C.C. Francis's Blog, page 8

Have you considered the possibility that billions of men aren’t a homogeneous group to be lumped…

Have you considered the possibility that billions of men aren’t a homogeneous group to be lumped together like this?

In Hardship, Be Proactive.

Your life, your terms.

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Great article. Thanks for sharing.

Great article. Thanks for sharing.

Identity politics groupthink makes me sick.

Identity politics groupthink makes me sick.

This is vile.

The Glass-Steagall repeal was not good.

The Glass-Steagall repeal was not good. I would add a lack of prosecution following 2008, the student loan crisis, and a lack of antitrust enforcement against big tech.

It seems reductive to pin inequality on a less-progressive income tax.

It seems reductive to pin inequality on a less-progressive income tax. The extremely wealthy largely pay CG rates.

You raise some good points. Conservative voices certainly have a lot to offer.

You raise some good points. Conservative voices certainly have a lot to offer.

The most disconcerting aspects of the Trump administration have been: (1) economic policy relating to inequality, reducing our Pareto Index (without any antitrust enforcement or tax/education reform to correct the underlying problem), and the corresponding reduction in innovation/prosperity for today’s youth; and (2) leadership failures — incompetence in pandemic handling & crisis mismanagement.

These are both troubling. But the latter of the two is more so. We need competent leadership in the WH, and it’s now clear President Trump doesn’t fit that bill.

It doesn’t do to blame the Chinese for COVID-19. It’s our government’s responsibility to keep us safe — like other advanced nations have done. Our messaging has been inconsistent, our policies have been patchwork. Scientists & experts have apparently taken a backseat to President Trump’s desire to take charge. He seems to have insisted on handling policies & briefings, despite profound subject matter ignorance. The result has been chaos and death.

I “quit my day job” in Big Law just before COVID-19 hit.

I “quit my day job” in Big Law just before COVID-19 hit. Last year I was making very substantial money, working 60-80 hours/week in highly stressful conditions. Now I’m living on savings.

Was it worth it? I don’t know. I did it for medical reasons, so it wasn’t much of a choice. I’m happier, more relaxed, and healthier than I was—by far. Will I be happier when the money runs out, though? That’s the real question.

The uncertainty isn’t fun, especially in a pandemic. I will say that much.

I wouldn’t quit without somewhere to go during COVID-19—not if you have any other choice. If the job isn’t working out, I’d start networking.

I agree with a lot of this, but we need to be careful about how we define “wealthy” — want to…

I agree with a lot of this, but we need to be careful about how we define “wealthy” — want to exclude upper middle class and working professionals & tax extreme net worth at the tail of the Pareto Distribution. America’s Pareto Index is too low now, and is stifling innovation. Any net worth tax should be relatively gentle to prevent disrupting capitalist incentives.

The regulation issue is tricky and is painted with too broad a brush here. Professions are largely overregulated. So is housing construction, in many places. But we need far more antitrust action with big tech monopolies. With any regulatory scheme, compliance costs need to be taken into account.

It’s just a different experience — using different parts of the brain.

It’s just a different experience — using different parts of the brain. Both are deserving of respect. Audio books are especially nice during VR time & commuting.