I don’t know- maybe I should make this an annual letter.

I was reading the Washington Post and discovered that Unilever is changing its policy. It will no longer be using folks to promote their products, these so-called “influencers”. First, because these influencers often pay to have folks follow them, as such improving their rating as influencers. And, secondly, many of these folks get paid to write their “celebrity” endorsements.

Unilever acceded to the belief that follower count and likes are the only thing that matters.  But, after a while, Unilever recognized that they were simply promoting influencers to pad their list- and that works to Unilever’s disadvantage.

In another article, the world’s unease with social media was described. Between fake news- and these celebrity endorsements, folks are finally recognizing they need to use primary sources to obtain the facts they need to make intelligence decisions. (Admittedly, some folks only want to get ‘facts’ that back their pre-ordained beliefs, even if they are incorrect. But, I won’t address that issue.)

So, here’s my point today.

I don’t pay anyone to read my blog. But, I’m honored as each and every one of you do so. My bargain with you- my promise- is to provide you valuable information that can entertain, data to help your grow your business, facts to help you determine the lowest amount of taxes you need to pay by law, or ideas that are changing the world.

I’m still excited every single day, as I watch notice for the hundreds of new subscribers that receive the blog each day. (As a matter of fact, over the past two weeks when my computer was in for repair, it was even more noticeable. Because the “rules” that moved suscriber signups to a specific folder were not operational- and my inbox was filling up rapidly with new subscribers.) It’s why I work hard (my blogs take about 5 hours a week to prepare) to bring my posts to you.

I will provide you facts. I will also provide you my opinions- and those opinions are not masked- I denote them clearly each and every time I make them. Like last week, when I wouldn’t shrink from making it clear that the GOP changed the SALT (state and local tax) deductions to harm the residents of those states that don’t vote their way. Despite the fact that the GOP states are the ones that  take more money from the Feds than they pay into the treasury. You see, it’s the Democratic leaning states, with their higher state taxes (yeah- to provide the education, roads, and services we all want to have), whose residents also pay far more into the treasury than they receive in benefits.

I also won’t sell your names to anyone. And, I promise that I won’t be sending you lots of email. Maybe, once or twice a year, when I consolidate a bunch of blogs into a great booklet- I’ll let you know. And, because you are subscribers, you’ll get that sort of stuff for free.  Or, when I have a new book for sale- I might offer you the galleys for free.

These are the ways I thank you for being my loyal subscribers.

Thanks- from the bottom, the middle, and the top of my heart.

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