Russian Oligarchs May Have Used Donald Trump To Launder Money

My Comments: Every two years, I’m required to complete an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) overview and exam. At the local level, it's mostly about drug money and efforts to turn illegal money into legal money with insurance and investment products. The AML effort has the effect of reminding us about behaviors, questions, circumstances, patterns, etc. that …

Continue reading Russian Oligarchs May Have Used Donald Trump To Launder Money

How Hitler Conquered Germany

My Comments: I find the parallels uncomfortable. There's also the truism that includes the words "... are doomed to repeat the past". The new White House Communications Director, is, by definition, expressing the ideas of his employer. His message, to me, is very similar to those expressed by his counterparts in Germany in 1937, despite …

Continue reading How Hitler Conquered Germany

Re-Negotiate NAFTA?

My Comments: The North American Free Trade Agreement was passed by Congress on 11/30/1994. It was approved by 34 Republicans and 27 Democrats. It’s purpose was to increase trade across North America without creating a single currency among the three countries involved. 22 years later, industries specific to each country have evolved to reflect strengths …

Continue reading Re-Negotiate NAFTA?

Michael Flynn Explained

My Comments: I want 45 to be successful. It’s not in my best interest as a citizen of these United States to have a duly elected official fail. But the odds of that happening are increasingly likely. By Gloria Borger, CNN Chief Political Analyst \ Wed May 3, 2017 It's been 11 weeks since Gen. …

Continue reading Michael Flynn Explained

The Brilliant Incoherence of Trump’s Foreign Policy

My Comments: This may be far too long to read in one sitting. But if, like me, you are willing to absorb some rather heavy reading, you may find yourself somewhat relieved by the message. Stephen Sestanovich | May 2017 Every 20 years or so—the regularity is a little astonishing—Americans hold a serious debate about …

Continue reading The Brilliant Incoherence of Trump’s Foreign Policy

‘He’s a Performance Artist Pretending to be a Great Manager’

My Comments: I really want 45 to be successful. The health and welfare of my children and grandchildren depend on it. And I really don't want the never ending distraction now caused by, first, his apparent incompetence and secondly, by the constitutional crisis that will result if he fails. I find him intellectually lazy. Yes, …

Continue reading ‘He’s a Performance Artist Pretending to be a Great Manager’

It’s the Economic Inequality, Stupid! The Gaping Wound That Led to Trump’s Win

My Comments: I’ve been talking for several years about income inequality and how it must be reversed if our children and grandchildren are going to avoid rioting in the streets and economic chaos. Recently we’ve seen Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter and now Trump protesters rioting in the streets. The waiting has ended; …

Continue reading It’s the Economic Inequality, Stupid! The Gaping Wound That Led to Trump’s Win

“I am a Democrat in rural, red-state America. My party abandoned us.”

My Comments: As we come to terms, from either perspective, with the idea of Donald Trump for the next four years, it helps to better understand how he won the election, if not the popular vote. This understanding is critical for those of us who are by nature more liberal than those who will be …

Continue reading “I am a Democrat in rural, red-state America. My party abandoned us.”

Trump vs. Clinton: 10 Ways the Next President Will Impact Your Wallet

My Comments: New and existing clients are asking me what I think will happen to their money after the election. My gut tells me there will be a correction before long anyway. If Trump is the winner, the correction could be dramatic with chaos in the years ahead. If Clinton is the winner, the correction …

Continue reading Trump vs. Clinton: 10 Ways the Next President Will Impact Your Wallet

WHY IT MATTERS: Income Inequality

My Comments: I’ve argued frequently that if income inequality is not addressed, our children and grandchildren will be rioting in the streets of America. I’ve also argued that the recent rioting in Louisiana, and elsewhere, ostensibly because of racial issues, is as much caused by economic disparity as it is racial disparity. At the extreme, …

Continue reading WHY IT MATTERS: Income Inequality