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News Mixed in Unemployment Report
to 32 I have to eat a little crow. The report says that the pumping of liquidity from loans based on rising assessed valuations caused the bubble, which popped when the prices failed to rise, falling prices now pump liquidity out of the market, depressing prices. The practice of basing loans on assessed values caused the crises, not the wild antics of lender and borrower, these were constant through the upswing. In the rising market distressed borrowers could sell, averting bankruptcy, now they can"t, that's why there's a foreclosure wave. So to WAMU and the mortgage brokers, I apologize, you're still sleazy but you didn't cause this mess, you just followed the new law of the jungle. As for the Federal Reserve, never have so few blown the cash of so many, with so much arrogant incompetence.— February 12, 2010 2:11 a.m.
News Mixed in Unemployment Report
to 30 I found this dry but informative Report to Congress: http://www.huduser.org/portal/Publications/PDF/Fo… It contains this assessment of blame; "In terms of the nature of fraud, the FBI distinguishes between two types of fraud: (1) “for profit,” mostly perpetrated by brokers and others to generate profits, and (2) “for housing,” perpetrated by homebuyers with the goal of purchasing or retaining a home. The FBI estimates that roughly 80 percent of fraud is “for profit” and conducted by brokers and other professional parties to the transaction.” Anyone interested in the foreclosure problem should give this study a look.— February 11, 2010 1:37 p.m.
Surprise: Union-Tribune Solicits Employee Suggestions
to UT Write better.— February 10, 2010 1:06 p.m.
News Mixed in Unemployment Report
to 28 These figures have already bankrupted some huge banks, if the slide continues more will follow. The good news is that the average prices are not Japanese crazy, and the average mortgage amount is affordable at reasonable interest rates. The foreclosure problem might be due to unreasonable interest rates charged to marginal borrowers. Does anyone have a link to a home loan interest rate survey with figures on foreclosures?— February 9, 2010 6:26 p.m.
News Mixed in Unemployment Report
to 26 and WSJ We should remember these figures were cooked up in the same kitchen that reported the wild upward swing. They ignore properties not mortgaged, they extrapolate prices from a few sales onto the whole loan portfolio. I'm not sure the sunbelt is overbuilt, someone holding a snow shovel now will move into these homes, and the home price means nothing to the homeowner who likes where he lives, he's concerned about the loan payments, and his job. These figures tell more about the bad position of the lenders, if their whole portfolio is underwater on average, as in Nevada, the mortgages moving towards foreclosure must be even worse. Foreclosure sales could further depress prices. Bad lending again, we need to reform banking.— February 8, 2010 8:17 p.m.
Wall Street is feasting off Main Street’s pain
to 181 Job pressure causes more self destructive behavior than anything except for sex. As for our pets, made for the land of the quick and the dead, they aren't as quick as our automobiles, so the procedure is life saving, because it keeps them home, among the slow and alive. I will never use castration again to support an argument, because as we have seen. it distracts, but also because it's too creepy, even for a lizard. You endorsement of Ed Miller persuades me that I went too far. I guess even the prosecutor can be victim when a witch hunt rolls through town.— February 6, 2010 3:06 a.m.
Wall Street is feasting off Main Street’s pain
to 176 I stand by my basic assertion that medical treatment should be non invasive as possible, two procedures I mentioned, lobotomy and electroshock, have few defenders today, even though they may have helped in some cases, I can't say. Many submitted to these procedures voluntarily, that is no defense of the doctors who perpetrated these crimes against the insane. So it is with gastric bypass and transgender surgery; some may be helped, many may desire these procedures, but they should only practiced as the very last option, anything else is medical malpractice, quackery, I stand behind the statement. In both cases, society loathes the victim of the disease, this encourages the self loathing inherent in surgeon assisted self mutilation. Both need love and respect, and should realize that the surgeons knife can't bring this, and that love based on thinness or gender will not last as long as the consequences of their surgery. My rejection of gastric bypass is based only on anecdote, the victim lost weight, gained weight, then lost her life within a few years, perhaps not as a direct result, but she was not made healthy. I know others who have lost over a hundred pounds without this treatment. Anecdote proves nothing, a ten or twenty year study could change my mind, but it should be compared with non invasive treatment. The Romans used to vomit, this seems less dangerous to me. I realize that removing the TV and eating fresh food you prepare yourself is too cruel for most. Nothing can change my mind about modern castration however, and not just because it frightens for instinctive reasons, but because I believe we should stop people from harming themselves. Your revelation that prospective castration patients often commit suicide doesn't surprise me. SUICIDE AND SELF MUTILATION ARE CLOSELY LINKED, we should try to save people from both. The modern argument for transgender surgery are more deeply flawed than the ancient reasons, there often was a great soprano trapped in a tenor's body, castration did help monks keep the devil away. But there is no woman trapped in a man's body, because woman and man are thoughts, and thought is free. All humans should be true to their instincts, so far as they don't harm others, woman, man, straight, gay, these are only ideas, useful guideposts perhaps, but not law, or identity, cut your own road. Those who love are lovable, seek to love those that can love you in the skin that you were born, don't cut yourself to please them.— February 5, 2010 6:42 p.m.
Wall Street is feasting off Main Street’s pain
to 173 When Godot ascends to the public domain, let all join in, perhaps he will save opera. to 166 Guys who watch two choreographed bodybuilders hug each other in a professional wrestling match are macho, those who watch girls dance at the ballet are sissy.— February 4, 2010 12:51 p.m.
Wall Street is feasting off Main Street’s pain
to 161 I'm not a follower of Minimalism or Beckett, I suggested these names because their star power might make a hit, and because undramatic drama might fit with undramatic music. I've been hiding under a rock for many years, you seem more the expert. to 164 ANYONE WHO THINKS MEDICAL ETHICS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED ONLY BY EXPERTS, IS UNFIT FOR THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. Dubya doesn't bother me, but you seem smart enough to be dangerous.— February 4, 2010 4:31 a.m.
League Cites Establishment in Bid for Longer "Strong Mayor" Trial Period
The problem with debate about the "strong mayor" is that we have only seen weak divided government, and that was the backers intent, frightened as they were by a growing democratic consensus on the council, and in the city. Instead of a strong mayor we have a very intelligent circus dog, that knows how to roll over, play dead, jump through hoops, and most importantly, cover his eyes with his paws. The public loves him, unsurprisingly. We will get a strong mayor when we elect one.— February 4, 2010 1:49 a.m.