Likely many readers have seen the “Tesla Takedown” nationwide protests March 29th. Exceptionally well organized, displaying great planning and coordination, and very well executed violent actions by many “protesters.” Five hundred locations including four hundred Tesla dealerships were targeted. Numerous reports by law enforcement of individual Tesla drivers criminally attacked, again, across the entire country.
How wonderfully “spontaneous.” Except that those fine, socially incensed people were all wearing masks. That is part of the standard uniform for those people. I expect that is part of their employment agreement. Also good so that they can protest gasoline powered cars on a Monday and then EVs on a Tuesday.
Ironically, these people are probably creating an uptake in Tesla sales as the insurance companies buy new cars…
As are all the pre-manufactured signs, posters AND the protest language they mindlessly scream in its entirety. From notes they are handed, no less! And then, do with this last bit as you will: every protest, across the entire United States, stopped exactly at the same moment in time Saturday afternoon. Across the country. Yes, accounting for the time-zones. Call me a cynic, but I suspect that is when they had to clock out from that paying job… After all, their [suspected] employers, heck, just three well known billionaire agents-of-chaos (actually add one more wannabee player billionaire), did not make those billions with lousy planning and out-of-control payrolls.
Just say’n.
Last week, two renowned academics, among my constituency and colleagues, let me know they placed orders for new 100% U.S. made automobiles. Just last week. Net gain for US automakers; net loss, in those two cases, for BMW. Oh. They are both self-professed, hardcore liberal thinkers. And teachers.
We believe that all readers of this earn their money by doing honest hard work. Thus, are absolutely entitled to buy any automobile they choose gas, EV or hybrid, made by whoever and wherever. And make good use and enjoy however they choose. And do so without the now reasonable expectation that their choice may be cause for scorn, even the danger of physical harm by a lawless, mindless mob, funded by an “elite” few who are in fact existential threats to democracy.
Will the enlightened, economically blessed countries of the world step up to help Myanmar survive? Then possibly recover.
How quickly can the US ramp up chip manufacturing? That is what comes to mind witnessing massive Chinese naval assets hovering over Taiwan. Best make haste, lest in short order, once again, most things we all buy will be stamped “Made in China.”
This week’s “wolf in sheep’s clothing” award is given to the Nexus Project. Their mission statement reads, among other things: “effectively addresses antisemitism – instead of exploiting it for political gain…” If you have been a Jewish child, who was called the ugliest names while beaten bloody for simply being a Jew, you may want to withhold your donations to this cause. Trust me on this.
I, for one, have had enough of Zelenskyy. Self-appointed “President for Life” of Ukraine. How much more money and power can that morally bankrupt man covet? Enough of a thousand young people, with zero to gain, dying every week. Again: Putin is Putin. An absolutely known and predictable megalomaniac. Forget Ukraine admission to NATO. Nobody peripheral to that war has the bravery nor fortitude to champion that. However, a massive economic pact with the US — rare earth “partnership” — is about as close as you will get to US military protection
The EU is struggling with the lack of basic digital skills of the population, handicapping the use and benefits of digital tech. While having/wanting/pushing the alignment with new technologies, particularly AI, with all manner of ethical considerations and fundamental social, political and economic rights.
And the war between innovation and regulation rages on. One that must be resolved.
The extent of the US commitment for defense of NATO will impact the economies of all participants as they must scale up defense spending. Perhaps equities speculators have already taken note. Mind defense related stocks.
Is the rise of nationalist and populist movements inevitable?
Geopolitical inequities and economic realities that continue to feed migration and asylum seekers in Europe have the entirely predictable social, economic and political stressors.
France’s far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, faces a potential political death sentence after being convicted of embezzlement, sparking accusations of judicial overreach and political targeting. Fortunately for democracy in France she has a mentor who may win the race yet… although the powers to be doing their best to hang on to power.
Regrettably a consequential error in judgement to misappropriate those funds. She is not the first. Not likely the last. But the only one with the burden of having to overcome her father’s legacy.
Hardy congratulations to the otherwise journalistically integrity challenged CBS News. And to the heretofore — no longer — revered 60 MINUTES program, on the air for an amazing 56 years. They did not edit out a question their stalwart star reporter, Leslie Stahl, at CBS for 53 years – 34 of those on 60 MINUTES – asked of a Jewish hostage held by Hamas for 484 days. He was savagely beaten, abused, tortured and starved. Stahl asked if he was starved on purpose or that his savage captors just did not have enough food.
Perhaps the once-a-month bath he was allowed, one cup of water poured over his head, might have been for lack of water by his torturers.
There is no way that Stahl is that stupid. Perhaps her mask just slipped.
Asia is the political theater of all the usual suspects: China, India, Pakistan, North Korea. And now, remarkably South Korea. Throw in bit players Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia, you get a “stew” that is essentially not digestible. Of course, you can add chief cook, Donald Trump to that kitchen staff…
Many millions of children worldwide go to bed hungry every night. Half of all deaths in children under the age of five are due to malnutrition. Last year and again this year. That is a tragedy of incomprehensible proportions.
Fantastic week for sales of antacids around the world! Just look at stock markets, well, everywhere. Of course just about everybody is affected; if you own stocks or bonds, directly, or indirectly in any retirement or however funded savings plans.
Yours truly, although apprehensive, know to a certainty that when one share is sold by somebody with jitters or in hysterics, a smart investor is buying! Thus, my expectations are with the people anticipating huge profits to come.
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