Let me try to get this back on track.
Our negotiating environment is a product of four things:
1. International economics
2. Petroleum availability and refining capacity and Supply/demand
3. Domestic economy (potential customers must have disposable income)
4. Regulatory environment
The POTUS has direct influence on two of those factors (3 and 4). Indirect influence on 2 and as the primary driver on the Federal Reserve and our banking and finance laws is the single most important catalyst in determining how, when, and where money is spent internationally as well as influencing everything from interest rates to exchange rates.
If the balance between regulation (both labor and economics) is not fair, in the minds of those with the big money to either spend or invest that money will be left off-shore where it currently is. About 17 trillion dollars is out of the economy right now and will not be put in play until it is a more favorable environment.
If our Federal reserve policy is free money, then interest rates stay low. great for the new home owner if he/she can get approved for a loan. bad for the investor and the person with a savings account. Federal reserve policy influences international economics, and right now it's not that good. We can't even absorb a quarter point increase.
China's manipulation of our currency under the current administration is a failed policy. Not only is China slowing down, but its stalling and the prime holder of US debt is having its own problems due in part to a slowing international scene. Not enough people have money to spend on cheap chinese goods. (imagine that)?? crazy right.??
We have cheap oil right now, in part because Obama wants to break Russia. Russia is ****sed and that's the main reason Russia is running about rubbing our nose in it. All these crazy EPA rules and regulations are digging their tentacles into various businesses and industries across the country and that is having an effect on not only the so-called recovery, but in R/D, manufacturing, and even farming. Fuel prices will go up, they always do. But, will our economy be sufficiently recovered to absorb the effects? Can the airline industry make money when fuel prices go up? I am very concerned about the petroleum market and how the airline industry is directly affected by it. I wonder how Delta's refinery is going? If Iran increases its influence and dominance, look for not only control over oil exports in the ME, but also strait of Hormuz taxes and for international insurance companies to raise rates for all ships transiting the straits. Oil will be headed up.