ABOUT

This blog presents ideas and observations that in my view better describe how the world works than what we hear, read, and see from the elites who dominate our politics, government, media, academia, and the entertainment industry. Those with the power and influence to shape our lives and our perceptions seem impressed with their own intellectual and moral superiority. I believe, however, that they are wrong about much of what they think is true. The spectacle of their behavior would be some combination of pathetic and funny, were it not for the devastating consequences their ideas and actions have for the rest of us.

I do not ask anyone to take anything I say at face value. I do ask people to go see for themselves and make up their own minds. I will indeed express what I think and why. But, much more important, I will give readers access to the work of other people – most of whom the public has never heard of – whose insights into various subjects of interest strike me as true or at least more true than alternative explanations.

The title, Truth or Nonsense, sounds presumptuous. Only God knows what is really true; the rest of us have to settle for partial truths. A longer but more accurate description of what I am trying to offer is this: what you read here is what I believe to be a more accurate depiction of reality than what is presented by those who dominate the organs of opinion creation and communication.  I believe the narratives of the powerful about the economy, foreign policy, climate change, what humans really are (purely material beings) are mainly wrong, and if used as a guide to action will lead to poverty and suffering. All I ask of you is to see for yourself what the alternative viewpoints have to say about how the world works. Do they pass your “smell test?” Do they seem to explain what’s happening better than what you hear from the powers-that-be? Do they give you a better theory of how the world works, i.e., what causes what and why? I hope these perspectives help you understand the world a little more clearly and take better care of yourself and your family.

About me

I am a researcher by trade. For almost four decades, my job has been to invest other people’s money as well as my own. The total amounts involved have been in the billions of dollars. I live or die economically according to whether the findings and conclusions from my research are correct. Having always had my own “skin in the game”, you can be sure I have tried to describe the world as it is, not how I think it should be.

I share one characteristic with Warren Buffett, the greatest investor of the last sixty years. He has said he spends 80% of his time reading. I do too. Reading forty to fifty books a year has proved a great help in my struggle to make sense of things. Unfortunately, I have lagged Mr. Buffett’s results by several orders of magnitude, but still may have some useful things to say.

Over my career, I have read and/or listened to and thousands of management presentations, industry and company analyses, security analyst reports, government reports, etc. What I have learned from all this is that – regardless of the subject area – almost nothing is as it appears or is presented to be, especially where powerful interests are concerned.

By temperament, training, and experience, I am skeptical of “received wisdom”. I have found that genuine insight often comes not from the powers-that-be but from voices that have been marginalized. Provided that these voices pass my “smell test” for intellectual integrity and respect for the reader, I hope to contribute to helping them be heard, not for their sake, but for the rest of us who truly want to understand what causes what, why, and what that means for a fulfilling life and prosperity.

Nobody is paying me anything. I have created this blog for my own enjoyment and that of others who are trying to look after themselves, their families, friends, community, and nation, more or less in that order.

My prime duty is to be honest and transparent with you. I will give full disclosure of any relationship I have with any person or institution whose work I think merits your attention. In every case I can think of, the answer will be “none”, other than a subscription fee I pay.

Samuel A. Mitchell

Ground Rules

I strongly welcome comments.The central principle for commenting is, “Always respect the person, never respect the idea.” While I hope you will be moved to comment, there is no place here for snark, profanity, ad hominem attacks, etc. Civility must rule. I am always interested in reading thoughtful analysis of how I can be or am wrong, and why.

About Ganesh, the symbol of this blog

Ganesh is a Hindu deity with an elephant’s head and a human body. He listens well because he has big ears. He has a small mouth so he doesn’t talk too much. He is revered as the remover of obstacles and the deva of intellect and wisdom. He is associated with the first “chakra” [a center of human spiritual energy] that is the wellspring of survival and material well-being.