Category Archives: Socionomics

Supersize Demise

Posted on May 9, 2012 by rodroth

NBC’s Brian Williams devotes lots of airtime during the evening news this week to a new medical report that asserts the percentage of obese Americans, presently 34%, will rise to 42% in 2030. My immediate response to the assertion is: Nah, no way. Of … Continue reading →

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More Misconceptions to Dispell

Posted on April 29, 2012 by rodroth

The financial press is full of bull these days. Walking past the news section in the grocery store, I spot the headline for a cover story in Barrons: OUTLOOK MOSTLY SUNNY!!! Bulls have the edge in the big money pool, predicting stocks will rise 10% … Continue reading →

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Clearing Up a Misconception (as if this were possible)

Posted on April 23, 2012 by rodroth

He said, “Rod, you’re loaded up with gold, right?” I said, “You think gold is going to go up?” He said, “Heck yes, with all the money the government is printing now, inflation is going to soar, and gold along … Continue reading →

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Socionomics and Presidential Politics

Posted on April 10, 2012 by rodroth

The socionomic hypothesis holds that social mood drives the collective activities in a society, including presidential elections. If social mood is up during a presidential year, the incumbent will get reelected. If it is down, the incumbent is out, usually by a landslide. The … Continue reading →

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Goodby Gerber

Posted on March 24, 2012 by rodroth

 In the 21st century, the U.S. could be the slowly aging leader of a rapidly aging world. —David Brooks, NY Times, 12 March We hold that the huge population bulge of young people with little to do in Arab countries is a problem. That’s … Continue reading →

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On the Taxonomy of Gloom

Posted on January 26, 2012 by rodroth

Most of us view the world as more benign than it really is… —Daniel Kahneman, Thinking, Fast and Slow Message from a friend I haven’t seen for many years: “Maridel (my daughter) told me about your blog. I see you are … Continue reading →

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On Forecasts and Forecasting

Posted on December 30, 2011 by rodroth

“If trouble comes when you least expect it then maybe the thing to do is to always expect it.” ― Cormac McCarthy, The Road Citing a ten percent increase in this year’s occupancy rates over 2010, area hoteliers (our principal industry being tourism) … Continue reading →

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Late for Class

Posted on December 13, 2011 by rodroth

Recently, columnist Ben Stein wrote: …suddenly it dawned on me. It will be worse about EVERYTHING. Too much of the younger generation has minimal education. Minimal decent work attitudes (generally, not always). Minimal ability to get along with others. The … Continue reading →

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Game On!

Posted on November 29, 2011 by rodroth
Tim Tebow

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Never underestimate the heart of a champion!             —Coach Rudi Tomjanovich Football, say  socionomists, is a bear market sport. It is violent, brutal, and provides emotional release from the tedium of hard times. OK, but I think it’s insanely fun all the … Continue reading →

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On Starting Something

Posted on October 26, 2011 by rodroth

On the matter of how to spend the weekend: You could spend it reading Retirement Heist: How Companies Plunder and Profit from the Nest eggs of American Workers, by Ellen Schultz, who, over a number of years of digging through SEC and IRS … Continue reading →

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