GOP Blocks Obama Land Grab
Governor Issues Notary Procedure Changes
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| Susana Martinez |
The new executive order comes on the heels of a high profile case involving an Albuquerque notary named Ana Hernandez, who was arrested in May of this year for allegedly operating as part of a heroin ring that has been likened to the efficiency of a pizza delivery operation. After her arrest, state records came to light showing that New Mexico officials were informed in 2010 that Hernandez’s tax preparation company had been used as a hub for foreign national driver’s license fraud.
Obama Likes Palin Wildland Management Strategy
More News New Mexico
Pro Amnesty Dem Latinos Start "Tequila Party"
Location, Location, Location
The first location- interest bearing instruments- fluctuate in value based on interest rates. Globally speaking, governments in most developed nations are engaging in policies that have artificially depressed interest rates for a couple of years. They are doing so because it enables them to borrow cheaply. These policies act as wealth transfer mechanisms. They transfer wealth from SAVERS to BORROWERS. These conditions are not conducive to good results on investments in interest bearing instruments. Risk-averse savers, left with no good options, are quickly becoming the investment equivalent of slum lords.
An objective evaluation of the prospects for the next location- income producing real estate- suggests a very mixed bag at best. Although real estate encompasses many types and classes of properties, from condos in Florida to track homes in Vegas to skyscrapers in Manhattan, there are still several secular economic trends that do NOT bode well for most property values. In the residential arena, historic over-building suggests gradual price erosion could continue. And once there is stability in housing prices, it might take years before shortages begin to drive prices higher again. In the commercial real estate arena, it is difficult to overestimate the incredible impact the digital era has had on demand for retail space and office space. Internet retailing has changed life as we know it for commercial retail space. And the telecommuting of office workers has had a similar impact, albeit to a lesser extent, on office space. Demand for apartments has stabilized as higher lending standards have put houses off limits for millions of marginal home buyers. However, healthcare office space is likely to recover more rapidly than retail and office space, primarily because many health care treatments and services must be delivered face-to-face rather than online. In other words, when placing reserves in the location of income producing real estate, a tenant with dim future prospects can be analogous to purchasing the property that backs up to the railroad tracks.
This brings us to the prospects for businesses. Common stocks, which are simply shares of businesses, are affected somewhat by all the factors mentioned in the previous two paragraphs. However, though these secular trends affect businesses, the single greatest virtue of surveying the universe of businesses is that unlike fixed income instruments or fixed location real estate properties, great businesses are capable of being far more “adaptive.” In this sense, the year 2011 is no different than 1911; the future remains bright for the best, most adaptive businesses. Akin to searching for a home in the best school district or commanding a corner lot with high visibility, it is critical to buy only the best “locations” within the common stock universe. These “locations” include particularly adaptive businesses with outstanding financial characteristics and durable competitive advantages. Differentiating between what constitutes a durable competitive business advantage that will lead to an acceptable growth rate and what doesn’t is critical. If you won stocks your current portfolio positions should be fully reflective of which businesses we feel offer the best chance for sustained success as well as our diligent research- which is our version of “getting to know the neighbors as well as the neighborhood” for each and every business that we own. As with real estate, no one investment location is completely perfect; all three have inherent risks. Also like real estate, no one investment location is the ideal location for all investors- we all have a place where we are most comfortable. For those comfortable with the risks inherent in owning shares of businesses, we feel correctly identifying the strongest, most adaptive management teams will continue to provide above average rates of return, especially when compared to interest bearing instruments or income producing real estate.
Weiner Probe Could Be Painful
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Weiner |
Russell: Medicare and Circuses
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| Brigette Russell |
Libya: A War Fit for a King
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| Steve Chapman |
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| President Obama with Nobel Peace Prize |
But in the ensuing centuries, presidents of both parties have often trampled over their original limits, and Congress has usually let them. This has not gone over well with all lawmakers -- like the senator who said in 2007 that the president has no right to go to war on his own, barring an actual or potential attack. His name was Barack Obama. But President Obama has thoroughly repudiated the naive and simplistic notions voiced by Sen. Obama. In some ways, he has also been even more aggressive than his predecessors in doing whatever he pleases. Read full column here: News New Mexico
Riddell: U.S. Economic Data "Falling Off a Cliff"
Personal Responsibility vs. Government Control
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| Jim Harbison |
The government does have a role in protecting society. Thomas Jefferson said “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them”. The question is “when does that role begin to diminish our individual freedoms?” Is it an appropriate role to prohibit behaviors and products rather than advise the public about their consequences? Shouldn’t government acknowledge the concept of personal responsibility rather than usurping it? Many of the poor choices made in the recent past can be attributed to government policies that failed to include personal responsibility. We should be teaching the values of individual responsibility and integrity in our schools. The government cannot control stupidity. Is it the proper role of government to protect us from ourselves? Can it even do that? Should the government become the parent? Even Oprah Winfrey, during her final show, stated that her success was due to her taking responsibility for herself. In a free society there will always be winners and losers and accepting individual responsibility for success or failure is what caused this nation to develop and become the envy of the world.
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| Oprah Winfrey |
Unfortunately, much of our society has become so complacent or apathetic that they do not object to the increasing demise of individual freedoms and increasing government control over their lives. Life for them is simpler when they do not have to make decisions or take personal responsibility for themselves or for society. When people do this they forfeit another part of their freedom and give the government more responsibility to manage their lives.
I find it hard to disagree with Thomas Jefferson who said “my reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government”. More government is no substitute for individual responsibility and accountability. We are responsible for our personal choices and we must expect each individual be held responsible for their own decisions and actions. 
Yemen "Worse Than Libya"
NM Ratepayers Facing EIB Ruling
APS Budget Dilemma: Cut Admin or Teachers?
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| Winstron Brooks |
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| Hanna Skandera |
State Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera stated it would be hard for her to approve a budget that calls for increased class sizes when further cuts could be made to central administration. Read full story here: News New Mexico
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