The take away seems to be that CPI and BLS inflation is true and is low, and that it will continue. The raw data seems to indicate that the indicated low inflation is a result of a lowering of capital and labor costs, all the while the ten year average cost of raw materials (food, energy, minerals ) is escalating at a healthy clip. This is different than the 70's, where input costs were immediately passed through and not offset by government input. It works for now.
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Business borrowing is up, and cash position is up. If this is a smart move, then it seems to me that corporations are counting on buying assets after a shake out. New equipment is not getting cheaper.
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Thank you for the reply. The colloquial use of pedigree in my small circle is meant as humor, and hopefully didn't offend.
I agree with your assessment up to the point of the national dividend being used to retire debts. My experience is that most people do what they believe to be in their best short term interests, and that, for the majority of Americans, is to satisfy their wants. The average private retirement savings are a good indicator.
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Your pedigree is incredible. My comment is for my education. If a government issues dollars to its citizens by creating government held debt, isn't that by definition increasing the purchasing power of Joe Public? In the extreme, if Washington gave every citizen $10000 for Christmas by a QE or foreign sale of debt, wouldn't there be more money chasing fewer goods, and if the number of goods stayed the same, wouldn't the price go up? And if the only way for a government to reduce its overwhelming debt was to do just that, isn't that our future? I'm missing something.
Rare earth elements would be more appropriately called difficult to refine elements, as they are not especially rare in nature. Refining is energy intensive and creates environmental byproducts which are difficult to manage. Their sourcing from countries with lax environmental controls or government encouragement is expected. The recycling market was not addressed, which is the more interesting aspect of investing here.
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Right you are. He actually eliminated "stagflation" replaced it with the record inflation that peaked by 1981, and then restored us to normal growth by 1983. A necessary and timely response to the situation at hand.
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How about a good bout of inflation to cure the problem? Remember 1978-1982? No one was underwater who owned a house with a mortgage. A little Volker 20% inflation for a few years and the problem is solved.
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Is it really a hedge if the writer of your CDS does not have the ability to pay off in the event of a loss? That I believe is the fundamental issue at hand. If a large enough loss is actually anticipated, then the survival of the issuing companies requires that the "insurance" not be accessed, usually through some sort of revaluation of the underlying security. Seems like deception at the least.
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Splitting Berkshire into two periods , pre 1998 and post 1998, and you get a real eye opener on annual returns. A three decade run of 28% return is exceptional. The last 14 years not so much.
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Just went to sharpcharts to provide real numbers for total return. Their site only goes back 3338 days, so the numbers are slightly different than 1998 comparison. Total return for BRK.A is 76.2%. Total return for DIA is 76.4%. Looks like a wildly successful investment that BRK.A.
So for at least 3338 days, about 9 years, its been a dead heat with putting your money into DIA ETF.
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Not my cup of tea, though.
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I agree with your assessment up to the point of the national dividend being used to retire debts. My experience is that most people do what they believe to be in their best short term interests, and that, for the majority of Americans, is to satisfy their wants. The average private retirement savings are a good indicator.
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Cramer's 3 Misguided Comments About Berkshire Hathaway [View article]
So for at least 3338 days, about 9 years, its been a dead heat with putting your money into DIA ETF.
I reiterate, what a disappointment.
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Pretty much says it all.
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