dsrtwriter's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/74619/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/174423-bill-gross-anything-but-0-01?source=feed#comment-769123 769123
They are not listening to doomsayers. They will increasingly develop a consumer class which can absorb more output rather than relying on the U.S. foolish spending consumer (aka "sure it is not made in USA but it is cheaper, and, after all, my own job will not be outsourced for a year or so"...)

They are not listening to Al Gorleone or the world preoccupation with mythical man caused "global warming" ( here in Montana we have lots of geological fossils of tropical plants- oh, sorry, it has always been cold in Montana,Al--go back to polishing that Nobel Medal)

It is true that investors will have to be more selective, and, in fact, some smart money managers have done quite well this past year even with a 25% cash position.

No, if we look at the future opportunities, they are going to be largely commodity based long term.Sure, there will be temporary "bubbles", but the fact is that, unlike labor, resources are not fungible. You can't "outsource" copper, for example. You can mine it in a cheaper country, but in the end it faces a world price based upon the inherent challenge of mining and production. In the latter challenge, labor input costs are only part of the equation.

I would like to stay patriotic and support U.S. investments. But for now, the "people" have spoken, and we have an Administration clearly bent on an agenda which makes no economic sense.

At this point, the economic future appears to be overseas..What this shift of economic power will ultimately do to the cause of world freedom is certainly disturbing if one reviews the history of rising nations and their quest for "lebensraum".]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:02:17 -0500
They are not listening to doomsayers. They will increasingly develop a consumer class which can absorb more output rather than relying on the U.S. foolish spending consumer (aka "sure it is not made in USA but it is cheaper, and, after all, my own job will not be outsourced for a year or so"...)

They are not listening to Al Gorleone or the world preoccupation with mythical man caused "global warming" ( here in Montana we have lots of geological fossils of tropical plants- oh, sorry, it has always been cold in Montana,Al--go back to polishing that Nobel Medal)

It is true that investors will have to be more selective, and, in fact, some smart money managers have done quite well this past year even with a 25% cash position.

No, if we look at the future opportunities, they are going to be largely commodity based long term.Sure, there will be temporary "bubbles", but the fact is that, unlike labor, resources are not fungible. You can't "outsource" copper, for example. You can mine it in a cheaper country, but in the end it faces a world price based upon the inherent challenge of mining and production. In the latter challenge, labor input costs are only part of the equation.

I would like to stay patriotic and support U.S. investments. But for now, the "people" have spoken, and we have an Administration clearly bent on an agenda which makes no economic sense.

At this point, the economic future appears to be overseas..What this shift of economic power will ultimately do to the cause of world freedom is certainly disturbing if one reviews the history of rising nations and their quest for "lebensraum".]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/173875-how-to-participate-in-the-asset-bubble-safely?source=feed#comment-768281 768281 Same goes for the commodity based currencies, such as Can,. and Aussie; if commodities drop, these will drop in tandem, but fundamentally they represent a more "real" resource based economy.

In contrast, the U.S. dollar does not represent any known long surviving economy. Manufacturing has been largely lost to overseas for many reasons. Ironically, China has grown rapidly while violating most of the economists' tenets of the merits of "free trade". We have done the opposite. Obama is for the unions, he has hired economists who are Keynsians, and the U.S. dollar will pay the price.

In fact, apart from confiscatory taxation, Obama and friends can only achieve a mission of income redistribution by destroying the dollar. After all, who has dollars? Working middle class and of course the "rich" (maybe).

So I would say, of the 25 percent allocated to cash, I would go:

ten percent Canadian/Aussie dollar (I prefer Canadian)
ten percent Swiss franc or Euro
five percent U.S. dollars]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:23:20 -0500 Same goes for the commodity based currencies, such as Can,. and Aussie; if commodities drop, these will drop in tandem, but fundamentally they represent a more "real" resource based economy.

In contrast, the U.S. dollar does not represent any known long surviving economy. Manufacturing has been largely lost to overseas for many reasons. Ironically, China has grown rapidly while violating most of the economists' tenets of the merits of "free trade". We have done the opposite. Obama is for the unions, he has hired economists who are Keynsians, and the U.S. dollar will pay the price.

In fact, apart from confiscatory taxation, Obama and friends can only achieve a mission of income redistribution by destroying the dollar. After all, who has dollars? Working middle class and of course the "rich" (maybe).

So I would say, of the 25 percent allocated to cash, I would go:

ten percent Canadian/Aussie dollar (I prefer Canadian)
ten percent Swiss franc or Euro
five percent U.S. dollars]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/174151-copper-gold-and-coal-poised-to-break-out?source=feed#comment-768263 768263 I don't think Mark's intent is to give Cramer fatal stock tips.

I have never looked to Mark for buying and selling advice. He trades often very small portions of a portfolio (eg 0.1% pilot positions, etc),which are not practical for most investors.

I look to the site as a treasure trove of information on trends, views of analysts that Mark gleans and publishes, and moreover, when his interest in certain classes of stocks happens to match mine,when his view on where the economy is going coincides with mine, I take it into consideration when investing. He is certainly right on the ever expanding money supply, but it is up to each reader to decide the consequences, and the "term" of time it will take for it to play out. The dollar may crash, but when? It is down now, but may rise again and burn all the shorters. The long term trend is down, but it is the reader's responsibility to decide how to play it.]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:00:29 -0500 I don't think Mark's intent is to give Cramer fatal stock tips.

I have never looked to Mark for buying and selling advice. He trades often very small portions of a portfolio (eg 0.1% pilot positions, etc),which are not practical for most investors.

I look to the site as a treasure trove of information on trends, views of analysts that Mark gleans and publishes, and moreover, when his interest in certain classes of stocks happens to match mine,when his view on where the economy is going coincides with mine, I take it into consideration when investing. He is certainly right on the ever expanding money supply, but it is up to each reader to decide the consequences, and the "term" of time it will take for it to play out. The dollar may crash, but when? It is down now, but may rise again and burn all the shorters. The long term trend is down, but it is the reader's responsibility to decide how to play it.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/168926-verizon-idont-not-want-the-iphone?source=feed#comment-732369 732369
The fact that they are mimicking the "app for that" phrase means that they want the iphone. It would be a win/win for Verizon and Apple.
Hopefully they will see it that way. I have not traded up my three year old LG Verizon flip phone and I won't until Verizon gets the iphone.]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:17:49 -0400
The fact that they are mimicking the "app for that" phrase means that they want the iphone. It would be a win/win for Verizon and Apple.
Hopefully they will see it that way. I have not traded up my three year old LG Verizon flip phone and I won't until Verizon gets the iphone.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/168503-how-apple-s-market-share-will-propel-stock-to-500-part-1?source=feed#comment-727886 727886
Jobs knows that the "look and feel" of a product is critical. Of course consumers expect breakthrough innovation from Apple.

But is the "experience" of the product that builds the brand loyalty.
Consumers learn to trust Apple, to take the leap to a new offering, and rather than be disappointed, the consumer is usually seen to be rapidly trading up as Apple follows on the initial product launch with improvements.

Steve Jobs has in many ways returned to the industrial design roots of the thirties and mid fifties, taking the "edges" off of the computer boxes, the Ipods,the Iphones and laptops.

Who ,three years ago, would have ever thought that Apple, with no experience in the cell phone business, could create a product superior to most phones built by the titans such as Nokia?

So who knows what the future price will be, and who cares. The reality is that Apple has learned from failures such as the Lisa computer and the Newton, built upon them, and tests boundaries.
That will lead to a long growth curve, and moreover, if you look at the laptops the young people are carrying, with Ipods plugged in to earphones, the future of Apple is very secure in all economic cycles.]]> Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:55:16 -0400
Jobs knows that the "look and feel" of a product is critical. Of course consumers expect breakthrough innovation from Apple.

But is the "experience" of the product that builds the brand loyalty.
Consumers learn to trust Apple, to take the leap to a new offering, and rather than be disappointed, the consumer is usually seen to be rapidly trading up as Apple follows on the initial product launch with improvements.

Steve Jobs has in many ways returned to the industrial design roots of the thirties and mid fifties, taking the "edges" off of the computer boxes, the Ipods,the Iphones and laptops.

Who ,three years ago, would have ever thought that Apple, with no experience in the cell phone business, could create a product superior to most phones built by the titans such as Nokia?

So who knows what the future price will be, and who cares. The reality is that Apple has learned from failures such as the Lisa computer and the Newton, built upon them, and tests boundaries.
That will lead to a long growth curve, and moreover, if you look at the laptops the young people are carrying, with Ipods plugged in to earphones, the future of Apple is very secure in all economic cycles.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/167996-gafisa-think-american-housing-market-in-the-1950s?source=feed#comment-725657 725657 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:07:06 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/167013-nominal-vs-real-gains?source=feed#comment-719084 719084
The Obama Administration and its Democratic congressional majority are making it clear in news story after news story: they are not in favor of entrepreneurship, they believe government is the answer, and their various support groups believe it is now their time to "take back America" from working taxpayers, by taxing them more and devaluing their dollar assets through massive debt.

They do not believe that the United States should be an economically or militarily strong country; in fact they feel that we are the source of most of the world's problems (the apology tours).

So read the papers. They are telling you what to do. And placing a portion of one's assets in gold and other currencies is probably not a bad idea, in addition to some multinational firms]]> Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:52:58 -0400
The Obama Administration and its Democratic congressional majority are making it clear in news story after news story: they are not in favor of entrepreneurship, they believe government is the answer, and their various support groups believe it is now their time to "take back America" from working taxpayers, by taxing them more and devaluing their dollar assets through massive debt.

They do not believe that the United States should be an economically or militarily strong country; in fact they feel that we are the source of most of the world's problems (the apology tours).

So read the papers. They are telling you what to do. And placing a portion of one's assets in gold and other currencies is probably not a bad idea, in addition to some multinational firms]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/165918-jim-rogers-on-the-next-10-years?source=feed#comment-715311 715311
Now we see the economic consequences. The greatest tragedy is that as we assault the very character of our founding fathers, as the courts reinterpret a Constitution which was unique in the world in preserving individual freedom, people like Mr. Rogers glorify the economic success of a country which still sells the organs of political prisoners on the black market, and crushes freedom of expression as in Tiennamin Square.

Even the uber liberal Google founder Sergei Brin turns a blind eye when it comes to doing business in China; freedom of information, the mantra of Google, is "relative" when the temptation of the Chinese market beckons. Hypocrisy reigns rampant.

This may not end well for the West; just look at the growth of the Chinese military. If China decided to seize Australia for its resources, would we come to the defense of the Aussies?

Really, you think we would?

Oh, I forgot, we have the U.N., and our President just won the Nobel Peace Prize.

I feel much better now.]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:08:41 -0400
Now we see the economic consequences. The greatest tragedy is that as we assault the very character of our founding fathers, as the courts reinterpret a Constitution which was unique in the world in preserving individual freedom, people like Mr. Rogers glorify the economic success of a country which still sells the organs of political prisoners on the black market, and crushes freedom of expression as in Tiennamin Square.

Even the uber liberal Google founder Sergei Brin turns a blind eye when it comes to doing business in China; freedom of information, the mantra of Google, is "relative" when the temptation of the Chinese market beckons. Hypocrisy reigns rampant.

This may not end well for the West; just look at the growth of the Chinese military. If China decided to seize Australia for its resources, would we come to the defense of the Aussies?

Really, you think we would?

Oh, I forgot, we have the U.N., and our President just won the Nobel Peace Prize.

I feel much better now.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/166199-what-s-next-for-gold-and-the-dollar?source=feed#comment-715285 715285
As it always has been in history, so it always shall be. Hope and change never made it rain.]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:50:51 -0400
As it always has been in history, so it always shall be. Hope and change never made it rain.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163816-cramer-s-stop-trading-is-starbucks-instant-coffee-better-than-sanka-9-29-09?source=feed#comment-696786 696786 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:29:50 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/162680-canada-the-industrialized-market-for-the-coming-decade?source=feed#comment-686820 686820
For Canada to decide that its economic interests are better served by moving under another sphere of influence such as China would ignore its long term interests in preserving democracy and freedom. Canadians and Americans would do well to spend some time reading the history of world conquests and the subjugation of peoples before they throw out strategic partnerships in favor of economics. The Chinese take a very long term view;they are not known as a merciful people to those they have subjugated.]]> Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:30:36 -0400
For Canada to decide that its economic interests are better served by moving under another sphere of influence such as China would ignore its long term interests in preserving democracy and freedom. Canadians and Americans would do well to spend some time reading the history of world conquests and the subjugation of peoples before they throw out strategic partnerships in favor of economics. The Chinese take a very long term view;they are not known as a merciful people to those they have subjugated.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/155302-cramer-s-mad-money-paul-krugman-is-wrong-8-10-09?source=feed#comment-627263 627263
Actually for those with a leftist orientation, you need to know that people who take a conservative position are not "haters". That label is getting really old. Paul Krugman is not at all stupid, but there is a reason that Economics was once called "Political Economy". The Keynesian set of theory constructs reflects a sociopolitical orientation very different from Frederick Hayek. Who is "right" depends upon one's view of government as either the parent or the servant of the people.

Krugman, from his writings, clearly believes that the people need a government acting as the parent.

At least for the balance of 2009, the federal government of Barack Obama may allow some of us the freedom to disagree, even with economic policies and health care issues.

Next year, who knows?]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:21:40 -0400
Actually for those with a leftist orientation, you need to know that people who take a conservative position are not "haters". That label is getting really old. Paul Krugman is not at all stupid, but there is a reason that Economics was once called "Political Economy". The Keynesian set of theory constructs reflects a sociopolitical orientation very different from Frederick Hayek. Who is "right" depends upon one's view of government as either the parent or the servant of the people.

Krugman, from his writings, clearly believes that the people need a government acting as the parent.

At least for the balance of 2009, the federal government of Barack Obama may allow some of us the freedom to disagree, even with economic policies and health care issues.

Next year, who knows?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/155302-cramer-s-mad-money-paul-krugman-is-wrong-8-10-09?source=feed#comment-625756 625756
I do not feel sorry for Kramer. Krugman is a top adviser to Obama and the Chicago gang, and Kramer voted for Obama. When you drink the Kool Aid, don't complain,Cramer.]]> Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:19:02 -0400
I do not feel sorry for Kramer. Krugman is a top adviser to Obama and the Chicago gang, and Kramer voted for Obama. When you drink the Kool Aid, don't complain,Cramer.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/150726-what-a-difference-a-year-makes-endowment-buy-and-hold-and-tactical-returns?source=feed#comment-599802 599802 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:27:29 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/148366-time-to-buy-the-canadian-dollar?source=feed#comment-586456 586456
So I would say that the market knows the Canadian dollar is fundamentally stronger and the the Canadian dollar is likely fairly priced right now, may have some variability, but will likely slowly rise against the U.S. Dollar as the world economy recovers.I would rather have part of my cash in the FXC than sitting in U.S. dollars, as a hedge.The rest is 1/3 U.S.,1/3 Swiss franc, and 1/5 Euro ETFs.
If there is a drop in the market and Canadian stocks and the Can dollar drop, certainly worth investing in some good Canadian companies, where recovery would bring a rise in the shares and a currency benefit also.

Again, the time horizon is probably three years, but Canada is looking like a better bet than the U.S.]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:22:39 -0400
So I would say that the market knows the Canadian dollar is fundamentally stronger and the the Canadian dollar is likely fairly priced right now, may have some variability, but will likely slowly rise against the U.S. Dollar as the world economy recovers.I would rather have part of my cash in the FXC than sitting in U.S. dollars, as a hedge.The rest is 1/3 U.S.,1/3 Swiss franc, and 1/5 Euro ETFs.
If there is a drop in the market and Canadian stocks and the Can dollar drop, certainly worth investing in some good Canadian companies, where recovery would bring a rise in the shares and a currency benefit also.

Again, the time horizon is probably three years, but Canada is looking like a better bet than the U.S.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/148213-how-to-invest-in-peak-oil?source=feed#comment-586397 586397 It seems we are not allowed to compete in this country.We will be able to buy goods made in China/India duty free, but our own companies face cap/tax/unions/health care/etc,etc..Not a way to restore our industrial base.]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:35:19 -0400 It seems we are not allowed to compete in this country.We will be able to buy goods made in China/India duty free, but our own companies face cap/tax/unions/health care/etc,etc..Not a way to restore our industrial base.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/145075-is-the-party-over-for-commodity-stocks?source=feed#comment-560594 560594
When we think inflation is near term, then that is the time to worry about commodities.]]> Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:38:26 -0400
When we think inflation is near term, then that is the time to worry about commodities.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/143289-you-re-not-as-smart-as-you-think-you-are-psychotherapy-for-cyclical-bull-markets?source=feed#comment-549263 549263
The problem we have is our aversion to failure, and that more often than not, creates failure, which reinforces the aversion.

The market goes up, we take profits, and it continues to rise, and we believe we are stupid, that we have failed.So next time, we "hold and forget to sell". In fact we tend to ignore further rises, as they still don't "tell" us when to sell.

Conversely, stocks drop, and we "buy on the dip", but the stocks drop further. We feel stupid, so next time they drop, we sell what we have and park in cash, while stocks drop further and yet we do not buy. Finally, the stocks rise back up to our sell price, and rise past it. We panick, buy back in, and then the stocks drop again.

This last year was a woodshed lesson for the "buy on the dip" crowd. But by the time Dow was down to 6500 range, we were so burned that we were too scared to buy. Too scared to buy then, but not at 8500.

Then the market roars back to the mid 8000s, and we are too scared to stay in cash. Whipsaw again.

We are always battling our human nature, so repeats of the above lesson are so important to even the professional investor.]]> Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:33:56 -0400
The problem we have is our aversion to failure, and that more often than not, creates failure, which reinforces the aversion.

The market goes up, we take profits, and it continues to rise, and we believe we are stupid, that we have failed.So next time, we "hold and forget to sell". In fact we tend to ignore further rises, as they still don't "tell" us when to sell.

Conversely, stocks drop, and we "buy on the dip", but the stocks drop further. We feel stupid, so next time they drop, we sell what we have and park in cash, while stocks drop further and yet we do not buy. Finally, the stocks rise back up to our sell price, and rise past it. We panick, buy back in, and then the stocks drop again.

This last year was a woodshed lesson for the "buy on the dip" crowd. But by the time Dow was down to 6500 range, we were so burned that we were too scared to buy. Too scared to buy then, but not at 8500.

Then the market roars back to the mid 8000s, and we are too scared to stay in cash. Whipsaw again.

We are always battling our human nature, so repeats of the above lesson are so important to even the professional investor.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/141792-base-jumping-metals-etns?source=feed#comment-537393 537393
No, actually what we need is for more Americans to become true Conservatives, to seal our border, to make people work for their benefits, to emphasize that nobody has a "right" to the labor of others, whether through taxation or mandatory laws.

Instead, we are in a Barack world, where GM bondholders have no rights, but the UAW's cadre of lazy, overpaid high school graduate workers with obscene benefit packages now "own" over thirty percent of a company which is going to fail anyway, since Barack will allow the Chinese to "partner" and end up building all the cars in China, without the constrains of environmental or workplace regulation.]]> Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:21:36 -0400
No, actually what we need is for more Americans to become true Conservatives, to seal our border, to make people work for their benefits, to emphasize that nobody has a "right" to the labor of others, whether through taxation or mandatory laws.

Instead, we are in a Barack world, where GM bondholders have no rights, but the UAW's cadre of lazy, overpaid high school graduate workers with obscene benefit packages now "own" over thirty percent of a company which is going to fail anyway, since Barack will allow the Chinese to "partner" and end up building all the cars in China, without the constrains of environmental or workplace regulation.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/141803-what-s-killing-the-u-s-dollar-and-its-impact-on-income-investors-and-markets?source=feed#comment-537339 537339
So we will continue to see massive spending through debt as he ramps up the typical socialist smorgasbord of benefits, while continuing to fuel his internet based grass roots pressure groups to intimidate even moderate Democrats to fall in line with his agenda.

Like so many of the Sixties drugs, the "high" of eco friendly projects and laws all done in a totally contradictory world of free trade with China and other nations who will continue to use coal, pollute, etc., will finally end, with a crash.

I frankly don't think that Obama has learned the lessons of Eastern Europe.I'm sure the Czech President and others would be happy to advise him on this folly, but Barack only listens to himself and his spouse. This will not end well.]]> Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:54:45 -0400
So we will continue to see massive spending through debt as he ramps up the typical socialist smorgasbord of benefits, while continuing to fuel his internet based grass roots pressure groups to intimidate even moderate Democrats to fall in line with his agenda.

Like so many of the Sixties drugs, the "high" of eco friendly projects and laws all done in a totally contradictory world of free trade with China and other nations who will continue to use coal, pollute, etc., will finally end, with a crash.

I frankly don't think that Obama has learned the lessons of Eastern Europe.I'm sure the Czech President and others would be happy to advise him on this folly, but Barack only listens to himself and his spouse. This will not end well.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/141293-5-reasons-not-to-buy-the-canada-etf?source=feed#comment-532384 532384
EWC may have some ups and downs ahead, but for anyone taking the longer view, it is resource based, it is denominated in Canadian dollars instead of the overprinted US dollar.

Canada is going to be a good bet. While its socialist bent has been a problem over the years, Canada may surprise us and in fact not drift into some of the possibly dangerous policy positions that Dear Leader Barack may take us to.]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:44:24 -0400
EWC may have some ups and downs ahead, but for anyone taking the longer view, it is resource based, it is denominated in Canadian dollars instead of the overprinted US dollar.

Canada is going to be a good bet. While its socialist bent has been a problem over the years, Canada may surprise us and in fact not drift into some of the possibly dangerous policy positions that Dear Leader Barack may take us to.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/140682-should-starbucks-have-been-more-cost-conscious-during-the-boom?source=feed#comment-528269 528269 The one positive Starbucks has usually done is to insist on attractive architectural design for the stores it develops. If I were them I would insist on a 25% cut or else leave a location.

With real estate down, Starbucks should consider actually purchasing premium locations. Maybe even buying out a location from a strapped landlord.]]> Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:44:32 -0400 The one positive Starbucks has usually done is to insist on attractive architectural design for the stores it develops. If I were them I would insist on a 25% cut or else leave a location.

With real estate down, Starbucks should consider actually purchasing premium locations. Maybe even buying out a location from a strapped landlord.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/140292-commodities-for-income-investors?source=feed#comment-524670 524670
And it actually looks nicer in style, even after all these years.]]> Sat, 30 May 2009 21:08:31 -0400
And it actually looks nicer in style, even after all these years.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/140078-the-20-best-performing-stocks-of-the-last-decade?source=feed#comment-521857 521857 Thu, 28 May 2009 16:13:02 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/135117-want-a-pension-over-100-000-be-a-government-worker-in-california?source=feed#comment-490457 490457
The problem is that over the years, as we have lost so much of our manufacturing to overseas competition,private sector wages and benefits have plummeted. Don't talk to me about the investment bankers; they are a minority of the work force.

In addition, people working in the private sector put money away largely in 401K plans which were defined contribution, not defined benefit. The government workers still have defined benefit plans; that is, their pension benefits will last as long as they live.They cannot go down, and they are guaranteed by the very taxpayers who themselves have lost much of their 401k plans to downsizing or the market collapse.

Yes, the reality is that the new elite in this country are the unionized government workers and university workers.Why do we hear so much about rises in the cost of a college education? Because it is a given that university faculty and staff will automatically get raises and their great pensions, and the students' families have to cough up more tuition in addition to government tax revenue subsidies.

You may not believe it, but if a straight A student attends four years of college, gets into medical school does four more years, then gets into a surgery residency and does another four or five years, he or she emerges into a world with a 100K + debt load of loans,
is in his/her thirties, just starting out, and now battles managed care or government to get paid. Meanwhile that firefighter or cop has already got over ten years of seniority towards that dream twenty year retirement.

Do the math: you will find that over a lifetime,today's firefighter or cop will come out better than a surgeon, if you include all the benefits.I admire our police and firefighters, but the benefits are now way out of proportion to other workers.]]> Tue, 05 May 2009 12:47:37 -0400
The problem is that over the years, as we have lost so much of our manufacturing to overseas competition,private sector wages and benefits have plummeted. Don't talk to me about the investment bankers; they are a minority of the work force.

In addition, people working in the private sector put money away largely in 401K plans which were defined contribution, not defined benefit. The government workers still have defined benefit plans; that is, their pension benefits will last as long as they live.They cannot go down, and they are guaranteed by the very taxpayers who themselves have lost much of their 401k plans to downsizing or the market collapse.

Yes, the reality is that the new elite in this country are the unionized government workers and university workers.Why do we hear so much about rises in the cost of a college education? Because it is a given that university faculty and staff will automatically get raises and their great pensions, and the students' families have to cough up more tuition in addition to government tax revenue subsidies.

You may not believe it, but if a straight A student attends four years of college, gets into medical school does four more years, then gets into a surgery residency and does another four or five years, he or she emerges into a world with a 100K + debt load of loans,
is in his/her thirties, just starting out, and now battles managed care or government to get paid. Meanwhile that firefighter or cop has already got over ten years of seniority towards that dream twenty year retirement.

Do the math: you will find that over a lifetime,today's firefighter or cop will come out better than a surgeon, if you include all the benefits.I admire our police and firefighters, but the benefits are now way out of proportion to other workers.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/131362-cramer-s-mad-money-hitting-bottom-4-16-09?source=feed#comment-467002 467002
We;l; we had all of this at Dow 12,000,then "bottomed" to 11,000, still had it, so a new "bottom" at 10,000, then a new "bottom " at 9000, and on to an apparent "bottom" at 6500 area, at which time Cramer said (about a month or so ago) that we could go to around 5300.

So if I get this right, the "bottom" is the "bottom" until it is not the "bottom. Thanks,Cramer.
]]> Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:24:04 -0400
We;l; we had all of this at Dow 12,000,then "bottomed" to 11,000, still had it, so a new "bottom" at 10,000, then a new "bottom " at 9000, and on to an apparent "bottom" at 6500 area, at which time Cramer said (about a month or so ago) that we could go to around 5300.

So if I get this right, the "bottom" is the "bottom" until it is not the "bottom. Thanks,Cramer.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/130598-time-for-an-infrastructure-allocation-in-your-portfolio?source=feed#comment-463434 463434
In fact the fault of the Obama approach is that he puts the cart before the horse. During the good times, government failed to spend on infrastructure and squandered high tax revenues on failed social spending.Now that times are tough, it proposes to massively increase the national debt to spend on infrastructure, rather than address the factors which would provide a more sustainable stimulus to private development, such as tax cuts and moderation in extreme tariff concepts such as cap and trade.

Bottom line: build the economy back up by reducing the financial imprint of government, cut taxes on business, reduce the U.S. corporate income tax, and then when the economy recovers, infrastructure spending can blossom.

This is not what the U.S. will do, but I believe it is what most of the world will do in a couple of years. So you can look for an outperformance of infrastructure, just not yet. And the way I would play it would likely not be the ETFs but specific holding companies.]]> Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:48:26 -0400
In fact the fault of the Obama approach is that he puts the cart before the horse. During the good times, government failed to spend on infrastructure and squandered high tax revenues on failed social spending.Now that times are tough, it proposes to massively increase the national debt to spend on infrastructure, rather than address the factors which would provide a more sustainable stimulus to private development, such as tax cuts and moderation in extreme tariff concepts such as cap and trade.

Bottom line: build the economy back up by reducing the financial imprint of government, cut taxes on business, reduce the U.S. corporate income tax, and then when the economy recovers, infrastructure spending can blossom.

This is not what the U.S. will do, but I believe it is what most of the world will do in a couple of years. So you can look for an outperformance of infrastructure, just not yet. And the way I would play it would likely not be the ETFs but specific holding companies.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/130795-cramer-jon-stewart-interview-was-a-complete-and-utter-ambush?source=feed#comment-463423 463423
Having said that, I have no sympathy for Jim Cramer. Of all the guests who naively have gone on Stewarts' show only to get mocked, Cramer is probably one of the most deserving to have his record examined. Cramer acts like a confidant expert, makes unequivocal recommendations, then when he is totally wrong, his disclaimer is : " I apologize, I was wrong , I hurt people, and I feel badly".

Well,Jim maybe if you are sincere, you would be much more cautious in your recommendations, and stop the love fests with the "friend, buddy pal" CEO people you bring on the show and fawn over, until they finally disappoint and lose money for your clients.

And of course, not to mention the bogus disclaimer, that while you are an expert, and really check out companies before you take a position, the simple viewer must do scads of research before deciding to invest in a company that you are screaming for them to buy. Come on.

So in summary, I would say the Cramer deserved the Stewart treatment, but the Stewart show deserves labelling as a pro-liberal propaganda machine, not a funny show. Jon Stewart, you are a smart mouth, not a funny man. The tough part to take is that you are actually paid for it.]]> Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:35:58 -0400
Having said that, I have no sympathy for Jim Cramer. Of all the guests who naively have gone on Stewarts' show only to get mocked, Cramer is probably one of the most deserving to have his record examined. Cramer acts like a confidant expert, makes unequivocal recommendations, then when he is totally wrong, his disclaimer is : " I apologize, I was wrong , I hurt people, and I feel badly".

Well,Jim maybe if you are sincere, you would be much more cautious in your recommendations, and stop the love fests with the "friend, buddy pal" CEO people you bring on the show and fawn over, until they finally disappoint and lose money for your clients.

And of course, not to mention the bogus disclaimer, that while you are an expert, and really check out companies before you take a position, the simple viewer must do scads of research before deciding to invest in a company that you are screaming for them to buy. Come on.

So in summary, I would say the Cramer deserved the Stewart treatment, but the Stewart show deserves labelling as a pro-liberal propaganda machine, not a funny show. Jon Stewart, you are a smart mouth, not a funny man. The tough part to take is that you are actually paid for it.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/130258-peak-oil-china-vs-usa?source=feed#comment-459009 459009
I agree with you that natural gas is a "natural" especially for our trucking industry, as Boone Pickens has advocated.
Unfortunately, just as you are, Pickens was infatuated with Obama who tells everyone what they want to hear, and he has disappointed on the natural gas front.

It just goes to show that when you vote for someone who makes you feel good be careful what you wish for. Barack talked a big game on electric cars, but how much have you heard about nuclear power to provide that electricity?

No matter, we all feel good, we are post-racial, etc. that's what matters.]]> Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:22:40 -0400
I agree with you that natural gas is a "natural" especially for our trucking industry, as Boone Pickens has advocated.
Unfortunately, just as you are, Pickens was infatuated with Obama who tells everyone what they want to hear, and he has disappointed on the natural gas front.

It just goes to show that when you vote for someone who makes you feel good be careful what you wish for. Barack talked a big game on electric cars, but how much have you heard about nuclear power to provide that electricity?

No matter, we all feel good, we are post-racial, etc. that's what matters.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/130443-cramer-s-call-another-rally-top-indicator?source=feed#comment-458996 458996
I use him as perhaps not a contrarian indicator but at least as an amber traffic light, but the reality is that I stopped watching his show a year ago. I do better watching Turner Classics.]]> Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:11:30 -0400
I use him as perhaps not a contrarian indicator but at least as an amber traffic light, but the reality is that I stopped watching his show a year ago. I do better watching Turner Classics.]]>