7 key signs that Donald Trump knows nothing about economics: His vaunted expertise...

[DonViejo]

Seven key signs that Donald Trump knows nothing about economics: His vaunted expertise, like most of what he says, is BS

From "zero GDP" to "42 percent unemployment," Trump's economic claims suggest profound and dangerous ignorance

PAUL ROSENBERG

Donald Trump lies or talks loosely all the time about virtually everything, for a wide range of reasons. Sometimes, though, he might not be lying — at least not to us. He might only be lying to himself. Or he might actually be utterly clueless. We might expect this on any number of subjects, but there’s one thing Trump is really supposed to know something about: money — i.e., economics. After all, he’s a billionaire, right? Well, at least he says he is.

So when the Wall Street Journal editorial board asked him during the GOP primary race whose advice he took on economics, Trump said he didn’t need any. “Honestly, I feel that I have such a vast feeling for it that I really — you know, Milton Friedman was good — but I don’t really listen to anybody,” he told them. Makes sense. Economists’ knowledge of facts would only cramp his style. But his utter disregard for them could ultimately be his undoing, especially with voters who mistakenly believe he knows things about the economy that can and will restore their dreams.

On some issues, Trump’s limited knowledge has justifiably scared people — nuclear weapons, for example. Last August, Think Progress published a list of “9 terrifying things Donald Trump has publicly said about nuclear weapons,” which betrayed his ignorance across a wide range of basic nuclear issues. But his equally ignorant bluster on economics hasn’t been noticed as much — even though it could also prove catastrophically destructive. Here are seven striking examples that should make his ignorance clear to all.

Trump claimed the GDP was “below zero.”

Last quarter, it was just announced our gross domestic product— a sign of strength, right? But not for us. It was below zero. Whoever heard of this? It’s never below zero.

– Donald Trump, presidential announcement speech, June 16, 2015

more
http://www.salon.com/2017/02/20/seven-key-signs-that-donald-trump-knows-nothing-about-economics-his-vaunted-expertise-like-most-of-what-he-says-is-bs/

[LonePirate]

1. The author should have omitted the words "about economics" in the title.

45 knows absolutely nothing regardless of the topic being discussed. He makes W seem knowledgeable and wonky by comparison.

[DetlefK]

2. A german author coined a nice metaphor for exactly this kind of situation:

"the wafer-thin ice of half-knowledge"

It looks like a frozen lake, but don't you dare actually step on it.

[dalton99a]

3. He literally doesn't know shit.

[BeckyDem]

4. His aim is to plunder and his cabinet reflects his ambition. It is a mistake to refer to him as

stupid since what he intends to do does not require the type of knowledge the OP is referring to. He'll keep lying about anything so he can deregulate any and everything. That is what he means when he says drain the swamp, get rid of every protection we have.