Here's what Trump gets wrong

CNBC ^ | 2016 March 14 | Ron Insana

[CutePuppy]

In many ways, Donald Trump's political talking points are Orwellian at best. His constant insistence that the U.S. is not "winning" is being repeated with such pneumatic regularity that voters believe it. Or if they don't yet, they may soon.

Whether we are getting killed on trade or being flooded with illegal immigrants, Donald Trump has been making arguments that were, in part, true thirty years ago, but most certainly not today.

The "INGSOC" slogans in Orwell's epic dystopian novel, "1984":

• "War is Peace"
  
• "Freedom is Slavery"
  
• "Ignorance is Strength"
  

Would fit nicely among Trump's litany of incongruous phrases:

• "The U.S. Doesn't Win Anymore."
  
• "China and Japan are killing us on trade."
  
• "Illegal Immigrants are pouring over the border."
  

Trump's "truths" are easy to debunk.

For starters, the U.S has the largest economy in the world, 50 percent bigger than China's in nominal terms, roughly equal to that of a combined Europe and considerably larger than Japan's.

U.S. per capita income is roughly $50,000, or 10 times that of China, while our debt-to-GDP ratio is considerably smaller than those of China, Japan and many other developed nations. ..... < snip >

..... U.S. exports have hovered near record levels, a fact that few bother to point out to Mr. Trump. ..... < snip >

..... As for overall trade, which by the way, represents 23 percent of economic activity in the U.S., America's position is getting stronger every day.

..... the U.S. current account deficit with other nations, the broadest measure of trade, is at its lowest levels in decades, only 2.2 percent of GDP. ..... < snip >

[CutePuppy]

If only more of us would fight to have these truths heard over Donald Trump's constant stream of "doublespeak". Somewhere in Dystopia, Big Brother has found his apprentice.

[CutePuppy]

Didn't see this posted, either:

From Donald Trump's Donations Put Him in Line for Conservation Tax Breaks - WSJ (sub), by Richard Rubin, 2016 March 10:

Republican front-runner frequently donates development rights for properties, giving him the ability to claim a tax break in return

Donald Trump might be scoring millions of dollars in federal tax breaks by promising to limit development on some of his properties.

The self-described "ardent philanthropist" donated development rights for some of his most valuable properties to conservation groups and local governments, protecting songbirds and big brown bats, and giving himself the ability to claim federal tax deductions, according to land records in four states.

Last year, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination pledged not to build on 74% of his Westchester County, N.Y., estate, and in 2014, he promised not to construct houses on a driving range in California, according to the records. He previously donated so-called conservation easements on his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., and his Bedminster, N.J., golf course. The land restrictions are legally binding and permanent.

Mr. Trump's campaign in a news release described him last year as a "major contributor" to charities, citing donations of "valuable parcels of land throughout the country." The campaign said he had donated $102 million over five years, far exceeding reported gifts to his foundation.

The campaign hasn't provided a detailed list of donations and didn't respond to requests for comment.

Because Mr. Trump has so far declined to release his tax returns, citing continuing audits, it is impossible to tell what he deducted, how he valued the donations and whether the Internal Revenue Service challenged him. ..... < snip >

..... The break can be susceptible to abuse by wealthy landowners through inflated appraisals and tenuous definitions of conservation. The IRS routinely fights taxpayers over the tax break in audits and court cases, and the government often looks skeptically at easements on golf courses. ..... < snip >

[spokeshave]

For starters, the U.S has the largest economy in the world, 50 percent bigger than China's in nominal terms, roughly equal to that of a combined Europe and considerably larger than Japan's.

So how come we have an annual $500 Billion trade deficit with China....?

Could it be that their leaders are smarter than ours

[Doofer]

What about cost of living?

[urbanpovertylawcenter]

Hey Insana, if that is your real name, care to recall the lie of all lies that propelled that great sexual pervert, Willie J. Clinton into office in 1992?

Its the economy, stupid!

When as we learned ever too late, it really was

It’s the Clinton’s, Stupid!

I hope we do not fall for that again.

[Tucker39]

Ron Insane-a. Another quack doctor declaring that HE really knows what’s wrong with Donald Trump. The phrase, “Consider the source” really counts here; that being CNBC, containing those three deadly letters, N-B-C. Those three letters, in that order, are deadly to truth and honesty.

[Dr. Pritchett]

Exactly.

And who cares if our economy is “nominally bigger than China”?!? That’s NOT the point. We’re supposed to be bigger! They’re communists! BUT WE’RE HEADING THE WRONG DIRECTION!!

When they catch us economically and militarily at the same time, we’re screwed. Let’s not get there.

[fortheDeclaration]

The fact is the U.S. is a debtor nation and produces nothing.

Most of our exports are food products.

The fact that we are the largest economy is because we have a free enterprise system and an excellent work force, which these trade deals undermine.

[texican01]

CNBC bullcrap!!

[USS Alaska]

For starters, the U.S has the largest economy in the world, 50 percent bigger than China's in nominal terms, roughly equal to that of a combined Europe and considerably larger than Japan's.

Trump says we have a trade deficit with China, Ron Insana argues that the USA has a larger economy, true but not on point.

Trump says illegals are pouring across the border, Insana argues that immigrants are good for the economy.

Trump says that our military doesn't win anymore and Insana says we have the biggest military budget.

It's like I say it's raining in PA, and Ron Insana says it's snowing in Alaska, maybe true, but not on point.

[fortheDeclaration]

I should also add military hardware to our exports.

[BradyLS]

The “INGSOC” slogans in Orwell’s epic dystopian novel, “1984”:

“War is Peace”
“Freedom is Slavery”
“Ignorance is Strength”

Would fit nicely among CNBC’s litany of incongruous phrases:

“A secure border will not make us safer.”
“All Lives Matter is hate speech.”
“’Public debt is good and we should all pay our fair share.”

[ghosthost]

let’s all break out the Obama champagne

[Tucker39]

I did a search of Ron Insana. When I saw his photo I remembered him. Seems like a nice enough kind of a guy. One tidbit of info I discovered is,”He was Managing Director of Insana Capital Partners from inception to collapse.” And he wants to tell me what’s wrong with Donald Trump. Tsk-tsk, Mr. Insana.

Click on your favorite search engine and check him out. (In my case, it surely isn’t Google).

[major-pelham]

Tell us why u posted the article on land donations please? I’m sure u always pay more tax than you need to ? What’s your point?

[major-pelham]

Insana makes the same story as Mitt Romney - this is great for US and shoukd be good enough for YOU because WE think so. Our incomes rise, we don’t pay these published tax rates, and we can hire nanny’s wicked cheap. Not forgetting where I come from I can’t buy into the Romney view. I pray the country won’t either. Insana is a good business reporter but he’s bought into the Hamptons culture and needs to wake up.

[Daveinyork]

this election cycle is the contest between victims:

In the blue corner, we have the victims of the free trade and not enough free stuff. In the red corner, we have the victims of free trade and too much free stuff.

[Tucker39]

Furthermore: If Mr. Insana actually CAN’T see that we’re worse off now than we were in the past, it sheds light on why ICP went bust. Can’t Mr. Insana REALLY see that the U.S. is nearly bankrupt, and circling the drain?

Can’t he see that we’re overrun with illegal alien parasites who have flooded our land and are sponging Billion$ of our resource$ every day; 95% being illiterate, and an alarming percentage of them drug pushers, thieves, drunk drivers, murderers, and some of them sleeper cell terrorists?

[McCarthysGhost]

What about that 19,000,000,000,000 national debt? How’s that compare?

[Byron_the_Aussie]