REIT U 2

These 13 retailers are closing more than 1,500 stores in 2017

American malls are dying faster than you think — and it's about to get even worse.

J.C. Penney said it will close 130 to 140 stores in the next few months. “It’s having a negative effect on all REITs as J.C. Penney is one of the high-profile retailers closing physical stores.”

With Sears announcing 150 store closings and Macy’s shuttering 68 stores, investors in Real Estate Investment Trusts that own malls are paying close attention. (and they SHOULD!)

Wealthy brokers often protect wealthy investors... at the expense of union pension funds (e.g. police, fire, teachers, trades) and wanna-be rich types (e.g. those who have investments under $2 million or $3 million.

Walmart released the list of 154 stores across the U.S. that will close as part of the company’s “sharpened focus on portfolio management.” The 154 U.S. closures include 102 of its Walmart Express stores, 23 Neighborhood Market stores, 12 Supercenters, four Sam’s Club locations, six discount stores, and a partridge in a pear tree.

There is very little discretionary income remaining in the late-great middle class! Food, clothing, and sometimes shelter have absorbed what little chance remains in the pockets of the working-poor (formerly middle class).

REITs have drawbacks, including:

Sensitive to Demand for Other High-Yield Assets. Generally, rising interest rates could make Treasury securities more attractive, drawing funds away from REITs and lowering their share prices.

Property Taxes. REITs must pay property taxes, which can make up as much as 25% of total operating expenses. State and municipal authorities could increase property taxes to make up for budget shortfalls, reducing cash flows to shareholders.

Tax Rates. One of the downsides to the high yield of REITs is that taxes are due on dividends, and the tax rates are typically higher than the 15% most dividends are currently taxed at. This is because a large chunk of a REIT's dividends (typically about three quarters, though it varies widely by REIT) is considered ordinary income, which is usually taxed at a higher rate.

About one-third of malls in the U.S. will shut their doors in the coming years, retail analyst Jan Kniffen told CNBC Thursday. His prediction comes in the wake of Macy's reporting its worst consecutive same-store sales decline since the financial crisis.

Macy's closings could leave a trail of dead malls

And I say to myself, it's a wonderful world.

Trump and his cult

Sam Vaknin, a popular psychologist and contributor to American Thinker, describes the perception of Trump and his followers thus: “The world is a hostile, psychopathic place… who [can deal with it better] than an even more hostile, narcissistic leader like Trump?”

They crave a bigger baddder (sic.) dude to hack through the jungle “out there.”

This is a form of collective regression to infancy with Trump in the role of the omnipotent Father.

In abnormal psychology, this is called ‘shared psychosis.’

The members of the Trump cult use primitive (infantile) psychological defense mechanisms as an extension of their Guru. Theirs is a malignant disease grounded not in reality, but in irrational idealization. Theirs is the tendency to perceive the bully Trump as a “Super-Hero Trump” that each cult member freely morphs to fit their fears and fantasies.

In a post-holocaust world, most should recognize the dangers of totalitarianism and strongmen politicians who come across as outright “thugs.” While some see history only in the rear view mirror, they don’t observe what is so obviously in front of their face. (e.g. They are unable to face reality.)

The real problem is low-information voters (FAUX Snews addicts) and no-information voters.

The trumpster in the dumpster followed through and enough voters sold the farm!

Propaganda: Power and Persuasion

Totalitarian: controlling the people of a country in a very strict way with complete power that cannot be opposed - e.g. Trump "forcing the people to love him." [Hint: As president, he has the 3rd from the lowest popular vote after J.Q. Adams and Bill Clinton]

Trump is a shameless self-promoter. That shameless self-promotion IS Propaganda!

There are quite a few psychological 'gimps' that went for Trump's nonsense -- hook, line, and sinker.

Donald Trump was not a founding father. He most likely never read their writings or understood anything written about our founding fathers.

A classic example of the use of visual art as propaganda is the work of 19th century painter Jacques-Louis David. Aligned with Napoleon Bonaparte, David created large-scale canvases commemorating military and political successes. "Napoleon Crossing the Saint Bernard" speaks to the idealization of truth to convey the French Emperor’s image of himself. Though Napoleon had actually crossed the Alps on a mule, David’s painting portrays Napoleon charging across on a raging steed.

[Only the trumpster in the dumpster is a bigger ass than that poor, hapless mule!]

A high school civics class would do much to add to the rumpster in the dumpster's fetchin' up! HERE is a start!

Is the rumpster in the dumpster going to kick himself in the ass? He is the epitome of incompetence! 'His cabinet comprises incompetent extremists and retired generals.'

The term 'propaganda' first appeared in 1622 when Pope Gregory XV established the Sacred Congregation for Propagating the Faith (Congregatio de Propaganda Fide). Propaganda was then about convincing large numbers of people about the veracity of the Roman Church and Jupiter (St. Peter).

It's the old "Flag and Eagle" trick - second time it was used this week!

If THAT doesn't raise a red flag...

You know what "they" say...

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross." This quote is from 1935 (by Sinclair Lewis). When Lewis wrote it, fascism was sweeping across Europe and he felt it might become a threat in the USA. He was right.

How stupid can the American voters be? Wait, and see.

Only five US presidents in history have been elected despite losing the popular vote: John Quincy Adams in 1824, Rutherford Hayes in 1876, Benjamin Harrison in 1888, George W. Bush in 2000 and Donald Trump this November.

No other candidate has ever lost by so much, but still won the White House. This fact is why Trump and his team keep using the word landslide. They believe that if they keep calling the results a landslide, people may forget that Trump lost the popular vote. Donald Trump is running a propaganda effort to convince the majority of the country that they really didn’t vote against him.

Donald Trump, Loser-in-Chief - Rolling Stone

30 reasons

Sweden!

"To observe a profoundly stupid individual can be very enriching, and that's why we should never feel contempt for them." - Claude Chabrol

If Trump says it, it must be true. If the press corrects Trump, then the press must be dishonest. Crooked Press. (IDIOTs)

"Trump Supporters Aren’t The Sharpest Tools In The Shed... But they sure are tools…"

WOW! I almost went to grad school at Bowling Green in 1971. I would not want to be the subject of a Trumpism. Stupid. Sad. Trump can's sit at the grown-ups table.

Trump is stupid. His followers are fools. Simple. Sad.

Fortunately, Sweden has come up with a solution in harmony with the trumpster in the dumpster.

And the trumpster in the dumpster is back to the republican thread-bare old blame game (e.g. he denies the plethora of faults that all but the most retarded can see prima facie.

Trump only reveals his unfathomable stupidity when he says something. (HINT: Shut the f*ck up!)

WE don't give a rats ass what FAUX Snews says. Have sympathy for the poor individuals who are forced (through every fault of their own) to work for mr. ego (a.k.a. Mr. President).

The smart ones turn the trumpster in the dumpster down!

Trump has MANY openings (but few friends).

CHAOS

If there is just one word which describes the trumpster in the dumpster admnistation to date, it is this: CHAOS. Remember, Trump as valedictorian of his class at Wharton, didn't even make the honor roll. Delusional. (and utterly unloved - the real root of his problem)

A free and open press acts as a regulator, interacting between the people, the political parties, and the government of the country.

Trump's 77 minute monologue was a disaster for him. While the trumpster in the dumpster might be impressed with his banter (along with his cult of believers), few others are impressed. I, for one, am not impressed to the slightest measurable degree.

The trumpster in the dumpster is playing the same old "blame game." Take the new 'east wing' as one example...

Well, Donald, THEY ARE LAUGHING.

Who is this "THEY?" They are the international press! And THEY are attempting to answer the question: "Who is this loser?" Yes, Virginia, "a loser" can win an election.

President Trump just can't stop talking about the 2016 presidential election. During an hour-plus press conference on Thursday, the president called his November win the “biggest Electoral College win since Ronald Reagan.” It wasn't.

It (Trump's win) wasn’t the biggest win since Reagan. Far from it. Trump's miserable electoral win was 46th biggest of 58 elections.

Trump's wasn’t even the biggest win since "W" (43). In 2012, Obama won 332 electoral votes. And in 2008, Obama won 365. Both times, Obama managed to win over 60% of the electoral college votes. Obama came close to besting President Bill Clinton, who won 70.4% of the Electoral College votes in 1996.

It was, however, a win over George W. Bush, who barely squeaked 50% of the Electoral College vote in either of his “stolen” elections. In 2000, Bush won 271 Electoral Votes and in 2004, he was reelected with 286 votes. But Trump’s win was smaller than fellow Republican President George H.W. Bush, who earned 79.2% of the electoral vote in 1988.

Try FACT CHECING the news conference.

Trump is so 'out of it' that serious concerns regarding his mental stability are being discussed in the halls of congress. Some have held these concerns for years. His cavalier attitude regarding national security is just another small aspect (symptom) of the looming issue (disease).

Trump may have an inflated sense of entitlement in which he sees himself as worthy of adoration (Magis adoratur). I don't see it.

I looked for an appropriate clip, but settled on Bernie Kopell, of Kaos, Losing Agents:




the trumpster in the dumpster's perception:

the perception of the educated and/or informed