Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
ACA
is a huge start, low or free higher-ed tuition, more spending on public ed, wider community college access and institutions, enormous increases in preschool and early-childhood experiences,
EIC expansions, guaranteed incomes the way so man…
So we have no choice but to try to adapt to the new challenges. How we do that, and how successful we may be, are really major unknowns at this time. There is no historical guide, and unfortunately there is not even a real understanding by the "1…
Wring those hands! Woe is us, got it. Thanks. Shall go jump off bridge now. Nothing to be done, says you.
So, what would you do to change the trend of the shrinking middle class?
>> Do you even read the posts?
Of course. Help us all out: again, what do you propose? Severe protectionism? Can you point me to what I missed? Or is it hopeless and we all simply must share your handwringing? That's weak.
You got it wrong! …
@Dex, I share all of your concerns, I think, every single one, strongly, even though I find your reasoning and handwringing not sophisticated or informed. Don't need anymore charts; I have read widely in this area, and the OP had plenty of data. I …
As for the rest, the costs of domestically produced goods is speculative to an extent but not hard to give a range. I imagine 3x for TVs is low, actually. Whom would that benefit really? As for wages and benefits, no one would argue against your po…
Jeez, such a false choice; the two were never mutually exclusive.
Anyway, this is a seriously weak, low-information way of understanding how the economic world works. Imagine a US economy where chiefly for our own market and use we produced oil, c…
None of us would have wanted the opposite. Often left out of the equation is that offshoring has resulted in whopping economic advantages for all US families, arguably especially for middle-income-and-lower US families.
If that was the case t…
Even more eye-opening (to me) than the political donations article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/business/2014/12/12/why-americas-middle-class-is-lost/
Modern newspaper graphics / data display is just so cool.
My hometown county was most pro…
Yes, next year the double squeeze is coming, and it won't be stealthy--- one from the top, one from the bottom, with a lot of tiny cuts and stabs to come later. Health care insurance premium increases (next month?) should bring the picture more in f…
"I thought we should stay out of it."
So did I, and if you recall, we pretty much did stay out of it, for which our president was loudly called a moron, a coward, a Muslim agent and accused of deliberately selling out and crippling the power of the…
@Dex,
>> the minor differences between the Rs and Ds really miss the big picture.
Man, oh man --- you really oughtta get out there and talk to unwealthy people about health insurance and ACA. Many of those people weep with relief.
BO rea…
@ Dex and David, The problem with any analysis is what is known as "dark money" in politics.
The issue is that the Ds and Rs are really the same. Neither is working for the poor or the common good.
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form …
How Did the Democrats Become Favorites of the Rich?
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/07/opinion/how-did-the-democrats-become-favorites-of-the-rich.html
"Democrats represent a majority of the richest congressional districts, and the party’s elected of…
Your post as to the number of millionaires in the Democratic congress was a common response, in my opinion, simply due to the fact I've seen it more times than I can count in response to a critique of donor influence. I've asked this same question t…
Just curious, in response to the question being raised in regards to large donor influence, a common response is to point out how many millionaires are in each party.
How did you determine it is a common response?
Also with all the other content …
This is pretty astounding no matter what your thinking and wealth level.
You should take David's course before you quote news stories.
http://www.mutualfundobserver.com/discuss/discussion/23954/could-the-market-crash-a-reminder-about-the-need-for-…
No, no, Dex. Don't repress your feelings. That's unhealthy. Tell us what you really believe.
For what interest it holds, we mostly agree. There are some organizations whose reporters have, at least in working with me, been held to consistently high…
Now, news outlets seem increasingly skeptical of the need for even minimal independence, training or qualification. My News Literacy class was talking about the implication of the banner on Marketwatch.com's Trading Desk page: "Insights from marke…
>>
Amazing the reactions in this thread to the simplest of questions (not mine). I myself would never ask the intrusive version of how much cash and what percentage is it? I can hardly believe the timid evasion in response to How much in savi…
"I actually don’t know of anything other than U3 [the official unemployment rate] that would make you want to tighten. All the price indicators (including wages) scream weakness, as do all the other labor market indicators. If we didn’t have the une…
I think Crash's post provides a snap shot of some of the concerns about weakness in the economy that are reflected in today's 10 year rate...
Crash's Post
Thank's I didn't see that. I think a bear market will also put a crimp in the Fed's plans.
Low inflation is no longer primarily due to a weak economy. Instead, it’s mainly the result of falling energy prices and a stronger dollar that has reduced the cost of imports. This is a key reason why the Fed believes that inflation will eventuall…
>> low interest, low to no wage growth with prices in housing and health care increasing.
Already is!
>> Then investors and workers will get increased taxes
Not sure that will happen
>> and a VAT at some time.
As you keep h…
Deflation - but not the 1930's type. It will be more like low interest, low to no wage growth with prices in housing and health care increasing. Then investors and workers will get increased taxes and a VAT at some time.
Fun time ...
@davidrmoran
I have been trying to decide for months whether to sell my overpriced house and buy an equally overpriced house in SWFL or move to another, less expensive area in FL, or sell and rent till this mini bubble bursts. I have a gain on my …
>> gratuitous reference to me as some sort of “reportage” monitor is needlessly provoking and simply wrong.
You forgot to add a link to an obscure and voluminous PDF file that you say supports your position.
Good ol' last-word Dex... MFO's very own old faithful. Could you be specific about something even remotely inaccurate in my comment?
Yes, this is the last word.
Maybe I should be writing for the NY Times. Before the "debate" (see above), I wrote:
It's just hilarious how all of these jokers are "going to do this" and "going to do that" without the slightest reference to the constitutional, legal and politic…
