I just finished reading “Religion’s Sudden Decline: What is Causing It and What Comes Next” by Ronald Inglehart in 2021. He is a professor at the University of Michigan. The book is a scholarly work and, as such, is not easy reading. The first half of the book is full of references to the work of other professors, but the back half has interesting nuggets. …
Republicans and Democrats make lousy financial advisors. However, MODERATE Republicans and MODERATE Democrats make excellent financial advisors, but they are tough to find. That’s why it is necessary to say something NEGATIVE about a politician before saying anything POSITIVE. NEGATIVE: Neither President Biden nor the Democratic Party have any clue, much less any understanding, of the crisis on the southern border. It is too easy…
There is a lot of noise out there! Inflation is running wild. Shortages are everywhere, from cars to baby formula. The sky is falling?? Why aren’t you more worried?? Of course, curbing inflation is critical, but I’m optimistic it will be largely controlled by year-end for several reasons. First, the Fed may have been late starting, but they are now raising interest rates rapidly —…
This is NOT an “I told you so” blog entry! Last week’s crash of crypto values was terrifying, with some losses as much as 90%. There was a real human-dimension to this, with multiple bankruptcies. Let us not be insensitive to their losses. When Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies became newsworthy some years ago, I was not impressed. Frequently, I wrote “tell me one thing –…
Another fuzzy-faced delusional punk shot up a bunch a innocent people in Buffalo this weekend. As is normal, his parents were shocked and heartbroken. You can blame the parents, the kid, his guns, even the spineless, soul-less politicians who accept money from the National Rifle Association (NRA). As a former member of the NRA, I blame the NRA. In its mindless defense of the Second…
Keynesian economists see recessions as a failure of demand. Consumers don’t want to buy or cannot buy the goods that are produced. Deficit spending by the government covers that shortfall in demand, thus avoiding recession. Inflation only happens when demand increases more or faster than supply. This is called fiscal policy and is governed by Congress and the President. Monetarists see inflation as “always and…
Republicans tend to look at the flow of illegal immigrants on our Southern border and see scruffy dope-pushers with no respect for American laws nor American values. Democrats tend to look at the flow of undocumented workers on our Southern border and see wretched refugees fleeing persecution from gangs and corrupt politicians. Economists, however, see one of the “Four Factors of Production” being squandered and…
Have you ever said . . . there is nothing to worry about? Ever?? Worrying is what humans do, especially investors. We worry . . . a lot! Pundits joke that Wall Street is ALWAYS trying to climb a Wall of Worry. Sometimes, the Wall is tall. Sometimes, it is short. There was a time, a mere 25 months ago, when we had no worries…
