T. Boone Pickens was on CNBC this morning with an energy plan that calls for
cars to be converted from burning gasoline to natural gas. Can you imagine the
fireworks show we will see if two cars burning natural gas collide?
Once again, old solutions to the energy crisis keep appearing. During the
energy crisis of the 1970's Alternative Fueled Vehicles (AFVs) came in vogue.
Studies conducted in the 1970s promised alternatives to counteract soaring fuel
costs and oil shortages. Magically, the drop of gasoline prices in the 1980s put
an end to the alternative craze.
I say craze because energy scares are nothing new. Our business leaders, with
the help of Wall Street bankers created the current energy shortage when they
began to build up the economies of Chinese and India by shipping U.S. jobs
overseas.
In short, electric, natural gas, and fuel cell vehicles are nothing new.
Either are any of the solutions that call for alternatives such as wind, solar,
and nuclear.
Our Fearless Leaders Created the Energy Crisis
Outsourcing labor to China and India has lead to a manufacturing boom in both
countries. If we didn't send U.S. jobs to China and India, there would be no new
found prosperity in either country. As a result, there would be no energy
crisis, no commodity inflation, and no new demand for raw materials materials.
Our lost jobs have lead to a building boom in Asia, and as a result, the
Chinese and Indians are demanding raw materials and commodities to grow their
infrastructures. This outsourcing has lead to new found wealth which in turn
demands more energy and raw materials.
"If Wall Street hates a stock, buy it"- Martin Sosnoff
CMO's (Collateralized Mortgage Obligation), CDO's (Collateralized Debt
Obligation), and SIV's (Structured Investment Vehicle) has created havoc in the
market place, and massive losses for the banks. Most of these losses have come
as a result of the GAAP accounting laws, which calls for these products to be
repriced at their current market values, and currently there is no market for
these products.
As a result, any bank or financial institution holding these products have
had to write down or write off these products at a loss. These real or
artificial write downs are the reason banks are looking to raise new
capital.
If the GAAP accounting laws are changed, and banks are allowed to value these
securities at maturity, the financial crisis as we know it will end. In
addition, banks will be allowed to add some of the written down assets back to
their balance sheets.
Also in the works is the Senate Banking Committee plan which would provide
relief to people who are at risk of losing their homes. Once the details are
worked out, it is estimated that the foreclosure of 500,000 homes can be
avoided.
Since we began by discussing T. Boone Pickens appearance on CNBC this
morning, we will end with an interview he gave 8 years ago;
"We should expect several military conflicts in the Middle East under
President Bush, and while this may not be great for the economy it will be
terrific for my energy holdings." If Bush gets elected, Pickens plans on opening
a new oil based hedge fund, and is forecasting 100% increase in the price of oil
to $40. "I'm an Oil, George is an Oil man, and his VP DIck Cheney is an Oil man.
I expect energy returns to significantly outperform equity markets over the next
eight years."