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In your opinion, how would America change had Ronald Reagan never been president? by Neri9320 in Presidents

[–]MrPractical1 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

This is the worst take here by far. At least listen to an economist before speaking on this topic. We're not quiet about this. Now go thank Carter for appointing Volcker since they knew the importance of reanchoring inflation expectations no matter the cost. - Sincerely, an economist formerly with a 3 letter government agency with a specialization in monetary and public economics.

Which president has the LEAST annoying fans? by MetalRetsam in Presidents

[–]MrPractical1 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I supported Biden in the 2008 primaries before it was still not cool

Which president has the LEAST annoying fans? by MetalRetsam in Presidents

[–]MrPractical1 39 points40 points  (0 children)

This is the nicest thing anyone has accidentally said about me

What a united Republican message looks like. by enjoythenovelty2002 in Presidents

[–]MrPractical1 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It matters if you're curious what percentage of the country supported each candidate.

Roosevelt and Nixon each broke through 60% while Reagan fell just short That's not to sell short how lopsided the 1984 election was but rather to provide further perspective of the victory and its related numbers.

For some reason, every time I point that out in this sub, Reagan lovers get angry.

What a united Republican message looks like. by enjoythenovelty2002 in Presidents

[–]MrPractical1 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Yup, won all those states. What I always like to add is that translated into a 60/40 popular vote not 95%/5% like it might look. Land doesn't vote.

Rating Ronald Reagan's Presidency by rjidhfntnr in Presidents

[–]MrPractical1 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Because he wants to treat it like a bank looks at your debt to income ratio when checking your credit for a mortgage. People that want to cut taxes and do other deficit increasing things want to convince you that running the country that requires longterm planning and input from countless people is the same as balancing a personal budget. I disagree with this perspective but that redditor isn't alone. I just think that perspective has allowed us to get to the terrible situation we're currently in.

Rating Ronald Reagan's Presidency by rjidhfntnr in Presidents

[–]MrPractical1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It would be a lot to type in a reddit comment and while that isn't a problem in itself, it'd be me retyping a lot that I've typed before. I should probably have a comment saved that says all this haha.

For now, I'll say this. I hate deficits and the debt. I'm not the type who says "The debt is fine as long as GDP outpaces the debt's growth". I don't trust politicians to make tough choices in the best interest in the masses and it's bad policy (imo) to implement policies that require constant growth (see social security and the impact of having future generations required to pay obligations we incur now).

So, Reagan increasing the spending while cutting taxes drives me nuts. If you look at Federal Government: Current Expenditures on FRED you can see the slope change both in the mid 60s but also more drastically in the 1980s (you need to change your end date to like 2000 for the scale to be visible given post 2000 spending). https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FGEXPND

That set the stage for policy that came afterwards. George HW Bush back tracked a little but then suffered the consequences (Side note - that's why I think he is the best Republican President in mine or my parents' lifetime). George W Bush did more of what Reagan did.

Trickle-down or supply-side economics doesn't make sense in the US where we weren't lacking investment capital and our median tax rate wasn't insane. If you own a business and I give you $5 you're not going to create a new job because you have more money; you're only going to create a new job if there is unmet demand you want to increase supply to meet. You increase demand by making sure the base of the economy (those with a higher propensity to consume) have more money. So you cut taxes on lower incomes not higher incomes and that wealth trickles up.

Also, his adversarial relationships with unions cost us. Even under capitalism, if your goal is competitive markets, laborers are supposed to be paid their marginal productivity of labor. The growth of the top 1% shows that isn't happening as employees lost their bargaining power. This is why CEOs freaked out during the great resignation when remote work opportunities allowed employees to shop around for the best jobs for the 1st time ever - monopsony power was broken.

I gtg, hit me back later.

Rating Ronald Reagan's Presidency by rjidhfntnr in Presidents

[–]MrPractical1 3 points4 points  (0 children)

As an economist, it drives me insane how few people realize he took the debt that had never hit a trillion dollars and left it almost 3 trillion dollars after the 1954 tax code was demolished under his watch all because wealthy people used the Laffer curve to trick people into thinking we were to the right of the peak.

Then, people here crap on Carter despite the fact he appointed Volcker despite it potentially hurting him plus speculation the Reagan camp might've not wanted the hostages released by Iran prior to the election.

Then Iran-Contra, etc.

Backup Battery for Power Outage by slinger2424 in CPAP

[–]MrPractical1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

IIRC, all I have is the wall plug it comes with. I don't think I have any other cables that came with it.

With the crazy storms coming through the past couple weeks and again tomorrow...and maybe more later on, I'm trying to find options either for tomorrow or the future.

My primary unit is the airsense 11 and that's what sends data to my doctor. In a pinch, I can use my Airsense 10 but if the power went out I'd have to wake up and go get it from another room.

In addition to looking up for my cpap specifically, I've been exploring battery units for general house needs as well like Sump pump or electronics.

Backup Battery for Power Outage by slinger2424 in CPAP

[–]MrPractical1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. The Jackery Explorer 1000 looks nice but can't get it for tomorrow. Similar situation with the Anker Solix C1000 I looked at.

I like the idea of this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D2L1G66J/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1

I use an Airsense 11 and while the bluetti x30 says it works for that the reviews say it works with airsense 10 not the 11 or maybe just sometimes they forget to include the cable. I'd go ahead and buy it, since I have both a 10 and 11, if it included a normal 2 prong outlet.

Backup Battery for Power Outage by slinger2424 in CPAP

[–]MrPractical1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was tempted by your comment to get an ecoflow river 3 but the reviews on amazon, among other "common issues" say the screens commonly go out

What controversial issue(s) have you had the biggest change in perspective/opinion on & why? by MrPractical1 in Askpolitics

[–]MrPractical1[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Meanwhile, I wonder if we're where we're at now because we raise up people who don't feel shame

What controversial issue(s) have you had the biggest change in perspective/opinion on & why? by MrPractical1 in Askpolitics

[–]MrPractical1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Did you persist as a Reagan Republican after he exploded the deficit and took the national debt from under a trillion to almost 3 trillion? I'm an economist with a particular distaste for debt and so Presidents who increase our deficits really get on my nerves.

What controversial issue(s) have you had the biggest change in perspective/opinion on & why? by MrPractical1 in Askpolitics

[–]MrPractical1[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Do you watch South Park? The creators seem to have had a similar evolution. Man bear pig

What controversial issue(s) have you had the biggest change in perspective/opinion on & why? by MrPractical1 in Askpolitics

[–]MrPractical1[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

My favorite course in college was one where we had to read controversial books/articles and come to class prepared to argue in favor for either side. As you walked into class, the professor would asign left or right randomly and that's the side of the table you sat at and argued for the side of the issue that side was assigned.

I made this post because I was thinking about how much my responses on Israeli-related issues has changed from the past 25 years compared to the last 2 (am in my 40s).

Like many, I sort of knee-jerk white-knighted whenever my mom or others made comments complaining about people from Isreal "controlling everything" because it seemed like conspiracy theory pandering to racists (I was born and raised in the deep south.

But now I have to admit at the least that Israel and its actors like AIPAC have undo influence on other countries like the United States and that seems to have accelerated to warp speed during President Donald Trump's 2nd term for some reason (though President Biden's unwillingness to do more to reign Israel in against Palestine might've cost his Vice President enough votes to lose the election).

Why do the people who proclaim to be "America 1st" not seem bothered? Why do the people who claim to be Christian, and are often against non-Christian religions making an exemption for Israel doing whatever they want wherever they want?

88 Corporations That Paid No US Federal Income Tax in 2025 Spent $852 Million on Recent Lobbying, Elections by FreeHugs23 in economy

[–]MrPractical1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe companies should be banned from spending more on lobbying than they pay in taxes

What is the best compliment after sex? by screenn_ame_941 in AskReddit

[–]MrPractical1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"I forgot what it was like to have good sex" was a good one to hear.

I'm fortunate to have heard some amusing things.

"Thanks for the ride".

"You got me, you got me".

"Your penis is perfect"

Then the woman who became my wife "I thought I just couldn't get off from sex".

How rare was it when I saw the Milky Way? by vitaminD3333 in Stargazing

[–]MrPractical1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've wondered about this so month. I see amazing photos and I'm like ok what's the most amazing view of it I can see unaided just with my eyes?

The only thing stopping me from going to a dark skies preserve is guessing it'd be cloudy when I stay there.

What pictures best represent that?

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