finance
Money talks; reviewing the global economy, government spending, taxes, and economic policy that affect our social and political future.
Trudeau's Deficit: Another Case of Chicken Little Syndrome
If you're Canadian like me and have been paying any attention to the #cdnpoli tag on Twitter, or to the news, or to opinion pieces in newspapers, two things are being considered a big deal right now: Morneau's "oh right I have a company but I'm already rich and who cares" gaffe, and the whole thing with Trudeau's budget deficit.
Grizzly MatthewsPublished 7 years ago in The SwampMoney
They say money can't buy happiness. That is not entirely true. In today's world in America and all around the globe, money is the predominate means to attain the necessities of life. Whether to buy food, pay for shelter, or just about everything associated with existing in today's world all depends on the availability of having enough money to do so. In many instances the lack of financial means puts individuals in very stressful situations. We can conclude having the financial means could very well equate to a person being somewhat happy. This is because when one has financial support behind them the stress level should dissipate. Were not saying that this is true for all individuals but, having money puts a person in a capacity to be able to use that resource to reduce stress associated with not having enough money to pay for such essentials as housing, food, or medicine.
Dr. WilliamsPublished 7 years ago in The SwampWaging Wars
While economists sway to and fro like the ebbing tides of a fiscal ocean, one thing remains solid and unmoving to me. The reality is that income inequality leads to disenfranchisement and unrest in the lower income areas of our country. This has been proven time and time again not only in the history of our nation, but the world itself. In our day and age, money is the prime resource, and when resources are low, tempers run high. Raising the minimum wage is a hot topic among economists; in fact, it’s the surest way to divide a room full of them right down the middle. This issue has seemingly stumped lawmakers on the national level as the nation’s minimum wage stands at $7.25 per hour and hasn’t moved since 2009. This policy of procrastination seems to be perpetuated by both major political parties as it is an unpopular fight on all fronts. Though a Gallup poll conducted in November of 2013 reveals that 91 percent of Democrats support increasing the federal minimum wage to $9.00, so do 58 percent of Republicans. They also suggest pinning the minimum wage to the consumer price index, in order for it to keep pace with inflation. That way, as the economy shifts, so would the minimum wage. Prior to 2007, the federal minimum wage had been stagnant for ten years. This oversight has contributed to the current turbulence in our global market. The less money people have to spend, the larger the wage gap becomes, leading to less currency in the market and thus a shrinking economy. Fears that raising the minimum wage would flood the market with currency and lead to drastic costs of living are very shortsighted. There are several steps that must be taken to revive our ailing economy. One of the first steps should be to raise the minimum wage and index it for future generations.
Eduardo Victor GarciaPublished 7 years ago in The SwampIs OIL Behind the Rising Tensions with China, Russia and North Korea?
America's largest export, is its own currency - The nation's economic success is pinned on maintaining international demand for USD
Jordan CattoPublished 7 years ago in The SwampMillennials Are Too Clever for Mindless Consumerism
We have heard the jokes and seen the articles for long enough, endless headlines all saying variations of the same outdated view that millennials are lazy. Since the start, our generation has been considered careless and mindless, unbothered by anything that doesn’t include social media or sitting down. Being the generation that saw the birth of social media, it is considered our partner in carelessness. Yet little consideration is given to the fact that social media is a factor in the creation of an increasingly liberal and politically active body. You can call us lazy, but millennials are powerful, and here’s some news, we’ve grown too clever for mindless consumerism, forcing producers to become more ethical, more inclusive, and more liberal if they want our money.
Lucy HarbronPublished 7 years ago in The SwampHow Central Banks Should Be Creating Growth for Everyone
Systems were made for men, and not men for systems, and the interest of man which is self-development, is above all systems, whether theological, political or economic.
Jock MunroPublished 7 years ago in The SwampBrexit’s Influence on the GBP Exchange Rate
At first, when the referendum came up, many people supported the "Britain should remain in the European Union" position. This is because it is familiar for people to have Britain as a part of the EU. But Brexit is a possibility for the United Kingdom to renew its transatlantic alliance and also could strengthen the role of Britain.
Andrea DawsonPublished 7 years ago in The SwampFrom My Front Porch
Poverty. We all know it's out there but how many people really know and understand what it is and what it's like? According to a 2015 Census report poverty affects approximately 43 million Americans that's about 1 in 7 people. An additional 19 million live in deep poverty, making less than 50% of poverty level income annually. So what exactly is poverty level income? Well according to that same 2015 report the federal poverty level for the continental US is as follows:
Claudia SandersPublished 7 years ago in The SwampWhen Politicians Don't Really Understand!
I believe that politicians think that they are the only people in the world; they don't really care about anybody else, they just lie and tax the people more. What about taxing the rich more, not the poor? However, that's how they live. They live by taking it all but never giving what they promised; we should've known that they would be trouble, behind that glisten of what looked like a promise.
Lizzy ArrowPublished 7 years ago in The SwampMisconceptions
America, land of the free home of the poor. The land of opportunity for the chosen lucky few. Poverty is crippling in America. I understand poverty-stricken families those living paycheck to day after paycheck. Those living and relying on food stamps I understand them because I am one of them.
Claudia SandersPublished 7 years ago in The SwampTaxes
Okay, so I will be the guy who asks the common-sense question about wealth and taxes: If they “hurt the rich” the way that the Occupy Movement says they would, why are all of these wealthy people supporting the party hiking taxes the most? The thing that no one tells you about taxes is that the super-wealthy “one-percenters” love them. They protect their investment by making it that much harder for us, the average person, to cut into their slice of the pie. The best part is that they get the assistance of the Federal Government, who will send armed men to your door and haul you off to jail. Just as King George III viewed taxes as a way to keep his wealth ahead of that of his subjects, the wealthiest political party in the world, the Democrats, protect the wealthy with taxes and overly complex tax codes.
Mickey FinnPublished 7 years ago in The SwampSlaving for Savings
It can be fairly difficult to cut through centuries of compounded interest in keeping the almighty dollar as the central focus of our collective consciousness. Imagining a world free of money is not often on the radar screen for most of us, as we are busily trying to keep up with the process of making enough of it to survive and thrive. The answer seems to always be "make more money, save more money..." both for individuals and corporations alike. There never seems to be enough, and we can even find ourselves drowning in debt; a negative amount of money is a great motivator to work even harder in order to stay afloat.
Michael ThielmannPublished 7 years ago in The Swamp