TomF75

Why Merrill Lynch Is Bullish on 2010: Foreseeing a Burst of the Pessimism Bubble

Take you one better...70% income tax on ALL income above $1.5 million EXCEPT those with an ownserhip of at least 2% in a Public or Privately held company. You keep entrepanuerism alive, and kill the parasites.


On Dec 15 01:55 PM apppro wrote:

> Until something is done about the 'Trader/Traitor Decade' and the
> short-term mentality it has fostered - nothing will change for the
> better. We have allowed short-term option traders/traitors to deplete
> what little optimism is left after 'The Shorting of America' and
> we need that to end.
>
> STOP THE INSANITY NOW!
>
> Revised Tax Rules:
>
> 1. Capital gains under <6 months - 55% tax on capital gains
> 2. Capital gains 6 > 12 months - 45% tax on capital gains
> 3. Capital gains 1 > 2 yeas - 35% tax on capital gains
> 4. Capital gains 2 > 5 years - 18% tax on capital gains
> 5. Capital gains 5+ years - 5% tax on capital gains
> 6. Most critical of all — Institute a capital gains tax of 55% on
> ALL short sales not directly tied to a long buy by a licensed hedge
> fund.

When Will the Market Turn Negative Again?

Oil hasn't doubled?!?!? Dude maybe you need to take 4th grade math again:
12/30 spot price: 33.97
6/4 spot price: 68.45

looks like a 2 bagger to me


On Jun 06 01:22 AM IronBob wrote:

> Please post facts. Oil has not doubled. In fact, it's not even close
> to double. Steady and sporadic increases in oil prices usually don't
> have that much of an impact.
>
> It's the clear and present jumps of $3-$5 a day over a course of
> a week or two that hugely impacts the economy. If that occurs then
> you are correct, all bets are off because inflation is waiting around
> the corner.

Can We Go Back to the Old Wall Street?

I agree. Not to mention the fact that by definition it will forbid the creation of "To Big to Fail Entities". Is it any wonder BAC & C are having trouble. If you take several commodity businesses (Thrift, I-Banking, Insurance, mortgages) and merge them together you're just as likely to get one large commoditized organization that is more bureaucratic, less specialized, and in all likelyhood less customer focused.

Not too mention in the cases of the GS, MS, LEH's of the world it removes the "pressure" of pleasing the stockholders, when under the original model the stockholders are all employees, and will probably act more in accordance with sound risk management (e.g. self preservation) than they did under the current models

America: A Nation Named Desire

Couldn't agree witi you more. Forget where I saw it, but something today from S&P basically stating the USA had to "work for its AAA rating just like everyone else". Oh well I guess Helicopter Ben will come to the rescue!!


On Jan 13 11:33 AM wpdragon wrote:

> You hit the nail right on the head, and there is ONE word to explain
> why we are in the position we are in, going hat in hand begging for
> an ever increasing supply of money from foreigners to keep us fat
> and dumb and puffed up with false pride while our empire dissolves
> and we stand there beating our chests in defiance and denial: ARROGANCE.
>
>
> ""In the article, he stated that foreign investors would gladly buy
> up any amount, no matter how large, of Treasuries the US would sell.
> Why? Because they “have” to do it to sustain their economies. I wonder
> if he has ever left the cozy confines of Manhattan?
>
> Here is a direct quote: “They (meaning foreigners) have nothing,
> they build nothing, they sell nothing without OUR demand”. So he
> is basically saying that foreigners are nothing without the United
> States. The whole purpose in life of everyone else on the globe is
> to merely serve the needs of Americans and to make their Wall Street
> masters filthy rich.""
>
> Humility died a long time ago in this country. And with it, our heritage.

Trust: The Biggest Casualty of 2008

bobbobwhite:

I wouldn't read to much into the paying grocery bills w/ cash. I always buy my groceries & gas w/ a Capital One card get my 2% cash back bonus. Pay the card off in full every month. I am sure many more people do what I do.


On Jan 02 11:44 AM bobbobwhite wrote:

> Most posters here seem to think that all will return to normal after
> this economic "inconvenience&amp... has passed. However, the present
> debacle is not just an inconvenience as it is not something anyone
> under the age of 85 has any experience in seeing through, and it
> may well be the end of the American way all of us have known as a
> result. We have been taught to be perpetually optimistic in the face
> of everything working against us, as that is the largest part of
> the unique American attitude toward life that is so different from
> the way life is seen in so many parts of the world. Which view is
> more realistic and helpful in the long run? That is in serious question
> these days as the American way is put to its perhaps most severe
> test in its short world history.
>
> The concept and reality of trust is based in personal honor, and
> honor seems to be a rusty leftover from the past for most of our
> greedy citizens these days in our "buy it now and pay for it later,
> maybe" society. "Show me the money" has replaced duty, honor, commitment,
> and persistence in the declining America of today.
>
> PS: At the supermarket yesterday, I saw many typical Americans pay
> for their groceries with credit cards, but all the Asians paid cash,
> every single one. Anyone with a functioning brain should see a lesson
> in that.

Great Depression Not Imminent, But Inevitable

Rants about the impending end of the world by aarc and other on SA make me confident the bottom is in sight. Even if the USA is going to hell in a hand basket, there are plenty of lucrative places to invest during the Chinese-Indian-Brazili... Century

Friday Market Preview: Was Dow 8,000 the Bottom?

CLH,

I'm afraid the problem with that is marginal tax rates were WWAAAYYY lower in the 1940's. When the average Federal Tax rate is 3% (granted I think the top rate was 80% or so) its easy to double even triple the tax rate to grow revenue. When the top tax rate is 35% not much room for growth w/o the rate becoming punitive. I just saw some left-wing German wants to raise the top rate to 80% on incomes over $750k, its a bit much in my mind.

On Nov 14 05:51 AM CLH wrote:

> Where did the money come from in the 1940s war? Our debt was 5 times
> larger then today (%of GDP). We soon paid it off with no inflation.
> This is what ended the depression. Spend--spend spend.