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Politics : Welcome to Slider's Dugout -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SargeK who wrote (2509)	9/29/2006 12:27:48 PM
From: RonMerks	Respond to of 50280

SargeK nice work and very, very interesting. Nice web site. Lots to mull over there. You have done some outstanding research. Thanks, Ron

To: SargeK who wrote (2509)	9/29/2006 1:08:15 PM
From: maxncompany	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50280

Not exactly new news, and it does not change what Slider suggests. If I may put words in Slider's mouth (he'll certainly correct me if I'm wrong), but putting S. Sec. money into the stock market is the idea. Whether that entails individual accounts or not, it would provide great support for the stock market, and of greater import to Wall Street, BIG FEES on a recurring basis.

To: SargeK who wrote (2509)	9/29/2006 11:17:55 PM
From: Fiscally Conservative	Respond to of 50280

So,if the Fed is spending every Social Security taxed dollar now collected on the general fund(any Fed expense),how then would it matter to argue for 'Privatization'? This is,of course, assuming the Fed is spending all Social Security taxed dollars now collected on the general fund although still managing the account imbalance. In privatization a portion of each Social Security dollar collect would have to be distributed toward that Fund the taxable individual mandated;which would create a shortage in the general fund. In 'Privatization',each Social Security tax dollar collected would be portioned by percentage and then redirected into the Fund that the tax payer choose. Any percentage directed to such fund would offset equally that percentage currently taken in and placed in the general fund. Therein lies the rub! Total Social Security taxes collected currently are placed in the general fund which oversees all current Social Security account expenditures. Any diversion,redistribution of Social Security assets outside the general fund,will have to be subsidized by alternative revenues. Granted,the stock market makes out like a bandit,but what about the rest of the Fed budget. Now where do you suppose the Fed will get the revenue shortfall created by the act of 'privatization' ? Maybe raising more taxes, slash and burn tactics or a combination of the two.

To: SargeK who wrote (2509)	10/2/2006 8:12:53 AM
From: SargeK	Respond to of 50280

Slider: >>>SOTB <<<1. What "one thing" would make the Investment Banks more money than any other economic event, or act (dwarfing what they've made both long and short in commodities)? 2. What needs to happen to the economy, to the financial markets and in the geopolitical picture -- for that to happen?>>> SargeK: >>>The one thing that comes to mind is for the FOMC to unexpectedly LOWER the Fed Funds Rate 100 basis points at their next meeting with signals for further decreases. With current prime at 8.25% and forecast to 8.5% a sudden reversal of fed actions/intentions would shock the markets.Two of the prime indicators of a recession next year (inverted yield curve and weakness in the housing and refi markets) would be immediately effected and may prolong the inevitable for a couple of more years. <<< siliconinvestor.com dumpyork49s: >>>I think the FED will lower rates so people can re-fi one mo' time!!<<< Thanks for excellent link that summarizes the forces behind the housing bubble, why it is correcting and WHAT the fed may do about. It appears we may have come full circle since Slider posed the question. >VBG< Good luck to all and thanks to the 8 members who recommended my post #2509 SargeK

To: SargeK who wrote (2509)	10/2/2006 10:21:42 AM
From: Metacomet	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50280

Here is a pretty good explanation of the mumbo-jumbo, panic declarations filtered out: youtube.com

To: SargeK who wrote (2509)	10/5/2006 11:30:53 AM
From: SargeK	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 50280

Money Files E-Book of the Month Money Files – moneyfiles.org has chosen Debtism – Getting Ready for Hard Times" debtism.com as their E-Book of the month. The truth supported by facts is spreading around the globe. Excerpts: The coming recession will be unlike anything experienced since the Great Depression. Do not expect government solutions to the forthcoming economic catastrophe. If government had the answers, these conditions would not have been allowed to develop in the first place. What may be expected are massive infusions (at unimaginable accelerated levels) of fiat money, continuing the process of redistribution of money confiscated from lenders and given to debtors. Over the past two or three decades, defective government and banking policies have virtually destroyed incentives to save. It is not naive to assume that decades of false prosperity will disappear during the oncoming debacle. Backed by the most dominant military force ever assembled under one banner, the US economy provides the glue that binds the global economy and the lubricant that propels it. Both are precariously riding on top of a massive economic tsunami that may crash abruptly and with little warning. Besides the phony money and tax apparatus that operate to destroy the American middle class, illegal mass migration further propels the process and there is no end in sight. Massive defaults and cultural clashes are inevitable. No US worker should be deprived of a job that pays a Living Wage because of low-wage competition provided by illegal aliens! The primary constitutional responsibility of the federal government is to defend this country and to repel INVASIONS. While the Dow is hitting new NOMINAL (not adjusted for inflation) records, it may be time to take profits to help weather the impending storm. FWIW SargeK

To: SargeK who wrote (2509)	10/9/2006 7:06:50 AM
From: SargeK	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50280

Social Security, Medicare and Tax Reform In his first major speech as secretary, Paulson said the growth in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid was the "biggest economic issue facing our country." He said, "trying to find a solution was a leading reason that he took the job." Paulson will likely have no more success in reforming SS than the President did last year. To reform SS and Medicare means concurrently, reforming the tax code. To do either exposes the FRAUD that has been perpetrated an US employees, for decades. I have written extensively about SS on my debtism.com website. One example: "The Truth About Social Security" debtism.com As a minimum two things has to occur for SS to be made solvent: 1. AMEND the IRS tax code so that FICA taxes (including those contained within "wages") cannot be a business expense deduction on Corporate Income tax returns OR REPLACE the Corporate Income Tax with an excise tax on business receipts. Currently approximately 1/3 of the FICA (OASDI-HI) taxes withheld from employee paychecks and reported by corporations to the Social Security Administration is NOT collected by the IRS because of business expensing of wages (THAT CONTAIN THE FICA TAXES). This is the ONLY way current deficits may be replaced with surpluses, 2. AFTER enacting one of the above alternatives (that would produce surpluses instead of deficits),REPEAL the law that requires that SS and Medicare surpluses ONLY be invested in special government bonds. REPLACE with a law that requires the newly created surpluses SHALL be placed in REAL TRUST FUNDS invested in alternatives OTHER than US Government debt. This is the ONLY way COMPOUNDING, unredeemable US DEBT can be replaced with COMPOUNDING real ASSETS. Neither of these actions will be taken OR even discussed by politicians UNLESS there is a PUBLIC OUTRAGE to the ongoing FRAUD. There will be no public outrage until the public understands HOW the system really works. And, the public will not understand how the system works UNLESS they are told. DOING YOUR PART to make SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE - SOLVENT If you agree with the above, please help spread the word by MASS e-mailing this POST and/or hyper-linking Getting Ready for Hard Times debtism.com to other message boards and to those you think may interested, including your own comments. Request they repeat the process. The urgency for major tax, welfare, and immigration reforms should be elevated to the HIGHEST POLITICAL PRIORITY before the federal government bankrupts the country. Good luck and thank you, SargeK

To: SargeK who wrote (2509)	10/11/2006 8:17:32 AM
From: SargeK	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50280

SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY The following letter to the Editor, East Texas Mailbox, Tyler Morning Telegraph, was published today. zwire.com (Note: scroll to the third item in the column.) “In his first major speech as Treasury secretary, Henry Paulson said the growth in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid was the "biggest economic issue facing our country." He said, "trying to find a solution was a leading reason that he took the job." Secretary Paulson will likely have no more success in reforming Social Security than the President did last year UNLESS public outrage forces fundamental changes. To reform SS and Medicare means concurrently, reforming the tax code. To do either exposes the FRAUD that has been perpetrated on US employees, for decades. I have written extensively about SS in my free E-Book “Getting Ready for Hard Times” As a minimum two things have to occur for SS to be made solvent: 1. AMEND the IRS tax code so that FICA taxes (including those contained within "wages") cannot be a business expense deduction on Corporate Income tax returns OR REPLACE the Corporate Income Tax with an excise tax on business receipts. Currently approximately 1/3 of the FICA (OASDI-HI) taxes withheld from employee paychecks and reported by corporations to the Social Security Administration is NOT collected by the IRS because of business expensing of wages (THAT CONTAIN THE FICA TAXES). This is the ONLY way current deficits may be replaced with surpluses, 2. AFTER enacting one of the above alternatives (that would produce surpluses instead of deficits), REPEAL the law that requires that SS and Medicare surpluses ONLY be invested in special government bonds. REPLACE with a law that requires the newly created surpluses SHALL be placed in REAL TRUST FUNDS invested in alternatives OTHER than US Government debt. This is the ONLY way COMPOUNDING, unredeemable US DEBT can be replaced with COMPOUNDING real ASSETS. Neither of these actions will be taken OR even discussed by politicians or mass media UNLESS there is a PUBLIC OUTRAGE to the ongoing FRAUD. There will be no public outrage until the public understands HOW the system really works. And, the public will not understand how the system works UNLESS they are told. The urgency for Social Security and tax reforms should be elevated to the HIGHEST POLITICAL PRIORITY (above the War on Terrorism and Illegal Immigration) before the federal government bankrupts the country. John Koraska Tyler" This part of my letter to the Editor was omitted from the publication: DOING YOUR PART to SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY If you agree with the above, please help spread the word by MASS e-mailing this letter and/or hyper-linking Getting Ready for Hard Times debtism.com to those you think may interested. Request they repeat the process. SargeK P.S. It is an arduous process, but it appears some fundamental defects in tax and welfare laws are slowly seeping into the public domain. It took decades for this mess to develop and will likely take years before basic changes can occur and take effect, hopefully BEFORE it is too late. It will also require great effort by selfless citizens with a burning desire to help save the country from itself. United We Stand (Divided We Fall)

To: SargeK who wrote (2509)	10/16/2006 2:30:42 PM
From: SargeK	Respond to of 50280

China’s Silver Demand Headed UP! “Problem of raw material supply of primary silver is more and more serious.” mineweb.net In 1971, when the “Gold Window” closed, average price for 1 oz of silver was $1.52, Gold - $40.62, and a barrel of crude $2.13. American Silver Eagles (ASE) as a store of value against depreciating currencies has proven itself since US minting of the coin began in 1986. The largest obstacle to purchase the coins (that I believe are reliable insurance against inflation) is the gap between purchase and selling prices. As average prices increase over the coming years, the “gap” will decrease on a percentage basis. Years of relatively low mintage, the 1996 ASE for example, already sells at a multiple of the average price, verifying that selective, more expensive purchases may reap greater reward. Since 1970, the US$ has lost over 80% of its purchasing power. minneapolisfed.org Goods and services purchased for $1.00 in 1970 cost $5.22 or stated in reverse; what now costs $1.00 could have been purchased for 19 cents in 1970. To maintain purchasing power parity, an ounce of silver purchased in 1971 for $1.52 would require a price of $7.60 just to stay even with inflation. Right now, spot silver is selling at $11.81 per ounce, far off its high for the year, but still carrying a an intrinsic profit above inflation and taxes required on alternative savings and investments. kitcosilver.com Currently, un-circulated (not graded) 1996 ASE’s are “BID” over $50. on E-Bay. search.ebay.com Importantly, ASEs are assets that are under complete control of the owner. No trust is required as to the quality of the asset, except faith in the dealer, which can be verified by inspection of the coin itself. No worries that a company or a broker may be misleading. FWIW SargeK

To: SargeK who wrote (2509)	10/25/2006 2:52:47 PM
From: SargeK	Respond to of 50280

Politics, Taxes, and Markets Outcome of the mid-term elections may be pivotal and have profound impact on the economy and the markets. Few can effectively argue that the following events DID NOT prevent the 2001 recession from evolving into a significant economic contraction and have strongly supported the recovery and current, robust economic conditions. Also, few can argue, that significant stimulus has been provided by an explosion of actuarial government liabilities (explicit and implicit exposures). Since the recession, US government fiscal exposures have increased at 2 ½ times the rate of IRS tax collections. “Revitalization of the economy is not without costs. Each cyclical recovery over the past several decades has required more stimulation than the one that preceded it. This one has taken the largest deficit spending in history, 13 successive interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, two massive tax cuts, three wars (War on Terrorism, Afghanistan and Iraq), establishment of another redundant bureaucracy (Homeland Security), massive tax incentives (i.e. Capital Gain and Dividend tax rate reductions to 15%), significant growth in Money Supply, short term negative interest rates, a tax induced housing ‘boom’ and a ‘low-interest’ induced mortgage refinancing ‘Boom’ to emerge from the relatively short 2001 recession.” debtism.com Funding the wars and hurricane recovery efforts with the national credit card has further exasperated the explosion in national debt and placed the future economy and the national security at greater risks. Adding the prescription drug benefit to Medicare also added trillions $ to a welfare system that was already unsustainable. The belated focus on actuarial long-term liabilities by the GAO and Trustees of the various Trust Funds; may be an indication that the government is acknowledging that ominous problems face current and future policy makers; and, they may wish to stake future claims that the public “was” warned BEFORE the general public discover they have been victimized. There are growing indications that the public is worried about the future. With the budget sinking deep into deficit, savings rates below zero, interest on savings after adjusting for taxes and inflation below sub-zero, and the Baby Boom’s retirement fast approaching, many prudent Americans are beginning to review their balance sheets, to develop strategies for surviving the inevitable economic downturn. Unfortunately, it’s easier to acknowledge the economic and generational challenges facing an aging America than it is to fix them. Needed, lasting reforms will require difficult tradeoffs that few politicians in either party are willing to address. It won’t happen until America’s workers become outraged and/or when the economic bubble begins to deflate. Results of the past two presidential elections presented rare opportunity for fundamental changes in flawed government tax, welfare, immigration, and trade policies that threaten national security. Surprisingly, government policies increasingly continue to pander the wealthy and the poor, punish the middle class, and put our great nation at great economic risks. Imprudent spending on the national credit card over the past several years is a slap in the face of fiscal conservatism and constituents of that group are angry. It is time for the general public to take a cold shower in reality. First, citizens must be made aware of the magnitude of the problem. The scope of the problem is no secret in Washington. Economists from both political parties warn that the nation's economy is at risk from chronic deficits and the fast-approaching costs of under/unfunded liabilities. Some say our national security may become at risk. However, one should not dismiss the fact the US commands the mightiest military force ever assembled under one flag. The government is expected to do whatever it takes to support dollar hegemony (a significant contributor to American prosperity since WWII) and perceived long-term US strategic interests. Curiously, both are threatened by unsustainable, unredeemable DEBT that is growing exponentially. The coming election offers the prospect that Democrats, California Representative Nancy Pelosi has strong odds of becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives, and it is possible that Senator Harry Reid of Nevada may become Senate Majority Leader. President Bush's, 2003 Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (JGTRRA), was signed into law in May 2003. JGTRRA reduced the long term capital gains tax rate from 20 to 15 percent and the tax placed on dividend income from 38.6 to 15 percent. Lower income investors are subject to dividend and capital gains tax rates at 5 percent. If Democrats take over both houses of Congress, a prudent person might ask: “What will happen to the Bush tax-cuts?” He also might ask: “What happens to the markets, if the Bush tax-cuts are rescinded?” Not the reality, but the perception of market reactions to answers to these questions, might lead a prudent investor to take profits before reality catches up with perception. The public is being fed a steady diet of disinformation that supports the big lie that deficits are going DOWN; when the TRUTH is government fiscal, exposures are exploding by trillions – annually. Sadly, the ruling elite that has orchestrated tax and welfare fraud for decades will likely benefit again, when they buy real assets for pennies on the dollar at the nadir of the next depression. Forewarned is forearmed! Good luck to ALL, SargeK By John Koraska, author: “Getting Ready for Hard Times" debtism.com