realold

Ivy Zelman: Home Prices Going Back Down

The "Age of Obama", Yikes! Using the problem as an argument for why there is no problem......Government spending gone wild, stimulus used for welfare (tax credits to those who don't pay taxes), trillions more on the horizon, the destruction of the U.S. healthcare system, preaching the decline of America on foreign trips, cap and tax, the list is endless, but we are not. The cure is to reverse this armegedon, not praise it!


On Nov 20 11:20 AM Tony Petroski wrote:

> Mr. Harrison.
>
> The worst is behind us, despite what Ivy Zelman (great name) might
> say. This is the Age of Obama, and we're not looking back.
>
> Housing is picking up (slowly). You'll know we're at a peak again
> when the Mexican crews are putting on the roofs.

Energy Watch: Solve for California

God Forbid!


On Nov 19 09:54 AM Mad Hedge Fund Trader wrote:

> vgt I finished my indoctrination on how to overthrow the government
> last weekend. Specifically, I attended a grass roots meeting of activists
> in Berkeley, California planning to collect 450,000 signatures by
> April to put the “California Democracy Act of 2010” on the November
> ballot. The measure seeks to amend California’s broken constitution
> by permitting passage of budget and tax measures with a simple majority.
> The current two thirds requirement, which California shares only
> with the miniature states of Rhode Island and Delaware, is widely
> blamed for the legislative impasse in Sacramento that has driven
> the state to financial ruin. Overdependence on capital gains-up to
> 40% of revenues in good years-enabled the state to just barely balance
> the budget at stock and real estate market tops, but death spiral
> into gigantic deficits during the inevitable busts that followed.
> Furthermore, since proposition 13 capped real estate taxes at 1.25%
> 1978, the state’s population has grown by 16 million to 38 million,
> placing a backbreaking strain on all services. Only six obstinate,
> conservative legislators are holding hostage the world’s sixth largest
> economy, right after France. Decades of relentless gerrymandering
> have made virtually every seat in the state safe, so elections offer
> no solutions. I sat down with Daryl Steinberg, president of the California
> Senate, who says that people of all political stripes are fed up.
> Once boasting the best public education system in the country, California
> now ranks 47th in spending/pupil and 49th in pupils/teacher. The
> University of California, the top public university in the world
> and a veritable PhD and Nobel Prize factory, has endured two 20%
> back to back budget cuts. Schools, police and fire departments, parks
> and aid agencies are closing throughout the state. Antiquated infrastructure
> is falling apart, with the San Francisco Bay Bridge closed for five
> days this month, forcing the local economy to take a huge hit. The
> barbaric prison system, which has been ruled by a federal judge as
> inflicting “cruel and unusual punishment,” is letting 24,000 prisoners
> out early, since it can’t afford to house or feed them. The public
> outrage is so violent the initiative will almost certainly pass.
> When it does, taxes are going to go up a lot. Target numero uno:
> property taxes and the top 5% of income earners. Expect a battle
> royal, as the top 1% of taxpayers already pay a marginal state tax
> rate of 10.3%, the second highest in the country after Vermont, generating
> 50% of state revenues. This will make our sunshine the world’s most
> expensive. That will be great news for the Golden State’s beleaguered
> bond holders who will love to see new sustainable sources of revenue.
> Take a look at the California municipal bond funds (VCV), (NCP),
> and the (NVX). If California were a stock, I’d be buying it now.
> If you want to join the revolution, or just learn more about the
> issue, go to www.CAMajorityRule.com

Bill Gross: Anything But 0.01%

Conside crbq, which is also poised to deliver 2+% dividends.


On Nov 19 10:02 PM Mark Bern wrote:

> International exposure is always a good thing, but today we might
> want to look more toward the economic leaders of tomorrow with a
> larger percentage of our investments. It also makes sense, as YellowHoard
> & others points out, to also invest in commodities. So, one wrinkle
> to consider is to invest in companies most likely to benefit from
> rising commodity prices that are located primarily in the countries
> whose economies and currencies are most likely to outperform the
> US and the dollar. As demand eventually rises, commodities, such
> as gold, copper, coal, and natural gas will rise in price. As the
> US$ devalues you will also make a dollar-term profit on the fx.

U.S. Job Losses Demystified

With Obamacare, you will be both!


On Nov 16 06:36 PM Gary A wrote:

> No if we get rid of Obama we will elect a neocon. Can you imagine
> endless war with the deficits we are running?
>
> Listening to the Republican candidates on war last fall was scary.
> They want the brink of WW3. I would rather be poor than dead. <br/>

U.S. Job Losses Demystified

The government facilitated your greed via numerous laws, treaties and encouragement. However, I do agree with much that you do say about corporate culture and motivation, and it is disgusting. My late uncle (Harvard law) helped facilitate off-shoring after WWII and I never thought much of him for it. He made a good living and left the rest of us with two jobs and mess. Perhaps you will join him soon.


On Nov 16 07:43 PM The Other One wrote:

> wow, people can really twist and manipulate anything to fit and/or
> rationalize a particular viewpoint! Everything under the sun can
> be blamed on the gov't. I work for a Fortune 500 and we've been outsourcing
> for years, never have I heard that "gov't is depleting capital" or
> "gov'ts high taxes" etc were the primary reason for the jobs going
> offshore (people remember that most corporations are expert at "reducing
> their tax liabilities" through various tax loopholes, think Goldman
> Sachs with $54 BILLION in revenue for 2008 AND $14 MILLION in tax
> expense!!! - but I digress).
>
> The main reason for offshoring of jobs is CHEAP LABOR plain and simple!!
> We analyze whether a foreign market has enough cheap labor with a
> high enough literacy level to make operations successful + other
> logistics (e.g., shipping rates, communication, intellectual property
> concerns and product safety etc). If all fits the model, its a GO!
>
>
> On the job creation front, what drives hiring decisions is DEMAND
> for products, plain and simple. Each employee is an investment, if
> we cannot 're-coup' his cost he is not getting hired. If the demand
> is NOT there, a tax break will not lead us to hire!
>
> For those blaming the gov't for all our ills, you can do as you please!
> But remember, the gov't did not ship jobs overseas, we did (corporations),
> the gov't did not inflate home prices, we did (buyers and sellers)
> and the gov't did not knock the wind out of the economy, we did (corporate
> financiers aka wall Street), yet we cry like babies asking the gov't
> to fix all and even blaming it for all!!
>
>
> I take responsibility for my actions and frankly, the endless chase
> for PROFIT is our waterloo (we've got to keep the Dow, S&amp;P 500
> and those bonuses coming)! Look don't cry to the Fed, look within
> for the problem and maybe a credible solution can be found. The gov't
> didn't make and cannot fix our problems.

U.S. Job Losses Demystified

I saw you on "Fast Money" this afternoon and thought that you were meant with severe disrespect. I am glad that you have the fortitude to go on these shows and hope you continue to do so. People just don't get it and appear to be completely close-minded or brain-washed. The Obamanation continues and thank you for speaking the truth about it and the press that supports it.

U.S. Job Losses Demystified

The same goes for the workers (people) who will begin the great reverse migration out of the U.S. into countries with more freedom and growth/prosperity prospects. The first might be surgeons and other medical specialists?


On Nov 15 01:41 PM optionsgirl wrote:

> We are going to see another Ayn Rand prediction occur:
> The more onerous it becomes to do business in the USA, the more companies
> will leave. Why should they stay?

Dividend Grouping for Dividend Income

Or just give up and buy a .2% CD and lose money every year to depreciation of the dollare?


On Nov 14 12:29 PM secmaven wrote:

> This is not the 1980's or 1990's any more, guys. If you think that
> there is such a thing as a continuing long term dividend increaser
> that can be put in a buy and hold and forget porfolio you are dreaming.
> Back in the day this worked because the US economy was growing. No
> more. So how about a buy and hold strategy for Chinese stocks? Brazilian
> stocks? Russian stocks? Check the politics, the accounting standards
> used and the old boy networks that run these countries. You might
> as well buy any major US bank stock.

Dividend Grouping for Dividend Income

A big holding of Vodofone is Verizon. So, you are getting a T look alike and some other exposure.


On Nov 14 04:51 PM SlamNT wrote:

> SlamNT
>
> I like the concept of having Walmart with a higher dividend play
> like AT&amp;T, but I prefer to use Vodafhone (VOD-N) instead! Vodafhone
> has a much broader reach and competetive advantage over AT&amp;T,
> plus there is the currency hedge.

Dividend Grouping for Dividend Income

I own O, but appreciate your point and will consider it. Thanks.


On Nov 13 12:34 PM Ralph Ozorkiewicz wrote:

> Good approach. I would use NNN instead of O for the REIT dividend.
> It has 20 consecutive years of dividend growth, much like O, but
> only pays out 75% of FFO in doing so and has a stronger balance sheet.

Weekly Recap: Is the U.S. Going Bankrupt?

I agree except that the Obamanation is not a contender, it is the champion. Current events are the worse to ever effect the U.S. Are they reversible? I sure hope so.

Before the election, I heard a replay of the Obama radio interview from his early junior senator days. I had hoped that it would be played many times before the election, but it was not. He really thinks that the Constitution is wrong and needs to be changed to give an advantage and special consideration to "diadvantaged" people.

My Dad picked cotton at age 8 and ate horse feed many times for dinner. He and I did just fine without the government's help. Obama thinks otherwise and is ruining this country in order to promote the poor toward middle class benefits by "giving" them what my family worked so hard to achieve. The result will be the end of the middle class as it is slammed into poverty.

The purpose of Obamacare is to accelerate this by packing medical schools with the underqualified poor (read about special grants and dispensation for minorities and underpriviled in medical school entrance in the House Healthcare bill) and to chase the current medical establishment to greener fields ( I saw my liberal doctor this week and these are his words). This will destroy quality care in the U.S.

Point is, the U.S. economy and dollar are both doomed on the current path. I will be increasing commodity and specific gold miner stock ownership on any pullbacks. China, India, Canada, and Brazil will rule the world. And the citizens voted for this!

I am so sad to see this in my lifetime and fear deeply for my grandchildren. Hope you young people find your way out.


On Nov 13 10:05 PM raising4daughters wrote:

> There were a lot of other red flags during the campaign that BHO
> doesn't have a clue. He's a thinly-veneered, no talent affirmative-action
> hire. Hopefully we'll learn from this experiment.
>
> Full disclosure: Not a Beck/Rush follower. W was the worst or 2nd
> worst president in my lifetime, but BHO appears to be a contender.
>
>

Rogers: In This Market, Commodities Rule

Per Rogers, farmland. The problem is that this is only practical for zillioniares like Rogers, or on a very small scale. A Farm REIT would be nice. Or a large corporate farm company? Boeing used to be in this business, but who is now? I would be long Canada in general (farms, timber, oil, gold, etc.)


On Nov 13 10:48 AM auto44 wrote:

> How does one invest safely in cotton and coffee for the longer haul
> than the monthly bet at the futures counter? Any Ideas out there?
> Thanks, Bob

Marc Faber Is Conflicted About the Price of Gold

Boy do you need to lighten up. Political correctness and lack of a sense of humor must be your middle name.


On Nov 13 09:28 AM Billy Hawkfinder wrote:

> Although the author may think that the comments about "thick accent"
> are preciously brilliant, in my opinion they are offensive and unnecessary.
> If you want to say "Austrian School," say it. Billy

Barrick Gold Confirms We've Reached 'Peak Gold'

Are you really suggesting that individual gold molecules are floating around in the ocean? This seems a little far fetched. As far as I know, gold does not combine with other elements, so would it be "harvested" one molecule at a time and then these plants that captured the gold (God knows how) then accumulated, processed, etc.? This sounds far fetched as well. What science are you basing all this on?


On Nov 13 07:54 AM ricardoRI wrote:

> "Peak gold" really does not make sense for a non-fuel. Fossil fuels
> are consumed, so when they are gone, we need to extract more, or
> find substitutes. No one is hoarding oil from 1900. When oil is gone,
> it is really gone, burned into CO2.
>
> All the gold ever mined is still here (except for the trivial amounts
> shot into space). We still have gold from 3000 BC.
> The refined gold supply will always increase, but probably not as
> fast as demand (population growth).
>
> The amount of gold dissolved in the oceans is greater by about an
> order of magnitude than all the gold mined in history. (It is far
> from economic yet, so don't rush out and invest). We are not "running
> out" of gold, although we are running out of ore than can be processed
> for less than $100 per ounce. So what?

Divining the Next Crisis: All Eyes on the Dollar

Depends on your definition. The current majority represents the "oppressed" minorities and you can read it in the language of their bills, including Obamacare, which calls for a shift of wealth and special grants and education for "under privileged", no doubt to become doctors and nurses to replace the real ones that will quit or go out of business. This is all about a transfer of wealth and creation of a permanent class of Democrats dependent on the government for everything, including relief from pain and life itself. If this is you, you are being "watched out for". If it is not, you are being screwed BIG time.


On Nov 09 02:26 PM adan wrote:

> great article, thanks!
>
> certainly letting the market drop is much more a big deal for the
> 1% that own 98% of the stocks -
>
> for the regular guy, a currency that holds its store of value would
> be much more beneficial -
>
> is there anyone still representing us regular guys?