“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.” – Ayn Rand
The man pictured above was Ralph Edwards, the first host of Truth or Consequences—a popular television game show that ran from 1950-1988. The title is a reminder that—while people will believe anything—when beliefs don’t match reality there are usually consequences. Last year, many Democrats were shocked, shocked to discover that the horse they’d been riding in the race for president was a better candidate for the glue factory than four more times around the track. Consequently, they lost the election to the 21st century’s P.T. Barnum and his delusional promises show. Please encourage your Congressional representatives to read the Constitution and reclaim their powers. Ours is no country for old men and their vanities.
Claire Lehmann of The Dispatch writes: ‘We live in a post-literate age, where people form their opinions based on video snippets and risible social media posts. It’s easy to think the other side is idiotic, venal, or demonic if your only source of information is people who have a vested interest in you thinking that.’ Knowing the score matters. But in today’s world, where to look? Some considerations:
Social Media – The land of lost time; herein lies the realm of trolls and misinformation. Like measles, bad stuff can quickly and innocently spread from friend to friend. Trust if you must but verify.
Politicians – Public personas don’t always match private agendas; the lust for power, fame, and fortune will make anyone say and do anything. Doubt and verify.
Partisan News Outlets – Beware the cheerleaders who make a living by twisting and shouting to keep the fans happy. Sis-boom-bah, VER-IF-Y.
Veritas – Roman goddess of truth
Traditional Media – The press is often called ‘lamestream media’ and ‘fake news’ (by those caught doing or saying things they probably shouldn’t be doing or saying). And yes, many news services dropped the ball on the Biden scandal. But consider this: mainstream media is no monolith but rather a collection of constantly competing entities staffed with professionals—much like the 30 teams in Major League Baseball—and winning depends on getting things right. Major-league media serves an important role in speaking truth to power and remains the go-to venue when important people have important things to say. Just diversify your teams and work around the bias (here).
The Dispatch – This is by far my favorite online publication for in-depth perspectives on a variety of issues. Commentators Kevin D. Williamson, Jonah Goldberg, and Nick Catoggio are unmatched in their encyclopedic knowledge and journalistic flair. Website is here.
Markets – Markets for stocks, bonds, currencies, and gold are daily voting machines that cannot be fired, arrested, defunded, or deported. As seen with the recent ‘Liberation Day’ executive order on tariffs, markets will quickly tell you when things are going astray.
Artificial Intelligence – Last but not least, try perplexity.ai. As with markets, this AI search engine cannot be bullied. Even better, is it not influenced by human emotions or biases. For a test drive, just click here and enter these intriguing questions:
• Has (enter a favorite news source) ever lied?
• How many US elections have been stolen?
• Is climate change man-made?
Whether managing investments or making one’s way in the world, the truth is always there … as are the consequences of not finding it.
Copyright © 2025 - Any opinions are those of James Aldendifer and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. The information contained in this report does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of the strategy selected. Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize, or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website’s users and/or members.
