Myron Shlapak

Blame Realtors, Brokers and Bankers - Not Greenspan

We can not blame all on Mr. A.G. but we should let the chips fall where they will.

The Fed has other duties and tools available to them for controlling/directing the economy and investing. Many conservative economists over the years of his career called upon him and the Monetary Committee to utilize those other tools, raise margin percentages for one, to halt the exuberance.

When he said the low, long term rates were a Conundrum it should have been a Red Flag that something was going on and the Fed should have been on their toes. When the Banks began giving money away they had a responsibility to slow or even end the party.

No one wants to be a Party Pooper and this is one reason why the Maestro was so revered. He always seemed to be able to orchestrate another Encore.

What Do Fed Rate Cuts Mean for Your Stock Portfolio?

One thing to keep in mind regarding the potentially low interest rates.

It is only good for the economy if someone is willing to lend it out.

So far just about all the money coming from the Fed is staying in the Banks, only trickles are getting out to thier best clients. High risk will not see any cash for some time.

Stocks Stink. Buy Bonds!

It is a little late to get the best income bonds as those are now selling at premiums. There are still some decent bonds, GMAC - COMCAST - Bear Sterns, to name a few that are still available at a discount.

GMAC is rated at junk but is not likely to go belly-up, but then that is what I also said about MCI. So look to your own sence of risk aversion.

Is Overindebtedness Pushing Us Into a Deflationary Spriral?

Good point History101 except that trade is not the problem. The problem is Competition. If you believe in a Capitalist society then you must believe in Competition. The competition is killing us.

Had the bigwigs in Detroit spent the money on research, instead of giving themselves ever-larger bonuses, they might have developed a more fuel-efficient car. A car that got 100 miles to the gallon, looked well ran cleanly and needed only minimum maintenance. Would it matter much if the car cost a couple of thousand more because it was made in America. I don’t think so.

Jeremy Grantham: Hold Cash, Not Stocks

How much of the current meltdown is due to the recent exposure at Societe Generale?

There seems to be an Imelda load of shoes still to drop.

What Happens When Globalization Goes Bad?

There was an editorial in Barons some months back about reverse immigration. US cititzens leaving the country permanently to start lives elsewhere.

This had been going on for sometime with retirees, where the strong dollar allowed people to enhance their lifestyles in countries like Spain and Poland. Of course that was prior to the Euro.

The gist of the editorial, and I wish I had kept the authors name, was that Young families are packing up and moving out. They are going to where the jobs and opportunities are.

This country is a country of immagrents. When we stop the flow of new blood coming in it will become a country of old foggies.

Globalization is not bad. It is a wake-up call to US, compete or die.