Share Christmas Tree Tax 2011 Do you think the Christmas tree market needs a boost? It appears the growers’ association might. Within a 24-hour period this week, the government went from “…imposing a 15-cent fee on most fresh-cut Christmas trees…” to “…this is a growers’ arrangement to boost tree sales…” to “…the Obama Administration is not taxing Christmas trees…” then “…USDA is going to delay implementation and revisit this action.” Originally, it has been reported that “…the fee would fund a program designed to benefit the industry and will be funded by the growers.” There was no expectation that the consumers would feel any impact beyond increased advertising to “…enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States.” The fees would fund a new promotion board and launch “…a program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend [sic] existing markets for Christmas trees; and …carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry.” Basically, another “got milk,” “what’s for dinner” or “the other white meat” campaign—for Christmas trees. Full Article…

Debt Free Baby!

I graduated from college with $0 in debt.

Let that sink in a little.

With Occupy Wall-Street protests, college graduates moving back home, and complaint after complaint about college tuition, it seems like graduating college debt free is something of the past.

I dont know what life situation you may be in right now but I want to share with you some steps that I took to achieve my goal of zero dollars in debt after college.  Yes, blood and sweat was involved, but at the end of the day, it was so worth it to walk off with my diploma knowing that I worked for my education without the help of banks or government aid.

So lets get started!

Suck it up, stay at home

When I speak of tools Im talking about things that are around you during college.  My first tool I used was my family.

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The FSU has received calls from our QBE members across all states who are concerned about major changes occurring in their workplaces. FSU members are concerned about restructures, QBE claims roles being created in Manilla and service centres being reduced to operate only out of Sydney and Victoria. The FSU met with QBE Management last week to discuss these concerns and to seek a response to the offshoring concerns of staff.

QBE confirmed that they will meet their obligations to consult and notify the FSU about major changes at QBE which is required by the Fair Work Act 2009. QBE also advised that there are redeployment opportunities within QBE for staff whose work teams are being restructured and that the roles created in Manilla are additional roles that will not result in any Australian QBE employees losing their jobs.

Being an FSU member means that you belong to the Union that has access to QBE management to discuss staff concerns and to also ensure our members are given comparable positions as a result of restructures.

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Despite the help extended to banks, both the Obama and previous Bush administrations did not compel banks to hike lending to consumers which could have boosted spending and stimulated growth, experts pointed out.

Although U.S. President Barack Obama and Wall Street have long been at odds with each other, government data shows that the country’s financial sector, particularly the banks, grew even bigger during Obama’s term in office.

After-tax net income of financial companies was negative $24.8 million in 2008 but jumped to $49.5 billion the following year.

Total assets of the top 10 largest U.S. banks likewise ballooned. Bank of America’s assets grew to $2,264 billion, JPMorgan Chase increased to $2,247 billion, Citigroup to $1,957 billion, Wells Fargo to $1,260 billion and Goldman Sachs to $937 billion.

It is not only banks that have prospered in the past three years since Obama became president, but also independent firms and security trading arms of banks.

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