Jack K

The Growing Debate on When to Cut Fiscal Stimulus

It is sad, indeed. That is why the Ron Paul supporters were so feverent in their beliefs. How many people want/expect something for nothing?
But if it takes 1-2 trillion of excess government spending to obtain this economy, at this level, you know our GNP would be less than it is by a lot if the government spent what it should. Look around. How much economy today is supported by government spending in one form or another? Each year that we borrow more to postpone the inevitable will obviously make it worse.

Give Buffett Credit: He Tells It Straight

It is because he is well know to be a democrat, so he gets a free a loving pass from the liberal media


On Mar 01 10:39 PM Borscht wrote:

> He's a sleazy prick who will feed you a t-bone steak while he knifes
> you in the back. Why do we villify bankers and insurance executives
> while we give Buffett a free pass? Follow the money and it has all
> been going to Warren these last fifty years.

22 Companies with Dividends on Death Row

Alan, do you follow Atmos Energy, a company I have owned for a number of years?

We Could Soon See 1 Million Jobs Lost in Single Month

A lot of job creation over the past number of years was actually secondary to excess government spending. Government spending, via the multiplier effect adds to economic stimulation and jobs. But they are not really sustainable and I think that the lack of this increase is showing up. If government had no deficit this year, that would be where the economy would be by itself. The Author thinks that government could help employment by decreasing taxes on each employee. Of course. Expand on that. What is really limiting job creation? Too much money drained by government at all levels. Fear of lawsuits if you don't hire the right person. Or pay them the the same. Etc., etc.. It seems so obvious that government can't help the employment issue. Both federal and state. They create obstacles to hiring workers, and then complain about unemployment.

Royal Caribbean's Continued Freefall

I remember reading/seeing positive reports on this company and the industry a year or so ago when the the stock was around 40. The spin was basically, as times gets tough people look for value and you get a lot on a cruise. Don't you wish you could be wrong on your job, and few people remember it.

Peter Schiff Answers His Critics

Peter since you read the replies, I would like to say that I was going to invest with your company, but "only" $30,000 and the guy I spoke to seemed almost insulted that I would invest that small amount. Why would I plunk down 6 figures sight unseen? So I never did, and don't plan on it at this time. But you do deserve respect. PS your Dad is a great guy.

At Least 43,000 New Obamaconomy Workers Freed Up

The only way to create value is to produce something of value. For a long time academicians and politicians have worked to convince us that value is relative, and that debt creates value. If it takes government deficit spending to create a certain standard of living, we are just living off of debt. It can only last so long.

Contemplating the Demise of Bank of America, Citi and JPMorgan

Banks make money by loaning out money to people who will pay them back more. Period. When credit is flowing, they can extract a lot out of people and get away with it. When credit is tight and people and/or businesses become concerned with the difficulty in paying back more money than they borrowed, doesn't it make sense that bank traffic will be reduced, especially amongst those with the ability to repay. I was always amazed at how easily banks write off capital, when they have to generate a lot of activity to make up a dollar lost.

Predictions for 2009: Who Will Be the Winners and Losers?

Your article is really good and is such common sense. Sometimes common sense approaches take some time to show up but they usually eventually do. I agree about Rick and wish the rest of them thought more like him. But those young ladies are nice to look at!
Dana, you hit the nail on the head. Socialists want Top down planning and all citizens to follow the anointed ones' rules. Because they know what is best.
You can't cheat. Eventually you get caught. They guys who broke the already established rules are in jail. More rules and rules weaken our economy.
Want to get the economy growing? Cut income taxes dramatically. Or eliminate it. Remove layers of bureaucracy, and lay off millions of federal employees so they can produce something in the "private sector". But this will never happen as there are so many vested interests. From the workers themselves to accountants and lawyers, and so many who receive something from nothing.

Good Riddance to 2008

Thanks for the tip Stox, on KOOL, but Small biotechs with good ideas without profits are very risky. I am a board certified immunologist and I think that the profit potential in the near term for this type of company is low. I suspect their research is sound, but it is unlikely that they could bring a drug to market, and the demand for their product strikes me as unlikely to be increasing significantly. They will burn a lot of cash and their stock price at less than 50 cents reflects this.

The Dollar/Oil Surprise: What Does 2009 Hold?

Very interesting concepts. It does make sense that the Euro would have trouble as economic times toughen. Europe fought amongst itself for 2000 years. I am sure that I was not the only one who said when the Euro was first started that it can not last. Too many selfish interests.

Clean Energy Mutual Funds, ETFs: Does Active Management Pay?

It must be Monday morning skepticism, but I am not in the mood to invest in a sector that seems to be down 50% in the past year, with little earnings, in a bear market.

ECRI: Economic Forecast Remains Near All Time Low

This is certainly interesting. But a few thoughts. What actually is the
US WLI? How is it derived? What actually does it track? The link above does not explain it. Does it portend of a downturn in the economy or does it just indicate that it has happened? It is no surprise we are in a recession. It has been talked about by many for a long time. Almost a year. What would be interesting would be to watch when it starts to go up, as it looks like all the upswings were pretty significant.

Congress Considers Bailing Out Its Ethanol Mistakes

Most of us want the same ultimate goal. Energy independence. And reasonably priced. And with minimal environmental impact. What separates us are questions like how do we get there and who do we believe? Jack's 4th rule is worth keeping in mind, "The validity of a person's statement is inversely proportional to the vested interest they have in making that statement". Groups whose "reason d'être" is the crisis have a huge vested interest. So do the people who's company is creating energy. In our lifetime we may not see the final answer. Remember, that is OK. We don't have to. We want to see us going in the right direction.
We are. There is a much greater interest and work on renewable energy than imagined 10 years ago. What we want is to let our current system let us get there.
But be careful buying stocks for the long term in a group that is not making money now. There are many private firms who may be the long term winners.

Could the LA Times Turn Off Its Presses?

Living in NH I have never read the LA times, but if it like many other newspapers, which spout liberal rhetoric, then I hope it folds, and those liberal writers get laid off.