American Habits

?? Is the American Dream still alive? Or has it been lost in today’s world? In the latest episode of SPN's Neighbors in the Network, hosts James Pinedo and Corey Burres sit down with Ray Nothstine, the Editor of the American Habits publication, to discuss freedom, federalism, and the power of local communities in shaping opportunity. Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation! ??? ?? Watch here: https://bit.ly/3EZ2JXC ?? Listen here: https://bit.ly/4ko4UEs #AmericanDream #Federalism #Liberty #Community #PolicyReform #NeighborsInTheNetwork

Your family has been struggling financially and is on public assistance. After completing a training program and proving yourself as an employee, you get a job offer that would more than quintuple your income. But then you realize that taking the position would actually make your family worse off financially. What gives? ... Read my latest article in American Habits. https://lnkd.in/g-Z66xau

"The reality is that debt is sustainable, until it isn't and then the bubble bursts all at once." That's probably my favorite quote from my interview. Thanks Ray Nothstine for interviewing me for the American Habits publication on The American Dream and the Need for Financial Literacy. The things we discussed are all critically important and I hope I explained the concepts in a way for the reader to easily comprehend. The American Dream is still attainable, but there are some important economic realities that We The People must face. I hope you enjoy the article / interview. P.S. One of the things that bothers me is these concepts are really not rocket-science. It is all basic economics. But we have to have the intellectual integrity to put our political biases aside and look at the facts. This approach is why I titled my book "Evidence Based Investing" as I apply this same concept to how we allocate and reallocate capital for our clients. We do not "invest" based on what we think is going to happen or some pet project. We allocate capital based on the evidence that X is working and we remove capital from Y when it stops working. Then, rinse and repeat. #AmericanDream #AmericanHabits #EvidenceBasedInvesting https://lnkd.in/ebb55SR8

My latest article at American Habits is my first time publicly discussing my journey of sobriety. (In April, I'll be six years sober). On the surface, sobriety doesn't seem to have much to do with the American Dream as it's popularly understood. But a closer look reveals that the American Dream is about so much more than social and economic opportunity. It's about overcoming challenges (including addiction) standing in the way of becoming everything we were created to be. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to give this article some thought. Please reach out to me if you are one of the many struggling with addiction. You don't have to struggle alone. I want to be on your team. There's no one I trust more with this sensitive and personal topic than Ray Nothstine and the team at American Habits. As always, it's an honor to be a contributor. https://lnkd.in/e9Kff7qj #AmericanDream #Recovery #Purpose

Is the American dream still within reach? The new issue of American Habits explores how we can reclaim it—not just through political action, but by reviving the institutions, values, and communities that sustain it. We revisit Tim Carney's "Alienated America" to examine the decline of social capital, highlight Richard Cornuelle’s vision for a more robust civil society, and take a hard look at the future of higher education, taxes, and economic mobility. The American dream thrives where people build strong communities and embrace opportunity. This issue is a reminder of what makes that possible. ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/euUrVHMn #CivilSociety #AmericanHabits

A lot of AI policy seems to be “regulatory patchwork” this, and “over regulation” that. But what I don’t see a lot of is, “Here’s a solution to a real problem.” I hate to say it, but the impact of AI on the workforce is a real issue… at least if we don’t get our ducks in a row. That's why, after a year of working with my research fellow Pablo Garcia Quint and many others, I'm proud to announce our latest policy brief "Policy Solutions to Future-proof Workforces Against AI Displacement." In this brief, Pablo and I outline the problem at hand, then move to a few proposals we believe could mitigate the impact of AI on the workforce without creating new regulation. Above all, there's very little way to accurately predict the workers to be affected. What we ought to focus on instead is migrating workers into future-proof careers before they are displaced. That means a broad investment in human capital to give workers options, including micro-credentialing and other non-degree programs. https://lnkd.in/gHumgu6d

Good stuff from our friend Nic Horton: "There’s no such thing as free money in any level of government. It always comes from taxpayers." https://lnkd.in/eYP4xKYf

Ray Nothstine, our American Habits editor, has a new piece in National Review: "Federalism Isn’t a Partisan Fallback—It’s a Foundation" He delves into some of the cynical ways federalism is being "rediscovered" by some governors in the wake of President Trump's return—using it as a means to consolidate political power. The point is that federalism isn’t just a convenient political tool but a cornerstone of the American experiment—designed to empower states, encourage innovation, and safeguard liberty. #federalism #politics

Federalism meets Christmas films: Tony Woodlief has a top-ten list. Looking for some clear lessons and some unexpected ones in governance? Do you have your own suggestions? [Warning: Not responsible for those that are triggered by #1]

I'm thrilled to see yet another company take the plunge and offer portable benefits to independent contractors in Utah. When we first pitched around this idea of a safe harbor for portable benefits in 2022-23, based on Liya Palagashvili's important work, we knew it would be a big step in the right direction for workers. But 7% additional contributions on top of earnings? That's a major outcome for Lyft drivers! I'm looking forward to seeing more companies test out the future of worker benefits in Utah, and can't wait to help more states learn how to follow Utah's lead. Here's to John D. Johnson, PhD, Ryan D. Wilcox, and Spencer Cox for believing in the vision and putting Utah out front.