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Mike Folkerth is the author of "The Biggest Lie Ever Believed" and is not your run-of-the-mill author of finance and economics.
The former real estate broker, developer, private real estate fund manager, auctioneer, Alaskan bush pilot, restaurateur, U.S. Navy veteran, heavy equipment operator, taxi cab driver, fishing guide, horse packer and few jobs too embarrassing to mention, writes from experience and plain common sense.
Mike’s humorous systems of “Mikeronomics” and “Mikemathics” drastically simplify the economic and mathematic formulas commonly used by very smart, but terribly sheltered individuals.
(2 comments) SHARE Monday, August 25, 2008 Will Our Economy EVER Recover?
Most news programs, financial forecasters, and politicians talk in terms of when our economy will recover, not IF it will recover. And certainly not HOW it will recover.
I don't believe that recovery to our former borrow and spend lifestyles is in our future. "Transform" is far more accurate description than recovery.
(4 comments) SHARE Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Paradigm Shift; Change Your Life:
Economy got you down? We often go about our lives following rules, concepts and values that we have never questioned, they are called paradigms. Happiness may be a paradigm shift away.
SHARE Friday, February 22, 2008 U.S. Auto Industry is in Recession:
Carlos Ghosen, head of Nissan Motor Co. says that whether the U.S. is in recession or not, our auto industry certainly is. This continuing trend in our failing economy has no bottom.
SHARE Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Housing Predictions:
That residential housing is in dire straits is not news to anyone. But, how long it will stay that way would certainly be helpful information. My past predictions on housing have been extremely accurate, so here are my future views on housing in the United States.
(12 comments) SHARE Thursday, February 7, 2008 Treasury and IRS Agree; Pension Freezing is Legal!
Middle America is delivered another blow as the Treasury Department rules that in most cases, pension plans can be frozen for existing workers.
(4 comments) SHARE Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Choosing Sides; Who Would You Pick?
If we could start all over in America and chose up sides, I believe we would see a very different makeup in our society.
(1 comments) SHARE Monday, August 18, 2008 U.S. Cities; Living Proof that "Growth is Not Good:"
Many believe that not only is growth good, but growing in mass pools of humanity makes the most sense. I challenge that position as being nothing more than an ill thought arcade paradigm.
SHARE Monday, August 11, 2008 Energy, Careers and Gold:
Short memories, old value standards and a faltering economy, make for interesting times; if falling living standards are interesting that is.
The U.S. economy is no more unsinkable than the Titanic and has even fewer life boats. I suggest building your own.
(18 comments) SHARE Wednesday, April 9, 2008 3rd World Status; A Pink Slip Away:
How secure is your future? What would you do if you became unemployed? This is a good time to consider that very real possibility.
(5 comments) SHARE Thursday, April 10, 2008 Healthcare; America's Second Greatest Problem:
America's healtcare costs have spiraled out of control. What are reason's and what can be done? Our economy and way of life hang in the balance.
SHARE Wednesday, August 20, 2008 War, Oil and Lies:
The divisiveness lies spread by our two party system will destroy America within. That is if our preoccupation with world war doesn't kill us first.
(2 comments) SHARE Friday, June 13, 2008 Coffee Shop Wisdom; What Oil Shortage?
You can learn the darnedest things at the coffee shop, such important subjects as our oil crises are simplified to,what oil shortage?
SHARE Saturday, May 17, 2008 Free Power from Wind; Well, Not Quite:
Is wind and solar power the answer to nearly free energy? Well...not quite. But, the fact that oilman T. Boone Pickens is building the world's largest wind farm, should tell us something!
(13 comments) SHARE Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Is America Salvagable From Ourselves?
The divisions that continue to deepen within America's citizenry, may well be the most critical and underreported issue of modern times.
(2 comments) SHARE Monday, June 30, 2008 The Long Arm of NAFTA and The WTO:
Maybe you are safe from the effects of NAFTA and the WTO. Perhaps you live in an area where the companies and your jobs aren't effected. That is what the employee's of Chaco Sandals thought; but they were wrong.
(13 comments) SHARE Wednesday, July 30, 2008 U.S. Economy; A House of Cards:
As we watch the final maneuvering by our leadership to bail out our mathematically failed economy, I have to wonder if we didn't get exactly what we deserved?
(12 comments) SHARE Thursday, November 15, 2007 Ron Paul and The Gold Standard:
So just how wacky is this guy Ron Paul? You may be surprised. And, what's a buck worth compared to gold these days?
(5 comments) SHARE Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Inflation; The Silent Robber:
Inflation robs more Americans of their money than all of the crooks combined.
The government bailouts currently being employed have huge consequences for Middle America.
(33 comments) SHARE Thursday, May 22, 2008 Thinking the Unthinkable; The End of Oil:
The warning that oil would peak came in 1956. The proof that U.S. production had peaked came in 1970. Congress heard irrefutable testimony regarding a certain decline in 1974. Yet in 2008, Congress blames the oil companies!
(2 comments) SHARE Friday, April 25, 2008 Explosive Dust:
While Americans suffer job losses, massive inflation, rising prices, falling dollars and foreign wars...our Congress is busy with explosive dust.
(1 comments) SHARE Wednesday, August 6, 2008 Home Sweet Home; The Future of Housing:
Housing as we know it today will never return. America has reached the end of a era. Read on for my reasoning regarding the end of housing as we know it.
(1 comments) SHARE Monday, May 12, 2008 Black Gold; The End of Oil:
Peak oil isn't just a theory any longer, it's transpiring right before our eyes. What remedies are our leaders suggesting? Use more of course.
(3 comments) SHARE Friday, August 22, 2008 Conform to American Standards; Or Else!
America seems to be intent on forcing our flawed economic practices on the remainder of the world. The bad part is that several of them have taken us up on the offer.
(16 comments) SHARE Thursday, January 17, 2008 America; Land of Illogic:
Listening to the presidential hopefuls plan for America is just plain scary. None, with the exception of Ron Paul, have the slightest grip on the grim reality of our present recession. What say you?
SHARE Monday, July 21, 2008 The Perfect Plan for Depression:
If a person set out to create a perfect plan for economic depression, they would do well to enlist our Congress as consultants.
(20 comments) SHARE Friday, May 9, 2008 Can This Economy Get Worse? Can and Will:
Americans stand in amazement at the gas pump and grocery checkout saying things such as, "This is ridiculous." There is nothing ridiculous about it except our total disconnect with reality.
(3 comments) SHARE Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Endless War and Iraq's Oil:
War in Iraq, America's economy, peak oil, and Iraq's petroleum reserves, add up to some evident truths.
(4 comments) SHARE Friday, December 7, 2007 Housing; Saved Or Sunk?
Is the housing crash an accident or a purposeful ploy of power and greed and another nail in Middle America's coffin?
(5 comments) SHARE Monday, November 19, 2007 Housing Crash; An Accident? Hardly:
Who created the housing crash? The lenders? The borrowers? You may be surprised. And, this is just the beginning of the problems that were created; just for you.
(6 comments) SHARE Tuesday, June 3, 2008 U.S. Economy, Bottom of the Ninth and Way Behind:
The U.S. economy has run its gamut in more ways than I have space to write. Our downward spiral will continue to a permanent state well below current living standards. The good news is that you don't have to participate.
(6 comments) SHARE Thursday, December 13, 2007 Economics; The World's Most Important Subject:
How much understanding do you have about economics? Your politicians are hoping that it isn't much. I'm hoping to change that.
(21 comments) SHARE Monday, April 7, 2008 What Ever You Do; Don't Do the Math:
While we listen to the political banter and the promises for a bright future arriving on election day; doing the math promises a very different version of that future.
(10 comments) SHARE Tuesday, April 22, 2008 Destroying America; One Law at a Time:
American ingenuity and production have fallen victim to our own insidious entanglement of unnecessary laws. As the number of lawyers rise, the number of jobs decline.
(16 comments) SHARE Monday, February 11, 2008 Don't Look Back: But Reality is Gaining on Us:
The U.S. is in recession, of that most Americans have no doubt. How to get us out and who can get us out, according to a recent poll, is a little sketchy and a more than a little zany.
(12 comments) SHARE Friday, June 6, 2008 U.S. Oil Independence; Not:
So how in the heck did this oil problem sneak up on us so quickly? If you can call 35 years "quickly," it was because the best government that money can buy was asleep at the switch. Read the interesting history and tell me that we "just didn't see it coming."
(5 comments) SHARE Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Freedom? Maybe Not:
As our freedoms evaporate in the U.S., one has to hope that your neighbors condone you behavior. Otherwise they could have you removed and jailed on suspicion of being different.
(14 comments) SHARE Friday, July 11, 2008 Black Friday:
As the bad economic news continues to weigh in, we will look back on this period as the "good 'ol days." The U.S. may well have crossed the line of sustainability.
SHARE Tuesday, March 4, 2008 Eduction; Mathematically Incorrect;
Is the cost of University eduction a sound investment? In many cases, only if you can get someone else to pony up the cash.
(2 comments) SHARE Monday, April 28, 2008 Old Mother Hubbard; America's Cupboard:
What is it going to take to wake American citizens up to seriousness of our economic crisis; starvation and homelessness?
(17 comments) SHARE Wednesday, April 2, 2008 Ron Paul; Getting Smarter Every Day:
The spin on our economy is laughable. Putting the Fed in charge, is criminal and Ron Paul is looking smarter every day.
(1 comments) SHARE Sunday, January 20, 2008 Economic Stimulus: Well, it sounds better than Uh-Oh!
How bad does the economy have to be for the President and Congress to admit that it is necessary to write checks to the populous? Far worse than you may imagine.
(4 comments) SHARE Wednesday, April 23, 2008 I Just Don't Want to get Involved:
We have become a society that has shed responsibility to a point that even our neighbors can no longer count on us. After all, crime is for the police and I just don't want to get involved.
(4 comments) SHARE Wednesday, January 30, 2008 Free Money; What A Grand Idea:
Where do you think a government that is hopelessly in debt gets $150 Billion to hand out as free money? Will the plan head off recession or fan the flames of inflation?
(11 comments) SHARE Friday, April 4, 2008 Middle Class America; Down and Nearly Out:
Employers cut another 80,000 jobs in March. Outsourcing continues to replace Middle America. How long do we have before there is no Middle America? Ask Ron Paul, he's been trying to tell you.
(6 comments) SHARE Thursday, June 5, 2008 Who's in Charge of Change?
Are you waiting for that sweeping change promised by our latest batch of political contenders? I've got some bad news, they aren't the ones who can change your life, you're the one who can change theirs.
(2 comments) SHARE Thursday, January 31, 2008 Failing Infrastructure; Show Me The Money:
The U.S. infrastructure is in poor condition. Where will the money come from to repair it? More taxes, more fees? Not in this economy!
SHARE Tuesday, November 6, 2007 Election Day, Housing, and Fabricators:
It's election day and time for change. As we cruise up to recession, do you believe that the housing and banking crash, inflation, oil price, credit crunch, and the shrinking middle class were all unforeseeable events? Do you believe that government had no previous knowledge of these downturns? Do you believe in the tooth fairy?
My articles always contain humor. We gotta laugh to keep from crying.
(4 comments) SHARE Monday, February 4, 2008 Lucky; Far Better Than Good:
The universal laws of nature and the exact science of mathematics are far superior to our previous, current and want to be leaders. Some were luckier than others, but luck is running out.
(3 comments) SHARE Saturday, March 29, 2008 I Was Right; In 1982:
Good leaders, bad leaders, or no leaders, until we change the system, it really doesn't matter.
(8 comments) SHARE Thursday, July 24, 2008 The Real News is in the Fine Print:
The bailout for Fannie and Freddie has an interesting provision sandwiched between the pages...an $800 Billion raise for the National Debt ceiling.
(9 comments) SHARE Sunday, November 25, 2007 Al Gore; Savior or Conspirator?
Is Al Gore an honorable Nobel Peace prize winner for his efforts to curb global warming? Or did he help to propagate the world's greatest source of pollution? You decide.
(3 comments) SHARE Tuesday, July 22, 2008 How Soon We Forget:
We have the history. We even have people still around that can tell us first hand what the Great Depression was like. But then, our illustrious leaders are never going to see depression; we are.
SHARE Thursday, March 20, 2008 Inflation Invasion; Bad Business:
The purposeful process of induced inflation, as a method of spurring economic recovery, has serious consequences to you.
(10 comments) SHARE Monday, July 7, 2008 Paying the Price of Poor Planning:
How bad can our economy get before it turns around? As the old showman said, "You ain't seen nothin' yet." What we are experiencing is not a simple slowdown, but the mathematical end of an impossible economic model.
(2 comments) SHARE Friday, March 21, 2008 Middle America; Going, Going, Gone:
Is Middle America down for the count? It appears that may be the case for thousands who have fallen victim to NAFTA, the WTO and the worst banking system on the planet.
(6 comments) SHARE Friday, December 21, 2007 Ron Paul; After All
Recession is knocking and some say depression is possible. Ron Paul's ideas could have avoided the entire mess.
(2 comments) SHARE Wednesday, December 5, 2007 The IRS; Fair or Fear?
If you had no preconceived idea about the IRS and the plan were unveiled to you; what would you think? Take a humorous read and tell me.
SHARE Tuesday, February 12, 2008 The Old End Around Play:
The economy is in real trouble, recession has arrived, consumer confidence is hitting all time lows, but don't worry, your government is up nights planning the old end around play. Oh-no, not again!
(4 comments) SHARE Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Our Fed and Your Money; A Bad Combination:
As the Fed lowers interest and prints currency, your money and retirement possibilities are shrinking as you sleep.
(13 comments) SHARE Monday, December 24, 2007 Kucinich; Hope or Hype?
Is the intense desire for change blinding many from the realties of following Utopian concepts, rather than dealing with the hard truth?
SHARE Friday, January 11, 2008 U.S.A.; Almost Gone:
Is the U.S. beyond economic recovery? If you are waiting for Washington to pull us out; the answer is yes.
(4 comments) SHARE Monday, June 9, 2008 Oil Skyrockets; Blame the Dems, the Rebulicans Do:
There are Trillions of barrels of oil just waiting to be produced right here in the United States. So what's holding us back from going after it? The Democrats...that is, according to the Republicans.
(13 comments) SHARE Sunday, March 9, 2008 Who Will Be Elected; Better Yet, Who Cares?
If you are waiting for one of the frontrunner's to turn the economy around, you have a very long wait. Unless that is, you are waiting for times to get worse.
SHARE Tuesday, June 10, 2008 U.S. Economy and The Greedy Chinese:
As the U.S. economy incredulously slips further into recession even after our generous rebates, we have to blame someone other than ourselves. How about the Chinese?
(5 comments) SHARE Monday, June 2, 2008 Oil and Money; No Easy Way Out:
Oil isn't the only thing that is critical to our American way of life, our monetary system is on the same slippery slope.
SHARE Wednesday, April 30, 2008 I'm Sick and Tired of Losing:
As the sickening parade to the White House continues, I have realized that there is no real hope for positive change under our current or prospective candidates and I'm sick and tired of losing.
(5 comments) SHARE Tuesday, January 15, 2008 Fish Or Cut Bait; Now!
As we wait for one new president some 12 months future, what are the 540 members of Congress doing in the mean time? If we can't control Congress, we can't control our future.
SHARE Tuesday, January 8, 2008 Economy; American's #1 concern:
New polls regarding debate subjects put the economy well ahead of any other subject on most Americans minds.
(4 comments) SHARE Tuesday, November 20, 2007 Mad Folks With Lots Of Votes:
Here's a little real time example of how the rules can work when you rile the natives to action. This voting and public display thing may actually catch on.
SHARE Wednesday, February 6, 2008 All Jobs Aren't Created Equal:
Recession is an everyday subject. Credit problems, bankruptcy, foreclosure, repossessions...all front page news. So what is the problem and more aptly, what is the answer?
(2 comments) SHARE Sunday, May 4, 2008 Wall Street Celebrates U.S. Job Losses:
Celebrating the loss of 20,000 additional U.S. jobs in April, is the ultimate spin...read on for the real story.
SHARE Friday, August 1, 2008 Housing Woes; Is There No End?
The decline in housing prices, foreclosures and the snails pace of the building industry is not nearly at a turning point, unless that is, if getting worse is considered a turning point.
(6 comments) SHARE Thursday, March 27, 2008 Leaders and Liars; One of the Same:
How bad is America's economic outlook? Don't ask our presidential contenders, but Dallas Federal Reserve President Richard Fisher, laid it our nicely during a speech in Waco yesterday.
(1 comments) SHARE Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Thanksgiving; A Time for Thanks, A Time For Change:
Today is a great day to not only be thankful for our family and friends, but to take the opportunity to plan for change...on our own terms.
Be thankful we have the vote, be hopeful that we use it wisely.
SHARE Thursday, June 26, 2008 It's the Growth for Gosh Sakes!
As resources decline and demand and pollution rise; what is the plan from our leaders? More growth of course.
(2 comments) SHARE Tuesday, May 6, 2008 Gas Tax Holiday and Other Rubbish:
While millions of Americans lose their jobs and homes, our presidential candidates spend weeks arguing about $30.00.
(2 comments) SHARE Saturday, April 19, 2008 The Solution? The Wednesday Afternoon Club:
Until a majority of Americans are free to discuss the state of our Union on Wednesday afternoon, nothing will change. No pain, no gain, that simple.
SHARE Tuesday, November 13, 2007 Massacre At The Mall; A Housing Sequel
What does your credit card, Christmas and the local shopping mall have in common?
What is the future of commercial real estate, particularly, retail?
(13 comments) SHARE Monday, March 31, 2008 Fed Debt Usury Plan; or FeD UP:
I've come up with a plan to eliminate the entire federal debt with only one problem; it won't work...ever!
(4 comments) SHARE Wednesday, June 11, 2008 OIl Windfall Tax or Pandering Tax?
As I watch the partisan arguments over oil that continue to rage in our Congress, it becomes more and more evident that taking sides with the equally wrong thinking on both sides of the aisle is a very dangerous game.
(13 comments) SHARE Monday, December 3, 2007 Is the U.S. Beyond Recovery?
Does it really matter which political party is in power? I don't think so. Not without a very different plan. What say you?
(5 comments) SHARE Thursday, December 20, 2007 We Need A Leader; To Protect Us From Our Leaders!
What, me worry? That seems to be the mantra for most Americans. I think I can change their minds. It's all in the math and is it scary or what?
(7 comments) SHARE Wednesday, July 9, 2008 A New Record Low; And It's Not the Economy:
We elect those who provide the most pleasant thoughts, promise the most personal gain and ask the least from us in return. And then we wonder how the heck we got in this mess.
(10 comments) SHARE Friday, November 23, 2007 A Nation At Odds: With Itself:
America's greatest challenge is to save the Middle Class from slipping into poverty. Is that the thrust of our political system? Not really.
(1 comments) SHARE Wednesday, February 20, 2008 You're in the Army Now: With No Pay!
Is the battle between left and right, liberal and conservative, Democrat and Republican real? Or is like that of Iraq an beneficial to some to see it continued? And, are you an unknowing soldier fighting against yourself?
SHARE Monday, July 28, 2008 Fannie and Freddie; A Pair to Draw To.
The Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailout is signed sealed and delivered to the President. How bad is this situation? Horrific, would be a suitable description.
(2 comments) SHARE Monday, April 21, 2008 Jobs? What Jobs?
Our leaders forgot one important aspect to living in the land of milk and honey; the jobs necessary to buy the milk and honey.
(6 comments) SHARE Monday, November 12, 2007 Housing Massacre: A HORROR Movie
Was the housing collapse an unforeseen event? Or, a planned train wreck? Read on and see.
SHARE Friday, November 16, 2007 Starbucks, Home Depot and D.C.
The main stream news should actually start out "Once upon a time." Or as we used to say in the Navy, "Now this ain't no shit." Read it here from "The King of Simple."
(9 comments) SHARE Tuesday, March 11, 2008 I Know the Problem: What's The Fix:
While America is focusing on the now unimportant issue of which of the three stooges gets elected; purposely induced inflation is stealing your life.
(5 comments) SHARE Wednesday, November 14, 2007 More Lies; Big Ones:
Social Security, Medicare, falling dollar and promises to fix them all. Right.
How many time are we going to fall for the same lies? What say you?
(6 comments) SHARE Tuesday, January 22, 2008 American's; Running On Empty:
The U.S. is in recessionary times for sure. Why? is the question that you need to ask yourself. But more importantly; is there a way out? I want to know what you think.
SHARE Friday, November 9, 2007 When Good News Goes Bad:
When Ford's quarterly lose of $380 Millon is the good news, what could possibly be the bad news?
And, what really is the meaning of 'radical', you may be surprised.
SHARE Friday, November 9, 2007 Bad News and English Wisdom:
Can the economy get any worse? Absolutely, a lot worse; read why.
Are our English counterparts more fiscally conservative and wiser? Not hardly, read this humorous 'real' article.
SHARE Wednesday, November 7, 2007 South Korea has U.S. Wealth Problem:
South Korea isn't the cheapest place on the block any longer and that isn't good. Read the surprising parallel to the U.S. economy. Wake up Middle America.
(2 comments) SHARE Monday, March 17, 2008 Inflation Based Recovery; A Dangerous Game:
As the U.S. slips deeper into recession, the Federal Reserve is making a dangerous bet that could mire the economy in a hopeless situation.
SHARE Tuesday, July 8, 2008 "Getting Down to Grilling Beans!"
As we continue to tax our resources in a futile effort to continue our growth oriented society, the imbalance will become untenable. Following is an example of that imbalance.
(3 comments) SHARE Thursday, March 13, 2008 Campaign Finance; Try My Idea:
The campaigns this year will cost Billions of dollars that could otherwise be spent on something positive. Here is a plan that would actually make money.
SHARE Friday, June 27, 2008 Election Strategy; Promise to Make It Worse:
Fuel is high, food is high, our standard of living is declining and the promises from our presidential candidates and Congress are to make it worse.
(1 comments) SHARE Wednesday, November 28, 2007 U.S. Job Loses; No End In Sight:
Will the high paid job loses in manufacturing continue? Absolutely, everything is simply going as planned.
(9 comments) SHARE Monday, March 24, 2008 Oh No! Not Plan "B"
And you think things were bad before, wait until you read plan "B"
SHARE Friday, March 7, 2008 Live and Learn; or Learn To Live:
As Americans continue to face rising costs and diminishing jobs, "living within our means" will take on a whole new meaning. Getting jump start could mean everything.
SHARE Thursday, January 24, 2008 Blame Bush: Everyone Else Is!
Is George Bush really to blame for all that is wrong in the U.S.? I'm no fan, of Ol' Badlands George, but he had a lot help that deserves some of the credit for our sticky situation.