mary54

Time for the U.S. Economy to Reindustrialize

Dan, Your comments about federal workers does not ring true with regard to my friend, someone who has worked in federal bankruptcy court for her entire career and has told me of her work dynamics. Her court has endured ongoing RIF for many years starting in the 80s with more and more work being done by less and less people. People cannot take a vacation unless a Judge takes their vacation, because the cogs are so few on the wheel, the wheel is really impaired. The workload is incredibly huge and the backlog is equal to that. If someone needs surgery and will be out for awhile, it's double workload for someone else. My friend is extremely concientious and works nights and weekends to "catch up". In Bankruptcy court, there IS NO catching up. It's an avalanche. My experience of federal workers is quite the opposite of yours.


On Nov 15 09:13 AM Dan in mpls wrote:

\ The government
> has not laid off a single worker in this opening salvo of what will
> be a Great Recession. Government employees are waltzing through
> this thing unphased and strengthened. Their every missed dance step
> is on the neck of some schmuck who has an idea and a dream.

Interesting Points from Julian Robertson's FT Interview

Who is the person he is referring to, re: world's best authority on gold?

Baidu: Vulnerable to Market Swoon

And so, this editorial posted Tues, the comment above by Najarian on Fast Money, Tues, Wed it bottomed, and Thursday, GOOG issues news related to China, Thurs, Baidu rebounded up $9.8 bucks on market close.

Baidu: Vulnerable to Market Swoon

There was some discussion of BIDU that I read/saw, in that within the past couple of days, BIDU had already dealt with the pornography issue, whereas this was a recent and untested issue with GOOG. According the commentator, this put BIDU in a stronger position vs GOOG (not to underestimate GOOG, though).

Buffett Takes Advantage of the Wall Street Addicts

Jason, Dude, What are you talking about? Steve Jobs has a deal for a private jet + gazillion options. Only $1! Funny. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha......


On Feb 26 05:42 AM Goushi wrote:

> I can't believe I wasted five minutes of my life reading this CRAP.

Santelli's Rant: A Watershed Moment?

I was watching the Santelli rant live and ran it again for my 25 year old high living nephew. He thinks he can afford a Blackberry's monthly charges, borrows from me for school, lives off unemployment (has been fired 22 times) having applied a handful of times this time. I am a yellow dog Democrat, but what I've seen is turning me to the dark side now. I did live in a garage when I was in my 20s (no home), ate campbell soup for weeks, considered prostitution, cleaned houses, toilets, took in ironing etc. dropped out of school and went to WORK. I became a successful software sales person in Silicon Valley without a college education. Santelli is right. The other part of his rant was that he is in FAVOR of helping young people who deserve it and need a helping hand. The difference is discretion in determining who should be helped and who should not. The first place to find help is at the end of your own sleeve. BTW - I make all moves conservatively and we're not in trouble now. We always plan for worst case scenario, as I have learned the hard way. I am now 54. Thank you.


On Feb 20 07:30 AM doc_Hawkins wrote:

> I see some of Ricks comments but the vast majority of homeowners
> are loosing their houses due to lack of work and medical emergencies.
>
>
> Rick should view the same experience Jim Cramer had by living in
> a car or he should have my experience in 85 where I got a house foreclosed
> on and it was 800 Sq Feet 2 bedroom with 25% of the principle paid
> off in 6 years of ownership. I lost my job pure and simple and there
> were no new jobs to be had. I talked to a guy at a gas station who
> looked for two years and had that job and was happy.
>
> I understand his argument but Rick should live in a car for a while.

Barron's Takes Down Cramer, Again

I *think* if one subscribes to Cramer's products, you get his calls BEFORE he posts on the show. Then, as TV watchers buy, you sell. Subscribers to his service get it early. End of story. If you listen to the audio disclaimer on the show, it says "Jim Cramer's opinions are his and may have been disclosed earlier, etc"

I agree, Jeff Macke on Fast Money is THE MAN. I love that guy. Straight up.

Can't stand all the female commentators EXCEPT Erin Burnett. Love her.

Would We Even Recognize a Depression if We Had One?

An interesting aspect not covered would be where mod-cons such as cell phones (contracts), cable (contract) online access (contract) might fit in. Proportionately, these have become major expenses accounting in our family for about $200-$300 per month, and that is just two adults. This is an area that bleeds people dry, when you consider that about 20 years ago, there was only the home phone cost minimum of $15.00 a month plus long distance.

These are LUXURIES that have become neccesities through the belief that we cannot live without them. I do have a friend though who has none of it except for online at work and is doing just fine; in fact, has a richer social and intellectual life via books, films, friends and running group.

Convincing my younger friends in their 20s who are living close to the edge that their financial well being is being jeapordized by these expenses is like telling them the moon is made of green cheese. Unfortunately, they don't seem to be using these technologies to their best benefit and instead use texting to provoke each other during conflict and use MySpace to publish pseudo-porn poses meant to present themselves as sexually attractive, sharing reminiciences of their evenings together "wasted".

My young friends can't make their rent and ask for financial help, yet it would never occur to them to give this stuff up. Use rabbit ears and get just a few channels? Never. The inconvenience of going to the library to use the services there? Never.

These financial choices will further facilitate the separation from the poorer from their money, further enriching the corporate sector at the expense of those who have been conditioned to believe we "MUST HAVE" these things. In some ways it's true, we have a new standard, but people must get creative with these "requirements" and look to their financial well being first.


On Nov 18 07:58 AM investor88 wrote:

> A good description of a modern Depression, we might he entering one.