“Screw your freedom.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger, August 11, 2021
Freedom in Decline
Freedom, both in America and worldwide, is experiencing a significant downturn. This erosion has been progressing over many years.
While sacrificing some freedom for greater security and comfort might seem acceptable in certain instances, this approach warrants caution. As the thresholds for acceptable freedoms to relinquish expand, our sense of liberty becomes compromised.
Seemingly minor infringements on freedom can accumulate over time. Although they might go unnoticed day-to-day, collectively they contribute to a vastly less liberated society.
Take mandatory seatbelt laws or the requirement for a driver’s license, for example. Some might argue these regulations are trivial sacrifices made for public safety. However, could we be better off without them?
Consider other forms of oversight, such as body scan screenings at airports, or needing proof of vaccination to access indoor venues or travel between states. What about the advent of vaccine passports? Continue reading
Perception can be deceiving…
Back in 1939, a decade into the Great Depression and during the onset of Hitler’s Blitzkrieg invasion of Poland, investor confidence plummeted. Newspaper headlines echoed dire predictions, affirming that the end was indeed near. And in some respects, they were correct.
The New York Times front page from September 1, 1939, boldly proclaimed:
GERMAN ARMY ATTACKS POLAND;
CITIES BOMBED, PORT BLOCKADED;
DANZIG IS ACCEPTED INTO REICH
Amidst such turmoil, the outlook for wealth accumulation was grim. The unemployment rate was a staggering 17.2 percent, and widespread bank failures had devastated personal savings and eroded trust in financial institutions. In such tumultuous times, many opted to hide their money under their mattresses.
However, not everyone followed this path… Continue reading
Have you received a 5.4 percent wage increase this year?
If your answer is no, your earnings are being systematically eroded by the federal government’s deliberate policies aimed at dollar devaluation.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices have surged by 5.4 percent over the past year. If your income hasn’t kept pace with this increase, you’re effectively earning less than you did just twelve months ago.
This rise in prices acts as a hidden tax; it is the government’s subtle method of increasing expenditure without formally raising taxes. Yet, the impact is significant, as each paycheck you receive loses its value.
The primary driver behind escalating prices is the excessive issuance of Federal Reserve notes due to government deficit spending. This money enters the economy through various programs, competing with the existing money supply to drive prices upward.
In the first ten months of the government’s fiscal year, which concludes on September 30, it has recorded a budget deficit of $2.54 trillion. Continue reading
[Editor’s Note: This week, our responsibilities have brought us to southern Indiana, providing a welcome distraction from recent occurrences in the financial and market landscape. Today, we reflect on one of the early legends in self-publishing and the generosity he extended to aspiring entrepreneurs. Enjoy!]
A Confectioner’s Legacy
Ted Nicholas Peterson, affectionately known as “Nick,” was a master of confections, particularly fudge.
At just 21 years old and $96,000 in debt, he launched his own confectionery, “Peterson’s House of Fudge,” in Wilmington, Delaware. Throughout the 1960s, through innovative marketing and a deep understanding of the power of language, Nick expanded his business from a single store to an impressive 30 franchises.
Yet, Nick’s passion for fudge was merely a springboard; his true love lay in words, marketing, and empowering others, particularly the underdog in entrepreneurship. Continue reading
