Friday, November 3, 2017

Bits and Pieces


Successor to Yellen at Federal Reserve?

He doesn’t have an economics degree, undergraduate or graduate level, but he is a trained lawyer, an investor, a successful businessman and has strong experience on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Trump has nominated him for Janet Yellen’s position, Chair of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. His voice is of reason and supports viable policies.

Reading his background tells me Jerome Powell makes an excellent candidate for the position and should be quickly approved by the Senate. Powell knows the business of the Federal Reserve. He has been well-schooled in the job and has observed Yellen’s performance as well as her predecessor.

This is one of those rare moments in Trump’s presidency where the nomination may be one of the best of his tenure. I hope he will be speedily seated by the Senate.



NYC Terror Attack: the beat goes on

Once again terror has struck innocents in the largest American City. On Halloween, just a block or so from an annual Halloween parade of citizens marching in full costumes, complete with some floats. A lot of local celebration and fun. So close to the scene of tragedy just an hour or so before the festivities were to begin. The terrorist drove a rented pickup truck down a busy bicycle path. He struck and killed 8 people and mowed down another 15 victims. Some remain in hospital but many returned immediately to their homes with nonlife-threatening injuries. Wounded souls and spirits on a day usually set aside for fun and nonsensical costumes. A reminder once again that our times are not normal; they are lethal, unpredictable and violent.

Sad. But now is not the time to close the front, side or back doors to our nation. Hospitality still rules our land as it should. 330 million citizens mostly are nonviolent. Tens of millions of visitors annually are nonviolent. So let us not allow the very few to intimidate the multitudes. Let public safety personnel do their job and protect us as best they can. The rest of us should go about our business as always.



Sexual Abuse Exposed

In the back of our minds we knew some people abused their trust with others – friends, families and co-workers. Strangers, too, of course, but the news these days is all about the ramping up of the abuse. A lot is happening; perhaps not more than usual, but now more public. I guess we need to study this more to know just how large the problem is statistically. We know it’s a bad problem. An ugly one. One we have not spoken much about. But we know it is there and we, the people, need to do something about it. That’s you and I.

Government can and does make policies that are aimed at protecting us and aiding society to maintain norms of behavior that do not place us under threat. The threat, of course, is still there. To lessen the happenings of sexual abuse, it is up to each of us to talk with others about our experiences. If abused, tell someone. Report it to the authorities. Get the attention – both emotional and medical – you need to reduce retained damage from the incident. But do more to protect others; get involved in the solution!

The more we know about this problem, the more aware of its chance of happening. With awareness, we can help contain the problem. It begins with knowing; then acting.

It takes all of us – the ‘village’ – to raise our quality of life. Don’t let someone down. Be a part of the solution.

November 3, 2017




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