At the time of this writing, the S&P 500 index had dropped 12% over the previous 30 days, primarily on the uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s multiple announcements regarding tariff actions against the majority of our trade partners. Like most people, I have tax deferred retirement accounts (401k, IRA, etc) and have witnessed the impact…
Continue ReadingAuthor: Elliott
Elliott Andrews is an observer and a seeker. He feels that humans rely too much on emotion at this phase of our evolution and that logic is underutilized in personal and political discourse.
Tariffs and Teslas
Donald Trump loves tariffs. He has even said it is “the most beautiful word.” He used tariffs pretty effectively in his first term, primarily as a negotiating tool. He has really ramped up his use of tariffs and his rhetoric surrounding them during the first 100 days of his second term. As would be expected,…
Continue ReadingThe Good and Bad of DOGE
Donald Trump’s second term is off to blistering start. He is certainly making some decisions that seem inconsistent with what one would typically consider MAGA policy goals. We’ll save tariffs, Ukraine, Greenland, and whether Trump really is a Manchurian Candidate for future articles. Today, I want to focus on DOGE. That’s Elon Musk and his…
Continue ReadingHow DEI lost its way (and what’s next?)
The 2nd Trump administration wasted no time taking aim at Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in government agencies and the private sector. Three separate executive orders have spelled out executive branch initiatives attempting to establish color-blind, merit-based systems in government and to punish companies that discriminate against anyone, even in the name of “equity.”…
Continue ReadingHappy Holidays?
I received an email from my bookkeeper a couple of days before Christmas. Her salutation was “Happy Hanukkah.” I’m not Jewish and don’t celebrate Hanukkah. Should I be offended that someone would wish me a happy holiday that I don’t celebrate myself? Should a devout Christian be offended when the store clerk says, “Happy Holidays”…
Continue ReadingTrump’s Cabinet Picks
President-elect Donald Trump is rolling out his nominees for roles on his cabinet and other leadership positions at a record pace. Here are some observations about a handful of his picks so far: The obvious place to start is with Matt Gaetz. This one came out of left field. Say what you want about Merrick…
Continue ReadingUnpacking the Election Results
Opinions are like noses, everyone has one. I have no idea who coined that phrase, but it is certainly true. And it’s especially true after a major election. Trump winning both the electrical college and the popular vote came as a surprise to many. Now the interpretation of how this outcome happened and what it…
Continue ReadingFinal Thoughts Pre-election
This post is being written just a couple of days before “the most important election in our lifetime..” Of course this is the 12th such election since I voted in my first one in 1980. Each one of those 12 was characterized as “the most important” election ever in the history of the nation. The…
Continue ReadingFear the Pigs!
No, I’m not talking about University of Arkansas athletics (Razorbacks). I kept seeing the term, Orwellian, in news articles and opinion pieces, and even though I knew what the term meant, I also realized it had been a long time since I read any of Orwell’s work. So, I recently re-read George Orwell’s classic, Animal…
Continue ReadingThe Big Debate: Impressions
When I watch a presidential debate, I tend to go to a network that supports the candidate I felt had the worst performance for post-debate coverage. After Biden’s disastrous performance on June 27, I watched the commentary on CNN. The panel looked devastated and you could sense that they knew his candidacy was in trouble….
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