We could use a bit of that gumption over here in the US of A. These idiot politicians can't see the forest for the trees. A good application of the chain saw would be wonderful for the people, instead of everything done by the politicians for the politicians.
Joel, you are missing a hyphen in the phrase: Argentina’s lower house approved El Presidente’s budget slashing Ley Omnibus earlier this week. I think it should read "budget-slashing". I had to read it three times to understand that El Presidente's budget was not slashing the Ley Omnibus.
Your writing is generally so clear that when I found this, I had to comment. Enjoy winter in Australia!
GoR is my old stamping ground. Can't see an Aussie Javier over here for a while, alas. The attitude that you so eloquently described in your recent about working for the QLD govt is pretty rife I think, so socialism will be here for a good while longer. Two party preferred system doesn't help either.
I visited Melbourne for a day in February and my wife and I sat down for a cup of coffee in a small cafe along a main boulevard not far from our ship’s dock. I have made it a point throughout our world cruise to ask locals what life was like for them during Covid. And so I asked our twenty something year old server about his experience. For him and his family, it was a painful struggle but they managed to survive. His father, an immigrant, established the cafe which became his family’s bread and butter. The young man described the oppressive lockdowns and periods when the cafe was shuttered due to government imposed restrictions. Many other establishments in the area failed and closed their doors. Had it not been for the resilience of his family, they too would likely have shut down. He seemed bitter over what his government had done, but life goes on and he was thankful that his family retained their means to survival.
Throughout my journey around this planet over the past nearly four months, the story has been the same. Governments everywhere were unnecessarily cruel and people suffered. In places where language didn’t permit me to converse with locals, my eyes could still read their stories. Abandoned stores, for sale or for rent signs. Deteriorating infrastructure, public areas overgrown with weeds, home repairs put on hold. People’s faces sometimes just appeared tired and weary, but occasionally I’d sense rays of hope and optimism in their eyes.
Remnants of Covid have been present in nearly every port. The circular floor stickers still advising people where to stand. The signs instructing travelers to maintain social distancing - 2.5 meters in some places, 3 meters in others. Posters explaining that masks were mandatory. But no one is paying attention to any of the nonsense anymore. They line up heel to toe as they cue up to clear immigration. No one looks at the floor stickers or the signs and posters. I think they intentionally avoid any reminders. It is almost like Covid never happened and is now just a bad nightmare everyone wants to forget.
Surprisingly (unsurprisingly?), there is still a tiny remainder who cannot let go, who perhaps don’t want to let go. They mask up everywhere and at all times. They move about with trepidation, never quite feeling safe enough, it seems. They are ready for next time.
As a new subscriber I really enjoy and appreciate your keeping all of us readers on the greatest Political Experiment of Our Age. I suggest and ask that you also add the topic of the Argintine Stock Market. I was wondering if entrepreneur's are betting non Senior Milei's success as well.
A blueprint for our President Trump to follow, if he can return to the WH? American has a very dismal future if it contains in the direction it is going now.
“95 per cent of economics is common sense – made to look difficult, with the use of jargons and mathematics.”
― Ha-Joon Chang, Economics: The User's Guide
I'm a mathematician and my take is the only part of economics that is worthwhile is the common sense part.
Keep talking to the farmers, ranchers and bar attending crowd Joel. That's where you'll find the economic logic that works for the people.
I can't wait to bump into one of those husband day care centers in our travels as we look to retire.
"Honey, please, leave me here. Promise I'll be good..."
We could use a bit of that gumption over here in the US of A. These idiot politicians can't see the forest for the trees. A good application of the chain saw would be wonderful for the people, instead of everything done by the politicians for the politicians.
“If the state does not spend more than it collects and does not issue (excess money), there is no inflation.” No shit, Sherlock!
As my wife says, “the constipated detective.”
Joel, this is one of your funniest columns. Thank you!!
Thanks, kind sir!
Joel, you are missing a hyphen in the phrase: Argentina’s lower house approved El Presidente’s budget slashing Ley Omnibus earlier this week. I think it should read "budget-slashing". I had to read it three times to understand that El Presidente's budget was not slashing the Ley Omnibus.
Your writing is generally so clear that when I found this, I had to comment. Enjoy winter in Australia!
😎!
GoR is my old stamping ground. Can't see an Aussie Javier over here for a while, alas. The attitude that you so eloquently described in your recent about working for the QLD govt is pretty rife I think, so socialism will be here for a good while longer. Two party preferred system doesn't help either.
I visited Melbourne for a day in February and my wife and I sat down for a cup of coffee in a small cafe along a main boulevard not far from our ship’s dock. I have made it a point throughout our world cruise to ask locals what life was like for them during Covid. And so I asked our twenty something year old server about his experience. For him and his family, it was a painful struggle but they managed to survive. His father, an immigrant, established the cafe which became his family’s bread and butter. The young man described the oppressive lockdowns and periods when the cafe was shuttered due to government imposed restrictions. Many other establishments in the area failed and closed their doors. Had it not been for the resilience of his family, they too would likely have shut down. He seemed bitter over what his government had done, but life goes on and he was thankful that his family retained their means to survival.
Throughout my journey around this planet over the past nearly four months, the story has been the same. Governments everywhere were unnecessarily cruel and people suffered. In places where language didn’t permit me to converse with locals, my eyes could still read their stories. Abandoned stores, for sale or for rent signs. Deteriorating infrastructure, public areas overgrown with weeds, home repairs put on hold. People’s faces sometimes just appeared tired and weary, but occasionally I’d sense rays of hope and optimism in their eyes.
Remnants of Covid have been present in nearly every port. The circular floor stickers still advising people where to stand. The signs instructing travelers to maintain social distancing - 2.5 meters in some places, 3 meters in others. Posters explaining that masks were mandatory. But no one is paying attention to any of the nonsense anymore. They line up heel to toe as they cue up to clear immigration. No one looks at the floor stickers or the signs and posters. I think they intentionally avoid any reminders. It is almost like Covid never happened and is now just a bad nightmare everyone wants to forget.
Surprisingly (unsurprisingly?), there is still a tiny remainder who cannot let go, who perhaps don’t want to let go. They mask up everywhere and at all times. They move about with trepidation, never quite feeling safe enough, it seems. They are ready for next time.
Hello Joel,
As a new subscriber I really enjoy and appreciate your keeping all of us readers on the greatest Political Experiment of Our Age. I suggest and ask that you also add the topic of the Argintine Stock Market. I was wondering if entrepreneur's are betting non Senior Milei's success as well.
Rich Simkowski
A blueprint for our President Trump to follow, if he can return to the WH? American has a very dismal future if it contains in the direction it is going now.
Love the comic about dropping off husbands for daycare!