I wouldn’t define Bohnak as conservative. More like conspiracy conservative. As we have just experienced a brown month of December and Christmas his messaging backed by his popularity is irresponsible. We have a short window of time to make change.
Definition of a conspiracy theorist: Someone who learns the truth before most other people. You do realize, of course, that the whole use of the term "conspiracy theory" as a perjorative was initiated by the CIA to dismiss concerns that a growing number of citizens had about the validity of the findings of the Warren Commission regarding the JFK assassination.
Au contraire. Truth is rock solid, especially when backed by facts and data that reflect an appreciation for nuanced complexity rather than a blind adherence to a black-and-white politically motivated narrative. It's emotions, opinions, and beliefs that are rubbery such as those of people using pejorative words like "conspiracy" in an ad hominem manner. Methinks thou are displaying a bit of projection.
What gives about economic sentiment? The collision of reality with the way economic statistics are derived and presented. Inflation is low if you don’t count food, fuel and housing (we don’t). The unemployment rate is low if you don’t count people who’ve given up looking for a job (we don’t).
A simple experiment is to find a job in Marquette county that pays enough to buy a home with 20% down, buy a new car with 20% down and with both payments have enough left over to live with some comfort and save for the future. Good luck!
So true. The mistake of confusing stock market performance with economic health is a common one but, in all due fairness, it's a false narrative that the government regularly promotes so most of the public believes it. First of all, there is a substantial (and growing) portion of the public that does not possess investment assets such as stocks and bonds. These are the people who are hurting the most and their numbers and pain are growing. Secondly, asset prices have only been pushed up because of monetary debasement through quantitative easing, central bank asset purchases, etc. Purchasing power has not risen in commensurate fashion and the record price of gold is but one reflection of this situation.
If one examines economic statistics in pre-Reagan era methodology (before political administrations began progressively tweaking these statistics to make themselves look better), inflation is much higher than what is being reported and unemployment is higher as well. Plus, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other such government agencies regularly (and very quietly) do revisions of these numbers three or more months after the fact which are considerably less favorable than what is initially reported. In addition, the CPI is notoriously inaccurate but serves the government's purpose by keeping COLAs low. It is noteworthy that the COLA for Social Security this year was only 3.2% while the raise in federal civilian government workers salaries will be 5.2%. More realistic indices of inflation such as the Chapwood Index average approximately 10%, depending upon geographic locale. Also, the debt now exceeding 34 trillion dollars is exceedingly noteworthy. None of the above are indicative of economic health.
And it's not just egg prices that are higher. Almost all foods are considerably more expensive with healthy foods, even more so. And if one tries to survive on unhealthy foods, deteriorating health and increases in medical bills will, sooner or later, far outstrip any supposed savings. Automobile prices, both new and used, are also much higher. So housing, transportation, food (and other forms of energy), all the things you can't live without, are much higher and becoming increasingly unaffordable by the masses. Plus, the middle class is getting hollowed out and shrinking year by year. Is that a healthy economy?
According to a site which presents pre-Reagan era statistics, inflation is presently north of 7% and unemployment is a whopping 25%. That gives a staggering Misery Index of 32%. So there is no paradox. Plus, the majority of jobs being offered on the labor market are low paying service sector jobs paying wages that are woefully inadequate for comfortably supporting a family.
I could go on and on but people are unhappy for very good reasons including no longer being able to trust and believe in their government, a government which has failed them miserably.
Ill vote for Carl Bohnak. Smart man. We need someone in Lansing who understands the UP and is willing and able to fight for us and not leave us feeling as though we're an after thought. Man About Town is a wonderful newsletter that keeps us well informed, as does WOTS. Both newsletters are far better our current local newspaper.
I wouldn’t define Bohnak as conservative. More like conspiracy conservative. As we have just experienced a brown month of December and Christmas his messaging backed by his popularity is irresponsible. We have a short window of time to make change.
Definition of a conspiracy theorist: Someone who learns the truth before most other people. You do realize, of course, that the whole use of the term "conspiracy theory" as a perjorative was initiated by the CIA to dismiss concerns that a growing number of citizens had about the validity of the findings of the Warren Commission regarding the JFK assassination.
“Truth” is a rubbery word for you then. Real stretchy.
Au contraire. Truth is rock solid, especially when backed by facts and data that reflect an appreciation for nuanced complexity rather than a blind adherence to a black-and-white politically motivated narrative. It's emotions, opinions, and beliefs that are rubbery such as those of people using pejorative words like "conspiracy" in an ad hominem manner. Methinks thou are displaying a bit of projection.
What gives about economic sentiment? The collision of reality with the way economic statistics are derived and presented. Inflation is low if you don’t count food, fuel and housing (we don’t). The unemployment rate is low if you don’t count people who’ve given up looking for a job (we don’t).
A simple experiment is to find a job in Marquette county that pays enough to buy a home with 20% down, buy a new car with 20% down and with both payments have enough left over to live with some comfort and save for the future. Good luck!
So true. The mistake of confusing stock market performance with economic health is a common one but, in all due fairness, it's a false narrative that the government regularly promotes so most of the public believes it. First of all, there is a substantial (and growing) portion of the public that does not possess investment assets such as stocks and bonds. These are the people who are hurting the most and their numbers and pain are growing. Secondly, asset prices have only been pushed up because of monetary debasement through quantitative easing, central bank asset purchases, etc. Purchasing power has not risen in commensurate fashion and the record price of gold is but one reflection of this situation.
If one examines economic statistics in pre-Reagan era methodology (before political administrations began progressively tweaking these statistics to make themselves look better), inflation is much higher than what is being reported and unemployment is higher as well. Plus, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other such government agencies regularly (and very quietly) do revisions of these numbers three or more months after the fact which are considerably less favorable than what is initially reported. In addition, the CPI is notoriously inaccurate but serves the government's purpose by keeping COLAs low. It is noteworthy that the COLA for Social Security this year was only 3.2% while the raise in federal civilian government workers salaries will be 5.2%. More realistic indices of inflation such as the Chapwood Index average approximately 10%, depending upon geographic locale. Also, the debt now exceeding 34 trillion dollars is exceedingly noteworthy. None of the above are indicative of economic health.
And it's not just egg prices that are higher. Almost all foods are considerably more expensive with healthy foods, even more so. And if one tries to survive on unhealthy foods, deteriorating health and increases in medical bills will, sooner or later, far outstrip any supposed savings. Automobile prices, both new and used, are also much higher. So housing, transportation, food (and other forms of energy), all the things you can't live without, are much higher and becoming increasingly unaffordable by the masses. Plus, the middle class is getting hollowed out and shrinking year by year. Is that a healthy economy?
According to a site which presents pre-Reagan era statistics, inflation is presently north of 7% and unemployment is a whopping 25%. That gives a staggering Misery Index of 32%. So there is no paradox. Plus, the majority of jobs being offered on the labor market are low paying service sector jobs paying wages that are woefully inadequate for comfortably supporting a family.
I could go on and on but people are unhappy for very good reasons including no longer being able to trust and believe in their government, a government which has failed them miserably.
Ill vote for Carl Bohnak. Smart man. We need someone in Lansing who understands the UP and is willing and able to fight for us and not leave us feeling as though we're an after thought. Man About Town is a wonderful newsletter that keeps us well informed, as does WOTS. Both newsletters are far better our current local newspaper.
Excellent newsletter that keeps us informed! Thank you!