Third Party Guy

Cash for Clunkers Boosts Retail Sales

What do you think retail sales will look like for September? No "Cash for Clunkers" to prop up auto sales and no back to school sales to prop up clothing and sporting goods will be included, I'm betting.

What REALLY Caused the Mortgage Crisis - And What to Do Now

I would disagree with your assessment of "what really caused the mortgage crisis" (yes I know SA chooses the titles)

I would say that an over-reaching national government policies (artificially suppressed interest rates throughout Greenspan's tenure, both Clinton and Bush II Administrations policies that led/forced financial institutions to lend to low-income customers, etc.), that led to..., that led to..., that led to over-reaching national government to create an over-arching plan to throw trillions at the guilty and punish the innocent.

I would agree that the blood/sweat investment makes it somewhat harder to walk away from you home, but there is a tipping point somewhere.

Short These Truckers!

A 10 year + former sales rep for CNW is now working in CAT logistics. New contract bids went out last month for hauling CAT freight, and guess who picked up the most new business: CNW

Credit Cards, Guns and Ammo: Thanks, Washington

"banks and card companies would be required to give 45 days’ notice before a change in interest rates…"

Wow, you mean a signed contract with a Credit Card company will actually be held within the standards of contract law?? Say it ain't so!

Dear Mr. Brown,
Your outrage is missed placed. You should have been outraged when the bank lobby got the law passed through Congress that allowed them to flatly ignore contract agreements.

How to Raise a Good Energy Tax

Here is a "Good Energy Tax" idea that is over 200 years old:

-End all subsidies on "Alternative Energy", return the savings back to the taxpayers through lower taxes.
-End "Free Trade" on imported oil and gasoline and restore Constitutional Tariffs. Again, return revenues from the tariffs back to the taxpayers through the lowering of taxes.

This will allow all energies to compete on an even level, while at the same time force Americans to face up to the realities of the REAL costs of fuels.

As for the FairTax - It is a horrible idea! The most common number stated is around 22% sales tax. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is in place to stop Congress from raising this to any imaginable percent! 50%, 60%, even 110% sales tax?? NO THANKS. The only good in the FairTax is the repeal of the 16th Amendment!

Angry Chrysler Dealers Take Their Fight Public

From the U. S. Constitution:
Article I Sec. 8.4
"Congress shall have the power to... establish uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States:
Amendment V
"...nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation."

That's where I'd start if I were the NDC. I think they could clearly show that Chrysler's bankruptcy is not "uniform", especially in light of the bailout they received. Also, is "just compensation" being given to the dealers? With the Federal government so heavily invested in the bankruptcies of the auto companies, it's not a huge leap to connect the public use portion of the Amendment.

The Obama Administration is actually fearful of this case making it to the Supreme Court,. If it is proven that the bankruptcies are not uniform, particularly because of the bailouts, ALL bailouts will be considered Unconstitutional.

Caterpillar's Loss Not a Good Harbinger of Economic Things to Come

"...the U.S. fiscal stimulus program is insufficient to offset the decline in private domestic demand....once again, evidence that despite the big numbers being thrown around in Washington too little is being directed where it would do the most good."

If you will remember, President Obama visited CAT earlier in the year shortly after CAT announced 20,000 layoffs. In his speech, Obama misquoted CEO Owens in saying that they agreed that the stimulus would alloy CAT to rehire many of its employees. In reality, Owens said a reasonably packaged stimulus would allow that rehiring (not necessarily Obama's Stimulus).

I imagine this chatter is a poke back at the administration.

Stick with Gold and the Oil Stocks

"Certainly over the past 30 years Americans have lost their zest for protesting in spite of the many reasons why they should have."

Perhaps April 15th will begin the reemergence of peaceful protests, have you found your local Tax Day Tea Party to protest wrongful uses of taxes yet?

I wonder what the media will report that day!

Constitutional Issues in Nationalization and the Economic Rescue Plan

I agree with Socialism cannot compete!

Why are take overs and the Fifth Amendment even being discussed when the Constitution clearly says what should happen to these institutions that are getting "bailed out":

Article I, Sec. 8.4
The Congress shall have the power To establish... uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States

Congress seems intent on not acting uniformly when it comes to who should fail and who should not.

Not the Tax Clawback I Had in Mind

Though I agree it is wrong to tax individuals or groups for the purpose of punishment, the Supreme Court has ruled in several cases that ex post facto laws and Bills of attainder are legal in civil cases and not criminal cases. This will not be seen as a criminal punishment by the courts, unfortunately.

Gold Coin Shortage Is Likely to Become Chronic

I should have also pointed out the same applies for silver.

Gold Coin Shortage Is Likely to Become Chronic

Shortages for U. S. bullion coins may be caused by the requirements placed on the Mint by Congress.

From the latest Coinage Act
"...the Secretary shall mint and issue the gold coins described...of this section, in quantities sufficient to meet public demand..."
AND
"The Secretary shall acquire gold for the coins issued...of this title by purchase of gold mined from natural deposits in the United States, or in a territory or possession of the United States, within one year after the month in which the ore from which it is derived was mined. The Secretary shall pay not more than the average world price for the gold. In the absence of available supplies of such gold at the average world price, the Secretary may use gold from reserves held by the United States to mint the coins"

Voting Power Should Be Proportionate to Who Pays Most of the Taxes

I expect the author to be flamed over this article. I assume most of what was written was somewhat in jest.
However, to clear up a few points, America is not a Democracy. It is a Republic. Quite a difference and I suggest McDuffy do a little research on the subject. Also the Constitution allows for 1 vote for 1 person precisely to prevent the accumulation of power by one group or another (poor folk in the case of the author) through the Electoral College.
Obama and the Democrats aren't the only ones trading Capitalism for Socialism. The last 20 years should be proof enough of that. Learn and understand your Constitution and hold the elected officials to their LIMITED powers. If you don't know it, you'll not be able to recognize that you are becoming a slave.

What Does the Future Hold for U.S. Community Banks?

I just did research on this very topic in my local area (IL - communities within 35 miles) 20 out of 23 banks and credit unions according to www.bauerfinancial.com/ have a good or better rating. 2 of the remaining lending institutions are considered a watch, while the remaining 1 has a rating of get your money and run while you can.

It appears, in my local market at least, the majority of the lenders did not forget good business practices or get swept up into the quick money schemes that the national banks did. As such, I have been advising my friends to bank (and shop) locally.

Also, regional banks may be the next shoe to drop in the "financial crisis". It appears a few of them made bad decisions too.

Infrastructure Dream Deferred: Disaster for America's Children and Industrial Workers

Kelm & Dr. R.

A point of concern:
WTO, NAFTA, CAFTA, and most every trade agreement that America is involved with ARE NOT TREATIES, rather they are agreements backed up by federal law, therefore not subject to international law. The US has reserved the right to vote ourselves our of these agreements at Congress' leisure. Foreign Powers know and recognize this. However, the general populaces in those countries (and ours) are ignorant of that fact and could be a PR nightmare.

If the US House has voted on a so-called treaty, then it is truly not a treaty, but a federal statute.
Source: Constitution of the United States of America, Article II, Sec. 2.2

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