Comments on: Is There a Shadow Government In America? http://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/ Slicing Through Money's Mysteries Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:52:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: An Open Letter To Vikram Pandit, CEO of Citigroup | Financial Samuraihttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-507 An Open Letter To Vikram Pandit, CEO of Citigroup | Financial Samurai Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:58:18 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-507 [...] “America’s Shadow Government” [...] [...] “America’s Shadow Government” [...]

]]> By: adminhttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-433 admin Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:27:14 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-433 Hi Lee - Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I love your "spitting feathers" vernacular! This is what's so great about international friends. I've never heard that term before, and it provides for great imagery. I have a feeling Barclays will do quite well, as well! Hi Lee – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I love your “spitting feathers” vernacular! This is what’s so great about international friends. I’ve never heard that term before, and it provides for great imagery. I have a feeling Barclays will do quite well, as well!

]]> By: Leehttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-424 Lee Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:03:31 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-424 People are still spitting feathers over the RBS/HBOS fiascoes. I suspect that'll rumble on for quite a while yet...! Us taxpayers own (iirc) 72% of RBS now. Barclays are the only major UK financial institution that didn't need or take a handout. It also by random chance is the bank I am with, so I'm quietly pleased. I wouldn't say people perceive it to be "deserving" because of that, but definitely trustworthy and reliable. I suspect when the fallout has finished, they'll do extremely well out of new custom. People are still spitting feathers over the RBS/HBOS fiascoes. I suspect that’ll rumble on for quite a while yet…! Us taxpayers own (iirc) 72% of RBS now.

Barclays are the only major UK financial institution that didn’t need or take a handout. It also by random chance is the bank I am with, so I’m quietly pleased. I wouldn’t say people perceive it to be “deserving” because of that, but definitely trustworthy and reliable. I suspect when the fallout has finished, they’ll do extremely well out of new custom.

]]> By: adminhttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-415 admin Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:44:26 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-415 Lee - is there still an uproar against the huge pay and bailout out money towards RBS and UBS? Looks like Barclays didn't receive any bailout money, so are they perceived as a "better" or "more trustworthy" and "deserving" bank? The story with RBS is unbelievable... I can't believe the government owns 70% of the bank (!?). Lee – is there still an uproar against the huge pay and bailout out money towards RBS and UBS? Looks like Barclays didn’t receive any bailout money, so are they perceived as a “better” or “more trustworthy” and “deserving” bank? The story with RBS is unbelievable… I can’t believe the government owns 70% of the bank (!?).

]]> By: Leehttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-413 Lee Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:39:08 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-413 The UK government is continuing to recommend people "spend their way out of recession", yet the banks are turning round and encouraging people to save, but not particularly enticing anyone to do so with their interest rates. We're in interesting financial times indeed. The UK government is continuing to recommend people “spend their way out of recession”, yet the banks are turning round and encouraging people to save, but not particularly enticing anyone to do so with their interest rates.

We’re in interesting financial times indeed.

]]> By: adminhttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-350 admin Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:54:33 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-350 Thanks for the highlight Mike! Have noted. Thanks for the highlight Mike! Have noted.

]]> By: Mikehttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Mike Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:06:04 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-348 One small correction: That $105k income limit for IRA contributions applies only to the Roth IRA, not to the IRA per se. Even with an income above that you can still contribute to an IRA; and if self and spouse do not have an IRS-approved company-sponsored retirement plan those contributions are even deductible. One small correction: That $105k income limit for IRA contributions applies only to the Roth IRA, not to the IRA per se. Even with an income above that you can still contribute to an IRA; and if self and spouse do not have an IRS-approved company-sponsored retirement plan those contributions are even deductible.

]]> By: fshttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-310 fs Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:40:37 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-310 Hi Michael - It seems like politicians are pulled in every single direction. If you've ever watched them try to grill some finance guy in CNBC, I think you'll find that a lot of them don't know what they are talking about. It was most apparent when they grilled Hank Paulson, during the crisis. Politicians always try to do what's best for their constituents, and have every incentive to spend all the money ear marked to them. If politicians had lifetime terms, maybe it'll be different. But with only 4-8 years their time to make a difference is short! Shogun Hi Michael – It seems like politicians are pulled in every single direction. If you’ve ever watched them try to grill some finance guy in CNBC, I think you’ll find that a lot of them don’t know what they are talking about. It was most apparent when they grilled Hank Paulson, during the crisis.

Politicians always try to do what’s best for their constituents, and have every incentive to spend all the money ear marked to them. If politicians had lifetime terms, maybe it’ll be different. But with only 4-8 years their time to make a difference is short!

Shogun

]]> By: Michael @dinksfinancehttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-309 Michael @dinksfinance Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:05:20 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-309 Very interesting post. Sometimes I think politicians know what the "best" thing to do is, but they forgo doing it in favor of something that will get them more vote come election season. Do you agree? Very interesting post. Sometimes I think politicians know what the “best” thing to do is, but they forgo doing it in favor of something that will get them more vote come election season. Do you agree?

]]> By: fshttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-301 fs Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:17:19 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-301 <a href="#comment-298" rel="nofollow">@David@DINKS Finance </a> David, I think part of the reason why China is doing better than most other countries is 1) they run a balance of payment surplus, and 2) they run a command economy i.e. the central government commands local governments to spend, banks to lend, and things happen. Democratic governments take longer to pull their countries' out of their slumps, due to debating. Shogun @David@DINKS Finance David, I think part of the reason why China is doing better than most other countries is 1) they run a balance of payment surplus, and 2) they run a command economy i.e. the central government commands local governments to spend, banks to lend, and things happen.

Democratic governments take longer to pull their countries’ out of their slumps, due to debating.

Shogun

]]> By: Jameshttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-299 James Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:45:43 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-299 Great posting! Great posting!

]]> By: David@DINKS Financehttp://www.financialsamurai.com/2009/09/02/is-there-a-shadow-government-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-298 David@DINKS Finance Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:23:27 +0000 http://www.financialsamurai.com/?p=498#comment-298 This is something I can get behind! It's amazing how our government goes out of its way to promote spending rather than saving. Think about it - when consumer spending goes down, everyone talks about how the economy is bad. As soon as it is back up, the pundits can't get enough and talk of economic recovery! Savings is such an important aspect of a healthy economy. You wonder why China is so prosperous - go over there and talk to people and you will realize they are extremely frugal! Very little mal-investment. This is something I can get behind! It’s amazing how our government goes out of its way to promote spending rather than saving. Think about it – when consumer spending goes down, everyone talks about how the economy is bad. As soon as it is back up, the pundits can’t get enough and talk of economic recovery!

Savings is such an important aspect of a healthy economy. You wonder why China is so prosperous – go over there and talk to people and you will realize they are extremely frugal! Very little mal-investment.

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