Why Stocks Are Surging as Jobs Disappear

Same old, same old

Whenever I write a comment, some folks think I'm just being negative. Watching the real world for many decades and seeing the garbage that goes on in politics, and really never changing, causes an observant individual to become "negative". We SHOULD have a sales tax system. We SHOULD have almost zero corruptin in the DC arena. We SHOULD take care of "Main ST" Americans first and then wealthy, poor, & foreign problems. We should do lots of things, but we don't. When a system is run by thugs, why would they ever change anything? The "leaders" of our country get it all: money, perks, power, fame and fortune. Why would they voluntarily give it up? We are so complacent that we send these uncaring monkeys back to DC every election and then wonder why nothing changes. Left, right, liberal, conservative - they all stink.

Here's what we need to do. First and foremost, we must change our mindset from the way we have been thinking for decades: Teachers, nurses, therapists, social workers, etc should be held in higher esteem and valued more than some fool that can throw a ball around or an actor that does a mediocre job. Our values as a society are totally screwed up. We almost literally worship the almighty dollar and the toys that it buys. We also need to stop dead in it's tracks this garbage of special interest groups. All references to seperating any of us from the American pack is detrimental to us as a society. Who do you think like the idea of "African-American", "Native-American", "gay-American", and so many others? I know of two groups who love it - the Klan & neo-nazis. When you divide up any group, it's much easier to take advantage of them or take over their world. We are first and foremost non-hyphenated Americans.

Next, throw every one of the bums out in the next few elections. Send some local caring, decent person to replace them.

Third, we must get rid of lobbying and special interest groups as they now probably outnumber the regular folks. So, whenever one of these groups put pressure on our lawmakers, we resond by not purchasing any of their items (different brand, manufacturer, country of origin, etc). This will immediately remove millions, if not billions from the pressure mongers and get them to back off.

Fourth, but vitally important. Get your hand out of the air, either looking for some government help or something for nothing. Government cannot shrink as long as millions of us keep demanding special privelidges, payouts, or favors. The federal gang has already encroached too much on state's spheres of influence and lawmaking. You cannot have a well-run central government that is so big that one agency knows nothing about it's next door neighbor. You can't run these agencies with a few people to care for and provide for tens of millions of gimmie gimmie's.

Joel of OH @ Jan 18, 2010 17:22:31 PM

economy

-we ABSOLUTELY need to put a tariff on goods coming into the US. we are a country of consumers, we are importing too much and we do not export much anymore. all of our manufacturing jobs are overseas. if this is the way things will continue to go, and we do not force our own manufacturing to come back to the US, then we need to tariff other goods coming in.

-we also need to lower taxes for everyone. if americans cut back on their spending this economy will not recover. when we reduce taxes it is followed by more spending.

-why oh why have we not switched from income taxes to sales taxes? if your income is not taxed you have more money to spend from the start. some argue that higher sales tax will mean people will consume less. but i believe that people tend to spend what they earn, we are not big savers in this country. this is proven by the stimulus, when the government hands out money the people spend it. so, give everyone their whole paycheck and watch and see, there will be more spending then ever which will get our economy back on track again. with this tax system, we can also eliminate thousands of government jobs, the IRS. we need to downsize government somewhere at the rate that it is growing elsewhere.

-the reason we have never reformed this old tax system is because the current system is very useful to politicians, it gives them power and control by doing favors (tax breaks) to those who have supported them. so why on earth would any politician want to do away with it? if we just revised the tax system perhaps we wouldnt need health care reform; if everyone earned enough money in first place maybe they could afford their own insurance plans. this could actually solve the problem of healthcare rather than putting this "new healthcare plan" bandaide on it.

lynn of CA @ Jan 16, 2010 12:37:42 PM

Robert is right.

We are following the same great economic advice Japan has been following for over 2 decades. This same pattern has been followed by many countries over hundreds of years. Always ends the same. Those who can not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. FIRE CONGRESS re-elect nobody.

Delia Lopez of OR @ Jan 16, 2010 12:26:10 PM

Political Decisions

I believe the current economic course that the current administration, congress, and the federal reserve have set has been due to the marrying of a corrupt political party and the flawed economic view of the fed. Let me explain. First, the democrats came to virtual power and are paying off every entity, group, or individual that either helped to give them power or will help them retain power. The examples are too numerous to list here. So, we as taxpayers have virtually no say as they borrow outrages sums of money to accomplish their political goal of a "lock" on the electorate. Good luck with that one. Now, the fed. The fed, although they will not admit this, apparently believes that massive inflation will actually help the economic situation. Inflation is obviously coming as is $6 a gallon milk. Think about it. If milk, for example, hits $6 a gallon, houses that are mortgaged for $600,000 but only valued at $400,000 would, over time, be righted and value-to-debt ratios no longer create the gorilla in the room for the economy. Americans have two choices: wiping the slate clean through a painful economic collapse making the Great Depression look not so Great, or enduring at least a decade of stiffling inflation and pain.

What should happen is for massive tax relief along with painful and necessary cuts to legacy pension/benefit plans that are choking businesses and government. Sorry, folks, reality is reality, even when it hits home. But, take some of that money from the retirement savings and start a new business enjoying those tax breaks. Create real wealth. Borrowed money in the form of a monthly check in the mailbox from a government that is technically insolvent, is not real wealth.

John of CA @ Jan 16, 2010 11:45:19 AM

Retirements

Retirements and health benefits must not be reduced! They need to be added to! Find cuts somewhere else! The elderly need too be protected not villified! Why, you ask? For the simple reason that we all get old!!! If you vote to push aside the old folks,beware, for one day you too will be pushed aside and abandoned!!! Think!

Gil of CA @ Jan 16, 2010 10:42:36 AM

government retirement

The city, county, state and federal governments have to reduce the retirement programs now. They need to go to a cash balance plan and cut all retired employees health care benefits. This includes former presidents, senators, judges and representatives.

This should not affect the disabled and retired 20 year military employees.

Example: It is not fare for a county court clerk to retire with 70% of his salary and medical insurance for life. You cannot put a number on this retirement.

I was laid off on 12/31/09. I have worked at the same company for 31 years.

I received a cash balance of $73,000, no insurance (just cobra) and a severance package of $120,000 after taxes it neted $80,000.

Now at 52, where do I find a job in this economic nightmare?

Therefore, the company I worked for has a number. The government does not. That is why the government is broke. It has to change now.

Plus a tariff has to be put on goods coming into the US. We have to create jobs for unskilled workers. Not everyone in the US is meant to be a rocket scientist. Education is not the answer completely. We have to have jobs that pay a decent wage for unskilled workers.

Let me have everyone’s thoughts.

ricky of TN @ Jan 02, 2010 00:12:08 AM

No recovery

There will be no recovery for a number of reasons. First, The federal government is following the same fiscal policy that caused the economic meltdown. Many say it had no choice but that is like a drug addict saying he had no choice because of withdrawal pains. The reality is he will have to withdraw at some point or die. To put it off just makes the pain worse. Second, Even if we do withdraw we will not be able to compete with 13 cent per hour poverty wages in China, India, and other foreign countries. Low industrial sales is waht motivated the fed to start interest rate reductions to begin with back in 90s recession. Perot was right, NAFTA screwed us. Third, consumption, disease, and crime based economies are not viable. Fourth, government intervention to "save" will produce negative incentive for small business to take risk. Fifth, a pornified culture and unlawful government that profits by using technology to degrade morality and escape justice is not worthy of existence.

Robert of TX @ Jan 01, 2010 14:05:09 PM

Chinese Currency is the yuan not yen

The "Gangster Corporation, Response" reads, "China would not do this since they have tied the yen to the dollar." The Chinese unit of currency is the yuan. The yen is the Japanese unit of currency.

Takash of HI @ Dec 29, 2009 03:29:31 AM