The Soho Forum Debates

Is Donald Trump the Best Choice?

Aug 16, 2024

Arthur B. Laffer, a key figure in supply-side economics and advisor to Ronald Reagan, defends Donald Trump's candidacy. He argues for Trump's economic policies, including tax cuts and deregulation, highlighting their potential benefits. Chase Oliver, the Libertarian presidential candidate, counters with concerns about government spending and the need for accountability. The debate covers trade, health care costs, and the importance of third-party candidates, all while tackling the complexities of modern political choices. Humor and insightful anecdotes add to the spirited discussion.

01:13:43

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Episode guests

Arthur B. Laffer

Chase Oliver

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Dr. Arthur Laffer credits Donald Trump's economic policies, including tax cuts, for driving record low unemployment and economic growth prior to the pandemic.

Chase Oliver argues that Trump’s presidency resulted in significant national debt and inflation, advocating for a balanced budget approach to address spending issues.

The debate highlights contrasting views on trade policies, with Laffer defending tariffs as negotiation tools while Oliver insists they harm consumers and job markets.

Deep dives

Trump's Economic Policies and Achievements

The discussion highlights key economic achievements during Donald Trump's presidency, as outlined by Dr. Art Laffer. He argues that Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act significantly decreased corporate tax rates and personal income tax rates, stimulating economic growth. Laffer emphasizes that these measures contributed to record low unemployment rates and positioned the economy favorably before the COVID-19 pandemic. He also praises Trump's role in expediting the COVID-19 vaccine development, indicating that regulatory rollbacks were instrumental in this success and saved his daughter's life through innovative treatment options.

Intro

3min

Analyzing Trump's Economic Policies

25min

Political Choices and Accountability

8min

Taxation, Economy, and Foreign Policy Dynamics

16min

Tax Cuts and Healthcare Economics

7min

Trump's Political Strategies and Voter Dynamics

13min

Voting Results and Post-Debate Gathering Announcement

2min

Economist and author Arthur B. Laffer and Libertarian Party presidential candidate Chase Oliver debate the resolution, "Among the candidates actively running for President in November, Donald Trump is the best choice."

Defending the resolution is Laffer, who is widely recognized as "The Father of Supply-Side Economics," as his Laffer Curve is one of the main theoretical constructs of supply-side economics. Laffer was a member of President Ronald Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board for both of Reagan's terms and a founding member of the Reagan Executive Advisory Committee for the 1980 presidential race. He also advised U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on fiscal policy during the 1980s. In 2019, Laffer was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump. He's authored numerous books, including his most recent, Taxes Have Consequences: An Income Tax History of the United States.

Arguing against the resolution is Oliver, the Libertarian Party's candidate for president. He rose to prominence in the party as the 2022 Libertarian Senate candidate in a highly competitive race in Georgia, where he pulled 2 percent of the vote, forcing it into a runoff, which ultimately resulted in the Democratic candidate winning, tipping the balance of the Senate in their favor.

The debate was moderated by Soho Forum Director Gene Epstein.