Forty-Five Percent of Americans Pay No Federal Income Tax

That is right!  According to the Tax Policy Center, 45%, or approximately 78 million households do not pay any federal income taxes.  "Roughly half pay no federal income tax because they have no taxable income, and the other roughly half get enough tax breaks to erase their tax liability, explains Roberton Williams, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center.  On average, those in the bottom 40% of the income spectrum end up getting money from the government. Meanwhile, the richest 20% of Americans, by far, pay the most in income taxes, forking over nearly 87% of all the income tax collected by Uncle Sam."

It is time for the "Fair Tax" where everyone would have "some skin" in the game.

President Harding and President Coolidge: What I Learned From Their Economic Policies

Tax cuts and budget surpluses go hand-in hand with economic growth; while tax hikes, budget deficits, and growth in government go hand-in-hand with economic disaster.  A great article to learn about such policies is entitled, "The Forgotten Depression of 1920." 

No One Really Cares About Economic Reality. Right?

Are You Sick of Taxes, Yet? Get Ready for Government is Going All In!

Here We Go Again!

215,000 New Jobs Created in March 2016

Tonight's headline on your local TV station will tout the creation of 215,000 jobs that were created in March.  However, what will not be reported is where the majority of those so-called new jobs were created.  From the above chart, the top three top sectors -- "Education & Health, Retail Trade, and Leisure & Hospitality" -- accounted for 65% of all job gains. This "growth" of minimum wage jobs took place while some of the highest paying jobs, including mining & logging, manufacturing, and transportation & warehousing all posted declines in March. But, as I stated, you will not receive this type of information on your local TV station this evening. 

Keynesian's Wealth Effect?

In the Keynesian Demand Model, personal consumption expenditures, which accounts for something like 70% of GDP, are primarily determined by one's disposable income.  Since real salaries and wages have been declining for the past eight years, this is one reason why GDP's growth has been so anemic. Realizing what has been happening to salaries and wages, the Fed has increasing relied on asset inflation (stock market) to make the consumer feel wealthier (wealth effect) and, of course, feel more comfortable with one's personal financial well being. If individuals feel wealthier due to the rise in the stock market, then, the model predicts that the consumption function, buying by consumers, would shift upward causing GDP to increase. Bad news from the above chart is that the Consumer Comfort Index is diverging from the stock market, which calls into question the positive impact of the so-called wealth effect on the economy.  

NATO's Defense Expenditures

For 2015, NATO's defense expenditures amounted to $900,473,000,000.  Our part of the $900+ billion was $649,931,000,000, or 72% of NATO"s defense expenditures.  In regard to the percentage of our GDP, that mounts to 3.62%.  I don't know about you, but I definitely believe that 27 member NATO countries should take on a greater percentage of the financial burden. (Currently, there are 28 members of NATO, including the United States.)  I am not saying that the United States should get out of NATO. Simply saying, that it is about time that 27 countries need to take on a greater financial responsibility for their own defense. Let's cut our financial support in half.  Our domestic economy could use $325 billion on its home front to defend our borders.

How Did That Turn Out for You?

Subprime Auto Delinquencies Soar Past 2008 Crisis Levels -- But, It is Different This Time, Right?

That's Hillaryious!

Judge Jeanine's Rant: Worth Your Time

"Little Marco:" Now I Know Why Trump Calls Him That

Better Make That 50% Today

Reality Check on Our Nation's Economic Health

Main Streeters: Have You Had Enough, Yet?

Did that caption within the graph make you really upset or what? Since 2006, only the top 10% of U.S. households have seen their incomes rise.  Wall Streeters have become mega rich, while Main Streeters have become mega poor. 

Investors: You May Want to Take Heed of the Current Relationship Between the Monthly 10/20 SMAs

Note: To enlarge, click inside the chart.

Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump

Mrs. Clinton release those bank speeches along with those other transcripts of speeches from 2014 to the first quarter of 2015 in which you earned $11,000,000 for 51 talks. Mr. Trump release your tax returns for the past ten years.

Have a Bullish/Bearish Weekend!

Negative Interest Rate Policy : You Lose!