A well-known fact: Inflation was low while Trump was president. A lesser-known fact: Inflation was lower while Obama was president.

A wise person said: “He uses statistics as a drunken man uses a lamppost—for support rather than illumination.”

We are selling the house we have lived in for forty-seven years. We will pay a capital gains tax because the house has appreciated considerably in monetary value. That has me thinking about yet another tax advantage for those who have always had money. Imagine two people buying the same house for the same price. They improve the house in exactly the same way. They sell the house for the same price. They will both have to pay a capital gains tax on the amount they sold the house for minus the house’s base. That base will primarily consist of the price they paid for the property plus the capital they have put into the house. But one of them only had barely enough money to carry the house while he owned it so he did the work himself for every improvement. The other owner was always well-to-do and hired other people to make the improvements. The first owner’s sweat equity does not count as a capital expenditure for the capital gains tax. The other owner’s payment to construction companies and the like is a capital expenditure. Thus, when selling, the rich guy has a higher base for his house and pays a lower capital gains tax than the other person.

Political ads and stories predominantly on conservative outlets highlight murders and assaults committed by “illegal aliens.” Of course, such crimes happen and can be horrific. However, numerous studies have shown that illegal immigrants commit murder at a lower rate than native-born Americans and that legal immigrants are convicted of murder at much lower rates than the native born or illegals. You want a safer country? Deport those who were born here.

I wrote a few posts ago that I face-planted myself on a golf course and how I responded facetiously when I was asked about the noticeable face discolorations. I said that I needed more replies. Some more possibilities: “I forgot how strong the spouse is.” “Do you want my version or the truth?” “In today’s world, it is never too early to get ready for Halloween.” “I did not know that golf was a blood sport.”

Among the unwanted consequences of the face-planting is that people tell me about their falls. I only say something about my mishap if I am asked what happened. Otherwise I keep it to myself. Many, however, who have, like me, literally fallen on their faces, figuratively fall on their faces when they hit the five-minute self-involved narration point, having felt, for reasons not apparent to me, compelled to share their face-plant experience with me and anyone else who is listening.