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.
Not to worry about Trump ...
He's not going to do all that stuff he said to get elected. No prosecuting Hillary. Romney (the "loser") is now a candidate for Sec. of State. The "wall" will be a fence in places. And some General has convinced him th…
A big contributor to the income inequality is the expansion of "free trade" which is promoted by shill publications for the elites such as Barrons. -- The import/export model promoted by the "Free Trade Uber Alles" crowd has created gutted the Amer…
@VintageFreak The thing I don't understand is how people will say any sort of social programs--welfare, Food Stamps, unemployment insurance, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, government subsidized education or job training and the increased taxa…
I think the issue is that most people have the things they want - including children. There really isn't that much 'need' out there. The gift card is saying - get what you want because I don't know what you want or need.
I think people should ju…
@DanHardy
Worry has an incorrect connotation for how I'm looking at retirement. Wonder is probably more accurate. Not only do I wonder what's going to happen, I find it some sort of "wonder" that I have this to consider at all. When the heck did …
While I worry about affording retirement, it was sobering to see how far up the pyramid my savings have put me.
https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Culture_of_Fear.html?id=B9AWBQAAQBAJ&source=kp_cover&hl=en
Lastly, one may suspect that the good, old America is in the last period of the modern Roman Empire decline which will likely continue to place pressure on lifestyles affecting health of the citizens to the negative direction.
Very true.
The R…
The simple fact that we now have a shorter lifespan and greater percentage of infant mortality than Canada or Britain tells a tale. Not a problem if you can afford high quality care but if not . . .
Yes it does - the USA has a larger populatio…
What do you anticipate from there? How much higher can the rates go in 2017? What do you see as the "normalized" rate or "leveling" off rate?
Where from there - you will have to watch the variables.
My gut tells me the we will find a new quie…
DH, Obviously what I was watching was not correct or I misinterpreted it. I think the better question is, what were you looking at? I am not an overly sophisticated investor, so if you could enlighten me, I would greatly appreciate it.
I do not w…
As a retiree I want my fixed income to be as risk free and immune to the gyrations of the stock market (and the effects of rising interest rates) as possible in order to act as a counterweight to the risk I am taking in equitities.
Take a look a…
DH, I have to agree with Hank; I'm not sure why you believe I and others should known that the 10-year was going to rise from 1.78 to 2.24 in just a handful of days, now. I'm not surprised rates are moving up; just the recent velocity.
What wer…
I was caught off-guard a little bit by the accelerated rise in the 10-year.
That should not have happened
http://www.mutualfundobserver.com/discuss/discussion/29877/the-scariest-chart-for-bond-yields#latest
That after what occurred in Treasuries yesterday. The rout in Treasuries since their most recent bottom (BREXIT) would qualify as a major rout in so short of a time.
Foretold here and posted on this site. I'm watching high yield bonds for an en…
1. More trade conflicts: bad for all markets - Yes, previous trade deals helped companies to move overseas or go out of business.
2. Giant tax cuts = bigger deficits = more inflation + short-term growth: good for stock markets at least for a year …
A quick check with real human beings in the neighborhood regarding pricing changes for a few health plans going into 2017.
And if it is snowing in your neighborhood then it must be snowing in Key West Florida.
@Dan You continue to repeat the same litany of ostensible ills without bothering to read the evidence already provided proving otherwise.
Because it is still true and not refuted.
@Dan, "The truth of that can not be validated because there are no alternatives." That's inaccurate because the alternative is what we had before the legislation was passed. And there is ample evidence cited by myself, Davidrmoran and others that a…
@Dan I am saying that the benefits have outweighed the drawbacks and that most of the pain the poor have experienced has not been caused by the law but by those actively seeking to block the law's proper implementation by refusing to expand Medicaid…
@Dan I'm not really sure you want to know the truth:
The truth!? Are you saying the pain the poor are feeling is not real? The oppression of the poor is not real? The insensitivity towards the poor is not real?
Are you blaming the poor for not…
@briboe69 I suggest talking to any of the millions of people who were previously denied health insurance before Obamacare because they had a pre-existing condition or were dropped from their insurance plans because they developed a chronic expensive…
and what is feasible to pass and enact beyond some VAT
That is what other nations have done and that will be done in the USA. Again the poor will be burdened with the debt. And what little enjoyment they now have in life - a fast food dinner, a bee…
Don't get me wrong. I like the concept of a wealth tax. I just prefer well thought out ideas to platitudes, so I await your well thought out idea.
We can put a man on the moon several times and you can't figure out around the small issues you …
Thanks for that davidrmoran.
My favorite line in the article is this:
But Obamacare kills jobs! Talk radio says so!
Amazing so many 'usually' intelligent people rely on divisive opinion programs that are only geared to selling advertising and maki…
I thought it was time to add this one again, it always seems to be informative and good gauge of how members are thinking, acting/reacting at the moment.
I think that is a good idea but what we are getting I bought/sold this symbol and not getting…
@Dan, If they raise capital and seek to make profits for shareholders they are capitalist. The prevailing government ideology so long as that ideology allows them to operate in such a fashion is irrelevant.
By the way, there never has been a purely …
@DH, come on, they represent the absolute essence of underregulated capitalism: charge whatever the market will bear.
The truth is out there.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/28/health/us-pays-more-for-drugs/
Why pharmaceuticals are cheaper abroad
@dan Are you saying that Merck, Pfizer, Gilead, Mylan, HCA and United Healthcare are not capitalist companies? "
If they operate in a communist country are they communist?
If they operate in a socialist country are they socialist?
If they operate …
From a purely ethical perspective there is a fundamental problem with the existence of private health insurance. Private health insurers derive the most profit by collecting premiums from healthy people while denying sick people coverage. Their rol…
I find it insensitive to say to our veterans who are waiting for care and some dying while waiting "You need to think about the long term and the broader view." But that is just me I don't judge others with that position.
The piece missing is that in those ancient times the Gov't didn't spend about 1 Trillion $ to set up a web site, nor did the Gov't/taxpayers/Chinese and other debt buyers/future generations pay for subsidies.
The former is a sunk cost and thus seems…
To put this in perspective, here are a few articles from ancient times (pre-ACA):
The piece missing is that in those ancient times the Gov't didn't spend about 1 Trillion $ to set up a web site, nor did the Gov't/taxpayers/Chinese and other debt …
How many years until we have to kick a sum back into SS to keep it going ?
Derf
Some people are doing that already. Look up the details, but from memory, over a certain income level 50% of SS becomes t…