In 2020, about 350 thousand Americans were killed by Covid.  In 2021, another 500 thousand Americans were killed. In 2020, Wall Street boomed, with the S&P up about 16 percent.  In 2021, the S&P boomed again, up about 26 percent. So, how can the stock market continue to rise so much when so many Americans … Continue reading An Unintended Consequence

This year, I lost six friends – five of whom were also clients.  Each leaves a hole in my life, and I miss them already.  Depressed by the crushing grind  of the pandemic, I miss them even more. A few months ago, we went to the SPCA and adopted a blind rescue cat, who was … Continue reading Lesson for 2022

Every economist knows you can curb inflation most easily by raising interest rates, but there are some hidden costs.  Of course, nothing is ever simple. To raise interest costs, go to www.usdebtclock.org , and you’ll see our national debt is over $29 trillion and speeding toward $30 trillion.  Then, pick up your iPhone and ask … Continue reading Alternatives to Inflation

Everybody knows that immigrants are bad.  They take our jobs.  They suck up welfare dollars and healthcare dollars and education dollars.  Most of all, they violate our laws, believing that their families are more important to them than our laws — how silly! So, what’s wrong with the U.K., Canada, Japan and Australia?  According to … Continue reading Those Silly Foreigners

Senator Bob Dole was a great American! He was a genuine war hero and a lion of the Senate. It would have been an honor to salute the man! I wanted to watch his funeral on TV and scheduled my exercise that day, so I could watch it while on the treadmill. When I got … Continue reading A Time for Respect . . . or Allegiance ?

Two of my favorite investment strategists are Jeremy Siegel of Wharton and Jeff Gundlach of Doubletree.  One is an affable professor, and the other is an aggressive CEO.  They’re both brilliant. Neither thinks the stock market is facing any imminent collapse.  Dr. Siegel thinks it is riding the huge increase in money supply.  Gundlach thinks … Continue reading Two Smart Guys

The silly little truth that makes economists snicker is this:  Presidents get too much credit when the economy is strong and too much blame when the economy is weak. The American economy is too big to change directions quickly and too tied into the world economy to change greatly.  Of course, the stock market is … Continue reading Presidential Humans?

As a rambunctious six-year-boy, I cracked off half of a front tooth, earning the nickname of “snaggle-tooth”.  As my mother told me, if you don’t mind, then it doesn’t matter, and I honestly didn’t mind. For many decades, my wife encouraged me to have cosmetic dentistry, including expensive veneers, which I ignored.  However, when she … Continue reading Secret Prejudice