All Forum Posts by: Shana Gray

there is a pension plan I know of that invests in private businesses that makes INSANE amounts of money for itself compared to expectations... owning several different high profit businesses is one of the fastest most reliable way to wealth-building possible imo. if it is held in some kind of non-taxable entity the money would just continue to grow.

certainly USA would benefit from real business people in leadership if the right people came forward for it... and never underestimate the influence you could have just by speaking out. now is a great time for creativity in looking at problems and solutions.

really enjoyed reading your idea and following posts.

if I were President... I would pay off the debt through multiple streams of income, and I would run the country on sane economic policies like I would run my own finances.

I love the "search inside the book" function at Amazon.com.. check it out!!! it is a fun read.

I'll add a couple of examples I found helpful, the first chapter is called The Broken Window. when a rock is thrown through a window, some people go on and on how this is wonderful, this creates work for someone to fix the window, but in reality, if the window hadn't been broken the owner of the shop would have bought a new suit instead, and created work for a tailor, and had both a new suit and a window, not just a window. but no one ever saw the suit because it never came into existence because the owner of the shop had to use his limited resources to buy a window. but everyone can see the window and the job "created" by it so they are fooled into thinking a job was created and a window was brought into existence and that this was productive.

the second chapter, creating jobs for the sake of job creation is really just moving jobs around, and usually the market not the government can best decide what people actually want and need. (supply and demand) artificial government interference does not help the market, it messes up real progress and productivity in the right directions.

another example, resources are limited so if there is only one tractor and it is given to a farmer who has failed in business and paid for by the taxes of the farmer who is successful in business, the successful farmer can't have the tractor. the unsuccessful farmer is not likely to be able to pay for the tractor out of his future earnings. this is not good for the economy even if politicians think it is wonderful.

great book.

Sure.. this book goes page by page in great detail explaining all of Obama's BS about the economy, in easy to understand language and stories, and was written in 1946.

It explains how governments create the illusion of "new jobs" which are not increasing production but merely moving existing resources around, it explains how taking money from a proven businessman through higher taxes to set up a failed businessman in business through lending risky debts lowers overall productivity (no duh), and how more taxes do not encourage more production, etc. It explains all the lies governments tell to get people to believe in futile efforts and how they convince people... and that's only the first few (short) chapters that I've read so far. All of these are told in simple stories and examples that are easy to understand. I especially love how it explains how completely short sighted politicians are when they think they are right, because they are disobeying The Lesson. Here is the Lesson:

"The art of economics consists in looking not merely at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act or policy; it consists in tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one group but for all groups."

It basically says governments are only looking at certain groups in the short term when they borrow money or take money in taxes to give to people who may not be able to pay it back and think that makes economic sense. Ultimately it will affect the entire economy not just the people receiving the money borrowed or taxed from others.

This book is brilliant and a must read. Full title: Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics.

got this in my email today and I wanted to share it. I like it because it "shows me the math" and how this works. it hit home with me. apologies to anyone who may have seen this already, and if you haven't yet, please consider passing it along..

Subject: The Can from CHINA

"It's easy to make a buck, but hard to make a difference."
-Tom Brokaw

I've decided to do it - not only for cans, but everything else as well for a month at least. It's hard! Are you in?

I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT THE COUNTRY MARKET. ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA'. FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN FROM CHINA. I WAS SHOCKED!! SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE IS FROM CAL. Another example was in canned mushrooms. No-Name brand came from Indonesia. Next to them were President Choice brand. Produce of Canada!! The P. C. went into my grocery bag.

TAKES FOREVER JUST TO BUY FOOD AND DO LABEL READING ! !

Are we Americans and Canadians as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think?

While the Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in North American markets, the media wrings its hands and criticizes the Bush Administration (now Obama Administration) (and the Harper Government!) for perceived errors.

Yet 70% of North Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.

Well, duh..why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?

SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA/CANADA !!

Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without. Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some North American farmer. Easter is just an example, the point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.

THINK ABOUT THIS, If 200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!!

The downside? Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory. Wahhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!

The solution? Let's give them fair warning and send our own message. Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on June 4, and continue it until July 4. Permanently would be even better. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their North American exports. Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.

! Remember, June 4 to July 4 !

EVEN BETTER. . . START NOW !

Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are intelligent Americans and Canadians, and NOBODY can take us for granted.

If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

Pass it on, North America !!

I wouldn't change much as I only work 50% of the time. If I was too rich to work.. I would consider becoming a billionaire or at least owning several more businesses... might go back to Europe/UK (I've already travelled lots), might take more vacations.. probably do a lot more creative stuff like put out music and make a difference.. then hide out somewhere, get married and raise a family. lol. and stay in closer touch with friends and relatives all over the world but I do that anyways, I might do more of it. and I already give to charities.. and do what I want most of the time.

"Obama lied and the economy died"

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/politics/ny-potea1612656795apr15,0,7227452.story