“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Peter Drucker
These are the lesser events but still important.
October 27, 2023
Las Vegas Aces won their second straight WNBA title. About 800,000 people tuned in. Can you name 3 players in that league? Soon, a biological male will win the scoring title. Hope not.
NYC has banned Airbnb for short term rentals. Plus slapped on new rules. Another example of government involvement in small business. This will result in a huge decline in rentals. Why does NYC care how long you rent your house? The hotel industry lobby hates Airbnb. Plus, they say it hurts the supply of “affordable housing.” Hogwash! Travel to NYC will be hurt.
The Nobel prize in Economics was awarded to American Claudia Goldin. She is a professor at Harvard. She studied the pay “Gender Gap” going back 200 years in the US. Although she did not offer many conclusions, she did note “Education and career choices as the main causes for the “Gender Gap.” She claims through research that men are often employed in “greedy jobs” like law and consultancy where the pay can be substantial. And she dismisses current claims about systemic employer-based gender bias. She also cautions about the “work from home” option being impactful on women. Last year’s NB prize winner was Ben Bernanke, Fed Chairman, who steered the US through the financial crisis of 2007-2008.
A record 2.6 million British workers have been classified as unfit for work. Those that apply for social benefits are accepted at an 80% level. In other wealthy countries the rate is 30-50%. British economists say this situation is a cause of the labor shortage. Plus, the cost to British government (lower tax payments and higher welfare spending) is significant. Those classified as permanently unfit get even more benefits (2X), so claimants tend to “expand” their ailments.
Mexican drug cartels are the 5th largest private employer in Mexico. The cartels “employ” about 175,000 people, mostly men. Walmart is bigger. Sadly, the Mexican National Guard has about 100,000 soldiers.
Lastly, I read an article by retired Army General William Enyart. He was calling attention to the cost-cutting measures planned by the Department of Veterans Affairs. These planned cuts will significantly reduce the transportation services for veterans. Often, veterans need transport vehicles with medical staff on board to monitor their medical conditions. Ambulance reimbursements is a good example of the planned cuts. Private ambulance trips cost $1500 in Chicago for a one-way trip. Biden is sending $75 billion to the Ukraine, so why are we cutting funds to the VA. General Enyart says “we must not leave any vet behind.”
High Truths and Low Lies 