- The Stock Market is not synonymous with the economy, it is gambling pure
and simple, and in its current form it is one of the economy's greatest
ills. A simple truth is wherever there is gambling there are people who
will find sophisticated ways to cheat and fleece the unsuspecting. In its
noblest form, the concept of selling stock started as a way to fund the
research, innovation, and company growth that was vital to the economic
development of our nation. With time it morphed into a haven for
speculation and manipulation. Rather than funding growth, for the most
part shareholders have become solely interested in maximizing short term
profits at the expense of the company's long term health and growth. It is
speculation rather than investment. In my opinion, shares should be
classed into two broad categories based upon that statement, those held
short term (for argument sake, less than two years) and those which
following Warren Buffet's advise are long term. Voting power should not be
bestowed upon the short term, speculative investor. Executive stock
options should encourage long term corporate health and growth by not
becoming vested for at least five years after they are exercised.
- Food costs have more than doubled, yet the family farmer is struggling while large
corporate farmers are getting huge subsidies. One solution would be
enacting Anti-trust legislation that forbids the huge conglomerates which
are so dominant in critical industries from operating at more than one
level in the manufacturing and distribution chain; pick one, manufacturing
(including farming), distribution or retail. It should also limit the
market share one company can have in any sector to 10% of the market.
Except in small towns, retailers should not be allowed to control more
than a specified market share based upon the population of the area they
serve. Just watch what this would do to your weekly food bill.
- The price of oil at the well head is dramatically different from the price we see
quoted on the TV each night. The difference is created by speculators in
the commodities markets (the same holds true for food and other vital
commodities). Products which are vital to the national good such as food,
oil and the like should be heavily regulated so as to forbid the
unconscionable profits which are siphoned off by manipulation of these
markets. A short term 90% windfall profits tax should be levied on all
profits above a reasonable spread, for argument sake 15%. At the same time
a long term per share traded tax of 1.0% should be applied to all stock
and commodities transactions (by other than users) which are held short
term. The term should be 1 year, with the fee applied at the time of sale.
Real solutions for a financial recovery which do not cost a single tax dollar.
This is a summary of our initial post, For the full content please see the same title in the March 2009 archives. Please click this link, the full article will appear at the bottom of this page!
It's simple, much if not all of what ails us economically can be solved without costing one thin dime, that is what we mean by a ZERO COST RECOVERY.
Many of today's ills have come from easily reversible causes, here are a few to start you thinking:
- The Bible condemns usury (sort of); whether or not you are religious, this make great sense.
- "A Free & Independent Press is the Cornerstone of Democracy". I don't know who first said it, but they were spot on. Today's media does not hold the rich and powerful accountable, it is owned by them; they are at the core of the problem.
- Food costs have more than doubled, yet the family farmer is struggling while large corporate farmers are getting huge subsidies. One solution would be enacting anti-trust legislation that forbids the huge conglomerates which are so dominant in critical industries from operating at more than one level in the manufacturing and distribution chain.... Grow it, process it, distribute it or retail it - choose one!
- The price of oil at the well head is dramatically different from the price we see quoted on the TV each night. The difference is created by speculators in the commodities markets (the same holds true for food and other vital commodities). Force the CFTC to re-institute the commodities speculation guideline that were in place prior to 1990.
- Big Pharma spends far more on marketing and lobbyists than on R&D, some say the figure is twice as much. How much do you think this adds to what your prescriptions cost? Lobby our legislators to allow Medicare to negotiate drug costs with their manufacturers and watch prices fall to the levels enjoyed in most other countries.
- Health care costs are skyrocketing yet Physicians pay has decreased dramatically. How much do you think the near monopolies in Health Insurance and HMO's contribute to this?
It's simple, much if not all of what ails us economically can be solved without costing one thin dime, that is what we mean by a ZERO COST RECOVERY.
Many of today's ills have come from easily reversible causes, here are a few to start you thinking:
- The Bible condemns usury (sort of); whether or not you are religious, this make great sense.
- Big Banks don't work for America or Americans (or anyone else for that matter). Consolidation was touted as a way to lower costs, provide better service and more affordable fees to customers. Can anyone show me an example where these promised economies of scale came to life? How about the lower fees and better service?
- Bigger is not better, that is why anti-trust legislation was enacted. Today's financial crisis was brought to a head by the unvarnished greed of the giant banks, financial institutions and corporations with the complicity of the majority of our legislators, it is just that simple.
- The "Free market" is not the cause of this problem, the fact that it has been castrated, prostituted and redefined by the greedy is. "Free market" does not mean a market without rules, or domination by the richest and most powerful. Without meaningful competition, free markets cannot, and do not, exist - period.
Rollback, update and aggressively enforce meaningful anti-trust & financial sector regulations and the root cause will be eliminated. How about requiring a binding contract guaranteeing that all consumer beneficial promises be a part of all mergers and acquisitions? To be effective, it should include an onerous non compliance clause!
- "A Free & Independent Press is the Cornerstone of Democracy". I don't know who first said it, but they were spot on. Today's media does not hold the rich and powerful accountable, it is owned by them; they are at the core of the problem.
- Food costs have more than doubled, yet the family farmer is struggling while large corporate farmers are getting huge subsidies. One solution would be enacting anti-trust legislation that forbids the huge conglomerates which are so dominant in critical industries from operating at more than one level in the manufacturing and distribution chain.... Grow it, process it, distribute it or retail it - choose one!
- The price of oil at the well head is dramatically different from the price we see quoted on the TV each night. The difference is created by speculators in the commodities markets (the same holds true for food and other vital commodities). Force the CFTC to re-institute the commodities speculation guideline that were in place prior to 1990.
- Big Pharma spends far more on marketing and lobbyists than on R&D, some say the figure is twice as much. How much do you think this adds to what your prescriptions cost? Lobby our legislators to allow Medicare to negotiate drug costs with their manufacturers and watch prices fall to the levels enjoyed in most other countries.
- Health care costs are skyrocketing yet Physicians pay has decreased dramatically. How much do you think the near monopolies in Health Insurance and HMO's contribute to this?
-Corporations are NOT People. Our Founding Fathers did not think so when they formed our nation, why are we allowing it now?
Monopolies and oligopolies are the root causes of our problems. Cure these ills, and our financial woes will evaporate WITHOUT COSTING ONE DIME.
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