The Dow Jones Industrial Average squeaked to a seventh straight record high on Friday, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also closed at all-time highs.
After suffering losses for most of the Friday session, the Dow and S&P 500 turned positive in the final minutes of the week.  Stock values, fueled by the “Trump Rally,” have surged since the November presidential election, gaining over 10% in value.  It has been  a remarkable run that has more than a few investors scared that the bubble may burst any minute.
Lindsey Bell, an investment strategist at CFRA Research, is quoted as saying “What makes me nervous is that it feels like the market is ignoring what could come on immigration, trade, healthcare – the negative implications that could come from a protectionist government.”
Mr. Bell’s skepticism toward this positive financial news is a vestige of the consistent pessimism that has infused the American economic mindset these past years.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just enjoy a good steak dinner every now and then without worrying about clogged arteries?

When is the last time you heard someone use the term “bigot?”

Defined as “a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices,” you would think that in today’s hostile social environment, people would be hurling the “bigot” title at each other like mashed potatoes in a food fight. But strangely, they don’t. Nobody is just a “bigot” anymore, because anybody who displays prejudice against anything or anyone is now labeled a “racist.”  It is a misuse of the term.

“Racist” is defined as “a person who shows or feels discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or who believes that a particular race is superior to another.”  Unfortunately, these days “race” is used to describe any arbitrary grouping, at the discretion of anyone with an axe to grind.  After creating a new “race,” anybody who disparages your arbitrary group can legitimately be labeled “racist.”

Have prejudice against illegal immigrants? You’re a Racist! Against people from Somalia? Racist! Against people who kneel to pray? Racist! Against liberals? Racist! Against left-handed herniated Hopi Indians? Racist!

Calling a person a racist has lost a lot of its delicious invective bite, having been effectively killed by unrestrained liberal hyperbole.  Pretty soon they will need to create a whole new term to really insult someone.

On the brighter side, “bigotry” now appears to be officially dead in America.  It’s about time.