The Merit of Confrontation and Why De Blasio Is Already In Trouble

Much has been made of the worrisome rhetoric in the State of the City speech given on February 10th by New York City's new mayor Bill deBlasio.

 Some in our audience, particularly anyone with a connection to New York City, have already expressed fears about what to expect next from the de Blasio administration. 

Other commentators have been quick to deride de Blasio as a Marxist; indeed, de Blasio's hapless Republican opponent used that label on him as early as September 2013. 

 However, concerns should extend far beyond the City and the Financial Policy Council believes the de Blasio speech is a harbinger for the world.

Read More: Why De Blasio Is Already In Trouble

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Why do people view making money as evil?

I have always been puzzled by the fact that so many people today – more than ever before – view making money as evil.

My personal opinion?

1. I believe people who cannot themselves make as much money by living honest and hardworking lives often feel that the only way so much wealth must have been gotten is by evil means.

2. I believe there was a time before capitalism took hold when everybody didn’t have too many opportunities to make vast amounts of money without resorting to illegal or evil ways. It was a time when government (or before that the monarchy) controlled everything.

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Making the Capital Markets Smarter Some Food For Thought

I have finally come to the realization; after 30 years on Wall Street and Silicon Valley, that our capital markets are simply obsolete and that it's high time for a new technology that allocates money and other resources far more efficiently than both our actual technology and government. 

The current VC/entrepreneurship worlds are in a mess, and to their credit, the players are doing some serious introspection. But mostly, it is still business as usual.

I have nothing against VCs and angels. Most are extremely smart people. But the world of problems and opportunities is now so complex and fragmented that any system that relies on "bottleneck star-spotting talent" is doomed to hit its limits in short order.

Read More: Making the Capital Markets Smarter

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Preventing a Nuclear Terrorist Incident – Some food for thought

It sounds too pessimistic to think nuclear terrorism inevitable, yet it is probable. There is no other choice but to eliminate nuclear weapons–that is general and complete disarmament. Even peaceful use should have total protection.

I guess the main issue we are facing today is that our world has grown smaller than ever and Western ideas, religion, politics, etc. are just so opposite to what Al Qaeda and similar extremists believe in that we’ll always be hated by them for who we are.

You also have countries, like Iran & North Korea, that hate us for various reasons and they are developing, or will have soon, nuclear weapons. Much of what they do is saber rattling. But, we can’t be sure that will always be the case.

Read More:  Preventing a Nuclear Terrorist Incident

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Is Free Market Capitalism Dead?

Is free market capitalism actually practiced in the United States today still alive or is it now just a product of our imagination?

Let’s analyze the facts and see for ourselves.

Americans have traditionally believed that the "invisible hand of the market" means that capitalism will benefit us all without requiring any oversight. 

However, the man (i.e. Adam Smith) who came up with the idea of the invisible hand did not believe in a magically benevolent market which operates for the benefit of all without any checks and balances:

Read More:  Is Free Market Capitalism Dead?

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