Picto Diary - 20, 21, 22 August 2022 - Hoover Retreat , Jackson Hole

Above: Steve Taylor and Harriet Hageman, Park Meadows Country Club, Park City, UT 20 August 2022.

Harriet Hageman is the DJT endorsed Republican nominee for Wyoming's sole seat in the US House of Representatives. Day before yesterday I received a call from Harriet Hageman's office asking if I could set up a lunch for her today in Park City. Harriet Hagaman had spoken via Zoom to La Societe Deux Magots (LSDM) a year ago (Hat tip: Daggett) and I had attended a campaign event for her at the home of Peter Thiel in Miami Beach in January of this year (2022).

Ten Park City resident leaning conservatives attended the luncheon of this soon to be rock star congressman now a national figure due to her primary victory over Wyoming congressman incumbent, Liz Cheney. With little Democrat opposition in Wyoming, Harriet Hageman is seen to be a shoo in for election to the US House of Representatives in November 2022.

Harriet told the luncheon invitees that earlier in the day she had attended a workshop for high profile Republican congressmen hosted by Ted Cruz, Senator (R) Texas, at Stein Eriksen Lodge.

All luncheon participants engaged in Q and A with Harriet. I asked her what could be done to restore Americans' trust in their public institutions. I noted specifically the shocking failures of the DOJ, FBI, CDC and the Federal Reserve. She replied, without missing a beat, "Cut the funding of those institutions by half." I'm in.

Above: Sacrament Meeting, LDS Park City Ward, 21 August 2022.

I accompanied on the organ: 147, Sweet is the Work; 184, Upon the Cross of Calvary; 249, Called to Serve; 165, Abide with Me. Friend Kathy, also an organist, and of a certain age, came up to me after and complimented me on my playing. We ruminated together about why there didn't seem to be any younger organists in the ward pipeline.

Image shows speaker, a young woman returned from Georgia/Armenia Mission. Her overarching message was that her work was hard, but it was all worth it. Nothing of value comes for free. I marveled at the obscure location where she was stationed. Georgia and Armenia are both Christian dominated countries where the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Orthodox Church are, respectively, the dominant religious traditions. The Armenian Orthodox Church dates back to the Eleventh Century. I remember discussing with Armenian locals about whether Armenia was in Asia or in Europe. The Caucasus area, bordering the Caspian Sea, is a bridge between the two continents.

In 2014, over a three-week period, I motorcycled through northeastern Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Chechnya, and South Ossetia. During my three days in Armenia, I visited several Armenian Orthodox Churches, one dating to the fifteenth century. The young woman speaker noted that LDS congregations in the Caucuses area were small, but devoted. "It is hard to leave your religious tradition in Georgia, where members risk being rejected by their family members and friends," the speaker noted. It is impressive to see devoted young people who sacrifice for up to two years for a cause in which they believe. Too many young people these days seem to be adrift, living without purpose.

I gave the young woman my card after telling her about my motorcycle tour through the Caucasus area. I told her to email me, and I'd send her a link to an account of my trip.

Above: Rute, Kilimanjaro, Freddie. Emily Stevens Park, Jackson Hole, WY. 22 August 2022.

Deux Magots Walkers.

Kilimanjaro one of the great travelers. Looking at India wildlife tour next.

Above: Jackson Hole, Alpine Village, Jackson Hole, WY. 22 August 2022.

Breakfast, Four Seasons Hotel. TIMDT, Freddie, and Mwah (Sic) spent the night in the Sprinter, Virginian RV Park, Jackson Hole.

From the trailer park to The Four Seasons. Poof.

Above: Stephen Kotkin, Senior Fellow Hoover Institution (file image). 22 August 2022.

Speaker at Hoover Institution Retreat, Jackson Hole, WY. 22 August 2022.

Main takeaways re China:

1. Huge demographic problem. Population already on the decline.

2. Victim Middle Income Trap. No country has ever moved to high income, developed country with only a 35% high school graduation rate. They can build schools, but they can't find teachers.

3. China's growth to date has been investment driven. No country has ever moved to high income, developed country without creating a consumption driven economy.

Above: John Cochrane, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution (file image). 22 August 2022.

Speaker at Hoover Institution Retreat, Jackson Hole, WY. 22 August 2022.

Main takeaways on Inflation:

1. Fiscal blowout causes one-time inflation.
2. Does Fed inaction make inflation worse? Maybe. Maybe not.
3. Monetary policy needs fiscal support.
4. Long term fiscal situation means the next shock will likely come with even more inflation.

Addendum:

I am a great Hemingway fan. He finished Farewell To Arms near my place in Wy. Spent a lot of time in Montana, including a Billings hospital after rolling his car on a booze run. After your place, and Boise, my target is a bar he was in near Missoula, in Bonner, where he fished. I've read all he wrote, and much about him. I didn't "get" him when I had to first read his Old Man book in high school..."got" him in my late 60s. He was a great trout fisherman in Montana and the area around my place, The Jumping Fish Adventure Resort.

Dr. G, getting Hemingway in my Golden Years

Crow Agency, Montana

PS: I ran four mornings with the bulls, fell once. That was great youthful fun, but Hemingway may have had more insight, sitting on the veranda swilling. I ran scared, and hungover.

Thanks for this Steve. I remember you coming to the house and the ‘are we having fish??’ tale!

Are We Having Fish,

Devon, England

Sure looks like a nice way to spend some time and enjoy life