Allen Jackson: Consumer Confidence | Allen Jackson Now

January 7, 2026 | 22:7

Dr. Arthur Laffer joins Allen Jackson to discuss current events.

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Allen Jackson NOW | Allen Jackson: Consumer Confidence | Allen Jackson Now | January 7, 2026
  • Well, good evening and welcome to nashville.
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  • I'm alan jackson.
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  • There's a lot of anticipation
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  • That this is going to be a good year
  • 00:00:22.814 --> 00:00:24.249
  • For the nation's economy, for big and small business,
  • 00:00:24.249 --> 00:00:27.319
  • And for you and your family as well.
  • 00:00:27.319 --> 00:00:29.087
  • At least that's the hope.
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  • You know, the latest
  • 00:00:30.822 --> 00:00:31.923
  • Economic growth figures show a gdp of more than 4%.
  • 00:00:31.923 --> 00:00:35.327
  • The job market's
  • 00:00:35.327 --> 00:00:36.194
  • Holding steady, and there are a number
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  • Of efforts underway to bring prices down,
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  • Or at least to not let inflation get any worse.
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  • Well, energy prices touch every segment of the economy.
  • 00:00:42.968 --> 00:00:45.770
  • And as they continue to go down,
  • 00:00:45.770 --> 00:00:47.539
  • Every product that's carried by plane, train or trucks
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  • Will have less of that cost passed on to consumers.
  • 00:00:50.342 --> 00:00:53.445
  • Another big plus are the tax cuts that passed last year.
  • 00:00:53.445 --> 00:00:56.548
  • They're retroactive to income from 2025.
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  • That's income that will stay in your pocket
  • 00:01:00.118 --> 00:01:02.320
  • Rather than going to the u.s. treasury.
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  • The question is, how much of that hope
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  • Is going to be turned into reality?
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  • Well, tonight
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  • We're joined by one of the country's
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  • Best known experts on the subject.
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  • He's most known as the father of supply side economics.
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  • He's a neighbor of ours here in nashville.
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  • Art laffer, welcome to the show.
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  • Thank you very much.
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  • It's a pleasure to be with you.
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  • It's funny here in nashville, isn't it?
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  • It is. we have many blessings.
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  • Your work is a lot more fun with low taxes.
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  • Let me just put it that way. hallelujah.
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  • You wrote the book on supply side economics with your laffer
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  • Curve back in the reagan years.
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  • Is it too late for any administration
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  • Now to take government spending down
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  • And do more to feed the supply side?
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  • Can we grow our way out of so much debt?
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  • Yes, we can do all of that very easily.
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  • If we got growth rates of 4 or 4.5%.
  • 00:01:49.501 --> 00:01:52.270
  • We could have that debt as a share of gdp
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  • Way, way down in no time.
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  • I mean, literally in three years we'd be in great, great shape.
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  • Wow. well, for all the projections
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  • And government statistics,
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  • A big piece of the economy
  • 00:02:03.982 --> 00:02:05.183
  • Still comes down to individual consumer confidence.
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  • Listen to how positive the ceo of the bank of america
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  • Is right now when he measures consumer attitudes
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  • The way
  • 00:02:14.926 --> 00:02:15.994
  • People are spending, they have good credit quality,
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  • They are employed, and we can see wages growing.
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  • And as people's paychecks come in at a 3% clip.
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  • So it's a it's pretty solid right now.
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  • Putting more money in economy.
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  • They did this time last year.
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  • Well there's a record level of credit card debt.
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  • So do you think the spending is still a good sign, as mr.
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  • Moynihan suggest?
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  • Yeah, i look at things from the supply side,
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  • Not from the spending side.
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  • So i look at, well, at how attractive it is to work today.
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  • And with the tax cuts and job
  • 00:02:43.989 --> 00:02:45.357
  • Bill made permanent, it made it really very attractive to work.
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  • We've got the no tips on overtime.
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  • We've got the deduction of auto and auto loan interest.
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  • We've got all the others that social security we've got it.
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  • No no no tax on tips.
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  • If you look at all of this stuff it's all primed.
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  • I mean 100% expensing of capital purchases
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  • And all of it retroactive back to january 2025.
  • 00:03:05.877 --> 00:03:09.981
  • And then you've got all the other stuff coming in.
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  • Inflation numbers are way way down i mean really down.
  • 00:03:12.317 --> 00:03:15.687
  • Employment numbers are way above
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  • What you would think they should be because,
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  • You know,
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  • We've had a huge swing in population
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  • From 3 million illegal immigrants
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  • Coming into the country per year to 1.5 million leaving.
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  • And that really does change the population numbers
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  • And the employment numbers.
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  • But in spite of that,
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  • Unemployment has done really, really well.
  • 00:03:34.906 --> 00:03:37.075
  • So it's a double whammy really coming along there.
  • 00:03:37.075 --> 00:03:39.778
  • And then as you mentioned, the gdp numbers are great.
  • 00:03:39.778 --> 00:03:42.380
  • So all of the current numbers
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  • Are about as good as you could imagine.
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  • They could be.
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  • I mean, stock prices i mean, wow,
  • 00:03:46.551 --> 00:03:48.553
  • All that stuff tells us it's going to be a good year.
  • 00:03:48.553 --> 00:03:50.789
  • And based upon my analysis of why people work,
  • 00:03:50.789 --> 00:03:54.259
  • I mean, people don't work to pay taxes.
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  • People work to get what they can after tax.
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  • And that incentive is going to be really, really surge into,
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  • In the next year.
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  • And i expect a very strong year.
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  • And in 2026. good.
  • 00:04:05.370 --> 00:04:08.273
  • Well, the $7,500 stimulus for electric cars has ended,
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  • But there's a new stimulus
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  • For any vehicle assembled here in the us,
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  • Whether it's an american company
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  • Or a foreign one that built plants here.
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  • Is that something
  • 00:04:19.217 --> 00:04:20.452
  • That will help the supply side growth efforts in the long term?
  • 00:04:20.452 --> 00:04:23.088
  • Yes it will.
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  • Yes it will. and for sure will.
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  • I mean, you know, we have a terrific car industry.
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  • And if you look at our cars versus
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  • The rest of the world,
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  • You know, they may not be the best
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  • In the world for the high end and all that.
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  • But we have a great industry and especially here in tennessee,
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  • We are the single most attractive state on new,
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  • Development of of auto industry here in the state
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  • Because we have a zero income tax and all of the businesses
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  • From michigan and from indiana and from ohio and from illinois,
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  • They're all pouring down here into tennessee.
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  • We're the hope, and we're the light of the future.
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  • Just want to
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  • Reinforce our position here on tennessee and nashville area.
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  • What about the president's approach to tariffs
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  • And trying to balance,
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  • You know, the products
  • 00:05:05.296 --> 00:05:05.997
  • We have here
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  • With the cheaper imports
  • 00:05:06.798 --> 00:05:08.066
  • That we've been having come into our country for so long?
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  • Yeah, i don't think that's the way he's using the tariffs,
  • 00:05:10.668 --> 00:05:13.338
  • Although that's the talk of a lot of people.
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  • I think he is using tariffs, quotas and non-tariff barriers
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  • To negotiate freer trade to negotiate peace in the gaza.
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  • You negotiate peace in ukraine.
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  • Russia will conflict, african conflicts,
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  • Asian conflicts pakistan and afghanistan.
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  • You know, i just a huge fan of how he can use these tools
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  • To really, get reciprocal deals done
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  • And also to eliminate conflicts in the world scene.
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  • I mean,
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  • He is a master negotiator, and he really does understand
  • 00:05:41.866 --> 00:05:44.202
  • This topic really, really well, as opposed to most presidents
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  • Who don't have a clue.
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  • I mean, it's sort of them that's blah, blah, blah, blah.
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  • And, you know, this guy really does know how to do business.
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  • He knows how to negotiate.
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  • And, i think he's using the tariffs extraordinarily well for
  • 00:05:55.380 --> 00:05:59.250
  • Securing peace and prosperity for the long run for the us.
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  • Well, i love your optimism.
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  • I just want to be sure i'm understanding you.
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  • You think we're going to grow our way,
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  • Or we will grow our way out of this debt
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  • While we're, you know, $38 trillion?
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  • That's a that's a big hill to climb.
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  • Can we do that without messing
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  • With social security and medicare?
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  • Yes we can.
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  • But, you know, even social security
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  • And medicare respond to economic growth.
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  • I mean,
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  • If everyone's got a good high paying job,
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  • They aren't collecting their benefits.
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  • They are paying their social security taxes.
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  • All of that happens in a very positive way.
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  • I mean, so what i see
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  • Here, happening here, if we could get growth
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  • Rates of 3.5% ish this year, maybe even a little bit higher,
  • 00:06:37.622 --> 00:06:41.926
  • That would be super work towards the, really bringing down
  • 00:06:41.926 --> 00:06:45.897
  • That debt quite dramatically, especially as a share of gdp.
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  • You know,
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  • A rich nation
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  • Can afford to have more debt than can a poor nation.
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  • And, you know, the richer we become and the lower our debt
  • 00:06:53.738 --> 00:06:56.674
  • Becomes, the more solvent the us becomes as a good,
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  • You know, good, stable country.
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  • And i'm very excited about those prospects.
  • 00:07:02.280 --> 00:07:06.017
  • Another question about the so-called safe haven assets.
  • 00:07:06.017 --> 00:07:09.120
  • They're marketed as a hedge against inflation.
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  • And we keep seeing growth
  • 00:07:11.656 --> 00:07:12.724
  • In the price of gold and now silver as well.
  • 00:07:12.724 --> 00:07:14.826
  • It's growing at twice the rate of gold.
  • 00:07:14.826 --> 00:07:16.895
  • Why are they continuing to go up in value.
  • 00:07:16.895 --> 00:07:18.930
  • And what does that tell us about the overall economic picture?
  • 00:07:18.930 --> 00:07:22.300
  • Well, to be really honest,
  • 00:07:22.300 --> 00:07:23.568
  • I don't know why they're going up in value
  • 00:07:23.568 --> 00:07:25.403
  • By as much as they do.
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  • And given my answer, i want just you to.
  • 00:07:26.504 --> 00:07:29.040
  • Sure, there is no money back
  • 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:30.208
  • Guarantees when i talk about the future of gold or silver
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  • Or anything like that.
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  • Please forgive me,
  • 00:07:34.312 --> 00:07:35.146
  • But i look at them
  • 00:07:35.146 --> 00:07:36.314
  • Really as being a hedge against bad currencies.
  • 00:07:36.314 --> 00:07:39.350
  • And once we get
  • 00:07:39.350 --> 00:07:40.585
  • A good fed chairman in there, i think you're going to see,
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  • You're going to see gold and silver and, some of the,
  • 00:07:43.555 --> 00:07:47.358
  • Cryptocurrencies, not fade off by any means.
  • 00:07:47.358 --> 00:07:50.495
  • They are the private sector's alternative to bad money.
  • 00:07:50.495 --> 00:07:53.898
  • And if we can get someone like kevin warsh
  • 00:07:53.898 --> 00:07:55.967
  • Or kevin hassett, then as chairman of the fed
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  • And really reform the federal reserve,
  • 00:07:58.036 --> 00:08:00.772
  • I would expect to see a lot better monetary policy
  • 00:08:00.772 --> 00:08:03.641
  • In the next three years than we've had in the past six years.
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  • Five years.
  • 00:08:06.611 --> 00:08:07.545
  • You know, under biden, the inflation rate was
  • 00:08:07.545 --> 00:08:09.581
  • Really quite high.
  • 00:08:09.581 --> 00:08:10.748
  • I think prices rose by 2,024% somewhere in that range.
  • 00:08:10.748 --> 00:08:14.819
  • And i expect inflation to be a lot, lot lower,
  • 00:08:14.819 --> 00:08:18.122
  • This next three years.
  • 00:08:18.590 --> 00:08:20.091
  • And it's been a lot lower this last year.
  • 00:08:20.091 --> 00:08:22.060
  • So, and the first numbers coming in, i mean, those numbers,
  • 00:08:22.060 --> 00:08:25.897
  • I mean, on the inflation were really, really low.
  • 00:08:25.897 --> 00:08:29.067
  • And not just for one month,
  • 00:08:29.067 --> 00:08:30.902
  • They were really low for two months.
  • 00:08:30.902 --> 00:08:32.670
  • And those numbers stay in place for a long time.
  • 00:08:32.670 --> 00:08:35.740
  • And, you know,
  • 00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:37.342
  • I couldn't have asked for better numbers than we've had there.
  • 00:08:37.342 --> 00:08:39.844
  • Now, that doesn't mean
  • 00:08:39.844 --> 00:08:41.012
  • It can't reverse itself tomorrow morning.
  • 00:08:41.012 --> 00:08:43.548
  • But i don't think it's going to.
  • 00:08:43.548 --> 00:08:44.816
  • And i think the advent of kevin warsh or kevin hassett,
  • 00:08:44.816 --> 00:08:48.586
  • Either one of them, and i know them both really, really well.
  • 00:08:48.586 --> 00:08:51.289
  • They are really sound money
  • 00:08:51.289 --> 00:08:52.824
  • People who don't like
  • 00:08:52.824 --> 00:08:54.525
  • An unhinged paper currency, and they
  • 00:08:54.525 --> 00:08:56.461
  • Are the antithesis of powell.
  • 00:08:56.461 --> 00:08:58.730
  • Now, powell is a very nice man.
  • 00:08:58.730 --> 00:09:00.698
  • He's he clearly is a nice man, but he's not in the right job.
  • 00:09:00.698 --> 00:09:04.102
  • And, you know, sometimes you get a bad mix, a bad person,
  • 00:09:04.102 --> 00:09:06.537
  • A good person in a bad job
  • 00:09:06.537 --> 00:09:08.172
  • Or a bad person in a good job or a mismatch of job.
  • 00:09:08.172 --> 00:09:11.275
  • And powell is,
  • 00:09:11.275 --> 00:09:12.477
  • You know, about as bad a fed chairman as i've ever seen.
  • 00:09:12.477 --> 00:09:15.713
  • And, you know, unfortunately, it's,
  • 00:09:15.713 --> 00:09:18.216
  • It's caused us a lot of harm and a lot of damage.
  • 00:09:18.216 --> 00:09:20.618
  • And, you know, paul volcker was about as good
  • 00:09:20.618 --> 00:09:22.954
  • A fed chairman as i've ever seen.
  • 00:09:22.954 --> 00:09:24.355
  • He and alan greenspan were just great.
  • 00:09:24.355 --> 00:09:26.557
  • And i look at kevin hassett
  • 00:09:26.557 --> 00:09:28.426
  • And kevin warsh, whichever one gets the job,
  • 00:09:28.426 --> 00:09:31.029
  • I look at them as being very paul volcker esque, and it's
  • 00:09:31.029 --> 00:09:34.532
  • Going to be a very good period for monetary policy.
  • 00:09:34.532 --> 00:09:37.835
  • Well, are
  • 00:09:37.835 --> 00:09:38.503
  • We need to take a short break,
  • 00:09:38.503 --> 00:09:39.303
  • But there's a lot more to talk about.
  • 00:09:39.303 --> 00:09:40.605
  • Can you stay for another segment?
  • 00:09:40.605 --> 00:09:42.373
  • I would love to. thank you. and we'll be right back.
  • 00:09:42.373 --> 00:09:51.007
  • I would love to. thank you. and we'll be right back.
  • 00:09:51.007 --> 00:09:55.953
  • We're back now with
  • 00:09:56.421 --> 00:09:57.522
  • A very well known and respected economist, art laffer.
  • 00:09:57.522 --> 00:10:00.892
  • His latest book is called prosperity through growth.
  • 00:10:00.892 --> 00:10:03.795
  • He's got another book and it's well worth reading.
  • 00:10:03.795 --> 00:10:05.797
  • It's called taxes have consequences.
  • 00:10:05.797 --> 00:10:08.599
  • All right.
  • 00:10:08.599 --> 00:10:09.300
  • We've seen how so many people
  • 00:10:09.300 --> 00:10:10.201
  • In the high tax states continue to move.
  • 00:10:10.201 --> 00:10:13.438
  • Florida, texas and tennessee, among others.
  • 00:10:13.438 --> 00:10:16.074
  • In fact, i read that you left california
  • 00:10:16.074 --> 00:10:18.042
  • About 20 years ago
  • 00:10:18.042 --> 00:10:18.943
  • And famously said that you could pay
  • 00:10:18.943 --> 00:10:20.912
  • For your tennessee home simply by using the money
  • 00:10:20.912 --> 00:10:22.980
  • You saved by not having to pay california taxes.
  • 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:26.250
  • Well, the migration is continuing.
  • 00:10:26.250 --> 00:10:27.985
  • I'm wondering if that will give people more disposable income
  • 00:10:27.985 --> 00:10:31.222
  • And further strengthen our national economy.
  • 00:10:31.222 --> 00:10:33.691
  • Is that a realistic, i know decision?
  • 00:10:33.691 --> 00:10:35.960
  • I don't know if it's disposable income
  • 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:37.562
  • I would talk about, but it's pretty straightforward.
  • 00:10:37.562 --> 00:10:39.363
  • If you have two locations, a and b,
  • 00:10:39.363 --> 00:10:43.167
  • If you raise taxes and b and you lower them, and
  • 00:10:43.167 --> 00:10:46.537
  • Producers and manufacturers and people are going to move
  • 00:10:46.537 --> 00:10:49.040
  • From a to b, i mean, it's just straightforward common sense.
  • 00:10:49.040 --> 00:10:53.778
  • And i was the one of the first examples coming here.
  • 00:10:53.778 --> 00:10:57.048
  • When i came to tennessee,
  • 00:10:57.048 --> 00:10:58.149
  • It was a very different state 20 years ago.
  • 00:10:58.149 --> 00:11:01.219
  • Today it's one of the most prosperous things.
  • 00:11:01.219 --> 00:11:03.121
  • We got rid of our gift in estate tax here in tennessee.
  • 00:11:03.121 --> 00:11:06.524
  • We got rid of our hall tax.
  • 00:11:06.524 --> 00:11:08.726
  • You know, we turned our income tax into the constitution,
  • 00:11:08.726 --> 00:11:12.063
  • Where a right to work state in a
  • 00:11:12.063 --> 00:11:13.965
  • We have one of the best improvements
  • 00:11:13.965 --> 00:11:15.733
  • In public education of any state in the nation.
  • 00:11:15.733 --> 00:11:18.002
  • I mean,
  • 00:11:18.002 --> 00:11:18.770
  • This is just a spectacular state.
  • 00:11:18.770 --> 00:11:20.738
  • We are the only state
  • 00:11:20.738 --> 00:11:22.507
  • That attracts an income net from florida.
  • 00:11:22.507 --> 00:11:25.543
  • Net aggie flows into tennessee from florida.
  • 00:11:25.543 --> 00:11:28.880
  • How's that for a great record?
  • 00:11:28.880 --> 00:11:31.015
  • And our beaches aren't comparable right
  • 00:11:31.015 --> 00:11:34.886
  • There.
  • 00:11:35.086 --> 00:11:35.753
  • Our beaches are in the forest.
  • 00:11:35.753 --> 00:11:37.088
  • That's true
  • 00:11:37.088 --> 00:11:38.790
  • With so much of our tax is being wasted
  • 00:11:38.790 --> 00:11:41.192
  • With billions of dollars in fraud in our social programs.
  • 00:11:41.192 --> 00:11:44.462
  • You know, i'm thinking of minnesota,
  • 00:11:44.462 --> 00:11:45.696
  • But it's really everywhere.
  • 00:11:45.696 --> 00:11:47.231
  • Are we going to have to light up the dodge committee even more
  • 00:11:47.231 --> 00:11:50.101
  • Or build a better internal watchdog system?
  • 00:11:50.101 --> 00:11:52.937
  • Yes, yes we are.
  • 00:11:52.937 --> 00:11:54.472
  • I mean, it's really very hard
  • 00:11:54.472 --> 00:11:56.674
  • For a government to control money
  • 00:11:56.674 --> 00:11:58.910
  • When it's this large, this huge, this.
  • 00:11:58.910 --> 00:12:01.412
  • And so many people have their hands in the tolls, etc..
  • 00:12:01.412 --> 00:12:04.715
  • You know,
  • 00:12:04.715 --> 00:12:05.716
  • One of the nicest things about small government
  • 00:12:05.716 --> 00:12:07.518
  • Is it keeps a lot of the corruption away
  • 00:12:07.518 --> 00:12:09.587
  • Because it's all run by private entities
  • 00:12:09.587 --> 00:12:11.622
  • And doing that sort of thing.
  • 00:12:11.622 --> 00:12:12.857
  • And the nice thing about full employment and growth, i mean,
  • 00:12:12.857 --> 00:12:16.327
  • Is that really people get good high paying jobs
  • 00:12:16.327 --> 00:12:18.863
  • Rather than being sitting there and on welfare
  • 00:12:18.863 --> 00:12:20.798
  • And, and food stamps and all this other stuff.
  • 00:12:20.798 --> 00:12:22.567
  • So, you know,
  • 00:12:22.567 --> 00:12:23.935
  • Economic growth does so much more than just numbers.
  • 00:12:23.935 --> 00:12:28.673
  • I mean, you know, you got up, a father comes home and he's
  • 00:12:28.673 --> 00:12:31.909
  • Been unemployed for five, six, eight months a year.
  • 00:12:31.909 --> 00:12:35.179
  • He's in a bad foul mood.
  • 00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:36.581
  • He drinks too much, he hits.
  • 00:12:36.581 --> 00:12:38.082
  • I mean, you know, all of those peripheral things happen
  • 00:12:38.082 --> 00:12:41.285
  • In a slow growth world, in a non prosperous world.
  • 00:12:41.285 --> 00:12:44.522
  • Once you see that growth, start coming
  • 00:12:44.522 --> 00:12:46.490
  • In, you're going to find all sorts of changes
  • 00:12:46.490 --> 00:12:49.026
  • That you don't expect a family sticking together better,
  • 00:12:49.026 --> 00:12:52.797
  • Children raised in more friendly,
  • 00:12:52.797 --> 00:12:54.532
  • Wonderful homes, schools, better functioning.
  • 00:12:54.532 --> 00:12:57.301
  • I mean,
  • 00:12:57.301 --> 00:12:58.302
  • All of this stuff will happen and i'm very,
  • 00:12:58.302 --> 00:13:00.738
  • Very excited about that.
  • 00:13:00.738 --> 00:13:01.873
  • When reagan tax cuts took effect,
  • 00:13:01.873 --> 00:13:04.175
  • I mean, from january 1st, 1983 to june 30th, 1984,
  • 00:13:04.175 --> 00:13:08.880
  • And that 18 month period, us real gdp grew by 12%.
  • 00:13:08.880 --> 00:13:14.218
  • Well, that's at an 8% per annum compound rate of growth.
  • 00:13:14.218 --> 00:13:19.023
  • I mean, we created 20 plus million jobs.
  • 00:13:19.023 --> 00:13:21.659
  • We beat bob at mondale.
  • 00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:23.461
  • We mondale, in the election in 84 by 49
  • 00:13:23.461 --> 00:13:27.231
  • To 50 states, you know, 49 to 1 in the 50 state.
  • 00:13:27.231 --> 00:13:31.869
  • So, you know,
  • 00:13:31.869 --> 00:13:33.271
  • There are a lot of peripheral benefits
  • 00:13:33.271 --> 00:13:35.039
  • That will be coming out of this, including debt going down.
  • 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:38.075
  • And and the
  • 00:13:38.075 --> 00:13:39.310
  • The for the real quality of life will increase dramatically.
  • 00:13:39.310 --> 00:13:42.246
  • I mean, kids that go to school with unpaid unemployed parents,
  • 00:13:42.246 --> 00:13:46.417
  • You know, they come home to a hostel unplanned, be unpleasant
  • 00:13:46.417 --> 00:13:50.554
  • When they come home to parents that have good, full time,
  • 00:13:50.554 --> 00:13:53.424
  • High paying jobs.
  • 00:13:53.424 --> 00:13:54.759
  • It changes the whole structure of society.
  • 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:57.895
  • You know,
  • 00:13:57.895 --> 00:13:58.529
  • I can't begin to tell you
  • 00:13:58.529 --> 00:13:59.697
  • How many peripheral events and things will happen
  • 00:13:59.697 --> 00:14:02.566
  • Once we get into good prosperity, and once,
  • 00:14:02.566 --> 00:14:05.269
  • Once you start getting into prosperity, it feeds on itself.
  • 00:14:05.269 --> 00:14:09.473
  • It goes.
  • 00:14:09.473 --> 00:14:10.574
  • These people are doing well. other people do well.
  • 00:14:10.574 --> 00:14:12.643
  • A state like tennessee cuts taxes and does really well.
  • 00:14:12.643 --> 00:14:15.613
  • And then other states.
  • 00:14:15.613 --> 00:14:16.881
  • I think missouri is thinking
  • 00:14:16.881 --> 00:14:18.215
  • Very much of cutting its income tax out
  • 00:14:18.215 --> 00:14:20.217
  • And all these other things going on. it.
  • 00:14:20.217 --> 00:14:23.321
  • Optimism and
  • 00:14:23.654 --> 00:14:24.822
  • Production are very contagious,
  • 00:14:24.822 --> 00:14:27.959
  • And i'm expecting that to happen across the nation.
  • 00:14:27.959 --> 00:14:30.962
  • And, you know, the white house is working on some program
  • 00:14:30.962 --> 00:14:34.565
  • To get the housing market going again,
  • 00:14:34.565 --> 00:14:36.667
  • But we've never been in a place quite like this before,
  • 00:14:36.667 --> 00:14:38.803
  • At least not in my life.
  • 00:14:38.803 --> 00:14:39.971
  • With a lot of homes tied for mortgages about 4% or less.
  • 00:14:39.971 --> 00:14:43.174
  • Owners don't want to give up those low rates.
  • 00:14:43.174 --> 00:14:45.576
  • The white house believes that the prognosis
  • 00:14:45.576 --> 00:14:47.378
  • For this year is still strong, given what's already in place.
  • 00:14:47.378 --> 00:14:51.215
  • Listen to what they had to say.
  • 00:14:51.215 --> 00:14:52.817
  • The largest tax cuts in american history for middle
  • 00:14:52.817 --> 00:14:56.253
  • Class americans that president trump signed into law last year
  • 00:14:56.253 --> 00:14:59.323
  • Will be going into effect this year.
  • 00:14:59.323 --> 00:15:01.292
  • So hard
  • 00:15:01.292 --> 00:15:01.759
  • Working americans
  • 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.960
  • Will start to see that money going back into their pockets.
  • 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.529
  • We know it.
  • 00:15:05.529 --> 00:15:06.697
  • Core inflation right now is at a five year record low.
  • 00:15:06.697 --> 00:15:09.166
  • The full weight of president trump's economic agenda,
  • 00:15:09.166 --> 00:15:12.436
  • Everything that he and his economic team
  • 00:15:12.436 --> 00:15:14.772
  • Have been doing over the course of the last year
  • 00:15:14.772 --> 00:15:16.974
  • Is really going to come to fruition this year.
  • 00:15:16.974 --> 00:15:19.844
  • Last question.
  • 00:15:19.844 --> 00:15:20.745
  • If the president ask you
  • 00:15:20.745 --> 00:15:21.946
  • What else could be done on the side of government?
  • 00:15:21.946 --> 00:15:23.981
  • What would you tell a very simply,
  • 00:15:23.981 --> 00:15:26.817
  • Which would you prefer writing checks to people who don't work.
  • 00:15:26.817 --> 00:15:31.856
  • Or cutting
  • 00:15:32.156 --> 00:15:32.857
  • Tax rates on people who do work.
  • 00:15:32.857 --> 00:15:36.060
  • That's the lesson to go forward.
  • 00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:38.396
  • And i wish we'd done that during the pandemic,
  • 00:15:38.396 --> 00:15:40.664
  • Because then we wouldn't
  • 00:15:40.664 --> 00:15:41.565
  • Have had the real collapse that occurred.
  • 00:15:41.565 --> 00:15:43.768
  • But right now
  • 00:15:43.768 --> 00:15:44.869
  • What you need to do is make sure that people are tax
  • 00:15:44.869 --> 00:15:48.539
  • Rates are lower and so people find it
  • 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:50.074
  • More attractive to work, and businesses
  • 00:15:50.074 --> 00:15:52.309
  • Find it more attractive to hire those workers,
  • 00:15:52.309 --> 00:15:54.745
  • Whether it's at the state level,
  • 00:15:54.745 --> 00:15:56.113
  • The federal level now here in tennessee.
  • 00:15:56.113 --> 00:15:58.249
  • We need to very, very badly limit property tax increases
  • 00:15:58.249 --> 00:16:02.520
  • So people are not driven out of their homes.
  • 00:16:02.520 --> 00:16:04.655
  • We need a constitutional
  • 00:16:04.655 --> 00:16:05.890
  • Amendment or a legislation initially to do something that
  • 00:16:05.890 --> 00:16:09.293
  • California did long ago, in 1978 that i was very involved in,
  • 00:16:09.293 --> 00:16:13.431
  • But i would not vote for anyone in tennessee state legislature,
  • 00:16:13.431 --> 00:16:17.635
  • Senate or house if they did not promise,
  • 00:16:17.635 --> 00:16:20.938
  • Promise, promise, promise to put a limit, a 2% limit
  • 00:16:20.938 --> 00:16:24.508
  • On the increase in the tax bill for any specific property
  • 00:16:24.508 --> 00:16:28.112
  • Without improvements.
  • 00:16:28.112 --> 00:16:30.081
  • Well, our laffer, thank you for your time today
  • 00:16:31.082 --> 00:16:33.217
  • And for sharing your great wisdom.
  • 00:16:33.217 --> 00:16:35.152
  • We hope to see you again soon, maybe even here in murfreesboro.
  • 00:16:35.152 --> 00:16:38.222
  • I'd love it. i'd love it.
  • 00:16:38.222 --> 00:16:39.156
  • I'm just down here in nashville.
  • 00:16:39.156 --> 00:16:40.357
  • I'm in just opposite vanderbilt.
  • 00:16:40.357 --> 00:16:41.892
  • So any time i'll come up there, you come on down here.
  • 00:16:41.892 --> 00:16:44.895
  • All right, look, we'll get a driver in a moment, though,
  • 00:16:44.895 --> 00:16:48.699
  • If that's free for the gig, when you know where to look.
  • 00:16:48.699 --> 00:16:51.869
  • I'll be right back.
  • 00:16:51.869 --> 00:17:00.001
  • I'll be right back.
  • 00:17:00.001 --> 00:17:04.049
  • You know,
  • 00:17:04.349 --> 00:17:05.450
  • Our reality is that we live in a turbulent world.
  • 00:17:05.450 --> 00:17:07.786
  • Just about any place you put your finger
  • 00:17:07.786 --> 00:17:09.154
  • On the globe, it seems there's a conflict.
  • 00:17:09.154 --> 00:17:11.623
  • It's not an easy time to be at peace.
  • 00:17:11.623 --> 00:17:14.059
  • Volatility in the middle east,
  • 00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:15.594
  • Africa, venezuela, ukraine, russia, china.
  • 00:17:15.594 --> 00:17:18.630
  • And there are also
  • 00:17:19.064 --> 00:17:20.232
  • These loud voices saying the economy is going to crater.
  • 00:17:20.232 --> 00:17:23.235
  • All sorts of dire predictions.
  • 00:17:23.235 --> 00:17:25.237
  • Some are saying the administration
  • 00:17:25.237 --> 00:17:26.671
  • Is leading us down a path of global conflict.
  • 00:17:26.671 --> 00:17:30.142
  • Well, our grocery prices go up.
  • 00:17:30.142 --> 00:17:31.576
  • Well, everything costs more.
  • 00:17:31.576 --> 00:17:33.211
  • You know, fear is broadcast our direction
  • 00:17:33.211 --> 00:17:35.614
  • In overwhelming amounts 24 over seven.
  • 00:17:35.614 --> 00:17:39.184
  • Now, just because we see fearful headlines doesn't mean
  • 00:17:39.184 --> 00:17:42.053
  • That we have to lead our lives dominated by fear.
  • 00:17:42.053 --> 00:17:45.290
  • Admittedly, some of us are world class worriers.
  • 00:17:46.224 --> 00:17:48.960
  • Some of us have actually allowed
  • 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.462
  • Our personalities to be formed around worry.
  • 00:17:50.462 --> 00:17:53.064
  • It quite literally defines us.
  • 00:17:53.064 --> 00:17:55.600
  • Here's the awkward truth.
  • 00:17:55.600 --> 00:17:57.068
  • Worrying doesn't help.
  • 00:17:57.068 --> 00:17:58.370
  • If it did, we would organize worry groups.
  • 00:17:58.370 --> 00:18:00.639
  • We'd help one another worry more.
  • 00:18:00.639 --> 00:18:03.008
  • The old english word for worry literally means to choke
  • 00:18:03.008 --> 00:18:06.278
  • In the way a wolf would worry a lamb
  • 00:18:06.278 --> 00:18:08.880
  • When he grabbed it by the throat.
  • 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:11.116
  • Worry will choke you.
  • 00:18:11.116 --> 00:18:13.251
  • And jesus had something to say about this.
  • 00:18:13.251 --> 00:18:15.220
  • He said, worrying about tomorrow
  • 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:16.354
  • Is just not fruitful, that we forfeit our peace.
  • 00:18:16.354 --> 00:18:19.457
  • So i have a suggestion.
  • 00:18:19.457 --> 00:18:20.625
  • Let's determined to offload our worry to let go of anxiety
  • 00:18:20.625 --> 00:18:24.896
  • In the midst of all the contradictory
  • 00:18:24.896 --> 00:18:26.598
  • Messaging and fear.
  • 00:18:26.598 --> 00:18:27.966
  • Let's be willing and available to hear god's invitation
  • 00:18:27.966 --> 00:18:30.969
  • To cast all of our care on him.
  • 00:18:30.969 --> 00:18:33.338
  • He cares for us.
  • 00:18:33.338 --> 00:18:35.006
  • If we'll spend our energy doing that, we'll find peace
  • 00:18:35.006 --> 00:18:38.577
  • And the confidence we need to face
  • 00:18:38.577 --> 00:18:40.278
  • What's ahead of us with faith in a living god.
  • 00:18:40.278 --> 00:18:43.582
  • And that is a reason for hope.
  • 00:18:43.582 --> 00:18:46.284
  • We'll be right back
  • 00:18:46.751 --> 00:18:47.752
  • With your emails.
  • 00:18:47.752 --> 00:18:55.005
  • With your emails.
  • 00:18:55.005 --> 00:18:59.031
  • Thank you for taking the time to share
  • 00:18:59.865 --> 00:19:01.467
  • Your thoughts and opinions with us.
  • 00:19:01.467 --> 00:19:03.336
  • Your emails are always a highlight of the program.
  • 00:19:03.336 --> 00:19:06.272
  • A viewer on youtube commented, the first way to tell
  • 00:19:06.272 --> 00:19:09.375
  • If a person is lying is if they tell you
  • 00:19:09.375 --> 00:19:11.611
  • They'll give you something for nothing.
  • 00:19:11.611 --> 00:19:13.779
  • They'll also tell you that only they have what is best for you.
  • 00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:17.250
  • Well, i have a sister
  • 00:19:17.750 --> 00:19:18.951
  • Who would not vote for trump because he's mean in her eyes.
  • 00:19:18.951 --> 00:19:21.654
  • Those who were offering
  • 00:19:21.654 --> 00:19:22.722
  • Her pretty
  • 00:19:22.722 --> 00:19:23.889
  • Lies were nicer than someone who was telling the truth.
  • 00:19:23.889 --> 00:19:27.293
  • Well, i would rather hear and deal
  • 00:19:27.293 --> 00:19:28.661
  • With the truth and listen to pretty lies.
  • 00:19:28.661 --> 00:19:31.497
  • Keep praying for god to bless the usa.
  • 00:19:31.497 --> 00:19:34.533
  • Well, i agree, the truth, even when it's uncomfortable,
  • 00:19:34.533 --> 00:19:37.336
  • Gives us a better future than a lie that makes us feel good.
  • 00:19:37.336 --> 00:19:40.773
  • You went to the doctor
  • 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:42.108
  • And he wouldn't tell you the truth,
  • 00:19:42.108 --> 00:19:43.409
  • Because he wanted you to be happy
  • 00:19:43.409 --> 00:19:44.844
  • With whatever he said to you.
  • 00:19:44.844 --> 00:19:46.579
  • We'd call that malpractice and that doctor a quack.
  • 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:50.416
  • I believe people in positions of authority that hide the truth,
  • 00:19:50.416 --> 00:19:53.986
  • To try to win friendship or votes or quacks,
  • 00:19:53.986 --> 00:19:57.556
  • And they're committing malpractice.
  • 00:19:57.556 --> 00:19:59.992
  • A viewer on youtube said.
  • 00:19:59.992 --> 00:20:01.594
  • Thanks, pastor, for covering topics others won't touch.
  • 00:20:01.594 --> 00:20:05.364
  • Well, i don't believe we have the luxury of compartmentalizing
  • 00:20:05.364 --> 00:20:09.135
  • Our lives and having a
  • 00:20:09.135 --> 00:20:11.604
  • Spiritual life and a business life, or a recreational life.
  • 00:20:11.604 --> 00:20:14.707
  • I don't think we can have a face for church
  • 00:20:14.707 --> 00:20:16.809
  • And a face for our friends that we know outside of church.
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  • We've got to integrate our lives
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  • Because we have to be willing
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  • To talk about what's happening in our world
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  • And try to understand it from a biblical worldview.
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  • Thanks for the encouragement.
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  • Well, i'm alan jackson.
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  • Thank you for spending a few minutes of your day with us,
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  • And i pray you have a wonderful evening.
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