Just wanted to let everybody know, I am adding a new feature to my Substack starting today, that I hope you will try out and give me your feedback in the comments.
Kareem I love your Substack and am grateful for all you do. And, as the proud mom of an entomologist (bug scientist), who loves bugs so much that they changed their name from Emma to Bug, I'm grateful you shared the bug photography story. Insects are so vital to our world and saving them keeps us alive as well. Another really cute bug if you've not seen them, is the rubber ducky isopod. If you do a google search for that term you can see them and they are wonderful.
Also, as a former interfaith hospice chaplain who served patients of all faiths, no faiths, and spiritual but not religious identified, your piece on religion and morals in this issue really spoke to me. And if truth be told, I never had one patient feel it was important to tell me what political party they were part of. Rather, they were in their human-ness and were more worried about if they would be remembered, if they could reconcile with a family member, if they had enough strength to go outside and feel the sun shine on their face just one more time. If religion is helpful to people, that is wonderful, but if it being helpful to someone, harms others in the process, that is terrible. Treating people as you would want to be treated is a superb way to live. One thing I've always found fascinating is how The Beatitudes taught by Jesus and the Noble Eightfold Path taught by the Buddha are equivalent in number, form, and content. Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place.
The audio is a great idea, but I prefer to read as I can go back and re-read if necessary.
Trump's tariff ideas are nonsense and will increase costs to US citizens. He is pushing the idea because he has no other ideas. Can hardly wait for the "debate" tonight.
The little lamb jumping in delight. So fun to watch. And lambs are incredibly cute too. If you let one out of the corral, it will follow at your feet. And you will just want to pick it up and cuddle it.
As to whether or not religion makes you a moral person or if one can be moral without religion, just look around. So much damage has been done in the name of religion. Teachings about beliefs and Gods that exclusively belong to a specific group or religion always bring conflicts. I like your ideas about the cooperative societies that prosper because of their beliefs in family and community. Besides, who gets to decide the truth and why are we required to follow it just because someone tells us it's the truth?
The politician from NC shall go unnamed because he should be unremembered. His denials are an attempt to be part of the white establishment. Why has he permitted himself to become such a pawn? How low!
Thank you for the music. Always wonderful to hear songs I've never heard before.
Watch the fireworks tonight. May the best woman win! Go Kamala! Stay blue. 💙💙💙
1. morals and god. i would argue that religion is a crutch for those not aware enough to realize that morals lead to a more satisfying life and a better society. why should I need some outside, all powerful being to cause me to act morally?
2. on the Porn Guy. clearly a bad guy. I think people's sexual whatever is a private matter until it impinges on others but, "daily purchases"? might have a problem that effects his ability to discharge the responsibilities of his job versus merely Discharging. also hypocrisy matters.
I enjoyed the format, Kareem. You have a pleasant speaking voice. Maybe it's my advanced age, but I found it comforting and made me feel I was retaining more, (even if I wasn't) reading the text as you spoke. And I love this recording of Lenny Welch. Moves me every time. Your newsletter is always worth the time and thought.
I don't like the way the AI reads. It lacks the personality that a live reader (Kareem) would give it. It's way too stilted, especially in the transitions from the various sections.
Hi Kareem, I think we all are very critical of our own voices! I bet with practice your reading would be far superior to the current technology. But it is good to hear you!
As one of your loyal and paid subscribers to your Substack publication, I am happy to opine on your economic commentary in your latest article.
Taking a non-partisan approach as I always do in my Substack publication “The People’s Economist,” I will say that a key feature of the Republican agenda, namely raising tariffs to all countries to as high as 20% or raising such tariffs to as high as 60% for China is inflationary. Nonpartisan economic analysis has demonstrated that tariff increases are fully passed on through higher consumer prices and also reduce economic growth. Other aspects, such as eliminating all federal taxes on income and social security benefits, must be passed by Congress. The Republican agenda aims to replace the loss of federal revenue with higher tariffs, resulting in higher inflation and reduced economic growth.
On the other hand, the Democratic agenda, which includes offering cash incentives to first-time homebuyers, is different. Yes, this will boost inflation by boosting the demand for housing, even if it is partially offset by tax incentives to homebuilders to increase supply. The Democratic proposal to eliminate tip income taxes and increase the childcare tax credit is also part of the Republican agenda and must be passed by Congress.
Bottom Line: It is challenging to summarize both the Republican and Democratic agenda in a few paragraphs, but since a big part of the Republican agenda (namely increasing tariffs, which are inflationary and reduce economic growth) can be implemented without Congressional approval, it is for this reason that nonpartisan economists are pessimistic on the Republican agenda. The Democratic wish list of raising the corporate tax (whether it is fair or not, I will let your readers decide) will offset some of the deficit increases from the spending priorities pushed by Democrats, which will undoubtedly boost inflation, but that aggressive agenda is more likely to be dead on arrival in a polarized Congress. In contrast, the surge in the deficit from eliminating all federal taxes (advocated by Republicans) by increasing tariffs would be disastrous to the U.S. economy and unlikely to be collected since foreign countries would retaliate and increase their tariffs, too. So, the real reason why the Republican agenda will hurt the U.S. economy more than the Democratic agenda is that more of the former agenda can be implemented without congressional approval. In contrast, most of the Democratic agenda is unlikely to be approved by Congress even if it sounds attractive to its respective voting base. So yes, some of the Democratic agenda will hurt the U.S. economy even if it benefits struggling families, but such legislation is unlikely to be approved by Congress.
In keeping with my nonpartisan Substack newsletter, I will use the nonpartisan estimates estimated by a well-respected entity, namely, the Penn-Wharton Model, to measure the fiscal impact of electing either candidate.
According to the nonpartisan Penn-Wharton Model, former President Trump’s economic strategies are expected to raise the federal budget deficit by $5.8 trillion over the next 10 years, while the VP’s Harris budget proposals, according to this same entity, are expected to raise the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years.
So to answer your question, if both candidates successfully enacted their economic agendas (which is unlikely), the fiscal deficit would be 4.8 X higher under a Trump administration than under a Harris administration.
Love the audio. Was able to listen while eating my dinner!
Ah, that song - a timeless tune (and dilemma), getting the blues about unrequited love. I got the blues at the moment. Here's hoping a cozy blanket and a hot chocolate will see me through!
Thank you so much for your words about the common misperception that one must have a religion in order to be a moral and ethical person. Assuming that someone needs the threat of eternal damnation or the promise of eternal happiness in order to live life as a good person is akin to assuming that a kid needs the threat of Santa and stocking coal in order to behave.
Kareem, Re: Audio. The sound of your voice is calming—a great speaking tone, but listening, distracts my focus from the written words, I need to internalize to think…Pursuing the American Dream is a concept, available to all who choose to work hard. For many, that success is meshed into our value; that’s why some of us don’t retire well. No one group owns that idea or opportunity. Meanwhile, it is becoming harder to isolate the Harlan Crows, Russia, SCOTUS, and Trump. They appear to be working in tandem, to deny some that American Dream. I will never understand why polled citizens trusts Trump to manage the country’s finances, after failing or bankrupting his own entities, and found guilty of defrauding others. When it comes to morality, most of us grow up under a reward/punishment system: “Don’t touch the hot stove or you’ll get burned”; good grades, or suffer extra kitchen duty or a canceled event, and mind your manners and be kind. Whether that stems from The Golden Rule, religion, or some form of spiritual awareness, one just feels good, being of help to another.
Is that what your real voice sounds like? I imagined it would be deeper. I'll keep reading because I'm a visual learner, but I'm sure many people welcome the audio. I'm so glad I found your erudite and broad look at our world. I love how you express yourself -- so clear, yet entirely unique. I'm so glad to have found you. I've shared your substack with many friends. The world is better with you in it. Thank you so much 🙏💫🙋
“Here’s hoping a cozy a cozy blanket and a hot chocolate will see me through”.
Here’s hoping we see some poetry from you to see us through!
Lenny Welch singing that song always puts me in a melancholy world.
Hoping for a landslide in November. So tired of trump.
Love trumps hate.
Kareem I love your Substack and am grateful for all you do. And, as the proud mom of an entomologist (bug scientist), who loves bugs so much that they changed their name from Emma to Bug, I'm grateful you shared the bug photography story. Insects are so vital to our world and saving them keeps us alive as well. Another really cute bug if you've not seen them, is the rubber ducky isopod. If you do a google search for that term you can see them and they are wonderful.
Also, as a former interfaith hospice chaplain who served patients of all faiths, no faiths, and spiritual but not religious identified, your piece on religion and morals in this issue really spoke to me. And if truth be told, I never had one patient feel it was important to tell me what political party they were part of. Rather, they were in their human-ness and were more worried about if they would be remembered, if they could reconcile with a family member, if they had enough strength to go outside and feel the sun shine on their face just one more time. If religion is helpful to people, that is wonderful, but if it being helpful to someone, harms others in the process, that is terrible. Treating people as you would want to be treated is a superb way to live. One thing I've always found fascinating is how The Beatitudes taught by Jesus and the Noble Eightfold Path taught by the Buddha are equivalent in number, form, and content. Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place.
I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.
Attributed to Confucious
The audio is a great idea, but I prefer to read as I can go back and re-read if necessary.
Trump's tariff ideas are nonsense and will increase costs to US citizens. He is pushing the idea because he has no other ideas. Can hardly wait for the "debate" tonight.
The little lamb jumping in delight. So fun to watch. And lambs are incredibly cute too. If you let one out of the corral, it will follow at your feet. And you will just want to pick it up and cuddle it.
As to whether or not religion makes you a moral person or if one can be moral without religion, just look around. So much damage has been done in the name of religion. Teachings about beliefs and Gods that exclusively belong to a specific group or religion always bring conflicts. I like your ideas about the cooperative societies that prosper because of their beliefs in family and community. Besides, who gets to decide the truth and why are we required to follow it just because someone tells us it's the truth?
The politician from NC shall go unnamed because he should be unremembered. His denials are an attempt to be part of the white establishment. Why has he permitted himself to become such a pawn? How low!
Thank you for the music. Always wonderful to hear songs I've never heard before.
Watch the fireworks tonight. May the best woman win! Go Kamala! Stay blue. 💙💙💙
Peace and Love Kareem. ❤️
1. morals and god. i would argue that religion is a crutch for those not aware enough to realize that morals lead to a more satisfying life and a better society. why should I need some outside, all powerful being to cause me to act morally?
2. on the Porn Guy. clearly a bad guy. I think people's sexual whatever is a private matter until it impinges on others but, "daily purchases"? might have a problem that effects his ability to discharge the responsibilities of his job versus merely Discharging. also hypocrisy matters.
Love the audio Kareem - it gives a nice personal touch.
I enjoyed the format, Kareem. You have a pleasant speaking voice. Maybe it's my advanced age, but I found it comforting and made me feel I was retaining more, (even if I wasn't) reading the text as you spoke. And I love this recording of Lenny Welch. Moves me every time. Your newsletter is always worth the time and thought.
I thought it was nice, on the day I found out James Earl Jones had died, to hear another warm, gentle, elder voice.
You can be moral with or without religion.
I don't like the way the AI reads. It lacks the personality that a live reader (Kareem) would give it. It's way too stilted, especially in the transitions from the various sections.
thanks Ken I appreciate your honesty but the technology actually makes me sounder better...
Hi Kareem, I think we all are very critical of our own voices! I bet with practice your reading would be far superior to the current technology. But it is good to hear you!
Kareem:
As one of your loyal and paid subscribers to your Substack publication, I am happy to opine on your economic commentary in your latest article.
Taking a non-partisan approach as I always do in my Substack publication “The People’s Economist,” I will say that a key feature of the Republican agenda, namely raising tariffs to all countries to as high as 20% or raising such tariffs to as high as 60% for China is inflationary. Nonpartisan economic analysis has demonstrated that tariff increases are fully passed on through higher consumer prices and also reduce economic growth. Other aspects, such as eliminating all federal taxes on income and social security benefits, must be passed by Congress. The Republican agenda aims to replace the loss of federal revenue with higher tariffs, resulting in higher inflation and reduced economic growth.
On the other hand, the Democratic agenda, which includes offering cash incentives to first-time homebuyers, is different. Yes, this will boost inflation by boosting the demand for housing, even if it is partially offset by tax incentives to homebuilders to increase supply. The Democratic proposal to eliminate tip income taxes and increase the childcare tax credit is also part of the Republican agenda and must be passed by Congress.
Bottom Line: It is challenging to summarize both the Republican and Democratic agenda in a few paragraphs, but since a big part of the Republican agenda (namely increasing tariffs, which are inflationary and reduce economic growth) can be implemented without Congressional approval, it is for this reason that nonpartisan economists are pessimistic on the Republican agenda. The Democratic wish list of raising the corporate tax (whether it is fair or not, I will let your readers decide) will offset some of the deficit increases from the spending priorities pushed by Democrats, which will undoubtedly boost inflation, but that aggressive agenda is more likely to be dead on arrival in a polarized Congress. In contrast, the surge in the deficit from eliminating all federal taxes (advocated by Republicans) by increasing tariffs would be disastrous to the U.S. economy and unlikely to be collected since foreign countries would retaliate and increase their tariffs, too. So, the real reason why the Republican agenda will hurt the U.S. economy more than the Democratic agenda is that more of the former agenda can be implemented without congressional approval. In contrast, most of the Democratic agenda is unlikely to be approved by Congress even if it sounds attractive to its respective voting base. So yes, some of the Democratic agenda will hurt the U.S. economy even if it benefits struggling families, but such legislation is unlikely to be approved by Congress.
so fiscally which way do you lean ?
Kareem:
In keeping with my nonpartisan Substack newsletter, I will use the nonpartisan estimates estimated by a well-respected entity, namely, the Penn-Wharton Model, to measure the fiscal impact of electing either candidate.
According to the nonpartisan Penn-Wharton Model, former President Trump’s economic strategies are expected to raise the federal budget deficit by $5.8 trillion over the next 10 years, while the VP’s Harris budget proposals, according to this same entity, are expected to raise the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years.
So to answer your question, if both candidates successfully enacted their economic agendas (which is unlikely), the fiscal deficit would be 4.8 X higher under a Trump administration than under a Harris administration.
Glad you pointed out how other how other nations retaliate when you put tariffs on them.
Trade agreements should be quid pro quo, where both countries benefit.
Love the audio. Was able to listen while eating my dinner!
Ah, that song - a timeless tune (and dilemma), getting the blues about unrequited love. I got the blues at the moment. Here's hoping a cozy blanket and a hot chocolate will see me through!
Till next time, Kareem.....thanks again.
Hi Celia, I am just wondering, did you listen to the audio and read through the article ? I dont think we were able to add the song to the audio..
I listened, then read the article so that I could listen to the song - and watch the jumping lamb clip!
Nature is amazing and fascinating, bugs included. I love Smithsonian magazine. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you so much for your words about the common misperception that one must have a religion in order to be a moral and ethical person. Assuming that someone needs the threat of eternal damnation or the promise of eternal happiness in order to live life as a good person is akin to assuming that a kid needs the threat of Santa and stocking coal in order to behave.
Put me down as not a fan of the AI. Didn't make it past the second paragraph. I don't sense the emotion that seems to come across in the written word.
Great post, top to bottom. Wish I could jump around like that lamb and sing like Lenny Welch!
Kareem, Re: Audio. The sound of your voice is calming—a great speaking tone, but listening, distracts my focus from the written words, I need to internalize to think…Pursuing the American Dream is a concept, available to all who choose to work hard. For many, that success is meshed into our value; that’s why some of us don’t retire well. No one group owns that idea or opportunity. Meanwhile, it is becoming harder to isolate the Harlan Crows, Russia, SCOTUS, and Trump. They appear to be working in tandem, to deny some that American Dream. I will never understand why polled citizens trusts Trump to manage the country’s finances, after failing or bankrupting his own entities, and found guilty of defrauding others. When it comes to morality, most of us grow up under a reward/punishment system: “Don’t touch the hot stove or you’ll get burned”; good grades, or suffer extra kitchen duty or a canceled event, and mind your manners and be kind. Whether that stems from The Golden Rule, religion, or some form of spiritual awareness, one just feels good, being of help to another.
Is that what your real voice sounds like? I imagined it would be deeper. I'll keep reading because I'm a visual learner, but I'm sure many people welcome the audio. I'm so glad I found your erudite and broad look at our world. I love how you express yourself -- so clear, yet entirely unique. I'm so glad to have found you. I've shared your substack with many friends. The world is better with you in it. Thank you so much 🙏💫🙋