Sometimes you find a supportive voice where you don’t expect to find one. I have to admit that I have a soft-spot for Jim Cramer….Beyond the fact that he autographed a book for my Dad shortly before his death….he does try to make Wall Street explicable to those of us who have not spent quality time on the floor of the stock exchange. He had words of wisdom about the #occupy Wall Street movement and highlighted the concerns of many about “direction.” Cramer has a unique opportunity to shape that focus the movement…by reaching out to them He certainly had enough to say about justice not being done…
Bravo Mr. Cramer!
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Perhaps one of the biggest elephants in the room from #occupy wall street movement is that many of the protesters have done a 180 degree turn on that “self determination” thing.
Real estate agents are independent contractors and we are often coach and cajoled into believing that “you make it happen and YOU are in 100% control of your destiny.” That works until it doesn’t. You can be as aggressive as you want - but if consumer demand has completely dried up very few will survive. Like selling coals in Newcastle - selling houses in the biggest recession since the great Depression is about as easy as selling ice to Eskimos.
Much of the criticism levied at the #Occupy Wall Street movement has pinpointed the fact that in general the protesters lack “direction.” These people are not fools or bums and those who would dismiss them lightly do so at their peril. They are savvy enough to know something is wrong. Very wrong. They have the right target in their sites. They are disgusted with Wall Street and the “too big to fail” banks that have yet to be held to account for the misery they have inflicted on millions of Americans. They understand that the banks were bailed out. They understand that instead of lending the largesse from the taxpayers - the banks took the money and locked it up. They get that the super-rich, the big banks, and multinational corporations are sitting on the trillions of $$ that are desperately needed to kick start our economy. They understand that until that money circulates - the misery on Main Street will only increase.
But specific demands are harder to get to…
So here are some demands that would give the movement “direction”. They are particularly relevant to an #Occupy Wall Street movement in that it targets Wall Street and the big banks. (more…)
They say that truth is stranger than fiction. I have been watching HBO’s A Game of Thrones - an epic fantasy along the lines of the Lord of the Rings. But compared to this latest corporate gambit - the specter of humans hatching dragon’s eggs seems almost plausible, even logical. The terrifying thing about this big business ploy and those in Congress that support it -is that the request is not a fantasy nightmare.
The repatriation holiday is a simple enough concept - The US would drop the corporate profits tax from 35% to 5.25% for one year. Since the large corporates are sitting on piles of profits abroad - that would ostensibly STAY abroad should the holiday not be enacted - could be used to create jobs. But COULD is the operative word. No one ever said the word “would”.
David Kocieniewski of The New York Times reported this storyalong with a cautionary tale about what happened the last time we gave the corporates a repatriation holiday. The video below was presented with the article and offers an excellent explanation as to how corporations offshore to avoid the 35% corporate tax.
I want to thankThe Book of Cletisfor allowing me to republish this blog. I have my own take on the Ayn Rand/ Fundamentalist Christian conundrum - and will put that forth in a follow-up post of my own. The irony of Fundamentalist Christians fawning over Atlas Shrugged is not lost on me - but it is a topic I have not brought up before on this blog. Meanwhile, enjoy this post it is very well written and be sure to stop byThe Book of Cletis- it is a blog that is on my daily reading list.
H.L. Mencken cautioned us years ago about our fellow citizens when he wrote, “Never underestimate the ignorance of the American people.” Old H.L. was a pretty cynical fellow but he nailed that right on the head. Still, I was recently shocked when I learned The People of the Tea have embraced Ayn Rand as their new messiah. How anyone can profess their love for Jesus and at the same time walk around town with a copy of Atlas Shrugged is beyond me. Jesus said love the poor for they are your brothers and sisters and love your neighbor as yourself. Ayn Rand said if the poor get in your way take a board to their lazy asses. If your neighbor is poor and threatening your property values, burn his fucking house down.
This chart was posted on The Hand that Feeds You post “They’re Just Not Hiring”. The data was initially published on the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The chart starkly displays what we all knew in our heart to be the case…we are in the deep, dark jobless recovery. Although there have been a few green shoots, the economy is still in the ICU in critical condition. But what interested me the most about the chart was the emerging pattern that demonstrates the intellectual bankruptcy of trickle down theory.
Voting trends are just that - trends. Trends can turn on a dime - just like the varying popularity of kitten heels, flats, and platforms. At least such is the case during times of relative prosperity. Prosperity breeds complacency. It is during such uninteresting times that we sow the seeds of our on destruction.
As someone in the latter half of their forties - I came of age during the Reagan era. Spin and the mere fact that not much “bad” happened during the 80s and 90s to derail the American dream led to a quantum shift towards the conservative. The youth of our day will hopefully learn from our mistakes - because they are certainly paying for them. (And for that - all I can offer is a humble apology across the generational divide. ) (more…)
Last week I was the victim of a robbery. I’ve worked in some rough neighborhoods in my time - and have never once been robbed. So imagine my surprise when my briefcase was snatched by a man on foot who then jumped into a car with an accomplice and drove off.
A good Samaritan managed to observe the crime and took off after the robbers. A high speed chase with several police cars and the good Samaritan ensued and the stoned robber was cornered in a neighboring town in what only can be described as a domestic version of “shock and awe.” I was stunned at the man-power on the scene that was involved in recovering a stolen computer bag/briefcase.
Although I was grateful to get my iPhone back and my wallet and papers, had these crime Lords gotten away - I would have been lighter about $600 and change. It also has cost me in terms of business because of the time and hassle involved. (more…)
PR: 
L: 
I: 
Age: 
I: 
Rank: 
