Equities, Voting, Childcare
Since WWII, the average correction for the S&P 500 lasts 4 months and sees equities slide 13%. The average loss for a bear market is 30.4% and lasts 13 months. CNBC, October 26, 2018
Over the past 20 years, there have been more than a dozen local and state elections in the United States that either were decided by a single vote or ended in a tie. NPR.org
“If voting made any difference, they wouldn’t let us do it.” Mark Twain
The average monthly cost for U.S. childcare now sits at $1,385- inching closer to the country’s median rent of about $1,500. BNNBloomberg, August 29, 2018
One sector of manufacturing where America remains a leader: computer chips. The U.S. exports $44 billion in semiconductors annually, making them America’s fourth-largest manufacturing export after cars, airplanes, and refined oil. There are roughly 80 wafer-fabrication plants in the U.S. in 19 states. Axios, September 5, 2018
Big box stores argue, because of the retail downturn, their properties should be assessed as if they were empty. If the towns don’t comply, the companies sue, creating expensive legal fees for the towns and communities. In Michigan, $75 million was lost in tax revenue between 2013 and 2015, Indiana has $3.5 billion on the line, and Texas could lose $2.6 billion per year if successful appeals become the norm. Numlock News, November 16, 2018
“The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and try to put things in it.” Terry Pratchett
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