Topic: finances

Economy impacts financial planning for those retirement years

By Rev. Charles Moreland | October 26, 2008 |

This is the second of three articles on the issues of retirement.

In the Ozarks of Missouri,my grandparents never got to retire, nor did I ever hear them discuss it. The dream of sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair with their dog at their feet was always a serene unrealized thought. Because of their hard-scrabbled living on a small farm, they never had enough money to retire. From sun-up to sundown they collected the eggs, milked the cows, worked for neighbors for 50 cents a day. washed their laundry by hand on a washboard, cooked, and did numerous other chores that occupied their time but brought little cash to show for that strenuous effort to survive.There was no retirement for them. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, Opinion | No Comments

Dollars and Sense: Just say ‘no” to non-essential spending

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 29, 2008 |

Today our U.S. Representatives voted not to approve a $700 million bail-out for Wall Street and Corporate America, responding in part to a backlash of newly energized American “Joe Average” angry over executive pay, the mortgage crisis, and rocketing debt (personal and Iraq war-related). The time to start worrying, though, began when the balanced budget of the Clinton era was sacrificed on the altar of political expediency and oil profits in the post-911 panic.

Like many Americans, I’ve been following the financial roller coaster ride that is Wall Street and the American financial system, though I may have been following it longer than most. Years, in fact.

In recent weeks I’ve corresponded with a New England friend who, after years of fiscal nonchalance and escalating debt decided to straighten up and become fiscally responsible. It took him five years or so to pay down all his debt, establish a fiscal net worth in savings and investments — and keep it that way. He’s the first to admit “it’s not easy.”

The first rule of thumb, he says, is pay down your debt. The second rule of thumb is “if you can’t pay for it, don’t buy it.” It doesn’t get more straightforward than that, unless you live in a culture like ours in which you are primed to consume beyond your means. Keep up with the Joneses until you both sink. It’s been the American way for some time now. «Read the rest of this article»

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Kucinich offers Main Street Recovery Plan

September 25, 2008 |

Guest Commentator Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, offers a plan to save “Main Street.”

While Wall Street and the Bush Administration try to blackmail Congress into a $700 billion bailout for corporations that have shown zero concern about the plight of the American people through the last decade, I have been working on a comprehensive alternative. Today, I am releasing a plan for economic recovery that will provide not only economic stimulus, but also fairness for everyday people on every “Main Street” in America. The plan  detailed will also be available on the campaign website www.kucinich.us.

Of course, this is a plan that has not only economic implications, but also moral and spiritual implications as well. The social, economic, and political divisions in our nation must be healed.  We can make a new beginning, seizing this moment of crisis and transforming it into a moment of rebirth for our nation. «Read the rest of this article»

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Obama responds to fiscal crisis, says “the American people need to hear from us”

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 25, 2008 |

In response to John McCain’s decision to return to suspend campaigning and return to Washington, his request to postponed the scheduled Sept. 26 debate in Oxford, Mississippi, and in response to the fiscal crisis and a proposed $700 million bail out, Senator Barack Obama spoke out on the issues at a Press Conference Wednesday afternoon. We offer our readers a replay of Obama’s statement.

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McCain drops campaign to focus on economy; seeks postponement of upcoming debate

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 24, 2008 |

BREAKING NEWS: John McCain this afternoon announced he was suspending his campaign to focus on the economic crisis in America and has requested that the Sept. 26 debate be rescheduled.

President Bush to address nation at 8 p.m. CST.

McCain’s decision is a complete about-face from his prior statements  that the United States economy is “fundamentally sound.” This is John McCain’s statement, released at 3 p.m. today.:

Sen. John McCain

America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.

Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns.This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward.I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective. «Read the rest of this article»

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Mr. & Mrs. Middle Class: You’ve been punked!

By Tom Paine | September 24, 2008 |

You are being told that we must pony up for Wall Street’s mistakes over the past 20 years. You are being told that if you do not it will only cost you more in the long run. You are being told that if you do not do so, the world as we know it will cease to exist. That part, at least, is correct.

For the past twenty years, beginning with the Reagan administration, economic war has been waged on you, the middle class. The champions of the “free market” demanded that all fetters, all regulations, be removed from the market. It was claimed that regulations were bad, that they prevented the market from operating “efficiently”, that the “freer” the market, the more we would all benefit. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, Events, Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »

The magnitude and meaning of the proposed bailout: What $700 billion for Wall Street means on Main Street

September 24, 2008 |

Northampton, MA (9.23.08) ~~ The plan proposed by President Bush and Secretary Paulson for a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street is difficult for most people to comprehend. National Priorities Project, a non-partisan organization that offers research and analysis of federal spending priorities, is offering an analysis of what $700 billion means to taxpayers.

“It is extremely difficult for most of us to get our minds around what this extraordinary amount of money means.  We hear every day about spending cuts to infrastructure and social services. Now the current Administration is proposing to spend more than what is currently allocated for the U.S. War in Iraq on this Wall Street bailout.  It is critically important that we urge our elected representatives to take a close and careful look at the trade offs involved in their decisions.”

~~ Jo Comerford, Executive Director of National Priorities Project. «Read the rest of this article»

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U.S. Market Meltdown: Three times is enemy action

September 23, 2008 |

James Bond’s wealthy nemesis may have had an obsession with gold, but he judged, quite correctly, that if people keep putting your plans awry, that was likely their intent.

“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is Enemy Action.” — Auric Goldfinger, Ian Fleming’s James Bond

In 1982, the same year John McCain entered the Senate, a bill was put forward that would substantially deregulate the Savings and Loan industry. The Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act was an initiative of the Reagan administration, and was largely authored by lobbyists for the S&L industry — including John McCain’s warm-up speaker at the convention, Fred Thompson. The official description of the bill was “An act to revitalize the housing industry by strengthening the financial stability of home mortgage lending institutions and ensuring the availability of home mortgage loans.” Considering where things stand in 2008, that may sound dubious. It should. «Read the rest of this article»

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Plan for the future with faith-based or socially responsible investments

By Rev. Charles Moreland | August 31, 2008 |

Financially these are tumultuous days for our country, the world, and us, the residents of Clarksville. Throughout the the globe the past six months are conspicuous and striking by the burgeoning financial foreboding. Daily new on the monetary condition of the globe is tortuous. Car manufacturers recently reported that June was a “disastrous” month for sales. We wait with bated breath for this plight to hit bottom; instead more bad news is announced.

A recent USA Today headline proclaimed “Rising prices hammer seniors on fixed income.” Food and medication goes out of reach for some. These are troublesome times, too, for parents, single or married, for grandparents and all adults. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, Opinion, Spirituality | 1 Comment »

Drowning in debt: I.O.U.S.A. examines the state of the nation’s bankbook

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 21, 2008 |

For one night only, Nashville’s Opry Mills and Green Hills cinemas will screen I.O.U.S.A., a Sundance award-winning documentary on the state of the nation’s finances The screening, which starts at 7 p.m. CST, is integrated into a broadcast panel discussion.

The live discussion with America’s most notable financial leaders and policy experts, including Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway; William Niskanen, chairman of the Cato Institute; Bill Novelli, CEO of AARP; Pete Peterson, senior chairman of The Blackstone Group and chairman of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation; and Dave Walker, president & CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and former U.S. Comptroller General, promises riveting dialogue and keen insight into the crisis we currently face. The panel will be moderated by Becky Quick, co-anchor of CNBC’s morning news show Squawk Box.

From the producers of Wordplay and the studio that brought you Supersize Me, the must-see documentary I.O.U.S.A. uncovers the source of critical economic concerns that touch the lives of every American. A tapestry of archival footage, hard data and candid interviews woven together, it paints an authentic profile of today’s economic condition. Solutions for how we can impact this nationwide crisis and evolve into a more fiscally sound nation for future generations are offered by the documentary’s powerful conclusion. «Read the rest of this article»

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