Bobco23

Report from Europe: Stocks Up Ahead of Key Earnings Week

Thanks for the remarks on AAUK. It is hard to find timely news on this company.

AIG Bonuses Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Carthage was not destroyed by its own mercenaries.

1). It did not employ mercenaries and
2) it was destroyed by the Roman army in a progression of 3 wars, which you may recall from your high school history class as the Punic Wars.

The first Punic War was fought from 264-241 BC and resulted in territorial losses for Carthage and reparations. The Second Punic War was fought from 218 to 201 BC and resulted in subjugation and submission to Roman authority as well as greater reparations. The Third Punic War was fought from 149-146 BC at the urging of Cato the Elder and was percipitated by Carthage violating a provision not to take action against aggression without permission from Rome, which they did not get. The citizens of Carthatge fought the Romans in the streets of the city for weeks, but finally succumbed to the superior Roman army. The survivors were sold into slavery, the city burned, and the soil sowed with salt.

There were no Carthaginian mercenaries involved to turn against the citizens of Carthage, although it is likely the Romans had several legions of mercenaries.


On Mar 18 07:49 PM european_pov wrote:

> The argument saying "you have to pay bonuses to keep them" proves
> one point : the top management of financial firms is just made of
> mercenaries. Maybe good at their jobs (?) but absolutely not commited
> to it. The fact that "11 top managers letf AOG despite of the bonuses
> being paid" confirms the point. The fact that "if they leave they
> will work against us" confirms the point. Compare that with the commitment
> and the (far leaner) salaries of doctors, researchers, teachers working
> hard and with passion to increase the nation knowledge; with what
> the guy in the local store earns for the necessary services and goods
> he provides with a smile to his customers. Those pay the bill. Is
> it a good thing to give mercenaries so much power as to make the
> whole system crash ? Remember what happened to the old city of Carthage
> destroyed by its own mercenaries.

Bank of America Nationalization Would Shock, Not Help, Economy

BAC and C shareholders have already been effectively "wiped out." A 91.3% decline in 52 weeks qualifies as a "wipe out" in my book.


On Feb 22 11:03 AM Ranchr wrote:

> If the Bank of America were Nationalized, who would step up and buy
> it Wells Fargo? And, who gets stuck with the toxic stuff? The taxpayers!
> Nationalize CITI and BAC, you sell off their assets creating the
> world's largest banking monopoly, the TaxPayers keep all the bad
> crap and this is somehow good for us.
>
> Has anyone determined how much of the common stock in BAC and CITI
> are held in 401, IRA and other retirement accounts?
>
> Nationalization would essentially wipe out those individuals. It's
> okay to blame the fat-cats but what about the small investors?<br/>
>
> People have said the bondholders and preferred shareholders wouldn't
> be wiped out, just the common stock shareholders.
>
> Sounds like people are willing to throw the small people under the
> bus but they will protect the fat-cats at all cost.
>
> The world's largest banking monopoly; destroy more than scores of
> millions of retired and near retired portfolios; have the government
> (seekingalpha.com/symbo...) lest holding the toxic assets...that
> a brilliant idea!