Is Quality the Answer when it comes to fixing the global economy?

It seems like economic growth is fueled by the belief in something good. Once the good is created, waves of false excitement that lead to false growth get created as cheaper product imitations are made that leave the consumer with the initial belief that they are getting something valuable, for a lot cheaper.

Once the consumer realizes the new cheaper thing is not as good as what it replaced, nor as useful, consumer enthusiam disappears, the value plummets, and the economy crashes.

The initial desire to save the economy is to then try and just get things going again. But if we create things just to get things going again, and the creation isn't based on quality and longevity, there will be nothing to get excited about, hence no real growth, and the economy will just stagnate.

No matter how many times we are led to believe that quality is not the issue, there comes a moment in the economic spin cycle where quality and longevity does matter.

Just recently I read an article about how Detroit had already started retooling some engine plants to make more fuel efficient engines, and now that the price of gasoline was crashing, there was some regret being expressed that maybe Detroit had over reacted to the spike in fuel prices and retooled too quickly.

It will be interesting to see if quality and longevity can make a comeback. Right now it seems the speculators only know how to make a fast buck, which means quality won't make a comeback just yet, and neither will the economy.

There may be only one way to fix the global economy.

There may be only one way to fix the global economy, and it revolves around the governments of the world changing how they operate. Governments can no longer be energy drainers and huge tax assessors, it no longer works. The world's global economy will only heal when governments from all over the world actually begin to create wealth rather than drain it.

Global economy overlap, in which emerging industrialized nations now compete with existing ones, can only be reversed if each and every government creates it's own wealth and reduces taxes on it's citizens, and the banking institutions quit charging long term interest on short term purchases.

What kind of wealth can governments generate? Energy wealth appears to be the number one commodity. If the United States government could supply energy to it's citizens at very competitive prices, it would become it's own wealth generator and in the process would not need to tax so heavily.

If the United States government generated it's own energy, we would not need to have so many troops spread throughout the world. I don't recommend our government directly compete with energy companies, however there are certain kinds of energy the government should be able to handle, energy such as hydroelectric energy.

In the information age we could lead by example, not by military presence. It really is all about energy now.

Stock Markets Rise over 900 Points, biggest rise ever, um, did your stocks go up very much in value???

I didn't delve too deeply into who did well today, however, just for fun and research purposes I track a few dozen stocks. Hardly any of them had more than a one or two percent jump in "value" on a day when the stock market went up 11%. Somebody has some explaining to do.

What will fix the Stock Market? How about the government admitting that they and the banking community have gutted the consumer beyond recognition.

George Bush will speak AGAIN this morning and once again I will be reminded of the musical quartet playing on the deck of the Titantic as the Titantic sank. I feel as if George Bush is simply there to ease our minds while the economy tanks.

What would fix the stock market?

An acknowledgement by the government that between their level of taxes and fees, along with ultra high interest rates by the banks on unsecured credit, the consumer does not have enough spendable income left. If President Bush would just admit this, and agree something needs to be done about it, this would actually encourage wall street. New investments in products and goods by businesses would be spurred by the belief that the consumer will be able to afford new purchases at some point in the near future.

However, something else has to happen, and I'll devote my next article to that key issue.

George Bush Explains about Credit 101, never Mentioning that cash is a good thing to have.

President Bush explains the economy to everybody during ANOTHER hastily called press conference...."Lets say you have a chair for sale, but the customer doesn't have the credit to buy the chair...."

My question is, why doesn't the customer have the cash to buy the chair? Answer, because taxes, fees, and interest take as much as 60% of a customers income, that's why there is a "need" for credit.

I never realized that the Government and Wall Street was doing everybody a favor by keeping everybody in debt and requiring ever increasing debt loads to pay their monthly bills.

Crikey.

NBC Bailouts out on CSPAN Bailout Spoof starring George Soros, Pelosi, Frank, Bush & Sandler lookalikes, but others have preserved the clip.

The Saturday Night Live CSPAN Bailout spoof video clip has been removed by NBC. I consider this bait and switch. Garner great ratings from political material, then pretend it never happened. I stumbled upon a gracious entity who understands the importance of preserving political art and you can download it at Saturday Night Live Spoof starring George Soros lookalike.

This link automatically downloads a wav file to your computer so don't click on it if you don't want it on your computer. I downloaded it with no problems. If you download the video the George Soros piece is in the final 90 seconds, however I don't think you can fast forward the video to the final 90 seconds.

Allegedly the Sandlers complained about their spoof segment, presumably about the caption that appeared over their scene. I can see why they would be concerned. The Saturday Night Live CSPAN piece should have stayed available with the Sandler caption blurred out or rewritten. Yes that can be seen as a form of censorship but since it involves inflammatory language about offing someone, I think an exception could be made.

For NBC to pretend the piece never existed is just wrong and in a way they may be doing more wrong by not accommodating the Sandlers AND letting the viewing audicence see the piece for ALL THE OTHER BITS THAT ARE IN IT. One wrong should not mean an entire piece is deleted from the internet.

George Soros manipulated the democratic race and Barack Obama doesn't care that millions of hard working voices and the elderly were denied a realistic chance to be heard in the Great Plains caucus contests, not to mention Florida, Michigan and Texas.

Saturday Night Live Transcript of a CSPAN Spoof involving George Soros, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, and the Bailout.

Transcript of Saturday Night Live CSPAN spoof starring "George Bush, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, and George Soros" lookalikes. I transcribed this myself, my preference is anyone can put a link to here rather than just cutting and pasting it somewhere else, thanks.

Barney Frank
Many of you are probably wondering where did that 700 billion missing from our economy go. To help answer that, let me introduce our good friend, Billionaire Hedge Fund Manager George Soros.

George Soros
Zo vut became of zat 700 billion dollars. Well, Basically it belongs to me now. Actually, it's not even dollars anymore but Swiss Francs. Since I have taken a short on position against the U.S. Dollar.

George Bush
Oh Really - that's not good.

George Soros
You're not to speak, I don't like you.

George Bush
(nods incoherently)

George Soros
Yes uh, the U.S. Dollar will have to be devalued sometime next week, either Tuesday or Wednesday, I haven't decided which yet, it will depend on how I feel.

Barney Frank
Thank you very much Mr. Soros, You're a great man.

George Soros
Yes, could I just add that even though you know whats coming, you won't be able to do anything about it.

Nancy Pelosi
You're a wise man, Mr. Soros (in awe), and a powerful one.

Barney Frank
You are better than us.

George Soros
(to Anne Hathaway's penniless husband) Your wife is physically attractive, sell her to me please.

Husband
Sure

Hathaway
OK.

End of faux CSPAN conference courtesy of Saturday Night Live.

The video clip has since been removed by NBC. However, you can download it at Saturday Night Live Spoof starring George Soros lookalike. This link automatically downloads a wav file to your computer so don't click on it if you don't want it on your computer. I downloaded it with no problems. If you download the video the George Soros piece is in the final 90 seconds, however I don't think you can fast forward the video to the final 90 seconds.

Consumer Bill of Rights, Does one even Exist?

The Wall Street Bailout masked what is really wrong with economy. We need a consumer Bill of Rights, and we need one now. Additionally, the Federal and State Income Tax Codes MUST be simplified and made fairer to those who are renters.

#1 The right to "OPT OUT" of any financial agreement whenever the loaner changes terms.
#2 Interest free pay down on all credit card debt that is 3 years or older.
#3 40% minimum floor space for products that are actually made in america for businesses such as Target and Walmart.
#4. Government Bailout to Wall Street primarily for U.S. industries that produce products and jobs in America.
#5. The creation of a true Alternative Minimum PERCENTAGE TAX that covers ALL FEDERAL TAXES.
#6 Full Income Tax Deduction for renters, full Income Tax Deduction on the Primary Home Mortgage (with a cap), full income tax deduction on all necessary medical & hospital expenses and on all insurance Premiums.
#7 No change to the current Income Tax Tables.

If the above Consumer Bill of Rights were implemented, the U.S. Economy would rebound.

Are there any downsides? A possibly weakened international military presence and ironically, a rapid and large influx of immigrants who would want to live here.

If we continue on with a strong international military while our own country's insides rot out, one must ask just who does this benefit?

If we put the military to work inside of our own borders, doing things like dredging the Mississippi river and installing underwater hydroelectric turbines, or rebuilding our country's infrastructure of bridges and railways, our own economy will improve. I prefer a consumer bailout versus a Wall Street Bailout.

117 million Taxpayers received 170 billion dollars in stimulus relief this year, Wall Street wants 700 billion, want is Wrong with this Picture?

117 million Taxpayers received a total of 170 billion dollars in stimulus relief checks this year, now Wall Street wants FOUR TIMES MORE than that amount. I find it crazy that we would ignore the consumer and their exploding debt and instead manufacture money to give to Wall Street, whose primary job is to create more debt among these same group of american consumers that are already in debt.

Crazier still is to give this money to a group of Wall Street Investors WHO WON'T EVEN KEEP THE MONY IN THE UNITED STATES! CRAZIER STILL IS THAT SOME OF THIS MONEY WILL BE USED TO BUY INFLUENCE IN THE NEXT ELECTION!

Clearly, reducing INTEREST ON OLD CONSUMER DEBT for over a 100 million american consumers would re-ignite the economy. Instead, the consumer's interests are not being addressed, but the politicians are listening to the very people who will then rebate them money for their own political campaigns.

Credit Flowing on Wall Street to do what, invest in other countries while Taking away more jobs from American Workers?

Between the government overtaxing US citizens, to Wall Street investing american money in overseas enterprises, the American Consumer has been thrown to the curb. Where is Ralph Nader when you need him?

Stock Market loses 1.1 trillion in one day over 700 billion dollar bailout bill rejection.

At first thought, one would say it's a "no brainer" to pass a 700 dollar bailout plan if it prevents a one day 1.1 trillion dollar loss on Wall Street. It would also have been a no brainer to come up with a stimulus package for consumers that encourages consumers to pay down their debts, especially OLD, unsecured DEBTS.

Reducing OLD CONSUMER DEBT may possibly be the least discussed option by financial gurus, yet it makes the most sense. Old debt is money owed on unsecured purchases that a consumer has been paying interest on for more than four years yet the principle has remained the same or barely inched downward during that time span.

Wall Street bitterly clings to OLD consumer debt as a source of income in the same manner a dog chases it's own tail. Wall Street wants to be bailed out of current bad loans, but why? So they can make new loans to whom, people still trying to pay off old debt? Wall Street and the Government can only pack so much debt onto the backs of its citizens, then it's either relief, or imprisonment.

Relief is simple enough. Just allow consumers to pay off OLD DEBT interest free. The banks already have made a ton of money off of the interest that has already been paid on the old, unsecured debt, now the consumer gets to pay back the rest with no more interest charges. The plan is so simple, and worthwhile, that not even a peep has been heard in Congress, from the president, nor from Wall Street, because this plan actually helps the consumer first. The consumer in turn would help everyone else. The consumer helping the higher ups is a plan that just cannot be stomached by the egoists in power, shame on them.

Consumer Debt, Why are we not talking about Consumer Debt?

Over the years we have heard about stock market corrections. Stock Market corrections restabilize the market and allow for a new run of success to occur.

Then there is consumer debt. For some reason, the media, the government, nor Wall Street ever states that reducing consumer debt is actually a good thing.

Has consumer debt ever decreased in the past 20 years? Shouldn't consumer debt periodically decrease so the Financial Industry can again entice us to go more in debt? Shouldn't there be an up and down cycle to consumer debt totals?

Consumer Debt Reduction cannot occur with so many hands inside the consumers wallet. Government taxes, state taxes, questionable interest rate charges on credit card debt, not allowing full medical deductions off of our income taxes, and not allowing full rental deductions to those who don't own property are the primary reasons that consumer debt continues to rise every year.

Until consumer debt is reversed and lowered, nothing can be done to fix the economy that will actually work. The Bailout is evil and was rejected, but until the elite in our society acknowledge that the consumer is overleveraged in debt, nothing will change for the better.

Lets have REAL CHANGE, Instead of the Government Saving the Bankers, how about the Consumer Saving the Economy.

Because the consumer continues to be under represented in important, national issues, the government makes knee jerk decision based on input from the actual kneejerkers that caused the problem in the first place. Fixing the economy is easy. Empower the consumer by waiving all interest charges on old debt.

Empower the homeowner by waiving interest payments for a year or two. Even if the payments remain the same every month, apply the ENTIRE AMOUNT towards the principal. This will do a heck of lot to help the economy. Discourage buying things on credit or with 12 months no upfront payments.

If the economy gets back to being real, then the condition of the economy can be reassessed in six months to a year and adjustments made that that time. Nobody is willing to acknowledge that the banking and investment industry suffocated too many people by having them pay too much in interest. Nobody is willing to take the government to task for wanting to much in the way of taxes without providing anything to help the economy.

Letting the consumer pay off their OLD Debts INTEREST FREE is the only bailout that is needed right now.

What is needed BEFORE a bailout is interest free pay downs on all outstanding consumer debt. This would instantly infuse the banks with MORE of the consumers money as the consumer pays down their debt, interest free.

Money would be used to pay down existing debt, money would also be saved, and a third bonus would be the consumer would actually be able to afford to buy some goods with CASH, and NOT credit. How dare the government pay off Wall Street first while ignoring the consumer. How dare the government print up money it doesn't have and claim that newly printed money has more "value" than the consumer money that has been earned by the consumer performing a job.

No matter how much money is printed by the government, all that really matters is how much money is being generated by people working. What then matters most is, how efficiently is the consumer able to spend that money? Old interest debt on consumeable items that have been consumed and no longer exist is hurting the consumer, and the economy.

But we are led by elitists who think they must "save us" so they can continue their pampered lives of excess. The elite need to go on a diet, and leave more of the consumers money in the consumers pocket, that is how to get the economy going again.

The Media, Banks, and the U.S. government are either slow to figure out an economic solution, or they have a master plan to keep us Fearful.

Solution 101. If I could wave a magic wand and do one thing for the economy, it would be to allow for an immediate implementation of a full income tax deduction for both renters and property owners.

"Preposterous", the wall street muckety mucks would say, "that is double dipping"! Lol, and just what does the government do every second of every day when it comes to taxation, they double and triple and quadruple dip. The government taxes money coming and going, every which way they can.

Hospitalization costs (including insurance premiums), monthly apartment rental costs and monthly mortgage payments should ALL be completely deducted from a person's income prior to calculating income tax, and the income tax tables WOULD NOT be adjusted to anticipate this real deduction.

Is the government being honest, or is the government trying to trick us by blaming the economy on higher fuel prices and the sub prime mortgage fiasco?

The reason I ask is, if the average consumer is paying $2,500 dollars a year in all kinds of interest & finance charges, and considerably more than that in all kinds of state and federal taxes, why would paying an extra $600 dollars a year on gasoline be destroying the economy?

Wouldn't it make more sense to "re-evaluate" just what kind of interest and finance charges are being charged on the consumer, rather than blaming the economy on the price of oil?

Wouldn't it also make more sense to re-evaluate the fairness of state and federal taxation as well when it comes to assessing taxes on the place we call home, be it rental or otherwise?

If the government wants to blame the economy on the sub prime mortgage debacle, why not acknowledge that peoples' desire to own their own living space for just a few hundred more dollars a month than renting was too good to pass up! Once the home interest deduction was added in, it may actually have cost less to own a home then rent from someone else!

The government needs to make it economically sensible to pay rent or the economic instability that is taking over will continue. Some people may choose to own a home and have less money in the bank as a result, others may choose to pay rent and with the money they save per month, actually have a savings account. Both living methods should be equally honored by the government. As it stands, renters are being discriminated against.

If this idea were to be implemented, it is possible that those who rent properties may raise their rates because they know that their tenants will now be getting income tax deductions. However, that would just be ethically wrong.

Once the renters deduction is incorporated into the income tax code, the government could set up an escalating tax on a building owner to prevent the owner from overcharging.

These steps would allow all people to take a huge, deep breath, one that they deserve. People are entitled to reasonable deductions, whether they are home owners, renters or have serious medical issues.