Herman Cain's 9-9-9

[we vs us]

And

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Everyone else explains away the tepidity of a real business person as partisan.  There are a lot of Democrats noticing the uncertainty too guys.

How is it not?  Uncertainty is one thing, and yes everybody's feeling it.  But that's not what Gassy's client is doing.  He's specifically not expanding until Obama's out of office.  That's just bad business. 

[nathanm]

Everyone else explains away the tepidity of a real business person as partisan.  There are a lot of Democrats noticing the uncertainty too guys.

If you were referring to my comment, I'm not quite sure how you got that from what I wrote. I wrote that the partisan bull is making it hard to cut through the fog and see what's really going on. I don't blame anybody for not investing right now. We're still in the process of eating the biggest economic smile sandwich since the Great Depression. The Eurozone is collapsing despite the forced austerity, giving the lie to the post-stimulus economic measures we've taken. There's great reason to be uncertain, but it hasn't got smile to do with Obama's politics, FFS.

[Teatownclown]

If you were referring to my comment, I'm not quite sure how you got that from what I wrote. I wrote that the partisan bull is making it hard to cut through the fog and see what's really going on. I don't blame anybody for not investing right now. We're still in the process of eating the biggest economic smile sandwich since the Great Depression. The Eurozone is collapsing despite the forced austerity, giving the lie to the post-stimulus economic measures we've taken. There's great reason to be uncertain, but it hasn't got smile to do with Obama's politics, FFS.

The Eurozone will not collapse. Relax.

Print more money.

Ignore Cain.

[nathanm]

The Eurozone will not collapse. Relax.

They're fighting the tide; they will succumb. And if we don't take the opportunity to fix our own problems, the waves will be crashing on the shores of our own currency soon enough.

Whether the Euro goes away entirely or merely shrinks to a 3 or 4 state currency, I can't say. I can say that Germany will be in for some pain in either scenario. They've finally realized that, hence the sudden attempt at action after months of hemming and hawing. Printing money won't do anything to fix it, for plainly obvious reasons. The Euro's problem is almost entirely the imbalance between economies like France and Germany and economies like Greece and Ireland. The latter two (and more!) need inflation relative to Germany, but that's not possible with a single currency.

[Teatownclown]

I've been beating the print more money idea for three years. The velocity of stagnant money needs a fire lit under it. Politics keeps the Fed from reinflating the economy. Instead, we have this horrid deflation/stagflation.

These headwinds will pass. Equities will be the winner.

[Teatownclown]

Why Don't the Deficit Hawks Want to Tax Wall Street?

http://www.truth-out.org/why-dont-deficit-hawks-want-tax-wall-street/1317044046

"In short, it is hard to understand why taxing financial speculation never appears on the agenda of the deficit hawks or gets mentioned in budget reporting, if the issue really is deficit reduction. On the other hand, if this is all about using an economic crisis to push a longstanding agenda to cut Social Security and Medicare, then everything suddenly makes sense."

[nathanm]

I've been beating the print more money idea for three years. The velocity of stagnant money needs a fire lit under it. Politics keeps the Fed from reinflating the economy. Instead, we have this horrid deflation/stagflation.

You can print all you want, but with trillions in excess reserves, it's clear the money isn't going anywhere. The entire idea behind printing more money to jump start the economy is that a larger money supply will cause inflation, which will reduce debt burden, which then frees assets to be used for consumption or investment. In the present situation, the money supply has already been expanded through QE and QE2, yet inflation has failed to take hold due to a lack of demand.

Until there is demand, printing money is as useless as a Nerf sledgehammer. Since the private sector isn't creating demand, it's up to government, but when government also refuses to create demand, well..look around. This is a problem that can only be fixed from the demand side. Supply side solutions will do nothing.

[Red Arrow]

There really is no place in a well run business for hate politics. It just is folly to blame one man, or one party, or one philosophy for so much. Especially when the problems are so profound and widespread. And like you said, when those beliefs are historically ludicrous.

When Carter was running for office a republican friend of mine, whom I much respected for his business sense, told me I would lose my mortgage deduction should Carter be elected. Of course that didn't happen and ironically it is now a Republican proposal. A local builder, Creekmore I think, told anyone who would listen that he was selling everything if it looked like Carter would win because the economy would destroy everyone. Just seems laughable now, but back then people around here were truly scared of change.

I remember Barbara Streisand threatened promised to leave the country if George W got re-elected.  She didn't go.

Seems to me that Carter had some difficulties with the economy and the morale of the voters in the later part of his single term.

[Red Arrow]

He's specifically not expanding until Obama's out of office.  That's just bad business. 

Time will tell.

[Red Arrow]

The former governor of Michigan made that very point on the Daily Show this morning. Michigan cut taxes 99 times and made it easier to do business in Michigan, which did nothing but continue to ignore them. There are just too many other factors involved. 

Some of Michigan is not too bad.  The last time I visited Detroit, the business I was visiting allowed their employees to park their cars inside the building after dark. Some even parked inside during daylight hours.

[Gaspar]

Some of Michigan is not too bad.  The last time I visited Detroit, the business I was visiting allowed their employees to park their cars inside the building after dark. Some even parked inside during daylight hours.

If you're not from there you have to be careful as a traveler.  Take a GPS, because many of the street signs have been removed or turned around by thugs so that people get lost and ultimately end up with fewer possessions.

[AquaMan]

I remember Barbara Streisand threatened promised to leave the country if George W got re-elected.  She didn't go.

Seems to me that Carter had some difficulties with the economy and the morale of the voters in the later part of his single term.

This is not tit for tat. Streisand is an entertainer. She may mix political hatred and business, but I doubt her business manager does. Its just dumb business to confuse personal animosity with practical business.

[Red Arrow]

This is not tit for tat. Streisand is an entertainer. She may mix political hatred and business, but I doubt her business manager does. Its just dumb business to confuse personal animosity with practical business.

I actually mostly agree with your basic premise.  Your examples are (usually) a bit one sided so I thought I'd add a bit of balance.

[Red Arrow]

If you're not from there you have to be careful as a traveler.  Take a GPS, because many of the street signs have been removed or turned around by thugs so that people get lost and ultimately end up with fewer possessions.

What?  Are you saying that the fine people of Detroit may want to make my visit there less than enjoyable?

[AquaMan]

I actually mostly agree with your basic premise.  Your examples are (usually) a bit one sided so I thought I'd add a bit of balance.

Me? One sided? There is only one side. 

From side to side, either side, is the other side.... of me.