Financial Conservation

Cuba: A Test of Leadership for U.S. Senator Marco Rubio

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:13:00 +0000

USA --> Cuba = 90 Miles

Originally Posted 6/3/11

Politician or Leader?

There is no shortage of polished, well-scripted politicians whose primary, self-sustaining purpose is to "stay on message" for the political machines who create and direct their careers.

There is a real shortage of qualified, independent-thinking leaders whose personal integrity will not be compromised by political gain, and who have the strength of character to rise above the machines and the sound-bite mentality of their dominant hardline ideologues whose warring for political superiority now has the country in a death grip.

The notion that the latter cannot rise through the ranks in today's world means only one thing: We're in the hole much deeper than we realize.

The question to be addressed here is: On which side of this line does Senator Rubio stand?

What We Are Fighting Is A Culture War

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:22:00 +0000

Yahoo! Finance: Bernanke Pledges to Keep Rates Low Thru 2014: A “Very Pessimistic” Outlook, Former Fed VP Says -- "The Federal Reser did not announce another round of quantative easing Wednesday but still had a gift for the speculators."

The real economy and the stock market have become disassociated from one another. Repeat, the real economy and the stock market have become disassociated from one another.

Is the Fed's priority to serve the best interests of the the real economy or to maintain the the status quo for those who run the Washington/Wall Street establishment? Who has a bigger say in Fed policy: The people on Main Street who make the real economy work or the establishment's insiders who created a worldwide financial crisis out of naked greed?

If it's the latter, all the talk about the real economy making a meaningful recovery is a big dog and pony show for the little guy while the naked greed continues. Until we start to fix things based on the simple premise that the shared culture of the Washington/Wall Street establishment is corrupt to its core, the situation can only get worse -- to the point of being beyond repair.

We can start to turn things around for the greater good by using accurate descriptions. For example, Wall Street is the biggest casino on planet Earth, run by professional gamblers and their minions throughout the financial industry. Like a high school football team up against a team from the NFL, the average person is at an overwhelming disadvantage.

Until the gamblers' choke-hold on the markets is done away with, is it really advisable for the average person to walk into the casino and belly-up to the tables with life-accumulated savings they are relying on for DATE-CERTAIN needs such as retirement or college tuition?

This is not about new regulations that the gamblers will just run more circles around because of their leverage on those charged with enforcing the laws, this is a culture war. And if you think either one of the major political parties is better equipped to solve this problem -- think twice! Both parties are part of the same establishment, thus the same culture and are fed from the same hand.

We the people better start fighting this war for what it is before it’s too late.

Suggestion: Start telling your financial advisors -- don't ask, tell them -- that you want any principal contributed to an account dedicated to DATE-CERTAIN needs (retirement, college tuition, etc.) guaranteed against loss.

When you get the response that says those aren't the rules of the casino, tell them to get creative and change the rules; it's doable, but only if you demand that the casino change its greedy, self-serving ways. Remember, this is the same crowd who were not short on creativity when it came to derivatives, debt swaps and all the other crazy ideas that wrecked the real economy.

To prevent what we have seen in so many unfortunate cases, it would be worth giving up say a fixed percentage of the upside as an insurance premium to protect yourself against the type of loss that you would not be able to recover from, particularly at the wrong time in the life cycle.

In other words, start thinking about ways to shift the penalty for the gamblers' reckless risk-taking back onto to them, and then watch how quickly they start practicing Financial Conservation.

Time is running out and we can no longer afford to rely on the usual suspects to protect our interests. It's time to come up with our own creativity and take back direct control of our future.

Conservation vs. Conservative - What's the difference?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:02:00 +0000

How did two words derived from the exact same root become completely disassociated from one another?

We have been conditioned to emotionally react to the word "conservation" as that which is associated with one side of the political/social spectrum. At the same time, our conditioned response to the word "conservative" registers at the opposite end.

Without any kind of challenge, one side of this spectrum has presumed exclusive ownership of a fundamental concept as if it were unique to their ideology. In fact, the basic principles of conservation are universally important in their application and thus rise above any particular ideology.

Example: Mention the term Financial Conservation to a committed liberal and see what kind of visceral response you get.

The Crisis of Corruption in America

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:57:00 +0000

Is there a crisis of corruption in the major institutions we rely on to function as a free and open democratic society? If so, is the current business model of Big Corporate Media part of the solution, or part of the problem?

Flagrant examples of corruption at the highest levels are on a steady roll. Are these random, unrelated occurrences that fall within the normal boundaries, where the piecemeal approach of policing the wrongdoers, primarily after the fact, will suffice?

Or, is it time to openly acknowledge that these events are indeed connected and symptomatic of a deeply-embedded culture of corruption that has seized control of the major institutions which are critical to our way of life?

High-profile coverage of these events provides a comforting appearance. But as this coverage somehow quickly passes through the news cycle -- most notably, the institutional examples -- and our focus is directed or diverted elsewhere, are we straightforwardly addressing the root of the real problem?

Or, are we actually being lulled into passively allowing the compounding, core systemic damage to continue?

What's the next step?

The national debate rages on over how to best deal with the debt crisis. Although there currently appears to be little or no progress, at least, with full recognition of the problem at hand, we are now scratching and clawing our way in the right direction towards solution.

(One proviso: As the debt clock ticks louder, time is running out. If we continue to allow the partisans to deadlock any kind of forward movement, the inevitable point is fast approaching where this exercise of blasting holes in the other guy's side will sink Ship America.)

Most importantly, before we could reach the point of open debate, a clear baseline of understanding and acknowledgment had to first be achieved -- from the grass roots level on up -- as to how this particular crisis is a direct threat to the stability and long-term health of our economy.

How can a similar baseline be crystallized from which we can be begin an open debate at the national level that will address the crisis of corruption?

Can we expect the Washington establishment along with their counterparts on Wall Street (the"Ws") to step forward and publicly confess that the shared culture in which they operate is corrupt? Instead of asking -- strike that, confiscating -- more and more of our tax dollars to help sustain the new moral hazard known as "Too Big To Fail," will its co-creators, the Ws, ask for our intervention to help eliminate it?

Not likely.

What we can expect from the Ws is an automatic response to any kind of public scrutiny where their media strike forces, highly specialized in damage control, are let loose to saturate the multitude of media channels with whatever spin is necessary to protect and maintain their increasingly secretive way of operating -- at our great expense.

What other purpose does this pattern of "spin" serve other than to distort or conceal -- to keep secret -- material facts that the public has a right to be fully and accurately informed of in a timely manner?

President John F. Kennedy issued a clear warning (see below) that the kind of drift towards secrecy such as we are now experiencing at the institutional level, in any of its various disguises, is a systemic threat not to be taken lightly by any democratic society.

To close this gap between the reality of what we are confronted with and its manipulated perception, it would be a big step in the right direction to start calling it what it actually is: Institutionalized Corruption.

Who can the American people turn to?

What institution remains that has the independence, reach and impact to step into this void on our behalf?

What institution "will not be swayed by partisan demands, public clamor or considerations of personal popularity or notoriety, nor be apprehensive of unjust criticism" in how it carries out its social responsibility to our democratic society?

Is it Big Corporate Media? Based on their current business model, it's not looking good.

In particular, we understand that it is a very tall order for Big Corporate Media to take a clear stand against the culture of corruption that has seized the core of our financial system. Essentially, they would have to turn, bite and lock their jaw on the hands of some very big "sponsors" who provide a lot of advertising support.

(Keep in mind, the viewing, listening and buying public is the ultimate source of all support in media land. For more on this topic, read the post, Memo to Occupiers: You're Missing the Critical Link!)

It is also clear how in the bottom-line era of Big Corporate Media, the news is treated as any other commodity where the best packaging wins. As a result, we have been witnessing a slow but sure process where the critically important tradition of objective arms-length journalism -- for any free and open democratic society -- is being overwhelmed by the sizzle, hype and self-perpetuating, circular conflict of partisan opinionism.

The Hollywood Effect

Over the past 100 years, the art/science of combining image and sound in order to manipulate an audience into following a certain pre-determined course of thought and emotion has been finely tuned by Hollywood. Beyond its use for entertainment purposes, this skill has migrated across the growing spectrum of media platforms that are now constantly present in our daily lives. In its most effective application, the element of conflict is a key ingredient.

To drive ratings, internet traffic, sell newspapers, magazines, etc., in a very competitive environment, the news/opinion outlets are under brutal pressure to provide a more stylized form of infotainment. Keeping the drama of partisan conflict center stage and at a steady boil suits this need perfectly; to actually solve problems does not.

Once conflict has been resolved -- in other words, no more drama -- the commercial value of the images and sounds emanating from a given news story evaporates...and it's on to the next potboiler.

Again, in the interest of accuracy, rather than calling it the news cycle, would it not be more appropriate to call it the drama cycle?

What political or social direction the conflict comes from -- left or right, top or bottom -- does not matter. Although it's part of the show to convince us otherwise, and as long as they are secure in their own ivory towers with the best the material world has to offer, the only thing that matters to the cold-blooded bottom liners is that their news stylists have the raw material of conflict to work with.

Cynical? Absolutely. But so are the most cynical among us who took our votes and money and instead of even-handed, responsible stewardship for the greater good, recklessly and for self-serving purposes gave us a worldwide financial crisis.

So, to the bottom line: A steady, self-sustaining supply of partisan squabbling -- over any issue -- is a strategically vital resource that Big Corporate Media relies on on to feed their current business model.

It's all about seeing growth in the numbers...but, at what cost to society?

"The very word 'secrecy' is repugnant in a free and open society" -- President John F. Kennedy

A half-century ago before the National Press Club, President Kennedy spoke directly to the issue of secrecy and the media's responsibility in defending against the insidious threat it poses to a democratic society.

Let's take another listen: "Secret Societies" on YouTube

President Kennedy's last statement bears repeating:

"And so it is to the printing press--to the recorder of mans deeds, the keeper of his conscience, the courier of his news-- that we look for strength and assistance, confident that with your help man will be what he was born to be: free and independent."

Please take our poll on facebook. Your vote is anonymous. We would appreciate your passing the poll on to your friends and welcome any comments.

Thank you for your time!

How We Treat One Environment Impacts All Others

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:59:00 +0000

Here's one example of the ripple effect resulting from the substandard treatment of our economic environment:

MSNBC U.S. News - Economy imperils wildlife rescue

Made in Our Neighborhood: Taking “Small Business Saturday” One Step Further

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:46:00 +0000

Bringing back our economy starts at home.

Made in Our Neighborhood is a way to bring focus and support to your local retailers, and at the same time help promote local job growth -- 365 Days A Year!

Big and small, retailers depend on a base of regular customers who live within a certain radius of their locations. Start recommending that they return the favor by providing a section of locally produced goods, even starting as small as one rack, with a sign that reads:

Made in Our Neighborhood - We Recycle Local Support!

Big chain retailers can provide the kind of high-profile community leadership necessary to get this effort established. With their marketing strength and reach, Made in Our Neighborhood pilot programs initiated by chains like Whole Foods or Target that showcase merchandise produced within the areas that support their local operations would be a good start.

Recycle the local support and local talent will rise to the opportunity.

Bringing the economy back begins at home.

Let us know @ Facebook.com/FinancialConservation if Made in Our Neighborhood is getting any traction out there -- we’d love to hear about it.

How do you fix a broken culture?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:12:00 +0000

Catholic Church --> Washington --> Wall Street --> Penn State --> Europe (As We Once Knew It) --> Who's Next?

One after another, countries and major institutions are getting hit hard by the same contagion. In countless ways, the damage caused by this contagion is impacting all of us, not to mention generations to come.

It won't take years of scientific research and debate to understand exactly what we are dealing with. And while the hits keep coming with increasing force, the partisan, ideological wars bringing profit to some at the great expense of many (more on this later) have only confused and made matters worse.

Like it or not, institutions, politicians, think tanks, the media with all of its punditry and whoever else we look to for answers will not be able to solve this problem. They can blab about it, but the doing falls elsewhere.

The responsibility here sits squarely on the shoulders of the silent majority who can no longer afford to remain silent.
Read more »

Main Street, U.S.A

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:39:00 +0000

Saw this headline today:
Ignore the Hype: Wall St., Main St. Need Each Other

Maybe so, but let’s not forget, Wall Street was built on the back of Main Street. And, if necessary, Main Street could figure out how to survive without Wall Street – particularly considering the way Wall Street now operates.

Would it work the other way around?

Without Main Street, you’d be seeing a lot of vacant signs up and down Casino Blvd.

And who do you know who was born and raised on Wall Street?

The point being, we need to always remember what came first, and what the source of real wealth in this country has and will always be.

Here’s to all those people on Main Street, working away in anonymity to keep the body and soul of this country together, always moving us forward whatever the challenges may be.

Thank you.

Memo to Occupiers: You're Missing The Critical Link!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:40:00 +0000

Eyes Wide Shut

How is it that Big Corporate Media managed to dissect every other social issue of the day affecting life on the planet while keeping their eyes wide shut to the one glaring systemic dysfunction that ultimately led to a global financial crisis?

Occupiers, along with Washington and Wall Street -- who we'll call the "Ws" -- here's a third big bone to chew on.

And if you target just those media outlets you're not in sync with politically, you've missed the point entirely. You'll get your 15 minutes, but all the effort will be a waste of time.

The Evil Twin That Will Alter Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:47:00 +0000

Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying that compound gain is the most powerful force in the universe.

Example: The Emperor of China was such a big fan of the game of chess he granted the inventor one wish. The inventor replied with what seemed a simple request. He wanted one grain of rice on the first square of the chess board, two grains on the second square, four on the third and so on through the 64th square. Not realizing what he was agreeing to, the emperor immediately granted the request. But then the inventor explained how the math of compound gain works: two to the 64th power is 18 million trillion grains of rice -- more than enough to cover the entire surface of the earth. Was the clever inventor given all the rice in China? No, he lost his head.

Are You Protected Against Compound Loss?

The power of compound gain will, in fact, keep families and individuals moving ahead over the long run -- provided it is not interrupted by its equally powerful and evil twin: Compound Loss.

Driven by the predatory, quick-buck trading culture of Wall Street, we have been in a volatile stock market environment for over two decades. The losses and instability generated by this volatility and its "trickle down" effects on our entire economy have been one colossal interruption in the compound gain of personal financial assets in this country.

Einstein also said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

Could losses have been avoided that for so many are irretrievable? Rather than continuing to take unnecessary risks, can the life-accumulated core assets you are relying on for date-certain events such as college tuition or retirement be protected from the evil twin? The answers are Yes and Yes...with a different mindset.

We have entered a new and very different economic era.

Talk to your financial advisor today!

The Long-Awaited Prize: Centralized Power in Europe

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:22:00 +0000

Yahoo Finance: "French, German leaders urge elected eurozone chief"
CNBC: Breaking Up Euro Would Be 'Disaster': UBS Economist

UBS's top European economist issued a note on Monday saying the euro should not exist "under the current structure and with the current membership, the euro does not work."

"Basically the line is very simple. There has been a monetary union being done without a fiscal union. We see the limitation of this kind of exercise," Stephane Deo, UBS head of Euro economic research, told CNBC Tuesday.

"That's where we are now. We have done the monetary union, we need to go to the next step," said Deo.

There are two options, he noted, either break-up the euro or reform it towards fiscal integration. "Frankly breaking-up is a disaster scenario'. That's why I think it will not happen."

FC Post from May, 2010 -- The Euro Crisis: Did it just happen or was it planned?

Short-Selling Banned in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:36:00 +0000

The same should be done in the U.S. across the board. Time to shut down the professional gamblers operating throughout the so-called legitimate institutions on Wall Street who crazy with greed and overwhelming advantage are gutting people's life savings not to mention the real economy.

msnbc.msn.com

Raising the Debt Ceiling - Time to Play Hard

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:02:00 +0000

Do we really want to institutionalize the moral hazard of Wall Street?

The formula has been established:

1. The gamblers on Wall Street makes insane bets based on pure greed and keep all profits -- if they win.

2. If they lose, taxpayers will be responsible for the debt necessary to cover catastrophic losses in order to keep the system functioning, which also means a fresh supply of funds for the gamblers.

3. It is critical that any house of cards under construction not be openly identified as such by anyone who operates within the sphere of Wall Street's influence. If you want the benefits of club membership, you have to play by house rules...and this is rule #1.

4. When the next wave of creative financial engineering destabilizes the system, the Chicken Littles know the drill: Hit the panic button and starting screaming BAILOUT!!!

5. Wall Street closes it ranks and goes low profile to ride out the storm. The scripts are already written for the standard Q&A before congressional committees

6. As the storm passes and the public becomes preoccupied with rebuilding, the gamblers are limoed right back to the tables for another run armed with new strategies.

Needless to say, the American people will need a different formula. One that does not rely on blind faith that government regulators, recognized experts and the media at large are "The Untouchables" safeguarding their interests.

Otherwise, the hard lessons from the crisis of '08 will have been wasted.

Is Perception Reality? What the U.S. and Middle East Can Learn from Cuba

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:55:00 +0000

Castro's "Revolution"

The greatest forms of evil known to mankind have always presented a very carefully crafted perception as that which they are not.

In January of 1959, perceived as having "liberated" the Cuban people from the tyranny of a corrupt dictatorship, Fidel Castro arrived in Havana to a hero's welcome.

The reality of Castro, however, clearly demonstrated over the last half century, has proved to be far more brutal, oppressive and long lasting than the what he replaced.

Straight-Talking Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:42:00 +0000

Image by luca.sartoni via Flickr

Nokia CEO Stephen Elop telling it like it is.

http://tinyurl.com/4ls3mag

"Elizabeth Warren aims to forge a better deal for hardworking families."

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:59:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Imagine where would we be today if people like Elizabeth Warren had been hosting CNBC during the past two decades?

http://tinyurl.com/4b4gahz

Our Eyes Were "Wide Shut" - Don't Make the Same Mistake!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:32:00 +0000

This post is directed at the younger generations and everyone who lives and works on Main Street and will focus on the following:

1) How the mainstream media has devolved to the point where objective, arms-length journalism is on the endangered species list, why this phenomenon played a central role in the Financial Crisis and what it means for the future.

2) What does Wall Street have in common with the gambling industry when it comes to the preservation and sustainability of our core financial resources?

A New Year's Resolution: Going Green -- All The Way!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 19:25:00 +0000

It was Albert Einstein who said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."

The U.S. economy is based 70% on consumption, which means we have placed ourselves on a power curve sustainable only by mounting debt and interest on that debt which is compounding every single day.

It was also Mr. Einstein who said that the dynamic of compounding is the most powerful force in the universe. Compound gain is our friend. But its equally powerful and evil twin, compound loss, is now working against us.

Washington's Revolving Door: Minimalist Approach to Wall Street Reform Leaves Business as Usual

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:30:00 +0000

"Meanwhile, the shuttle between Wall Street and Washington continues to turn. Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag, one of the first of several Obama economic officials to leave, has taken a big job with Citigroup.

'Citigroup is emblematic of what went wrong with this financial system'... "

The Financial Crisis was a Zeitgeist Brewing for Thirty Years

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:28:00 +0000

"A critique of three generations of Democratic and Republican economic policymakers."

Capital Offense: How Washington's Wise Men Turned America's Future Over to Wall Street by Michael Hirsh

For microphilanthropist, donations are a part of daily life

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:45:00 +0000

A great example of how Thinking Small and Local can make a big difference.

What is the difference between The New Financial Conservatism and Financial Conservation?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:45:00 +0000

Image by elycefeliz via Flickr

It has been standard practice for the wealthy to build firewalls of safety around those core financial assets they consider necessary to maintain their achieved standard of living.

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management recently assembled a panel of experts to launch their concept of The New Financial Conservatism (see link below). The panel offers a good perspective on what it refers to as “the new normal." But, in its exercise of high-profile leadership targeted at a broad-based audience, the panel failed to emphasize in direct terms (or what they called "straight talk with clients") that the average investor -- like the wealthy -- would be well advised in an environment of "continued market and economic uncertainty" to have the same firewalls of safety protecting their core financial assets.

Is there a double standard at work here between the wealthy and not-so-wealthy -- and, if so, why?

Helpful tips for the holidays, including one about teaching kids "financial conservation."

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:41:00 +0000

Wake-Up Call For Small Investors!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:02:00 +0000

"No matter where the investigation ends up, the government will likely present it as a huge step toward making the market 'fair' for small investors. And the same small investors will likely view it as confirmation that the 'game is rigged.'

Both of these conclusions will miss a far more important point.

The REAL lesson most investors should take away from the largest institutional insider-trading investigation in history is that competition in the global financial markets is so intense that it's basically idiotic to trade.

One glance from a CEO in response to a pointed question can contain more information than 500 pages of SEC filings. One nugget of scuttlebutt about the status of an important contract can make you more money than 500 hours of studying charts and graphs. Most small investors don't understand that their competition gets this sort of information all day long.

In short, it doesn't matter whether the trading game is played on 'a level playing field' (and of course it isn't.) The New York Jets will still destroy any high-school football team, no matter what field the game is played on."

California Will Default On Its Debt

noreply@blogger.com (Michael E. Douroux) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:50:00 +0000

Financial Conservation Note: The attached link gives a good overview of the political and economic gridlock that is occurring throughout our entire system. Starting yesterday, we will have to put ideological differences aside -- better yet, throw'em out the window -- and, with pain for everyone, come to the middle to get these spiraling costs under control