps. Solid ice, melting ice but ice.
1
@Sam Song
It’s breathe not breath but I get your point. Thanks.
1
Yes, Trump is a liar. His base is racist and lies and pretends indignation when the truth is placed out in the open. However, the real issue right now is they way America used to be white and it was okay. Traditionally Iowa and New Hampshire were supposed to be middle-American places that stopped extreme candidates at the starting line. Buttigieg and Bernie are both extreme candidates and Trump's dream opposition in November.
Both states need to be moved to April until they get over Bernie fever. Iowa especially has shown it is too white and too fringe to be the Dems first primary. Losing the general this time will put our country over the chasm and many of us on death beds over the same old sick, sadistic trickle down. There is too much liberal PC here. Iowa just shoved us towards the cliff. We should move them to the back of the line in the Dem primaries.
13
@GregAbdul What? Buttigieg an extreme candidate? Would you care to explain and substantiate that statement? Bernie may be "progressive" perhaps even "radical" but not "extreme". Trump is extreme--tax cuts for corporations and developers causing a trillion plus dollar deficit and cuts on lots of programs that benefit middle and working class people. Either you are voting against your own interest or you are part of the one percent.
19
The emperor is not wearing any clothes.
16
That could be updated to ‘the Emperor has no hairpiece”.
3
I don’t care which Democrat wins. Get it over with fast, then fan out and repeat the contents of this article all day, every day until the election. Most Trumpers won’t care, but we only need a few to realize they’re being ripped off.
32
Unfortunately Trump's base will never learn about the bad things he is doing and the bad things he wants to do. All he has to say is 'fake news'. I never understood why Trump once said he loves stupid people. I didn't realize he was talking about his base at the time.
37
@Tom Walker
He didn't actually say that, but he did say "I love the poorly educated."
3
Janvier25, it could be more accurate if he said
“I love the lack of critical thinking skills among my base”.
2
If only we could package and sell lies we would have enough proceeds to filled the coffers but alas Trump's lies are worthless. How anyone can lie to themselves enough to convince themselves to vote for Trump is mind sex beyond comprehension. America Trump is a liar, a cheat and someone with no conscience other than his own self gratification. We Deserve Better and We have an opportunity to show ourselves and the world that we are NOT Trump that We are The AMERICA inwhich the Lady with the lamp by the golden door still remains!
9
If you’re happy with what your 401K has done, and wish to keep it, please remember that Republican presidents look good in their first term, then crash the economy in their second term!
There really is no fundamental strength behind this bull market, and it will fail.
My advice is to hold on to your profits and vote Trump out before the crash!
33
@Thomas Nelson - There are folks who blame Obama for 2008 even though it happened in the first few months of his presidency. Do you expect these same “sophisticated thinkers” to recognize that the next crash we are going to experience is because of Trump’s policies ? Especially not if it comes even one day into a Democratic presidency? Their egos are too fragile to accept any truth that challenges their delusional self-serving identities. Sadly - whoever follows Trump is going to have to pay the price for his reckless deficit spending and trade destroying tariffs and then the right is going to blame them for it too.
5
@J.C. I can’t disagree. However, many people seem to be indifferent to his actions as long as their investments do well. They just might realize the foolishness of continuing to support him.
Paul,
Please get back on the pundit circuit, and even on FOX news. Your country needs you.
11
@Costanzawallet Yes, Paul K. and other should go on Fox News and start educating Trump's base that they, more than anyone, are being played like a well-tuned fiddle by Trump every day. Even if they convince only 1%, and that's about all I would expect, it would be worth it.
6
Boycott Fox until they change their ad revenue to renewable energy.
1
Again, what really bugs me about NYTimes columnists like Dr. Krugman and Michelle Goldberg is that they are doing as well as they can in their careers. They have large salaries and most importantly, health insurance. They have no idea what it's like to struggle economically or to not have health insurance. Therefore, they tell us that it's pie in the sky to think that we can have Medicare for All.
I quote from a1998 WSJ letter to the editor by Kelly James, production worker.
"People who have never been poor have no concept whatever of what it's like, and how it makes life into a stressed-out, joyless hell." This country has become a land of kings and cockroaches, the latter getting stomped with every new "plan" and "policy," while the corporate giants continue to profit and plunder. But don't worry about us bottom feeders, we've got our drugs and insipid television shows to distract us. I would like to state for the record that some of us out here are watching and listening to what is going on, and no amount of Prozac or situation comedy can convince us things are fine in this nation."
26
No one thinks things are fine! But all the Democratic candidates want universal insurance. But it is not going to happen ‘Bernie’ style. The Dems won the 2018 midterms with moderate candidates. They are not going to vote to mandate the end of private insurance. Obama could not get a public option because of a Democratic Senator from Nebraska. AND remember the issues with Obamacare? That would be nothing compared to mandated Medicare for All. The US is too fearful for a revolution. The Republicans know how to spread fear so well & Medicare for All would give them a bonanza!
5
@Mary Sampson
Your comment reeks with material comfort. You're fine, so you don't want substantive change that material improves the lives of most of the working class, poor and elderly.
You're expressing the same sentiments I critiqued in my original post. Thank you for serving as an example of the kind of comfortable middle class, status quo that just doesn't cut it any more for most people.
The Republicans can't be too extreme and win elections with their base. However, the Dems have to be middle of the road, incremental, watered down, thin as gruel, half stepping corporate shills.
"Obama could not get a public option because of a Democratic Senator from Nebraska."
President Obama didn't even try! He didn't fight for ANYTHING!!!
2
I am going to keep asking this until I get an answer: why do the major papers have to have close ups of trump’s face attached to every article? You don’t do it with anyone else, and we’ve seen enough of his face for a lifetime...about four years ago. It makes me look away, and I know I’m not alone.
87
Democrats need to reopen investigations in the House and subpoena John Bolton and Lev Parnas at a minimum, and should also challenge Trump's bogus claims of absolute immunity and "total exoneration."
If more crimes are discovered, impeach him again.
Also, they should investigate Pence, Barr and Perry. Lindsey Graham and Barr have announced investigations into the BIdens, so Democrats should not relent.
Keep the pressure on. The more Republicans scream and shout, the more Democrats should know they are on-target.
Also, the Trump budget announced today should be grist for Bloomberg's ads as soon as possible. Trump' cutting one trillion dollars from Americans' healthcare should be a huge wake-up call for many people, even in the MAGA crowd.
20
Krugman states "He was lying," yet, Trump supporters believe him and more importantly continue to support him.
9
More evidence that Trump and his supporters are lacking in intelligence or common sense
14
My theory is that Trump has focused on trade deals because he really, truly believes in his own demented mind that he is a master deal maker, among the best of all time, and he has deluded himself into thinking that this is where he can really leave his mark. He has been breathing the fumes of his ghost-written Art of the Deal book so long, and he is so narcissistic, that he could not possibly admit of any failure in this arena.
18
In his State of the Union speech, Trump promised to protect Medicare, Social Security, and health care for those with pre-existing conditions.
"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."
22
@Unconventional Liberal And then he started to cut them a week later, yet almost no one has called him on it.
5
@Unconventional Liberal
...fool me seventy or three thousand times or even more, I'm a dyed in the wool Republican Trump supporting Patriot.
Finally Krugman!!!! Your best article ever. The Trump Betrayal of those who voted for him for economic populist reasons, is incredibly heavy. I think it will cost him the election.
I know another Trump voter who will not vote for him because he lied, bald faced, about many things he was going to do once president. He did the opposite. I think there are many Americans who realize they got duped, punked, and fooled by Trump
21
Americans only need to look at all of Trump's campaign promises to see that he has done almost nothing of what he promised to do. It will not come as a shock to most, that Trump is a total con. He lies incessantly, and his accomplishments, if we can call them that, have only benefitted the wealthiest amongst us. My measly tax cut has been eaten up by exorbitant increases in housing, health care, food, and transportation. The great affordability crisis is truly breaking America, and Donald Trump couldn't care less. Banish this sad excuse of a President to Florida. He's certainly not wanted back in NYC.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/02/great-affordability-crisis-breaking-america/606046/
13
What do I call a man who tries to kill millions by taking away their health care, a man who takes the food out of 700,000 mouths, seeks to kill millions with pollution, seeks to gut social safety net programs that save millions of lives, builds a massive border Wall to keep out freedom lovers and victims in? I call him a Biblical Beast even more nightmarish than those of the past. He may as well be a giant locust.
15
I think that Trump's foreign policy is nothing more than Trump brandishing travel bans and tariffs and military threat as a means to extort lucrative deals for his personal business.
9
As for deficits, the reason for the change of heart by the GOP is very easy to see. Deficits from a black Democrat: bad, irresponsible, dangerous. From a white Republican? Bring 'em on! Gives new meaning to the phrase "the color of money."
22
Actually, when it comes to cutting taxes fir the super rich, Schumer beats Trump
Read
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/washington/30schumer.html
And thus, to this day, hedge fund managers federal tax on their income is 23.8% , less than the average middle class family pays.
BOTH parties are captured by the rich.
My recommendation :Vote Sanders
12
Half of America doesn't care and the other half think they can't do anything about it. Sad, real sad!
9
Willful prideful ignorance.
It wasn't that long ago people were cheering the "liberation" of Iraq, which was going to be cheap, easy and quick. It was going to pay for itself. $5 trillion spent so far.
It wasn't long ago that people were celebrating the release of business and industry by taking a chainsaw to regulations!!! Hooray!! Then the Great Recession came to call.
None of it has been hidden. People have chosen to be ignorant.
As soon as the GOP runs the economy and foreign policy into the ditch it will be time for the Democrats to take the blame. Only in 4 MORE YEARS the Democrats may have the power to elect their own Demagogue.
4
A basic explanation of why there were few (1) votes for impeachment in the Senate. Trump has been successful at supporting the Republican agenda: go racism, wealth, and robbing the poor!
11
No more enormous photographs of Mr. Trump, please.
We are fully traumatized already.
I am still trying to integrate he had his wife put a medal of freedom around the neck of Rush Limbaugh.
We all need a break. This season of Trump Reality TV is fully exhausting.
15
I have hoped for Joe and still hang on, Michael Bloomberg looks to me like a brilliant choice for the Democrats. An American success story, a New York Jewish guy who was a mayor, JFK was our first Catholic, do the Democrats remember what a big deal that was? Mike would know how to save the good of FDR, social security and Medicare, the farm bill, the fair wages, he would know how to work the media markets targeted into those districts with the swing voters. We need a leader of politics and business and Wall Street credibility. I believe that the working class voters who go with the GOP trust a good business guy more than a labor lawyer or a do-gooder Liberal. They are not that Liberal, the social issues turn them off. But they do not know to say that, they just react tow act they see. They respect and like Joe, they are worried that Joe may not win. They look at their 401 K's.
7
@Bill Evans
So if Bloomberg cared so much where has he been for two years.? I dont want to hear about his pet projects that he supports, gun violence but not poverty, homelessness but not money into communities that Yang is always talking about that he has a plan for. climate change that Bloomberg brought experts in and did nothing the advertising that he has a relationship with President Obama is insulting to our sanity
Bloomberg has core democratic values? because if he did why did we have Stop & frisk and minorities weren't allowed to be firefighters. Why did he not fix affordable housing, now he cares? Transportation he did nothing in NYC.?
It is just another rich person buying the presidency. to people in NY we knew a con from Trump and we know another con
One con vs another con
2
I am reminded of the classic animated film of--oh what?--twenty five years ago. "The Lion King."
You will remember Scar, the evil uncle (one thinks of Claudius in "Hamlet") who--having contrived his brother's murder--takes over the throne himself.
In order to do what?
Nothing really. He had no plans.
And so (as the movie winds on) we see him lolling around, crown firmly planted on head--
--lolling around But I said that already.
I cannot believe Mr. Trump had any other goal than Scar. "I wanna be President. I wanna be President."
Of course the exquisitely calibrated ridicule Mr. Obama subjected him to some years ago--well, that sure didn't help. Lit a fire in this guy's belly. Lit a fuse underneath. He'd been everything already--what more could he desire?
The White House, that's what.
And like I say, Mr. Obama didn't help.
Gosh, Mr. Krugman, what DOES the guy want? I mean REALLY want? What does he care about--I mean, REALLY care about?
Well sir--not us.
Himself?
Yeah. I guess.
Sad.
3
@Susan Fitzwater I believe Scar is portrayed as a sociopath. Regular people, even not so good ones, e.g., who are selfish, devious, or vain cannot comprehend sociopathy. Normal deviousness, selfishness, vanity are nothing like sociopathy, although sociopaths have qualities that we call devious, selfish, vain.
You can't understand them in the ways people normally understand others. A question like "what do they want" is not even on the radar. One thing to accept is that you can't understand them. The default is to try even if you know this, but you will fail.
Knowing this intellectually is the starting point. You still won't/can't know it emotionally. A book called "The Sociopath Next Door" is a good book, not too technical, to get a flavor of this.
1
Krugman was very slow to realize the key point that he makes at the end of this essay. Better late than never.
1
But he is like most Politicians in that he lies.Much much more then most, He doesn't worry about being caught either. He doubles down. The idea is that the more a lie repeated the more it will be believed, Then he has his many enablers who promote his lies.
Does he admit Obama had 1.5 million more jobs created in 3 years then he has? No he claims to have created more. Does he say Bill Clinton had more % stock gain then he has? No, he continues to say he does. Does he admit the tax cut failed? that less then 5%of it will be paid by GDP gain? Does he admit he has created the greatest government debt since WW2? That Obama was lowering the debt with a tax increase? Does he admit that the tariff wars have cost each American over $1200 a year? That 25% increase in their bankruptcies and 40 billion in new welfare for them? Although the unemployment is very low He is responsible for less then 1% of this?
These are the real economic facts of his time. Problem is he lies and many millions believe him. The Dems are busy insulting each other when they should be pounding these facts to the voters.
23
The attack ads against Trump write themselves. The question is will the Democratic nominee nail the content and use them effectively.
16
@Mark Carolla
No, those ads are easy. What is not, is will Democrats have enough money to run them.
1
The "Military friendly" television industry elected Trump. The same industry that addicts people starting as babies, promotes gun violence with incessant displays of gun play, has destroyed freedom for the sake of the militarized police state, and then tells jokes about it showing just how seriously reckless and cold hearted they are.
5
If Democrats don't focus on defeating Trump they will have only themselves to blame for wasting the powerful current in the country against Trump and the robber-baron GOP. Then they can see ruthless attacks on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security preceded by even more lies from Trump that he plans nothing of the kind. And that's without even mentioning Trump's tearing down of protections against financial predators, poisoners of the air and water, and adulterated drugs and foods.
7
Gutting Medicaid will be fantastic for struggling rural hospitals.
15
It seems incredible to believe, but people still follow this charlatan like a Pied Piper. He predicted that we would have growth of more than 3 percent a year: hasn't happened. He predicted that the tax cuts would pay for themselves: hasn't happened. He predicted that the deficit would be paid off, sometime in the future. Anyone knows that will never happen. Meanwhile, other countries are investing huge amounts of money all around the world, in places like Africa and Asia, while we are withdrawing from these places. The era of American dominance is now over.
And here at home, in places like Maine, we have higher and higher rates of poverty among poor children. But, heck, nobody cares about them. And all over the country, we have incredibly high prices for housing, forcing the middle class to pay more and more of a percentage of their income for suitable lodging.
I just wonder, as always, when will people realize what is happening, and throw the man out.
24
His supporters assumed that he'd bring back the middle-class America of the 1950s. They didn't reckon that a Sociopath makes everything about him, and will do anything to keep it that way.
What bothers me most is that so many of these desperate folk think the man has never lied.
Soon enough, the great disillusionment will sweep over them. They'll get nothing but crumbs. He'll exit wealthier than ever.
18
@Peak Oiler What conservatives who want to return to the good old days of the 1950's forget is that the tax rate on great wealth was 91%, 35% of Americans belonged to unions, and the booming middle class was created by the GI Bill of Rights, which allowed an entire generation of Americans to get a college degree and buy a first home with government money, something they would have never been otherwise able to realize. Education was revered and supported, and people didn't have credit cards or easy loans so they could obtain every luxury item advertised on TV. Oh, and there were only three stations on that, and most of it was unwatchable so kids actually played outside.
2
@Entera I'd take those 50s back any old day. What this snake-oil salesman peddles might be the 1850s...
1
@Peak Oiler We're about as far from a 91% tax rate and thriving union representation, good wages, booming factories and a government paid for college education or home loan, as you can possibly get and not be a tin pot dictatorship.
Which it looks like we're heading for, anyway.
I appreciate Paul Krugman telling the mostly agreeing readers of his column all of this important information.
On multiple occasions I have written my Republican US Senator,
Pat Toomey who pretended to wrestle with his conscience before casting a vote for Trump in 2016. Senator Toomey’s replies show his complete and total dedication to Trump.
Can Krugman confront these hypocrites on their shameful record?
Can he ( and the Democrats) find the victims of Trump’s Republican policies and have them tell their stories?
8
@Andrew asks "Why doesn't Trump have a beard?"
I think I know why. A beard tends to be seen as a sign of sneakiness, or even evil. Trump's clean-shaven face is, therefore, paradoxically, a mask. Anyway, not having a beard, which he would have to dye--either that or let his fake hair go gray--means saving a bundle on blond dye.
The last bearded president was Benjamin Harrison (in office 1889-1893).
1
@Ed I had the same observation as @Andrew: he really has no beard. Nary a bristle to be seen. Ever. Weird.
1
One of my personal mottos, is “Never, ever vote for a property developer”.
18
Trump is hardly committed to “trickle down economics”. That’s too complex a concept. Trump is committed to Trump.
8
@Mark
Thank you, for pointing out the simplest, and most accurate explanation. It is laughable, that people continually assign attributes to Trump that he simply does not possess. He doesn't 'do' strategy, he just turns over coffee tables and exclaims "Eureka!"
He doesn't care about anyone, not because that is his 'style', or his method, or whatever....he simply is unable to feel empathy.
This is why he will continue to enact policies that benefit a handful of people: Trump has no convictions.
4
@mmcshane
Sometimes I think I am looking at an old Outer Limits program . Is Trump even real? his perfect Barbie and Ken family of empty heads except for counting money. or is he just a AI android walking the earth put here by people from Mars.?
Maybe we all should get more into Science fiction because nothing of this is in the reality of what we thought life and the world was all about.
Trump==Impeached=the worst president who doesnt pray or even know who God is but laughs at Jesus=Prayer meeting
1
"How Trump Got Trickled Down"??
Why, by the Wall Street television industry of course. After N.B.C. kicked off the Arnold governor race on the "Tonight Show", there was talk of Arnold running for President, until it was disclosed he was foreign born. Then their actor, Trump, started the Obama birther controversy. So N.B.C., at one time owned by power plant maker General Electric, helped their actor Trump win the General election.
That's how Trump got Trickled Down.
2
Your last paragraph about Democrats blowing this election cut like a knife. We'll know much more after Super Tuesday, but we may be headed down a dangerous path that includes promises that Americans don't want, that have no chance of becoming law anyway, and serve only to ensure four more years of Trump.
5
@Michael Cameron Those "promises Americans don't want" are the only things getting back working class voters to the party again. A handful of industries have hurt a tremendous amount of Americans by now, and have used their money to buy our government and influence policy. Everyone knows that. There are more Independents and non-voters out there than Democrats, and yet people are still clinging to the moderate corporate donor-funded version that's lost 3 elections (Clinton, Kerry, Gore) and hundreds of seats in Congress, instead of the progressive message (like Obama in 2008, at least throughout his campaign). Progressives are returning back to old progressive politics and addressing the needs of the most amount of Americans, who by now have felt the effects of untethered out of control corporate socialism; where, when they fail, our tax dollars bail them out. A generation that grew up in publicly funded free state universities and public pools and large infrastructure and federal projects, parks, highways, subsidized housing for veterans; these people grew up and defunded the government from providing these valuable services anymore. We see these effects in our lowering life expectancy, rampant mental health and addiction rates, mass shootings, violence, and overall growing inequality. We need to go back to what this country used to be capable of, and build a better future for the most amount of Americans. The technology is there, we just need to uproot the greed.
3
This is why Bernie is surging. He doesn’t change his mind.
5
Once the Democrats nominate their candidate, it is time to get for them to get serious. They should constantly remind voters that he lied to get elected and did not keep any of his promises, and he is likely to lie again in 2020 to get elected. After all, this is the same guy who swindled contractors, banks and the public equally in his real estate transactions. He is a sorry excuse for a human being, a sociopath and a narcissist, who cares for nothing and nobody, not the Nation, not the Constitution and not even his base (except to say what they like to hear). The only way to beat him is to keep repeating that he is a fraud and a liar, who will say and promise anything to get elected, but will never keep his promises, and drill it into the minds of the voters (even his base) day in and day out. Perhaps then, we will get rid of this stain on our nation.
1
@kant
Differ with you, the democrats have been serous every since the financial markets fell in this country in 2008. The Russian loving GOP are the ones with their half baked whiteness that are destroying this country. Pathetic to see how ignorant the undereducated white people are in this country. , Be nice if they could talk in full sentences beside slogan "he's the man" you went to Viet Nam and he went from bedroom to bedroom what a man someone to be proud of. on the world stage being laughed at.goic g
The democrats' are tasked with saving the democracy in this country. So if your in NH you need to be voting and getting your neighbors to the polls every democratic vote counts and we have along road ahead but nothing will stop us.
Trump grew up in Queens NY, a borough of NYC. Many Mafia figures reign there and learned their ways there, so is anyone really surprised Trump acts like them with the same deadly disdain for life and the same habitual deceptive deceiving lying? I knew a guy from the same borough who loved Trump and lied to me almost every day, and had a really volatile dangerous temper. He's not a friend anymore after I ignored their imperfections for years until I figured out a connection. Trump is a product of his environment. I left New York.
4
@PATRICK He's most certainly a product of New York, I agree. What we're witnessing right now is something I think history will look back on very curiously and critically. Trump is a product of New York, as are the politics of today, all of it infiltrated by corporate interests ("Wall Street" as Bernie so succinctly puts it). New York breeds some real pieces of work, but it has also churned out great forward-thinking leaders, think: F.D.R. (New Deal), Teddy Roosevelt (Square Deal, National Parks, antitrust actions), Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (women's suffrage), Fiorello La Guardia, etc., in our nation's progressive political history, who created policies and programs that are still wildly popular today.
Trump has bowled over a ton of other New Yorkers and New York political figures thus far: Chuck Schumer, House impeachment manager Hakeem Jeffries, Hillary Clinton; he's got Jay Sekulow, Rudy Giuliani, and Alan Dershowitz propping this whole thing up, more New Yorkers. The only one who's got the stones, wit, and confidence to go up against Trump, the most spotless record of being right on our most pivotal issues and policies, and the simple polling and favorability (not my opinion, check the polling: among Independents, head-to-head vs. Trump, nationwide vs. other Democrats, vs. Trump in battlegrounds and the Rust Belt); it's Bernie, a Brooklyn boy.
I hope New Yorkers Tom Steyer and Mike Bloomberg unite behind our front runner, and help us win.
2
@PATRICK If it walks like a don and quacks like a don, chances are, it is a don.
When I see trump walking, my immediate impression is often of a Mafia figure. I'm always a bit surprised, taken aback, when this happens.
3
A master con man that’s what the pathological liar corrupt creature in the White House. Both parties failed to address the need of the people. Angers were brewing for a long time. Con man took advantage of it despite the fact that he is the epitome of all the corruptions we have today. On the other side, Bernie is doing the same and taking advantage of the frustration and anger of people. Bernie is selling pipe dreams just like con man to win the primary. He knows very well that none of his pipe dreams will come true because of our current legislative and judicial scenario. Alas, people fall for those who are dishonest and say anything to come to,power.
4
One of the great con jobs of the last half century has been Republicans convincing a sizeable portion of average middle and lower class Americans that they best represent their interests.
Amazing really.
14
I am beginning to think that just one president is not a good idea... maybe have 4-5 major divisions of government, and a president of each. It would prevent any one person from having too much power, some national decisions would have to be made by consensus among them, and the journalists would have plenty to write about--which is why Trump got elected anyway.
3
I think the problem with the economy is that the people who need the money and would spend do not have enough and the people who do not need it have too much and use it to speculate.
If the non-rich had more money, they would buy more stuff and by the wonders of capitalism, that would increase production, i.e. the GDP. If the gov spent more money in such a way it got to the non-rich, that would increase production which would compensate for the inflationary effect of more gov spending.The proposals of the progressive candidates not only get money to the right people, but they help solve pressing problems, e.g. our horrendous healthcare system, climate heating, decrepit infrastructure, etc.
Sending money to the Rich only increases financial speculation. What's a guy or gal who already has so many houses he can't remember how many & an elevator for his horse gonna spend his money on? The answer is he is going to use it to speculate. This explains why GDP growth is glacial while the stock market is exploding.
If you are worried about the debt look at history. The highest the debt ratio ever was was in 1946 when it was 121%. This was followed by 27 years of Great Prosperity. Compare this with post WWI. From 1946 - 1973, we INCREASED the debt in dollars by 75%, but the gross debt ratio DECREASED to 32%. After WWI we DECREASED the debt in dollars by almost 40%, By October of 1929, the debt ratio was only 16%. And then what happened?
4
Len Charlap, my dear friend.
I think Ferdinand Pecora might disagree with your 'lack of debt' theory of the Great Depressions.
Perhaps the abusive and unregulated practices of the financial industry and bankers had something to do with it.
14
@Socrates - But the reason people turned to banks for money was that the federal government had been sucking money OUT of the private sector via surpluses. Banks became overleveraged and then failed.
This alo happened prior to 2008 although the culprit here was the huge trade deficit which also leeched money out of the private sector. By 2007, the big banks had 27 or 28 times the amount in outstanding loans as they had in reserves.
3
Fareed Zakaria said on his program yesterday that Democrats need more than the Negative to win. He also said Democrats need to fall in love with a Candidate while Republicans fall in line. The College students and younger crowd have fallen in love with Bernie Sanders. In 2016 I backed Hillary because she was Moderate. I am for Bernie Sanders today. He is authentic, Hillary is the phony-not really for childhood poverty advocate after her falling out with Marian Wright Edelman yet a posturing as if still with Children's Defense Fund. Obama, JFK, RFK ignited the youth. You cannot stop it. You should not even try. It's their future
8
Bernie has promised to forgive college loan debts and provide free tuition. As a result, he gets the college vote. This is not my idea of inspiration, and it will not persuade either those who don’t go to college, or those whose college debts were paid years ago.
11
Will you show up and vote for democracy even if Bernie’s not the candidate or will we have a repeat of 2016 when the Bernie supporters stayed home, voted third party, or voted for Trump out of spite? I have no problem with Bernie but this is about so much more than him. And if Republicans still control the Senate after the election, Bernie’s agenda is DOA anyway.
17
@Sarah Bernie's following is Youth/College-these kids are bright and that was 2016-alot has happened since then. I think we all know what's at stake--so save the Negative
2
Donald Trump has lied so often about so many things, it's hard to keep track.
But going back to the 2016 campaign, perhaps the most egregious lie he put forth was in telling working-class Americans that he was one of them -- because he never was, and never wanted to be.
Being rich and all-powerful was too much fun and a major part of his design.
That's why now, three years later, he has no problem eviscerating all the government assistance programs, be it Food Stamps or what's left of the Affordable Health Care Act in order to build up military spending and grant the wealthy and corporate more elite generous tax cuts.
Of course those who will be most negatively impacted by this will continue to throng his rallies in search of entertainment, perhaps realizing too late (if at all) the economy isn't doing so great, the jobs aren't coming back and now we're stuck with a president and more of his lies.
The "American carnage" has begun.
19
Would this democracy be easier to govern if, indeed, it was a homogeneous group of white people? Or, if all the groups that our government must acknowledge and work with were simply accepted as people. And if they would realize that first, they are Americans, and most of what good this government gives is not so bad for us all. Americans make governance hard since we speak as individuals, and do not always consider whether our personal 'want' may be good for many. Affordable healthcare is good for many. Affordable college education is good, and even better since students would not be saddled with debt that leaves them small chance to live decently. Affordable housing is good for many. Returning to my first statement about homogeneity. That was a "throw-out". There are supremely marginalized people in our country. When they are in the mainstream, when they are a part of this country without apology or defense, then we begin to have a workable government for all. If we acknowledge we cannot have roads, infrastructure that is current and working, water that is clear without paying for it, and that all who live in this country and use those roads and switch on those lights and drink the water, must be part of the payment. What could I do if I had a business that saw a bottom line that showed millions or billions. I would spread it over my staff and this country like manure on farmland. Money is power to a few. To me, money is money and meant to be used.
7
@Jenny As Thornton Wilder said in his great play, "The Matchmaker:"
"Money, Horace, is like manure. It should be spread around, encouraging young things to grow."
3
"The supposed reason was that he wanted to bring back U.S. manufacturing. If that were really his motivation, he failed: "
As I said his opponents would claim.
Now the question to the Democratic candidate will be: How will you bring back manufacturing to the US?
That candidate can state either: "It just ain't gonna happen!" or "Well, we'll raise the standard of living of labor in other countries then the playing field will be leveled" or criticize Trump's policies saying they didn't work.
Take your pick. This campaign is going to be fun to watch.
1
From the glimpses I've had of Trump rallies there is no reason to make a rational argument to persuade people who revel in hate and anger directed by Trump toward other Americans. There is no language to communicate with those who boo and insult Romney for acting conscientiously and approve Trump using the gov't & Justice Dept. to persecute fellow citizens he views as enemies. His support is visceral, not rational. A rational person would not vote for Putin's candidate of choice to harm America and the world.
I hope, and I suspect, most of the Trump supporters are not comprised of people who might fit comfortably in a Mussolini rally. I hope Dems field a candidate that can draw just a few percent of them away from Trump with an appeal to decency. Not sure if that will be the question if the Dems field a candidate that casts Trump as the champion of capitalism vs. evil socialism.
I realize we are a mix of those systems. I just think it foolish to change the focus from a referendum on Trump to a popularity contest between capitalism vs.socialism in which Republicans will encourage voters to vote their patriotism to defend America from socialism.
The Republicans are giddy with the likelihood of facing an avowed socialist. The distinction that Bernie is a democratic-socialist" won't sell at Wal Mart.
I will absolutely vote for him if he is the nominee.
19
@JT - John Tucker: "From the glimpses I've had of Trump rallies there is no reason to make a rational argument to persuade people who revel in hate and anger directed by Trump toward other Americans."
After watching the Democrat's antics for the last three-plus years, I can tell you that their reaction to Trump has been based on hate and anger as well.
2
@hm1342 There is a group of people whose hatred is driven by others' violations of propriety, common sense, and even law. And there is another group of people whose hatred is driven by complaints about those violations.
Can you identify which group is the Democrats?
It is difficult to talk about the deficit & taxes when most people don't understand how the finances of the federal gov work. A reader, max, said in a reply to one of my comments:
"So much of our economic issues could be solved if people understood that the US cannot run out of money, and how hard it is to cause hyperinflation from government spending alone."
Let me show that max got it right.
First gov operations, militarily, infrastructure, etc. are NOT paid for or limited by taxes or borrowing.
The gov doesn't need your money. It can (thru the FED) create as much as it needs out of thin air. Unless you have a printing press in your basement, you can't do that.
But there's a catch. If the gov needs to create too much money to do the things we want it to do, we may not be able to make enough stuff to soak that money up & will have too much money chasing not enough stuff, i.e. excessive inflation.
But that's easy to solve & where taxes come in. Taxes allow the gov to take back the excess money & prevent inflation.
The purpose of taxes is to adjust the amount of money in the economy.
Now if production is constrained say by a shortage of oil, we may not be able to tax enough. That's we we get hyperinflation.
Since federal spending sends money to us & taxes take it back, the deficit is just the net amount of money the gov sends to the private sector & the debt is just the algebraic sum of all the money the gov has sent over time.
Understand this, and we can talk.
@Len Charlap :"The gov doesn't need your money. It can (thru the FED) create as much as it needs out of thin air. Unless you have a printing press in your basement, you can't do that."
The money you're talking about printing is through federal government spending is through fiscal policy which I don't think is handled by the FED. It's handled by Treasury.
You're mixing up the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank.
4
@Jp - No, the Treasury used to be able to create money, In 1971 that was changed to ONLY allow the FED to create money. The Treasury gets money from the FED by selling bonds to it.
But in some trivial sense you are correct. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is under the Treasury, but it can only print money at the direction of the FED.
"Currency is printed by the Treasury and issued by the Federal Reserve."
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/business/07currency.html
@Len Charlap : And it's those bonds that create the money. The FED cannot create the bonds to buy and sell.
The FED can impact money supply by buying up or selling bonds but it doesn't create them. To fund your WPA 2.0 programs, requires fiscal policy. The FED cannot do that solely by its actions.
The big questions are will the Democrats actually grow a spine and ensure those unkept promises are roundly revisited for the shrinking long term memory of the electorate during the upcoming year? And how long will it be before the deficit, tariffs and other bad economic decisions actually manifest into recession? On the first count, I don’t hold a great deal of hope. All of the candidates offer up lukewarm pablum to the fiery stuff coming from the Trump camp. It’s hard to see fence sitters jumping to the left. There is so much at stake here, and no one is speaking out in terms the average American can relate to.
11
Trump's supporters listen to what Trump says, they don't look at what he does. They think he is the greatest President because he tells them so. Not much anyone can do about it, his echo chamber is pretty well sealed from reality.
31
Instead of focusing on offering grand plans for a perfect world, the Democratic candidates would do better to focus attention on what middle class people stand to lose over the next four years with Trump in office. If Trump wins, you can expect the following: a further rolling back of environmental protections; oil, gas, and coal development on once Federally protected lands; tax bills that create greater economic inequality; a greater separation from our European and Scandinavian allies; cuts in virtually all forms of public assistance to the poorest of our society; and an attack on Obamacare with no plan to replace it. This is a short list. But he may try to return Alaska to Russia to gain favor with his favorite despot. With Trump, it's possible.
16
Isn't that obvious to everyone except the hardcore Trump base?
3
Listening to Trump, Inc. (a podcast by ProPublica), I’m pretty sure that Trump’s policies revolve entirely around:
1) making lots of money, by easing regulations or passing tax cuts that specifically help his business
Or
2) getting re-elected so he can do #1 for 4 more years.
31
Without wanting to sound overly dramatic, I don't think Trump's content with four more years. He wants to stay in power for as long as he cares for it and then hand over to his children in order to create a dynasty. The spineless Republicans are happy to jolly the moron along. The election in November is the last chance to stop this from happpening.
6
Let’s not forget that the Trump tax act was not only a sop to standard right-wing orthodoxy, it was also the most haphazard, poorly thought-out, and capricious piece of major legislation in anyone’s memory.
I’ll leave the “haphazard” and “poorly thought-our” parts alone for now to point out that the capriciousness was a feature, not a bug. The tax act gleefully punishes Americans by rescinding the SALT deduction, making all Americans pay tax on tax. That it punishes States like New York and California more than others only adds to Trump’s glee.
Again, he gets to play the tough guy, and he harms us all.
27
@R.S. Why can’t states like N.Y. and California get their spending under control to get taxpayers under the SALT threshold?
@tom: Good question! I too worry about runaway state budgets. But that's not the point. The point is that, even in low-tax jurisdictions, many many people are over the SALT deduction levels, and are paying tax on tax for every dollar that they run over. That's just not right, and the fact that it was done capriciously makes it both evil and wrong. (Thoughtful tax policy is important.)
PS: I know it was me who pointed out NY and CA, but many other states with lower income taxes have high property taxes. You might be surprised who is being pinched by the SALT cap!
2
Trump's new plan cuts the budget of the Center for Disease Control by 9%. Why not cut the CDC's budget when the coronavirus is coming this way? What could go wrong? Trump, during his meandering speech at the governor's conference today said the coronavirus will end on its own in April. Who needs the CDC when we have Dr. Trump?
58
I no longer think the president lies. He simply says anything he thinks will work, unable to grasp what lying is. Mexico will pay for the wall. If saying it works, why not?
Since the only positive thing Trump can claim is a high stock market, why is it that so many people who can't afford to buy stocks think he's such a great president? Maybe it's aspiration, like watching an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.
27
@JR I am starting to think it is more like a case of mass hysteria combined with mass-self destructive behavior, or maybe just the result of decades of under-investment in education.
21
@JR I wonder that same thing, on a regular basis. Why do disadvantaged, very poor Americans think a very rich, corrupt bully is their hero?? Why do they want him as our leader? I guess they believe his lies.
4
@JR They LOVE Trump for his racism, bigotry and misogny because they are racists, bigots and misogynistic themselves.
6
No highly developed AI would run these sorts red ink budgets during good times (good for corporations and the wealthy). AI would save the deficit ammunition for bad times, which will inevitably come. Last time they came, another Republican who didn't care about red ink (George W. Bush) led us into the Great Recession. The Dems paid dearly for it, doing triage on the economy and nursing it back to health - only so the Repubs can now think only about their own reelection by credit-carding the economy and putting the debt into the laps of the next generation. Which is why our entire system is bound to fail -until somebody with a brain has control. I for one can't envision how this will happen.
19
"He pretended to be different. He was lying."
Well, "duh", Paul. He lies just like a lot of politicians, Democrat or Republican. He got elected in part because of those lies. Remember when Obama and Hillary both said in public they believed marriage was between one man and one woman? How long did that lie last? Take Obama's constant lying about the ACA, which was unconstitutional from the start. How many times did he tell the American public they could keep their doctor and health care plan?
Trump lied about having a health care plan on a "60 Minutes" interview. No one on the right ever brings that up whenever they interview Trump.
If you're going to whine about the latest deficit-laden budget proposal, Paul, then tell us the last president who proposed a budget that reduced spending from the previous year. The answer is that Washington can never seem to do with less of our taxpayer dollars. Even when they cut taxes the federal government still continues to spend more than is collected in revenues. Neither party is willing to address that because they are all beholden to special interests and are more concerned with re-election than following the Constitution.
Yes, Paul, Trump has lied about a lot of things, but don't forget he has a lot of company on both sides of the aisle in Washington.
4
@hm1342 in both 2012 and 2014 President Obama submitted budgets that were lower than those of the previous year. Since you asked. Through much of his Presidency, Bill Clinton submitted budgets which, though larger than the previous year’s, depended on lower deficits and even a surplus. So by the end of the Clinton Presidency we were actually paying for the expenditures, and more. The current “president” will never accomplish either feat. He has no interest in so doing: it doesn’t benefit him personally. Reducing the value of money does, because he is personally so massively indebted.
6
Just for the record, this particular argument is #1 on Putin's list of top-ten strategies for undermining America. "Everybody's lying, so nobody should trust the government".
4
@hm1342, "Even when they cut taxes the federal government still continues to spend more than is collected in revenues."
The government spends more than it collects in revenues BECAUSE they cut taxes, which ARE the revenues.
4
Trump basically took the existing agreement and stuck his name on it That's what he does. Just puts his name on others. In gold of course.
48
@Jerry in NH EXACTLY how religion works
4
What the world needs is more quitters like former House Speaker Ryan. Wonder what he's worth today. After he left office.
Still I ask why deficits are bad when Republicans do it and good when Democrats do it. Or is it the other way around? A trillion dollar debt and overvalued stocks (Tesla closed at 771.28 today) I gotta say it: The sky is the limit.
3
@JoeG
This is not a new strategy.
Look up Jude Wanniski and his two Santa Claus theory. Deficits don't count when a Republican is in office. Tax cuts for the rich are always in order. But when a Democrat is president, deficits are so bad that all of our social net programs have to be cut.
15
I was speaking with a life-long Republican today who can not stand Trump, and it certainly was not because of the GOP's fiscal mantras and economic "policies." The reason instead was because of Trump's total and blatant corruption and amorality. But...at the same time we were looking at both the national and New Hampshire polls which showed very strong support for Bernie Sanders. At that, my acquaintance exclaimed, "He will lose the election with his Medicare-for-All plan." When I questioned if he would he still vote for Trump, he replied he just wouldn't vote for president in November. I flinched at that. Now that may not make a difference in Deep Blue California. But one can not deny he represents thousands of Independents and unhappy Republicans in most of our states. Me? I will vote for Bernie, of course, if he is our nominee. But he may just need to tweak his health plan, or else all will be lost with four more years of Trump.
33
@Kathy Lollock Honestly, if about 10,000 Republicans with consciences stay home in Michigan and a couple other states, and Democratic turnout remains the same as in 2016, we're probably going to be okay. Mind you, nobody should count on that. Please, for the love of God, come out and vote on election day, because there is zero assurance that the second assumption will hold true.
6
Medicare for All will not happen. Congress will resist. We might get an improvement though.
4
For the past century, American politics has been a political pendulum between the right and the left. Since Reagan, the GOP has moved us gradually to the right with Trump giving us the biggest rightward swing. Unfortunately for Biden, or other so called mainstream candidates, America needs to make a big political swing to the left to balance our politics.
This is the main reason more democrats call themselves progressive than mainstream to the chagrin mainstream media, corporate democrats etc.. Our eventual choice will be between Bernie and Elizabeth no matter how hard those who benefit from the current system tries to defeat them. In fact the more Trump governs to the right, the better chances his extreme political opposite will be elected.
7
@beachboy -- Actually, it's beginning to look like our choice will be between Sanders and Buttigieg.
1
Agree policy choices in the realm of healthcare come with a warning. Do not get too far ahead of the consuming public. Policy also come with reality check. Dems must win the Senate or flush most aggressive policy options medicare for all the first casualty.
Looking casually at probabilities Bernie cannot bend the party to his liking. Unable to relent on his message leaves little room to go beyond his base. Bloomberg the beneficiary of the Biden collapse; Bernie losing in Iowa. The moderate lane open for business.
4
@texsun
Moderate lane open for sterling, pragmatic, humanist Bloomberg.
2
Reagan cut taxes and claimed growth would pay for the tax cuts. WRONG...didn't happen. W. Bush cut taxes again and again claimed we would grow and pay down the debt. WRONG...didn't happen. Trump cut taxes and claimed the cuts would pay for themselves. WRONG, the national debt continues to soar. Why do so many people vote for the GOP which has been WRONG every time? WHY?
67
@RogerC Because they don't care about deficits. They never cared about deficits.
Take a look at what programs "we can't afford" as a result of these cuts. Look at who bears the brunt when we don't fund those programs. You might see a pattern.
18
@RogerC And why can't the Democrats seem to make hay out of these past and on-going failures of Trickle Down economics.
7
@RogerC
Hmm. The National Debt doubled under Obama. From 9 Trillion to 18 Trillion. That’s right, DOUBLED. How about that?
1