Author: coastcontact

I am a somewhat cranky but mostly optimistic 65 plus who refuses to give up on this maddening world. The purpose of this BLOG is to express my feelings, thoughts.

The United States is Home to Millionaires

This is one topic that will not be discussed in the campaign for president in 2016. The U.S.A. is a home for millionaires. There are more in this country than any other nation in the world. The opportunity to become a millionaire is the reason so many people look for every way to enter this nation.

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) posted this interesting article about wealth in the world this past June titled “Global Wealth 2014: Riding a Wave of Growth.”

Even as the income discrepancy between the average American and the top income earners has become more extreme the number of millionaires around the world has risen to new heights the numbers of millionaires in the United States has grown even more. BCG states: “As the debate over the global polarization of wealth rages on, one thing is certain: more people are becoming wealthy. The total number of millionaire households (in U.S. dollar terms) reached 16.3 million in 2013, up strongly from 13.7 million in 2012 and representing 1.1 percent of all households globally.”

MIllionaires Chart

The number of millionaires in the United States exceeds the total of the next 13 nations combined with 7,135. Among the ultra-rich (families with $100 million in wealth) shown in the third column above, once again the United States has more than four times as many as the next nation (United Kingdom).

The inflow of immigrants to the United States isn’t just the poor. The wealthy are doing their very best to grab a piece of the American pie. Businessweek had an article in the October 20-26 issue about Arcadia, California – a suburban community of Los Angeles that has been inundated with wealthy Chinese buying homes and building mansions there.

Arcadia CA

There is a possibility that you can be a millionaire in the United States. It’s easier than almost any other country in the world. So that’s why we won’t be changing the laws pertaining to millionaires. We won’t penalize you for becoming one too! It is what makes America great. It’s everyone’s goal. You don’t have to know anyone to make it happen. Anyone can be the next Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, or Sara Blakley.

Solving the Illegal Immigration Issue

As has been said by so many other people; we are all immigrants except American Indians.

Obama on immigration-reaction-20141120-thumbnailThere is a difference between President Obama’s granting of legal status to the undocumented and the amnesties of the past. The president’s executive action is only effective as long as he is president. He has the authority to reduce the government’s pursuit of illegal aliens. That is what he is doing.

His reason? His legacy. He obviously sees his action as a progressive solution to a problem that has existed since 1986 when President Reagan did sign an amnesty law passed by Congress.

The 5 million or so people who might be effected by Obama’s executive order are aliens who have held jobs and have families here for more than five years. We allowed these people to obtain jobs. We rarely punished employers who are fully aware that they have been hiring undocumented aliens. We did these things because those illegal aliens took jobs that most Americans won’t. All this because American businesses would not pay wages that most Americans will accept. Construction workers, farm laborers, and other blue collar jobs are dirty, dangerous, or in some other way are not acceptable to Americans. Illegal aliens are filling those jobs.

The GOP continues to be the party of NO. They have objected to every proposal made by Obama. With no ideas of their own the Republicans will provide the grid lock that has existed for the past two years.

For the sake of the nation the Republicans in the House of Representatives should approve the Senate passed immigration bill.

The Gap Between the Wealthy and the Middle Class

The political parties have missed the primary message of the November 4 election. There was a poor turnout because neither party addressed the issue that most Americans care about. My opinion: A growing economy ought to be the primary target for both parties.   The graph below developed by the Economic Policy Institute shows increased productivity without increased remuneration but the EPI discussion does not offer any evaluation as to cause. They leave the evaluation to others. Those others are the commentators and economists who just might have a political agenda.

Real Hourly Growth

My take: Higher productivity is not the outcome of employees working harder or smarter. It is the result of new technologies. Those technologies are the consequence of new tools and new software. Those technologies lower the needed manpower. A good example is the elimination of ticket takers/payment clerks as you leave a parking structure. They are now being replaced with automated systems. Those same systems will eliminate order takers at McDonald’s, etc. Those technologies enable machine shops to complete projects faster with less scrap and higher quality.

What will we do with all the people who no longer have jobs? That is the question that politicians can’t answer. Those illegal aliens? Their jobs are on the line too. Capitalism in a free enterprise society translates to hiring the least expensive labor. Of course politicians don’t want to talk to the electorate about this issue.

Is the solution more subsidies and aid for the “middle class”? That appears to be the only solution today. Neither political party wants to admit we have a problem with no apparent solution.

Do not expect anyone running for president in 2016 to say anything about this issue. You will hear discussion on illegal immigration, Russian threats to Eastern Europe, the challenges in Middle Eastern Islamic nations (no boots on the ground), and of course Obama Care. No one will be talking about the gap between the wealthy and the middle class. I hope I am wrong.

Russia Resuming Cold War Behavior

President Obama belittled Mitt Romney for his prediction over the course of the 2012 campaign, Romney repeatedly called Russia “our number one geopolitical foe.”  Then came this debate confrontation.

 

Now in response to NATO’s “anti-Russia inclinations,” the Kremlin will resume its Cold War-era practice of sending long-range bombers to patrol the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific.  The flights, which will extend to the borders of U.S. territorial waters, follow a markedly more aggressive air defense posture by Russia in the eight months since it seized and annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region in March, according to European strategic analysts.

 

Newsweek reports:
“Russia has announced plans to build a drone base for military reconnaissance in a town just 420 miles off mainland Alaska and just over 300 miles off the US state’s St Lawrence Island, Russia’s state news agency reported on Thursday.”

“The command of the eastern military district in charge of the military development of the Arctic zone has moved forward with plans to form an unmanned aerial vehicle division,” Alexandr Gordeev, spokesperson for the district said.”

Hungarian leadership is now saying that it feels a kinship with Russia.  Russian speaking Latvians are leaning towards Russia. Russia does not need to be communist to stand as the opposition to western style democracy.  Mikhail Gorbachev recently warned of a renewal of the Cold War.

Barack Obama as leader of a new Cold War is very frightening.  I am looking forward to a new tough American leader.

Poll Finds 6 in 10 Americans Believe Guns Improve Home Safety

A troubling article in Time magazine says that a Gallup poll indicates that “More than 60% of Americans say having a gun in the home makes them safer.” Gun control advocates just don’t understand American thinking.

The Time article provided a link to Gallup where I found these results.  Clearly I am in the minority.  No other country in the world has the high death rate from guns that we experience.

Having a Gun in the House -- Safer or More Dangerous?

Google “gun deaths by country” and the results are overwhelming.

List of countries by firearm-related death rate – Wikipedia …

en.wikipedia.org/…/List_of_countries_by_firearm-related_dea…

 

Wikipedia
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This is a historical list of countries by firearm-related death rate per 100,000 … years), 3.0 (2008), 2.79 (2001), 0.64 (2001), 3.62 (2001), Guns in Argentina.

‎List – ‎See also – ‎Sources – ‎References

Making Goodluck Look Good

Juju Films

President Goodluck Jonathan President Goodluck Jonathan

Nigeria is painted with the same paintbrush as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia by mainstream media, religious leaders who pedal fear in exchange for riches, and misinformed Nigerians in the Diaspora who trumpet everything wrong with Nigeria.

It is assumed that America can effectively fight terrorism within their borders, yet there was the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, Boston Marathon bombing and several mass murders of children in schools. Gov. Rick Perry high on Texas tea announced how prepared Texas was to effectively fight Ebola yet many costly mistakes were made.

I have no doubt that Nigerians are exceptional professionals and the men and women of Nigerian Armed and Security forces are no different. What we have always lacked is real leadership. Nigerian politicians spent years ignoring the threat of Boko Haram due in part to a mix of ignorance and arrogance in Aso Rock and the fact…

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What Will $195 Million Buy?

A gated 25-acre estate in Beverly Hills has come on the market at $195 million, making it the most expensive home to be publicly listed for sale in the U.S.

The seller is real estate entrepreneur Jeff Greene, who owns properties in Florida, New York and California.

The Mediterranean-style villa, called Palazzo di Amore, sits on a knoll behind three sets of gates. Reached by a quarter-mile-long tree-lined drive, the mansion is approached through a vineyard and has canyon and cityscape views. Inside, the two-story marble entry features two sweeping staircases.

Palazzo di Amore, evoking pure love with its 23 bathrooms, quarter-mile driveway, and rotating dance floor, sits on 25 acres just off Coldwater Canyon (I imagine along Mulholland). The Palace of Love includes a 35,000-square-foot main house with 12 bedrooms, a 3,000-bottle wine cellar and tasting room, a separate 10,000-bottle cellar, a kitchen with walk-in fridge, a staff wing, and a Turkish spa; a 15,000-square-foot entertainment center with bowling alley, 50-seat theater, “a dressing room for live stage shows,” and a disco/ballroom with “state-of-the-art laser light system and revolving dance floor.”

195-million-estate

Out Front

195-million-estate - the obligatory entry

The grand entrance

 195-million-estate - the viewing room

The theater

195-million-estate - the grounds

The back yard

195-million-estate - view of the city

The view on a hazy evening

Description and photos from Los Angeles Times and Curbed LA

An Ugly Downhill Slide as Democrats and Republicans Fight for the Presidency

Attention Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and everyone else “seriously considering” a run for president. You can stop pretending now.

Is Hillary really the best that the Democrats can offer? With so many opinions among the possible GOP challengers can any of them bring unity to that party?

If you think it will be easy for any candidate you are mistaken. The Republicans will have to prove they can break the grid lock. The Democrats will have to prove they can overcome eight years of grid lock that they created; thanks to Barack Obama’s refusal to include the GOP in any legislative action.

Watching Obama’s news conference tells me that he has no regrets and intends to proceed as if nothing has changed. He pledges an immigration executive order by the end of this year. Will his executive orders be grounds for impeachment?  I doubt that will happen. Joe Biden would become president if Obama is found guilty. An unlikely series of events.

Chest pounding by leaders of both parties is the reaction to a GOP wave of success. These kinds of public speeches says the next two years will be a dog fight. Wait maybe this is all talk. The shock of losing the Senate has brought out the worst in both sides.

Will any of these candidates address the real issues confronting this country? I doubt it. Most people will be ignoring the politicians until the summer of 2016. Most of us are disgusted with their behavior and the unfulfilled promises.