Tag: The economy

Opinion

Your 401K or your future

Many Americans repeatedly say their main reason for support of Trump is the economy. In the last week a United Nations conference in Madrid on climate change concluded in failure despite scientists alerting world leaders that we are heading for the worst case scenario. A major reason cited for the failure to act on climate change is the current United States leadership not believing in it, or acting to mitigate it. As Americans consider the cost of Trump on the moral plane, the national security front, the maintenance of the republic, and the respect for institutions; we need to see the speeding freight train of climate crisis coming. Facts and truth don’t apparently matter for a portion of Americans supporting Trump, but there will be no escaping a climate that does not support human civilization at the current scale. We can still escape the worst of a nightmare future, but scientist are alerting all of us that time is running out.

Opinion

College debt and planning

Dave Ramsey and his team (Anthony O’Neil author of Debt Free Degree) have turned up the volume on the college debt conversation. Ramsey believes that going into debt is almost always a mistake, and should be avoided through planning. Ramsey and O’Neil advise students to go to a value school, get scholarships, and work their way through college. It sounds like a better idea than going deeply into debt and hoping the government pays off the loan. It is good that people thinking about college are being encouraged to think seriously about the cost.

Opinion

Tax cuts and Tariffs – no strategy

The United States economy is the most powerful in the world, and we currently seem to have no strategy to make life better for citizens. We have had tax cuts that mostly went to the wealthy and corporations who did not need them. We have a tariff war going on with several countries that does not appear to have a theme or focus. Many experts are saying that we need to confront China about copyright issues, currency manipulation, etc., but that is not our focus. We have not put together previous allies to help us deal with China; Trump has alienated allies and attempted an attack on China without any help. The United States has many power multipliers including what is called soft power (our image, culture, technology, etc.), and allies. Trump is not using American power with great effect, but is acting as a solo amateur. America can do better.

Opinion

Recession is not the big problem

There is a lot of talk these days about the White House being worried about a recession. The big problem for the United States revolves around honesty and good governance. A majority of people inside the United States and outside the United States no longer believe our nation is an honest broker. Many see the administration as being corrupt and unbound by alliances, human rights, democracy, or free markets. Deals are made behind closed doors and the true details are kept under wraps. What the administration says is important changes from day to day depending on the news cycle. America’s larger problem is that no one knows which way we are heading, or if we will stay the course on important issues at home and around the world.

Opinion

What is the situation in Central America?

We have been hearing a lot of news about people from certain countries in Central America wanting to come to the United States. I have recently heard two versions of the reason for a surge of immigration to our border. First that climate change is creating shortages of food and jobs pushing people to migrate to opportunity in the USA. The second is that the New Mexican president welcomed people to transit through his country on the way to the USA with easy visas (according to a possible political rival and member of the previous Mexican government). Because how those who defend our borders and society are treating these immigrants; we need to know what are the real reasons for this recent wave of immigration. I think most Americans would prefer that we help people have decent lives in their own countries; first here in the USA, and down in Central America, instead of cruelty and chaos at the border.

Opinion

Senator Warren has a plan

The 2020 election will have a massive impact on the future of our country and the world. Will we remain a republic, will we fight tyranny, will working people get a fair chance, will we lead the effort to keep the earth human friendly? Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is a fighter and has some thought provoking plans to lead the USA to a better day. She knows that she cannot do it alone. People power is required for real change – there are no messiahs, and dark money (extra votes for the unidentifiable power elites of various countries) must be eliminated from our politics.

Opinion

What will the Trump Tariffs lead to?

Many of us grew up as the children of Great Depression parents who made a point of never wasting anything useful. That generation made a point of consuming as much as possible – if it looked like something you could use you bought it. I was taught that the Great Depression was the result of tariffs and foolish policies on the part of the developed countries of the world. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff etc. made a bad economic situation worse. Too much money in too few hands became a train wreck that almost destroyed capitalism. Now we see a poorly educated, and emotionally imbalanced president using tariff authority like a toy. We are all possibly in jeopardy.

Opinion

Climate change – anxiety and hope

I believe the issue of human induced climate change continuously hovers in the thoughts of a majority of our society. People may not speak of it, or admit that they think about it, but it is in our minds creating angst. A recent poll cited climate change as a reason that a sizable group of millennials did not want children. Population is a driver in climate change. I think the negative tone of our debate over immigration is driven in part by the idea that their are hordes of people looking to come to the USA and Western Europe to escape drought, and violence. There is no doubt that a looming and existential threat is growing.

I believe that there is hope in technology linked to our free markets creating viable solutions that do not include massive wars and die offs. Leadership (selected by an aware citizenry) will make the difference in whether or not we are heading into a long night, or a bright new day.

Opinion

Guarding the economy

Today it seems that the creep of politics and greater corruption is targeting the Fed, stock markets, and potentially the world economy. Citizens must press our representatives to defend the truth and our institutions. Political hacks, and alternative reality types cannot be allowed on the Federal Reserve Board, and tax breaks should not continue to be used to pump up stock values. We must demand honesty, expertise, and truth from our officials and leaders.