America's Slowing Economy Massively Impacts The World

It is amazing so many people simply don't understand the dire implications America's slowing economy will have on the world. Some market watchers look towards China coming out of its covid-19 lockdown to step into the role of becoming the global economic engine. Considering China's dependence on exports to the US, they are giving China far too much credit. Envisioning a slowdown in America, the world's largest economy, not spreading grief across the globe is difficult.

Other countries manufacture the goods Americans buy which makes America a key component in their economies. Without the American consumer, factories across the world will see orders slow. Any such slowing in orders reduces the need for raw goods from developing nations in both South America and Africa. This causes a lot of stress on their economies.

Following the 2008 financial crisis, China sidestepped a major slowdown by stimulating its economy. This resulted in runaway growth that built far more factories than it needed and resulted in a great deal of malinvestment. Currently, China is pumping money into its economy however, the law of diminishing return has taken hold. It is questionable whether China will be much help this time in elevating a global slowdown. 

It is difficult to underestimate the role of the American consumer in the overall scheme of things and we have the trade deficit to prove it. This highlights the flaw in a system based on people buying things they often really don't need. What is deemed as demand tends to be a squishy area made up of waste and poor judgment. This is the first place consumers cut their spending.

Not Much Has Changed Over The Years - America Is Addicted To Imported Goods

The fact is that America with its massive trade deficit is carrying much of the world on its shoulders. This includes not only China and Mexico but countries such as Japan, Germany, South Korea, and even Germany. These countries are sucking the wealth right out of us. As noted in a prior article here on AdvancingTime, https://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2017/11/follow-money-trade-deficit-with-mexico_21.html when you follow the money the United States' huge trade deficit with Mexico becomes even more disturbing as you begin to understand where the money eventually ends up.

But Where Does That Money Go?

When you start thinking about all the money and jobs we shift into Mexico each year you would think by now Mexico would be rolling in cash. Interesting trade deficit data concerning Mexico reveal a fact most people miss. A bit of research quickly confirms that the money Mexico receives by way of trading with America quickly passes through its lands and flows to Asia. It could be argued that when all is said and done we are still transferring our wealth to the far east only by the scenic route. In addition to the United States being a huge importer of goods from China, Mexico also runs a massive trade deficit with China. In 2019 Mexico recorded a trade deficit with China of roughly 85.9 billion US dollars. 

Sadly, for those living off exporting to America, this spells trouble. When the US consumer falls into a state of protracted economic funk their priorities will take a hit. In times of economic duress expect American consumers to turn to keeping a roof over their heads, food, and basic transportation rather than buying much of the junk we import each year.

In the following video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyKDD1gnaoI Robert Kiyosaki talks about what he sees as the possible looming global economic downturn. Best known for his book "Rich Dad Poor Dad" Kiyosaki's unique approach to personal finance and wealth-building has earned him a loyal following. He believes traditional education fails to teach people about money and that true financial freedom comes from understanding how to make money work for you. He promotes the idea entrepreneurship is the path to financial independence rather than simply settling for a traditional 9-to-5 job.

While I believe in many of his views, where I differ strongly with Kivosaki is that he does not point out that other fiat currencies are far worse than the dollar. Currencies are where many people store much of their wealth and even if they are debased and lose much of their value this is likely to continue. This is because long ago they replaced bartering as a means of trading goods and services. Currencies act as a primary medium of exchange in the modern world. 

Short of America suffering a massive military defeat, it is difficult to see any rival ripping away the dollar's role as the world's reserve currency anytime soon. As American consumers cut their spending, the combination of more wasteful government spending, more debasing of currencies, and a slowing of global economies has the potential to usher in a major "inflationary" global slowdown. The world has not decoupled from the American consumer.

 

(Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)

Putting A Big Hole In The Idea A Run On Banks Has Legs

If the Fed wants to blow a big hole in the idea you need to rush to get your money out of a bank before it locks its doors the Fed can easily do so. All the Fed needs to do is adopt the policy that if a run starts, skids of freshly printed bills will arrive on the doorstep of the troubled bank the next morning. In our modern world, this should be a relatively easy task to accomplish.

While this solution may seem a bit simplistic, the argument can be made it would remove the notion depositors would not be able to get their money back. This concern is the key driver of such bank runs. 

In the overall scheme of things if handled properly bank runs are not a real threat to the system. This is because most people and depositors have few real options as to where to safely stash their wealth. This dovetails with the idea the banking system is a manipulated utility so why not manipulate away?

After pulling their money from a bank, worried depositors have three options. One deposit in another bank or institution, take it home where it gets buried or put under the mattress, or rapidly spend it on what would most likely prove to be a bad investment. None of these options bode well as a solution and the last two are particularly problematic.

If the policy was to simply provide liquidity when needed, most likely there would never need to be a panic. In the end, what is important is how a bank runs its business not how much cash it has on hand. This is because there is never enough cash on hand if depositors decide to withdraw their money in mass. Again the bigger issue is whether banks are solvent. As for the cash dumped into the system, that can easily be drained out as quickly as it was put in, it would then be a wash. No harm, no foul, at least that is my humble opinion. 

(Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)

 

 

The Navy's Future, Are These Ships Sitting Ducks?

Having a navy is very expensive but carries with it a bit of prestige. It projects power and can also intimidate rivals. The Navy's future in a shrinking world is a subject of much debate. Warfare is changing and undergoing a major transformation. this may make ships sitting ducks. All trends are pointing to this happening and many of us have been predicting this for years. An issue that merits some thought is whether this could happen rapidly making even our newest ships obsolete or even worse turn them into death traps.

Throughout history when fleets collide the outcome of a naval battle has often proven decisive in which country eventually wins a military conflict. Today ships face a new challenge. Both Russia and China are now in possession of hypersonic weapons. China has not been shy in letting us know these weapons are intended to repel American ships if the need arrives. Several of its highly maneuverable anti-ship weapons hypersonic missiles are reported to be capable of reaching delivery speeds of Mach 10.

Still, countries are continuing to invest in their navies. America’s newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, was deployed for the first time in October of 2022. The $13.3 billion Ford is the largest and most expensive warship ever built. Its sprawling five-acre flight deck stands more than nine stories above the waterline. The Ford weighs 97,000 tons and its airpower exceeds that of at least 60 nations. 

The role of maned ships in future combat is a matter of great debate. It does not take a rocket scientist to realize this, however, we are not yet at the point where the negatives of warships outweigh their positives. Most of this debate centers around three issues, vulnerability, cost, and, simply put what is seen as the possibility of a huge loss of life at one time. 

The fact that in a war millions of people could die in one incident lasting a few seconds does not lessen the pain that would be felt by the families of those lost when a ship is sunk. The issues mentioned have turned our interest to protecting these ships but that may be a battle that cannot be won. Intercepting even slow-moving missiles in flight is a complicated task. 

Knowing that missing even one incoming weapon can spell disaster is a frightening proposition. The DF-ZF’s speed and unpredictable path makes it almost impossible to stop this threat with existing defenses. The fear is that while the Ford and ships like it have a battery of antimissile defenses, none are adequate to protect it in a prolonged battle against China’s latest weapons. One of the few defenses against attacks from swarming drones and hypersonic missiles may be high-powered lasers.

Unfortunately, China’s hyper-sonic weapons aren’t the only challenge. There is also the threat posed by batteries of anti-ship cruise missiles. Like any weapon, when fired in high numbers, these can overwhelm a ship’s defenses. As the face of war changes, we should realize, large numbers of relatively cheap weapons such as suicide drones also make carrier groups vulnerable.

Battleships Are No Longer King Of The Sea

Like the aircraft carriers today, decades ago, battleships were considered the largest and most powerful vessels on the high seas. That changed long ago when within a few minutes of each other two of these mighty ships became the first major warships in history to be sunk by aircraft. Replace the attacks from airplanes with drones and high-speed missiles, and the predicament the Navy faces today becomes clear.

Aircraft carriers sail with strike groups made up of an armada of 10 or more cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and sometimes submarines. Some of those vessels specialize in air defense using powerful onboard radars to detect targets more than 200 miles away. These ships armed with surface-to-air missiles and the Navy’s Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) use radar-controlled 20mm 6-barrel Gatling cannons capable of firing 4,500 rounds per minute. 

A huge problem is what the Pentagon calls a “depth of magazine” problem. This occurs when a ship runs out of interceptors to fire, which must be stored and then restocked after the battle. Some munitions can be replenished at sea while others, such as missiles, often mean returning to port. Running out of ammo makes a ship defenseless and this is a problem enemies can exploit with swarming attacks.

This is why many experts say the best defense against swarming drones, is one based on lasers. If powered by nuclear reactors, lasers can potentially fire thousands or even tens of thousands of times at incoming munitions. Since laser beams travel at the speed of light they can track and target unpredictable weapons like China’s hypersonic DF-ZF better than missiles. Another strong reason to turn to lasers is firing a high-powered laser will cost somewhere between $1 and $10. This is far less expensive than the $1 million to $10 million that defensive missiles cost.

The Navy installed a laser on a ship for sea trials in 2014 and in 2022 it installed its first permanent laser on a destroyer. The weapon developed by Lockheed Martin has a 60-kilowatt power output that integrates with the ship’s advanced AEGIS radar and weapons control system. The Navy calls it HELIOS, or High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance system. Lockheed Martin says the weapon could eventually scale to 150 kilowatts, at that strength, it will be useful against drones and small surface ships.

The real challenge will be stopping a barrage of cruise missiles or a hypersonic weapon barreling toward a ship, the Navy estimates that it needs at least a 300-kilowatt laser. Not only do they face the issue of size and speed, but their nose cones are also made out of such materials as pyrolytic graphite or Pyroceram ceramics. This means lasers will not only be able to target them as they travel at over a mile a second but be able to rapidly burn through those heat-resistant substances as the laser adjusts for atmospheric turbulence.

Currently, China claims sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, extending thousands of miles from its own shores. International law recognizes territorial claims only 12 nautical miles offshore. China's claims have forced America’ and its allies in the region to rely on our naval presence to maintain free shipping lanes. This has placed America's Pacific Fleet within range of China’s anti-ship missiles and drones.

At this point, China is our biggest worry but soon other countries will be added to the list. As some of these weapon systems find their way to smaller countries or into the hands of terrorist organizations the risk of a ship being taken out will increase. At this point, it appears the future of military conflict is all about drones, lasers, and super-fast missiles that are becoming more accurate every day. 

(Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)

China's Pension System Screams Corruption And Failure

It is important to understand how China's pension system works because it reflects just how flawed the Chinese system is. The fact is China's population is rapidly getting older partly as a result of the one-child policy the country had for many years. This is a time bomb that will leave many older Chinese living with nothing. Having faith in a corrupt system generally yields little.

Most of the older people in China had better prepare themselves to work until they die. In this video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I5THbP6qqc China Insights, puts a spotlight on how China's pension system is in big trouble. The numbers, even those from China's government, do not bode well or bolster the argument that life in China will be kind or soon get better for the average Chinese citizen. 

As an example, in one Provence the pension of some government and institutional sectors, which of course includes members of the CCP is around 25 times that paid to the average urban resident. Adding to the problem is that little money has been set aside to fund these pensions in the future, which means they are being paid "out of pocket" by a government that already has a slew of budget problems. 

The Graph Above Shows China Has An Aging Population

Chinese pension funds had a deficit of over 600 billion yuan ($93 billion) last year, due to tax cuts to help struggling firms amid COVID-19, according to the financial magazine Caixin. Recently the former President of China's central bank acknowledged the existing pension base is not good because of the large and aging population. The shortage of available pension funds means older people will need to rely more on "personal pensions" to supplement their income in the future. By bringing this up and letting the public know, he may have been testing the waters for a change in policy. 

The unfairness of China's pension system combined with funding issues is a bit ironic. Pension payments as low as one hundred yuan or about $14.60 do not go far. It is a slap in the face to all those loyal citizens raised believing in communism with the belief all the people of China would share equally in the wealth they helped to create. With this in mind, we have to think, the poor people living in rural areas should be prepacked to fend for themselves.

This dovetails with the failure of the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) to protect its citizens from bank fraud. In China, even when deposited in a bank, a saver's money can vanish in the blink of an eye with nobody taking responsibility. Considering how many Chinese investors have lost money during the housing collapse, the overall message is that the CCP does a poor job of protecting the money of its citizens. In short, when all is said and done, like most governments, China gets a big fail when it comes to taking care of its elderly.

 

(Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)

The Face Of Housing Ownership Is Changing

Mortgage rates have doubled over the past year and this has hit housing affordability hard. How much housing prices will retrench is still up in the air. Consider the whole premise housing prices in America are about to fall like a stone may be overdone. Hard economic times could very well take a greater toll on the price of intangible assets and paper promises than on things like housing.  

Whether a person is better off renting or buying is often directly linked to rental rates that are related to cost. Feeding into what a landlord charges are things such as taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, and a slew of fees. If landlords cannot make money, they exit the business and the number of housing rental units is reduced. This puts a bottom under the market and/or drives rents higher. Yes, a lot of new rental units are coming online but how easy will it be to rapidly fill them with good tenants? Simply filling a unit at a huge discount or with tenants that want a new unit but fail to pay or tear the hell out of it does not work. 

What many renters fail to consider is that landlords have far more to risk than tenants. It is the kiss of death to lower your standards just to fill units up. Doing so simply destroys a property's reputation while creating a slew of evictions, costly turnover, and an explosion in maintenance costs. Adding to this ugly path forward is the fact our costly legal system has lost its teeth when it comes to collecting on small claim judgments.

Much of the problems we see in housing stem from a lack of starter homes and new small houses at a reasonable cost. Several reasons exist for this situation. First and foremost is that builders and realtors like bigger more exotic homes because that is where the money is. Another factor is zoning, this includes tightening rules and restrictions in plotted additions. These are often intended to keep standards and values high. People are seldom excited to see less expensive homes being built in their area. 

Millennials Have Been Locked Out Of Buying Because Of Affordability 

The cost of shelter has skyrocketed and the face of housing ownership is changing. Over the last several decades starter homes have become a thing of the past. This has created a shortage of low-cost housing that will put a floor under housing prices. The areas where housing will drop the most are areas where prices have increased the most with the bigger most expensive houses taking the brunt of the hit. This is partly because they cost more to maintain and are more heavily taxed.

Low-Interest Rates Have Pushed Prices Higher

The decision of the Fed to buy mortgage-backed securities years ago added to soaring prices and the mess we face today. Buyers are out there, many are speculators and inflation believers, these buyers are circling each new listing like hungry sharks. They are driven by the idea interest rates will soon fall and they will be able to refinance. If rates drop prices are likely to soar again. This could put a strong floor under most of the housing market. 

One problem causing an issue for those looking at the low end of this market is that lenders have little interest in making small dollar loans because they are less profitable. This means these properties are often picked up by cash buyers. Many of these now go to big players that at times may buy without looking at the property but simply have it inspected by a company that sends them a report. Others are sold on contracts that often give the buyer little protection. 

As stated many times in previous articles here at AdvancingTime, it could be argued the government holds huge responsible for many of America's housing problems. Our government makes the rules by which builders and landlords must play. This includes some of the factors I have moaned about in the past, a big one is that roughly 80% of new apartment construction has been for the high-end luxury market. 

The government has its finger prints all over the housing sector and also causes problems for renters. This is because its policies avoid dealing with the growing number of tenants that are irresponsible. In short, Government housing cherry-picks the best of the low-income renters providing them with very low rents and nice apartments while dumping the worst of these renters on the private sector. (http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2018/02/housing-policy-feeds-and-hides-growing.html)This makes housing more expensive for the rest of the population.

The number of units being built during inflationary times with higher interest rates also plays into this market. Who buys homes greatly depends on who can afford them and how these buyers envision the future unfolding. In short, if buyers think prices will continue to rise this is very supportive of higher prices.  

And then, there is the decision of the Fed to buy mortgage-backed securities years ago, this has added to soaring prices and the mess we face today. Following 2008, big money from Wall Street got behind a move to have Fanny Mae and other big lenders bundle foreclosed properties. Selling them in packages eliminated and locked out small concerns and individuals from participating in buying. In recent years, a small but mighty group of corporations have purchased hundreds of thousands of homes. 

These Wall Street funded corporations are just one of the forces shutting people out of the home-buying market and locking them into being perpetual renters. When it comes to financing, short of some government giveaways to certain segments of the population, Wall Street has a huge advantage over individuals. This is why even though managing the renting of individual houses is challenging, Wall Street may not retreat from the task. It is important to remember this is about the real rate of inflation.

Not only have institutional buyers with deep pockets hijacked some markets by buying whole neighborhoods but the market is changing in other ways. The U.S. housing market has become a speculative investment and now homebuyers are competing with I-Buyers that have lots of low-cost capital. An I Buyer is an "Instant Buyer" in the real estate industry who uses data-driven online home value assessment tools to determine what your house is worth and then makes you an offer.

Returning to the subject of inflation and the benefits of buying tangible assets as a way to protect ones buying power, as it becomes more obvious inflation is only going to get worse, those that can afford to buy houses will continue to do so even at higher prices. The point is, we should not be surprised if housing prices prove far more resilient in a slowing economy than many experts think. In an inflationary environment, these houses fall into the category of a tangible asset capable of earning a positive return. Few investments meet this criteria and those that do will be in strong demand. 

Note, housing prices are much higher in many parts of the world. One thing for certain, it will be interesting to see what happens next. Before you just assume housing prices are going far lower consider who will be buying those units that come available. All of what you have read above feeds into why those homeowners that have a low-interest rate mortgage may not be in a hurry to sell their home if they are not in distress. Expect how people handle their investments in the future to play a huge factor in future housing values.

 

(Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)

The Vulnerabilities Of A High-Tech Society

In the title of this piece, I use the term, "high tech" however this is about the vulnerabilities of any advanced civilization. Such societies tend to be specialized with their members dependent on services and jobs being carried out by others in the community to provide the basic necessities they need. If people were suddenly faced with losing the things they need to survive it is easy to envision a situation where survival of the fittest became the mantra of the day and things would rapidly become quite dicey. 

High-tech societies are particularly vulnerable to collapse due to their population being dependent on both the system and others to provide the basic items they need to survive in everyday life. Electricity, food, water, sewer systems, phone and computer connections, transportation, and healthcare fall into this category. Just about everything else we have come to expect and experience as we go through our day depends on technology. 

Life has become more complex as we transferred the task we did in the past to machines, and this could come back to haunt us. Our growing dependence on computers and devices such as smartphones and computers has dumbed down society. This has compromised the skills we need to endure and survive. We have reached the point where many people can not do simple math or read a map.

A video by City Prepping reveals just how difficult it would be to survive following a massive disaster where no help or aid comes forth. Imagine being forced to exist for months on your own. The video points out many people will die if such a situation would arise. Would you know what to do? Even if you do, many of the things that would help you and your family survive are easier said and done. 

The video gives ideas and details on how to survive the first 90 days following a major widespread society-altering catastrophe. It also makes clear and helps drive home the reality that even after that time things would probably not improve rapidly, but that is an entirely different subject. This idea dovetails with previous AdvancingTime articles warning that the government, or governments in general, are incapable of taking care of its population during a major widespread disaster.

Most People Are Ill-Prepared To Face A Major Disaster

It does not help that most people are ill-prepared to face the obstacles and miseries such conditions would heap upon them. Then there is also mother nature which is very capable of pounding them with additional challenges. While this blog is not a "preppers destination" and generally focuses on cultural and economic issues, it also notes the idea of a total collapse of our society and support system must be considered. This includes the notion of an electromagnetic pulse knocking out and destroying all electronic devices.

Flowing into this is that military analysts have long warned about the threat of electromagnetic pulses, such a blast of radio waves could burn out most electronic devices. The most extreme version is a nuclear EMP from a high-altitude explosion. It is suggested a ‘ Pearl Harbor’ surprise attack might disable power systems across the continental U.S. and render most electronic equipment unusable. In such a situation, we are talking about a disaster complete with planes falling from the sky and automobiles hopefully coasting to a stop.

Rebooting Our Systems Would Be Difficult

Ironically, I have to wonder why those going to great lengths and costs to protect certain devices do not think follow-up EMPs would not affect those protected devices as soon as they were removed from their protective bags and put into use. This all feeds into the reality that we would all be screwed. Follow this thought with the Herculean task of ever rebooting our systems.

Even if you don't take the threat seriously of such a life-altering event occurring, watching the video I refer to at, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEBVVVTNFAY  merits a few minutes of your attention. Simply being aware of some of the issues you might someday be forced to face could save your life. Basic survival skills are important and being prepared is linked to thinking about what is often considered the unthinkable. 

The video also addresses the issue of making the important decision as to whether to flee the area or try to move to what you think will be a safer location following a disaster. This is often referred to as "bugging out." It points out that if you choose to move, relocating should be done sooner than later. After the first few days as people become desperate, unrest and violence will most likely surge making travel unsafe. Still, the matters of where to go, what to take, and how to get there remain. In my opinion, those city-dwellers living in dark high-rise apartments will find little comfort in their choice as the hallways and stairs become dangerous to navigate.

Well, that is enough doom-porn for one day, and following this post I will be returning to subjects more in line and related to the world we are more likely to face. Still, remember, even local governments urge people to prepare when a storm is forecast in the offing. Being prepared for an event that may never happen is both a pain in the ass and can be expensive. It also takes a great deal of discipline. Still, when all is said and done, it may be the most important thing you ever do. 

 

(Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)

The Problem With Wealth Is It Is Easy To Lose

A problem with wealth is it is easy to lose. This is far more likely to happen than most people think, and that lies in the fact that if you have wealth, other people want it. Ironically, people often work hard to save and accumulate wealth and forget that it is just as important to protect it. In our modern age where so much of our wealth is held in financial instruments and paper promises buried in a computer or high up in the clouds, we should expect a slew of new ways to surface making this a reality.

https://cdn.banyanhill.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/30105845/shutterstock_1472902808.jpg

This is not something investors and savers want to face. Risk matters but is often ignored when greed and the "fear of missing out" take over. This is why it is important to remember the nasty lesson the failure of FTX recently brought into focus. It reminded investors that one minute it is there and the next minute it is gone. The fact the financial and financial retirement industry is often in cahoots with Wall Street and Washington in siphoning off your wealth does not help.

As a person that is dubious of paper promises, I view the more than 100,000 claims against FTX as a monument to how easily even really smart individuals can be duped out of their money. Of course, the crypto "industry" or sector is an animal of a different color and contains a special kind of risk far beyond what many investors wish to deal with. 

Annuities, pensions, stocks, and such promises of future payment tend to dominate the list of favorite vessels in which people turn to store their wealth. Many of these are leveraged to maximize returns and garner higher yields on our investment. Cash is another option but holding it in your possession leaves one open to theft and means the money will earn no interest. What is often missing or overlooked are tangible fully-paid for items and things that are likely to hold their value. People tend to avoid tangible assets in their control because they are often inconvenient. Valuables can be a pain to have about and they often need to be insured which also calls attention to their existence.

Capital Preservation Must Be Job One!

Truth be told most people are not overly endowed with discipline this includes many people that amass a fortune. This often means that many wealthy people tend to "misplace" or lose track of where they have placed their wealth. More often than we wish to admit, wealth is simply put into a system that is on autopilot and left to fend for itself. The famous quote attributed to Warren Buffet that "You only learn who has been swimming naked when the tide goes out." Comes as a word of warning to those who have grown complacent.  

When you subcontract out control of your wealth or turn it over to a money manager you often get promises but no ironclad guarantee. Confidence in a money manager can quickly be dashed, all the people invested with Bernie Madoff discovered just how suddenly things can go south and promises turn hollow. While it has become both fashionable and common in recent years to let someone who knows and specializes in financial planning and markets to control this segment of our lives I feel it is a big mistake and a dereliction of duty. If wealth came with a warning notice it would say, "Holder Beware, This Commodity May Vanish, Spoil, Or Grow Obsolete At Any Time!"

When it comes to preserving our wealth, eliminating our financial vulnerabilities may be just as important as getting ahead. At times while "cruising" down the highway of life we become so focused on our destination we become oblivious to the dangers around us. Sometimes the enemy is complacency and at others a sense of invincibility. Adding to this feeling is the fact that many predictions of problems ahead fail to live up to the hype they receive. Regardless, when it comes to our finances, it would be wise for all of us to ask, where can I get hurt? This should be followed by actions that eliminate the danger.

 

(Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)

Ugliness Awaits Many Boomers Nearing Retirement

Ugliness awaits most boomers nearing retirement, not only have they been lied to, but they also have to deal with rigged markets, corruption, and incompetent advisors. Boomers make up the second-largest generation in American history, it consists of over 72 million individuals. Those that haven't already retired are getting ready to. A big problem is most have little in the way of savings. 

Adding to this problem is that the generations following the baby boomer generation are even worse off and America's economic picture is less than rosy. It does not help that Americans have been encouraged over the years to spend and incur debt rather than save. This encouragement comes from politicians hooked on the idea consumer spending creates a strong economy. 

This results in many people retiring with little savings and dependent on a government already deep in debt to care for them in their older years. Those of us that have studied the numbers come to shaking our heads in horror, simply put, something has to give and most likely promises will be broken, When words like unsustainable and insolvent have been muttered they simply get brushed aside by daily life.

For years those in power have hidden and sheltered Americans from the harsh truth that the numbers simply do not work but history shows politicians would rather kick the can down the road than deal with reality. To the many people that have been looking forward to a comfortable and leisurely life in their older years. The fact that things could be worse is not something that will cause most retirees to leap with joy.

An example of what we face is evident in healthcare. this is a sector of the economy that Washington has pledged to fix and even claimed it has. The chart put out by Statista shows the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world. This matters if you consider it as a tax on the American people and realize that healthcare is a major expense for people as they age. This hits medicare directly in the heart meaning as cost soar for the program something will have to be done. That something generally comes in the form of cutting benefits and charging recipients more.

While there is more to life than money, few people choose to live in poverty. Unfortunately, even most Americans that have saved over their lifetime and done the right thing are in peril.

Over the years, the Fed has inflated the money supply and in doing so it also inflated asset prices, including stocks, bonds, and real estate. Much of this is the result of ballooning debt. Make no mistake about it, the government has fed at the debt trough and it has made our future less promising. Yes, we are roughly 33 trillion in debt, not counting the unfunded liabilities of social security, medicare, and Medicaid. 

While This Is An older Chart, Little Has Changed. Reality Is Not Pretty

With the current trajectory of economic policies and inflation running above the return savers can earn from safe investments things will only get worse for retirees and those close to retirement age. Considering the amount of debt already amassed, the government is going to have a difficult time putting together generous new aid packages to come to the aid of those dependent upon its programs. This will result in conflict as both the young and the old are forced to fight over the few scraps it can provide.

All this has created a situation where if the money supply now contracts a huge number of defaults will occur and both businesses and investors will incur big losses. This threat to 401Ks and pension plans is real and would make many boomers collateral damage in any effort they make to correct the mess they have created. Those in or nearing retirement should make an extra effort to reduce risk and keep their savings safe. 

 

(Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)

China's First Large Homegrown Airliner The Comac C919

An example of China's progress and increasing ability to manufacture complex machinery is apparent in its new domestic aircraft the C919. Largely ignored by many Americans is the fact China has quietly been going about building its own aircraft industry. China's C919 has taken flight and will be strong competition for Boeing and Airbus in coming years. Yes, China's first-ever large homegrown airliner made by state-owned aerospace manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has now been delivered to its first customer.  

This is the first delivery of five C919 jets for China Eastern, which will be operated by its low-cost subsidiary OTT airlines starting next spring. The delivery comes just a month after the C919's public debut at China's Zhuhai Airshow where it appeared alongside Boeing and Airbus. Reuters reports the 164-seat aircraft will fly its inaugural flight from Shanghai to Beijing. It also will serve cities such as Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xiamen.

It is now here, it is now real. Watch out Boeing. While this came after lengthy delays, China has over the years made it clear it knows how to ramp up production quickly, and it will. It is important to remember China has to turn somewhere to replace the economic punch it has lost due to its housing bust. Housing had in recent years been said to have made up close to 30% of China's GDP. It now must fill this hole it finds in its economy,

The motivation for this article came from a news piece by Bloomberg, that reports China is on its way to becoming the No. 2 exporter of passenger vehicles in the world. It has done so by passing both the U.S. and South Korea and is about to soon overtake Germany. This will leave only Japan ahead of it in passenger car exports. Bloomberg claims Chinese brands have become "market leaders" in the Middle East and Latin America. This reflects that cars from Chinese companies are getting better at the same time manufacturing overcapacity in China requires them to push exports.

Shipments of vehicles manufactured in China to other countries is up threefold since 2020

While the chart above tells the story it fails to highlight the ramifications of what is happening. This event highlights China's effort to exit low-end manufacturing and work its way up the food chain. In doing so it brings together several trends. This all ties into its master plan covered in the two-part series titled; China's Future Remains Cloudy And Uncertain. It lays out many of the challenges China faces in carrying out its plans for world dominance. These are the links to those articles.

 https://Chinas Future Remains Cloudy And Uncertain (part-1)html

 https://China's Future Remains Cloudy And Uncertain (part-2)html

Expect China To Rapidly Ramp Up Production

As usual, when it comes to China, politics plays a big role in its desire to play the "plane game" and the country has no qualms admitting its big role in developing the country’s aviation industry. Miao Wei, the former vice-minister of industry and information technology, has been quoted as saying the government encourages the development of export-oriented aviation products. The C919 has been a long-term project. Technical difficulties and supply issues delayed the development of the C919 for years. Comac was greatly impacted by restrictions imposed by the Trump Administration in 2020. It blacklisted shipments of things like fight controls and jet engines to China. 

Still, it is difficult for anyone to claim this would not come to pass. The arrogance of western countries to think they were guaranteed a lock on passenger airplane production may be about to come back to haunt them. The worldwide market for these planes is huge and the duopoly of Boeing and Airbus is about to fall by the wayside. The sales of jetliners are very important because they play into the bigger picture of world trade and trade imbalances and China has been a massive battleground for Boeing and Airbus because of the sheer size of its market. 

China's air travel market is expected to surpass the United States by 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association. Translate that into orders for planes and you’re looking at something on the order of 2,800 new planes with a book value of $329 billion. In the past, Boeing has projected it could sell China 6,330 planes worth $950 billion during the next 20 years.

Export sales of passenger aircraft and what is needed to keep them in the skies have in the past been considered an important part of trade deficits. We can expect a lot of these sales to melt away in coming years. Building commercial aircraft has never been a consistently profitable business, manufacturers risk several billions of dollars every time they try to develop a new type of aircraft. The Communist government, however, plays by a different set of rules.  

With China ramping up its fledgling aviation industry when it hits its stride expect cutthroat competition. This article from March 2021 is an AdvancingTime update on the C919 and contains more information and specifications on the C919. Price isn't the sole factor for airlines in buying a plane, overall quality, reliability, maintenance, and readily available replacement parts, as well as the pilot and mechanic training that manufacturers provide, are also important.

It is important to remember the Chinese also see this as another way to expand their influence across the world. When you factor in China's predatory style of conducting business, the C919 opens a lot of doors. It dovetails very nicely into China's One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative and China will not be shy about using this tool to gain market share.

  

Republishing this article is permitted with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog

Immigration Mainly Benefits Those "Entering A Country"

Like it or not, those in charge of such things as controlling our borders are letting immigration reshape the world. This is happening far faster than most people can imagine. What has escaped many people is that this has broad ramifications for our future. It will take several years or decades before the impact of allowing hundreds of millions of low-skilled immigrants into developed nations reveals it does not always create a win-win situation.

Let's call a spade a spade, immigration mainly benefits those entering a country and not the country's current residents. Otherwise, countries would have to pay people to come rather than build fences to keep them out. The cost of integrating these immigrants into society is not small. Back in July of 2022, it was reported that the British government was spending more than £6.8 million ($8.4 million) a day on housing prospective asylum seekers and Afghan nationals in hotels across Britain.

Continuing with Britain as an example, migrants that left France in small boats have been overwhelming British officials. The Home Office staff and border chiefs reported to U.K. lawmakers that over 38,000 prospective asylum seekers had landed in Britain via the English Channel in 936 small boats by the end of October 2022. This is even after some 28,000 crossing attempts had been thwarted by French authorities. The majority of those who arrived in Britain were placed in hotels after the makeshift processing centers created to handle them reaching full capacity.

All said, it is estimated this immigration fiasco is already costing British taxpayers close to £2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) a year and is likely to increase as the processing backlog grows. Adding to this ugly picture is that many of those residing in hotels have been doing so for at least a year. Of the thousands of asylum seekers who arrived via the Channel last year, 96 percent are still awaiting a decision on their asylum request and, of the 4 percent that has been processed, an overwhelming 85 percent have been granted asylum.

All indications are that more immigrants are on their way. The wave of people migrating from poor countries to lands of "milk and honey" is unlikely to abate unless harsh measures are taken. A Gallup survey in 2021 indicated that 16% of adults across the world, or roughly 900 million people said they would like to move to another country. And of course, many would end up taking other family members with them putting the total well over a billion. This desire to move to another country is at its highest level in a decade. Many of these people live in poor areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia. While their desire to relocate is easy to understand, this does not mean most well-to-do countries are excited to welcome them in.

Fences Only Slow The Tide

Another recent survey by The Trafalgar Group found that only fourteen percent of Americans agreed that citizenship should be granted to those who have entered the country illegally. The vast majority were against blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants. Surprisingly. since many of these people are from Mexico, was that fewer than three percent of Hispanic voters said that illegal immigrants should be allowed to permanently remain. 

To be clear, immigrants are often allowed or even welcomed into a country under the guise or rationale that we need more workers or that a growing population propels economic growth forward, both these claims are massively flawed. The fact is, these needs can often be better addressed by simply redeploying and making better use of existing labor and capital. With the flow of immigrants into the country you don't just get workers you get people and many of these must be provided for costing the nation far more than they will ever produce.

The Wall Street Journal has noted that Germany has not been successful in turning enough of the nearly 13 million people flowing into the country since 2015 into workers. Unemployment among Germans is roughly 5 percent while those from other countries is at 12 percent. In short, only one in three immigrants has a tax-paying job. The migrants that do work often work in low-skilled low-paying jobs that require the state to continue paying out welfare benefits.

This Is Akin To An Invasion

Germany's failure to convert migrants into workers has resulted in increasing the number of welfare recipients and more crime. This has caused Berlin to consider moving towards a points-based immigration system next year similar to Australia’s or Canada’s. Such efforts are aimed at bringing  in "better-qualified" foreigners. Still, with so many of the new arrivals slipping in as asylum seekers, it is difficult to limit the number of new arrivals with little employment potential.

No-Go Zones In Europe Show Resistance To Assimilate

The no-go zones in Europe stand as a testament to many immigrants' desire not to assimilate into a culture. Adding to the problem is the acceptance of a country to non-assimilation by demanding that local governments and schools bend over backward to meet the needs of these people by printing forms and teaching in multiple languages. These programs help them survive even if they resist adopting and adapting to the cultural norms of their new country. 

Poor immigration policies are far more costly than most people realize and drain valuable resources away from other citizens. The idea those flowing into a country will respect its culture and adopt its values is not guaranteed. The notion that migrants can be kept in line and made to behave through increased surveillance and technology is also a reach. By this, I'm referring to some of the social control and shaping methods being used by the Chinese and other governments.

With all of what you have read in mind, borders are a creation of man and men set the rules as to who crosses them and on what terms. While it may seem unfair to exclude or deny individuals the right to enter, we must remember that life is unfair and this is a reality of life. Regardless of how you feel about this, you had better prepare for an invasion. What is yours won't be yours for long if you allow others to simply take it for the asking. Quality countries and their citizens have something very special and it is logical that they want to protect it.

 

(Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)

The Fallout From A Nuclear War Cannot Be Discounted

The fallout that would come from a nuclear war should not be discounted. Only by facing the ugly reality of such an event can we be motivated to make sure it never happens. This is a subject so appalling most of us avoid thinking about a nuclear attack in realistic terms. Other than seeing such horrific scenes in movies few of us can envision how the world would be immediately transformed following such an event. 

It seems that warmongers may not be taking to heart the implications of their actions. Rest assured many of the perpetrators of such an event, and those they love would be tucked away in their bunkers safe from harm with visions of resurfacing in positions of power when things calm down. If you think the picture I paint is too grim, the sad thing is you may need to give the situation a bit more thought.

Around 15,000 Nuclear Bombs Exist

Around 15,000 nuclear bombs exist today and almost all of them are many times more powerful than the ones unleashed at the end of World War II.  They target large and important areas and once launched the missiles that deliver these bombs move fast. This means people will have little or no time to prepare for their arrival.

Few of us want to delve into the idea that all the things we perceive as normal and good could vanish in the blink of an eye. The fallout we would be forced to deal with would not be limited to only the nuclear kind falling from the sky. It would include the impact of such an event on society. Simply put, imagine the unimaginable. Even before we deal with death and destruction other issues emerge. The one thing few will argue is that it would create a degree of chaos far beyond anything most of us have ever experienced.

It is difficult to imagine the fear that would be generated if even the power of one of these bombs is unleashed. People would scurry out of areas that were considered possible targets like rats leaving a sinking ship. Unfortunately, it is difficult to scurry over clogged roadways. This is when the realization would dawn upon people rushing to move themselves and their families to safety that such places are few and far apart. 

This is where "rubber would meet the road" or things be put to the test. Some people would without thinking risk life and limb for others or a family pet, while others would think only of themselves. Knowing it only takes a few bad apples to spoil the rest, with little accountability, I expect man's inhumanity to man would quickly surface. It would be wise to expect ugly acts of selfishness too far outnumber those of kindness.

Places Where It Might Be Safe To Go

We need to feed into this scenario that it is likely stores will not reopen in the following weeks. Where would they get workers? Also, what is the likelihood of shipments coming in to restock shelves? The same should be expected when it comes to all utilities. Not only water and electricity but even the flow of natural gas would stop. The combination of damage, few skilled workers reporting to their jobs, and general chaos create a grim picture of a post-nuclear war world. 

Not only are we looking at shortages and a total breakdown of the supply chain we must consider the fact much of society would most likely adopt a "survival of the fittest" attitude. This would rapidly become apparent as carjackings soared, looting exploded, and guns come out. As far as getting medical help, expect that to be nonexistent. Adding to the misery of those that survive will be the radiation flowing from nuclear plants that could not be shut down and the weather which in many areas tends to run either too cold or too hot through much of the year.

Guessing the odds of a nuclear bomb exploding above our heads is not easily done. If you happen to be close to such a blast, it would be a moot point in that you would not even have time to say, "Oh shit!" The heat would instantly turn you to toast sparing you the agony of having to deal with the fallout or suffering a slow painful death.  

The Damage From A Nuclear Bomb Is Massive

Most of us do not have access to a fully stocked bomb shelter and if we did, there is no guarantee we could get to it. While moving to an area out in the middle of nowhere and stocking up on supplies that would spoil over time is the best way to improve your chance of survival, it is not something most people are willing or choose to do considering this may never happen. 

The article above describes and touches on just a few of the hellish things we could encounter in the following a post-apocalypse event. With this in mind, it would be wise to create a plan to survive the aftermath if that is your goal. Such a plan would not only greatly enhance your chance of surviving but make life more comfortable than if you leave things totally to chance. 

 

 (Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)

Is Biden "Finally" In Serious Trouble?

I very seldom watch Fox News or Tucker Carlson but he recently attracted my attention with a piece titled; "Biden is in serious trouble tonight."This was in reference to the recent dust-up over Biden's sloppy handling of classified documents. He compares Joe Biden to former New York Governor Cuomo noting Cuomo's rapid fall from grace. 

Carlson says that when a political party feels a politician can no longer do anything for the party they are quick to throw them under the bus. In this case, Carlson points out that Biden's big mistake is that following the midterm election, Biden on several occasions voiced interest in staying around for another term in office. His running for office in 2024 is something most Democrats don't relish.  

As Tucker Carlson gave his take on the discovery of President Biden's mishandled classified documents, he points out that the mishandling of classified documents has opened a can of worms that Biden may be unable to close. This article is not a glorious expos'e but rather the observation that as an old-time politician Biden is as crooked as a country road. Here is the link to the Carlson piece; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe8XvgJsn60 in case I misinterpreted any of it.

With Republicans controlling the House, they now have the power to launch an investigation that is likely to spiderweb into areas of his life Biden would rather keep sheltered from the public. Each thread they pull on has the potential to unravel into stories of corruption and Biden has left a lot of places to look at for proof of misdeeds. Biden's reputation is ripe for plucking considering for years allegations of misdeeds have been swirling around what is often referred to as the "Biden crime family."

Carlson, in his broadcast, paints a picture of how Biden could be offed the stage by not only Republicans but members of his own party. He likened the situation to what we saw when Gov. Andrew Cuomo suddenly announced that he would step down after a wave of scandals, many of them involving sexual harassment, ensnared his administration and left him facing impeachment. Politics is an occupation where a dramatic fall from grace can come fast and furious. 

The same media that tends to fawn over a politician can also be quick to bring out the knives and stab them in the back. It could be argued that Biden never has had a large thronging group of admirers but was rather placed in a position of power as the least bad choice as a result of backroom deal-making. This implies Biden's strings are being pulled by someone behind a curtain. 

Some people even have gone as far as likening or calling Biden's administration "Obama 3.0" or “Obama’s third term.” This implies Biden's strings are being pulled by someone behind a curtain. While few Americans relish the rise of Kamala Harris to President, that is what we might be facing. This could be taken as evidence our political system is flawed beyond repair.

The FBI Came Hard During Trump Raid

Returning to the issue of classified documents, a former Obama administration ethics chief recently criticized Joe Biden's handling of classified documents as a breach of national security protocols. It has also been pointed out this scandal is being handled far differently than former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago situation. All in all Biden's current dilemma should not be swept under the rug as a simple mistake by a forgetful but well-meaning public servant. 

Adding to the fire is the issue of whether Biden camp's failure to disclose the mishandling of classified material found before the 2022 midterms could be considered election interference. Since then more document mishandling has been reported by the New York Times. It seems that "additional pages of classified information" have been found at President Biden's Delaware home. 

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced in a well-publicized press conference appointed a special counsel to investigate Biden's handling of classified materials. It is debatable as to whether Garland did this to appear impartial or is part of a move to usher Biden from the Presidency and out to pasture. This development dovetail with new revelations coming out such as claims Hunter Biden was paying Joe Biden an outrageous fifty thousand dollars a month to rent the Wilmington, Delaware house where classified documents were recently found.

Hunter listed the "Monthly Rent" as $49,910, in the house where the documents were found, this is about $550,000 for the eleven months he indicated he lived there. This is in an area where the most expensive homes rent for $6,000 per month. What is going on here, tax evasion or money laundering? This raises some serious questions. Hunter was supposedly broke at the time but paying his wealthy father far more for rent than anyone can imagine.

This ties back into an email from Hunter's business partner James Gilliar about a venture with Chinese state-funded energy company CEFC China Energy. The email stated that Hunter and his partners would receive 20% of the shares in the new business, with 10% going to James Biden and the other 10% being “held by H for the big guy." Tony Bobulinski, another one of Hunter’s former business partners, claims Joe Biden was the individual referred to as the “big guy.” We also have been told that Hunter made statements to his daughter in early 2019 that include, "But don’t worry, unlike pop, I won’t make you give me half your salary."

It appears that Hunter was taking millions of dollars from businessmen tied to Chinese military intelligence while living in the house rented from his father. This is where the classified material, including documents relating to foreign nations, was found. During this time, Hunter Biden was in the grip of a debilitating addiction to cocaine and alcohol and suffered from frequent blackouts and loss of memory. While a case has not been made that Hunter Biden while in this state of mind gave documents to the Chinese it seems very possible.

The ties Biden's family had with the Chinese government, including military intelligence, have benefited them greatly. We know Hunter and the entities President Biden’s brother controlled received at least $4.8 million from the Chinese energy conglomerate CEFC. This company is tied to the Chinese military. But there is more, Hunter Biden received an additional $1 million from Patrick Ho, a CEFC official that was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.

None of this bodes well for the President and gives the impression the Chinese government was bribing him and his family. Remember that both giving and taking bribes is a crime and opens up a pathway to blackmail. Biden looks "very dirty" and this is before we even start reviewing dealings in Ukraine, Russia, and even Iraq. Treason is defined as an act of disloyalty against a nation or national sovereign by a citizen of that nation. Such an act of betrayal can result in a death sentence. 

While nobody is talking about treason, I have to wonder if the shoe fits. Many Americans have lost faith in Washington and the justice system as a whole. With that in mind and after witnessing the shenanigans flowing from our nation's capital is it any wonder low expectations exist as to whether we will get a clear picture of what the Bidens have been up to over the years?

 

(Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)

Alzheimer's And Dementia Intrudes Into Everything

To those interested in how certain events alter a lifestyle, let me misspell any doubt you might have as to whether living with an elderly person with Alzheimer's or dementia alters your life. To be blunt, it tends to wear you down, ruin your life, or turn it into a living hell. This is not an attempt to compare it to any of the other ugly negative woes that inflict man or enter uninvited into our lives. 

Confused, delusional, and dependent on you, they are always there. They are the last thing you want to think about as you close your eyes to sleep and the last thing you want to think about when you open them in the morning. Even during the night, you hear them talking to imaginary people and rambling around the semi-contained part of the house where they can't hurt themselves. 

It should be noted that we should not expect a person's natural personality to change just because of dementia or Alzheimer's. A person known to be "difficult" will likely remain so. This means traits such as exaggerating, manipulating, and generally just being nasty and hard to deal with will continually resurface and not stay buried. This and dealing with their hallucinations, a common symptom of these diseases makes the challenge of caring for such a person even less pleasurable.

And Yes, They Do Hallucinate

An example of how devastating these diseases are took place recently in the parking lot at Sam's Club. During a mental meltdown, 94-year-old mom started frantically screaming that some people had just stolen her daddy and her baby. Considering her age both these possibilities seem unlikely. In such a case rationally talking to such a person does little to calm them down. While you might imagine people flocked to her aid, they didn't. Instead, they looked down and walk a little faster in another direction. In fact, nobody even offered help by returning the cart to the store.

While not putting upon you physical pain, like many of the other curses we face, these diseases rob the caregiver of their freedom and nibbles at their soul. It is always there and limits everything you do. The mindless babbling, the potential for an emotional meltdown, and the constant and never-ending intrusions creep into every part of your day. Those talking to them during a phone call or brief encounter may think the dementia sufferer they are talking to is lucid but that is because they do not realize the person they are talking to does not even know who they are. 

Did you have a hard time getting here? How's the family? Or, Is it getting any warmer out there are all questions dementia sufferers use to mask their confusion. At times these people can be spot on but most of the time they are not. When they do drop the ball and reveal they are oblivious to the world around them, the person experiencing a brief encounter with them generally interprets this as a rare occurrence rather than the norm. Often this is done to avoid admitting just how far the disease has progressed. 

After telling them a dozen times who you are over several hours you can ask them, "do you know who I am?" and generally the answer is no. This is one of the reasons we in the trenches that find ourselves caring for such a person sometimes, consider them as simply "bat shit crazy." Another thing, those suffering from memory loss are not always easy go lucky and happy, in fact, they often have little reason to be. Mixed in with their confusion is often anger at losing themself and their independence as well as fear and paranoia over what the future will bring as they get worse.

Protecting Them From Themself

All you can do is try to guide them and limit the damage they do. You constantly have to remind yourself it is not their fault, they never wanted to be this way. This leaves you trying to dispense compassion the best you can. They may not want to be a burden, but they are and society does not want them. The ugly truth is that the care they are likely to get in any "paid-for setting" is suspect. Such situations are filled with difficulty and danger. 

What do we know about the abuse and threats both physical and mentally put upon these people by the so-called poorly paid healthcare workers at the bottom of the system? Most of the promises of society to lend a hand are a lie and generally come to naught. These promises amount to no more than an expensive bureaucratic circle jerk. Enough said, bitching about the situation may clarify it but changes little. Most sane people that take on the task of caring for someone with dementia do so not so much by choice but feel they have to. 

The above reflects my experience during this rather difficult year. This was not written for the blog but in reaction to distant relatives that try to paint the situation of taking care of mom as no real problem. Some even allude to the notion it must be nice to be able to do things with her. For others of you facing a similar situation or should I say burden, I decided to put it out there for readers to see. For the record, these diseases are becoming very common. For more on this subject please visit the link below to see an article that appeared here last April.  https://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2022/04/living-with-older-parent-suffering-from.html

(Republishing of this article welcomed with reference to Bruce Wilds/AdvancingTime Blog)