How About American Interests Over Political Games for Once?

Sometimes my critiques of Democrats leave readers guessing—am I rooting for them or scolding them from a place of support? Neither. My goal is to highlight where they are going wrong, why their ideas miss the mark with the masses, and just how far off the rails their positions have become. 

Let's face it. Liberal ideology has gone off the deep end, and it's only getting stranger. Just when you think it can't, they hit you with a "hold my beer" moment. And oh, there's always more.

For me, the growing political divide today is unsettling. While clashes and disagreements have always been part of the process, we've reached a point of absolute "no compromise," and that's deeply concerning. How can we ever hope to find common ground and make progress?

Consider the Democrats' dramatic shift on border security and protectionism when Trump ran for president—positions they once championed but abandoned as soon as Trump adopted them. You'd think they could have stayed consistent on these issues, but instead they flipped entirely. Sure, many Republicans have also shifted their stance on these things, being more open to cheaper labor and free trade and globalization, but let's not forget that many Democrat voters crossed over to support Trump, likely because of these very issues.

If you've been with me for a while—and many of you have—you know where I stand. I've always supported secure borders and protectionism, even when it meant challenging my own party. To me, these are just common sense. We need strong borders, we need to protect American jobs, and we must ensure we can produce what we need for our safety and national security. I've been crystal clear on that.

This brings me back to the troubling divide we face. On secure borders and protecting American jobs, you'd think we'd finally found common ground—even unions are backing Trump's push to make more things here in the U.S. Yet, here we are, stuck in disagreement. Democrats, who rallied for these causes for decades, suddenly want no part of these issues, and we're back to square one, bickering endlessly and stalling progress.

I'm not rooting for Democrats to win. Not hardly. I disagree with over 75% of their positions. They often seem irrational, failing to think through the consequences of their actions. When they blindly push through their agenda, bad outcomes follow—that's just reality. We've seen it firsthand and lived through the fallout of their poor decision making.

I simply want a more democratic approach. When we finally agree on something, it's a rare chance to come together, hash out the details, and even celebrate the moment.

I don't believe Republicans have all the right ideas, just as I don't think Democrats have all the wrong ones. What truly serves the American people is compromise—solutions that benefit us all, not just political outcomes.

My criticism of Democrats isn't about elections or wanting them to win at the polls. It's about urging them to listen to the American people—to the majority voice that truly matters. Being misaligned on every issue feels deliberate, and if that's the case, it undermines American interests and serves no real purpose.

I'm highlighting just how disconnected Democrats are now from The People—a disconnect that hurts us and shifts the focus away from what truly matters. Hopefully, I've managed to clear the air on that. We can never expect to agree on everything. But we should be able to at least sometimes agree on something.

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© 2025 Jim Bauer

Tesla's Loss, Rivian's Gain?

Not long ago I thought that Donald Trump could present a boon for Rivian. But with all the angst against Tesla right now, my perspective on why that might be has shifted a bit—it's clear there's more at play than I initially anticipated. And frankly, who could have seen any of this coming?

Tesla is literally on fire.

That said, this isn't some seismic event, so it's not going to cause me to change my position on Rivian for the long term, nor do I think it potentially knocks Tesla out of the game. Sure, the left right now is in a tizzy over Elon Musk's presence in the White House running DOGE, but when heat gets applied to businesses, no matter who's applying the heat, it tends to be fleeting. Boycotts and protests, no matter how loud, usually fizzle out over time.

Take the Bud Light-Dylan Mulvaney controversy. It's mostly in the rearview mirror now. While some customers haven't come back, the stigma has cooled considerably. Even Kid Rock who once made headlines by shooting up a case of Bud Light, now says, "It's okay to drink Bud Light again." 

That's not to say there's no lingering impact. Yuengling, for instance, has seen a notable surge in popularity, likely fueled by those still upset with Bud Light, aiding their push into new markets.

Like some beer drinkers may have traded out of Bud Light and into Yuengling and other beers, Tesla owners are reportedly trading in their EVs at unprecedented rates—not for gas guzzlers, but for other electric vehicles from legacy automakers, and more interestingly, from startups like Rivian.

By the way, Rivian's lineup is already impressive, and with more affordable models on the horizon like the mid-size R2 SUV and the R3 crossover hatchback, they're poised to attract a whole new wave of customers.

Sooner or later, the protests targeting Elon Musk will lose momentum. But, as with the Bud Light controversy, scars may linger after the dust settles. This creates a chance for others to step in, capture interest, and expand their market share. 

As the saying goes, one man's misfortune can pave the way for another man's gain. My long-term outlook for Rivian remains unchanged, and I'm holding steady on my position. Still, it'll be worth watching to see if Rivian capitalizes on the moment while Tesla's negative hype is still buzzing.

Like the things I write about or the way I write about them? Follow me on my Facebook page to keep up with the latest writings wherever I may write them.

© 2025 Jim Bauer

You may also want to read:

Ford's Long Road: Why its Consistency Keeps me Invested
What's Next for Rivian Stock?
The Cost of Being Right
Tesla Could Become a Literal Powerhouse, But Not in the Car Market

Dollar General's Dirty Secret: It's NOT Inflation

Is Dollar General really a barometer for consumer sentiment? Sure, it's a retail giant with 20,000 stores and plenty of shoppers. But can it really pin its struggles on inflation and Trump-era tariffs?

The reality is that these stores have been virtual glorified junkyards for years. Customers might simply be fed up with navigating cluttered aisles and rummaging through disorganized piles of merchandise.

Management seems indifferent, and it shows. It's clearly a Dollar General culture, because every store looks exactly like the other. Consistency is one thing, but does every store have to look like a disaster zone? One can only assume that chaos is part of their literal brand strategy.

I mean, think about it. A brand new Dollar General opened up in our area—a fresh build from the ground up. Yet, on day one, it looked like it had always been there, neglected for decades: dirty floors, scattered products, unopened bins clogging the aisles.

It was remarkable—a deliberate effort, no doubt. This store layout screamed, loud and clear, "This is how we do things."

Beyond all of that, can anyone honestly claim Dollar General offers great prices? Sure, there are occasional deals, as with any store, but more often than not, their prices can be easily undercut on nearly every product.

If they had great deals, believe me, I'd walk out of there with bags full instead of just a couple of items. That never happens. 

Isn't the whole premise of Dollar General about saving money? In that sense, perhaps inflation does play a role. As wallets have tightened, shoppers simply become more conscious of what they are actually paying for things. Suddenly as buying power gets pushed to the brink, people walk into a Dollar General more aware than ever before and start thinking, "Wait a second—something's off."

Dollar General has been dodging accountability for years, pointing fingers instead of looking inward for solutions as customers drift away. That's part of their problem as much as anything is, really.

It makes you wonder—has the CEO ever stepped foot in one of those stores? And if he has, what's his reaction? "Fantastic work. This is exactly what customers want." Really? If Dollar General wants a turnaround, step one is simple: clean up the stores! Create a shopping experience that's pleasant, not frustrating. Do that, and maybe customers won't even mind the higher prices.

Take a page from Culver's or Chick-Fil-A, even though they operate an entirely different business. They're not the cheapest options in fast food, but they win with quality, service, and clean restaurants. It's clear they care about their business and their customer experience. Presentation matters.

I've said the same about Burger King. The issue isn't the food—it's the filthy, poorly managed restaurants that make customers cringe the moment they step inside.

If you want to win customers back, clean up your act—literally. An exciting new sandwich won't cut it if people dread walking in to get it.

This brings us back to Dollar General. The chaos isn't a fluke; it's clearly baked into their culture. How else could every single store in the chain achieve the same level of disarray? Not one manager, anywhere, thinks to break the mold?

I've joked that if I managed a Dollar General, my first move would be to clean, organize, and properly staff the store. Their first move? Fire me for breaking their "standard operating procedure."

It's not inflation, guys. Your stores are a freaking disaster!

Like the things I write about or the way I write about them? Follow me on my Facebook page to keep up with the latest writings wherever I may write them.

© 2025 Jim Bauer

You might also like:

Can Burger King Restore the Brand?

When Innovation Meets Frustration: The Downside of Kiosk Ordering at Taco Bell

Have You Ever Eaten a Tuck's Pad?

Jack-in-the-Box Goes to Pot

From Fear to Fortune: When the Markets Tumble the Last Thing to do is to Panic

Every time I share this opinion, I get a few odd looks. But, without fail, I am eventually proven right. 

The stock market has one ultimate direction, and that direction is up.

We've all been down this road before, time and time again. The stock market frequently experiences hiccups that can momentarily crash and burn our investments. However, if we are fundamentally aligned with the businesses we're invested in, these fluctuations really don't matter, because in essence that's what we're buying into: the businesses. Not the markets.

When the markets stumble, there's always a certain panic that sets in that always feels amazingly misplaced to me. Because we've encountered these kinds of markets so many times before. It's really nothing new. Yes, it initially hurts to see our portfolio values diminish. Hey, we're human. It's going to give us pause. It might even prompt us to make some adjustments—not necessarily to our portfolios, but to our plans around them, such as holding off on certain expenditures. It may delay profit-taking or alter trades we may have had in mind.

Ultimately, however, nothing truly changes except the current bottom line. That, and something we tend to miss. Opportunity.

I've made the most money when the markets fall. In fact, it's during these downturns that many investors see their greatest profits. Those who know well enough to ride out these events and seize the opportunity to invest more in strong businesses generally come out significantly ahead in the long run because, as some say, everything goes on sale.

That's not to say that these market conditions won't have a short-term impact on businesses. But that's the key term here: short-term. When the economy pulls back or potential job losses follow, especially during inflationary times or a recession, it's natural for businesses to feel some near-term pressure on their bottom lines.

However, economies eventually stabilize and return to normal. That's when the markets, after having bottomed out, not only recover but often surpass previous highs before the next downturn occurs.

It's the reaction to these events that prompts me to write about this nearly every time it happens. The selloffs and the doomsayers running around proclaiming that the sky is falling.

The bottom line is that you don't actually lose any money if you don't sell. If the underlying business you own is fundamentally sound with a strong future despite current market or economic conditions, it will survive the crunch and there's no reason to sell.

Granted, I want to be careful not to make this all a blanket statement. It depends on what you are invested in. Some businesses may struggle more depending on the nature of their business, and in those cases, it may be worth considering taking some of the pain and cutting your losses.

But for most businesses, this isn't the case and never has been. Take companies like Coca-Cola, which has been around for over a century. How many times has it endured devastating blows to its stock value? How many times has it navigated through tough economic times, through recessions and even a Great Depression? Is Coca-Cola any less valuable an investment now than it ever was before? 

No, not at all.

In markets like this I refuse to buy—or should I say sell?—into the panic. It's not something I will ignore, mind you. I will simply work smarter to make informed choices, identifying the businesses I own that present the best opportunities for my portfolio once the dust settles.

Just look back at where the markets have been and where they are now—it's all you need to know. In 2008 and 2009, the DOW peaked around 13,000, lost over 50% of its value, dropping into the 6,000s. Today it's in the 40,000s. Even if it dips into the 30,000s, it's safe to say that ten years from now, we will likely see the DOW in the 50,000s and 60,000s.

Downturns like this simply offer a premium on top of future profits. That's really the main takeaway here and missing that point will also leave countless thousands of dollars either sitting on the table or lost forever.

Like the things I write about or the way I write about them? Follow me on my Facebook page to keep up with the latest writings wherever I may write them. You can also follow me on X at @jimbauer601.

© 2025 Jim Bauer

Who Let the Kids into the Chambers?

There are many times I find myself wondering if Democrats really behave like children as much as I think. I want badly to believe the answer is no. This simply can't be. They just disagree, right? Yet, their antics seem to confirm time and time again for me that they are actually just like children.

Remember Maxine Waters during Trump's first term out there chanting, "Impeach 45," like a schoolgirl denied her playtime, wanting to bring down the "evil teacher" who took it away? And what about Schumer going out recently trying to rally the crowd chanting, "We will win! We will win!" clearly oblivious to the reality that his team already had their shot, and they lost the game in a literal shellacking.

The Democrats just aren't getting the memo. Their playbook failed, yet they're still clinging to it like it's a guaranteed winning strategy.

Then we have the president's speech to the joint sessions of Congress. It was like watching a bunch of pouty, spoiled brats being defiant simply because they aren't getting their way. They wouldn't clap or stand for anything, not even for the families of slain victims or a little boy with a brain tumor being honorarily accepted into the Secret Service to fulfill a lifelong dream.

And what was with their corny circular signs on sticks that read, "Save Medicaid," as if Trump has done anything to take down Medicaid, or the words "False," and "Musk steals," or whatever other corny message they held up while moaning and groaning and shifting uncomfortably in their seats—seemingly being pelted by taser darts as Trump stood at the podium talking about American greatness, power to the people, and the Golden Age of America. He spoke directly to the American people on the issues they elected him to the White House to address, reaffirming law and order, common sense principles, and values, and it was literally driving them bonkers.

"No, no, no! This goes against everything we stand for. America is a horrible, hateful country! How dare you speak of it in such grand terms!"

The funny thing is this was a coordinated effort. It took time to plan. They must have held a special meeting to discuss their intended actions, and someone, of course, had to coordinate having those signs printed.

Why not spend their time figuring out why they lost the election and understanding why Trump is so popular? Or better yet why not start actually listening to the American people?

I mean, is it a stretch anymore to suggest that Democrats have no other purpose, and no other interest except to oppose Trump? That's their entire platform literally reduced down to one sentence. Do they really believe this behavior will win over the hearts and minds of the people they need to elect them? Those signs and their attitudes were essentially the same as waving a middle finger in the air at the American people at large.

It's absolutely gating to them to see unity. It's grating to them to hear the country being talked about in terms of strength and common sense. "My God," they seem to be saying in shocked incredulity. "Is he actually talking about one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all?"

Because that's just not the world the Democrats want. They want everything to hurt. They want everyone to hate each other. They want suffering and pain to be felt economically and socially, and they want everyone to be a victim of something. Moreover, they want everyone to hate the core values of our founding fathers, because only through that kind of hatred can you fundamentally change what America is.

They've lost this fight, and their opportunity is slipping away, and they simply can't handle it. Just like children, they are having a temper tantrum and putting it on full display for everyone to see. I think most people are seeing the same thing I am seeing: their childlike behavior and how ridiculous it looks to anyone really paying attention.

It's not a winning strategy for them, and frankly, it's not a winning strategy for America either. Luckily, they are in the minority, and so long as they continue to act this way, ignoring the will of The People, and defying common sense, in the minority they shall remain, and probably in a growing way.

The jig is up, kids.

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© 2025 Jim Bauer