O-mama - Opinionated Moms

The Feb 2011 numbers are out and the unemployment rate has dropped to 8.9%! The 12th straight month of private sector job growth, with 222,000 jobs being added last month. Go USA, go go!!!

When we start talking about PENSIONS, let's start with the fact that our ex-Presidents, who are all multi-millionaires, get hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars every year EACH. How about Congress? Let's figure out that scam...how long do they have to "serve" the people before they get full healthcare benefits and a pension? No, I have a better idea, let's take it away from the guy who has been working 14 hour a days for 40 years to make $35K a year. What is wrong with us...we have lost the plot America?!

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke wants to answer YOUR question. Time Magazine will publish the article in an upcoming issue. So, what do YOU as an American MAMA want to ask him?

Can someone please explain to me how we let unemployment benefits expire for people who are desperate right now: 1) they are proven to be THE MOST stimulative thing for our economy (see CBO report), 2) it is INSURANCE that these people have paid into for years and years to support them during a crisis and 3) it's the flipping holidays - are you kidding me? Oh, I know, let's turn around and give billionaires a tax credit instead. That's super smart. I am so disgusted and ashamed that this is where we are...

Any great deals on Black Friday??? Let us know whatcha got and where you found it...or, if you'd rather stay in your jammies today, click on the PLUM DISTRICT link and get the "Daily Deal." (-: Happy shopping MAMAS!

As someone in that top 2%, I am supporting the abandonment of the tax cuts. Those who make this kind of money are doing fine, are blessed and can afford to pay the taxes. As a small business owner, I am in a place to see how our contribution to the economy is significant and sustained.

Good one Street Wise.

The tax cuts for the wealthy need to expire. It is the middle class that run the economy and start the small business's. Many of the very wealthy spend their money building multiple homes, some not even in this country which means they spend money there not HERE.

To check out the 7 Money Mistakes We Make Every Day visit: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/7-Money-Mistakes-We-Make-usnews-3489977949.html?x=0

I just heard that we gave the International Monetary Fund (IMF) $100 billion and about $39 billion is going to be used to bailout Greece. WOW?!

I think the problem is that it's not been established how much the package will cost the taxpayers in the end. Not even the CBO has "straight" numbers. No one disagrees that the insurance companies are taking us to the cleaners...they need a "time out" for sure. Some fair business practices would be nice! Also consider that some of the people who are not covered are not covered right now because they chose not to carry insurance and now will be fined for doing so.

I am curious as to the thinking behind the Republican stance against the recent health care package. I hear them say the nation cannot afford to cover the current users much less 30 million new ones, but they never mention the fact that insurance companies have been cherry picking the healthy clients for years and that in fact that many more people will be paying in to support the expanded coverage. I also want to know how they can hold the position that this coverage should be lessened, EXCEPT for their Medicare.

Just curious how REPUBLICANS can keep a straight face as they lecture the country on fiscal responsibility when they are RESPONSIBLE for dropping 10+ trillion dollars in debt and a recession in our laps, while continuing to spend money on frivolous things and drain the GOP coiffures on lesbian sex shows?! Awesome.

Happy Monday O-MAMAs! Along these lines- the story seems to be a jobless recovery as the markets are rallying even though jobs are scarce. The DOW is up up up (more than NASDAQ) probably due to the fact that it's tied to international companies? I'm no economist-so take it with a grain- but seems to me that companies are hiring people who are overqualified for their jobs, but who are just happy to have a paycheck at this point. What will happen to those with fewer skills? Are they just going to be part of a "permanent" underclass? What do you think?

Watch for more news on the banking regulations...they are to come out this week with a plan!

The money tracker is awesome, but stressful!

LOVE the money TRACKER. So cool!

Hey O-MAMAs! Click on the link to the USdebt clock above and see where all of the money is!

I want to see us tighten our belts. We spend billions and trillions. It is mind boggling. I get the whole "spend money to make money" concept, it's just too scary right now and I'm not convinced we are spending on the right things.

Dr Doom's report is pretty scary! Let's hope he's not telling the truth. Can we survive a WORSE year than this one. Sounds ominous.

I still dont know if a bank tax is the answer to stimulate the economy...still giving themselves bonuses with our money is pretty stinky!

Does anyone else feel like throwing up over the bank bonuses? So, they needed help...we bailed them out...they haven't paid us back yet, but they are paying themselves BIG FAT bonuses? Did I miss something?

Just read about Wall St. rally expected for 2010. Let's hope there's nowhere to go but up!

Well, that's encouraging! I think Wells Fargo said they are going to pay back their money, too. And, we are collecting interest. Fantastic.

Good for Citigroup paying back its share of the loan to us taxpayers. I, for one, could use it!

Check out all the news from this weekend!

I read the article about the Michigan moms and I am thinking that maybe they should go to Washington and balance the Federal Budget.

Lots to be thankful for in 2009! Love to all of you O-MAMAs!

Congress is talking about taxing Wall Street, so they can put that money back into small business? Not a fan of Congress usually, but that makes some sense?! It wouldn't impact 401Ks, etc. What do we think???

check out the WH task force article!

@latinmama: You're both right. So, how do we get back to basics? The grandma blog says simply sit down at THE KITCHEN TABLE and get to know your kids. That's a start! We eat dinner as a family at least 4 times a week...how about you guys?

Community? How about a country? A world? that places things above the things that matter most....its a fight that we all have to win little by little each day!

It's very frustrating for me to teach my child the value of things other than money. Unfortunately, we live in a community that places high importance on the car, the iPod, the Wii, the clothes, etc. etc. There seems to be a lack of focus on what really matters. I work hard everyday to teach this message.

Nice of Bernake to keep rate low...now if banks would just let some of that money go!

So im trying to sell my house...and the banks aren't coming off with money for buyers, so now its going back on the market. Ho hum...so much for that idea.

@momof3: memories are short. why else do we keep racking up debt??

@latinmama: So frustrating!!! He bailed their butts out...now, he needs to play hard ball and break them down, so they can succeed or fail and not bring down the whole economy with them!

I read the article on Wall Street bailing on Obama...what short memories these guys have. So ungrateful..Wall street idiots..he should have left them hanging out to dry. IN turn, though, I guess he would have left us hanging too! Makes me mad!

how do we get the dollar back on top? lets make it worth something again

how about drilling some oil and producing some of our own energy guys and get off of foreign oil???

hurray portfolio looking better today

Too many dollars in the system and low intersest rates are pushing our currency's value down..is this scary or what?

1) unemployment is always the last thing to turn around, 2) yep - goes with #1; employers will first increase employee hours (since a lot of people's hours have been cut back) before they hire new people back, 3) better than falling off a cliff, 4) so? 5) do you blame them? 6) because people are in saving mode...take a breath, there is a lot to fix and it's going to take a little while. Save. Save. Save. Work. Work. Work.

I have an economic question (s) How come we are hearing that the crisis is over when (1) unemployment rate continues to be high (2) joblessness is growing (3) markets moving but not much (3) banks holding onto money not stimulating economy (4) talk of gold going up (5) talk of moving off of dollar in mideast oil producing countries (6) consumer spending not increasing ???? Where's the recovery?

@ocmama: my son gets $1 a week for setting and clearing the dinner table (that's courtesy of my mom. if it were up to me, he'd be doing those things for nothing!). he's only 6, so i'm sure he'll get an allowance eventually.

The demise of the dollare article is a great one! ehck it out...scary

@Debomama: Wal-MART or Costco...

Where can I get a cheap flat screen?

The kids and money video works now...you all should watch it...scary!

Great piece on california's economy going into the toilet....scary stuff!

O-MAMAs, new video on changing family roles due to the economy...what's your opinion?

so, how much do you give your kids?

Well, I give some for over and above chores like washing cars or scooping poop. The other stuff, like making beds and clearing dishes are just part of being part of the family. But, knowing the value of hard work and the almighty buck is a good thing. My son has a little savings account that he puts his cash in and when we go to Disneyland or do something big, I let him know that it's a big deal relative to how much money he has saved up. I dunno...I just think everything is soooo excessive these days. Better to be a little more frugal than not.

I don't. Should I? I just say "no" a lot...I'm going to try the money jar thing and maybe encourage them to save up for something they want...

How much allowance do you give your kids?

The NY TIMES link isn't working anymore!?

OMG, I almost threw up! We have really gotten on the wrong track with our priorities...as a society, we have valued THINGS and we have let the basic principals of need/want and working hard fall to the way side. YIKES!

Y'all have to watch the NY times video above...truly scary! A bunch of teens talking about their "limitless credit cards" and spending four figures on purses! Thanks Paris Hilton!