Trump says he deserves an “A+++++” grade on the economy.
“Clearly not,” laughs Ryan McMaken, “Give him a D+.”
Why?
Because Trump pushes crony capitalism (his government takes part-ownership of companies).
Because of his tariffs (mostly paid by us, not foreigners),
McMaken, editor in chief at the Mises Institute, joins John Stossel to grade Trump’s second term. Among the issues they address: The Border, DOGE, debt and energy.
Mises Institute Executive Editor Ryan McMaken says one does not need to be an advocate of open borders to have concerns when one hears about a federal law enforcement agency engaging in a “crackdown,” such as Trump’s mass-deportation plan.
He says the primary problem we’re facing is that immigration has long been subsidized in the United States in the sense that there are low barriers to new migrants benefiting from a bevy of social benefit programs. Immigrants who achieve status as refugees or asylees can access welfare programs almost immediately. Even run-of-the-mill legal migrants need only wait five years to begin living off taxpayer-funded benefits.
McMaken says these subsidization schemes have only grown more aggressive in recent years, attracting a flood of migrants. How do you fix the problem and basically put a stop to illegal immigration? “There is no downside in cutting all that off,” he says. “Get rid of it, end this scheme of subsidizing migration.” Here’s more from McMaken.
