July 2009 - Forecasts & Trends

On June 26, the Democrat-controlled House narrowly passed sweeping legislation that calls for the government's first limits and taxes on carbon emissions, the so-called "Cap-and-Trade" bill that President Obama has insisted on. Experts on both sides of the issue, including President Obama, agree that Cap-and-Trade will result in higher energy prices, and that means higher prices for fuel, home heating and cooling and many other things we buy from food to cars to movie tickets, etc., etc. Cap-and-Trade will be a disaster for the economy. Hopefully, the Senate will not pass this bill, especially in light of news that the EPA has suppressed a major new study which argues that global warming in NOT happening, and recommends against Cap-and-Trade. This may be one of the most interesting and important E-Letters I have ever written... But it will likely make you angry!...

Some of you may remember the colorful radio ads featuring Eddie Chiles, CEO of the Western Company. He was famous for his 'I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more' commentaries. I remember seeing scores of cars sporting an 'I'm mad too, Eddie' bumper sticker. I just have to wonder how mad Eddie would be right now concerning the institutionalized deception going on in the financial services industry. At a point in time when the public is calling for increased integrity from their financial institutions, just the opposite seems to be happening. Unfortunately, most Americans have no idea the wool is being pulled over their eyes. Read on to see if you have been the victim of 'institutionalized deception.'

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