A friend here in the mountains called me this morning and related a story he'd seen on television the other day. A story about tent cities in Sacramento. After explaining that he was channel surfing and just happened to catch the story (and normally does not watch Oprah), he then reiterated the story of the tent city emerging next to the river in Sacramento. A 'community' of the homeless, the jobless, and other victims of hard times, or themselves, or the predatory bankers, or the boogie man. Everybody has a story. The place is growing by 50 tents a day. With the publicity the story has gotten recently, I'm sure it's going to swell.
By coincidence I was watching Larry King last night hosted by Ali Velshi, the CNN money man who has been telling people to ride out the stock market throughout the 7,000 point downfall. He was interviewing Kevin Johnson about, you guessed it, the tent city. I think several of the residents were former clients of Ali, back when they had money... and the real loser is, yes, Sacramento.
I know it's said that any publicity is good publicity, but in this case I respectfully disagree. I could be wrong though; yesterday I watched a story on Detroit property prices, where houses, nice houses, are selling for $10,000 and less. Since then I've been thinking about Detroit real estate. Today, they interviewed a Detroit newsman about the story and, according to him, the nightmare started there about five years ago with automaker layoffs that continue to this day and the property prices that have fallen and now reflect just 10% of what they were. Can you imagine?
Listening to the newsman, I could feel his personal shock and disbelief as he described the residents waiting and waiting and waiting, and yet still no bottom is approaching to their deteriorating world.
And so back to the tent city... let's say, hypothetically, that the tent city grows by 50 tents a day for 5 years.....that's 91,250 tents. Other than the obvious, now would be a good time to invest in canvas, or maybe porta-potties.
I have read a little of the Great Depression and these tent cities were common back then. I remember reading stories about the Federal Government battling the residents over squatting in certain places. Sacramento might eventually have those type of problems; if one were going to squat in a tent, Sacramento would be a lot better climate-wise than other places. The place could be a magnet for the needy. What an opportunity, the whole hippy movement could re-emerge from the city in the valley where the two rivers meet. That probably sounds good to the people who have already met the boogie man and predatory banker, but those that are still in pocket probably aren't so enthusiastic about living in a loser magnet city.
I can't wait to return.
Showing posts with label Recession. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recession. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The Old Man
My sister called me today. She had received a call from a potential buyer who she described as an old man with an accent. He was to be driving by my property and getting back to her. My sister was alerting me to watch for him and, if I wanted, I could invite him in and show him around.
I meet the nicest people trying to sell this shack. A lot of nice people would like to buy the shack. The nice people don't have any money.
About 40 minutes later, interrupting my attempt to blank my mind and find another plane, a Toyota Corolla pulled in front of the gate, blocking it, and parked. I watched as an older gentleman with white hair under a tan golf cap exited the car and, sure enough, walked right around the gate and up the driveway. I could see he was old. I tell the story like he moved quickly, but actually the whole procedure was a controlled, careful combination of rather jerky movements that had little fluidity and much determination, and moved him forward at a slow pace while barely bending his knees. Nevertheless, he was halfway up the driveway by the time I went out and introduced myself.
I stuck out my hand and said, "I'm Bradley Austin."
He took my hand and said something that sounded like, "Bran Ray."
I noticed he had an accent, and I said again, "Yes, I'm Bradley Austin." But this time more slowly, so he could pick it up .
Again he mispronounced my name, so a third time I stated it. Maybe he didn't hear well, too.
Then he slowly said in his accented voice so I could hear, "Yes, Mr. Austin, I'm Van Ray."
I think I blushed a little and asked him in. We toured the cabin.
I demonstrated all the amenities, and then I asked, "It's all a man needs, but don't you think it might be a little rough for your wife?"
"Oh, we'll just use it for camping," he said.
"Let me show you the upstairs," I responded.
Upstairs, I invited him to sit in my chair. He sat at my desk and faced to the north.
"Oh yes," he said. "I like the view."
Then he faced me and said, "I have an unusual proposition for you. I'm 90 years old and my wife is 88 years old. We're not going to be around very long and so we thought we'd offer you $10k and then will the property back to you when we die." He continued, "Look, we can't live too much longer. I'm already 90. In these hard economic times we thought you might take the deal."
I smiled at him and said, "You look like you have another 20 years in you at least. I wouldn't want to bet against you."
He answered, "That would make me the oldest man in America, don't be ridiculous."
More than willing to reassure me he would die quickly and I would soon have my property back. Seeing he was earnest and ready to negotiate, I then explained to him why I could not accept his offer. He was disappointed and offered me an additional $100 a month while he was alive. I further explained my business and finally, not wanting to be harsh, I told him I would consider all offers presented in written form. He was encouraged and I saw him out and down the driveway.
Later, relating the story back to my sister, adding that if he was a moll he got all my information, she said, "Maybe... Although he said he lives on Highway 199 by the community college. There is an old folks home there. Maybe he hates it so much he wanted your cabin to escape senior living."
Which made more sense than his story of buying the shack to use for camping. The senior home is only 40 minutes away, he could use it as a base for 'camping'. I have to hand it to the old man, whatever plan he had in his mind, whether it was imagined, unrealistic or not, he still had the gumption to come up here and make a pitch.
I meet the nicest people trying to sell this shack. A lot of nice people would like to buy the shack. The nice people don't have any money.
About 40 minutes later, interrupting my attempt to blank my mind and find another plane, a Toyota Corolla pulled in front of the gate, blocking it, and parked. I watched as an older gentleman with white hair under a tan golf cap exited the car and, sure enough, walked right around the gate and up the driveway. I could see he was old. I tell the story like he moved quickly, but actually the whole procedure was a controlled, careful combination of rather jerky movements that had little fluidity and much determination, and moved him forward at a slow pace while barely bending his knees. Nevertheless, he was halfway up the driveway by the time I went out and introduced myself.
I stuck out my hand and said, "I'm Bradley Austin."
He took my hand and said something that sounded like, "Bran Ray."
I noticed he had an accent, and I said again, "Yes, I'm Bradley Austin." But this time more slowly, so he could pick it up .
Again he mispronounced my name, so a third time I stated it. Maybe he didn't hear well, too.
Then he slowly said in his accented voice so I could hear, "Yes, Mr. Austin, I'm Van Ray."
I think I blushed a little and asked him in. We toured the cabin.
I demonstrated all the amenities, and then I asked, "It's all a man needs, but don't you think it might be a little rough for your wife?"
"Oh, we'll just use it for camping," he said.
"Let me show you the upstairs," I responded.
Upstairs, I invited him to sit in my chair. He sat at my desk and faced to the north.
"Oh yes," he said. "I like the view."
Then he faced me and said, "I have an unusual proposition for you. I'm 90 years old and my wife is 88 years old. We're not going to be around very long and so we thought we'd offer you $10k and then will the property back to you when we die." He continued, "Look, we can't live too much longer. I'm already 90. In these hard economic times we thought you might take the deal."
I smiled at him and said, "You look like you have another 20 years in you at least. I wouldn't want to bet against you."
He answered, "That would make me the oldest man in America, don't be ridiculous."
More than willing to reassure me he would die quickly and I would soon have my property back. Seeing he was earnest and ready to negotiate, I then explained to him why I could not accept his offer. He was disappointed and offered me an additional $100 a month while he was alive. I further explained my business and finally, not wanting to be harsh, I told him I would consider all offers presented in written form. He was encouraged and I saw him out and down the driveway.
Later, relating the story back to my sister, adding that if he was a moll he got all my information, she said, "Maybe... Although he said he lives on Highway 199 by the community college. There is an old folks home there. Maybe he hates it so much he wanted your cabin to escape senior living."
Which made more sense than his story of buying the shack to use for camping. The senior home is only 40 minutes away, he could use it as a base for 'camping'. I have to hand it to the old man, whatever plan he had in his mind, whether it was imagined, unrealistic or not, he still had the gumption to come up here and make a pitch.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Nothing
The weather is changing here today. The warm sunshine and tease of spring is being replaced by a north wind, black clouds, cold rain and dropping temperatures. Winter is returning for the latter half of February. The driveway is returning to mud. Wood consumption is rising quickly.
Finally, California may get some rain. More importantly, the mountains on the California-Oregon border are getting snow. My property needs the water.
Watching CNN today, I see that citizens that have lost their homes are protesting in front of the homes of CEOs of various lending institutions guilty of predatory lending. The idea is to 'personalize' the victims to the culprit. Remember this desperate day; the victims are forecasting an attitude and frustration that is going to explode nationwide.
As one friend put it, "This $900 billion give away is the grease that will send this fine country into the big black shit hole. The poor will be in the streets looting. The folks with anything left will retreat." Predatory Bankers better hide now. It would appear when the guillotines are dragged out their heads will be the first to roll.
If this was China, their greed and crimes would have already brought death. Maybe we can learn something from our Pacific rim partners. Misuse of public trust and power should be punishable by death. We wouldn't have to kill many politicians before Washington straightened itself out. Think if we killed just a few and all of the lobbyists.
It's only the beginning, too. As the race downhill proceeds (like a snowball) people will get angrier, hungrier, more unsatisfied. Public unrest is coming. Tax-payer revolt is coming. The ball gets bigger and rolls faster every day.
Americans have lived fat and sassy, and will not be satisfied by a simple subsistence survival. For awhile everybody had money, and everyone got a taste of having a little wealth; watch how we revolt against being poor.
And why shouldn't we? It's the people's money keeping the whole system afloat. Why don't the people now own the system? The banks, the automakers, insurance, housing, They should all be the people's now, and so should their profits! The privatization of profits and socialization of losses is plain robbery. These bailouts are just continuations of the robbery. A few heads should roll, literally. No, a lot of heads should roll.
As the house of cards falls the terror from within will begin. Eventually there will be no good or bad guys; people will fear both the government and the enemies of the state. I guess the retreat part comes into play about then.
The world is changing. America can no longer afford to support the rest of the world with her unbridled consumption, just as America cannot afford to police the rest of the world. Maybe it's time we focused on saving ourselves.
The sky is black now. Snow is starting to fall, swirling in the winds, carrying the latest storm into southern Oregon. It's late in the afternoon. The sky will only darken, the day become night, and the cold deepen before the storm passes.
Finally, California may get some rain. More importantly, the mountains on the California-Oregon border are getting snow. My property needs the water.
Watching CNN today, I see that citizens that have lost their homes are protesting in front of the homes of CEOs of various lending institutions guilty of predatory lending. The idea is to 'personalize' the victims to the culprit. Remember this desperate day; the victims are forecasting an attitude and frustration that is going to explode nationwide.
As one friend put it, "This $900 billion give away is the grease that will send this fine country into the big black shit hole. The poor will be in the streets looting. The folks with anything left will retreat." Predatory Bankers better hide now. It would appear when the guillotines are dragged out their heads will be the first to roll.
If this was China, their greed and crimes would have already brought death. Maybe we can learn something from our Pacific rim partners. Misuse of public trust and power should be punishable by death. We wouldn't have to kill many politicians before Washington straightened itself out. Think if we killed just a few and all of the lobbyists.
It's only the beginning, too. As the race downhill proceeds (like a snowball) people will get angrier, hungrier, more unsatisfied. Public unrest is coming. Tax-payer revolt is coming. The ball gets bigger and rolls faster every day.
Americans have lived fat and sassy, and will not be satisfied by a simple subsistence survival. For awhile everybody had money, and everyone got a taste of having a little wealth; watch how we revolt against being poor.
And why shouldn't we? It's the people's money keeping the whole system afloat. Why don't the people now own the system? The banks, the automakers, insurance, housing, They should all be the people's now, and so should their profits! The privatization of profits and socialization of losses is plain robbery. These bailouts are just continuations of the robbery. A few heads should roll, literally. No, a lot of heads should roll.
As the house of cards falls the terror from within will begin. Eventually there will be no good or bad guys; people will fear both the government and the enemies of the state. I guess the retreat part comes into play about then.
The world is changing. America can no longer afford to support the rest of the world with her unbridled consumption, just as America cannot afford to police the rest of the world. Maybe it's time we focused on saving ourselves.
The sky is black now. Snow is starting to fall, swirling in the winds, carrying the latest storm into southern Oregon. It's late in the afternoon. The sky will only darken, the day become night, and the cold deepen before the storm passes.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Buy American
How does an economy grow?
By passing dollars around. Not by sending them overseas. Exports go overseas. Buy American. Boycott businesses that are building foreign economies. Buy American.
Don't worry about American goods being more expensive; with the declining value of the dollar, with the American standard of living declining (ie. the elimination of the middle class), with the third world wages our manufacturers will be paying us, American goods will be cheap. So will American services. Remember, the more desperate people are for the basic necessities of life, the more willing they are to do more for less. 'Money' would like to see everybody desperate.
When you buy American, you contribute to your country, your fellow American citizen, the future of human rights, and the continuing fight for freedom from the 1% of the worlds population who control 80% of the worlds wealth.
So, why hasn't your new President, ObamaMan, once dictated to the American people to buy American? If Americans had spent the half a trillion in America that we owe China, well, where would we be? But ObamaMan can't do that because Americans have been sold out: Americans were sold the idea of "world markets" for American products, they weren't told that the products would be manufactured wherever labor was cheapest, and American labor would have to compete on that 'desperate' world level. Good for money. Good for poor, desperate people. Bad for America as a nation. It's like volunteering to lower our standard of living to that of the rest of the world.
ObamaMan would like you to believe a stimulus package can change this. I say, "nothing is going to save us." Especially repeating the same polices (overspending and borrowing) that created the problem.
Bring home the Troops.
Develop new energy sources.
Buy American.
Boycott contributing to overseas economies by boycotting companies that outsource American jobs.
Bite the Bullet. We don't need a special commission to figure this out, but we may need a REVOLUTION.
By passing dollars around. Not by sending them overseas. Exports go overseas. Buy American. Boycott businesses that are building foreign economies. Buy American.
Don't worry about American goods being more expensive; with the declining value of the dollar, with the American standard of living declining (ie. the elimination of the middle class), with the third world wages our manufacturers will be paying us, American goods will be cheap. So will American services. Remember, the more desperate people are for the basic necessities of life, the more willing they are to do more for less. 'Money' would like to see everybody desperate.
When you buy American, you contribute to your country, your fellow American citizen, the future of human rights, and the continuing fight for freedom from the 1% of the worlds population who control 80% of the worlds wealth.
So, why hasn't your new President, ObamaMan, once dictated to the American people to buy American? If Americans had spent the half a trillion in America that we owe China, well, where would we be? But ObamaMan can't do that because Americans have been sold out: Americans were sold the idea of "world markets" for American products, they weren't told that the products would be manufactured wherever labor was cheapest, and American labor would have to compete on that 'desperate' world level. Good for money. Good for poor, desperate people. Bad for America as a nation. It's like volunteering to lower our standard of living to that of the rest of the world.
ObamaMan would like you to believe a stimulus package can change this. I say, "nothing is going to save us." Especially repeating the same polices (overspending and borrowing) that created the problem.
Bring home the Troops.
Develop new energy sources.
Buy American.
Boycott contributing to overseas economies by boycotting companies that outsource American jobs.
Bite the Bullet. We don't need a special commission to figure this out, but we may need a REVOLUTION.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tales of Doom
I've been at the shack for 7 days now. I know there are people out there who would love to be alone in the mountains of southern Oregon for a week, but for me, well, I actually jogged two miles today on my mountain road, worked on the house, and now am writing this post to occupy myself. Maybe I should put this place on Craig's List as a $1500 a week mountain hideaway rental. One week rented a month would be cool. That would be enough I could be gone to the city to spend money.
Anyway, don't be a sucker, let your Congress Rep know, nothings going to save us; give the money to the Chinese and forget the bailout.
Hey, we owe it to them. I know how it feels. I want my money too. Now. And hell no, no more credit till I'm paid.
"COFFEE WARS, that's the first factor I want to consider. Not that Starbucks and Dunkin-Donuts will determine our national economy and save the housing market, but they are great indicators of the times. See, I don't think that improving a latte' , or customer service, is going to save Starbucks. As times get harder it is my bet that the extravagance of $3.50 cups of coffee will be one of the first luxuries to give way to reality: Look for coffee shops, cafe mochas, and Cappuccinos to disappear quicker than equity in a Las Vegas home."
(Coffee Wars, Property Prices, and Nothing Left to Lose 26Feb08)
It's a year later and the news has only gotten worse. I read an article this week written in 2004 by Mark S.. Watson, 'The oncoming economic depression.' Mr. Watson had foresight. I found the article interesting because it was exactly four years old. If Mr Watson is correct, and he seemed to be accurate back in 2004, don't look for things to improve for a long time. In a small, small, small world, America's big standard of living is going to shrink a little.
Remember the rich have no borders and don't care about the non-rich. You have money or you don't. Believe that, and this: money can live anywhere and cares not about nationality or allegiances. Former President Bush is developing a compound in Paraguay, isn't he? Of course that might be to avoid prosecution, or worse, but after what has happened in this country the last eight years, does anyone really think he gave a damn about the average American? And the strings that strung him damn sure didn't care about America.
Starbucks is closing another three hundred stores today. That 's what this letter is about. They were my measure a year ago and, unfortunately, they are my measure today and the first sentence of this paragraph says it all.
Welcome to the future. You'll be forced to live in a house that's not worth what you owe on it, as it's value decreases. Fuel prices and insurance will force you to mass transit where you'll be forced to meet people you don't want to meet, private transit will be restricted to the upper classes, and worst of all, you'll have to brew your own coffee because Starbucks will only be affordable to the wealthy.
Enjoy them while you still can...
Anyway, don't be a sucker, let your Congress Rep know, nothings going to save us; give the money to the Chinese and forget the bailout.
Hey, we owe it to them. I know how it feels. I want my money too. Now. And hell no, no more credit till I'm paid.
"COFFEE WARS, that's the first factor I want to consider. Not that Starbucks and Dunkin-Donuts will determine our national economy and save the housing market, but they are great indicators of the times. See, I don't think that improving a latte' , or customer service, is going to save Starbucks. As times get harder it is my bet that the extravagance of $3.50 cups of coffee will be one of the first luxuries to give way to reality: Look for coffee shops, cafe mochas, and Cappuccinos to disappear quicker than equity in a Las Vegas home."
(Coffee Wars, Property Prices, and Nothing Left to Lose 26Feb08)
It's a year later and the news has only gotten worse. I read an article this week written in 2004 by Mark S.. Watson, 'The oncoming economic depression.' Mr. Watson had foresight. I found the article interesting because it was exactly four years old. If Mr Watson is correct, and he seemed to be accurate back in 2004, don't look for things to improve for a long time. In a small, small, small world, America's big standard of living is going to shrink a little.
Remember the rich have no borders and don't care about the non-rich. You have money or you don't. Believe that, and this: money can live anywhere and cares not about nationality or allegiances. Former President Bush is developing a compound in Paraguay, isn't he? Of course that might be to avoid prosecution, or worse, but after what has happened in this country the last eight years, does anyone really think he gave a damn about the average American? And the strings that strung him damn sure didn't care about America.
Starbucks is closing another three hundred stores today. That 's what this letter is about. They were my measure a year ago and, unfortunately, they are my measure today and the first sentence of this paragraph says it all.
Welcome to the future. You'll be forced to live in a house that's not worth what you owe on it, as it's value decreases. Fuel prices and insurance will force you to mass transit where you'll be forced to meet people you don't want to meet, private transit will be restricted to the upper classes, and worst of all, you'll have to brew your own coffee because Starbucks will only be affordable to the wealthy.
Enjoy them while you still can...
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The Mall
We were at 'The Mall' last week. The Mall is a good place to observe Holiday Bliss. It's full of Bliss; decorations everywhere, party dresses on hangers, stacks of sweaters on sale, and people everywhere buying things for others... things others don't need. It was business as usual. The Holidays.
As my son and I walked through Macy's I noticed the strapless party dresses; short, with frill around the bust. They reminded me of the dresses from the roaring twenties. Do women really wear those 'party' dresses? Are there really parties where people dress like that? I decide it's time to buy new teeth and try to meet the Jeffersons. The excess. The bliss. Don't people in the city watch the news? Is the story different?
The orgy is over. America is now broke. We don't have the money to finance our desires anymore. People are losing homes. Banks are failing. Automakers need a bailout. Real estate lost 2 trillion dollars in 2008. China owns us. Am I the only one worried about the future? Am I needlessly worried about nothing? Thirty years past my prime mall carousing days, I can only wish I was young and handsome and attractive to the numerous young women that 'eye' my son and ignore me. I'm happy and proud for my son. I tell him enjoy every minute of being young. I think that life is too short and youth (the shortest segment of life) is way too short. The hell with growing old gracefully. Nobody at the Mall is living in reality except the minimum wage store employees waiting to get off work and join the consumer orgy of Bliss themselves.
Worse yet my son sees what happens and chastises me for not knowing how to act. So much for Holiday Cheer and Good Will. She could have humored me a little. I didn't want to marry her. I didn't even care if I knew her name. I just wanted to be thirty years younger, dumber, cooler, and irresistible. And she could have done all of that with an air kiss or a wink. I start to think about how if I'd only known how Austin men don't age gracefully, I would have tried harder to be a good husband. Shocked back to the ugly truth, I try smiling at an older women looking at the party dresses; she looks me up and down and walks away, obviously not impressed with my dress and lack of obvious wealth. Damn, I was only trying to make her feel good about being old, too. I could never be interested in anybody whom would actually buy and wear one of those silly dresses. And then find the money and pretend. Join the Bliss. It's Christmas and life. Especially youth, is way too short. Happy Holidays.
By the way, YOU look marvelous... Wink, Wink!
As my son and I walked through Macy's I noticed the strapless party dresses; short, with frill around the bust. They reminded me of the dresses from the roaring twenties. Do women really wear those 'party' dresses? Are there really parties where people dress like that? I decide it's time to buy new teeth and try to meet the Jeffersons. The excess. The bliss. Don't people in the city watch the news? Is the story different?
The orgy is over. America is now broke. We don't have the money to finance our desires anymore. People are losing homes. Banks are failing. Automakers need a bailout. Real estate lost 2 trillion dollars in 2008. China owns us. Am I the only one worried about the future? Am I needlessly worried about nothing?
Looking around I realize I'm the oldest person in the mall . Or at least it seems so. Now I am depressed; not only do I feel like a killjoy, but an old humbug of a Grinch too.
So I decide I'll join the fantasy... I give a wink to a young women looking in my son's direction, and Boom Baby, Like a Bomb reality slaps me almost as quick as that girl could twist her neck and look in the other direction.
Worse yet my son sees what happens and chastises me for not knowing how to act. So much for Holiday Cheer and Good Will. She could have humored me a little. I didn't want to marry her. I didn't even care if I knew her name. I just wanted to be thirty years younger, dumber, cooler, and irresistible. And she could have done all of that with an air kiss or a wink.
Instead it was whiplash.
Not that I would have believed she was sincere, but later when I was alone, the male ego could make anything reality. Oh Well.
I tell myself, "You've known love, romance, passion. You had your day. Aren't you a little old for such shallow measures of worth?" But the Annie L song 'Stay Young and Beautiful' keeps popping into my head.
Now, too old and poor and ugly for the Mall, I feel like a spaghetti western without Clint Eastwood. I tell myself it's not too late. I'm not all washed up. I realize I can still have all the love and desire that money can buy, and the male ego can make it real.
All right, now we're getting in the Holiday Spirit. The Bliss.
Later, lamenting to my son about the emphasis put on attractiveness, and how it's making me feel old....
He says, "I know, I started going to city college and met lots of new girlfriends. When I started at Berkeley, I met 'the bomb' and dropped the others. I lost the bomb in pursuit of the BA, but got the degree. And with every degree the quality of my women goes up. I can't wait to pursue my Law degree, or Masters." ...All for the desire of an education.
And then I was happy. None of us get forever on this earth, but it is fulfilling to see the evolution and immortality of ourselves in our descendants.
I hope When you are at the mall this year you'll think of this letter and remember : The orgy is over. America is now broke. We don't have the money to finance our desires anymore. People are losing homes. Banks are failing. Automakers need a bailout. Real estate lost 2 trillion dollars in 2008. China owns us.
By the way, YOU look marvelous... Wink, Wink!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Starbucks are Closing
What up?
More bad news on the American economic front today. The place is falling apart. 35 years too late, there is no answer now, and the infuriating part is these were the same problems that faced the country in the Seventies. Only, now China will use any oil that we don't and, in the world of supply and demand, we have a lot less control.
It's like reducing fossil fuel emission: it doesn't matter what America does now because those developing countries thirsty for oil, industrialization, and modernization are not going to save the world at the expense of their own economies. America didn't and won't now.
Hell, America is practicing politics of imperialism and making wars over future supplies. Another reason the economy is falling apart. And here's what I'll look for in the future; can we change and will the 1% and OIL let us?
Will the American people allow Big Oil to dictate our Bankruptcy? In effect, milking the country dry by influencing policy to keep us dependant on fossil fuels till the atmosphere is ruined and we are slaves to our debt? Well, what the hell do the American people think has been done since the Carter Administration? And worse, the Bush Administration has lied to us, robbed us, and Shoved Big Oil Policy down our throat. When the cry for President Bush to be tried for treason and war crimes is raised, I’ll give a hearty “aye!”
Oh well, as I stated in February about Starbucks (Coffee Wars, Property Prices, and Nothing Left to Lose 26Feb08), that's the first factor I want to consider. Not that Starbucks and Dunkin-Donuts will determine our national economy and save the housing market, but they are great indicators of the times. See, I don't think that improving a latte or customer service, is going to save Starbucks. As times get harder it is my bet that the extravagance of $3.50 cups of coffee will be one of the first luxuries to give way to reality. Look for coffee shops, cafe mochas, and cappuccinos to disappear quicker than equity in a Las Vegas home (this might be a good time to invest in a personal home Mr. Coffee machine).
Starbucks announced they're closing 600 stores today.
My point: The world is changing, the common American is not as rich and, worse yet, has most likely already lost the wealth they had. The boom is over and the Piper has his hand out. Coffees are out, but look for an increase in Liquor consumption. Times are getting harder and unnecessary expenditures will be first to cease. Closing coffee shops are indicative of this. As the economy goes, Starbucks goes.
Six months ago things were a lot better in America. The stock market has lost 2.1 trillion dollars in the first six months of 2008. A barrel of crude is up about 40% since the beginning of the year, the dollar has lost about a third of its value and if you could afford to go out for coffee (obviously I can't) there's at least 600 fewer places to go.
Hope the world finds all of you more affluent than I, at least.
More bad news on the American economic front today. The place is falling apart. 35 years too late, there is no answer now, and the infuriating part is these were the same problems that faced the country in the Seventies. Only, now China will use any oil that we don't and, in the world of supply and demand, we have a lot less control.
It's like reducing fossil fuel emission: it doesn't matter what America does now because those developing countries thirsty for oil, industrialization, and modernization are not going to save the world at the expense of their own economies. America didn't and won't now.
Hell, America is practicing politics of imperialism and making wars over future supplies. Another reason the economy is falling apart. And here's what I'll look for in the future; can we change and will the 1% and OIL let us?
Will the American people allow Big Oil to dictate our Bankruptcy? In effect, milking the country dry by influencing policy to keep us dependant on fossil fuels till the atmosphere is ruined and we are slaves to our debt? Well, what the hell do the American people think has been done since the Carter Administration? And worse, the Bush Administration has lied to us, robbed us, and Shoved Big Oil Policy down our throat. When the cry for President Bush to be tried for treason and war crimes is raised, I’ll give a hearty “aye!”
Oh well, as I stated in February about Starbucks (Coffee Wars, Property Prices, and Nothing Left to Lose 26Feb08), that's the first factor I want to consider. Not that Starbucks and Dunkin-Donuts will determine our national economy and save the housing market, but they are great indicators of the times. See, I don't think that improving a latte or customer service, is going to save Starbucks. As times get harder it is my bet that the extravagance of $3.50 cups of coffee will be one of the first luxuries to give way to reality. Look for coffee shops, cafe mochas, and cappuccinos to disappear quicker than equity in a Las Vegas home (this might be a good time to invest in a personal home Mr. Coffee machine).
Starbucks announced they're closing 600 stores today.
My point: The world is changing, the common American is not as rich and, worse yet, has most likely already lost the wealth they had. The boom is over and the Piper has his hand out. Coffees are out, but look for an increase in Liquor consumption. Times are getting harder and unnecessary expenditures will be first to cease. Closing coffee shops are indicative of this. As the economy goes, Starbucks goes.
Six months ago things were a lot better in America. The stock market has lost 2.1 trillion dollars in the first six months of 2008. A barrel of crude is up about 40% since the beginning of the year, the dollar has lost about a third of its value and if you could afford to go out for coffee (obviously I can't) there's at least 600 fewer places to go.
Hope the world finds all of you more affluent than I, at least.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
$150 a Barrel of Oil
Another doomsday report from southern Oregon, but first... BE HAPPY. Spend your stimulus check.. no better not. When it makes no difference to the economy at all, you might find it depressing to think of the billions the American people have been swindled, while your cut was a mere few hundred dollars.
Yes, I've been watching the news today. Some of it is almost humorous, if not tragic. Ford Excusions, Chevy Suburbans, BIG trucks, SUVs, all of those $40 - 60k vehicles aren't worth 30% of their original cost less than two years after they're purchased. People trying to trade them in due to the gas crisis (again, circa 1976) are finding they have no re-sale value due to the cost of gas. What? You don't have $240 to fill the tank on your 3\4 ton that gets ten miles to the gallon? No matter, it'll still look good with those 22" rims. Hey... and if the asphalt gets so hot your tires stick to the pavement and two wheel drives can't move, you got four wheel drive, just no gas!
I mean, what the hell did you expect? People out there living in $500 a month apartments, driving SUVs with $600 a month payments, plus insurance (maybe) and gas too. Then there's the homeowner who refinanced and bought that car. Now he's upside down in his house. Then he tries to cut expenses, dump the gas hog, and what happens? He's upside down in the SUV, or already lost $20-30k.
Uh-oh, it's the spiral effect and it's snowballing.
I'm poor, so we must keep in mind my views are from one who views gas prices as devastating to people on fixed and lower incomes.
However, why would anybody want to buy a new car today? Motor home? Hell, at this point anything that burns gas is a bad investment. Soon fuel costs for private transportation will become prohibitive. Which brings us to $150 a barrel oil prices. It was only two months ago that oil hit a previously un-thought of $100 a barrel. At that time gas was over $3 a gallon.
Today it's at $130+ a barrel, and at the current rates of increase it should be $150 by the end of June. As I stated before (All Things Being Equal 05 MAY 08), the price of gas will be $5.25 a gallon by the end of summer and, unfortunately, everything else is going to be 35% more expensive too.
Now here's the back breaker; while everything else becomes more expensive (and the dollar loses value), your house, which is your hedge against inflation, loses value too! Coming and going, Baby, coming and going.
Anyway, don't get me wrong, I'm not worried. Misery loves company and I'm lonely as hell, and I've already downscaled. It ain't all bad. There are unprecedented opportunities in the decline, also. One only need know where to look. I'm looking to the garden.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
McCain for No Change
People,
I'm a troubled soul and my teeth don't fit properly, but I still don't work my jaw around as much as Senator John McCain. Every time I see the Senator, he seems exasperated with the ignorance that questions him. If we were all enlightened then, of course, we would agree with him. Meanwhile, isn't it bothersome, all these questions? He reminds me of old men I bothered as a kid.
Admiral Grandpa and Admiral Pa never faced this type of scrutiny. Admirals give orders, make choices, mold worlds. Nobody questioned the admirals.The military is authoritarian. John McCain is a military man. Can you see where I'm going with this? I'm just getting started, too.
I got shit to say about Senator McCain. First thing, it would be best to leave 'wives' out of the campaign. A word of the wise to the McCain campaign.
Secondly, I don't want anyone who suffered at the hands of captors as long as Senator McCain did as President.
I respect the Senator, however, he failed his mission, was captured, was unable to escape, and has to be scarred, deeply, from the experience. I don't want little voices in the night, or the necessity to exert his 'power' (free at last from the cage) running the country.
I've said it before, too. If they'll do anything to get elected, don't elect them. And the tactics. I saw the original debate where Obama said he would 'talk' with our adversaries. First Hillary, and now McCain, distort that statement way out of proportion. Dirty tactics. McCain should recognize someone's got to lose, and take the high road. Win or lose, 2 to 1 he's dead in eight years, regardless. A vote for McCain is a vote for no change.
VOTE for ISOLATIONISM and IMPERIALISM.
VOTE for ISOLATIONISM and IMPERIALISM.
First we disband all international companies. Afterward, we cancel all debt owed to foreign countries and freeze all monies in American banks. As part of our new Isolationist Government, we will allow no money to leave the country, keep all monies in the country, and seize all foreign assets. There will be no imports and no exports. If we need it and don't have it, we'll initialize the Imperialistic half of the new Government. conquer and exploit. Kick their ass, make 'em a state, give 'em a fair cut.
The American way. Don't question me; my forefathers fought, kicked ass, and created states from the country's inception: the American way!
Everybody feel better politically about your choices now?
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Grand Theft Auto 4
Coinciding with oil reaching another record high of $123 a barrel today, the new video game 'Grand Theft Auto 4' generates $500 million in sales in it's first 1/2 week. That's half a BILLION in three and a half days in video game sales.
At the same time Myamar loses 100 thousand plus people in a cyclone (hurricane), and a good portion of Asia's rice crop is destroyed or threatened, unfotunately and coincidently, the week after experts predict world food shortages. Yet there is still $500,000,000 paid for this one new video game in 3 and a 1/2 days worth of sales. I underline this point because I wonder what the total game sales will in a week, month, year?
Now, I'm no Reverend Wright, and I won't claim to know anything about the divine plan, or how God really thinks. I'm not even going to claim there is a GOD, but supposing there is... then what the hell would you guess the Almighty is going to think upon her appraisal of the current state of affairs: "Things can't be that damn bad" or "How bad can it get"? Might depend on how many shares of Microsoft God owns.
Half a billion in retail sales has to be good for the stimulus package. Let me do a little research on that game and see if the money is going to China....
And just back from Google... Xbox is Microsoft. There you are; the rich get richer. And using theological criteria of appraisal for logic, God has to own a piece of Microsoft, otherwise no way in hell they could have that kind of success. Anyway, if the world falls apart, Americans don't think they care. They're stealing cars on the computer, and getting life's lessons from the perverted wisdom of Wall Street, graphic designers and the thrills of cyberspace.
What are life's lessons? I would guess for every life they are different. In America, where the vast majority of the now living population did not experience the Great Depression, where Baby Boomers have lived their entire lives in what, for the most part, was the expanding economy of the richest nation on earth, the lessons of life already learned may not apply to the world of the future. A world with a shrinking economy and the comforts and luxuries of yesteryear gone.
In a shrinking world, new lessons of life may be necessary to learn and, for Americans, it won't be easy. A world where property depreciates and today's pleasures can't be paid for with tommorrow's equity. How the hell are Americans going to pay for all those $35K SUVs, and put gas into them all $5 a gallon, if we can't refinance our homes every 3 to 5 years? That's why SUV sales are down in the billions and my Jeep has 235 thousand miles. Lessons learned.
A world where people go hungry. Everybody I know that has ever 'starved', afterward they could never be rich enough. Being hungry for food to sustain life, survive, must leave a long and lasting impression/fear. Today's native born Americans, for the most part, have never known real hunger. And the mass production of food depends on fuel and petrol chemicals and the weather. Absurd, Americans hungry! Not in our lifetimes. Hopefully.
Furthermore, in America (in our lifetimes) opportunity has always been available. Why save, just go make more money. Buy it on credit, pay for it with future money. Future money may not be available in the future. Opportunity may disappear. If you can't afford it now, forget it. Learn the value of a dollar and save. Damn, am I talking to the past, or what? I'm talking to the future, too. Too bad I can't afford to save. Anyway, I just thought the juxtaposition of current world conditions and video sales might explain why I think when the Almighty shows up she might be a little bitchy. Half a billion dollars. I wish I could afford that game and see what I'm missing.
At the same time Myamar loses 100 thousand plus people in a cyclone (hurricane), and a good portion of Asia's rice crop is destroyed or threatened, unfotunately and coincidently, the week after experts predict world food shortages. Yet there is still $500,000,000 paid for this one new video game in 3 and a 1/2 days worth of sales. I underline this point because I wonder what the total game sales will in a week, month, year?
Now, I'm no Reverend Wright, and I won't claim to know anything about the divine plan, or how God really thinks. I'm not even going to claim there is a GOD, but supposing there is... then what the hell would you guess the Almighty is going to think upon her appraisal of the current state of affairs: "Things can't be that damn bad" or "How bad can it get"? Might depend on how many shares of Microsoft God owns.
Half a billion in retail sales has to be good for the stimulus package. Let me do a little research on that game and see if the money is going to China....
And just back from Google... Xbox is Microsoft. There you are; the rich get richer. And using theological criteria of appraisal for logic, God has to own a piece of Microsoft, otherwise no way in hell they could have that kind of success. Anyway, if the world falls apart, Americans don't think they care. They're stealing cars on the computer, and getting life's lessons from the perverted wisdom of Wall Street, graphic designers and the thrills of cyberspace.
What are life's lessons? I would guess for every life they are different. In America, where the vast majority of the now living population did not experience the Great Depression, where Baby Boomers have lived their entire lives in what, for the most part, was the expanding economy of the richest nation on earth, the lessons of life already learned may not apply to the world of the future. A world with a shrinking economy and the comforts and luxuries of yesteryear gone.
In a shrinking world, new lessons of life may be necessary to learn and, for Americans, it won't be easy. A world where property depreciates and today's pleasures can't be paid for with tommorrow's equity. How the hell are Americans going to pay for all those $35K SUVs, and put gas into them all $5 a gallon, if we can't refinance our homes every 3 to 5 years? That's why SUV sales are down in the billions and my Jeep has 235 thousand miles. Lessons learned.
A world where people go hungry. Everybody I know that has ever 'starved', afterward they could never be rich enough. Being hungry for food to sustain life, survive, must leave a long and lasting impression/fear. Today's native born Americans, for the most part, have never known real hunger. And the mass production of food depends on fuel and petrol chemicals and the weather. Absurd, Americans hungry! Not in our lifetimes. Hopefully.
Furthermore, in America (in our lifetimes) opportunity has always been available. Why save, just go make more money. Buy it on credit, pay for it with future money. Future money may not be available in the future. Opportunity may disappear. If you can't afford it now, forget it. Learn the value of a dollar and save. Damn, am I talking to the past, or what? I'm talking to the future, too. Too bad I can't afford to save. Anyway, I just thought the juxtaposition of current world conditions and video sales might explain why I think when the Almighty shows up she might be a little bitchy. Half a billion dollars. I wish I could afford that game and see what I'm missing.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Day Before Payday
It's the day before payday. I had left over meatloaf for breakfast. My first cup of coffee had milk and sugar in it; all the creamer is gone, now the milk is too. I'm out of bread and eggs, Pepsi, bagels, cheese, and chocolate milk also. From this point the list becomes infinite, suffice to say, payday will arrive none too soon.
Life is so wonderful. Living in thirty day cycles within five year goals isn't so great, but every day an inch. I feel like the goal-less worm. It will happen and I will get there. Don't ask where, if you think about our ultimate destination, inching towards it is much too fast. Just another five years, ten or fifteen times will do, maybe. I was looking for one hundred and five but the closer I get, the better one hundred and fifty looks. I need more time to get things right. If 'only the good die young', isn't that like a war-cry for misbehaving? Do only the wicked get old, or only after avoiding dying young do they repent and become good old people?
Is John McBush really a war-monger? Does Hillary Clinton realize that her idea and description of dodging bullets in Bosnia is an insult to service people who have served under-fire? Does Hillary Clinton know? Hillary will never know what it is like to be a black man in a society and culture controlled by rich white people. Hillary will never know what it is to be a poor, bald man without a Harvard education, living in a shack, in a society and culture controlled by rich white people. Barack Obama will never know what it's like to be from Arkansas either, or a woman; or married to Bill. Hell, I can never know a lot of things that being me inherently prohibits. I can only imagine what being married to me would be like.
Sounds to me like black churches lay a double whammy on their followers; the only way to heaven is through the Son (inclusive/exclusive), and you better stay strong with God to fight white supremacy. That means coming to Church to get your lessons in divisiveness. What we really need is a 9/11 in space with an alien Al Qaeda that is bright-green and has three arms. That would give everybody a common enemy. Earthling or not! I'm glad I got this out today, cos tomorrow I'll have money and no time for this bullshit.
Life is so wonderful. Living in thirty day cycles within five year goals isn't so great, but every day an inch. I feel like the goal-less worm. It will happen and I will get there. Don't ask where, if you think about our ultimate destination, inching towards it is much too fast. Just another five years, ten or fifteen times will do, maybe. I was looking for one hundred and five but the closer I get, the better one hundred and fifty looks. I need more time to get things right. If 'only the good die young', isn't that like a war-cry for misbehaving? Do only the wicked get old, or only after avoiding dying young do they repent and become good old people?
Is John McBush really a war-monger? Does Hillary Clinton realize that her idea and description of dodging bullets in Bosnia is an insult to service people who have served under-fire? Does Hillary Clinton know? Hillary will never know what it is like to be a black man in a society and culture controlled by rich white people. Hillary will never know what it is to be a poor, bald man without a Harvard education, living in a shack, in a society and culture controlled by rich white people. Barack Obama will never know what it's like to be from Arkansas either, or a woman; or married to Bill. Hell, I can never know a lot of things that being me inherently prohibits. I can only imagine what being married to me would be like.
Sounds to me like black churches lay a double whammy on their followers; the only way to heaven is through the Son (inclusive/exclusive), and you better stay strong with God to fight white supremacy. That means coming to Church to get your lessons in divisiveness. What we really need is a 9/11 in space with an alien Al Qaeda that is bright-green and has three arms. That would give everybody a common enemy. Earthling or not! I'm glad I got this out today, cos tomorrow I'll have money and no time for this bullshit.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
More of the Same?
I was going to express an opinion on McCain for more of the same; the guy is already touring the troops like he's Commander-in-Chief. Senator McCain can't wait to be BOSS. That candidate is a war monger. And he will not answer to the American people any more than President Bush did.
The boy has baggage. I personally think he might still be fighting the Vietnam war , but my gut feeling is once he's elected he'll really stir the shit, regardless. A vote for John McCain is a vote for the same, but much more dangerous.
If John McCain were elected, without doubt, his interpretation would be, the American people are imperialistic and want to save the world (while big profits are made). And that we agree with 'the surge', and want more. Maybe we could surge into Iran. We believe him when he gives us that, "my friends" bullshit. I mean, didn't the American public make their wishes known in the last election? Yet Senator McCain touts his backing 'the surge', wants to continue the occupation of Iraq, wants to continue to rattle the saber while America falls apart. Is he kidding? Obviously HE DOESN'T LISTEN.
And that's the scary part. Senator McCain backed 'the surge', and now, while the surge is reported as succeeding, he wants positive credit, but the American people did not want 'the surge' in the first place, nor do they want a war of occupation. If Senator McCain were listening he'd plan the withdrawal of troops. Yet Senator McCain talks about commitment to the war, and saving the world. Like an arrogant warrior from the Crusades, thinking he can change centuries of culture, and religion, with hate: we were supposed to be looking for weapons of mass destruction, not taking the place over and making commitments for decades. How the hell did that get lost in the Bush bullshit?
McCain for more of the same!
Don't let it happen!
The boy has baggage. I personally think he might still be fighting the Vietnam war , but my gut feeling is once he's elected he'll really stir the shit, regardless. A vote for John McCain is a vote for the same, but much more dangerous.
If John McCain were elected, without doubt, his interpretation would be, the American people are imperialistic and want to save the world (while big profits are made). And that we agree with 'the surge', and want more. Maybe we could surge into Iran. We believe him when he gives us that, "my friends" bullshit. I mean, didn't the American public make their wishes known in the last election? Yet Senator McCain touts his backing 'the surge', wants to continue the occupation of Iraq, wants to continue to rattle the saber while America falls apart. Is he kidding? Obviously HE DOESN'T LISTEN.
And that's the scary part. Senator McCain backed 'the surge', and now, while the surge is reported as succeeding, he wants positive credit, but the American people did not want 'the surge' in the first place, nor do they want a war of occupation. If Senator McCain were listening he'd plan the withdrawal of troops. Yet Senator McCain talks about commitment to the war, and saving the world. Like an arrogant warrior from the Crusades, thinking he can change centuries of culture, and religion, with hate: we were supposed to be looking for weapons of mass destruction, not taking the place over and making commitments for decades. How the hell did that get lost in the Bush bullshit?
McCain for more of the same!
Don't let it happen!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Coffee wars , Property Prices and Nothing Left to Lose
"Everybody will be move to Oregon sooner or later."
Sooner would be better. I'll say it again, "even if you can't move now, buy now, move later." Why? Because I say? Of course not! Only a fool takes advice from a fool. And I live on a hill, shit in a bucket, and have no indoor plumbing (laughable living conditions according to Dan).
Hell, those facts alone should be enough to disregard anything I have to say, so maybe we should consider some other factors (I recommend not basing decisions about moving on the words of a fool, or those that have never left Colonial Village).
COFFEE WARS, that's the first factor I want to consider. Not that Starbucks and Dunkin-Donuts will determine our national economy and save the housing market, but they are great indicators of the times. See, I don't think that improving a latte, or customer service, is going to save Starbucks. As times get harder it is my bet that the extravagance of $3.50 cups of coffee will be one of the first luxuries to give way to reality. Look for coffee shops, cafe mochas, and cappuccinos to disappear quicker than equity in a Las Vegas home (this might be a good time to invest in a Mr. Coffee). My point; the world is changing, the common American is not as rich and, worse yet, has already spent the wealth they had. The boom is over and the piper has his hand out.
Coffee's are out, but look for an increase in liquor consumption. Times are getting harder and unnecessary expenditures will be first to cease. Closing coffee shops are indicative of this. As the economy goes, Starbucks goes. PROPERTY PRICES continue to fall; nationally a 7-9% drop. On the west coast; Los Angeles a 13% drop, Las Vegas a 17% drop last year (2007). I know from checking the MLS , prices have dropped 30% in Sacramento since the of summer 2006. The only encouraging sign is the rate of decline has decreased recently, but a comeback is not foreseen by many until 2009.
This Fall will be even better for buyers. Houses are so cheap in the old hood I'm considering leveraging a little money and picking one up (immediately following the sale of my property in southern Oregon) and paying cash for more acreage.
Nationally, 2007 and 1991 are the only two years property prices decreased for an entire year. Everywhere except Portland OR, Seattle WA, and Charlotte NC. Portland and Seattle property actually saw modest increases in price in 2007 .
"Everybody will move to the Pacific-Nothwest sooner or later".
Sooner. The first of the baby boomer generation are already buying here. There are another nine years of baby boomers to retire, I recommend not letting all of them beat you here. My sister is selling real estate, working out of southern Oregon now (40 miles from me) and according to her (she sold three properties last month), baby boomers are starting their migration and the cheaper properties are being sold quickly. She sold a $500,000 property (not one of the cheaper ones) on the Applegate river last month to a doctor from Maryland who will not retire for another couple of years. Don't tell the doctor his actions parallel the advice of a fool!
The other property also sold to an out of state buyer. I was lucky my personal problems came to a head when they did . Only heartbreak, the need to give up old habits (habitual drug use), and impending disaster drove me out of California, and thank God I didn't wait too long to leave (a buyer showed up and he lost the last seventy thousand dollars of value in my old place). If I had stayed in California, at this point, I would have had nothing left to lose.
As it is, I now look to turn a profit, again. If you still have time to move, don't wait for the walls to tumble.
Obviously, I only wrote this post to get a cheap shot in at friends, and to let everyone know there is an escape...
Don't wait too long!
Sooner would be better. I'll say it again, "even if you can't move now, buy now, move later." Why? Because I say? Of course not! Only a fool takes advice from a fool. And I live on a hill, shit in a bucket, and have no indoor plumbing (laughable living conditions according to Dan).
Hell, those facts alone should be enough to disregard anything I have to say, so maybe we should consider some other factors (I recommend not basing decisions about moving on the words of a fool, or those that have never left Colonial Village).
COFFEE WARS, that's the first factor I want to consider. Not that Starbucks and Dunkin-Donuts will determine our national economy and save the housing market, but they are great indicators of the times. See, I don't think that improving a latte, or customer service, is going to save Starbucks. As times get harder it is my bet that the extravagance of $3.50 cups of coffee will be one of the first luxuries to give way to reality. Look for coffee shops, cafe mochas, and cappuccinos to disappear quicker than equity in a Las Vegas home (this might be a good time to invest in a Mr. Coffee). My point; the world is changing, the common American is not as rich and, worse yet, has already spent the wealth they had. The boom is over and the piper has his hand out.
Coffee's are out, but look for an increase in liquor consumption. Times are getting harder and unnecessary expenditures will be first to cease. Closing coffee shops are indicative of this. As the economy goes, Starbucks goes. PROPERTY PRICES continue to fall; nationally a 7-9% drop. On the west coast; Los Angeles a 13% drop, Las Vegas a 17% drop last year (2007). I know from checking the MLS , prices have dropped 30% in Sacramento since the of summer 2006. The only encouraging sign is the rate of decline has decreased recently, but a comeback is not foreseen by many until 2009.
This Fall will be even better for buyers. Houses are so cheap in the old hood I'm considering leveraging a little money and picking one up (immediately following the sale of my property in southern Oregon) and paying cash for more acreage.
Nationally, 2007 and 1991 are the only two years property prices decreased for an entire year. Everywhere except Portland OR, Seattle WA, and Charlotte NC. Portland and Seattle property actually saw modest increases in price in 2007 .
"Everybody will move to the Pacific-Nothwest sooner or later".
Sooner. The first of the baby boomer generation are already buying here. There are another nine years of baby boomers to retire, I recommend not letting all of them beat you here. My sister is selling real estate, working out of southern Oregon now (40 miles from me) and according to her (she sold three properties last month), baby boomers are starting their migration and the cheaper properties are being sold quickly. She sold a $500,000 property (not one of the cheaper ones) on the Applegate river last month to a doctor from Maryland who will not retire for another couple of years. Don't tell the doctor his actions parallel the advice of a fool!
The other property also sold to an out of state buyer. I was lucky my personal problems came to a head when they did . Only heartbreak, the need to give up old habits (habitual drug use), and impending disaster drove me out of California, and thank God I didn't wait too long to leave (a buyer showed up and he lost the last seventy thousand dollars of value in my old place). If I had stayed in California, at this point, I would have had nothing left to lose.
As it is, I now look to turn a profit, again. If you still have time to move, don't wait for the walls to tumble.
Obviously, I only wrote this post to get a cheap shot in at friends, and to let everyone know there is an escape...
Don't wait too long!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The Stimulus Program
I cannot believe as the value of the dollar decreases, oil prices increase, the mortgage crisis deepens, the trade deficit balloons, and the average American worker is having their standard of living diminished, our leadership gives us the following short term temporary fix in the form of a tax rebate.
$150,000,000
Does that look like a big figure? Look at this one.
$2,000,000,000,000
Notice how it dwarfs your rebate? War expenses. In dollars only. The rebate looks like a faint hope to divert attention while the crooks get out of town. The next time the media runs stories on how much the war and its contractors are costing you, on oil profits this quarter, on how much money was stolen in the latest scandal that the Bush/Cheney boys were involved in, note the figure and see if you're getting your fair share.
Blackwater received $800 million in contracts, so far. Another $92 million contract has been awarded. How many Al Qaeda/Talibani/terrorists did we kill this week? I still say (The News 08Dec07) for the price of those enemies/per kill we'd be better off to contract them out to the Chinese, covertly paying them in laundered dollars mixed up in the opium trade channeled through Turkey and run by the very terrorists we'd be paying to have killed. I would arrange it so the bad guys would be financing their own hitmen, for a profit! Irony at it's best!
Hey, if that sounds crazy, confused, and in another world to you, it should; unless you live in the world of war profits, drug profits, politics, foreign aid and terrorism. Pretty confusing.
Like most of us, what I understand is a peoples will is not carried out, while their country's entrusted leaders prove untrustworthy. This 'stimulus package' they cough up is a diversion until their terms end and they can run out of town.
$200,000,000
Notice anything about this number? It's fifty million larger than the stimulus package. That's your daily Iraq bill. Two hundred million dollars a DAY! ......That is what the war in Iraq is costing the us and The United States today. We can't afford it. If we could suspend the war for three days we could triple the 'stimulus'! Wouldn't that be a nut. Instead of $300, you'd get $900! We can take a month off and get a $9k stimulus. Like Viagra!
The point is, are you kidding? After we quit trembling about terrorists, and weapons of mass destruction, the only reason to be in Iraq was for the oil, but fuel is through the ceiling so what the hell are we spending $200,000,000 a day for?
A $150,000,000 band-aid is not the cure for a $2,000,000,000,000 disease.
$150,000,000
Does that look like a big figure? Look at this one.
$2,000,000,000,000
Notice how it dwarfs your rebate? War expenses. In dollars only. The rebate looks like a faint hope to divert attention while the crooks get out of town. The next time the media runs stories on how much the war and its contractors are costing you, on oil profits this quarter, on how much money was stolen in the latest scandal that the Bush/Cheney boys were involved in, note the figure and see if you're getting your fair share.
Blackwater received $800 million in contracts, so far. Another $92 million contract has been awarded. How many Al Qaeda/Talibani/terrorists did we kill this week? I still say (The News 08Dec07) for the price of those enemies/per kill we'd be better off to contract them out to the Chinese, covertly paying them in laundered dollars mixed up in the opium trade channeled through Turkey and run by the very terrorists we'd be paying to have killed. I would arrange it so the bad guys would be financing their own hitmen, for a profit! Irony at it's best!
Hey, if that sounds crazy, confused, and in another world to you, it should; unless you live in the world of war profits, drug profits, politics, foreign aid and terrorism. Pretty confusing.
Like most of us, what I understand is a peoples will is not carried out, while their country's entrusted leaders prove untrustworthy. This 'stimulus package' they cough up is a diversion until their terms end and they can run out of town.
$200,000,000
Notice anything about this number? It's fifty million larger than the stimulus package. That's your daily Iraq bill. Two hundred million dollars a DAY! ......That is what the war in Iraq is costing the us and The United States today. We can't afford it. If we could suspend the war for three days we could triple the 'stimulus'! Wouldn't that be a nut. Instead of $300, you'd get $900! We can take a month off and get a $9k stimulus. Like Viagra!
The point is, are you kidding? After we quit trembling about terrorists, and weapons of mass destruction, the only reason to be in Iraq was for the oil, but fuel is through the ceiling so what the hell are we spending $200,000,000 a day for?
A $150,000,000 band-aid is not the cure for a $2,000,000,000,000 disease.
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