For the past week people have been searching for Gov. Mark Sanford who went missing the day before Father's day. His wife said she did not know where he was; but that she was not concerned. While that might seem to me to be a strange response coming from his wife and mother to his four children; she stated that he told her that "He was writing something and wanted some space to get away from the kids". Maybe I'm just one of those "Family Value" guys; but I have a problen with a man that needs to "Get away" from his kinds on father's day.
In the mean time, the people of South Carolina were left without any way of reaching their Governor, and no idea of where he had gone. His staff put forth the explanation that he was " hiking the Appalachian Trail all alone". Here again it struck me as odd that upon hearing this his wife didn't mention that her husband did not take any of his camping gear.
By this morning, the story had changed to he had thought about hiking the Appalachian Trail but at the last minute changed his mind and went to Buenos Aires. When asked why, he stated "I wanted to do something exotic."
Well, it turns out "something exotic." is code for an extramarital affair.
"The bottom line is this: I've been unfaithful to my wife," he said. "I've developed a relationship with a dear dear friend from Argentina."Sanford used a nationally televised new conference to apologize to his wife, his four boys, as well as the people of South Carolina. He also said he regretted leaving his family and staff to spin tales to cover for his absence. Presidential aspirations aside; Stanford has left a trail of lies, and moral lapses that will make it difficult just to hold his position as governor.
Durring a news conference earlier today, fellow Republican South Carolina state Sen. John Knotts said "All we've had is lies, lies, lies," .There have been "cover ups where the governor is and where the governor is not," "I don't have a problem with the governor taking some time off," Knotts said. "But the people in South Carolina need to know that somebody is at the helm, not just a staffer."
This leaves Stanford with people questioning both his competence as well as his morals. I'm pretty sure his political career could survive either of these two complaints; It seems difficult to picture his ability to simultaneously fend off both charges.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Will GM bankruptcy increase car Insurance costs
Not at Urban Insurance.
We have consulted with many of the Insurance companies where we write auto Insurance, and we are happy to report, that as of today, none of them have issued any plans to increase the cost of insurance on any of the GM cars. Two of the companies did state that they were aware of several large insurance companies that we “Considering” a rate increase on GM cars, but to the best of their knowledge, none had done so yet.
In trying to assess the likelihood of insurance companies raising rates on GM cars, there are two examples to look at for clues, The end of Oldsmobile and the demise of Yugo. While each nameplate has vanished, the effects were very different. This was true for resale value as well as insurance costs.
The Yugo was brought into America in 1985 as a cheep, fuel efficient car. 141,511 Yugos were sold in the US from 1985 to 1991. 1991 saw not just the end of the Yugo imported into the US. But thend of the country of Yugoslavia . After years of conflict on June 25, 1991, Croatia and Slovenia declared independence effectively dismantling the country. In very quick order auto insurance company's either placed large surcharges Yugos, or refused to insure them. The problem was parts. The shortage of parts caused the resale value of the cars to plummet with such a low value owners found them selves “Upside-down on payments, every accident had disproportionately high parts cost resulting in even small accident being declared a total loss.
Oldsmobile by contrast had a 107-year history during which it produced 35.2 million cars. The same year the Yugo was introduced into the US. Oldsmobile hit an all-time high of 1,066,122 car sold that year. Oldsmobile owners also had the ability to get their cars fixed at any other GM dealership in part because so many of the parts, and even paint colors were shared with other GM cars. Stating The complexity of the GM bankruptcy, the “American Insurance Association” says it is hard to predict insurance rates for GM products. They have stated that a shortage of replacement parts could push up insurance prices since parts are one of the largest costs of their repair costs. “Consumers may be better off if their insurer allows the use of non-manufacturer parts for repair work after a crash. A number already do, although sometimes just for older vehicles”.
In trying to assess the likelihood of insurance companies raising rates on GM cars, there are two examples to look at for clues, The end of Oldsmobile and the demise of Yugo. While each nameplate has vanished, the effects were very different. This was true for resale value as well as insurance costs.
The Yugo was brought into America in 1985 as a cheep, fuel efficient car. 141,511 Yugos were sold in the US from 1985 to 1991. 1991 saw not just the end of the Yugo imported into the US. But thend of the country of Yugoslavia . After years of conflict on June 25, 1991, Croatia and Slovenia declared independence effectively dismantling the country. In very quick order auto insurance company's either placed large surcharges Yugos, or refused to insure them. The problem was parts. The shortage of parts caused the resale value of the cars to plummet with such a low value owners found them selves “Upside-down on payments, every accident had disproportionately high parts cost resulting in even small accident being declared a total loss.
Oldsmobile by contrast had a 107-year history during which it produced 35.2 million cars. The same year the Yugo was introduced into the US. Oldsmobile hit an all-time high of 1,066,122 car sold that year. Oldsmobile owners also had the ability to get their cars fixed at any other GM dealership in part because so many of the parts, and even paint colors were shared with other GM cars. Stating The complexity of the GM bankruptcy, the “American Insurance Association” says it is hard to predict insurance rates for GM products. They have stated that a shortage of replacement parts could push up insurance prices since parts are one of the largest costs of their repair costs. “Consumers may be better off if their insurer allows the use of non-manufacturer parts for repair work after a crash. A number already do, although sometimes just for older vehicles”.
Urban Insurance will keep you informed on any upcoming changes in the industry, and fight to provide you with the lowest cost on your car insurance.
800-680-0707
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Monday, June 1, 2009
GM and America's Future
It was a little more than 10 years ago when walking down the street from my home in Chicago, that I saw a woman was opening a small "Wash your Own Dog" business. While I wished her well, I was concerned that the business would not last 3 months. I never could have guessed that her micro business would out last General Motors.
For many decades GM stood for all that was right with the American economy. http://urbaninsuranceagency.com/insurance-articles/241/too-big-to-fail%3f.html It was a shining symbol of the power of America and our dominance in the world. The problem with being a symbol; is when times change; you quickly find yourself represented as all that is wrong, and how far we have slid.
We can not compete by having the lowest priced work force. America will not benefit from a "Race to the Bottom";but gone are the days when we can kid ourselves in to thinking that we in some way above the global economy, or that we can survive just selling to each other, the goods other countries have produced.We need to actuality make something. We also need to understand the world markets, and produce cars that global market wants to buy.
I do believe GM will come out of bankruptcy and has a real chance of returning to profitability (albeit, a smaller company)
For many decades GM stood for all that was right with the American economy. http://urbaninsuranceagency.com/insurance-articles/241/too-big-to-fail%3f.html It was a shining symbol of the power of America and our dominance in the world. The problem with being a symbol; is when times change; you quickly find yourself represented as all that is wrong, and how far we have slid.
We can not compete by having the lowest priced work force. America will not benefit from a "Race to the Bottom";but gone are the days when we can kid ourselves in to thinking that we in some way above the global economy, or that we can survive just selling to each other, the goods other countries have produced.We need to actuality make something. We also need to understand the world markets, and produce cars that global market wants to buy.
I do believe GM will come out of bankruptcy and has a real chance of returning to profitability (albeit, a smaller company)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Iraq Torture Photos
A friend sent my an Email yesterday titled "Iraq Torture Photos." When I hoped the email, rather that find pictures of our troops engaged in the torture of suspected terrorists, it showed U.S. Troops involved in innocent play with Iraq's civilians and or helping rebuild the nation.
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Unfortunately this is Bush's AMERICA
My response to him was- Yes, I agree / This IS AMERICA.
We are the most Moral, Charitable nation is the history of the world.
Every time there is news of a famine, or a deadly flood anywhere in the world, it is America that is first to offer aid and support. No nation has ever been a greater cause of good, a stronger voice for the oppressed, than America.
The U.S. Armed Forces have consistently been asked, and volunteered to come to the aid of those in need. 
A nation working to help find peace in the middle-East,Northern Ireland , came to the aid of Kuwait .
Time and time again we have proven ourselves to be the "Great Moral Compass" of the world.
Yes this America!
________________________________________________________________________________________
Unfortunately this is Bush's AMERICA
How many years will children in the Muslim world see these pictures and think this is America?
The damage caused by us loosing our "Moral Authority" is a greater threat than any information we might have gained by lowering our standards.
The damage caused by us loosing our "Moral Authority" is a greater threat than any information we might have gained by lowering our standards.
Let America return to what president Reagan called "The shining city on the hill". Let us return to the spirit of greatness, that moral center, that makes so many of us so proud to be Americans.
Larry Lubell
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Car insurance fraud on the rise
It is so secret that desperate people do desperate things.
Just as foreclosures on homes are are rising, an increasing number of Americans are also finding them self saddled with loan payments on luxury cars they can no longer afford. As a result of years of “Easy loans” and “Too good to pass up offers” many people bought expensive autos with little or no money down.
In a slow economy with a glut of new and used cars that dealers are having a difficult time selling, the value of these luxury cars have fallen off dramatically. The result of this decline in values means for many the amount they owe on the car is greater than the auto’s value. This leaves many people with cars they can not afford to own, but also can’t afford to sell . The real force that often pushes people over-the-edge is when their car experiences a break-down requiring an expensive repair. This can result in a person finding them selves witha car that has a resale value thousands of dollars less than the remaining finance balance, and now they need to lay-out $2,500 for a major repair.
The problem is particularly acute in Las Vegas, where sharp declines in tourism and construction have left thousands of workers unemployed, broke, and desperate. But cities like Chicago, and all over Illinois are also experiencing the same problems.
As I said before, Desperate situations often result in desperate acts. There are some that see no way out of their delima other than to report their auto as stolen hoping that their insurance company will pay the loss and in turn; releive them of the burden of the car. Authorities report a growing number of cars are being dumped in the Great Lakes, and being found burned along roadsides .
A word of warning if you’re considering carrying out any such plan……. Don’t.
Insurance companies are getting much better at discovering these kinds of scams. First your company is likely to check for evidence that could “Raise red flags”. Facts like, have you recently lost your job, is the value of the car low relative to the amount financed, are you behind on your payments. More often when they recover the car (Perhaps stripped and a total loss) they can determine if the car was last driven with a key, and if there was prior damage and or mechanical problems.
The chance that you’ll get away with such a SCAM is far less than it was in years past. Insurance companies “Cracking-down” on these kinds of crimes, have help bring down car insurance costs. More and more insurance companies are taking a very hard line; meaning ,if you get caught you will probably end up being prosecuted criminally, not just having your claim denied.
Larry Lubell
If you have a question, please contact us at 1-800-680-0707
http://www.ubraninsuranceagency.com/
Just as foreclosures on homes are are rising, an increasing number of Americans are also finding them self saddled with loan payments on luxury cars they can no longer afford. As a result of years of “Easy loans” and “Too good to pass up offers” many people bought expensive autos with little or no money down.
In a slow economy with a glut of new and used cars that dealers are having a difficult time selling, the value of these luxury cars have fallen off dramatically. The result of this decline in values means for many the amount they owe on the car is greater than the auto’s value. This leaves many people with cars they can not afford to own, but also can’t afford to sell . The real force that often pushes people over-the-edge is when their car experiences a break-down requiring an expensive repair. This can result in a person finding them selves witha car that has a resale value thousands of dollars less than the remaining finance balance, and now they need to lay-out $2,500 for a major repair.
The problem is particularly acute in Las Vegas, where sharp declines in tourism and construction have left thousands of workers unemployed, broke, and desperate. But cities like Chicago, and all over Illinois are also experiencing the same problems.
As I said before, Desperate situations often result in desperate acts. There are some that see no way out of their delima other than to report their auto as stolen hoping that their insurance company will pay the loss and in turn; releive them of the burden of the car. Authorities report a growing number of cars are being dumped in the Great Lakes, and being found burned along roadsides .
A word of warning if you’re considering carrying out any such plan……. Don’t.
Insurance companies are getting much better at discovering these kinds of scams. First your company is likely to check for evidence that could “Raise red flags”. Facts like, have you recently lost your job, is the value of the car low relative to the amount financed, are you behind on your payments. More often when they recover the car (Perhaps stripped and a total loss) they can determine if the car was last driven with a key, and if there was prior damage and or mechanical problems.
The chance that you’ll get away with such a SCAM is far less than it was in years past. Insurance companies “Cracking-down” on these kinds of crimes, have help bring down car insurance costs. More and more insurance companies are taking a very hard line; meaning ,if you get caught you will probably end up being prosecuted criminally, not just having your claim denied.
Larry Lubell
If you have a question, please contact us at 1-800-680-0707
http://www.ubraninsuranceagency.com/
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Can you see the bottom from here?
For the past year there has been an unending avalanche of ever increasingly bad economic news.
While at first, the disaster seemed to effect those living in, or those holding the paper on homes with "Sub-Prime" loans. Quickly, we found out that the problem was far larger than first thought, and as home prices fell, even those loans that should have had sufficient equity, became "Up-side-down" by falling prices.
We also had a rude awakening when we found that AIG and other institutions that should have been free of any exposure; had engaged in risky investments using "Sub-Prime" loans, hoping for double digit returns, rather than the safer, albeit lower return, products that insurance companies have traditionally used to build their portfolio. In some cases these "Higher returns" were allowing companies to cover up the fact that they were loosing money on the sale of their products.
So, with all of the "Bad News" that we have been inundated for the past year; it is wonderful to finally get some good news.The Dow which have plummeted to 6,469, has actually worked it's way back to 7,839 ( 22% gain). Sales of new homes posted an unexpected gain of 4.7 % in February,
The Commerce Department said Wednesday that orders for durable goods (manufactured products expected to last at least three years) increased 3.4 percent last month, Which was a surprise to economists that expected a 2 % fall .This was the first advance after a record six straight months of declines and the strongest single month gain in 14 months.
"The worst of the drop in (home) sales is over but a sustained recovery, still less price stability, is a way off still," Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a note to clients.
Let's not kid our selves into thinking that the "Tough- Times" are over; or even that things in many sectors will not get worse before they begin to get better. But just maybe, this is a sign that at least the rate we are falling is beginning to slow. So let's hold out some hope that we are at least approaching the bottom, and that some positive economic news will be in our future.
While at first, the disaster seemed to effect those living in, or those holding the paper on homes with "Sub-Prime" loans. Quickly, we found out that the problem was far larger than first thought, and as home prices fell, even those loans that should have had sufficient equity, became "Up-side-down" by falling prices.
We also had a rude awakening when we found that AIG and other institutions that should have been free of any exposure; had engaged in risky investments using "Sub-Prime" loans, hoping for double digit returns, rather than the safer, albeit lower return, products that insurance companies have traditionally used to build their portfolio. In some cases these "Higher returns" were allowing companies to cover up the fact that they were loosing money on the sale of their products.
So, with all of the "Bad News" that we have been inundated for the past year; it is wonderful to finally get some good news.The Dow which have plummeted to 6,469, has actually worked it's way back to 7,839 ( 22% gain). Sales of new homes posted an unexpected gain of 4.7 % in February,
The Commerce Department said Wednesday that orders for durable goods (manufactured products expected to last at least three years) increased 3.4 percent last month, Which was a surprise to economists that expected a 2 % fall .This was the first advance after a record six straight months of declines and the strongest single month gain in 14 months.
"The worst of the drop in (home) sales is over but a sustained recovery, still less price stability, is a way off still," Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a note to clients.
Let's not kid our selves into thinking that the "Tough- Times" are over; or even that things in many sectors will not get worse before they begin to get better. But just maybe, this is a sign that at least the rate we are falling is beginning to slow. So let's hold out some hope that we are at least approaching the bottom, and that some positive economic news will be in our future.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Banks in danger of closing
Name .................Last Price .....52 Week Low......... 52 Week High
Wells Fargo .....................12.81 ......................8.81 ..................................44.69
JPMorgan Chase ...............20.94 .....................17.70................................ 50.63
Citigroup ..........................2.57 .......................1.61 .................................27.35
BANK OF America .............4.75 .......................2.53.................................. 43.46
Wells Fargo .....................12.81 ......................8.81 ..................................44.69
JPMorgan Chase ...............20.94 .....................17.70................................ 50.63
Citigroup ..........................2.57 .......................1.61 .................................27.35
BANK OF America .............4.75 .......................2.53.................................. 43.46
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