[SD Transplant]

FSD,

I know the brainpower on this board could come up with better alternatives that our current government has to offer. Maybe…just maybe that’s the beggining of an INDEPENDENT POLITICAL-ECON AGENDA BLOG… It’s a sad state of affair in our country if folks like us are fed up with lack of honesty/transparency in our current Government, and the only way to allow our freedom of expression is just a blog (it’s still a positive…but soon this blog power could be capitalized to gain more productive momentum).

[SD Transplant]

FSD,

I know the brainpower on this board could come up with better alternatives that our current government has to offer. Maybe…just maybe that’s the beggining of an INDEPENDENT POLITICAL-ECON AGENDA BLOG… It’s a sad state of affair in our country if folks like us are fed up with lack of honesty/transparency in our current Government, and the only way to allow our freedom of expression is just a blog (it’s still a positive…but soon this blog power could be capitalized to gain more productive momentum).

[SD Transplant]

Just a few days ago, I’ve answered to a phone poll to go over the state of the economy, political inclination, war on Iraq and so on…

I realized that I’m a scary hybrid:

1) I like a free economy (open – if there is such thing)because that’s one of the reason I hated about comunism (I’ve lived in the Eastern block for 15 years under communism)…….I woudn’t want that back, yet I certainly miss some great things from that era (every system’s got its perks)

2) However, I do see the need for some social protection and government fiscal responsability (stop ignoring DEBT, and bring a tax & spend attitude).

3) I realized that HealthCare is a mess in our country (the US)….I’m just 32, so I shouldn’t think that hard about this matter……but I see/hear storries that make one reject the idea of the US in 2007 with people being turned down for medical treatment/best interest of patients is run by insurance and private hospitals.

4) The state of the Economy is my # 1 concern. I share the same concerns with the majority on the board about: (1) a decent place to live in a house I hope to afford soon….not to flip/speculate,(2) a decent way to invest more in my education in my future’s familiy in this country (I don’t have kids…but I do think ahead along with my wife). I am not asking for much, but I do feel that our middle class is being squeezed to extremes (feel the effect of unreported inflation, stagnate wages, opportunities)..I’ve done & felt economically better/safer in my 20’s… (or was less informed)

5) The political state….disastrous:(1) politicians are too corupt by private interest (Corporations) to work in our best interest, (2) Democrats or Republicans…..more or less the same w/ actions – DIFFERENT speaches pre-election, (3)Voting for the best of the 2 evils does not make me feel any better about a way to change/impact America- my new home……..I have republican ideas (conservative/fiscally responsable / small goverment) with a mix of social responsability (healthcare)….and liberal views (gay marriage isn’t my priority)….. I think China and less likely Russia might show us what the new HYBRID of both worlds could do (social system w/ Economic interest “semi-Capitalism”)…

6) Education: I’ve had great opportunities in the US, and I want to maintain this educational path. However, schools abroad are much harsher, require LESS or LITTLE $$$ to qualify young people to be educated…..Criteria in US top schools are more & more (who’s your dady & what does he do/contribute)…less on the qualifications of these kids. One thing I know about schools outside….. exams are TOUGH/HARD..stressfull…and oustanding candidates have the edge vs. $$$

7) Immigration policy: it sucks….in plain English. We’re caught in the political interest of Agro-industrial producers (who view cheap illegal labor easier to handle than innovation in new techonolgies to fix our thirst for these poor people). What’s even more disturbing are the lax rules at our borders. I’m a legal immigrant and I have been living here for 12 years, but I would be the 1st to tell you that #1 If you don’t speak English is not acceptable, #2 ignoring the immigration problem is just going to enhance this illness, and #3 we are experiencing a big problem with our ability to bring/keep/attract/ highly skilled folks here (with our quota system…..birocracy at our homeland security/immigration offices)…

Enough….I don’t want to write essays….but It’s hard to know whom to vote because the lesser of the 2 evils does not appeal anymore to me. However, I realize that a passive approach w/out political implication makes it worse. I’m a 1st generation legal immigrant here, so I don’t want to give up….without thinking/understanding/choosing what’s best for my adopted country….

[SD Transplant]

Just a few days ago, I’ve answered to a phone poll to go over the state of the economy, political inclination, war on Iraq and so on…

I realized that I’m a scary hybrid:

1) I like a free economy (open – if there is such thing)because that’s one of the reason I hated about comunism (I’ve lived in the Eastern block for 15 years under communism)…….I woudn’t want that back, yet I certainly miss some great things from that era (every system’s got its perks)

2) However, I do see the need for some social protection and government fiscal responsability (stop ignoring DEBT, and bring a tax & spend attitude).

3) I realized that HealthCare is a mess in our country (the US)….I’m just 32, so I shouldn’t think that hard about this matter……but I see/hear storries that make one reject the idea of the US in 2007 with people being turned down for medical treatment/best interest of patients is run by insurance and private hospitals.

4) The state of the Economy is my # 1 concern. I share the same concerns with the majority on the board about: (1) a decent place to live in a house I hope to afford soon….not to flip/speculate,(2) a decent way to invest more in my education in my future’s familiy in this country (I don’t have kids…but I do think ahead along with my wife). I am not asking for much, but I do feel that our middle class is being squeezed to extremes (feel the effect of unreported inflation, stagnate wages, opportunities)..I’ve done & felt economically better/safer in my 20’s… (or was less informed)

5) The political state….disastrous:(1) politicians are too corupt by private interest (Corporations) to work in our best interest, (2) Democrats or Republicans…..more or less the same w/ actions – DIFFERENT speaches pre-election, (3)Voting for the best of the 2 evils does not make me feel any better about a way to change/impact America- my new home……..I have republican ideas (conservative/fiscally responsable / small goverment) with a mix of social responsability (healthcare)….and liberal views (gay marriage isn’t my priority)….. I think China and less likely Russia might show us what the new HYBRID of both worlds could do (social system w/ Economic interest “semi-Capitalism”)…

6) Education: I’ve had great opportunities in the US, and I want to maintain this educational path. However, schools abroad are much harsher, require LESS or LITTLE $$$ to qualify young people to be educated…..Criteria in US top schools are more & more (who’s your dady & what does he do/contribute)…less on the qualifications of these kids. One thing I know about schools outside….. exams are TOUGH/HARD..stressfull…and oustanding candidates have the edge vs. $$$

7) Immigration policy: it sucks….in plain English. We’re caught in the political interest of Agro-industrial producers (who view cheap illegal labor easier to handle than innovation in new techonolgies to fix our thirst for these poor people). What’s even more disturbing are the lax rules at our borders. I’m a legal immigrant and I have been living here for 12 years, but I would be the 1st to tell you that #1 If you don’t speak English is not acceptable, #2 ignoring the immigration problem is just going to enhance this illness, and #3 we are experiencing a big problem with our ability to bring/keep/attract/ highly skilled folks here (with our quota system…..birocracy at our homeland security/immigration offices)…

Enough….I don’t want to write essays….but It’s hard to know whom to vote because the lesser of the 2 evils does not appeal anymore to me. However, I realize that a passive approach w/out political implication makes it worse. I’m a 1st generation legal immigrant here, so I don’t want to give up….without thinking/understanding/choosing what’s best for my adopted country….

[SD Transplant]

Yes, listening to it live(Net) right now…..it just started.

[SD Transplant]

The sales tactics of some(maybe majority) of the brokers/lenders were unimaginable. If one got lied on the biggest purchase of his life (houses – actually 3 biggest purchases of his life)….imagine the feeling.

I say this because this weekend, my laptop battery is near death on my Toshiba laptop. I go find my FRY’S ELECTRONICS exclusive 3-year warranty to take it back. I REMEMBER VIVIDLY as to how the sales guy at Fryes (about 1.8 years ago) told me that the $199 warranty / 3 years was a great buy for my LAPTOP as it would just cover the “battery” if nothing else, and it would PAY for it self. Needless to say, this past weekend, when I disclosed this story to the Service department manager, Sales manager….they were claiming “there is nothing we can do, it’s in the contract – consumables aren’t covered”…….I’d add, it makes sense (just like the breaks on a new car). However, I do remember the slizy sales tactics behind the “buy the $199 warranty & it pays of because you will need a battery in 3 years anyways”.

Now…… it turns out….. I’m SHIT OUT OF LUCK…..you should have read the contract/fine print (I was almost told that).

I’m glad I’ve learned my lessong on a $199 item……versus 1 house (or possibly 3)……..OUCH

[SD Transplant]

This is one more reason to see that multinational organizations/corporations will have their stock performance continue higher up…. simple math (they’re worth is reported in US dollars, BUT their wealth is measured in GLOBAL ECONIMIC “UTILS”). Hence, every time the U.S. dollar (currency) takes a dive, the price of XYZ Multinational Corporation valued in U.S. dollars goes up. The stocks charts will look great (not considering the $ depreciation & inflation).

It makes sense, if you could imagine this example. Let’s pick a hypothetical example that XYZ Corp is currently worth a whopping $10 billion in market cap. If discard their performance and look you tight their last few 2-3 years to the $ depreciation, their market cap would be 20-30% lower. This would not make sense since this is still a valuable company, and it is playing on an international arena (multinational corp). If it’s stock value wound’s go up, their competitors or investor from other countries would pick it up/buy it at the decent discount…( $ depreciation).

I guess from an investment stand point, if ONE piggintonian (with a critical eye) analyzes that REAL ESTATE is a bad future investment, vis-à-vis the Globalization, it makes perfect sense. The US isn’t growing much anymore (except the Corporations which may or may not reside here, and have an already downward trend in sales prediction per the ECONOMICAL outlook & growth for the short future 1-5 years……..you already know the reasons: the typical American is in DEBT, and maxed out his/her potential to borrow more). Corporations have little leverage & positive forecast in such markets………HENCE, it is time to move on & capture new markets (indepth the rest of the world). The stocks are leveraged by multinational corporations & US Real Estate is LOCAL (I could hear: location /location/ location). That’s an important fact, but……we’ll see the results in the next 5-10 years……..a house would be even more vulnerable due to the multinational corporations because THESE organizations could PICK UP & leave anywhere there are available & cheap resources to be utilized.

Amazingly, nobody talks about this ECONOMIC SLAVERY as a strategy for the true wealthy of this country & their Corporations. There is astonishing research & books on this subject……& I’d recommend reading it (Imagine this, I found all these articles & book reviews TRANSLATED in other languages, not English & NOT in the US…author: John Perkins). Let me give you some great books & links to open your mind to the machination of the wealthy & their continuous greed:

If you look at the currents trends, the only advantage I might see as IF the US (as a country) becomes the La Jolla / Beverly Hills of the World………. where only the true rich/wealthy are capable to survive w/out any economic impact locally & the rest……as right now we’re seeing…….are suffering more.

[SD Transplant]

I hear your comments loud & clear, and you both bring common sense to your replies. However, that’s the key, sometime common sense is not the “CARD” to play. Could someone explain WHY OUR VICE PRESIDENT – Dick Chenney moved/parked over $20 million outside (Swizerland I believe) about 1 year ago (it was all over the news then).

I think the regular American (and I became one too, so this is not a derogatory comment) is uninformed, unaware, and mislead in every way. I hate to bring some kind of political propaganda, BUT the poor people vote these VP’s to power……..and keeping the sheep missinformed & under control is key.

Finally, I love to see that people who bear some fiscal responability get rewarded by our Government (crack the wip in inflation). This AIN’T happening unless something major changes. I travel every year outside of the U.S. I just checked TICKET prices to Europe again for the summer (they’re almost double from historical levels)… Now: if I asked the NAR – the answer is “due to the weather”……if I asked a politician: – the answer is the REPUBLICANS…….if I asked an economist: – can’t tell because it wasn’t in the forecast….. if I asked my fellow pigginton’s: I GET A DECENT EDUCATED ANSWER ***INFLATION***

Don’t let someone fool you with inflation now is contained & only 2% year to date…… That’s for the sheep that vote for politicians, that don’t travel & don’t know what’s happening in their country……THIS IS A GLOBAL ECONOMY…COULD AMERICA WAKE UP!!!!!!!

[SD Transplant]

The answer is easy………YES EARNING WILL BE GOING UP…..because the U.S. dollar keeps falling. Hence, even if your sales in EU are flat, the currency converter takes care of “growing trend”. However, few folks, except us piggintonians will see the real reasons (e.g. $ depreciation – assuming that the company is traded in the US stock market)

So, I would NOT bet a slide of the DOW as long as the multi national corporations are part of this equation & our U.S. agenda being “continue devaluing the mighty $ to keep our debs cheap & exports up”.

There you have it…….

[SD Transplant]

You guys are having a lot of fun (and I don’t blame you). I bet if you low ball this guy, he might have a heart attack.

[SD Transplant]

I have to agree that if your stock/401k portfolio did not yield above 8%/year in the last few years, you might have missed the mark. I though I could have done better, but I can not complain with 14.8%.

By the way, I’ve moved up to 25% in the international investments, and I can see better results (specially hedging against the $).

[SD Transplant]

[img_assist|nid=3151|title=Hierarchy – Elected Politicians to Represent the People|desc=I almost forgot to provide a complete picture of how our elected goverment considers our input with respect the the housing bailout……|link=node|align=left|width=466|height=436]

[SD Transplant]

[img_assist|nid=3149|title=Capitalist Worker|desc=Folks, I guess I found the answer to my questions in the attached cartoon….pretty much confirms & sums up our talk vis-a-vis this subject matter. Enjoy,|link=node|align=left|width=466|height=428]

[SD Transplant]

good point……..I just voted & noted the majority of NOs (we won’t support the bail out as tax payers).

The potential problem I see is some BIAS (CNN Money readers are mostly afluent and AWARE folk……and the majority might not read FINANCIAL NEWS or BLOGS)…..

However, I’d like to believe/think the vote confidence > 90% is hard to throw away as a trend.

[SD Transplant]

CNN MONEY article: Subprime bailout? $120 billion

http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/13/real_estate/subprimebailout_cost.moneymag/index.htm?postversion=2007041314

POLL RESULTS – so far

1. Should subprime borrowers be bailed out?
Yes 9%
No 91%

total responses to this question: 2625

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