Free Republic

Rip offs? They are one of the best vehicles out there. You put in $1 and it only costs you maybe 70 cents depending on your marginal tax rate. You make over a 40% gain on day 1. Fees are nominal, almost neglible. Average is just over 1% generally but many offer index funds where the fee is even less. It’s one of the areas where the little guy gets a great deal. The money is absolutely there. It’s heavily regulated and insured. There are exceptions of course as there is with anything you do. You can’t get at it as easily as you would a bank account but that’s the intent and the trade off for the massive benefit you get. If you are lucky enough to get a match it’s even better. A $1 might get you $2 with a good match, only costing you 70 cents and you have almost a 200% return on day 1. Even if the market drops 50% the next day you are way ahead.

You missed the part re ‘net’ wealth. Private debt is already factored in. This is all largely true and we are the wealthiest nation this planet has ever seen and will be for quite a long while. That’s not to diminish the debt or the deficits nor to suggest we use our private wealth to pay off the debt, merely recognition that we are extremely weatlhy still. And while everyone is quick to point out future unfunded liabilities, they ignore future unrealized growth. Given any semblence of normalcy, our wealth will outpace our debt even if we do continue down this debt ridden big govt path.

“what would we miss?”

How about our money that that pays for most of the welfare states. Washington takes from us and doles out to most of the rest. I’d like it back.

Interesting. Not sure. I am under the impression that’s allocated per capita into the .78. The .22 is presumably going to other states, not a communal pot. That’s why the states with net debits equal states with net credits but I’ll double check.

Most recent data shows CA only receiving 78 cents on the dollar for every dollar sent to Washington. I’m tired of paying outrageous taxes to support the welfare states. And yes I want it back. CA state taxes are beyond outrageous and uneccessarily so if we just got our due from the federal taxes. CA essentially pays for the welfare states. End of story.

“NO BAILOUT FOR CALIFORNIA!!!!!!”

I’ve posted maybe 10 different times re the inaccuracy of the common perception that California is so horrible from a financial perspective. First I’ll say that obviously we have almost unfathomable stupidity at play and we are paying the price but I still take offense at the misconception that the US should or should not bail us out. It’s our money. Per the most recent records, for roughly the last 50 years, California has had an enourmous credit balance with the federal govt. And by HUGE amounts. Something like 35 states are and have been on CA funded welfare and we have funded the federal govt to an extent not even approached by any other state. I’m also talking per capita. The gross $ amount is staggering. If we got our money back, we’d have more money than China. So please don’t suggest you shouldn’t bail us out (I actaully agree I’m just being arguementative) since it’s our money.

I don’t think the libs have a strategy so much as stating the obvious. Once you leave the basic message that resonates with the larger group, there will be infighting to no end. Look at what happens here. If anything I think you’ve understated the situation. My guess is there will be fractures over the next two years that will limit the effectiveness. On the naively optimistic side, some good will come of it. Up to Nov. 2 the focus was narrow and it seemed to me widespread with a focus on fiscal policy and limited government. Those days are behind us and various factions and factions within factions will be pulling in different directions. Keep is simple s... would be my suggestion.

As I understand the numbers and the trends, this is moot. She wins by a larger margin without even considering the questionable ballots. I will ignorantly/naively hope that she may move a bit right as a result of this wake up call. It can happen.

I don’t agree with your double dipping theory. That’s like saying an employee who contributed to 8 different employer 401K’s or Defined Benefit plans is 8 dipping. If I pay into social security for ten years that’s my money, my taxes, and my retirement. And no you don’t get to tell me I’m only allowed one pension. If you argue on the other hand that some of those pension systems are overly generous then I’d agree with you. But that’s an entirely different subject and I’m appalled at how young some folks can retire. A counter to that though is I certainly don’t object to the military 20. The military 20 has always seemed like a great recruitment tool whereby our vets can get two incomes and two retirements. I like it.

“At least the Mexicans will drill for oil..”

And secure the border!!

“Maybe can get the Mexicans to annex the place.”

Then who would fund the federal government? While we are screwed and have nobody to blame but ourselves, please keep in mind CA has a massive net credit to the federal govt which in essence keeps the lights on in our ever so many welfare states.

“Maybe can get the Mexicans to annex the place.”

Then who would fund the federal government? While we are screwed and have nobody to blame but ourselves, please keep in mind CA has a massive net credit to the federal govt which in essence keeps the lights on in our ever so many welfare states.

LOL.

Even if you are right, that does not translate to a question of ownership at the end of the day. We are talking about how to fix that as we speak and granting the foreclosed homeowner rights to squal indefinately will have a considerable negative impact on any quote unquote recovery in the housing market. If you suggest this was deliberate in order to hide subprime crap then I would address that as a separate investment related issue and not pull the title issue into question. I don’t see much to back up your assertion so if you have any references I would appreciate it.

“Oh but they are. The folks doing the foreclosing can’t actually prove in many cases that they’re actuall, legally owed the money. They can’t produce either the Title Deed or the Promissory note.”

They can’t prove it in court due to clerical errors. We do know in reality using common sense. I agree it’s a big deal. Perhaps the biggest deal going right now. I just don’t think it should be and if there was ever a time where ignoring 100 years of settled law actually resulted in justice, this would be it. As for hunting Dems with dogs, you my friend are being overly optimistic (not the right choice of word there), this will all be laid at Bush’s and conservative’s feet I fear.
Last word from me..this has nothing to do with the ‘Wall Street thieves’ so much as paperwork and process. What is the crime? These homes should be foreclosed on if the occupants can’t sustain their payments. The document systems today in this regard are woefully inadequate and I can see how this got out of hand but it was not a case of them stealing from anybody but themselves. They can’t prove which of the financiers actually holds the Title but we do know it’s not the foreclosed homeowner ‘victim’.

small scale or large scale is an interesting side note. I fear it is on a large scale but the errors themselves are small scall technical issues. Folks are being foreclosed on because the occupants aren’t able to meet their obligations. Now they can show an error in the paperwork process that is threatening to bring down the system. The errors are NOT saying anything about the actual ownership of the residence in substance. It’s a paperwork short cut that should never have been made but I’m not seeing fraud in any way so much as the courts once again going PC vs common sense. We need to be able to foreclose in an efficient manner to allow for any type of recovery in the housing market. As a taxpayer I am unwilling to allow delinquent homeowners to squat on my dime. This is so much ado about nothing and yet our courts and media will build it up and the end result is a large scale wealth transfer.

“Because it would mean that literally any entity could gin up some phony paperwork, walk into a Court, swear it was genuine without any fear of legal consequences, and foreclose on any home in the Country.”

You really think this was a deliberate action as opposed to a small snafu? These folks need to be evicted and within weeks and months of defaulting as opposed to staying in these homes for years due a paperwork technicality. This is smoke and a technical error allowing free loaders to put a dent in our economy. The alternative is we the tax payer bails out these former homeowners and buy their worthless paper, modifying their debt to next to nothing (in essence buying them a home) and we foot the bill. This has the potential to the biggest weath transfer in history so just watch who supports this going forward.

“Because it would mean that literally any entity could gin up some phony paperwork, walk into a Court, swear it was genuine without any fear of legal consequences, and foreclose on any home in the Country.”

You really think this was a deliberate action as opposed to a small snafu? These folks need to be evicted and within weeks and months of defaulting as opposed to staying in these homes for years due a paperwork technicality. This is smoke and a technical error allowing free loaders to put a dent in our economy. The alternative is we the tax payer bails out these former homeowners and buy their worthless paper, modifying their debt to next to nothing (in essence buying them a home) and we foot the bill. This has the potential to the biggest weath transfer in history so just watch who supports this going forward.

“or the Government passes a law saying it is OK to use phony forged paperwork, which will likely touch off CW II.”

The govt had better pass a law saying exactly that or we have not only a war but we’ll be fighting with bows and arrows. I’m not interesting in folks staying in houses they aren’t paying for due to a technicality with their paperwork. This is so much bs and yet it can bring down the economy to aide freeloaders.

Im on my second 9-5. The beauty is that they have no resale value and you can buy second hand for a steal. This one is a 2006 which was over 40K sticker. Picked it up in 08 with only 20K miles for 21K...about 50% off. And they certified it w full warranty to 6 years or 100K miles. I rent alot of cars and there isn’t a rental out there that handles like this. I’m guessing only the high end German and Japanese can match the handling. Rented a Corvette once when they offered it for a small up charge and could not believe that I could be so unimpressed. Great handling and good power. My first was a mechanics dream but this one is shop free for 3 years now.