The Barron Blog

Saturday, 27 August 2011

Goodbye Jack

This picture was drawn by Toronto Star cartoonist Pat Corrigan. It's worth more than a thousand words.

Posted by qualteam at 9:04 AM EDT

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Monday, 22 August 2011

NDP Leader, Jack Layton: 1950-2011

Jack Layton passed away today from cancer. I wasn't a supporter of The New Democractic Party, but I admired Jack's warmth, and passion who led his party nicknamed (The Orange Crush) for the last eight years. The NDP gained Opposition status and its greatest showing ever with 102 seats in last federal election.
Jack was a councilor at Toronto City Hall and fought for social issues like affordable housing during the 1980s and 1990s. It's interesting to note that he lost twice in his bid for mayor and twice more when he ran for a federal seat in The House of Commons.
Jack was a fighter and I honestly thought that he'd win his battle against cancer. He defeated prostate cancer earlier this year.
In the U.S., lib-left politicians often get a bad name, but here in Canada most Canadians admired his dedication and humanity in fighting for social and family issues. He will be missed.
Jack's last letter to all Canadians.
Below is the last part of a eulogy from Ted Kennedy for his brother Robert Kennedy, it could apply to Jack today:
"My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.
Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will some day come to pass for all the world.
As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him:
"Some men see things as they are and say why.
I dream things that never were and say why not."

Posted by qualteam at 9:43 AM EDT

Updated: Monday, 22 August 2011 1:29 PM EDT

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Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Obama Isn't Responsible For America's 14 Trillion Dollar Deficit Problem

He's only partially responsible like the other U.S. presidents over the last thirty years: Here's an interesting fact: Debt increase by presidents: Reagan 186%, Bush 54% Clinton 41% Bush II 72% Obama 23%. Source CBO Via @paulfreid.
Needless to say, part of the blame would have to be placed on the collective heads of various congresses and senates. No one branch of Government has a "carte blanche" to spend like a drunken sailor.
It's worthwhile noting that only recently have Democratics and Republicans started to come up with plans to handle the deficit.
Before this summer, it looked like Alfred E. Neuman was running the U.S. Treasury.
It was good to see that Warren Buffet was willing "to sacrifice" more than 17.5% income tax on his billions in his country's hour of need.
In Canada, the Conservative Government estimates that there will be a budgetary surplus in 2015.
How long will it be, before the U.S. Government sees a yearly surplus?

Posted by qualteam at 11:15 AM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 16 August 2011 11:39 AM EDT

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Friday, 12 August 2011

Is It A Good Time To Invest In the Stockmarket?

Back in earlier 2009 it was a great time to invest. I did so with online trading and made some money that year. I also wrote blog entries about the recession and the signs of recovery at that time. These entries are found under my "Investing In The Future" heading on the right side.
That was then. This is now. In 2008/2009, many governments bailed out bankrupt companies and banks. The wolf was beaten back from the door.
Now, who's going to bail out failing governments from their massive debts? The taxpayers that's who. Many of my recent tweets relate to "Debtzilla", the monster confronting the U.S. and some European countries, right now.
Stockmarkets were looking good, right up to May/2011, but lately, it's been two thumbs down for them. With swings of over 400 points in one day, It's looking too volatile for my liking.
On further reflection, I've found that paying off a mortgage is probably the best investment you'll ever have.
You can also tap into your home's equity for a "secured line of credit". Normally, you'll only pay the interest on the money you take out and the interest rate is the lowest there is (In Canada, 0.5% over prime).
There's also tax free saving accounts where you can hold cash, mutual funds, bonds, etc. without paying taxes on the interest or dividends.
It looks that I may be off online trading for a long time.

Posted by qualteam at 4:46 PM EDT

Updated: Friday, 12 August 2011 5:37 PM EDT

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Tuesday, 9 August 2011

Tweeting On Facebook

One of the best things about Facebook is that it can bring pictures, tweets, blog entries, personal info and hyperlinks together very accurately.
That isn't true about this web server (Tripod). My tweets don't seem to be properly duplicated at the bottom of this blog.
However, my tweets on my Facebook page at www.davebarron.info are accurately produced. It's all there, tweets, blog entries, and captured webpages with a picture and headline info.
On my Facebook homepage there's detailed information about what I like concerning movies, books, sports, music, etc. It's a good Barron resource site.
Tweeting is very challenging because you have to express yourself extremely well in 140 characters or less. It's like a media sound bite on the internet.
My blog has been averaging between 15 and 20 visitors a day. With my tweets, I have only 17 followers.
It's better to have quality contacts rather than quantity contacts. How many of Charlie Sheen's followers are still following him today?
I will follow anyone who follows me on twitter:@DavidCBarron . A life lived well should be a life that is remembered well.

Posted by qualteam at 12:21 AM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 9 August 2011 10:32 AM EDT

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Sunday, 7 August 2011

World Markets Take A Cold Shower While The U.S. Ponders Its Debt Crisis

With the stock markets dropping over 10% over the last few days, it certainly was a wake up call on the deficit of many countries including the U.S.
The economies of many countries are hampered by debt and probably heavy taxes on small and medium size companies who create employment.
In the U.S. corporate taxes are running too high at 35%. These should be reduced and taxes on small companies should be 20%. Please note that Canada has much lower taxes on corporations.
Many governments bailed out failing financial institutions like banks and insurance companies, but who is going to bail out a failing country? Taxpayers that's who. Every taxpayer of an indebited country is responsible for some of its debt. That is why "deficit surcharges" in one form or another would be levied on anything that walks and talks.
The politicians and rich people may try to run away from their responsibilities on these financial issues, but they can't hide. All citizens will feel the pain of cutbacks and higher taxes. Probably, the poor will be hurt more than the rich.
The U.S. is facing some kind of austerity program. It may be a Republican version. It may be a Tea Party version. It may be a Chinese version.
Hopefully, the austerity program will be made in America by the Democrats in the Senate, Congress and White House: One voice, One program, Three majorities.

Posted by qualteam at 2:44 PM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 16 August 2011 11:42 AM EDT

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Tuesday, 2 August 2011

The U.S. Debt Crisis: A Cold Shower For Americans

Well, the debt ceiling has been raised, but few politicians or U.S. citizens are happy with the result. Band-aid solutions only do the trick for awhile then the bleeding starts again.
As I pointed out in my last blog, Canada went through its own debt crisis in the 1990s. Yes, there were big cuts in services, but "The Goods and Services Tax" (GST) was brought in to help with the deficit. Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, Canada was seeing regular budget surpluses. Canada was paying off it bills because it was living within its means.
A country has to provide the services that its people want and pay down the deficit as well. That includes tax increases to all including the wealthy who should make the biggest contribution to paying down the U.S. National Debt.
Here are a few suggestions that can bring in good revenue for a government:
A consumption tax will bring in better revenue than raising personal income taxes. The weatlthy consume more so they pay more.
Higher sin taxes: Taxes on tobacco and alcohol are much higher in Canada than the U.S. The Government makes billions from these taxes.
Higher gasoline taxes: A few cents on a gallon of gasoline would go far in helping to bring down the debt.
A deficit surtax: In Ontario, we pay a monthly fee on the debt of "The Old Ontario Hydro Corporation". This principle could be applied to the deficit until the U.S. Government starts to run surpluses.
Over the next year and half, U.S. citizens should demand a complete and detailed accounting on any deficit reduction plan from either Republicans or Democrats. In the end, it will take both a Republican and Democratic majority in both houses to implement it.

Posted by qualteam at 11:43 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 3 August 2011 12:30 AM EDT

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Thursday, 28 July 2011

Canada's Successful Deficit Reduction Program In The 1990s

The picture above is that of Paul Martin former Finance Minister and Prime Minister of Canada. He was the brains behind The Liberal Government's program to reduce Canada's deficit during the 1990s.
The previous Progressive Conservative Government lead by Brian Mulroney increased Canada's deficit substantially. Mulroney concentrated on failed constitutional agreements like the Meech Lake Accord rather than the deficit, and like a rat leaving a sinking ship, he resigned as Prime Minister four months before the federal election in 1993. His party which had huge majorities in 1984 and 1988 was reduced to two seats. The citizens of Canada spoke loud and clear on what they thought of Mulroney's Government.
Now, the United States is trying to find its own way out of its debt/deficit trap. Here are some of my tweets on this problem:
"The issue which which will dominate both the upcoming congressional election and the presidential election will be the deficit issue".
"The Republican Long Term Debt Reduction Plan" needs both houses and the presidency: Same for "The Democrats Long Term Debt Reduction Plan".
"The usual suspects of right wing nutters are holding the U.S. Government hostage. The Tea Party has become "The Jim Jones' Cool-Aid Party".
My advice to U.S. citizens: Don't tolerate fools or ideological sociopaths to run the country finances. There's less of a party system in the your country than Canada. Fight for those who should be elected or reelected and against those who shouldn't be.

Posted by qualteam at 1:11 PM EDT

Updated: Thursday, 28 July 2011 1:40 PM EDT

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Saturday, 23 July 2011

If You Don't Like The Heat, Take A Vacation To The Artic Or Newfoundland

Fortunately, in Canada, we do have places where you can go to cool off. You don't have to worry about low temperatures, snow, ice or blizzards in the near arctic at this time of year. In Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, the weather is very reasonable. The Inuit are a friendly people and they can show you around the north in their kayaks.
Nearer to home, you could visit Newfoundland where the temperature is about 15 degrees lower than Brampton, Ontario.
Later on during the summer, my wife and I are going to Newfoundland. Hopefully, we won't take Ontario weather there.
Because I take saunas regularly, I've gotten use to really hot weather for a short length of time. Sweating is good for you, but make sure you drink lots of water and don't get dehydrated.
If you can't go to the above places, cool off with a few beers in an airconditioned environment.

Posted by qualteam at 5:23 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 23 July 2011 5:44 PM EDT

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Sunday, 17 July 2011

The Donny And Marie Show In Toronto

Donny looks like he's partying it up with a glass of apple juice in his hand. On the left hand side, Marie is doing her imitation of a "Marie Osmond Doll".
A couple of days ago, my wife and I saw them at the "Four Seasons Theatre" in Toronto. It was a good show, but an expensive one. There were empty seats in the balcony sections. These seats should have been offered at half price on the day of the performance.
Until recently, I've never been a fan of Donny and Marie. I've got only one song by Donny on my Ipod and it's from the musical "Joseph and The Technicolour Dream Coat". This is a great Andrew Lloyd Webber tune and Donny does it very well.
Donny has always done other singers' music well. Look at the cover hits he produced from Frankie Avalon's "Why", Steve Lawrence's "Go Away Little Girl", Paul Anka's "Puppy Love", and Nat King Cole's "Too Young".
I preferred the original version of these songs and that's why I wasn't a big Osmond fan.
At the concert, Donny introduced four backup dancers as Michael Jackson's brothers. This was the best laugh of the night.
They, then went into an original Osmond number called "Yo-Yo". They danced on stage just like in the YouTube video. It was very funny and very good. Justin Beiber eat your heart out.
He also did an Osmond heavy techno rock number called "Crazy Horses". This couldn't have been done better by Lady Gaga.
Maria Osmond did her own cover versions of Anti Bryant's hit, "Paper Roses" and the Andrew sisters' hit, "The Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B". The bugle boy tune was especially entertaining because of the dance and horn solos weaved into the song.
The fact that many of these covers hit the million mark in sales is a testimony to the endurance of good music through time with different generations.
When a singer or listener makes a song a personal favourite, it stays with him/her forever. Thank you, Maria and Donny for teaching us again about the timelessness of youthful music. Four Stars!!!

Posted by qualteam at 5:27 PM EDT

Updated: Sunday, 17 July 2011 11:51 PM EDT

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