tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post4325696317926207827..comments2023-08-04T04:50:56.834-06:00Comments on Redheaded Wisdom: Inflation is a bitter pillD.K. Raedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01451065603615752038noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-64366678552808696032008-04-24T12:32:00.000-06:002008-04-24T12:32:00.000-06:00Diva:I am sorry I had to point out we have cut so ...Diva:<BR/>I am sorry I had to point out we have cut so far back on entertainment & travel. But you bring up a good point that I hadn't covered ... and that is how everyone reducing their expenses because they can no longer afford the things they used to be able to, has real impact up & down the line. Whether it's travel plans or a new set of tires, inflation will eventually be felt in every sector. <BR/><BR/>If I could afford the Euro trip we've been planning for yrs, I would be contacting you! First we put it off because our old dogs were too sickly to be boarded for a month. Now we simply can't afford it (and the old dogs aren't doing any better either). For now, it will remain a dream unfulfilled.D.K. Raedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451065603615752038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-19866621191646197382008-04-24T08:20:00.000-06:002008-04-24T08:20:00.000-06:00"Entertainment and Travel: Down 50% ... of course ..."Entertainment and Travel: Down 50% ... of course this is a discretionary category which we've cut way back on. Who can afford to travel and entertain much anymore? Not long ago, we were blowing 10% of our annual income on this. BTW, I include gas in this category, so you can see we are really going nowhere!"<BR/><BR/>This is my profession: I am a travel agent. The only area of travel still strong is luxury travel - in other words, the Republicans with all the $$$ are still traveling, which keeps me still working. That I cannot afford to purchase the gasoline for my car to get to work is irrelevant.DivaJoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02534571327558009753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-13615740057576753502008-04-23T06:30:00.000-06:002008-04-23T06:30:00.000-06:00See link below for voting problems in PA.Brad Blog...See link below for voting problems in PA.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.bradblog.com/" REL="nofollow">Brad Blog</A><BR/><BR/>God Bless.Anon-Paranoidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16689838429335195289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-21045895257524985362008-04-22T14:35:00.000-06:002008-04-22T14:35:00.000-06:00Cart: I'm afraid the bubble has already been pric...Cart: I'm afraid the bubble has already been pricked & is in the process of collapsing. I just hope there is something more substantial 'neath the bubble than mere air.D.K. Raedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451065603615752038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-89684758660886149942008-04-22T03:52:00.000-06:002008-04-22T03:52:00.000-06:00I would have thought air and bluff was keeping it ...I would have thought air and bluff was keeping it all afloat. I have said before that I foresee a corporate loan collapse that will make the mortgage collapse look like a hiccough. <BR/>It could well be too late to impose a trading impost, or tax if you like. I expect the bubble will burst before any measures could possibly be taken, even if there were a will to take them.Cartledgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11929350278316125588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-43394312287761098182008-04-22T03:42:00.000-06:002008-04-22T03:42:00.000-06:00Hey, Cart, I'm for anything that would help stabli...Hey, Cart, I'm for anything that would help stablize currency! I will have to read more about The Tobin Tax tomorrow when I'm more awake. I was just trying to proofread my new post about how Utah, Idaho and Pennsylvania are alike. I hope I didn't paint them unfairly. <BR/><BR/>In your previous comment about putting an impost on traders ... at first, I thought you were talking about a tariff on imports to ensure that domestic businesses can fairly compete in their own countries. But then I realized you were talking about the stock market, which has always been a total mystery to me. It seems to have no basis in reality. Here we are entering, if not actually in, a recession and yet the stock market continues apace. What is propping it up? Is it all oil futures and defense industry stocks? Because those are about the only corp's doing well now.D.K. Raedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451065603615752038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-89364363829968178522008-04-22T01:38:00.000-06:002008-04-22T01:38:00.000-06:00DK, I can’t just let it go at that. I was talking ...DK, I can’t just let it go at that. I was talking to others about this and reminded of the:<BR/><A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobin_tax" REL="nofollow">Tobin Tax</A> I forgot about currency, another facet of the trading market. But all of these traders are the ones screwing us. I don’t see why they should not be paying for the privilege.Cartledgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11929350278316125588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-91328853069954925202008-04-22T01:18:00.000-06:002008-04-22T01:18:00.000-06:00DK, you do misunderstand my depth of understanding...DK, you do misunderstand my depth of understanding of economics. I come from the top down, but argue that most people misunderstand the concept and don’t really go beyond markets. You have really focused on the basic dynamics to my mind – how it affects the household.<BR/>How do we suck it out of the thieves? My first step would be to put an impost on traders, graduated through from normal (traditional) stock and share trading up through futures, equities and the various market on-selling instruments. <BR/>Even a one cent impost on the basics would yield a sizeable return, but it is those riskier (for everyone) trades which should really be penalized.Cartledgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11929350278316125588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-53351640516395885842008-04-22T01:02:00.000-06:002008-04-22T01:02:00.000-06:00Cart:Thanks, that is high praise coming from you! ...Cart:<BR/>Thanks, that is high praise coming from you! I used Econ 101 in college as naptime & I guess it shows! Still, maybe I wasn't clear that I was talking about "fair taxes", which would mean first taking back the big tax cut Bush handed out to his "have more" friends. And I also have to say, if we are talking tax fairness, even though people hate paying taxes, they REALLY resent rich fatcats paying less. We all want to feel that the system is fair.<BR/><BR/>My thought (however ineptly expressed) was that by keeping the "official" inflation rate low, the govt is able keep their annual COL raises for social security, govt pensions, military, etc, low. If they had to cover the true rate of inflation, they couldn't, unless taxes were raised. But really, this is all a deception, because they are only pretending to pay a COL & hoping we all don't notice that somehow it didn't cover OUR rising expenses. <BR/><BR/>Now maybe you can tell me how we might "suck some cash out of the thieves who have been smart enough to dump out already" ... any ideas?D.K. Raedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451065603615752038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-30663970034785257632008-04-22T00:47:00.000-06:002008-04-22T00:47:00.000-06:00Fran:Oh I hope we don't meet the Titanic's fate! ...Fran:<BR/>Oh I hope we don't meet the Titanic's fate! Please let it be just a recession. I had another thought today about the recent steep rise of oil ($117/barrel record high) ... that BushieBoy and his DickiePal oil buddy have some kind of agreement with their Saudi allies to run up oil prices all summer, then as we get closer to the election, they can bring 'em back down and we will be on our knees thanking them. It would be Bush's contribution to helping get another repub prez. well, it was just a stray thought to keep me from contemplating how Jenna's impending wedding will cause americans to lose what's left of our minds!D.K. Raedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451065603615752038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-63747545958138858542008-04-22T00:03:00.000-06:002008-04-22T00:03:00.000-06:00Red, that post was bloody brilliant. The analysis ...Red, that post was bloody brilliant. The analysis is reflected here as well, and I'm not sure personal taxation is the answer. <BR/>Mind you, corporate tax will soon be problematic, as they are also suffering now. Maybe we should be looking at sucking some cash out of the thieves who have been smart enough to dump out already.<BR/>Howsomever, your economic analysis is spot on.Cartledgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11929350278316125588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-9498518266737853602008-04-21T22:54:00.000-06:002008-04-21T22:54:00.000-06:00DK~ Dahling~ You are one heck-of-a-numbers crunche...DK~ Dahling~ You are one heck-of-a-numbers cruncher you are. 3% inflation- my ass.<BR/>Things are looking up- cost of gas, everything seems to have gone up- even garbage collection (gas), food (gas), medical, up Up UP!<BR/><BR/>I'ts a raw deal and I think the game is to not use the r & d words (recession & depression). They think of it like voodoo- if they say those words, it will happen.<BR/>But that ship has already sailed (or sunk???)<BR/><BR/>So there you have it- my recap- the economy is the Titanic.Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198689517878201943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-92028179418728934072008-04-21T20:46:00.000-06:002008-04-21T20:46:00.000-06:00Enigma: I wonder if talking about inflation makes...Enigma: I wonder if talking about inflation makes it worse? It seems the more one tries to analyze it, the fuzzier it becomes. I could've blabbed on more, but I think we all know instinctively that inflation is MUCH higher than is being officially recognized. You can't lie at the grocery check-out line.<BR/><BR/>I DO trust Obama, and not just on the inflation issue. He has conducted himself honestly throughout this campaign. Truth is most important to me. If I know the truth, I am empowered. If I'm being lied to, I end up with Geo Bush & Dick Cheney. I'm so tired of lies.D.K. Raedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451065603615752038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-62068991953217877422008-04-21T18:14:00.000-06:002008-04-21T18:14:00.000-06:00thanks for what you said to ANonP....About the pos...thanks for what you said to ANonP....<BR/><BR/>About the post...excellent..really explained alot- thank you for explaining yet another reason that Obama is better for this country during these $$$ dark times...<BR/><BR/>( I learned alot that has been fuzzy for me,...and others, because they are not covered well enough...)enigma4everhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06589997090173140019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-81879354302825761032008-04-21T17:54:00.000-06:002008-04-21T17:54:00.000-06:00Tomcat: BINGO! That is exactly what I meant by "...Tomcat: BINGO! That is exactly what I meant by "fair taxes". <BR/><BR/>Anony-P: I'm so sorry to hear what you & Ginger are going through. I left a more detailed message on your blog. Plus I see Engima just put up a post for you & Ginger. I hope you can visit her in the hospital. I wish it was easier to know what's right. Hang in there, we are all thinking of you & sending good thoughts.D.K. Raedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451065603615752038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-29123252530597323452008-04-21T17:10:00.000-06:002008-04-21T17:10:00.000-06:00d.k. raed...I left this over at enigma's site and ...d.k. raed...<BR/><BR/>I left this over at enigma's site and wanted you to see it too. Please forgive me for being off topic.<BR/><BR/>For all Ginger's and my friends...<BR/><BR/>As I sit here barely able to write this and at a loss for words, I wanted to thank all of you for your support and comfort last year when Ginger was poisoned by Hill's MD Dry Cat food.<BR/><BR/>Over the past week or so Ginger has not been eating very much and with my daughter visiting for my birthday I waited until she went home Saturday before calling the <BR/>Vet.<BR/><BR/>Up until last week around Wednesday I noticed that she was barely eating. At the time I thought that perhaps she just had a cold or something or just wasn't feeling <BR/>good.<BR/><BR/>By Friday when I got home from work I noticed that she had stopped eating all together and know I had to get her into the Vet to find out what the problem was. My daughter wanted me to take her in Saturday morning, but since her plane back home was a 2:30 pm flight I didn't <BR/>want to have her miss the plane.<BR/><BR/>This morning I called my Vet and <BR/>told her I thought that maybe Ginger had eaten contaminated food again, she was not eating or having a bowel movement since Wednesday <BR/>and she said I should get her in so the Doctor could look at her.<BR/><BR/>I took the rest of the day off, headed home and put Ginger in her carrier and headed to the Vet's office.<BR/><BR/>Once there the Doctor looked at her and the assistant took her temperature. She was unable to get a accurate one as the thermometer could barely be inserted.<BR/><BR/>They weighed her and she was down to 21LB's since her physical in December. They took her in the back to xray her to see if see may be constipated or if there could be any other problems.<BR/><BR/>When she came back in she had stopped doing the xray's because after they had done the chest and heart area it showed a Heart problem. Her chest was full of liquid and her heart was floating making it hard for her to breathe. She said i had to see a Specialist and called the Hospital so they would be ready to see her the minute I got there.<BR/><BR/>She gave Ginger a shot to help her breathe and I paid the bill and headed over to the hospital.<BR/><BR/>On arriving at the hospital they took her immediately to the back and I waited for a Doctor who was interning to become a Specialist while the Doctor and those assisting her looked at Ginger and the xray's I brought over.<BR/><BR/>The Doctor whom I saw the first time said Ginger had a Heart Condition and was in very bad shape. They had extracted about 100 Mililiters {I think that's the right work} and around 15ML was a tablespoon and they had done around 8 tablespoons so far. She then went back to assist those working on Ginger.<BR/><BR/>When she returned she told me that Ginger did have Heart Disease and they would have to get a electrocardiogram to see what was going on with her heart. They had her in a oxygen tent and I was informed of what they needed to do.<BR/><BR/>I was even ask if it was okay to resuscitate if she went under and I said yes. I was told that she would call me later to let me know what the current status was.<BR/><BR/>Well I just got off the phone with her and she said Ginger had DCM and it was congenital more than likely. <BR/><BR/>She informed me that she might not make it out of the hospital and if she did Ginger might only last a month or two.<BR/><BR/>All her heart walls were thin and she had trouble pumping blood through her system because of this. I don't know if she will be home or not and if it looks like they are unable to get her home or if it appears that there is nothing they can really do for her I told them to put her down.<BR/><BR/>I paid the over two hundred dollars at my Vet's and two thousand dollars which was a little over the two thirds of her hospital cost which would exceed $2300 dollars.<BR/><BR/>I would give all I have if she would come home and be healthy, however at this time I don't think I'll be seeing her again.<BR/><BR/>To all of you who were very supportive last year I want to thank you as your support meant so much too me.<BR/><BR/>I can't go on anymore, but I wanted you all to know that Ginger and I thank you from the bottom of are hearts.<BR/><BR/>God Bless.Anon-Paranoidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16689838429335195289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-24809702723671186172008-04-21T12:22:00.000-06:002008-04-21T12:22:00.000-06:00Red, for me groceries and medical care account for...Red, for me groceries and medical care account for around half my budget, so my rate would be higher.<BR/><BR/>I think raising taxes on the middle class and poor would be a mistake right now. However, we need to roll back the Bush tax cuts for those making over $200,000 per year. That will restore 90% of the lost revenue from them. We need to eliminate the loopholes that allow the top 1% to pay a lower percentage than I do. We need to stop subsidizing corporations who are turning record profits, and we need to eliminate the income cap on social security.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11397335545286040472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361366843010914070.post-24353859678992977712008-04-21T11:29:00.000-06:002008-04-21T11:29:00.000-06:00Yes you read that correctly, my late-night analysi...Yes you read that correctly, my late-night analysis led me to the realization we may have to raise taxes, and that's saying a lot since I'm not a big tax-and-spend advocate. But that's what happens when you face facts.D.K. Raedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01451065603615752038noreply@blogger.com