Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio: The government's bet on growth is long and risky

US Deficit and Economic Policy - Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio discussed the US deficit as a "ticking time bomb" [2] - The US government's policy is a bet on growth, aiming to stimulate growth and lower interest rates to reduce debt service costs [2][3] - Tariff revenue is estimated to be $300-400 billion annually, while spending is approximately $7 trillion and revenue is $5 trillion [2] - Lowering interest rates is intended to stimulate growth and asset prices, while also lowering the cost of debt service [3] Economic Disparity and Technological Impact - There's a significant economic divide, with the top 1-10% (tech and AI-sensitive) performing well, while the bottom 60% (with low reading levels) are becoming less productive [4][5] - The economy and markets cannot be viewed as a whole due to the growing wealth gap, which is also seen in the UK and France [5][6] - Wealth creation is shifting from income to unicorn creation, impacting income taxes and leading to potential relocation issues [7] Political Conflict and Uncertainty - The democratic system is facing challenges with political conflict between the left and right, impacting compromise and cooperation [10] - Political conflict creates uncertainties about taxes, living locations, and investment decisions, contributing to the appeal of gold [11][12]