Latest news with #Douglass
Chicago Tribune
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Letters: Yes, Donald Trump is a great man. He has a lot of guts.
Richard C. Longworth's op-ed in regards to President Donald Trump is right about Trump's greatness but is mistaken about his base ('Trump will be remembered as a great leader — but not a good one,' July 6). I believe most people in his base think that everybody should work for a living, not just sit at home. The reason Trump ran in the first place was because President Barack Obama embarrassed him at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, and he was determined to show everybody how tough he was. He is a tough person with a lot of guts.I disagree with Richard C. Longworth. He casts despots and degenerates such as Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, and Mao Zedong as great men. They bulldozed decency, wrecked society, and railed and raged against invented, convenient scapegoats. President Donald Trump belongs in the group. Longworth with precision quantifies Trump's propulsion: It's his monomaniacal obsession with power, by any and all means. However, for anyone who has observed Trump's public life, his malignancy and malevolence have always been obvious. Trump has always wanted the world as his audience and lusted for the attention that few people in history ever receive. And nothing's too trivial, including comparing his inauguration attendance with that of President Barack Obama. Or too toxic, such as pardoning convicted criminals armed with makeshift weapons who stormed the U.S. Capitol, assaulted police and rampaged while looking for the vice president. Back in 1989, Trump paid for advertisements in four New York City newspapers to insert himself into the Central Park Five case. Five Black and Brown teenagers were arrested and wrongly charged with raping and beating a female Central Park jogger. Trump called for the state to adopt the death penalty, but the woman wasn't killed. Alas, Trump is infected with terminal truth decay. The other engine that fuels Trump's raging pathologies? Revenge. In his book 'Think Big,' Trump devotes several pages to gloat about his beloved revenge. Longworth's commentary was published a day after the anniversary of a speech delivered by a truly great man, Frederick Douglass. His July 5, 1852, address happened at an event commemorating the signing of the so-called Declaration of Independence — a document that chiefly bestowed freedom upon white men, not Black people or even white women. Douglass unleashed his vast intellect, his powerful imagery and an accurate rendering of the Holy Scriptures. Fired with boldness, Douglass thundered: 'I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will use the severest language I can command; and yet not one word shall escape me that any man, whose judgment is not blinded by prejudice, or who is not at heart a slaveholder, shall not confess to be right and just.' Douglass assailed the twin terrors of white supremacy and its child, slavery. Trump's philosophy and agenda? White C. Longworth may have credentials that the Tribune opinion team esteems, but publishing his outrageous opinion piece comparing President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and Mao Zedong is another illustration of the utterly biased and un-American media elite that is the Tribune Editorial Board. The country's divisions lie squarely on the shoulders of the legacy media. I hope that Colonel McCormick is able to rest in peace despite these subversive thoughts from an old woman: First, my participation in the 'No Kings' rally on June 14 was a milestone. Having never demonstrated for or against any cause in my life, it was disconcerting, to say the least, to find myself compelled to take a stand against the president of the United States and his actions. At the same time, it was exhilarating to meet in the crowd of about 4,500 a dozen acquaintances who share my views. I am not alone! Second, I am aware of at least 25 individuals who did not attend that rally due to other commitments. It's as if each one of us who stood at an intersection in Gurnee that day represented many more who share our views. We are not alone! Next, I am shocked at the recommendation by the Internal Revenue Service to remove the 1954 Tax Code provision known as the Johnson Amendment. Although this rule is routinely and blatantly disregarded, it has stood as a safeguard against undue pressure on pastors from individuals and groups, both inside and outside their churches. I have deep concerns over the potential damage that could result from this change in the code. As an evangelical, I have always been thankful that my church, home to people of every political persuasion, does not publicly endorse candidates. Finally, my transition from lifelong Republican to independent, leaning toward Democratic, has been fraught with sadness. The reality that the current administration, aided and abetted by the Supreme Court and Congress, has become basically the law unto itself, is tremendously difficult for me to comprehend. Every day seems to bring another decision, policy or statement that absolutely contradicts my personal worldview, shaped by my Christian beliefs. It is abhorrent to hear pious words from people in power who choose to totally disregard the needs of ordinary individuals who simply want to live their lives in peace. The disgusting images of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents manhandling men, women and children simply because of how they look; the attacks on long-standing assistance programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the gift of tax breaks to billionaires made possible by the theft of dollars from everyday families, these are actions that sicken me and keep me awake at night. Friends, wake up! We must stand together for justice and the rule of law before it's too Donald Trump appears to have finally seen Russian President Vladimir Putin's true colors. At long last, he is supporting Ukraine and increasing the flow of weapons to that beleaguered country. If Trump wasn't so enamored of authoritarian dictators such as Putin, whom he called a 'genius,' he would have seen Putin for what he is, just like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and half our country tried to tell him. Dare we hope that the cloud will be lifted from Trump's eyes with respect to other dictators such as Kim Jong Un ('very good personality, he's funny, and he's very, very smart'), Jair Bolsonaro ('great president') and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ('big fan')?In last Thursday's Tribune, I learned that Donald Trump is singling out Harvard University and the country of Brazil for a dose of his 'special' treatment. In two articles in Section 2, I read that the Trump administration is planning to subpoena Harvard University for information on foreign students (and is threatening the school with a loss of its accreditation), and he is set to impose a 50% tariff on all imports from Brazil because Trump felt insulted when Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called him an unwanted 'emperor.' Meanwhile (also in Section 2), I read that House Republicans are questioning Joe Biden's physician about the former president's mental fitness. If this were a 'Veep' or 'House of Cards' episode, this would be amusing. It's not, and it's not.I am old now, so I remember school nuclear war drills as a kid (as if hiding under a desk would somehow help). I agree with the Tribune Editorial Board's conclusion that 'for 80 years, the world has lived with the threat of nuclear destruction,' and we now need 'to curb it, before it's too late' ('The risk of nuclear war waned after the Cold War. It's back with a vengeance,' July 14). But that is why bombing Iran was good and right. It lessens the chance for nuclear war. Iran is a rogue state that supports terror and has sworn destruction to Israel and the United States. We should believe it. Iran wasn't working diplomatically for a solution; it was stalling. It had kicked out inspectors and was accelerating its development program. 'Negotiating' with Iran is like negotiating with quicksand. Sadly, it doesn't work, and Iran speaks only one language: force and power. So for those who want to stop nuclear proliferation, stopping Iran is good for the mother, Yuki (Yukiko) Shelton, is a remarkable woman who turned 100 this March. She immigrated to the Chicago area in 1953 from Tokyo, where she graduated from dental school during the bombing of World War II. Yuki was so impressed by Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his reconstruction of Japan that she named me, her first son, after him. She subsequently trained in American dentistry and was a dentist at Camp McGill treating GIs during the Korean War. Yuki married my father, a dental technician, planning to live in Tokyo, but he was transferred while in the Navy. She encouraged him to attend the University of Louisville, and he graduated the top of his class in 1960. Returning to Chicago in 1963, she began reading the Tribune daily, which she does to this day, cover to cover. Although I have been in California since 1982, she continues to send me articles of interest from the 'Trib.' Yuki returned to the dental profession as a dental assistant at the Hines Veterans Affairs Hospital in Maywood. During that period, she decided to pursue her love of classical literature, attending classes at the College of DuPage studying the likes of William Shakespeare, Russian literary greats and her most favorite author, Jane Austen. Yuki became a 'Janeite,' joining the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). Attendance of the yearly Shakespeare festival in Stratford, Canada, was mixed with trips around the country for the yearly JASNA meetings, and several trips to Europe. Her dream trip was touring England to visit the home and places in Austen's novels. Yuki also loved living in the Chicago area — the western suburb of Villa Park — attending operas, plays and many, many films with friends, often driving downtown or taking the train herself. One highlight was attending a seminar at the University of Chicago where Robert Falls of the Goodman Theatre was speaking. I attended high school with Robert, and he recognized my mother. He introduced her to Kenneth Branagh, her favorite actor/director. She was thrilled! Retiring at age 70, she continued activities until only recently. She is very proud to be a naturalized citizen of the United States of America, having achieved this in the 1950s. I am very proud of her, her immigration, the life she has lived and the life she has given me.I am a first-generation American. My mother was born in Norway and immigrated here as a child. My grandmother brought her children to Iowa and then to the Scandinavian community in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood in search of a better life for the whole family. On Aug. 7, 1941 my mother became a naturalized American citizen after passing a written test about our Constitution and history and answering questions from an immigration judge. My grandmother's dream had been fulfilled. Over recent years, new waves of immigrants have come to America seeking the same opportunity offered to my mother and her family. Most yearn for freedom and are honest and hardworking people willing to do tasks and jobs that native-born Americans are unwilling to perform. There are certainly better ways to integrate them into our society than to have masked men arrest them on the street and drag them to the so-called Alligator Alcatraz camps in the Florida Everglades. This treatment is vile and an affront to our Constitution and our principles of equal protection under the law. It must be stopped. Also, I wonder how many native-born Americans today could pass the U.S. citizenship test and answer correctly questions from an immigration judge, such as aspiring citizens are still required to do, just as my mother did.
Business Journals
11-07-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
Canonsburg ushers in next generation of disability services with "Smart Living Home"
Over 70 years ago, Arc Human Services (AHS) was founded by a group of caring parents with a vision of a better, more inclusive life for their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their first meetings were held around a kitchen table, where the most advanced technology in their homes might have been an electric stove or a refrigerator with a built-in ice maker. Today, AHS employs over 600 staff and supports individuals across nearly 80 group homes in Western Pennsylvania. As the organization has grown, so has the technology used to deliver care. As Pennsylvania and the nation face increasing challenges with workforce shortages and the long-term sustainability of disability services, AHS is reimagining what support can look like. In a bold move, Arc Human Services has launched its Smart Living Home in Canonsburg, a fully functional residence equipped with assistive technology and smart tools designed to provide hands-on learning for people of all abilities and ages. The project, led by Chief Administrative Officer Craig Douglass, introduces accessible technology to individuals who might not otherwise have access to it. 'This home is a living learning laboratory,' said Douglass. 'It's not just about showcasing smart devices; it's about creating a space that helps people of all abilities find the tools that support their independence and the life they want, on their terms.' expand Located in a residential neighborhood and designed to feel like any typical home, the Smart Living Home blends discreet, user-friendly technology with a person-centered approach to care. Features include motion sensors paired with lights and appliances, video doorbells, medication reminders, video calling for telehealth and remote support, and more, all customized to the individual's preferences and goals. While assistive technology itself isn't new to disability services, AHS's focus on experiential learning and co-design with users makes this initiative unique. Individuals, families, and caregivers can schedule a personalized visit or short trial stay to try out the tools in real-world conditions. This approach builds confidence and helps people discover what truly fits their needs, before introducing similar systems into their own homes. 'This isn't about replacing people,' said Ed Picchiarini, CEO of Arc Human Services. 'It's about giving our teams tools that promote dignity and choice. Craig had a vision for demystifying assistive technology, and we knew it was something worth pursuing.' Douglass added, 'Too often, assistive devices are used as one-size-fits-all solutions. We wanted to shift that. We start by listening and understanding a person's needs and goals, and then we offer options that match their life.' The Smart Living Home isn't just a demonstration site; it represents a replicable model for other providers and families. The project shows how every day, off-the-shelf technology can be embedded into any home, whether a private residence or a provider-operated setting. With the right training and supports, these tools offer meaningful independence and inclusion, especially for individuals who may be left out of typical tech conversations. The project also addresses a key workforce issue: the shrinking pool of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). By integrating smart tools, AHS helps DSPs work more efficiently and focus on what matters most - relationships, skill-building, and person-centered care. expand AHS partnered with technology vendors and experts to ensure the Smart Living Home balances innovation with practicality. But there's no push to promote a particular product or brand. If a device helps someone meet a goal, they try it. If it doesn't work, it goes back in the box. AHS is already seeing interest from peer organizations, providers, and policymakers eager to learn from the model. Virtual and in-person visits are planned to showcase how technology can support, not replace, care. 'Our goal is to demonstrate what's possible,' said Picchiarini. 'Whether you're designing homes, managing care, or delivering support, we want others to see that this kind of innovation is not only possible, it's necessary.' The Smart Living Home reflects Arc Human Services' long-standing commitment to more than just care; it reflects a mission of opportunity, inclusion, and transformation. Ideals the founding families set in motion over 70 years ago. For those exploring how to bring technology into disability services today, it offers a powerful example of what leadership and vision can accomplish. Arc Human Services invites partners, advocates, families, and innovators to visit the Smart Living Home, explore what's possible, and help build a future where independence and dignity are at the center of every home. Arc Human Services is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for and supporting individuals with disabilities to fulfill their ambitions, protect their rights, and foster meaningful relationships at home, work, and in their communities. The organization provides residential, vocational, and support services that promote independence and inclusion.
NDTV
04-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
How Enslaved Americans Responded To July 4 Declaration Of Independence
The summer air in Rochester, New York, hung thick with heat and celebration. It was July 5, 1852, a day after cannons had fired, flags waved and towns across America had burst into patriotic jubilation to mark the 76th anniversary of the nation's independence. Inside Corinthian Hall, a different kind of gathering was taking place. The man who rose to the podium was Frederick Douglass, once enslaved, now one of the most powerful voices for abolition in the country. He had been invited to speak on July 4 but chose instead to wait a day as per Time. In front of an audience of nearly 600, he began by acknowledging the Founding Fathers and the brilliance of the ideas they had set into motion in 1776. But then, his voice sharpened. "This Fourth of July is yours, not mine," he declared. The applause quietened by then. Douglass asked a now-famous question, "What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?" As Douglass spoke that day in 1852, slavery was still legal in half the country. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 had recently passed, forcing free states to return escaped enslaved people to bondage. As historian Dr Allison Wiltz later explained, many enslaved people saw July 4 as a day of mourning. Newspaper archives from the era are filled with ads for runaway slaves, many of whom chose the national holiday as the moment to make their escape, as per The Washington Post. "The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common," Douglass said in his speech. "The sunlight that brought light and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn." "What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him... the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham... your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery... a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages," his words reverberated across a room listening in pin-drop silence. During the Revolutionary War (1773-1783), many Black Americans saw that the Founders' promise of liberty excluded them. Thousands instead turned to the British, who offered real freedom in exchange for loyalty. In 1775, Lord Dunmore, the British governor of Virginia, promised emancipation to enslaved people who escaped Patriot masters to join British forces. Soon, units like the Royal Ethiopian Regiment and Black Pioneers included these freedom-seekers, some wearing sashes that read "Liberty to Slaves." Some of these escapees became prominent historical figures. Harry Washington, once enslaved by George Washington, fled in 1776, joined the Black Pioneers, and later resettled in Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone. Colonel Tye (born Titus Cornelius) escaped from New Jersey and rose to become one of the most feared Loyalist guerrilla leaders of the Revolutionary War. Frederick Douglass had produced what historian David Blight calls "the greatest speech he's ever delivered, of the hundreds of speeches he delivered in his life." On July 4, 1862, with the Civil War raging and emancipation not yet guaranteed, Frederick Douglass delivered another Independence Day speech. Where he had once referred to the Founders as "your fathers," he now called them "your fathers, and my fathers." Six months later, in January 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, a landmark executive order aimed at ending slavery in the Confederate states. A decade after the Civil War, Frederick Douglass returned to the podium on July 5. With the rise of white supremacist violence and the hate group Ku Klux Klan, Douglass asked, "If war among the whites brought peace and liberty to the blacks, what will peace among the whites bring?" Though slavery had ended, America's commitment to racial equality was still uncertain.
The Hill
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
A revolutionary reimagining of American identity for the Fourth of July
This weekend, people across the country will gather in parks, on rooftops and around backyard grills to commemorate the holiday that honors America's founding. They will also gather in streets, on plazas and in front of monuments to protest an America fewer and fewer recognize through a modern lens. In the face of accelerated stripping of rights, terrorizing of marginalized communities, unconscionable wealth disparities and escalating hate and division, this occasion to honor the revolution that birthed our nation compels both actions. Black Americans', our' relationship to this annual holiday has always been fraught. In 1852, nearly a century after the Declaration of Independence was signed, Frederick Douglass famously asked, 'What to the slave is the Fourth of July?' His answer laid bare the hypocrisy of a nation that celebrated freedom while millions remained enslaved. 'I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary!' Douglass said. 'Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. … This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.' That tension still echoes today. We worship the ideals of liberty and equality, even as we struggle to confront the ways those promises remain unfulfilled. And, yet, Black Americans have continued to invest in an America with no promised return. That selfless commitment — to serve a country that has so often betrayed us — has characterized our entire existence. And it's enabled us to transform a country premised on our plundering towards a north star of equality. But our journey toward that North Star is anything but linear. This year, as we mark one revolution, we stand on the precipice of another. Unlike the revolution 249 years ago, the disquiet now is not from an external threat, but from within — an internecine battle over America's identity that has been brewing since we took our first incomplete steps toward true democracy in passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Every American revolution has been driven by reckoning, by the need to close the gap between who we claim to be and who we truly are. The founders declared equality while preserving slavery. A century later, we codified civil rights in law while maintaining systems that continued to relegate Black Americans to second-class citizenship. Today we face yet another moment of necessary transformation. The current crisis stems from America's inability to imagine itself beyond the mirror of its past — a nation defined by racial hierarchy and white cultural dominance. The rapid erosion of norms, rights and protections we're witnessing isn't merely a political shift; it's a backlash against the inevitable demographic and cultural evolution of our country. And while that backlash may feel sudden and shocking to some, for Black Americans, who have lived under systems of oppression since we arrived on these shores, it is unsurprising. We have been sounding the alarm for generations. Achieving these goals amid America's acute identity crisis requires revolutionary change. Not a war of arms, but a radical reimagining of who we are, what we value and how we share space and power. And every part of society plays a crucial role. Civil society organizations serve as vital lifelines for vulnerable communities and enduring sites of resistance against oppression. We must support and protect them from growing attacks from the Trump administration. Our courts, including the Supreme Court, must reclaim their role as constitutional guardians rather than enablers of unchecked executive power. That should start with the Supreme Court reversing its misguided presidential immunity ruling. The business community must recognize that relentless attacks on the rule of law and the profit-generating principles of diversity equity, inclusion and accessibility will ultimately destabilize global economy systems, harming all of our economies in the process. Congress must exercise its full constitutional powers — not only through oversight, but through accountability measures up to and including impeachment, as warranted. It has done so before and it must be willing to do so again. And white Americans must do as Black people have done for centuries: believe in the capaciousness of America. This requires an honest reckoning with the reality of changing demographics and an abiding faith in the constitutional democracy that defines and distinguishes us. It demands hard work to fuel abundance instead of a limiting mindset of scarcity. Oppressed groups have long applied these beliefs to ensure that being a minority does not justify subjugation, even though that has been the lived history. The goal of organizations like mine has never been to replicate past hierarchies with new groups in power. Rather, we work to create a new social order — a multiracial democracy where power is shared, dignity is sacred and thriving is the standard — for everyone. No institution, sector or group of people is exempt in this moment. We who call America home must be willing to continually and courageously evolve as one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Revolution is a frightening word for some, but the truth is, since 1776, we've gone through several. A convention in Seneca. A bridge in Selma. A bar in Greenwich Village. And while they've each been turbulent and painful, we've come out the other side a stronger, more just society. Just as it has in the past, revolutionary change can once again serve us well now, but only if we move forward together, embracing rather than resisting the diverse, multiracial democracy we are struggling to achieve. The question before us isn't whether America will change — it will. The question is whether we who love the promise of this country enough to admit its profound failings will guide that change toward a more perfect union or whether we will allow the Trump administration's fear-mongering to drive us backward and further apart. This weekend, let's choose to honor the revolutionary spirit that has always been America's greatest strength — not by clinging to the past, but by a new phase of nation-building that pushes us toward the future we've not yet achieved: an America great for all. Janai Nelson is the president-director counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
Herald Sun
30-06-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Hamish Douglass says AI could wipe out half the index
Magellan co-founder Hamish Douglass said the AI revolution will be remembered for the ripple effects that lie further ahead, one of them potentially being a Wall Street wrecking ball that puts even the most analogue businesses at risk. Artificial intelligence will recast the sharemarket, just not in the way most people think. Mr Douglass is a private investor since leaving Magellan in 2022, 16 years after he founded the global fund manager with Chris Mackay. He championed stocks like Microsoft and Alphabet in his era at the top of the global equities manager. Today, he is decidedly more bearish and challenged the optimism promoted by AI evangelists, like the propensity to minimise its effect on employment. 'Now is the most exciting and the most frightening time to be an investor in my lifetime,' Mr Douglass told The Australian. 'You may have half the index virtually collapse by 50, 60 or 70 per cent in share price in the next five to 10 years because businesses are so disrupted.' The devastating consequences he foresees include mass joblessness and an unprecedented slump in demand. 'AI is going to be hugely disruptive, but it's not going to become apparent for about five years. Working out ahead of the rest of the market which companies will be the winners and the losers is more important today than it's ever been.' Alongside the dramatic shift brought about by AI, he is surveying rising tensions in the geopolitical landscape, too. Amid the headlines documenting the Iran-Israel war, he is alert to the risk that China invades Taiwan. 'Two of the greatest companies in the world at the moment, Nvidia and TSMC, are hugely exposed to the Taiwanese question. As a fund manager, how do you calibrate and risk weight and position yourself around the possibility of that happening? We're not talking 50 years out. This is probably within a five-year time frame. That risk is a very real risk,' he said. Passive funds would be hugely exposed in such a scenario. 'Passive doesn't predict the future, it doesn't predict the winners and losers. I wouldn't be totally surprised if, in aggregate, the markets go backwards or don't do anything over the next 10 years, but people in the right positions could make a fortune.' Near-term, Mr Douglass is in agreement that the most AI-exposed industries include advertising, entertainment, accounting, law and consulting. Funds management could suffer too, since AI can do the work of analysts but cheaper and faster. 'There will be people who are earning hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and within five to 10 years, maybe 50 to 70 per cent of those jobs just will not exist anymore,' Mr Douglass warned. 'What happens then to demand for goods and services? We used to own LVMH. If you go five to 10 years out and you start mass losses over a five to 10 year frame, when 20, 30 or 40 per cent of the professional workforce around the world don't have jobs, who's going to be spending $6,000 on a handbag? 'As you accelerate this over time, businesses you think are wonderful today, you start saying to yourself, 'what happens if the customers don't have the money?'' There will be a version of this dilemma undermining most sectors, Mr Douglass predicted. 'I love a business like Hilton. But they predominantly serve small and medium-sized businesses for business travel in the US. So what happens if 30 or 40 per cent of these businesses have laid off their workforces in 10 years time? What's the demand going to be for business travel when there's less people employed?' White-collar jobs are already being encroached upon. Tech giants Amazon, Meta and Intel are among those that have announced mass lay-offs this year. Closer to home, CEOs including Commonwealth Bank's Matt Comyn and Telstra's Vicki Brady have been alert to the AI reality and the opportunity to reallocate labour. Mr Douglass had little optimism that AI will create the new jobs optimists have described. 'Some of the large tech executives are out there publicly saying, 'oh, well jobs are always to be found'. But that's not what they're saying privately. In private they're saying, 'these jobs are gone forever',' Mr Douglass said. The so-called godfather of AI, Geoffrey Hinton, suggested tradespeople such as plumbers would have more secure employment in an AI-dominated future but Mr Douglass said that's not strictly true. For governments, a flow-on effect of mass job cuts includes surging benefit claims, slumping taxation revenue and ballooning budget deficits. Consumer demand will evaporate, he warned. 'Positioning yourself for the medium term has never been more important because the markets can react very savagely and very quickly when something starts becoming obvious,' he said. Safer options could include the likes of McDonald's and Amazon the stockpicker said, with the caveat neither were firm predictions. 'McDonald's may well be fine because it's down the discretionary income curve, and people need to eat. Supermarkets may be fine, Amazon may be fine; they own a physical distribution network and we're going to have to consume food. 'And if something's disrupted, you want to exit. You don't want to be in Kodak at the end.' Originally published as Magellan co-founder Hamish Douglass's grim artificial intelligence warning: 'Half the index could collapse'
