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Strategies & Market Trends : The Residential Real Estate Crash Index -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: patron_anejo_por_favor who wrote (298974)	12/19/2010 6:27:30 PM
From: joseffy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 306849

Reporters told: Don't say 'illegal immigrant' December 18, 2010 By Bob Unruh arizonateaparty.ning.com Journalist group calls for purge of term - everyone innocent until proven guilty A diversity plan from a group of journalists says reporters should not be using the term "illegal aliens" because it is not constitutional. "Frequent use of the phrases 'illegal immigrant' and 'illegal alien' by our mainstream media is being questioned in order to remain faithful to the principles of our U.S. Constitution," Leo Laurence wrote in the "Diversity Toolbox" column on the website for the Quill, which is produced by the Society of Professional Journalists. He said the organization's "Diversity Committee" met during its 2010 convention in Las Vegas and "decided to engage in a yearlong educational campaign designed to inform and sensitize journalists as to the best language to use when writing and reporting on undocumented immigrants." The concept, however, elicited some pointed criticism from analyst Alana Goodman of the Culture and Media Institute, who noted that the campaign appears to be targeted toward one situation, when there are many others that also could be addressed. "The label 'remains offensive to Latinos, and especially Mexicans, and to the fundamentals of American jurisprudence,' wrote Leo E. Laurence," said Goodman. "Seeing as most Latinos in the U.S. are not illegal immigrants – and since the term has no racial or ethnic connotation – it's hard to see how it would cause offense to this group. In fact, the only people who should really be put off by the term are illegal immigrants themselves (or their advocates), who don't believe unlawful residency in the U.S. should be a crime," Goodman wrote. The term "illegal immigrant," in fact, is cited in a recent style book for the Associated Press, which often has advertised it is the world's oldest and largest newsgathering organization, as "the preferred term, rather than 'illegal alien' or 'undocumented worker.'" It is used, the book documents, "to describe those who have entered the country illegally." Goodman noted that Laurence believes, "Only a judge, not a journalist, can say that someone is an illegal." "Obviously you don't need to go to law school to understand that basic concept. And it's certainly important to use words like 'suspected' when writing about a specific individual whose immigration status has not yet been determined. But it has absolutely nothing to do with getting rid of the term 'illegal immigrant' altogether," Goodman wrote. "Drunk drivers are also innocent until convicted in a court of law – and yet the Miami Herald headline 'Miami police cracking down on drunk drivers' hasn't warranted a similar critique from SPJ's civil libertarian crusaders. Car theft, too, is considered a crime that must be adjudicated through the legal system. But when the AP reports that 'Newport News police want to reduce car thefts,' does the SPJ consider this a violation of the constitutional rights of the car thief community," she wondered. Laurence argued that "one of the most basic of our constitutional rights is that everyone (including non-citizen) is innocent of any crime until proven guilty in a court of law." His recommendation is that reporters avoid both "illegal immigrant" and "illegal alien." Laurence wrote, "Some believe the phrase 'illegal alien' originated with fiery, anti-immigrant groups along the U.S.-Mexico border, such as the Minutemen." That's fine, said Minuteman leader Jim Gilchrist. "Why don't we just call them a suspected illegal aliens," he told WND. Using some of the other terms just would muddy the waters, he said. "I prefer to be more specific, get right to the point. According to U.S. law, they are illegal aliens," he said. He said that fits with what is done in other cases, as in the "suspected bank robber," who has not yet been convicted. "The SPJ diversity committee says 'undocumented immigrant' is a more appropriate description. Yet living in the U.S. without any documentation of citizenship is illegal," wrote Goodman. "Using the term 'undocumented immigrant' is disingenuous, because it downplays the severity of the crime. It's like calling a car thief an 'unauthorized driver' – it's misleading to the point of inaccuracy. And when a journalist makes the decision to mislead readers, in an attempt to portray a person or group in a more positive light, it can't be called anything but pure advocacy. It's a shame that an important group like SPJ is promoting such tactics," Goodman wrote. Link: wnd.com

To: patron_anejo_por_favor who wrote (298974)	12/19/2010 6:41:42 PM
From: CalculatedRisk	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 306849

Agreed. I've been telling people the flag has dropped in most areas (OK to buy). But there is no hurry ... I expect mostly flat prices for a couple of years like following previous busts. But I think we will see some further price declines on the national repeat sales indexes - but not huge declines. Residential investment bottomed in 2010, and will add to GDP growth next year - but not a sharp increase like in the early stages of most recoveries. As always, I follow RI closely - it is a great leading indicator. Best wishes and thanks for all you've done over the years!!!

To: patron_anejo_por_favor who wrote (298974)	12/20/2010 10:44:22 AM
From: John Vosilla	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 306849

Patron you do realize there are so many ways again to build incredible wealth the slow old fashioned way with flat RE prices even if you are not an insider? The dynamic of very low prices, very low rates and cash flow sure helps... I know it is 'boring' to all you guys trading the casino for the quick fix<g> And as to inflation leveraged with today's low rates over a long cycle there is no better safer way.. The world will be so much different in a decade it will astound us. My goal is to still be around and enjoy the journey.

To: patron_anejo_por_favor who wrote (298974)	12/21/2010 8:13:34 AM
From: Micawber	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 306849

In my area of the world (Philadelphia 'burbs) the crash is by no means over. As a multifamily investor of some 20 years, I see this market continue to deteriorate. Transactions continue at a crawl, with the chasm between offer and ask too wide for any resolution. Extend and pretend on loans coming due is just delaying the inevitable. Someone earlier compared this time period to around 1993. IMO, this time is VERY different from that time period for several reasons, the most critical being that rents are flat or even slightly declining, and extend and pretend are causing cap rates to stay unrealistically low. Bring on the higher rates that will act to shake the trees and free up so many of these marginal assets. Otherwise, from a multifamily standpoint, we have lots of hurt ahead of us in this area of the world.