Markowski Monthly |
WE DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE
While watching the single biggest trash talking moment in movie history, “I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!” I had an epiphany. After years of covering Wall Street scandals with little to know repercussions from the offenders; I transposed that entire Milkshake drinking attitude portrayed in an Oscar winning performance by Daniel Day Lewis to Wall Street. In particularly the way the big banks and investment houses have treated investors over the past fifteen years. A simple skimming of our archived articles, is a an enlightening yet frightening trip down memory lane in regards to the complete neglect and disrespect shown to the individual investor by Wall Street. read more...
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DEFYING ECONOMIC GRAVITY
I have thoroughly reviewed Barack Obama’s economic plan, it is readily available on his, and my website. I dubbed it on my blog…Red Dawn. I have received some serious blowback from my comments after being picked up on some of the major blogs around the country. Shortly after, Barack Obama appeared in a debate with Hillary Clinton which turned out to be one of the most insightful of the campaign. The exchange between Gibson and Obama regarding capital gains taxes was quite telling about the candidate that can do no wrong. read more...
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MONDAY MORNING MELANCHOLY
I was enthralled at watching the founding of our nation come alive before my eyes, and to watch the debates that led to our Declaration of Independence and eventually our Constitution. It was also interesting to watch the vitriolic politics of the day, Alexander Hamilton comes to mind in his thrashing of John Adams. Another item, which I took from this narrative that I am now thoroughly convinced, was the root cause of my newly found dour Monday morning mood; was the brilliance and honor of the men who founded America. Compare and contrast them with the motley-crew which we have leading us and who I observe on C-SPAN, and it is quite depressing. read more....
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INSURANCE SALES 101
I often compare them to the infamous “Needle-Nose Ned Ryerson” from the film Groundhog Day; and with good reason. Of the countless stories of investment fraud that crosses my desk each and every week, the overwhelming majority of them are perpetrated by dishonest insurance agents. (We post links to these stories on our website). These salesmen often disguise themselves with dubious designations such as Certified Senior Advisor CSA or Retirement Wealth Expert RWE. (Go read my article Deception University to learn more). The sad reality is the New Jersey shore based Official Bikini Inspector (OBI) tag carries more gravitas. These insurance agents are usually hawking financial products such as equity-indexed annuities (EIA’s) (never under any circumstances purchase this), or variable life insurance or annuity products (alright to purchase in limited circumstances and low fee structure.) I had my first run-in with the insurance industry when I was still in college, when I applied and received an internship at Equitable Life. read more...
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MAKE US PRETTY AGAIN
Citigroup has decided to bring back a golden oldie with its “Citi Never Sleeps” slogan. The Swiss bank UBS is touting their experience globally but the most important aspect is just, “You and Us.” Merrill Lynch is parading a bull the size of a dinosaur around with the actor Sam Sheppard spewing the usual claptrap in a voice over. Chucky Schwab likes cartoons and jazz music, and E-trade has decided regurgitating toddlers is a tremendous way to get people to lose money trading online. read more...
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Watchdog Wisdom |
RETURN OF THE BLOB
March 2006
Unlike the 1958 Blob, the modern day Blob does not resemble jelly; it, in many cases is much uglier. However, most of the despicable horrifying traits of the original Blob remain. The modern-day Blob also has a voracious appetite, it keeps getting bigger and bigger, and the way things are going with the current crop of spineless leaders we have, is unstoppable . . . read more.
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OIL NONSENSE
May 2005
Oil prices, energy, SUV’s, Kyoto, global warming...oh my!!! The battle over energy policy wages is on the minds of feeble-minded journalists and politicians. Our inability to formulate a coherent national energy policy is costing each and every American daily and is simultaneously lining the pockets of the wily Wall Street investment banks. We are our own worst enemy when it comes to energy prices. America’s collective ignorance allows for Hollywood blowhards like Norman Lear and social climbers like Arianna Huffington to pontificate on how evil SUV drivers are, while they live in 12,000 square foot homes and fly around in private jets. Another fantastic urban myth that is tossed around by our factually-challenged media outlets is the notion that the President has some sort of magic button in the White House that allow. . . . read more.
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THE TRUTH ABOUT TAXES
February 2003
Let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand. Suppose that every day, ten men go out for dinner. The bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this: The first four men, the poorest would pay nothing; The fifth would pay $1; The sixth would pay $3; The seventh $7; The eighth $12; The ninth $18. The tenth man, the richest would pay $59 . read more.
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OIL MYTHS: THE FINAL CHAPTER
September 2006
We currently have hundreds of different blends of gasoline that cause supply and efficiency problems, for example how dumb is it that gasoline sold in New York cannot be sold in New Jersey. If New Jersey has a shortage of gasoline and New York has a surplus, by law they cannot help each other out. Also, our country has not built a new oil refinery since the Starland Vocal Band was steaming up the Billboard charts with Afternoon Delight (1976). The moronic equivalent of that might be if General Electric decided that computers were just a fad and decided to stick with the old Smith-Corona typewriter . . . . read more.
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