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Jim Blasingame

Business futurist, award-winning author, speaker and columnist

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Government / Politics

What’s good for small business is good for the world

October 14, 2018 by Jim Blasingame

Americans are afforded a privilege which, while not rare, is certainly unavailable to billions of other Earthlings: We’re allowed to vote for those who represent us in government.

The words “privilege” and “allowed” are used with a purpose: The U.S. Constitution gives Americans the right to vote, but does not require us to do so. If voting were a legal requirement, in the 2000 election 100 million Americans could have been arrested, as pundits lamented the “Vanishing Voter” phenomenon.

But by the 2016 election, voter turnout had transmogrified from apathy to engagement with a record number of ballots cast – 137.5 million. Indeed, we’re experiencing one of the most promising phenomena of the current age: increasing fervor and investment of the American electorate in the political process.

Nothing bad happens when Americans get fired up about the political process, regardless of whether a voter spins to the left or the right or marks time in the middle, because taking a political position typically manifests in a more knowledgeable voter. And the best way for America’s challenges to be addressed is for those same voters to require political representatives to stand up and serve with leadership, rather than slouch with the self-anointed political class.

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Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Government / Politics

Jim Blasingame’s 2018 Crystal Ball Predictions

January 7, 2018 by Jim Blasingame

Here are my 2018 predictions. My 18-year accuracy is 73%. 

Tech Stuff

1. Remember this prediction I made in 2016? “Expect to hear more about blockchain technology, disconnected from Bitcoin.” As a technology platform, blockchain stops being a novelty in 2018.

2. Multi-year prediction: Blockchain, and variations on the theme, will be the next Internet-class disruption, except it will be a much greater one. You’ve been warned.

3. Crypto-currency (Bitcoin is just one of many) is the money of the future, but the future isn’t here yet. As long as there’s high speculation in a currency – crypto or otherwise – it won’t be a dependable, stable store of value (see Tulipomania).

4. You’ll become increasingly aware of a new concept – digital ethics – as you discover that by using apps, games, social media, virtual/augmented reality, digital assistants, etc., you and your online behavior, are in fact, the product being sold.

5. One positive result of the above prediction will be your increased scrutiny of how Big Corporations employ digital leverage -artificial intelligence, Big Data, etc. – regarding manipulation, privacy and security.

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Filed Under: Government / Politics, National and Global Economy, Technology / General

The good, the bad and the ugly of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

January 2, 2018 by Jim Blasingame

This is my third column (Apr/Oct) on tax reform in 2017. The first two warned about how small businesses might be treated badly. I was right.

This analysis of the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) primarily concerns all businesses and how they might use tax savings in the economy. But first, some perspective.

There are three groups vying for tax cuts: large businesses (corporate America), small businesses (pass-through entities) and individuals, who usually spend their tax cuts. 

Businesses have a threefold impact by spending, investing and creating jobs. For small businesses, it’s an article of faith that they reinvest any cash from a tax cut back into their business. Everybody knows that. Nothing new here. 

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Filed Under: Finance / Accounting / Taxes, Government / Politics

Jim Blasingame’s 2017 predictions reconciled

December 17, 2017 by Jim Blasingame

1. The U.S. economy will expand at 3% GDP growth. Actual: 2.75% annual GDP. The last three quarters over 3% couldn’t cover 1.2% in Q1.  -1

2. Eight years of record regulation growth will reverse in 2017. Actual: Trump’s 2 for 1 regulatory order resulted in essentially no new regs in 2017 (CEI). +1

3. The NFIB Index will report small business optimism increasing for the first time in eight years. Actual: The Index set 44-year optimism records all year. +1

4. After eight years of deleveraging, small business profitability will increase.  Actual:  NFIB reports dramatic 2017 profits growth.  +1

5. For the first time in eight years, small business borrowing will increase.  Actual: Up, but only slightly (ICBA). +1

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Filed Under: Government / Politics, National and Global Economy

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