Fiat Currency Issuance and GDP If the government creates fiat currency out of thin air that becomes the taxpayer’s debt and then spends it, is that economic growth, or a sham of growth?
Designing Business Feedback Loops for Sustainable Growth and Risk Control Feedback loops—reinforcing (positive) and balancing (negative)—shape how businesses grow, stabilize, or stall. Reinforcing loops create flywheels that amplify momentum (e.g., reputation → demand → revenue → reinvestment → quality), while balancing loops impose constraints (e.g., capacity, risk, cash) to prevent runaway failure. In practice, both types interact, and time delays between cause and effect often produce oscillations and unintended consequences.
The Term “Police State” in U.S. Political Discourse The concepts of the police state and police state overreach are not new. It has a long history. It may be layered in truth or used in a political context to harass the opposing party as though they are the culprit. Police, state, and government overreach go hand in hand.
The Four Components of American Enterprise--interdependent—competing forces--and Why They Matter The U.S. economy runs on four interdependent components: workers, consumers, government, and the Federal Reserve. Understanding their roles—and how they interact—helps explain both growth and volatility. This is a shortened version of an article of the same title.
The Four Interlocking and Competing Forces Driving—and Distorting---the American Economy—and Why They Matter The U.S. economy is driven by four interdependent components: workers, consumers, government, and the Federal Reserve. Understanding their roles—and how they interact—helps explain both growth and volatility.
Debt Monsters-Credit Cards-Locked into A Spiral of Dread The current state of credit card defaults is not just a concern; it’s alarming. We’re witnessing the highest rates in 14 years, a stark reminder of the 2007-08 meltdown.
Credit Card use can be beneficial. It can also become a curse to deal with. Consumer habits will dictate whether it is advantageous or a curse. Credit cards can be powerful financial tools, but they come with both advantages and disadvantages.
Insurance Companies: Admitted vs. Non-Admitted Here’s the difference between admitted and non-admitted insurance carriers in California:
The Moral Hazard of Dependency: Why America Must Reclaim Self-Sufficiency Moral hazard is a term often reserved for insurance and finance, but its most corrosive form may be cultural. It occurs when people take on more risk—or exert less effort—because they don’t bear the full consequences of their choices. In social policy, moral hazard emerges when systems reward dependency over self-sufficiency. The result is predictable: fewer people strive to stand on their own, and more people settle into reliance on others—whether government, employers, or family—without a plan to regain independence.
Welfare vs. Entry-level Job Comparison in California: How did the term entitlements and benefits become so ingrained in the public persona? We can work and pay taxes, or choose to go on the welfare system, tax-free
Should Commercial Lenders Enforce the Due-on-Encumbrance Clause if a Borrower Records a PACE Loan? Yes, a commercial lender can generally enforce a due-on-encumbrance clause if the borrower records a PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) loan, because:
List Hidden Taxation in the American Enterprise System If there is any question about the top tax bracket being 70% or more, think again. Hidden taxes are the culprit.
Inflation as a “Hidden Tax”: What It Is, Who Pays, and Why It Matters Economists have long referred to inflation as a hidden (or stealth) tax because it reduces the purchasing power of money without a vote or new legislation. Milton Friedman put it bluntly: “Inflation is a form of taxation without legislation.” He argued that it acts directly on cash balances and—through unindexed tax rules—quietly raises practical tax burdens as prices rise.
The Power of Repetition: How Lies Become “Truth” and How to Fight Back Propaganda, a potent force that thrives on a simple yet powerful principle: repeat a lie often enough, and it begins to feel true. This isn’t just a political tactic—it’s a psychological phenomenon deeply rooted in how our brains process information. Understanding why repetition works—and how to counter it—is not just important, but urgent in today’s media-saturated world.
The 2025 PACE Regulatory Reset — What Lenders, Program Administrators, and Property Stakeholders Need to Know Residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (R PACE) financing will operate under a materially new federal regime beginning March 1, 2026, following the CFPB’s December 2024 final rule applying TILA/Regulation Z to PACE and adding Ability to Repay (ATR), TRID, and other mortgage-like obligations to PACE transactions.
Private Money Lending: A Strategic Alternative to Bank Financing in Real Estate With case studies and a field-tested playbook for finding and vetting lenders: Private (hard) money lending is a strategic tool in real estate investment, offering speed, flexibility, and asset-based underwriting. It’s the solution when opportunities in the market Demand immediate action, bypassing the wait times of traditional bank loans. While it may be costlier, private capital empowers investors to pursue fix and flip, bridge, construction, and creative strategies that many banks won’t finance.
Church and Non-Profit Owners Can Now Unlock Hidden Value in California Real Estate Through Entitlement Arbitrage: California’s evolving land use laws have created a rare window of opportunity for church and non-profit corporations. With the state now overriding local municipalities in the approval process, properties once constrained by zoning limitations can now be repositioned for high-density residential development—dramatically increasing their value.
Will lenders allow PACE/HERO loans to encumber the property when the lender has a first trust deed? Commercial lenders do not automatically allow PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) or HERO loans to be placed on properties when they hold a first trust deed.
The Distinction between truth and Illusion in American Politics: An Analysis of facts, Frames, and the Post-Truth Challenges. In an era where the battle between objective facts and manufactured narratives is shaping American politics, understanding the difference between truth and illusion is more crucial than ever.