My Life

What is our role in life on Earth?

Option #1: Some people have religious beliefs about a creator who brought about mankind in their pleasure to create something good. At some point, things kind of went askew, which later required an intervention to make things right again. However, we still see the same problems persisting pervasively from just after creation through the present day. And some still believe there is another intervention yet to come that will fix it all up really well through some kind of apocalyptic end.

Option #2: There are some who believe in something simpler than that—something that is simply biological. If that is the case, then something else brought us about for a reason—for a purpose to be served in our biological environment. This is not unlike when nature calls up bacteria, yeast, and fungi to clean up a biological mess through remediation. Mother Nature’s clean-up crew. Then those itty-bitty little critters return to the dust from whence they came.

There may be more options than this, but for now, let’s just consider these.

What if it is option #2? What if Mother Nature called us up for a biological purpose in response to another biological function that needed a remedy that looked like us? Yet, here we are, seemingly more complex than bacteria, yeast, fungi, or those fun little guys we call Tardigrades. Of course, we believe that we are more complex than they are. It certainly appears that way. But even amongst those bioremediation specialists, there are various layers of complexity, yet we, as humans, consider them relatively simple and likely non-sentient in most senses. But are they? Or is that just because we cannot descend to their level and truly comprehend what level of consciousness they enjoy?

Which brings me to the thought that brought me here in the first place. Have we, as humans, departed from our original purpose? Have we, in our finite wisdom, crafted over and upon ourselves additional layers of complexity that are ultimately causing our species more harm than good? What if our current existence, where we are only appreciating a lifespan of 78.5 years, is a result of our march of progress we call modernity is the problem?

How far would we need to go, to disconnect from our modern luxuries if that were the resolution? Could it be something as simple as moving to somewhere like Costa Rica, buying 20 acres of land, growing our own foods, while living off the grid, outside of our modern day Matrix? Who knows…

I must come back to this later. Unfortunately, I have homework and other niceties to attend to, but I could not let this train of thought get away from me.

Such is the life of a writer…

I Sing the Bookstore Eclectic by Ray Bradbury

I Sing the Bookstore Eclectic (Ray Bradbury essay, 1989)

It is a labyrinth, a tomb, a catacomb, a maze. It is the best walk-through multimedia experience, if not on Earth, if not in all America, at least in the western part of the United States. In its dusty roundabout winding corridors, turn here and you collide with Shaw, turn there and you knock elbows with Gibbon, go farther on and you wind up in the company of a wild bunch of Victorian children, nameless until now, surrounding you elephant-high on all sides, calling their titles and daring you to remember. What I describe is the Acres of Books bookstore in Long Beach. (It does, indeed, cover the better part of an acre, a whole city block on Long Beach Boulevard.)

To continue, it is a watering hole, a grand place to prowl on rainy days, to open books never seen before and probably never to be seen again, as the rain chatters on the high tin roofs, and you get that old wondrous time-spell feeling of hoping that when you turn the next stack you’ll meet a lion with a pride of hunters soon behind. Carl Akeley, on the shelf, grabs a rhino’s horn and leaps over its back to land safely. Somewhere in the high dust, Martin and Osa Johnson still fly over Kilimanjaro, and the children of Dickens grub in the soot and ask for more.

But, you protest, most bookstores have some of the above. Most libraries contain a touch of dust magic, a remembrance of fabled years. The characters you love do swarm the monkey-tree stacks.

Good. But not good enough.

I go to Acres of Books, as I go to Paris, or Rome, or London, or New York, to be – lost.

Half the fun of travel, as we all know, is the aesthetic of lostness. Not being able to put Piccadilly together with Regent Street or relate Hyde Park to distant Charing Cross, that is deliciousness. To go down the Spanish Steps in Rome and – vanish. To go out in Paris midnight crowds and wonder why you love it so, as texture after texture drifts by and you wish you could walk forever.

So it is with Acres of Books. I go there, finally and completely, to be lost, in two ways. Not only in the serpentine multiplicity of shelf on shelf and stack on stack, but lost in the variety of strange people I meet. Far over in the Victorian section, I stumble on 500 books by four dozen authors I have never heard of before, all published between 1870 and 1905. Henty is there, of course, and Kipling. But who ever heard of James Otis, or W.H.G. Kingston, or Harry Castlemon, and why not just seize them and invite them home?

Old theater programs from London plays in 1905? They’re there. Art books published in 1899? They’re there.

I go there on rainy days for a good dose of this lostness, plus the grand incense of book dust, which I deeply inhale as others take snuff, and clean the booktops with a sneeze.

Is all this romantic bilge, spilled forth by an aging Martian who has lost his marbles in the tomb? If a million books aren’t romantic, what is? Is all this worth the savor of walking through and wanting never to come out, because these corridors filled with imagination and history are preferable to that drab spring-fog noon waiting to trap you out on the careless street? It is. Worth everything. And cheap. I bought 30 books there one great rainy morn, for $42.55!

The place may be gone soon. A phalanx of city officials, eminent domain specialists, urban planners, and gang-banging steam shovels may soon knock the place flat, shut up Chesterton-Shaw’s debates, march Caesar’s legions into the sea, and cement the whole damned thing over.

Better get there while you can. The dust is waiting like an Orient spice. The literary ghosts are waiting like the friends you always wanted and now at last find. The winding corridors promise you to be forever going on a journey and forever lost. Bring your flashlight for late in the day. Ask for me. Tut’s in there somewhere. Inquire. He’ll tell you where I am.

(Transcribed from a printout of an old California Magazine scan. The essay seems to have vanished from the internet, so I’m putting it back up. I was a regular customer at this very bookstore and it was awesome. The owners were forced to close in 2008 due to pesky developer greed. The building sat empty for years and another developer recently acquired and razed it. Only a tiny sliver of the 1933 Streamline Moderne facade remains.)

The More I Learn the Less I Know

The more I learn, the less I am sure that there is a perfect diet for anyone, much less humans as a species. Yes, it would be fabulous if we could do like many other animals and just eat one thing over and over again day after day while living a long and healthy life. Of course, I imagine a few carnivore friends will say there is, but I’m not here to argue that point. I’m here to say I don’t know anymore.

I do know where I am at in my diet and why I now eat the way I do, and there are some things that I am certain will never be good for human consumption. One of those is preservatives of any sort, which means most processed foods, if not all, are off the dinner table. Just eat food the way Mother Nature created it. And if you’re going to eat vegetables, cook them first. Make soup.

Fruit gets a free pass because Mother Nature intended that it be eaten in its raw state, as that is how it propagates itself. Vegetables, not so much. They produce anti-nutrients that are their way of preserving their life into the next generation. No, plants are not trying to kill you. At least not humans anyway, but they are trying to kill or inhibit things at the level of insects and microorganisms. That is because they must NOT get eaten if they want to continue propagating themselves into the next generation. And we humans DO have microorganisms living within us, two to five pounds worth, that depend on us NOT eating things that prevent or inhibit the growth and wellbeing of microorganisms.

Animals are not food but food processors that condense the nutrients that Mother Nature creates for her creatures. She only makes plants, which animals concentrate into their bodies that we then consume when eating them or their eggs and lactates. When it comes to animal-based foods, my only suggestion is to eat them in moderation as they are highly concentrated forms of food that are extremely rich in nutrients.

After many years of experimenting with different diets, I have experienced that you’ve likely found a better way when you get to a point where your body requires very little to be satisfied and healthy. If you eat three meals a day, your body may not be getting enough of the nutrients it needs, and as a result, it keeps sending you messages to put more food in your mouth.

At this point in time, I would suggest that there is no perfect diet for all people, no matter what all the online influencers want to suggest. They are trying to make a living from people like you. You are the consumer, and they have products they need to sell. You are their human resources so that they can put a roof over their heads, food in their belly, and clothes on their backs.

Our bodies are self-regulating, self-healing mechanisms. They know how to make themselves right. We (humans) need to figure out the language they speak and oblige them, as their ways are higher than ours, and their needs will always supersede our desires.

Your body loves you more than you know and will always treat you with beneficence and non-maleficence. Your body will never attack itself. It can, however, feel that way to us, and we might even call it that with names like auto-immune disorders. I believe otherwise. Our body would not shoot itself in the foot. It will, however, speak as loudly to you as it needs to get your attention and sometimes, to us, in our ignorance, appears as though it is attacking itself. Sometimes, I wish it would just use words…8)

Simply put, the only foods are the ones that Mother Nature makes. Animal-based foods are food concentrates. And as for concentrates, I suggest eating them sparingly. Raw vegetables, in almost every case, are not intended for human consumption. We are not herbivores. Fruits are intended to be eaten in their raw form. That’s part of Mother Nature’s plan for them. Processed foods, fast foods, or any foods that REQUIRE a Nutrition Facts label are unnatural and NOT what Mother Nature intended for us and will likely leave you in an unintended state of regret.

As Above, So Below

As Above, So Below: Humans and Earth as Symbiotic and Parasitic Entities

The phrase “As Above, So Below” originates from ancient philosophies, suggesting that the macrocosm reflects the microcosm and vice versa. This concept invites us to explore the relationship between humans and Earth by drawing a parallel to the relationship between bacteria and the human body. Just as bacteria can be both beneficial and harmful within the digestive tract, humans have the potential to either nurture or devastate the Earth’s ecosystems. Walk with me as I explore the dual role humans play in relation to Earth, akin to how bacteria interact with the human body, and how this relationship requires a delicate balance for mutual survival.

The Symbiotic and Parasitic Roles of Bacteria and Humans

Bacteria in the human digestive tract can be broadly categorized into those that are symbiotic and those that are parasitic. Symbiotic bacteria play essential roles in human health by aiding in digestion, synthesizing vitamins, and bolstering the immune system. These microorganisms form a mutually beneficial relationship with their human host, thriving within the digestive environment while providing necessary functions for human survival. In contrast, parasitic bacteria disrupt normal bodily functions, causing infections and diseases that can lead to serious health complications.

Similarly, humans interact with Earth in ways that can be symbiotic or parasitic. On one hand, humans have the capacity to contribute positively to the planet’s ecosystems. Sustainable practices, such as reforestation, renewable energy development, and conservation efforts, reflect humanity’s potential to live in harmony with Earth’s natural systems. These actions not only benefit the environment by preserving biodiversity and reducing pollution but also ensure the long-term survival of human societies by maintaining the planet’s ability to support life.

On the other hand, human activities often take on a parasitic nature, causing significant harm to the environment. Industrialization, deforestation, pollution, and the overexploitation of natural resources have led to widespread environmental degradation. This destructive behavior mirrors the impact of pathogenic bacteria in the human body, where an imbalance can lead to diseases that compromise the host’s health. This comparison between humans and bacteria highlights the dual potential humans hold: they can either sustain and enrich the Earth or degrade and deplete its resources.

The Importance of Balance in Human-Earth Interactions

The human body maintains a delicate balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria through what we call our immune system and other regulatory mechanisms. When this balance is disrupted, whether by illness, poor diet, or external factors, the consequences can be severe, leading to conditions such as inflammatory diseases, infections, or even chronic illnesses. Similarly, Earth has natural regulatory systems, such as the carbon cycle, water cycle, and food chains, which maintain environmental stability. These systems are designed to keep ecosystems functioning healthily, ensuring that life can thrive in a balanced environment.

However, just as an imbalance in bacteria leads to health problems in humans, an imbalance in how humans interact with Earth can have devastating consequences. Climate change, driven by excessive greenhouse gas emissions, is one of the most pressing examples of this imbalance. The disruption of the carbon cycle, primarily through the burning of fossil fuels, has led to global warming, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events, threatening both natural ecosystems and human societies.

Another example is the loss of biodiversity, often a direct result of human activities like deforestation, habitat destruction, and pollution. Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem resilience, allowing environments to recover from disturbances and continue to provide essential services such as clean air, water, and food. The decline in biodiversity mirrors the loss of beneficial bacteria in the human gut, which can lead to digestive disorders and weakened immunity. In both cases, the loss of diversity—whether microbial or biological—leads to a weakened system more vulnerable to external stresses.

The Need for a Symbiotic Future

The future health of both humans and the Earth hinges on maintaining a balanced, symbiotic relationship rather than allowing parasitic behaviors to dominate. In the human body, maintaining a healthy bacterial balance is increasingly recognized as vital to overall health, leading to the growing popularity of probiotics and prebiotics. These substances help nurture beneficial bacteria, ensuring that they outcompete harmful pathogens and contribute to a well-functioning digestive system.

In a similar vein, humans must adopt proactive measures to foster a healthier relationship with Earth. This can be achieved through sustainable practices that minimize environmental impact and promote the restoration of natural ecosystems. Global initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, protecting endangered species, and restoring degraded lands are crucial steps in this direction. These efforts are akin to providing the Earth with the environmental equivalent of probiotics—restorative actions that promote balance and health.

Education and awareness are also essential in this symbiotic journey. Just as individuals learn about the importance of maintaining gut health, society must be educated about the importance of sustainable living. Understanding the consequences of our actions and the benefits of positive environmental stewardship can inspire collective efforts to protect the planet. By shifting from a parasitic to a symbiotic role, humans can ensure that Earth remains a viable and thriving home for future generations.

This metaphor of humans as bacteria within Earth’s “digestive tract” serves as a powerful reminder of the impact we have on our planet. Like our own bacteria(gut flora), we can be either beneficial or harmful, depending on our actions and the balance we maintain within our environment. The health of our planet, much like the health of the human body, depends on the maintenance of this delicate balance.

As above, so below—the principle that governs the relationship between humans and Earth also applies to the microscopic world within us. Just as a healthy bacterial balance is crucial for human well-being, a balanced and symbiotic relationship between humans and Earth is essential for the planet’s health and our own survival. By recognizing and embracing our potential to contribute positively to the Earth, we can shift the balance from parasitism to symbiosis, ensuring a thriving future for both humanity and the natural world, within and without.

Devil in a New Dress

How are we to understand viruses and their role in pathology? I predict that in the not-too-distant future, we will have a different understanding than we do today and that our current understanding is little more than a devil(demon) with a new dress on. The word virus is taken from the Latin word for poison. Literally, “slimy liquid poison.”

I predict that in the future, we will come to understand that what we call viruses will be better understood as something akin to snippets of code like those we use in programming our computers, which dictate how they function. Snippets of code that tell biological lifeforms how to function under various environmental conditions at any given point in time.

I predict that in the future, we will no longer entertain the idea that viruses can be passed from one person to another, resulting in various states of disease. Disease and acute expressions of it will be better understood as something more akin to an automobile that is never maintained or serviced. The human body is much like an automobile that begins its life functioning fabulously with a high level of ease. And if it is maintained properly, it can live on indefinitely. If not, it will begin to function poorly and eventually break down completely. Sound familiar? Know anyone whose body is broken down and functioning poorly? The cause is one and the same. Poor quality fuel and lack of scheduled maintenance.

I predict that in the future, if we do well, we will, on the whole, quit looking for causes outside of our control for what we call disease. We will move away from pharmaceuticals, realizing that they cannot make someone whole again. That pharmaceuticals are little more than bandaids on bulletholes. Instead of soft-peddling the role of personal responsibility, we will tell people the hard truths of what their life should look like if they want to maintain full functionality. That we would hold people responsible for what it means to be a fully and gainfully functioning human being rather than pushing pills to numb the pain resulting from poor choices that led them to a doctor in the first place.

Age

Imagine living in a world where it was completely normal to live well beyond one hundred years of age. A world where it was completely normal for a one-hundred-and-twenty-year-old body to have the functionality and appearance of an Olympic athlete.

If that were the norm and you found yourself aging like most people do today, to maybe 80, how would that make you feel? A life where you found yourself shuffling behind a walker or being pushed in a wheelchair by a caretaker from seventy-five until you breathed your last painful breath at 80. A life where you had to stop working and retire at sixty-five because that was all that was expected of you in your condition, all while everyone else around you was living beyond one hundred and twenty years as mentioned above.

How would that make you feel?

The Question

Read the following carefully and then answer the QUESTION.

Only 5–10% of all cancer cases can be attributed to genetic defects, whereas the remaining 90–95% have their roots in the ENVIRONMENT and LIFESTYLE.

Our skin(outside/epidermis) covers an average area of 18.75 square feet. Our gastrointestinal tract which makes up the rest of the humans environmentally exposed surface area covers an average area of 377 square feet.

Our GI tract which is twenty(20) times larger than our external world is just one thin and very delicate layer of dermis compared to our external environment which is made up of an incredibly durable five(5) layers that can withstand all manner of insult and injury.

The average human consumes 1,750 pounds of food per year passing over/through that tract, which is actually external though most consider it internal. In actuality, the inside of our body doesn’t start until the small intestine.

QUESTION: According to the aforementioned information, what is the single greatest cause of environmentally caused cancer based on exposure and lifestyle choices?

A Momentary Channeling of Ray Bradbury

It’s a gentle Southern California afternoon just a few miles from the coast of Long Beach. The sound of birds calling out in a harmonious sense of discord. The ants in front of me on the hot concrete mill back and forth to and fro, gently greeting each other for just a moment as they continue on their journey.

I look up to see the leaves of my Betula Birch, which I planted some fifteen years ago—it may have even been sixteen. The leaves bristled back and forth quickly, then slowly, and back again as the gentle breeze from the south worked them up into an audible frenzy. Which reminds me…I need to trim Betty a little.

As I look down at the 60-year-old warm concrete beneath my feet, I’m reminded that my father and his father before him may have very well stood here, just like me, looking at this same piece of ground, the same sky, breathing in that same sense of awe that I am experiencing.

They may have even experienced many years earlier, that same joy I feel…Sitting here today.

Wulzen Anti-Stiffness Factor

The Wulzen factor, also known as the “anti-stiffness factor,” is a compound called stigmasterol, which is present in raw milk and sugarcane juice. Dr. Rosalind Wulzen discovered stigmasterol. Stigmasterol plays a crucial role in the assimilation of calcium and phosphorus by promoting their proper utilization and preventing their excessive deposition in soft tissues. It helps maintain the balance of these minerals in the body, ensuring that calcium and phosphorus are adequately absorbed and utilized for bone health and metabolic processes. This regulation prevents calcification and the associated negative effects on various organs and tissues, contributing to overall health and the prevention of conditions such as atherosclerosis, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, neurological disorders, cognitive decline, and other related disorders.

Stigmasterol is a fat-soluble nutrient that combats arthritis and alleviates symptoms such as pain, swelling, and stiffness. Early nutrition researchers considered it to be a vitamin-like substance, but it was never officially recognized as a vitamin by mainstream medical and government authorities. The factor is destroyed by pasteurization, leading to a debate where advocates argue that pasteurization could contribute to arthritis by eliminating this beneficial compound.

Stigmasterol, also known as a phytosterol, is a plant sterol found in various plant sources such as vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and unrefined plant oils. It is also concentrated in mammalian lactates, which offers several health benefits. Firstly, stigmasterol lowers cholesterol levels by competing with dietary cholesterol for absorption in the digestive system, thereby reducing the amount that enters the bloodstream. Additionally, it exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, which are beneficial in managing chronic inflammation-related conditions like arthritis.

Stigmasterol also has antioxidant effects, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals and potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Some studies suggest that stigmasterol inhibits the growth of cancer cells, indicating possible anticancer properties, though more research is needed in this area. Furthermore, stigmasterol may contribute to maintaining bone health by influencing enzymes involved in bone metabolism. Its combined effects of lowering cholesterol and providing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits also support better cardiovascular health.

Critics of pasteurization laws suggested that acknowledging the existence and benefits of the Wulzen factor would challenge the widespread promotion of pasteurized dairy products. In modern nutritional science, the Wulzen factor is not widely acknowledged, with limited contemporary research supporting its existence or efficacy. Most of the evidence comes from early studies. While raw milk advocates often cite the Wulzen factor as a reason for consuming unpasteurized dairy products, regulatory bodies continue to support pasteurization to prevent foodborne illnesses, citing the lack of scientific consensus on the benefits of the Wulzen factor.

Interestingly, both Rosalind M. Wulzen and her longtime colleague and lifelong friend Alice M. Bahrs lived almost 100 years. Both made it to 98, which is not a common feat. It would appear that they may very well have discovered a key factor in greater longevity and quality of life if it were demonstrated that they were actually smoking what they were selling. Chances are they were.

Incorporating stigmasterol-rich foods into a balanced diet may provide these aforementioned health benefits, though it’s important to consider overall dietary patterns and lifestyle for optimal health outcomes.

Dearest People of Earth

People of Earth,

My name is Michael Loomis. I am a Southern California native. I have spent almost every day of my life in Long Beach, a Los Angeles suburb. I’ve spent 51 years here, and I love it. Everything about this place.

I wanted to take a moment and talk to ALL of you today. We are living in a fabulous time, a time when more people have access to basic goods and services necessary to make life possible without overdue burdens. By no means have we solved poverty and starvation on a global scale, but we are witnessing a revolution in technology, industry, and now intelligence that is allowing us to understand better how we can meet ALL of our basic needs. Food, shelter, clothing, and health care.

Over the last few decades, we have witnessed unprecedented growth in computer technology, which has allowed us to access vast amounts of data in a very short space of time. The libraries of the world are now online, which allows our large language models to be accessed by artificial intelligence engines in a way and at a rate that the human mind could have never imagined just a few short decades ago. In no uncertain terms, we are now witnessing the advent of a new age. An Intellectual Revolution born out of the foundation of the Industrial Revolution that began in the middle of the eighteenth century.

The time has come and now is when and where we need to embrace and welcome the reality of where we are in the passage of time. We have been born into a time and space where human labor and planning for the future are becoming a thing of the past—things that our future generations will only be able to understand through the lens of history. Whether it is our children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren, there will come a day in the near future when that last job will no longer need to be filled. No more working by the sweat of our brow to provide for our daily bread. Our basic needs. And we need to prepare for it. There will be no more inequities.

And now I imagine you have a question that has been swirling around, forming in your mind about how we are going to prepare for this inevitability. This, I imagine, is followed by another question: What are we going to do with all the time that will be freed up because of this inevitability? And if there is no more work that needs to be done, how are we going to pay for our basic needs and luxuries?

At this point, we already live in a time of luxury compared to all of recorded human history. Consider that. Now consider this: We humans are the only species on Earth that has had the inclination to take that which was once free and accessible to all and put it behind lock and key. Food, shelter, and clothing were historically accessible to all mankind long before there were jobs, payroll, banks, and human resource departments. And today, if someone down on their luck is caught taking that which is behind lock and key without paying for it, we then put them behind lock and key, giving them food, shelter, and clothing, their basic needs for free. Kind of ironic, isn’t it?

Allow me to address some of those questions about the future that are likely swirling around in your head.

First of all, just because there will be no more jobs, that doesn’t mean that there will be no work to be done. Far from it. There will be plenty for us to do to ensure that all goes well. However, it will look different. The reality is that we are all going to need to accept these changes in work and meaning because the old way will have faded off into obscurity.

No longer will a household, say a family of four, need to work forty to eighty hours a week just to meet their basic needs. And I can hear the question now, “But who’s going to pay for it all?”

This is the wrong question to ask. The right question would be, “Why would we still need to pay for it?” The answer would be that we need to remedy the problems that led to the need to pay for it and replace them with solutions that would eliminate 84% of the financial burden that requires our human resources in exchange for pay.

Above Image(Cbpp, 2023)

$23.32$ trillion divided by $331.9$ million United States Citizens is approximately $.

And then there is the money that employers add to the pot that would be freed up to fund the future.

The total cost to an employer for an employee extends well beyond the hourly wage due to benefits, insurance, office space, taxes, and other related expenses. This total cost is often referred to as the “burden rate” or “fully loaded cost.” The specific amount can vary significantly depending on the industry, location, and size of the company, as well as the specific benefits offered. Here’s a breakdown of some of the typical additional costs:

Benefits: This can include health insurance, dental and vision insurance, retirement benefits (e.g., 401(k) contributions), life insurance, and disability insurance. Benefits can add 20% to 40% or more to the base salary.
Employer Payroll Taxes: In the United States, for example, employers must pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, which amount to 7.65% of the salary. There might also be federal and state unemployment taxes.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance: This varies by industry and state but is a mandatory cost for most employers.
Training and Development: Costs associated with onboarding, training, and professional development can also add to the total cost.
Office Space: The cost of providing a workspace, which includes rent, utilities, office supplies, and equipment, can vary widely depending on location and the nature of the business.
Technology and Equipment: Computers, software licenses, communication tools, and other technology needs can add to the cost.
Miscellaneous Costs: Other costs can include travel expenses, employee perks and wellness programs, and administrative support.

On average, the additional costs can range from 1.25 to 1.4 times the base salary, but this is highly variable. For a more precise calculation, it’s essential to consider the specific factors related to the industry, location, and company benefits package. Employers often conduct a detailed analysis or use calculators provided by HR services to estimate these costs accurately.

The above information was drawn from ChatGPT.

https://www.cbpp.org/research/policy-basics-where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go

Cbpp. (2023, September 29). In case you missed it… Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/blog/in-case-you-missed-it-674

Policy basics: Where do our federal tax dollars go? (2023). Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/research/policy-basics-where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go

More to come…Back to homework for now…8)