tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post6978180711458097742..comments2023-10-31T01:32:09.169-07:00Comments on The Housing Time Bomb: Market Sells The SticksaveJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450070920047311928noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-24797609013000445102009-03-21T10:39:00.000-07:002009-03-21T10:39:00.000-07:00MatThat's a great way to look at it. It is funny....Mat<BR/><BR/>That's a great way to look at it. It is funny.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps pure socialism is the way to go. It sure is better than our new form of "capitalism".<BR/><BR/>Its so frustrating watching all of this go down.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450070920047311928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-83835416934149459992009-03-21T04:10:00.000-07:002009-03-21T04:10:00.000-07:00Hi Jeff,"THe real socialism is in the US not China...Hi Jeff,<BR/><BR/>"THe real socialism is in the US not China..."<BR/><BR/>The big difference: In socialism you used to nationalize companies before they went bankrupt. Nowadays we nationalize them after they go bust.<BR/><BR/>The massive subsidies that went into the banking system all over the world have proofen one thing to me: <BR/>A lot of the banking sector is actually a so called "Services of General Interest". Otherwise nobody would pump billions into it. They would just let them fail. <BR/><BR/>As a consequence "Services of General Interest" must also be supplied by the state itself: If a whole nation/system depends on such a service it is just foolish to completely rely on private companies, let them earn trillions and then take over their losses if they mismanaged the business. All because their services are suddenly "relevant to the system".<BR/><BR/>Called what ever you like. It's just a matter of "definiton". <BR/><BR/>All the banks that got a "bailout" have been defacto "socialist/nationalized" banks all the time anyway because all their business was based on this "they won't let us fail" ideology.<BR/><BR/>"Oh, we will definitely pay back the taxpayers bailout money." Sorry, under "normal" conditions the defacto owner (taxpayer in this case) has the right to claim all the future profit as well. But of course you cannot handle it that way because that would be "communism".<BR/><BR/>"bailout": <BR/>profit = private<BR/>losses and risk=taxpayer<BR/><BR/>"socialism": <BR/>profit,losses and risk = taxpayer<BR/><BR/>Funny, isn't it...<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/>MatAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-14902483476710795802009-03-20T23:35:00.000-07:002009-03-20T23:35:00.000-07:00MichaelGreat article.Thanks for sharing. The Chin...Michael<BR/><BR/>Great article.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing. The Chinese are not stupid. Ironically, they are probably better capitalists than we are at this point.<BR/><BR/>THe real socialism is in the US not China.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450070920047311928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-87339479004239900212009-03-20T23:30:00.000-07:002009-03-20T23:30:00.000-07:00JDI always appreciate your thoughts.I appreciate y...JD<BR/><BR/>I always appreciate your thoughts.<BR/><BR/>I appreciate your thoughts on gold but I have a question for you. IF gold has always held its value then why was it under $300 during the last recession? <BR/><BR/>Why has it risen 3+ fold in value if its "always" valueable? Also, why has it consistently failed once the value reached $1000?<BR/><BR/>I am not saying you are wrong but its just something to think about. <BR/><BR/>The only way I see gold being a long time winner is via a total economic collapse.<BR/><BR/>The problem is there is no guarentee that gold will be the winner if this occurs because there may be alternatives that develop.<BR/><BR/>BTW my post did not say you should buy any ETF's or stocks tonight. I have in the past but at these levels I simply have no opinion based on the interventions by the gov.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450070920047311928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-65890394956290430622009-03-20T22:35:00.000-07:002009-03-20T22:35:00.000-07:00Hyperinflation and the crash of the Keynesian mode...Hyperinflation and the crash of the Keynesian model could be in the offing soon if the Chinese drastically draw down.<BR/><BR/>http://tinyurl.com/da295v<BR/><BR/>mBMichael J. Bernardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07788360983093692513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-14798292331256250892009-03-20T21:09:00.000-07:002009-03-20T21:09:00.000-07:00dunno jeff. disagree with alot of what you say. it...dunno jeff. disagree with alot of what you say. its not appropriate to compare the US with Japan; they had savings and their senario is much better than ours. we are pressing our entitlements to the max with the international community.. gold is an internationally aknowledged type of money.. you can bag gold all you like but its outperforming everything. you suggest we play etf's and stocks? i cant take that advice whatsoever. in fact degenerate traders should just go to vegas and get their free drinks; because thats all thewy do: hit soft 17 or play red or black. its bullshit. the dollar is a debt instrument; it's only value is its circulation. if that ever changes.... bye bye.johndanielshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12826656236555940567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-24902999734391047812009-03-20T17:57:00.000-07:002009-03-20T17:57:00.000-07:00JohnThanks!Great points. Liquidating your 401k ma...John<BR/><BR/>Thanks!<BR/><BR/>Great points. Liquidating your 401k may be a good idea if things really get<BR/> bad. Who knows what the gov will do! It scares me to even think about it.<BR/><BR/>I think your farm idea is a great one!Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450070920047311928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-16440675741778292112009-03-20T17:36:00.000-07:002009-03-20T17:36:00.000-07:00Jeff,Great blog. I've enjoyed your posts. I've al...Jeff,<BR/>Great blog. I've enjoyed your posts. I've also wondered where we can hide if things really get as bad as you mention. One thing to consider....if it gets as bad as you suggest it may, what's to keep the government from forcing all pensions, IRAs, 401ks, or even personal accounts to be invested solely in treasuries? It sounds wild, but it could be "justified" by the government as necessary to preserve our society. In that event, the best investment won't be cash or gold...it will be a nice piece of land with a good well and a long growing season!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-39624130746732924922009-03-20T17:29:00.000-07:002009-03-20T17:29:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450070920047311928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-36101982266288644792009-03-20T17:28:00.000-07:002009-03-20T17:28:00.000-07:00AnonHopefully the government doesn't take it from ...Anon<BR/><BR/>Hopefully the government doesn't take it from u while you hold it! I am not against gold.good point on the dolla holder<BR/>Would own coins over bars. More practical to use as a currency. <BR/><BR/>Food guns and ammo will all have value in a mad max scenario.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450070920047311928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-37810098705278696572009-03-20T17:26:00.000-07:002009-03-20T17:26:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450070920047311928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-54800633443768460072009-03-20T17:07:00.000-07:002009-03-20T17:07:00.000-07:00Gold has held its value through thick and thin. To...Gold has held its value through thick and thin. To cite an oft-used example: since the invention of the pistol, you could buy one for an ounce of gold. You ask who can afford gold at $5k/oz. The answer is "not dollar holders," but I don't see this as any indictment of the yellow metal. If the dollar is going to crap, how is measuring gold in dollars worth a peck at the keyboard? You quote that "trading gold always end in tears" so I won't be trading it, I'll be holding it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-60527731037812816982009-03-20T15:52:00.000-07:002009-03-20T15:52:00.000-07:00AnonMs Cleo..lolI hear ya. It appears nowhere is ...Anon<BR/><BR/>Ms Cleo..lol<BR/><BR/>I hear ya. It appears nowhere is safe right now. <BR/><BR/>One thing I do know is I plan on staying out of the stock market. Earnings will continue to drop, and I don't see this changing anytime soon.<BR/><BR/>At least in fixed income your investmnets go up! <BR/><BR/>Raising cash for the time being still is the best option because it will take time for the dollar to fall.<BR/><BR/>Something tells me it won't take long for these treasury auctions to start struggling. Once this happens stocks are going to go boom.<BR/><BR/>The next major wave down in the stock market is going to take your breath away.<BR/><BR/>I am hoping a safe viable option to holding something other than US dollars is developed over the course of the year.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450070920047311928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492542366661862113.post-15808622662987146422009-03-20T14:53:00.000-07:002009-03-20T14:53:00.000-07:00Where is Ms Cleo when we really need her predictio...Where is Ms Cleo when we really need her prediction badly? There is too much uncertainty. Holding cash gets you no where given the low interest rate. Investing the money in the stock market is like a crap shoot. You don't know what stunt the Fed will pull next. <BR/><BR/>Then again, if the dollar collapses, does it matter whether you hide it under the mattress, leave it in the bank or in the stock market?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com