A Way-Out of the Middle-Class' Financial Malaise

It comes from the history of the Ford Motor Company... 

The Ford Monetary Infusion
As I understand it, Ford, the founder of the Motor Company, wanted his workers to afford buying a Model T Ford off his assembly line.  To make that possible, he dramatically increased their take-home pay!

Lest that sound too bizarre an answer to today's flat wage scale, certain European countries are toying with plans to pay their "unemployable" citizens (so-deemed by applying relevant social criteria) a living stipend, e.g, through the social security system.  Their point being automation and AI decision-making have made "hard-work" no longer a highly-prized human value.

Now, it is already apparent that workers who have remained behind in geographical areas where there's just no jobs today--though at one time there were--are just the right candidates to receive the living stipend.

And lest the reader think that the concept violates a well-known adage that implies a worker's hands must be busily employed or society would be harmed, the "employable" could help out by doing good--cleaning up city streets and parks, working at day-care centers and soup-kitchens, and creating works of art for display around town.

Back to the Main Ford Idea!  
What if corporate associations were to create a fund to supplement their workers' salary?  Obviously, the workers would come to rely on the added amount and come to spend it, thereby increasing each nation's GNP.

 

Ms. Yellen of the Fed Reserve points to climate change as added reason for spike in US-GDP

In reviewing the current tone of meetings of the Fed Reserve, Ms. Yellen, its chairwoman, added yet another reason for the lack-lustre performance of the US-GDP: the costs to the economy of climate change.

She mused, the crumbling of the US infrastructure, particularly, bridges and roads, due to a marked increase in floods and the need for repairs of many river levees are just indicators of the effects in our climate, as floral carbons collect above the earth's surface at alarming speeds.  This, addition to, automation and worker homogenization.

Of course, in years ahead, Europe will suffer even more as the ice caps melt, sending a spectacular rise in the seas.

And, we are depending on the Army Corps of Engineers to protect our shores.  Can they do it alone?  

Ukrainians speak up on behalf of their fight for independence!

C-Span carried an evaluative report by Ukrainian leaders about the up-turn in fighting in their country.  They are truly battling the Russians who represent a return to subservience under Russian domination.  May God bless them!

Nevertheless, Putin has a valid point: until 1956(?), Crimea was Russian.  Then, suddenly, Ukraine was ceded the province.  Putin, on behalf of Russia, is calling for it back.  Since, it's composed unanimously of Russians, his reasoning makes a lot of sense.

Had Putin only presented his case to the United Nations, I don't think there would have been a war; but he didn't.

What is more important, no former Russian state wants to return to a condition of servitude to Russian rule.  A pox on Russia and Putin on its behalf, for thinking otherwise!  NATO's strengthening its strategic place in Europe by shoring up its Polish defense is something courageous and bold.  Hooray for them!  

US public brought up-to-date re: Afghanistan

Through a series of recent broadcasts on C-Span. the US military command in Afghanistan and members of an evaluative committee to report on the current status of the war between the Taliban and the US-backed government in Kabul have provided a pretty consistent picture that the war is at a stalemate after nearly 16 years of US troops fighting there!

Meantime, I think the Chinese are still mining minerals on the eastern edges of the country, quite independent of being drawn into the stalemated conflict.

But to my mind, the draw declaration by those familiar with the country only bespeaks the real reality: viz., the country is abundant with poppy seeds; and there's plenty of distributors--including former US military--who supply the drugs upon which those addicted to heroin, etc. survive.  These distributors are the real determinants of the local affairs conducted by independent kingpins and regional war lords.  In short, the money of the Kabul government isn't enough to control any one province let alone the whole country; and so the Afghans are left in limbo to make whatever deals they can with those representing poppy-seed processing and drug distribution worldwide.