The Free Market       March 29, 2013

            We hear the persistent arguments of think tank toffers and con-artist legislators that the industrial-strength ills we suffer are the corrections of a free market.  But would a free market prevent Medicare from buying the least expensive pharmaceuticals? Would it grant exemptions from drug pricing laws to Amgen and others (worth half a billion dollars to them!)?  Would a free market permit corporations to deduct obscenely high executive salaries and perks?  Would a free market provide exemptions for advertising costs?  Even for products that are known to cause cancer?  Would a free market reward oil companies with huge tax exemptions to produce climate killing fossil fuels?  And then grant tax deductions for them to advertise to us that they are doing great good for us all?  Would a free market provide government guaranteed loans to anyone?  Would it take tax money from every American to save the un-indicted criminals who crashed us into a depression?  Would a free market work that way?  Really?

            There are convincing arguments for and against all of these “managed market” examples.  We do love our mortgage exemptions.  Around here, we think it’s stupid to exempt advertising costs, and anything relating to the tobacco or oil businesses.  But the LIARS that tell you we have a free market are, well, LYING.  The ills we are suffering are of a mismanaged market, and the proper reckoning for it should bring change to the House and Senate in coming congressional elections.

The Far Kingdom     March 22, 2013

            The far faction of the right offers America mighty alternatives to the current administration’s pseudo-populism:  character assassination, conspiracy fantasies, Dickensian austerity, and single-minded self righteousness.  You do what you think is best.  I’ll just let them drape themselves with fringe and hunker around the dim fires of talk radio, B.S.T.V., and other less mentionable places.  You know, where the “N” word is never spoken but energizes all the ridiculous rhetoric that calls our President everything from a Nazi to a Communist to the anti-Christ.  Clearly he means a great deal to these statesmen-like beacons of reason.  They, who also coin clownish criticisms of Pelosi and Reed, but never “spend a penny” on the really disgusting among congressional bigots and obstructionists.

            Obama certainly hasn’t been a perfect president.  Name one who has!  But gotcha politics have so hindered government that many wonder about the wisdom of the two-party system.  Sadly, while factions are busy fighting each other, big banks, tax cheats, corporations, polluters and lobbyists are running away with our wealth and our future.  So if you listen to poison purveyors for any other reason that to keep from falling to sleep, you may be part of the problem. 

Around here, we believe that in order for us ordinary folks to succeed, Right and Left have to come together in the middle.  It’s a damned nasty thought, but we have to march together to keep from getting screwed…more.  It might even help our grandkids!    

UPDATE:  Dear U.S. Postal Service        March 22, 2013

            Congress has decreed that the USPS may not discontinue Saturday delivery.  While that may make some remotely rural constituents happy, it is overshadowed by the ridiculous congressional requirement that the Postal Service must fund its retirement program SEVENTY FIVE YEARS IN ADVANCE.  The untold truth is that lots of wealthy city folks will become even wealthier if the USPS fails and its huge package revenue goes to private vendors.  They have apparently purchased the allegiance of congress, or this stupid requirement would never have passed in 2006, nor would it have subsequently survived.  This should adequately show everyone that besides Postal executives, the only people less qualified to make the Service succeed have been elected to congress.

 

Our Careful Reality             March 20, 2013

            Your income tax bill should demonstrate that the US has a representative government of the people, by the rich, and for the rich.  It’s still the best place in the world, but Washington has failed to stimulate the creation of jobs, or even seem, by its actions, interested in doing so.  Protesting their desire to create work, doing nothing, and waiting for the economy to ungrind itself is not leadership.  It’s a cheap way to let the wealthy off the hook.  While debates continue on other important issues, the people who could end this depression are quietly keeping their money in their pockets.  Add in the twelve-year assault on our freedoms & principles, and the prognosis can seem a little pessimistic. 

Around here, as optimists we still believe in contacting our AWOL* gang members in congress to let them know what we expect.  We still need to support future leaders and vote.  But if we fail to live our lives in the light of reality, we place ourselves at risk.  The organized attack on safety-net programs will not stop.  There will not always be enough money.  Public education is increasingly inadequate because too many would gain by having private schools and vouchers.  Infrastructure goes begging and absurd Scrooge-like cutbacks abound.  The power of wealth is increasing.  Your power to bargain by withholding you services has almost vanished.  So, get real.  It’s time to be increasingly careful with your decreasing share of the wealth.        

*Absent Without Leaving

 

March 16, 2013

Dear U.S. Postal Service:

            You District, Area, and HQ executives are doing poorly.  I guess it’s plain that micromanagement does not work.  Your performance is unsatisfactory.  We need to schedule a meeting soon to explain your Performance Improvement Plan and give you your required achievement benchmarks.  That way you can focus on trying to do the right things.  I suppose you know that you are not getting any merit bonuses this time.  What do you mean, “Oh yes we are!”?  Well that’s just wrong! 

Sincerely,

                        Everybody

Titus Boogerworth’s Advice           March 12, 2013       

            Financial Advisor Titus Boogerworth, FFC, AWB, says investment requires care and due diligence.  The novice should park funds in a money market or Credit Union share account until proper investigation is done.  Boogerworth (T.B. to his friends) strongly recommends value investing.  “Think Warren Buffet” he is fond of proclaiming.  “Start by learning what value investing is.  There are many good sources of info.  My favorite,” Titus tells everyone, “Is The Intelligent Investor by Graham, Zweig, Buffett—an oldie but a goodie.” 

            Contrarian Boogerworth gleefully goes against trends when research warrants, being a natural enemy of authority:  “A few savvy contrarians prospered when the housing bubble burst, but they were high dollar gamblers, a category that excludes most investors, and all of my customers.  My people,” T.B. reveals, “are usually in the ‘one to fifty thousand’ camp, and should start with mutual funds.  These provide investment diversity on a used-car budget.  By the way,” he adds, “Never buy a new vehicle.  Mutual Funds also require due diligence.  Find one that’s used, meaning it has been around a long time, with a history of success.”

            “Finally,” says Boogerworth, “never bet the grocery money!  That means you have adequate life, health, and disability insurance, you have your Food-Shelter-Clothing-Transportation-Medical-Entertainment-Charity costs covered, you have three to twelve months of net income in your emergency fund, you are saving 15% of your gross income for retirement, and you are saving to pay cash for all major expected purchases and expenses.          

Money Talks in our Nightmares       March 7, 2013

            I kept telling my wide awake self it was not a nightmare.  Sadly, it IS a nightmare.  2016 has begun.  They haven’t even finished wasting ’13, ’14, or ’15 and they’re already sullying the airwaves with the 2016 campaign.  Break is over.  Our 21^st Century national nightmare is back.  It makes me so mad I just want to pull up my shrubs.

            Jeb Bush debuted with his first flip-flop.  We are informed of his belief that a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants is not something he supports.  Plus, he believes that there should be a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, and he supports that too.  It’s like a neat little belief, with a fringe.  As former Governor of the “voting fraud” state, he will probably provide the 2016 campaign with a full range of facts-that-never-were and policies-that-never-should-be, much like so many candidates we have encountered.

            Around here, we know that for every Presidential (and congressional) candidate, the first run is for the money.  If they have to court the fringes, they do it.  While eighty per cent of Americans are left or right centrists, if the money is in the hands of 1% of our citizens, or in outer space, candidates go there.  By watching which fringes the candidate courts, you can tell who will pull the strings in his or her term of office. So in choosing a candidate, you may just be selecting whose money will talk.

This Ain’t Rocket Surgery                February 28, 2013

            Face facts.  If you are of lower or middle income, the U.S. congress won’t be doing you any favors.  They have, by acts of commission and omission, been causing you financial harm for over forty years!  High income mouthpieces can say all they want about class warfare, for low and middle income people, the motto of the U.S. congress is, “We hurt you less when we recess.” 

Are you and yours working harder and more than ever, and still struggling? These days, congressional help is unreliable.  Do you depend on Social Security, unemployment insurance, food stamps, Medicare and/or Medicaid?  There are many in congress, and in state legislatures, earnestly trying to reduce or eliminate these things, and who want the government to keep subsidizing employers with below poverty minimum wages. 

That is why you MUST put together an emergency (or independence) fund.  You must insure yourself against death, disability, and health problems.  You must avoid interest by eliminating debt.  You must save for retirement, and for the costly items you need.  Around here, all of us brain surgeons, rocket scientists, and hammer slammers have no idea HOW you’ll do this.  Maybe you’ll work three jobs, and garden, and avoid restaurants, and walk or bus instead of drive, and buy used clothes, and adjust the thermostat.  How ever you do it, we know year 5 will be easier than year 1, and despite the casual cruelty of congress, year 40 might be really pleasant.