Trump State Of The Union-America's Back-FBI-Russia-Economy Booming-Podcast 697

Trump State Of The Union-America’s Back-FBI-Russia-Economy Booming-Podcast 697

First of all, the state of the union message used to be a letter. These days you’d think it is the Grammys, Golden Globes or the Oscars. In addition it’s a national event. We’re ‘supposed’ to watch. In Trump State Of The Union-America’s Back-FBI-Russia-Economy Booming-Podcast 697.

America Is Back

Trump’s says the Economy Is Booming and America is Back. Really? Since when is 2.6 percent GDP growth a booming economy?

Wall Street Is Main Street

Furthermore during the Obama presidency republicans used to say ‘Main Street Isn’t Wall Street‘. Now that republicans are in power suddenly main street IS wall street. Even when the market is down.

Booming Roaring Economy, right?

In Trump State Of The Union-America’s Back-FBI-Russia-Economy Booming-Podcast 697 I’ll outline factors that go into our old style measurement of the economy. Yes there are bright spots. Much as we like good news, let’s not go overboard.

Wait. It’s Trump.

Go overboard!

The Tax Bill. The Tax Bill!

The singular legislative ‘accomplishment’ of this administration so far is the tax bill. Lower corporate taxes are thought of as a good thing for business. Whether the so called middle class will benefit remains to be seen. Certainly the economic effects of changes in the tax code only a month old are not part of the current economic numbers. Find out why inTrump State Of The Union-America’s Back-FBI-Russia-Economy Booming-Podcast 697.

Executive Orders!

Trump supporters like to tout his executive orders. Many of these don’t do more than tell cabinet departments think differently. Most importantly Trump is issuing far fewer regulations. Have these actions produced economic results?

Witch Hunts Galore

Especially relevant are investigations on Russia and the FBI. The truth is none of this has had any real impact on the day to day business in the rest of the country and have failed to yield conclusive results so far.

Distractions Are The Order Of The Day

Welcome to life in America at the dawn of a technology revolution. This one makes the industrial revolution look like the middle ages. As it gathers speed every tenet of government and society will be challenged. Meanwhile we’re talking about porn stars and Trump’s latest insult.

No One Cares About Outmoded Thinking

In conclusion, most of the older adults in this country dream of a time marked by their own innocence in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Moreover our thinking about almost everything is outmoded. Mercantilism, trade protection, mass surveillance, bigger and more expensive government, and huge debts are not about freedom regardless of which party is in control of congress or the executive branch.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: On February 1st 2018 the Atlanta Federal Reserve projected US Economic Growth in the first quarter of the year to be 5.4 percent. This is a noteworthy prediction and if it holds for the US overall it will be a game changer. 5.4 percent GDP would be robust and if it holds through 2018 the terms ‘booming’ and ‘roaring’ would apply, at least as it pertains to GDP measurement.)

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating, Brush Studio in The West End and Reliafund.

Trump State Of The Union-America’s Back-FBI-Russia-Economy Booming-Podcast 697

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Value-Persuasion-Disruption-Live At The Mall-Podcast 687

Value-Persuasion-Disruption-Live At The Mall-Podcast 687

These days we seldom think about what is valuable. We want the newest. The latest. Consume. Enjoy. Move on. Spending a day at the mall makes me wonder what has real value today. In Value-Persuasion-Disruption-Live At The Mall-Podcast 687.

At The Mall

We’re at certainly one of the oldest indoor malls. Southdale Mall, in Edina, Minnesota. I used to come to Southdale a lot. Not so much anymore. While malls in general have fallen on hard times, Southdale is still home base for me.

Things Change And Stay The Same

Shopping at the mall pretty much like it always was. While decorations have changed the idea stays the same. Especially relevant is the idea that all the stores are more closely defined. Seems like more clothing and accessories than back in the day of the JC Penny on one end of the mall, and Sears on the other. We’ll talk about it in Value-Persuasion-Disruption-Live At The Mall-Podcast 687.

If That’s All There Is My Friend Then Let’s Keep Dancing

What is valuable to us these days? Many things are disposable. Software and hardware upgrades feed buying the newest and latest. The idea of a waffle iron or heavy coat that lasted a lifetime is in the past. We discuss real value in Value-Persuasion-Disruption-Live At The Mall-Podcast 687.

Brand Names and Quality

Words like Value evoke brand images in every generation. For some it’s a car, or a consumer item. For others value triggers thoughts of clothing, an accessory or something that seemed to last forever. Real value though, can also be intangibles. Attributes attached to people. ‘Things’ we have to earn.

Missing Intangibles

Seems like these days so called intangibles are taking on a great deal more significance. We miss integrity, trustworthiness and respect. We crave time and forget the value of health and the people we care most about.

Beautiful Downtown Fill In The Blank

Malls are designed to evoke feelings and images of the old time markets. Walking through the mall is supposed to feel like the old time main street and its row of shops. The watchmaker and jeweler, tailor and shoe store, outdoor store and record shop. The texture and surfaces make us feel comfortable and somehow like we’re at home.

How Do You Spell Happy?

In conclusion I could suggest that the ‘things’ that make us feel secure and happy aren’t things at all. So, in Value-Persuasion-Disruption-Live At The Mall-Podcast 687, some thought starters for your Christmas and New Year’s season about what’s really important.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and Brush Studio In The West End Saint Louis Park

Value-Persuasion-Disruption-Live At The Mall-Podcast 687

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Podcast 581-Disruption

Podcast 581-Disruption. The 1950’s and 60’s Are Never Coming Back. Disruption is Radical Change with profound effects, usually Permanent.   I’ve tried to determine the root of the feeling we all seem to have that something is wrong. It comes down to a major disruption of our business, industrial, governmental and cultural processes.Podcast 581-Disruption started out to be a podcast about the industrial revolution and the 1950’s in the United States. It’s a theme I return to regularly, especially when I talk about technology.

The Industrial Revolution caused disruptions from the time it began until it peaked in the 1950’s through the 1970’s. We’re in the early stages of a technology revolution on a scale the world has never experienced. I call it the second industrial revolution. It is a technology revolution and will cause profound disruptions.

Some call what we’re living through the fourth industrial revolution. I use the term second industrial revolution because I think breaking the Industrial Revolution into parts minimizes its impact. We’re in the early stages of a disruption as significant as the Industrial Revolution has been overall. What I call the Second Industrial Revolution will have more impact on humans and the planet than the first. The effect of both concepts should not be underestimated.

One of the cultural effects of the ‘turbo’ into the future is longing and nostalgia for the past. The Post World War II period in American History appears to be one of those times when the world could be easily explained, people understood their roles, people of different races didn’t mingle and The United States was number one with a bullet. The problem with this idea is, the late 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s only exist in perfection in dreamy memories and pictures of Marilyn Monroe. Pretty pictures, faded with time. A time when ‘everyone’ was working. When small towns were strong, and big cities were booming. Yet even then, the beginning of the decline of one age and the dawn of a new were in the making.

Not all the gifts of the technology revolution are good. The gifts of technology can be used for dark purposes as well. Religions that spread like viruses. ‘Conventional’ war on an unprecedented scale. Surveillance and mind control of populations that are supposed to be free, to the point where they ask for laws to control speech. What seems like a dream to some, will be a nightmare to others.

This revolution will not be stopped though. It will flow around any obstacles put in its path. Much of the texture of the sense some have that ‘something’ is wrong can be expressed in fear and hate. ‘Fixing’ whatever is wrong, means going back to a world 60 or 70 years ago? A world that no longer exists. Much of the industrial revolution is based on centralization. Today centralization is being disrupted to the point of destruction by decentralizing technologies. What do we need to prevail, given these challenges?

Dealing with this change is a question of how we conduct our own lives and ensure our own happiness and freedom.  We’re living through the beginning of the greatest disruption in human history. It might be the greatest age of human beings and this country yet. Saying things change isn’t descriptive enough. Disruption means radical change. In Podcast 581-Disruption-The 1950’s aren’t coming back, when are we going to stop complaining about what is being done to us, and start taking charge of our lives and our world. When are we going to start looking forward and not backward.

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