August 30, 2012

Great graphic on the causes of the deficit - #1 Bush tax cuts; #2 - Bush recession;

#3 - Bush wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

August 29, 2012

Our trade numbers are much better with 'free-trade' countries than with the rest of the world.

In 2010 our total trade with the the 17 countries with which we had 'free-trade' agreements (not including Panama, Columbia and South Korea which joined last year) was $1.115 trillion. We had a trade deficit of $71.1 billion (6.5% of the total) with them. Exports were 47% and imports were 53% of the total.

In 2010 our total trade with the rest of the world was $2.108 trillion. We had a deficit of $574.8 billion (27.2% of the total). Exports were 36.5% and imports were 63.5%.

In 2010 the amount of our trade with non-'free trade' countries ($2.1 trillion) was about twice as large as with 'free trade' countries ($1.1 trillion), but our trade deficit ($575 billion vs. $71 billion) was 8 times larger with non-'free trade' countries.

The figures for 2011 are about the same but I don't have them with me.

Our trade deficit with non-"free trade" countries is much larger both in absolute and percentage terms. It makes no sense to want to preserve the status quo with those countries.

August 9, 2012

Great site, HiPointDem. Love the sliders which pick the time period. Makes repubs look very bad.

1921-1928 - Republican era with high tariffs (1921 & 1922) and restrictive immigration laws (1921 & 1924):

The average incomes in the us grew by $4,764;
Richest 10% got 64% of that growth;
The bottom 90% shared 36%.

1933-1952 - Democratic era (FDR and Truman):

Average incomes in the US grew by $15,246;
Richest 10% got 24% of that growth;
The bottom 90% shared 76%.

1961-1969 - Democratic era (JFK and LBJ)

Average incomes in the US grew by $9,949;
Richest 10% got 33% of that growth;
The bottom 90% shared 67%.

1981-1992 - Republican era (Reagan and Bush I)

Average incomes in the US grew by $3,017;
All the growth went to the richest 10%;
Income for the bottom 90% declined.

1993 - 2000 - Democratic era (Clinton)

Average incomes in the US grew by $14,082;
Richest 10% got 70% of that growth;
The bottom 90% shared 30%.

2001 - 2008 - Republican era (Bush II)

Average incomes in the US fell by $432;
The average income of the richest 10% grew;
For the bottom 90% the average income fell.

That is a wonderful and very useful graph. It certainly shows the consequences of republican policies vs Democratic ones.