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Free Trade Isn’t Always Fair Trade

September 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Free Trade and Fair Trade Global Policies

A few days ago, I wrote a five-part essay called How to Solve the Trade Deficit in response to a reader question about trade policy in the United States. The reader, Adam, responded on his blog.  Here is my followup to his commentary. I Would Love to Run Trade Surpluses But It Isn't Going to Happen If the United States were to run trade surpluses, as opposed to going trade neutral, we would be accused of mercantilism (rightly).  This would immediately cause our trade partners around … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economics, Making Money Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How to Solve the Trade Deficit – Part II

August 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Supporting our manufacturing base is important to stop the trade deficit

This is the second part of my essay on How to Solve the Trade Deficit. You should start with Part I if you haven't already read it. How to Solve the Trade Deficit - The Medium Answer My personal preference for solving the remaining minority of the trade deficit after solving the imported petroleum and oil problem includes rebuilding the manufacturing base.  Part of this is a national security consideration.  By ensuring we have enough production capability within our borders, we would be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economics Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

What Are Your Secrets Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands?

August 17, 2010 By 1 Comment
Queen of the Netherlands Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard

You know, I adore the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark but I always forget they have monarchs despite their notable western governmental structures.  They boast open, free economies despite the high income tax rates (which cause me to get tense inside when I see them ... almost like financial vertigo). The Netherlands, for example, has fascinated me for about ten years because it has some large, highly profitable mega-corporations such as Unilever, Heineken, ING, DSM, and Shell but despite … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics, Religion & Culture Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

How to Marry a Millionaire – An Economic Update on the 1953 Film

August 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
How to Marry a Millionaire

In 1953, a great movie starring Lauren Bacall, Bette Grable and Marilyn Monroe was released called How to Marry a Millionaire.  I got curious as to how much money it would take to equal the same net worth today so I did an inflation adjustment because I wanted to know how big their motivation was in the film. Turns out, someone who had $1 million in 1953 would have roughly $8 million today. That kind of asset base should generate cash dividends or interest of $34,000 per month without … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economics, Movies Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pew Research Center Completes Massive Study of Millennial Generation

August 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Marriage Ages Rising by Generation

The highly revered Pew Research Center has completed one of the most extensive studies it has ever undertaken.  It focuses on the so-called Millennial Generation, which consists of those who are currently 18-28 years old, and contrasts them with their parents, grandparents, and great grandparents on a wide range of economic, spiritual, social and cultural factors. This study includes data on everything from the total percentage points that believe the Bible is the literal word of God to the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics, Religion & Culture, Psychology Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Have You Noticed … (This is an Honest Question to Friends, Family and Readers)

August 6, 2010 By 3 Comments
Question Mark

This is an honest question to which I'd like an honest answer ... have you noticed that the people who seem angry all the time about everything, spewing nonsense about America being taken over and the world falling apart always look like this: White Middle or lower class 50 to 65 years old Struggling economically; not doing nearly as well as they were 10 years ago Most are not college graduates (some are but they are a minority) Protestant Married but divorced at least … [Read more...]

Filed Under: My Life, Politics, Religion & Culture Tagged With: , ,

Super Tycoons Facebook Update: From $100 Million to $14 Billion

August 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Super Tycoons on Facebook Update

On May 9th, I gave an update on the Super Tycoons game I've been playing every day on Facebook in which you have to build an empire and compete against other players. I've even convinced my grandma to start playing it as a steel tycoon. When I wrote about the game back in May, my in-game businesses generated $11 million per day and my game net worth stood at below $100 million.  As of a few seconds ago, I've gotten my in-game profits to just under $500 million per day and my game net worth … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Video Games Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Response to What Is Probably the Most Ignorant Message I’ve Received In 10 Years of Writing Finance Articles

July 26, 2010 By 2 Comments

A reader named Medusa wrote me and, to keep it short, explained that I shouldn't believe people should be rich because the Bible is against rich people, that I was going to die a miserable, lonely old man with no one who loved me because I saved my money instead of spending it, and that after reading a profile I wrote based on Federal Reserve data of the Capitalist Class in the United States, she was starting to consider the possibility that the rich were nothing but oppressors who steal from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Saving Money Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Jersey Battles Over Millionaire Tax

June 20, 2010 By 3 Comments
New Jersey Governor's Mansion

Think about all the income I earn and my businesses earn.  The sales and profits that are generated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  Guess what?  The taxable income could have belonged to the state of New Jersey.  However, the cost of living, driven in part by the state tax rates, were too high for my liking so I left after roughly five years. Now, the New Jersey legislature wants to pass a tax that will hit 16,000 millionaires by taking 10.75% of their income above $1 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics, Religion & Culture Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Problem with Tootsie Roll Industries for the Value Investing Crowd

May 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Tootsie Roll Stock Products

For more than 15 years, I have watched the Tootsie Roll company and waited for it to be "fairly" valued or undervalued relative to the stable profits that churn out year after year like the chewy candies for which the business is known.  It's the type of company that I would love to have a long-term investment in that sits on the balance sheet of my operating businesses and compounds over the decades.  In fact, I love the idea of being able to pass on to my grandchildren shares of the company … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Case Studies & Profiles, Value Investing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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