Who Really Saved Our Economy?
October 25, 2018
The economy is in a good place. With unemployment low and jobs in reasonably good supply, there’s only one question left. Who dunnit?
President Donald Trump thinks he deserves the credit.
“At a campaign rally in North Dakota last week, President Trump boasted that he’s responsible for the economy taking off like a “rocket ship,” NPR said.
However, former President Barack Obama thinks otherwise.
“When you hear how great the economy is doing right now, let’s just remember when this recovery started,” Obama said in a speech at the University of Illinois on Sept. 7.
More often than not, presidents are blamed or receive credit for things they aren’t directly responsible for when it concerns the economy. This is no exception.
Job growth has been consistent since 2010, as has the decline of unemployment. Meaning no real noticeable change has taken place since Trump took office. All Trump has done for the economy is not screwed with the current system, which is hardly something praiseworthy.
“At best, you would say it’s been a continuation of a steady trend,” economist Austan Goolsbee said in an interview with MSNBC. “I don’t see how you come into the game with ten minutes left in the fourth quarter, your team is already ahead, and you’re like, ‘I won this game.'”
What will not help us “win the game?” The Trump tax breaks for the rich. Because giving the wealthy tax cuts is obviously the solution when it comes to helping the common Joe right?
I will admit, in the fossil fuel industry there has been a small uptick in investment opportunities.
However, every other notable industry is actually lower in the normal expansion average, far from the huge success for the average worker Trump claimed it would be.
In fact, most people will not be affected by the tax cut in any meaningful way. That is of course, unless you’re a rich investor that doesn’t struggle to pay taxes in the first place.
So where does that leave us? With a president whose words are much louder than his actions, who is in no way responsible for the current success of the economy.