What do MMT economists theorize? “The Deficit Myth” #book

Posted By on May 8, 2021

A few times before I’ve thought, and blogged about MMT or Modern Monetary Theory, when it comes to newfangled economics. Personally, I (nor many economists) can accept the thinking or rationalize the TheDeficitMyth_StephanieKelton_Book2021_mlarge deficits and debt path our country is on. In order to better understand the mind-set, I decided to read Stephanie Kelton’s book “The Deficit Myth.” She has become a leading advocate for MMT and I’m hoping to be able to at least understand the illogical to me logic of spending TRILLIONS of dollars that our country doesn’t have for every wish list item politicians keep adding – much of it political payoff.

At some point stimulus payments, health care, education, infrastructure, climate change and every other kind of pork our government is printing money to fund “wants,” is going to be too much for an economy to bear … at least I think so???

Currently we’re seeing spending on steroids coming from Democrats running the House, Senate and Whitehouse … and like an irresponsible teenager on spring break with his/her parent’s credit card … it will eventually get declined.

Although, I’m not sure the spike in prices that we’re seeing at the moment is the kind of 1970-80s inflation (or hyperinflation) that will stay with us (or crash us) … or is being triggered by government’s reckless spending, but it sure worries me. WheelbarrowOfCashAll I know is that prices are rising, people are being paid to stay home and the deficit and BitcoinChart210504debt is growing. For those investing, just like every bubble I have lived through, the sugar high feels good .. until it doesn’t.

Unfortunately for those wanting to build this year, lumber prices have gone berserk (likely thanks to the pandemic shutdown, cheap money and pent up demand for houses). Question: Have you ever seen a long term price chart like this one below (well, besides cryptocurrencies!) HA!

LumberPriceChart210503_m

Tech Friday: Would you consider buying this iPhone 5G slider?

Posted By on May 7, 2021

iPhone_5G_sliderconcept2021_aniIf you keep your eyes open, there are plenty of interesting Android and iPhone concept videos floating around. As a Palm Pre slider user, I’ve always thought there might be another slider (or foldable) pocket friendly phone in my future.

Here’s an iPhone slider demo that has promise … although personally I think we’ll see a folding “flip-style” iPhone from Apple before we see a slider.

Speaking of flipphones, I can’t help but reminisce about my old PalmOS based Samsung SPH-i500 that to this day is probably the best quality and pocket friendliest smartphone I’ve ever owned … although the iPhone5 came close.

Selling my May Fly lures inventory came back to haunt me #TBT

Posted By on May 6, 2021

Whoops … an interesting Throwback Thursday #TBT flashback and mistake on my part … MayFly4Sale

I received an order for MayFly Lures that I posted back in 2018 and sold a few and then sold my entire inventory in one lump in 2019. Unfortunately I forgot to remove the original blog post and so received a paid order earlier this week.

Thankfully I kept a couple back for my own personal Walleye fishing (if I ever go) and so decided to offer to the buyer before removing the post … now marked as PAID.
Smile

Archive: A few saved family photos from the week that was …

Posted By on May 5, 2021

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Looking at New York City from the Empire State Building #pano

Posted By on May 4, 2021

How many building top water tanks can you count? (you could spend hours zoomed in on this photo … and if that is not enough, there is a naked man somewhere in this “Where is Wally or Waldo-like” photo). 

LINK: “World’s Largest Photo of New York City

Music Monday: The Beach Boys, “Fun, Fun, Fun” and some R & R

Posted By on May 3, 2021

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It was good to get away to sunny Florida for a restful beach week

Posted By on May 2, 2021

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Although I know much of the country has lived locked down for much of the year, Brenda and I have probably done a little more than most. She has worked in the pharmacy without much of a break and since the COVID19 vaccinations have started, has been very busy. We had planned a trip to Florida in March, but was asked to delay since Kroger Pharmacy was heavily involved in vaccination clinics. She complied and we moved our spring getaway vacation week to the end of April. So glad the weather was perfect for our vacation.

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Nothing was on my schedule as far as condo or boat work since I was down in February and hauled since Encore needs new bottom paint, a new cutlass bearing and a new stuffing gland. If the weather would have turned lousy, I would have heading up to the boat since I need to get parts ordered … but the beach weather was too nice.

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Struggling with Lenovo laptop, router and Internet connections

Posted By on May 1, 2021

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Either the Netgear Nighthawk R7000 router at our condo is glitchy, Xfinity is not giving my any upload speed or my Lenovo laptop is struggling to stay connected. No time to diagnosis, but I may end up chucking the router and switch to the cheaper mesh router sooner than I wanted. It is frustrating.

Half the time I ended up I ended up using my iPhone and Mint Mobile Hotspot.

Condo1718_via_MintHotspot210430

Speedtest.net

Tech Friday: Rumor says new Apple iPad and perhaps the iMac and Apple TV will be available on May 21st

Posted By on April 30, 2021

On April 20th I streamed part of the the Apple event to see what was in the works for 2021. We already knew about the iPad Pro, but I was interested to know AppleTVandRemoteabout the M1 iMac and Brenda uses the Apple TV for streaming (well I do to, but can comfortably jump to other devices).

According to Apple news leaker Jon Prosser, he named May 21 as the launch date for some of the products, and UK retailer John Lewis’ product page for the new iPad Pro carried copy saying, "Available 21 May 2021," as discovered by MacRumors and other Apple rumor sites. (link)

That is not to say I’m in the market to update our older devices, but as technology changes, we’ll all eventually be updating the things we use.

President Biden has a bold tax and spend plan for the US

Posted By on April 29, 2021

Personally I don’t like using the word "bold" for taxing and spending by big government since it has a positive attribute (at least to my thinking), but President Biden’s Joint Address last night was unlike any we’ve ever seen. It looked far more like a socialist spending wish list than a unifying address to bring the countryarticle-6852-1 together.  It is depressing to see progressive leftist taking more from citizens and dictating, regulating and growing dependency.

As the BabylonBee commented (jokingly below) .. "Man Who Has Been In Government For Nearly 50 Years Promises To Fix Government." Of course to those who have followed partisan politics and ideology for decades, Democrats (and to be fair, a lot of Republicans) want to control people, maintain power and spend rather than let the individual direct their dollars. There is a place for government, but it should be small, non-intrusive and focused on securing our country and maintaining conditions that allow free enterprise to thrive and grow our economy. Ever dollar politicians take out of our hands, is one less that be used to build a business, invest or used efficiently for ones family. Besides the TRILLIONS in proposed borrowing and spending, the regulations and restrictions will cost ever American in the future.

"This man who has been part of the broken system since 1972 is our last hope to fix the broken system," said a DNC spokesperson. "See, since he’s been part of the problem for so long, only he knows how bad the problem is. So only he can fix it. If you got some outsider with, like, morals and stuff, they would be too horrified to even go to Washington in the first place."

"No, we need someone who’s been part of the swamp and has participated in much injustice, oppression, and bloodshed to fix the whole thing from the ground up."

LINK

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
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