Letters to the Editor
aveutter
Published Letters: 198 Editor's Choice: 32
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Mortgage Rates are going up
[Read the article: Whatever happened to the great ARM reset crisis?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This scarcely reported fact is pretty scary. The Fed is pushing on a string, by driving down rates at the short end of the curve, while inflationary concerns drive up the long end.
Anecdotally there is evidence that homeowners who want to move their property are willing to carry the paper at lower rates. Since very few mortgages are carried full term, this makes a lot of sense. Assuming Bernanke wants to see lower mortgage rates, and as a banker we should view this with scepticism. Bankers make money borrowing at the short end, and lending at the long end.
Should falling rates begin a spiral, as the market sets rates, and not the bankers, we could be heading for zero, or even negative rates.
Suppose you are in a mortgage which is going to reset at 8 1/2, and your neighbor has the same identical house, and he wants to move, and will carry the paper at 5 1/2. You will figure out a way to do it.
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Food or Fuel?
[Read the article: King corn takes a hit]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Is it true that most of the corn grown for ethanol is not food grade, but feed grade, or lower? At least we can eat soybeans, those most Americans do not, which makes you wonder how this is helping us. Less gasoline, less food to eat, less feed stock, while farmers switch to an export crop. Something is seriously wrong here folks, but when you go the store and the shelves are empty, it's too late to do anything about it.
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A complete Vietnam War history
[Read the article: McCain's Vietnam obsession]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Whatever has been said, one item remains, these naval aviators, of which McCain was a member, were in charge of the political aspects of the Vietnam war, and they actively bombed the North even after the Congress prohibited that action. Someone should ask McCain that question, did you ever volunteer for a mission which circumvented U.S. policy restrictions?
That covers point one and possible two points of his summation of our failure in Vietnam. Certainly the Executive branch has gotten a free pass in Iraq, on that issue, since there is no effective control over the handling of the war. Second question to the Senator would address that issue. The President has had a free hand to run the war, and things are still going badly. Now what would you do? What would you do if Congress put restrictions on the war? What would you do if it was evident we were losing? (Any veteran of the Vietnam war should have an exit strategy in mind)
Thirdly the political animus of the war in Vietnam was driven by the notion of international Communism. That was deflated when North Vietnam and China fought a war after America pulled out. Is there a chance that you have misjudged the threat of Islamo Fascism? Is there a regional solution the problem?
Thirdly, I would ask John McCain; did it effect your more being a political prisoner? You were paraded through the streets, photographed. Enlisted men and ground soldiers were not put in prison camps, they were executed. Does that effect your personal view of that war?
Did America do the right thing once it was evident we could not win? Should we have tried to maintain a military prescence in Vietnam, and how would that look today?
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For $100 maybe we can buy decent government
[Read the article: "Great American Hypocrites: Toppling the Big Myths of Republican Politics"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My Senator recently sent me an email asking for a campaign donation, even though she isn't running until 2010. I made an immodest proposal in my reply. If the Democrats offer an impeachment resolution, and assuming it reaches the Senate, and further assuming you vote for in favor of the resolution to impeach, I will donate $100 to your campaign.
I think you all might try this, because I don't think you risking any of your money.
That was my suggestion. No reply yet.
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The secret Presidency of George Bush
[Read the article: The Great Depression: The sequel]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Already the Bush vision is for a single North American country, one big cultural, economic union. They seem to be bent on the policies that will bring it about. They almost seem to want it, which is why traditional Republicans take up the cause of sovereignty, and Democrats take up the cause of protectionism, while the die is already cast. Someone should write a book about the secret Presidency of George Bush, and how economic collapse is the gateway to his vision.