Trump & 2020 update

Things have been pretty slow lately as I predicted a month ago they would be because Trump is pretty much in hibernation mode, and as 2019 progresses, things will get even slower leading up to the first debates and primaries of 2020 election, when things should start to pick up again. There’s less discussion in… Continue reading Trump & 2020 update

The ’90s and now, part 6

Although the US economy, stock market, and corporate profits have boomed, many middle-class jobs and sectors have been permanently gutted, and the low unemployment rate masks the fact that record number of men, in particular, have dropped-out, going on disability. Furthermore the labor market is increasingly bifurcated. The greatest relative job growth in the post-2008… Continue reading The ’90s and now, part 6

China’s “Social Credit System” is probably coming to the US

There has been a ton of news lately regarding China’s social credit system: China’s new ‘social credit system’ is a dystopian nightmare Although China’s government is ostensibly communist, many American conservatives share China’s affinity for using ‘big government’ programs to promote social order and national security, such as the ratification of the Patriot Act following… Continue reading China’s “Social Credit System” is probably coming to the US

The curse of genius

The 1843 Magazine article The curse of genius, went viral. Every smart person regardless of politics can relate to feeling lonely, failing to live up to society’s inflated expectations for smart people, and having to deal with normies, who have average IQs, which could explain why it was so viral. However, the article presents a… Continue reading The curse of genius

No, teaching blue collar workers to be engineers is not a practical solution

The Mel Magazine article Blue-collar workers who become white-collar later in life, went viral. The article gives three examples of blue collar workers who acquired high paying skills, such as engineering, predictably leading to higher pay, nicer working conditions, improved self-confidence, and new opportunities. “I aced both classes. I did the same the next semester,… Continue reading No, teaching blue collar workers to be engineers is not a practical solution

Treating social media as a public utility is not the answer

A solution that commonly is proposed regarding social media censorship and de-platforming is to “treat social media as a public utility.” This suggestion has become so commonplace that there is even a Wikipedia article about it. But just by thinking it through, it becomes obvious why this is a terrible suggestion. First, social media companies… Continue reading Treating social media as a public utility is not the answer