Worth Blog

It the economy stupid - 2010

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:17:37 +0000

Written by Michael Vass I realize that most people are getting ready for the holidays and time with family and friends. But for those of us with small businesses this is the time when we start trying to total up the year and plan for next year. To that end, I offer some thoughts. I have confirmed [...]

Did you think about your 2009 tax bill yet?

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:46:15 +0000

Written by Michael Vass So I was just thinking about something interesting. Obviously President Obama has made a big todo about his Stimulus package. He gave everyone who receives a paycheck (and only those people) some $500 - over several months. In addition his Administration gave out $4500 to those that bought a Government approved vehicle. But [...]

Success of the Obama Stimulus

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:34:06 +0000

Written by Michael Vass Since there have been so many that are imploring everyone to just be happy with the success of the Obama Stimulus, I thought I might take a moment to list the benefits that have come to the nation. The gains since President Obama enacted the stimulus package have been numerous and widespread. Besides [...]

The Stimulus didn’t work because of consumers

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:23:23 +0000

Written by Michael Vass As I scanned thru the news I ran into something that caught my eye. A minor article that spoke about the economy, President Obama, and his approval rating. One year on, Obamamania cools to luke warm support says nothing new really, but it hints at something I had not suspected before. It hit [...]

Examining President Obama and his Stimulus

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:41:52 +0000

Written by Michael Vass I almost feel bad for President Obama. He came out strong with plans to change America. He dove head first, leaping without looking, into Guantanamo Bay, the economy, healthcare, and Afghanistan. He promised a transparent Government, with accountability, and decisive action. So far he has failed at every turn to provide a single [...]

Don’t believe the facts, believe in President Obama

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:01:32 +0000

Written by Michael Vass I think I get it now. President Obama and leading Democrats are embarrassed. With the complete failure of the Obama Stimulus, Democrats look as dysfunctional and incompetent as their detractors have claimed. So the story has to change. From before the onset of the Obama Stimulus, I have said it was a bad [...]

The 2nd stimulus - out the corner of your eye

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:34:27 +0000

Written by Michael Vass Michael Scherer of TIME had an article today that I thought was quite interesting. The article Is the White House Planning a Second Stimulus Payout? outlines what the prospects are. And I agree straight down the line, as I did months ago. The fact is that more and more of Washington DC analysts [...]

How effective is the Obama Stimulus?

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:34:14 +0000

Written by Michael Vass So just before the White House comes out with its victorious cries of success on the Obama Stimulus, I suggest we all look at what really is happening. Yep, time for a bit of math. Something I’m sure President Obama’s supporters will hate. Right now several States have released the numbers being submitted [...]

Democrats are planning to buy your vote, again

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:02:31 +0000

Written by Michael Vass In the not so far off past, long time readers will recall that I had a post about then candidate-Senator Hillary Clinton. The title was Senator Clinton tries to buy cheap votes with baby bonds. The issue at the time was the polispeak pitch by then-Senator Clinton to families across the nation. She [...]

CBO confirms the problems with Health Care Reform

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:47:39 +0000

Written by Michael Vass It’s a victory, if you are a Democrat. Then again, the Democrat-led Congress has yet to read any of the Bills being voted out of Congress since the Obama Administration took over. So I doubt they really know what the CBO has just said. The review by the CBO of the Baucus Bill [...]

Obama Stimulus saved your job - or did it?

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:35:26 +0000

Written by Michael Vass It’s almost funny how the Government can make you feel less intelligent than a 5th grader. I mean if you thought you knew how to add, the Government makes you seriously question that. Because the math they use for some of the things they state is either wrong, or so advanced to [...]

Alcoa - my investment update

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:28:44 +0000

Written by Michael Vass Back on Febrary 24 of this year I was discussing the stock market and economy. At the time I was mentioning my expectations for a continued drag on the market, and that there were several opportunities to be had. One of those opportunities was Alcoa (AA on the NYSE). At the time Alcoa [...]

American economy: 2nd half 2009 to 2Q 2010

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:07:08 +0000

Written by Michael Vass Once again I am looking forward in time at what I expect to see happen to the American economy in 2009 and the first half of 2010. In past years such reflections have always wound up being 62% or more correct. Something I am of course happy to say, though considering the [...]

Sen. Schumer responds to Michael Vass

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:04:08 +0000

Written by Michael Vass On August 11, 2009 I sent email and written letters to Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer, Representative Hinchey, and President Obama about the proposed Health Care Reform Bill currently in Congress. To date there has been only 1 response, from Senator Charles Schumer. The entire email from Senator Schumer can be seen in the [...]

Results of my 2009 first half economic predictions

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:01:44 +0000

Written by Michael Vass Back in 2008 I made a couple of predictions about how the economy would fare through the 2nd quarter of 2009. That was over a year ago, before the election, before the mortgage crisis really took hold, and before all the bailouts and stimulus packages we now have. How good was I? The [...]