30 APR 2011, Saturday (PM)

• Amazing...
• I'm an absolute nobody in a vast world of billions.  Yet, I've touched folks that I'll never meet (ie, red dots) via the internet.  
• Let me hope that there has been a positive impact.
• I'm humbled to participate in this worldwide community with a free exchange of ideas, unimaginable to me as recent as a few years ago.
• May God bless you all!  
• I honestly believe that we share the same values, despite cultural differences, and seek truth.  That is our bond, no matter where we live.
• Thank you for visiting.

30 APR 2011, Saturday

• At top, the single best graphic that I've seen portraying the US Federal Budget problem (FY 2010).  It makes the problem soooo easy to visualize.  Immediately beneath that, the breakdown of federal taxes by source.  A lot of people have no idea how much they pay in payroll taxes compared to income taxes.  Politicians love this...as long as you don't understand your taxes, they are safe!  And, THAT, my friends is why they'll never simplify the tax code.
• Basically at current tax levels, we're able to cover Social Security, Other, Medicare, Medicaid and Interest on our debt.  But we can't cover anything else....at all!  Think about that.  That is absolutely insane.  
• Some will argue that we are taxed too little.  Well, it looks to me that you'd need to raise all taxes (not just income taxes) by about 50% to balance the budget. 
• I tend toward the "we spend too much" and it looks to me that you'd need to cut ALL (Social Security, Medicaid, etc included) spending by 33% to balance the budget.
• Your choice!  OUCH!!!
• Either way we are in a very tough spot...we are borrowing every dollar it takes to operate the Federal Government on a day to day basis because each and every tax dollar going into DC goes right back out to support Mandatory Programs.
• Folks, it is what it is.  I am merely making an observation of fact.  Now, I'm sure that some are getting highly emotional right now.  I choose not to.  Instead, I will pray for leadership that will deliver a balanced budget each and every year...that's all it takes.  Enforcement mechanism?  CONgress and President would have their retirement payout delayed by three years for every 1 year of no balanced budget.  Betcha they'd be some motivated Mofo's then! 
• The longer we wait the tougher it will get since the interest expense will increase as we move away from these historically low interest rate times.
• PS...JUST A REMINDER...this does NOT reflect the Obamacare spending increases that will suddenly show up in 2014...which would require even higher taxes or even larger spending cuts to pay for.  Hallelujah....Thank you Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid for shoving this up our...constituency. 
• So, next time you here President Obama call for sacrifice in the face of this budgetary mess just ask yourself this question aloud, "Why does he intend to go ahead with a ton of new spending when we can't afford our current programs?  Why isn't he willing to sacrifice his 'legacy' as the nationalized healthcare President?"  Oh that's right, when he says sacrifice that's just code for you pay more taxes.
• Below, long term outlook from OMB (Office of Management and Budget).  Do you think this will get easier by delaying necessary action?  Or that it will magically correct itself?  If so, you must also believe in unicorns that crap Skittles (taste the rainbow).  I do not.  
• This is not an issue of political ideology.  It is just simple math. 
• To those politicos that claim to bring bold new initiatives and "change", they had better get on it!
• "Don't ever let a crisis go to waste"???  Well, here it is.
• Interesting test...Are you a Conservative, Liberal or Libertarian?

• Here....some interactive graphs showing difference between Obama's plans and GOP's plans for budget / debt.

29 APR 2011, Friday

• OUCH!
• As the old Sesame Street song used to go, "One of these peaks is not like the others.  One of these peaks is just not the same...."
• This unemployment cycle is twice all other historical peaks.
• Keynes vs Hayek...battle of two economic philosphers.

27 APR 2011, Wednesday

• "What?  You expected me to actually know what I'm doing?"
• FOMC Meet ends today followed by interest rate decision and first ever Press Conference.
• Will make for typical stupid wild intraday moves...a day for research and laundry?
• Market continues to hold above guides.

23 APR 2011, Saturday

17 APR 2011, Sunday

• Market above all MA's and trying to turn back up.
• Things in the back of my mind...QE2 slated to end in JUN.  When QE1 ended in MAR 2010, the market ran out of steam and ran into trouble.
• Good luck!

15 APR 2011, Friday

• Cartoon above sums it up.  Both parties are just as bad.  
• There are choices that must be made.  Politicians are incapable AND unwilling.  They always want to kick the can down the road and let the mess blow up on someone else's watch so they can be 'heroes' in the now with little concern for the consequences of their inaction.
• It's time to play the hand we're dealt and stop praying for four aces...that we know won't come!
• Want a real crisis to fix?  Fix this one...it is real!  Global warming hysteria has nothing on this one.  (By the way, "evidence" of global warming on Pluto, Mars, Neptune and Jupiter.  Yup!  Must be man made...no doubt...no doubt at all!)  Or, perhaps, as we enter a new solar minimum maybe we are headed toward a new "Little Ice Age".  Folks, the science is not settled on this stuff.  It appears to be agenda driven news.  'Nuff said!
• Need some more convincing, try this for starters....
• Each day our nation borrows $4 billion, or 42% of each dollar spent, not each dollar authorized.  And, each day our nation pays communist China $73.9 million in interest on our debt, money that is allowing them to aggressively modernize their military, support a larger force and increase their global influence. We pay them enough in daily interest to buy a new jet for a carrier while we do not have enough planes for our own fleet.
• Me thinks that's silly....just saying.

14 APR 2011, Thursday

• Ahem...when you make an investment, you should do so only upon expectations of a positive return.  No?
• Check above chart for Federal level education expenditure increases versus 'reading, math, science test scores'.
• Investment?  I don't see it.  Seems more like pushing on a string and wishing.
• Answer one simple question..."How is it that we launched the entire computer / internet age while spending was so relatively low in the 1970's?"
• Simple answer...progress comes from innovative ideas and persistent effort to bring those ideas to fruition.  It doesn't come merely because we haphazardly throw more money at it (ie, Bachelor's degrees in History of Western European Art, etc).
• Government should perhaps get out of the way and let folks, instead, "pave the way" through their creativity and dreams...which happens naturally as part of the human condition that seeks improvement and doesn't cost anything.
• And THAT only happens at the individual level...not as a collective (ie, failure of communism / socialism through the ages).
• Just saying...
• Curious about what your taxes pay for...specifically?  Click here, put in the numbers and get a breakdown!  Eye opening.
• Or, try this one.
• Or, this one.

13 APR 2011, Wednesday

• Sooo...with all the hullabaloo regarding the recent $38 billion cut deal ("largest in history"), the inescapable TRUTH is revealed in the chart above from the Congressional Budget Office.
• Conclusion?  Even with the "largest cut in history", we still have a year over year increase in spending.
• What a crock.  Folks...don't buy the hype.  Question everything!
• I can hardly wait for our Fabricator in Chief, who incidentally promised 2 years ago to halve the annual deficit by the end of his first term, to throw a whole lot of generalities out there with no specifics and promptly run back to his corner for cover.  Afterall, he wants to stay above the fray and avoid the heat of "true leadership".
• No doubt, he will pound the table for tax hikes...right on top of the tax hikes occurring at the state level.  Doesn't sound like a good idea to me.
• Give more tax money to Congress and it will just be spent.  Doubt it?  Remember in 1983...the Social Security payroll tax was raised and was supposed to keep Social Security "secure for the next 75 years!"  Well, its been less than 30 years and where's that money?  GONE!  SPENT!  You're Social Security is blowing up AGAIN!  Washington DC's answer...MORE TAXES!
• Please, don't fall for the obvious destructive cycle of "politicians overspend and taxpayers must be punished through automatic tax hikes" nonsense.  Because, that's all it is. 
• Hey ...I know!  Why don't we try something novel for a change...REAL enforceable spending cuts.  When regular folks run up their credit card, they don't claim their income is too low and look to take someone else's income to pay down the card.  They spent too much...they know it...and they take the real world step of reducing spending.  
• After a few years, then we can revisit the tax side of things.  Unless, of course, you want to eliminate the entire current tax code (which just gives power to politicians and money to lobbyists) and institute the Flat Tax proposal.  That way the populace would be able to clearly know what they are paying and Congress couldn't continue to nickel and dime us with new fees while increasing income taxes, too.
• WHOA...Absolute crazy talk!

11 APR 2011, Monday

• Ugghhh!  Gasoline, after an almost 20 cent rise in the past 2 weeks alone, is just 10% below its 2008 highs.

9 APR 2011, Saturday

• Well, it seems that the Federal Government, so far, remains open.  The deal passed late Friday evening still has to be voted upon though.  Additionally, the next hurdle is the Debt Ceiling hike (which they will do) that will be up for vote within the next few weeks.  Soooo...you never know, we may just get a shut down anyway.  If that happens, folks may realize just how readily life goes on...picnics, puppies, parties, etc.
• The deal?  Being portrayed as "historic cuts"...~1%.  Baby steps?  Especially, when compared to annual spending in the graphic at the bottom.
• Sen. Harry Reid's absurd claim that "Republicans are holding Women's Health hostage over this deal" was completely laughable.  What a red herring!  Really, Harry?  Honestly?  We're supposed to believe that if the Republican proposal had been passed in its entirety that the Federal government would then have put forth an edict outlawing any and all physicians to treat 50% of the population?  Stop spouting the even-less-than-half truths, Harry!  Heck, we pay you darned good money.  You could at least do your job and give us complete half-truths.  And, that you think the American people are that vacant and outright stupid is, frankly, insulting!  
• Politically speaking, watching how Congress deals with the 2012 budget and out years is going to be an absolute circus side show leading into the next Presidential election.  
• What's really sad is that I trust that you and I could put an effective budget together over a weekend and a few beers.  While we would no doubt disagree on some things, I think we could work it out and still have enough time and beer to genuinely enjoy the rest of the evening after a job well done.  Your thoughts? 
• First thought that immediately jumps out, for me, looking at the graphic below...immediately roll back spending to 2007 levels.  That would be the starting point from which all negotiations would begin...it would not be the end point.
• EVERYTHING is in...including Social Security & Medicare!  The elder generation of a society are the experienced ones having responsibilities to exercise and yet they still allowed this to happen over the past 2-3 decades (ie, looked the other way instead of meeting their civic duty) while many of us were but children.  And now they, not all, appear ambivalent to robbing from the futures of children and grand children (what happened to ye 'ole, "It's for the children" mindset)?  I say "No Dice!"  We all take a hit and us younger folks will get an even bigger hit spread out over the long run...thanks!  Besides, there weren't any COLA increases for the past two years anyway...you'll just lose one COLA hike, afterall.     
• For those politicos wailing that's not right...OK, then!  We'll roll back the spending levels to the last time you claimed "Nirvana"...the Clinton years!  Game?  No?  Then go sit down, take a few deep breaths and then you can come back to the group when you are ready to act like big boys and girls.
• We've got real work to do! 
• Ooops!  Bill Gross (PIMCO), the biggest bond fund manager in the world, is not buying US Treasuries and is instead positioning himself to make money on the downside (ie, expecting interest rates to go up).  That can't be good.

• Obama's position on raising the federal debt ceiling in 2006 and now compared here.  What's changed...I mean besides now it's his political aspirations that are to be affected.  Sheer hypocrisy!  Ohhh...wait a minute...maybe that's some of the change he talked about!

8 APR 2011, Friday

• Well...today's the day!  To shutdown or not to shutdown, that is the question.  History of shutdowns shows that it really isn't that uncommon...nor a big deal.  It's just political Kabuki Theatre.  So, enjoy the silly show...some call it a comedy others a tragedy.
• As to the markets.  Not much to say.  Gone sideways in a very tight range for the past five days which doesn't yield a whole lot of clues.  

6 APR 2011, Wednesday

• Noticed today that Democratic leadership is slamming Paul Ryan's budget plan because "it lacks specifics".  Also, what stands out is that they don't bring any solutions to the table either (ie, specific spending cuts).  Perhaps, they should consult the Blue Dog Democrats (prior post)....GO DOGS!  
• One question...exactly how much did the public know about the Health Care plan before it was enacted?  You know, speaking specifically of course.
• Did I miss anything?

5 APR 2011, Tuesday

• If this is true...it's absolutely outrageous.  How the Obama Administration got Senate approval for the Libyan No-Fly Zone.
• One more example of how are dear leaders, Senator Harry Reid and President Obama, are ruling by decree (ie, bullshirt).
• They reply to America, "Don't like it?  Whatcha gonna do 'bout it?  You got nothing!"

4 APR 2011, Monday

• Great summary of the "budget cuts" being argued to the death on the Hill...'cuz we're still screwing around with 2011's budget since the Democrats didn't even write a budget for it as required last year.
• Perhaps, Congressional pay for performance?  Don't do your job...don't get paid?  You know...like the rest of the world!
• Today Representative Ryan's budget gets revealed for 2012.  Looking forward to the proposal to reduce $4 trillion over 10 years when they can't even cut $60 billion for one year.
• Anyways...below a graphic of the intent of Paul Ryan's plan.

3 APR 2011, Sunday

• Market still up above MA's.  Getting a bit stretched short term.  Check the charts in the side bar.
• Above...just for grins...seasonality for month of April.  Looks like a good one.
• And, in the spirit of the non-existent "one-handed economist" that Harry Truman wanted...
• Below...is the market overvalued?
• You can read the whole article from dshort.com here.
• Way below...But it can always keep going up for awhile...especially with propping by the Federal Reserve via QE as we've seen.  Who knows when that stops?  But can't help what wonder what happens to the stock market when it does end (MAY 2010?).