Big Problems

2019: climate issue

funny i wrote about this topic long ago and recently came across this book which talks about some of the same things .. the point is that we don’t need billions to save the planet rather keep some money in your pocket while save the planet at the same time – a contrarian’s view ..!

one of the agenda items of democrats in 2020 elections … i agree & understand the problem, but the solutions presented so far are completely wrong .. for example: charging more taxes can’t be a solution to a technical / environment problem … 

before i provide my input, let me clarify that i am neither a republican or democrat, nor a conservative or against capitalism .. keeping all above in mind, the solution is quite simple: reduce consumption ..

some of the example excessive consumption are:

1.  growth / inflation madness – at any cost … EU & Japan have taken lead in this area, by taking rates to negative – $17T as on Sep 2019 – to preserve growth and bring inflation back … so we are consuming just for the sake of it .. government is the problem and not the solution.

2. crypto – yes, crypto – do you know much electricity is consumed keeping those machines live to find crypto numbers ..? & how does crypto help ..?   i am not against crypto, but we do need to think in terms of consumption vs utility ..!

3. air travel: with fuel so cheap, the cost of air travel has come down significantly .. especially in last 30 years; simply avoid if you can ..!

4. here is another contrast: Elon Musk, who is the champion of electric vehicles and producing alternate sources of energy is also responsible for consuming so much of rocket fuel for his space company; so is Bezos .. i am not against space travel or explorations; but its having a cake on the table while eating it from under the table ..! 

5. use of water in hospitality industry – although some of the hotels are taking lead in this area.

2006: The Big Short or the big long

housing crisis – so many people lost their homes to foreclosure .. & only a handful smarties saw it coming… market drops 50% and a few made billions .. of course, those were brilliant minds … market bottomed in Mar 2009 & has gone up 400% in Feb 2020  (666 to 3400 – un.be.lie.ve.able … huh ..!)

& the funny part is you don’t have to be genius to fetch that gain, rather act dumb and just hold your investments in S&P 500 index fund ..!

2008: Too Big to Fail

“the whole financial system would have collapsed if harsh measures are not taken …”   that was the rhetoric to fetch $700B … although the terms such as bailout were used, it was an investment in distressed  US Financial system at dirt cheap price, from which the govt. end up making a positive return …!

but the funny part is how everyone knew what caused it by pointing a finger on someone else .. & all i see is fingers in the air.

here is my question to you.. those who have a spoiled child in the family … i hope none of you do, but if you do or have seen one around .. when do you call a child, a spoiled child .. its only when the hammer falls on your head .. until then its all gaga around ..  or do you see a spoiled child in making ?  

think in terms of cause & effect ..!

1970: Apollo 13

Huston, we have a problem .. but tough times bring creativity in humans .. it’s human nature.

1962: The Cuban crisis

13 days that saved the world from a nuclear war …

the whole cold war was cooked up in few smart minds (like CIA), as there is no way USSR was ready for a 3rd world war … of course, its hindsight for me .. but is it because the smartest who worked in that period didn’t have a clue or was it a personal agenda of absolutely brilliant people to cook up something to justify their job .. think in terms of cause & effect ..!