Friday, December 03, 2004
Our friendly neighbor/Where's the jobs?
I have two thoughts for today. One thought has to do what what I wrote about Canada the other day. Maybe I am all wrong in my assessment, but every time I encounter Canadians and Europeans who have strong thoughts "aboout" our foreign policy and the general "tenor" of our economy, I always get the impression that I need to be "taught" something. For instance, the recent Bush election.....
BUT...If Kerry had been elected, my social security taxes would have been raised significantly, as I am self employed. So, I voted for Bush, it is really as simple as that. In this last year, my property taxes went up a whopping 46%, because of gentrification, so I find my annual property taxes to be the equivalent of three mortgage payments. I pay gas bills in the range of $1,000 per month during the cold winter months. I can't afford Billionaires who want to increase my familial overhead, it is really that simple. But, I am told by my Albertan cousins, I have made a "stupid" choice, I am arrogant, and my choice has reconfirmed their conviction that I come from a country of "stupid" people. So I think the following excerpt from Neil Steinberg's column says it well....
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Neighbor above looks down on us below
December 1, 2004
BY NEIL STEINBERG SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST
Opening shot
Imagine a difficult, unpleasant task. Changing a flat tire on a rainy stretch of road, say. You're outside, drenched, cold, kneeling on gravel, grimacing, putting your weight on the tire iron, trying to crack a lug nut. A car stops. The window rolls down. And a smug voice calls out, "You know, if you rotated those tires regularly, like you're supposed to, they wouldn't wear out so quickly -- and keep a poncho in the trunk. Just a tip." Then the car drives away in a spray of gravel.
That's Canada. Misplaced superiority dipped in a thick coat of contempt. President Bush is there now, trying to slake Canada's endless thirst for American attention.
Fat chance. Does the American gaze that Canada ordinarily craves make it happy? Of course not. Our frosty neighbor to the north is convulsed in protest because the U.S. is actually engaged in trying to address the woes of the world, instead of sitting on its thumbs and complaining.
I've met Canadians, and while they can, with effort, muster periodic bursts of charm, and even express an occasional amazed, who'd-a-thunk-it appreciation of the United States, their general attitude is that of an elderly dutchess who has used tongs to pick up a bug from the Oriental carpet and is examining it through her lorgnette with open, nose-wrinkling disgust as she transports it to the dustbin.
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And Where's the JOBS?? My little blog obeservation of yesterday has proven to be absolutely correct. With non-farm payroll growth at a rather tepid rate, Fed tightening looks even less likely. Hence, a full point and a half higher in 30 yr prices and a collapsing dollar. In other words, previous trendsa are reasserting themselves. Gotta love those "kneejerk" reactions.
Thankyou Professor Scherer...Glad I studied Economics.... Too bad I didn't have the conviction to ride this out through the numbers. Next time I'll do it with options premium.
BUT...If Kerry had been elected, my social security taxes would have been raised significantly, as I am self employed. So, I voted for Bush, it is really as simple as that. In this last year, my property taxes went up a whopping 46%, because of gentrification, so I find my annual property taxes to be the equivalent of three mortgage payments. I pay gas bills in the range of $1,000 per month during the cold winter months. I can't afford Billionaires who want to increase my familial overhead, it is really that simple. But, I am told by my Albertan cousins, I have made a "stupid" choice, I am arrogant, and my choice has reconfirmed their conviction that I come from a country of "stupid" people. So I think the following excerpt from Neil Steinberg's column says it well....
==============================================================
Neighbor above looks down on us below
December 1, 2004
BY NEIL STEINBERG SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST
Opening shot
Imagine a difficult, unpleasant task. Changing a flat tire on a rainy stretch of road, say. You're outside, drenched, cold, kneeling on gravel, grimacing, putting your weight on the tire iron, trying to crack a lug nut. A car stops. The window rolls down. And a smug voice calls out, "You know, if you rotated those tires regularly, like you're supposed to, they wouldn't wear out so quickly -- and keep a poncho in the trunk. Just a tip." Then the car drives away in a spray of gravel.
That's Canada. Misplaced superiority dipped in a thick coat of contempt. President Bush is there now, trying to slake Canada's endless thirst for American attention.
Fat chance. Does the American gaze that Canada ordinarily craves make it happy? Of course not. Our frosty neighbor to the north is convulsed in protest because the U.S. is actually engaged in trying to address the woes of the world, instead of sitting on its thumbs and complaining.
I've met Canadians, and while they can, with effort, muster periodic bursts of charm, and even express an occasional amazed, who'd-a-thunk-it appreciation of the United States, their general attitude is that of an elderly dutchess who has used tongs to pick up a bug from the Oriental carpet and is examining it through her lorgnette with open, nose-wrinkling disgust as she transports it to the dustbin.
-------------------------------------------------
And Where's the JOBS?? My little blog obeservation of yesterday has proven to be absolutely correct. With non-farm payroll growth at a rather tepid rate, Fed tightening looks even less likely. Hence, a full point and a half higher in 30 yr prices and a collapsing dollar. In other words, previous trendsa are reasserting themselves. Gotta love those "kneejerk" reactions.
Thankyou Professor Scherer...Glad I studied Economics.... Too bad I didn't have the conviction to ride this out through the numbers. Next time I'll do it with options premium.
