richard_nogginn's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/268930/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/130112-consumer-credit-drops-sharply?source=feed#comment-456265 456265

On Apr 08 09:01 AM TeresaE wrote:

> The banks, while relying on "taxpayers" are busy bankrupting who?
> Taxpayers.
>
> Great freakin plan they have.
>
> My guess is that 2 things are occuring, January's uptick may have
> something to do with people running up their debts before filing.
> If you know you can't make full payments, the company cuts your available
> credit and you lose your job, your filing. Cash out while the cashing
> is good. Also, December was cold and I know many people/companies
> that ended up charging their utility bills.
>
> As for the February drop, I believe many of us have finally figured
> out that we have been duped and that 25% or more of your income paying
> interest will never lead to security. Tax returns in, credit card
> debt paid off. Wish everyone else would wake up.]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:22:22 -0400

On Apr 08 09:01 AM TeresaE wrote:

> The banks, while relying on "taxpayers" are busy bankrupting who?
> Taxpayers.
>
> Great freakin plan they have.
>
> My guess is that 2 things are occuring, January's uptick may have
> something to do with people running up their debts before filing.
> If you know you can't make full payments, the company cuts your available
> credit and you lose your job, your filing. Cash out while the cashing
> is good. Also, December was cold and I know many people/companies
> that ended up charging their utility bills.
>
> As for the February drop, I believe many of us have finally figured
> out that we have been duped and that 25% or more of your income paying
> interest will never lead to security. Tax returns in, credit card
> debt paid off. Wish everyone else would wake up.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/130103-unconventional-wisdom-consumers-are-reducing-debt-in-recession?source=feed#comment-456183 456183
To me, indebtedness is a form of slavery and we have become a nation of slaves. It is up to us to decide if we want ourselves and our children to continue to be slaves--or choose freedom.


On Apr 08 09:06 AM cabaretewilliam wrote:

> The above comment - spend more- leads right back inbot the mess.
> Save and spend what you have saved!]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:38:11 -0400
To me, indebtedness is a form of slavery and we have become a nation of slaves. It is up to us to decide if we want ourselves and our children to continue to be slaves--or choose freedom.


On Apr 08 09:06 AM cabaretewilliam wrote:

> The above comment - spend more- leads right back inbot the mess.
> Save and spend what you have saved!]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/119906-will-government-spending-work?source=feed#comment-384158 384158
The truth is that banking has an entire section of the federal code of regulations (12CFR) they are supposed to adhere to. That means they are already tightly regulated. The Bush administration either winked and nodded when banks did not follow regulation or they were negligent in the duties and responsibilities of a regulator. It was the gross failure of our government to perform its oversight duties that got us here.

Therefore in order to regain investor trust three things have to occur: any bad assets must be assigned fair value, a place to store the bad assets must be provided, and the government needs to profile bank or banks that violated their regulatory boundaries.

A reverse auction is the fastest way to assign fair value and provide a means for treasury to purchase the assets at fair value. Each bank has to value their bad assets and treasury purchases those of lowest value/market segment. During the S and L crisis of the 1980's the federal home banks were used to store bad assets. Since that precedent has been set, they need to be used in that capacity again. When investors see these assets at fair value they should start competing with treasury, so not all bad assets will wind up at auction.

Finally in order to assure the rest of the world that the USG will ensure banks comply with regulation, one or more banks will have to be slapped in public. Again the keys:
force banks to evalutate their bad assets fairly via reverse auction
use federal home loan banks to store some of the bad assets
allow investors to compete once they see fair value is being assigned
ensure public is aware that bankers are being punished for violating regulation.]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:51:07 -0500
The truth is that banking has an entire section of the federal code of regulations (12CFR) they are supposed to adhere to. That means they are already tightly regulated. The Bush administration either winked and nodded when banks did not follow regulation or they were negligent in the duties and responsibilities of a regulator. It was the gross failure of our government to perform its oversight duties that got us here.

Therefore in order to regain investor trust three things have to occur: any bad assets must be assigned fair value, a place to store the bad assets must be provided, and the government needs to profile bank or banks that violated their regulatory boundaries.

A reverse auction is the fastest way to assign fair value and provide a means for treasury to purchase the assets at fair value. Each bank has to value their bad assets and treasury purchases those of lowest value/market segment. During the S and L crisis of the 1980's the federal home banks were used to store bad assets. Since that precedent has been set, they need to be used in that capacity again. When investors see these assets at fair value they should start competing with treasury, so not all bad assets will wind up at auction.

Finally in order to assure the rest of the world that the USG will ensure banks comply with regulation, one or more banks will have to be slapped in public. Again the keys:
force banks to evalutate their bad assets fairly via reverse auction
use federal home loan banks to store some of the bad assets
allow investors to compete once they see fair value is being assigned
ensure public is aware that bankers are being punished for violating regulation.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/119904-value-investing-five-most-searched-stocks?source=feed#comment-384071 384071
GM is included, because they own the majority of shares in two different pilot plants for producing ethanol for under a buck/gallon. The Wisconsin plant uses heat and can convert anything (including old tires and garbage) into ethanol. It will begin producing 100,000 gal/day late next year. The Massachusetts plant uses genetically altered bacteria to convert woody brush, switch grass, and field stubble into ethanol. It will begin producing 250,000 gal/day in 2012. Ethanol that does not challenge our food production and costs less than a buck to produce directly challenges gasoline as fuel. If GM stays out of bankruptcy until the end of next year, they will have a completely new revenue stream. If they become bankrupt the best we will ever see is the lab results.

I don't agree with the Obama plan as far as wind and solar energy go, because forcing GE and Toshiba/Westinghouse to increase coal plant efficiency can cut in half during the next decade. Congress should be writing legislation for electrical power similar to what they have done for automobiles. Folks 2/3's of the heat made by coal is wasted and the methods used by geothermal energy producers can cut the waste in half. ]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:06:30 -0500
GM is included, because they own the majority of shares in two different pilot plants for producing ethanol for under a buck/gallon. The Wisconsin plant uses heat and can convert anything (including old tires and garbage) into ethanol. It will begin producing 100,000 gal/day late next year. The Massachusetts plant uses genetically altered bacteria to convert woody brush, switch grass, and field stubble into ethanol. It will begin producing 250,000 gal/day in 2012. Ethanol that does not challenge our food production and costs less than a buck to produce directly challenges gasoline as fuel. If GM stays out of bankruptcy until the end of next year, they will have a completely new revenue stream. If they become bankrupt the best we will ever see is the lab results.

I don't agree with the Obama plan as far as wind and solar energy go, because forcing GE and Toshiba/Westinghouse to increase coal plant efficiency can cut in half during the next decade. Congress should be writing legislation for electrical power similar to what they have done for automobiles. Folks 2/3's of the heat made by coal is wasted and the methods used by geothermal energy producers can cut the waste in half. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/119594-russian-currency-watch-ruble-update?source=feed#comment-382646 382646 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:53:08 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/109395-fannie-freddie-and-the-4-5-mortgage-myth?source=feed#comment-321919 321919
Unimproved property just outside the city limits is still a good buy, although prices are still increasing.]]> Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:10:29 -0500
Unimproved property just outside the city limits is still a good buy, although prices are still increasing.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/109064-big-stocks-under-a-buck?source=feed#comment-321902 321902 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:52:54 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/109064-big-stocks-under-a-buck?source=feed#comment-321897 321897
I'm waiting for IBC (Hostess/Dolly Madison) to get out of bankruptcy in February and buy their stock. I'd gamble on GM if I knew Congress was going to help them out.]]> Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:49:57 -0500
I'm waiting for IBC (Hostess/Dolly Madison) to get out of bankruptcy in February and buy their stock. I'd gamble on GM if I knew Congress was going to help them out.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/108533-the-convertibles-collapse-offers-investment-lessons-for-all-investors?source=feed#comment-318391 318391
Had management worried that "Anything wrong can happen at least once for any given industry" they might have taken a more critical look.]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:51:14 -0500
Had management worried that "Anything wrong can happen at least once for any given industry" they might have taken a more critical look.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105061-should-we-really-bail-out-the-big-three-automakers-with-73-20-per-hour-labor?source=feed#comment-305579 305579
When I worked for GM installing parking brakes, one day the line suddenly stopped. It turned out that a mixed race couple working in the paint booth had been arguing over the man being a cheat. During the argument he stabbed her. That caused the line to shut down, because unpainted cars were downstream of the paint booth. Two days later the guy was back at work, while the woman laid in a hospital. Apparently the union forced GM to put him back to work. From that moment on I knew they were too powerful and would eventually kill the golden goose.

Another thing the union did wrong was not to encourage union employees to work up through the ranks, educate themselves, and join the management team. Therefore, management and union officials were always at odds, instead of finding ways to work together. The electrical industry paid 75% of my college education, because they know the value of a manager who worked their way up. A meter of cooperation is much more valuable than a kilometer of competition.

I don't drive a Toyota. Had two and hated them. At the moment I'm driving a 2001 Buick Century with a v6. I love it. GM v6 engines are almost as economical as Toyota 4 bangers.

]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:30:46 -0500
When I worked for GM installing parking brakes, one day the line suddenly stopped. It turned out that a mixed race couple working in the paint booth had been arguing over the man being a cheat. During the argument he stabbed her. That caused the line to shut down, because unpainted cars were downstream of the paint booth. Two days later the guy was back at work, while the woman laid in a hospital. Apparently the union forced GM to put him back to work. From that moment on I knew they were too powerful and would eventually kill the golden goose.

Another thing the union did wrong was not to encourage union employees to work up through the ranks, educate themselves, and join the management team. Therefore, management and union officials were always at odds, instead of finding ways to work together. The electrical industry paid 75% of my college education, because they know the value of a manager who worked their way up. A meter of cooperation is much more valuable than a kilometer of competition.

I don't drive a Toyota. Had two and hated them. At the moment I'm driving a 2001 Buick Century with a v6. I love it. GM v6 engines are almost as economical as Toyota 4 bangers.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105061-should-we-really-bail-out-the-big-three-automakers-with-73-20-per-hour-labor?source=feed#comment-304757 304757
I'm pretty tired of reading rants and finger pointing. All that does is raise the blood pressure and make the heart work harder. Today, we have a unique opportunity to pull together, brainstorm, and find our way out of this mess. In order to do that we have to focus our attention on what methods will work the best in the US economy.

My personal choices are:
1. Increase manufacturing by making our own shoes, TVs, washing machines, garbage cans, etc. The selected manufacturing components must be subsidized in order to compete with foreign products.

2. We must continue to innovate. We haven't put any new products on the market since we commercialized GPS. Our economy is risk when we do not create new products. (GM is supporting two initiatives that will make ethanol for less than a dollar a gallon). Our economy is predicated on free thinking r & d. If it means allowing full stem cell research, then so be it.

3. Open up new markets. I believe the most recent market to open is the CO2 trading system in Europe. New markets create new wealth.
]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:51:46 -0500
I'm pretty tired of reading rants and finger pointing. All that does is raise the blood pressure and make the heart work harder. Today, we have a unique opportunity to pull together, brainstorm, and find our way out of this mess. In order to do that we have to focus our attention on what methods will work the best in the US economy.

My personal choices are:
1. Increase manufacturing by making our own shoes, TVs, washing machines, garbage cans, etc. The selected manufacturing components must be subsidized in order to compete with foreign products.

2. We must continue to innovate. We haven't put any new products on the market since we commercialized GPS. Our economy is risk when we do not create new products. (GM is supporting two initiatives that will make ethanol for less than a dollar a gallon). Our economy is predicated on free thinking r & d. If it means allowing full stem cell research, then so be it.

3. Open up new markets. I believe the most recent market to open is the CO2 trading system in Europe. New markets create new wealth.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105061-should-we-really-bail-out-the-big-three-automakers-with-73-20-per-hour-labor?source=feed#comment-304227 304227
Now I know you aint a real plumber because if you were you would have been part of AFL-CIO. That is the union that regulates a plumbers wage. If you were a licensed, union plumber you wouldn't be so mad about working 70 hrs a week for little or nothing, because you too would be protected. Now did the auto workers elect the wrong union leaders and almost kill the golden goose? Of course they did. Does Toyota, Nissan, VW, et. a. recognize it? yep. The way they handle their workforce used to be by ensuring the oriental paternal management concept was enforced, vs the western model.

How do companies such as Wal-mart and Tyson's keep unions out? They scare the hell out of their employees.

However, Joe you are absolutely right. Without banding together to ensure our protection, we leave ourselves open to having to work long hours for little pay, too high healthcare payments, and no pension (other than SS). I would attempt to organize my fellow manual laborers to at least get healthcare costs down and ensure we have a pension in our old age. Believe me, management will do their best to keep you from organizing, because the union will cut into their pay. They may go as far as to fire bomb your house so be aware and protect your family. Once you organize though you find the benefits of being union greatly outweigh the risks. If my company had not organized I wouldn't be on medical retirement now, or have the opportunity to pay my house off. I would have been out the door with a "see ya, wouldn't want to be ya".

I've seen college educated engineers up through PHDs join the union for their own protection. The same goes for Chemists and Physicists. They became the backbone of our unit and a select few have moved on from union to management positions. With them moving into management, our company management is now much more sensitive to the needs of their employees.

Self employed I read where you were dissing auto workers for spending their pay increases. Since you are self employed I also know that you held any employees pay to little or nothing, while you increased the costs for your products, relative to their pay increase. I'm betting you were salivating each time you heard they might get paid more. You also know that you directly benefited from it. So cut the BS. ]]> Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:58:50 -0500
Now I know you aint a real plumber because if you were you would have been part of AFL-CIO. That is the union that regulates a plumbers wage. If you were a licensed, union plumber you wouldn't be so mad about working 70 hrs a week for little or nothing, because you too would be protected. Now did the auto workers elect the wrong union leaders and almost kill the golden goose? Of course they did. Does Toyota, Nissan, VW, et. a. recognize it? yep. The way they handle their workforce used to be by ensuring the oriental paternal management concept was enforced, vs the western model.

How do companies such as Wal-mart and Tyson's keep unions out? They scare the hell out of their employees.

However, Joe you are absolutely right. Without banding together to ensure our protection, we leave ourselves open to having to work long hours for little pay, too high healthcare payments, and no pension (other than SS). I would attempt to organize my fellow manual laborers to at least get healthcare costs down and ensure we have a pension in our old age. Believe me, management will do their best to keep you from organizing, because the union will cut into their pay. They may go as far as to fire bomb your house so be aware and protect your family. Once you organize though you find the benefits of being union greatly outweigh the risks. If my company had not organized I wouldn't be on medical retirement now, or have the opportunity to pay my house off. I would have been out the door with a "see ya, wouldn't want to be ya".

I've seen college educated engineers up through PHDs join the union for their own protection. The same goes for Chemists and Physicists. They became the backbone of our unit and a select few have moved on from union to management positions. With them moving into management, our company management is now much more sensitive to the needs of their employees.

Self employed I read where you were dissing auto workers for spending their pay increases. Since you are self employed I also know that you held any employees pay to little or nothing, while you increased the costs for your products, relative to their pay increase. I'm betting you were salivating each time you heard they might get paid more. You also know that you directly benefited from it. So cut the BS. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105061-should-we-really-bail-out-the-big-three-automakers-with-73-20-per-hour-labor?source=feed#comment-303696 303696
Of all the hourly people in the country, Nuclear Reactor Operators should be the highest paid. This is because they can go to prison or be heavily fined if they screw up. Unfortunately UAW workers make the same wage. I've worked at the Fairfax GM plant, so I know what assembly line workers do. It's the same thing over and over again.

In every union there are people who want to kill the golden goose. You know the type...me, me, for me. If they become business managers or chief stewards the results can get ugly. It is up to the rank and file to elect responsible officials.

I realize there are quite a few people that do not understand what a union is supposed to do. The intent of a union is not money, money, money. The intent is to give the working man a voice. If a worker is being bullied, hit, or harassed it is the unions responsibility to help the employee file a grievance. Grievance resolutions always include at least one steward, one mid level manager, and the employee. The union is also responsible for ensuring the employee is paid a fair days wage for a fair days work. Our grandfathers and great-grandfathers shed their blood for that one. The union is responsible to ensure the companies overtime policies are fair. If an employee is being forced to work overtime, the employee should be paid fairly. It is the unions duty to ensure that companies provide adequate vacation time and sick leave. There is more but this is getting a little long.

Lastly...Union contracts set the wages for the rest of the country.]]> Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:37:24 -0500
Of all the hourly people in the country, Nuclear Reactor Operators should be the highest paid. This is because they can go to prison or be heavily fined if they screw up. Unfortunately UAW workers make the same wage. I've worked at the Fairfax GM plant, so I know what assembly line workers do. It's the same thing over and over again.

In every union there are people who want to kill the golden goose. You know the type...me, me, for me. If they become business managers or chief stewards the results can get ugly. It is up to the rank and file to elect responsible officials.

I realize there are quite a few people that do not understand what a union is supposed to do. The intent of a union is not money, money, money. The intent is to give the working man a voice. If a worker is being bullied, hit, or harassed it is the unions responsibility to help the employee file a grievance. Grievance resolutions always include at least one steward, one mid level manager, and the employee. The union is also responsible for ensuring the employee is paid a fair days wage for a fair days work. Our grandfathers and great-grandfathers shed their blood for that one. The union is responsible to ensure the companies overtime policies are fair. If an employee is being forced to work overtime, the employee should be paid fairly. It is the unions duty to ensure that companies provide adequate vacation time and sick leave. There is more but this is getting a little long.

Lastly...Union contracts set the wages for the rest of the country.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105465-three-problems-with-the-fannie-freddie-mortgage-modifications?source=feed#comment-303669 303669
I saw comments about rent. Actually we all are paying rent until we get the mortgage paid off. After the mortgage is paid the house can still be taken away in some States using eminent domain laws. I'm sure there will be some morons who will try to use 90 day delinquencies to lower their payments. I'm just as sure that in 180 days there will be a law passed making that illegal and it will be backdated till 11/11/08.

I think adjustable rate mortgages need to be scrapped and balloon payments made illegal. Both of these methods add fuel to the fire. In the 1970's all mortgages (that I knew about) were fixed 15 or 30 year rates.

Folks who have a few thousand to spare might want to go look at the houses for sale at Fannies website. You can find some pretty good bargains. Fannie has 67,000 homes to get off the books so it's sale time. ]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:52:45 -0500
I saw comments about rent. Actually we all are paying rent until we get the mortgage paid off. After the mortgage is paid the house can still be taken away in some States using eminent domain laws. I'm sure there will be some morons who will try to use 90 day delinquencies to lower their payments. I'm just as sure that in 180 days there will be a law passed making that illegal and it will be backdated till 11/11/08.

I think adjustable rate mortgages need to be scrapped and balloon payments made illegal. Both of these methods add fuel to the fire. In the 1970's all mortgages (that I knew about) were fixed 15 or 30 year rates.

Folks who have a few thousand to spare might want to go look at the houses for sale at Fannies website. You can find some pretty good bargains. Fannie has 67,000 homes to get off the books so it's sale time. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104757-gm-charging-forward-with-the-volt?source=feed#comment-300963 300963 I purchased an Opel GT over 30 years ago that gave 34 mpg... the Opel was a sub-line sold thru GM Dealers. Then for some odd reason, the entire line was taken off the market. You figure out why... it was a great car with great features and great gas mileage = why take it off the market???

The reason the Opel was taken off of the US market is that it didn't sell very well here. Toyota today uses the same 4 banger they did in the 70's with a few updates. The 72 Corolla I had got 32 mpg highway with a manual transmission and a 1800 CC motor (1800 CC = 1.8L). The 2001 Century I have now gets 30 mpg highway with a 3.0L V6 and 4 speed automatic. Oh yeah that's cause GM invented the throttle body and went back to using overdrive.

All the gushing over Toyota's hybrid makes me sick. The system was invented by EPA labs. All Toyota did was copy the drawings once the EPA patent expired. EPA labs have now put a hydraulic hybrid system together that is 75% efficient vs 25% for the electrical hybrids.]]> Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:31:44 -0500 I purchased an Opel GT over 30 years ago that gave 34 mpg... the Opel was a sub-line sold thru GM Dealers. Then for some odd reason, the entire line was taken off the market. You figure out why... it was a great car with great features and great gas mileage = why take it off the market???

The reason the Opel was taken off of the US market is that it didn't sell very well here. Toyota today uses the same 4 banger they did in the 70's with a few updates. The 72 Corolla I had got 32 mpg highway with a manual transmission and a 1800 CC motor (1800 CC = 1.8L). The 2001 Century I have now gets 30 mpg highway with a 3.0L V6 and 4 speed automatic. Oh yeah that's cause GM invented the throttle body and went back to using overdrive.

All the gushing over Toyota's hybrid makes me sick. The system was invented by EPA labs. All Toyota did was copy the drawings once the EPA patent expired. EPA labs have now put a hydraulic hybrid system together that is 75% efficient vs 25% for the electrical hybrids.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104719-the-shallowest-generation-a-rebuttal?source=feed#comment-300958 300958
What caused the house of cards to collapse was high gas prices. As prices went up it forced other commodity prices up as well. Those prices in turn caused the folks with sub-prime loans to choose between feeding their families, or paying the mortgage. I don't blame them for choosing food.

Now we will watch the pendulum swing to far and all industries will get regulated too much. That will cause future heartaches and the deregulation cycle will start all over again.

The moral of the story we are living through is that a little regulation is a good thing and no oversight can bring the country to its knees.]]> Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:58:25 -0500
What caused the house of cards to collapse was high gas prices. As prices went up it forced other commodity prices up as well. Those prices in turn caused the folks with sub-prime loans to choose between feeding their families, or paying the mortgage. I don't blame them for choosing food.

Now we will watch the pendulum swing to far and all industries will get regulated too much. That will cause future heartaches and the deregulation cycle will start all over again.

The moral of the story we are living through is that a little regulation is a good thing and no oversight can bring the country to its knees.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104848-great-companies-that-are-literally-good-to-go?source=feed#comment-300934 300934 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:00:44 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/104757-gm-charging-forward-with-the-volt?source=feed#comment-300224 300224
GM factories were put to work rolling out tanks in WWII, and Ford was rolling out the iconic Jeeps.

As a country we cannot allow the bastions of our manufacturing base to be lost. If we allow it and our country needs them again in time of war, we are pretty screwed.]]> Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:36:43 -0500
GM factories were put to work rolling out tanks in WWII, and Ford was rolling out the iconic Jeeps.

As a country we cannot allow the bastions of our manufacturing base to be lost. If we allow it and our country needs them again in time of war, we are pretty screwed.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/103917-landsbanki-debt-settles-at-1-cent-on-the-dollar?source=feed#comment-299440 299440 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:32:07 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/103266-personal-income-and-spending-saving-is-the-new-trend-again?source=feed#comment-295388 295388
When I found out I had a $100/mo credit card payment, I doubled up on it till it was payed off, then I sent the credit card payment to a savings account. It takes some fortitude not to buy the flat screen LED TV, but when the washing machine broke we had money in savings for a new one.

I hate making car payment. So when I paid my first car off I kept making the payments to myself. I drove that car until the wheels fell off and paid cash for the next one! I have to find out what current payments are when I buy a car in order to make sure I have enough saved for the next one.

I recently paid my small farm off. Guess what? You got it, I'm paying mortgage payments to me. Credit card plus car payments plus mortgage payments now amount to $1200/mo savings. If I can do it anyone else can to. It just takes guts to do it in the first place.

]]> Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:11:09 -0400
When I found out I had a $100/mo credit card payment, I doubled up on it till it was payed off, then I sent the credit card payment to a savings account. It takes some fortitude not to buy the flat screen LED TV, but when the washing machine broke we had money in savings for a new one.

I hate making car payment. So when I paid my first car off I kept making the payments to myself. I drove that car until the wheels fell off and paid cash for the next one! I have to find out what current payments are when I buy a car in order to make sure I have enough saved for the next one.

I recently paid my small farm off. Guess what? You got it, I'm paying mortgage payments to me. Credit card plus car payments plus mortgage payments now amount to $1200/mo savings. If I can do it anyone else can to. It just takes guts to do it in the first place.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/103261-is-the-government-s-fannie-freddie-conservatorship-failing?source=feed#comment-295373 295373
I'm afraid that Freddie will have to get government support next month, when they are forced to sell assets like Fannie was this month.]]> Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:43:47 -0400
I'm afraid that Freddie will have to get government support next month, when they are forced to sell assets like Fannie was this month.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/102132-corn-and-its-industry-the-next-tobacco?source=feed#comment-294850 294850
I've heard a lot of things like this during my lifetime. First it was butter (which is better than margarine), then eggs (which also have omega 3). Ruining butter production was so that the margarine companies could sell their product. Ruining egg production was misguided, but at least the intent was good.

If you want an eye-opener, go check out the ag departments requirements for "organic" farming. The organic farmer is allowed to use roundup (or others) for weedkiller, and malthion D (or others) for bug killer.]]> Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:32:03 -0400
I've heard a lot of things like this during my lifetime. First it was butter (which is better than margarine), then eggs (which also have omega 3). Ruining butter production was so that the margarine companies could sell their product. Ruining egg production was misguided, but at least the intent was good.

If you want an eye-opener, go check out the ag departments requirements for "organic" farming. The organic farmer is allowed to use roundup (or others) for weedkiller, and malthion D (or others) for bug killer.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/102928-corporate-america-is-inadvertently-helping-obama?source=feed#comment-294842 294842 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:56:51 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/84875-should-i-buy-fannie-or-freddie-stock-today?source=feed#comment-283305 283305
Click here to see what mutual funds are doing with it, since they own 95% of common shares. See thebuylist.com/default...

The shortsellers are leaving it alone, because there isn't anything left to short. See www.shortsqueeze.com/?...

The stock isn't being shorted]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:30:06 -0400
Click here to see what mutual funds are doing with it, since they own 95% of common shares. See thebuylist.com/default...

The shortsellers are leaving it alone, because there isn't anything left to short. See www.shortsqueeze.com/?...

The stock isn't being shorted]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/99622-can-the-banking-system-handle-huge-new-write-downs?source=feed#comment-282295 282295 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:09:47 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/98533-fannie-and-freddie-did-not-cause-this-crisis?source=feed#comment-274329 274329

On Oct 05 08:11 PM valueinvesto r888 wrote:

> As everyone casts around looking for the reasons for this crisis,
> everyone seems to ignore the fact that as a nation and on an individual
> citizen basis we are broke. Spending beyond our means for the last
> thirty years has finally caught up to us. Triggers, such as housing
> bubble, etc., are just triggers, not the root cause. Root cause
> is we are broke and deep in debt -as a nation and as consumers.]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:41:02 -0400

On Oct 05 08:11 PM valueinvesto r888 wrote:

> As everyone casts around looking for the reasons for this crisis,
> everyone seems to ignore the fact that as a nation and on an individual
> citizen basis we are broke. Spending beyond our means for the last
> thirty years has finally caught up to us. Triggers, such as housing
> bubble, etc., are just triggers, not the root cause. Root cause
> is we are broke and deep in debt -as a nation and as consumers.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/98533-fannie-and-freddie-did-not-cause-this-crisis?source=feed#comment-274321 274321
In 1988 I received an Alt-A loan to purchase my first home. Although the loan was backed by Fannie, I got it through the VA. I paid $500 for closing costs, and moved in. Since then I've sold that house, bought another, and recently paid the mortgage off. So the Alt-A loans aren't all bad and many of the Alt-A's recipients are vets like me. I still believe that our country should provide low cost home mortgages to the men and women who defend us. ]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:38:24 -0400
In 1988 I received an Alt-A loan to purchase my first home. Although the loan was backed by Fannie, I got it through the VA. I paid $500 for closing costs, and moved in. Since then I've sold that house, bought another, and recently paid the mortgage off. So the Alt-A loans aren't all bad and many of the Alt-A's recipients are vets like me. I still believe that our country should provide low cost home mortgages to the men and women who defend us. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/97476-fannie-and-freddie-finally-a-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel?source=feed#comment-265806 265806 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:35:00 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/97180-the-fannie-and-freddie-apocalypse-trade?source=feed#comment-263927 263927 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:13:35 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/97180-the-fannie-and-freddie-apocalypse-trade?source=feed#comment-263926 263926 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:12:23 -0400