tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post7276708889709047529..comments2023-12-30T10:06:37.450+00:00Comments on HousingPANIC - The Housing Bubble Blog with an Attitude Problem, 2005 - 2008: Wal-Mart's shelves need stockingbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585266242070350399noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-86455093650180257742007-02-26T20:22:00.000+00:002007-02-26T20:22:00.000+00:0045 million uninsured is one of those lies that whe...45 million uninsured is one of those lies that when repeated often enough becomes the truth.<BR/><BR/>When excluding <BR/>a) illegal aliens<BR/>b) people temporarily uninsured while changing jobs<BR/>c) those who could afford but choose not to get insuarnce (usually the young and healthy)<BR/><BR/>that 45 million gets reduced to about 5-7 million of truly uninsured Americans or about 5% of the population.<BR/><BR/>Don't tell that to Hillary though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-35956180546052434492007-02-26T20:20:00.000+00:002007-02-26T20:20:00.000+00:00Keuth we product ad export high-tech expensive pro...Keuth we product ad export high-tech expensive products like 777s<BR/><BR/>The Chinese produce and export cheap trinkets and t-shirts.<BR/><BR/>So we sell $100B worth of 777s and import $150B worth of crap. Where's the problem?<BR/><BR/>We export more today than ever. Who cares how much we import?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-59199204827710918422007-02-26T17:17:00.000+00:002007-02-26T17:17:00.000+00:00What happens when most people realize they don't n...What happens when most people realize they don't need any more crap? <BR/><BR/>I hit that point last year. I have $22K in stuff in my basement -- decked out gameroom. All purchased from 2003 to 2004-- had a few parties to show off to my friends. But now only use it a few times a year. My house is full of useless junk, most of it purchased by my wife.<BR/><BR/>In the last year, I've become a need based buyer. I only buy it if I need it. Last week my wife said she is tired of shopping!!! I asked her why? She said its not fun anymore. Again, I asked why? She said because the stores are full of the same stuff we already own--- Nothing new or exciting.<BR/><BR/>That's when it hit me --- I hate shopping because its not fun anymore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-28737728001627474452007-02-26T12:29:00.000+00:002007-02-26T12:29:00.000+00:00greg swann in troublehis favorite mortgage company...greg swann in trouble<BR/>his favorite mortgage company just got busted for fraud and theft<BR/>housingdoom.com<BR/>+++++++++++++<BR/>HAHAHHAHAHA<BR/>He is not collateral damage, he is part of the ground zero explosion, and he will get what he deserves.<BR/>iwFlyingMonkeyWarriorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01770643973751363527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-55974020794738099132007-02-26T05:37:00.000+00:002007-02-26T05:37:00.000+00:00Nice pic!A bountiful haul of booty garnered by gre...Nice pic!<BR/><BR/>A bountiful haul of booty garnered by greenbacks! Now, if we had to swap gold for those goods their might be but 5 containers on that thar ship...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-29982815269064823712007-02-26T02:18:00.000+00:002007-02-26T02:18:00.000+00:00mnhp said... Unfortunately, USA today reminded ...mnhp said...<BR/><BR/> Unfortunately, USA today reminded us this morning that over 16 million people in the US live in poverty and over 45 million don't have health insurance--<BR/><BR/>-----------------------------------------<BR/><BR/>Yea, I saw that too but you know what? 16Million is just over 5% of the population. Sucks to be one of the 5% but that means that 95% do not live in poverty (yes, there are degrees, that next one percent is not rolling in $$$)!!!!!!<BR/><BR/>What percentage of the population is mentally or physically unable to earn a living? Probably a good portion of that 5%.<BR/><BR/><BR/>45 Million do not have health insurance, that is 15% of the population, that means 85% do have health insurance, not too bad.<BR/><BR/>I happen to think they may have f'd the numbers up some how. individual insurance, good basic coverage, runs about $300/month or 13.5B a month. that is 162 billion a year. Seems like a small amount to keep holding us back from covering the un-insured.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-52168125272751556092007-02-25T23:03:00.000+00:002007-02-25T23:03:00.000+00:00Cornholio Mangus said... Jr Junky is the only one ...Cornholio Mangus said... <BR/>Jr Junky is the only one here who seems to get it.<BR/><BR/>I get it too. But why don't the politicans?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-76922390526113168672007-02-25T22:24:00.000+00:002007-02-25T22:24:00.000+00:00Once China gets rich of all their exports that Ame...Once China gets rich of all their exports that Americans continue to consume at Walmart etc. they can buy up the remaining oil in the Persian Gulf! We are so screwed!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-75117412679747084902007-02-25T21:46:00.000+00:002007-02-25T21:46:00.000+00:00The primary reason for shopping for cheap labor is...The primary reason for shopping for cheap labor isn't to save consumers money, it's to raise profit margins for wall street.<BR/>Walmart went Global because it's stock price was suffering and it could lower prices 10% and up profit margins 50%. <BR/><BR/>Wages in China will rise just as the credit crunch sinks the US consumer. What they lose on our debt will be a small price to pay to totally remake China and it's work force into a manufacturing powerhouse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-72893234379457940042007-02-25T20:31:00.000+00:002007-02-25T20:31:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-85457683902596003812007-02-25T19:57:00.000+00:002007-02-25T19:57:00.000+00:00You are not being absolutist and alarmist enough. ...You are not being absolutist and alarmist enough. <BR/><BR/>What happens when most people realize they don't need any more crap?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-80648374778719169102007-02-25T19:43:00.000+00:002007-02-25T19:43:00.000+00:00I love the cynicism, you nailed it again Keith.I love the cynicism, you nailed it again Keith.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-64811842426088932362007-02-25T19:07:00.000+00:002007-02-25T19:07:00.000+00:00Greenspan once said that China has done more to he...Greenspan once said that China has done more to help keep inflation down in America than anyone. That's an incredibly stupid statement and we will see within the next 20-50yrs how much of a mistake that has been made by importing all of their stuff and not making our own. What's the cost to us when all of our former manufacturers are out of work?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-938792846361185402007-02-25T18:41:00.000+00:002007-02-25T18:41:00.000+00:00Jr Junky is the only one here who seems to get it....Jr Junky is the only one here who seems to get it. Regulatory arbitrage is the norm these days, and will accelerate with advances in high-speed-low-cost transport and mobile computing.<BR/><BR/>No amount of jingoistic bluster will put that genie back in the bottle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-29802177997187348742007-02-25T18:33:00.000+00:002007-02-25T18:33:00.000+00:00keith said... We buy things, that's what our econo...keith said... <BR/>We buy things, that's what our economy is now based on. And we make money selling houses to each other, not by working or producing<BR/><BR/>The world has gone insane <BR/><BR/>February 25, 2007 9:59 AM <BR/><BR/>--------------------------------<BR/><BR/>un huh. and we create financial products these days in the form of derivatives. who says we don't make anything here anymore?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-22348291792946959862007-02-25T18:14:00.001+00:002007-02-25T18:14:00.001+00:00I remember reading a science fiction story about a...I remember reading a science fiction story about a future society where consumption was mandatory. <BR/><BR/>You had a particular quota you had to consume or you'd be penalized.<BR/><BR/>We may have reached this already.<BR/><BR/>We have countries now wanting their currency to be worth less so they can continue to produce and export. They want to produce at a loss to enable us to consume.<BR/><BR/>I'm afraid everything we were taught in school is just plain wrong. Consumption and waste is good. Production and saving is bad.<BR/><BR/>My own mentality is pretty minimalistic. Besides the bare minimums like food, clothing and medical care, I just want a safe place to live (to own the house), a dependable car and the Internet.<BR/><BR/>I wonder if I'm representative of a new wave of people who are sick of material things that are more hassle than they're worth. And because there are more of us, producers of junk have to keep lowering prices to get us to buy?<BR/><BR/>Nah, no way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-36047674406641032192007-02-25T18:14:00.000+00:002007-02-25T18:14:00.000+00:00If you believe crappy us paper is gonna get crappi...If you believe crappy us paper is gonna get crappier, here's a cool new <A HREF="http://www.marketwatch.com/quotes/udn" REL="nofollow">etf.</A> Not investment advice.Ayceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10215998278992824851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-83155364402231250332007-02-25T18:13:00.000+00:002007-02-25T18:13:00.000+00:00I remember reading a science fiction story about a...I remember reading a science fiction story about a future society where consumption was mandatory. <BR/><BR/>You had a particular quota you had to consume or you'd be penalized.<BR/><BR/>We may have reached this already.<BR/><BR/>We have countries now wanting their currency to be worth less so they can continue to produce and export. They want to produce at a loss to enable us to consume.<BR/><BR/>I'm afraid everything we were taught in school is just plain wrong. Consumption and waste is good. Production and saving is bad.<BR/><BR/>My own mentality is pretty minimalistic. Besides the bare minimums like food, clothing and medical care, I just want a safe place to live (to own the house), a dependable car and the Internet.<BR/><BR/>I wonder if I'm representative of a new wave of people who are sick of material things that are more hassle then they're worth. And because there are more of us, producers of junk have to keep lowering prices to get us to buy?<BR/><BR/>Nah, no way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-16944972489074080842007-02-25T18:03:00.000+00:002007-02-25T18:03:00.000+00:00The U.S. is the ultimate showcase for capitalism. ...The U.S. is the ultimate showcase for capitalism. So how is capitalism working out?<BR/><BR/>Capitalism is a pyramid scheme whose logical result in total monopoly in a "survival of the fittest" game. When the bottom line for all decisions is profit...nobody wins except those at the very top.<BR/><BR/>There is no "common good" and it shows. Local economies, infrastructure, education, health care, etc. all become secondary concerns. Like a virus infecting a cell, corporations "take over" the host country, buy the government so that laws are rewritten in their favor, buy the media, and remove all obstacles in pursuit of their own greed.<BR/><BR/>Look at the World Trade Organization. This "boys club" is made up of the worlds corporate/financial elite. They got together for their common good (greed), declared themselves above the law of all sovereign states, and in doing so have sent a message that they consider the laws of a given country as "barriers to free trade". Democracy is inherently "bottom up" control of a country whereas the WTO is trying to impose "top down" control of all countries. Anyone see a problem here?<BR/><BR/>The WTO elected themselves "world dictator". They are not voted into office and are accountable to nobody. It was a naked power grab. They want a "global village" with no borders so goods/services/people can "flow freely" without those pesky rules/laws that the people of a given country may vote into law to protect themselves against these rapists.<BR/><BR/>Here is an analogy. The world is comprised of 7 ponds. Big fish (corporations) are happy to eat the smaller fish in their pond until all that remains are corpses and excrement. The pond ends up either dead or severely damaged.<BR/><BR/>Then the big fish crawls to the next pond, beats the resident "big fish", and the cycle repeats.<BR/><BR/>In the end the last of the big fish fight over the last pond. But there are a finite number of ponds left to conquer and a crisis manifests itself. In the end even the biggest meanest fish loses as there is nothing left to support its ravenous hunger....<BR/><BR/>We are there now. Capitalism in its present form is unsustainable and inherently damaging to local economies. And all so that an ever smaller elite can make ever more obscene profits.<BR/><BR/>This model is unsustainable.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-33534477912296254362007-02-25T17:50:00.000+00:002007-02-25T17:50:00.000+00:00And a war in Iran will put us further in debt and ...And a war in Iran will put us further in debt and have 2 billion Muslims even more ticked than they are now at us! We have yet to finish the job in Afghanistan and Iraq!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-4001824499874635502007-02-25T17:43:00.000+00:002007-02-25T17:43:00.000+00:00Re:Kennedy and McCain are working on the Amnesty b...Re:Kennedy and McCain are working on the Amnesty bill for Illegals all week. This will be the end of the USA as we know<BR/><BR/>A lot of people have big hard-ons against Illegals. Let's face it, it's what keeps our economy going. Big Money knows that it's bad for business to get rid of these workers. Everyone knows that the easiest way to get rid of Illegals is to go after the business owners who knowingly employ these people. But that's bad for business and a big downer....ain't gonna' happen.<BR/><BR/>Americans workers will need $12/hr to pick our crop and clean our toilets. They'll need full medical benifits and they'll want to Unionize. Again, that's bad for business and a big downer. I'm all for American workers and I'm willing to pay $7 for my broccoli but I suspect that the biggest whiners against Illegals don't want to pay up for the American labor. You can't have both ways....Illegals are here to stay, quit whining.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-36378100536077018662007-02-25T17:29:00.000+00:002007-02-25T17:29:00.000+00:00greg swann in troublehis favorite mortgage company...greg swann in trouble<BR/>his favorite mortgage company just got busted for fraud and theft<BR/>housingdoom.com<BR/>i dont want to pay for gregs food when he is jailed<BR/>put him in a cell with big bubba the man molestor<BR/>and come back in 12 hoursAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-83947744183863843792007-02-25T16:35:00.000+00:002007-02-25T16:35:00.000+00:00I think the dumping of the dollar has already begu...I think the dumping of the dollar has already begun.<BR/><BR/>Last week gold and silver spiked up huge. There's a big buyer on the prowl or lots of buyers.<BR/><BR/>This Monday look for a quick rally as soon as the stock market opens as the hedge funds and mutual funds try to convince everyone that things are fine followed by another down day if not a complete panic.<BR/><BR/>I see no way out of this. This sub prime thing IS the straw that is breaking the camel's back. The last vestiges of hope are draining right now. <BR/><BR/>The problem is, investors have nowhere to put their money. That's why it's taking so long to kill the DOW. Real Estate is a bust. Bonds are low yield, not even keeping up with inflation. Currency is fake. Only gold and silver are left so that's going to be the next bubble. <BR/><BR/>Wait, I see a new bubble on the horizon to absorb all this inflated cash, yes, there is it, Tulips!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-45952319763937118842007-02-25T16:26:00.000+00:002007-02-25T16:26:00.000+00:00If you are insinuating that the American public is...If you are insinuating that the American public is decadent, isn't that an indictment of the entire American system?<BR/><BR/>Well I for one do not have to sit around here and listen to someone badmouthing, the United States of America!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-87327149598082428652007-02-25T16:22:00.000+00:002007-02-25T16:22:00.000+00:00We are like some demented veal, stuck in our pens,...We are like some demented veal, stuck in our pens, staring at our flat screen idiot box as we fatten ourselves up for the slaughter.<BR/><BR/>The Chinese will develop a taste for the white meat sausage that is imported from the States, but they will demand that the suppliers stop using lye to clean the animals. It gets into the skin and ruins the sausage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com