The Federal Reserve Bank: Pumping Fuel onto the Bonfire of Inflation

We are in very uncertain times.  And they are becoming more uncertain.  The Federal Reserve Bank(FRB) just raised interest rates .25% and has stated it is their objective to raise rates perhaps 3 times in 2017, in an effort to effectively curb inflation.

And while that may seem to make sense based on the way both the FRB has worked in the past, and what we have been told about inflation and how it works, these actions, perversely, are going to have the opposite effect this time around.  Should I be correct, then the raising rates will actually fuel inflation, which will force more rate hikes, and then even more inflation. Continue reading

The Great Billboard Controversy of Johns Creek

For several years now the interests of the Johns Creek residents have been growing in their desire to  both understand and participate in how their closest level of government-their city government- functions.

And, what many of have seen has not been exactly what we had hoped for.  Voter apathy has been mentioned often in City Council Meetings.  Lack of citizens showing up at City Hall for Council Meetings was evident.  City Council members tired of the same citizens making public comments.

Yet over the last three years there have been several events that have awakened the public, and coupled with more ways to have conversations (such as the Johns Creek Post and NextDoor) the genie is out of the bottle.  Public scrutiny is going to only grow. Continue reading

US Economic Engine Continues Its Steady Decline

It’s been a long time since we had robust economic growth.  Most of those alive today cannot really recall a boom time.

Compounded Annual rate of job growth since:

1960:  1.75%

1970:  1.53%

1980:  1.28%

1990:  1.05%

2000:  0.56%

Anyone see a “long term” trend here besides me?

Slowly but surely this economy creates lower and lower job growth.  There are those, like me, who have relentlessly stated that taxes, regulations, and other restrictions are having a negative effect on the US economy.

And I have on more than one occasion demonstrated that profit growth in the US has also been on a steady decline.

With less profits and lower job growth, should we really be surprised that the overall health of the US consumer has been on a steady decline?

Were it not for liberal monetary lending, where American consumers are borrowing to sustain their standard of living, the evidence would be quite clear.

So, how long can this last and how much more debt can the American consumer get their hands on before we see some serious repercussions?