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Irena's avatar

This item really caught my eye: "the American people, are willing to elect a leader who promised during a campaign that he'd just turn the table upside down, that he'd destroy our institutions and the post-war peace. You can't take that away. We did that. And we did that in a way that populations of other countries have not." Now that's what I call a damning indictment on trump voters. The other item I agree with is that trump is all about ego: he wants the entire world to see how important he is and to grovel/beg.

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Janice Wood Wetzel's avatar

I’m so ashamed of our country for electing this con man who is cruel and power hungry

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Sally Joy Rubin's avatar

Libertarianism has reached its goal, sad to say. The people who voted for this really don't understand what they voted for, IMHO.

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Bonnie Covey's avatar

I don’t blame Australians for being pissed! I’m pissed too!!

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Bob's avatar
Apr 22Edited

Justin Wolfers said: "But I do think a lot of the damage is permanent. So there are two things I think investors will never, ever forget that they've learned in this episode.

The first is that the American electorate, the American people, are willing to elect a leader who promised during a campaign that he'd just turn the table upside down, that he'd destroy our institutions and the post-war peace. You can't take that away. ...

The second thing we've seen is the weakness of American political institutions. Look, the great strength of American political institutions is we went through the first Trump administration and we actually had an election at the end."

The world may forgive the U.S. for electing Trump the first time in 2016, but now having willingly chosen a convicted felon who fomented an attack on our Capitol is a lot to swallow. Add to that abandoning Ukraine and threatening to leave NATO, while parroting Putin, does not give one the warm and fuzzies. Add to that threatening to take over Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal.

But even more damning is Wolfers' second point regarding the weakness of American political institutions. Many courts are attempting to hold the line, but Trump is now willfully disobeying the Supreme Court, with zero pushback from Republicans in Congress save Don Bacon. Of course the Supreme Court created the autocratic monster with its immunity ruling giving Trump virtually carte blanche.

In short, no one is coming to save us except for ourselves. Staying informed, speaking out, pressuring our elected reps, and showing up in person are our only hope until the 2026 elections. So on your own, or with Indivisible.org, MoveOn, 50501, or other civil democratic society groups, taken action because our economic well-being is inextricably connected to the survival and well-being of our democracy, freedom of speech, and rule of law.

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Pat Jones Garcia's avatar

Self destruction of our monetary/currency systems by a large enough voting populace of our nation is another horrific act forced on everyone by ignorant people who obviously did not do their homework before voting. This talk helpfully explains various aspects of our economics in these times. Thanks.

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Dana Gallo's avatar

I still do not understand at all how/why so many registered voters sat out this last national election. Do they not in the least understand their civic obligations to vote and fight for our democracy? Is civics education in this country completely dead? None of us will have any rights, which rights most people naively take for granted, unless we continually defend and, if necessary, as under the Trump regime, fight like hell to maintain our rights.

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Debra Frank Dew's avatar

Spot on. Thank you.

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Pat Jones Garcia's avatar

The last few remarks summed up very well why our president has put our country in such a bad economic situation regarding these unsubstantiated tariffs.

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Shauna's avatar

Loved this segment !!! great answers ....less fear to their insanity makes a balance :) Thank you :)

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Tam Doey's avatar

Same for Canada!

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June Blender's avatar

OMG, this discussion is so good. I feel like I'm privy to a college seminar. Thanks so much for this recording.

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Judy Katzin's avatar

What a great interview! Politics is a more easily identifiable concept but economics not so much! Thank you for making this clear, concise and in terminology that is relatable. More, please!

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Sally Joy Rubin's avatar

Thank you. Even though economics is definitely not my strong suit, you made it more understandable.

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Karen B-R's avatar

Should we put money in other countries, for example if we have a son who is a permanent resident and professor in Chile?

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David Krupp's avatar

To try to rid us of Trump/Musk, hold demonstrations in front of the local offices of Republicans.

Contact: Indivisible and 50501.

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Merlin Dorfman's avatar

If the US runs a trade surplus with Australia...then by Trump's tariff formula, we will have zero or even negative tariff with Australia...right?

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Barb Kelly's avatar

What a great discussion and analysis of what's going on in economic terms that can be easily understood by us non-economists. Especially like Justin's example of what happened to Liz Truss (with the U.K.'s parliamentary system) as opposed to our political system that has allowed Trump's destructive policies to continue, and Justin's story about what happened in Turkey to interest rates and the resulting inflation.

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Joseph McPhillips's avatar

MAGA's are forever the victims of fake news, George Soros, & of course, the Communists. https://bsky.app/profile/johnfugelsang.bsky.social/post/3ln6avbwhlk2r

Gulags for profit...Trump & El Salvador Bukele's idea of "economic development". Trump corruptly targets critics, & adversaries for baseless prosecutions & retribution. We allow the Trump administration to abandon the constitution & the rule of law at our peril. #Resist

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