QUICK TAKES….

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While the GOP debates the success of Bidenomics look at your 401(k) balance. Has it grown in the past year? Unless you’ve been victimized by someone selling you an annuity–the answer is “yes”. Why? Every major stock exchange has set new records in the past 6 months. The smart money–the professional investors, money managers, pension fund advisers, and the super wealthy see the potential gain based on all the currently favorable economic factors. Economics 101 in action says that a healthy economy is a growing economy–one that can create jobs consistently. Look at the Biden record. Nearly 15 million new jobs created in little more than 3 years compared to the Trump record of 6 million in 4 years. Yes, give some slack because of COVID but remember the difference is still staggering. It won’t be smooth sailing forever but the horizon is clear and, until clouds start rolling in, it’s full speed ahead.

While we’re talking “economy” it is important to mention artificial intelligence. Even the “AI” experts aren’t able to predict the impact on our economy and our overall daily life. But they all warn (and we’re starting to see this) that jobs will be eliminated because of the ability of AI to replace the human contribution. Look back for a moment to the beginning of the 20th century. In the early 1900’s as we began the industrial age and labor saving machinery and assembly line processes took over the mainstream. There was a hue and cry that the average workers would be laid off and unable to support himself and his family. Economists immediately pointed out that–while many would be displaced temporarily–they would not be unemployed. They would be “disemployed”–meaning that the nature of their job will change but the new processes would re-absorb them into new roles. No, this didn’t mean each person would fare well; but it did mean that–on the whole–employment would stabilize as the industrial age matured. Only time will tell if this AI evolution will have the same impact.

This is an odd stat for readers who like statistics. A recent report on life expectancy by state showed an interesting pattern. Of the states with the highest life expectancy, all but one (Utah) is a “blue” (Democratic) state; and of the states with the lowest life expectancy, all but one (New Mexico) is a “red” (Republican) state. Maybe that’s one of the reasons that more people vote Democratic–simply because there are more of them and they live longer. Or maybe it’s just a fluke…

Just to update the ridiculous idea that a president should be immune from prosecution for anything he does while in office…if the “injustices” at the US Supreme Court rule in favor of total immunity, we suggest that President Biden immediately arrest and deport Donald Trump and confiscate whatever net value he has in his “empire”. We can see many positive uses for his New York properties, his golf courses and anything else that survives the New York fraud penalties. After all, without his highly mortgaged assets he won’t have any place to stay in the US and this would give him a chance at a fresh start with Putin, Kim Jong Un, or some other tyrant.

Although it deserves a more prominent place in our posting, abortion has been tossed around so much that you might think everything that could be said–has been said….not so. Abortion bans have not been as numerous or as strict for over 50 years as they are right now. In some states not only are there civil and criminal charges but also bounties are made available to anyone who “rats” on those seeking an abortion. Now add to that outrageous mess the fact that syphilis cases are increasing rapidly according to the Centers for Disease Control. Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, seriously complicates the life of a pregnant woman. It poses a health risk for both mother and fetus and, if left untreated, can have dire consequences. If we assume that infected individuals who have the financial means will get the medical care they need we must also assume that lower income infected women will be forced to carry their fetus full term–whatever the outcome. This is just another veiled manner of discrimination against a defenseless population. Has the GOP in Texas, Tennessee, and other “red” states really thought out what their laws are doing and will do to their citizens, their communities, their welfare plan costs, their housing dilemmas and all the other negatives produced?