I'm mostly retired and my income has been roughly the same over the last 8 years. Compared to Trump's administration, my food costs are up 28%, gas up 70%, electricity up 15%, property taxes up 20%, auto insurance up 15%, water and sewer services up 20% and so on and so forth. I'm having to dip into my 401K to pay bills periodically. Didn't have to do that under Trump and was able to save money. Anybody prosper under Biden?

Yup, this has been the best economy for me since Clinton.

Good rifles sell as fast as I can find them, shotguns are slower. Prices are strong other than doubles, singles and bolt guns surprisingly so.

Ag and forestry are always up and down, for a number of reasons.
But yes, was certainly better off under Trump.
If he could just keep his trap shut I could feel better about it. It was Obo that hurt farms the most, biden is middle ground of the three.

recasting this to be pre-post covid -

I was far better pre-covid. My wages haven't kept up with OFFICAL inflation numbers, insurance has tripled (car and auto) even though no claims made not even a speeding ticket, interest rates are PROFOUNDLY impacting my business interests and income, all food prices are through the roof, and Taxes

oh, my 401k up, but I went all cash before the covid-crash, and selectively bought the dip, not my doing, I have good advisors

oh, my county appraised home value (and taxes) have climbed, which does nothing for me but raise my insurance costs even more - If I sold, there's nothing to buy as a downsided replacement, and that comes with a nearly 3x increase in interest rates

You know what would be AWESOME for nearly all Americans, owners and renters? If we repealed the SALT tax cap. think about it a minute

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:


You know what would be AWESOME for nearly all Americans, owners and renters? If we repealed the SALT tax cap. think about it a minute

Not politically possible, it was put in place as an FU to Blue States and is part of the sacred text, never to altered in anyway as it was anointed by the Holy one himself, the Orange Jesus.

Lifting the SALT tax would not help me due to our property tax rates in Colorado but I am in agreement with you, it should be done.

Things have been about the same either way. Sure food costs more, but I pay and eat it and I'm thankful that I don't have to dumpster dive. Gasoline currently isn't that much more and doesn't affect my driving. My home is paid for and the market has been good, tho that wasn't the case a year and a half ago. I don't feel any effect from the border ""crisis"". My gut tells me that trump wouldn't have handled a second year of COVID any better than Biden did and that things would be about the same now no matter who was in.

America may well have been economically better off under King George, he certainly had a competent military to defend the Colonies.

Maybe France prospered under King Louis,
The Chinese and Vietnamese seem to prosper under communism, who knows, maybe Ukraine would do better under Vlad's rule.

I think the economy was pretty good during Clinton's "rule" but I'm inclined to think he ain't to popular with the gang around here.

I'm not voting for Biden, I don't like anything he's done nor do I consider him a fit Commander in Chief. I hope Biden is not re elected.

On the other hand, why vote for Trump? He failed in Afghanistan, failed with Corona, failed with DPRK, failed with the budget and debt, failed to unify anyone anywhere for any reason,......

I can't be bought. Because I have more money in my pocket under the rule of a Stalin/ Mao/ King George Mugabe/ Idi Amin doesn't make them good.

quote:

On the other hand, why vote for Trump? He failed in Afghanistan, failed with Corona, failed with DPRK, failed with the budget and debt, failed to unify anyone anywhere for any reason,......

I'm just curious in your thinking my friend. You most always make a,lot of sense and I truly value your opinion.

How did he do worse on Afghanistan than the other 3 admins that dealt with that mess?

Who has done better with north korea?

I agree he was no where near as fiscally conservative as,I wished.

With his opposition how could he have unified anything. What specifically in your mind did he do to further division?

Let me help you with your selective memory issues Jim, I'm in a mood to be helpful This was the biggest foreign policy blunder since Shrub got us into Iraq. That is your boy, MAGA Mike Pompeo creating a situation that was truly FUBARed.

Hang a Biden sign in the gun shop. Watch the money just roll right in.

I’ve done just fine under both and don’t care which idiot gets elected. I’ll be dead before either one can sink this country since neither will be in Washington beyond 2028. Good luck to those of lesser fortune but it ain’t my problem…….

To simply answer your question, I was much better under Trump. One can kick and scream that I am wrong but I have no reason to be biased. My business did much better when Trump was in office.

Fortunately, I prepared for this mess that we are currently in.

Economically I have been better under Biden.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:

quote:

On the other hand, why vote for Trump? He failed in Afghanistan, failed with Corona, failed with DPRK, failed with the budget and debt, failed to unify anyone anywhere for any reason,......

I'm just curious in your thinking my friend. You most always make a,lot of sense and I truly value your opinion.

How did he do worse on Afghanistan than the other 3 admins that dealt with that mess?

Who has done better with north korea?

I agree he was no where near as fiscally conservative as,I wished.

With his opposition how could he have unified anything. What specifically in your mind did he do to further division?

Easiest way to put it would be to say, "pass/ fail" .
Across the spectrum of our society we've allowed attendance awards, effort trophies and grading on a bell curve. That hasn't worked. I really liked Trump engaging DPRK and I hoped for a victory there. You remember, we were talking about a Red Button. Well Trump didn't triumph and today we're still at square one. I don't grade on a curve, being POTUS is pass/ fail.

Based on his merits and achievements alone, considering no other peers, has Biden met or exceeded your expectations as our "Ruler"? No.

Based on his merits and achievements alone, considering no other peers, has Trump met or exceeded my expectations as our "Ruler"? No.

Emphasis on hindsight! In hindsight were I President in 2001 or 2008 or 2016 or 2020, would be for the DOD to bring me three scenarios for victory by the end of the week to be completed before my term ends for Afghanistan. 1) minimum casualties, 2) medium casualties 3) maximum casualties and why. Based on a few days discussion with my staff I'd order and execute one of the three.
What happens in November? I don't care, I completed the job I started or inherited, the guy after me needn't worry about that. Today after four failed executive efforts were worse off than every there. One of the four should have finished the job, conquered the enemy and born responsibility.

As for Trumps opposition, well, he had to/ has to get bipartisan. He was the executive, he was the boss and his duties, (yes plural,) was to find consensus. It doesn't matter if Pelosi and Schumer wouldn't, he had to. Shame them into it, bully them into it, buy them candy, flowers, send em on vacation to Camp David for a week, it doesn't matter, get bipartisan. Obviously the name calling and insulting that Trump pioneered made things worse.

No matter the opposing pitcher or defensive line, a run is a run, a touchdown is a touchdown. Them batters and wide receivers don't get to blame the other team.

quote:

Originally posted by tomahawker:
Hang a Biden sign in the gun shop. Watch the money just roll right in.

There are no Biden signs here, I'm a long, long way away from loving Biden. That does not mean I'm willing to support someone as immoral as Trump.

You seem like one of them many who feel I should be more of a conformist, good luck with that. I have been doing things my way my whole life. What you think is really not something I GAF about.

You have your vote and free to cast it for the orange turd if you so wish. I have too much respect for our Democracy to get on that bandwagon.

Give me a moderate Republican as a choice and they will almost certainly get my vote, these MAGA tools, not so much.

My clients and friends come from all aspects of the political spectrum and politics often come up in conversation. I find very few who do not understand my viewpoint, they might not agree with me on everything but nearly all will admit when pressed that Trump is not fit for office.

quote:

That does not mean I'm willing to support someone as immoral as Trump.

Anyone believing Biden has the “moral” upper hand on Trump needs to open their mind, get smarter, or both.

One loves making money in America…the other from America. One has 5 productive kids…one allowed a son to become a drug addicted mafia boss and profited from it.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

That does not mean I'm willing to support someone as immoral as Trump.

Anyone believing Biden has the “moral” upper hand on Trump needs to open their mind, get smarter, or both.

One loves making money in America…the other from America. One has 5 productive kids…one allowed a son to become a drug addicted mafia boss and profited from it.

One is a lying, cheating, philandering, fraud who has been impeached multiple times, bankrupt multiple times, cheated on everyone of his 3 wives and tried to steal the last election, the other is not.


An open mind is terrible thing to waste Lane

I am better off not having the man who instigated Jan 6, who refused to defend the Constitution from a violent mob designed to keep him in power, and who called for the Constitution to be suspended.

quote:

One has 5 productive kids

You blew it right there, unless you've changed sides. Trump has been a perpetual grifter. His two older sons would be flipping burgers were it not for their dad's perpetual grifting. Trump's son-in-law has traded off his father-in-law's grifting, to the tune of billions of dollars of Saudi money.

The Biden family definitely has the moral high ground, unless you are lost in the MAGA world and unable to sort out right from wrong, the truth from Trump's endless lies. By each post you've shown how far down Trump's rabbit hole you've become lost.

My family is much better off under Biden. The country is much better off under Biden. Democracy has a chance under Biden. The Biden administration is much improved over the Trump asskissers; Bannon, Stone, Kudlow, Flynn, etc.

The MAGA faithful remind me of the Jim Jones faithful in Guyana.

Everything cost less under Trump and the supply chain wasn't affected either. So, yes, for me and my business, life was a lot better.

It seems most people around my area feel the same. On a local chat group there were many complaints at the high cost of fireworks. Many families are having to pass on purchasing these things reporting that such items are now four times the cost of a few years ago. The current economy is affecting all facets of the local economy including entertainment and many will vote accordingly.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

It seems most people around my area feel the same. On a local chat group there were many complaints at the high cost of fireworks. Many families are having to pass on purchasing these things reporting that such items are now four times the cost of a few years ago.

Interesting. People bitching and moaning about discretionary spending. Not just discretionary spending but one of the most absolutely ridiculous forms of discretionary spending that can be imagined. Why go to one of the many free fireworks displays, when you can essentially take your cash and blow it all up in an hour or two, all the while enjoying the possibility of physically maiming someone. The phrase "hold my beer, watch this" comes to mind. So we are going to declare the economy a bust despite record high stock market levels all because Bubba has to pay more for sparklers and Black Cats. That's just funny, I don't care who you are.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
Everything cost less under Trump and the supply chain wasn't affected either. So, yes, for me and my business, life was a lot better.

It seems most people around my area feel the same. On a local chat group there were many complaints at the high cost of fireworks. Many families are having to pass on purchasing these things reporting that such items are now four times the cost of a few years ago. The current economy is affecting all facets of the local economy including entertainment and many will vote accordingly.

May be true, but you have no idea about if it would stay that way. trump left Biden a COVID shitshow to deal with. You have no idea how trump would have dealt with another full year of COVID or whether or not there would be supply and demand issues. A lot of prices didn't come down much because of supplier/seller greed.

What is trump's proposal to get prices lowered and/or reduce inflation?

Yall do realize that some people tend to repeatedly attack the only known female in the crater, right? Like every time she posts, the buzzards circle... you might look into that

quote:

Originally posted by ANTELOPEDUNDEE:

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
Everything cost less under Trump and the supply chain wasn't affected either. So, yes, for me and my business, life was a lot better.

It seems most people around my area feel the same. On a local chat group there were many complaints at the high cost of fireworks. Many families are having to pass on purchasing these things reporting that such items are now four times the cost of a few years ago. The current economy is affecting all facets of the local economy including entertainment and many will vote accordingly.

May be true, but you have no idea about if it would stay that way. trump left Biden a COVID shitshow to deal with. You have no idea how trump would have dealt with another full year of COVID or whether or not there would be supply and demand issues. A lot of prices didn't come down much because of supplier/seller greed.

What is trump's proposal to get prices lowered and/or reduce inflation?

I don't know what plan he has but I do know if fuel prices are well reduced it will help the economy overall.

As far as the 'rona goes. Everyone listened to the 'expert' Fauci. He was a liar all along. I knew it. Then when 0biden got elected he and his admin really attacked the country. So blame that chaos where it really belongs.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
Yall do realize that some people tend to repeatedly attack the only known female in the crater, right? Like every time she posts, the buzzards circle... you might look into that

Unfortunate that there are so many nasty people here. All of them are liberals, too. Weird.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

quote:

Originally posted by ANTELOPEDUNDEE:

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
Everything cost less under Trump and the supply chain wasn't affected either. So, yes, for me and my business, life was a lot better.

It seems most people around my area feel the same. On a local chat group there were many complaints at the high cost of fireworks. Many families are having to pass on purchasing these things reporting that such items are now four times the cost of a few years ago. The current economy is affecting all facets of the local economy including entertainment and many will vote accordingly.

May be true, but you have no idea about if it would stay that way. trump left Biden a COVID shitshow to deal with. You have no idea how trump would have dealt with another full year of COVID or whether or not there would be supply and demand issues. A lot of prices didn't come down much because of supplier/seller greed.

What is trump's proposal to get prices lowered and/or reduce inflation?

I don't know what plan he has but I do know if fuel prices are well reduced it will help the economy overall.

As far as the 'rona goes. Everyone listened to the 'expert' Fauci. He was a liar all along. I knew it. Then when 0biden got elected he and his admin really attacked the country. So blame that chaos where it really belongs.

Crude oil is based on WORLD prices so the best way to drive that down is to over-produce. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!! Plus we're probably still exporting gasoline and diesel, but you expect them to sell it to you for cost? If trump had his way he'd have let COVID run wild. Do you agree with that approach?

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
Everything cost less under Trump and the supply chain wasn't affected either. So, yes, for me and my business, life was a lot better.

The supply train certainly was affected, I plainly remember running out of toilet paper and Florida farmers plowing under fresh fruit and vegetables because the public venues like restaurants and Disney were shuttered.

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/...-covid-19/112259830/

I was better off during Trump.

However, how much was due to COVID and despite all the lefty handwringing, I don’t think either president could have affected what happened much, I cannot say it’s Biden caused the hyperinflation and how much was Trump and his stimulus checks…

To me, Biden’s big failures policy wise have been inflation and border security.

What is it you expect Biden or any president to do about inflation? Reagan couldn't do much about ten percent mortgages.

I'll grant you on border security.

3 things the President can't control.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news...dents-164919732.html

quote:

Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:
What is it you expect Biden or any president to do about inflation? Reagan couldn't do much about ten percent mortgages.

I'll grant you on border security.

Not dramatically ramping up spending.

If you need to fund Ukraine, you need to make politically unpopular cuts elsewhere, as an example.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:

quote:

Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:
What is it you expect Biden or any president to do about inflation? Reagan couldn't do much about ten percent mortgages.

I'll grant you on border security.

Not dramatically ramping up spending.

If you need to fund Ukraine, you need to make politically unpopular cuts elsewhere, as an example.

Like Bush II did about the Iraq invasion?

Or Trump did for his tax cut and border wall?

The primary responsibility for control of spending is on Congress. The Republicans run the Senate.

Inflation was caused more by Covid than spending increases under Trump and Biden.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:

quote:

Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:
What is it you expect Biden or any president to do about inflation? Reagan couldn't do much about ten percent mortgages.

I'll grant you on border security.

Not dramatically ramping up spending.

If you need to fund Ukraine, you need to make politically unpopular cuts elsewhere, as an example.

I have showed you the data before, pretty much every Western country, Regardless of Government spending has experienced very similar levels of inflation.

Ukraine aid was not the driver of inflation, China shutting down for years during Covid and the resulting supply chain disruptions had a much larger effect.

It depends on whose data you use but many studies show Trump added to the debt more than Biden.

https://www.crfb.org/papers/tr...-biden-national-debt

I'm better off under Biden.

To me, better off means more than just financially, but also in terms of whether I feel good about our country. I don't want a president who preaches xenophobia, pushes tax cuts not balanced by spending cuts, and embarrasses Americans with stupid foreign policy and blunders.

Like going against every US adviser on North Korea and legitimizing Kim Jong-un, a murdering dictator, by meeting with him as an equal. WTF has that yielded, other than to add prestige to Kim?

I got so tired of friends abroad asking me, under Trump, "Why did the US just do that?"

My quality of life and pride in my country is much higher under Biden, who is a poor choice but he is what he is: not a psychopath, unlike his opponent.

All my friends abroad are rooting for trump.

I'm doing fine, earning plenty of interest on my money...

The younger folks living on wages? Not so much.

Obo left office with the economy on a good long upswing and unemployment numbers in free fall. trump rode it for a year & then fucked it all up. It took 38 billion just to partly heal what he did to farmers with his tariffs.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
All my friends abroad are rooting for trump.

I'm doing fine, earning plenty of interest on my money...

The younger folks living on wages? Not so much.

Has anybody ever seen a more typically republican response to anything?

So you retired last year, right?

Were you paying your workers a decent living wage? Or, were you keeping corporate profits for yourself so you could be saying today that you're "doing fine." Have things changed so much in a year? Let me guess.

Poor Dumb Jim.

quote:

Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:
What is it you expect Biden or any president to do about inflation? Reagan couldn't do much about ten percent mortgages.

I'll grant you on border security.

Ten percent? One of my friends was paying 14% mortgage interest in 1980. I paid 19.75 % on a used pickup truck.

So again, if we made more money under Mao or Stalin or Hitler we'd re elect them?

Do we have a moral threshold or red line?

quote:

Originally posted by Scott King:
So again, if we made more money under Mao or Stalin or Hitler we'd re elect them?

Do we have a moral threshold or red line?

Sure.. let's just say that mass murders are worse than liars..