biochem wrote:PeterZ wrote:Quite simple. The stagnation of median wages has left quite a few folks behind. The Obama/Bush economy relied on monetary policy to expand the stock market. They allowed an implicit backstop on large to-big-to-fail banks' losses. Open borders and globalization have allowed wages (labor costs) to stagnate, while the social safety net picks up the dislocated workers stemming from both.
That's a mess. Both Bushes, may their legacies be eternally tarnished, followed the Clinton/Uniparty-establishment into trading economic growth for security well after the Soviet Union collapsed. Reagan granted Amnesty, but never got any firm control over the border. Not sure he tried very hard. That counts against him.
So, yeah, thigs got very messy after Bill Clinton. I was glad he had a Republican House and Senate to mitigate potential problems. That split government dynamic seems to work upon a few occasions.
And this is why those left behind said a pox on both your houses and elected Trump.
I gotta say, I agree with Peter Zeihan that Trump will be the most engaged President in foreign policy for the next few decades. As milennials hit their stride, America will get much more insular.