Chet Collins

Biden Weighs Forgiving Some Student Debt for Those Who Earn Less Than $125,000 a Year - WSJ

Some of the president’s advisers have privately raised concerns about the legality of taking executive action on the issue and the potential backlash from people who have paid off their loans, never took on debt or don’t believe the government should step in to help current borrowers.

Also, um, the DOE is already preparing loans for disbursement for the fall semester. You forgive loans now, but make no changes to the underlying system?

How to Invest When Both the Stock Market and Bonds Are Falling - WSJ

Yet the best strategy in moments of volatility like this one, financial advisers say, is also one of the least satisfying: Do nothing.

The article then goes into paragraph after paragraph of helpful “ideas” from a bunch of financial advisors.

When Student Loan Debt Paused, These Borrowers Kept Paying - WSJ

As of December 2021, 1.2% of borrowers continued paying down loans, said Mark Kantrowitz, a student loan expert.

Everyone is sitting around waiting for “forgiveness,” when they just whiffed the biggest loan arbitrage in a generation.

Student loan interest is calculated on outstanding principal, not the total balance. But you can’t pay down any principal until all outstanding interest in paid.

29 months, given all of the government stimulus and the job market, was more than enough time for the “average” borrower to pay off their loans, more so for the well paid borrower.

How is it that only 1.2% of borrowers saw this “pause” for what it really was? This was best chance to honor their word, swiftly pay off loans, and move on with the rest of their lives.

But instead, they, you know bought a car or a house or some GameStop stock.

How do you feel about paying off their loans for them now? They had their shot and they chose not to take it. Why should the taxpayer bail them out any more than they already have?

Student Loan Truth Telling - WSJ Opinion

As Mr. Clyburn explained, “So my whole thing is, use your executive authority and let the courts have at it.” This seems to be the Administration’s guiding legal principle. Do what you want until the courts say it’s illegal.

Disinformation for Dummies - WSJ Opinion

We have to admit that when we first read about it, we thought the news was itself disinformation from the Administration’s political enemies. Surely, no one in this age of polarization and public mistrust of institutions would think it’s wise to set up a government shop with the job of telling Americans what is true.

Amazing how a small change can make a big impact.

President Zelensky Insulted By Biden’s Offer Of Only $33 Billion In Weapons When He Gave The Taliban $86 Billion - The Babylon Bee

To avoid being embarrassed on the world stage, the Biden Administration has offered to sweeten the weapon offer by also paying off Ukrainian student loans.

Biden Says He Is Considering Canceling Some Student-Loan Debt - WSJ

The president’s advisers are weighing tailoring any debt forgiveness proposal so that the bulk of the benefits go to lower-to-middle-income borrowers, according to people familiar with the administration’s internal discussions.

Please don’t tell the President about how underwater these folks are on their car notes or we’ll all be paying for that, too.

U.S. Economy Shrank in First Quarter - WSJ

The U.S. economy shrank at a 1.4% annual rate in the first quarter

Hey y’all, let’s raise taxes!!!!!!!!!!!

Tax Increases Won’t Cure Inflation - WSJ Opinion

“Coordinating higher government spending with higher taxes so that the rest of us are forced to cut back a little to create room for additional government spending,” as MMT evangelist Stephanie Kelton puts it. She says the trick is to “remove spending power from the rest of us” via taxes so the government can fund things like solar panels in California.

Asinine and dangerous.

Take taxes out of the pockets of workers so the government, which has a long record of inefficiency and waste, can spend those dollars?

Government That’s $30 Trillion In Debt Criticizes Elon Musk For How He Spends His Money - The Babylon Bee

Experts now believe that with $44 billion, the government could’ve used it to feed about a dozen people and sent a ton of foreign aid to corrupt local warlords in Botswana.

Biden Seriously Considering Student-Loan Forgiveness, Officials Say - WSJ

loan forgiveness also has the potential to anger voters who have paid off their loans, never took on debt or don’t believe the government should step in to help current borrowers.

Perceptive.

Kamala Harris Tests Positive for Covid-19 - WSJ

“She has not been a close contact to the president or first lady due to their respective recent travel schedules,” Ms. Allen said.

I bet that’s the reason.

I hate the new WSJ question/answer articles. It’s sloppy and disjointed.

Every article is question and answer. The trick to good writing and journalism is to arrange in a way that makes it flow.

Dress for the home you want, not the home you have.

Twitter Accepts Elon Musk’s Offer to Buy Company in $44 Billion Deal - WSJ

The stock has been an anemic performer in an era of huge returns for technology companies. Its shares jumped on their first day of trading in 2013 to close at $44.90, within a dollar of where they were more than eight years later when Mr. Musk made his approach.

Can’t wait for this deal to close and the S&P 500 to drop this dog.

Elon Musk, Twitter and Free Speech - WSJ Opinion

A former CEO of the social site Reddit called for government regulation “to prevent rich people from controlling our channels of communication.” That line was published in an op-ed at the Washington Post, which is owned by the noted pauper Jeff Bezos.

Fidelity to Allow Retirement Savers to Put Bitcoin in 401(k) Accounts - WSJ

the 23,000 companies that use Fidelity to administer their retirement plans will have the option to put bitcoin on the menu.

The breach of fiduciary duty lawsuits are going to be a slam dunk.

Under the plan, Fidelity would let savers allocate as much as 20% of their nest eggs to bitcoin, though that threshold could be lowered by plan sponsors.

Another 20% will be permitted to be invested into your cousin’s new restaurant and a remaining 20% may be used to purchase Beanie Babies.

Mr. Gray said the fees on the account will be between 0.75% and 0.9%, depending on the client, not counting trading costs.

Don’t worry, you’ll still be lining Fidelity’s pockets while you gamble at the table.

Elon Musk Agrees to Buy Twitter in $44 Billion Deal - WSJ

Twitter Inc. on Monday accepted Elon Musk’s bid to take over the company, giving the world’s richest man control over the influential social-media network where he is also among its most powerful users.

I’m glad that this deal takes a terrible company out of my portfolio, and under new management, I may rejoin.

The Window to Enjoy Your Empty Nest Is Shrinking - WSJ

“I haven’t been able to do anything that is not work- or kid-centered in really almost 13 years,” says Ms. Frederickson, founder and chief executive of human-resources executive search firm Frederickson Partners in Menlo Park, Calif. “I’m ready to have a full and fun life.” 

13 years into parenting and she still doesn’t get it?

She never will.

Struggling AMC Threatens To Clamp Down On Theater Sharing - The Onion

“While rare, there have actually been extreme instances of 30, 40, sometimes even 50 people in a single theater watching a movie. But from now on, you can’t just come to an AMC location and bring a bunch of friends with you thinking you’re all going to watch the same screening. That just isn’t going to happen anymore.”

Gas-Engine Bans Drive Landscapers Toward Electric Mowers and Blowers - WSJ

Some landscapers and dealers are wary, raising concerns about the added cost and complexity of relying on battery power to manicure yards and trees.

I priced a battery-powered edger this season. It was 3x the cost of the gas model.

I have a battery chainsaw and it’s awesome. Instant on, no messing with fuel and oil, it’s exactly what I want. But we’ve got to get the price of batteries under control.

Government mandates that prematurely force out gas models distorts basic economics and only exacerbates price differences.

No one is against battery powered lawn equipment, cars, or anything else. But electric, like any other new technology, must deliver better results and better performance at a better price.

Apple Store Workers Seek to Unionize, Following Efforts at Amazon, Starbucks - WSJ

“Apple is a profoundly positive place to work, but we know that the company can better live up to their ideals,” said Derrick Bowles, an employee at the Atlanta store.

The arrogance.

the company offers employees strong compensation, healthcare options, tuition reimbursement, parental leave and stock grants, among other benefits. The spokesman said Apple’s minimum pay at retail stores is $20 an hour.

But no pony, tho.