War-AntiWar-Con-Job-Bob Davis Podcast 891

War-AntiWar-Con-Job-Bob Davis Podcast 891

A Drone Strike Blows Up Internet…And A General

First of all after the US killed an Iranian General with a drone strike, social media went nuts. In addition all the other media went nuts. I think it’s time we sorted it all out in War-AntiWar-Con-Job-Bob Davis Podcast 891.

War-Anti-War Con Job

Furthermore when everyone wants to use the ‘facts’ they agree with and repeat arguments they hear on cable TV news it’s nothing but a war versus anti war con job.

Things Could Go Either Way

Certainly the United States is in a serious situation when it comes to Iran. In the wake of the airstrike things could go either way.

Real News Too Confusing and Complicated

Unfortunately no one was thinking about foreign policy when they voted in 2016. Moreover most Americans consider foreign affairs to be too confusing and difficult to think about.

Real World Too Complicated?

Above all when it comes to the US role in the rest of the world every action has a reaction. The hard part is managing reactions going forward.

You Want A Democracy? Grow Up!

Most noteworthy is the question of exactly what Americans want when it comes to foreign dealings. Sorry but it’s not as easy as a meme or a four line capital letters post on social media. More on that in War-AntiWar-Con-Job-Bob Davis Podcast 891.

Shouting Matches Are Not News

Even more these things aren’t solved with split screen debates on television where guests are encouraged to get into shouting matches. Meanwhile we show pictures of planes and ships.

Explaining The Issue

Finally it’s time to attempt to explain the contours of this story. In contrast to the magpies on the line, I am not going to tell listeners and subscribers what to think or what to do. I will not do your homework for you.

Try Listening First

If we really want to figure this out then different points of view need to be heard.

(Editor’s Note: I mentioned my podcast on political populism and promised a link. Click here)

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War-AntiWar-Con-Job-Bob Davis Podcast 891

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

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.

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

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Nocturnal-Thoughts-Seasonal Changes-Bob Davis Podcast 867

Nocturnal-Thoughts-Seasonal Changes-Bob Davis Podcast 867

Night Owls Unite

I am a night person. Always was and will be. These days though it’s getting ridiculous. Staying up really late for a free wheeling talker in Nocturnal-Thoughts-Seasonal Changes-Bob Davis Podcast 867.

Extreme Night Person Here

Anyone who knows me is well aware of my scheduling extremes. Especially relevant are the changes I go through when the seasons change. Suddenly also Minnesotans are beginning to get scratchy throats and head colds. Here it comes.

Schedule Flip and SAD Light

First of all, sometimes I stay up so late I end up coming back around. This is what I call schedule flip. Then use something called a SAD light to reset my body clock. During this process I am in schedule hell. Staying up late and waking up too early.

Texts From Friends

Second as I am in the midst of this sleep schedule nightmare I am getting texts from friends. “Did you cover the Trump Rally?“, they want to know. So, unfortunately I have to address these questions in Nocturnal-Thoughts-Seasonal Changes-Bob Davis Podcast 867.

Dumpster Fire News

Because if I have learned anything traveling across the country and covering primaries and caucuses it is that the media loves a dumpster fire. Certainly Minneapolis did not disappoint, with dueling enthusiastic supporters of the president and protesters.

Traveling And Reporting

Above all it looks to me like the question, “Is It News?” hasn’t occurred to anyone. Certainly nothing wrong with getting a bunch of people together to collect email data and campaign contributions and to have something to post on social media. That goes for both sides in these cartoon political times.

Real News? Funny, Right?

Meanwhile the real news? Not getting addressed and ‘bubbling under’ when it comes to real coverage. The situation with Turkey and the Kurds. Stories about the Repo markets and federal reserve returning to a form of quantitative easing you would think would be unnecessary, what with the booming economy.

Talk It Out

Consequently it’s time to just talk it out. Kind of a transition between some of my heavily researched recent podcasts.

Summer’s Long Goodbye

As a result it’s a long goodbye to a great summer and the difficult transition to fall in this podcast. And considering my sleep schedule please don’t fact check on this one!

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Nocturnal-Thoughts-Seasonal Changes-Bob Davis Podcast 867

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