Many people are upset with the economy and don’t care what the macroeconomic measures (GNP, inflation rate, job numbers) say. They watch the meter as they fill their gas tanks and stare unbelievingly at the total at the grocery store for just a few bags. (This video from the Canadian comedy program “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” is a hilarious take on the feeling most people, including me — and, yes, not just in this country — have buying groceries these days, especially when your in-laws have requested a freaking charcuterie board.)

Everyone also knows that American workers have been incredibly productive for the past 50-some years, but since the reign of Ronald Reagan have not had anything near their fair share in that national productivity. In fact, according to our local St. Louis Federal Reserve, our share has been on a general downward trajectory for decades.

What many people don’t know (or refuse to believe) is that Democratic presidents have outperformed Republican presidents in economic growth measures throughout the modern era — often dramatically. From President Jimmy Carter’s single term through Trump’s single term, four Republican administrations (Reagan, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Trump) saw about 16.7 million jobs and three Democratic administrations (Carter, Clinton, Obama) saw 44.6 million jobs created during their time in office. (If you exclude Reagan, Republican job gains through Trump’s one term are a paltry 1.3 million.) President Biden's gains so far have come because he is actively investing in the future of the country.

Oh, and by the way, of the last eleven recessions, ten have occurred under Republican presidents. Democrats tend to find themselves moving their personal effects into the White House when the economy is in bad shape.

Scroll through the charts from my hometown Fed and look at real GDP growth, unemployment rates, or any other major measure of economic activity, and it gives the lie, often whopping, to the silly, but entrenched, notion that Republicans are better stewards of the economy. Republican numbers are often, I suppose appropriately, in the red.

It’s worth noting that the country lost 2.7 million jobs during Trump’s “always winning” term (yes, a figure mostly impacted by the pandemic) and we have already picked up nearly 15 million jobs so far in Biden’s first term. Since Republicans are forever calling Democrats big spenders, take a glance at deficit spending — but maybe only a glance, because if you are a Republican voter you won’t be happy.

Biden’s economy three years in is so strong, in so many ways, that Trump has taken to whining that it’s really his economy. On top of that, he says that he hopes the economy tanks this year (so, what, he wants his economy to fall over?) and says that the stock market will crash if he doesn’t win in 2024. As usual, for the former guy, it doesn’t matter what the facts are or how many Americans might get hurt. (If it somehow hasn’t been clear to you up to now, as far as Trump’s concerned the country can ROT IN HELL, so long as things work out well for him.)

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Furthermore, your locally located Republicans, in Congress and state houses, are historically to blame for most of the economic woes of the middle and working classes, acting like Dickensian villains while also relentlessly attacking Medicare, Social Security, health care........

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