Contrarian Indicator: My Perfect, 7-for-7 Forecasting Record Want to make a fortune? Don’t follow my advice. Do the opposite. In the interest of full disclosure, herewith are all the market calls I got wrong the last few years (in my defense, so did almost every other so-called “expert”): 1. Stocks: Prediction: ↓ Actual: ↑ Explanation:...Read More
Subsuming Ideological Conviction for Constituent Service (They Say) “If you can’t take their money, drink their whiskey, screw their women, and vote against “em anyway, you don’t belong in the Legislature.”** –Jesse Unruh, California politician in the 1950’s and 1960’s. [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not...Read More
Too Many Showings? Far be it from me to tell anyone who to vote for. But, let me suggest borrowing a criterion from the world of residential real estate to pick the next President (or major party nominee). Letting Buyers Off the Hook When I work with Buyers who remain lukewarm about a home even...Read More
Lawrence Who?!? What do you do if like Donald Trump’s message, but are repulsed by the messenger? According to polls, Trump is leading the Republican field because millions like his message: that today’s money-soaked politics serves the interests of a select few — and disserves the interests of everyone else. Meanwhile, it’s equally clear that...Read More
Goring BOTH Parties’ Oxes: Why 2016 May Be the Year Americans Use “Ranked Choice Voting”** to Elect the President There were no computers (and ranked choice voting) when Woodrow Wilson was elected in 1912, but if there had been, runner-up Teddy Roosevelt would likely have been chosen President instead. After all, a majority of voters...Read More
The Hands-On Approach OK, so the “brush” to be cleared was in our alley by Cedar Lake, not on the back 40 of our Santa Barbara ranch. And the task at hand — belatedly cleaning up after last week’s big storm — is more of a “one-off” than an ongoing chore, and there are not likely to be any photographers commemorating...Read More
