Betzee said...

Betzee at 10:32 PM JST - 4th March

Tom Friedman in his column today is correct:

*We are coming off a 20-year credit binge. As a country, too many of us stopped making money by making “stuff” and started making money from money — consumers making money out of rising home prices and using the profits to buy…

Posted in Obama's plan to raise taxes on wealthy meets fierce opposition at 10:32 PM JST - 4th March
Betzee at 10:25 PM JST - 4th March

In other words, the military-industrial complex and weapon sales is what pulled the United States out of the Depression.

This would go under the heading of "socializing security." WWII put a lot of people to work, but Uncle Sam certainly borrowed to pay for it.

Posted in Obama's plan to raise taxes on wealthy meets fierce opposition at 10:25 PM JST - 4th March
Betzee at 10:20 PM JST - 4th March

The purpose of taxation is to enable the government to pay its bills. Now one can justify deficits for any number of reasons. They will impinge on people's ability to enjoy the good economy (GWB) or the government needs to spend to offset private sector contraction (BHO).

There's little debate…

Posted in Obama's plan to raise taxes on wealthy meets fierce opposition at 10:20 PM JST - 4th March
Betzee at 09:50 AM JST - 4th March

I just want some sign that Obama realizes the market is totally falling apart and that his agenda has a big hand in that happening.

What did he recommend? The "do nothing" approach and like we can expect investors to suddenly develop amnesia about the banks' toxic assets?

Posted in Obama's economic efforts hit wall of bad news at 09:50 AM JST - 4th March
Betzee at 09:40 AM JST - 4th March

This bothers me on more than one level... I know that it is tempting to use this kind of technology to eliminate genetic diseases, malformations, and the like, but even that makes me nervous.

What happens if there's a way to predict homosexuality? The parents might not want to deal…

Posted in Fertility clinic to offer custom-designed babies at 09:40 AM JST - 4th March
Betzee at 12:00 AM JST - 27th February

Instead, Republicans went along with earmarks and big government spending in Washington.

Indeed. The biggest expansion of the welfare state since LBJ occurred under GWB when he enacted his prescription drug plan for seniors. So, is Jindal talking about rolling that back in order to regain the trust of Americans?…

Posted in Republicans, Democrats criticize Jindal's speech at 12:00 AM JST - 27th February
Betzee at 03:13 PM JST - 26th February

I haven't seen this movie so I can't comment on it. I'm not a great fan of Feng Xiaogang's New Year's comedies and probably will give it a miss. He rakes it in every year at the Chinese box office, tho.

In another Chinese-language film Millenium Mambo, the ending was…

Posted in Romantic comedy turns Hokkaido into new attraction for Chinese visitors at 03:13 PM JST - 26th February
Betzee at 10:40 PM JST - 24th February

Sushi,

Last night I spoke with my Dad, a retired stock broker, and he said, "I was worried the value of your portfolio had dropped 100 grand." So I guess I should count my blessings; particularly having a secure job in a time of mounting unemployment.

As for the nation,…

Posted in Obama pledges to halve U.S. budget deficit in 4 years at 10:40 PM JST - 24th February
Betzee at 09:40 PM JST - 24th February

America has zero confidence in Obama thanks to his whining and fear mongering. He's failed miserably.

Simply not true:

*Large majorities of Americans in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll support [Obama's] $787 billion economic stimulus package and the recently unveiled $75 billion plan to stem mortgage foreclosures. Nearly seven…

Posted in Obama pledges to halve U.S. budget deficit in 4 years at 09:40 PM JST - 24th February
Betzee at 09:30 PM JST - 24th February

Thanks Obama for the change I can believe in. After your done with me thats all I'm going to be worth in my portfolio. No dollars just some change.

Sailwind,

My stock portfolio has lost 50 grand in value over the past week. Would it be worth more if Obama…

Posted in Obama pledges to halve U.S. budget deficit in 4 years at 09:30 PM JST - 24th February