Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
Owners of machines are already paying taxes. They pay sales tax for purchase of the machine, property tax on real estate used to house it, income tax on earnings from the machine's use, and various applicable excise taxes. Adding an extra tax becaus…
Tens of thousands of people die in traffic accidents each year. Operator error is a major factor. Automobile safety is a compelling issue.
As to liability, manufacturers are probably on the hook. This is an easy way to handle the matter, and there …
There are currently court cases being heard that could result in recourse to arbitration being restricted. Mandatory arbitration raises the issue of duress. Situations such as hiring or providing fundamental services may disadvantage the weaker part…
A moment of reflection will reveal that it's not possible to tax a machine, as they have no income nor autonomous existence (yet). What will the state do if a machine doesn't pay? Put it in jail? Attach it's bank account?
Machines currently exist o…
The US stringently regulates delivery of health care, so it may take longer to gain the advantages available from technology. Less developed countries may see more immediate benefits.
Neither party has good solutions for the effects of globalization and technology on the economy. Developed economies are under wage pressure from emerging markets and are not producing enough highly educated workers to make effective use of the late…
It looks to me like this is a difficult environment for fixed income. I'm losing more on DODIX than I am on RPHYX. Seems like it's necessary to take a view on rates before deciding on an investment strategy. Then you either win or lose depending on …
The US stock market seems unattractive to me. I have trimmed my holdings in an attempt to hang on to some of the October gains. Seeing stocks move more than 10% in a single session is nerve-wracking, even though it does create buying (and selling) o…
Individual bonds are illiquid, so you may not be able to find what you want at a reasonable price. Open end bond funds, however, may wind up selling during a panic in order to meet redemption orders. Closed end bond funds often use leverage, but als…
Personally, I wouldn't be so quick to defer to experts. In Galileo's day most experts thought the sun revolved around the earth. There can be no argument that climate change is happening, of course, since there is abundant evidence this has been goi…
It's a fool's errand trying to analyze Trump's net worth. You'd require unfettered access to his accounts and expertise in real estate for starters. My guess is that he did okay, but not amazing well, with his assets. The gain in the stock market fr…
There appears to be some disagreement in the comments posted by Lewis Branham.
He asserts that one should be an expert on a subject before commenting on it and that there is too much information in the world to allow for a Renaissance man who under…
