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Questioning Obamanomics

Maybe we can save some money by paying economics professors at public universities less.

Contemplating Key Indicators

Nice summary of many things I have been wondering about. Surely there must be a reckoning to the end of massive consumer credit and debt. Like many investors based on logic, I am not counting on a quick recovery here.
Fascinating to see how the economy would pull off the opposite. Of course, many people are beginning to delve deeper into official statistics these days.

4 Sectors to 'Buy in May'

Brian - "Everyone knows that every index turns into an instant bull market when totalitarians are in control."

Obviously, I did not initially catch your sarcasm there.

I respect your political opinions but gotta say that the stat about the stock market under Dems seems to be true.

Nevertheless, I wish you make a ton of money!

4 Sectors to 'Buy in May'

So Brian, you're saying that Democrats are totalitarians and therefore there will be a bull market. Then, in the next paragraph, you say the Democrats will crash the economy because of their tax, energy and healthcare policies.

You don't make any sense.

4 Sectors to 'Buy in May'

Brian:
"Everyone knows that every index turns into an instant bull market when totalitarians are in control."

Please provide support for this statement.

Imperial Sugar: Coping with Disaster

I believe the author of this article has it right. I don't see where he misidentifies the location.
"sudardaddie" - or should i say sugardaddy?

What If We'd Been on the Gold Standard?

I agree with Hamilton - the gold standard is a hard master. That said, I do own gold as it's a good investment right now.
BTW, gold's worth outside human perception, a few industrial uses and jewelry doesn't merit its magical reputation. It's a shiny metal, people. What's "real" about that? If you want to go down that road, land and farming is the only real wealth.

The Feds Didn’t Bring Spitzer Down - His Bank Did

Oh, my last thought for now is addressed to Dixie. Dixie, you don't get to decide whether or not you have anything to hide. They will.

The Feds Didn’t Bring Spitzer Down - His Bank Did

Let me put it this way: your bounds can be violated with greater impunity. The entity who can violate bounds at will is the stronger party. Therefore, more government power, less individual liberty and independence.
Still not defending prostitution or the Guv. But I'm concerned that many Americans don't perceive this dynamic of permission, privacy and accountability as directly related to individualism.

The Feds Didn’t Bring Spitzer Down - His Bank Did

Ok I will try Yohoho. It hurts your liberty by changing the power dynamic between the individual and the state. Basically, the state has become more powerful than you and diminished part of your liberty. The state is less and less accountable to you. No warrant, no reason. Just power wrested away from you. You have less liberty, less autonomy, less captain of your own ship-ness, if you will. They no longer have to respect you. Again: the dynamic is different without accountability and cause.
Ok, for the second part of your question. This hurts you because lack of accountability inevitability leads to abuse of that power and coercion of the lesser party. Men are not angels and you need the most transparency and equal rights and respect you can get. You quit asking for respect and you're gonna hurt real, real bad.
BTW, none of this is supposed to mean solicitation is OK.

Housing Bailout: Crony Capitalism Comes to America?

Anybody with more than a passing knowledge of our economic system knows we don't practice real free markets. Never have. The rich and powerful exercise the greatest addiction to socialism through such programs as the topic of this post.
The connected and powerful are rarely held accountable and often use public resources for their own ends. I agree that's bad, but it is naive as heck to get mad about this.
In an ideal world, I would be in favor of letting bad mortgages fail, housing prices coming down to affordability, etc...But neither Republicans or Democrats will let that happen. Look at the campaign contributions.
I guess my point is: why are the commentators so surprised? Haven't you seen these things over and over again? What the author wrote is simply what is going on in every policy wonk's mind in DC.
You thought there weren't dark corners in the free market?

AOL Revenue Continues to Slide

If you can figure out why some people (the same ones?) bought the Pontiac Aztek you will know the answer.

Bullish Investors Should Be Rooting for the NY Giants

Eh, come on, people, it's a fun and oft-cited stat. I can't think of any reason it might obtain though.

Time to Reconsider REIT ETFs

I am long REITs and agree with those who state REITs may have reached some kind of bottom while acknowledging the risks raised by some of the comments here. There's no good economic news and it's pure bottom fishing based on 1) belief in cycles and 2) other value investors supporting some kind of bottom.

Wake Up GM: Toyota Overtook You Years Ago

One day, we will look back and identify that special moment as the day GM built the Pontiac Aztek.