Showing posts with label Economic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Economic. Show all posts
Thursday, April 14, 2011
So, I just have to ask...
Read a bit on the ol' MSNBC this evening (just the cover link actually) that 50% of Americans believe they are fairly taxed. My question, mostly rhetorical in nature, is that the same 50% that mostly don't pay any taxes?
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Socialism explained...
so that even the dense can get it. Got this in an e-mail today... Thanks Mary.
An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had once failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.
The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan". All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.
After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.
As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little. The second test average was a D!
No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F. The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.
All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
It could not be any simpler than that.
An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had once failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.
The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan". All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.
After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.
As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little. The second test average was a D!
No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F. The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.
All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
It could not be any simpler than that.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
And lastly,
Just to make you want to go back to today's "train to WIN" video.
MSNBC: "What a tax on benefits may mean"
Excerpt: "The tax exclusion for the value of workers' health benefits represents one of the most substantial sources of funding for comprehensive health overhaul efforts, many economists say."
Congress wants to tax us on our health insurance benefit to pay for universal health care. Morons. Sorry... individuals.
MSNBC: "What a tax on benefits may mean"
Excerpt: "The tax exclusion for the value of workers' health benefits represents one of the most substantial sources of funding for comprehensive health overhaul efforts, many economists say."
Congress wants to tax us on our health insurance benefit to pay for universal health care. Morons. Sorry... individuals.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
More on the illegal guns post from earlier...
I have had this thought ruminating about my skull for the last few days and every time that I am on here... I have other things running.
We keep hearing about the firearms that are confiscated at Mexican crime scenes that originate in the US. Why do we not keep hearing about the "imported" criminals we keep rounding up at US crime scenes? Which, incidentally, is anywhere that they are rounded up... being illegal and all. I mean really, how is it that inanimate objects controlled by mammals become more of a story than mammals controlling inanimate objects? Yes dear, that is also a rhetorical question.
This whole line of thought begs the question... who/what is in charge? Is it the humanoid behind the gun or the gun in front of the humanoid? IMHO... Larry the Cable Guy says it best. If Smith & Wesson et al. can be sued for the deaths caused by their firearms, then Hustler magazine can be sued for my wrist developing carpal tunnel syndrome and my pencil manufacturer can be sued for me misspelling werdz.
So again I say... they are mad about firearms flowing South. Good. I am mad about undocumented, illegal, law-breaking (department of redundancy department) migrants flowing North. How about we all work together to stop the bi-directional flow of things/objects/persons that chap our @sses?
Sounds like a viable "fence" is needed on both our parts. How about DHS work out a plan with the .mx to build two independent and secure nations that do not revolve around removing people's rights... instead of profiling those whom they should hope would be on their side?
We keep hearing about the firearms that are confiscated at Mexican crime scenes that originate in the US. Why do we not keep hearing about the "imported" criminals we keep rounding up at US crime scenes? Which, incidentally, is anywhere that they are rounded up... being illegal and all. I mean really, how is it that inanimate objects controlled by mammals become more of a story than mammals controlling inanimate objects? Yes dear, that is also a rhetorical question.
This whole line of thought begs the question... who/what is in charge? Is it the humanoid behind the gun or the gun in front of the humanoid? IMHO... Larry the Cable Guy says it best. If Smith & Wesson et al. can be sued for the deaths caused by their firearms, then Hustler magazine can be sued for my wrist developing carpal tunnel syndrome and my pencil manufacturer can be sued for me misspelling werdz.
So again I say... they are mad about firearms flowing South. Good. I am mad about undocumented, illegal, law-breaking (department of redundancy department) migrants flowing North. How about we all work together to stop the bi-directional flow of things/objects/persons that chap our @sses?
Sounds like a viable "fence" is needed on both our parts. How about DHS work out a plan with the .mx to build two independent and secure nations that do not revolve around removing people's rights... instead of profiling those whom they should hope would be on their side?
Monday, April 20, 2009
So we have further mortgaged our country to China, the...
Oil Commonwealth and anyone else who wants to own a bit of US. Got this in an e-mail today (titled:FEDS GRANT EMINENT DOMAIN AS COLLATERAL TO CHINA) also... Thanks Tom... as if I didn't have enough problems getting to sleep.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
I don't even want to think about this but...
If I am reading the March 2009 Treasury Bulletin correctly, there exists $1,061,523,382,683 in total US currency as of December 2008. Disclaimer, I have been an Infantryman, a ranch hand, a construction worker, an engineer and many other things, but I have never been an economist, accountant or attorney. So, I may have this all wrong and truthfully, I hope I do.
Now, if that 1.061 trillion US dollars is all that existed in December 2008 and none are destroyed and no vast generation of physical wealth ensues... The first 1.061 trillion US dollars off of the presses in the now and very near future will devalue (or dilute the value of) the US dollar by 50%... great, all them dollars are soon to be less than 50 cent pieces. Welcome to $4.00 per gallon gasoline.
Our only hope is that the price of "Monopoly" stays constant in this country. Or that this analysis is wrong. If I am wrong and one of y'all knows it, please don't keep it a secret.
Thank you to James for even getting me to start thinking about dilution factors as pertains to dollars.
Now, if that 1.061 trillion US dollars is all that existed in December 2008 and none are destroyed and no vast generation of physical wealth ensues... The first 1.061 trillion US dollars off of the presses in the now and very near future will devalue (or dilute the value of) the US dollar by 50%... great, all them dollars are soon to be less than 50 cent pieces. Welcome to $4.00 per gallon gasoline.
Our only hope is that the price of "Monopoly" stays constant in this country. Or that this analysis is wrong. If I am wrong and one of y'all knows it, please don't keep it a secret.
Thank you to James for even getting me to start thinking about dilution factors as pertains to dollars.
Hueytown Tax Day Tea Party
This is the flier (picked up at Simmons today) for the closest Tea Party to me and I will be there unless work is burning. ;)
Monday, March 30, 2009
We have Upped our Standards...
Now, Up Yours... pretty much.
MSNBC.com new services story posted on MSNBC... oddly enough.
Fuel efficiency standards hiked for 2011
The first increase in passenger car standards in over 20 years
MSNBC.com new services story posted on MSNBC... oddly enough.
Fuel efficiency standards hiked for 2011
The first increase in passenger car standards in over 20 years
Tax Day Teaparty
Look, there is going to be one in Birmingham. Reckon I will be there as soon as I get done with National Buy a Gun Day. Currently conflicted, I am tossing about a muzzle loader, another .45 or another 12 ga. OR maybe a pocket .357 or 3" .410 / .45 LC... decisions, decisions...
Thursday, March 26, 2009
What a complete putz...
Geithner says new ‘rules of the game’ required
Treasury secretary proposes broad new rules to avoid economic failure
AP story posted on MSNBC...
It is only a matter of time before US Steel, Nucor Steel, Ford, GM, Boeing, Smith & Wesson, Olin-Winchester, etc are too big to fail or pose a threat to the economy and must be nationalized. That is one sure way to ensure they don't threaten anyone's economy ever again... nationalize them.
I can hardly wait until the .gov makes the firearms and the bullets and the health care and the... oh, you get the point.
Treasury secretary proposes broad new rules to avoid economic failure
AP story posted on MSNBC...
It is only a matter of time before US Steel, Nucor Steel, Ford, GM, Boeing, Smith & Wesson, Olin-Winchester, etc are too big to fail or pose a threat to the economy and must be nationalized. That is one sure way to ensure they don't threaten anyone's economy ever again... nationalize them.
I can hardly wait until the .gov makes the firearms and the bullets and the health care and the... oh, you get the point.
Suing over clean air
Here (PR Newswire story posted on MSN Money about parents suing corporations over air quality) is another one of those conflicts that fills my soul every day. Is industry responsible for the environmental quality surrounding its manufacturing plants?
The answer is an unequivocal yes, in my opinion. Environmental stewardship, Employee safety, Exemplary quality, Unequaled customer service & Stable profitability should be the hallmarks of US manufacturing. Unfortunately, all too often it is not. This is in part due to corporate irresponsibility and in part due to US citizen (individual human) irresponsibility.
Corporate irresponsibility takes many forms... didn't see the drum of toxins leak into the river, didn't know it was toxic, didn't care that it was toxic, figured it was someone else's problem, third world does it and we need to compete... ad nauseum.
US citizen (individual human) irresponsibility takes primarily two forms... I want it the cheapest I can get it and the cheapest comes from places without our rules AND as long as it is not in my backyard, I really don't care. People just don't realize how tightly tied to manufacturing, most of our jobs really are. So for all of you out there pointing fingers at "bad" manufacturers, take a look around your house and tell me how many Made in China - Taiwan - Singapore - Pakistan tags you see. Then, point the fingers at yourself as well.
And now, for the cynicism... One part successful ambulance chasers + one and one-half parts governmental stooge + one part indignant media + one-half parts injured citizen = corporate earnings to take a beating + additional case precedent set for air quality lawsuits.
I wonder how much of this stems from the EPA's new stance (John Lott's Website: EPA: Proposing to classify Carbon Dioxide as health hazard) on CO2 emissions? And I wonder when the rest of us can expect the same for the emissions of our... whatever has a "Carbon Footprint". I truly loathe that combination of words. This is going to end in taxation on cattle ranchers commensurate with the size of their herd. Might just as well bag the rest of us for our pets.
As a side note, I used to work for US Steel - Gary and lived near Lake county. If they are going after the big ones, they also need to go after the little ones.
The answer is an unequivocal yes, in my opinion. Environmental stewardship, Employee safety, Exemplary quality, Unequaled customer service & Stable profitability should be the hallmarks of US manufacturing. Unfortunately, all too often it is not. This is in part due to corporate irresponsibility and in part due to US citizen (individual human) irresponsibility.
Corporate irresponsibility takes many forms... didn't see the drum of toxins leak into the river, didn't know it was toxic, didn't care that it was toxic, figured it was someone else's problem, third world does it and we need to compete... ad nauseum.
US citizen (individual human) irresponsibility takes primarily two forms... I want it the cheapest I can get it and the cheapest comes from places without our rules AND as long as it is not in my backyard, I really don't care. People just don't realize how tightly tied to manufacturing, most of our jobs really are. So for all of you out there pointing fingers at "bad" manufacturers, take a look around your house and tell me how many Made in China - Taiwan - Singapore - Pakistan tags you see. Then, point the fingers at yourself as well.
And now, for the cynicism... One part successful ambulance chasers + one and one-half parts governmental stooge + one part indignant media + one-half parts injured citizen = corporate earnings to take a beating + additional case precedent set for air quality lawsuits.
I wonder how much of this stems from the EPA's new stance (John Lott's Website: EPA: Proposing to classify Carbon Dioxide as health hazard) on CO2 emissions? And I wonder when the rest of us can expect the same for the emissions of our... whatever has a "Carbon Footprint". I truly loathe that combination of words. This is going to end in taxation on cattle ranchers commensurate with the size of their herd. Might just as well bag the rest of us for our pets.
As a side note, I used to work for US Steel - Gary and lived near Lake county. If they are going after the big ones, they also need to go after the little ones.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
John Lott's Website: EPA: Proposing to classify Carbon Dioxide as health hazard
John Lott's Website: EPA: Proposing to classify Carbon Dioxide as health hazard
Typical government, don't they know it is now called global climate change? Since the Globe is not warming anymore...
I simply do not have the words (that can be printed in polite company) for this bit of buffoonery.
Typical government, don't they know it is now called global climate change? Since the Globe is not warming anymore...
I simply do not have the words (that can be printed in polite company) for this bit of buffoonery.
Before I forget...
Who is the money behind the stock market (read DJIA) these days? It is bothering me something fierce knowing (based on the nature of our business at my day job) the state of heavy manufacturing (read primary steelmaking) in this country is about 30% of August - September 2008 levels; how does anyone have the ready cash to buy stocks at the rate of consumption we are seeing?
More later... if there is any reason.
More later... if there is any reason.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Golly, the Fear MUST be Curtailed...
Even my uneducated donkey knew this last year when the all-knowing media couldn't just hush.
The little gem linked above is an MSNBC story telling us that we need to quit being skeered and get back to living.
The only quote that is needed from the story is this...
"That's how the president's top economic adviser Larry Summers on Friday described the burden of worries about the shrinking jobs market, rising foreclosures and falling wages afflicting Americans. The cycle of fear must be broken, he said, before the recovery can begin." -- 'Excess of fear' must be stopped, Summers says - MSNBC dot com story from Friday, 13 March 2009 - MSNBC news services (my personal mini-rant: amazing how no one has to put their name on the story).
...the rest of this story will likely just aggravate.
I vividly recall last August (2008) discussing this topic with a good friend. Our conversation boiled down to this... the media needs to quit scaring people and this financial crisis will begin to mend itself.
But, more important to the "city" democrats was an opportune tragedy / crisis to capitalize on. They got what they wanted... an utter boob at the head of US government.
I have grown beyond weary of the puppeteer. My advice to all politicians, attorneys and activist judges... leave us alone, we will get it fixed without the governmental intervention. Y'all have already done more than enough damage.
Lastly, when you take credit for fixing what you broke, there are a number of us who will know just how full of yourselves you are. Best advice for you to take after that... see the immediately previous...
The little gem linked above is an MSNBC story telling us that we need to quit being skeered and get back to living.
The only quote that is needed from the story is this...
"That's how the president's top economic adviser Larry Summers on Friday described the burden of worries about the shrinking jobs market, rising foreclosures and falling wages afflicting Americans. The cycle of fear must be broken, he said, before the recovery can begin." -- 'Excess of fear' must be stopped, Summers says - MSNBC dot com story from Friday, 13 March 2009 - MSNBC news services (my personal mini-rant: amazing how no one has to put their name on the story).
...the rest of this story will likely just aggravate.
I vividly recall last August (2008) discussing this topic with a good friend. Our conversation boiled down to this... the media needs to quit scaring people and this financial crisis will begin to mend itself.
But, more important to the "city" democrats was an opportune tragedy / crisis to capitalize on. They got what they wanted... an utter boob at the head of US government.
I have grown beyond weary of the puppeteer. My advice to all politicians, attorneys and activist judges... leave us alone, we will get it fixed without the governmental intervention. Y'all have already done more than enough damage.
Lastly, when you take credit for fixing what you broke, there are a number of us who will know just how full of yourselves you are. Best advice for you to take after that... see the immediately previous...
Friday, March 6, 2009
Earmark Reform
Again... Earmark Reform as told by Sebastian over at Snowflakes in Hell. Normally, I would not pay a lot of attention to politicians trying to police themselves, cut spending or do the right thing as any of those activities by a politician would merely be a sham. BUT, our Beloved Senator Shelby - US Senator from Alabama is one of the Republicans who thought that earmark reform would be bad. But then Mr. Shelby voted to confirm Timothy Geithner (I'll pay my taxes if you let me be Treasury Secretary) as well.
He keeps it up and I will vote Democrat next time around. I mean, if I have to deal with it, I might as well have the real thing Baby.
In all fairness, Mr. Sessions voted to confirm Eric Holder, which is potentially worse. On one hand you have financial thievery. On the other, you have God-given rights thievery. I can feel myself turning Democrat as I write this. Guess I had best quit it...
He keeps it up and I will vote Democrat next time around. I mean, if I have to deal with it, I might as well have the real thing Baby.
In all fairness, Mr. Sessions voted to confirm Eric Holder, which is potentially worse. On one hand you have financial thievery. On the other, you have God-given rights thievery. I can feel myself turning Democrat as I write this. Guess I had best quit it...
Various things in short form that I have been meaning to...
rant about but didn't get around to and now don't have the urge to rant... dang it anyway, I loathe a missed opportunity to rant.
Kennedy awarded an honorary knighthood - yeah, I know, I missed it... still frosts my ... I like people a little less every day.
Treasury secretary says tax increases necessary - I have enough unpleasant thoughts about this to fill the Internet... will suffice with this. 1. Why would this ... guy care? He won't pay them anyway. 2. No shit Sherlock, keep spending it like it grows on trees... oh wait, for the Fed, it does grow on trees... err, it is the trees. 3. I still don't know how a tax cheat becomes the Treasury Secretary.
Housing plan details which borrowers get help - No matter what we do, no matter how much we fuss & no matter how much we ignore it... the ones who did / are doing it right will still get screwed in the end.
Gupta withdraws name from surgeon general job - At least this nominee turned down the job for a legitimate reason, he doesn't want to have to take the pay cut associated with the new job... can't blame the guy. As the dollar dives toward zero value, having a guaranteed income is not a bad idea.
The US Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis - This has so much information that I don't know what I will do. ;)
For those of us who wondered why we talk GDP instead of GNP - Essentially, Gross Domestic Product is earned by everyone here in the US and Gross National Product is earned by US Citizens wherever they are. Let the difference sink in for a bit... if you didn't already (like back in high school).
Kennedy awarded an honorary knighthood - yeah, I know, I missed it... still frosts my ... I like people a little less every day.
Treasury secretary says tax increases necessary - I have enough unpleasant thoughts about this to fill the Internet... will suffice with this. 1. Why would this ... guy care? He won't pay them anyway. 2. No shit Sherlock, keep spending it like it grows on trees... oh wait, for the Fed, it does grow on trees... err, it is the trees. 3. I still don't know how a tax cheat becomes the Treasury Secretary.
Housing plan details which borrowers get help - No matter what we do, no matter how much we fuss & no matter how much we ignore it... the ones who did / are doing it right will still get screwed in the end.
Gupta withdraws name from surgeon general job - At least this nominee turned down the job for a legitimate reason, he doesn't want to have to take the pay cut associated with the new job... can't blame the guy. As the dollar dives toward zero value, having a guaranteed income is not a bad idea.
The US Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis - This has so much information that I don't know what I will do. ;)
For those of us who wondered why we talk GDP instead of GNP - Essentially, Gross Domestic Product is earned by everyone here in the US and Gross National Product is earned by US Citizens wherever they are. Let the difference sink in for a bit... if you didn't already (like back in high school).
Inconvenient Debt - Fox News, Glenn Beck
This is a short (just under four minutes) must watch from Glenn Beck at Fox News. It is titled Inconvenient Debt and discusses how much money the Fed is printing v how much used to get printed. Thanks Frank.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
John Lott's Website: "AFL-CIO UNION EXECS HOLD WINTER MEETING AT LUXURY MIAMI RESORT"
John Lott's Website: "AFL-CIO UNION EXECS HOLD WINTER MEETING AT LUXURY MIAMI RESORT"
Doubt that there will be much mention of this... anywhere.
Doubt that there will be much mention of this... anywhere.
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