en-us http://www.keithwatanabe.net/index.php Keith Watanabe's Website http://www.keithwatanabe.net/blogs/2008/1/24/e465827ce2acc2bc626088f82f2bf723.html
The thing that bugs me the most is that it seems this "stimulus" plan doesn't take into account location, or so it seems. For one, you have more expensive states with high tax rates like New York or California where this money won't even make a dent in consumer confidence. My IT friends in LA, who might get something towards the higher end, would simply laugh and probably waste the money on a weekend trip to Vegas.

This isn't a revitalization plan; it's not even a shot of morning caffeine from a latte.

The people who need the tax benefit the most are the middle class, living in cities with a high cost associated with it. I don't see the logic behind giving a farmer in Kansas the same amount as a minimal wage earned in LA. The farmer has all the things he really requires to survive. The person living in LA needs gas, higher rent and sometimes larger food bills to survive.

This obviously is not a well balanced, well thought out plan. I'd prefer the government to step in and figure out how to negate roughly 50% of what people would pay for gas in the past year. Let's assume that gas for the average person ranges from $300-$500/month. People in cities like LA should be able to receive up to $2400 on average with this formula. If that kind of tax break, in addition to whatever returns people receive this year, would give a little more consumer confidence since people won't have to worry as much about the recent gas hikes. Since it's obvious that the government's hands have been tied by big business (read: Oil) to not be able to sue, tax or hinder the output of these companies, the least the government can do is compensate its citizens by providing a healthy relief package.

If the government has to forgo spending, just stop putting billions into that useless war and Homeland Security/TSA groups. Those are things that the country doesn't require.]]> Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:33:00 -0700 http://www.keithwatanabe.net/blogs/2008/1/24/e465827ce2acc2bc626088f82f2bf723.html http://www.keithwatanabe.net/blogs/2008/3/7/8638d6d7f30d43f369612bc939d2fbb7.html
However, after the election is over, I think the whole stock market will stabilize. The last time we had this major turnover was during the 2000 election, when Clinton was stepping out of office. Ironically, the dot com bubble had burst around that time as well. Now, we're seeing almost the same thing happen in 2008 with the subprime loan problem.

On the bright side, this would be a great opportunity to do some major exchanges as well as investing. In some way, this is my undue raise.]]> Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:46:18 -0700 http://www.keithwatanabe.net/blogs/2008/3/7/8638d6d7f30d43f369612bc939d2fbb7.html http://www.keithwatanabe.net/blogs/2008/3/11/1519d773cda0cf7fc29cfa5bf6c4cafe.html
Obviously, this is an impossibility when you fly international. So it seems that domestic flights in America are becoming worthless to anyone who isn't a celebrity (who probably can afford their own plane) or a business person.

I've already sworn this if I ever travel within the US again, I'll never fly. The airline quality for domestic flights is like going to a state penitentiary. They stuff you in small lines, shove you into tiny crowded spaces, starve you on the plane and your subject to tons of rude people and their whiny brats for several hours.

The good thing is that the only place I really travel to domestically from LA is Las Vegas. But I suppose if I wanted to go to some other state, I'd just as well take the road. I think it'd be much more interesting, scenic and you can really see the country.

As far as America's airlines' finances going south, I have absolutely no pity. They've brought this onto themselves with awful service and that horrible bureaucratic Homeland (In)security department as well as the Total Shit Admistration (TSA). None of these companies have even attempted to be proactively customer friendly, which is why the demand for tickets keep lowering. At least the service for companies like JAL and ANA out here in Japan are quite good so it's actually worth paying for the price of a ticket in those companies. But if suddenly all the US airlines went bankrupt simultaneously and all the jobs were lost, I wouldn't shed a tear. Treat your customers with respect and maybe they might actually start flying again. Until then, take a bus or drive your car.]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:15:57 -0600 http://www.keithwatanabe.net/blogs/2008/3/11/1519d773cda0cf7fc29cfa5bf6c4cafe.html