Posted on 01/16/2018 9:08:40 AM PST by jazusamo
An appropriate bookend to yesterday's post , which mentioned the aspiring Speaker's "crumbs" comment, an instant Pelosi classic. Throughout the tax reform debate, liberals pounded the table insisting that corporate tax cuts would not benefit workers or consumers -- just fat cat shareholders and executives. But much like they were disastrously wrong about how much tax reform would benefit working and middle income households, they've also been proven wrong on the corporate side, as literally millions of Americans workers have already received bonuses, wage increases, improved bonuses and other concrete benefits. (Incidentally, if you missed it earlier, this clip juxtaposing liberal talking points with actual outcomes, it's worth watching, if only for the pure schadenfreude and to aid future assessments of credibility).
How are Democrats dealing with reality's immediate, real-time refutation of their scare tactics and bogus predictions? By ignoring them completely, by downplaying them by focusing on other issues (' s***hole ,' another instance of Trump being his own worst enemy), or by making bone-headed remarks like Pelosi's, which only highlights her own elitist condescension and aloofness. Fox Business Network invited Waste Management CEO James Fish on the air to react to what Pelosi said, breaking down whether his company's investments in its workforce could reasonably be characterized as "pathetic" or "crumbs." The clip begins with anchor Liz Claman mocking the San Francisco leftist's strange use of the odd phrase "put the schmooze on," then proceeds from there:
Video: Waste Management CEO on Nancy Pelosi ‘crumbs’ comments
Claman asks Fish how he'd reply to Pelosi's comments if she deigned to meet with him, and his answer is terrific -- polite, informative, and devastating. He calmly explains three points: (1)
The tens of thousands of employees receiving $2,000 tax reform-inspired bonuses are working people -- "drivers, helpers on the back of trucks, recycle workers, landfill workers, customer service agents" -- who earn $40-$60k annually. An extra two grand in their pockets (in addition to their tax cuts is a big deal). "We're giving [these bonuses] to those folks because not only because they're hardworking, but they don't participate in our annual bonus plans, which typically are for salaried employees," he says. (2)
Injecting $68 million into the economy in the form of augmented income for middle class employees has a stimulative effect on the broader economy. (3)
"From a shareholder standpoint, this is good for us because retention is always an issue for our company. It's always an issue for companies that employ drivers and hourly employees like these, so this is good for us in terms of retention." He goes on to say that turnover in Waste Management's ranks often occurs during an employee's first two years with the company, so "hopefully this encourages them to stay."
Thus concludes a compelling economics lesson for an out-of-touch politician, delivered in a tidy package of less than two minutes. Meanwhile, President Trump tweeted out a polling data point
from Quinnipiac last week regarding Americans' sky high economic outlook:
This prompted a round of "actually..." replies from journalists, who noted that respondents in the same survey split (49/40) on whether President Obama or Trump deserves more credit for the country's thriving economy (it also shows Democrats with a hefty midterm lead on the generic ballot). Given the two men's disparate personal favorability numbers, I'd argue that this is actually a pretty strong outcome for Trump, especially since he hasn't yet completed his first year in office. The editors of Investors Business Daily also echo the sentiments of a number of economists who've made the case that the current president and his administration deserve a good deal of the credit :
The recession ended six months after Obama took office, but the recovery he presided over for the following 7 1/2 years was the worst since World War II. Yearly GDP growth never once reached 3%, job growth was anemic, wages stagnated, and unemployment dropped mainly because so many people left the workforce. T hen Trump unexpectedly won the election, promising to undo most of Obama's economic policies — deregulating, cutting taxes, etc. Almost immediately, business optimism shot up and the stock market roared. And now with the tax cuts on the books, dozens of major companies have handed out bonuses to hundreds of thousands of workers and announced pay hikes — with Wal-Mart (the country's largest employer) boosting its starting wage to $11...None of this would be happening if Hillary Clinton — who promised to raise taxes and impose still more regulations — were president, and all of it will help stimulate economic growth in the months ahead. No matter what anyone thinks about Trump, he clearly deserves credit for much of the economic gains we're seeing today.
This president is self-destructive in so many ways, but a fair assessment of his early tenure in office simply cannot look away from positive policy outcomes :
Guy Benson: "Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal say President Donald Trump has had generally positive effects on U.S. economic growth, hiring and the performance of the stock market during his first year in office."
This is part of the story, too. townhall.com/tipsheet/mattv...
What’s good for the U.S. is bad for Dems.
“Injecting $68 million into the economy in the form of augmented income for middle class employees has a stimulative effect on the broader economy.”
“Crumbs!!” *SMIRK*
I really hate to hear the rumblings that it’s time for Pelosi to go; she’s one of the best assets the GOPe has ever had! ;)
Pelosi is from the school of “corporations can be taxed with no economic effect because the money just otherwise is taken out of circulation in the economy”.
Right on, FRiend and she's getting better by the day. ;-)
(' s***hole ,' another instance of Trump being his own worst enemy)
I for one am getting tired of Guy Benson's utter stupidity when it come to how President Trump operates, and successfully I might adds.
Support Free Republic, Folks!
Guy Benson = smarmy little bass-turd on his opinion about Trump’s comments. OTOH, he does get it right about the tax cut effects.
The positive policy outcomes are a direct result of the forceful personality that Mr. Benson does not like. Does he think "Low Energy Jeb" would have accomplished any of these things?
Still not impressed, as that is such an easy call. Even Democrats realize it but just won't admit it. So belittle is their tactic as they know so many of their supporters really are as dumb as a box of rocks, and that includes far too many of those with higher educations as well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.