commoinsense1211's Comments

Volcker's Wake Up Call: Spread the Word

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:58:30 -0500

hmmm, all democrats, biased much? do you honestly believe there are no republicans worthy of a prison term? amazing

On Dec 16 04:38 PM Econ 101 wrote:

> The only thing tht will stop the thieft of billions of dollars from
> the average citizen is a collapse of these TBTF banks. I propose
> that the fastest and easyest is to indict the criminals responsible
> using the RICO statutes specfically designed for organized crime.
>
>
> Start with the congress (Frank, Dodd, Pelosi, Rangel) and work your
> way up to the bankers.

Feasting on Dead Cat

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:34:04 -0500

"consumers seem to be in a merry mood this year. As they look to 2010, they see a jobs picture improving and an economy that seems to be back on track." really? you should get out more. online sales are up but instore is not so great and you should talk to real people, I dont know anyone who's currently unemployed or in fear of losing their current job that see things picking up in 2010.

The Real Estate Recovery Continues

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:27:09 -0500

Employment improvement? right

Andy Xie: 'World Is Drinking Poison to Quench the Thirst'

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:44:04 -0500

Ok, so we party until 2012?

Our Current Economic Illusions

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:14:45 -0500

you could have just waited a day and gone to the mall - they're all empty now

On Dec 04 12:42 PM Texas_Technoman wrote:

> If I am not mistaken, retail sales were up slightly...while Internet
> retail was up by somewhere between 25-35%. Myself, and many others,
> would much rather shop from the comfort of our homes than go fight
> the mobs on Black Friday. Personally, Amazon got the lions share
> of my holiday spending...and I got to sleep in and sit by the fire.

First Goldman, Now Apple?

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:51:55 -0500

and on the 7th day APPL rebounded and the Lord said "this is good"

Seeking the Gift of a Continued Business Cycle Recovery

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:21:45 -0500

The chance of a robust economic turnaround is on par with the chance of me seeing santa claus this christmas

D.R. Horton: Did Anyone Actually Listen to the Call?

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:06:19 -0500

ahahahahahaahahahahaha...

On Dec 02 03:33 PM User 184493 wrote:

> It's important that our strategic national industries are kept solvent
> .... what? ... they make houses ?.... nevermind

Electric Vehicles vs. Natural Gas Vehicles

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:57:03 -0500

some of your natural gas negatives are bogus when compared to electic. driving range? are electirc cars with driving ranges of 350 miles even on the radar? add to that the time to recharge.

On Dec 02 01:42 AM William Legrand wrote:

> "If we face brown outs and rolling managed electricity outages
> in summer months due to air conditioning, how do we expect to handle
> millions of automobiles plugging into electric sockets as they arrive
> home from work each day?
> You are correct. Our electrical grid will fold like a wet noodle,
> especially on hot summer nights, if masses of people try to charge
> plug-in EVs overnight, especially if using "quick" (high current)
> chargers. Last I did some calculations regarding this exact issue
> a few years ago, the U.S. must build hundreds of additional nuclear
> plants to support a mass migration to plug-in EVs. If not, we will
> burn through coal at an insane rate. The only viable alternative
> I can think of off the top of my head is a simultaneous migration
> to home rooftop solar arrays that charge a bank of deep cycle batteries
> in the basement or garage. The EV would plug into the deep cycle
> battery bank to recharge.
>
> "why not natural gas instead of electricity?"
> There have been numerous long-term obstacles:
> 1) The vehicle needs a high-pressure storage tank, something that
> scares a lot of people, perhaps rightly so.
> 2) Driving range. The Civic GX is not bad at 200-250 miles, but
> most people expect 350+.
> 3) Lack of filling station infrastructure makes long trips virtually
> impossible, perhaps even something as typical as a day spent driving
> to several shopping malls. This shortcoming alone tends to place
> these vehicles into the novelty category, making them unacceptable
> for the vast majority of consumers.
> 2) Home charging systems like Phill cost thousands to purchase/install
> and are painfully slow. Refilling half the tank takes most of the
> night. There are high-pressure refill systems that do the job much
> faster, but so far they are way too expensive for the average homeowner,
> easily averaging $8K-$12K to purchase/install.

Banks Are Not Lending? So What

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:45:03 -0500

"anks are hanging onto more of their capital than before for one of two reasons: (1) they fear problems on the horizon and need a capital cushion or (2) they lack attractive candidates for loans."
how about 3) they are using the favobale fed funds rate to do their own trading. I dont think the federal government should tell them how to lend , i also dont think we should be bailing them out or making loans at 0%

Citi: Expect Strong Economic Growth Worldwide in 2010

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:27:23 -0500

does anyone rally care what citi thinks? or trust what they say?

Unemployment, Retail Numbers Don't Add Up

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:49:50 -0500

the credit card industry is being screwed? maybe if the cc companies didnt raise the rates to usurious levels people could pay them and pay them off.

On Nov 09 05:26 PM Mark Anthony wrote:

> You asked some good questions.
>
> Some part of the retail sales are inelastic demands. For example
> gasoline. You need this many gallons of gasoline to drive to and
> from work, and you just have to pay. There is no way to cut corner.
> For another example, toilet papers. I don't think any one can cut
> that. Haven't heard any one who stop using toilet paper and use just
> water. Have't heard any one who use less squares of TP each time
> either.
>
> Maybe it's pent-up demand. You decide to say money, so each time
> you go grocery shopping you decide to buy less of the items you need.
> Buy a 6 roll pack of toilet paper instead of a 12 roll pack. A smaller
> bottle of detergent instead of a bigger one. But the consumption
> hasn't really gone down. So when you run out of stock you end up
> buying even more to re-stock.
>
> Another explanation is the credit card industry is being screwed.
> As credit card companies hike rate to unbearable levels, some people
> may just decide to spend their cards to the max limit, and then go
> default on them. This too can create an artificial consumption level.
>
>
> There is no way that consumers lost jobs and have less income, they
> are saving up more money, but managed to pay higher credit interest
> and also pay down the debts, too, and at the same time have the same
> amount of money to consume.

Existing Home Sales Going Strong

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:11:03 -0500

what's not mentioned here is the inventory that the banks are allowing to go unreported as defaulted. And the next wave of alt-a defaults. add that to the above mentioned currency intervention and.......

and sorry guys, I have a hard time trusting any graph the NAR publishes.

U.S. Housing: More Homes in Delinquency than for Sale

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:26:49 -0500

solution, break up the big banks, prosecute the ceo's,clawback the bonuses, mark to market mortgages, then do nothing. rinse and repeat.

On Nov 19 01:57 PM Tony Petroski wrote:

> Mr. Mark. Cheer up. It pains me to see the we are all Keynesians
> now crowd despair at this crucial junction.
>
> The "solution." Do nothing. Get out of the way. The free people
> of America can handle it from here, but don't place any more hopes
> and changes in their path.

Bob Toll: 'Yesterday's Sub-Prime Is Today's FHA'

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:10:47 -0500

what he says about people not chaning and wanting more may be true but for the middle class that's just not realistic. And if it does happen it will be because of some revolutionary development that will put us back on the growth track or another bubble. aside from that bob toll can build more luxury homes for the truly wealthy but the wanna be's arent going to get their mcmansions.

given what he said about fha loans it looks like were headed for another bubble and a bubble that could burst sooner rather than later.

Jobs and the Market Rally: The New, New Balancing Act

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:21:31 -0500

actually what we'll get is the worst of both worlds. we may see higher taxes and high unemloyment but we dont get the 8 weeks vacation or the free health care. there's plenty of blame to go around with both parties.. It's the large corporate influences that are sticking it to us where the sun doesnt shine. I've been to europe (and france) many times and most seem pretty happy with their lot. not a lot of violence and angry drivers, everyone lives longer and spends more time with their families as opposed to working 60-80 a week just to keep your head above water or keep up with the joneses. so your point is what?

On Nov 18 11:05 AM Mad Hedge Fund Trader wrote:

> bdc The US is turning into Europe. Think backbreaking taxes, chronic
> high unemployment, government involvement in everything, less innovation,
> and much lower growth, in exchange for a social safety net, more
> debt, and better coffee. That is the message the markets told us
> by retreating to the 6,000 handle in March, levels not seen since
> 1996, and down 54% from the 2007 peak. Equity prices have shrink
> to multiples, in line with permanently lower long term growth rates
> of maybe 1%-2%, a shadow of the 3% rate seen for much of this decade.
> Hint: that analysis gives you a stock market lower than here. Perhaps
> this is what aging sclerotic economies are supposed to look like.
> Once Ben Bernanke stops spiking the punch with ecstasy and Viagra
> by raising interest rates, this is where the resulting hangover could
> leave us. If someone is holding a gun to your head and you must buy
> American stocks, only select names that are really foreign stocks
> in disguise. Microsoft (MSFT), Intel (INTC), Oracle, (ORCL), Cisco
> (CSCO) all get 60%-80% of their profits from overseas, where up to
> 90% of the real economic growth will come from for the next decade.
> Commodity, agricultural, materials companies, and their ETF’s also
> fit this picture. As for me, I think I’ll move to Tahiti and live
> off of coconuts and freshly speared fish, wearing only a loin cloth.
> Anything is better than becoming French.

Why the Economy Isn't Improving Much

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:06:32 -0500

Not my day(to eat)? god bless america

Why Warren Buffett Loves Wells Fargo

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:32:35 -0500

I have no issue with banking general but why would anyone invest in one of the larger banks that we've bailed out. Have they replaced managment or jus gotten much smarter from their mistakes?

If This Is a Recovery...

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:59:33 -0500

what policies are hammering small business today? none of this legislation has been implemented and the tax rates are the same as they were during the bush administration. business sucks because banks are not ledning, big business is downsizing. not current admin policies.

On Nov 15 01:57 PM Econ 1 wrote:

> So market valuations can be made to look as though they are within
> a reasonable multiple (depending on your time frame for one thing)
> but where is the earnings growth going to come from in the next 3-4
> quarters? Cost-cutting in the form of firing half your work force
> is not a sustainable path to growth.
>
> I just checked the Brookings Institute and corporate tax revenues
> projected for 2009 are down over 50% over 2008.
>
> My question is how can anyone say this market is fairly valued (after
> this rally) after taking into account that business revenues (as
> measured by proxy against collected tax revenues) is HALF of what
> is what a year ago? Publicly traded companies are not the whole economy.
> Small business is getting hammered by this administration's policies
> and social engineering.
>
> Where will earnings growth come from? Please don't say more government
> spending--because these revenues are down even WITH what few dollars
> have made it to the street from the horribly inefficient, wasteful,
> and corrupt stimulus pipeline.

Buffett and Gates at Columbia – The Markets Have Bottomed!

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:59:02 -0500

not sure I see why they're so optimistic. the financial instutuions are calling the shots and robbing our future. the middle class is disappearing and their jobs are heading offshore. congress is bought and paid for and now apparenlty /unfortunately so is our president. what are warren and bill seeing I am not?

Analyzing the U.S.'s Four Largest Banks

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:46:00 -0500

barring another real estate buble or clean energy buble do you really think these banks will ever be "over-reserved" ?

On Nov 09 10:20 AM Tack wrote:

> The $136B in reserves is a huge wildcard in the equation. Contrary
> to making it difficult to make profits, the reserves, themselves,
> represent the greatest source of potential future earnings.
>
> Assuming the economy continues to improve, at some point it will
> become apparent that the companies are over-reserved, and when that
> happens, reserve reversals will have a far greater impact on earnings
> than other invested capital. This is because when reserves are released,
> the capital, itself, passes back through the income statement in
> addition to being freed up for other more risk-based investments.
>
>
> So, the reserves, themselves, represent potential pure profit, and
> not just an increase in available capital.

Keep an Open Mind About the Unemployment Number

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:39:50 -0500

your comparisons to 1983 are bogus and misleading. The early 1980's were the beginning of the deficit and credit bubles. there were no alt a mortgages about to be reset, we had a manufacturing base and productivity gains from tecnology were just starting to unfold. comparing then and now is either irresponsible or ignorant take you pick

The Greatest Depression Is Coming

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:52:37 -0500

ar eyou kidding, other than health care what exactly is it that obama is doing that is anyway marxist? he hasnt raised taxes and he's supporting large corporations, especially banks. get off the pipe.

On Oct 17 10:22 AM The Geoffster wrote:

> I am not a conspiracy theorist but I do believe Obama is a Marxist.
> He does not have the dictatorial power to implement the change he
> believes is necessary to redistribute wealth and equalize outcomes
> but he will use the existing levers of power to incrementalize his
> goals by fostering socialized medicine and punitive tax policies
> on the nation. When voters are worried about their jobs and income,
> they will set aside their liberty for comfort, especially when they
> think someone else is paying for it.

Jobs Still Disappearing, But Confidence Is Returning

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:33:46 -0500

I dont think the stimulus was well spent/allocated. but the argument that decreasing marginal rates would have increased jobs in the us is equaly false. marginal rates without any real demand would have just been more money in the pockets of the rich. trickle down economics is just a euphemism for the rich peeing on the heads of the rest.

Charlie Gasparino: Another Crash 'Has to Happen Again'

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:36:12 -0500

not a republican congress? which side of the aisle was phil gramm?

On Nov 06 08:25 AM gebby wrote:

> sorry but i dont see gasparino as a credible reporter. he never
> fails to knock much needed regulation and robert rubin. he has a
> market fundamentalist republican philosophy. and it is this philosophy
> which is the starting point for all the financial troubles. remember
> the sacings and loan bailout under reagan? and then under gwbush?
> come on. knocking regulations that were designed to protect the
> banking system from abuses and then rubin associated with the highest
> reaches of the democratic party. also i am sure fnm and fre and
> bill clinton, not a republican congress.

The Fed: Sending Investors to the Slaughter?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:23:34 -0500

so when all of the credit card holders default because BOA and CITI and Chase raise their rates to 30 and 40 %. Will you defend the government bailing out the banks because of their greed and shortsigthedness?

On Nov 06 12:33 PM socrateaz wrote:

> Do you understand that socialists are basically me people? They
> want to have what others have without puting out the effort to get
> it. They call people who acheive to get ahead greedy while they
> want others to supply their wants with little effort. They hide
> behind fairness as a goal. But when you look at socialist leaders.
> You will see them support some to a greater degree than others.
> For Socialists to exist they need to blame hardships on unfairness
> of others. When enough become true socialist a true failed economy
> will emerge. All expecting the other to support them. Courts often
> push socialism because they really believe fairness is in equality.
> And equality is in redistribution because those who are 20% responsible
> and have the funds should be held 500% responsible for what happens
> to those 80% responsible but with no funds. Court logic! Socialism
> is making others responsible for the bad things that happen to me
> while taking credit for anything that appears to be my success!
> Just need to understand the logic to understand the actions taken

The Fed: Sending Investors to the Slaughter?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:21:09 -0500

so please explain to me how you defend the socialism of large corporations. why are GS, AIG, CITI, BOA being bailed out? isnt this socialism? when do corporations take responsibility for their actions?

On Nov 06 12:33 PM socrateaz wrote:

> Do you understand that socialists are basically me people? They
> want to have what others have without puting out the effort to get
> it. They call people who acheive to get ahead greedy while they
> want others to supply their wants with little effort. They hide
> behind fairness as a goal. But when you look at socialist leaders.
> You will see them support some to a greater degree than others.
> For Socialists to exist they need to blame hardships on unfairness
> of others. When enough become true socialist a true failed economy
> will emerge. All expecting the other to support them. Courts often
> push socialism because they really believe fairness is in equality.
> And equality is in redistribution because those who are 20% responsible
> and have the funds should be held 500% responsible for what happens
> to those 80% responsible but with no funds. Court logic! Socialism
> is making others responsible for the bad things that happen to me
> while taking credit for anything that appears to be my success!
> Just need to understand the logic to understand the actions taken

Property Values Set to Fall 43% from Current Depressed Levels

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:21:04 -0500

that's canada, land of natural resources, responisble consumers etc...

On Nov 03 09:02 AM george archers wrote:

> In toronto Canada, House prices are in the multi bidding wars. Asking
> price $400K sold for $449k.
> In canad,the housing market is booming on the backs of saver$
> Interest rates are at 1.5% floating. Why would someone rent. Personnal
> savings bank-.04% (Fed income tax--50% on interest)
> I can't understand Americans--Prices of homes will sky rocket--Banks
> are holding onto their prime foreclosed homes---waiting for the
> AFIraq invasions to end---Money changers will make a killing :^/

Is Too Big to Fail Now Too Big to Exist?

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:11:18 -0500

amen brother...

Cramer Does It Again with CIT Call

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:25:33 -0500

you will be eating those "housing stabilization call" words soon enough. housing will be down another 15-30% and you can add that to the number of bogus calls made by cramer

On Nov 02 09:57 AM DonFurio wrote:

> An investor should rely on Cramer's opinion as one part of the investment
> process, but clearly not listen to every word he says. I'm curious
> if you actually read the whole article, I did not, but I can't imagine
> anyone would be buying CIT within the past month if they didn't believe
> it was a big speculative play. I give Cramer credit for calling
> a year in advance that housing stabilization would occur in the summer
> of 2009.