Dan J. Harkey

Master Educator | Business & Finance Consultant | Mentor

Opinion & Prospective

Dan’s Take on How Things Really Work. Truth, Consequences, and Comedy—Occasionally in that Order.

If you’ve ever felt like the official story doesn’t match what you’re seeing, you’re not alone.

Policies, markets, and institutions don’t just “happen”—they produce consequences. Some intended. Many not.

I break down what’s going on (and what’s really driving it) with sharp observations, plain-English logic, and a bit of humor- sifting through the lies, deceptions, and illusions to find the truth.

Search Results

Car Invoice Price and Dealer Markup: Part III of III

What to Say Back:

Car Invoice Price and Dealer Markup: Part II of III

The real negotiation usually begins when you sit down with the closer (a.k.a. the finance Manager or sales Manager)

Car Invoice Price and Dealer Markup: Part I of III

Smart Tips for Buying a Vehicle with Confidence

When The Customer Needs Your Talent and Services, You’re Their Best Friend—Until They Don’t- Then They Ghost You

Two decades ago, “relationship-driven business” was more than a slogan—it was a survival strategy. Today, professionals can combat “client ghosting” by implementing consistent follow-ups, personalized check-ins, and transparent communication to maintain visibility and trust.

“After I Pass Away”

No Conversation Needed

SB-4: Free Sacred Trinity Church (FSTC) of San Diego: Ministerial Review Procedure Specifically Tailored to Their Real Estate Development Projects

How to Keep Your SB-4 Project in the “Fast Lane”

SB-4: The Devil Called CEQA- The Three Words That Change Everything for Faith-Based Housing Developer Must Confront

Why SB-4’s “Not a Project” Status Gives Project Developers like Free Sacred Trinity Church a Stronger Hand

Jumping Through Hoops: Real Estate Version

Introduction: A Metaphor That Became a Workplace Reality

Logic and Reason in a World of Abandonment and Manufactured Illusions

The world doesn’t owe us meaning—and that’s exactly why illusions sell so well.

“Light My Fire”: The Doors and the Enduring Legacy

Few bands captured the restless imagination of the late 1960s quite like The Doors. Formed in Los Angeles in 1965, the group—Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore—crafted a sound that blended blues, rock, jazz, Latin rhythms, and a theatrical intensity that set them apart from their contemporaries. Their music did more than entertain; it challenged conventions and mirrored the cultural upheavals of the era.

The “Real” Homelessness Numbers Feel Secretive—Especially for People Living in Cars: Part II of II

On almost any night, you can see a growing shadow population-people sleeping in cars, vans, RVs, or behind warehouses-highlighting the challenge of understanding what’s truly happening in your city. There exists in the consciousness of the observer an element of suspension rather than compassion and understanding.

“A Travesty of a Mockery of a Sham”: The Private Money Lender

Why Hard Money Lenders See the Industry More Clearly Than Anyone Else

The Bandwagon Effect on Social Media: Follow the Crowd

(What it is, how it works, why it’s powerful)

The Gatekeepers Have Lost the Narrative

— and Biased Journalism Has Been Stripped Down and Is Being Rebuilt in a Perverse Public View.

“It’s a 5 O’clock World.” Part I of II

“It’s a 5 o’clock world” means: the workday ends, and a sense of relief and freedom begins—typically at 5 p.m., the traditional end of the workday.

“I Love This Bar”: Toby Keith’s Iconic Country Song

Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar” is more than just a chart-topping single; it became a cultural symbol of American small-town life in the early 2000s. Released as the lead single from Keith’s 2003 album Shock’n Y’all, the track arrived in August 2003 (listed as 18 August 2003 in some discographies). It quickly became a staple of bar jukeboxes, tailgates, and country radio, reflecting a broader cultural resonance.

Legacy Media Isn’t Simply “Dying”: It Has Self-Destructed.

But it is also being systematically strangled by economic and structural failures that undermine its survival.

Why the “Real” Homelessness Numbers Are Secretive: Part I of II

—Especially for People Living in Cars:

Satisfaction: The Rolling Stones and the Cultural Earthquake “

When The Rolling Stones released “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” in 1965, they didn’t just add another song to the rock and roll canon—they ignited a cultural spark that helped define an entire generation. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the track emerged during a period of global social unrest, and its tone of frustration and rebellion resonated with young listeners.

Why Homelessness Became “Profitable” for Government and Related Institutions.

—And How to Break the Perverse Incentives