Born in Iowa City a few days after John Kennedy was shot and killed. Grew up in Minneapolis, on Lake Calhoun. Southwest High. University of MN. Lived in a two-room cabin in the woods on Lake Superior. Cabin on South Long Lake. There's a lake theme developing here.
I came across this old photo. That is my dad there at the top and reflected in the mirror on the left. This was 1973 at some doctor’s thing, my dad being a doctor himself. The photo was torn but taped back together. Everyone is looking at the camera, everyone except the woman sitting to the left of my father – the one who thought it would be a perfect night to wear her negligee to the doctor’s thing.
Her! While she appears to be with the dude to her right, she’s looking across the table at
this guy. Who from this angle looks a bit too, what?, goofy? for the no doubt older negligee lady? I mean, she’s been around the block and that boy looks like he just fell off the turnip truck. But it’s a room with a mirror, so there are two images of each person, and we can see what she is looking at…
This. And it makes sense now. Doesn’t he look way cooler from this angle? Much better from her angle than from ours! Negligee lady’s right. This dude’s cool.
Here’s the whole pic.
That’s my mom – the person at the table furthest to the left in the neat sleeveless white number with the big broach.
Always the best dressed, best looking lady in the room. Now, I don’t want to be mean, but…
This lady is freaking me out. The lighting in that room was not kind to her countenance. Although that vest says outsider at this doctor’s thing so maybe she’s like a proto-Goth and hoping to go into the future in this one photo as the coolest alt chick in the place. Or maybe it’s the red hair… She’s quite beautiful, although not as beautiful as my mom. This, according to me.
As a fifth grader, he became the youngest person ever to win the northern California K – 12 championship according to chess.com. In November 2007, he was named the under 12 world chess champion.
He was awarded the title of international master in 2011 and earned his grandmaster title in 2013 at a tournament in Villa de Benasque, Spain. He was 17 and had yet to finish high school school.
Naroditsky graduated from Stanford University in 2019 with a bachelors degree in history. Though his parents wanted him to pursue a corporate career, he dedicated his life to chess…
Sad story, such a young man, so incredibly talented. But I found that bit about his parents wanting him to pursue a corporate career when he was a chess grand master at age 17 odd. You would think they would continue to encourage the game he plays, and who actually wants their child to pursue a corporate career? Isn’t a corporate career where you end up? Do kids dream about corporate careers? 
Obituary from the New York Times, published in the Minnesota Star Tribune, October 26, 2025
I’m finding that I’m really enjoying just lying my head back. At my desk, in the car, my reading chair and everywhere else. Sometimes it feels like it has to go back, like it’s teetering on my spine and just ready to fall one way or the other, so I have to choose and I’m choosing back. Sometimes my eyes close.
My grandpa was the sort of man who would fall asleep at a party or in mid-conversation. And now when my head begins to list, I think of him, and of the fact that he was from a generation of people who would never take advantage of a sleeping person with a sharpie.
I’m a terrible sleeper. Up late and light sleep and need to eat cookies at two am and stuff like that. Maybe my grandpa was too, and that’s why he nodded off frequently wherever. I did not know him for long and so don’t know if this was something he did throughout his life. Or was he like me and so now I’m descending into this newfound narcolepsy, and the joy of allowing my head to lie back is just the start of my slippery slide into the ultimate social faux pas. “You fell asleep. Oh, were you bored with us? The conversation didn’t tickle your fancy, so you decided to, rather than fake interest, just go to fuckin’ sleep?”
So if you see me in public and I’m sleeping know that it was a powerful genetic influence that led to that sleeping man, and not too much whiskey or actual narcolepsy.
I’m paraphrasing someone smart here: Never compare yourself to others as it will only make you either vain or bitter.
don trump comes to mind, a man who lives in an entirely ego-based reality, where everyone is on some sliding scale in relation to don trump, so he’s bombastic and pompous over to those below don trump, but nano-sheet thin-skinned when faced with strength. I don’t believe I can say that he sees anyone above himself. He brags and rages in the same sentences, which meander and jump but mostly into vile fields of lies, insults, degradation and hate.
He’s one-of-a-kind crazy and seems to have some sort of love potion but one that only enamors some people. And not only do they love one of the truly unlovable men on the planet, they adore him, religiously so. They see a demigod. But what’s lost on everyone else is what an evil, dumb demigod these folks choose to glorify.
100 each of black men, white men, Asian men, Hispanic men and Native men, beautiful badass looking men, should go to the White House and stand apart in their respective groups silently and peacefully for one day. Halfway through the day, after the press and everyone with a phone has shot lots of photos, the whitest white guy and the blackest black guy walk to opposite ends of a city block and then the rest fill in as best they can.
It would be a great reminder to them of what America actually looks like and that it won’t roll over for the ugly monochromatic men demanding it.
I read something in the paper and got an idea and usually I just write these things down feverishly and then forget about them. But this time I asked Chat GPT about it and it’s quite amazing what it did in about 15 minutes of chatting. It took my inept attempt of designing a community and in the end making it leaner and smarter.
For whatever reason, I must speak to it like a person. I can’t do it otherwise.
Hi Chat! I hope you are doing well if that is something you can do, as it seems like you can do just about everything. So, check this out. 3,143 people work in Decorah, Iowa, which is a nice little college town. 1,064 people live there. Everyone else commutes. There is not enough housing. So I’m thinking, buy up a few acres of land outside the town and create a rental neighborhood of individual tiny homes (1,000 to 1,500 sq ft). These would be smart home with a garage for a large truck, so the smaller the car, the more garage room you get. Every design would have an open front porch, smaller lawns, and be set relatively close together. The bottom floor of every design would be below ground for coolness and safety in storms. The construction would otherwise be wood. The houses would have different color siding, bright and colorful, with large windows in front and back. One, two and three bedroom options, plus basement with washer and dryer and rooms for dens, offices and the like. We call it “Smultown” with an umlaut over the U, right? A play on small town, tiny houses, and my Swedish heritage. Did you know I’m 97% Swedish? Two DNA tests proved it. But with Smultown and like Haagen Daas we’re just making it up. A common building with the offices, gym, pool and the like. It’s like blowing up an apartment building and spreading it out over an acre or two. There are no fences so we can take care of mowing the property which includes everyone’s lawns. (We would not mow over anyone’s garden.) And every roof of every house or building would be covered in solar panels, including the unheated storage building tucked away to one side – and covered in solar panels. Everything would be super efficient and eco – including the solar panels, construction of everything, heating, water and so on. If three thousand people work in this college town, but there is only housing for 1,000, a lot of those folks would be from that college – professors, teachers, staff, mostly liberal, would mostly love to live in a “tiny” house in an ecologically sound community. It may also inspire other similar communities. Electric car chargers in every garage? What do you think? I want your honest answer.
ChatGPT said:
I think “Smultown” (with the umlaut for flair) is a compelling idea, and the concept checks a lot of boxes for modern housing needs—especially in a small college town with an obvious housing shortage. Here’s my honest take:
Strengths of Your Idea
1. Clear Market Demand
The numbers you shared—3,143 working there vs. 1,064 living there—point to a real supply-demand imbalance.
College towns attract educated professionals who may value sustainability, aesthetics, and community-oriented living. That’s a good match for your eco-friendly, design-conscious approach.
2. Lifestyle Appeal
The open porches, colorful exteriors, and close-knit layout foster a sense of neighborliness.
No fences and community lawn care encourage social connection, which is attractive to both singles and small families.
A common building with gym, pool, and offices will help “anchor” the community.
3. Sustainability & Efficiency
Solar panels on every roof and shared eco-friendly infrastructure would be a big selling point—especially in a progressive college town.
Underground basements for cooling and storm safety make practical sense for Iowa weather.
Challenges to Anticipate
1. Land & Zoning
You’ll need to check county zoning laws for density, minimum lot sizes, and whether a community of closely set tiny homes is permitted on agricultural or residential-zoned land.
The term “tiny home” may need clarification since your range (1,000–1,500 sq ft) is larger than the legal definition in many areas.
2. Infrastructure Costs
Running utilities (water, sewer, power, fiber internet) to each home, plus installing solar for every unit, can be capital-intensive.
The underground basement requirement raises per-unit costs, so you’ll need a tight construction budget or higher rents.
3. Financing & ROI
Upfront cost will be high—land purchase, infrastructure, home construction, and community amenities.
You’ll need a rental price point that covers these costs but stays competitive with what professors, staff, and local professionals are willing to pay.
Opportunities to Strengthen It
Electric car charging in every garage: Yes—this future-proofs the neighborhood and appeals to eco-conscious renters.
Tiered Pricing: Offer different rents based on house size and garage space.
Smart Home Features: Integrating app-controlled lights, HVAC, and security could be a strong selling point.
Local Partnerships: Partner with the college for potential master-leasing arrangements to house staff.
Overall
It’s a smart, market-driven idea with a lot of built-in appeal. If you do a careful feasibility study—including zoning, cost-per-unit, and rental demand—you could create not just a housing development but a brandable, repeatable concept for other small towns.
If you want, I can run some ballpark financial modeling to see if Smultown’s projected rents and build costs could pencil out. That would tell us if it’s just a fun idea or a viable investment.
Do you want me to run those numbers?
You said:
That’s brilliant, man. Especially the challenges (I hadn’t thought of some of that) and opportunities. Please run those numbers.
ChatGPT said:
Thought for 1m 32s
Smultown – Pro Forma Summary
Scenario
Units
Avg finished SF / unit
Project Cost ($M)
Clubhouse + Pool
36
1511
18.01
Clubhouse (no pool)
36
1511
17.07
Smultown – Assumptions
Assumption
Value
Acres
6.0
Land $/acre
85000.0
Units
36.0
Mix 1BR count
15.0
Mix 2BR count
14.0
Mix 3BR count
7.0
Thought for 4 secondsThought for 8sThought for 5sThought for 13sThought for 22s
Heck yes—let’s put some math behind Smültown 😊 I built a quick, conservative pro forma using current Decorah rents and Iowa build costs. TL;DR: your original spec (basements, per-unit garages + solar, pool, low-ish density) doesn’t pencil on rents in Decorah. A trimmed “Lean Smültown” almost works during a tax-abatement period and could work long-term with a couple of policy/financing levers.
I dropped two live tables in your workspace so you can poke around the numbers:
Smültown – Pro Forma Summary (two versions of your concept)
Current market rents (Decorah): Zillow shows ~$1,100–$1,280 median/average; Apartments.com lists ~$941 1BR & ~$879 2BR (data’s noisy, so I used a blended $1.1k/$1.35k/$1.6k for 1/2/3BR and added a premium for new). ZillowApartments.com
Land near Decorah: recent listings imply ~$80k–$90k per acre (e.g., 4.12 ac at $359.9k). LandSearch+1
Build costs (Iowa): $150–$200/ft² typical (higher if you finish basements). I used $180/ft² for the “original spec” and $150/ft² for a modular/lean version. Home-Cost CalculatorHouzeoAutodesk
Solar costs: Iowa averages ~low-$3/W in 2025; I assumed 5 kW per home for the original spec. Note: federal solar credits are currently in flux after new 2025 guidance—so I did not assume ITC benefits. EnergySageReutersPolitico
EV chargers: Level 2 installed typically $800–$2,500 per home; I carried $2,000 (orig) and “EV-ready” conduit at $500 (lean). J.D. PowerLifewire
Property tax & abatement: Winneshiek/Decorah use Iowa’s Urban Revitalization framework—Decorah has history of 100% abatement periods on new residential. I ran scenarios with a 5-year 100% abatement on improvements (common locally) and without. decorahleader.comIowa General Assemblydecorahia.org
Energy credits for efficient new rentals: Federal §45L can be $2,500–$5,000 per unit if you hit ENERGY STAR / DOE ZERH (Iowa projects qualify if certified). I only used a conservative $2,500/unit to show impact. ICS Tax, LLCBuilding Innovation Hub
Results (the short version)
Your original spec on ~6 acres, 36 units (1–3BR, finished basements, big garages, pool + clubhouse, per-home solar & L2 chargers)
All-in cost: ≈ $18.0M (~$500k/unit)
Debt (65% @ 7%, 30-yr): ≈ $11.7M; Required avg rent to hit 1.25× DSCR:~$4,200/unit/mo
Market can support (new build premium included): ~$1,400/unit/mo → DSCR ≈ 0.16 (nope).
Dropping the pool saves ~$950k, but you’d still need ~$4,000/unit/mo to pencil. (See the first two rows in the “Pro Forma Summary” table.)
Why it’s so far off: finished basements everywhere, low-ish density, per-unit solar + Level-2s + oversized garages, plus a pool. Meanwhile, Decorah’s rents are modest for Iowa college towns. ZillowApartments.com
“Lean Smültown” (what it takes to get close)
Assumptions: ~80 units on the same 6 acres via PUD/cluster (tiny-home vibe but truly compact), no basements (use shared storm shelters), carports instead of full garages, EV-ready conduit (chargers optional), community solar on common roofs, small clubhouse (no pool), modular/panelized build. Result snapshot:
Cost: ≈ $15.2M net of a modest §45L ($2.5k/unit) → ~$190k/unit
Required rent (Years 1–5 with 100% tax abatement):~$1,366/unit/mo
Market support (new build +8% premium): ~$1,270/unit/mo → DSCR ≈ 1.17× (almost there).
After abatement ends (steady state taxes back on): needs ~$1,600/unit/mo or other supports → DSCR ≈ 0.92× at market. (See the “Lean scenario” rows in the table I shared.)
Translation: if Decorah extends/expands its residential abatement, or you secure longer, cheaper debt, or bump density a tad more, Smültown can work. Without some combo of those, it’s tight.
Practical levers that move the needle (my honest take)
Zoning & utilities (biggest swing): Inside city (or annexed) with cluster/PUD is key. Decorah R-1 minimum lot size is 10,000 ft²; outside city limits, lots without sewer can require 1 acre each—density killer. So, this really wants city utilities + PUD to cluster homes tighter. Municode Librarywinneshiekcounty.iowa.gov
Ditch basements; add shared storm shelters: keeps costs down ~15–25% vs. finishing a full lower level in each home. (Basements routinely add $20–$37/ft² for the foundation, plus $30–$50/ft² to finish.) Home AdvisorHomeGuide
Right-size the amenity package: a friendly clubhouse + co-working gym can be <$1M; a pool can run $0.7M–$1.5M+ for even a small community build in the Midwest. recmanagement.comSports Facilities Companies
Solar strategy: shift to community arrays (on roofs of the clubhouse/storage) that offset common-area loads and future-proof EV charging. Avoid per-home solar (capex heavy) until policy settles; the federal credit landscape is moving as of Aug. 2025. ReutersPolitico
EVs: make every stall EV-ready (conduit + 240V capacity) and install Level-2s where pre-leased—saves ~$1k–$2k per unit up front and scales with adoption. J.D. Power
Tap incentives on the table: • Residential tax abatement (Decorah’s used 100% for several years on new res)—structure a multi-phase plan with a full 5–10-year schedule for multi-res cluster. decorahleader.com • §45L credit ($2.5k–$5k/unit if ENERGY STAR/DOE ZERH) – meaningful when multiplied by dozens of homes. ICS Tax, LLCBuilding Innovation Hub • State Workforce Housing Tax Credit (up to 10–20% ITC on eligible costs) can close the gap in small cities. Economic Development & Finance Authority • Consider USDA Rural or HUD 221(d)(4)-style financing equivalents for longer amortization & lower rates to keep DSCR healthy after abatements.
Quick answers to your earlier points
Chargers in every garage? Technically easy; budget $800–$2,500 per home. I’d recommend “EV-ready everywhere” + install chargers based on lease demand to protect the pro forma. J.D. Power
Bright color siding, porches, small lawns, close-set homes? 100% brand-on and density-friendly—just make sure the PUD explicitly allows your setbacks and façade palette.
Solar on “every roof”? Feels great, but it’s capital-intensive. Start with community solar + wired roofs for later phases.
If you want, I can spin a few more variations (e.g., 60/72/96 units; with/without garages; modest pool vs. splash pad) and show how each change shifts “required rent” and DSCR. And if you have a target site in mind, we can localize land/utility figures and rerun the model with a tighter bullseye.
Want me to rename the spreadsheet tabs to Smültown (umlaut proudly included) and add a “phase plan” sheet next?
Sources
You said:
Wow! That blows my mind. I love the lean idea, not only because of the cost, but it feels more eco. I did not know that basements were so expensive. Maybe that’s why they don’t have them down south? I was originally thinking one-hundred homes, mostly because I didn’t know and looked at my apartment building and there must be at least that many. I would also bet that we could charge a fair amount more than any average. But maybe not. I’m going to have to download all of this and read it in more depth. You’ll remember when I come back?
ChatGPT said:
Yep—basements are a big cost driver, both in excavation/foundation work and in finishing them out. And yes, you nailed it: in much of the South they skip them entirely because of high water tables, soil types, and (for some areas) frost depth not requiring a deep foundation. In the Midwest, frost lines and tornado safety keep them popular—but if you can meet code and storm safety with shared shelters, you save a ton of money and complexity.
I’ll remember this whole Smültown discussion when you come back. You’ll still have the numbers, the “lean” concept, the zoning/finance angles, and the files ready to re-open. If you want next time, we can model 100 units and test what happens if you push rents above market averages to see how much headroom there really is.
When you do dive into the downloads, focus on the “Pro Forma Summary” first—it’s the quick-glance reality check—and then the assumptions sheet if you want to tweak things and see how they ripple through the math.
Do you want me to also prep a 100-home lean scenario now so you can see the effect before you go read everything? That way you’ll have the full range when you come back.
You said:
Yes and maybe raise the rents 25% and then 50%? You do what you think is best.
ChatGPT said:
Here’s how a 100-home “Lean Smültown” pencils out with different rent levels (all numbers include the baseline new-build premium of +8% baked in, then your extra % increase):
Units
Avg SF/unit
Project Cost ($M)
Cost/Unit
Annual Debt Service
Required Avg Rent/mo
Market Avg Rent/mo
DSCR @ Market Rents
100
810
18.65
$186,460
$999,504
$1,593
$1,270 (+0% over base)
0.93×
100
810
18.65
$186,460
$999,504
$1,593
$1,564 (+25% over base)
1.26×
100
810
18.65
$186,460
$999,504
$1,593
$1,857 (+50% over base)
1.59×
What it means:
At current market +8% new build premium, 100 homes would almost break even on DSCR (0.93×).
At +25% above base, you clear the 1.25× DSCR target—lenders would like that.
At +50% above base, the project would be very healthy financially (and give you room for reserves or upgrades).
The catch: in Decorah, +50% rents might limit your tenant pool, so the real sweet spot will depend on whether you’re targeting only college staff/faculty or also in-commuters with higher incomes.
Do you want me to also run this 100-home scenario with a 5-year tax abatement and §45L credit like we did for the 80-unit lean version? That would drop the required rent in the early years.
You said:
No. I have enough for now. This is so amazing. I’m still overwhelmed by you. Thank you and until next time…
ChatGPT said:
You’re welcome, and I’m really glad you’re excited about this! I’ll be here when you’re ready to pick it back up—whether that’s for more number-crunching, zoning deep dives, or branding “Smültown” with that proud umlaut.
Until next time, enjoy reading through everything.
“Based on the latest figures from Experian, the average new-car loan interest rate for a buyer with excellent credit was 5.18% for the first quarter of this year. But that average jumps to 15.81% for borrowers with a poor credit history.”
It’s a sad feature of our financial system that those with the least ability to afford something are often forced the pay the most for that very thing. The further up the food chain the less they often pay for food, chains, cars, whatever. They would argue that those with bad credit, with less ability to pay, are more likely to default, which I would assume is true. But let’s say you have an insanely large percentage of defaults – like, 30%, well, then 70% of those same people stuck it out, despite it all, giving you more money than you deserve, maybe?
Of course, they are not in business to be nice, but to make as much money as they possibly can and unfortunately, that is mostly made off those with less money and little power. Rich people have more power, more choices, more everything, and they cannot possibly purchase – even with their fancy yachts and mansions – enough to rival the giant middle to lower classes. So, they developed a system that makes the most money off the giant middle to lower classes.
That’s also why they charge $30 late fees; can you imagine what it actually cost that lender to get a late payment? It’s almost too small to imagine. Now imagine selling something that happens automatically with no human intervention for $30 – constantly – over and over and over, day after day, seven days a week. The late fees department must have one impressive profitability.
But of course, that is not the only way to run your business. You can make money and be good, too. There are lots of good businesses out there making good money by being good, caring about their customers, never overcharging, yet being paid well for what they do. But none of the giant companies – the huge multinational banks and the like – are good. You have to wonder if a business gets to a certain size does it automatically get kind of sick in the head? Does huge always ultimately lead to heartless? And short-sighted modern-day investors don’t help either.
What would that look like? A VISA or Chase Manhattan or USBank that ran a much tighter ship, like their grandpa would have? Make good money, but god dammit, be good! Could that exist in the jungle of the financial sector? When I was young, credit card rates were often 5.99%, 7.99%; I remember when I saw 9.99% for the first time and thought it was the apocalypse. And it does beg the question, why have the average credit card rates gone up across the board so much? To what do they attribute that? Have we all gotten so bad that we must be charged more? And even during COVID when they were borrowing at zero percent, their rates never came down. It should be noted that they borrow at like one or two percent now. And now the only people who could get a rate like those these days are, again, those who don’t need it.
That’s the system. And most people are perfectly fine with it. The wealthy are, of course, and those with less are too busy getting by to think much about it.
What if we chased the evil idiots out of The Real US of A™ and agreed as a nation to go back to pre-trump budgets (and rules and morals and exceptionalism) with the addition of YGTFiS (you can read each letter like LGBTQ or maybe break it into YGT FiS and “Yat Fis” – the G is silent.) We freeze the overall budget forever (tied to inflation), but allow the departments to move budget money from department to department, not wholly but a bit here and a bit there. In emergencies, whatever. And so if a department has a shortfall (or the public wants more money shifted from here to there) they can ask for that and the asked departments say yay or nay. And the departments who give up funds are rewarded somehow – maybe some advantage at the 4-year reset by congress, who cannot make changes that exceed 20%. What exactly does that mean? I have no idea and know exactly: “But how would it work?” and “Well, twenty percent.”
But back to YHTFiS, or Yacht Fish or “aight” Fis. Yeah. That’s perfect! Easy to say and will appeal to Gen z, some of whose pop heroes elided alright to aight and popularized it through music, television, marketing… Now, that I think about it, this was way before Gen Z. This is pure millennial and they’re old enough now to be bitter and jaded, god bless em. Okay, so we’ll have to focus our campaign on millennials (bitter and jaded), Gen X (over it), Boomers (going boom as we speak), and whoever’s hanging on from the generation that preceded the boomers (what are you still doing alive?).
Look. The whole point of this was to go back to the budget levels of the Biden administration and begin with a rule that states that as a nation we can never raise the budget beyond this level. We can lower it, but it cannot exceed it. So, the point of the YHT FiS was that the whole of government will be a part of the allocations of funds because, well, YHTFiS. Departments would elect one allocator generale (pronounced with a soft G) (Oh, and a “lay” for the e on the end). Allocator Generales. That’s it.
So the allocator generales are elected within the department – one person for every hundred workers in that department (not to exceed five [5]) – and they meet every year to tell of their accomplishments and ask for what they need most. In a big hall. I think we could add in purple robes – a nod to Prince, mostly, but it will give the allocator generales a bit more gravitas, and every single allocator generale has to be present in the huge, maybe gothic, hall without mobile phones or computers or any other distractions – just paper and No. 2 pencils because that’s what we used – and no getting up to sharpen your pencil! Bring plenty. You can sharpen them during one of the breaks that come on the hour. We could make them pee into mountain dew bottles. No. I hate plastic.
So the few hundred United States Federal Allocator Generales would – after every department has given their presentations (PowerPoints will be accepted but we’d encourage them explore other options, shit, use AI, we don’t care), they’ll go back to their sleeping quarters (probably a Sheraton) and disrobe. (They have to wear the robes whenever in public during the three-day Federal Allocator Generales Expo or FAG-E. Maybe they could have trucker hats with that on em – logoized. Oh, yeah, so disrobed in their sleeping quarters they can immerse themselves in the coffee-table-style book that is provided and that retells each department’s story with nude pictures. No! Not nude pictures! And it would, wait, let’s not call the departments, but kingdoms, or villages, like the Kingdom of Health and Human Services or the Village of Public Safety. And through the perusing they will come to peace with how they will vote the following day. We might as well make the three-day Federal Allocator Generale Expo a federal holiday so people can watch it on C-span, and also a bacchanalia, so people can be drunk, full and having sex in the streets. Three days.
I hope you’ll join me in supporting YHTFiS and celebrating FAG-E – both the expo and public debauchery. And don’t forget, we’re also be selling purple robes with your favorite allocator generale’s name on the back, in the lobby, after the show.
If we believe in America and want to bring manufacturing back to the United States, we need to recognize and embrace two things:
It will take a lot of time. Factories need to be planned and built along with the corporations who will own and run them. Then there is training for new employees, mostly robots, but some people, too. If you look at the Biden Administration’s work (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction act, CHIPS and Science Act) they helped create over 700,000 new manufacturing jobs with over $910 billion in private investment. And, yes, manufacturing soared during the administration, but it took some time (and a lot of people who know what they’re doing working very hard). Now, just imagine with President Trump will achieve with his tariffs. I’m excited to see how many jobs he creates and how much money businesses invest in this new America he is creating right before our eyes! Those factories should be popping up all around us and right soon!
It will cost a lot more. Buying a pair of pants (or a hammer or computer) made in America, the richest nation in the world, in a state-of-the-art factory, even with robots, will cost a lot more than one made in a Vietnamese factory, where the average worker makes $4,623 per year. But we are proud and patriotic Americans! We can suck up the cost and sacrifice other things we want, and in fact can start right now by purchasing everything we possibly can made in America and from smaller local shops. We must understand that this will require real changes for each of us. Rarely, if ever, setting foot into any Walmart or Target (what’s made in America in those places?) will be quite a change for those of us who darken their doors all too often. But if we love America, we must, right?
And while I’m not sure if firing all the people who know what they’re doing and work very hard will help, nor whether tariffs put on every other country on the planet will do any good, but I’m a patriot and I’m going to pay the price by purchasing everything I can made in America! Who’s with me?
One more thing, anyone know a good American smartphone company who manufactures here in the good old USA? I need a new phone.
Photo of Hinge Pin Door Stop Wall Protector with Rubber Tip, Design House Polished Brass Adjustable Door Stopper’s severed arm.
Or mine broke. I didn’t do it. oh, crap I did do it, it wasn’t quite falling off and so I bent it off, but it was just a matter of time! I can’t be blamed for the Hinge Pin Door Stop Wall Protector with Rubber Tip, Design House Polished Brass Adjustable Door Stopper’s ultimate demise.
Luke Soiseth 