Hi Everyone,
Way back when, while I was in college, I took 3 economic courses. During my freshman year, the first course that I took was economics 101. It was during that course that I learned about the fundamental concept of supply and demand. It is a relatively easy concept to understand.
Demand: refers to how much (quantity) of a product or service is desired by buyers. The quantity demanded is the amount of a product people are willing to buy at a certain price. The relationship between price and quantity demanded is known as the demand relationship.
Supply: represents how much the market can offer. The quantity supplied refers to the amount of a certain good producers are willing to supply when receiving a certain price. The correlation between price and how much a good or service is supplied to the market is known as the supply relationship. Price therefore is a reflection of supply and demand.
So that is what I learned so long ago; about supply and demand and how this fundamental concept has been around for a very long time. Until now that is. Over the last decade, orange juice consumption has dropped a whopping 40%. So you would think that since demand has fallen and supplies increased, the price would drop. Not so fast. When was the last time OJ prices dropped? The prices have not fallen, but have actually risen. So what do you do in this day and age if demand is down and supplies are up? In this day and age, that means charging more for the product. Isn't it obvious that the higher prices of OJ is more about greed than about supply and demand. I am not surprised about this turning against a fundamental concept in order to make more money. Greed certainly rules here and common sense is again either tossed out the window or is totally ignored, which hurts us the consumer.
So today's supply and demand concept no longer means what it used to.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Tooting My Own Horn
Hi Everyone,
For those of you who don't know, I am the original owner of a 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport CL. It has 33 out of 38 options and is still a dream to drive, just like when it was new. But what my car is not, is a muscle car. It was built for high gas mileage and luxury. Through all of the last 28 years, I have somehow managed to keep the car in excellent condition. Actually it is in show condition and going to car shows is what I do with the car. FYI, it has not been a daily driver for over 11 years.
I have been showing the car for 15 years, long before you stopped seeing them on the road. Now when I show it, there are always people who come over to talk to me about my car. Almost all the people either had a similar car or knew someone who did. People tell me that when they go to car shows they expect to see, mustangs, vettes, 57 chevys, camaros, road runners, chargers and cudas, etc., etc., but they never expect to see a celebrity. They all rave about what a great car it was and what a surprise to see one in such great condition at a car show. But it is when they learn how many miles are on it that they are really surprised. My car has over 300,000 miles on it and it still looks almost new. When I talk to other car owners, it is not unusual for classic cars to change hands 3,4,5 or more times since it was new. So if the car was already in show condition, the new owners are just maintaining what prior owners did to the car. But I have taken care of this car for 28 years and have kept it show condition. People can and do really appreciate that fact.
For all the years I have been attending car shows, I never expect to win to any trophies for multiple reasons: it is a 1986, it is a celebrity and it has 300,000 miles. All those are strikes against me for winning anything. For the past 5 years or so, the newest form of collecting cars is what is called a survivor car. It will have original paint, rust is common and it runs. My car is not a survivor car since it was repainted, (due to a GM recall) when it was 6 years old. So I always joke with people that they should give trophies for highest mileage / best looking car. But of course, there is no such award.
Last night, my wife and I attended a local car show. There were approximately 50 or so cars there. Most of the cars were from the 60's and 70's and there were only 2 cars from the 80's. When the trophies were being awarded there was a Judge's favorite 4 cars category. The Judge named the first 3 favorite cars and they were the usual type of winning cars. Then the 4th car number was called. Both my wife and the car owner next to me told me that I had won. The first thing I did was check my number to make sure and sure enough, I had won. I was stunned, excited and couldn't believe it. The Judge was highly impressed on how well an original owner had taken care of a 28 year old car with over 300,000 miles on it.
Although I know I will never win best of show, I used to say that I owned a classic car but now I can honestly say that I own a classic trophy car. Now my ego isn't so big that the trophy will sit on our mantle. But that trophy will always be with the car when I go to other shows.
My horn has been tooted.
Til next week.
Peter
For those of you who don't know, I am the original owner of a 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport CL. It has 33 out of 38 options and is still a dream to drive, just like when it was new. But what my car is not, is a muscle car. It was built for high gas mileage and luxury. Through all of the last 28 years, I have somehow managed to keep the car in excellent condition. Actually it is in show condition and going to car shows is what I do with the car. FYI, it has not been a daily driver for over 11 years.
I have been showing the car for 15 years, long before you stopped seeing them on the road. Now when I show it, there are always people who come over to talk to me about my car. Almost all the people either had a similar car or knew someone who did. People tell me that when they go to car shows they expect to see, mustangs, vettes, 57 chevys, camaros, road runners, chargers and cudas, etc., etc., but they never expect to see a celebrity. They all rave about what a great car it was and what a surprise to see one in such great condition at a car show. But it is when they learn how many miles are on it that they are really surprised. My car has over 300,000 miles on it and it still looks almost new. When I talk to other car owners, it is not unusual for classic cars to change hands 3,4,5 or more times since it was new. So if the car was already in show condition, the new owners are just maintaining what prior owners did to the car. But I have taken care of this car for 28 years and have kept it show condition. People can and do really appreciate that fact.
For all the years I have been attending car shows, I never expect to win to any trophies for multiple reasons: it is a 1986, it is a celebrity and it has 300,000 miles. All those are strikes against me for winning anything. For the past 5 years or so, the newest form of collecting cars is what is called a survivor car. It will have original paint, rust is common and it runs. My car is not a survivor car since it was repainted, (due to a GM recall) when it was 6 years old. So I always joke with people that they should give trophies for highest mileage / best looking car. But of course, there is no such award.
Last night, my wife and I attended a local car show. There were approximately 50 or so cars there. Most of the cars were from the 60's and 70's and there were only 2 cars from the 80's. When the trophies were being awarded there was a Judge's favorite 4 cars category. The Judge named the first 3 favorite cars and they were the usual type of winning cars. Then the 4th car number was called. Both my wife and the car owner next to me told me that I had won. The first thing I did was check my number to make sure and sure enough, I had won. I was stunned, excited and couldn't believe it. The Judge was highly impressed on how well an original owner had taken care of a 28 year old car with over 300,000 miles on it.
Although I know I will never win best of show, I used to say that I owned a classic car but now I can honestly say that I own a classic trophy car. Now my ego isn't so big that the trophy will sit on our mantle. But that trophy will always be with the car when I go to other shows.
My horn has been tooted.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, July 6, 2014
This Solution May be a Win - Win
Hi Everyone,
The southern mid-west of this country and all the way to the west coast, has been in a severe drought for some time now. Even the snow pack totals in northern California has been a lot less then usual for years. Unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, there are no different weather patterns, consequently the drought will continue for who knows how long. But, while large parts of this country are in a drought, the north and south pole glaciers are melting at an alarming rate due to global warming. The direct result of which is that the ocean levels are rising and will eventually threaten all coastal cities around the world.
As to why global warming is happening is not the subject of today's blog. Today's blog is about a solution to both the drought and rising ocean level problems. I think that a common sense solution would be to build a whole lot of desalination plants along the west coast and if need be, where ever they are needed. The desalination plants could definitely supply the much needed fresh water. But, in addition, depending on how many plants are built worldwide, they could conceivably keep the ocean levels at bay or at the very least, could postpone the threat to coastal cities. Sounds far fetched, but it just might work. The toughest part of this idea is building the tens or hundreds of thousands of miles needed for the pipelines.
Unfortunately, time is not on our side. In order for something this big to happen, countries would need to make a leap of faith and begin the projects sooner rather than later. Even though building the plants would take years, it is the building of the infrastructure that will take many more years. That's why time will eventually be against us all and why forward thinking will be a necessity.
Just some food for thought.
Til next week.
Peter
The southern mid-west of this country and all the way to the west coast, has been in a severe drought for some time now. Even the snow pack totals in northern California has been a lot less then usual for years. Unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, there are no different weather patterns, consequently the drought will continue for who knows how long. But, while large parts of this country are in a drought, the north and south pole glaciers are melting at an alarming rate due to global warming. The direct result of which is that the ocean levels are rising and will eventually threaten all coastal cities around the world.
As to why global warming is happening is not the subject of today's blog. Today's blog is about a solution to both the drought and rising ocean level problems. I think that a common sense solution would be to build a whole lot of desalination plants along the west coast and if need be, where ever they are needed. The desalination plants could definitely supply the much needed fresh water. But, in addition, depending on how many plants are built worldwide, they could conceivably keep the ocean levels at bay or at the very least, could postpone the threat to coastal cities. Sounds far fetched, but it just might work. The toughest part of this idea is building the tens or hundreds of thousands of miles needed for the pipelines.
Unfortunately, time is not on our side. In order for something this big to happen, countries would need to make a leap of faith and begin the projects sooner rather than later. Even though building the plants would take years, it is the building of the infrastructure that will take many more years. That's why time will eventually be against us all and why forward thinking will be a necessity.
Just some food for thought.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, June 29, 2014
What a Rip Off for Taxpayers
Hi Everyone,
Due to life happenings, I was unable to blog for the last 2 weeks, but now I'm back. I have nothing against police or firefighters, but this true story may make you think twice about their honesty.
As we all are aware, police and firefighters have the ability to work huge amounts of overtime for 1,2 or3 years immediately prior to their retirement. That excessive amount of overtime is then included in the calculation to determine the amount of their pension. But, what would you say if I told you that there are some police and firefighters who worked the years of excessive amount of overtime, only to apply for a disability pension, (instead of a regular pension), based on a work related injury that occurred prior to their working the excessive overtime. Sound far fetched?
Unfortunately, this is another true story. Somehow, someway, these supposedly dedicated police and firefighters are able to find a doctor that will attest to their full "disability" at their time of retirement. How can someone claim a work related injury after they had worked huge amounts of weekly overtime for years after to their so called injury. There were a bunch of these people who claimed that their work related injury occurred 4,5 or more years prior to their retirement date. Talk about entitlement. This is grand larceny on an indecent scale. I just can't wrap my mind over the fact that these public servants can lie their way, (including their doctor) and the state's doctors to approve that they were disabled at the time of their retirement. But they worked tons of overtime immediately prior to retiring. What is wrong with this picture?
With their new full disability pension, they are collecting yearly pensions in the 6 digits. This is blatant fraud and I, for the life of me, can't figure out how this happens. If you can work excessive amount of overtime for years prior to their retirement, how can they apply for and receive a disability pension? They were obviously not disabled to be able to work the overtime. How can state doctors agree that they are disabled at the time of their retirement. Someone is definitely getting their palms greased to go along with them. If they were truly disabled, they would not have been able to work the excessive overtime, or am I missing something here. I don't think I am missing anything. These are greedy people, who only care about themselves and who have found the golden goose loophole that needs to be corrected ASAP.
Where is the common sense in determining whether someone is disabled? I can only hope that people in authority will be able to stop this insanity, sooner rather than later. If this continues, it will bankrupt the system and then we the taxpayers will pay even more!!!!!!
Til next week.
Peter
Due to life happenings, I was unable to blog for the last 2 weeks, but now I'm back. I have nothing against police or firefighters, but this true story may make you think twice about their honesty.
As we all are aware, police and firefighters have the ability to work huge amounts of overtime for 1,2 or3 years immediately prior to their retirement. That excessive amount of overtime is then included in the calculation to determine the amount of their pension. But, what would you say if I told you that there are some police and firefighters who worked the years of excessive amount of overtime, only to apply for a disability pension, (instead of a regular pension), based on a work related injury that occurred prior to their working the excessive overtime. Sound far fetched?
Unfortunately, this is another true story. Somehow, someway, these supposedly dedicated police and firefighters are able to find a doctor that will attest to their full "disability" at their time of retirement. How can someone claim a work related injury after they had worked huge amounts of weekly overtime for years after to their so called injury. There were a bunch of these people who claimed that their work related injury occurred 4,5 or more years prior to their retirement date. Talk about entitlement. This is grand larceny on an indecent scale. I just can't wrap my mind over the fact that these public servants can lie their way, (including their doctor) and the state's doctors to approve that they were disabled at the time of their retirement. But they worked tons of overtime immediately prior to retiring. What is wrong with this picture?
With their new full disability pension, they are collecting yearly pensions in the 6 digits. This is blatant fraud and I, for the life of me, can't figure out how this happens. If you can work excessive amount of overtime for years prior to their retirement, how can they apply for and receive a disability pension? They were obviously not disabled to be able to work the overtime. How can state doctors agree that they are disabled at the time of their retirement. Someone is definitely getting their palms greased to go along with them. If they were truly disabled, they would not have been able to work the excessive overtime, or am I missing something here. I don't think I am missing anything. These are greedy people, who only care about themselves and who have found the golden goose loophole that needs to be corrected ASAP.
Where is the common sense in determining whether someone is disabled? I can only hope that people in authority will be able to stop this insanity, sooner rather than later. If this continues, it will bankrupt the system and then we the taxpayers will pay even more!!!!!!
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, June 8, 2014
What the Tea Party Represents?
Hi Everyone,
Last month another terrible school shooting occurred. This time the massacre happened at and near the University of California, Santa Barbara. The madman killed 7, including himself and wounded 13 more. Again, as in most cases of this type, the killer used a fast-killing gun. If the NRA was serious about helping to stop these mass killings, they would consider curbing the use of semi and fully automatic guns. How? As I said in a previous blog regarding the Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut mass killings; my common sense solution to the people who have to have a semi and/or automatic weapon, must always be stored and used only at licensed gun ranges, period, no exceptions.
But in today's blog, I am not going to rehash that. Today's blog is even more sinister; dealing with people's feelings regarding these mass killings from a Tea Party representative, "Joe the Plumber", whose real name is Joe Wurzelbacher. Joe was made famous by George Bush II, during his first presidential run. After the Santa Barbara killings, Joe had the audacity to say, "your dead kids don't trump my constitutional rights". He acknowledged that his words were "harsh", but claimed pro-gun control activists "don't care about your family or your dead children at all". What hole did this guy crawl out of? What an utterly rude, callous and especially insensitive statement to make. And to think he absolutely believes every word he said. Of course he is a card carrying NRA and Tea Party member and even a darling of that party. Need I say more? Of course I do.....
Joe, the NRA, the Tea Party, almost all of the GOP and a few Democrats don't seem to want to make any changes in national gun control. An article in the May 30th edition of the New York Daily News said it best, "we watch massacre after massacre in this country and people opposing ANY kind of solution or any kind of change talk about infringement on rights and freedoms". But wait, aren't most of these people the same people who have no problem taking away a woman's right to choice when it deals with their own bodies. But that is another issue for another day.
I am sorry to say that Joe and the likes of him are the ones who are out of touch. Gun zealots controlled by the NRA will never change their minds. As I previously asked in a prior blog, how is it possible that the NRA's membership total, which is a small minority of people, (5 million out of 300 million), can control all things related to the Second Amendment? The NRA actually even rates all politicians in DC on issues related to Second Amendment issues and whether they are a NRA member. It is now time for some of these NRA members to stand up and say enough is enough and join the majority of Americans who are for more stricter gun control. Something must be done sooner rather than later, since lives are at stake!!! How many more children and adults must die before any changes are made.
Enough said!
Til next week.
Peter
Last month another terrible school shooting occurred. This time the massacre happened at and near the University of California, Santa Barbara. The madman killed 7, including himself and wounded 13 more. Again, as in most cases of this type, the killer used a fast-killing gun. If the NRA was serious about helping to stop these mass killings, they would consider curbing the use of semi and fully automatic guns. How? As I said in a previous blog regarding the Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut mass killings; my common sense solution to the people who have to have a semi and/or automatic weapon, must always be stored and used only at licensed gun ranges, period, no exceptions.
But in today's blog, I am not going to rehash that. Today's blog is even more sinister; dealing with people's feelings regarding these mass killings from a Tea Party representative, "Joe the Plumber", whose real name is Joe Wurzelbacher. Joe was made famous by George Bush II, during his first presidential run. After the Santa Barbara killings, Joe had the audacity to say, "your dead kids don't trump my constitutional rights". He acknowledged that his words were "harsh", but claimed pro-gun control activists "don't care about your family or your dead children at all". What hole did this guy crawl out of? What an utterly rude, callous and especially insensitive statement to make. And to think he absolutely believes every word he said. Of course he is a card carrying NRA and Tea Party member and even a darling of that party. Need I say more? Of course I do.....
Joe, the NRA, the Tea Party, almost all of the GOP and a few Democrats don't seem to want to make any changes in national gun control. An article in the May 30th edition of the New York Daily News said it best, "we watch massacre after massacre in this country and people opposing ANY kind of solution or any kind of change talk about infringement on rights and freedoms". But wait, aren't most of these people the same people who have no problem taking away a woman's right to choice when it deals with their own bodies. But that is another issue for another day.
I am sorry to say that Joe and the likes of him are the ones who are out of touch. Gun zealots controlled by the NRA will never change their minds. As I previously asked in a prior blog, how is it possible that the NRA's membership total, which is a small minority of people, (5 million out of 300 million), can control all things related to the Second Amendment? The NRA actually even rates all politicians in DC on issues related to Second Amendment issues and whether they are a NRA member. It is now time for some of these NRA members to stand up and say enough is enough and join the majority of Americans who are for more stricter gun control. Something must be done sooner rather than later, since lives are at stake!!! How many more children and adults must die before any changes are made.
Enough said!
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Are Your Ready To Get Backdoored?
Hi Everyone,
Here in New York State, Governor Cuomo, signed a law that was suppose to cap taxes at a maximum of 2% each year for both property and school taxes. Of course there are municipalities and school boards that blatantly go over the tax cap, as per the written media. But today's blog isn't about what happens to the municipalities or school boards that go over the tax cap or even the ones that either stay at or below the tax cap. Today's blog is about a blatant taxing entity that is trying a new and more sinister method of raising taxes above the 2% tax cap; but still have their records reflect that they stayed at or below the maximum cap.
How is this possible? How can you raise taxes above 2% and have the "books" legally show that they didn't? That means that the taxing entities found a way around the tax cap. Well the Westchester county, city of Rye school board is thinking about enacting a 3% tax on utility bills to pay for their increased education costs. Believe it or not, this tax would be applied to all electricity, natural gas and telephone services. What a backdoor kick in the butt to each and every taxpayer.
What is even more astonishing is that the city of Rye is not the first municipality or school board to do this. Other Westchester County municipalities that already have utility taxes are: White Plains, New Rochelle, Peekskill and Mount Vernon and in addition, Rockland County even has a county wide 4% tax. If utilities rates are taxed at a fixed rate of 3 or 4% which was approved by some board, that tax increase was not approved by a majority of the voters. So would that mean that voters would only be allowed to vote on the original up to 2% increase as required by law? It certainly seems to be that way. That would mean that the taxing entities couldn't care less about whether their budget votes passed or not. The taxing entity boards would then be able, when needed to make up the difference, to increase the utility taxes without it being voted on. Where will this end and at what cost to the taxpayers? This utility tax makes no sense and to top it off, it might bring the feeling of entitlement and consequently mismanagement.
Now to pour a whole lot of salt on the wounds of these poor taxpayers, they would also not be able to deduct their utility taxes on their tax returns, which eventually could be a sizeable amount.
Hopefully these backdoor taxes will be repealed, sooner rather than later.
Til next week.
Peter
Here in New York State, Governor Cuomo, signed a law that was suppose to cap taxes at a maximum of 2% each year for both property and school taxes. Of course there are municipalities and school boards that blatantly go over the tax cap, as per the written media. But today's blog isn't about what happens to the municipalities or school boards that go over the tax cap or even the ones that either stay at or below the tax cap. Today's blog is about a blatant taxing entity that is trying a new and more sinister method of raising taxes above the 2% tax cap; but still have their records reflect that they stayed at or below the maximum cap.
How is this possible? How can you raise taxes above 2% and have the "books" legally show that they didn't? That means that the taxing entities found a way around the tax cap. Well the Westchester county, city of Rye school board is thinking about enacting a 3% tax on utility bills to pay for their increased education costs. Believe it or not, this tax would be applied to all electricity, natural gas and telephone services. What a backdoor kick in the butt to each and every taxpayer.
What is even more astonishing is that the city of Rye is not the first municipality or school board to do this. Other Westchester County municipalities that already have utility taxes are: White Plains, New Rochelle, Peekskill and Mount Vernon and in addition, Rockland County even has a county wide 4% tax. If utilities rates are taxed at a fixed rate of 3 or 4% which was approved by some board, that tax increase was not approved by a majority of the voters. So would that mean that voters would only be allowed to vote on the original up to 2% increase as required by law? It certainly seems to be that way. That would mean that the taxing entities couldn't care less about whether their budget votes passed or not. The taxing entity boards would then be able, when needed to make up the difference, to increase the utility taxes without it being voted on. Where will this end and at what cost to the taxpayers? This utility tax makes no sense and to top it off, it might bring the feeling of entitlement and consequently mismanagement.
Now to pour a whole lot of salt on the wounds of these poor taxpayers, they would also not be able to deduct their utility taxes on their tax returns, which eventually could be a sizeable amount.
Hopefully these backdoor taxes will be repealed, sooner rather than later.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Stealing Legally
Hi Everyone,
I was reading the newspaper a few weeks ago and again I found an article that blew me away. Highway robbery is a very mild analogy to what I found out. Pew Charitable Trusts did some new research and wrote a report regarding the nation's highest interest rates for payday loans. Keep in mind, that payday loans are used a lot by low income wage earners who desperately need a small loan, when unexpected expenses occur, i.e. car repair bills. So that is why I was blown away by the interest rates that are charged.
So if you were to guess how high you think these payday interest rates can get, what would be your guess? Hold onto to you hats. Somehow all of these rates are legal. The state with the highest rate is Idaho with a rate of 582%! Yes you read that correctly, 582%. South Dakota and Wisconsin are tied in second place with 574%. Then comes Nevada, 521%, Delaware, 517% and Utah, 474%. Some other states that have the lowest of the high interest rates are: Maine, 217%, Oregon, 156% and Colorado at 129%. Fifteen states either ban payday loans or cap interest rates at 36%. Without a limit on interest rates, competition among lenders does not tend to lower rates much, according to Pew's new research.
Now I understand that these loans are made without collateral, other then having a weekly paycheck, to people who most likely don't have anywhere near a good credit score. So the people who need these loans the most, due to their financial circumstances, will always pay the highest interest rates. I am not sure how many of these loans go unpaid, but rates up to 582% seems very unreasonably high, grossly unfair and seems to me to be a legal form of stealing from people and a bonanza to the lenders. But somehow the rates are legit and people continue to use these payday loans.
Til next week.
Peter
I was reading the newspaper a few weeks ago and again I found an article that blew me away. Highway robbery is a very mild analogy to what I found out. Pew Charitable Trusts did some new research and wrote a report regarding the nation's highest interest rates for payday loans. Keep in mind, that payday loans are used a lot by low income wage earners who desperately need a small loan, when unexpected expenses occur, i.e. car repair bills. So that is why I was blown away by the interest rates that are charged.
So if you were to guess how high you think these payday interest rates can get, what would be your guess? Hold onto to you hats. Somehow all of these rates are legal. The state with the highest rate is Idaho with a rate of 582%! Yes you read that correctly, 582%. South Dakota and Wisconsin are tied in second place with 574%. Then comes Nevada, 521%, Delaware, 517% and Utah, 474%. Some other states that have the lowest of the high interest rates are: Maine, 217%, Oregon, 156% and Colorado at 129%. Fifteen states either ban payday loans or cap interest rates at 36%. Without a limit on interest rates, competition among lenders does not tend to lower rates much, according to Pew's new research.
Now I understand that these loans are made without collateral, other then having a weekly paycheck, to people who most likely don't have anywhere near a good credit score. So the people who need these loans the most, due to their financial circumstances, will always pay the highest interest rates. I am not sure how many of these loans go unpaid, but rates up to 582% seems very unreasonably high, grossly unfair and seems to me to be a legal form of stealing from people and a bonanza to the lenders. But somehow the rates are legit and people continue to use these payday loans.
Til next week.
Peter
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