Clean Air Causes Global Warming

July 25, 2022

Leyendecker Executive Search

July 22, 2022

Cowardice is catching, but so is bravery.
– Douglas Murray

THOUGHTS FROM DOUG

The US has led the world in interest rate hikes, which has caused the dollar to rise and commodity prices to fall. As other countries around the world raise interest rates, will it cause the dollar to fall? And if the dollar falls, will that mean commodities prices like oil and gas rise again? Maybe not, if worthwhile demand destruction happens. US gasoline demand is down 10% from 2019.

Most of the one billion people living in the Western world now probably consider Russia and China pariah states. What do the other seven billion people in the world? Mexico’s president obviously thinks little of his relationship with the US . And now Turkey is telling the US to get out of Syria. Do many nations around the world consider us the pariah? If so, why? And should we care?

In the past, the West’s enormous economic advantage gave it geopolitical power, but today Russia and the Middle East can supply energy, while China can supply technology, goods production and capital. The West may still have the moral high ground, but they no longer hold the economic leverage, and they only have 12.5% of the world’s population.

Maybe we need to stop thinking that the 7 billion people who do not live in the Western world appreciate the West’s moral high ground. Our morality doesn’t put food on their tables or gas in their vehicles.

Exactly what do we think is going to compel Russia to leave Ukraine? They don’t seem to mind losing troops. They already have ample energy. China, India and other countries will keep purchasing their oil and gas. They have China for technology and consumer goods. They have wheat to eat. What does Russia need the West for?

Just when some people think we need more renewable energy, we are finding out that both windmills and solar panels lose their productivity in the heat. What!!!!

I had dinner earlier this week with some friends. Two of them are strict vegans, another a vegetarian. Lucky me we got to talk about climate change, mass shootings and abortion. While the one female in our group admonished the fall of Roe v. Wade, her longtime boyfriend suggested that if abortion were legal at the time, he may have never been born. He was adopted as an infant. Made me think…

Some greatness is likely lost in abortion, while some suffering is surely avoided.

THE ECONOMIC VIEW

Jobless claims keep rising
With recession comes unemployment.

Conference Board data points to recession
If it’s not already here.
Philly Fed Index keeps falling

Is the dollar’s rise over?
As other countries increase rates

Can we handle higher interest rates?
After having become addicted to lower.

THE INFLATION BOGEYMAN

Natural resources prices are falling
Copper prices are collapsing
Inflation down, recession up?

CPI doesn’t cover it
For the actual cost of living for rural citizens.

Trucking crisis in the works
Regulation problems in California.

THE LABOR VIEW

Hiring tech tools are failing employers
Time to make it a human process again?