CTMike

Tuesday Outlook: Commodities, Emerging Markets, More

If you really think you have a voice in Washington, try contacting your Representative. I got this message just a few minutes ago - - and you trust them to know what they are doing on anything!

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Tuesday Outlook: Commodities, Emerging Markets, More

Sorry MKW, I'm with Dave. We are getting noting but crises sound bites; remember Y2k, and Iraq/WMD. I thought the financial world would come to an end Monday or no later than Tuesday if the bail out wasn't passed. Looks kind of like it did last week and its Tuesday. Oh, now we have until Thursday or Friday. If the financial system is frozen, it may well be because they want to see how much free taxpayer money that can get before they make any decision on how to fix the problem themselves. AND, MKW, many years of experience in the corporate world has shown me that when somebody tries to intimidate me into doing something that I would rather not, its because their motives are suspicious/disingenuou... and they don't want you to know the details/facts! Thank you Nancy, you are such a wonderful leader.

Thursday Outlook: Commodities, Emerging Markets

David hit my hot button commenting about broken politics,
David, you are right regarding the suggestion that Washington needs to be fixed. Having worked there for a long time, I was was an eye witness to the debauchery of our political system. They spend trillions of dollars and accomplish very little (lots of self interest accomplishments but very little will keep this country great). I can't think of a single thing of significance that is working well: social security, Medicare, immigration, infrastructure, education, health care, energy independence, financial oversight, manufacturing, etc. are all floundering. The system is so focused on hidden agendas and "politics" that it is doubtful that any of these issues will ever be fixed.
David's suggestion of term limits is a good thought but remember, these folks are not stupid and they will quickly adjust and keep the status quo. Two more effective actions are 1) pass a constitutional amendment that the budget must be balanced every year and all debt has to be retired within X years with the sole exception of time of a declared war. 2) Reduce the federal budget X% every year and return power back to the states and local governments and stop becoming a socialist country.
David is right in that term limits or any other attempt to control power won't happen anytime soon. Folks are simply too distracted. It's like the frog in a pot of water that is heating up. The frog could easily jump out but that warm water feels oh so good and at some point its too late. Unfortunately, it will take a cataclysmic event such as another great depression or another terrorist attack that makes 9/11 look like a non-event before attitudes begin to change.
If we can get power back into the hands of folks (local representatives) that we know and trust, then we have a chance of turning this turned around. If we continue the status quo, we deserve what we get.