I am the financial controller of a medium-sized company in the Midwest. I became interested in this after realizing the economic impact of Trump's tax cut to businesses that went into effect for 2018. As a result of his cuts, my company saved nearly $3 million in tax expense in a single year. As a result of that, we were able to expand operations, hire 16 new employees, and give just about everyone between a 5 and 7% pay increase.

So I would kinda have to disagree with your conclusion that Presidents can't/don't impact the economy. In fact, fiscal and monetary policy (over which the President exerts considerable control and influence) are key macroeconomic factors that are studied in B schools around the world, and they most definitely have an economic impact.

Still, having said this, I think Trump is a bad human being, a lousy President, and just a piece of shit in general. But I cannot deny the boost he has given to not only my company, but thousands of other companies across the nation. If you think his tax cuts did not have an impact on unemployment, then you should probably consider learning more about the topic.

However, I do agree with you 100% that the income and wealth gaps are a real problem. And I agree with you that there isn't a whole lot any President can do about them, either.

His fiscal policy is unsustainable. But I would hardly credit Obama with the recovery from the 2008 financial collapse. In fact, Obama authorized trillions of dollars of "quantitative easing" (read: bail outs for Wall Street and banks - the very scumbags who deliberately orchestrated the financial meltdown 11 years ago).

If "anyone" deserves the blame, it is the SEC andbank regulators who knew all about the house of cards built on mortgage-backed securities and credit default swaps. And it was also under Obama's admin that Congress quitely repealed the part of Dodd-Frank that prohibited banks from dealing in derivitaves trading - the very thing that caused the 2008 financial collapse. So, in my book, Obama doesn't deserve credit for anything related to the recovery. In fact, his fiscal policies almost certainly stalled the recovery.

@Piratefish Obama salvaged our economy while burning his political capital providing us a semblance of health care. Bush Jr and friends allowed the banks to set us up for the fall, not Obama. Obama saved what was necessary, in a measured way. Seen trump going after any financial institutions lately?

Obama had two years of same-party rule in congress - and six years of Republican intransigence. And if you can’t give credit to Obama ..then give it to ‘need.’ Need built for years, during the greatest recession/ depression of my lifetime. For around the last six years, fixing the nation’s infrastructure and logistical needs have continued. It will end, it always does, but it will likely end much sooner and harder with trump in charge.

Interesting spin, though: economy just fine under bush jr. Obama blamed for everything, and trump doing ‘well’ due to continued unemployment? Yes, we’re employed, at near slave wages…

@Varn It's pretty obvious you don't understand much about macroeconomic principles or business at all. Where did you go to school? What is your degree? What is your professional experience in finance and economics?

On the other hand, your political party allegiance is pretty obvious.

@Piratefish Rarely delve into micro anything … it clouds the larger picture. You’re obviously looking for a playmate, I’m not him go fish ~

Edit - macro to micro ~

@Varn It is macroeconomics we're talking about. Not micro. You really don't have a clue.

I bet you are the kind of person who reads an article on new medical research in The Reader's Digest, and then suddenly thinks he knows as much about medicine and health as a doctor.

Your lack of an informed, educated, intelligent response to my very valid questions about your qualifications as an economics expert only supports my hunch that you wouldn't even score a 6 on the TUCE.

Realistically, our nation has lived too high on the hog for ..a good century. Naturally we’ll have to come into balance with the consumption of the world ..or we’ll have nothing left.

What irks me though are the Corporate Fat Cats making umpteen times more than their workers/ slaves. And yes, the (I wanna say god damn!) Republicans are making it so - and cheering them on!

Republicans .... Democrats .... they both work for the same people. Both have had plenty of chances to change things if they really wanted to, yet, here we are, with everything still the same.

Bush didn't create the financial collapse in 2008, and Obama didn't rescue us from it.

A weak and apathetic SEC and banking regulators led to the fiasco. All Obama did was provide trillions in "quantitative easing" (read: bank and Wall Street bailouts). Also, while Obama was in office, Congress quietly repealed the parts of Dodd-Frank that prohibited banks from engaging in derivatives trading - the very thing that caused the 2008 collapse. And Obama let it go unchallenged.

So I must respectfully and politiely disagree with the conclusion that Obama rescued us, or that Bush caused the collapse. It's just plain inaccurate.

I am the financial controller of a medium-sized company in the Midwest. I became interested in this after realizing the economic impact of Trump's tax cut to businesses that went into effect for 2018. As a result of his cuts, my company saved nearly $3 million in tax expense in a single year. As a result of that, we were able to expand operations, hire 16 new employees, and give just about everyone between a 5 and 7% pay increase.

Still, having said this, I think Trump is a bad human being, a lousy President, and just a piece of shit in general. But I cannot deny the boost he has given to not only my company, but thousands of other companies across the nation. If you think his tax cuts did not have an impact on unemployment, then you should probably consider learning more about the topic.