Showing posts with label donald trump. Show all posts
Showing posts with label donald trump. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 04, 2025

4: Donald Trump

@paramendrakumarbhagat वो सयकडों लोग कौन हैं जो कह रहे हैं हम कल्कि हैं #kalki ♬ original sound - Paramendra Kumar Bhagat

Monday, January 20, 2025

Trump's Inauguration



I did not follow this election that closely. It was perfunctory. In fact, the polls all seemed to suggest it is at best 50-50. And there was an Iowa poll that was always right before that claimed Harris is taking Iowa. To me that felt like it was a bellwether. But the election results were far different. I think the pollsters are missing out on the fact that there has been a fundamental realignment underway. Polling is not a science, it is a profession.

Once the mandate came in, I tried to make sense of it.

There is this narrative that America is past its prime and is now in decline. And Trump is slated to make mistakes that will only accelerate that.

Or you could say, in 1990 if America had two dollars, by the end of the decade it had three, which is substantial, and oh, by the way, the Internet. Similarly, right now the US stands to harvest AI, and could add at least a third to its GDP in a decade. And excess regulations get in the way.

A 2T Cut

Thursday, December 19, 2024

A 2T Cut



Reducing the U.S. federal budget by $2 trillion is a significant task that would require carefully considered policy decisions and trade-offs. Here’s an outline of possible strategies across various sectors:


1. Discretionary Spending Cuts

  • Defense Spending: The U.S. defense budget is substantial, making it a prime area for targeted reductions. Potential savings could come from:
    • Reducing overseas military operations.
    • Closing underutilized military bases.
    • Cutting investments in redundant or outdated weapon systems.
    • Streamlining procurement processes.
  • Other Discretionary Programs: Identify and trim underperforming or duplicative federal programs in areas such as education, housing, and public works.

2. Mandatory Spending Adjustments

  • Healthcare Programs:
    • Reform Medicare and Medicaid to reduce costs, such as negotiating drug prices or promoting value-based care models.
    • Introduce means-testing for higher-income recipients of Medicare benefits.
  • Social Security:
    • Adjust the formula for benefits to account for longer life expectancy (e.g., gradually raising the retirement age).
    • Implement progressive benefit reductions for higher-income retirees.

3. Reforming Tax Expenditures

  • Tax expenditures are effectively government spending through the tax code (e.g., deductions, credits, and exemptions). Reforms could include:
    • Capping the mortgage interest deduction.
    • Limiting or phasing out tax breaks for specific industries (e.g., oil and gas subsidies).
    • Scaling back retirement savings incentives for high-income individuals.

4. Revenue Increases

  • Corporate Tax Reforms: Close loopholes and enforce a minimum effective tax rate for corporations.
  • Individual Tax Adjustments:
    • Raise income taxes on the wealthiest earners.
    • Implement a financial transaction tax on trades of stocks, bonds, and derivatives.
  • Carbon Tax or Pollution Taxes: Generate revenue while promoting environmental goals.

5. Improving Efficiency and Reducing Waste

  • Increase investment in anti-fraud initiatives for government programs.
  • Improve oversight and reduce improper payments in Medicare, Medicaid, and other entitlement programs.
  • Optimize government operations by leveraging technology to reduce overhead costs.

6. Growth-Oriented Policies

  • Encourage economic growth through infrastructure investments and education reform to increase productivity and tax revenues over time.
  • Pair budget cuts with initiatives to improve workforce participation and reduce dependency on government programs.

Considerations and Risks:

  • Economic Impact: Sudden, deep cuts could harm economic growth, especially in sectors reliant on federal spending.
  • Public Resistance: Many cuts may face opposition from voters and interest groups.
  • Fairness: Ensuring the burden of cuts and reforms is distributed equitably across income levels and regions is crucial.



Thursday, November 21, 2024

21: Donald Trump