money: Scorecard on the Economy
- 10/09/08 02:08 PM
What grades would you give: - Henry Paulson, for forthrightness and foresight? - Ben Bernanke, for leadership and ability? - Nancy Pelosi for honesty and ethics? - Henry Waxman for integrity and values?
I am doing a straw poll on this, and am interested in your take on thinigs. My best to you all, Lou Farris (1 comments)
Ohh, and as a reminder, Bill Clinton pushed 8 years very hard to make evefry American a homeowner, which is part of the reason for the mess we're in. (0 comments)
money: The Voters Were Heard - NOW WHAT???
- 09/29/08 10:15 AM
The measure to rescue private industry was defeated. There are a lot of emotions around this issue, to be sure, and these are running high. We are in an election year, and this further exascerbates the issue. The leaders in the House and Senate showed their true colors today, and although the measure was defeated, they had to admit that the plan that was presented was not a sound or truly workable plan. The Fed, and Treasury DO NOT need such overarching power, and we do not need socialism in the country anyway. The Constitution guarantess that our RIGHT, to pursue (0 comments)
money: Should Fannie and Freddie be Bailed Out?
- 09/08/08 07:09 AM
Just Like the boy whocreid wolf, banks and investmetn firms are crying "Baiolout!" and they are crying loudly. The Fed is listening, and instead of asking "Why jump?," whne the banks tell them to do so, is saying, "HOW HIGH?" the truth is this jump call, isn' tjust being made by Fannie Mae. It's "kissin' cousin" Freddie Mac who seems no less bent on getting some of that "free" Treasury money. Yep, the Fed, which is not a government entity, but a private banking corporation is behaving like United Airlines, and Bear Stearns Who now have their platinum parachute firmly and (2 comments)
money: What Impact Will the Presidential Election Have on Your Business?
- 09/06/08 03:11 AM
This is probaly going to get me in trouble with everyone. I am treading into tempestuous and contentious waters. But the question is important, or i would not ask it. National elections are a change in command and this "changing of the guard" is something that I can see having a profound effect on the real estate and mortgage market. Whenever we change Presidents, economic policy makes changes, too. The issues affecting us today may affect us on more pronounced ways come January: - Fuel prices- Interest Rates- the War on Terror (It isn't just Iraq, but Iraw was the origin (0 comments)
money: Fuel Costs and A Surprize Affecting Our Bottom Lines
- 05/09/08 04:16 AM
I was doing a bit of cost analysis for my prcatice, to determine a rpojection fro the remainder of this year and out to the next three or four. I am a bit different in my projections, because I don't care for five year projections. Placing things out three to four years ihas allowed me to consider changes in my practice in a manner that keeps me a bit more nimble in the marketplace. This view also keeps me on top of a rapidly hanging and inreasingly global economy, of which i feel a dtringent need to keep abreast of. This (4 comments)
This one's a real poser, because many people believe they are ethical? But how are they ethical? Tne definition of ethical conduct is that you are no different when alone, than you behave in a group of friends. Machiavellian ethical conduct dictates the ends as justifying the means. Then there is a group of ethical moderates who believe that there are some times it is possible to do right without moral absolutes or imperatives. Still other folks simply say the Golden Rule is enough. Moral absolutists might argue a case for the Ten Commandments.
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money: Markets See Saw / People Gew Gaw
- 04/30/08 04:27 AM
As the markets are doing their usual mood swings, and everyone starts fretting and wringing their hands, they need to consider this: the markets are always bouncung around. Warren Buffett makes his money on the panic of other people, buying up businesses, etcc. based on the panic of the general population. He makes his money on the spread between what he buys for, and what he sells at. His investments are carefully calculated, such that expenditures are made to buy a company up at a price that selling it later will create a calculated profit. Our real estate and mortgage markets (2 comments)
money: CEO Pay - Are They Worth It?
- 04/22/08 05:34 PM
Not content to leave it at politicians, I now question the pay, bonuses, termination buyouts, and other overpriced perks they get for driving compaies under. Names like Rigas, Nacchio, Esrey, Ebbers all come readily to mind, not to mention the departed Kenneth Lay. We mustn't forget the ladies either: Martha Stewart, and Carly Fiorina. These individuals were irresponsible, regrettable, and caused many people the loss of their lives' savings so they could live flambouyant lifestyles.They raked in millions from the labors of others, and in the process created a large pool of jobless people.The questions is, who is really to blame for all (4 comments)