A Closer Look

Let’s take a closer look …

with Anthony Newcombe

#CancelStudentDebt – some alternatives?

The Issues:

Who gets relief?
What happens to those who “responsibly” paid off their debt?
Who’s on first? ⁉️

Mark Cuban weighed in on this matter a few months ago. If the super-rich say we should do something, then, shouldn’t we just fall in line? America seems to follow the lead of the rich and famous every single time. What changed this time around? Did I miss something?

Background

Anyone who follows me online knows one thing: I’ve made myself abundantly clear on my position regarding this subject matter. It’s littered on my social media profiles, I post about it all the time, and I honestly believe it’s as much a hindrance to our young graduates’ futures as inflation, climate change, gun control, abortion rights, and/or any of the other “hot-button topics” we spend so much time and effort arguing about these days. Let’s face it: a pile of debt does absolutely nothing positive for someone starting out in the current business or real-world environment.

Solutions

However, let’s not be selfish or naive. We know there’s another side. Let’s go there. Right now. One counterargument is: “Why overlook those who paid their balances?!” Let’s not do that.

What if the government followed through and struck $10,000 of student debt for those who are carrying a balance at this time; while also providing a $10,000 federal tax credit to those who can prove they already paid their balances in full? Of course, included could be an “opt-out” provision for those who don’t require either, correct?

Like everything else, it’s never going to be a cheap or simple solution. Just like with all the other ongoing crises: Ukraine, Covid-19, homelessness, etc. However, what it does provide is a reasonable alternative that is fair and all-inclusive. And how do we pay for it? It seems as though somewhere in that $30 trillion dollar pile of debt we’ve accumulated, there must be something that can be shifted around to do this. Congress just needs to work much harder and more diligently to find a way to make this happen.

It’s sort of like that old auto mechanic commercial, “you can either pay me now, or pay me later.”

Any thoughts?

See you in August (try to stay cool till then guys!)

-A.N.

Profile

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, author, narrator, and full-stack developer. He blogs about nearly every topic possible and enjoys tinkering in the yard on weekends.

A Closer Look 👁👁

👁👁with Anthony Newcombe 👁👁

Happy Holidays ALL!!

This month’s topic: Required Tests for Congress Members

We’re going to end this year with a BANG!! Let’s just call it like it is: we need to require all candidates who run for all congressional seats and judicial appointments to pass a test that ensures they are: qualified, sane, interested, and able to perform all of the necessary duties of the job. We don’t have this in place at the time this blog goes to publishing.

COMMON SENSE RED ALERT!!

Q: Could we ever be able to be hired for or allowed to start set foot in a job that we didn’t even want to succeed in?

Q: Would we ever be granted access to secrets of any business without first providing proof of qualifications for the position?

Q: Might we ever see a situation where employees (decision-makers) are allowed to cavalierly sit back and allow the company they are in charge of to be smashed to smithereens?

Clearly, the answers to all of the above hypothetical scenarios is of course, in fact, NO!!

It would never happen, and if it did, there would be a swift and permanent termination of employment and possible legal consequences beyond.

For these reasons, it seems asinine that we would think that this couldn’t, isn’t, or would never happen to our governing bodies. We are observing some of the most clear-cut examples of people with who have zero interest in continuing democracy: blitzing seats, refusing to govern, and participating in the some the most vile, pathetic – let alone dangerous – behavior imaginable. Why are we sitting back and allowing it? Why the continued lack of outrage?

Current major areas affected

Covid-19/ our collective health: 800,000 dead … say no more.

Overturning laws/ court uncertainty: If we no longer can trust the people who are creating, writing and adjudicating our laws, then how the heck are we supposed to abide by them?

Debt ambivalence : $30 Trillion? $35 Trill? How about a nice, round $40T? Why does it seem nobody’s bothered by this number anymore?

Civil disobedience: Are we paying attention to all of the destruction and anger we have towards each other? How about sharing commercial airplanes, public roadways, and other community space? Is it now the one with the biggest fists, guns, or whatever the one who has the last say? What have we become?

⏰Wake up call ⏰

Look people. I don’t enjoy stopping at red lights in big city traffic any more than the guy next to me who thinks he’s Mario Andretti. But, one thing I do know … is if we all decide to continue to do our own thing, society as we know it may not know we all won’t last or be around much longer. I mean, how could it?!

Happy holidays (seriously) and see you in 2022 (… hopefully)

-A.N.

Can Democracy Survive Global Capitalism?

by Robert Kuttner, pub. April, 2018, pp. 309

www.robertkuttner.com

Sneak Peek: For book info, click FB link

What I learned from this book

This book is a phenomenal examination of the myriad “ingredients” combining over decades to endanger democracy as we know it. They run the gamut, from social to cultural to, of course, political. More importantly, as Kuttner explains in graphic detail, we must never forget the economic reasons that have consistently “stirred the pot”; both at home in the U.S. and in democracies abroad.

It was nice to see the author lay out the “global plan” that began decades ago – but now poses the gravest threat since the World War II era. This was never something could have happened overnight. The author drives home that if we don’t pay close attention to how and why this is happening – and demand change – there is no limit to where this could lead us as an international community.

What I liked about this book

I liked the way that the author “spread the blame fairly” in this work. It would have been quite easy for him to pick a side and push the agenda. However, he took a 360-degree view of the situation, applied factual evidence and real-world events, and made sure he pointed out the: who, what, when, where, why and how of it all took and continues to takes place. I really enjoyed his reader-friendly writing style and attention to detail.

What I disliked about this book

Nothing. In fact, because of its authenticity, I am proud to say that I am of the opinion that there are no major flaws in this book. It is right on the money and written at the perfect time.

Whom would I recommend to read this book

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the truth as to how and why our democracy became under siege. Like it or not, it definitely matters to us all, because no matter whether you consider yourself a globalist or a nativist, we all will live with the consequences of our choices on every level. Hindsight, per norm, will make it easy to glance back to, or, “armchair quarterback” what we should have done better in 2018. But the fact of the matter is those of us elected to leadership positions – who, by the way, took an oath to protect us all – seem to be the ones who are currently most comfortable with sitting back, enjoying their vacations, and just seeing where the show lets us out. Sure, it’s an easy way to deal with it, but this may be the precise reason why our democracy ultimately fails after 240-plus years.

Any thoughts?

-A.N.