Sunset Beach CA real estate listings and homes for sale, home buying, home selling information – Advantage Property

My New Blog

OBLIVIOUS ON WALL STREET , CLUELESS IN WASHINGTON

February 8th, 2009 11:41 PM

Wall Street - Whatever has led the executives on Wall Street to believe they can take taxpayer's bail out dollars and not be accountable for how they spend it? Nobody should expect to spend like a drunken sailor with one hand while dipping the other into public coffers. But that is exactly what the bailed out banks and corporations have been doing.
High end corporate junkets to plush spas, humongous golden parachutes for loser executives, expensive new corporate jets, private jets to chauffeur about, and gigantic bonuses for the non-achievers. Oh, what’s a few million here or there? The problem is, the Wall Street players don’t play with their own money; it’s supplied by the endless flow of stockholders. So when that pipeline dries up and they are in dire straits they just turn on the spigot to public funds...bailout dollars. Should we be surprised when those in a habit of using OPM (other people’s money) turn to taxpayer’s (Washington), for their next fix?
Then there is Madoff, who made off with billions of investor dollars. How in the world did he fly so many years under the radar of industry and regulatory watchdogs? But, then again there was at least one industry stalwart that cried wolf for nearly a decade and was ignored by both Wall Street and Washington. Madoff maybe the prince of the Ponzi. This may be the largest private scheme, but it pales in comparison to the king, more about that later.
We are being led to believe that no one on Wall Street had any idea that the junk-loan house of cards would one day implode, just party on.
Washington Now, let’s talk about Washington. All through this, the regulators and overseers are clueless to the inevitable disaster as they encourage and promote the bad behavior.
This crew suffers from the same addiction to other people’s money, only it's the taxpayers'. Their behavior mirrors Wall Street.
Consider the recent four star junkets taken by members of Congress and their families. Perhaps the use of government planes to commute between home and Washington. Or special interest contributions to the campaign coffers.
It is little wonder that first bailout dollars go first to their twins on Wall Street and then into their own earmarks and pork barrel projects. They can always raise taxes or borrow from China.
Do you remember the prince of the Ponzi? Well, meet the king. Take a close look at the social security system or any number of other entitlement programs and you have the model Wall Street is mimicking.
Oblivious and clueless, you bet, the whole lot. And now they’re going to fix it with more of our money?

Posted by Joyce Riviere on February 8th, 2009 11:41 PMPost a Comment (0)

Subscribe to this blog

Bernanke's speech a big "duh"

February 24th, 2009 7:53 AM

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Tuesday the economy is suffering through a "severe contraction" and pledged to use all available tools to lift the country out of the recession that already has cost millions of Americans their jobs...

What else is new?? What tools?? Aren't you fresh out of available tools?? Are there any sharp tools in your shed?? Isn't this the same statement you made six months ago?? Is this just another opportunity for Congress to postulate and get their faces on TV in front of their constituents??

...and this is me, the optimist! The truth is, the Congress is without tools. In the end, the markets are making the decisions. The markets, struggling to retain their freedom, are US and our power to INVEST IN AMERICA.

Still lovin' it!

Posted by Joyce Riviere on February 24th, 2009 7:53 AMPost a Comment (0)

Subscribe to this blog

Taking a Bite Out of McMansions

February 1st, 2009 6:53 PM

Smaller Is Better Goodbye to McMansions and, hello to the Mini Mac, as Americans turn to 'right-sized' homes. Recent research suggests that homes being built today are getting smaller. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average size of homes started in the 3Q08 was 2,438 square feet, down from 2,629 square feet in the 2Q08. Similarly, the median size of homes started in the 3Q08 was 2,090, down from 2,291 in the 2Q08. The statistics confirm what the housing industry has suspected, America's housing demands are downsizing.
Gayle Butler, editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens, said for many homeowners, it is not so much downsizing as "right-sizing", giving up big homes with unused space for homes that better fit their needs.
As homes get smaller, home-owners are economizing the space they do have. Butler says she is seeing more interest in "Wii-sized spaces." Other features high on the list include flexible family rooms that accommodate a variety of activities, from video games to fitness systems, and outdoor kitchens and entertaining areas.
According to a survey conducted by the magazine, 32% of the 733 potential new-home buyers participating said they expected their new home to be either somewhat smaller or much smaller than the one they already own.
"Either by necessity or choice, they're willing to take a step back from the McMansions," Butler said.
Other housing trends include:
Simpler Elements Consumers say they need fewer luxuries in their next home. 20% or more of the participants in the survey viewed upgraded landscaping, granite countertops, and luxurious master suites as less important, 35% graded high ceilings as less important.
Going Green The Better Homes and Gardens survey said 90% of those surveyed are planning to have energy-efficient heating and cooling systems and 31% plan to have geo-thermal heat. "The green theme touches everything in the home, from the food we look to consume, our health concerns in the home, building -- even our furnishings in the home," said Robin Avni, senior director and consumer strategist for the firm Iconoculture, a cultural trend research firm.
According to the National Association of Home Builders, 88% of builders surveyed in January said that they are building or planning to build a larger share of smaller homes and 89% said they're planning on building more lower-priced models.

Posted by Joyce Riviere on February 1st, 2009 6:53 PMPost a Comment (0)

Subscribe to this blog