Justin RootofGood, Worker Emeritus

Growing your wealth may require a bit of struggle and sacrifice at times. It might even be a grind! You know what's even more of a grind? Being poor forever.

@RickMcGinley I guess $30 gas but motorbike only needs a gallon or 2? Not sure if Thailand taxes as heavy as eurozone

@RootofGoodBlog That is crazy. Meanwhile in Thailand, a gazillion motorbikes zip by seemingly not caring about anything gas price related. The traffic today on main streets was one of those omg crazy days. It sure why but these days seem to happen one random day a week.

Amazed at the gas prices here in Greece. Don't know how the common people do it. Gas is $9.25/gallon (USD), and adjusting for the disparity in income levels that's like $30/gallon USD in Greece. Imagine spending the equivalent of $250-300 to fill up your compact car.

@SecScottBessent @FT That's a lot of words and I'm not gonna read it but can you make my stocks go back up please

By publishing this explicitly false story, the @FT has officially become tabloid trash for market participants. Despite my direct, on-the-record denial of ever having advocated, explored, or espoused the idea that Chancellor-Bank of England statute serving as a prototype for a Treasury-Federal Reserve relationship, FT journalists manufactured a story with the headline, “Scott Bessent praised Bank of England as model for tighter oversight of the Federal Reserve.” These pathetic journalists have clearly fabricated a story to give the impression that both I and the Trump Administration are setting “about restructuring the relationship… at a time when President Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented assault on the world’s most important central bank.” Their mendacious assertion is based on vague statements from unnamed “financial industry executives familiar with the matter.” In short, FT has literally manufactured an entirely fake policy position for me and the Administration. Other than furthering a maliciously false narrative of dysfunction and divisiveness, it baffles the mind as to why they would shred their already diminished journalistic credibility. Over the past 10 years, I have written more than 20,000 words opining on the Federal Reserve decisions, personnel, structure, and modifications. Nowhere have I ever mentioned this ridiculous notion. The Governor’s letters to the Chancellor have proven to be a useless and perfunctory device. There is much to be said about the storied Bank of England, but any recreation of its operating framework on this side of the Atlantic has never been contemplated. The shameful journalists and editors at the FT are shocking in their meretriciousness, lack of standards, and general intellectual libertinism. It is the worst tradition of Fleet Street to manufacture news rather than report on it. They have brought irredeemable shame to their parent organization, Nikkei Inc., with whom I had previously held excellent relations. In 2025, I laid out a comprehensive 6,000+ word review of each and every policy reform that I believe should be adopted by the Federal Reserve. Read my actual, real thoughts on and proposals for Federal Reserve reform at the International Economy: international-economy.com/TIE_Sp25_Besse…

"So this is a 75" 4K tv? And you're telling me everyone in America has one bc they only cost one day's wages there?"

@steveonomics Asian KFC hits different

Patriot

I went to this old temple in Athens and it's totally messed up. I don't know what the big deal is

PSA: Nice cars don’t need to be expensive. Even $20,000 cars today have the same features standard that expensive luxury models had just a few years ago.

@steveonomics The replies lol. Enjoy being poors. Prius is winning of course

Canceled my Tesla order. Can’t justify $1000 a month. Prius until I hit $4m.

Nice place to stop for lunch

Are there places in the world where Uber is banned but the local taxi drivers are good, honest, and reasonably and transparently priced?

@Noahpinion Fall at number 4? We doing "unpopular opinions" post today?? Is this SF specific?

My ranking of seasons: 1. Spring 2. Winter 3. Summer 4. Fall All are good, but Spring is the most good and Fall is the least good.

Phenomenal. Also glad I took all that calculus and physics so I can read the signs here in Greece

Hanging in Santorini today

@MilesTalk @InezFeltscher I don't even remember the $90 plans. Did they mean " in the 1990s"? Iirc when I shopped policies for my kids around 2005-06 it was already $135/mo for the $5k deductible plan (in 2006 dollars)

For the kids who are too young to remember, you had a lifetime maximum of insurance. Something really catastrophic? You just ran out of coverage and died. Really. Your policy now still has a slot for lifetime max. It’s just blank until it becomes legal again. Had a pre-existing condition? Not covered. Oh and remember high risk, high premium pills? Fun times.

For the kids who are too young to remember, you used to be able to get basically full, complete coverage above a max of $5,000 (aka “catastrophic coverage”) for 90 bucks a month before Obama made it “affordable.”

@ginge650 @steveonomics I spend like a poor $100/nt Airbnb or hotel rooms, $17/day rental car, and $25 restaurant meals for the whole family. If you're not having fun at those prices then when can you ever have fun??

@RootofGoodBlog @steveonomics How would you know? 😀

50 European cities mog both.

@steveonomics 90% of Europe is still pretty fun as a poor American too! USD earnings spend nicely in Europe and they have nice castles and palaces

@RootofGoodBlog I love being a rich American in Europe.

@steveonomics So their kids can finally move out of the basement into their own homes?

Daily reminder that boomers with means should give their adult children down payments instead of buying another motorhome.

@SteveOnSpeed @ClownWorld I just keep thinking how much more the gas costs compared to my Hyundai accent.

@ClownWorld Designer handbags for men. They are only that expensive because men will pay the price for driving around a status symbol.

97k for this is absolutely ridiculous

@StIroningShirts Technically it's first world, you can drink the tap water I hear.

@RootofGoodBlog Cute little developing country

Italy. Culture with a side of sub-$100k housing