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Seriously, check out what % of ER visits are minor conditions and welfare recipients.
These type of stats should be posted on bill boards randomly throughout the U.S. including the costs.
Educational, crime, and food stamp statistics including costs should be posted as well.
A cross referenced U.S. wellfare almanac should be created and updated every year and placed on a pedestal in front of every library across the U.S. based on said statistics showing income averages, retirement benefits, and statistics on home ownership for wellfare recipients. The first page should have a big number representing the total cost to tax payers.
The stats should NOT include race but only geographic locations so as to promote individualism and not group identities. However, next to the geographic locations, a breakdown of the demographics by race would be interesting.
Could you imagine the outcry? LOL!
Price jumps on CSHD, especially on the grey market with matching trades, is really weird, eh? Errrr... only if you don't understand the grey market. LOL!
With a strangle, you would chose a different strike price for each your calls and puts. I wouldn't go too far OTM. You would then want to buy $500 in both the call and put contracts. However, if you are bias on the security you are looking at one way or the other, you may chose to go heavier in favor of your bias.
Here's a good explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strangle_(options)
I believe you'd use the strategy when you are expecting news or financial reports though. From day to day, I think you'd want to rely on charts and play according to history.
I'd like other's opinions as well on this! LOL!
IBM calls doing well today. Time to start adding puts. But do so slowly, IMO.
I'm also considering adding some DIA puts today.
It also depends on the population that is governed. Is the population homogenous? How many/what kind of cultures do you have to consider? Are we willing to say the truth or bound by political correctness (who succeeds at standardized tests? What are today's crime statistics? Who can work and where? What are the obstacles facing people who do not work?, etc.)
For the U.S., my opinion would be 90% capitalism and 10% socialism.
I understand that in Finland, companies offer a "private medical" benefit. There's got to be a reason why. And they don't have the burden of immigrants flooding their hospitals, having children that can't be afforded, and free money to those that CHOSE not to work.
The Fins wouldn't put up with leaches like we do in the U.S. Political correctness doesn't exist over there the way it does here.
Obama economics is scary:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/budget_deficit
Huge deficit today. Due to both sides spending and the Iraq war. But like Reagan's help in creating the surpluses that Clinton enjoyed, once we are out of Iraq, you will see the deficit drop. Regan ending the Cold War dropped military spending by around 100 Billion by the time Clinton came into office helping the surplus. http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6107
Off the bat, we can easily see the deficit drop significantly. But there's still a spending issue outside of Iraq costs. It's the wellfare costs that keep stacking.
We CANNOT succeed by offering universal healthcare, free day care, and free housing expansions until we get a handle on our immigration problem. Neither party has the nerve to say it but the strain on our economy (budget if you will) comes from providing safety nets to those that are able.
"McCain promises to renew the full roster of Bush tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 and add many more for businesses and upper income people who pay the alternative minimum tax. The Bush tax cuts expire at the end of 2010 and renewing them would soon cost well over $200 billion a year. Eliminating the alternative minimum at the same time would cost almost as much."
Tax cuts don't cost the Federal government money. They increase tax revenue by allowing the creation of more jobs, thus tax payers. That's a fact that you can see historically.
"Obama would repeal tax cuts on wealthier taxpayers and investors but would leave most of the Bush tax cuts in place while seeking additional cuts for senior citizens, the middle class and the working poor. And he also wants lots of new spending for health care, education and many other federal programs."
Good that Obama wants to keep some taxes but why raise them on the wealthy? Can you say, "lost jobs?" A millionaire's tax burden goes up costing an additional 10k per year. That's 10k per year less that will go into the private economy. Duh! And what's this about expanding the spending? Address the immigration issue we have today and that cost and then you can talk about spending more. Geeze.
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As long as we read only that with which we agree, we learn nothing. - Chester Dolan
Why spending is out of control. I don't believe this is only a Democrat issue, BTW.
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=33079
Democrat Senate Passed 94% of Bills without Debate or Roll Call Vote
Monday, July 28, 2008
By Josiah Ryan, Staff Writer
On the Spot (CNSNews.com) - Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) dismissed Democratic claims of obstructionism and expressed outrage last week over a government report that shows the majority of bills that have passed in the Democrat-controlled Senate of the 110th Congress have done so without any debate or even a vote.
“The U.S. Senate has a nine percent approval rating, because the American people believe that much of our work is done in secret with no debate, no transparency and no accountability,” Coburn told reporters at press conference Wednesday at the Capitol.
“This report shows that the reality is worse than the public’s fears. Instead of encouraging open debate, I’m disappointed that Majority Leader Reid often chooses secrecy or demagoguery,” he added.
Coburn was referring to a non-partisan study released on June 10 by the government’s Congressional Research Service (CRS), which indicates that 855 of the 911 bills passed by the Senate of the 110th Congress have been streamlined by Democratic Party leadership with a procedural tactic known as Unanimous Consent (UC), which requires no debate or even a vote.
With the Senate’s traditional August recess about to start, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has repeatedly accused Republicans, however, and especially Coburn and DeMint, of blocking UC on legislation that he says is critical to the well-being of many Americans.
Jim DeMint (R-S.C.)Coburn and DeMint have a reputation for reading and objecting to bills that would have otherwise passed without debate or objection, Bryan Darling, director of Senate relations for the conservative Heritage Foundation, told CNSNews.com.
Reid has also objected to a procedural tactic know as filibuster, which Republicans have used to block legislation they oppose.
“I had out here earlier today our Velcro chart, 79 [Republican] filibusters,” said Reid on June 25. “Is it any wonder that the House seats that came up during the off-year went Democratic? Is it any wonder that the State of Mississippi sent us a Democratic House Member? ... It is no wonder because they see what is going on over here.”
Reid was referring to a flip chart that the Democrats use to tally the number of GOP filibusters. As of Friday, July 25, there were 85 Republican filibusters, according to Reid’s press office.
On Thursday, Reid introduced the Advance America's Priorities Act, which is nicknamed the “Coburn Omnibus” because it patches together 40 bills, many of which Coburn has already stopped from passing through the Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Reid’s press secretary, Jim Manley, told The Hill on June 27 that the omnibus is a reaction to Coburn’s obstruction.
"Look what happened last time we did this: Sen. Coburn held up action on dozens of bills for narrow, personal reasons, demanding debate and four amendments,” said Manley.
“These bills were held up for months. The Senate had to waste precious time to allow him to offer a few amendments. That is not debate and amendment. It is abuse, obstruction and delay," he said.
"Things have gotten so bad that Republican senators have approached Reid to ask that their bills be included in the package," Manley added.
But Coburn said on Wednesday that forcing costly bills before Congress right before a recess is typical of the Democratic leadership’s approach to legislating.
“They [Democrats] have tried to ram them [bills] through right before recess to pressure us to give up,” said Coburn. “But senators shouldn’t fear debate on these important bills.
“It’s in the best traditions of our republic to demand the Senate actually do its job and have a public debate on bills that expand government and increase the burden on taxpayers. Senator Reid can complain all he wants, but Republicans represent millions of Americans whose voices are being silenced by Democrat strong-arm tactics,” he added.
This is over 100 years old.... errr unless you live in Africa:
Now I live for my family. Something most some black men can't do, because of the affects of slavery. You see you are white. Slavery did not affect you. It didn't rob you of your heritage, language, or culture. It did not break the bonds of what it meant to be a family. Although you say you condemn slavery, to you it is just something that happened to black people along time ago. It did not affect you, so I guess you need not apologize.
If a black person today can't transcend something that didn't happen to them for 4 or 5 generations, there's a real problem. It could be worse. You could have suffered the plight of the Chinese. You could have gone through a holocaust only 63 years ago. You could have been a native American and have your family wiped out while your land is taken less than 100 years ago.
What is it about some black folks that can't get past slavery and speak of some heritage that was robbed? What heritage? African? I'll wager 90% of black Americans have never been to Africa. Probably more. My mother, however, lived there for over a year doing mission work to help out but left when the elections happend earlier this year. Why? Because groups in KENYA couldn't figure out that violence is wrong.
Yes. We get it. Slavery is bad. That's why only a few states practiced it. That's why it's gone. That's why we don't import people from Africa, by Africans any longer. You can still own slaves in Sudan but Americans don't do that any longer. Not for well over 100 years. The heritage you're whining about never happened here in the states. This is AMERICA. And until you recognize yourself as an American and not a lost African losing a heritage you probably haven't a clue about unless you've actually been there, you will remain lost. Take a queue from the Jews. Asians. Native American Indians. You're in a good place today. Far better than the natural resource rich continent that still lives 200 years behind the standards you enjoy here.
Some notes about Africa (Kenya specifically): They wear western clothes. Women where ONLY skirts. Children love school and go even if they don't have shoes. Kenyans with a bit more prefer private school over public and wear uniforms. They only buy one uniform. Families actually try to stay together as there is a tight bond with most. My mother never mentioned any kids in Nandi Hills (2 hours outside Nairobi) doing drugs, joining gangs, or trying to create a new way to speak.
So let's not even bring up some "African" heritage that was lost and blame everything on slavery. Unless one's actually been there and can demonstrate what that heritage actually is/was. You will find that the heritage of Africa is a very violent one. In Kenya today, you have christians murdering muslims and vice versa over a fixed election on both sides. The heritage Kenyans are striving for is the heritage you already enjoy today if you only take advantage of your opportunities here.
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As long as we read only that with which we agree, we learn nothing. - Chester Dolan
Hope you are right!
LOL! Then there's a problem with some certain financials and a PR that announced them. Even Masta is turning against Rufus now.
Wow. Pickens sold all 10 million shares of YHOO because of management's handling of MS's bid.
Ouch.
My broker says they think they are scams...so they are 'protecting investors'. ( Nevermind for a moment that I can phone them in. Duh! ).
I guess their process is not fool proof enough to protect the fools. LOL!
Today's volume with the Sept. 10th date coming up tells me something big is brewing. Rufus must have them by the balls.
LOL!
LOL! You're right. I'll plan to go. When they say the hearing is scheduled for 10am, does that mean a mass of hearings will start at that time and CSHD's will be somewhere in there or does that mean that CSHD's hearing starts at 10am? Just curious. It's not like traffic court, eh? LOL! Sorry, never been around a case like this.
Because I have a Put position on DIA and BA. That's as good a reason as any, I guess. LOL!
Tommy, here's a good look at who's responsible for the Balanced Budget. Consider this before reading; "What's the liklihood of balancing a multi billion dollar national budget within a few years?"
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6107
I'm still thinking about it. The kids are back in school at that time so it would be simple to do. I'm just not sold that it'd be worth the 10 bucks to park and 40 mile round trip. LOL!
We'll see! I might use it as a reason to experience MARTA, as fun as that is.
What is it about folks who hold out so much hope for a lost cause that they would attack someone else who's advising what's in reality? I think it's called fanatical denial.
Come on Masta. Don't resort to insults. Show the board why Rufus is somehow going to come out of this on top. LOL!
I couldn't care less who or what party. Just get us some Rep's and a President that will HALT spending and will balance the budget without raising taxes. There's enough pork in there that we could cut out and enjoy even lower taxes.
Something funny about Socialism and Liberalism. I worked a bit for a Finnish company and travelled there a few times. At dinner talking with some friends that live there, they were 100% Clinton supporters. They believe the stereotypical description of conservatives in the U.S. I wasn't going to change their minds. They don't live in the U.S. And Fins are great people. I highly recommend visiting Finland during the summer months. But here's what's funny...
They liked Clinton because he was progressive and more socialistic than the stereotypical conservative. However, those same Clinton fans also HATE immigration. It is VERY difficult to become a Finnish citizen. VERY difficult to stay there. If you do, you better have documentation. Their hospitals MAY see/treat you but you're leaving directly after.
That's one example. Europeans think Americans are dumb because we don't like socialized government. But, Europeans get to enjoy social services because they know that their borders and immigration policies (in general) are actually policed.
One more example. In Finland, everyone can go to college for free! The caveat is you actually have to be smart to go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerus_clausus#Numerus_clausus_in_Finland
Could you imagine what would happen in the U.S. if the states funded higher education, yet required passing grades on an entrance exam? Where to start? Oh, we have to let a certain number of people in who refused to learn English. Oh, we have to let in a certain number of students who grew up poor and incapable of learning due to a parent who refused to enforce earlier schooling. Concessions? They don't worry about concessions because their populations wouldn't put up with that crap the way we do in the U.S. Could you imagine a CDIR (Counsel of Denmark Islamic Relations) group in Denmark demanding concessions during the day for special prayer pillows? LOL!
So, wake up Europe. We understand that socialism works for you. We understand that many of you can't understand why it won't work for the U.S. It's a question of how much Europeans actually know about the U.S. and what our Federal dollars are spent. They don't know and they don't care. Americans simply need to understand that and educate in spite of "political correctness" which Europe generally doesn't have to tolerate.
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As long as we read only that with which we agree, we learn nothing. - Chester Dolan
GW never saw a spending bill he wouldn't sign.
Ya. Our inflation is just a weeee bit slower than their's. That's awesome.
Yeah, I was being a bit over zealous with the "banning" part. But I do think if you tax churches, we'll see less of them which means the traffic won't be as bad at noon on Sundays.
I fixed it. I should have known to research a bit before just copy/pasting. She's retired, you know. LOL! Sorry for the confusion.
Keep in mind also that Kenya's inflation is going through the roof also.
FWIW, my mother was in Kenya all last year and now she's back. So she's well aware of the dollar's value against the Kenya Shilling:
"When I first went to Kenya, the exchange rate was
75 Shillings to 1 US Dollar. Now it's down to 57 Shillings to 1 US Dollar. It was gradually going down while I was there."
Keep that in mind for anyone opening longer term positions on the DOW.
Go ahead congress. Spend, spend, spend. At all cost, don't cut any spending. Especially the arts. We need the tax money to pay for the arts so we can see "Piss Christ" to the tune of $15,000. That was well worth my tax dollars. LOL!
Won't even get into what we spend on illegal immigrants and wellfare on this board. Hehehe
Edit - Fixed the quote! I just looked it up, it's actually back up to 67 shillings to a dollar today.
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As long as we read only that with which we agree, we learn nothing. - Chester Dolan
I can't think of anything that will move up significant enough to risk a call on. Whereas, you could probably throw a dart at a listing of DOW components and find a winner to open a Puts position on. LOL!
We should all be at least a bit concerned. The campaigning by John and Obama should both be about cutting the budget as much as possible. If the runaway spending doesn't stop, this country WILL. Raising taxes isn't the answer either as that only hurts the economy, thus jobs, thus tax revenue.
It must be done by cutting spending, PERIOD. A lot of this onus should be placed on our state rep's as well. Also a great reason to shut down lobbyists.
Polls are worth about as much as a penny stock hard copy cert.
There goes the gains from last week. I guess we knew this was coming. Dumped my calls I thought might bounce and enjoying my BA puts that I've held onto.
Looking for some DIA puts: .DIAUA DIA SEP 105 Puts.
LOL! Another good one from Lee Webb!
BTW - Months ago, Rufus was telling the faithful that all will come out in court. That there was sealed evidence to blow the lid off the issue at hand. The market will SHAKE at the evidence Rufus has provided.
But the Judge was not impressed, apparently. In fact, just like Rufus's illiterate public letter threatening Matt/iHub 2 years ago, Rufus just gave the faithful few another kick in the groin.
Rufus = POS liar and that can't be posted enough on the Internet.
This could start by taxing the church like a business.
Organized religion should be banned. Yes, many Muslims believe that you are justified in being slaughtered in the name of religion. Some baptists believe that a few deaths from handling rattle snakes is justified in the name of religion (or God).
It seems it's only the Muslim groups that declare DEATH when a periodical comic makes fun of Allah. Whereas, not one death wish came when this "artist" published this work of "Piss Christ."
Screw all religions. It's a personal relationship with ones' god that's important.
Edit - Oh yeah, tax payers actually footed part of the bill for that piece of art to the tune of $15k. LOL! I wonder what Muslims would do to my family if I were to create a piece of art depicting Allah in bed with a 9 year old, being subsidized with some crude profits from Saudi Arabia? Hehehe. That'd go over well.
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As long as we read only that with which we agree, we learn nothing. - Chester Dolan
Great article. Thanks!
Edit - This is ridiculous!
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080728/oil_prices.html
Oil rises, tops $125 a barrel on supply worries
Monday July 28, 8:03 am ET
How could anyone be worried about supply decreases when we've seen the demand drop consistently?
IF GM kept PR'ing that they are raising their guidance, will that stock keep going up even though they have to file financials showing a decline?
B.S.
_____________________________________________________
As long as we read only that with which we agree, we learn nothing. - Chester Dolan
Rufus is an idiot. I still believe that he way underestimated the SOX rules and the effects of the Enron, MCI, etc. debacles. He thought this would disappear by now and be running another scam.
By delisted, you mean removed from trading systems, etc. correct?
If that happens, that should make for interesting reading on proboards. However, I'm thinking it continues on the grey sheets indefinitely.
LOL! It's Friday!
OMG! So it was YOU that has been buying the .001's. LOL!
What's left out of the equation is simple though.
Who in the hell's going to buy it at 4 bucks after that major dilution, no business, no attorney, SEC investigation, and Default? LOL! No one has ever answered that question even BEFORE the SEC halt. Just "mystery investors" Rufus had lined up. Yeah, right.