Ep 471 The Threats To Trump Are Growing

Podcast Summary

• The Importance of Facts and Research in Discussing Controversial Topics: Emphasizing facts and research is crucial when discussing controversial topics like the Paris Accord. Consider both pros and cons, and avoid emotional manipulation or language manipulation.

  Dan Bongino, the host of The Dan Bongino Show, emphasized the importance of facts and research in his discussions, especially when it comes to controversial topics like the Paris Accord. He shared his perspective on the potential withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Accord, highlighting both the pros and cons of the situation. Bongino also endorsed Brickhouse Nutrition's Dawn to Dust energy product, praising its ability to provide sustained energy without crashes or jitters. Additionally, he encouraged his audience to make informed decisions and engage in reasonable analysis rather than relying on emotional manipulation or manipulation of language.

• Paris Accords: Bottom-up Approach, Potential Redistribution of Wealth, and Legal Binding: The Paris Accords allow countries to set their own emissions targets, raise concerns for potential wealth redistribution and lawsuits, and should not compromise American prosperity.

  The Paris Accords, unlike the Kyoto agreements, allow countries to set their own targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a bottom-up approach. While some argue that it's not legally binding, others see it as a name and shame game. A concern from a conservative perspective is the potential for finance flows between countries, which could lead to redistribution of wealth through US taxpayer funding. The Paris Accords also have the potential to be used as a tool for lawsuits against countries that don't meet their targets. Additionally, the mention of finance flows in agreements should raise red flags as it could lead to a raid on US taxpayer funds. It's important to remember that America's prosperity is a result of American ingenuity, entrepreneurialism, and hard work, and we don't owe it to anyone else. Other topics discussed included Kathy Griffin's controversial actions and her status as a comedian.

• Kathy Griffin's actions might not have been a criminal threat: Despite disturbing imagery, intent to threaten is unclear, and it's crucial to separate political discourse from violence or graphic imagery.

  Kathy Griffin's actions of holding up a decapitated head of Donald Trump, although disturbing and distasteful, may not have technically constituted a crime under the relevant USC statute (18 USC 871) regarding threats to the president. However, the statute requires both knowing and willing components for a threat to be considered a crime. While Griffin knowingly participated in the photo shoot, it's unclear if she had the intent to threaten the president's life. The Secret Service is obligated to investigate such threats, but it's important to distinguish between distasteful actions and criminal threats. The discussion also touched upon the importance of avoiding personal attacks and focusing on political discourse instead of violence or graphic imagery.

• Potential Consequences of Provocative Actions: Provocative actions, even if unintended, could inspire individuals with severe psychological disturbances to commit violent acts against public figures. Be aware of potential consequences and consider the impact of our words and actions.

  Kathy Griffin's actions, although perhaps just intended as a provocative stunt, could potentially inspire individuals with severe psychological disturbances to commit violent acts against public figures. The Secret Service takes such threats seriously and conducts thorough investigations to determine if an individual poses a danger. The speaker, a former Secret Service agent, emphasizes the importance of being aware of the potential consequences of one's actions, especially in the context of sensitive political issues. The speaker also shares his experiences with individuals who hold delusional beliefs and the potential for their actions to be influenced by seemingly innocuous stimuli. It's crucial to consider the potential impact of our words and actions, as they may unintentionally encourage harmful behavior.

• Discussing the potential unintended consequences of universal basic income: Universal basic income could create an income cliff, discouraging work and potentially leading to a 100% tax rate for those just above the threshold. Fairness and calling out problematic actions, regardless of political affiliation, are crucial in these discussions.

  While there are valid discussions to be had about universal basic income, it's important to consider the potential unintended consequences, such as the creation of an income cliff that could discourage people from working. During a recent show, this issue was discussed in relation to Mark Zuckerberg's proposal for every American to receive a $30,000 government check. While some argue that this could help reduce poverty and provide a safety net, others warn that it could lead to a disincentive to work and a tax rate effectively reaching 100% for those earning just above the threshold. The conversation also touched on the importance of fairness and calling out problematic actions, regardless of political affiliation. For instance, there was agreement that the recent controversy involving a graphic depicting a former president's head should be condemned, no matter who the person involved was or which side of the political spectrum they came from.

• Universal Basic Income and Income Tax Cliffs: A fair tax system, which eliminates income checks, could simplify the tax code and potentially disincentivize work less under a universal basic income system.

  The proposed sliding scale for income checks under a universal basic income system could create income tax cliffs and financial complexities, potentially disincentivizing work and leading to high costs. A better solution, according to the speaker, is the implementation of a fair tax system, which would eliminate income checks and potentially simplify the tax code. The fair tax system would allow individuals to keep their entire paycheck and pay a consumption tax on goods and services instead. While there are debates and complexities surrounding the implementation of such a system, the speaker believes it to be a more effective and equitable solution. The speaker also acknowledged a mistake made during a previous show on the topic of universal basic income and apologized for not providing a clear solution at the time.

• Eliminating disincentives with a fair tax: The fair tax could increase economic efficiency by only taxing consumption, allowing individuals to keep more income for savings and investment, potentially leading to increased production and wealth creation.

  The fair tax, a proposed national sales tax, could potentially be a more economically efficient way to fund society by eliminating the disincentives created by income taxes. The speaker argues that taxes, including income taxes, increase the cost of items or work, discouraging people from engaging in these activities. A sales tax, on the other hand, only increases the price of consumption, allowing individuals to keep more of their income for savings and investment. This could lead to increased production and wealth creation. While consumption is necessary, the speaker emphasizes that savings and investment are crucial for economic growth. The fair tax is currently proposed as legislation and could offer an alternative to the progressive income tax system.

• Addressing Economic Inequality and Taxation: The wealthy pay less in taxes as a percentage of their income, but contribute significantly to the economy. Fair tax systems and investing in precious metals can help promote financial security and address economic inequality.

  The wealthy accumulate significant wealth throughout their lives and pay a substantial portion in taxes, despite spending less as a percentage of their income compared to the poor. The fair tax system is proposed as a solution to address this issue. Additionally, investing in precious metals like gold and silver can serve as a safety net against inflation and market volatility. Walter Williams' piece in The Daily Signal highlights the importance of addressing overpopulation concerns, which is often emphasized by the left, while also acknowledging the economic benefits of population growth. Overall, these topics emphasize the importance of economic policies that promote fairness and financial security for all.

• Challenging the Myth of Overpopulation: The earth has ample resources to support the growing population, contrary to the common belief of overpopulation.

  The earth's population does not outstrip its resources based on the example given by Dan Bonchino. Bonchico shared how a passage he read debunking overpopulation myths during his college years sparked his interest in conservatism and made him question various economic and political beliefs. He used the example of the continental United States having enough land to provide a quarter acre for every person in the world to illustrate the vastness of available resources. This perspective challenges the common belief of overpopulation and highlights the potential abundance of land and resources.

• Higher population densities lead to economic prosperity: Countries with higher population densities tend to have larger economies and greater prosperity

  Contrary to the belief that overpopulation leads to poverty, the data shows that countries with higher population densities tend to have greater economic prosperity. For instance, North Korea, with a lower population density of 518 people per square mile, has a much lower gross domestic product (GDP) of $17,396 million, compared to South Korea's higher population density of 1,261 people per square mile and a much larger GDP of $1,411,246 million. Similarly, Hong Kong, with a population density of 16,444 people per square mile, has a GDP of $320,668 million, while Somalia, with a lower population density of 36 people per square mile, has a much smaller GDP of $5,707 million. These findings debunk the notion that overpopulation leads to poverty and suggest that higher population densities may actually contribute to economic prosperity.

• Comparing Economies: Beyond GDP: While China has a larger GDP based on purchasing power parity, nominal GDP provides a more accurate comparison of economies. People value more than just economic data when deciding where to live.

  While China may have a larger GDP based on purchasing power parity, it's a misleading comparison due to the vast differences in access to various aspects of life in each country, such as legal systems, entertainment, and food quality. The speaker argues that nominal GDP, which measures the value of goods and services produced without adjusting for inflation or other factors, is a more meaningful way to compare economies. Ultimately, the speaker believes that people want to immigrate to the United States because of the benefits of living in the country, not just because of its larger nominal GDP. Therefore, it's essential to consider more than just economic data when making international comparisons.

• College incident a symptom of larger ideological conflict: Critical theory, embraced by some liberals, can lead to harmful actions and policies, as seen in a college 'Day of Absence' incident

  The incident at the college in Washington where white students were asked to leave campus as part of a "Day of Absence" is a symptom of a larger ideological conflict rooted in critical theory. This theory, which some liberals embrace, can be damaging and divisive, and it's essential to understand it to effectively engage in discussions with informed liberal friends. The college incident is just one example of how critical theory can lead to harmful actions and policies. Tune in to tomorrow's show for a deeper explanation and analysis of this complex issue.