Symbol ---- DZZ Power Shares DB Gold Double Short
This ETF goes up when the price of gold goes down. The process is called shorting the market. When you short the market, you believe the price will go down soon, and you want to profit from it's downward spiral. The great thing about this ETF is that you can short gold without doing all the hard work of going into the futures market yourself, and risking tens of thousands of dollars opening up a margin account. Not only those benefits, but this ETF seeks to mimic twice the inverse of gold commodity futures. You have the opportunity to make 2x the money that you would buying futures on your own.
Today's Price ---- 4.49 + 0.4750 Up because the price of Gold was down 1,693.30 - 95.10
I like the price as well. It only takes 449.00 to buy 100 shares. That upswing of .4750 translates into 47.50 or
11.83% Let me say it again 11.83%
It's been a long, long, long, long time since you could get anywhere close to that at any bank.
Probably not since Ronald Regan was in the white house in the 1980's
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Gold Watch
The spot price for 1 Troy ounce of Gold
1,693.30 -95.10 down sharply.
Gold protects wealth when inflation rises, and the national currency is devalued as the fed ramps up the printing presses.
Ben Bernanke keeps downplaying the effects of inflation.
He particularly tried to stifle any fears that gas prices would instigate wide spread inflation.
Wake up Bernanke, wide spread inflation is already here.
Just an example, I had to buy a new car battery yesterday, with tax it came to 110.00. I installed it myself. If I
had the mechanics install it, the price would have been 160.00 or more. The last time I had to buy a battery, it was 70.00 installed.
The Gold Traders used Bernanke to sell, take profits, then get back in at a much lower price.
Trust me, the price of Gold will go back up.
1,693.30 -95.10 down sharply.
Gold protects wealth when inflation rises, and the national currency is devalued as the fed ramps up the printing presses.
Ben Bernanke keeps downplaying the effects of inflation.
He particularly tried to stifle any fears that gas prices would instigate wide spread inflation.
Wake up Bernanke, wide spread inflation is already here.
Just an example, I had to buy a new car battery yesterday, with tax it came to 110.00. I installed it myself. If I
had the mechanics install it, the price would have been 160.00 or more. The last time I had to buy a battery, it was 70.00 installed.
The Gold Traders used Bernanke to sell, take profits, then get back in at a much lower price.
Trust me, the price of Gold will go back up.
There is HOPE....... EVERYDAY
Life is a series of ups and downs. Peaks and Valleys.
One minute the good times are rolling in, the next minute we're all in the dumps.
It's normal, it's the way life is. It's what makes life interesting. Just think, if life was always one big celebration party, it would get really boring. The funny thing about life, is that none of us are going to get out of it alive.
Every time I wake up, I am thankful, because it is a gift. I think sometimes of all the people around the world who didn't wake up this morning. They weren't given the gift.
If you are lucky enough to wake up this morning, anything you have to face today is a piece of cake.
A very wise and profound old man told me one time.
"Any day above ground is a good day."
I think about that when I'm having a hard time, or a rough patch in life. So if you are having a rough time right now, I hope you will think about that too.
Along with that, also always remember,
It's always darkest before the dawn. It always seems like life will never get better just before it does.
Keep Calm and Carry On !
One minute the good times are rolling in, the next minute we're all in the dumps.
It's normal, it's the way life is. It's what makes life interesting. Just think, if life was always one big celebration party, it would get really boring. The funny thing about life, is that none of us are going to get out of it alive.
Every time I wake up, I am thankful, because it is a gift. I think sometimes of all the people around the world who didn't wake up this morning. They weren't given the gift.
If you are lucky enough to wake up this morning, anything you have to face today is a piece of cake.
A very wise and profound old man told me one time.
"Any day above ground is a good day."
I think about that when I'm having a hard time, or a rough patch in life. So if you are having a rough time right now, I hope you will think about that too.
Along with that, also always remember,
It's always darkest before the dawn. It always seems like life will never get better just before it does.
Keep Calm and Carry On !
A few more things
If all American workers unionized into one huge labor union, we would take control away from the 1%.
If they refuse to share the wealth, then one strike would put them out of business.
I'm not talking about a shake down of the 1%, I'm just talking about paying people a living wage.
I'm talking about forcing the 1% to bring the jobs they took overseas back to the United States, and barring them from sending anymore jobs to other countries.
Jobs should be treated like a special national resource, and should never be outsourced. People should never be treated like just another commodity.
If the working Middle Class had the collective power to stop the whole national economy if we so chose over grave injustices, this country would be a much better place to live for everyone, not just the very rich.
Another thing: If an employer tells you that the wages for a job are competitive, you should always be insulted . What they just told you is that all the business people in the area got together, and figured out what was the very lowest wage they could offer each individual worker bee, and that you have absolutely no power to say or do anything about it other than not accept the job.
The state where I live in is a right to work state. What that means is that the employer has all the rights and the worker has none. The employer has the right to fire you without any excuse or explanation or cause. While at the same time the worker must give the employer at least a two week notice when they leave the position. If they don't they risk getting a nasty reference when they apply for another job. In other words the boss could have a bad weekend, or they could have a fight with their wife on the way to work, and they could walk into the business, and fire your ass just because, and there wouldn't be one thing you could do about it. Except for getting up, packing up your stuff and leaving. This law was one of the things the 1% put in place to break the power of the unions.
If they refuse to share the wealth, then one strike would put them out of business.
I'm not talking about a shake down of the 1%, I'm just talking about paying people a living wage.
I'm talking about forcing the 1% to bring the jobs they took overseas back to the United States, and barring them from sending anymore jobs to other countries.
Jobs should be treated like a special national resource, and should never be outsourced. People should never be treated like just another commodity.
If the working Middle Class had the collective power to stop the whole national economy if we so chose over grave injustices, this country would be a much better place to live for everyone, not just the very rich.
Another thing: If an employer tells you that the wages for a job are competitive, you should always be insulted . What they just told you is that all the business people in the area got together, and figured out what was the very lowest wage they could offer each individual worker bee, and that you have absolutely no power to say or do anything about it other than not accept the job.
The state where I live in is a right to work state. What that means is that the employer has all the rights and the worker has none. The employer has the right to fire you without any excuse or explanation or cause. While at the same time the worker must give the employer at least a two week notice when they leave the position. If they don't they risk getting a nasty reference when they apply for another job. In other words the boss could have a bad weekend, or they could have a fight with their wife on the way to work, and they could walk into the business, and fire your ass just because, and there wouldn't be one thing you could do about it. Except for getting up, packing up your stuff and leaving. This law was one of the things the 1% put in place to break the power of the unions.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Rice and Beans
To continue from the last post.
Your children will be the slaves of the one percent.
That is if you don't fix this mess now.
It has taken the 1% right at 100 years to get back what they lost when the workers first unionized in the early 20th century.
In the future workers will have absolutely no rights, if the workers don't unionize again.
The workers will once again become the virtual slaves of the 1%
I think its funny, because the 1% took practically all of America's manufacturing to China, where workers would gladly work their asses off for $2.00 a day.
It didn't take long for the workers in China to get a clue, they are demanding more money for their labor.
Now the 1% are wanting to bring manufacturing back to the US, because they think the American worker is broken enough to where they will take just about anything just to have a job.
All Americans, no matter the Industry or Sector should UNIONIZE and force the 1% to share the wealth.
The Worker's Union of America : For any worker not self employed.
Your children will be the slaves of the one percent.
That is if you don't fix this mess now.
It has taken the 1% right at 100 years to get back what they lost when the workers first unionized in the early 20th century.
In the future workers will have absolutely no rights, if the workers don't unionize again.
The workers will once again become the virtual slaves of the 1%
I think its funny, because the 1% took practically all of America's manufacturing to China, where workers would gladly work their asses off for $2.00 a day.
It didn't take long for the workers in China to get a clue, they are demanding more money for their labor.
Now the 1% are wanting to bring manufacturing back to the US, because they think the American worker is broken enough to where they will take just about anything just to have a job.
All Americans, no matter the Industry or Sector should UNIONIZE and force the 1% to share the wealth.
The Worker's Union of America : For any worker not self employed.
Will America be the next THIRD WORLD country?
How's it out there for you?
Getting everything you want out of life ?
How's that job of yours, are you too job scared to take a vacation?
Do you feel like the people you work for are taking advantage of you?
Well, they are, and if you are an average American worker, I hate to have to clue you in, but you are screwed.
At the turn of the last century, the American worker, had an opportunity to significantly better their working situation. They were smart and savvy enough to realize that their labor was making someone else a lot more money than what they were being paid for producing the goods and services. So they thought, what if we band together and demand better wages, maybe even better working conditions. Imagine that. When the worker bees of that time period wanted to better themselves, they became united, thus the unionized labor movement was born.
At the same time the 1% per centers, opened the office curtains, and looked down with disdain as they saw their slaves, their wealth creators, begin to band together, and strike for better wages and working conditions, and benefits for working at these companies
.
Now, the masters of the universe, were scared. This was the time in history when Marx, and then Lenin were running around trying to wrench Russia from the Tsars. Communism and Socialism was beginning to become popular over here in the US as well. It was a hard scary time in America, not too far away from what it is now.
American workers wrestled with the top, and through the unions, were able to win concessions such as time off. When you are able to take Saturday and Sunday off, thank a union worker. When you can get a lunch break, or any other break, thank a union worker. When you can get a pension, rare now, or profit sharing, thank a union worker. When you are able to clock out for the day after 8 hours of toil, thank a union worker.
The 1% fought back, . They promoted a system where the workers don't want to work together. As we speak there's a dog eat dog environment among American workers. If you try to hold out for a better wage or working conditions, the 1% stand back and just chuckle.They know that some ignorant schmuck will come along and undermine any progress the worker has made. Your benefits are going away too, how many of you have to work on Saturday and Sunday, anymore the weekend days are just part of the workweek. When I was a kid, if you asked an adult to work on Saturday or Sunday, you had better watch out because those were fighting words. All your benefits are going away, why you say, because you and I have no bargaining power. The 1% know that if we make too much of a fuss, they will just pull up and take it to somewhere like China or Malaysia.
Mark my words: Your Children will have no benefits other than minimum wage, they will be chained to their desks
Getting everything you want out of life ?
How's that job of yours, are you too job scared to take a vacation?
Do you feel like the people you work for are taking advantage of you?
Well, they are, and if you are an average American worker, I hate to have to clue you in, but you are screwed.
At the turn of the last century, the American worker, had an opportunity to significantly better their working situation. They were smart and savvy enough to realize that their labor was making someone else a lot more money than what they were being paid for producing the goods and services. So they thought, what if we band together and demand better wages, maybe even better working conditions. Imagine that. When the worker bees of that time period wanted to better themselves, they became united, thus the unionized labor movement was born.
At the same time the 1% per centers, opened the office curtains, and looked down with disdain as they saw their slaves, their wealth creators, begin to band together, and strike for better wages and working conditions, and benefits for working at these companies
.
Now, the masters of the universe, were scared. This was the time in history when Marx, and then Lenin were running around trying to wrench Russia from the Tsars. Communism and Socialism was beginning to become popular over here in the US as well. It was a hard scary time in America, not too far away from what it is now.
American workers wrestled with the top, and through the unions, were able to win concessions such as time off. When you are able to take Saturday and Sunday off, thank a union worker. When you can get a lunch break, or any other break, thank a union worker. When you can get a pension, rare now, or profit sharing, thank a union worker. When you are able to clock out for the day after 8 hours of toil, thank a union worker.
The 1% fought back, . They promoted a system where the workers don't want to work together. As we speak there's a dog eat dog environment among American workers. If you try to hold out for a better wage or working conditions, the 1% stand back and just chuckle.They know that some ignorant schmuck will come along and undermine any progress the worker has made. Your benefits are going away too, how many of you have to work on Saturday and Sunday, anymore the weekend days are just part of the workweek. When I was a kid, if you asked an adult to work on Saturday or Sunday, you had better watch out because those were fighting words. All your benefits are going away, why you say, because you and I have no bargaining power. The 1% know that if we make too much of a fuss, they will just pull up and take it to somewhere like China or Malaysia.
Mark my words: Your Children will have no benefits other than minimum wage, they will be chained to their desks
Another Day In Paradise
What a beautiful day, bright sunshiny, cool breezes, 70 degrees.
We have to do a few things for ourselves where I live. One of those things I have to do every week is take the garbage to the trash dump. I absolutely refuse to give one cent more money to my local government than I have to, so therefor I cart my own garbage to the dump. As I leave the dump, I have been taking note of a phenomenon that has been going on since the great recession hit. Across the highway from the dump is a little clearing of land, and every time I take my garbage off there is someone in that space selling what few odds and ends they can gather. Junk really. This impromptu market has turned into a sizable flea market. You can tell that these people are just trying to make a few dollars so they can buy food or gas with. These people are very poor, but they are extremely resourceful and resilient at the same time. I always say a little prayer when I see them, because if it wasn't for the grace of God, it could easily be me standing out there, or anyone of you, trying to sell a few things just to make enough money to live on.
But another thing that seeing these people set up their meager wares has reminded me of. They have the right idea, this is capitalism in its purist, and most raw form. Even if we don't need to do this kind of thing to survive, we should always be working at some kind of business so that no one will have to take care of us. All work is noble, and my hat is off to these brave souls who never give up.
We have to do a few things for ourselves where I live. One of those things I have to do every week is take the garbage to the trash dump. I absolutely refuse to give one cent more money to my local government than I have to, so therefor I cart my own garbage to the dump. As I leave the dump, I have been taking note of a phenomenon that has been going on since the great recession hit. Across the highway from the dump is a little clearing of land, and every time I take my garbage off there is someone in that space selling what few odds and ends they can gather. Junk really. This impromptu market has turned into a sizable flea market. You can tell that these people are just trying to make a few dollars so they can buy food or gas with. These people are very poor, but they are extremely resourceful and resilient at the same time. I always say a little prayer when I see them, because if it wasn't for the grace of God, it could easily be me standing out there, or anyone of you, trying to sell a few things just to make enough money to live on.
But another thing that seeing these people set up their meager wares has reminded me of. They have the right idea, this is capitalism in its purist, and most raw form. Even if we don't need to do this kind of thing to survive, we should always be working at some kind of business so that no one will have to take care of us. All work is noble, and my hat is off to these brave souls who never give up.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
To the 1%
You, who others ( employees ) keep rich, need to relearn an important lesson. It was supposed to be passed down from your grandfathers, but it wasn't. So here it is.
Rule #1 You always take care of the people who keep you rich.
In America, though, employees are treated very badly. We haven't had a significant wage increase in thirty years, yet the wealth of the 1% has tripled x3
Rule #1 You always take care of the people who keep you rich.
In America, though, employees are treated very badly. We haven't had a significant wage increase in thirty years, yet the wealth of the 1% has tripled x3
Dow Jones Review
Today's stock is American Express Inc. Symbol is AXP
We all know Amex as a credit card and travel related services business. It's a good solid company, and investment, however, it's still a credit card company, and credit cards are bad for your net worth, The American middle class needs to be weaned off of credit card bills anyway. Credit cards to the middle class are what heroin and crack are to a junkie, with about the same after effects.
Today's price 52.67
Average trading volume, 6,183,340 A good trading stock
Stock Options, Their stock options are set up kind of strange. Instead of the strike price being in 1.00 increments, theirs are in increments of 2.50. The open interest is good. In other words there's a decent demand for the options.
Market Cap, 61.10 Billion dollars. Wow !!!!
P/E , 12.74 That's a good number.
EPS, $4.12 per share Excellent !!!!!!!!!!!!!! From all our credit card bills, no doubt.
Dividend and Yield, 0.72 and 1.40% Just a little anemic.
Beta, 2.04 The stock move at a good pace in the market, good for traders.
Quarterly Revenue Growth, 3.50% Not good, but not bad either.
Gross Profit, Info not available.
Profit Margin, 17.11% Excellent........ This means they probably won't go bankrupt.
Total Cash on Hand for the company is 25.00 billion, good for all those golden parachutes.
Total Cash per Share, 21.48
We all know Amex as a credit card and travel related services business. It's a good solid company, and investment, however, it's still a credit card company, and credit cards are bad for your net worth, The American middle class needs to be weaned off of credit card bills anyway. Credit cards to the middle class are what heroin and crack are to a junkie, with about the same after effects.
Today's price 52.67
Average trading volume, 6,183,340 A good trading stock
Stock Options, Their stock options are set up kind of strange. Instead of the strike price being in 1.00 increments, theirs are in increments of 2.50. The open interest is good. In other words there's a decent demand for the options.
Market Cap, 61.10 Billion dollars. Wow !!!!
P/E , 12.74 That's a good number.
EPS, $4.12 per share Excellent !!!!!!!!!!!!!! From all our credit card bills, no doubt.
Dividend and Yield, 0.72 and 1.40% Just a little anemic.
Beta, 2.04 The stock move at a good pace in the market, good for traders.
Quarterly Revenue Growth, 3.50% Not good, but not bad either.
Gross Profit, Info not available.
Profit Margin, 17.11% Excellent........ This means they probably won't go bankrupt.
Total Cash on Hand for the company is 25.00 billion, good for all those golden parachutes.
Total Cash per Share, 21.48
ETF Spotlight
Symbol ---- USO United States Oil Fund
So, this is a way you can take advantage of the oil commodities market. Just in case you don't have an oil well in you're back yard. It moves up and down with the price of oil.
Today's price 41.37 It's a little pricey, but you could trade the options which are a lot cheaper, you could control a 100 share block for two or three hundred.
Average trading volume is 9,891,540. Good volume
Symbol ---- SLV iShares Silver Trust
This is a way you can trade silver, without having to store physical silver. The fund owns silver bullion.
Today's price is 34.40
Trading volume is 17,729,700
I love silver, or I did when it was cheap. I used to go to my local coin dealers and buy up all the one ounce Englehard silver bullion bars I could get my hands on.... I used to drool over the 100 oz ingots they sometimes had. The lowest price I bought my silver for was just at 5.00. However, a few years ago, I sold all my silver for about 17.00 an ounce rationalizing that silver couldn't possibly go any higher. If I had know then what I know now about trading, I wouldn't have sold all my silver all at once, and I would have been able to get a little more money out of my investment.
So, this is a way you can take advantage of the oil commodities market. Just in case you don't have an oil well in you're back yard. It moves up and down with the price of oil.
Today's price 41.37 It's a little pricey, but you could trade the options which are a lot cheaper, you could control a 100 share block for two or three hundred.
Average trading volume is 9,891,540. Good volume
Symbol ---- SLV iShares Silver Trust
This is a way you can trade silver, without having to store physical silver. The fund owns silver bullion.
Today's price is 34.40
Trading volume is 17,729,700
I love silver, or I did when it was cheap. I used to go to my local coin dealers and buy up all the one ounce Englehard silver bullion bars I could get my hands on.... I used to drool over the 100 oz ingots they sometimes had. The lowest price I bought my silver for was just at 5.00. However, a few years ago, I sold all my silver for about 17.00 an ounce rationalizing that silver couldn't possibly go any higher. If I had know then what I know now about trading, I wouldn't have sold all my silver all at once, and I would have been able to get a little more money out of my investment.
Gold Watch
Today's spot price for 1 Troy oz of gold was ............... 1,781.00
It's getting closer to the 1800.00
People jump into gold in very bad economic times. It's never a good thing for the market.
It indicates people are very fearful of the future.
It's getting closer to the 1800.00
People jump into gold in very bad economic times. It's never a good thing for the market.
It indicates people are very fearful of the future.
Market Movers
What fears and issues are moving the markets.
China ---- The talking heads on the financial channels on TV have mentioned that China could be the next Greece.
First of all, never say never, but I doubt it. The Chinese government is so flush with American cash that they could pave over any financial crisis issue, and not even bat an eye. Plus they have highjacked American manufacturing so they have a consistent cash flow. In business cash flow is king, it's funny that a communist country would school our business leaders in that basic business concept.
GREED and FEAR .................. are the two main emotions that move the markets up and down all day, every day.
The talking heads have to constantly be stirring up fear or greed for their ratings.
There's too much Greed in the market right now, it's reached the irrational exuberance phase of the market, that's when all the sheep pile in, and the market jumps in the elevator and pushes the basement button. Remember: Bulls make money, bears make money, but sheep get slaughtered.
Oil was at 107.90......... if oil keeps going up because of Iran, that is a valid concern. It could stall out the economy, and crap out the stock market.
China ---- The talking heads on the financial channels on TV have mentioned that China could be the next Greece.
First of all, never say never, but I doubt it. The Chinese government is so flush with American cash that they could pave over any financial crisis issue, and not even bat an eye. Plus they have highjacked American manufacturing so they have a consistent cash flow. In business cash flow is king, it's funny that a communist country would school our business leaders in that basic business concept.
GREED and FEAR .................. are the two main emotions that move the markets up and down all day, every day.
The talking heads have to constantly be stirring up fear or greed for their ratings.
There's too much Greed in the market right now, it's reached the irrational exuberance phase of the market, that's when all the sheep pile in, and the market jumps in the elevator and pushes the basement button. Remember: Bulls make money, bears make money, but sheep get slaughtered.
Oil was at 107.90......... if oil keeps going up because of Iran, that is a valid concern. It could stall out the economy, and crap out the stock market.
Free America
If you are able to go outside today, I hope you go outside and notice how beautiful our planet is. Most people who are cubicle bound never see the outside world. Where I live, it's a beautiful sun filled afternoon. Not a cloud in the sky, and the most beautiful blue sky you have ever seen. It's about 70 degrees with a light cool breeze to add to it, just in case the day wasn't perfect enough already. When I was a hard working worker bee, existing in cubicle land like everyone else, I could never go out and enjoy the day, and if I could, I couldn't enjoy it because I was so stressed out about my job. These ungrateful dead zombie bosses are horrible to their employees. They should be made to understand that you do not mistreat the people who keep you in the money. Now I realize just how blessed I am to be able to go outside and smell the fresh air and feel the sun, it's wonderful. So if you are unemployed, and you are having a rough time, just take a break, go outside, and walk around. you will come back feeling happy and amazing. Realize that soon enough you will be back to the old grind, and just enjoy the time you have, some people live all their lives and never slow down enough to enjoy it, and then life's done and over with.
It's a strange system we have here in this country.
We work to live ......... but you can't live ......... because the wages are so crappy ......... and because you're working all the time.
It's a strange system we have here in this country.
We work to live ......... but you can't live ......... because the wages are so crappy ......... and because you're working all the time.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Politics
I'm still conflicted about who to vote for for President.
We have a two party political system here in the United States
The Republican Party: The do nothing for anyone except the 1%. Keep the status quo, by the rich and for the rich only political party. They have totally brainwashed the middle class into thinking that they care about us and how we have to live. The only answer the Republicans have as a cure all for any economic or social issue is to lower taxes. That's their answer to everything, which only has one result, it makes the rich richer. It has been proven that since Regan started lowering taxes, the rich do not create more jobs with the money they get to keep from lower taxes, they just buy bigger boats, and bigger houses, they play golf on better golf courses, and are able to move up to better country clubs, oh and by the way they also get to go farther up the economic ladder from the rest of us, and that's it, period, end of story.
The Democratic Party: This is the other do nothing party in America. Its the ineffective party. Its sole purpose is to make people think that there really is Democracy in the United States. It's here to give everyone the warm and fuzzes, that gee, someone cares about my well being feeling. It's real purpose is to slow the progress and advancement of the middle class. The Democratic party coddles the poor, the fringe groups, the minorities, all for their vote, not so much the middle class. The Democrats try to act like they are robbing the rich to help the poor, but strangely none of the Democratic leaders are poor or even middle class, they are all multimillionaires. It's funny, because the Democrats live in the same size mansions, and belong to the same ritzy country clubs as the Republicans. What eventually happens is that the Democrats end up robbing the middle class for more tax extortion money. The rich don't play, they are powerful enough to spank the government if they had to pay much more in taxes. The poor don't pay because they are chronically broke, and everyone feels sorry for them. The only ones screwed are the middle class.
We are not stupid, we all know what's going on. And one day we will unite, and make the playing field just a little more even, making it fair for all of us.
So who, is a hard working, middle class Joe99% like me supposed to vote for????
What we need in this country is a third political party, a party for the Middle Class. It's that old no representation thing all over again. There isn't anyone in Washington for us.
We have a two party political system here in the United States
The Republican Party: The do nothing for anyone except the 1%. Keep the status quo, by the rich and for the rich only political party. They have totally brainwashed the middle class into thinking that they care about us and how we have to live. The only answer the Republicans have as a cure all for any economic or social issue is to lower taxes. That's their answer to everything, which only has one result, it makes the rich richer. It has been proven that since Regan started lowering taxes, the rich do not create more jobs with the money they get to keep from lower taxes, they just buy bigger boats, and bigger houses, they play golf on better golf courses, and are able to move up to better country clubs, oh and by the way they also get to go farther up the economic ladder from the rest of us, and that's it, period, end of story.
The Democratic Party: This is the other do nothing party in America. Its the ineffective party. Its sole purpose is to make people think that there really is Democracy in the United States. It's here to give everyone the warm and fuzzes, that gee, someone cares about my well being feeling. It's real purpose is to slow the progress and advancement of the middle class. The Democratic party coddles the poor, the fringe groups, the minorities, all for their vote, not so much the middle class. The Democrats try to act like they are robbing the rich to help the poor, but strangely none of the Democratic leaders are poor or even middle class, they are all multimillionaires. It's funny, because the Democrats live in the same size mansions, and belong to the same ritzy country clubs as the Republicans. What eventually happens is that the Democrats end up robbing the middle class for more tax extortion money. The rich don't play, they are powerful enough to spank the government if they had to pay much more in taxes. The poor don't pay because they are chronically broke, and everyone feels sorry for them. The only ones screwed are the middle class.
We are not stupid, we all know what's going on. And one day we will unite, and make the playing field just a little more even, making it fair for all of us.
So who, is a hard working, middle class Joe99% like me supposed to vote for????
What we need in this country is a third political party, a party for the Middle Class. It's that old no representation thing all over again. There isn't anyone in Washington for us.
Dow Jones Review 2
The last post was apparently too big.
What I was talking about is that today's price is 10.38.
What's great is that the Book Value per share is 12.96 which means the stock is worth that much based on its assets.
So if someone bought this stock they would make an automatic profit of 2.58 a share, or 258.00 per a 100 share block. If you were lucky enough to buy a 1 million share block, you would make a cool 2,580,000.
Not bad money for about 20 seconds worth of work on a computer.
What I was talking about is that today's price is 10.38.
What's great is that the Book Value per share is 12.96 which means the stock is worth that much based on its assets.
So if someone bought this stock they would make an automatic profit of 2.58 a share, or 258.00 per a 100 share block. If you were lucky enough to buy a 1 million share block, you would make a cool 2,580,000.
Not bad money for about 20 seconds worth of work on a computer.
Dow Jones Review 1
In this section we will look closely at one stock in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, or Dow 30.
Today it's Alcoa Inc. Symbol is AA
Today's Price is 10.38 It's an inexpensive trading stock.
Alcoa is a major Aluminum producer. What makes Alcoa special is that they take raw materials and forge it into a finished product, Aluminum. Basically turning nothing into something, and that's always important.
Trading volume: 22,844,756 There will always be someone to trade Alcoa stock with.
Stock Options: Good Options, to sell covered calls, or puts.
Market Cap: 11.07 Billion Alcoa's a big company.
P/E ( Price earnings ratio, the price of the stock compared to the companies earnings ) is 18.87 times earnings. It's a little high, but the markets way up.
EPS ( Earnings per share ) is 0.55 Alcoa makes 55 cents per share.
Dividend and Yield is 0.12 ( 1.20 ) Alcoa will pay you a little bit just to own the stock. But it's still more than a savings acct. You always have to look and see how much a savings acct would pay. It will make you want to buy more stock.
Beta is 2.02 Beta measures how much the stock will move in price compared with the general market. A beta of 1.0 moves at the same rate as the market. A beta of 2.0 moves at twice the rate as the market. Any negative beta such as -0.50 means that the company's share price moves slower than the general market. Any stock that has a beta of 2.0 or greater is a good trading stock.
Quarterly Revenue Growth is 6.0%
Gross Profit is 4.47 Billion
Profit Margin is 2.45% Any company you invest or trade in should be profitable. Only unprofitable companies go out of business.
Book Value per share is 12.96. OK so today's price is 10.38, the stock is worth 12.96 a share because of its assets. The second someone bought this stock they
Today it's Alcoa Inc. Symbol is AA
Today's Price is 10.38 It's an inexpensive trading stock.
Alcoa is a major Aluminum producer. What makes Alcoa special is that they take raw materials and forge it into a finished product, Aluminum. Basically turning nothing into something, and that's always important.
Trading volume: 22,844,756 There will always be someone to trade Alcoa stock with.
Stock Options: Good Options, to sell covered calls, or puts.
Market Cap: 11.07 Billion Alcoa's a big company.
P/E ( Price earnings ratio, the price of the stock compared to the companies earnings ) is 18.87 times earnings. It's a little high, but the markets way up.
EPS ( Earnings per share ) is 0.55 Alcoa makes 55 cents per share.
Dividend and Yield is 0.12 ( 1.20 ) Alcoa will pay you a little bit just to own the stock. But it's still more than a savings acct. You always have to look and see how much a savings acct would pay. It will make you want to buy more stock.
Beta is 2.02 Beta measures how much the stock will move in price compared with the general market. A beta of 1.0 moves at the same rate as the market. A beta of 2.0 moves at twice the rate as the market. Any negative beta such as -0.50 means that the company's share price moves slower than the general market. Any stock that has a beta of 2.0 or greater is a good trading stock.
Quarterly Revenue Growth is 6.0%
Gross Profit is 4.47 Billion
Profit Margin is 2.45% Any company you invest or trade in should be profitable. Only unprofitable companies go out of business.
Book Value per share is 12.96. OK so today's price is 10.38, the stock is worth 12.96 a share because of its assets. The second someone bought this stock they
Gold Watch
The spot price for 1 troy oz of Gold
$ 1,777.50
Gold is a good thing to watch for several reasons.
Gold indicates how much fear is in the marketplace.
When times are uncertain, dangerous, or fearful people will pull their money out of the stock and bond markets and by gold to protect their assets.
Their are rumors swirling around that gold is going to 2000.00. If this is the case then something bad will be causing it, which could cause a severe correction in stocks.
$ 1,777.50
Gold is a good thing to watch for several reasons.
Gold indicates how much fear is in the marketplace.
When times are uncertain, dangerous, or fearful people will pull their money out of the stock and bond markets and by gold to protect their assets.
Their are rumors swirling around that gold is going to 2000.00. If this is the case then something bad will be causing it, which could cause a severe correction in stocks.
ETF Spotlight
Symbol --- IAU iShares Gold Trust
This etf seeks to mimic the price movement of gold bullion. The etf stockpiles bullion to cover the price.
Reasons why I like this ETF
Price: Today's price 17.34 This ETF is much more affordable than an ounce of gold.
Trading volume 6,469,863 shares. Means there is a ready market if and when you need to sell.
This would be a very liquid way to allocate part of a portfolio into gold without the headache of dealing with gold bars.
With that said I want to make clear that in any post on this blog, at any time, I am in no way recommending any sort of investment to anyone. I'm simply discussing what investments I invest in or find interesting. I will not be responsible for anyone's investment results except for my own. It seems like half the time when I buy a stock it goes way down before it goes back up and makes money. I have learned to buy even more as it continues to go down, so that I make even more money on the way up.
This etf seeks to mimic the price movement of gold bullion. The etf stockpiles bullion to cover the price.
Reasons why I like this ETF
Price: Today's price 17.34 This ETF is much more affordable than an ounce of gold.
Trading volume 6,469,863 shares. Means there is a ready market if and when you need to sell.
This would be a very liquid way to allocate part of a portfolio into gold without the headache of dealing with gold bars.
With that said I want to make clear that in any post on this blog, at any time, I am in no way recommending any sort of investment to anyone. I'm simply discussing what investments I invest in or find interesting. I will not be responsible for anyone's investment results except for my own. It seems like half the time when I buy a stock it goes way down before it goes back up and makes money. I have learned to buy even more as it continues to go down, so that I make even more money on the way up.
Free America
Good Afternoon America
I hope we all had a good day today.
For the unemployed, Keep the Faith, it will work out, it will get better.
For all of us who woke up this morning and found ourselves in the middle class , we will survive to fight another day.
To all who read my posts and ramblings I say thank you.
Please feel free to comment.
I hope we all had a good day today.
For the unemployed, Keep the Faith, it will work out, it will get better.
For all of us who woke up this morning and found ourselves in the middle class , we will survive to fight another day.
To all who read my posts and ramblings I say thank you.
Please feel free to comment.
Market Fears
What concerns on the horizon that can make the market move lower.
1. Greece
2. The Rest of Europe and especially Italy and Portugal . The talking heads on CNBC keep saying Portugal is only a week or two being in the same shape as Greece
3. Oil..... If gas goes to 5.00 the economy will stop, people will stop driving, and spending on anything other than gas and food.
4. Israel putting the smack down on Iran.
Any of these issues could push the world's economy right on over the edge of prolonged and severe recession.
1. Greece
2. The Rest of Europe and especially Italy and Portugal . The talking heads on CNBC keep saying Portugal is only a week or two being in the same shape as Greece
3. Oil..... If gas goes to 5.00 the economy will stop, people will stop driving, and spending on anything other than gas and food.
4. Israel putting the smack down on Iran.
Any of these issues could push the world's economy right on over the edge of prolonged and severe recession.
Monday, February 20, 2012
ETFs I'm looking at today
Symbol PEY --- Power Shares High Yield Dividend
I'm looking at this ETF for several reasons. Low price. 9.42 it only takes 942.00 to buy 100 shares. Average Trading volume is 582,761 which means you could sell it in a hurry if you had to, there's a market for the ETF. But most of all the yield. 3.72% If you consider that a savings account pays about 0.032 %, and 10year Treasury bonds only pay 2.01% today, no telling what it will be tomorrow.
Symbol PGX ---- Power Shares Preferred Portfolio
I like the price 14.30 . Most ETF's are much more expensive. Average Trading volume is 456,000. The higher the trading volume the better. The yield is a whopping 6.54% . This ETF concentrates on preferred stocks, which can be used as a proxy for corporate bonds, because the yields are similar. You also get an extra lift when the market is up.
I'm looking at this ETF for several reasons. Low price. 9.42 it only takes 942.00 to buy 100 shares. Average Trading volume is 582,761 which means you could sell it in a hurry if you had to, there's a market for the ETF. But most of all the yield. 3.72% If you consider that a savings account pays about 0.032 %, and 10year Treasury bonds only pay 2.01% today, no telling what it will be tomorrow.
Symbol PGX ---- Power Shares Preferred Portfolio
I like the price 14.30 . Most ETF's are much more expensive. Average Trading volume is 456,000. The higher the trading volume the better. The yield is a whopping 6.54% . This ETF concentrates on preferred stocks, which can be used as a proxy for corporate bonds, because the yields are similar. You also get an extra lift when the market is up.
Utopia, not Exactly, but close.
OK, so we are the 99%
If we stick together, we can make this country a much nicer place to live.
As it is now, in the United States, a few live very well, while the rest of us struggle.
The hard part is getting everyone to band together to accomplish some really uncomplicated tasks.
1. Social Security: We all get old, yes even the young. We all need social security to supplement our retirement.
Enact a law that makes it illegal for politicians to squander or even touch future social security money, in effect put a lock on the social security lock box.
2. Health care. Decouple health insurance from employment so the 1% can't use it as a weapon.
Make insurance companies truly compete for customers.
Make health insurance premiums a percentage of income, so everyone can afford health insurance.
Make health insurance a commodity just like everything else in this country, just like buying a car, or a can of peaches on a grocery store shelf.
3. The Economy. Jobs are created by business, not governmental bureaucrats.
The job of the governmental bureaucrats is to make starting a business easier than doing anything else.
Every time a person starts a new business, the government should encourage even more business start ups.
4. The Resurgence of the Middle Class
We have to go back and become a nation of small business owners. Butchers, bakers, and Candlestick makers. Only when you work for yourself are you truly free, but you will never be unemployed. You will always be able to generate an income. We have been slowly brainwashed into only thinking of being someone's employee, some of us never even consider working for ourselves as a viable option.
5. Taxes
Here's the thing about taxes. No matter how much the Democrats say they are going to tax the rich, the rich always get off paying little to no taxes. Why, because the rich can hire very expensive and smart lawyers to find loopholes for them to jump through. The poor don't pay because they stay chronically broke.
The Rich don't pay taxes.
The Poor don't pay taxes.
Only the Middle Class bears the brunt of most of the taxes collected in the United States.
Why do we have to pay taxes anyway?
Are we only paying for national defense ?
What are we really getting for all the money we are forced to give them ?
It seems we are not getting much for the amount of money we have to send in.
It almost seems like a bribe we must all pay every year to some bully we really don't like, but don't have enough power to get rid of. ..................... I'm just say..in
These are the the things that need to be addressed and changed in the country.....
If we band together, unite, and work together for the common good, we can make the United States into a better place to live. I can't and won't do it on my own. I need everyone to help me change this country.
I have made it so everyone who reads my posts can comment. Print this blog off and mail to every congressman and representative. We must all get involved, or the middle class will totally disappear, and the United States will turn into the newest third world country on the planet.
If we stick together, we can make this country a much nicer place to live.
As it is now, in the United States, a few live very well, while the rest of us struggle.
The hard part is getting everyone to band together to accomplish some really uncomplicated tasks.
1. Social Security: We all get old, yes even the young. We all need social security to supplement our retirement.
Enact a law that makes it illegal for politicians to squander or even touch future social security money, in effect put a lock on the social security lock box.
2. Health care. Decouple health insurance from employment so the 1% can't use it as a weapon.
Make insurance companies truly compete for customers.
Make health insurance premiums a percentage of income, so everyone can afford health insurance.
Make health insurance a commodity just like everything else in this country, just like buying a car, or a can of peaches on a grocery store shelf.
3. The Economy. Jobs are created by business, not governmental bureaucrats.
The job of the governmental bureaucrats is to make starting a business easier than doing anything else.
Every time a person starts a new business, the government should encourage even more business start ups.
4. The Resurgence of the Middle Class
We have to go back and become a nation of small business owners. Butchers, bakers, and Candlestick makers. Only when you work for yourself are you truly free, but you will never be unemployed. You will always be able to generate an income. We have been slowly brainwashed into only thinking of being someone's employee, some of us never even consider working for ourselves as a viable option.
5. Taxes
Here's the thing about taxes. No matter how much the Democrats say they are going to tax the rich, the rich always get off paying little to no taxes. Why, because the rich can hire very expensive and smart lawyers to find loopholes for them to jump through. The poor don't pay because they stay chronically broke.
The Rich don't pay taxes.
The Poor don't pay taxes.
Only the Middle Class bears the brunt of most of the taxes collected in the United States.
Why do we have to pay taxes anyway?
Are we only paying for national defense ?
What are we really getting for all the money we are forced to give them ?
It seems we are not getting much for the amount of money we have to send in.
It almost seems like a bribe we must all pay every year to some bully we really don't like, but don't have enough power to get rid of. ..................... I'm just say..in
These are the the things that need to be addressed and changed in the country.....
If we band together, unite, and work together for the common good, we can make the United States into a better place to live. I can't and won't do it on my own. I need everyone to help me change this country.
I have made it so everyone who reads my posts can comment. Print this blog off and mail to every congressman and representative. We must all get involved, or the middle class will totally disappear, and the United States will turn into the newest third world country on the planet.
Save Your Money !!!!!!!!!!!
Rule Number 1 in wealth creation, is SAVE YOUR MONEY.
I don't know how to shout it any louder. You would think saving money would be common sense, but there seems to be very little common sense in the United States these days.
Rule Number 2 in wealth creation, is to create an atmosphere where all of your physical needs are met first.
This includes Food, Clothing, and Shelter. The way you allocate appropriate resources to achieve this part
is to Budget your money, and Save Your Money.
After all physical needs are met, then you start saving for an Emergency Fund. This emergency fund covers the Oh Crap moments in life. Guess what folks, we all have Oh Crap moments. Your car dies. You crack a tooth eating an almond, and the extortioner, oh sorry, I meant dentist, charges you a cool 1200.00 to do a crown. Your kid kicks out an appendix, and the hospital demands the 2000.00 deductible upfront before they save your kids life. You bet we all have Oh Crap moments.
After you have your Emergency Fund funded, then you move on to.........
Rule Number 3 in wealth creation. Start buying stock. When you buy stock in a company you buy ownership in that company. You become one of the owners. If you could buy up more than 50% of the stock in that company , you would in effect be the controlling owner. When you become an owner, you are magically transformed into the newest member of the 1%, albeit a "junior" member. If I could get every American turned on to the stock market, we would become the 100% . Bull and Bear markets make people tons of money. But that's how you do it folks. It truly is as simple as that.
Rule Number 4 in wealth creation. Build as many small businesses as you can to bring in even more money. Many Fortune 500 companies were started around the kitchen table, or in the garage, or dorm room. Most by people like me who are totally fed up by how the world is turning out.
Most people expect everything to be handed to them on a plate. They don't want to work, they don't want to think for themselves. Life has been handed to them by their parents growing up, and then by the government. The government has fostered a society that thinks they are entitled to a piece of what everyone else has, in other words, if I created something and they didn't because they are lazy, or stupid, or unmotivated or whatever the reason, then they should still have a piece of the pie, just because. These people will never be the ones who read my blog. The ones who read my posts are the ones who have a pulse, the ones who want more out of life, the ones who are dissatisfied with the way things are going, the ones who look around and say as I did, REALLY, IS THIS ALL THERE IS ?????
I came up with a list of qualities that the Great Recession has forced us to rediscover, and how important they are to our comeback.
1. Thrift ...... Saving as much money as possible.
2. Hard Work
3. Delayed Gratification of wants.
4. Self Reliance
5. Self Employment
6. Stock Ownership
7. Home Ownership
During the decade of the housing bubble, Americans were brainwashed into thinking that the house that you lived in was your greatest "investment". However a vast majority of Americans treated their house not as an "investment" but rather as an ATM machine. Cashing out equity for the most frivolous reasons, a new boat, television, a kids new car, a vacation they so very much needed. America, and the world has suffered greatly because of this thinking, i.e. The Great Recession. Soon after the bubble burst I saw a bumper sticker that said, Honk If I'm Paying Your Mortgage. When I read this bumper sticker, I was looking at and reading page after page of foreclosure notices in my local newspaper.
Our houses are NOT investments. Our houses are homes of refuge and safety.
Our houses are places where we live out our lives, where we lay our heads down at night and sleep.
Never again jeopardize the place where your family resides, and where you lay down your head at night by thinking of it as an investment.
I don't know how to shout it any louder. You would think saving money would be common sense, but there seems to be very little common sense in the United States these days.
Rule Number 2 in wealth creation, is to create an atmosphere where all of your physical needs are met first.
This includes Food, Clothing, and Shelter. The way you allocate appropriate resources to achieve this part
is to Budget your money, and Save Your Money.
After all physical needs are met, then you start saving for an Emergency Fund. This emergency fund covers the Oh Crap moments in life. Guess what folks, we all have Oh Crap moments. Your car dies. You crack a tooth eating an almond, and the extortioner, oh sorry, I meant dentist, charges you a cool 1200.00 to do a crown. Your kid kicks out an appendix, and the hospital demands the 2000.00 deductible upfront before they save your kids life. You bet we all have Oh Crap moments.
After you have your Emergency Fund funded, then you move on to.........
Rule Number 3 in wealth creation. Start buying stock. When you buy stock in a company you buy ownership in that company. You become one of the owners. If you could buy up more than 50% of the stock in that company , you would in effect be the controlling owner. When you become an owner, you are magically transformed into the newest member of the 1%, albeit a "junior" member. If I could get every American turned on to the stock market, we would become the 100% . Bull and Bear markets make people tons of money. But that's how you do it folks. It truly is as simple as that.
Rule Number 4 in wealth creation. Build as many small businesses as you can to bring in even more money. Many Fortune 500 companies were started around the kitchen table, or in the garage, or dorm room. Most by people like me who are totally fed up by how the world is turning out.
Most people expect everything to be handed to them on a plate. They don't want to work, they don't want to think for themselves. Life has been handed to them by their parents growing up, and then by the government. The government has fostered a society that thinks they are entitled to a piece of what everyone else has, in other words, if I created something and they didn't because they are lazy, or stupid, or unmotivated or whatever the reason, then they should still have a piece of the pie, just because. These people will never be the ones who read my blog. The ones who read my posts are the ones who have a pulse, the ones who want more out of life, the ones who are dissatisfied with the way things are going, the ones who look around and say as I did, REALLY, IS THIS ALL THERE IS ?????
I came up with a list of qualities that the Great Recession has forced us to rediscover, and how important they are to our comeback.
1. Thrift ...... Saving as much money as possible.
2. Hard Work
3. Delayed Gratification of wants.
4. Self Reliance
5. Self Employment
6. Stock Ownership
7. Home Ownership
During the decade of the housing bubble, Americans were brainwashed into thinking that the house that you lived in was your greatest "investment". However a vast majority of Americans treated their house not as an "investment" but rather as an ATM machine. Cashing out equity for the most frivolous reasons, a new boat, television, a kids new car, a vacation they so very much needed. America, and the world has suffered greatly because of this thinking, i.e. The Great Recession. Soon after the bubble burst I saw a bumper sticker that said, Honk If I'm Paying Your Mortgage. When I read this bumper sticker, I was looking at and reading page after page of foreclosure notices in my local newspaper.
Our houses are NOT investments. Our houses are homes of refuge and safety.
Our houses are places where we live out our lives, where we lay our heads down at night and sleep.
Never again jeopardize the place where your family resides, and where you lay down your head at night by thinking of it as an investment.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
INVESTING 101
I wanted to talk a little bit about investing. Specifically about some concepts that will help you get started on the road to investing and adding another member to the 1%
A great way to start investing is to use ETF's or Exchange Traded Funds.
ETF's are baskets of stocks or securities that cover markets, indexes, industry groups or market sectors. You get to take advantage of price moves without the risks associated with owning individual stocks.
Here are some examples, and their market symbols:
DIA -- SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average. This etf covers the Dow 30 blue chip stocks.
QQQ -- Power Shares QQQ Trust. This etf covers the Nasdaq 100 index stocks, which covers the largest stocks in the Nasdaq.
SSO -- Pro Shares Ultra S&P 500. This etf covers the S&P 500 and moves up and down
2x the percentage of the index.
GLD -- SPDR Gold Trust This etf covers the price of gold. The company actually holds
gold bullion. The share price is about 1/10 an ounce of gold.
There are many more ETF options to choose from in all sectors and markets.
A great way to start investing is to use ETF's or Exchange Traded Funds.
ETF's are baskets of stocks or securities that cover markets, indexes, industry groups or market sectors. You get to take advantage of price moves without the risks associated with owning individual stocks.
Here are some examples, and their market symbols:
DIA -- SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average. This etf covers the Dow 30 blue chip stocks.
QQQ -- Power Shares QQQ Trust. This etf covers the Nasdaq 100 index stocks, which covers the largest stocks in the Nasdaq.
SSO -- Pro Shares Ultra S&P 500. This etf covers the S&P 500 and moves up and down
2x the percentage of the index.
GLD -- SPDR Gold Trust This etf covers the price of gold. The company actually holds
gold bullion. The share price is about 1/10 an ounce of gold.
There are many more ETF options to choose from in all sectors and markets.
Keep calm and carry on.
Keep Calm And Carry On
I don't know if you've seen the poster with this slogan on it. It's origins are in World War II England. The English government printed a poster with this slogan on it. The poster has a red background with a white crown representing the government, and then the slogan Keep Calm And Carry On. This poster was never circulated or used, and the only way we know about it today is because someone unearthed it in a dusty old antique shop. Most of these posters were destroyed after the war, but a few survived in an old cardboard box. It turns out that the British government printed these posters as a way to comfort the British people if disaster struck and the Germans were successful in invading England. Can you imagine how horrible life would have been for the civilian population if that turn of events had occurred.
I was thinking about what I wanted to write about today, and I came to the conclusion that I wanted to talk to all the millions of Americans out there that are still unemployed. All those who are constantly looking for a job but nothing is available. Day after day, nothing is working out. I want to say that I stand with you, be strong, It WILL work out, we will all be gainfully employed, eventually. We will not let this bad time in our lives defeat us, because we know in our hearts that the Good times will roll again. We are strong, we will work ourselves out of this great recession. More of us will be self employed, for we know that to truly have job security we will have to work for ourselves.
Finally, to all of us who are struggling to stay afloat, or who are sinking, I say live as simply as you can, conserve your resources, love your families and the people who are dear to you, remember that any physical thing can be replaced, and above all Keep Calm And Carry On until the tide swings back in our favor.
I don't know if you've seen the poster with this slogan on it. It's origins are in World War II England. The English government printed a poster with this slogan on it. The poster has a red background with a white crown representing the government, and then the slogan Keep Calm And Carry On. This poster was never circulated or used, and the only way we know about it today is because someone unearthed it in a dusty old antique shop. Most of these posters were destroyed after the war, but a few survived in an old cardboard box. It turns out that the British government printed these posters as a way to comfort the British people if disaster struck and the Germans were successful in invading England. Can you imagine how horrible life would have been for the civilian population if that turn of events had occurred.
I was thinking about what I wanted to write about today, and I came to the conclusion that I wanted to talk to all the millions of Americans out there that are still unemployed. All those who are constantly looking for a job but nothing is available. Day after day, nothing is working out. I want to say that I stand with you, be strong, It WILL work out, we will all be gainfully employed, eventually. We will not let this bad time in our lives defeat us, because we know in our hearts that the Good times will roll again. We are strong, we will work ourselves out of this great recession. More of us will be self employed, for we know that to truly have job security we will have to work for ourselves.
Finally, to all of us who are struggling to stay afloat, or who are sinking, I say live as simply as you can, conserve your resources, love your families and the people who are dear to you, remember that any physical thing can be replaced, and above all Keep Calm And Carry On until the tide swings back in our favor.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Ya Gotta Love the Stock Market
Here's the reason why the 1% loves the stock market.
A 1 penny increase in the stock price of 100 Shares = 1.00 Dollar profit.
1000 Shares = 10.00 Dollar profit.
10,000 Shares = 100.00 Dollar profit.
100,000 Shares = 1000.00 Dollar profit
On a good volatile day, stocks can move back and forth a dollar or more a dozen or more times. On a 100,000 share trade, that one dollar swing would be 100,000 Dollars. Not too bad for a days work. With this kind of wealth generation power, the 1% use the stock market to stay right where they are on the economic ladder. As the 99% we should do whatever it takes to emulate this habit, pattern, even lifestyle. We should eat, breathe, and sleep the stock market.
The stock market will always go up and down. When the market goes down, stocks are cheaper, it means stocks go on sale, it's time to go shopping. When the market goes up its time to sell some. Don't unload all your stocks all at once, keep some in reserve just in case the market goes higher the next day. With that said, be careful, it's a profitable but tricky endeavor.
One more piece of advice. Don't fight the market. You can't totally predict its direction all the time.
The market will always know more than you.
Don't get greedy, don't try to extract the very last penny of profit.
If you try, it will turn on you while you wait for it to continue to go up.
Take your profit, and be grateful for what the market gives you.
This piece of advice doesn't contradict what I was talking about earlier.
If your gut instincts tell you to sell it all, then by all means take it all off the table.
One of the greatest things about the stock market is that you can buy and sell the same stock back and forth thousands and thousands of times, and each time you sell the stock higher you get a little bit more money to buy even more stock with.
Here's the thing: Everyone is invited to this party, no one will be turned away.
All you really have to do is have the courage to buy low and sell high.
It's as simple as that, then soon we won't have the 1% or the 99%.
We will have the 100%
A 1 penny increase in the stock price of 100 Shares = 1.00 Dollar profit.
1000 Shares = 10.00 Dollar profit.
10,000 Shares = 100.00 Dollar profit.
100,000 Shares = 1000.00 Dollar profit
On a good volatile day, stocks can move back and forth a dollar or more a dozen or more times. On a 100,000 share trade, that one dollar swing would be 100,000 Dollars. Not too bad for a days work. With this kind of wealth generation power, the 1% use the stock market to stay right where they are on the economic ladder. As the 99% we should do whatever it takes to emulate this habit, pattern, even lifestyle. We should eat, breathe, and sleep the stock market.
The stock market will always go up and down. When the market goes down, stocks are cheaper, it means stocks go on sale, it's time to go shopping. When the market goes up its time to sell some. Don't unload all your stocks all at once, keep some in reserve just in case the market goes higher the next day. With that said, be careful, it's a profitable but tricky endeavor.
One more piece of advice. Don't fight the market. You can't totally predict its direction all the time.
The market will always know more than you.
Don't get greedy, don't try to extract the very last penny of profit.
If you try, it will turn on you while you wait for it to continue to go up.
Take your profit, and be grateful for what the market gives you.
This piece of advice doesn't contradict what I was talking about earlier.
If your gut instincts tell you to sell it all, then by all means take it all off the table.
One of the greatest things about the stock market is that you can buy and sell the same stock back and forth thousands and thousands of times, and each time you sell the stock higher you get a little bit more money to buy even more stock with.
Here's the thing: Everyone is invited to this party, no one will be turned away.
All you really have to do is have the courage to buy low and sell high.
It's as simple as that, then soon we won't have the 1% or the 99%.
We will have the 100%
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Comments Welcome
Comments to my posts are always welcome. I want to hear from people from all over this country, both conservative and liberal. I am brand new to blogging, and I am very interested in reading what others are thinking on these important issues. I want to thank everyone who reads my posts.
$5.00 Gas
Have you seen the price of gas lately?
In some parts of the country it's already 4.95.
But Ben Bernake says there's little to no real inflation.
Don't believe everything you hear.
In some parts of the country it's already 4.95.
But Ben Bernake says there's little to no real inflation.
Don't believe everything you hear.
Happy Valentine's Day
OK FELLAS don't forget, whatever you do today, remember its valentines day. Make that special someone in your life feel loved and cherished, they deserve it for putting up with you.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Health Care
The availability and affordability of health insurance should be a basic human right in this country, but it is not.
In our dog eat dog society, health care is viewed as a commodity to be traded for as much money as you can possibly squeeze out of someone. Our doctors in America are not healers anymore, they go to medical school to graduate as doctors and then make as much money as they possibly can. Our health, and our very lives are being ransomed. The drugs and medical procedures that really cost hundreds, are being billed in the tens of thousands, and God help you if you don't have health insurance. If you don't have the money, the medical business will gladly and cheerfully turn you away, and leave you on the side of the road to die in the ditch.
Affordable health insurance that we are lucky to get at all is usually tied to employment. If you don't have a job though, or if you are self employed you really are SOL. The guaranteed insurance that would cost anywhere from 40-60 a month at a job would cost 300 to 2000 a month on your own. If you could get it at all, the insurance companies will reject you out right if they think there is any chance that you will use it.
Why is affordable health insurance tied to employment ???? Control. The ones in power want to have a compliant , dependable workforce, a lot of people in the United States work solely for health insurance, it is that important. More people would strike out on their own, with new businesses, if they knew they could afford health insurance.
Lets rise up and demand that health insurance be decoupled from employment.
Make health insurance guaranteed, and affordable, to everyone who wants it based on a percentage of their income.
Health Insurance shouldn't be mandatory, but those who refuse to get health insurance should have to pay for all of their health care costs, the public should not have to pay for the irresponsible.
If insurance companies had to really compete for our health care dollars, the cost of health insurance would drop to a reasonable level overnight.
In our dog eat dog society, health care is viewed as a commodity to be traded for as much money as you can possibly squeeze out of someone. Our doctors in America are not healers anymore, they go to medical school to graduate as doctors and then make as much money as they possibly can. Our health, and our very lives are being ransomed. The drugs and medical procedures that really cost hundreds, are being billed in the tens of thousands, and God help you if you don't have health insurance. If you don't have the money, the medical business will gladly and cheerfully turn you away, and leave you on the side of the road to die in the ditch.
Affordable health insurance that we are lucky to get at all is usually tied to employment. If you don't have a job though, or if you are self employed you really are SOL. The guaranteed insurance that would cost anywhere from 40-60 a month at a job would cost 300 to 2000 a month on your own. If you could get it at all, the insurance companies will reject you out right if they think there is any chance that you will use it.
Why is affordable health insurance tied to employment ???? Control. The ones in power want to have a compliant , dependable workforce, a lot of people in the United States work solely for health insurance, it is that important. More people would strike out on their own, with new businesses, if they knew they could afford health insurance.
Lets rise up and demand that health insurance be decoupled from employment.
Make health insurance guaranteed, and affordable, to everyone who wants it based on a percentage of their income.
Health Insurance shouldn't be mandatory, but those who refuse to get health insurance should have to pay for all of their health care costs, the public should not have to pay for the irresponsible.
If insurance companies had to really compete for our health care dollars, the cost of health insurance would drop to a reasonable level overnight.
Social Security
Social security can be thought of as a treasure chest. We deposit money in as we work and earn wages, and then when we are old, or when we are disabled, we can withdraw the fruits of our labor. Its sort of like a mutual fund, it was designed for our mutual benefit. Now, when you see this treasure chest, you can also see the lid on the top of the treasure chest. This lid is opened every time we get paid, and our contributions are deposited. So now, over the years you would think that we would have a huge pile of money as our emergency fund, or retirement in our old age, but this is simply not the case. If you were able to open up this treasure chest you would see that it is completely empty, and then you would also see something on the bottom of the box, and that would be the outline, knob, and what looks to be hinges for another door on the bottom of this treasure chest. So what happens is that as fast as we can put money into the social security lock box, the "thieves" ..... sorry I mean politicians ..... no I really mean thieves, have withdrawn it, leaving worthless IOU's in its place. Their reasoning is that they are the government, and they have the printing press. It is estimated that in less than 20 years social security will be completely broke, wiped out. and probably not able to repay the hundreds of millions of Americans who have contributed to it. My fellow Americans, we have got to fix this.
We are in luck though, the long term fix is simple, close the bottom door permanently, seal it up, make it a crime for politicians to take money out of social security for any reason, it is our national treasure. And secondly, to guarantee everyone who has contributed will get their benefits. Over time, with monetary responsibility social security would increase to the point that people could actually afford to retire and actually live on their SSI retirement check.
We are in luck though, the long term fix is simple, close the bottom door permanently, seal it up, make it a crime for politicians to take money out of social security for any reason, it is our national treasure. And secondly, to guarantee everyone who has contributed will get their benefits. Over time, with monetary responsibility social security would increase to the point that people could actually afford to retire and actually live on their SSI retirement check.
A New Day
The computer is still in the shop, I should be back online by Thursday. In the mean time, thanks to Ben Franklin's invention, the public library system. I will attempt to post. Going back to the first post, there are four main areas in American society that we need to address and fix.
1. Social Security
2. Health care
3. The Economy
4. The Disappearance of the Middle Class
Today, I want to add a 5th issue, and that would be the Tax system.
1. Social Security
2. Health care
3. The Economy
4. The Disappearance of the Middle Class
Today, I want to add a 5th issue, and that would be the Tax system.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Down, But Never Out !!!!!!
My computer screen suddenly decided to go black on me not too long after my last post on the 6th. Its in the shop getting a new inverter put in, and out of commission until further notice. Thank God for the public library system, and for other family members who have back up computers to fill in the gap. I will be back , logged in ASAP
Monday, February 6, 2012
Our Next President
I can't believe that out of 300 plus million people we can't come up with a better line of contenders for the job of the most powerful executive on the planet. Is this the best it gets in the choice of the next president. It's like no one really wants the job, but just because the Republican party needs to challenge the Democrats here you go. Who to choose, as a person in the middle of the middle class, but one who is slowly slipping from the middle because of this terrible economy we live in, I have to choose someone who will not only be for the wealthy, and the poor, but also the middle class like me, one who will help me work my way not only to where I was, but also higher. One that will help me, where I am now, and where I want to go. It used to be clear who I would choose, but this year with politicians not wanting to work together for a solution on the budget and other issues, but rather politicians that are taking a "my way or the highway" attitude to the issues, while everyday people have to work longer because retirement funds dwindle. I struggle with this, old political alliances are on the scale. Bottom line if you aren't for me, I won't vote for you to be elected.
Toilet Paper Inflation
When Ben Bernake gets up and rambles on for three hours at a Federal Reserve news conference, and says that he thinks there is little to no inflation in the US, a couple of questions pops up in my mind. The first question is a real big REALLY? I would love to have an informal little chat with him and ask him if he ever has to go into a Target or a Wallmart and actually buy anything at all, or if he has a car, has he recently bought gas. The second question would be whether or not he has ever considered the price of a case of toilet paper, this most necessary item has gone from very cheap not too long ago to ridiculously expensive, a family of four would have to take out a second mortgage just to buy the stuff. The answer I would get is: Uh ...... well no, the help performs these tasks for me, as I am too busy and important keeping my eye on the economy. To Mr. Bernake I would say, yes, I know the academic thinking behind inflation statistics is to take the small everyday items such as food and gas out of the measurement, but I have to say to you Mr Bernake, to Main Street Sally who is doing well just buying food and gas and nothing else would say otherwise. All I know, is that when I do my budget for the month, it's costing my family around 20% to 30% more for the same groceries and gas that not too long ago cost a lot less. The groceries we buy are the everyday staples, but by the cost you would think we were buying steak and lobster, Yum.....
Actually what's causing the price of gas and groceries to go up so much is the fact that the US Government is having to print so much more money right now just to maintain the minimum payment on our debt. The bill is coming due, and it's having the unintended but expected result of further devaluing the dollar. One of the dumbest things we Americans ever did was allow Richard Nixon to take the dollar off the Gold Standard. At one time we could exchange a dollar for a dollars worth of gold, imagine that idea, but now if you walked up to Uncle Sam and wanted gold, all you would get is a whimsical chuckle.
See, that's what you get when you let just anyone be president of the United States. Richard Nixon taking us off the gold standard is just one example. The thing about these people who eventually become our presidents are, they can goof up, make mistakes, or even completely crap out the United States, and then when their time is up they leave, the damage is done and then they fade away. They not only have a substantial presidential pension for life, but they are usually multimillionaires before they even get to the White House, no matter what they do in office, if they crap out the United States they have enough money to live the rest of their lives without ever working another day, or ever worrying about money. At the same time its the everyday people, the 99% , that have to pick up the pieces and go on living the best we can, with the decisions other people have made for us, not necessarily to benefit us.
Actually what's causing the price of gas and groceries to go up so much is the fact that the US Government is having to print so much more money right now just to maintain the minimum payment on our debt. The bill is coming due, and it's having the unintended but expected result of further devaluing the dollar. One of the dumbest things we Americans ever did was allow Richard Nixon to take the dollar off the Gold Standard. At one time we could exchange a dollar for a dollars worth of gold, imagine that idea, but now if you walked up to Uncle Sam and wanted gold, all you would get is a whimsical chuckle.
See, that's what you get when you let just anyone be president of the United States. Richard Nixon taking us off the gold standard is just one example. The thing about these people who eventually become our presidents are, they can goof up, make mistakes, or even completely crap out the United States, and then when their time is up they leave, the damage is done and then they fade away. They not only have a substantial presidential pension for life, but they are usually multimillionaires before they even get to the White House, no matter what they do in office, if they crap out the United States they have enough money to live the rest of their lives without ever working another day, or ever worrying about money. At the same time its the everyday people, the 99% , that have to pick up the pieces and go on living the best we can, with the decisions other people have made for us, not necessarily to benefit us.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Oh to find a job...........
Non farm payrolls were up 243,000 in January . Woo.... Hooo.....!!!!!
That means a quarter million or so of our fellow worker bees found employment. They will breathe a collective sigh of relief, the endless evenings spent in mother in law's basement are coming to an end. We are all grateful for another job created in the United States. People can feed their children again, some people, I imaging will not have to sleep in their cars for very much longer. We don't want anyone sleeping in their cars. However we need to look at how this affects the big picture. We are a nation of over 300 million people, so 243,000 jobs is just a tiny drop in the bucket. When you listen to economic data in the media you have to get all the little morsels they drop at the end of the press conference. The talking head mentioned that over a million and a half or so people just happened to drop off the radar in January as well. These people either stopped looking for a job, ran out of unemployment benefits, or they were baby boomers that simply retired. So ...... it takes over a million people not being counted to create 243,000 "new" jobs. Please, people, don't drink the cool aide for once. This in flush of "new" positive economic data wasn't created for Main Street Sally, it was created for Wally the Wall Street floor trader to talk up the market with, which Wally did with gusto, the market was up sharply, and yes my retirement accounts thank you Wally. Flat out, we need more jobs. I believe the only way we as Americans can achieve this goal is to concentrate on working for ourselves instead of becoming some other companies employees. Think about this, when you work for yourself you can never become unemployed.
That means a quarter million or so of our fellow worker bees found employment. They will breathe a collective sigh of relief, the endless evenings spent in mother in law's basement are coming to an end. We are all grateful for another job created in the United States. People can feed their children again, some people, I imaging will not have to sleep in their cars for very much longer. We don't want anyone sleeping in their cars. However we need to look at how this affects the big picture. We are a nation of over 300 million people, so 243,000 jobs is just a tiny drop in the bucket. When you listen to economic data in the media you have to get all the little morsels they drop at the end of the press conference. The talking head mentioned that over a million and a half or so people just happened to drop off the radar in January as well. These people either stopped looking for a job, ran out of unemployment benefits, or they were baby boomers that simply retired. So ...... it takes over a million people not being counted to create 243,000 "new" jobs. Please, people, don't drink the cool aide for once. This in flush of "new" positive economic data wasn't created for Main Street Sally, it was created for Wally the Wall Street floor trader to talk up the market with, which Wally did with gusto, the market was up sharply, and yes my retirement accounts thank you Wally. Flat out, we need more jobs. I believe the only way we as Americans can achieve this goal is to concentrate on working for ourselves instead of becoming some other companies employees. Think about this, when you work for yourself you can never become unemployed.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
What's Up America
February 2, 2012
Hello America:
We all live in the greatest country the world has ever seen. We can go where we want, and do as we please. People all over the world scratch and claw and sacrifice everything they have to get here, while we that were born here grow lazier and more stupid with each succeeding generation. The reason I have decided to start this blog in the first place is the strong belief that together, both rich and poor, we all can come up with a solution to the issues of our time, the economy and the disappearance of the middle class, social security, and health care. We can fix this mess we call a country. The second belief that I have always had is that America is for everyone, not just the 1%. My goal for this blog is to turn the 99% of America into the 1% of America. Don't hate the 1%, imitate the 1%. Study and find out what the 1% did to get them where they are today. Don't hate other people just because they have more than you. I am certainly not part of the 1% myself, but I have never resented others for what they have. Can you imagine what would happen if we were all rich? I can hear all the doubters and naysayers out there that that's just a fantasy, is it really? Listen folks, it wasn't too long ago that personal computers and cell phones were just ideas bouncing around in unknown college kids heads. Now look where we are in technology. Anything is possible, and we all travel together down this path we call life. I want to thank all of you, for reading my post, and for doing the work of thinking for yourselves.
Hello America:
We all live in the greatest country the world has ever seen. We can go where we want, and do as we please. People all over the world scratch and claw and sacrifice everything they have to get here, while we that were born here grow lazier and more stupid with each succeeding generation. The reason I have decided to start this blog in the first place is the strong belief that together, both rich and poor, we all can come up with a solution to the issues of our time, the economy and the disappearance of the middle class, social security, and health care. We can fix this mess we call a country. The second belief that I have always had is that America is for everyone, not just the 1%. My goal for this blog is to turn the 99% of America into the 1% of America. Don't hate the 1%, imitate the 1%. Study and find out what the 1% did to get them where they are today. Don't hate other people just because they have more than you. I am certainly not part of the 1% myself, but I have never resented others for what they have. Can you imagine what would happen if we were all rich? I can hear all the doubters and naysayers out there that that's just a fantasy, is it really? Listen folks, it wasn't too long ago that personal computers and cell phones were just ideas bouncing around in unknown college kids heads. Now look where we are in technology. Anything is possible, and we all travel together down this path we call life. I want to thank all of you, for reading my post, and for doing the work of thinking for yourselves.
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