Better To Be Seen Than Heard

Thirty years ago, I worked in a corporate administrative role that required daily phone contact with dozens of outside contacts around the country.  Most of the time, these conversations were cordial and professional.  Rarely but occasionally, these conversations were the opposite of cordial and professional.

Always, however, these conversations were better if I had met in-person with the individual on the other side of the phone.  Back in the day, travel was the only way to accomplish this (although now one could get halfway there courtesy of technology via Skype or FaceTime), but the relationship was consistently better if that occurred.  Once you looked another person in the eye and interacted with them, the relationship would improve, at least to some degree.

I was reminded of this again this week, after sending emails to my national elected representatives.  Knowing I would only get a form letter in return (maybe), I didn’t spend a lot of time on my email.  I quickly offered my opinions and my support or disagreement, and got out.  And in return, I got my form letters.   I suspect the same would have happened had I called.

With thousands of constituents, I understand that a personal reply from a congressperson is improbable, even from a staffer.   But it’s also too easy to be dismissive of faceless words and voices.  Thirty years ago, that was mostly done using a phone, but today, it can be done by email, text, and a variety of faceless social media.

I’m still convinced that the impact of whatever as individual wanted to say is more meaningful if delivered in person – even in the current political climate.  Each year I visit the Iowa Capitol building to visit my state reps.  There’s no doubt this carries more weight with them than an email, because I personify an actual constituent / voter.   [Note:  I did get personal emails back from my local/state elected officials in reply to my own.]

I’ve never attended a local meeting of a national elected representative; there are usually opportunities to do so, I’ve simply never had the passion for an issue to do that.  Maybe it’s time, because after all these years and technology substitutes, it's still better to be seen than it is to be heard.

It's Faaan-tastic

Last week, I watched an NBA basketball game from a second row courtside seat.  This was the third or fourth time I’ve watched from these seats over the years, enough to make some veteran observations:

• NBA players play HARD.  So many people who watch college basketball will call it physical, but it isn’t remotely close to the physicality of an NBA game.  These guys are much bigger and stronger, and bodies are banging around like crazy, over a much longer period of time, and with more possessions.

• NBA players do play good defense.  I get so tired of hearing people say that NBA players don’t try that hard on defense.  Sure, there are a few bad defensive players, and everyone takes a possession off now and then, but the fact is these guys are consistently playing tough, aggressive defense.

• NBA franchises put on a big show both on the court and off.  There is never a moment during a time out or quarter break that something isn’t going on to entertain fans.  It’s a sporting event, video game, and Las Vegas light show rolled into one.  [Aside:   The t-shirt gun wasn’t a one-barrel launcher, it was a gatling-gun style-device that spewed out multiple shirts in a few seconds.  Impressive!]

• NBA officials have an impossible job, deciding which fouls to call and which ones to not call, because fouls are happening all of the time.  Plus, they have to hump it up and down the court the entire game trying to keep up with some of the biggest, fittest athletes on earth.

Blog Entry Classic

Haven't had much time to write recently, but right now seems a good time to link to a couple of blog entries from years past.  Note when these were originally written -- otherwise I submit them without further comment.

Here is one from 2009.

Here is one from 2011.

2017

It's time for my annual review of the list of things I wanted to happen the prior 12 months, and give my list of things I want to occur in the next 12 months.  Here's the 2016 list, with comments in ALL CAPS:

-At least some progress, not regress, on medicinal marijuana legalization in Iowa.
NOPE TO DOPE AGAIN, BUT AT LEAST THERE WAS A BILL ON WHICH TO VOTE.

-Chris Christie versus Hillary Clinton for president, with ? winning.
HILLARY LOST THE PRESIDENCY, WHILE CHRISTIE LOST HIS POLITICAL CAREER.

-A higher stock market.
AFFIRMATIVE, BUT IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD ON FEBRUARY 1ST.

-Just one actual, even very minor piece of legislation to make it slightly more difficult to buy a gun.
DESPITE MORE VIOLENCE, WE'VE NEVER BEEN FARTHER FROM THIS HAPPENING.

-The personal, financial, and political implosion of Donald Trump.
THE OPPOSITE HAPPENED THIS YEAR, BUT IT WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN.

-A way to charge devices without a wire.
NO, BUT WIRELESS HEADPHONE HAVE GONE MAINSTREAM.

-An à la carte option for cable and satellite TV channels.
THANKS TO PRESSURE FROM STREAMING SERVICES, SEEING SMALL PROGRESS.

-More time for eating right, less time for exercise.
ENDED UP DOING MORE OF BOTH, WHICH WAS A GOOD THING.

For 2017 I'd like to see:

Again:  At least some progress on medical marijuana in Iowa,

Some type of institutional or legal control over fake news / social media.

Related to the above, more critical thinkers, fewer idiots who believe everything they hear.

GPS technology used in major sporting events, e.g. to mark the ball in football games, and for the strike zone in baseball games.

More working from home by me.

The return of popular mainstream rock bands and rock music.

Implementation of the fiduciary rule, and the demise of commission-based financial advice.

The resignation or impeachment of an unqualified president -- no names, any one will do.

Cave-Dwelling Millennials

Five years ago, I posted a blog entry about how the main problem with kids, is parents.  My point was that there could be no bad kids unless they'd been exposed to bad parenting.  That came to mind again this week, but in a much, much different way.

This week the Wall Street Journal reported that almost 40% of young Americans were living with their parents, siblings or other relatives in 2015.  This is the largest percentage since 1940, and happened despite good job growth since the Great Recession of 2008.  The share of those ages 18-34 living with parents or other family members has actually been rising since 2005, when roughly 33% were living with family.

It should be noted that this is all according to an analysis of census data by real estate tracker Trulia, which did it to determine why there is less demand for housing than would be expected for the millennial generation.  They decided that rising rents in many cities and tough mortgage-lending standards were the culprit, making it difficult for those 'young Americans' to strike out on their own.

Pardon my French, but that reasoning in bullshit.  It makes no sense on its face, since the percentage should decline as the economy has so improved over the past five years.  Also, there's plenty of multi-generational family living even in lower cost-of-living areas.  And for the past few years, mortgage rates have never been lower, making it easier than ever to buy a house.

Want to know why so many millennials are living in their parents' basements?  Because they can.  Because parents have allowed it -- not just by unconditionally opening their doors to their underachieving kids for undetermined periods of time, but by not holding their children accountable for making better decisions when it mattered, during and after high school and college.

That's simply another form of bad parenting, in a much different context than what I wrote five years ago.  It's also a sign of how some millennials are lazy, er, I mean lack motivation, to the extent they'd rather give up independent living than have to be fully employed.

Parents should be more motivated about this, too.  As a financial planner, I can also tell you the parents pay a terrible cost in the form of not being able to retire.  Thousands of dollars are being spent on children for whom there should no longer be a cost.  I've seen some situations where parents are paying more now for their adult children than they were when those kids were under 18.  Ugh.

Calling Mr. Murrow

Edward R. Murrow was a broadcaster for CBS radio and (later) television.  He first gained fame for his radio broadcasts during World War II, which were followed by millions of listeners in the United States.   However, Murrow is perhaps more well-known for later producing a series of TV reports that helped expose and discredit then-Senator Joseph McCarthy for his reckless, anti-communist rhetoric.

Murrow is still considered one of the greatest journalists ever, noted for his honesty and integrity in delivering the news.  Although he died in 1965 at age 57, he left us a lot of great phrases from which to quote.

One of Murrow's most famous quotes is, "A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves."  This takes on new meaning with the current 'fake news' epidemic on the internet -- but more on that another time.

Now take a look at the following quotes, all attributable to him, and ask yourself how much they fit now -- over 50 years later -- with our country's current state of affairs:

No one man can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices.

Our major obligation is not to mistake slogans for solutions.

The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer.

We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.

We will not walk in fear, one of another.

Good night, and good luck.

No Thanks Again

Here's my 8th annual Thanksgiving list of things for which I am not thankful.  You can get to the trail of prior lists here or by using the label 'Thanksgiving' on the blog.

As always, this list is in no particular order:

Donald Trump.

People with low IQs.

Fake news, and those on social media who swallow it.

Electronic dance music, and the mostly no-talent celebrity DJs who play it.

Injuries to star players on your team.

The Zika virus.

Christmas lights that are illuminated before Thanksgiving.

Christmas lights that aren't taken down until the Spring, or never.

Kanye West

Fuel pumps that ask multiple questions before allowing you to pump fuel.

'Interviews' on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

People with the overwhelming urge to discuss their personal life without prompting.