Ways & Memes

Will Donald Trump be the GOP nominee in 2024? Will Joe Biden step aside to make way for another Democrat? Where do Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, RFK Jr., and other miscellaneous candidates fall into the picture? If Biden bows out, will Gavin Newsom outmaneuver Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination? In the latest episode of Ways & Memes, we analyze all these questions and more, providing a comprehensive view into the state of the race and a brief overview of every 2024 candidate you've heard of -- and likely a few you haven't.

The two-party system may be all Americans know, but such political duopolies are actually quite rare on the world stage. In this episode, we explore one-, two- and multi-party political systems and the factors that influence the type of party system a given country is likely to develop. We examine the pros and cons of the two-party system, its effect on the broader political system enshrined in the US Constitution, and whether it's worthwhile to vote for third-party candidates. Additionally, we explain and discuss potential alternatives to the two-party system, including parliamentary governments, multi-member districts, and ranked-choice voting.

Does gambling have a place in the stock market? Is the popular trading app Robinhood turning Wall Street into one big casino? Are legendary value investors Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger justified in criticizing Robinhood for allegedly encouraging gambling in securities? And what's the difference between gambling and investing anyway? In this thought-provoking episode of Ways & Memes, we discuss these questions and more, challenge conventional wisdom, and reach conclusions that are as unimpeachable as they are provocative. Gear up for a wild ride through the controversies plaguing Robinhood and 21st century stock-trading more generally, and prepare to examine in an objective light issues that only ever seem to be discussed in a biased context.

Why does the Ways & Memes podcast exist? What is it about? We explore these questions and more in the second episode of the show, The Ways and The Memes. We discuss how the tone of this show is intended to be optimistic yet realistic, serious yet light-hearted, and means yet memes. This 13-minute introductory mini-episode explores more of the ways and more of the memes and more of everything in between.

The US stock market has achieved exponential growth over the past two centuries, and most assume that this incredible growth will continue forever. Many Americans even bet their retirements and long-term financial wellbeing on that proposition. However, it is not at all clear that the US and other developed countries can sustain in the future the growth rates they have achieved in the past. In this inaugural episode of Ways & Memes, we explore the reasons US stock performance could stall out and what investors can do about it. In particular, we examine the country of Indonesia, its economy, its political system, and the long-term growth prospects of its stock market.