'The Great Reset' advice for dummies: ESG in Insurance

June 02, 2022

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Hi everybody!

A listener reached out recently asking how to find an insurance company that isn’t engaged in a sordid love affair with ESG scores. The short answer is — it’s not easy. I did a quick search for some of the most common insurers, and most of them are openly bragging about their commitment to ESG.

I can’t tell you which insurance company you should use, because every situation is unique, and besides, I’m just a 26-year-old who is doing all of this for the first time, remember?

BUT, I have become a certified ESG supersleuth, and I would love to share with you my findings and teach you my sleuthy ways.

First, a bit of bad news. In just a quick search, I was able to find multiple insurance companies proclaiming their fealty to ESG scores.

For example:

Allstate

“Environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors increasingly influence Allstate’s strategy, guide its management of risks and opportunities, and drive long-term enterprise value creation.”

State Farm

“State Farm has a long-standing commitment to excellence in environmental, social and governance (ESG) areas of our work. In 2020, we made a concerted effort to more holistically place ESG activities at the forefront of our business strategy and everyday practices.”

Progressive

“Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives have been an integral part of our business throughout our 84-year history and here, in our second annual Corporate Sustainability Report, we showcase ESG’s fundamental value to Progressive.”

USAA

“USAA Real Estate has a reputation for excellence in customer service and taking a leadership role in the real estate industry. As part of our commitment to excellence, we will identify and implement improved financial and operational efficiencies, striving toward world-class status in environmental, social and governance performance. ESG will play an important role in our efforts to achieve our strategic objective.”

Liberty Mutual

“Addressing ESG issues isn’t new to us. In 2022, we will mark our 110th anniversary and we are more motivated than ever to continue making a difference as we tackle the world’s most pressing environmental, social and economic challenges. As the world around us continues to transform at a rapid pace, I have never been more confident in our ability to harness the full resources of our company to deliver for our customers, partners, employees and communities.”

Nationwide

“We take responsible investing seriously and use environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors to inform our investments approach.”

(This is not a comprehensive list of ALL companies who embrace ESG scores.)

That’s the bad news. But the good news is, anyone with the internet and some patience can become an ESG supersleuth as I have, and then we can work together to expose what we find.

It all begins with a search engine. I searched phrases like:

(Name of Insurance Company) ESG
(Name of Insurance Company) commitment to ESG
CEO of (Name of Insurance Company) on ESG’s
(Name of CEO) on ESG’s
(Name of Insurance Company) Corporate Sustainability Report
(Name of Insurance Company) governance/environmental/social standards

(Note: Many insurance companies are owned by parent companies. You may want to check those out too.)

Unlike years ago, when these standards were kept on the DL, lots of companies had super obvious pro-ESG statements at the top of the webpage.

Other times, it took a bit more persistence.

If it was a long webpage, I would just copy it over to a word document and then search for “ESG” or “Governance” or something of the like.

I was able to do my search totally online. But, if you find calls to be more successful for you, then remember when you call to be excessively clear about what you're asking. For example, you don’t want to know if the company has been assigned an ESG score, because they don’t control that. You want to know if their company uses an ESG framework to make decisions. Also, remember what your Grandma taught you—you’ll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Remember what your Grandma taught you—you’ll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Let me be totally real with you.

At the end of my search, I don’t feel that I have any perfect options. I have an idea of which companies to avoid, which counts for something, but which companies to pursue is still a bit of a mystery.

Maybe there isn’t a perfect option for me right now.

In this process, I’m learning that sometimes the right thing is all mixed up with some of the wrong things. When there is no perfect option. I just have to go with the best course of action I have at the time.

Although we know that ESG and other Great Reset accouterments have been in the works for a while now, I feel like this all came up out of nowhere and is suddenly boxing me in from every side. That makes me want to fix everything at once, but I can’t.

I still try though.

We all have to be patient with ourselves and unravel this mess the same way it was built – slowly and one move at a time.

There won’t be a one-size-fits-all solution because the solution itself is decentralization. There won’t be one bank, one investment, one agency, one farmer's market, or one legislation that solves everything at once.

We each journey on individual paths toward the same goal.

Stuck on a lack of insurance options? Speak out: tell the companies how you feel (remember Grandma’s advice.) Or, If you’re not the type to do that, then try working on your investments. If that doesn’t work, make an effort to get you and your family into a local bank you trust. If you can’t do that, meet your neighbors.

What else can we be doing? (Seriously, I want to know.)

Also, insurance-minded folks, I am seeing a major opportunity here... just saying.

This post is part of a series by Mikayla G. Hedrick with all the advice you'll need to survive "The Great Reset." View more here.

Dockworker strike: Everything you need to know

Anadolu / Contributor | Getty Images

At midnight on September 30th, dockworkers across the East Coast went on strike, effectively cutting the country's import and export capabilities in half.

Don't go out and panic buy a pallet of toilet paper and instant ramen just yet. It's going to take some time for the full effects of the strike to be felt and hopefully, the strike will be good and over by then. But there are no guarantees, and this election cycle could get significantly more insane as we draw near to the election. And even if the strike is settled quickly, it shows growing cracks in our infrastructure and industrial capacity that needs to be addressed if America wants to maintain its global dominance.

Here is everything you need to know about the dockworker strike:

What do the dockworkers want?

Anadolu / Contributor | Getty Images

As with most strikes, pay is the driving factor behind this situation the country now finds itself in. The longshoremen want more pay, and with rising inflation who can blame them? After all, working the docks is hard and dangerous business, and fair compensation only seems... fair. But when you compare the wage of a dockworker, which is around $100,000 to $200,00 a year to the average income in America of $56,000, suddenly they seem significantly less sympathetic.

How much money are they asking for? For most Americans, a three percent raise is considered high, but the unions are asking up to 15 percent, depending on location. On top of that, they are asking for a 77 percent raise over the next six years. The West Coast dock workers recently made off with a 36 percent raise and were considered lucky. These increases in costs are just going to be transferred to the end consumer, and we'll likely see a jump in prices if these terms are accepted.

The other major ticket item is protection against automation. Autonomous ports are quickly becoming a reality, with major ports in China that are capable of handling vast amounts of cargo being run by a single office, not an army of dock workers. Naturally, the longshoremen are concerned that their jobs are at risk of being replaced by machines that can work harder, longer, for cheaper, and without risk of injury.

How will it affect Americans?

Joe Raedle / Staff | Getty Images

Don't panic yet!

It is going to take some time for consumers to feel the effects of the strike and it is possible that a resolution could happen at any time.

Week one should be pretty much business as usual. It might be a good idea to stock up on fruit and other perishables, but there is no need to go COVID-lockdown-crazy yet.

Week two is when you'll first start feeling the pinch. Fresh fruits and veggies will become scarce, along with other imported goods like shoes, toys, and TVs. Prices will start to creep up as the shelves will start to look a little sparse. The supply of tools, lumber, and other hardware materials will also begin to dry up.

By week three, the cracks in the system will really start to show. Entire industries will begin to slow down, or even stop. Factory workers will get furloughed and sent home without pay. Stores will have to ration items, prices will be sky-high, and online orders will come to a standstill. At this point, the strike will have escalated into a full-blown crisis, and even if it was resolved immediately, it would still take weeks to restore everything to working order.

At the four-week mark, the situation will have developed into a national security crisis, and as Glenn describes, a poly-crisis. Small business will be closing their doors, entire brands will be out of stock, and everything that remains will be so expensive it is unaffordable. By this point, the holiday season will be drawing near and there will be a rush on any sort of gift or decor items left. At this point, irreparable damage to our economy will have occurred and it will be months if not years before it can be mended.

While that sounds bleak, with the election just around the corner, it seems unlikely that the Biden-Harris administration will let it get that bad. That being said, their administration has not been characterized by good decision-making and reasonable policy, so there are no guarantees.

What can be done?

The Washington Post / Contributor | Getty Images

The big question is "Why hasn't Biden already done something?"

President Biden, who ran on the image of a blue-collar, union-worker, has been uncharacteristically absent from the issue. Despite his earlier involvement in a train strike, Biden has declared that involvement in union fights is not a presidential issue unless it getsreally bad.

So where's the line? At what point will he step in? He has to understand that an economic crisis right before the election will reflect poorly on Kamala.

Join Glenn TONIGHT for BlazeTV's exclusive VP debate coverage!

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Join Glenntonight for Vice Presidential debate coverage you do not want to miss!

Tonight is the first (and only) Vice Presidential debate, and it will be hosted by CBS News. But don't be reliant on CBS News or any other mainstream media channel for their biased coverage. Join the BlazeTV live stream tonight to get the uncensored truth alongside top-quality commentary from Glenn and the rest of the world-class panel.

Glenn is joined by Megyn Kelly, Liz Wheeler, Allie Beth Stuckey, Steve Deace, Jill Savage, Dave Landau, and more to cover the CBS News Vice Presidential Debate. Blaze Media subscribers gain access to live chat with the fantastic panel of hosts! If you subscribe today by visiting BlazeTV.com/debate you will get $40 off of your annual subscription with code DEBATE. This is the largest discount ever offered, so take advantage NOW!

See you TONIGHT at 8 PM ET for an event you do NOT want to miss it!

POLL: Can the VP debate affect the election?

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The first (and likely only) Vice President debate will be held on CBS News on Tuesday, October 1st.

The debate takes place at 9 p.m. Eastern Time and will be the first time we see J.D. Vance and Tim Walz face off in person. Typically, the VP debate is little more than a formality, and rarely does it affect the election in any significant way. But this is no ordinary election. The stakes are higher than they have been in years, and Trump and Harris are still in a razor-thin race, according to the polls. Both Vance and Walz are relative newcomers to the national stage and still have room to make an impression on the American people, and with the race as tight as it is, that might make all the difference.

So what do you think? Can this VP debate make an impact on the election? Are you going to tune in? And what sort of questions and issues need to be brought up? Let us know in the poll below:

Will this VP debate be important in the overall election?

Are you going to watch the VP debate?

Should the debaters be asked about the Biden-Harris administration's failing economy?

Should the debaters be asked about climate change and energy policy?

Should the debaters be asked about the rise of globalism?

Five things that PROVE Kamala's plan for climate authoritarianism

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If you wanted to cripple America for years, what would be the best way to go about it?

If your mind immediately went to the power grid, you think a lot like Glenn. For decades the secret to America's growth and prosperity has been its abundant and relatively cheap energy. Electricity has been so cheap for so long that many Americans take it for granted, though raising prices has put it back on many people's radars.

There are forces on the Left, including Kamala Harris, who is working to be "unburdened by what has been," and plunge America into a dystopian future where only the elite can afford "luxuries" like A/C and dishwashers. While Kamala has either remained silent or been dismissive of her radical climate policies, here are things that prove that Kamala has disastrous plans for our energy future:

Kamala endorsed the Green New Deal

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

In 2019, then-Senator Harris was proud to co-sponsor the Green New Deal. This was, by all metrics, the most authoritarian legislation in U.S. history. It was so over the top, cartoonishly evil, that it hardly seemed real. It aimed to ban all coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear power, and dismantle and rebuild every aspect of our lives, from what we eat to how we travel (for the worse). It also aimed to provide economic security to those "unwilling to work," aka, money for nothing.

Had several failed climate actions

Alex Wong / Staff | Getty Images

After the Green New Deal was defeated, Kamala tried several times to pass something similar. First was the "Comprehensive Climate Plan" which she introduced during her 2019 presidential bid. This plan had a staggering 10 TRILLION DOLLAR price tag, which is double the entire U.S. federal budget and aimed at exceeding the Paris Agreement climate goals.

In 2020, she introduced the Climate Equity Act, which would have created another government office called the "Climate and Environmental Equity Office.” This office would review all congressional bills and judge their potential impact on "communities that have experienced environmental injustice or are vulnerable to climate injustice.” As if that wasn't overreaching enough, it would also require every government agency to publish a biannual "climate and environmental justice accountability agenda.”

Finally, she pushed the “Environmental Justice for All Act,” which is exactly what it says on the tin. It boils down to a bunch of new rules and advisory bodies that would give cash handouts to "environmental justice communities." Fortunately, just like the other two this one never saw the light of day.

Inflation reduction act

Michael M. Santiago / Staff | Getty Images

The crowning jewel of Kamala's "historic" vice presidency was when she cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the Green New Deal Jr, otherwise known as the Inflation Reduction Act. While it was obvious from the beginning that the Inflation Reduction Act had nothing to do with inflation, and was just a climate change bill in disguise, Biden recently confirmed this to all the nay-sayers. Kamala confirmed that this was more than just another Biden gaffe when she admitted that it is "the single largest climate investment in American history.”

So what fruits does this wonderful piece of legislation have to offer? 60 out of the promised 2,000+ EV school buses. It is unclear if the delay is caused by schools backing out of the program due to the technological limitations of the busses or the outrageous cost- more than three times that of a traditional bus. Kamala's vision of the future sure is bright.

Skyrocketing home prices

PATRICK T. FALLON / Contributor | Getty Images

If the Inflation Reduction Act is the greatest climate bill ever, then we have a pretty good idea of how it affects the average American: poorly. Over the past year, U.S. electricity prices have risen 3.6 percent, which outpaces inflation. Current estimates suggest the average American is paying 5,000 dollars a year more on utilities than they were before Biden and Kamala took office. Not to mention all the new green mandates enforced on new homes, which on average is adding 31,000 dollars to the price of homes.

Judging by the climate-leading state of California, this is pretty standard. Californians' electricity bill has gone up over three times faster than the rest of the nation since 2008 and Californians collectively owe more than 2 billion dollars in unpaid utility bills. Not to mention the havoc green energy is playing on the electric grid.

Ban fracking

Spencer Platt / Staff | Getty Images

Over the last fifteen years, the U.S. has reduced our emissions more than any other nation, but this was accomplished despite the authoritarian legislation, not because of it. Natural free-market developments have encouraged a transition from coal to natural gas, largely due to fracking, which has dramatically increased the availability of the fuel. A whopping 43 percent of American electricity is generated by natural gas, meaning its price has a huge impact on the cost of energy. So naturally the Biden-Harris administration has cracked down on natural gas and oil exploration, and in 2019 Kamala stated that she favored banning fracking. She has since walked back that statement, but seeing how hostile the administration has been towards fracking it's almost certain that a Kamala presidency would spell doom for natural gas.

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