Friday, 06 Dec On this day ...
The Truman Administration created the Council of Economic Advisers in 1946, meeting here in 1949. Image: Wikimedia
Q1. In a speech Thursday, former President Trump outlined a set of economic proposals. One was the establishment of a government efficiency commission, headed by Elon Musk. It would conduct a "complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal governmentā with the goal of identifying ways to eliminate fraud and improper payments.
Musk is credited with building SpaceX and Tesla, two of the most successful companies of the past decade, if not all time.
Some see it as a positive, others as a negative, that Musk's companies interact frequently with government. Most of SpaceX's revenue comes from the US government (NASA, Pentagon), while purchasers of Tesla cars receive a federal tax credit of up to 12% of purchase price.
What do you think of the proposed government efficiency commission?
Musk is credited with building SpaceX and Tesla, two of the most successful companies of the past decade, if not all time.
Some see it as a positive, others as a negative, that Musk's companies interact frequently with government. Most of SpaceX's revenue comes from the US government (NASA, Pentagon), while purchasers of Tesla cars receive a federal tax credit of up to 12% of purchase price.
What do you think of the proposed government efficiency commission?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Like the commission, like Musk as chair
46%
60%
34%
92%
34%
0%
56%
44%
46%
37%
Like commission, don't like Musk as chair
19%
19%
19%
7%
28%
30%
28%
19%
18%
14%
Don't like commission
34%
21%
47%
1%
36%
69%
16%
36%
35%
48%
Don't know
1%
1%
0%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
1%
Don't care
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Q2. Trump also proposed eliminating taxes on social security. For most people, social security is currently taxable if they earn more than $14k a year, not including their social security income.
Trump also wants to extend his 2017 tax cuts, and reduce corporate taxes from 21% to 15% for companies that "make their products in the US."
Currently US federal debt is at a record high of 130% of GDP, up from 40% in 1980, and projected to increase at 6% of GDP per year (tax revenue is currently 17% of GDP, govt spending is 23% of GDP).
What do you think of Trump's tax proposals? (check all that apply)
Trump also wants to extend his 2017 tax cuts, and reduce corporate taxes from 21% to 15% for companies that "make their products in the US."
Currently US federal debt is at a record high of 130% of GDP, up from 40% in 1980, and projected to increase at 6% of GDP per year (tax revenue is currently 17% of GDP, govt spending is 23% of GDP).
What do you think of Trump's tax proposals? (check all that apply)
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Approve not taxing Soc Sec
82%
83%
81%
96%
77%
69%
84%
80%
84%
82%
Disapprove
15%
15%
15%
3%
17%
27%
16%
18%
13%
14%
Approve extending 2017 tax cuts
51%
64%
40%
96%
37%
8%
61%
54%
50%
38%
Disapprove
43%
33%
53%
0%
49%
87%
36%
42%
43%
53%
Approve 15% corp tax rate if made in US
52%
66%
38%
94%
39%
10%
70%
50%
49%
39%
Disapprove
43%
28%
56%
2%
52%
84%
28%
46%
43%
54%
Don't know
1%
1%
2%
1%
3%
1%
1%
0%
3%
1%
Don't care
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Q3. In Thursday's speech, Trump said his administration would be very pro-cryptocurrency.
A year ago, Trump was more circumspect, saying of Bitcoin "I want one currency, I want the dollar. I donāt want people leaving the dollar (for Bitcoin), but I will tell you, Bitcoin has taken on a life of its own. I would not allow countries to go off the dollar because when we lose that standard, that will be like losing a revolutionary war, and we canāt let that happen."
Would you like to see the government be pro-cryptocurrency?
A year ago, Trump was more circumspect, saying of Bitcoin "I want one currency, I want the dollar. I donāt want people leaving the dollar (for Bitcoin), but I will tell you, Bitcoin has taken on a life of its own. I would not allow countries to go off the dollar because when we lose that standard, that will be like losing a revolutionary war, and we canāt let that happen."
Would you like to see the government be pro-cryptocurrency?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Very much yes
6%
10%
2%
12%
6%
1%
10%
10%
4%
2%
Yes
3%
4%
2%
5%
4%
1%
5%
1%
4%
2%
Neither pro nor con
25%
25%
25%
39%
22%
10%
28%
31%
20%
19%
No
26%
25%
27%
21%
27%
31%
25%
20%
27%
32%
Very much no
35%
33%
36%
16%
35%
54%
30%
32%
36%
39%
Don't know
5%
3%
8%
7%
6%
3%
2%
5%
8%
5%
Don't care
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Nov 22, after the FTX collapse:
Do you trust Bitcoin? 9% Yes, 80% No
Will Bitcoin be a big part of the future? 38% Yes, 51% No
Entities in this poll: (click to rate or comment on)
60 Comments on the Poll