snakyjake's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/7122/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/173811-7-million-more-job-losses-are-in-the-pipeline?source=feed#comment-765769 765769
In the construction business, I see business owners "robbing Paul to pay Peter". Juggling money keeps these failing businesses operating.

Our economy also has dual incomes. Unlike decades ago when one person was out of a job, the whole family was out of a job. Now, when one is out of a job, it is likely the other still has their job.

For the people who are in serious debt, and loss of work will sink them. For others that lost a job, but have the other spouse working, and not in serious debt, it is merely a tight budget.

My belief is that one year isn't enough time to shake all the inefficiencies and failure out of the economy. And even longer when you have economic manipulations.

I'm waiting for unemployment extensions to end. People to lose hope. People giving up. Babyboomers to retire. And a young unemployed generation without work experience to create a huge gap.

...in the meantime, my industry sees 1000's of H1B workers. And more work going overseas. ]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:07:36 -0500
In the construction business, I see business owners "robbing Paul to pay Peter". Juggling money keeps these failing businesses operating.

Our economy also has dual incomes. Unlike decades ago when one person was out of a job, the whole family was out of a job. Now, when one is out of a job, it is likely the other still has their job.

For the people who are in serious debt, and loss of work will sink them. For others that lost a job, but have the other spouse working, and not in serious debt, it is merely a tight budget.

My belief is that one year isn't enough time to shake all the inefficiencies and failure out of the economy. And even longer when you have economic manipulations.

I'm waiting for unemployment extensions to end. People to lose hope. People giving up. Babyboomers to retire. And a young unemployed generation without work experience to create a huge gap.

...in the meantime, my industry sees 1000's of H1B workers. And more work going overseas. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/167189-top-foreign-holders-of-u-s-treasuries?source=feed#comment-723802 723802 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:33:22 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/157418-why-do-equity-markets-disagree-with-the-data?source=feed#comment-640151 640151
I think we're seeing the stock market prices rise because there's a lot of global currency out there. Inflation is seen in the markets.

Savings and Treasuries have too low of yields to be attractive (at least to me).

People putting their money in the market in order to hedge against inflation. ]]> Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:34:25 -0400
I think we're seeing the stock market prices rise because there's a lot of global currency out there. Inflation is seen in the markets.

Savings and Treasuries have too low of yields to be attractive (at least to me).

People putting their money in the market in order to hedge against inflation. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/157282-why-higher-deficits-don-t-mean-higher-income-tax-rates?source=feed#comment-640065 640065
Another form of "taxes" is inflation. The Treasury can simply print money, and not have to raise taxes. I believe this is how the Vietnam War was financed.

And with WW2, I believe a portion of the financing was with war bonds (a volunteer tax), government price controls, and the government confiscating raw materials from the private sector, plus the US was profiting from the European war and giving us the industrialization boost.]]> Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:28:22 -0400
Another form of "taxes" is inflation. The Treasury can simply print money, and not have to raise taxes. I believe this is how the Vietnam War was financed.

And with WW2, I believe a portion of the financing was with war bonds (a volunteer tax), government price controls, and the government confiscating raw materials from the private sector, plus the US was profiting from the European war and giving us the industrialization boost.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/155215-why-aren-t-we-undergoing-another-great-depression?source=feed#comment-625439 625439 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:20:52 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/154322-employment-report-preview?source=feed#comment-620211 620211 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:50:19 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/151591-the-truth-about-u-s-housing-numbers?source=feed#comment-605707 605707

On Jul 27 07:49 PM Rolandownthehill wrote:

> I for one am appalled! I am getting foreclosed on even thou I am
> employed. Because the bankers are just to greedy. An then I have
> to read this? Unbelievable!
> There are thousands of houses also empty with no buyers. The banks
> are holding on to them until the market changes. But no help for
> millions being foreclosed on!]]> Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:00:52 -0400

On Jul 27 07:49 PM Rolandownthehill wrote:

> I for one am appalled! I am getting foreclosed on even thou I am
> employed. Because the bankers are just to greedy. An then I have
> to read this? Unbelievable!
> There are thousands of houses also empty with no buyers. The banks
> are holding on to them until the market changes. But no help for
> millions being foreclosed on!]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/151642-a-quick-look-at-the-new-housing-number?source=feed#comment-605686 605686

On Jul 27 09:35 PM OilFinder wrote:

> An anecdote on this story . . .
>
> Where I live (north Seattle suburbs), there is a large housing development
> near me which, about a month ago, just "took off." It had been sitting
> idle for about a year, with weeds growing on the unbuilt lots and
> the partially-built sides of wood on some houses showing signs of
> weathering. Now, all of a sudden there is a flurry of activity, with
> houses going up like you wouldn't believe, and at least half of them
> with "sold" signs on them.
>
> Yesterday I went there and asked the salesman what had happened.
> He told me the previous builder had the entire development foreclosed
> to the bank, who then re-sold it to another developer at a bargain
> price. This enabled the new developer to offer the houses at an average
> of $100K less. No wonder people are buying.
>
> There are numerous other developments around me. Some seem to be
> showing recent signs of activity, others are still languishing. My
> observation is that the higher-end ones (judging by the lot sizes
> and locations) are the ones still languishing, while the mid-priced
> ones are the ones showing new signs of life. The specific development
> I spoke of above is one of those mid-priced ones.
>
> If this anecdotal example is typical, it might explain why housing
> starts have started going up again while prices are still going down.
> And, perhaps, the increase in starts is largely concentrated at the
> mid-range. Perhaps there is a slightly-less-than 90 day supply of
> inventory, but maybe it's less than 60 or 70 days for mid-range inventory,
> but 120 days (or something) for high-end inventory.
>
> Just some thoughts.]]> Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:44:46 -0400

On Jul 27 09:35 PM OilFinder wrote:

> An anecdote on this story . . .
>
> Where I live (north Seattle suburbs), there is a large housing development
> near me which, about a month ago, just "took off." It had been sitting
> idle for about a year, with weeds growing on the unbuilt lots and
> the partially-built sides of wood on some houses showing signs of
> weathering. Now, all of a sudden there is a flurry of activity, with
> houses going up like you wouldn't believe, and at least half of them
> with "sold" signs on them.
>
> Yesterday I went there and asked the salesman what had happened.
> He told me the previous builder had the entire development foreclosed
> to the bank, who then re-sold it to another developer at a bargain
> price. This enabled the new developer to offer the houses at an average
> of $100K less. No wonder people are buying.
>
> There are numerous other developments around me. Some seem to be
> showing recent signs of activity, others are still languishing. My
> observation is that the higher-end ones (judging by the lot sizes
> and locations) are the ones still languishing, while the mid-priced
> ones are the ones showing new signs of life. The specific development
> I spoke of above is one of those mid-priced ones.
>
> If this anecdotal example is typical, it might explain why housing
> starts have started going up again while prices are still going down.
> And, perhaps, the increase in starts is largely concentrated at the
> mid-range. Perhaps there is a slightly-less-than 90 day supply of
> inventory, but maybe it's less than 60 or 70 days for mid-range inventory,
> but 120 days (or something) for high-end inventory.
>
> Just some thoughts.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/145634-the-economy-can-t-be-that-bad-if-thousands-can-pay-100-for-a-ballgame?source=feed#comment-565059 565059
Basically they are spending their severance, savings, and unemployment checks. They have lots of spare time to start new projects (landscaping/home improvements/hobbies). And in my state, unemployment pays a lot more than most available jobs.]]> Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:55:01 -0400
Basically they are spending their severance, savings, and unemployment checks. They have lots of spare time to start new projects (landscaping/home improvements/hobbies). And in my state, unemployment pays a lot more than most available jobs.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/136755-monetizing-the-debt-explanation-for-non-economists-bankers-and-other-laymen?source=feed#comment-499475 499475 Mon, 11 May 2009 17:00:04 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/136755-monetizing-the-debt-explanation-for-non-economists-bankers-and-other-laymen?source=feed#comment-499470 499470

On May 11 03:04 PM EUARTE wrote:

> The trouble is most Americans are super ignorant in both finance
> and economics. They prove it by the slime they vote for in Congress.
> They have not caught on to Obama yet. I suspect Obama has not caught
> on to Obama yet.]]> Mon, 11 May 2009 16:55:17 -0400

On May 11 03:04 PM EUARTE wrote:

> The trouble is most Americans are super ignorant in both finance
> and economics. They prove it by the slime they vote for in Congress.
> They have not caught on to Obama yet. I suspect Obama has not caught
> on to Obama yet.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/119572-follow-up-on-unemployment?source=feed#comment-382474 382474

On Feb 10 08:39 AM TeresaE wrote:

> Wow. Someone paying attention, thank you.
>
> One number you did not consider, the self-employed and former business
> owners are not counted in those numbers at all.
>
> And the government mandated eradication of small business runs unabated.
>
>
> How can people drive past scores of empty industrial buildings and
> not realize those are jobs, and CUSTOMERS, gone forever.]]> Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:09:29 -0500

On Feb 10 08:39 AM TeresaE wrote:

> Wow. Someone paying attention, thank you.
>
> One number you did not consider, the self-employed and former business
> owners are not counted in those numbers at all.
>
> And the government mandated eradication of small business runs unabated.
>
>
> How can people drive past scores of empty industrial buildings and
> not realize those are jobs, and CUSTOMERS, gone forever.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/98481-bailout-bill-passes-what-happens-now?source=feed#comment-273488 273488 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:01:44 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/90159-chicken-and-egg-a-currency-called-the-oil-dollar?source=feed#comment-227117 227117 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:55:46 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/90159-chicken-and-egg-a-currency-called-the-oil-dollar?source=feed#comment-227098 227098 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:14:18 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/90125-are-we-facing-a-global-slowdown?source=feed#comment-227095 227095 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:10:54 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/84606-mccain-s-economic-advisor-says-recession-is-mental?source=feed#comment-204000 204000 Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:03:02 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/81356-inflation-statistics-remain-contained?source=feed#comment-202300 202300 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:16:39 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/83070-federal-reserve-exports-inflation?source=feed#comment-195599 195599 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:18:10 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/83070-federal-reserve-exports-inflation?source=feed#comment-195598 195598 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:17:06 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/68942-how-low-can-the-u-s-dollar-go?source=feed#comment-128315 128315 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:08:52 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/68917-fed-s-strategy-to-halt-debt-meltdown-is-not-working?source=feed#comment-128305 128305 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:54:36 -0400