ez rider (I wish)

Mortgage Problems Move Up the Chain

Unfortunately hybrids and plug in cars won’t help the people with no income or a drastically reduced income . . . Mortgage people (I was one until this year when I started doing loans against stock portfolios), real estate agents, builders, their employees, the employees of their suppliers, title companies, real estate attorneys, appraisers . . . most have such reduced incomes that saving money on gasoline ISN’T going to save the house.

I know. I bought a mini-cooper, and while the payment is less than what I was spending on gas for a pick-up, it doesn’t make up the income I lost last year.

Thousands of people have left the mortgage industry, voluntarily, or abruptly turned out by companies downsizing or going out of business. I’d guess that there are those in other affected industries who are also moving into other lines of work. And while they hand out resumes, and try to stay out of their savings and still stay afloat, there aren’t enough jobs out there to support that whole industry.

Multiply loss of income by decline in the value of real estate owned and you get the picture. Not only do they not have the $3,000 for the house this month, if they were paying for what it is worth now, it would $2,000 . . . And if they are in an option arm with the payment going up, and the value going down you have to wonder how long sane people will be willing (or able) to make that struggle to hang on to the house.

Palin, On the Ongoing Financial Crisis

Are we forgetting that as VP Palin would have access to a bevy of professional advisors? (Consider how informed Dick Cheney is about EVERYTHING)

You all know that every reporter who can get her attention is going to ask a question they hope she answers poorly. If you polled the great American public on fannie and freddie you'd find that most of them are clueless. Not only about their being taken over, but why it was necessary and more importantly how it happened.

The machinations of money escape most people who aren't involved with it on a daily basis. She didn't have a need to thoroughly understand the largest "de facto nationalization in US history" before Monday and I'd guess that none of the people involved in that decision bothered to brief either camp: Obama or McCain.

She is bright and gutsy and, guys, SHE is going to help McCain win.

Embrace her.

Harley Davidson Reducing Dealer Inventories - A Positive Sign

I think of the Harley business in terms of my memories of it from the 60s and 70s, when, in fact, it is much larger, more conservative and "big business" than I could have imagined.

I looked into buying a Harley Franchise - as it seemed to embody everything I longed for from my youth, and looked like a job I'd enjoy getting up in the morning for . . .

Not to happen. They have gotten too big, too corporate and highly profit driven. Not that that is a bad thing . . . it just doesn't encourage independent franchise owners . . . .

I do have the stock, (which I believe in even more now!) and am considering my first bike at 56.

Women on Harleys has become a good niche for them . . .