“Give us Hell, Harry”…….A Jobless Future? …..The Tyranny of Choice……. Econ Recon: Don’t Fret the Dip?…22 Bits of Wisdom…

“Investors should remember that excitement and expenses are their enemies. And if they insist on trying to time their participation in equities, they should try to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful.”

 Warren Buffett

“Give us Hell, Harry”

During the 1948 presidential campaign a supporter of Harry S Truman shouted from the crowd “Give ‘em Hell Harry.” Truman can be fairly said to have done so to his adversaries several times during the course of his presidency. Though controversial at the time, Truman is now remembered as a president who exemplified real political leadership transcending party politics.

Peggy Noonan, columnist for the WSJ and a speech writer for Ronald Reagan, looks back at Truman’s life AFTER leaving office, comparing his behavior in private life to more recent leaders of all political stripes. She says to us “I just wanted to note how it used to be, when leaders thought they had to be respectable. When they were respectable.” Spend a few minutes with this two page reminder of what “Politics in the Modest Age” once meant. No doubt there are lessons here for business leaders as well. I wonder if  Harry would give our leaders “hell” today?

 A Jobless Future?

Technology has always changed the nature of employment, but it’s never eliminated it…until now, perhaps. In a brief article a venture capitalist recounts a conversation with futurist Ray Kurzweil that predicts a coming world of abundance with little work required.Take a minute to find out why “We’re Heading into a Jobless Future, No Matter What the Government Does”

The Tyranny of Choice

Most of us feel that the abundance of choices our modern world offers us is a blessing. Recent research, however, indicates that too many choices often lead to anxiety and inaction.In particular, choosing between alternatives of high value caused high levels of anxiety (capital goods and luxury item entrepreneurs, take note). As one researcher said  “When you have more good choices, you don’t feel better. “You just feel more anxious.” Before you add another offering to your product line, check out this brief summary of the findings from the New Yorker. “When It’s Bad to Have Good Choices.”  You many end up deciding that less is more.

Econ Recon:  Don’t Fret the Dip….22 Bits of Market Wisdom…..and an offer from ITR

“Don’t Fret the Dip:” The last day of July was not a good one in the markets with the Dow off 300 points for the day. “Remain calm”  advises economist Brian Wesbury in his latest Wesbury 101 video. He reviews the fundamentals of the larger economy and of the stock market and finds running room for both. Find out why he says  “Don’t Fret The Dip; Fundamentals are OK.”

22 Bits of Wisdom: When the market’s misbehaving, a few moments with a distinct minority, namely successful investors, may be therapeutic. Check out these 22 Insights from the Most Successful Investors in History.

Prosperity in the Age of Decline: Vistage Stage Economists and ITR Economics Principals Alan and Brian Beaulieu are offering a free chapter download of their new book “Prosperity in the Age of Decline.”  Check it out!