Hello August
August 6, 2020
Good Thursday Morning.
Aaaaaaaaaaaand we’re back.
Let’s hop into it, shall we? We’ve got some questions, you’ve (hopefully) got some answers. Click on the Let’s Talk button to get started.
Growing the Tinaverse
Until we can get a Tina sign for your window or front lawn or a Tina bumper sticker for your car, why don’t you share Tina with a family member or friend or that one neighbor who annoys the hell out of you.
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Results from July 31, 2020
Question 1: Should the federal government break up Facebook & Instagram and / or Google & YouTube?
The issue is not the combination of Google/YouTube or FB/instagram. It’s the data the collect on us.
It's too late to break up Facebook or Google. One would have had to prevent the acquisitions in the first place.
Question 2: Have you filed for unemployment benefits at any point during the coronavirus pandemic?
Question 3: Are you currently receiving unemployment benefits?
Of the 7.6% of the Tinaverse who reported filing for unemployment benefits at some point during the coronavirus pandemic, 28.6% of those folks are currently receiving benefits. We hope the 71.4% are healthy and happy to be back to work.
Question 4: Circulation of bills and coins has plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic, leading to shortages. At the same time, minting a penny costs the US government around 2 cents. Minting a nickel costs around 7.5 cents. Should the US Mint stop minting pennies and / or nickels?
What’s the argument for keeping coins that by definition aren’t worth making and inconvenient to use? Open to why it matters. Personally I have lived in NYC and Chi since college and I use any type of cash only a handful of times in a year! I recognize not everyone has access to bank accounts as a limiting factor but most do.
I wonder how eliminating the penny or nickel from future printings will change prices? Will bills be round up the nearest dollar? Like going to get a cup of coffee for $1.95 will now cost $2.00 because the cashier wouldn't be able to give 1 cent or 5 cents in change? Am I over thinking this? Probably.
You’re not overthinking it! Without the penny or nickel, that $1.95 cup of coffee would cost either $1.90 or $2.00.
But in 2007, Robert Whaples, an economist at Wake Forest University, published a paper finding that there would not be this “rounding tax” if the penny were eliminated. The cost savings of the rounding down of some prices (a $2.82 gallon of milk would cost $2.80) would offset the cost increases of other prices rounding up (a $2.68 loaf of bread would cost $2.70).
I'm in favor of eliminating the penny and nickel but what is my 3 year old going to throw in the fountain? Remember when you could buy a piece of bazooka gum for 5 cents...good times.
Get rid of dimes too
Question 5: On a scale of 0 (the worst) to 10 (the best), how are you doing overall?
Is there anyone who's feeling 8/10+? Would like to know their secret.
Yes! 50% of the Tinaverse checked in between 8 and 10. Tell us, folks!
Make it all the way through but forget to answer today’s questions?
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