Very helpful! I wish one of them was tackling the eldercare economic crisis. Hundreds of thousands of us are caring for our elderly parent ( often with dementia,etc) for free and the cost and quality of eldercare outside the home is CRAZY expensive- no help or significant tax break.
I even have my mom as a dependent now ( as she lives with me and I cover the majority) and I don’t get the same as a child credit though my costs are as if I had a child.
We just went through this with my father-in-law. However, we were so fortunate that he was able to afford the 'professional' care. However, our three remaining surviving parents who are each 85+ years-old will not be as fortunate. We are (fearfully) preparing for the possibility of dealing with a trifecta. It is quite perplexing that our government recognizes dependents at one end of life's spectrum so differently than those at the other end.
After my husband died my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. For 8 years I took care of her by myself and conserved her assets for her so that when I wasn't able to do it anymore, she would have options. It nearly was the end of me. President Biden proposed a $400 billion plan as part of the big infrastructure bill, for investment in home health care for the elderly and those with disabilities. Health and Senior advocates loved the plan. But Republicans in Congress said it wasn't real "infrastructure" so they wouldn't vote for it. It was dropped and the rest of the bill was passed. As the problem has only worsened since then and our population is getting older, I'm sure the Harris/Walz administration will try again, especially if enough people that support it get voted into Congress.
In the exact same boat - I am responsible for my parents and a disabled brother while I also have to save for college for my two kids and save for my own retirement. It’s exhausting- my parents lost everything in 2008 recession right when they needed to retire; there are no financial breaks for the situation at all. So frustrating!
Very helpful seeing the ideas side by side. The bigger thing for me is helping people to understand the president doesn’t get to enact policy on their own… that they need congress
It would be great to see what the impact would be if any or all of these things are enacted. For example, I can't see how opening up federal land would improve the housing situation. Unless it means that people will abandon urban centers for rural opportunities (there are lots of empty rural houses and ghost towns already), and mass exodus from urban centers results in blight, not affordability (look at Detroit).
I've always found it interesting that the one aspect of presidential politics that gets the most traction is "the economy." In a democratic, free-market society--the one aspect that an individual president has the least influence. I would contend that all incumbent presidents would be re-elected if they could control the economy. Three months before election day, they would simply lower the price of gasoline...and call it a day.
Thanks for your analysis. Left out is the Harris proposal to raise corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. I’d like to see a deep dive into Vice President Harris’ price gouging proposal. Surprisingly, even the Washington Post is not on board with that idea.
What would the impact be on everyday lives if the corporate tax rate increases- that would be helpful to understand, not just hearing that is the proposed rate.
Corporate tax rates were in the 46% range under Ronald Reagan and have come .down steadily since, up until Trump and Congress reduced the rate from 35% to 21%. During this time, federal revenues have dropped significantly, the annual deficit has risen and the national debt has ballooned. At the same time, corporate profits are at record highs while a substantial number of the largest and most profitable corporations pay no or very little in federal income taxes. I'm no expert but I have seen no evidence whatsoever that slightly increasing the corporate tax rate to something well below what it's always been will cause corporations to raise prices on consumers.
Meehan, no expert here but as I understand it most if not all corporate tax rate increases are passed along to consumers. If the rate becomes intolerably high a business may choose to operate in another location outside of the USA where tax rates are lower. That could result in lost jobs as one possible consequence.
Thank you for this! I would like to know how enacting tariffs will affect the price of goods. I get that it is to encourage domestic manufacturing, but it seems like this would increase prices.
1. Increase prices because the cost of the tariff will be passed on to consumers or
2. Manufacturers from China will no longer sell their products in the US causing shortages and ultimately increasing prices.
Either of these will hurt consumers in the US. The US no longer has the manufacturing capacity to pick up the slack and immediately start manufacturing these products domestically.
I can also see it straining our diplomatic relations with China. With everything already going on with Ukraine/Russia and Israel/Hamas do we really want more friction with China and the possibility of China siding with Russia and helping them in the war with Ukraine?
Thanks again for this information. So much depends on how the house and senate races go. It would be great to get your thoughts on that as well.. in your “spare time.”
Thanks, I always enjoy your input. You make things easier to understand. Then I can look for more explanations on the items I want a deeper dive on.
The economy is tough but we seem to be holding our own. I don't see it as a deciding factor for us in the election. I lean toward foreign affairs and Climate policy.
My kids are another matter and there not alot there that I can see either candidate making a difference. Child care and Medical expenses are a concern in the short run and the continued culture battles in schools are a distraction
This is helpful. Thank you. I am somewhat frustrated by the housing policies. Harris is better and it is a no brainer to take financial assistance to giant corporate housing owners and to attempt to rein in this practice. Trumps is ugly. We need supportive housing for those unable to care for themselves, immediate housing for those recently homeless (often the rent went up too fast to save anything to move) and to provide genuine low income housing to buy.
Comparisons are good. Would be interesting to see how potentially Project 2025 plans to eliminate many of the federal employment positions would make enacting some of the trump plans more or less possible
Yes, I think it’s an important point that needs to be included, esp when a commitment is dependent on cooperation/oversight from an existing federal body. If that federal body would then be staffed by Trump loyalists, a key element of Project 2025, then that ‘oversight’ or check and balance is performative at best.
Please -continue giving us information and analysis of election promises! Knowing which policies are and which policies are not possible for a president to enact without Congressional approval is eye-opening and very helpful.
This is great info. Thank you and please continue. I would like to hear more from the candidates re: balancing budgets (deficit spending), addressing our national debt (constantly raising the ceiling) and the inability of our government to do this in a timely manner. This to me is a huge part of the “economy” concern. Have they addressed this issue and I missed it?
Very helpful! I wish one of them was tackling the eldercare economic crisis. Hundreds of thousands of us are caring for our elderly parent ( often with dementia,etc) for free and the cost and quality of eldercare outside the home is CRAZY expensive- no help or significant tax break.
I even have my mom as a dependent now ( as she lives with me and I cover the majority) and I don’t get the same as a child credit though my costs are as if I had a child.
We just went through this with my father-in-law. However, we were so fortunate that he was able to afford the 'professional' care. However, our three remaining surviving parents who are each 85+ years-old will not be as fortunate. We are (fearfully) preparing for the possibility of dealing with a trifecta. It is quite perplexing that our government recognizes dependents at one end of life's spectrum so differently than those at the other end.
After my husband died my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. For 8 years I took care of her by myself and conserved her assets for her so that when I wasn't able to do it anymore, she would have options. It nearly was the end of me. President Biden proposed a $400 billion plan as part of the big infrastructure bill, for investment in home health care for the elderly and those with disabilities. Health and Senior advocates loved the plan. But Republicans in Congress said it wasn't real "infrastructure" so they wouldn't vote for it. It was dropped and the rest of the bill was passed. As the problem has only worsened since then and our population is getting older, I'm sure the Harris/Walz administration will try again, especially if enough people that support it get voted into Congress.
In the exact same boat - I am responsible for my parents and a disabled brother while I also have to save for college for my two kids and save for my own retirement. It’s exhausting- my parents lost everything in 2008 recession right when they needed to retire; there are no financial breaks for the situation at all. So frustrating!
Very helpful seeing the ideas side by side. The bigger thing for me is helping people to understand the president doesn’t get to enact policy on their own… that they need congress
It would be great to see what the impact would be if any or all of these things are enacted. For example, I can't see how opening up federal land would improve the housing situation. Unless it means that people will abandon urban centers for rural opportunities (there are lots of empty rural houses and ghost towns already), and mass exodus from urban centers results in blight, not affordability (look at Detroit).
Yes! And the impact on the economy. I’ve read that trump’s proposal would cause a recession.
Thank you for the comment about empty towns that could be developed.
I so appreciate how concise and digestible all of your content is. You truly are a world-class educator!
I've always found it interesting that the one aspect of presidential politics that gets the most traction is "the economy." In a democratic, free-market society--the one aspect that an individual president has the least influence. I would contend that all incumbent presidents would be re-elected if they could control the economy. Three months before election day, they would simply lower the price of gasoline...and call it a day.
Or, release quantities from our strategic supply and artificially lower the pump prices.
Thank you. My question is does each candidate have a plan for how this will be paid for and what they want to do about the deficit.
Thanks for your analysis. Left out is the Harris proposal to raise corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. I’d like to see a deep dive into Vice President Harris’ price gouging proposal. Surprisingly, even the Washington Post is not on board with that idea.
What would the impact be on everyday lives if the corporate tax rate increases- that would be helpful to understand, not just hearing that is the proposed rate.
Corporate tax rates were in the 46% range under Ronald Reagan and have come .down steadily since, up until Trump and Congress reduced the rate from 35% to 21%. During this time, federal revenues have dropped significantly, the annual deficit has risen and the national debt has ballooned. At the same time, corporate profits are at record highs while a substantial number of the largest and most profitable corporations pay no or very little in federal income taxes. I'm no expert but I have seen no evidence whatsoever that slightly increasing the corporate tax rate to something well below what it's always been will cause corporations to raise prices on consumers.
And adding to your last point, I’ve not seen any evidence that tax cuts for corporations are passed on to workers or consumers.
Meehan, no expert here but as I understand it most if not all corporate tax rate increases are passed along to consumers. If the rate becomes intolerably high a business may choose to operate in another location outside of the USA where tax rates are lower. That could result in lost jobs as one possible consequence.
Thanks for sharing
Thank you for this! I would like to know how enacting tariffs will affect the price of goods. I get that it is to encourage domestic manufacturing, but it seems like this would increase prices.
It will do one of two things:
1. Increase prices because the cost of the tariff will be passed on to consumers or
2. Manufacturers from China will no longer sell their products in the US causing shortages and ultimately increasing prices.
Either of these will hurt consumers in the US. The US no longer has the manufacturing capacity to pick up the slack and immediately start manufacturing these products domestically.
I can also see it straining our diplomatic relations with China. With everything already going on with Ukraine/Russia and Israel/Hamas do we really want more friction with China and the possibility of China siding with Russia and helping them in the war with Ukraine?
Yes this needs to be drawn out so people can understand how this will affect what they buy.
I really appreciate the infographics.
A couple of questions:
1. Would federal land include Native land?
2. Manufacturing in Near Earth Orbit? Are folks like Musk doing this already? Do we live in the future?
The question about federal land is an important one. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks again for this information. So much depends on how the house and senate races go. It would be great to get your thoughts on that as well.. in your “spare time.”
Thanks, I always enjoy your input. You make things easier to understand. Then I can look for more explanations on the items I want a deeper dive on.
The economy is tough but we seem to be holding our own. I don't see it as a deciding factor for us in the election. I lean toward foreign affairs and Climate policy.
My kids are another matter and there not alot there that I can see either candidate making a difference. Child care and Medical expenses are a concern in the short run and the continued culture battles in schools are a distraction
The number one issue this election is Character, which shone brightly tonight from Governor Walz and his family during his acceptance speech.
This is helpful. Thank you. I am somewhat frustrated by the housing policies. Harris is better and it is a no brainer to take financial assistance to giant corporate housing owners and to attempt to rein in this practice. Trumps is ugly. We need supportive housing for those unable to care for themselves, immediate housing for those recently homeless (often the rent went up too fast to save anything to move) and to provide genuine low income housing to buy.
Comparisons are good. Would be interesting to see how potentially Project 2025 plans to eliminate many of the federal employment positions would make enacting some of the trump plans more or less possible
Yes, I think it’s an important point that needs to be included, esp when a commitment is dependent on cooperation/oversight from an existing federal body. If that federal body would then be staffed by Trump loyalists, a key element of Project 2025, then that ‘oversight’ or check and balance is performative at best.
Perfectly stated!
Please -continue giving us information and analysis of election promises! Knowing which policies are and which policies are not possible for a president to enact without Congressional approval is eye-opening and very helpful.
This is great info. Thank you and please continue. I would like to hear more from the candidates re: balancing budgets (deficit spending), addressing our national debt (constantly raising the ceiling) and the inability of our government to do this in a timely manner. This to me is a huge part of the “economy” concern. Have they addressed this issue and I missed it?