Boldness Needed

I love the boldness of Mr. Cain's 9-9-9 plan.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203658804576639523370969998.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories#articleTabs%3Darticle

The implication of the numbers near the bottom are that the middle income and to a degree the low income population will bear more of a tax burden under this plan. You know what? Consider it my middle class self's contribution to the future.

I am happy to do it if it gets rid of the special interests' main mechanism of benefit from their control over politicians.

-2outof4

Push to 2012 Likely to Fire up Ole' 2outof4

I have definitely been deficient in posting. However, just over the past couple of days I have found my blood boiling as I ponder the economy and the "way out." This post captureS, very well, my thoughts on Elizabeth Warren. I thought she was wrong on her approach during the "financial crisis" and I think generally she does not get it. A Facebook friend's recent posting about his support for her Massachusetts Senate run almost forced me into political discourse on FB - something I want to avoid.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/elizabeth-warren-and-liberalism-twisting-the-social-contract/2011/10/04/gIQAXi5VOL_story.html?wpisrc=emailtoafriend

-2outof4

Long Time

Hello 2outof4 Followers,

It looks like I have not posted since December 2009, so it made sense to me to remove the stock ideas. If you had been keeping track, I think there was a good demonstration of not to short really expensive cult stocks, just b/c they are really expensive cult stocks!

In the future, I hope to return with more good content and analysis. I really like this space. Life events have just taken me other directions for the time being.

I hope everyone is well.

-2outof4

I Would Volunteer

Make this commission full of private citizens rather than bureaucrats and we could be on to something!:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/30/AR2009123002576.html?wprss=rss_politics

This way the pols don't have to worry about taking blame and losing votes from the constituents. Let people who care about the long-term make the hard decisions.

Enjoy New Year's Eve!

-2outof4

Failure

Happy Friday. Here's a great speech to keep in mind from a very interesting man. Google his PBS trading videos from the '80s to get a flavor.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/16588637/Paul-Tudor-Jones-Failure-Speech-June-2009

-2outof4

My Head!

That bump on my head is from beating it into my desk!

Surprise surprise, more short-termism out of Washington:

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/69295-dems-push-wall-street-150b-stock-tax

How can anyone possibly think this is a good idea except the orgs that put money into these pols' campaign coffers?!?

The comments following the article are the most instructive. Of course it will trickle down to the common man! You think Street trading firms are going to feel this? As painful is the crutch of "Buy and Hold" investing that these pols lean on. If the person watching your money over the last 24 months was not trading in a tactical manner knowing the macro backdrop, then s/he was doing you a disservice!

If you live in the state DeFazio or Perlmutter represents, please question their thought process and just what they think they are going to accomplish. If the foresight is that low concerning this tax, there can only be more trouble on the horizon.

-2outof4

Shopping Tips

Happy Monday!

Departing from the norm doom and gloom, I want to offer up 2outof4's holiday and beyond shopping tips.

First of all, absolutely 100% refuse to pay full price this year. Literally every chain retailer out there has some sort of online or in store promo for no less than 30% off. If you need a coupon, just ask around. A day doesn't go buy without some sort of fantastic deal coming into my inbox.

Secondly, and going beyond the holidays, give Amazon a chance for your everyday non-perishables. Mrs. 2ooutof4 and I signed up for Amazon Prime (well, actually it was her). This gives us free shipping until mid December. So this morning we bought razor blades at about 30% off and no sales tax. The plan is to do this with TP and paper towels as well. I know people who use it for diapers. I've also priced out nuts, that are way cheaper than at the Grocery.

Anyhow, whether you are looking for gifts this season or staples, do not pay full price! We're getting deflation before the big spike in inflation!

-2outof4

Background Check

Good Morning! I'm engulfed in President Obama's "Dreams of My Father" at the moment. I am only up to the point where the President becomes an "organizer", but my intuition is that every American voter should have read this book pre-election.

So far, that same intuition tells me that the man at the top does not possess the pre-disposition to deal with the economic trouble that America was mired in at the time of the election in a manner to set us on a path to sustainable recovery.

Unfortunately, this piece also seems intuitive:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704431804574537490451978558.html

I still like the Short XRT (ETF) as an investment idea. Have a great weekend!

-2outof4

China Lectures Us

Are we living in a sustainable policy environment? This is a question Mrs. 2outof4 and I were trying to answer on the drive home from a great weekend with family. Our answer, no. And when China is lecturing us on the fiscal policy, the lack of sustainability in our fiscal policy seems pretty evident:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125826103009548975.html?mod=article-outset-box

-2outof4

Oh Boy

This is a culmination of some many things posted on 2outof4. It is almost so sad, its funny:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204574473724099542430.html

-2outof4