unclej0

A Tale of Two Markets: Overvalued Stocks and the Declining Dollar

The dollar must go down in the long run, as it has been doing since the end of WWII, but investors can be badly burned in the short run. That seems to be a given because we have a seriously manipulated plutocracy and nothing like a democracy with well regulated and transparent markets. How else could the few fleece the many with consistent regularity?

Unfortunately for me and for many retirees, we cannot bet on the dollar and we cannot think like the self-serving parasites who do most of the manipulating - including manipulation of the government.

These, as Jimmy Durante once said, are the conditions that prevail.

There is no sure fire formula for economic survival. However, those who choose to go long in equities might well do worse than having some open stop loss orders. That way, it will take more time to dissipate their life savings.

Charlie Gasparino: Another Crash 'Has to Happen Again'

There is no great difficulty in directing taxpayer money into more useful channels than the huge bank bonuses. The government has the power to tax incomes - so put a big league tax on the bonuses. It's fair and just to do that.

Caveat: they will fight it with all of their pr and lobbying powers.

Where's the Outrage at the Banks?

Corruption is ubiquitous. See my blog.
unclej0.blogspot.com/

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

I think you are either misguided or else careless in ignoring clear facts. Obama's ultimate outcome cannot now be known but his budget and his recovery plan are certainly not more of the same. That is why the Republicans, who represent more of the same, are so fiercely opposed.

Haven't you noticed?


On Feb 27 09:19 AM hanson001 wrote:

> The table of contents of Obama's new budget displays a heading Inheriting
> a Legacy of Misplaced Priorities. The verb, Inheriting, is used
> by Mr. Obama every time he communicates with the American population
> about the economy. This is a word he must use as he leads the country
> into greater problems. Use of this verb, he hopes, will get the
> blame off him. He is already looking out four years.
>
> I can not wait for the next president to come and use the verb inherited.
> What happened to hope and change Mr. Obama. It looks like more of
> the same. Dang!

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

The price of stability, as in any dynamical system, is properly designed control. Unfortunately, human beings have not yet learned to stabilize economic activity A large part of the problem is ideological. The nearly religious belief in the "invisible hand" of the market bears no relation to reality; it holds only for idealized models.

Human behavior does not exclude irrationality and cheating. Where, in the idealized model do we find monopoly, cartels, insider trading, deception, excesses of greed and fear, externalizing costs through pollution, conditions near slavery in many parts of the global labor market, etc.

Government intervention can reduce the worst offenses but governments are considerably influenced by the worst offenders. We have a lot to learn.


On Jan 02 10:01 AM JasonR wrote:

> "Investors, meanwhile, are hoping 2009 brings a turnaround, but aren't
> counting on one."
>
> Sure glad we have the Wall Street Journal to tell us investors what
> we want. Buffett seems to be the only voice of sanity in a sea full
> of weasels whining for a bailout. I, for one, don't care how the
> market performs in 2009. I am much more concerned about my government's
> intervention in the automobile, housing, banking, steel, healthcare,
> and whatever other industry I didn't think of. If all the cries for
> a bailout were dismissed at the beginning, by now we would be halfway
> out of the storm and looking forward to a full-fledged recovery.
> Americans apparently prefer stability, but stability comes at a price.
> Nothing is free.

Why Bailouts Are Not the Answer

Doesn't increased savings require discretionary income?

The government can either pay for unemployment or it can build infrastructure and create jobs. I'd rather have the infrastructure.

We do need intelligent government intervention. Paulson, however, is the poster boy for bailing out deadbeats. The sheriff is in cahoots with the outlaws. That seems to be the rule in the Bush administration.