All Forum Posts by: Michael Wooldridge

 At the rate they are going they won’t have a party is pretty well “disappear”. As to the ideology part both parties are ridiculous at this point on that front but I could argue one pivots faster there was one “policy” that was very popular around 2016-2019 but hasn’t been spoken of much lately. 

Data? Look at the popular vote trends this century. If it continues the electoral college won’t matter. Even funnier especially with people moving (and 99% of people move for jobs or COLA) you can see that popular vote spread.

Anyway this disagreement will be solved like the discussion around home prices with time. The latter half of 2020’s and early 2030s should be enlightening. 

 Location was an assumption sure but nothing to do with that logic jump. It was the comment about dems disappearing. They will only grow over the next 10-15 years. To me it's not about right or wrong but the data behind it. So the logic leap was because of that comment. If you actually believe dems will be pushed out, I have to make assumptions. 

 My boy? I don't care about him. But you just proved my point. Visit the coasts you'll find entirely different people from Ok / Texas (placed I am a lot and know well). Theres a reason why popular vote keeps trending up. And will continue too for years. one of us does have our head in the sand. I agree. Time will tell who but I don't think it will be me surprised. 

 Funny I hear the same from the left about the right. I'm guessing you are were surprised by 2020 results then?  Well aware of them all. I just don't care about it from either side.. All more of the same. 

 you are looking at just 2-4 year spans. I'm looking at something closer to 8-15 years. The timing has been good for GOP with economy for midterms. I don't believe it will be as red as it should be or that it will last. People are flipping because they are frustrated on economy. They will flip again. Not trying to turn this into a full political discussion but the PA senate race or Georgia Senate race are good examples. 

But sure my reality is wrong :). never mind I don't care who wins because it's all more of the same. 

Quote from @James Hamling:

Quote from @Michael Wooldridge:

Quote from @James Hamling:

Quote from @Michael Wooldridge:

Quote from @Greg R.:

Quote from @Michael Wooldridge:

Quote from @Carlos Ptriawan:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Michael Wooldridge:

The bottom 50% of wealth doubled in the last two years, it’s a big cause for inflation. Look at their wealth continued to the top 50% and tell me though over time they won’t continue to vote out of frustration? https://theintercept.com/2022/... 

What do you think the impact will be? I would imagine that a majority of this wealth increase was due to all the gov handouts, printing trillions of dollars, etc. I personally think that a lot of this will dry up, I see it as transient wealth. 

It will 100% dry up. The article pointed to a lot of other facts but this is the one that should be front of mind for everybody, or so I believe:

I’m not even going to get into the 51st to 90th percentiles which candidly if you pull the 80-90 percentile out you’d have a similar chart to the bottom 50 percent. 

So the bottom 50% of America has as doubled their wealth but it’s so insignificant it needs to be called out in a separate graph.  There’s so much wrong and sad about that I’m not even sure where to begin. Also few people realize the 1% has more in common with the 51st percent than the .1%. But those of us in the top 5% should realize we are lumped in with that .1% and the bottom half, is rightfully frustrated and angry. So red wave or not expecting it to continue election after election is just stupid. Right now people are just frustrated with both sides but at some point that will go away and when there are some .1% that can buy companies because they are annoyed - well it’s just a matter of time for push back, real push back

So yes the wealth of the bottom half will disappear - it already did in many ways by going into amazon and other consumer goods. But this won’t be the last time we hear of it or see votes by the bottom half out of frustration. 

 People vote, as they are programed to vote. Don't believe me, read this https://assets.ctfassets.net/q... and then let me know how people vote per there frustrations, it simply does not work that way, it probably should but it doesn't. 

People are sheeple in majority part, roughly 90% of citizenship is in this "sheeple" class. Mindlessly trudging headline too headline, instruction too instruction. That's reality.     

So this notion of some social uprising against the business class, no, only if the 2% gives a uprising for them to vent will it happen. And in that it's controlled. 

Here is reality, we are living in a time of a great consolidation. This is a consolidation of wealth, of power and opportunity. Every month/year one sites the sideline and watches, that bar of entry get's pegged a bit higher, and the sand beneath feet comes a little softer, less solid to leap from. This is not a problem, it is the solution, it's just not your solution. Our country, and world, is ran, dictated and directed by the elite. We all know this yet chug the kool-aid that it can never be spoken of. We all know billionaires direct every commerce action on earth, and that the billionaires own the politicians and political process. We DO have a world government already, it's called Plutocracy. 

The only uprising by the "frustrated" has been to loot purses, tv's and booze, that's reality. 

The disparity gap will continue to widen because at it's heart, the "frustrated" don't actually want to change this paradigm, they just want the power elite to give them a little better living while being good little sheeple, that's it, nothing of throwing off such chains of financial slavery.     Once upon a time I felt empathy for people in such, I then grew up. 

The world is ran by $, that's just how it is and that is not going to change in our lifetimes or any to soon come. Fact is right now today we could solve ALL human hunger and homelessness on the ENTIRE PLANET, and do it in a matter of months, fact. All it requires is the worlds billionaires sacrificing to become multi-millionaires, DONE. AND, guess what, there would be enough left over to cure the deficit of ever nation on earth. The top 2% contains THAT MUCH wealth. 

So, why does it not happen? Why does the Vatican talk of helping people, but needs YOUR $ to do it? As the house of Windsor globe trots to "help the people" of the common wealth, why does it needs your $ to fund it?     And remind me how many are out shaking the gates protesting and demanding a change of this global order........ 

Your faith in the collective intelligence, foresight and call to action of people is, sadly, misplaced. 

The Top 10% "Get It" and will continue to reap the rewards of membership. The rest, well, I believe the saying is "it is what it is". 

Wow. @James Hamling I’m not even sure where to start with all the assumptions you have made and absolutely have wrong.

Actually the comment “Your faith in the collective intelligence, foresight and call to action of people is, sadly, misplaced.”  Is actually an apt jumping off point.

1) earlier in this very thread you made comments about me perhaps leaning more liberal. This comment implies the same. You are correct in that I don’t side with hard GOP leanings. But that’s about all you have correct. I happen to have just as much issue with the Dems. I have no belief in either party and fully agree it’s being run by the elite - but the world always has been it’s all a question of “degree”.

2) Faith in collective intelligence? Given my early comments it’s interesting you would read or suggest that. But I’ll take it on faith that it’s because yo have some idea I lean liberal. Lets be very clear I think most people understand very little of this world from technology to science to business and finance - that doesn’t make a person I just think it’s a certain reality of this fast evolving world for a large subset of the population. One has to look at only the absolute failure of American public to understand the power of compound interest to know how true it is. So faith in collective population? No not at all. In my idle daydreams I actually would love to take away the right to vote for just an election or two from folks aligned to either party. It’s said a bit tongue in cheek but perhaps it will get the point across that I really side with neither sides absolute policies/platforms. 

As to social uprising you read far too much into things as is starting to seem typical. the population interest last all of about 5 seconds. So I agree with some of your points but your points on the elite and the population being led. But you seem to be ignoring the fact that either party is able to lead them so easily because they are all frustrated. We saw that in the 2010 midterms and 2018. And hell even with trump getting into power - people were frustrated and wanted a non-politician. They saw that and bounced back the other way.  

So yes people are frustrated and yes they will continue to flop. I happen to believe the dems will hold more power in future years because of the frustration. And frankly given the shifts on the popular vote in recent years that trend should be obvious. Redistricting buys time but thats it. And hell this coming election will likely be more proof it should be an absolute red wave and I think it will be good for the GOP but not as good as it should be given all the context. 

As to social uprising. No but will we see push back and change? Absolutely. And the world has seen that many times throughout history when it gets to such a balance. Does the elite still hold power? Of course but in a far more subtle laid back manner. 

So yes we agree. but no we really don’t and you need to stop reading into comments thinking  I have some side. I work hard to provide and create a strong future for my family. I can control my income and the power that brings. I certainly don’t want or worry about anything political. 

I simply read direction and data. Business and money most of all but also where politics and the populace trajectory is. Because it matters but it doesn’t really change anything. 

 Given the polarized world I understand your knee-jerk reaction to thinking such was meant, but it was not. I said the "collective" as in both right and left, the both, the collective people, even those of middle, the entirety regardless of leanings. 

Best way I can think to say it is an old joke of do you know why it's called right wing or left wing, because each is a side of the same vulture. 

Being a bit more international then the average bear I can say this is not a uniquely American experience, the politics of the day is in large part become a binary A/B choice and illusion of choice. So the "sheeple" feel they are part of the "correct" group, and get someone to wag there finger at as the "wrong" group, and those behind the curtain giggle the whole time. This is the story of the day all over the world right now. 

Where we seem to differ is in faith of a collective push back by the people. I lost a lot of faith in persons capacity of common sense as they burned our own cities down, destroyed our neighborhoods, harmed our local business's, and for what. It fundamentally made 0 sense, 0. And all just sheepishly looked away, even feared to speak out of the blatant idiocy and childishness of it all. I did, I gave up on the average person, I feel it's past the point of return, I don't think the generation is capable of the necessary common sense. 

I stand by my opinion of Plutocracy raging at full tilt. And of the COLLECTIVE, that means left, right and centrist, inability of common-freakin-sense self-thought. Each seems to just be a variance of what echo-chamber which resides within. There is far too much dumb to go around and far too little smart, or just self-thought, just a drop of shared self-thought. No, the masses in large are sheeple and live from what there echo-chamber has directed of the moment. And in no way are those directing towards the actual power centers. 

Good example, today with mortgage rates, how much is said of why things were let to run so hot for so long and then to flip to full brakes? Any accountability of playing games with the national economy? No, no focus there at all, none. 

Bread and Games....... The arena has changed from gladiators too politicians but it is the same old Bread and Games. And the vast majority lap it up with blind obedience. 

 Ok fair enough and I don’t necessarily have faith. I just happen to think that more people will continue to shift dems due to “programs” some good some bad. But time will tell on that front.

On a separate note thorough. @Carlos Ptriawan I don’t know if it’s that weird. Things just aren’t as bad as they seem. Job market remains strong as expected: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/0...

Quote from @James Hamling:

Quote from @Michael Wooldridge:

Quote from @Greg R.:

Quote from @Michael Wooldridge:

Quote from @Carlos Ptriawan:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Michael Wooldridge:

The bottom 50% of wealth doubled in the last two years, it’s a big cause for inflation. Look at their wealth continued to the top 50% and tell me though over time they won’t continue to vote out of frustration? https://theintercept.com/2022/... 

What do you think the impact will be? I would imagine that a majority of this wealth increase was due to all the gov handouts, printing trillions of dollars, etc. I personally think that a lot of this will dry up, I see it as transient wealth. 

It will 100% dry up. The article pointed to a lot of other facts but this is the one that should be front of mind for everybody, or so I believe:

I’m not even going to get into the 51st to 90th percentiles which candidly if you pull the 80-90 percentile out you’d have a similar chart to the bottom 50 percent. 

So the bottom 50% of America has as doubled their wealth but it’s so insignificant it needs to be called out in a separate graph.  There’s so much wrong and sad about that I’m not even sure where to begin. Also few people realize the 1% has more in common with the 51st percent than the .1%. But those of us in the top 5% should realize we are lumped in with that .1% and the bottom half, is rightfully frustrated and angry. So red wave or not expecting it to continue election after election is just stupid. Right now people are just frustrated with both sides but at some point that will go away and when there are some .1% that can buy companies because they are annoyed - well it’s just a matter of time for push back, real push back

So yes the wealth of the bottom half will disappear - it already did in many ways by going into amazon and other consumer goods. But this won’t be the last time we hear of it or see votes by the bottom half out of frustration. 

 People vote, as they are programed to vote. Don't believe me, read this https://assets.ctfassets.net/q... and then let me know how people vote per there frustrations, it simply does not work that way, it probably should but it doesn't. 

People are sheeple in majority part, roughly 90% of citizenship is in this "sheeple" class. Mindlessly trudging headline too headline, instruction too instruction. That's reality.     

So this notion of some social uprising against the business class, no, only if the 2% gives a uprising for them to vent will it happen. And in that it's controlled. 

Here is reality, we are living in a time of a great consolidation. This is a consolidation of wealth, of power and opportunity. Every month/year one sites the sideline and watches, that bar of entry get's pegged a bit higher, and the sand beneath feet comes a little softer, less solid to leap from. This is not a problem, it is the solution, it's just not your solution. Our country, and world, is ran, dictated and directed by the elite. We all know this yet chug the kool-aid that it can never be spoken of. We all know billionaires direct every commerce action on earth, and that the billionaires own the politicians and political process. We DO have a world government already, it's called Plutocracy. 

The only uprising by the "frustrated" has been to loot purses, tv's and booze, that's reality. 

The disparity gap will continue to widen because at it's heart, the "frustrated" don't actually want to change this paradigm, they just want the power elite to give them a little better living while being good little sheeple, that's it, nothing of throwing off such chains of financial slavery.     Once upon a time I felt empathy for people in such, I then grew up. 

The world is ran by $, that's just how it is and that is not going to change in our lifetimes or any to soon come. Fact is right now today we could solve ALL human hunger and homelessness on the ENTIRE PLANET, and do it in a matter of months, fact. All it requires is the worlds billionaires sacrificing to become multi-millionaires, DONE. AND, guess what, there would be enough left over to cure the deficit of ever nation on earth. The top 2% contains THAT MUCH wealth. 

So, why does it not happen? Why does the Vatican talk of helping people, but needs YOUR $ to do it? As the house of Windsor globe trots to "help the people" of the common wealth, why does it needs your $ to fund it?     And remind me how many are out shaking the gates protesting and demanding a change of this global order........ 

Your faith in the collective intelligence, foresight and call to action of people is, sadly, misplaced. 

The Top 10% "Get It" and will continue to reap the rewards of membership. The rest, well, I believe the saying is "it is what it is". 

Wow. @James Hamling I’m not even sure where to start with all the assumptions you have made and absolutely have wrong.

Actually the comment “Your faith in the collective intelligence, foresight and call to action of people is, sadly, misplaced.”  Is actually an apt jumping off point.

1) earlier in this very thread you made comments about me perhaps leaning more liberal. This comment implies the same. You are correct in that I don’t side with hard GOP leanings. But that’s about all you have correct. I happen to have just as much issue with the Dems. I have no belief in either party and fully agree it’s being run by the elite - but the world always has been it’s all a question of “degree”.

2) Faith in collective intelligence? Given my early comments it’s interesting you would read or suggest that. But I’ll take it on faith that it’s because yo have some idea I lean liberal. Lets be very clear I think most people understand very little of this world from technology to science to business and finance - that doesn’t make a person I just think it’s a certain reality of this fast evolving world for a large subset of the population. One has to look at only the absolute failure of American public to understand the power of compound interest to know how true it is. So faith in collective population? No not at all. In my idle daydreams I actually would love to take away the right to vote for just an election or two from folks aligned to either party. It’s said a bit tongue in cheek but perhaps it will get the point across that I really side with neither sides absolute policies/platforms. 

As to social uprising you read far too much into things as is starting to seem typical. the population interest last all of about 5 seconds. So I agree with some of your points but your points on the elite and the population being led. But you seem to be ignoring the fact that either party is able to lead them so easily because they are all frustrated. We saw that in the 2010 midterms and 2018. And hell even with trump getting into power - people were frustrated and wanted a non-politician. They saw that and bounced back the other way.  

So yes people are frustrated and yes they will continue to flop. I happen to believe the dems will hold more power in future years because of the frustration. And frankly given the shifts on the popular vote in recent years that trend should be obvious. Redistricting buys time but thats it. And hell this coming election will likely be more proof it should be an absolute red wave and I think it will be good for the GOP but not as good as it should be given all the context. 

As to social uprising. No but will we see push back and change? Absolutely. And the world has seen that many times throughout history when it gets to such a balance. Does the elite still hold power? Of course but in a far more subtle laid back manner. 

So yes we agree. but no we really don’t and you need to stop reading into comments thinking  I have some side. I work hard to provide and create a strong future for my family. I can control my income and the power that brings. I certainly don’t want or worry about anything political. 

I simply read direction and data. Business and money most of all but also where politics and the populace trajectory is. Because it matters but it doesn’t really change anything. 

It will 100% dry up. The article pointed to a lot of other facts but this is the one that should be front of mind for everybody, or so I believe:

I’m not even going to get into the 51st to 90th percentiles which candidly if you pull the 80-90 percentile out you’d have a similar chart to the bottom 50 percent. 

So the bottom 50% of America has as doubled their wealth but it’s so insignificant it needs to be called out in a separate graph.  There’s so much wrong and sad about that I’m not even sure where to begin. Also few people realize the 1% has more in common with the 51st percent than the .1%. But those of us in the top 5% should realize we are lumped in with that .1% and the bottom half, is rightfully frustrated and angry. So red wave or not expecting it to continue election after election is just stupid. Right now people are just frustrated with both sides but at some point that will go away and when there are some .1% that can buy companies because they are annoyed - well it’s just a matter of time for push back, real push back

So yes the wealth of the bottom half will disappear - it already did in many ways by going into amazon and other consumer goods. But this won’t be the last time we hear of it or see votes by the bottom half out of frustration. 

And yet it will take years to impact and frankly I’m still not convinced the O&G industry will invest in infrastructure too heavily. Why? Because in a few year as the population swings and votes in blue again they could end up with a pipeline like scenario. 

Can politics impact business? of course I’m not saying it can’t I’m suggesting it’s rarely a fast impact and all about trajectory. So sure if red gets in we can expect tax cuts for the higher end but that has other consequences as well. It’s just not something I get caught up in.

Finally, I avoid politics like the plague (it’s too black and white for me), but I think people are lying to themselves if they don’t think we will continue to see swings back and forth of red and blue - The general population is frustrated and will continue to be so because the reality is red or blue - not much changes for the bottom half of America. And while many of us have jumped from middle class to upper class - that opportunity in future years is going to get less and less.

The bottom 50% of wealth doubled in the last two years, it’s a big cause for inflation. Look at their wealth continued to the top 50% and tell me though over time they won’t continue to vote out of frustration? https://theintercept.com/2022/...

 
 

Seriously GReg? Reread the posts I’ve been incredibly clear on it. Bruce’s last post suggests that if it’s a red wave then next year will be good. Which is a bit of an about face. 

I’ve made my positions quite clear that’s politics is irrelevant, especially in anything less than 24 month periods. So no you quite honestly can’t ask me the same thing - not if you’ve been reading the thread/my posts at all. 

I’ve stood by my statements and will continue to.