John Wasik
(He/Him)
As seen in:
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Medium,
MSN,
MSN UK,
The New York Times,
Reuters,
The Economic Times,
The Wall Street Journal,
Yahoo News,
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and
Covers:
environment, aging, retirement, urban planning and healthy engaged living
Doesn't Cover:
fashion, celebrities, personal finance
I'm a writer, speaker and journalist. My 19th book is "Lincolnomics." www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08MQTHLVP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i7
Articles by John Wasik
The Data Lords Are Taxing Our Water and Power to Build Their Castles | Common Dreams
Data centers are the modern equivalent of feudal castles. They dominate the landscape, consume resources, and aggregate power. Unlike medieval barons, though, today’s data dukes don’t live in their castles. Their “court” is in Washington and Silicon Valley, but they expect their local vassals to pay tribute through higher utility rates, water, and electricity consumption. A data center complex is being built near my home. I feel like my village is being colonized.
John F. Wasik
America is barreling towards authoritarianism at such a breakneck pace that it should alarm every single one of us. But instead of meeting this moment with courage and integrity, the corporate media has utterly capitulated, stuffing money in Trump's pockets, spiking stories that might offend the regime, and firing journalists who refuse to go along and get along. That is not journalism. That’s complicity.
Plant People
Fact checked by Jim Lacy I was managing my dad’s memory care when I often wondered if more time outdoors would have helped him. Because he spent most of his time in a wheelchair or bed, he developed painful bed sores that required constant attention from his hospice nurses. Fentanyl patches helped manage his pain, but they couldn’t replace the healing power of fresh air and sunlight.
'Agrihoods' Bring Housing and Agriculture Together
Agrihoods have emerged as not only health-centered places to live and retire, they address some pressing climate-related and food production issues My family and I have been spoiled living in one of the country's first "agrihoods," which was originally billed as a "conservation" community in the mid-1990s. Prairie Crossing features nearly 700 acres of farmland, open space, pasture and almost 400 homes and condos. We moved there in 1999 to raise our two daughters.
Green Travel in Retirement
6 ways to lower your carbon footprint in retirement and still travel Fact checked by Katie Scarlett Brandt It’s still summer, and you need a respite. But is it possible to travel in a way that helps the earth? First, let’s do a reality check: 2024 was the hottest year on record, and rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide are likely contributing to more catastrophic wildfires, floods, tornadoes, and droughts.
Chicago could become a green housing powerhouse, Chicago's Next Voices columnist writes
When I first encountered green affordable housing in Chicago, it was in an unexpected neighborhood at an inopportune time for the American housing market. It was in 2007, when the U.S. housing bubble was about to burst. The place was South Chicago, a once-thriving community anchored by steel mills, which were close to closing.
On the 'Quest for a Moral Life'
A new book by David Brooks explores the fact that when children move out and the career winds down, some people look to retire but others seek ways to ‘give back’ More than a decade ago, New York Times columnist and author David Brooks said he "hit a valley." Facing a divorce with his children in college, he was concerned he was "the guy nobody confided in.
How Urban Farms Are the Future: Lake County is Leading the Way
By John F. Wasik In Lake County, you don’t have to go far to see tight rows of corn or soybeans in the growing season. Although this is a traditional picture of modern agriculture, it’s being challenged by climate change. Intense storms and flooding are undermining agriculture in a profound and disturbing way. In an era of global warming, vast amounts of topsoil and agricultural chemicals are being washed into our watersheds (and oceans) or turned into dust.
John Maynard Keynes as an Investor: Timeless Lessons and Principles
As an active investor, I am always searching for guideposts that would help me avoid the perennial mistakes most investors make. How do I avoid buying at the top of a market or jumping out when my entire portfolio gets whacked? How do I keep the faith when there’s turmoil aplenty, as was the case in 2008? How important are dividends in a downturn? In the portfolios of the great economist John Maynard Keynes, I found some answers and reinforcement.
Why You May Want to ‘Rewire’ Instead of Retire
Over her varied career, Yvette Ewing ran a call center for a strip-mall builder, worked for a local school district and served in the Army. Looking ahead to her seventh decade, she chose to pursue a new passion: providing social services to formerly incarcerated people. To fuel her passion, she came to realize that she had to fundamentally change, or "rewire," her attitude toward work, her expectations about retirement and her purpose in life.
Make Chicago safer for bikers and pedestrians, Chicago's Next Voices columnist writes Original
With the azure lake on our right, my daughters and I delighted in biking down the middle of DuSable Lake Shore Drive in a Bike the Drive event organized by the Active Transportation Alliance a few years ago, biking one of the most beautiful urban thoroughfares in the world, a road so lovely that three guys sang a song about it.
A Search for the Source
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Why AI Isn’t A Cure For Anything It’s More Like Chemotherapy – At First
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How I Found Quiet and Serenity In a New National Wildlife Refuge Near My Home Why We Need More Places Like This
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What Would You Do if You Had a Rare Prairie Reserve in Your Back Yard? Finding Splendid Nature in My Old Stomping Grounds
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Saving Us From Climate Change and Environmental Injustice
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How They Can Intersect And Save Us From Ourselves
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Windy City Harvest plants seeds for future careers of urban farmers, healthier communities Original
While serving probation for a misdemeanor in 2019, Deshawn Willingham saw a flyer at his probation officer’s office for an urban farming apprenticeship program. That flyer set a course for a new career for the South Shore resident. Today, Willingham grows a variety of organic vegetables from collard greens to Swiss chard on 22 acres near south suburban Lynwood.
Windy City Harvest plants seeds for future careers of urban farmers, healthier communities
The Chicago Botanic Garden’s urban agriculture and jobs training initiative has graduated 264 graduates with a 91% job placement rate six months after graduation since 2009 through its apprenticeship program. By John F. Wasik Chicago Sun Times Jun 25, 2024 Excerpt: Headquartered at the Farm on Ogden in North Lawndale, Windy City Harvest has graduated 264 graduates with a 91% job placement rate six months after graduation since 2009 through its apprenticeship program.
A Diamond Along an Interstate
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Why The Buzz Over Cicadas? We Need These Bugs to Be More Human
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A Hidden Prairie Triggers Memories Of a Father I Never Really Knew
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The Essential Argument for Biodiversity
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How Trails Can Connect Communities And Link Us Back to Our Selves
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How Beavers Can Save Wetlands And Tackle Global Warming
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One Solid Way To Know If You Can Trust Your Financial Advisor
Can you trust your financial advisor? There’s actually one question you can ask to find out. If they answer no — or they give a dodgy answer — move on. It’s not hard to do, but will protect your wealth over time. For years, financial consumers have been fleeced by brokers, agents and “consultants” who place their own greed above those of their clients. I could fill my basement with stories I’ve covered of those who were swindled.
Can Medical Debt Hurt Your Credit Record? What You Need To Know
There’s little question that healthcare providers have become more aggressive in collecting past-due bills. Although medical debt is still an issue hurting millions of Americans, there’s much you can do to protect yourself. Some 20% of Americans have some form of medical debt, so this is a widespread issue. Sometimes the medical bills are relatively small, although many providers engage aggressive debt collection firms to call, text and harass people.
How A Wild River Can Cleanse Grief And Reawaken the Energy of Memories
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Why We Should Re-Think Earth Week And Focus on Eco-Spirituality Every Day
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How Social Security Scams Work And How You Can Shut Them Down
If you’re a swindler, particularly in cyberspace, you know that a Social Security number is a valuable piece of information that opens the door to countless other scams. That’s why crooks of every stripe try to obtain it through texts, phone calls, social media and snail mail. Social Security number swindles come in many flavors.
Big Savings At Tax Time: Claim Those Home Energy Improvement Credits
I can’t recall a time in which the U.S. tax code has been so generous to home owners who make energy-efficient improvements. There are a host of them, but you need to tell the IRS how you spent your money at filing time to reduce your federal tax bill. Thanks to a wave of energy-related credits mandated in the Biden Administration's Inflation Reduction Act, there are dozens of ways to save on federal income taxes.
Can You Cancel Your College Loan? A Deadline Looms
There are thousands of college loan recipients who may be able to cancel their loans. While the qualifications can get complicated, if you qualify, you have until April 30 (2024) to make the “adjustment.” “More than 3.6 million William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program borrowers will receive at least three years of credit toward loan forgiveness, and many will see their loans forgiven automatically,” reports the U.S. Department of Education.
Native Wisdom Can Save Us
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Do You Qualify For A Saver’s Credit? Here’s What You Need To Know
I treasure any incentives to save money, but few Americans know the entire toolbox of bonuses when they file their taxes or save during the year. The Saver’s Credit is one such plum, but it helps the know the rule to see if you qualify. According to the IRS, the “Retirement Savings Contribution Credit” is for “making eligible contributions to your IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan.
Why BlackRock’s Larry Fink Thinks We Need To Re-Invent Retirement
When Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock BLK , voices some opinions on retirement, I listen carefully and look into his statements with a microscope. I think his insights far outweigh those of Warren Buffett. BlackRock now manages more than $10 trillion, which makes it one of the most influential money managers on the planet. Fink is a thought leader extraordinaire for his views on environmental, social and government (ESG) issues, a punching bag for conservative, ossified Wall Street hacks.
How Daniel Kahneman’s Research Will Make You Richer
It’s rare that I get to write a tribute to a semi-famous person I actually met. Dr. Daniel Kahneman, who revolutionized the way we think about decisions, passed away last week at the age of 90. His research is still enriching us in countless ways. I interviewed Dr. Kahneman three times as a reporter. He was always generous with his time and insights, which humbled me considering that he was a psychologist who won the Nobel Prize in economics.
Why Swimming in a Polluted Lake Keeps Haunting Me
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Want to Leave a Green Legacy? Here’s A Good One
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‘Old School’ Scams Still Work, Even On Younger Folks
There’s so much buzz about AI taking over the scam universe it’s easy to forget that “old school” scams are still effective in fleecing victims, especially when retirees are targeted. So it’s a good time to brush up on how thieves operate and how you can prevent swindles, even if you’re not retired. Some of the most common fraud schemes, sadly, are still effective. “Fraud schemes must evolve and change to survive.
How To Cut Your Credit Card Debt In 5 Simple Steps
I’m not usually focused on numbers without wondering about people behind the numbers. One ongoing concern is household debt, which means millions may be under water. In the most recent Federal Reserve report, total household debt rose by $212 billion to reach $17.5 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2023. Credit card balances rose by $50 billion to $1.13 trillion over the 4th quarter, while mortgage balances rose by $112 billion to $12.25 trillion.
It’s Still Green, But Expensive
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On Medicare? Here’s How You Can Save On Drugs In 2024 And Beyond
It’s rare that I get to report on anything essential coming down in price. The great post-COVID corporate profit grab is hardly over. But one bright spot is that some drug prices for Medicare recipients are dropping in 2024. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a healthy number of popular drugs will cost less. Although the Biden Administration gave Medicare the authority to negotiate lower drug prices through the IRA, many Americans are unaware of the changes, according to a KFF survey.
How College Loans Are Hurting Retirement Savers: What You Can Do About It
If you’re repaying a student loan, it can be tough to save for retirement. Most people want to get rid of that loan balance ASAP. Not surprisingly, a new research report published by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and J.P. Morgan Asset Management found that “making student loan debt payments was found to have negative impact on both the average 401(k) employee contribution rate and account balance.” Don’t despair. You have some options, but the debt can be oppressive.
How To Save Hundreds Of Dollars On Onerous Credit Card Fees
I’ve always hated the idea of paying finance charges on credit card balance, which is why every month I pay off our credit card bill within the grace period. That way I avoid late charges and interest. Lately credit card fees have skyrocketed. The average credit card annual percentage rate (APR) nearly doubled to 22.8% in 2023 from 12.9% in 2013, costing consumers around $25 billion in interest fees last year, according to an analysis by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Retirement Dilemma: Should You Cash In Your Home’s Equity?
Nearly everyone who came of age in the past two generations knew one thing about money: If you own a home, your “equity” is your nest egg. The underlying meaning is that if you haven’t saved enough for retirement, you can cash in your equity. Yet is that a good idea? In recent years, home equity has emerged as a potent store of value for millions of Americans who were unable to save enough in their 401(k)-style plans.
One Easy Way To Boost Your 401(k) Account, Starting Now
Nearly every week I receive a press release from some organization bemoaning the fact that millions of Americans aren’t saving enough for retirement. What these perennial items don’t mention is that the burden of saving for retirement is in the hands of future retirees like never before since the end of World War II.
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