Paul Krugman, the noted Political Science Professor and Economist in a Times Picayune opinion column of 11/4/15 titled, "Economy has performed better under Democrat Presidents - but why" follows what Hillary Clinton said during the first democratic Presidential debate. Krugman quotes a paper by economists Alan Blinder and Mark Watson comparing economic performance by democratic and republican Presidents since 1947.
Their findings were: Under democratic Presidents the economy grew 4.35% per year and under republican Presidents it grew 2.54%. Over the whole period the economy was in recession for 49 quarters and democrats held the White House during only 8 of those quarters. Democrats also performed better on oil prices and technological progress. Krugman asked why is the democratic record much better and answered, "we don't know."
But the answer can be found here in "PolitiDose" in a three part commentary plus recap titled, The U. S. Economy: Which Party Performs Best dated 1/27/2008 seven years prior to Hillary's comment and Krugman's article. The three part series explains why and lays it all out and goes much further and shows how democrats also control deficit spending and the national debt better than republicans, something Krugman never touched upon.
Yes, the economy indeed does better on the democratic watch, so does balanced budgets, controlling federal spending, deficit spending and the national debt. Job creation is a democratic thing where republicans trail badly. For related article on this commentary see Note 1 below.
And once again you read it here first in "PolitiDose" your daily dose of political commentary.
Note 1: Job Creation for Presidential Terms 1929-2008 dated 11/5/2010
The National Debt: Betrayal and Devastation dated 11/6/2009
Federal Spending: Facts vs. Myth dated 10/31/2009
The Republican Trademark: High Oil and Gas Prices dated 5/16/2008
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Speaker Of The U.S. House Paul Ryan: What The People Do Know About His Ideology
Paul Ryan will not allow the House to take up the issue of immigration reform until after the 2016 elections. Ditto family leave and the minimum wage. He wants to privatize social security and medicare. He still wants a tax structure that benefits the wealthy and corporate America. The same plan he put forward when he was Romney's Vice Presidential running mate in 2012.
If all of that sounds familiar its because we have had that debate already and President Obama and the democratic party has rejected that ideology. So have the American people when they elected the President twice. Ryan has demonstrated by his actions he believes in the conservative ideology that republicans should be allowed to run the country when they lose elections to democrats. I would say that their understanding of democracy is warped.
Yes, time will be the factor that defines Ryan's career as speaker of the House and going in his ideology is more aligned with the tea party. Will his opposition to President Obama's policies continue the dysfunction of the U.S. House on Ryan's watch. Stay tuned, "PolitiDose" will offer the answers in due time.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
If all of that sounds familiar its because we have had that debate already and President Obama and the democratic party has rejected that ideology. So have the American people when they elected the President twice. Ryan has demonstrated by his actions he believes in the conservative ideology that republicans should be allowed to run the country when they lose elections to democrats. I would say that their understanding of democracy is warped.
Yes, time will be the factor that defines Ryan's career as speaker of the House and going in his ideology is more aligned with the tea party. Will his opposition to President Obama's policies continue the dysfunction of the U.S. House on Ryan's watch. Stay tuned, "PolitiDose" will offer the answers in due time.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
The Republican Presidential Candidates and The Republican Party Are In Turmoil.
The Republican Presidential debates have been a disaster three times. After the last one they blamed CNBC, the moderators and the republican national committee. The candidates are even talking about making their own plans for future debates. And to top it off, Carson and Trump are still on top and going strong while the republican party's political elite are struggling.
Jeb Bush has been doing so poorly the Bush clan and their advisers met recently in Houston to try and make sense of what is taking place. The elder President Bush does not understand the personal attacks taken place among the republican candidates and especially those about his son Jeb. The news media in general are making wild guesses as to what is going on in the republican party. Well, "PolitiDose" explained what is going on for all its readers some time ago. Personal attacks by republicans against democrats is SOP for the GOP and it started with Newt Gingrich and continues this day. But along came Donald Trump, a non politician who turned the tables on his own party by using the republican tactic to attack his republican opponents and they can not take it. They are flat out of a response.
The elder President Bush used personal attacks against Michael Dukakis when they ran for President but now republican candidates are attacking his son Jeb and he says he does not understand. Of course he really does.To make sense of the problem of the debates one has to know and understand the candidates and the party's ideology.You can not debate the issues when you have no record of accomplishments. Their tax plan clearly show they still do not understand arithmetic. The same Word that haunted Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan during the 2012 election. Vice President Joe Biden really explained that in his debate with Ryan and Ryan had no rebuttal. And now the republican candidates are opposing any questions from the moderators and some have suggested the likes of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh moderate the debates. In other words throw me some candy.
The candidates have been stung so hard by Trump they are taking it out on each other and the moderators. One man, Donald Trump has exposed the real GOP problems and the originator was the GOP itself.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Jeb Bush has been doing so poorly the Bush clan and their advisers met recently in Houston to try and make sense of what is taking place. The elder President Bush does not understand the personal attacks taken place among the republican candidates and especially those about his son Jeb. The news media in general are making wild guesses as to what is going on in the republican party. Well, "PolitiDose" explained what is going on for all its readers some time ago. Personal attacks by republicans against democrats is SOP for the GOP and it started with Newt Gingrich and continues this day. But along came Donald Trump, a non politician who turned the tables on his own party by using the republican tactic to attack his republican opponents and they can not take it. They are flat out of a response.
The elder President Bush used personal attacks against Michael Dukakis when they ran for President but now republican candidates are attacking his son Jeb and he says he does not understand. Of course he really does.To make sense of the problem of the debates one has to know and understand the candidates and the party's ideology.You can not debate the issues when you have no record of accomplishments. Their tax plan clearly show they still do not understand arithmetic. The same Word that haunted Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan during the 2012 election. Vice President Joe Biden really explained that in his debate with Ryan and Ryan had no rebuttal. And now the republican candidates are opposing any questions from the moderators and some have suggested the likes of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh moderate the debates. In other words throw me some candy.
The candidates have been stung so hard by Trump they are taking it out on each other and the moderators. One man, Donald Trump has exposed the real GOP problems and the originator was the GOP itself.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, November 1, 2015
The U.S. House Passes A Two Year Budget
The House finally passed a two year budget that will prevent a government shut down that some republicans wanted. The vote was 266-167. Although the republicans control the House the minority democratic vote carried the day as all democrats voted for the measure. It was opposed by 167 republicans. House speaker John Boehner can go out now on a positive note.
Once again "PolitiDose" was on target in a previous commentary in pointing out that meaningful legislation could have been passed by Boehner and the House with the democratic vote if Boehner would not have caved in to the tea party's extreme right wing attitude. They could have passed immigration reform and the highway bill to repair the nations infrastructure that was passed by the democratic controlled Senate. Those two bills were passed over two years ago by the Senate.
The U.S. Senate also passed the two year budget and the President will sign it into law. Finally, the issue will be off the table and the people will have an opportunity to see how the U.S. House acts in the future under the new speaker Paul Ryan. Time will tell. Although Boehner's last act in the House was a personal triumph for himself he let the country and its people down most of his time as speaker of the House. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Once again "PolitiDose" was on target in a previous commentary in pointing out that meaningful legislation could have been passed by Boehner and the House with the democratic vote if Boehner would not have caved in to the tea party's extreme right wing attitude. They could have passed immigration reform and the highway bill to repair the nations infrastructure that was passed by the democratic controlled Senate. Those two bills were passed over two years ago by the Senate.
The U.S. Senate also passed the two year budget and the President will sign it into law. Finally, the issue will be off the table and the people will have an opportunity to see how the U.S. House acts in the future under the new speaker Paul Ryan. Time will tell. Although Boehner's last act in the House was a personal triumph for himself he let the country and its people down most of his time as speaker of the House. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Walgreens Buys Out Rival Rite Aid
The largest drug store chain, Walgreens, with over 13,000 stores world wide is buying Rite Aid, the third largest drug chain world wide with over 4,000 stores for a reported $9.41 billion. They are the first and third largest based on the number of stores operated.
The Associated Press in their report indicated the deal would allow Walgreens more buying power that would result in lower prices to Walgreens customers. But this writer says don't bet on it and the rosy picture Walgreens is trying to paint. History tells us this buy out is for the purpose of eliminating competition and the opportunity to control prices, especially the prices on prescription drugs.
After the buy out is finalized, Walgreens in due time will start closing some of its own stores and Rite Aid stores and laying off employees. That is what large buy outs of other companies accomplish. And of course the executives will make out big time.
Its the same old sad story that cost people their jobs and the extension of transferring wealth from the middle class to the wealthy.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The Associated Press in their report indicated the deal would allow Walgreens more buying power that would result in lower prices to Walgreens customers. But this writer says don't bet on it and the rosy picture Walgreens is trying to paint. History tells us this buy out is for the purpose of eliminating competition and the opportunity to control prices, especially the prices on prescription drugs.
After the buy out is finalized, Walgreens in due time will start closing some of its own stores and Rite Aid stores and laying off employees. That is what large buy outs of other companies accomplish. And of course the executives will make out big time.
Its the same old sad story that cost people their jobs and the extension of transferring wealth from the middle class to the wealthy.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, October 30, 2015
Oil And Gas Tax Breaks Cost Louisiana's Tax Payers And The State A Bundle
The Louisiana legislative auditor said in a report that horizontal drilling for oil and gas cost the state over $1.1 billion in lost severance tax revenue due to the tax exemptions on such drilling for the years 2010 - 2014. The report also noted Louisiana was the only state that offered a severance tax suspension for horizontal drilling. The story was carried in a Times Picayune article of October 28.
This writer reported in a commentary long ago how the industry shifted its usual vertical drilling for natural gas where they have no exemption to horizontal drilling where they could claim the exemption. A double wammy to the state's budget because of the actions by the state legislature. Does any one really think the industry needs those exemptions in order to drill, produce and make a profit? They also have the cost of doing business as deductions.
The report also said because of changes made by the legislature recently the companies may not pay any taxes at all for the next 5 years because of the low price of oil and gas. The $8 billion of tax breaks and exemptions given business in Louisiana every year is a major reason why Louisiana and its citizens rank so low of the 50 states on the economic scale.
I wonder how many of Louisiana's uninsured could be insured with that $1.1 billion in revenue loss or how many other cuts in the budget could have been avoided. This should be a wake up call for all Louisiana voters.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
This writer reported in a commentary long ago how the industry shifted its usual vertical drilling for natural gas where they have no exemption to horizontal drilling where they could claim the exemption. A double wammy to the state's budget because of the actions by the state legislature. Does any one really think the industry needs those exemptions in order to drill, produce and make a profit? They also have the cost of doing business as deductions.
The report also said because of changes made by the legislature recently the companies may not pay any taxes at all for the next 5 years because of the low price of oil and gas. The $8 billion of tax breaks and exemptions given business in Louisiana every year is a major reason why Louisiana and its citizens rank so low of the 50 states on the economic scale.
I wonder how many of Louisiana's uninsured could be insured with that $1.1 billion in revenue loss or how many other cuts in the budget could have been avoided. This should be a wake up call for all Louisiana voters.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, October 29, 2015
The Third Republican Presidential Debate
Wednesday's Republican Presidential debate in Colorado hosted by CNBC was billed as a debate concerning the issues of the economy and jobs but failed the test. The republican's answers were the same as they have been in every republican debate since President Reagan's era. The government is too big; too much government regulations; national debt is too large; tax cuts that benefit those who need them the least; social security and medicare are bankrupt; democrats will raise your taxes; etc., etc., and etc.
The moderators never had a handle on the real questions that should have been asked concerning the economy and jobs, debt, balancing the federal budget and federal spending. Why would the republicans much tried tax plan work when prior to Obama becoming President when republicans controlled the White House 20 of the previous 28 years yet during those 28 years it was President Clinton's administration who produced the best of every thing including balancing the federal budget while Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 created 20 years of debt with deficit spending.
Now the republicans are running against Obama's policies that have performed much better for the country and its people than the policies of President George W. Bush who implemented and said the $1.5 trillion tax cut that was supposed to expand the economy, create jobs and balance the budget but it never happened. In fact the worst of things happened.
The republicans only answer is tax cuts and they have failed the test every time to produce the desired results. The worst part of the republicans rhetoric come from those candidates who are serving in congress, governors and former governors who call for balanced budgets, debt reduction, reduced federal spending and etc., but whose party has never accomplished any of those things while holding the White House in the past 50 years. But democratic administrations have under President's Johnson, Clinton and Obama.
The republican party and its candidates will continue to run against Obama, Clinton and Sanders because they still can not articulate any real policy on the issues. This writer understands why one moderator wanted to know where the candidates stand on "fantasy football." It of course is not even an issue and should have never been brought up but I guess the moderator was tired of the same old worn out rhetoric of tax cuts and the elimination of government regulations as the problem solver.
CNBC's regular daily programs concern money matters such as finances, the stock market, the economy, jobs, trade and etc. Most of their hosts endorsed the Bush tax cuts as a boom for the economy and jobs and balancing the federal budget and they were one of many who said the economy was sound when it was falling apart in 2008. One would think their moderators would have done a better job at asking the republican candidates just how their tax cuts would work when the party's previous ones failed. What a missed opportunity.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The moderators never had a handle on the real questions that should have been asked concerning the economy and jobs, debt, balancing the federal budget and federal spending. Why would the republicans much tried tax plan work when prior to Obama becoming President when republicans controlled the White House 20 of the previous 28 years yet during those 28 years it was President Clinton's administration who produced the best of every thing including balancing the federal budget while Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 created 20 years of debt with deficit spending.
Now the republicans are running against Obama's policies that have performed much better for the country and its people than the policies of President George W. Bush who implemented and said the $1.5 trillion tax cut that was supposed to expand the economy, create jobs and balance the budget but it never happened. In fact the worst of things happened.
The republicans only answer is tax cuts and they have failed the test every time to produce the desired results. The worst part of the republicans rhetoric come from those candidates who are serving in congress, governors and former governors who call for balanced budgets, debt reduction, reduced federal spending and etc., but whose party has never accomplished any of those things while holding the White House in the past 50 years. But democratic administrations have under President's Johnson, Clinton and Obama.
The republican party and its candidates will continue to run against Obama, Clinton and Sanders because they still can not articulate any real policy on the issues. This writer understands why one moderator wanted to know where the candidates stand on "fantasy football." It of course is not even an issue and should have never been brought up but I guess the moderator was tired of the same old worn out rhetoric of tax cuts and the elimination of government regulations as the problem solver.
CNBC's regular daily programs concern money matters such as finances, the stock market, the economy, jobs, trade and etc. Most of their hosts endorsed the Bush tax cuts as a boom for the economy and jobs and balancing the federal budget and they were one of many who said the economy was sound when it was falling apart in 2008. One would think their moderators would have done a better job at asking the republican candidates just how their tax cuts would work when the party's previous ones failed. What a missed opportunity.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Monday, October 26, 2015
Democrat John Bel Edwards Wins First Primary In Louisiana Governor's Race
The pollsters and pundits were saying Edwards would win 29-30% of the vote in Saturday's primary. They were wrong as democrat Edwards won 40% of the vote. The best the runner up could do was 23% for David Vitter whose share of the vote kept shrinking during the campaign. He was AWOL in most of the debates.
"PolitiDose" endorsed Edwards in the governor's race early on because of his leadership qualities, his background, his record of service and his willingness to discuss the policies he would pursue as governor. The people know where JBE stands on the issues facing the state and its people. He also ran a positive campaign and was not divisive.
Edwards also demonstrated his commitment to the state and the people Saturday night when most of the results were in. He was thankful and spoke about his visions for the state on many issues. It was all about the state and its people moving forward. Vitter on his after election speech was more of the conservative rhetoric concerning President Obama and the usual divisive talk. One would think Vitter is running for some office other than governor of Louisiana. What a stark contrast.
In the second primary representative Edwards will need a high turn out of the democratic vote, keep the votes he won and about 10% of the republican vote that was cast in the first primary. This writer expects Edwards to continue to run a positive campaign and be ready to handle the personal attacks and divisive issues that will surely be used by Vitter. That is the only type of campaign he and his party can run. They have absolutely no accomplishments to run on.
John Bel Edwards is the only candidate in this race who is a serious public official with the political understanding to put Louisiana on a new course that is so needed after eight years of republican mis-management.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Technology: How Far Can It Go and What Will Civilization Look Like.
Will technology make the human mind obsolete in the future and create a robot society? It appears that technology is pointed in that direction. Smart phones are doing everything, banking, purchasing, personal needs and a hosts of other things including services and no one needs a desk any more to think. In fact technology does the thinking for us.
More and more time is being consumed of a person's life and there is a mad rush always to purchase the newest technology. This writer was not born in the age of technology so my views may be a little bias. I do live in the age of it now but not to the extent of the younger generation and many who were born in it. I guess I just get the feeling that the age of technology is robbing younger people of what might have been.
My two grandsons who are in college are very adept in using technology and first started at an early age in school. The are two good young men with a great future. My hope and prayers are that the human side of life will always be fore most in their thinking and in their lives. The freedom and use of the mind to think and dream is the greatest force on earth and that is why we are human.
Technology obviously serves a purpose in life and work and expands our understanding and knowledge but we human beings have to make human decisions to grow, learn about life and reach our full potential. Our days on earth are about living life and using our talents to make the world a better place to live for future generations. Years ago I read and cut out a "saying" titled, TAKING TIME as shown below. As my two grandsons were growing up I sent them the "saying" and from time to time I still remind them to TAKE TIME. It is a part of human nature that can help us all and free our minds. I trust they understand the meaning of TAKING TIME and apply it in their lives.
TAKING TIME
Take time to think --------It is the source of power
Take time to play --------It is the secret of perpetual youth
Take time to work -------- It is the price of success
Take time to read ---------It is the fountain of wisdom
Take time to laugh ---------It is the music of the soul
Take time to give ----------It is to short a day to be selfish
Take time to be friendly ----It is the road to happiness
Take time to love and be loved ------It is a God given privilege
Take time to pray -------- It is the greatest power on earth
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
More and more time is being consumed of a person's life and there is a mad rush always to purchase the newest technology. This writer was not born in the age of technology so my views may be a little bias. I do live in the age of it now but not to the extent of the younger generation and many who were born in it. I guess I just get the feeling that the age of technology is robbing younger people of what might have been.
My two grandsons who are in college are very adept in using technology and first started at an early age in school. The are two good young men with a great future. My hope and prayers are that the human side of life will always be fore most in their thinking and in their lives. The freedom and use of the mind to think and dream is the greatest force on earth and that is why we are human.
Technology obviously serves a purpose in life and work and expands our understanding and knowledge but we human beings have to make human decisions to grow, learn about life and reach our full potential. Our days on earth are about living life and using our talents to make the world a better place to live for future generations. Years ago I read and cut out a "saying" titled, TAKING TIME as shown below. As my two grandsons were growing up I sent them the "saying" and from time to time I still remind them to TAKE TIME. It is a part of human nature that can help us all and free our minds. I trust they understand the meaning of TAKING TIME and apply it in their lives.
TAKING TIME
Take time to think --------It is the source of power
Take time to play --------It is the secret of perpetual youth
Take time to work -------- It is the price of success
Take time to read ---------It is the fountain of wisdom
Take time to laugh ---------It is the music of the soul
Take time to give ----------It is to short a day to be selfish
Take time to be friendly ----It is the road to happiness
Take time to love and be loved ------It is a God given privilege
Take time to pray -------- It is the greatest power on earth
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, October 24, 2015
The Real Story Of The Dysfunctional Republican Controlled U.S. House Of Representatives
Cable news and various journalists have reported many stories concerning speaker of the House John Boehner's resignation and the right wing extreme demands of the republican tea party, now called the "freedom caucus." But the real story has never been told. It's the story of a party that dislikes the democratic process.
The real story is that Boehner and the republicans outnumber the tea party extremist like around 240-38 but lack the character and leadership to put the little boys in their place. Instead they cave in and allow the minority to control the majority in the party. Part of the reason is they do not want the country to make progress under the Obama administration. They could actually pass meaningful legislation with out the tea party vote with democratic help if they wanted to. That is exactly what happened the last time they shut the government down. They passed the CR that opened the government back up with democratic votes. In fact the democrats supplied the majority vote.
Part of the real story is John Boehner failed to exercise his leadership and instead created a House that became dysfunctional. Allowing the House the wasted time to take up and vote to defund the ACA over 50 times illustrates just how bad the real story became. The other part of the real story is that republicans think democratic Presidents should implement their agenda when they lose elections. The democratic process is absent in their ideology.
Yes, the real story is a sad, sad story how the republican party has changed the nature of our political system from one that worked to one that represents an ideology that does not work even when they control one house of congress.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The real story is that Boehner and the republicans outnumber the tea party extremist like around 240-38 but lack the character and leadership to put the little boys in their place. Instead they cave in and allow the minority to control the majority in the party. Part of the reason is they do not want the country to make progress under the Obama administration. They could actually pass meaningful legislation with out the tea party vote with democratic help if they wanted to. That is exactly what happened the last time they shut the government down. They passed the CR that opened the government back up with democratic votes. In fact the democrats supplied the majority vote.
Part of the real story is John Boehner failed to exercise his leadership and instead created a House that became dysfunctional. Allowing the House the wasted time to take up and vote to defund the ACA over 50 times illustrates just how bad the real story became. The other part of the real story is that republicans think democratic Presidents should implement their agenda when they lose elections. The democratic process is absent in their ideology.
Yes, the real story is a sad, sad story how the republican party has changed the nature of our political system from one that worked to one that represents an ideology that does not work even when they control one house of congress.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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