PhillyD

Money Supply: The Myth of Hyperinflation

#1 I'm surprised that no one (at least I didn't see it) mentioned that we don't know what the money supply truly is since the Fed no longer tells us what the M3 numbers are; which are the most accurate and complete tally of money.

#2 The Fed is NOT a government agency ... it is a privately held corporation which has been GIVEN the authority to control all the money (legal tender) in our nation. The Fed does NOT print money. They contract out that duty to the US Mint, which IS a government agency.

#3 Therefore the US Governement does NOT print money for themselves ... the US Mint prints it (for a small fee) for the Fed. When the US Governement needs money they have only 2 ways of getting it; a) they tax people, companies, activities, etc. and/or b) they borrow it from people, nations, etc.

If we could ever abolish the Fed and have our own governement print the money it needs and then distribute that money via jobs such as roads, railways, science, research, military, etc. then the private economy would boom ... the money would be released WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF DEBT ... and would be recycled time and time and time again ... putting us in the situation that RRegan did so successfully ... decreased tax burdens increase tax revenues! This would decrease the need for the Fed Government to print more money and thereby keep inflation LOW on a permanent basis and not be as susceptible to the swings we see in the past 50 years.

JMHO

America's Real Wealth

The traits that the author points out as being uniquely American were really hold over traits from - believe it or not - a strong Calvin Protestant work ethick. This work ethic created the Industrial Revolution and it was those people who migrated to America in droves. (This is a basic and non-detailed summary but true nonetheless)

Now our country has taken in many other cultures and peoples that have not been impacted or directly descended from that uniquely European background. If those people harbor the same work skills, and are willing to assume the same risks and accountability ... then the author's optimism may be warranted. But, if our new American generation has lost, forgotten, or denied its roots (which seems to be the case) then we no longer have the character traits that he is referring to.

We must admit that in the past 20 years the only reason we came out of any bad economic time is due to credit. Before that we came out of hard times by working and saving. The problem is we have no ability to pay more credit and no more assets to borrow on. Do we have the desire to work, sacrifice short term material gain, and save? Time will tell but the early returns are not good.

Solar Gets What They Want, But Stocks Still Suffer

One thing that was not mentioned in the Republican rebuke was the fact that Democrats for decades have been pressuring banks to make loans to poor people because in their minds the conservative bankers were racist or sexist. Even rap videos 10 years ago featured white bankers in black neighborhoods as the devils.

Now that those bankers made those loans (and way too many more for people with good jobs with no money down - people of all races) we call them greedy?? Banks were given cheap money and 'told' to loan it out. They did what they were told. Now we're paying the price.

Mark-to-Market vs. Mark-to-History

So you're saying that companies should be allowed, no ... encouraged, to account for assets that are utilized as collatoral in a manner that is much greater than their current worth?

It's crazy, stupid, immoral, and crooked. If a system is built on a house of cards you can't prop it up with more cards because eventually it will fall and the longer it takes the harder it's going to be. I suspect the fall we're about to take will be very painful ... since it's been propped up way too many times already.

Republican Bailout Counterproposal? Utterly Idiotic

Bonnie:

While I appreciate your enthusiasm ... your rants are filled with falsehoods and illogic. For instance:

1- The Demorcrats don't have to worry about what the Republicans think, say, or do concerning bailouts. They have the majority and can pass the bill without any Democratic support. If in fact their plan is what this country needs (which it's not in my opinion) then shut up, pass the bill, and take all the credit for the great results. My own personal opinion is that other than Ron Paul there is no one in our Federal Government who understands monetary policy and by the way predicted this mess when his campaign began. Neither McCain or Obama said anything.

2- You claim that the Republicans have been in power for 10 years and made a mess of this. In fact, the deregulation of Fannie and Freddie began in 1999 under Bill Clinton. Bush did nothing to reverse it. When Bush came to the Presidency in 2000 he had a Republican Congress and Senate. That ended in 2002 or 2004. It has been in Democratic hands since then. Where were they all these years? What specific proposals to they enact to regulate these thieves better? They had the majority and all they needed was to give Bush the legislation. What specific legislation did they give to Bush that he overrode?

In the end the whole country is in a mess and both parties are lying, thieving, crooks. If you really belive that Obama tells the truth and McCain is a liar then you need a reality check. They will both lie, cheat, and steal, to gain power.

McCain, after 25+ years in the Senate cannot identify one single dollar to cut in a debate where he talks about cutting spending?

Obama is asked what programs he will cut and he proposes more money for Medicare, education, oversight, Real Estate bailouts, etc etc. Not a single specific dollar mentioned to be CUT.

And you believe one is inherently better than the other? Jeez ....

Capitalism: RIP

Read "The Coming Economic Earthquake" written by Larry Burkett in the mid-80's. He was SPOT ON and predicted this scenario. He figured it would happen around the year 2,000 but then said "the 'when' of it happening is unsure ... however without a drastic return to fiscal responsibility and reduction of debt the fact is that it 'will' happen."

A modern day economic prophet.

Foreclosures Still Pushing Sales/Prices Downward [Housing Tracker]

I've got a friend with a home in Florida and his ARM is due in 2-3 more years. He would love to keep the house but he's afraid that his mortgage payment will go from $2500 to almost $4000. He can't refi because his value has gone down from $389,000 from when he purchased 2.5 years ago to about $200,000 today. He'll wind up giving it back.

Why can't the banks just refi to a fixed rate rather than take back the house. It doesn't make sense ... but they won't do it.

Obama's Windfall Profits Proposal Is Dangerous

The lack of understanding of Capitalism here by the author and some of his supporters is disturbing and really points to a lack in ability to synthesize information and data to formulate an accurate opinion.

Since when is the Oil Industry a free market industry? If Pizza Hut could somehow figure out a way to sell so many pizzas and make 100's of billions in profits then I would agree totally with the author and his supporters. That's true Capitalism. Either people by their pizza from Pizza Hut, some other competitor, OR NOT AT ALL. There is very little government subsidies for the Pizza Industry (if any at all.)

HOWEVER, the Oil Industry, unlike the Pizza Industry, is NOT BASED ON CAPITALISM. We pay for the army to protect oil fields - both monetary and with our lives, we pay for special tax breaks and credits for the Oil Industry, we pay for the roads which makes driving mandatory so the Oil Industry has an unbelievably higher demand for their products, we pay special real estate tax breaks so those same people are encouraged to buy more homes further from their own jobs, we pay and we pay and we pay.

Oil is NOT Pizza! Pizza is no necessary to live. In our current national context Oil IS! Pizza is not a comodity or utility but Oil IS!

All this free market BS really fires me up! Let the oil companies re-imburse us for the massive highway systems, real estate tax breaks, cost of defending oil producing countries, etc. etc. Free market my a$$.

Let's stop defending countries that produce oil. Let's stop paying for building roads. Let's stop all policies that discourage public transportation and encourages more car driving. Let's give tax breaks only to Oil's Competitors! Then we'll see how much they make. If they're making profits because of our easy "set up" for them to do so then let's pull the rug out from under them so their support system collapses. Then let the REAL FREE MARKET PREVAIL.

You phony capitalists wouldn't last 5 minutes with a real level playing field competition. You need big government on one hand and rail against it on the other. Hypocrites.

Let's make oil a utility and then continue to invest so they can become obsolete and when that's done let them come out on the open and free market and COMPETE but only after we've spent as much on other energies as we've spend governmentally on OIL.

That's the truth.

And no .... I cannot stand Obama.

Brand Names: Important, But Not Key to Investment Decisions

You guys must be young ... very young. I am 49 and I remember in the 70's and early 80's how the Japenese brands were considered cheap and not well put together. However, through tremendous improvements and great marketing (R&T, MT, and C&D have been a HUGE part of their success) have now turned the tables.

Through better products (which they now make) and some better marketing (they still suck) the American Brands can once again be considered desirable.

Around the world, if you didn't know, American Car Companies are considered desirable. Ford is HUGE in Europe (of course they sell a better looking car their) and GM sells more Buicks in China than they do in the U.S. (yes that's true.) We in America think it's it's passe to drive American and fawn over the Japenese cars (I know this - I've owned 5 new Honda's and Acuras.) I've now bought American in the past 11 years and have NOT been dissappointed. They are every bit as good as the Japense versions.

Now in JD Power the American Cars have finished 4 out of the top 12 spots. The Japense have 4. The Germans 2 and the South Koreans 2. It sounds like, to me, we're building the better product. Now for the Brands to catch up! It will happen.

Energy Recovery: Buying Opportunity?

My money is already here for the long term investment. This will be a $100 stock in 5 years and why should I have waited for the industry to mature? Then complain that "I should have ..." Nah. I'm going to put another buy in with a buy-in value at $8.50 and if it gets there I'll take another chunk.

Their equipment and technology rocks. More water for less money with reliable product, and an established global presence. As the needs for water grows (wait until Africa gets a hold of this technology ... that'll help with the shortage of food in a big way!) so will ERII.

Good luck.

The Ford Debt Disaster Continues

henje you say you will "never" buy a Ford product ... it's people like you who are our problem in the USA. JD Powers says that the new Ford products (the ones that compete with Camry and Corolla) are rated HIGHER than their Toyota counterparts! So the quality is there but you won't buy one? Loser ... "to blame, pure and simple."

BTW, I ownd two Expeditions (1997 models) and put over 250,000 on them and never had a problem. I've owned two new GM products over the past bunch of years ... put over 300,000 on them and not a problem. I've also owned 5 new Hondas/Acuras and put almost 300,000 on them with no problems. To say that the American cars were somehow inferior the the Japenese was a lie "pure and simple."

In fact, the 1997 Expedition and 2004 Tahoe are far superior to their Japenese competitors. Now it seems that the Malibu, Fusion/Millan, and Focus are rating higher than their competitors as well.

But you won't buy one ... "EVER!" Loser and we'll see how your kids grow up in the USA. In fact you're probably not even a citizen of the USA ... at least you don't sound like one.

Energy Recovery Devices Offers Unique Product in Solid Global Growth Sector

Already long and will be looking for more buy in opps in the future.

Ford Shareholders Face High Potential for Pain

Management doesn't always have the final say when Unions hold them up at gunpoint AND judges/courts back their play!

That said, Ford cars have always been thought of as lesser in quality and I'm 49 years old from the North East. I moved to Michigan two years ago and cannot believe how the unionized mentality that management (or any leader) is always wrong and how dare he/she make any changes. "We've never done it that way before!" is the leading mantra of Detroit.

Companies have been destroyed and lives are being destroyed. Young families are fleeing Michigan in droves. Ford had better get their European cars here PRONTO (Mondeo, Verve) and had better become the LEADER is MPG PRONTO!

I believe that their new leadership team can do it and I've thrown a $15,000 flyer at it in the expectation that if the company is even around in 2012 that the stock will be at $25.00 minimum and climbing. I feel that this is the more likely scenario than bankrupcy. Why?

1- Ford family will not go bankrupt.
2- They are making a profit of close to $1 billion when North America is removed so worst case they can just cut out NA and get smaller and actually make money!
3- Their cars have improved in quality to the point that JD Power is ranking their New Car Quality ABOVE TOYOTA AND HONDA
4- Their new models are awesome and the hit at the International Car Shows. They've just got to get them out ... NOW!
5- My son is a HS intern for their Alternative Energy Dept working on the computer programs and my son is awesome!
6- I've got a good feel for these things in the past!!!

Three Stocks To Be Held To Infinity and Beyond

The key is not to tell us how a growing conglomorate had fantastic returns over a 3 decade period, but rather to tell us who is the next conglomorate in the making who will build their businesses up to such a large scale that they keep adding market cap to their venture.

I found one potential one in Otter Tail Corp. They are an electric utility who moves the profits towards purchasing other business ventures. One of their bright stars is DWI industries which is a large manufacturer of Wind Turbines! In 30 years they could be another GE type story with 10% average returns per year? Probable? No. Possible. Yep. I'll take my chances and reinvest the 3% dividends along the way.

Hovnanian Chairman Shows the Midas Touch

jf is stupid is he thinks that selling high is ethical while you're telling the nation to buy high. That makes someone a 'liar' or 'snake oil salesman' - not someone to honor.