Our good friend Jerry over at Grumpy’s Grumblings has another post out. I’ve included an excerpt here and a link at the end to continue reading on his site. Thanks Jerry!
“People vote their pocketbooks,” my dad said almost any time he was engaged in a political conversation. As I listened to a focus group podcast hosted by The Bulwark, my father’s words came back to me loud and clear.
As the moderator asked each member of the South Carolina Republican focus group his or her view on the state of the nation, without fail, every one of them immediately zeroed in on the economy—specifically on how the economy was affecting his or her life.
None of them had been rendered homeless or hungry, but all had been inconvenienced.
Recession is Relative, Right?
None of them had been rendered homeless or hungry, but all had been inconvenienced—and all were as mad as a mule chewin’ on bumblebees. Five dollars for a gallon of gas is reason for rebellion. And if I have to settle for a $40,000 Chevy Colorado instead of that $65,000 Silverado I’ve had my eye on, well then I’ll be madder than a mosquito in a mannequin factory.
And every one of them blamed President Biden for his or her inconvenienced life. And, not surprisingly, all wanted to return to the good old days of the Trump presidency, when life was good. For them.
Back then, we had a strong president who was ready to order American troops to shoot illegal aliens. If only Dems and RINOs hadn’t gotten in the way. Even so, Murica was respected around the world. Back then, the economy was soaring. Nothing at all like nowadays when inflation is through the roof, illegal aliens are invading, and other nations are laughing while eating our lunch. The Trump years were nothing like today. They were the good old days, all of them believed.
Trumpists’ Selective Memory
Or were they? “Some 6.5 million jobs were added between 2017 and 2019 [the Trump years prior to COVID].” However, “…more than eight million jobs [were added] … in the three prior years, under Barack Obama.” In addition, “The best year of [Trump’s] presidency saw a three-percent rise in 2018, compared to 3.1 percent in 2015 under Obama. As recently as 2004 and 2005, under President George W. Bush, the economy grew 3.8 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively.”
Meanwhile, “The nation’s gross domestic product — its total output of goods and services — expanded 5.7% in 2021 [during Biden’s term]. It was the strongest calendar-year growth since a 7.2% surge in 1984 after a previous recession. The economy ended the year by growing at an unexpectedly brisk 6.9% annual pace from October through December, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.”
To continue reading, please click here: Grumpy’s Grumblings
On The Fence Voters 
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