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How low interest rates from the banks created 2009 financial crisis were squeezing Americans and most of all seniors
06/05/2024
In 2010 Charles Schwab pointed out that low interest rates were squeezing Americans, most of all seniors on fixed incomes and pensions. In 2024 first quarter the higher interest rates in one quarter alone created an additional $770 billion in interest and dividends for Americans, many of them seniors, according to US Federal Reserve. This is the damage done by the recklessness of the banks and financial sector and seniors have paid heavily for this and for the wars in the Middle East which reduced the growth potential of the US economy that were embraced by Reagan and Bush, Trump and Obama. The war money was not used to build new infrastructure to replace the old as it should have been leading to China having new infrastructure and America's being aging and worn out.
Linked Articles
Low Interest Rates Are Squeezing Seniors
Wall Street Journal 03/30/2010
Americans Have More Investment Income Than Ever BeforeWSJ 06/05/2024
Carlos Tavares and the contrast with Fiat Sergio Marchionne, Tesla Elon Musk- the need today for new role models for health and worklife balance, respect for dignity of workern
02/05/2024
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis that brings together Fiat, Chrysler and Peugeot, as shown in a WSJ report, respects workers right to have a weekend free of email requests to recharge their batteries for the new week starting Mondays. Tavares sees great value in worklife balance, respect for dignity and health of workers. He believes this delivers productive work better than alternatives such as that under Sergio Marchionne the Fiat leader running Chrysler who worked constantly, with excessively long hours, unending travel and smoking incessantly say reports, that took its toll on health- setting a poor role model for managing business and for the younger generation. A similar situation is presented by Mr. Musk compared to Mr. Tavares. Striking is the respect for the dignity of workers that comes with respecting worklife balance. This was a major issue in this years UAW negotiations. Leaders from Scholz in Germany and Biden in US, Modi in India, have called for respect for dignity of work and workers as the kind of society we want to build and we want to live in. The founder of Silicon Valley Andy Grove who founded Intel that powers the chips on every laptop always reminded his readers this is the kind of society he wanted to live in.
Linked Articles
Elon Musk Says Donald Trump Should ‘Sail Into the Sunset’ in Latest Spat
WSJ 07/12/2022
WSJ News Exclusive | The Money and Drugs That Tie Elon Musk to Some Tesla DirectorsWSJ 02/04/2024
Try hard but not too hard-cutting yourself some slack improves health and concentration, the Andy Grove principle for slack in your work routine reinforces this
09/15/2023
People forget that this applies to sports athletes and high achieving people. Andy Grove, founder of Intel and of Silicon Valley, believed in keeping some slack in his work routine and schedule. He left Hungary in 1956 after the Hungarian revolution and Russian invasion as a refugee, and graduated first in his class in the City College of New York in chemical engineering 3 years later. In 3 more years he obtained a PhD from UC Berkeley. In his book Output Management he says productive arrangement is one that keeps slack in the way that highway planners know that having too many cars compared to capacity means everything comes to a halt. In his daily work he always believed in having some slack. Today people pile on work upon work forgetting these basic principles. The other principle is leveraging of activities which is where the output comes from. To leverage effectively concentration of mind is needed and a chance to reflect and think, which requires slack and slack that adds additional time for healthy living that aids mindfulness. This adds to Motivation and Training which Grove says affect Output. To do this requires some slack to think and reflect and healthy lifestyles that power this process. This is also why the competing styles today show contrasts between those of Boeing's top managers and Stellantis managers similar to Grove and Musk's style for Tesla also shown in WSJ in the last few months being just the opposite.
Linked Articles
Burnt-out from work? Try following Hugh Jackman’s 85% rule
The Guardian 09/15/2023
Try Hard, but Not That Hard. 85% Is the Magic Number for Productivity.WSJ 09/11/2023
Mr. Trump's loosening of banking regulation and regulatory culture and the crisis it caused.
04/29/2023
The laws passed in the US Congress to limit the regulation of US banks imposed after the 2009 crisis led to leaving a gap for midsized banks where there would be less regulation. The appointment of Randy Quarles to Fed Vice Chair Supervision by Mr. Trump in 2019 led to the new culture which took the attitude the less regulation the better 14 years after the 2009 banking crisis, and the collapse of several banks in 2023, endangering the US banking system when the US needs a huge capacity to invest in the nation.
Linked Articles
Friendshoring- US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Jake Sullivan NSA Advisor's call to invest in India
03/07/2023
American leaders president Biden, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan call for friendshoring- to invest in Indian manufacturing. This will reduce concentration of manufacturing in one country and create abetter more resilient supply chain. The pandemic and supply chain problems that added to inflation showed the extraordinary risks of the existing supply chain. As pointed out by FInance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in an interview at Raisina Dialogue India is creating the right conditions to attract foreign investors in Indian maufacturing for advanced technologies.
Linked Articles
U.S. Pursues India as a Supply-Chain Alternative to China
WSJ 03/06/2023
Raisina Dialogue 2023: In conversation with Finance Minister Nirmala SitharamanThe Economic Times 03/06/2023
Years of hyper growth followed by slight or shrinking growth in China
07/31/2022
For years China pushed hyper growth without correctly understanding the sources of that hyper growth and its consequences in the long run. Communities in the US and the EU simply could not cope with the hyper shift of factories from local regions to China that created the hyper growth in China. Local governments in China and self interested investment banks in the US and Eu pushed for this growth and the central government failed to act with restraining action. The result is alienated public in the US and EU, intense trade and competitive frictions and permanent damage to friendly US China, US EU relations. The domestic side of this hyper growth was the overdependence on the property sector which was asked to carry a bigger burden for development leading to the crisis today with local governments strained for financing by $900 billion as reported in WSJ today July 31. 2022. This did not need to happen. China entered this experiment with capitalism without restraining action with very little knowledge of the market economy and how it operates correctly only with restraining and corrective action in the interests of the whole people of the country. Too much has gone wrong for peoples on either side, the unintended effects and consequences in the simple unbridled pursuit of self-interest alone.
Linked Articles
China’s Economy Tested by Strained City Finances
WSJ 07/31/2022
China’s Manufacturing Sector Unexpectedly Contracts Amid Weak Demand, Covid LockdownsWSJ 07/31/2022
Miscalculations by Putin's Russia and Neglect by Merkel and Bush-Obama- WSJ's Analysis of Events Leading to Ukraine war
04/03/2022
The highly detailed WSJ reports on events going back 20 years throw light on the failure of Merkel in Germany and Bush-Obama in the US to grasp the situation of Russia under Putin's nationalism and the miscalculations made by president Putin about the changing situation in Ukraine that had created a national identity. While Putin looked to history something different had emerged on the ground for the people of Ukraine that both German and Russian leaders failed to grasp as they continued to pursue economic integration. Business in Europe and the US had no clue what was happening, and how the situation was unraveling till the end. It is also leading to the unexpected effect of accelerating weaning western nations from fossil fuels, a goal of Glasgow's COP26 Climate Change Summit, the only constructive effect of the war.
Linked Articles
Vladimir Putin’s 20-Year March to War in Ukraine—and How the West Mishandled It
WSJ 04/01/2022
Russian Strategy in Ukraine Shifts After Setbacks, and a Lengthy War LoomsWSJ 04/01/2022
The situation of chronic or endemic coronavirus in places with high vaccination rates - Portugal and New York City
10/25/2021
Chronic or endemic coronavirus in New York with 76% fully vaccinated and Portugal with 85% fully vaccinated is a situation in some places. This still means 15-25% of people that are unvaccinated are at risk and with vaccine protection waning without a booster shot the risk of a fourth or a third of the population still at risk. The lifting of preventive steps such as social distancing, masking and other actions plus the shift to indoor, reopening of schools and colleges, could still lead to a surge.
Linked Articles
Endemic Covid-19 Has Arrived in Portugal. This Is What It Looks Like.
WSJ 10/24/2021
New York City Inches Toward Covid-19 Becoming EndemicWSJ 10/25/2021
Jill Biden and the analogy with Eleanor Roosevelt in wartime America
09/21/2021
Jill Biden has already visited 32 states, talked to teachers and military families, and is fully engaged both as a teacher herself and in a mission like that of Eleanor Roosevelt who rallied the nation in wartime America.
Linked Articles
Jill Biden Is Chasing the President’s Most Elusive Campaign Promise: Unity
NYTimes.com 09/20/2021
Jill Biden is ‘here to help’ — first lady sets off on American rescue missionThe Times 03/16/2021
Robert Lighthizer and the fight to make Made In America the new symbol of American revival
12/18/2020
Robert Lighthizer talks about the efforts under the Trump administration to bring American manufacturing back to where it was in the days after World War II, and restore the rights and dignity of American workers. For three decades the U.S. lost jobs and allowed its manufacturing to be outsourced hurting American workers and reducing the manufacturing base of the U.S. The efforts to ensure fairness in trade also protects American workers and manufacturing at home.
Linked Articles
How to Make Trade Work for Workers
Foreign Affairs 12/18/2020
We're proud of what we've done, says Trump's trade chiefBBC News 12/17/2020
The San Francisco region and the destruction of Jobs in America
12/09/2020
As far back as 2008 Intel's Andy Grove a patriotic founder of technology business in northern California saw the danger in the San Francisco region based Silicon Valley taking a disproportionate amount of America's resources in capital and technology and in return not creating jobs for the American people.
Linked Articles
How China Built ‘iPhone City’ With Billions in Perks for Apple’s Partner
The New York Times 12/29/2016
Andy Grove: How America Can Create JobsBusinessWeek 07/01/2010
What Tesla after the pandemic's first wave has in common with VW in 2015 at the time of the diesel emissions crisis
09/10/2020
CEO pay packages shooting into space just before and just after the first wave of the pandemic.
Linked Articles
Elon Musk’s Payday Could Cost Tesla Shareholders Dearly
WSJ 09/10/2020
Volkswagen’s Ex-CEO Is Ordered to Stand Trial Over Emissions ScandalWSJ 09/09/2020
Eliud Kipchoge and Roger Bannister - contrasts and the running style
10/13/2019
Kipchoge's entire focus is on running in 2019 with the world watching and the richest man in Britain heading company Ineos backing him. Bannister is only shown later on BBC and is focussed on completing his medical studies, with no major financial supporter.
Linked Articles
The barrier broken on salad and spikes
The Times 10/13/2019
London Marathon 2019: Eliud Kipchoge on freedom, simplicity & power of the mindBBC Sport 04/26/2019
"Pay their fair share of taxes" Biden asks of corporations showing 2017 predecessor tax cuts did not increase investment and added $100 billion yearly to the US Deficit
03/08/2024
By paying their fair share of taxes Biden says in State of Union speech to US Congress 2024 one can increase investment in education, affordable childcare and better living for seniors in their homes, and still cut the deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars. What is fair share? Certainly not zero percent that 55 of the largest corporations paid on $40 billion in profits in 2020, and corporate minimum tax was introduced at levels of 15% for which most ordinary Americans are not eligible for. And certainly not 8.2% that Biden said was being paid by 1000 billionaires in the US. Not a single penny more is being asked of hard working Americans earning less than $400,000 a year. Biden said he wanted to see the corporate minimum tax at 21% not 15%, and the top corporate tax rate set at 28% not the 21% that it was reduced to in 2017 from 35%. In short his predecessor turned to help companies and billionaires profit from the popular distress of the shipping of jobs overseas and the 2009 financial crisis caused by Bank executives without investing the nation's capital resources in manufacturing at home in scale to match and exceed China's. And at the same time neglecting to do anything about the concerns of the people for ease of living- affordable access to childcare, preschool education, education, health care to match Europe/China/India in quality and cost, and aging transportation infrastructure of airports, subways, roads and bridges. The savings when this is done properly go to cut the deficit by over 4 trillion dollars and keep America as the leader of all G-20 economies.
Linked Articles
Biden Draws Sharp Contrast With Trump in State of the Union
WSJ 03/07/2024
Biden Pushes More Corporate-Tax Hikes to Draw Contrast With TrumpWSJ 03/07/2024
Two visions for Rural America and the Rural America that president Biden is Building with investments from the Infrastructure Law
01/13/2024
President Biden's vision for rual America, the huge investments being made for the revival of Rural America, and ensuring opportunity for all whether they live in rural, suburbs or cities. This is the America president Biden is building. One has to go back to the days of FDR and Harry Truman of Independence,Missouri to grasp the future that Biden sees in rural America, in the heartland of America from the prairies to the Rocky mountains, and from the Southwest to Southeast, as well as in the Great lakes region.
Linked Articles
Rural Playbook | Build.gov | The White House
The White House 01/12/2024
Trump’s Hold on Rural America Is Key to His ResilienceWSJ 01/12/2024
The destruction of the Gran Chaco in Brazil and Argentina and the Glasgow Conference decision on ending deforestation by 2030
05/17/2023
If the decision to end deforestation by 2030 is to be taken seriously what happens to the Gran Chaco in Argentina and Brazil is a matter of importance. One third of global emissions are absorbed by forests that act as a giant carbon sink.
Linked Articles
COP26: World leaders promise to end deforestation by 2030
BBC News 11/02/2021
The destroyed forests of the Gran Chaco – DW – 05/16/2023dw.com Supported by Lyrarc's Climate Change Action 05/17/2023
Biden the president who sees the longed for tidal wave of justice rise
04/14/2023
Biden is unique in American history as the president with the most experience. His long experience in the US Congress and his very real belief that there is such a thing as "the longed for tidal wave of justice" that will come up to help America build a new world of "Possibilities." It was this kind of faith in America that was the impression people had of Abraham Lincoln in the 1850's.
Linked Articles
Biden and Irish poets: 'Hope and history,' a lifelong love
AP NEWS 04/14/2023
Poetry-loving Biden heads to Ireland, home of the 'best poets in the world'NPR 04/14/2023
Reducing the size of the animal based farming in Europe to cut greenhouse gas emissions
08/22/2022
Linked Articles
The Guardian view on Earth-friendly diets: cooking animals is cooking the planet | Editorial
The Guardian 08/21/2022
Dairy Farmers in the Netherlands Are Up in Arms Over Emission CutsNYTimes.com 08/21/2022
Guru Tegh Bahadur forgotten hero and saint of the Punjab for his discourses in many languages, and for his meditation like the Buddha
04/25/2022
Guru Tegh Bahadur is forgotten for his discourses like the Buddha across the length and breadth of India in many languages, and for his meditation that goes back in tradition to the Buddha and Shiva. Guru Tegh Bahadur saw one nation in many communities speaking different languages and with different traditions.
Linked Articles
The Times of India 04/22/2022
Explained: Life and legend of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who stood up to the MughalsThe Indian Express 04/21/2022
China burns more coal with power shortages in 2021 risking climate change targets
10/29/2021
Linked Articles
China Takes the Brakes Off Coal Production to Tackle Power Shortage
WSJ 10/20/2021
China’s Ambitious Climate Goals Collide With Reality, Hampering Global EffortsWSJ 10/27/2021
The Hong Kong, Taiwan crises and American risks in existing supply chains and manufacturing arrangements
10/06/2021
The crises in Hong Kong and Taiwan lead to a reevaluation of existing supply chain and manufacturing arrangements by the Biden administration. The coronavirus pandemic with over 700,000 deaths in the US and a large number of deaths in Europe and India are leading to a new awareness of the importance of manufacturing at home and not depending on far flung supply chains. Public perceptions have changed yet American companies continue to operate as before without an awareness of the changes in public perceptions.
Linked Articles
U.S. Trade Policy Adapts to a China That Will Never Change
WSJ 10/06/2021
China Would Be Able to Launch Attack on Taiwan by 2025, Island’s Defense Minister WarnsWSJ 10/06/2021
The origins of the coronavirus and the 2018 NIH lifting of a US ban on virus research that increases transmissibility
06/04/2021
Dr. Fauci, NIH, HHS, lifted the ban on research and manipulation of virus in lab settings in 2018 The role played by the Cambridge Group of scientists who opposed lifting the ban on gain of function research for surveillance purposes. The US public and the public in the world in India, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America unaware of what was going on. The devastating effects of the coronavirus in 202 and 2021 and the lack of a vaccine in 2020, lack of a vaccine in sufficient quantities in 2021. The paltry benefits of surveillance compared to the great risks of something going wrong, as pointed out by the Cambridge Group. Why was it ignored in 2018. Who makes decisions for public health in the world. Can the US make decisions for India, the people in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Does even the US public know about it, much less the public in the world at large. What power is given by the US Constitution to US government agencies on matters of public health. How are a few individuals at HHS and NIH accountable to the public in the US and the world at large.
Linked Articles
Opinion | Anthony Fauci and the Wuhan Lab
WSJ 06/03/2021
Ban on gain-of-function studies endsThe Lancet Infectious Diseases 06/04/2021
The MBA-ization of America, according to Elon Musk, fewer risks, less creative solutions and less ambitious targets
12/11/2020
Linked Articles
Elon Musk Decries ‘M.B.A.-ization’ of America
WSJ 12/09/2020
Tesla’s Cash Could Burn in Production ‘Hell’WSJ 08/03/2017
Pope Francis and the challenge of the modern world in 2020
11/27/2020
Two crises back to back in 2010 and 2020 putting the working class, middle class and poor further behind each ten years. Pope Francis calls this a challenge for the modern world in his new book "Let us Dream- The Path To a Better Future." He says "we cannot return to the false securities of the political and economic systems before the pandemic, we need economies that give access to all of the fruits of creation, to the basic needs of life, land lodging and labor."
Linked Articles
A Humble Pope, Challenging the World
New York Times 09/18/2015
Opinion | Pope Francis: A Crisis Reveals What Is in Our HeartsNYTimes.com 11/27/2020
What Bill Gates and France had in common in the fight for health preparedness
05/11/2020
France had learned lessons from SARS epidemic and prepared for the H1N1 epidemic at the time that Bill Gates of Microsoft was pushing for greater awareness of public health priorities. Today Gates says this was not enough, that he did not do enough and feels terrible about it. The irresponsible banking practices that caused the financial crises first in the global financial crisis of 2009 and then in the eurozone financial crisis that followed by 2011 led to the ditching of the pandemic preparedness effort in France and Britain. In all of the western world including the U.S. austerity practices were the response without addressing the root causes of financial crises. Investments in public services and infrastructure were neglected leading to a level of unpreparedness that is shocking. Countries in lesser developed countries with more consciousness of the importance of public services and care of the vast majority of people were better protected in the crisis as a result than the more developed countries.
Linked Articles
WSJ 05/11/2020
Pandemic disarmament: Why France was ready for Covid-19 a decade too soonFrance 24 05/17/2020
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