My recent trip through the States

[Rick Gushman]

0311Shooter, I, too, think that this situation will last longer than most currently believe. Many economists have said that it will take 6 to 12 months for a turnaround to take place. I am not nearly that optimistic. What really made the Great Depression great was that until the very later 30's, there was very little capital available to grow business and improve the employment situation. Basically, until businesses can prosper, there will be no substantial turnaround. One only needs to look at the steadily increasing unemployment figures to understand that business isn't doing well. Many companies are attempting to make themselves "viable for the future" by laying off workers. That's prudent but it is a sign that things are continually going in the wrong direction. As a rule, most democrats are not pro business. They have a history of making it difficult to do business in the US. Between excessive regulations and high taxes on corporate profits they make a tough environment for business to grow. Business is the engine that drives the economy - not government spending. I really hope that the situation changes for the better but the actions of the government to date haven't been very effective. The best I can say is that the action taken by the Bush administration kept the financial market solvent but it didn't reverse the situtation. For all his hype, Obama has done nothing to date of that has made one bit of difference, yet. Also let's not forget what party promoted "the dream of home ownership for everyone" - including folks who couldn't afford one. They are also the ones who voted down in committee oversight of Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac. There certainly was some greed in the financial institutions that helped this crisis along but I personally feel that it got momentum with poor government sponsored programs pushed by liberals. Rick

[0311Shooter]

Good analysis, Rick G. Can't add much. There is one thing that disturbs me about what is going on today.

Most of the polls taken that analyze Obamma show the illiterate masses are STILL buying his stuff. He, and the left wing media, are now adding in every speech and newscast that "Obamma INHERITED this mess". Can we say Bush bashing? Of course MSDNC's whole nightly shows are Bush from start to finish. He is off fishing and they are STILL trying to impeach him.

What I am saying is the left wing media are still protecting obamma. They say his Spending Stimulus is only failing because Republicans are opposing it. And the polls, weighted and doctored, are protecting obamma and blaming Bush.

I am amazed that so many are so stupid that they can't see that ALL our troubles took off in 2007, just after democrats took over the legislatures. With no one to truly oppose them now, it's Katy Bar the Door.

I can see it, you can see it, but the illiterate masses .....?????

And the left wing media just LOVES it.

[Rick Gushman]

0311Shooter, I, too, am disgusted by the media. As you noted, they are giving Obama a pass but Bush who is no longer in office and who had to contend with a democratic dominated Congress for two years is to blame in their eyes. If one looks at the facts, liberal policies regarding home loans are the root of most of our current economic problems. Some lending institutions were partly to blame but governmental policies which were the product of democrats got the whole thing fueled in the first place. Apparently, no one thought that it wasn't a good idea to lend money to folks who weren't capable of paying back the loan (espeically if the boom economy sputtered) and to make matters worse the loans were for the purchase of homes which were overinflated to begin with. Home values had been increasing at a rate over twice what the normal inflation rate was. If that goes on for a number of years (as it did), when a realignment in home values finally takes place (due to a natural down turn in the economy), there are a lot of folks who have a home that is worth much less than they owe on it. Now if they default on the loan, the bank doesn't stand a chance of recouping their investment. This is simply social engineering gone wrong and we all know who is in love with social engineering. Rick

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

The only way the media will finaly see the light is IF some of those "talking heads" in the media get "laid off"
I would love to see Stefanopolous get a layoff notice. Maybe the messiah can hire him as his "minister of propaganda" since Josef Goebbels is not available!

[RoninPhoenix]

Ken , I can't figure out how to reduce the size now. You mean you went down to tucson withthat dog of yours and didn't say hello in phoenix?

[RoninPhoenix]

I got to tell you I see a lot of signs here, forclosed houses, malls, etc. I was in lake havasu yesterday talking to a guy. Last year he had 22 electricians working for him, this year him and one other guy.
If you figure that a toaster oven from G.E. costs more than a share of their stock, its bad

[Ken The Kanuck]

Ken , I can't figure out how to reduce the size now. You mean you went down to tucson withthat dog of yours and didn't say hello in phoenix?

Sorry Ron we didn't get too close to Phoenix, it would be a real pleasure to meet you and I'm sure Sasha would be all over you.

Ken

[Dan In Indiana]

I got to tell you I see a lot of signs here, forclosed houses, malls, etc. I was in lake havasu yesterday talking to a guy. Last year he had 22 electricians working for him, this year him and one other guy.
If you figure that a toaster oven from G.E. costs more than a share of their stock, its bad

In Northern Indiana, over a quarter of a million acres have been leased for putting up wind turbines, a new facility at Muncie is being built to make the turbines, a new rail spur is being drawn out to haul the monsters out, GE dropped their quarterly dividend from 31 cents to 10 cents, resulting in a 9 billion dollars savings which GE is using to buy back their stock before it starts going back up. GE is one of the world's biggest producer of wind turbines, stock is at 7 bucks now, got in a hurry last fall, bought at 32, thinking of getting some more while it is low. If the CEO is buying into it, why should I not follow. After all, the Messiah told me to.

OFC

[Rick Gushman]

Dan, That is certainly good news but it doesn't overshadow the fact that Elhart, Indiana has the highest unemployment rate in the nation and numerous automotive plants are closing or laying off workers in Indiana. I hope we hear a lot more good news but for right now, with continually increasing unemployment figures, it doesn't look very good. Rick

[2571]

Nothing wrong you say? Come visit us in Michigan.

Everyone here personally knows somebody who has been laid -off or has outright lost their job. Everyone here personally knows somebody who has lost their house to foreclosure. Schools are closing because there's no property tax revenue to pay teacher salaries. Our kids get cold here in the Michigan winters when we can't fuel school furnaces.

I wonder why Rick G didn't mention that GMC stock was at its lowest value in 75 years when trading closed on Friday.

Things are messed up with a capital F here.

Thank you GW, Rush, Michael Steele and your party of 'NO'