Just got finished reading them, very entertaining and enlightening.

For some, I often think of the old phrase that I like to tease certain of my friends with: "My friend, John, often wrong, never in doubt!"

I have been reading GWR's thoughts on economics and politics for many years now. He makes cogent arguments and very good observations, and I disagree with only a few of his points, and those disagreements come more from emotion and an overall sense of people (which is quite different than his), rather than from the logical portion of my brain. One thing is unassailable, he has been consistent over the years and much of what he said (predicted) 8-10 years ago is evolving at an ever increasing rate.

More than anything else in the US, I feel that the work ethic that this country enjoyed for decades upon decades is in radical remission. The feeling that there should be a certain, fair and equitable value put on one's work has been horribly warped among the high earners. For too many of the habitually poor, under-educated, or unambitious (for whatever reason), the ethic of the free ride has become prominent.

One of the main tenets of our criminal justice system is that it is better to let 10 guilty men go free, than to incarcerate along with them, one innocent person. Our social programs seem now to mirror that philosophy. Better to give aid to 10 undeserving people, than to allow one deserving individual to go without help. Those with agendas for election and those with poor work ethics are unable or unwilling to even attempt to eliminate the rampant abuse of our social largess.

The ubiquitous use of blackberry's I-phones and the like, much of which if for frivolous purposes, including my checking stock prices 15 minutes before the close while I'm at lunch (West coast time zone) with friends (about the only time I use the darn thing, thank goodness I'm not addicted!!) is not good. Curiosity is good, but it does not trump good manners and just because my lunch buddies are checking one thing or another, does not fully excuse me - we're all bad actors to some extent in that regard.

What is not clear to me is whether we have passed the point of no return. Unlike many of you, I don't think it's all going to tumble down in the next few months or even years, but, as Bob Dylan said, "the times they are a changin."