I asked ChatGPT: The Income Tax Credit (ITC) allows those earning less than a specific income level from working to get a refund. Could this distort the incentives to get back to work? ChatGPT answered: "The Income Tax Credit (ITC), commonly referred to as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in the United States, is indeed designed to provide financial assistance to low-to-moderate-income individuals and families. It is structured as a refundable tax credit, meaning that if the credit amount exceeds the tax liability, the taxpayer receives the excess as a refund. While the ITC aims to allev ..read more

From Alexander Solzhenitsyn's Commencement Address, at Harvard University, on June 8, 1978 titled “A World Split Apart”, I here extract “Well-Being":  “When the modern Western states were being formed, it was proclaimed as a principle that governments are meant to serve man and that man lives in order to be free and pursue happiness. (See, for example, the American Declaration of Independence.) Now at last during past decades technical and social progress has permitted the realization of such aspirations: the welfare state. Every citizen has been granted the desired freedom and material ..read more

I asked ChatGPT If I want to invite some of my friends to a dialogue with you about an issue of our interest, could that be handled and would you be able to keep our comments apart, so as e.g., record who opines what? ChatGPT answered "I can certainly engage in a dialogue with multiple participants, but please note that I don't have the ability to store personal data or remember past interactions. Each conversation with me is stateless, meaning I don't retain information about users or previous discussions. If you and your friends engage in a conversation with me, I won't be able to track ..read more

I asked ChatGPT "If you are supplied real time stock market information, would you be able to pick out the best shares for me to invest in?" ChatGPT answered "I can provide general information and insights based on historical data and market trends up to my last update in January 2022. However, I don't have real-time capabilities or the ability to access current market data. Investing in the stock market involves risks, and it's essential to conduct thorough research or consult with a financial professional before making any investment decisions. For real-time stock market information and ..read more

I asked ChatGPT: The Consumer Price Index, CPI, is calculated based on actual consumptions. Should it not consider the goods and services consumers no longer afford to buy as their prices have gone up too much for diminished budgets? ChatGPT answered: "The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure that examines the average change in prices paid by consumers for goods and services over time. While it reflects the cost of a basket of goods and services typically consumed by households, it does have limitations, and your concern about affordability is valid. The CPI is designed to capture the a ..read more

I asked ChatGPT: Has the use of social media put narcissism on steroids, causing more a more people to do whatever they can, no matter how outrageous, so as to have their fleeting moment in the sun, one they can later Facebook – TikTok, or otherwise post? ChatGPT answered: "The relationship between social media and narcissism is a complex and debated topic. While it's true that social media platforms provide individuals with a platform to showcase their lives, achievements, and opinions, it's important to avoid making broad generalizations about the impact on narcissism. Research on this s ..read more

I asked ChatGPT: "Please answer each of these question in 200 words Why are some so extremely in favor of a total right to own guns? Why are some so extremely in favor of prohibiting owning guns?" What could be an acceptable compromise capable of reducing polarization? ChatGPT answered: "Some individuals staunchly support a total right to own guns due to various reasons, often rooted in their interpretation of constitutional rights, particularly the Second Amendment in the United States. Advocates argue that gun ownership is a fundamental individual right that provides for self-defense and ..read more

Sir, I refer to “She just turned 16. The war in Ukraine wrecked her childhood” By Lizzie Johnson and Kamila Hrabchuk, Washington Post January 11, 2024. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, in his Commencement Address given at Harvard University June 8, 1978 titled “A World Split Apart”, wrote: “Well-Being: One psychological detail has been overlooked: The constant desire to have still more things and a still better life and the struggle to this end imprint many Western faces with worry and even depression, though it is customary to carefully conceal such feelings. The individual’s independence from many ..read more

I asked ChatGPT: “Please answer each of these question in 200 words Why are some so extremely in favor of a total right of freedom for women to abort? Why are some “Pro-Life” so extremely in favor of prohibiting all abortion? What could be an acceptable compromise capable of reducing polarization?” ChatGPT answered: "The advocacy for total freedom in women's abortion rights often stems from a commitment to women's autonomy and bodily autonomy. Proponents argue that a woman should have the right to make decisions about her own body, including whether or not to continue a pregnancy. They emph ..read more

1988, with Basel I, a Global Statist Revolution was launched. It was not to be acknowledged, much less televised. Here's a very brief but yet 99% description of it: It imposed risk weighted bank capital/equity requirements explained by the following decreed weights: Central government debt: 0%  Residential montages: 50% Loans to e.g., small businesses and entrepreneurs: 100% With the basic 8% capital requirement imposed, that translated into following capital/equity requirements: Central government debt: 0%  Residential montages: 4% Loans to e.g., small businesses and entrepreneur ..read more