What Americans Want and why Democrats Failed

[Patong2021]

6 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

I am a 70+ years old guy in NE Thailand. I have and have never had any immediate family wives or children in USofA (e.g. the guy whose daughter comes to visit him in Thailand and she is older than his current Thai wife).

 

As far as MY connection to the US, what matters to me are these concerns:

 

The US Stock market 
The money/bond market
Social Security
Medicare (if needed)
The USD to Thai baht exchange rate to the extent influenced by the US economy

 

And for me, personally, as long as those things stay copacetic I don't really care who is US President.
 

 

Understood. However, A 2023 survey conducted by Payroll.org highlighted that 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, a 6% increase from the previous year. In other words, more than three-quarters of Americans struggle to save or invest after paying for their monthly expenses.  https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/living-paycheck-to-paycheck-statistics-2024/#:~:text=or lost income.-,How Many Americans Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck%3F,paying for their monthly expenses.

 

The Forbes article is potent and to be honest, I am oblivious to their plight. Like you, I am concerned only with my ROI on investments. I am still paying into the retirement plans, and doubt I will collect what I contributed to the government when the time comes to claim the benefit. The Trump campaign understood the fears and concerns of the paycheck to paycheck people and gave them something to  dream for, to hope for. The Democrats did not. Desperate people will attach themselves to the candidate who offers a chance to do better.

 

 

[Patong2021]

6 hours ago, mogandave said:

Say the median age of account owners is 40. What might be the expected value of a $30K in an S&P index fund in 25 years? 

 

Long term planning and strategy is not a trait of the US citizen or of US companies. Very few Americans are thinking about 25 years. Most are struggling to pay this month's expenses.

Over several decades I have worked for large US multinationals. The emphasis, the focus was always on short term gain, of increasing share price and maximizing shareholder return. 

[Patong2021]

6 hours ago, mogandave said:

$1,000 invested in an S & P 500 index fund in 1985 would be worth about $45k today. 

If in addition to the initial $1,000 investment, you invested $100 per month, the value today would be about $600k.

 That's nice. Please adjust for after tax and time value.

Also, please reflect the reality. The vast majority of Americans are struggling to pay this month's expenses. The server at Denny's, the cashier at Walmart, the school teacher in Topeka,  typically does not have $100 a month to invest like this.