{"id":42746,"date":"2017-05-13T05:15:21","date_gmt":"2017-05-13T12:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lenpenzo.com\/blog\/?p=42746"},"modified":"2017-05-16T05:53:23","modified_gmt":"2017-05-16T12:53:23","slug":"black-coffee-13-may-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lenpenzo.com\/blog\/id42746-black-coffee-13-may-2017.html","title":{"rendered":"Black Coffee: Show Me the Money"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"black<\/a>It’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy a little joe …<\/em><\/p>\n

Welcome to another rousing edition of Black Coffee, your off-beat weekly round-up of what’s been going on in the world of money and personal finance.<\/p>\n

Let’s get right to it …<\/p>\n

Money is the barometer of a society’s virtue. When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing — when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors — when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you — when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice — you may know that your society is doomed.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

— Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Credits and Debits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Credit:<\/strong><\/span> I see protesters in the People’s Socialist Paradise of VenezuelaTM<\/sup> have a new weapon when it comes to confronting government guardians of the revolution: the ‘Poopotov’ cocktail<\/a>. No, really. And unlike its less-powerful Molotov cousin, it only takes one ‘Poopotov’ cocktail to send you home completely shit-faced.<\/p>\n

Credit:<\/strong><\/span> But seriously, Venezuela’s social fabric completely unraveled because its socialist government debauched their currency<\/a> by printing it to oblivion. Yes, it was fun while it lasted — but with prices doubling every two months now and markets having trouble keeping even the most basic of necessities on store shelves, riots and civil unrest are a natural progression. Forward, amigos!<\/em><\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> Speaking of debauched currencies, a recent study finds that real wages in the US peaked<\/a> with Baby Boomers born in 1942 and have been steadily declining ever since. Uh huh. Clearly, the US dollar doesn’t buy what it used to anymore either.<\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> Stop me if you heard this before: Obamacare premiums are going to increase sharply<\/a> next year. In Virginia, Connecticut and Maryland — the first three states to post rates for 2018 — premiums will be rising more than 20%. Before it’s all said and done, I’m sure that will be considered a “bargain” compared to other states.<\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> No matter how you slice it, Obamacare is officially mired in a death spiral<\/a>, as evidenced by one Maryland insurer, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, that is seeking a 50% premium increase next year. Sounds like they should rename the company ‘Code-Blue Cross.’<\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> If you think US inflation is understated, you aren’t alone. A recent study has determined that the true inflation rate is three times higher<\/a> (!) than the figures advertised by the government — so, you ain’t crazy either.<\/p>\n

Credit:<\/strong><\/span> Hmmm. Despite it being a futile endeavor, can anybody guess why officials in Washington would even try<\/em> to mislead Americans<\/a> about the dollar’s declining purchasing power? Anyone? (Psst. Think: Poopotov cocktails.)<\/p>\n