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Posts Made By: Michael Koons

November 5, 2010 02:03 AM Forum: Investment Discussions

Paul, can you help me

Posted By Michael Koons
understand the Fed buying the Treasury's bonds. I heard it likened to a Ponzi scheme. Are we just printing money to buy the bonds? The money supply then must be screaming and perhaps the Gold bugs are on to something.

I just don't get it.

Michael

November 16, 2010 01:09 AM Forum: Politics

Why we pay Brazil 12 million per month for cotton

Posted By Michael Koons
subsidies, courtesy of NPR

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthread.php?338472-NPR-Why-U.S.-Taxpayers-Are-Paying-Brazilian-Cotton-Growers&p=7953754

I listened to the show in shock.....the above is a transcript version.


December 10, 2010 01:23 AM Forum: Politics

The new deal

Posted By Michael Koons
Continue historically low cap gains and dividend tax rates
Cut payroll taxes
Extend unemployment ad nauseum(I'd be happy to see it cutailed slightly each time to nudge some into lower paying jobs)
Allow Hedge fund managers to pay less income tax than a plumber

All with borrowed money from our future and foreign interests, whose liklihood of being paid back diminishes the value of your savings with the continued fall of the dollar.

Thank you Dems and Repubs! We'll see if the "Tea Party" repubs have the stomach for fiscal conservatism, the "Blue Dogs" sure threw in the towel.

Just fuming.....
Mike >sad

January 2, 2011 05:38 PM Forum: Politics

I am in disbelief

Posted By Michael Koons
MSN reports that the Virginian Pilot is reporting about this dirt bag, scum bucket, low life, idiot commanding the Enterprise........

I pray the Secretary of the Navy fires him, tomorrow at 0800 courtmartials his A$%, and sends him to Kansas for a while along with his prior CO (now Admiral).

I still can't believe this >sad

Probably doesn't belong in politics but when stuff like this comes up, it does a disservice to all the good guys serving present, past and future and discredits us to the world.

http://hamptonroads.tv/hrtv.php?id=46530391&cid=omc

Michael

May 8, 2011 03:48 AM Forum: Politics

So OBL is dead, a few churches burn in Egypt,

Posted By Michael Koons
A few thousand of our finest are dead, a lot more without a limb or so and a few trillion pocket change spent.

Does this make us more secure? Does it just make us feel better? Was it worth it?

I don't really have firm opinion, just looking for multiple colored commentary......

Michael

August 15, 2011 11:15 PM Forum: Politics

In case you haven't read Buffett's Op-Ed regarding

Posted By Michael Koons
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/stop-coddling-the-super-rich.html?_r=1

Oh yes I do realize we have a major spending issue too, but.....

November 2, 2011 03:29 AM Forum: Politics

UNESCO and Palestine

Posted By Michael Koons
Why is it so easy to just cut funding for political policy but not because "we just don't have the money?"
Why couldn't congress have found a dime to cut spending until 2015, but for political reasons find 80 million annually in a day?
Why is everyone silent when Ron Paul asks "can't we find one of the 794 military bases to close?"
Grrrrrrr

December 13, 2011 03:33 PM Forum: Politics

Obamacare working?

Posted By Michael Koons
Well I have been in the business world since 1990 after leaving the Naval Nuclear Power Program.
First business 1990-1998, sold to a public company. 1999-present building new company. The health care renewals have always been my responsibility.
Some key facts.

1999 our family rate was $339 per month.
Our increases have been from 7-23% since.
Last years family rate was $997.
We have 16 employees.
Healthcare consumes 7% of our gross profit up from 2.5% in 1999.

Last year Obamacare earned us a 25% credit for our healthcare bill.

This year I just got our renewal and competitive quotes as in ALL prior years.

The competitive quote we received from Blue Cross this year was 24% less than our current providor.

Our scheduled increase from our current provider was 7.7%. They are willing to negotiate.

A good friend had the same 7.7% from the same provider and had it negotiated down to 3.5%. It was the first time in 20 years he had them negotiate and cut the increase. It was also the first instance that his increase was less than 5%.

Is the healthcare reform working?

My partner and I are absolutely stunned.....

We think this is some preliminary posturing to seal a chunck of business before the insurance pools or exchanges form.

Your comments, particularly recent experience with health care rates appreciated.

Michael

December 24, 2012 01:13 AM Forum: Politics

Political Cover

Posted By Michael Koons
I guess letting us go over the cliff might be great politically. When it get fixed, whatever size nuts and bolts make up the fix, they can all say they voted to cut our taxes and reduce spending. Ironically, if they had just done their jobs they could have made the same assertion but, people seldom get credit for "just doing their jobs". It is always the crisis that gets recognition.......and votes.

I wonder if this was the plan all along? That might just be sarcastic!

Merry Christmas Guys!

Michael

June 13, 2013 10:21 PM Forum: Politics

Apples and Oranges are both fruit

Posted By Michael Koons
I don't spend much time here anymore because of mindless hating and sniping but have come to truly appreciate Jim Brown's logic so here goes and I hope you can post a response Jim.

I am stunned and amazed that the pro-gun faction is largely silent on the PRISM stuff. I've listened to some faaarrr right wing guys like Alex Jones? and others who just howl about evil governments and guns... The thing is, somewhere in their logic they make some valid points about how governments misuse power.

Why don't the Wayne Lapiers(or however you spell it), Alex Jones and NRA gun people use this opportunity to unite people from several factions to defend our right to privacy, right to bear arms and the like? I just don't get it.

Where does the power of government stop? If we want to trade purported security for freedom, let us all have a National discussion about it. Don't spy on my, tap me, pull me over at a DUI checkpoint, record my web browsing etc. without a Judge.
Period.

I am just stunned the gun boys don't see a connection and are so quiet. I was hoping to have Jim's take on the whole deal specifically if he chose to chip in.

Thanks in advance and please be free!

M

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