jksisco

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Consumer Finance Regulation

Who would have thought that the Government, through their GSE's, would have encouraged lax lending standards that provided the heavy lifting needed to bubble up our economy?
What happened to truth-in-lending laws, and why were they such a huge failure? Any contract that requires a huge boilerplate (fineprint) information is almost always too complicated for the average consumer, making it difficult or impossible to compare what your signing for (which is the original purpose).
The mantra that the customer is always right, until they're wrong has never been more nakedly exposed. The recent history of uneducated decisions and passionate miscalculations are the true indicators that financial and political decision making fall well short of rational, logical thinking.

Commercial Real Estate Is Plunging

The beauty of a Capital economic system is in it's cyclical nature that rewards the prudent, the risk-takers, and those that can see the forest through the trees. Enormous fortunes will be made for those that keep reality in perspective.

Corruption in the Executive Branch?

Obama and his team were 'hoping' you didn't notice how corrupt and scandal ridden they are, because the 'change' we will get is from a republican democracy to a socialist autocracy.

California Can't Print Money

California represents a classic case of irresponsible legislators who ignore reality in favor of wishful thinking, coupled with an apathetic and mostly uninformed voting population. A bankruptcy, although painful would be a godsend to right a ship listing aimlessly.

Why the Government Is Keeping GM Alive

I don't agree with the too big to fail argument, that's just Government talk for political paybacks. You can't go against the nature of capitalism in a "free market".

The Imperatives of Healthcare Reform

Like the Housing Bubble, government intervention has been responsible for the ever escalating costs of Healthcare. This "Author" seems to get his "facts" from Michael Moore's movie Sicko. The often cited figure of 48 million un-insured is inflated at best and fails to mention the millions who refuse to be insured are included in those figures. Most people consider insurance and free to mean the same thing, wrong! This is regurgitated tripe with a lack of factual basis that attempts to link the Iraq war with Healthcare?

California: Trailblazing the Road to Insolvency for the Rest of Us?

The incompetence and short-sightedness of voters, legislators, governor, union leaders, etc. have all fueled this fire.

5 Ways to Protect Yourself in Today's (Still) Unhealthy Economy

I think you may want to hold off on congratulating the Obama team for a job well done, as this massive and ongoing Government intervention has certainly created as many problems as have been mitigated.

The Seduction of America

Too many people these days want to give up on Capitalism and Free Enterprise because times are tough, although I agree that a concentration of power, both political and economical can have negative consequences, this country achieved greatness through innovation, not Government Programs part of a five-year program, redistribution of wealth is not a solution, just a populist soundbite to secure votes.

Obama Summarizes Economic Policies, Misses Several Key Points

Making Government bigger than it already is, will certainly compound the economic problem. Lowering capital gains and dividend taxes would immediately release billions in capital, that is if one is serious about fixing the economy, rather than controlling it.

Bush:Oil:Obama:Wall Street?

Energy Policy has been on the table for at least 30 years and because of competing agendas nothing of substance has been enacted, now, we are being told the road to salvation runs through "greenville", a fantasy land that ignores true realities and conjures up demons from flawed computer models that wouldn't pass muster at a 5th grade science fair. After Obama bowed to the King of Saudi, I am doubtful that we will ever stop importing oil from his neck of the woods, further reinforced by regulations preventing drilling in some of the most promising domestic fields. 20 years hence, the landscape will be littered with wind farms, SUV'S and carbon traps and we will be paying astronomical prices for oil, food, and water while Obama heads up the worlds biggest carbon brokerage business.

$200 Oil Is Coming While We Waste a Perfectly Good Crisis (Part 3)

America uses 47 million bbl's of Oil equivalents per day (electrical, transportation, food) with alternatives accounting for roughly 1-2% of the total, with most of that limited to electrical production. If we are importing 60-70% of the 22 million bbl's of oil consumed daily, and Obama's stated goal of becoming energy independent, exactly how are we going to produce 14 million bbl's of oil or oil equivalents per day that we now import? Will cap and trade make up that difference. Does anyone live in the real world, hello!

Fundamentals Weaken for U.S. Apartment Building REITs

Not all Apartment REIT's are created equal, timing into the market is critical.

Federal Budget Watch: Same Old Talking Points, But the Parties Are Reversed

The projected spending is not sustainable without tax increases, and no you can't make the top 5% earners to pay it all. Initially they will try to raise revenues through job-killing taxes, then when it's apparent that's not sufficient, they will be forced to raise income taxes at all levels, which should stifle any gains made by infrastructure spending. Throw in inflation that occurs by running the printing presses 24/7 and our economy could be in worse shape 3 years from now than it is today. That's why I will be standing shoulder to shoulder with my fellow citizens at the Tax Day Tea Parties April 15th, enough is enough!

Looking for the REIT Bargain

I live in the Orange County, CA (30 miles south of LA) area and am in the process of leasing some office space, which is in abundant supply right now. Leasing rates are very favorable with significant discounting a renter's delight.
As far as Commercial REITS are concerned, I think the Author is overlooking a sub-category that always does well in any economy, and is the only sector in the market retaining their occupancy rates while realizing growth as well.