Number 1 Issue in the Upcoming Election facing Americans – Taxes plus Trade

I was reading an article published on the CNBC website on October 5, 2016 entitled, This plan brings $2.5 trillion in corporate cash home, and creates jobs.  I was struck by how the economic issue which underlies the argument for this plan may be the single most important issue for several generations.  If left unaddressed by the next elected President, the U.S. will continue to left on a path of perpetual decline.

On the surface, the plan explained in the article nails a good U.S. tax policy response which can potentially unravel the mess we are currently in as a country. But, the cash being hoarded overseas by multi-national companies has a couple of more elements than just the tax rate in the U.S. for corporations. Elements which oddly may not be remedied by a tax code change alone.

The economic issue the U.S. faces is structural, and caused by trade agreements which place the U.S. in the position of exporting jobs for the purpose of importing investment dollars for the U.S. debt. Not a good trade for average American workers who deserve to be able to make a living, but an excellent way for crafty U.S. politicians to try to rule the world.

The historical data clearly show this issue began to manifest itself in uncontrollable fashion post the signing of NAFTA, a hallmark Clinton agreement. Little wonder that the Clinton Foundation is so beloved by so many foreign governments and billionaires such a George Soros and media moguls with International, not American best interest in mind. Many of these "VIPs" can be found to have been given special access to the Clinton State Department as a part of this appeasement foreign policy strategy; not to mention that the Clinton's have scampered off with over a $100M in the process over the past 4 years through the Clinton Foundation, speaking fees, etc..

A change in tax policy may unravel the mess, but could create, at least in the short-term, nothing more than a run on the U.S. debt as the $2.5T in overseas dollar based cash, currently parked primarily in U.S. Treasuries, is sold to take advantage of a tax break windfall. The reason I am skeptical is because the tax policy did not create the problem in the first place, the trade agreements did.  Changing the tax policy only changes the financial flow of capital. Without a solid basis for investment in a U.S. economy which would remain severely disadvantaged by poorly structured trade agreements, the end result would very likely not provide the intended result.

I look for a Clinton Presidency, just like the Obama administration, to stand in the way of any move to unleash these overseas dollars. The basis for the Clinton campaign dollar largess is heavily indebted to those with an interest in the perpetuation of the fleecing of the average American citizen, and pushing the U.S. even more into debt. And, these campaign contributions want pay-back in the form of jobs for foreign, not American workers.  In addition, don’t look for any of these foreign interests to pay a dime of the multi-trillion dollar tax increases proposed in the Clinton economic plan.

My book, Theory of Financial Relativity, published in 2013, provides in-depth research in how and when the U.S. debt expansion became a serious threat to the growth and prosperity of the U.S. economy, and ultimately the wealth manifested in the value of the U.S. stock market.  Please consider reading the book if you want to understand why the tax and trade issue, in my opinion, is the single most important issue facing America in the upcoming election.




Daniel Moore is the author of the book Theory of Financial Relativity: Unlocking Market Mysteries that will Make You a Better Investor.  All opinions and analyses shared in this article are expressly his own, and intended for information purposes only and not advice to buy or sell.