Best of the Program | Guests: Peter St Onge & Tina Descovich | 11/12/24
Nov 12, 2024
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Peter St Onge, a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation with a focus on economics, joins to discuss the implications of tariffs for the U.S. economy. He argues that strategic tariffs can boost growth, especially when paired with tax reductions. The conversation also touches on Trump’s potential to eliminate income tax and the prospects for substantial job growth. The guests humorously debate the complexities of tax reform while exploring the political landscape and the historical context of these economic strategies.
The implementation of tariffs, alongside income tax elimination, could significantly increase disposable income for American families, thus boosting economic activity.
Calls for educational reform emphasize the need for systemic changes to eradicate ideological biases in higher education and improve overall quality.
Deep dives
Tariffs and Economic Growth
Tariffs can be viewed as a means to stimulate economic growth by shifting the tax burden from income taxes to tariffs on imported goods. By eliminating the income tax, families could see significant increases in their take-home pay, potentially raising it from $58,000 to $88,000 annually. This newfound economic power would, in theory, allow consumers to spend more, further boosting the economy. Essentially, if tariffs are properly managed, they could serve as a tool for generating revenue while freeing American businesses from the burden of income tax.
Education Reform and School Choice
Calls for significant reform in the education system highlight the need for an overhaul of left-leaning influences in colleges and universities. Proposals include eliminating wasteful administrative roles, introducing performance-based accreditation, and implementing standardized testing to ensure educational quality. There is an optimism surrounding the potential for school choice initiatives to gain traction, providing families with more options for their children's education. The discussion centers around the expectation that these reforms could help reverse the trend of rising tuition costs and entrenched ideological indoctrination.
Trump's Approach to Governance
A strong sense of urgency surrounds the premise that the new administration can enact transformative policies swiftly, with the aim of fostering a constitutional reset. Discussions emphasize the importance of the first 100 days and the significance of making impactful appointments to support the proposed changes. The effectiveness of Trump's governance style relies heavily on rallying public support to push through policies, reflecting a departure from political norms. Understanding the modern political landscape, there's a recognition that real change requires overcoming traditional resistance from established interests.
Skepticism and Optimism in Policy Implementation
While there is hope and enthusiasm surrounding proposed policies, skepticism remains regarding the feasibility of significant cuts to federal programs and the ability to eliminate the income tax. Discussions revolve around the challenges of balancing a budget while upholding promises not to touch popular entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. Critics point to the difficulty of implementing sweeping reforms without bipartisan support, prompting concerns about political gridlock. Despite these challenges, there is a belief that a strong grassroots movement could empower change and potentially lead to monumental shifts in American economic policy.
Is Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) a good pick for secretary of state? Many on the Left and some on the Right are against tariffs. However, President Trump is poised to implement many of them during his second term. Heritage Foundation visiting fellow Peter St Onge joins to lay out how tariffs can help the economy, as long as they're coupled with lowering taxes everywhere else. Glenn and Stu discuss the probability that Trump will be able to eliminate income tax while having complete Republican control of the government.