Tuesday, July 31, 2018

US Economy: Tax Cuts Equals Explosive Growth

Tax Cuts Bust ‘Secular Stagnation’
By Mike Solon
The Wall Street Journal
July 29, 2018

“This explosive growth … should finally discredit three popular claims made by opponents of the President’s policies: that tax cuts would blow a hole in the deficit, that corporate tax cuts would serve only rich investors, and that secular stagnation was a valid excuse for the slow growth of the Obama era.”

Are low taxes key to a booming economy? Their success is harder than ever to deny after Friday’s report that the U.S. economy grew 4.1% in the second quarter, bringing the average quarterly growth rate during the Trump presidency to 2.9%.

The Congressional Budget Office reports that faster growth under President Trump has already added $1.3 trillion to the 10-year federal revenue projection, with the CBO’s April economic adjustment alone showing an addition of $1.1 trillion—the single largest growth-driven revenue gain ever reported. State and local governments can anticipate a similar dividend, amounting to as much as $600 billion.




The CBO now projects that additional revenue from this economic surge will offset 88.2% of the estimated 10-year cost of the tax cut. That contrasts sharply with the CBO’s assessment that President Obama’s economic slump lost $3.2 trillion in projected 10-year revenues during his last three years—almost five times more revenue lost than was gained by his 2013 tax hike. These results have confirmed again that weak growth is the fastest way to lose revenue and strong growth is the fastest way to raise it.

The next popular myth undone by the growth renaissance is that corporate tax cuts benefit only rich shareholders. Since the tax cut, the Labor Department reports that worker bonuses have hit the highest level ever recorded. The Commerce Department reports that wages and salaries are growing almost 25% faster under President Trump than under Mr. Obama. The recent tidal wave of customer rebates from utilities and cable companies also exposes the massive burden that high corporate taxes had been imposing on consumers.


Perhaps the most important narrative discredited by the economic revival is the “secular stagnation” excuse. Throughout the Obama years, progressive economists said Americans had become too old, lazy and complacent to achieve the growth that was regular before 2009. But somehow American workers overcame all of these supposed weaknesses when Mr. Trump changed federal policy.

-- via The White House


Above is the increase in my hubby's company stock valuation since the last valuation. Thank you, God! We are average-joe shareholders who now FEEL rich/richer.

The company-wide memo specifically mentions a few of the reasons for the positive change in valuation:

 " ... a strong stock market, good performance by comparable companies, solid global economic conditions and the positive effects of the recent change in U.S. Tax rates."

Tax Cuts Bust Secular Stagnation




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Sunday, July 29, 2018

Bathroom Renovation: Vanity, Vanity, All is Vanity

Vanity Base:  We wanted storage space for all of our bath necessities.  It would be considered a piece of furniture that stays put for years to come, and must be timeless in design. Nothing stodgy-looking, plastic,  obviously low-end, or just plain ooooogly. 
There are a million and one choices among the single or double-sink variety, and they start to look the same after a while. Here are a few that I liked:

pc: Belaterra by Home Depot

pc: Lowe's; very nice-looking



floater!







Below are our choices for our downstairs bathroom. Vanity base and granite counter from HOBO (much better-looking IRL). Anvil iron & driftwood vanity lights from Lowe's
Beautiful brass mirror purchased long ago from a Spiegel catalogue.  It made the move with us from our previous home. So glad it can be a centre-piece once again.  




Poplar/Maple Vanity

Granite Vanity 31"

Mahogany Vanity Base

Saturday, July 28, 2018

The USA and a Mexican Miracle

In case you weren't aware:
a positive turn-of-event South of the border ...

our cute Mexican born & bred Pup
Former Mexican president  Felipe Calderón, during the Obama administration, quickly picked up on our then traitor-in-chief/president’s invitation to the world to use a wounded Constitutional America he was out to ruin as a welcome mat and a grab bag full of bleeding-heart-leftist-enabled entitlements. I remember the shock I experienced watching that wannabe dictator, floating stylishly on all the drug cartel money and funds wired home from illegals, standing in front of our House of Representatives, actually scolding Arizona and the United States for daring to prevent his people from ‘pursuing their dreams’ here in America. Of course when he said that he was met with a standing ovation from the oligarchic socialists on the left side of the aisle. Calderon has never been bashful about bashing the United States for even the right’s attempts at maintaining the integrity of our southern border. With Obama in office, he saw his opening. He probably even rehearsed his diatribe before Barack for his approval. In hindsight, can we doubt that?

Another one of Mexico’s presidents, Enrique Peña Nieto had to take his shot at President Trump for adopting what he called a “threatening” attitude toward Mexico. And then he even lauded the Mexican Senate for their round condemnation of what our President had said. Well Whoop Dee Doo!! The transient executive went on to prance around with all the grace and diplomacy of a Benito Mussolini. He rattled his imaginary sword further as he swaggered on ... “We will not allow negative rhetoric to define our actions. We will only act in the best interest of Mexicans.” To quote Darth Vader, “Impressive! Most impressive!” So, what he was really saying was, “We get American tv down here. We know that everybody on ‘The View’ makes fun of you, President Trump. We also know that - from the daytime soaps, to most all major network, liberal media newscasts - the fun and trendy faction in your nation is giving you hell. So we will join in that fun and cruise that momentum. And again President Trump is further vilified for his commitment to making the best interests of Americans his first priority.
But, am I going mad? (Too late.) Nevertheless, a brand-new kind of letter has shown up on the desk of our great President Donald J Trump! Mexico’s President-elect, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has forwarded a seven-page letter expressing among other things, his plan to boost the economy of Mexico, as well as their security, SO THAT HIS PEOPLE ’ ... NO LONGER FEEL IT NECESSARY TO MIGRATE!’ “There will be many changes ... And in this new atmosphere of progress and well-being, I’m sure we can reach agreements to confront together the migration phenomenon as well as the problem of border insecurity.” Again, I must be nuts! We now have a Mexican president who is actually going to encourage his people to work for a better Mexico?! What is going on? Donald Trump is going on.

Can you imagine that?! The leaders of this world are beginning, more and more, to respect and express a desire to work with an American President who actually possesses something other than a rubber spine. Despite how liberal-fake-news media has been scrambling to defuse and compromise President Trump and therefore our nation’s safety and predominance as a leading world power, the radiant truth and light of the MAN who will not bend is currently shining through the black night of broadcast dishonesty. The Mexican president-elect went on to say, “I am encouraged by the fact that we both know how to do what we say, and we have both faced adversity with success. We managed to put our voters and citizens at the center and displace the establishment.”
That is good president-elect Obrador’s way of saying, ‘Your authenticity and relentless effort is beginning to catch on, sir! I don’t think I’m going to kiss anyone’s behind down here, either!’ [Has he yet met with the Clintons? If so, will he suddenly become suicidal from his recent victory?] Obrador went on to express hope in devising a mutual plan, backed by public funds and other Central American countries, with the aim of making it “economically unnecessary” for the continued exodus of Central American and Mexican citizens into the United States!
That has to gall so many of our leftist polity who are absolutely depending upon flooding immigrants to tip the scales at the polls from here on out. Make no mistake, the damage has been done enough to date to give one pause. Nevertheless, the effects of real leadership are wafting all around a slowly awakening globe. And more and more people are seeing that the ‘One World’ dictators’ club may not quite have a shoo-in (no it’s not ‘shoe-in’) just yet. As time goes on, not even the fast dancing of a lying Clinton, Comey, Obama or a sinisterly sneering weirdo like the ‘FIB’ agent Strzock will be able to keep the world from seeing that, at the very least, only the worst characters and most miserable losers are left standing without chairs as the music is beginning to stop for the “Hate Trump Club”. Now all the third-rate actors, washed up politicos and shadow government slime have little left to lean on beyond a waning, ridiculous-looking Mueller and a more and more purchased-appearing, but definitely SOLD OUT Jeff Sessions.
Let’s make sure it’s Trump in 2020. He is, just like a gut-busting, hard-working Superman, beginning to fly fast enough to turn this world around. Keep him in your prayers, by all means. If the wolves ever get back in charge of our American Eagle’s nest, it will be all over but the crying. 
- Dave Merrick, Canada Free Press





A Mexican Miracle


DACA Facts

Dave Merrick







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Friday, July 27, 2018

Recipe: Easy Lumpia (Egg Rolls)

Our favourite go-to main meal item, other than pizza and sandwiches, is Egg-rolls. Delicious and easy-to-do. 



Ingredients

for 10 servings
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium carrot, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 lb (455 g) ground pork
  • 12 oz (340 g) water chestnuts, 1 can, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • ¼ cup (35 g) green onion, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced, plus more for garnish
  • 1 ½ cups (355 mL) canola oil, for frying
  • 25 lumpia wrappers, or spring roll wrappers
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • sweet chili sauce, for serving
Preparation directions are H E R E












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Wednesday, July 25, 2018

House Renovation: Astra Sconce Light Fixture

Astra Sconce:  I had wanted this light fixture for a couple of years. Now it's installed in our master bathroom, Yay!


Currently on my bucket-list is a Corbett light fixture for our kitchen someday, Lord willing. Maybe the one below if we can afford it.


These were other favourites during my search:









Tuesday, July 24, 2018

A First! Wedding at Big Mansion

Our friends' only daughter recently got married.  The venue for both ceremony and reception was the Lehmann Mansion in Villa Park, IL. 

PROs
  1. gorgeous, quality-built mansion with wood trim and floors, lots of windows
  2. pretty garden
  3. open Bar
  4. pleasant Servers
  5. great food


CONs:
  1.  mosquitos in the evening were a-plenty 
  2. cars/parking lot was the de-facto background on some outdoor photos. A prettier background via the installation of a tall, decorated barrier is a must.

liquid refreshments for a warm day







pretty tiles in the bathroom

chicken

steak
wedding keepsakes
pretty, pink Rose candle








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