WalterJR

The Bubble for Social Networking M&A Has Popped

(1) TCK, way to go, working your political views into a discussion about social networking sites. You get five extra Rush Limbaugh points!

(2) Most of the social networking stuff is hype. Aside from giving shy, awkward teenagers a way to "socialize," what do they provide?

(3) If someone has something important to tell me, they can call. If it isn't critical, it can wait and they can e-mail me or post it to a blog (in the case of media reports).

(5) Twitter is idiotic. Unless someone is sending updates from the first walk on the moon or updates from a blacked-out sports spectacle the magnitude of Ali-Frazier, I can live without the news for a few hours. Come on: "I just ate a ham sandwich." Five minutes later: "Isn't the opposing political party stupid!" Five minutes later: "I just got a tweet about Senator John Doe and he said something that made me mad."

(6) If I want constant inane distraction, I'll grab the mobile from over the baby's crib and veg out.

Social Security: Time to Uncap FICA

gu econ: No problem, and I appreciate your politeness. [And, as Internet insults go, that one probably didn't crack my top ten (million) list.]

I used to be a pretty hardcore libertarian so I understand where you are coming from. It's just that there are many competing worldviews which are just as valid (and frequently far more realistic). Also, my original comment could be modified to state, say, that a person only wanted to pay for the percentage of military action he found effective -- and still make the same point.

Social Security: Time to Uncap FICA

gu econ:

Do you really think that is a convincing argument?

Welcome to the real world. We as a society decide what we will do. Some people like Social Security, some don't. Some like foreign invasions, some don't. As a society, we pay for everything we as a society deem is a good idea. You are naive to think your argument is convincing to anyone whose life is not centered around your "basic economics textbook." A street corner preacher surrounded by atheists who don't see his "textbook" as an argument ender.

Social Security: Time to Uncap FICA

levin70:

The problem with that train of thought is that we would not be able to have a military or judicial system or an interstate highway system. Because everyone would "prefer to keep that which they earn."

Social Security: Time to Uncap FICA

traden4alpha:

You might be surprised to discover that the guy making 60K does not get double what a guy making 30K gets. I know I was surprised. A guy making 12K will receive 63% of his salary, a guy making 75K only 39%. That's a major reason I don't have a problem raising the cap. We already have a "progressive tax" in FICA, I don't see the removal of the cap as much of a change. In fact, I support it. Why should the people making just under the cap at 100K pay for those making 30K, but those making over 100K no longer pay in relation to their income. (I hope my point got through. I'm not sure I worded that last part very well.)

Dangerous Fallacy in GDP Measures

Thanks for taking up this topic. I have long been skeptical of the GDP and its components -- and its status as a magic number around which all else revolves. I hope you continue to address the topic in the future.

It Could Happen - Cramer's Mad Money (9/26/08)

Cramer is a Wall Street shill. Five years from now when inflation is double digits, Cramer will be saying this bailout was a big cause and that's why he opposed it. These guys are liars -- and with their fortunes and careers riding the glorification the Wall Street crooks, why wouldn't they be?

Senator Shelby and Neil Cavuto seem to be among the view who are unafraid to voice opposition.

The Case for Gold Today

CLH, being a natural contrarian, all the gold coverage these days bothers me. I took my positions in 2002 and at that time, the financial news acted like gold didn't even exist. When they mentioned it, it was only to point out its irrelevance. CNBC didn't even bother to show it on their ticker.

On the other hand, if you live in the US like I do, it's hard to see a way out of our current economic mess that does not include 1970s style inflation.

Can the Dow and S&P Last 15 Rounds?

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate your comments. Very helpful.

Can the Dow and S&P Last 15 Rounds?

Excellent column. I hope you won't mind a tangential question. HTE is a Canadian trust and that nation collects taxes on the dividends. Can Americans file a tax return in Canada to have those taxes refunded? (Assuming the amounts are relatively small.) If not, then the yields shown on the stock charts are not true (too high) for American investors.

Smart Money, R.I.P.

Great article.

Is Steve Jobs Sick Again, or Just Thin?

I don't really follow Steve Jobs or Apple, but when I saw his photo, I was struck by how thin he looked compared to past memories. Being such a high-profile force within Apple and having a history of a (milder) form of pancreatic cancer, Jobs is going to be watched very closely.

It's morbid, but still a topic that needed to be addressed.