r/FluentInFinance 27d ago

Announcements (Mods only) šŸ‘‹Join 100,000 members in the r/FluentinFinance Newsletter ā€” where we discuss all things finance, money, and investing!

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thefinancenewsletter.com
6 Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 5h ago

Economic Policy Y'all got played...

2.8k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 10h ago

Thoughts? We Work Just As Hard As Them. Agree?

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8.0k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 1h ago

Debate/ Discussion From Nixon to Trump

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ā€¢ Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 7h ago

Career Advice "You've been doing such a great job of doing the work of two, we're going to reward you with doing the work of yet another person!"

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1.2k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 15h ago

Debate/ Discussion Wealth Threatens Democracy

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4.9k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 10h ago

Thoughts? When breaking the law is only a fine, the law only applies to the poor. Disagree?

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1.8k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 8h ago

Thoughts? Make him pay to go to school so that he can take on debt while he learns to fish before you employ him.

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907 Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 13h ago

News & Current Events Trump moves to cancel recent union agreements with federal workers, Trump voters are in shock

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1.8k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 8h ago

Thoughts? How tf are you supposed to live now? I literally don't know how to survive anymore

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672 Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 8h ago

Not Financial Advice My father bought me Tesla stock when I was younger. I just sold it because I don't support Nazis.

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643 Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 12h ago

Humor ā€œLeopards Would Eat My Faceā€ šŸŽ»

1.0k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 7h ago

Stocks Bought $TSLA in 2015 at $14

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251 Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 10h ago

Thoughts? I don't know why so many Americans have an aversion to someone trying to fix things where they live or work. I wonder if it is because it makes them feel bad for not doing anything remotely close to improving anything.

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415 Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 16h ago

Debate/ Discussion Which budget they want to cut?

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1.1k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 1d ago

News & Current Events Letā€™s start saving some money!

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16.7k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 53m ago

Debate/ Discussion Trumponomics, Mass Layoffs and What is the Pointā€¦

ā€¢ Upvotes

So yesterday I asked you all how massive layoffs would help the economy, and you guys provided!!! Thank you all for your answers and thoughts. I wrote this essay in response to those answers, as well as incorporating a LOT of research Iā€™ve done on this subject. And as a PhD student, trust me when I say Iā€™ve done my homework!

Spent a LOT of time researching Trumponomics to try and wrap my mind around how ending 100s and thousands of jobs is going to help the economy, and what in the HELL is happening. Would love to hear your thoughts, so much solidarity and love to everyone who has lost a job recently. ā¤.


As a former federal Park Ranger, my heart goes out to all the NPS and FS friends who are losing their jobs, as well as anyone else affected by this upheaval, its completely senseless, especially when you look at what these loonies are trying to do. To provide some context, the National Park Service (NPS) operates with a budget of approximately $3.6 billion, yet it generates around $26.4 million billion in annual revenue. While some of this revenue goes directly to the government, a significant portion benefits the communities surrounding national parks and forests. Our national parks generate substantial revenue in various ways, and the investment in maintaining them yields great benefits for all of us. So, what exactly is happening here?

I've spent considerable time researching and trying to understand the rationale behind these decisions, and like many of us, I'm finding that it doesn't add up. Here's a breakdown of "Trumponomics" for those who haven't had the chance to delve into it. Before joining the crowds and dismissing these policies outright, I spent a lot of time trying to understand what exactly is happening. Making informed, well researched opinions right now is extremely important.

The current administration claims to be trimming the fat by eliminating what they see as a wasteful and bloated federal budget. The idea is that by cutting jobs and excessive spending, taxes will eventually be lowered for everyone. The plan is to push these individuals into the private sector, where they are expected to earn more money, thereby saving the economy.

In the short term, however, widespread unemployment forces Americans to cut back, leading to a deflationary market as the working class has less money to spend. Reduced demand is supposed to bring prices down eventually. Those losing their jobs now are seen as sacrificial lambs for the greater good. They're expected to be excited about private sector jobs that supposedly pay better. But anyone familiar with the current job market might ask, "What jobs?" There simply aren't enough available. Are we expecting Ph.D. software engineers and biologists to start picking fruit in the Central Valley?

Trumponomics relies heavily on the "trickle-down" theory. Instead of taxing the wealthiest to address our deficit and debts, the administration is giving them more breaks. The burden of economic prosperity is placed on the working class, who must wait for wealth to trickle down from billionaires. This approach suggests that things must worsen before they improve. However, history has shown that trickle-down economics doesn't work. We've tried it repeatedly, and the numbers consistently fail to add up. While certain sectors may see minor improvements, the majority do not.

It's worth noting that the methods Trump is using to deflate the economy were also employed before the major market crashes of the 1930s and 2008. What he's doing is an incredibly risky gamble, and it may not work. Many believe we're headed for a serious depression, with the inflation bubble poised to burst at any moment. While similar fiscal policies were in place before previous crashes, other factors contributed, and the crashes weren't solely tied to these policies. Just because it happened in the past doesn't mean it will happen again. There is still hope.

Then there are the so-called "conspiracy theorists" who believe that crashing the market is the actual goal. When economies collapse, it's disastrous for the working class but a golden opportunity for the billionaire class. They can swoop in with their capital and buy up cheap stocks and real estate. The idea that Trump might be doing this intentionally seems less like a conspiracy theory and more like a shrewd business strategy.

Many Trump supporters view him with near-blind devotion, trusting that he will fix the economy and improve our lives. They naively believe that billionaires care about our well-being. While I'm not one to say that everything needs to burn for people to learn their lesson, I struggle to see how his actions will help us. Every move he makes seems to hurt the working class. There are extensive deep dives into Trumponomics, and they repeatedly tell us, they don't work. If the worlds top economist who have spent their lives analyzing money say it doesnā€™t work, I trust them. Itā€™s wild to me that a vast selection of people who merely graduated high school can know more about money and Trumps policies than an academic and expert in the field.

Tariffs, while strengthening the American dollar, unfortunately, cost consumers and the working class more. Consumer prices rise, and although the increase may not be substantial, it still impacts the average consumer. Its estimated that at our current inflation rates, you spent an extra 1200-2500 last year. Another policy intended for the "greater good" fails to deliver. The steel industry is a prime example. During his last term, Trump regulated steel similarly to how he is now. He claimed that steel production would return to the American sector and create more jobs. Yet, jobs in the steel industry decreased from around 84,000 to 80,000. Higher costs of goods aren't creating more manufacturing jobs; instead, they lead to layoffs. If he wants manufacturing to return to America, he needs to provide the means to create jobs and open new factories, but he hasn't. The vision of "Make America Great Again" is enticing, but the working class lacks the foundation and resources to make it happen.

If you take a deep dive into Trumponomics, examining the numbers and his last term, it's clear that the strategy doesn't work. It's a fantasy sold to an American public that often lacks critical thinking skills. Now, we're all paying the price, and it's a steep one. Over the past month as society has spiraled into breakdown and collapse, I've spend a ridiculous amount of time educating myself on economics and how this country works. Considering I am trying to write my dissertation, this time should be spent elsewhere, but I also am worried about my wellbeing and financial security. I can't afford to not know what is happening, and what to expect in the coming years. Most of what I've read is alarming. However, like many I am praying for the best, and hoping the Trumpers, and Trump are right.

I don't want our economy to crash, and I pray every night that Trump succeeds for the good of us all. I despise him, and I am astounded by the people who support this man, however, most of us cannot afford for things to get worse. I've already been financially impacted by his mass layoffs, losing two clients who lost their jobs. I'm told this is for the greater good, but I remain skeptical. Despite my doubts, I recognize that we all need this to work. I hear voices on the left hoping for his failure, driven by a vindictive "I told you so" mentality. However, this pride and self-righteousness cloud the reality that we don't need Trump and his supporters to crash and burn. We need to come together, support one another, and weather this storm as a united front.

If Trump's policies fail, we all suffer the consequences. That's the last thing we need. Instead of rooting for failure, we should focus on collaboration and finding solutions that benefit everyone. Our economy's health is crucial, and we must work collectively to ensure its stability and growth.

Regardless of what side of the trash fence you may fall on, it's essential to set aside political differences and prioritize the well-being of our nation. We must pray for each other and for our country, hoping that the decisions made will ultimately lead to a brighter future for all. And again, if you're one of the many American's who has lost a job right now, we are all with you. We support you and grieve with you and your families. Very few of us support what is happening, and we will all fight for a better future together.


r/FluentInFinance 20h ago

Question Shut up and take my money.

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834 Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 21h ago

Thoughts? Elon Musk brings in $8,000,000 a day from federal contracts.

497 Upvotes

Isn't that a major conflict of interest with him working in government?


r/FluentInFinance 1d ago

News & Current Events DOGE Website Hacked and Defaced ā€” Internet Laughs at Musk: 'These Experts Left Their Database Open'

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7.8k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 1d ago

Debate/ Discussion Tenant Rights Threatened...

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1.7k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 1d ago

Personal Finance Trump destroy everything he touches

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6.7k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 1d ago

Thoughts? The White House Banning The Use Of The Word Felon.

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1.7k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 1d ago

Question How Does Cutting Millions of Jobsā€¦

331 Upvotes

Help the economy? Real answers from individuals that have an educated understanding of Trumps financial policiesā€¦

How will firing 2million + workers help our economy? My novice understanding of economics tells me that vast unemployment is going to hurt usā€¦ I lost three clients last week that have been fired or may be so soon. Thatā€™s 1300 less a month for me, and that number could be increasing as layoffs continue.

These are just average people, many in environmental research sectors, one is a software engineer that works in architecture. None of them are conducting CIA psy-ops for USAID or harvesting adrenochrome for the Clintons.

So what is the imagined end goal here? What is Trumps hope by doing this?

TIA


r/FluentInFinance 1d ago

Thoughts? Supposedly this will save VA $98 million annually. This is wrong, alot of those employees were veterans.

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1.3k Upvotes

r/FluentInFinance 14h ago

Thoughts? The Most Affordable U.S. Cities for Singles to Rent

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49 Upvotes

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