Repost From 2018
When it comes to stocks they're not a great way to measure American incomes I'll explain why.
Only about 54% of Americans are invested in them through their retirements plans (like the 401's), mutual funds, pensions and so forth. Meaning some 46% are foreign owned. So when the stock market does well nearly half of it's wealth benefits investors in other countries.
92% of stocks are owned by 20% of the wealthiest investors. This means 80% are left to divvy 8% of the remaining wealth between themselves throughout the world. Since only 54% are American investors it appears not as many as we're lead to believe are benefiting.
Therefore I conclude the stock market does very little to benefit the average smuck unless they're in upper management receiving a profit sharing plan.
A Word About 401K Plans
In 2018 employees were allowed to contribute up to $18,500 a year. To my way of thinking workers are giving a good chunk back to the corporations. These companies can use this tax free money right now, On the other hand employees have only a piece of paper with numbers on it until they can start withdrawing their money at retirement. A lot can go wrong between now and then.
In my case I chose to keep my money, pay taxes on it now instead of later. Then using it to pay down ahead on my 30 year mortgage while setting some aside in FDIC insured savings accounts. The average return on of the S&P between 1973 and 2016 was 11.69%. That's all fine and dandy but when you're 70 1/2 and are forced to start taking money out (paying taxes on it) better hope it isn't a year stocks take a tumble or if tax rates should go up over what they are now.
Here's how I benefited on the mortgage alone.
My original 30 year mortgage was around 10%. Compounded over 30 years it would have totaled 315.92%. Divided evenly over 30 years it would have averaged 10.53%. Even if the average S&P' returns were 11.69% it wouldn't have included the fees I'd end up paying. Plus I wouldn't be able to get at my money to do what I did.
After a few years I refinanced the remaining balance on my mortgage at 6%. Instead of keeping the extra $700 I saved monthly I put in on the new mortgage. Hence being able to pay it off 10 years before retirement rather then still be paying on it for 8 years into my I retirement. Since it was paid off 10 years before I retired I was able to then use a chunk of that former mortgage payment for savings. Besides, who wants to pay a mortgage or ever escalating rents when they're on a fixed income if they can buy a house early enough?
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Maybe someone is comfortable with a finance company holding their deed over them for 30 years while they gamble on the stock market. I wasn't. After I wised up I rolled over what ever little I had of my 401K into a no fee, no risk FDIC insured IRA savings account years ago. Good I did or it would have taken a shellacking in 2008. This along with some regular savings. This doesn't mean I'm well off by any means but it sure beats allowing others to manipulate what little assets I've accumulated.
A Blog About Anything & Everything.
Monday, February 9, 2026
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Friday, February 6, 2026
Talking Heads Drive Me Crazy When...
Repost
.. conservatives constantly repeat over and over again what "those on the left" are thinking. Same goes for those on the left regarding those to the right and what they are thinking. I'm positive both sides have more then a adequate supply of hot air to speak for themselves.
Here a few clichés that should immediately cause people to disregard anything said after spouting the following....It should be no wonder why most of those appearing on TV and the politicians themselves have law degrees. There's lots of tricks one can use in a debate. What each has in common is they are meant to belittle one's opponent. One of the most important lessons taught in schools of law is how to diminish an opponent's creditability.
There's no finer example then the scene in this film...
I am also acutely aware when I see these kind of debates in the media because of my experiences on this blog. 99% of the comments I get aren't about debating what I posted but rather personal attacks regarding my creditability. I block almost all of them. Hence why anyone coming to this blog will see so few of them.
The media makes a ton of money off this kind of discourse. It rarely serves to inform anyone. Rather it only serves to incite anger and further divisiveness. If they get a ratings boost when they do these type of debating antics they'll make more programs like them Which equates to more income for them.
I fail to see how this makes this country a better place when they air this kind of trash.
CLICK HERE or on the picture for more information from PBS-- "Wrath of the talking heads: How the ‘Outrage Industry’ affects politics"
.. conservatives constantly repeat over and over again what "those on the left" are thinking. Same goes for those on the left regarding those to the right and what they are thinking. I'm positive both sides have more then a adequate supply of hot air to speak for themselves.
Here a few clichés that should immediately cause people to disregard anything said after spouting the following....It should be no wonder why most of those appearing on TV and the politicians themselves have law degrees. There's lots of tricks one can use in a debate. What each has in common is they are meant to belittle one's opponent. One of the most important lessons taught in schools of law is how to diminish an opponent's creditability.
I am also acutely aware when I see these kind of debates in the media because of my experiences on this blog. 99% of the comments I get aren't about debating what I posted but rather personal attacks regarding my creditability. I block almost all of them. Hence why anyone coming to this blog will see so few of them.
The media makes a ton of money off this kind of discourse. It rarely serves to inform anyone. Rather it only serves to incite anger and further divisiveness. If they get a ratings boost when they do these type of debating antics they'll make more programs like them Which equates to more income for them.
I fail to see how this makes this country a better place when they air this kind of trash.
CLICK HERE or on the picture for more information from PBS-- "Wrath of the talking heads: How the ‘Outrage Industry’ affects politics"
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Subcontracting GOTTEN WAY OUT HAND
Repost From 2016
In today's world."outsourcing" has become the name of the game.
Whether the words used are freelancing or outsourcing both mean the same thing. Companies no longer see themselves responsible for providing workers with a means for a steady income Nor necessarily for the quality work performed by the jobber they sent either. Chances are whatever goods or services a unsatisfied customer complains about will be told to take it up with the jobber the seller outsourced with.
This post was inspired when I came across this bit of information I wasn't aware of. According to THIS NEWS STORY (WFMZ) a car hit a pole knocking down wires. The piece goes on to say, "First responders and residents soon learned from a PPL representative on scene that PPL Electric Utilities just enacted new guidelines in which the company no longer responds to nor repairs downed lines... Instead, the company uses subcontractors to do repairs." << YOU SAY WHAT!
Broken Down Into Pieces
Today consumers can purchase generated electric separately from a handful of companies that don't know even what a generator looks like. Remember when PPL did it all. They owned mines, generators, buildings and employed all the workers needed (linemen included). If it weren't for PPL there wouldn't be a Lake Wallenpaupack. Over the years they (like other utilities) have split up the business into several divisions. Some which were sold off, including the lake. It was taken over by 'Talen Energy' on June 1, 2015. Then in order to comply with regulations Talen announced in the fall it would sell it to yet another energy company listed in Bermuda. They just took over ownership on April 1, 2016.
It's All A Facade
Even I could open a phone company by scraping some of the money off the top I wouldn't need to know a damn thing. I could hire an accountant, sales person, contract with a wholesale communications provider, hang a shingle outside and I'm good to go. The same way I could start doing online sales. Take an order, sign with a credit provider, some firm in China (who'll send the orders out) and again I'm good to go. Neither which would be much different then what these investor formed companies are doing these days.
What we have here is overhead receiving the rewards for the work borne on those who are skilled and doing the actual work. Sorry but I liked it better when we did things the other way. In the days workers took pride in representing the company, it's reputation and were actually employed fulltime by them. In return respected and compensated accordingly.
When companies only did one or two things very well.Because they didn't have their eggs scattered in two dozen places, they had to!
The problem today is too few give a crap. Why should they when companies can simply rent people, buildings and offices enabling them to easily pack up and leave. When workers aren't under threat of losing a permanent fulltime job or benefits they never were hired for or had in the first place. Now that's some recipe.
Speaking Of Jobs:
"The Truth About Temp Labor" (March 2014)
Some may call this progress.
Me, not so much.
In today's world."outsourcing" has become the name of the game.
Whether the words used are freelancing or outsourcing both mean the same thing. Companies no longer see themselves responsible for providing workers with a means for a steady income Nor necessarily for the quality work performed by the jobber they sent either. Chances are whatever goods or services a unsatisfied customer complains about will be told to take it up with the jobber the seller outsourced with.
This post was inspired when I came across this bit of information I wasn't aware of. According to THIS NEWS STORY (WFMZ) a car hit a pole knocking down wires. The piece goes on to say, "First responders and residents soon learned from a PPL representative on scene that PPL Electric Utilities just enacted new guidelines in which the company no longer responds to nor repairs downed lines... Instead, the company uses subcontractors to do repairs." << YOU SAY WHAT!
Broken Down Into Pieces
Today consumers can purchase generated electric separately from a handful of companies that don't know even what a generator looks like. Remember when PPL did it all. They owned mines, generators, buildings and employed all the workers needed (linemen included). If it weren't for PPL there wouldn't be a Lake Wallenpaupack. Over the years they (like other utilities) have split up the business into several divisions. Some which were sold off, including the lake. It was taken over by 'Talen Energy' on June 1, 2015. Then in order to comply with regulations Talen announced in the fall it would sell it to yet another energy company listed in Bermuda. They just took over ownership on April 1, 2016.
It's All A Facade
Even I could open a phone company by scraping some of the money off the top I wouldn't need to know a damn thing. I could hire an accountant, sales person, contract with a wholesale communications provider, hang a shingle outside and I'm good to go. The same way I could start doing online sales. Take an order, sign with a credit provider, some firm in China (who'll send the orders out) and again I'm good to go. Neither which would be much different then what these investor formed companies are doing these days.
What we have here is overhead receiving the rewards for the work borne on those who are skilled and doing the actual work. Sorry but I liked it better when we did things the other way. In the days workers took pride in representing the company, it's reputation and were actually employed fulltime by them. In return respected and compensated accordingly.
When companies only did one or two things very well.Because they didn't have their eggs scattered in two dozen places, they had to!
The problem today is too few give a crap. Why should they when companies can simply rent people, buildings and offices enabling them to easily pack up and leave. When workers aren't under threat of losing a permanent fulltime job or benefits they never were hired for or had in the first place. Now that's some recipe.
"The Truth About Temp Labor" (March 2014)
Some may call this progress.
Me, not so much.
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
U.S. Senate Doesn't "Represent" Democracy Very Well
Repost From 2021
Certainly not the larger half of "The Will Of The People" as Mitch McConell would try having us believe.
minipost.com
U.S. Senate representation is deeply undemocratic—
and cannot be changed
"But, according to the calculation of Ian Millhiser, writing for Vox, if you add up the population of states and assign half to each of their two senators, “the Democratic half of the Senate represents 41,549,808 more people than the Republican half.”
If a state has two senators from the same party, he assigns that state’s population number to that party. If a state has one senator from each party, he assigns half the population to each party."
Think of this another way. Delaware has a population of around 974,000 people. California has around 39,510,000 people. Yet both receive representation by two members each in the senate. Call this a constitutional flaw if you will.
As you can see AOC is justified complaining. Mitch and the republicans know full well they represent about 41 1/2 million fewer of the population then democrats in the senate. This is one of the reasons conservatives of all stripes continually bash AOC. Her continued outspokenness makes them uncomfortable as hell. She shakes things up they'd rather not have exposed.
Now learn about the filibuster
This is how they killed the bill AOC was talking about
Certainly not the larger half of "The Will Of The People" as Mitch McConell would try having us believe.
Call me radical, but I do not believe a minority of Senators should be able to block voting rights for millions of people.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 23, 2021
But I guess I’m just from that far-left school of thought that legislation should pass when a majority of legislators vote for it https://t.co/NTtk28BwRs
U.S. Senate representation is deeply undemocratic—
and cannot be changed
If a state has two senators from the same party, he assigns that state’s population number to that party. If a state has one senator from each party, he assigns half the population to each party."
Think of this another way. Delaware has a population of around 974,000 people. California has around 39,510,000 people. Yet both receive representation by two members each in the senate. Call this a constitutional flaw if you will.
As you can see AOC is justified complaining. Mitch and the republicans know full well they represent about 41 1/2 million fewer of the population then democrats in the senate. This is one of the reasons conservatives of all stripes continually bash AOC. Her continued outspokenness makes them uncomfortable as hell. She shakes things up they'd rather not have exposed.
I understand we are not a "direct democracy" but rather suppose to be a "representative democracy". But we aren't truly a "representative democracy" in it's purest form either. Something to keep in mind next time Mitch claims he's only "representing the will of the American people". Well some of them maybe... not the majority he'd have us believe.
This is how they killed the bill AOC was talking about
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
55 Corporations Avoided $8.5 Billion In Federal Taxes
Repost From 2021
nypost.com
Dozens of America’s biggest companies paid no federal income taxes last year
"26 of them haven’t paid a penny in federal income tax in the three years since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reform bill was signed into law in 2017... In fact, 52 of those firms — including household names such as Nike, FedEx and Dish Network — ended up pocketing federal tax rebates worth a collective $3.5 billion"
Every time a Republican president gets into office (except Geo. H.W. Bush) the same thing happens. Ronald Reagan, tax cuts. Geo. W Bush, tax cuts. Trump, Tax cuts. Each promise these will more then make up for themselves. With GDP growth will come a influx of tax money. Yet as anyone can plainly see it never does.
Instead when the budget goes to pot it's up to Democrats try and bring the revenue back in. At this point Republicans then accuse Democrats of tax and spend. We've seen this time and again. Like riding on the same carousel round and round it never seems to get old. Republicans break the bank. Democrats fix it. Then Republicans break it again.. on and on it goes.
Dozens of America’s biggest companies paid no federal income taxes last year
Every time a Republican president gets into office (except Geo. H.W. Bush) the same thing happens. Ronald Reagan, tax cuts. Geo. W Bush, tax cuts. Trump, Tax cuts. Each promise these will more then make up for themselves. With GDP growth will come a influx of tax money. Yet as anyone can plainly see it never does.
Instead when the budget goes to pot it's up to Democrats try and bring the revenue back in. At this point Republicans then accuse Democrats of tax and spend. We've seen this time and again. Like riding on the same carousel round and round it never seems to get old. Republicans break the bank. Democrats fix it. Then Republicans break it again.. on and on it goes.
So here we are again. The federal budget is in a landslide. Republicans call for cuts mostly in social services and infrastructure. Now the post office too. When this happens federal state funding is reduced. This in turn trickles down to local governments. Who then in turn increase their taxes on all of us.
Some may argue well if corporations are forced to pay higher taxes they will just increase their prices. True, but they can only do it on their customers. The wealthier will buy more from them. The poorer less likely to do so (capitalism at work for raising revenue). States and cities on the other hand suffering lower federal funds will impose tax increases on all their citizens across the board rich or poor (socialistic taxation).
Rather then increasing taxes directly on the wealthy do so more indirectly by closing the loopholes corporations get away with. Obviously the wealthy are going to spend a lot more money thus paying more in taxes on the larger amount of goods they buy then the average worker.
This avoids the age old argument in congress against taxing the wealthy. Perhaps making it less toxic in order to reach some sort bipartisan agreement that won't upset either of their voters as otherwise would. Although I'm quite certain it would be a call-to-arms for corporate lobbyists who'd be the main obstacle to overcome.
This leaves the money changers to be later dealt with. That's a much heftier lift best left to discuss another time.
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