According to Wikipedia, the Green New Deal (GND) is any of several proposed economic stimulus programs in the U.S. that aim to address both economic inequality and climate change. The name refers to the New Deal, a combination of social and economic reforms and public works projects undertaken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response … Continued
Years ago, in response to Los Angeles smog, Johnny Carson reputedly quipped, “I don’t trust air I can’t see.” Maybe so Johnny, but your lungs and eyes understand the health benefits of clean air. Scientists and policymakers generally agree that the world will have to quit coal to have any hope of restoring universal air … Continued
A February 4, 2019 article in the Wall Street Journal titled How to Invest When Markets Are Down noted that “If you have a lump sum to invest, rather than a small amount each month, you may be better off investing it all at once, mainly because keeping it on the sidelines in cash while … Continued
According to Wikipedia, this is an English expression purported to be a translation of a traditional Chinese curse. While, at first glance, this may be seen as a blessing, it is normally used ironically, with the clear implication that uninteresting times of peace and tranquility are more life-enhancing than interesting periods, which, from a historical … Continued
This quotation is generally attributed to Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and is sometimes modified to read, “Politics is the Art of Compromise.” Governing is not football, and while UCLA football’s coach, “Red” Sanders quote, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing,” may be appropriate for sports, it is not suitable for government. It would probably … Continued
The short answer is no, but the value of benefits may erode over time. The long term viability of the Social Security program is a recurring topic. Recently, the Social Security Administration reported that this year retirement benefits paid out each month are exceeding the tax revenues and interest that fund the program. Consequently, it … Continued
The book-to-bill ratio is a measure of the relationship between the amount a company bills over a specific period (a month, a year, etc.), and new orders. To the extent that new orders exceed or fall short of current revenues, backlogs increase or fall. A book-to-bill ratio higher than one means that more orders were … Continued
This is the title of a recent Wall Street Journal editorial written by Elisabeth Braw, referencing a major military exercise, in and around Norway, involving 31 countries. She notes that the West suffers from what is sometimes called “sea blindness”, a general ignorance of maritime and naval affairs. She goes on to suggest that, since … Continued
There has been a great deal written about the retirement opportunities provided by an informed and intelligent approach to your 401(k). However, given the importance of effectively managing your 401(k), a fresh look can’t hurt. A recent article in USA TODAY presented 7 useful steps towards making the most of your 401(k), as summarized below. … Continued
This is the last line of a John Milton sonnet and has been subject to a wide range of interpretations. One possible interpretation might relate to the fact that first responders are definitely serving, whether they are on stand-by or actually in the field addressing an emergency. Investors might benefit from recognizing that they may … Continued
There seems to be a disconnect between the Fed’s expectations and those of investors. The Fed appears to continue to expect that the economy will grow at rate above 2% during 2019, which, when viewed in the context of very low unemployment, could lead to an inflation rate above the Fed’s 2% target. Investors by … Continued
Many investors tend to keep a fairly short term perspective regarding their equity portfolio despite the fact that this asset class is typically held in a portfolio to provide long term growth. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly easy to track one’s portfolio on a daily basis via a smart phone, … Continued
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