Despite the rampant inflation of the COVID era, Americans as a whole are better off today than past generations were. Artificial intelligence may prove more disruptive to labor markets than past technologies revolutions were, at least in the short run. • On energy, modify regulations to accelerate new power plants, and to make cost and reliability the top priorities for utility companies and their regulators. • On healthcare, modify regulations to foster greater competition among hospitals, drug companies, other providers of medical goods and services, and health plans. His books Mountain Folk, Forest Folk, and Water Folk combine epic fantasy and American history.