EX-republican

Retirement Planning Gets Harder After the Housing Bust

I guess some folks were counting on endless home equity to pay for their retirements. Also, their next SUV, home improvement, summer vacation and college educations. These folks abdicated all responsibility to save for anything. They will have to be re-educated and it will hurt. Being an old fool I was always amazed at the complete lack of fear regarding debt that many younger and some not so young people have (or had).

U.S. State Finances Negate Talk of a Recovery

Only difference between state and federal government is the ability to print money. This means that the states will actually have to address their problems instead of making it worse. Love your articles Jeff, but you do worry a little too much. When a state can afford its own stem cell research and educate and\or incarcerate anyone who sneaks into the country how broke are they really. Not to mention the gold plated retirement plans for state workers. Funny though the first thing states talk about cutting is the education of our children.

Is the State of California Broke?

Great comments. Living in Illinois or Cali light we have same problems. Our new governor is going to double our state taxes unless we can send him to prison first. Going to use the stimulus money to try and extend the status quo (ponzi game) a little longer. I actually thought Cali had something right with the propositions at first being able to rein in taxes, but now its all about unfunded mandates. I'm 50, worked all my life in manufacturing supv. and expect to work at least a dozen more years. While my cop and teacher friends are already retired, I hope for the stock market to inflate my 401k. My hometown (barely 5k people) fire dept just bought a million $ ladder truck and we dont have a building over 20' tall in this town. What force can stop overspending? I've only seen it once when REAL Republicans held Bill Clintons feet to the fire in the 90's. Sadly they dont exist anymore.

Weak Dollar Bodes Well for U.S. Economy

SInce July 07 foreigners have bought the company I work for and the company that makes the beer I consume after work. This on top of already owning the company that makes the car I drive, my motorcycles, television, sterio and lawnmower. I'm sure this investment will help the stock markets, but I think the first rule of ecomonics should be ownership; being a buyer rather than a seller, owner rather than a renter.