seos domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home3/brasherw/public_html/now/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121Read More "Trump Accomplishments, 2017-2020"
The post Trump Accomplishments, 2017-2020 first appeared on insights.]]>With resolution, facing a relentless partisan storm, he managed—in just four years—to remake the federal judiciary, rebuild the American economy, reshape the Middle East, end the ISIS territorial caliphate, educate Americans on China’s true aims, reorient allied defense contributions and expectations, bring American troops home, end Iran’s free pass on nuclear weapons, halt runaway North Korean missile and nuclear tests, secure the southern border, and affirm fundamentals in our Bill of Rights, including free speech, free exercise of religion, freedom of assembly, the Second Amendment, and transparency in criminal justice.
To that, add a politically incorrect—that is, freedom-centric—approach to public often blunt, impolite, and unpolished but authentic in an age of plastic talk. Trump elevated the public’s understanding of media bias, dishonesty, and partisanship. He defended unborn children, articulated why America’s founding generation was unrivaled, and paid tribute to America’s veterans and law enforcement communities, as well as the nation’s exceptional, entrepreneurial, and risk-taking spirit. He apologized
to no one for America’s greatness.
Concretely, President Trump secured the passage of the largest tax relief bill since Ronald Reagan, unremittingly rolled back federal regulations, and triggered the fastest, broadest economic recovery on record, boosting employment across virtually every sector and along with increasing business creation, income, and stocks and returning US capital invested abroad.
His initiative cut corporate tax rates to 21 percent from 35 percent, creating powerful incentives to hire, invest, rehire, and reinvest. Against the odds, labor productivity rose, which liberal economists had said was “impossible,” while inflation remained in check and growth exploded.
Dozens Of data points prove the “middle-class miracle” that was Trump’s economy. Topping the list is wage growth. Liberals swore Trump could not raise wages—yet he did. Inflation-adjusted wage growth since 1980 averaged $4.05 per quarter. Under Obama, it was $3.20 per quarter. In Trump’s first three years, wage growth averaged a staggering $6.90 per quarter.
Even when brought low by coronavirus, Trump’s economy kept employers and stocks afloat. Month by month, Americans have clawed back, with faith in economic fundamentals and prayers that state lockdowns will end. While Trump was blamed for not federalizing the COVID-19 he honored the 10th Amendment, which bars federal mandates where is constitutionally reserved to the states and people.
One layer deeper, Americans will have this president to thank for significant new understandings. NO longer will Americans assume their federal government, without oversight, is on the right track. Trump made clear-and ironically, his impeachment affirmed—that due process, openness, and honesty in government are not always present. They should be.
Trump began restoring our federal judiciary to its non-activist, constitutionally limited origins, nominating and confirming 220 federal judges and filling 25 percent of the federal bench, including nominating 53 judges to the 12 federal circuits, as well as adding three Supreme Court Justices.
For perspective, while presidents have done more over two terms, few have done as much in one. A breakdown shows that FDR appointed eight justices in four terms, Eisenhower, Taft, and Grant appointed five in two, and others appointed three or four in two, but Obama, both Bushes, Clinton, Johnson, and Kennedy only got two justices, and others got one. Trump has influenced the future mightily with judges.
Similarly, Trump’s speeches, such as in Saudi Arabia and Poland, have been epic. Years from now, when historians cull his presidential papers, these speeches will stand out, as will his States of the Union, all historically grounded, idealistic, optimistic, and other-regarding in tone. Trump reminded us to to revere, and to celebrate America’s past, taking lessons from it.
On the international stage, many decry Trump’s protective trade policies, willingness to speak of American exceptionalism, power comparisons, national self-interest, and closing endless wars. The truth is, he has made valid points.
Even if the world is interconnected, laws of comparative advantage—in sectors like energy production, manufacturing, and services—still matter, as does rule of law, generally. Truth matters. If something is wrong, and the international community is party to that wrongness, it needs calling out. In places like the UN, WTO, and WHO, Trump did that.
With respect to ensuring US national security and buttressing collective security among allies, Trump was impolitely frank, often unnecessarily public, but his points were neither inapt nor arcane. Alliances only work when allies keep their word, and he sought that assurance from NATO and in numerous bilateral contexts. He put teeth behind UN and unilateral sanctions.
Other firsts include creating the Space Force, the first new military branch since 1947; architecting a new moon landing, planned for one man and one woman: killing two of the world’s most infamous terrorist leaders, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Oasem Soleimani; and assisting countless patriotic state legislators, governors, mayors, and members of Congress to win elections on the basic credo of maintaining America’s greatness.
In this process, Trump realigned the Republican Party, bringing into the fold more former Democrats and Independents; Black, Hispanic, Asian, and other minority voters; union members; law enforcement officers; veterans; young idealists; and older patriots, all bound together by their love of, appreciation for, and hope in our constitutional freedoms, opportunity, and individual liberty.
In a word, being something other than an ordinary, traditional politician taking risks no president has taken in decades, speaking candidly, questioning assumptions, and pushing new ideas in economics, foreign policy, national and border security, public dialogue, and government transparency, Trump brought hope to many who had lost it. The mission now is to hold that hope. In the end, that is
what idealists, patriots, and citizens do—they look backward with gratitude and forward with hope.
Read More "Social Securiy History Lesson"
The post Social Securiy History Lesson first appeared on insights.]]>Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (& some older ones) didn’t know this. It’s easy to check out, if you don’t believe it. Be sure and show it to your family and friends. They need a little history lesson on what’s what and it doesn’t matter whether you are Democrat or Republican. Facts are Facts.
Social Security Cards up until the 1980s expressly stated the number and card were not to be used for identification purposes.
Since nearly everyone in the United States now has a number, it became convenient to use it anyway and the NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION message was removed.
Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. His promises are in black, with updates in red.
1.) That participation in the Program would be Completely voluntary [No longer voluntary],
2.) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual Incomes into the Program [Now 7.65% on the first $90,000, and 15% on the first $90,000 if you’re self-employed],
3.) That the money the participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year [No longer tax deductible],
4.) That the money the participants put into the independent ‘Trust Fund’ rather than into the general operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program [Under Johnson the money was moved to the General Fund and Spent], and
5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income [Under Clinton & Gore up to 85% of your Social Security can be Taxed].
Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month — and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the Federal government to ‘put away’ — you may be interested in the following:
Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent ‘Trust Fund’ and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it?
A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically controlled House and Senate.
Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
A: The Democratic Party.
Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities?
A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the ‘tie-breaking’ deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the US
AND MY FAVORITE:
Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?
A: That’s right! Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, began to receive Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them, even though they never paid a dime into it!
Now, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!
And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it! If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe changes will evolve. Maybe not, though. Some Democrats are awfully sure of what isn’t so — but it’s worth a try. How many people can YOU send to?