Requiem-For-An-American-Dream-Bob Davis Podcast 1082

Requiem For An American Dream

Firstly in any requiem for an American Dream we pay our respects to a time when it worked. Details in Requiem-For-An-American-Dream-Bob Davis Podcast 1082.

Negativity

Secondly negativity and division permeate our culture these days.

New Dream

Therefore at the end of another not so good year maybe we need a new dream.

Or you can refer to the movie ‘Blow’ for the ‘Maybe You Had The Wrong Dream’ quote.

Shared Vision

Above all in Requiem-For-An-American-Dream-Bob Davis Podcast 1082 I talk about the value of a shared vision for the future.

Values

For example the American Dream originally was based on the values of the Declaration of Independence.

History

And in the 1930’s the dream we know today was created out of whole cloth by historian James Truslow Adams.

Advertising

Consequently advertising got hold of it after World War 2.

Consumer Economy

As a result Truslow’s dream helped fuel the growth of the consumer economy in the United States.

Twisted Remnant

Since then The American Dream has become a sort of twisted remnant from a bygone age.

Aspirations

Yet most young adults begin their journey through life aspiring to the same old theme.

Maybe it’s time for a new dream?

New Year’s Resolutions

In addition this is time of the year we allow ourselves to think about the future.

Similarly why not think about a new shared vision for the future?

Rejecting The Traditional American Dream

Certainly I have rejected the traditional American Dream by becoming a nomad.

Artistic Business

And attempting to grow an artistic business on the road.

Tools Of Tech

Even more technology today for all it’s foibles provides the tools to create versions of the American Dream our grandparents never considered.

Telling Stories

In Requiem-For-An-American-Dream-Bob Davis Podcast 1082 I tell some stories from the bygone era and talk about the postwar economic and social history.

Thought Experiment

Further I think this thought exercise helps in a time when everyone is pointing fingers.

Sponsored By Ryan Plumbing and Heating Of Saint Paul

Requiem-For-An-American-Dream-Bob Davis Podcast 1082

 

Buddy-Holly-West-Texas-History-Bob Davis Podcast 994

West Texas Buddy Holly History

Firstly there’s a lot of history in West Texas including Lubbock’s Buddy Holly Center. Nomad friend Don Anger joins me to talk about it all in Buddy-Holly-West-Texas-History-Bob Davis Podcast 994.

Still Heading West

I am certainly continuing my nomad travels, heading west.

West Texas

And there is no more West than West Texas.

Firstly as I move west the roadside markers slowly change from historic periods.

Secondly the wind.

Boom and Bust

In addition the boom and bust nature of Texas. Especially West Texas.

Therefore you come across whole towns that have been abandoned over the years.

Those Highways

Even more highways that seem to go on forever.

Music and History Collide

On the other hand Don is a music guy.

As a result Buddy-Holly-West-Texas-History-Bob Davis Podcast 994 is a nice balance between the two.

Unique Nature Of Texas

Most importantly I think we both realize the unique nature of an amazing place called Texas.

Influence Of Lubbock

In conclusion how interesting it is that someone who had so much influence hails from Lubbock Texas.

Twentieth Century Experience

To clarify this town in West Texas exemplifies the twentieth century experience in the west.

Ranching Oil Business

That is to say ranching, oil, rail roads, cowboys and grassroots business people.

Buddy Holly

Finally from road side markers and ghost towns to Buddy Holly.

A lot worth talking about.

There’s a Feeling You Get

Most importantly there’s a feeling you get out here. For example the sky. Wind. Heat.

In short something about this place calms me down.

All About Distance

Could be the distance from one destination to another. Might be the seemingly lonely places you pass through.

But you’ll never forget West Texas.

Sponsored by the Independent Refueling Station at 36LYN

Buddy-Holly-West-Texas-History-Bob Davis Podcast 994

 

Economic-Boom-Smoke-And-Mirrors?-Bob Davis Podcast 872

Everyone Gets An Award. So What?

These days we live in a world where everyone gets an award for participation. Every now and then reality intrudes on our blissful paradise. We’ll talk about the 3rd quarter GDP numbers and what they mean in Economic-Boom-Smoke-And-Mirrors?-Bob Davis Podcast 872.

Ballyhoo and BS

We’ve been the victims of economic ballyhoo at least since 2016. Even more for years since the recession of 2008 we’ve been sold all kinds of snake oil. Green Shoots. The Light At The End Of The Tunnel. Priming The Pump. Economic Boom!

GDP Is The Yardstick

Gross Domestic Product is the yardstick by which we measure the economic performance of the world’s countries. This is especially relevant in the United States, where we will choose a new president and congress in 2020.

How Are We Doing?

Economy is one of the yard sticks by which we determine how our leaders ‘are doing’ at their jobs.

Third Quarter

Therefore when the third quarter GDP numbers came out this week, we now have a third data point on which to judge US economic performance in 2019.

Smoke and Mirrors?

How are we doing? We’ll find out in Economic-Boom-Smoke-And-Mirrors?-Bob Davis Podcast 872.

What’s A Boom?

First of all exactly what does an economic ‘boom’ look like and are we really living through one?

What About All The Other Stats?

Second, what about other measurements like employment, government spending, consumer spending and productivity?

Concentrate On Outcomes

I have often described my mission with these podcasts as a quest to concentrate on outcomes and relatively objective analysis of those outcomes.

No Predictions

Above all I avoid predictions. I won’t use superlatives to describe how great or bad things are. I do not want tell listeners what they’re supposed to think or advocate for.

More Questions

In conclusion, these new numbers raise more questions than answers.

In addition, what about inflation, business investment and growth in the future.

Moreover what about intervention by central banks?

I wonder, if there’s an economic boom why do we need so much government spending and interventions to keep it going? What about the enormous spending deficits and public debt?

Meeting Challenges

Finally what are the biggest economic and therefore social challenges ahead. Are we on path to address those challenges?

I don’t hear too much talk about that on the campaign trail, in government and in the media.

Sponsored by John D. Scott Personal Injury Lawyer and Hoffman Hamer and Associates

Economic-Boom-Smoke-And-Mirrors?-Bob Davis Podcast 872