The way things are going, small businesses are going to need more than that. What about a cash advance for all? (Photo: flickr.com)

The U.S. has finally traveled out of the dark ages of recession, or so it seems, because a few people I know have had to utilize cash advance loans to keep their businesses afloat. Many of financial hardships that people are facing aren’t spewing forth from a lack of effort. Typically, recoveries from recession in the United States are lead by small businesses. It’s during this time that small businesses should be springing forth, and advancing the growth of the current economic state.

Positives of This Recession Break

The positive side of a “recession breather” is that small businesses can lease or buy fairly cheap commercial property while they prepare for financial growth and industry expansion. My friend and newbie online business owner Carl R. said, “I believe that in up to six months from now, the unemployment rate should scale back down to the eight percent, or maybe even five percent mark.” At that point, we should be celebrating and enjoying life, because small businesses would provide four out of five new jobs for Americans.

Is There a Dark Side to This?

Unfortunately, if we do happen to regress into another dreaded recession, falling from the “recession breather” we’re currently in, it could go down this way: unemployment could crawl “way above” 10 percent. That would definitely put us into another funk. Commercial Real Estate values would sink more than they expand, due to a lack of small business expansion. When small businesses refuse to expand, they react by rebuffing the notion of hiring, because of the possible lack of expansion. The concept is similar to a revolving wheel. Small businesses are the rise and fall of our country’s financial destiny. Small businesses fear the thought of consistently changing company policies and creating rigid changes in energy, union membership and health care matters. In this case, unfortunately, a cash advance loan wouldn’t help my friend Carl.

There are wonderful possibilities as to how small business power could signal an economic charge against financial woes and provide recession remission. However, the reality is that small businesses still aren’t hiring, and most are aware of the facts presented here.

Some Businesses are Doing Better than Others

Some of the conglomerates like McDonald’s, Green Mountain Coffee and Panera Bread have weathered the current recession, either by keeping profits at a set high or improving their sales figures. However, not all restaurants are operated and provide as much convenience as fast-food chains Most use and need credit lines to run their businesses.

Will President Obama Save Small Business?

There are numerous issues involved in the recovery of small business. Energy and union labor are two big issues worrying small business owners. President Obama’s plans for health care are a current worry as well. Inflation and commodity prices that determine the costs of food production and delivery all play a key factor in the anxiousness small business owners are feeling about what’s ahead in the upcoming months.

Michael Lind had some things to say on Salon.com about the ideas and future plans for Obamacare, in that it practically places small businesses on a financial “sacrificial altar.” I won’t delve into the intricacies of his statements, but if Mr. Lind’s words represent the thoughts of President Obama, and congressional Democrats (who poor and middle class people have been hoping would rescue our country from its existing financial position), small businesses will only be able to dream of expansion.

Not a Storybook Ending

The sad truth is that locked down small businesses won’t start hiring, and the result will be that the current commercial property bomb might not be defused in time. And I’m sure that no one wants to see America fall prey to the explosion of a second recession. Thankfully, a cash advance loan is there if – or when – you need one.

Apply for a Cash Advance HERE!

Has Buffy Wicks sent them happily on their mission to produce Obama art?(Photo: flickr.com)

Let’s begin here: A nation’s culture is highly dependent upon a free and thriving arts community. We must assume this to be an immutable fact.

Now let’s tune out Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh for a moment. They make some valid points about how some of what the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Buffy Wicks’ White House Office of Public Engagement is doing veers into paying for artistic propaganda when they should be encouraging artists to follow their particular visions. That’s great, but rather than contributing more to right-wing Obama venom simply for the sake of doing so, let’s look at it from a more sober angle. Yes, some artists appear en route to being given what amounts to a payday loan for their services to the government. But let’s see the good in this rather than focusing on the Obama hate.

Artists create things that reflect their world

Such sharing is integral to the human experience. American Art critic Suzi Gablik has rightly theorized that “For art to be relevant, artists must address the social and spiritual issues of our time.” So what is the problem with artists creating works that study the problems of the day: health care, energy, the environment, etc? Nothing in itself. An artist in a free society has a right to take a stand for what they believe in. Spectators have the right to agree, disagree or be indifferent (although too much indifference will lend itself to extinction). People must care about things.

The problem comes when those who favor government are given preferential treatment

According to their Web site, the National Endowment for the Arts is “a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education.” All artists should theoretically have equal opportunity to access the finite funds made available to such organizations. However, as the Boston Globe reports, a recent conference call that involved Buffy Wicks of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Yosi Sargent of the NEA may have crossed the line into commissioning propaganda with public funds.

Focusing on the Obama administration’s recovery efforts

The question of impartiality must be raised here. While recovering America’s economy, finding alternative green energy sources and saving the environment are all worthwhile (and necessary) goals, government arts organizations paying for play while neglecting artists who can pursue their own visions raises more than just a few eyebrows.

Artists used as tools of the state

Sounds like something straight out of Stalin or Hitler, doesn’t it? That’s what the tired, run-of-the-mill FOX News types will drone on about for days on end. Spittle and arched brows will fill your television screens, so be sure to wipe. Let’s can that rhetoric here. While President Obama certainly doesn’t resemble either of those former tyrants, making artists tools of the state with public funds is not something you should see in a free society. If the government encourages artists to tackle the issues, that’s one thing. But as Buffy Wicks put it in the 75-member conference call, the White House Office of Public Engagement had “specific asks” (requests, it seems) for the artists. They wanted artists to provide the Obama administration with the necessary propaganda.

What’s this about Buffy Wicks?

In March 2008, Buffy Wicks was the deputy field director for the Obama campaign in Texas. Apparently, she worked for Obama in other states as well. Controversy arises when some publications like the Galveston Daily News attempt to link her to (alleged) ACORN-like tactics of shady voter registration tactics. And the fact that she is urging artists up for federal funds to work in the best interests of the current administration has done nothing to ease the tension.

The Boston Globe quotes Los Angeles-based arts consultant Patrick Courrielche, who takes a clear-headed approach to this entire situation: “The NEA was not created to encourage artists to address issues.” That’s the artist’s prerogative. The NEA gets $150 million each year from Congress to support “excellence in the arts.”

We must continue to question those in power

It is the only way to maintain an appropriate balance between the public welfare and the concerns of our leaders. Unfortunately, those two spheres are not always synonymous. Courrielche suggests that “It’s time for the art community to return to its historical role in political affairs, which means speaking to power, not on behalf of it.”

But those involved in the conference call suggest that Courrielche and others have taken their requests out of context. A spokeswoman for the White House claim the call had to do with public service performed through United We Serve. Supposedly, all they were doing was informing arts organizations like the NEA about public service initiatives President Obama supports. However, can’t they see that a line is being crossed? Buffy Wicks isn’t being subtle about it. There should be no indication that those who serve the government would receive preferential treatment. Lots of money in NEA grants, in other words. No, if an artist needs quick cash, they should consider a payday loan first. At least that doesn’t create a political quagmire.

Related Video:

Saving money is not as easy as it looks. Image from flikr.com

The government has always pushed for people to put money into personal savings. Now President Barack Obama has created ways that will actually make saving easier for workers.

Just like Personal Money store makes online payday loans easier, Obama has come up with these three ways for individuals to save money: auto-enrollment in retirement plans, issuing tax returns as savings bonds and putting unused sick or vacation days into 401k plans.

1. Auto-enrollment in retirement plans

This will not make retirement plans mandatory for employees, it will simply make it easier for employers to enroll their employees in the retirement plans. CNN Money explains:

To make it easier for smaller and medium-sized employers to automatically enroll workers into retirement plans, the administration will clear up some bureaucratic paper-work hurdles for employers to offer that option.

2. Tax returns as savings bonds

This one is pretty simple. Recently the government made it possible for tax payers to get their refunds deposited directly into their bank accounts rather than sending a paper check. Similarly, now tax payers will have the option of having their tax return issued in the form of government savings bonds.

Automatically converting your tax returns into government savings bonds means that your money will be automatically saved and it will earn a higher interest rate than it would at a normal bank. The longer you leave your money alone, the more you will make off of it.

3. Saving sick and vacation days

Many people do not use up their sick days or vacation days at work. For the vast majority, that means that they are wasted. The government now will make it easier for employers to convert their employees’ unused sick or vacation days into dollars invested in their 401k plans. Again, this isn’t a mandatory thing at all. Employers and employees have the option of whether they want to do it or not, it simply will be easier.

Why the extreme measures?

Before you start spouting off about big government and personal freedom, remember that all of these things are completely optional. No one — not employers or employees — is require to participate. However, the benefits of personal savings in relation to the economy are obvious to everyone, so as part of the effort to turn the recession around, the White House has come up with these ways to encourage and facilitate personal savings. Just in case you’re in doubt about whether this help is necessary, here are some statistics from CNN Money:

Even among those with savings in the bank, the nest egg is relatively lean. Of workers 55 years or older, about half have less than $50,000 in savings, excluding their homes and pensions, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

Some of these measures will be very lucrative for people. Unfortunately, these only help people who have jobs and qualify for tax returns. Saving money and investing wisely is very important, and I for one am glad to see that the government isn’t just talking about the fact that people should save money, but is actually taking steps to make it easier. I hope we will see more measures like this in the future, and that we can find a way to help people who don’t have 401ks and tax returns.

When will this ever be OK? When these things fly! (Photo: TripAdvisor.com)

Are your tax dollars hard at work, making President Obama’s stimulus plan the biggest, baddest stimulus fighting machine it can be? Is it helping America recover from this gigantic recession? Let me just say that you shouldn’t give up your payday loans and unsecured loans based upon the outcome of Barack’s little plan.

Take a look at what we’re giving Clougherty Packing LLC

Bungalow Bill’s Conservative Wisdom blog points out that when it comes to stimulus fighting, the pork barrel stuff may be just the tonic to deep six America’s economic stimulus. Huzzah!

First of all, check out the images in Bungalow Bill’s article: they are statements that reflect just where (and in what amounts) our tax dollars are being used. Among the expenses are a $1 million two-pounds of sliced ham, courtesy of Clougherty Packing, LLC. But that’s not all. Take a look at the numbers and see perhaps why we haven’t seen more job creation as yet.

$1,562,568 for Mozzarella cheese!

Is that the change we need? Or $351,807 to replace a dumbwaiter? This is along with the $2,531,600 expense for “HAM, WATER ADDED, COOKED, FROZEN, SLICED, 2-LB.” That brings Clougherty Packing LLC’s already staggering total of pork (they like to say ham) to almost $4 million. How do you explain something like that away, Mr. Obama?

Oh, the damage continues! There’s a ripe bill for $5,708,260. This is for community works projects, right? Wrong! It’s for PROCESSED CHEESE from Bongards’ Creameries in Minnesota! I agree with Bungalow Bill when he questions whether newly elected Minnesota Senator Al Franken will be getting right on this one and questioning procedure. Was there more than artificial cheese going down there? To answer that, let’s understand that multiple sources confirm that the CEO of Hormel, the mega company that currently owns Clougherty Packing LLC, is an Obama campaign supporter. How does that pork smell now?

Wait, wait

(Photo: politikditto.blogspot.com)

It may be that Clougherty Packing LLC was awarded that kind of money to provide ham for food banks. Hard to argue if that’s true, but this all still comes across as a smelly, wasteful mess. Is that the change President Obama promised us?

Bungalow Bill concludes his piece with some good advice:

By the way, two-pounds of ham and some processed cheese isn’t going to go far in the coming Obama soup lines. Obama did say the country is broke. You should be worried.

I don’t normally subscribe to media fearmongering. Both liberals and conservatives do it. However, if these numbers are any indication of where our tax dollars are going, I am deeply concerned with this administration’s ability to execute a recovery plan representing the will of the people. The next thing you know, payday loans and unsecured loans won’t matter, as joblessness will continue to rise and the unemployed will (for the most part) be ineligible for the loans. With any debt, the person must have the means to responsibly repay.

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Peter G. Peterson

The head of a newly established grant organization, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, will be in attendance this week when President Barack Obama holds a summit on fiscal responsibility.

According to Park University’s Center for International Civil Engagement, “the Peter G. Peterson Foundation is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the nature and urgency of several key challenges threatening America’s future.”

Financing financial education

Among the grants that the Peter G. Peterson Foundation gave out when it was first established was $500,000 for opinion research and citizen engagement organization Public Agenda. The money is intended for Public Agenda’s program Facing Up to the Nation’s Finances.

The $500,000 grant will fund a two-year program called Students Face Up to the Nation’s Finances. Park University says the grant money will be used:

To refine and disseminate a package of learning materials designed to raise college students’ awareness of our national fiscal challenges and engage college students across the nation in a discussion of the solutions.

Use money wisely

I hope part of the program will be teaching students about no teletrack payday loans and how to use them wisely. That’s something students should learn about before they finish college.

Ideally, students should be informed about all of their financial options, with stress placed on making sure to always use money responsibly. They should also be well versed on the consequences of misuse.

Background on Peter G. Peterson Foundation

The Peter G. Peterson Foundation was started by and named after the senior chairman of the Blackstone Group. Peterson started the foundation last year using profits from Blackstone’s IPO.

According to Wikipedia, Blackstone “is an alternative asset management and financial services company that specializes in private equity, real estate, and marketable alternative investment strategies, as well as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), restructuring, and fund-placement advisory services.”

Background on Peterson

“In 1971, Peterson was named Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs” during the Nixon administration, according to Wikipedia. Before that he worked in market research, advertising, ran a movie-equipment making company and was chairman of the Commission on Foundations and Private Philanthropy, which later became known as the Peterson Commission.

After working for Nixon, he was chairman of Lehman Brothers, and he started the Blackstone private equity fund in 1985.

Dissenters question agenda

Mr. Peterson has never been shy about using his Wall Street wealth to try to cut Social Security and Medicare, and he recently stepped up his efforts. … Peterson’s main story is that these programs are bankrupting the government and will impose an unbearable burden on future generations.

The same opinion article also says:

Mr. Peterson is known as one of the top beneficiaries of the (Blackstone) fund managers’ tax break, through which he personally pocketed tens of millions of dollars.

Beneficiaries

According to Wikipedia:

To date, the Peterson Foundation has awarded nearly $11 million in grants. Recent grant recipients include the Center for the Study of the Presidency, the Institute for Advanced Policy Solutions at Emory University, the Institute of Medicine, and the Common Good Institute.

For those f you who just have to know, the G. is for George.

President Barack Obama has announced that he intends to appoint someone as head of Internet security, or a “Cyber Czar,” as most people are now calling it.

Many people have experienced havoc because of hackers and other online attackers. Though the White House hasn’t experienced a large-scale online attack, Obama recognizes that cyber security is important. That’s why if you are going to get online payday loans from a direct lender you should make sure it’s legit.

Press release from Fox News

Here is a short article by Mike Emmanuel on Fox News regarding Obama’s reasons for wanting to appoint a Cyber Czar:

“We’re not as prepared as we should be, as a government or as a country,” President Obama said, while declaring cyber threats are both a growing national security and economic threat to this country.

The President also announced plans to choose someone to head up a new White House office of cyber security – what some people are calling a “Cyber Czar.”

“Cyberspace is real, and so is the risk that comes with it,” Obama said. “Indeed, in today’s world, acts of terror could come not only from a few extremists in suicide vests but from a few key strokes on the computer — a weapon of mass disruption.”

The President also noted how essential computer technology has become to almost all Americans. “It’s our hardware and our software, our desktops and laptops and cell phones and Blackberries that have become woven into every aspect of our lives.”

It should be noted Mr. Obama happens to be the first BlackBerry President – not wanting to give up his hand-held e-mail device.

Protect your money

Many Americans have experienced identity theft, financial theft and all types of scams that bilked them out of hard-earned money on the Internet. Online security is becoming more and more of an issue as technology and hackers get more sophisticated.

Warfare comes in all types, and it always changes with the times. We’ve seen chemical warfare, psychological warfare and financial warfare in the past. Obama is smart to recognize that internet attacks pose an economic threat to our country.

Economy everywhere

We’re experiencing right now how much the economy affects every aspect of American life. The domino effects that take place when our financial system is unstable seem to be endless.

I hope Obama names a Cyber Czar soon, before some sophisticated virus threatens our country. Unfortunately, the White House has been seeking a Cyber Czar for months, and one has yet to be named.

Online security tips

Another good step for protecting your finances and your identity at home is to shred mail that has personal information on it, especially credit card offers that include personal information.

The story about Wanda Sykes and her controversial statements has been getting more buzz lately than Personal Money Store’s cash advance programs. Who would have thought that a comedian, doing what they’re paid to do, would spark so much debate?

The Story

Wanda Sykes was invited to be the mistress of ceremonies for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner held on Saturday, May 9, 2009. Apparently, there were some statements made about Rush Limbaugh.

This was the main statement that roused White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs into stating that there are a lot of topics that are better left for serious reflection rather than comedy.

Ms. Sykes controversial remarks:

“He said he wants the country to fail…” “To me that’s treason. He’s not saying anything different than what Osama Bin Laden is saying. You might want to look into this, sir, because I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker but he was just so strung out on Oxycontin he missed his flight…”

After jokingly asking the crowd if the statement was too much, she added, “Rush Limbaugh, I hope the country fails, I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? He needs a good waterboarding, that’s what he needs.”

Though the President laughed at Ms. Sykes’ jokes, on Monday, May 11, Mr. Gibbs set out to remove Barack Obama from any ties to the jokes and said he didn’t think there is any doubt that 9/11 is one of the topics better left for serious reflection.

My Two Cents

Some people have been calling Wanda Sykes a crazed liberal and some folks have lashed out at Rush Limbaugh, calling him weak, as if he initiated the backlash against Ms. Sykes. Though Wanda had very strong opinions of Mr. Limbaugh (after all she said she wants his kidneys to fail) he refused to make any public statements directed to or about Sykes and her comments. I believe that’s the best decision for him to make. Just like with a cash advance, if he isn’t fully sure of what he’s getting into, he should take some time and evaluate the entire situation before taking action.

A Joke’s a Joke

I’ve heard plenty of jokes in reference to the Pearl Harbor attack, the bombing of Hiroshima, and plenty of other devastating events. I’ve seen footage of politicians telling jokes about Hurricane Katrina, and I could have sent a letter to the White House or posted a seething blog post, but at the end of the day, it’s a joke. Granted, some individual’s idea of funny could be ruthlessly insulting to others (Wanda Sykes saying she hopes Mr. Limbaugh’s kidneys fail), however it still is another person’s opinion.

Personally, I found the entire video of Wanda Sykes’ comedy routine funny and refreshing as an online cash advance. What people don’t realize is the message behind Sykes’ comedic rant: if Mr. Limbaugh wants our country to fail, why should we care for him? We went to war because someone or a group of individuals wanted the United States to fail, so that’s what Ms. Sykes did: went to war! Do I agree with her statements? No. Do I understand them? Absolutely.

How do you feel about the situation? Do you think her statements were too out of line? Leave a comment expressing your feelings.

Obama, Graves

A new spoof music video, “Blame it on the Economy,” is becoming an internet sensation. In the video, which parodies “Blame It” by Jamie Foxx, an Obama impersonator sings about our country’s financial state.

No doubt the maker of the viral video “Blame it on the Economy” will make some instant cash off of it.

Economic commentary

“Blame it on the Economy” makes some humorous points about the economy by mixing political and pop culture references, including my favorite line: “Like Shamwow we just gotta absorb it.”

You can watch the “Blame it on the Economy” video, complete with people impersonating Sarah Palin, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, on YouTube.

Face the money

According to a story on Politico, there is a lot of money to be made in impersonating the president. Here’s a clip from the story:

Walking into the Old Ebbitt Grill, Larry Graves literally stops traffic. Drivers slow to gawk. Patrons stare. Members of the wait staff — long accustomed to serving Washington elites — do double takes.

At about 6-foot-1, with a long, lean frame, closely cropped hair and a gleaming smile, Graves is a dead ringer for President Barack — a one-in-a-million gift that the D.C.-area resident is determined to turn into a lucrative career.

Making big bucks

One particular President Bush impersonator made $25,000 per appearance, according to Politico. It’s surprising the reasons people call presidential impersonators:

Graves recently appeared at the birthday party of an 89-year-old Obama volunteer who had to be stopped by family members from calling the press to report that Obama had appeared at his party.

I guess the “Blame it on the Economy” video and “Saturday Night Live” skits aren’t the only way to make money by impersonating the president.

Mistaken for the first lady

Another person in the politico story, Sheena Harrell, gets mistaken for Michelle Obama on a regular basis.

The 26-year-old Maryland-based Michelle Obama impersonator says she’s purchased wigs to disguise herself in public. But even when her hair was dyed red, blond and orange, she was recognized.

Her boyfriend has had to get used to the attention, but she says that she’s lost friends because of it.

“Some people aren’t taking it as well as I am. Some are standoffish,” she says.

Early retirement

The good news/bad news: It won’t last forever.

For impersonators — and the politicians they mimic — the shelf life can be short.

Gig Salad co-owner Mark Steiner says requests for his best Bush impersonators have dropped from five a week to five every three or four months.

And the economy has slowed business to a trickle.

“Bookings were strong up until a few months ago, and now they’re not. We’re not sure if it’s just the economy or something else, but requests have been slow,” Steiner says.

Graves knows that will happen to him someday, but he says he’s ready.

“When the ride is over — and it is fun — I’ll be prepared,” he says. “In the meantime, I want to enjoy my moment.”

As many of the nation’s A-List banks including Goldman Sachs decide to pay back government aid, it is a sign of impending doom for the public waiting in line for installment loans. Economists view such a move skeptically. While it may seem to be a sign of strength of the bank, other banks may feel the pressure to follow suit and get out of the government program prematurely.

In fact…

In fact, banks may not be in a position to afford the repayment of bailout funds but may still go ahead with it from a marketing perspective. Returning the Troubled Asset Relief Program money seems like a signal of strong credit in the market.

Are Banks Strong Enough Yet?

To prove this fact, Former Treasury Secretary, Paul O’Neill sent an email to ABC News disclosing the willingness of major U.S. banks to accept money at the beginning of the TARP program. If the banks had not needed the funds in the first place, they could have refused to accept them.

By repaying government aid, banks will be able to portray a stronger financial standing and more importantly, prevent administrative restrictions on executive compensation. Along with Goldman Sachs, Bank of America may also repay the $45 billion received from the government as bailout help. Five smaller banks have also made statements showing their willingness to return the TARP money.

The Government’s Take

Contradicting this move by financial institutions, Obama’s administration has told the banks to look at the welfare of the overall economy and not just their own organization. Driven by the goals of avoiding compensation restrictions or just appearing stronger in public eye seem to be putting pressure on banks to return billions of dollars of money received as bailout aid. In the coming times, this may prove to be detrimental for both the banks and the nation’s recovery from the economic crisis. On the other hand, Americans will have to wait for a long time to gain access to installment loans for handling the financial crisis.

Presently, a bank looking at a refund of TARP money should notify the Treasury Department and the associated federal banking agency about their intentions. After consulting with the primary regulator, the Treasury will contact the bank to discuss the redemption request.

The Final Analysis

Not being a consumer-based lending bank puts Goldman Sachs in a unique position to return its TARP money. They can easily raise money in the market, unlike several other large banks. Perhaps, this is a major reason why institutions are confident of their ability to return government aid and still maintain a good financial position. The real risk faced by banks is not returning the government money for the wrong reasons but the possible changes in bank policy after they repay the funds.

In such circumstances, the people can only wonder if they will ever know the reality of any of the financial institutions and get installment loans to improve their own financial state. As the skepticism rises, President Obama and his administration have been forced to conduct a “stress test”, with the aim to disclose information about the health of American’s 19 largest banks. Only time will tell what’s in store for the TARP program and the US economy.

White House administrators are saying that the estimates for how many jobs the economic stimulus plan will create or save are right on target. Officials project the package will save about 3.5 million jobs.

Estimates when the package was announced said the $787 billion stimulus package would save or create between 3 million and 4 million jobs.

Yes, there’s a catch

While officials predict that 3.5 million jobs will be saved or created by the stimulus package, they agree that it’s possible the unemployment rate will still get higher at the same time.

Job loss may be so steep that the number of jobs lost will exceed the number of jobs created and saved. Thus, the unemployment rate will be lower than it would otherwise, but it could still climb higher than the current 8.9 percent national unemployment rate.

Time frame

The projection regarding number of jobs saved or created applies through the end of 2010. So don’t go out and get cash advance loans thinking you’ll get another job before it’s time to pay it back. This is going to take a while.

The report says that 1.5 million jobs will be created or saved by the end of this year.

Possible further action

According to a report by Reuters:

The official said the administration was monitoring closely the results of the $787 billion spending and tax-cut package to determine whether additional actions are needed as “mid-term” economic forecasts are prepared by the White House.

The official who spoke to Reuters, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the stimulus program, said further action likely won’t be needed, but it will be taken if necessary:

“At this point we think that we’ve taken the right steps and (the plan) is going to do what it needs to do for the American people, but the president always said we’ll do what it takes. So we will very much be watching,” said the official.

Current unemployment

According to Reuters:

On Friday, the Labor Department said U.S. employers shed 539,000 jobs in April, pushing up the unemployment rate to 8.9 percent, the highest since September 1983.

Currently, Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the United States, followed by Oregon. Both states have unemployment rates higher than 12 percent.

As of March, the United States economy had already shed 4.4 million jobs. A Special Report from CNN Money reminds us that the unemployment rate only counts those who are filing for unemployment benefits.

Almost one out of six members of the labor force are either unemployed, working part-time when they would prefer to work full-time, or are out of work and have become so discouraged that they did not look for work and thus not counted in the unemployed total. That’s the highest reading in that measure that goes back to 1994, says CNN.

Businesses may be dependent on installment loans for longer than they think. Despite the $767 stimulus package, banks may need more to pull them out of the slump they are in. According to the Obama administration, some “big banks will need more bailout bucks.” The nation’s 19 largest banks are going through testing to determine their economic prowess, as an indicator of how the banking industry as a whole is fairing. While testing is happening and after assessments are made, small businesses will be left to find their own ways through a suffering economy.

Testing of the 19 largest banks

The testing of the USA’s largest banks is currently happening. It’s their balance sheets that are being scrutinized and tested against economic disaster, such as job losses and home price-to-value decline. It needs to be assessed whether or not the banks, at the financial state they are currently in, could hold up to continued stress. When the testing is done, there is a listing of three categories for each bank to fit into:

1. Banks in need of additional capital
2. Banks that are in good financial standing
3. Banks that will not survive

That’s not to say that the government will be providing the additional capital needed, or taking over the banks that are failing. Additional capital may be from the private sector, rather than governmental help. And banks that are failing may need to close without further assistance.

More important to Obama is the transparency this testing and assessment will bring to the American public. “I believe that the American people and the markets can handle the truth,” he stated. In addition, it also is a way to regain public support and trust, which is something Obama has been upfront about wanting to rebuild from the start of his presidency.

What this means for small businesses

Small businesses used to look to banks for funding. Because of the state of banks, most are closing the doors on requests for money, or at minimum putting them on hold. Installment loans may be the answer for businesses looking to steady themselves during the economic strain.

The results of bank testing

Although testing of the top 19 banks should be done soon and results made public in the beginning of May, it has yet to be seen how many will fall into the “will not survive” and “in need of additional capital” categories. Some analysts predict that only about a third are financially stable, making it approximately 6 banks that are capable of functioning. If this is the case, another plan needs to be made to fund banks in need of capital. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel stated that some banks will need resources but “we believe we have those resources available in the government as a final backstop to make sure that the 19 are financially viable and effective.”

Installment loans still available

Banks are in uncertain situations now, with the testing and categorization project still playing out. It has yet to be seen which ones, and how many will come out on top and be able to return to normal functioning. Until then, small businesses need to look to installment loans to tide them over. An installment loan is quick, convenient and easy. If a business owner is qualified, he or she can have an answer to a financial need within a few short hours. It definitely is a stable option in a very unstable market.

Whether we’re looking into where to get the best deal on personal loans and debt consolidation or we simply want to hear fair and balanced reporting on both sides of the news (are there really only two sides… please), we can find it. Right?

Not if you listen to talk radio, says Brian Jennings, author of “Censorship:  The Threat to Silence Talk Radio.” Check out what he has to say about the state of free speech at CensorshipBook.com.  Click here for further commentary. He has a lot to say about Rep. Henry Waxman’s “investigation” of conservative talk radio, which just happens to be one of the last bastions of edutainment media where the conservative voice remains dominant (Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, et al).

Cleaning the airwaves?

This crackdown that Jennings foresees would appear to run contrary to President Obama’s state desire to expand “diversity” in media ownership. The FCC, according to Jennings, has stated a similar goal. However, if what is happening now is the first step, “diversity” is being thrown out the window.

Current FCC chair Michael Copps has set May 7th as the date for the Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age. Fingers have been pointed at large radio ownership groups like Clear Channel, which has drawn FCC criticism for its narrow (read: conservative) viewpoint. If they’re able to break up the ownership of such broadcasting mammoths in favor of more diverse flavors as Obama has mandated, it seems likely that the conservative stranglehold on talk radio will be broken. Forced diversity will push conservative voices aside in the media. Aside from Fox News, there is no other mainstream, non-World Wide Web medium where conservatism flourishes.

Sounds like anti-diversity

Brian Jennings, a long-time talk radio programmer as well as the father of CensorshipBook.com, has this to say about the upcoming shift:

I can tell you this attack is not only real, it is the biggest danger we face in America.  We can talk about how the “porkulus bill” creates debt for generations to come.  We can point out the waste in the omnibus bill.  We can assert that Obama is endangering our nation to more terrorism.  But these leftists have a more important goal.  If they control speech and thought, they control all our rights as Americans.  All other rights hinge on our free speech rights.  No other rights matter if free speech rights are compromised.

By its very nature, the FCC has tremendous power over traditional radio broadcasting.  They can enforce regulations without the approval of Congress. Once Julius Genachowski is seated as the new head of the FCC, the board will sport a Democratic majority. Jennings predicts that the FCC will endeavor to force diversity on the airways, and they can do this via heavy fines, taxes and other regulations that can steer broadcast holders to give up their licenses – effectively “throwing in the towel,” he says. That will free up the frequencies for more “diverse” ownership and programming.

Even liberals should read CensorshipBook.com

In most matters, I do not consider myself to be a conservative. I find conservative talk radio to be laughable, but I listen because I like to know on occasion what that segment of America that eats up Rush, Hannity and Beck are thinking. Perhaps it’s a little bit of “know thine enemy,” but in all honesty, I like to know what people are saying, rather than assuming I know all the answers.

What bothers me about forced diversity is that it is an assault against the Constitutional right to free speech. Big brother (be he Democrat or Republican) is a danger to free thinkers worldwide. President Obama supports a redistribution of wealth, but if that means that other voices are indirectly silenced while others are allowed to drone on, America does not benefit. That is censorship in America.

To Obama, redistribution of media is apparently part of the grand scheme. To Brian Jennings and other concerned citizens who will read CensorshipBook.com, that is unacceptable. Forced diversity means forced socialism, which also means forcing free speech into the garbage disposal. So the next time you want to speak out against politicians who would take away your right to choose personal loans and debt consolidation, remember that we must always stand up against those who would censor the minority viewpoint and claim they’re in service of “diversity.”

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With the Fed’s coffer shrinking faster than ever, President Barack Obama has now made it clear that the cash advances that he is offering to corporate America will not be for free. In his recent speech at the Georgetown University, while he defended his economic policies on one hand, on the other hand, he warned people of tough choices ahead. Providing a justification for his moves, he said that each policy “is driven by a larger vision of America’s future, a future where sustained economic growth creates good jobs and rising incomes; a future where prosperity is fueled not by excessive debt, reckless speculation, and fleeing profit, but is instead built by skilled, productive workers.”

Job losses and foreclosures ahead

President Obama’s clear message for corporate America was that the careless usage of the bailout money will not be tolerated any more. Pointing at more job losses and foreclosures in the wake of a major restructuring in the U.S. auto industry and troubled insurance giant, American International Group, Obama talked about implementation of “difficult and unpopular choices.” He also said that hard times are not over yet. As per him, “2009 will continue to be a difficult year for America’s economy. The severity of this recession will cause more job losses, more foreclosures, and more pain before it ends.”

Banks are to be saved

Though a lot of discussion is going on at present about the results of the official ‘stress test’ that was carried on 19 giant banks of the U.S., Obama seems to have a soft corner for the banks. But then, that’s not without any reason. As per his Georgetown University speech, “Of course, there are some who argue that the government should stand back and simply let these banks fail – especially since in many cases it was their bad decisions that helped create the crisis in the first place. (But) The truth is that a dollar of capital in a bank can actually result in eight or ten dollars of loans to families and businesses, a multiplier effect that can ultimately lead to a faster pace of economic growth.”

Is it for banks?

Definitely, Mr. President understands the value of a sound banking system, but the question in everyone’s mind at the moment is whether he will commit further cash advances to those banks that will fail the stress test? Well, the answer may be ‘No’, but if he does, then soon we will get to see lot more restructuring and job cuts.

Time for America to come forward

Many will agree that extra-ordinary time requires extra-ordinary governance. Similarly, President Obama’s tough stand can actually be the bitter pill that can cure the economy. But then, he alone cannot do it, the whole of America has to come forward for the cause. And it is more applicable for corporate America, which is getting the bailouts. Companies like AIG should have understood by this time that the billions of dollars that they have got is taxpayers’ money and they have no right to waste it. That’s why President Obama is now all set to make them understand the facts by his tough stand. But even then he needs corporate America and for that matter the whole of America to come forward to make his cash advances work.

As the government restructures its spending, so are Americans by using installment loan options. More than ever, the recession of 2009 has brought a financial near-panic to the U.S. People are scrutinizing their monthly income to expense ratios and looking for ways to pay debt. Installment loans, while once thought of as extreme measures of getting upfront money, are now becoming more acceptable and more widely used.

How long with this last?

The recession is expected to last throughout the remainder of the year and well beyond, with an estimated turn-around time of June 2010. The condition of the economy at that time is unknown. Analysts say they hope for a true change, but it has yet to be seen what that will specifically mean for tax-payers. All that is certain is that individuals, businesses and the government are buckling down and maneuvering the unsteady recession waters as best they can.

The government is cutting corners on spending

On April 18th President Obama announced he would be eliminating “wasteful and ineffective” government-sponsored programs as a part of repairing “fiscal accountability to the federal budget.” These changes are going to be discussed specifically on Monday, but the goal will be to whittle down expenses and programs that are no longer relevant. The government recognizes that without major changes, debt will create an impossible condition to recover from.

For the first half of 2009, the government noted a $956.8 billion budget deficit for the U.S. That number has tripled from last year and much of the increase was created by the business bailout. Not to say that the bailout could have been avoided; if it had been, many more companies would be closing doors and many more people would be unemployed. The bailout was a necessary decision for businesses looking for relief.

President Obama assured that the government is going through its own spending with a fine-tooth comb, citing the elimination of a $3 million contract for new logos for the Department of Homeland Security. This contract has been in existence since 2003. “If we’re going to rebuild our economy on a solid foundation, we need to change the way we do business in Washington,” said the President. “We need to restore the American people’s confidence in the government – that it is on their side, spending their money wisely, to meet their families’ needs.”

Americans take a cue from the government

Americans are closely watching governmental handling of the recession and the deficit. Installment loans are an option to handle over-extended credit, payments that are due and emergency funding needs. Consumers need to be equally as vigilant with their finances as the government is trying to be, because no one knows when relief will truly break through into the daily economy. What is certain is that economic stabilization is still months away.

Citizens and installment loans

As the government works to restructure its own budget, so are U.S. citizens. They realize that without some drastic and consistent change, they also are at risk of financial disaster. Installment loans are one option more people are researching because they offer necessary assistance to meet debt. The application process is simple and the peace of mind knowing bills are taken care of, is priceless.

President Obama’s huge cash advances to the economy in the form of stimulus packages have started to show some good results at last. The first ray of hope appeared last month when the data released by the Commerce Department indicated that after declining for six consecutive months, new orders for manufactured goods had finally taken a u-turn in February. Interestingly, the bounce back was much better than what analysts anticipated. Although there was the news that the manufacturing sector has contracted for the 14th month in a row due to continuous cuts in production, one must not neglect that small rise in new orders as it confirms that all the thought processes and the cash advances that have been injected in to the economy are actually working.

A much needed relief

Though people were hopeful that the economy would start stabilizing by the second half of 2009, there was no hard fact to back it up until the Commerce Department’s data was published. As per the report, new orders for manufactured goods had risen by $6.1 billion or 1.8% in February to $352.2 billion in March providing the much needed relief to anxious Americans. The rise sounds even better because during January, new orders had witnessed a big fall of 3.5%. Experts had forecasted a rise of 1.4% in February. However, though the analysts were beaten in their prediction, they must get the credit for at least predicting a rise. Meanwhile, the Institute of Supply Management’s (ISM) factor index, which shows the overall mood of the sector, has moved up from 35.8 in February to 36.3 in March creating a wave of optimism in the economy.

But this is not enough

Despite the good news, we must not forget that it is just a silver lining and the dark clouds are not yet cleared. The manufacturing sector has contracted for 14 straight months and demands are still falling. Even though the ISM factor index has risen a bit, it’s still well below the 50 mark, which indicates that contraction is still taking place. Worse than that is the fact that ADP’s monthly employment survey has revealed that private sector companies have cut 742,000 more jobs in March alone.

But then, as we say, ‘something is better than nothing’; the manufacturing data proves that President Obama was correct when he was saying that he could visualize something, which we can call “glimmers of stabilization.” Moreover, this also shows that the hefty package of cash advances he has planned to infuse into the economy is taking us in the right direction.

Obama’s cash advances can save the day

We can now say that President Obama’s big budget rescue plan actually holds great value from here on. As the recently released positive data shows that the bailout packages are working for the better, Mr. President’s plans in the pipeline will definitely be critical for the country. It can set a better pace for recovery by creating higher job opportunities and thereby adding a greater degree of purchasing power in the hands of the Americans, who are constantly low on their demands. Knowing that the ice has started to melt, it’s definitely beyond any doubt that President Obama’s cash advances are critical for the country’s economic revival and our future.

Niel Barofsky

So there’s good news and bad news. Obama is making good on his promise of transparency when it comes to distribution of TARP funds via Inspector General Neil Barofsky. The bad news is Barofsky has opened 20 criminal investigations to see whether tax dollars are being misused.

Barofsky is also conducting six audits. He says his goal is to “to inform, bring transparency and make appropriate recommendations.”

Job description

Barofsky has been appointed special inspector to oversee the Troubled Asset Relief Program. He says he wants taxpayers to understand where their money is going. He has detailed his concerns in a 250-page report.

Barofsky says he will expose any weaknesses in the TARP that could invite fraud.

TARP overview

TARP is mainly used to buy up defaulted personal loans and other bad accounts and assets that are hampering financial institutions. The 20 investigations Barofsky has opened could potentially lead to criminal charges if they find tax dollars are being pilfered or wasted.

What are the charges?

The investigations specifically address whether decisions about how TARP funds were awarded were influenced by people who stood to benefit from them. He is also looking into whether companies that received bailout funds are adhering to the policies regarding executive pay caps.

Additional duties

Barofsky has also compiled a list of recommendations for Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and other officials involved with implementing the TARP.

His recommendations include requiring companies to report their usage of TARP funds. To me, this is a bit confusing because I thought they were already required to do that. Let’s hope this is just a reminder. Another recommendation is that officials should “safeguard a new mortgage rescue effort against scams.” Amen!

Red Cross

President Barack Obama today signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. The bill greatly expands the AmeriCorps service program over the next eight years. It also creates more ways for students to make money for college and opportunities for people to serve their communities.

Nonprofits get help

The Red Cross praised Obama for signing the Serve America Act and a press release from the organization said:

This bill provides a welcome shot in the arm for non-profits, which are confronting a rapidly rising demand for assistance at a time when the economic downturn is making it ever more difficult to raise resources.

The Serve America Act encourages people to volunteer through organizations like the Red Cross.

More praise

The AARP also released a statement of support for the Serve America Act, which said:

We know boomers and older Americans stand ready to, as AARP’s founder said, ‘create the good.’ In a survey conducted for AARP last year, millions of boomers and older Americans said that in the next five years, they want to increase their volunteer service to improve their communities and our world.

AARP also said the service opportunities created in the bill will help tackle specific national challenges. The organization is pleased that Americans older than 50 will now have more opportunities to serve.

Why Kennedy?

Obama’s Serve America Act is reminiscent of John F. Kennedy’s call to service, issued while he was president. Obama said:

I had always been inspired by the stories of the civil rights movement, and President Kennedy’s call to service, and I knew I wanted to do my part to advance the cause of justice and equality.

Isn’t this downright rude? Just a week after the White House scolded Chrysler for relying too much on gas guzzlers, the company is heading to a marquee car show to launch yet another SUV. I will be there if the Online Cash Advance I applied for comes through.

According to Chrysler, its Jeep Grand Cherokee is a crowd favorite and a crucial part of its lineup. “It’s a very important vehicle for us. It’s one of the primary legs of the Chrysler stool,” Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau said. “Customers have told us they want this vehicle and that it’s the right size.”

Merge or else

It’s true that Chrysler has tried to reduce consumption and that the 2011 model is 11 percent more fuel efficient than its predecessor and is powered by a cleaner and more powerful engine. But this debut is odd timing. At the end of March, the Obama administration rejected the company’s survival plan and gave it 30 days to secure a merger with another automaker, most likely Fiat of Italy.

In addition, Chrysler was slammed for its heavy product lineup of trucks and SUVs. But Chrysler stands by the Grand Cherokee. It’s not only profitable and highly recognizable, it’s the No. 2-selling vehicle in the Jeep lineup.

It’s hard to argue with popularity

John Wolkonowicz, senior automotive analyst for the consulting firm IHS-Global Insight, says, “It’s one of their most important vehicles. The market for SUVs still exists, particularly for smaller ones like the Grand Cherokee.”

Once the Chrysler-Fiat deal is sealed it will be the Fiat end that supplies the small-car offerings. Small fuel-efficient Fiat cars, like the two-seater 500, are expected to sell well on this side of the Atlantic. But the Fiats are not expected to make it to the U.S. until 2011, so until then, Chrysler has little choice but to survive on revenue from its current vehicle lineup.

The comfort factor

The new Grand Cherokee’s engine does achieve higher fuel economy on top of additional power. The Cherokee does not compare with say the 2009 Toyota Camry when it comes to gas mileage.

Chrysler, the weakest of the Big Three automakers, says it plans to unveil two dozen vehicles over the next four years. The Cherokee is the first of this series. If the automaker goes ahead with its merger plans and all the concessions promised by union and other stakeholders, and the $6 billion in additional loans promised by the federal government, will help it reach that goal.

Who to please first

Karl Brauer, editor in chief of the automotive Web site Edmunds.com, said it’s hard for Chrysler to please both the government, which is demanding greater fuel efficiency from the Big Three auto manufacturers as well as its customers, many of whom still demand big cars.

“It would be far more foolish for Chrysler to abandon its core competencies in the Jeep brand lineup than it is to come out with a new” Grand Cherokee, Brauer said.

Walter Chrysler could fix it

The company was founded by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, when the Maxwell Motor Company was re-organized into the Chrysler Corporation. Walter Chrysler had originally arrived at the ailing Maxwell-Chalmers company in the early 1920s, having been hired to take over and overhaul the company’s troubled operations after he had completed a similar rescue job at the Willys car company.

As the government’s Toxic Asset Plan rolls out to deal with the present macroeconomic situation, the only question on everyone’s mind is whether the stimulus plan will actually work or go down as yet another misplaced cash advance.

The Financial Times has summarized the PPIP toxic asset plan in one line,

“Critics say that would leave the same amount of toxic assets in the system as before, but with the government now liable for most of the losses through its provision of non-recourse loan.”

The President’s Stand

Mr. President is very sure that this latest attempt to heal the wounded U.S. economy will work. What remains to be seen is how and more importantly, when. American people are tired of the short-term, quick fix solutions thrown at them by the previous Bush government and now this administration. Now, they seek more than just a huge cash advance. There’s no headroom for creating any more bubbles to redress the critical problems afflicting the economy.

Stimulating or Averting Plan

A closer look at the Toxic Asset Buyout Plan reveals that matters could get far worse than they are for the world economy at present. The debacle of unbelievable debt pileups for America’s leading banks and the crashing housing market still hasn’t reached the elusive end.

Obama’s $1 trillion Toxic Asset Purchase Plan suggests banks buy the loans that have gone bad or may go bad due to the fall in asset values. This serves as a great opportunity for large banks to clean up their balance sheets but proves to be a risky strategy for smaller, marginally solvent banks. A noble idea, Mr. President, but it might not work.

A Flawed Mission

While the concept is good, it suffers from various flaws. First is the problem of scale. Most economists believe that there are more than $1 trillion worth of assets that fall in the ‘toxic’ category. Secondly, the plan is only as good as the partnership between public banks and private investors. After receiving billions of dollars in stimulus funds, America’s leading banks are considering buying toxic assets sold by their rivals under the new plan. Without any meaningful reduction in the total amount, the toxic assets will just shift from one bank to another. Up to 85% of the value of toxic assets is being guaranteed by the government on a non-recourse basis.

Public Expectations

Even if banks jump to the insufficient bait, the plan does too little for the millions of people who have lost their jobs and haven’t got any stimulus check in the mail to pay the bills or the next loan installment. Sadly, it’s just another brick added to the pile resting on the taxpayer’s shoulders. In the meantime, middle class America continues to wait for a realistic, sustainable and respite-offering solution to their state of despair.

Instead of using taxpayer funds to deal with the irregularities of financial markets, the government needs to make constructive headway for creating more jobs and encouraging savings by U.S. households. As they come up with sophisticated cash advance plans to bail out A-list banks and multinational companies, the U.S. government is only depleting the already bleeding economy.

As of now, people can only hope to receive some part of the benefits promised by the Toxic Assets Purchase Plan, a fund too small to fill the gaping hole they have dug through decades of overspending and make-belief boom.

It’s true that the cash advances given by the government to the economy seem to be working, but now the government seems to be overdoing it. The latest in the long list of bailouts and blueprints for the next year is the approval of President Obama’s mega budget plan of $3.5 trillion by Congress. The approval came just before Congress went on its regular break.

Though details of the budget are not yet available, it is for sure that President Obama has high hopes with the budget and he is sure that the plans would help stabilize the shaky U.S. economy. Following his footsteps, different states too have announced their own packages and measures.

Size does matter…

These plans, including that of President Obama, are certainly big enough to make a difference. But the problem at this point of time is that we just can’t afford to face a difference that is negative. With every new plan, the deficit levels are widening.

For this reason at least, it’s all the more important that these cash advances produce the desired result to bridge the widening deficits. But if they fail, then very soon these deficits will swallow the whole economy. That is why the margin of error and ineffectiveness has to be very less, perhaps next to zero; otherwise what is being done to save the economy may throw the economy into a deeper mess.

…and so does flexibility

After coming up with a huge package under the bailouts, President Obama is trying to be proactive in dealing with the crisis. One step in the direction has been the approval that he received from Congress. Now, how this whole budget thing actually works depends on various factors including how it is being dealt with by the respective states.

Many have come up with their own plans and the list includes names like the State of Maryland. The state is going ahead with its general fund budget of $13.5 billion. It is definitely a welcome step. But the effectiveness and flexibility are the issues of concern. They have to be well planned with a good estimation of their repercussions. And of course they have to be flexible enough to generate multiple positive outputs.

Wise use of the cash advances is the key

Upbeat with some good signs in the manufacturing sector, President Obama is now planning big on his economic cash advances. But the problem associated with it is that every penny he is advancing to the economy is making a deeper hole in the pockets of taxpayers. Now, after approval of the new budget, analysts have estimated that the taxpayers would have to pay $356 billion more than the earlier estimates of $167 billion.

And as the taxpayers are bearing the burnt, every penny needs to yield the desired result. Not just job creation and restoration of the defunct lending system, the government must also look into matters like increasing public spending in automobiles and housing sectors. As people start spending more, the manufacturing sector will jump on the bandwagon to produce more and meet the demands, which will create even more job opportunities giving a complete boost to the economy. Thus, the need of the hour is well calculated, wise and flexible use of the huge amount of cash advances that are getting infused into the economy to get the desired positive result.