User 68127's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/68127/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/126353-aig-and-bailouts-welcome-to-the-real-world?source=feed#comment-429570 429570
The govt will constantly be chasing those more gifted and motivated entrepreneurs and trying to bring them down to their level and control them. Unable to catch them, and lacking the intellectual and moral basis to change their behavior, the govt will resort to manipulation and brute force. ]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:48:09 -0400
The govt will constantly be chasing those more gifted and motivated entrepreneurs and trying to bring them down to their level and control them. Unable to catch them, and lacking the intellectual and moral basis to change their behavior, the govt will resort to manipulation and brute force. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/126447-why-aig-wasn-t-allowed-to-fail?source=feed#comment-429525 429525
Maybe taxpayers are better off being out of the bailout funds if it stems systemic chaos. Maybe not. But you have to acknowledge who funded the bailout of i-banks and hedge funds before you can even have an honest discussion.]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:28:03 -0400
Maybe taxpayers are better off being out of the bailout funds if it stems systemic chaos. Maybe not. But you have to acknowledge who funded the bailout of i-banks and hedge funds before you can even have an honest discussion.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/126416-rage-at-the-aig-machine?source=feed#comment-429305 429305
The bonuses amount to 1/1000th of the most recent bailout funds. They are contractually mandated. It would be a seizure of property and violation of the law to break the contracts.

If the feds were so worried about it, why did they give them the money in the first place? And are they going to micromanage EVERY single expenditure and exploit for political gain each one they don'd like, however small? Direct your anger where it belongs--at the government! No bailouts=no need to worry.

And one more thing, for those populist sheep who are taking the bait--don't bother to complain or be outraged unless you belong to the half of this country that actually PAYS the taxes!]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:03:47 -0400
The bonuses amount to 1/1000th of the most recent bailout funds. They are contractually mandated. It would be a seizure of property and violation of the law to break the contracts.

If the feds were so worried about it, why did they give them the money in the first place? And are they going to micromanage EVERY single expenditure and exploit for political gain each one they don'd like, however small? Direct your anger where it belongs--at the government! No bailouts=no need to worry.

And one more thing, for those populist sheep who are taking the bait--don't bother to complain or be outraged unless you belong to the half of this country that actually PAYS the taxes!]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/125094-fixing-america-s-banks-geithner-doesn-t-have-the-right-answer?source=feed#comment-420486 420486
I hate to say it, but I think even the banks are better equipped than the government to work out these loans. If only the govt would get out of the way with their misguided regulations. But then they would not be able to control the world and use their policies and threat of policies to buy votes and impose a utopian socialist world view...]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:28:25 -0400
I hate to say it, but I think even the banks are better equipped than the government to work out these loans. If only the govt would get out of the way with their misguided regulations. But then they would not be able to control the world and use their policies and threat of policies to buy votes and impose a utopian socialist world view...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114494-mcdonald-s-looking-a-bit-overvalued?source=feed#comment-354518 354518
So you have little return potential and a lot of risk should anything go wrong. In any event, at some point, people driving less and having less disposable income has got to negatively impact sales...]]> Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:54:48 -0500
So you have little return potential and a lot of risk should anything go wrong. In any event, at some point, people driving less and having less disposable income has got to negatively impact sales...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114502-why-i-feel-tbt-is-about-to-become-a-goldmine?source=feed#comment-354503 354503
As we sent money overseas for high priced oil, the money was recycled into our Treasuries, keeping interest rates artificially low. As we imported goods from China, they essentially provided vendor financing by purchasing our Treasuries, keeping rates artificially low.

Now that oil is at a fraction of its former price, and now that our imports are plunging, who is the incremental buyer of Treasuries?

You will have reduced demand for Treasuries just as supply surges due to massive deficit spending. What do you think will happen to Treasury prices? And if, in addition, the dollar drops...how long before foreigners unload?]]> Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:47:56 -0500
As we sent money overseas for high priced oil, the money was recycled into our Treasuries, keeping interest rates artificially low. As we imported goods from China, they essentially provided vendor financing by purchasing our Treasuries, keeping rates artificially low.

Now that oil is at a fraction of its former price, and now that our imports are plunging, who is the incremental buyer of Treasuries?

You will have reduced demand for Treasuries just as supply surges due to massive deficit spending. What do you think will happen to Treasury prices? And if, in addition, the dollar drops...how long before foreigners unload?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114323-barron-s-roundtable-discussion-an-exciting-time-to-pick-stocks?source=feed#comment-353691 353691
Beware anyone who follows their "advice." They are talking their books and usually wrong to boot. If their picks work at all, it is usually just a short term bounce as impressionable readers stampede into their ideas.

Meryl is the notable exception. You could usually make a lot of money following her picks. Why? Because unlike most of the others, she is a bottom-up stock picker who utilizes extensive and well-thought-out research in making her picks. The rest of them mainly spout top-down mumbo-jumbo, or, in the case of AJC, just repeat the picks of their analysts.

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:11:53 -0500
Beware anyone who follows their "advice." They are talking their books and usually wrong to boot. If their picks work at all, it is usually just a short term bounce as impressionable readers stampede into their ideas.

Meryl is the notable exception. You could usually make a lot of money following her picks. Why? Because unlike most of the others, she is a bottom-up stock picker who utilizes extensive and well-thought-out research in making her picks. The rest of them mainly spout top-down mumbo-jumbo, or, in the case of AJC, just repeat the picks of their analysts.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114328-obama-s-public-spending-program-a-very-expensive-farce?source=feed#comment-353681 353681
Obama--cynical.

Voters--mentally challenged.

Media--mentally challenged AND cynical!]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:01:24 -0500
Obama--cynical.

Voters--mentally challenged.

Media--mentally challenged AND cynical!]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114328-obama-s-public-spending-program-a-very-expensive-farce?source=feed#comment-353672 353672
Who does he think will be the source of this "free money" that will be handed out to those that pay no taxes, and to Chicago-style "pay to play" contractors? Which is more productive, people spending their own money, or the government?

Obama's plan takes money from the most productive members of society, and gives it to the least productive element--government. Individual initiative, property rights, and freedom take it in the neck!

Is Obama mentally challenged, or just cynical? What about the people that voted for him? What about the media?]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:55:29 -0500
Who does he think will be the source of this "free money" that will be handed out to those that pay no taxes, and to Chicago-style "pay to play" contractors? Which is more productive, people spending their own money, or the government?

Obama's plan takes money from the most productive members of society, and gives it to the least productive element--government. Individual initiative, property rights, and freedom take it in the neck!

Is Obama mentally challenged, or just cynical? What about the people that voted for him? What about the media?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114352-barron-s-roundtable-picks-for-2009?source=feed#comment-353632 353632
Other than that, they are just a bunch of self-important windbags using the RoundTable Forum to tout their, or their firm's positions and burnish their reputations among those readers who don't bother to check back on their results.]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:35:53 -0500
Other than that, they are just a bunch of self-important windbags using the RoundTable Forum to tout their, or their firm's positions and burnish their reputations among those readers who don't bother to check back on their results.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/113445-the-best-buy-signal-in-51-years?source=feed#comment-347845 347845
Stocks may be undervalued, although I would not rule out that possibility of a cratering of earnings. However, it is virtually certain that the Treasuries are overvalued. A case can be made for stocks or for cash, or even for corporates. What kind of a lunatic thinks that Treasuries present a good risk/reward?]]> Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:34:45 -0500
Stocks may be undervalued, although I would not rule out that possibility of a cratering of earnings. However, it is virtually certain that the Treasuries are overvalued. A case can be made for stocks or for cash, or even for corporates. What kind of a lunatic thinks that Treasuries present a good risk/reward?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/113496-obama-s-option-big-tax-cuts?source=feed#comment-347802 347802
It would be great if we had true tax cuts--and they would work! That, however, would mean including everyone through MARGINAL tax rate reductions that are PERMANENT. Then the people could decide how to most productively deploy their money and stimulate the economy. I suspect that this is not what the Dems have in mind.

The alternative is to grow government, balloon the deficit, and increase waste and corruption (for examples, look at Illinois, or the national mortgage scandal, or...) all to line the pockets of cronies and appear to be 'doing something'...]]> Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:51:16 -0500
It would be great if we had true tax cuts--and they would work! That, however, would mean including everyone through MARGINAL tax rate reductions that are PERMANENT. Then the people could decide how to most productively deploy their money and stimulate the economy. I suspect that this is not what the Dems have in mind.

The alternative is to grow government, balloon the deficit, and increase waste and corruption (for examples, look at Illinois, or the national mortgage scandal, or...) all to line the pockets of cronies and appear to be 'doing something'...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/112749-tlt-has-momentum?source=feed#comment-342709 342709
The already low yield can only go to zero, limiting your upside. Selling or shorting the spike would be a much better risk/reward proposition.]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:10:47 -0500
The already low yield can only go to zero, limiting your upside. Selling or shorting the spike would be a much better risk/reward proposition.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/112821-high-income-shoppers-slashed-spending-most-over-the-holidays?source=feed#comment-342690 342690
Those that make $150k+ who formerly spent it all have a lot of leeway to cut before reaching the necessities. The daily Starbucks, eating out, the expensive vacation, that fourth cashmere sweater, the nanny, the botox treatment, the club membership....]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:42:47 -0500
Those that make $150k+ who formerly spent it all have a lot of leeway to cut before reaching the necessities. The daily Starbucks, eating out, the expensive vacation, that fourth cashmere sweater, the nanny, the botox treatment, the club membership....]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/108808-the-trouble-with-recession-averages?source=feed#comment-319156 319156
A better measure is net worth, or debt as a percentage of net worth. U.S. net worth, last I looked, was north of $50 trillion. Meaning, for the financially challenged, that U.S. has $50 trillion left over after subtracting debt from assets. More than $150k for each man, woman and child in the U.S. Hardly insolvency.

Another better measure is debt to annual income.

]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:29:13 -0500
A better measure is net worth, or debt as a percentage of net worth. U.S. net worth, last I looked, was north of $50 trillion. Meaning, for the financially challenged, that U.S. has $50 trillion left over after subtracting debt from assets. More than $150k for each man, woman and child in the U.S. Hardly insolvency.

Another better measure is debt to annual income.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/108700-three-retail-stocks-to-buy-before-christmas?source=feed#comment-319133 319133 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:52:31 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/108797-the-pundits-i-admire-are-turning-bullish?source=feed#comment-319050 319050 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:17:22 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/108541-3-reasons-this-rally-has-no-legs?source=feed#comment-318285 318285 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:59:56 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/108013-suddenly-everyone-s-a-day-trader?source=feed#comment-314996 314996
I have actually done very well lately by BUYING after the market has moved LOWER and selling AFTER the market has moved HIGHER!]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:50:52 -0500
I have actually done very well lately by BUYING after the market has moved LOWER and selling AFTER the market has moved HIGHER!]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/107972-obama-promotes-fiscal-restraint-big-spending?source=feed#comment-314884 314884
Now you tell me, how do you get good policy apart from good ideology? Just take action! Do something! Line up behind today's initiative and unite! But if you disagree because you think the plan WON'T WORK, and are in support of a different plan that will work, you are the bad guy. Taking action and having everyone get along trump actual results!]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:41:57 -0500
Now you tell me, how do you get good policy apart from good ideology? Just take action! Do something! Line up behind today's initiative and unite! But if you disagree because you think the plan WON'T WORK, and are in support of a different plan that will work, you are the bad guy. Taking action and having everyone get along trump actual results!]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/107931-the-broken-treasury-market?source=feed#comment-314725 314725 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:42:43 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/107949-hedge-fund-deleveraging-could-be-half-over?source=feed#comment-314720 314720 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:37:54 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/107262-investing-in-stocks-emotional-vs-financial-costs?source=feed#comment-312000 312000 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:22:38 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/105367-general-growth-properties-leverage-claims-another-victim?source=feed#comment-303201 303201 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:10:26 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/105238-no-bank-s-books-are-trusted-bloomberg-s-weil-is-imagining-things?source=feed#comment-303152 303152
Tom Brown: "financial stocks bottomed on 7/15/08." (Intraday low on the XLF of $16.77)

The market: XLF now threatening the low since his call of $12.79 on XLF. That's a drop of 20%+ in 4 months for anyone drinking the Tom Brown kool-aid.]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:26:52 -0500
Tom Brown: "financial stocks bottomed on 7/15/08." (Intraday low on the XLF of $16.77)

The market: XLF now threatening the low since his call of $12.79 on XLF. That's a drop of 20%+ in 4 months for anyone drinking the Tom Brown kool-aid.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104644-kovacevich-s-delayed-retirement-bove-s-criticism-is-totally-off-base?source=feed#comment-302324 302324 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:38:54 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/104644-kovacevich-s-delayed-retirement-bove-s-criticism-is-totally-off-base?source=feed#comment-300333 300333
Where have you been, buddy? How did that July "bottom in financials" call work out for you? ]]> Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:50:02 -0500
Where have you been, buddy? How did that July "bottom in financials" call work out for you? ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104758-pain-then-gain?source=feed#comment-300237 300237
Meanwhile, manufacturing labor is a commodity which tends to be low value added and much cheaper in other countries. So we send the labor over there. This allows lesser developed populaces to earn higher levels of income, emerge from poverty, afford better food and healthcare, etc. as well as eventually afford more of our goods. As a whole, the populaces of both countries win, and the world becomes more "equal" and "just."

There is no question that America has over-consumed, fueled by lax lending standards which allowed credit to grow much too freely. The solution is not protectionism, higher taxes, or redistribution of wealth--quite the contrary! The solution is to promote strong families, the Protestant work ethic, and to introduce merit and accountability into the educational system. Then you don't have to "protect" of give handouts to those who are temporarily sqeezed out of a job by today's fast-paced and global economy.

Smart, creative, well-educated, and/or just plain hard-working Americans will always find a way to add value to the economy, and that will be reflected in their wages. The beauty of this is that not only does the individual worker benefit, but it also serves the collective good by expanding the pie for the whole world. You don't have to pick winners and losers, which introduces dead weight to the economy and opens the Pandora's box of the corruption of the political system and the erosion of freedom for our citizens. Everyone just adds value and the market sorts it all out.]]> Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:52:25 -0500
Meanwhile, manufacturing labor is a commodity which tends to be low value added and much cheaper in other countries. So we send the labor over there. This allows lesser developed populaces to earn higher levels of income, emerge from poverty, afford better food and healthcare, etc. as well as eventually afford more of our goods. As a whole, the populaces of both countries win, and the world becomes more "equal" and "just."

There is no question that America has over-consumed, fueled by lax lending standards which allowed credit to grow much too freely. The solution is not protectionism, higher taxes, or redistribution of wealth--quite the contrary! The solution is to promote strong families, the Protestant work ethic, and to introduce merit and accountability into the educational system. Then you don't have to "protect" of give handouts to those who are temporarily sqeezed out of a job by today's fast-paced and global economy.

Smart, creative, well-educated, and/or just plain hard-working Americans will always find a way to add value to the economy, and that will be reflected in their wages. The beauty of this is that not only does the individual worker benefit, but it also serves the collective good by expanding the pie for the whole world. You don't have to pick winners and losers, which introduces dead weight to the economy and opens the Pandora's box of the corruption of the political system and the erosion of freedom for our citizens. Everyone just adds value and the market sorts it all out.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/102919-four-media-stock-opportunities-in-these-turbulent-markets?source=feed#comment-294454 294454 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:21:56 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/102993-the-pivot-point-will-likely-be-election-based?source=feed#comment-294329 294329
So a Dem sweep would be GOOD for the markets? Sure, more regulation, higher taxes, bigger government, less free trade and more unions are probably just the recipe for the next boom--NOT!]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:39:37 -0400
So a Dem sweep would be GOOD for the markets? Sure, more regulation, higher taxes, bigger government, less free trade and more unions are probably just the recipe for the next boom--NOT!]]>