OldNavySailor

The Escalator of Life Is Going Down (Part 2)

The truthfulness of your articles inspire me Mr. Quinn. Thank you again.

I don't know what to do. I write to my congressman and senators, but receive no responses other than political triteness. I’ve decided to take a different course of action to try and make my fellow citizens aware of how government is stealing our wealth and robbing us of our freedoms. I have created a micro-marketing initiative to spread propaganda about the inalienable rights we all have as American citizens.

I have purchased a large quantity of silver-dollar sized wooden buttons from a local business that makes consumer novelties. I had the buttons inscribed with various messages that I hope will get people to start thinking seriously about what government is doing to each and every American. Each of the tokens has the word, “THINK” printed in the middle with different slogans described around it.

For example:

“Government does not work for you. You work for the them”
“Government wants your money and your silence”
“Government will enslave your children, just like you are”
“Your taxes are payment to wealthy bankers”
“Politicians represent the elite class, not you”
“Campaign money is bribery”
“Free markets are no longer free”
“Government will kill you because you allow it”
“Government will steal your wealth because you allow it”
“Welfare creates poverty”
“Give up your gun, give up your liberty”
“George Orwell was a visionary”

I leave these buttons in bars (yeah, I like beer), on shelves of retail stores, on those small stands in banks (one of my favorite places), on book shelves in public libraries, on shelves in grocery stores, in government buildings and restrooms. I do it subtly (e.g., reach for product, leave a button). I don’t know if it will work, but I’m hoping it makes people think and take some action.

What else can we do short of outright rebellion?

Master Limited Partnerships: An Island of Stability for Dividend Investors

Beware fellow investors!

If you hold MLP's or LP's in a tax deferred account such as an IRA, you may be liable for paying the evil UBTI tax (Unrealized Business Taxable Income). If the sum total of UBTI across your MLP/LP investments exceeds $1,000.00, you will have to pay tax even though you did not sell the stock. You will have to apply for a tax id and the process is not simple to comply with the tax code.

Look at section "V" (usually) on your K-1. Many companies show a negative value, but some are positive. For details see page 2 of IRS publication 598, "Tax on Unrelated Business Income of Tax Exempt Organizations".

Two Ways We Could Claw Back

Why are main stream economists still practicing Keynesian philosophy? You would think they would finally catch on that government inflating and deflating the monetary base is a flawed policy. How long will it take for them to consider Austrian economics? Why are they so stubborn?

In the year 1687, Sir Isaac Newton published his law of universal gravitation. This work was the de facto standard for over 220 years. Along comes Albert Einstein in 1916 and publishes his General Theory of Relativity which effectively modernized the way physicists and mathematicians view gravity.

If scientists can change their understanding of the cosmos, why can't economists see the failure of Keynes and replace it with Austrian methods?

My only conclusion is that Keynesian economics by its very nature is too heavily influenced by government politics. So the world continues to suffer because politicians cannot relinquish their power to meddle in the free market.

Jon Stewart on CNBC's 'Worthlessness'

I agree with most of my fellow investors who posted here; CNBC is not a credible forum for market intelligence and investment advice.

But in every cesspool of bias celebrity broadcasting, there is one jewel. I have watched FAST MONEY (5:00 pm est) hosted by Dylan Radigan throughout this recession and he has been an advocate for ripping on the abuses of the insurance and investment community, especially AIG as well as the money banks. I give him credit for that and will continue to watch the show.

Why We Need the Stimulus Package

In a consumer economy, employment is the key to recovery. Despite the government's attempt to "stimulate" lending, it's all about employment.

The best way to reinvigorate the economy is for government to REDUCE spending, REDUCE burdensome regulation and LOWER taxes on large and small business. This will make the USA the most attractive place to operate which will encourage borrowing and ultimately increase employment. There is plenty of capital in the private sector to lend, if the government would just get out of the way and let mother market work her mojo.

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

These insolvent financial institutions are a gangrene on the health of the economic body. Any competent surgeon knows the only recourse is to cut our the poison less the entire body will die.

Seven Other Stress Tests That Should Be Implemented

Speaking of stress tests, did you read in Bloomberg today (2/27/2009) how the Treasury is going to implement it?

See: www.bloomberg.com/apps...

"The Treasury plans to have the banks conduct the stress tests themselves; regulators will check the results."

Can you believe that!

How Will Seinfeld's New NBC Show Fare?

Why does an obviously attractive and intelligent news reporter write so much fluff and banality? For pete's sake, you have a degree in history from an ivy league school. Come on Julia, you are young and passionate; don't waste your intellect on this drivel.

Why don't you write about what how the private Federal Reserve Banking corporation has been the ultimate cause of fluctuations in the economy since 1913?

How about educating the population about the history of the hemp industry, how it flourished in early America and was banned because of the political efforts of William Hearst to control the paper empire.

If you can't get a column on your own, then start a web site. The American people need our historians to stimulate their reasoning about how the past influences today and tomorrow.

Don’t just be another pretty media face. Be somebody special.

Privatize the Banks, Or Create Entirely New Ones?

Jackoo

I don't agree with your concept of a national bank because it would compete unfairly with private sector banking since the government has an unlimited source of money via the treasury printing press. I do agree with the Treasury lending money directly to regional banks, community banks, credit unions, etc. and bypassing the Federal Reserve system. The interest received by the Treasury on the loans pays for the cost of government operations and reduces or eliminates the need for the income tax, IMHO.

I cannot see the need for issuing debt (i.e., t-bills, notes, bonds) and paying interest on the debt via the income tax. If the government wants to attract foreign investment, let those investors buy American corporate debt, not government debt. After all, the full faith and credit of the government is the productivity of the country, not empty promises based on perceived confidence.




On Feb 25 11:51 AM jackooo wrote:

> If the government had their own bank and you could get a house mortgage
> for 4% thru them, what would the rates be at other banks?
> 4% right? The housing crisis would soon be over because indirectly
> the going rate would be what ever the government set at it's bank.
>
> No more credit crisis would also be a bonus.
> The government lends banks money at 1% and they can make a 3% profit.
>
> I could use some comments on this thought.

Rating the Top 12 U.S. Banks - From Hidden Gems to Zombies

Did the audit include the amount of derivatives invested in by these banks? How were they valued?

See OCC report at: www.occ.gov/ftp/releas...

Harvard Endowment Cuts Stock Holdings Further

Gee, maybe the university should consult George W. Bush since he has a highly coveted MBA from Harvard Business School. He probably has some good ideas on where the endowment committee should invest.

Why Do We Need Banks at All?

I appreciate the boldness of this article. Now, I offer another. Why does the federal government have to issue debt?

The world has been led to believe the debt is backed by the "full faith and credit" of the government and therefore buying T-bills, Notes, Bonds, etc. is "safe". I assume the pledge implies the debt is backed by the production wealth of all U.S. business, because fiat money by itself is not worth anything. The cost to the government (tax payers) is the interest paid on the debt to foreign, domestic and central bankers.

But government is unique in that it has a has a printing press.

So why doesn't government print and loan the money to regional/community banks, credit unions, etc. and charge interest? The money is backed by the "full faith and credit" of the government just like the debt. The interest received is deposited into the treasury which pays for the annual budget.

Voi·là, no more national debt and the oppressive interest paid by the income tax!

Ticketmaster: Anti-Trust Trouble Ahead?

I don;t agree with the concern of anti-trust monopoly for this proposed transaction. If the merger results in an acceptable level of service for customers at a fair price, what's wrong with it?

If consumer prices rise, the market will give birth to competition to level the prices. The consumer will ultimately benefit from the ebb and flow of free market capitalism, not government interference. Let the market's work!

Is Financial Catastrophe Imminent?

Okay, I'm stepping into my Delorean time machine and dialing in the year 1832 to bring back President Andrew Jackson. Perhaps he can give the same speech about vetoing the re-authorization of the Bank of the U.S. to today's Congress as he did on July 10:

millercenter.org/scrip...

Lesson from Sweden: Aggregator Bank Will Fail

Our problem is that most of the custodians of our treasury (U.S. Congress) are too stupid to comprehend how capitalism works. They're more concerned with political posturing and pandering for votes than acting in the best interests of the American people.

What is the difference between the two major parties? NOTHING!

So why do we continually re-elect them?