I.M.H.O.

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10-25-08

Are you losing your retirement?

How many individual stock investors do you know that have actually made money in the stock market? Big money investors like Warren Buffett tell us that we must buy stocks. Why? Because he wants to pump the market for our money. He's poured billions into Goldman Sachs and GE. He wants to see them rise at our expense so he can sell and take our money. Big investors manipulate the market on a daily (even hourly) basis to lure the small fish (you and me) into the market because it's such a "great value". Then, as prices rise and we see our money growing, the big boys come in and sell millions of shares. They take our money, and then wait for the next time that we decide the market is an even better value. Ever heard of a "suckers rally"? It didn't get it's name from a lolly-pop. Just look at the huge point swings in the Dow on a daily basis. 500, even a 1000 points in one day. The big money is driving the market, and squeezing it for every dollar of our 401K's and pension funds.

I believe most of you reading this have never actually realized a penny in the market. We've seen profits on paper, but not in our wallets. We are manipulated by the overpowering volume of money managers and billionaire investors who work the markets to take our money. I for one, am finished with the stock market. Done, never to return. I believe it represents a false dream of easy money, of the small guy playing with the big boys. Ultimately, savings accounts, CD's, and other low risk instruments are the real way that we, the little people, can guarantee our money grows. Stop letting Wall Street steal your 401K. If you're out of the market, stay out. There's no such thing as easy money. If you're in the market, I can't advise you on what to do. I for one, am done with the market forever. It's a very liberating feeling to not have to watch the Dow Jones swing wildly every day. Now lets hope the Fed doesn't keep lowering rates to artificially inflate the market. He's killing the very savings that the government encourages. Good luck to all...

10-20-08

Are we headed towards Socialism?

The short answer is "Yes". First our government said they needed $700B or the economy would collapse within a week. Then, two weeks later, the Senate passes an $850B package laden with pork and give-aways. Of course, the economy did not collapse in the interim, and now they want to use the money to buy stock in banks! What the hell? I thought if they didn't implement their other plan, we were doomed? Now, several weeks later, they have an entirely new socialist plan to use our tax money to enrich banks? Let's not forget our fine presidential candidates...

John McCain voted for the socialist bailout and nationalization of our banks, and also wants to spend $300B to buy mortgages from people who couldn't afford them in the first place. What ever happened to the free market? What happened to taking responsibility for your own actions and decisions? I have news for you McCain, we don't need the government to take care of us, we need the government to stay out of our lives!

Barak Obama was recently asked about his tax plan by a voter in Ohio ("Joe the Plumber"). Caught off guard, and without a teleprompter, Obama replied that he wanted to "spread the wealth around". Who gave him, or any president, the right to decide who is "rich", and take their money to give to others? He wants to decide how much people need, and above that, redistribute our money to those who have less. Maybe they have less by circumstance, maybe they have less by choice. Further, his "tax" plan will give 95% of all Americans a tax cut. That's odd since 40% don't even have any tax liability. What that really means, is that people who pay nothing will now get a check from the government at our expense. Can you spell WELFARE? Confronted with the fact that most small business not only employ the majority of workers, but make more than $200,000/year, Obama said that 98% of small business will get a tax break. Amazing! 95% of tax payers, and 98% of small business will all get a tax break? So who is left to pay taxes? That doesn't leave many people, maybe Warren Buffet, and Bill Gates. This smoke-and-mirrors plan is another attempt at socialism. Take from those who earn their money, and give to those who don't. What happened to the constitution? The government should provide opportunity to succeed, not money stolen from other citizens. Socialism just doesn't work. It discourages productivity, costs jobs, and ultimately collapses under it's own weight. If you were making money, and having to give most of it to the government to distribute to those who don't feel like working, why would you want to continue to work? Why not quit, and live off the government? Soon, the number of contributers dwindles, and the number of consumers grows to the point where the system no longer supports itself, and we all live together in socialist poverty. This plan really distributes poverty, not wealth.

What's the answer? We need a president and congress that uphold the constitution, not interpret it to their political benefit. We need term limits on ALL offices, not just the president. If they won't pass term limits, then we, the people, need to vote the bums out every term. We are on a dangerous path of pandering, big spending, and little or no control by the people of the government as it runs headlong towards socialism.

OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE OUT OF CONTROL (Oct 2008)

So, today our "representatives" voted an $850 billion dollar bailout of big business, foreign banks, and $150 billion in pork using our money. Things like tax breaks for making wooden arrows, breaks for bicycles, subsidies for race tracks, rum producers, and a huge list of other ways to spend our tax dollars. The original bill which failed was 100 pages. The horrible bill that was passed was over 450 pages of spending our hard earned tax money. Did you know that just a week earlier, Congress quietly passed another $630 billion dollar spending bill that included bailouts for GM, Ford, and Chrysler?

Enough is enough! Congressional phones and e-mail was flooded with traffic to the point that the phone and e-mail systems failed. Our Congress received messages which were against passage of the bill by 99 to 1. So in effect, our Congress told we the people to "go to hell" by passing this abomination. They don't care what the people who elected them want. We the people, now need to exercise our right to vote. Regardless of what party they come from, we need to send a message this November 4th by sending every incumbent who voted "Yes" packing. Do your part, KiCK THE BUMS OUT!

My district representative is Gabrielle Giffords, District 8 AZ. She ignored us and voted "Yes". She has to go, as do our Senators.

Think, ask questions, vote. Kick the Bums OUT !