My Learnings: #49

From a career in engineering and manufacturing, I've observed that while converting raw materials into products is grueling yet profoundly rewarding—driving national value and anchoring communities—it's overshadowed by easier paths to wealth. In a government-driven economy, proximity to the money printer yields massive advantages: recipients of fresh currency (via contracts or bailouts) buy assets before inflation erodes its value, inflating prices and enriching them passively. This Cantillon effect was stark in the 2008-2009 crisis, where TARP funds let banks scoop up depressed assets, which then soared, turning "do-nothing" strategies into genius moves and fat bonuses. Remember: those nearest the spigot thrive disproportionately. You can't change it, but understanding it empowers better decisions for yourself and your family.