[PerryChase]

The Germany of today is much different from the Germany of 60 years ago. Germans are the most well-traveled people in the world so they are very open to what’s going on in the world. You can see Germans just about everywhere you go.

On the other hand, Americans tend to stay home in the comfort of their living-rooms. They base their opinions on what they see on TV.

[PerryChase]

I’m with deadzone and lindismith.

I don’t take things personally, so politics don’t bother me. Piggingtons tend to be a smart bunch so the discussion is good. It’s good for people to share their politics. Politics brings out the real person.

I’m never swayed by the right but I learned that conservatives are much more passionate about their issues than progressives.

BTW, I used to be a Republican in college because I’m a supporter of Free Trade. I beleive that free commercial and cultural exchange is what makes a better world. However, the social and cultural intolerance of the GOP has turned me off.

[PerryChase]

I’m a fan of the Dixie Chicks for speaking up. In my view, they understand free speech perfectly well. So do Johnnie Depp, Kanye West and other entertainers.

[PerryChase]

sdrealtor, that house is cute but not $1.2 million cute — more like 500k. The decoration is too grandmotherly in my view.

[PerryChase]

WMDs or not, the world was against this war. They thought that we could contain Iraq like we contained the Soviets and the Chinese for half a century.

Think of it this way. Bush is the boss of America, the biggest company in the world. When the boss wants to make an acquisition really bad, he bullies the lower level managers into submission. They have no choice but to fall into line if they want to remain employed.

If the boss succeeds, he’s on the covers of magazines that proclaim him to be a visionary.

If the boss fails, people snicker behind his back and undermine him. Eventually the boss gets fired if the company looses too much money. The only way to turn around a failed organization is to hire a new chief executive. That new boss will then take the products from that failed acquisition and try to develop them into saleable items. The company will go through new bosses until it can turn around or go bankrupt.

Iraq is America’s failed acquisition and the products from that acquisition are all junk that will need a lot of engineering. America has a new Board of Directors but since the CEO’s contract is not up yet, he’s still hanging on. Meanwhile, America’s competitors are developing new products and building market share. If we don’t watch out, 10 years from now, we’ll still be stuck in Iraq while the rest the world moved on.

[PerryChase]

The opinion expressed by powayseller is how most of the world thinks of Bush. They just don’t say it because they fear our military power and they want commerce with us.

I don’t think that comparing GWB to OBL is useful.

But let’s take a step back and look at how Iraq began. We started with good intentions but because our reasoning for the war was misguided, the war turned into a quagmire.

Let’s look at the consequences of our actions. Approximately 150,000 Iraqis and 2,900 American soldiers have been killed. What do we have to show for?

I agree with PD that war is brutal. However, Iraq wasn’t supposed to be a war of conquest. We promised to bring democracy and prosperity to Iraq. But what did we bring instead? Deaths and more deaths. By these measures, we have completely failed.

It’s not a matter of looking weak or strong. It’s a matter of integrity and living up to our ideals. In that respect, America failed miserably.

[PerryChase]

Daniel, I agree that most people would spend the savings and not invest it. However, there’s something to be said about lifestyle. Living is about enjoying life and having what you want.

Was just talking to a friend earlier about his very subject. Today, $3,000/mo would rent a nice house in La Jolla or buy a mediocre house in Mira Mesa (Interest only, taxes and HOA). Why not enjoy where you live and let the owner subsidize your lifestyle? Or you can live in a rental house in Mira Mesa (same as you would buy) for $2,000/month then use the extra money to buy a Porsche. Then wait until the cost of buying is the same or lower than renting.

Even if you don’t save the money from renting, you still come out ahead lifestyle wise.

[PerryChase]

The fact that you “feel like a total failure for not being able to show her the folly of those decisions” shows that you’re taking this coming Real Estate crash a little too personality.

You’ve told your neighbor already. Just chill and let her be. She’s gonna do what she’s gonna do. Me, I would only tell my neighbor if she were my friend also. I’ve learned my lesson; never deliver bad news to strangers. They’ll resent you.

[PerryChase]

There’s enough land along Rancho Santa Fe to build at least 5000 homes. You’ll have plenty of choices in a few years.

[PerryChase]

Here’s an article in the UT about airspace condo.

There was also a previous related thread.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060910/news_1h10rowhomes.html

http://piggington.com/detached_condos#comment-16644

 

[PerryChase]

Bugs, your posts are excellent. I agree with pretty much everything you say. Sounds like you’ve had long time real estate experience in SD.

Yeah, the S&L collapse was caused by regional bubbles popping. I wonder what the coming national real estate downturn will bring us.

[PerryChase]

2003 prices at Escala is exactly what’s funny because the majority of units did not sell ’til 2004. The suckers who bought from the developer were thinking there were masters of the universe for a while. Now they’re brought down to reality. A friend of mine did buy at Escala and, thanks to a job transfer, he got out just on time to make a small profit (or break-even considering he put in wood floors, etc…).

I expect the majority of Downtown buyers to be underwater. I’m watching the market closely I see many original development buyers trying to get out. 4S, Del Sur, Bressi, et al are right there also.

DR Horton is building Atlas in Hillcrest. I also expect condo buyers in that area to all see their properties drop below purchase price.

[PerryChase]

Thanks for posting. I love your blog.

[PerryChase]

“I was very disappointed,” said Newt Gingrich, the former Republican speaker of the House.

“If the president had replaced Rumsfeld two weeks ago, the Republicans would still control the Senate and they would probably have 10 more House members. For the president to have suggested for the last two weeks that there would be no change and then change the day after the election is very disheartening.”

[PerryChase]

The Democrats could not speak up then nor can they speak up now because:

1) GWB bullied them. The country was still reeling from the 9/11 attack and wanted revenge. Speaking up against the war would’ve been ridiculed as speaking up for the enemy.

2) Saying that they changed their minds now would be ridiculed as flip-flopping. The political environment is now such that politicians will try to stay steadfast in order to secure their political future. The reality of life, however, is that you need to apply different solutions to different problems at different times; or perhaps different solutions to the same problems. For that reason, I like the know unknowns lecture by Rumsfeld.

Unfortunately, the public associates “moral clarity” with holding on to your initial position.

This is unfortunate for Bush also because it limits his options on Iraq. He talked so much about the beacon of democracy and prosperity that Iraq would become that anything short of that will be considered a failure.

The Republicans started down the path of black and white, and good vs. evil. Now they have to live with the political environment they created.

I admit, the times leading up to the war all through Mission Accomplished were tough for me. There were very few people I knew (except for my European friends) who shared the belief that the war was a mistake. If you don’t think it’s tough, think of the times in 2003 when every one was “investing” in 2nd and 3rd homes and you were scratching your head wondering how to make it all financially add up.

[Author]

Posts