Jerbear

U.S. Needs to Return to Its Manufacturing Base

I have been working in manufacturing for over 35 years. I have moved jobs overseas and have seen the results.

It is not the high cost of USA wages that makes us uncompetitive It is all the taxes that get attached to the wages that make us uncompetitive. FICA, state unemployement taxes and the high cost of medicare and medical costs. IF these programs were run efficiently and cost kept under control the USA wages would be competitive.

Americans are the most productive workers and produce better quality than any where in the world. Do you go to Walmart to buy quality products? The taxes and government garbage attached to the wages is the problem not the wages themselves.

It is the inefficiency of our government that makes us uncompetitive.

UltraShort ETFs: At a Tipping Point?

The charts say what ever you want them to say.

The mind sees what it wants to see.

Interrogate the data enough and it will say what every you want it to say.

"Get your facts first and then you can distort them as you please." Mark Twain

The Autos and Mentality That Ruined Detroit

I have been a supplier to the big six automakers for the past 15 years.

GM, Ford, Chrylser, Toyota, Honda and Nissan all have their own way of doing business and their own personalities.

GM and Chrysler are the worst of the bunch. They are bloating bureaucratic monsters that manage by intimidation. They intimidate their employees and suppliers to control and motivate. The unions control the plants which are over paid and over staffed.

No one is allowed to make a decision and they constantly move people around so that no one is accountable or can complete anything they start. Common Sense has left the building a long time ago.

Ford is better but not by much.

It would not be good for the USA to loose a company as large as GM. Management screwed it up long ago and it is beyond repair. Putting money into them would be a very bad investment.

Bond Expert: Friday Wrap

Interesting but what would you recommend? But you probably want me to pay you for that advice.

Seeking Alpha has turned into an advertising medium for financial adviser.

Why Does Wachovia Have to Pay Up for CDs?

Thanks User 255265
I just read Vernon's bio (click on it at the top of the page). It doesn't say anything about his forced resignation. Apparently it wasn't important enough to mention.

Conceit is an odd disease - It makes everyone sick except the one who has it.

Tuesday Outlook: Commodities, Emerging Markets

Blaming Bush is narrow minded name calling.

Congress has more power than the president. Congress has done nothing to prevent any of this. The problems with energy and social security have been known for decades. They have done nothing and continue to do nothing.

They all need to be removed and we start over. Never vote for an incumbent no matter what party they are in.

We need fresh minds and people willing to work more than two days a week.

Fannie and Freddie - Some Facts to Keep in Mind

X-terminator, You are 100% correct. Our lazy Congress is at fault. They blame each other for getting nothing done and both laugh at the average american for believing them. The money they spend on pork projects could have gone to alternative energy research.

They collect huge paychecks, enourmous pensions and work very few hours. They live the life of a rockstar.

The two party system is a farse. It needs to be flushed.

Never-never-never vote for an incumbent.

Is There Any Hope for the Big Three Auto Makers?

I have been a supplier to the big six for 15 years. They all have their own way of doing business and their own personality.

GM is the worst of the bunch. They are a bureacratic nightmare. They manage their people and their suppliers by intimindation. No one is allowed to make a decision without upper management approval that just bogs everything down. Upper management is inaccessible and won't empower anyone.

Commons sense is not to be found at GM. They move people around so much that no one ever finishes a project they started.

Without a major shake up of upper management they will go down the tubes and in my humble opinion they deserve everything they get.

Oil: If It Looks Like a Bubble...

Although oil is clearly behaving like a bubble the article does not discuss one difference between oil and housing and other bubbles.

Oil may have a limited supply, housing does not. Demand for housing can all but disappear but oil is a necessary commodity to run the country. This supply demand scenario may drive oil higher than anyone expects and rather than the bubble popping it may just level out.

Are the housing bubble and dot com bubble good comparisons to oil?

Is this posting just another contrarian indicator?

Any one have any thoughts?

Congress’ Love Affair with Convenient Solutions

Our two party system has created a Congress that is unaccountable, lazy and only interested in staying in office.

They blame each other for not getting anything done and eveyone buys that arguement. Both parties love this system because it allows them to work very few hours, collect big paychecks and pensions. They live like rockstars, always trying to keep the camera on them and get votes.

The American people are loyal to their party like their sports teams. Even when they stink they still support them. That has to change

Until this two party system collapses it will be more of the same. I believe we should vote out every incumbent. We need a revolt in the Congress not a resolution.

The Global Economy: U.S. vs. World Growth

Hey CLH,
You must be stupid.

The 'Peak Oil' Myth: New Oil Is Plentiful

It amazes me and infuriates me when an author presents facts and the commentators refute the facts but fail to give any of their own.

Several even suggest the author go do some more research but offer little else.

My golden rule- " What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."

Present your facts or get out of the way and don't dirty up the boards.

Speculation and the Price of Oil

What did he say?

1,238 Billion Barrels of Oil Reserves: Is This an Oil Price Bubble?

smith34m
We have needed an energy policy for many years. I have absolutley zero confidence that this government can produce a workable document of this kind. Look at their record.

Our Congress has the perfect system for doing nothing and getting away with it. They just blame one another for not getting anything done and the American people buy it.

Both sides love this system and they will never change it.

They work very few hours, get big paycheck, huge pensions, lots of perks and live the life of a Rockstar.

Nothing will change as long as we have this two party system in place. Every incumbent needs to be removed.

1,238 Billion Barrels of Oil Reserves: Is This an Oil Price Bubble?

The media has always had a bias towards negative news. They love putting these stories out there. Doomsday stories sell. I know I get caught in their embrace.

If Tony Hayward is right,. we just need to watch for the top and make money at the exits.