| Author |
Message |
    
Madduck
| | Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 03:23 am: | 
|
Crap, I just read one of Courts latest posts and realized the Obama is going to be sending him some of my tax dollars. Wife unemployed and him being a student and all. Court should be in for two or three thousand dollars. Anything we can do to see you thru these troubling times dude.
I did buy three copies of your book. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 04:45 pm: |
|
AIG should be nationalized like flood insurance that is regulated, mandated and controlled by the fed gov. I cant imagine that any individual customer would keep their policy with a company that has failed so miserably.
Put everybody there on GS level pay. Obviously their 'best and brightest' were asleep at the wheel unless it lined their pockets.
Hate to say it, but insurance is all about the numbers, and you can really get a GS level beauracrat to do numbers well.
So nobody will work for them?... why do people work for the post office? somebody will want to do it.
240 years ago, this kind of shi@t would have caused rioting in the streets. We have become fat, lazy, apathetic and spineless, we get the government we deserve. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 04:58 pm: |
|
"If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life." Henry David Thoreau
I can think of no better statement for this entire bail out, from Bush or Obama. |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 05:21 pm: |
|
>>> Obama is going to be sending him some of my tax dollars. Wife unemployed and him being a student and all. Court should be in for two or three thousand dollars.
Thanks Paul . . . times are tough, but we're eeecking by . . your couple grand will help.
I'm beginning to really like the Democrats!
(Message edited by court on March 21, 2009) |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 06:16 pm: |
|
 |
Cyclonedon
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 12:15 am: |
|
"When a "bonus" isn't a "bonus"......."
when they are using my hard earned tax dollars to give to some idiots that screwed-up a company that had to be bailed-out by the government to keep it operating! |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 12:23 am: |
|
Yep. Nice to see there are still those willing to operate without critical thinking.
Hook. Line. Sinker. |
Court
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 07:00 am: |
|
>>>Wife unemployed and him being a student and all. Court should be in for two or three thousand dollars.
Ever seen a personalized tag on a German car . . . . "STIMULUS"?
I'm thinking, in May, of having mine be "THXPAUL"
Unintended consequences? . . . . I'm a struggling student married to a poor oppressed unemployed minority gal.
Thanks Obama
|
Ducxl
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 07:16 am: |
|
That's not a funny post. You reside up high.
Funny stories of bus tours of the "Rich and infamous" in Connecticut this morning.AIG officials may suffer "unintended consequences" if some of these bus riders REALLY show their disgust.
There are literally hundreds of millions of US. |
Court
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 07:57 am: |
|
>>That's not a funny post.
Your right, it's not.
The stimulus package is so ill conceived, was given no thought, and was not even read. The administration can't even get their lies straight.
That's no way to run a country with the urgent needs we have.
Imagine the time and effort that has gone into chasing down these poor AIG folks in the last week (and I'm not suggesting the bonuses are "right") and then consider that the amounts involved are less than 1% of what, in the same sweep of the pen . . .a single Senator paid to have a deserted stretch of highway named after him.
These are not smart people and I don't like them being so cavalier in a time when we need leadership,
Their attempts to penalize, as I point out, are likely to have unintended consequences.
I just found out yesterday that my wife is also eligible, since she's unemployed, for a zero interest long term business loan since she is an "Italian" minority female.
When idiots are driving the bus, expect the ride to be exciting.
Your struggling student . . . .
Court
By the way . . . . I've been predicting that this thing will reach a new plateau the moment an AIG employee guns down someone in their yard. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 10:06 am: |
|
Funny tragic not funny ha ha.
I'm disgusted by the outcome in the first 60 days.
When you create a system that limits and discourages the best, brightest, and most ingenious, don't be surprised when the best, brightest and most ingenious begin to work the system.
Because of having to work with the state to receive assistance with our special needs kid, my wife has become quite adept at figuring out how to work the system to receive maximum benefits.
How many who were previously able to pay their mortgages with no problems are suddenly going to request assistance if it means loan modification or a lower interest rate? Why shouldn't they?
How many are going to leave a high paying position and seek temporary unemployment or "retirement" in stead of working to lose most of what they have made in taxes?
How many will work to reclassify their status to take advantage of new "protected classes"?
How many will seek to alter the nature and design of the companies that they DO continue to run in order to minimize the impact of these taxes (outsource, all 1099 employee base, barter)?
My wife has already been working to hire contractors with little girls so that she can barter clothes for services. She gets to write off the loss and the recipient has "gray income".
When you construct an immovable object, don't expect the water to stop flowing.
The last 60 days demonstrate a complete lack of comprehension of both human nature and economics.
Funny like a public hanging.  |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 10:15 am: |
|
Earlier in one of these threads, I understood someone implying I was one of the "tinfoil hat" crowd for implying that "bonus tax" set a very bad precedent in terms of a slippery slope for government to invalidate or nationalize *any* private contract...
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/03/22/america/22r egulate.php
quote:WASHINGTON: The Obama administration will call for increased oversight of executive pay at all banks, Wall Street firms and possibly other companies as part of a sweeping plan to overhaul financial regulation, government officials said.
The outlines of the plan are expected to be unveiled this week in preparation for President Barack Obama's first foreign summit meeting in early April.
Pardon me, while I go get more tinfoil...
(Message edited by reepicheep on March 22, 2009) |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 10:31 am: |
|
So I wonder what the maximum income will be.
$1M, $500,000, $250,000?
Odd that there were so many who bristled at the title "socialist" being applied to Obama. Wonder how the title "communist" will sit.
Communist:
1) A theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.
Communism:
1) A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
2) The Marxist-Leninist version of Communist doctrine that advocates the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat. |
Madduck
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 12:10 pm: |
|
If anyone is concerned about how deep Obama will have to reach in soaking the wealthy, look to the AMT. This program was designed to ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share. Single - $50,000. Couple with two kids - $79,000. Those are real numbers for this year, without congressional action.
I really wanted to be wrong on Court and SCU qualifying for stimulus package, Dodd and cronies will probably double her income when they find out Courts in a union or two. |
Court
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 01:04 pm: |
|
>>>>When you construct an immovable object, don't expect the water to stop flowing.
Therein lies the problem.
IF a person really wants to "stimulate" an economy as opposed to "own and control" one the best thing you could do is to create a healthy business environment.
I'm a good example. I've been thinking, since I suck at the retirement thing, of starting my own business again. How cool would it be it there were tax incentives, liberal equipment depreciation, SBA loans and so forth.
One of the kids who used to work for me started his own business 8 years ago. Last year he did a tad over $2,000,000,000 of electrical construction and surpassed Becthel on the ENR list for Power.
I am aware of a $5,000,000,000 project coming up . . . we could be players. It'd be cool . . . just like the old days. I used to order 96 3/4T K series pickups from Chevrolet every year. . . we bought D8 Caterpillars from Foley Tractor in St. Louis and Zeligson, down on Admiral Blvd.., Oklahoma was always busy making be converted 6x6 AWD tractors with Cat 32087 diesels while the Hi-Ranger folks in Indiana kept us supplies with 12 bucket trucks a year, Elliott in Omaha made our off road 85' aerial lifts and Reed Tool in Sherman, TX build me Texoma 500 hole diggers mounted on tacks while H&T Auger in Odessa, TX built augers. . . . I hired about 250 folks, they made (they are running about $150K/yr now), we worked tons of overtime, every one got treated well and I paid, the company and personally taxes out the ass. . . . . I didn't mind . . my economy and the national economy, as well as my employees, my bonding company, insurance agents and banks were all doing fine . . . my customers raved about the work we did . . . hell, for two years the City of Dallas would let folks bid . . we "owned" Las Colinas, DFW airport and most the highway electrical work and the McKinney Avenue Trolley and the Fair Park renovation.
Business was good and EVERYBODY won.
Now . . . the idea of stimulus is to screw me for my hard work and sacrifice, redistribute some of my income, penalize me for success and send the poor folks suffering most a $300 rebate?
Explain that to me please.
The shame of it is that I am old, can work if I want, not work if I want. My dad retired at 52 and I watched how it eroded him. I intend to work another 10 maybe 15 years and am finding folks are coming knocking for my skills and experience daily.
But I have to tell you . . .the motivation now is to say screw it and spend days out riding and going to school (on the govt.'s nickel).
Anyway . . . I'm eager to hear how this is going to stimulate either me or the economy.
Paul . . . . . thanks for the Ivy League degree . . . I graduate Magna Cum Laude in May.
|
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 02:19 pm: |
|
I've been thinking, since I suck at the retirement thing, of starting my own business again.
Drop me a line. I've got an interesting story to tell you and a unique new business to discuss. |
Court
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 02:49 pm: |
|
the 8835 number work? |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 02:51 pm: |
|
Yup. |
Ducxl
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 03:31 pm: |
|
HERE'S #8835!!
 |
Aesquire
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 05:41 pm: |
|
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic le/2009/03/18/AR2009031804104.html
A different perspective than the mob psych media & politicians want you to have, perhaps? |
Ducxl
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 06:21 pm: |
|
My wife(M.S. Summa-cum-laude Justice studies, Roger Williams U) said, "Laws are enacted not-for-profit,but to punish poor behavior."
Which i thought about regarding the 90% tax |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 06:35 pm: |
|
She evidently is studying criminal law and not tax law.
TAX LAW is completely structured to do two things:
1) Raise Tax Revenues
2) Control behaviors
So a progressive tax system means that those who are successful and make a lot of money are conducting progressively poor behavior in need of punishment?
What about tax laws that confiscate 46% of a family farm when it is transferred to the children of the owners?
And tax laws that encourage companies to outsource jobs?
What about the laws that were passed that encouraged banks to make loans to people who couldn't pay?
And the laws passed that stated that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would back these loans and didn't?
Sometimes laws are designed to punish the "wrong" people.
Sometimes laws are designed to promote "wrong" being done.
Most laws are enacted for-profit.
The question is who is profiting. |
Madduck
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 07:13 pm: |
|
Court, Congratulations on that new Columbia degree. Big time achievment, but you should get the SCU back to work at something. With a degree in hand she may have made plans for your future she hasn't filled you in on. My guess is that it may not involve riding or guitar playing.
She has powerful friends who may need a serious business with which to launder big bucks. So best of luck and hire a chicago law firm early in the process. them New York lawyers tend to get caught with hookers or drugs at inappropriate times. |
Court
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 07:49 pm: |
|
>>>them New York lawyers tend to get caught with hookers or drugs at inappropriate times.
Ain't it the truth . . . . now A-Rod gets caught paying for it too!
She's actually doing, while mired in the depression of unemployment, some "ex parte" work with an attorney you see on the tube quite a bit . . . she's doing some "Due Diligence" stuff . . . kinda made sense as there are only about a dozen folks in the city who really know what to look for to unravel a hedge fund and it seems, as investors return to the market, they are a tad more skeptical than they used to be.
Beau Deitel is fine for the background checks, fingerprints, signature analysis and so forth but there appears to be an emerging market for "financial due diligence".
She has the good fortune to be the daughter of an immigrant cobbler who had no money to send a daughter to school. . . at the time, working 3 jobs and sleeping under a desk to pay her way through St. John's seemed terrible. After becoming a full partner in a Wall Street firm at 23 (big accomplishment in a "boys club") and getting years of backroom trading experience, she has a rep as "the" go to person for financial forensics. . . . scary smart . . . I have no idea why or how she tolerates me!
I think it'll be a while before folks are laundering big bucks . . the entire investment community will be returning but you can be sure they'll dip their toes before anything big happens.
There are bright spots though . . . the firm she's been doing some contract work for, in a global macro strategy, is up 22% for the year . . there is opportunity peeking in.
Don't think I can go back to work test riding?
|
Madduck
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 09:18 pm: |
|
Heard the oddest thing from a friend, told me to not count on this recession/depression thing to last till the end of year. A lot of money is coming out of the background into financial markets and all we need is for the congress to not screw up too badly. A lot to ask I know but stranger things have happened. She does know something, because she got her father out of Bernie Maddoffs clutches three years ago. She does some sort of statistics thingie looking for random or driven events in stock trades for someone she doesn't talk about much. My plan for maxing out the credit cards to get too big to fail has been crushed yet again.
Hard to believe that I taught her statistics more than 25 years ago. She still can't properly diaper a little boy tho. She's onto grandchildre now. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 09:24 pm: |
|
There are currently TRILLIONS of dollars sitting on the sideline.
Waiting.
I'm trying to capture a few million myself. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 - 03:42 pm: |
|
Its a fine time to be an American, overseas. |
Court
| | Posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 - 09:31 pm: |
|
>>>I'm trying to capture a few million myself.
Well today was your chance for a great start . . .
MS
ED
CBAF
JPM
Need I say more?
|
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 - 10:23 pm: |
|
Just got the notice that UBS is selling off 55 of their branches to Stifel Nicholas.
My Fatty Sense tells me that summer is gonna be fruit basket turnover with everyone up to their nuts in ACAT transfers.
A few of my Stanford friends (not the scum bags) are finding homes thankfully. |
|
