Riley Cowan

[Riley Cowan @RileyCowan1]

@wesbury https://t.co/GcRwzBiSqz
I’m sure Friedman would be sad to know it hasn’t gotten any better

[Time Preference @TimePreference_]

the wealth gap isn't widening because of capitalism

it's widening because asset owners benefit from monetary expansion while wage earners suffer from currency debasement

the cantillon effect isn't a market failure, it's a policy feature

[Brian Wesbury @wesbury]

There are two types of people:

1) Those who believe the Individual came first and then created society and institutions. And,
2) Those who believe Society came first and the individual must bow to its will.

It’s all about costs vs benefits.

I fervently believe Individuals came first. We then formed tribes (societies), or other institutions. This had a cost to the individual, but the cost was less than the benefits. For example, safety from other tribes that wanted to prey on us. Or the benefits of trade, where you raise cattle and I raise wheat. I trust that you will keep your part of the deal and I don’t have to survive on my own. As long as benefits exceed the costs, societies survive and individuals thrive. People stay because they can achieve more as a member. This is a truly “warm embrace.”

Those who believe society came first think the individual must sacrifice whatever it takes to maintain “Society” or the “Collective.” If you believe the costs exceed the benefits - if you are exceedingly productive and are forced to share your plenty with others who are less productive - you will want to leave this collective. Often, then, the “group” will try to force you to stay. In this case it is force or coercion that keeps the “collective” together. This is the opposite of a “warm embrace,” it’s an “iron fist.”

In the first case, individuals have the right to go off on their own. It’s up to society to create an environment that makes them want to stay, a place where the benefits exceed the costs. This is the essence of freedom and it embraces, even celebrates, the most productive members of this society. Those who take advantage of this society are shunned and if they resort to crime are punished. There is a societal cost to crime and there should be a cost to the perpetrator.

Those who believe society came first will try to convince people that crime only exists because the benefits of society are distributed un-equally. Therefore criminals should not be punished, but other members of society should absorb the costs. Shoplifting will become the norm. And if you want to leave this system, you won’t be allowed (ex North Korea, Cuba). Or, you will be shunned and shamed as a “racist” or “greedy.”

Clearly, the first system attracts the productive, while the second system repels the most productive. And the lessons of this dichotomy are that societies should only provide services which are indivisible - like defense, fire fighting, clean water, police, courts, and the protection of private property and rule of law. If a society protects itself from criminals and enemies, then more investment will take place. If a society lets itself be stolen from and invaded, then less investment will take place. Why invest if someone can just come take it?

The US was founded as a place of rugged individualism. But slowly, and surely, over the past 100 years, government has grown and redistribution has proliferated. Slowly, but surely, the costs have been rising while the benefits decline.

We are in the middle of this battle today. It is more obvious than it has been in a long time. May 2026 be the year where more eyes are opened to the power of the first type of people…those who believe the Individual came first. It’s actually helpful that we get to watch NYC attempt to put society first. It won’t work…but people need to try and fail in order to learn.

[Oklahoma Golf @OU_MGolf]

Tied for the best score in OU history 🤝

@Ryder_Cowan goes -20 in Hawai’i to win the Ka’anapali Classic and get his first college trophy!

[Riley Cowan @RileyCowan1]

@erhanheck @soonersonly @okcthunder Boom. Jimmy knows ball

[Wall Street Apes @WallStreetApes]

Senator Josh Hawley says the quiet part out loud, “Members of Congress are TRADING DAILY based on information that the public doesn't have”
‌
“Congress is a rich man's club. That's the problem”
‌
“I would suspect that I probably have the fewest assets of anybody sitting on this dais. I am not a rich man, unlike those to my left. (Senator Rick Scott, net worth $327 million dollars)
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“Let's be honest. Members of Congress get information that is technically not insider information as defined by the securities laws. That is nevertheless extremely beneficial to know, and often we get it earlier than other people.”

[Riley Cowan @RileyCowan1]

@wesbury @elonmusk can we get your thoughts on this @wesbury article

[Brian Wesbury @wesbury]

Monetary Policy Is Out Of Control - The Fed has grown itself by 10-fold in the past 16 years. And since 2008, 60% of all the money circulating has been created, meaning only 40% of the money existing today was created between 1913 and 2007.

https://t.co/rW1U3Nf10V

[Gabe Ikard @GabeIkard]

I know we all want OU to get in the best bowl game possible but y’all are crazy if you think I’m cheering for Texas! 🤣

[Riley Cowan @RileyCowan1]

@Ryder_Cowan

[Oklahoma Golf @OU_MGolf]

POINT SOONERS ☝️

The freshman @Ryder_Cowan does what he does and wins 4&3 to put us one win away from tomorrow's 5th-place match!

OU 2, TCU 1

[Oklahoma Golf @OU_MGolf]

POINT SOONERS ☝️

The freshman @Ryder_Cowan does what he does and wins 4&3 to put us one win away from tomorrow's 5th-place match!

OU 2, TCU 1

[Christopher Powers @CPowers14]

Brian Harman going 5-0-0 would hit like HEROIN

[Tyler Burton @TylerBurton7]

Even after review, this was ruled a catch.

[Oklahoma Recruiting @CBallOklahoma]

Hey @Big12Conference make it a little less noticeable

[Riley Cowan @RileyCowan1]

@KREFsports I’m bringing B Willy back for his farewell tour and running the Williscat.

[Josh Pate @JoshPateCFB]

100 years from now I’ll still be alive (vitamins) and bragging to kids about being at this game

[tyro 🎲 @tyro1k]

ONG y’all be hatin

[Eddie Radosevich @Eddie_Rado]

OU golf signee Ryder Cowan shot 65 (-7) at the Territory in Duncan for the first round lead of the OGA stroke play. Won 3A state title as a junior. Won 4A crown at the beginning of the month. https://t.co/8gJ3LJ2Jbd

[Riley Cowan @RileyCowan1]

@CoachPainterOK *Deletes AD
*Inserts literally anyone that will play hard every game

[Reality Check @Stats_N_Facts]

Lebron is 38, in year 20, playing on a foot that requires surgery after the season, he is the underdog in the series without home-court advantage and has already outplayed Curry 4-times in their 4 Finals meetings.

Yet, he is the one who has more to lose?

The agenda never stops.

[Riley Cowan @RileyCowan1]

@LifeofJuanTwo @FTFonFS1 @Chris_Broussard Luka as a forward? Lol