Debt Elimination Companies

Which company is best Incharge Debt Solution or consumer Credit Counseling?

Validity of Consumer Relief Solutions, Inc. - They work to get your Interest down.? I am sceptical about this sort of thing - but do need help. Does anyone out there have any experience with a company called "Consumer Relief Solutions, Inc." out of Goldenrod, Florida? They do not promise to reduce your debt - they say that they work with Credit Card Companies to get your interest rates reduced. Any and all information would be appreciated. Many Thanks!!

Has anyone heard of FCCS consolidation? I signed up with them three years ago when my husband and I were traveling on the road. I cant find their paperwork anymore and now they changed there website. It was also consumer debt solutions. The point of the matter is that they said 3.5 years till payoff and the two credit cards show 22 months more still. This is ridiculous, so I was just wondering if anyone has heard of them. P.S. no judgments for action i took three years ago when i was having financial struggles please!

What do you do when you have too much debt? i need help.... i am 22 years old i am trying to go back to school and i have like 12k in consumer debt that i cant make go away. My credit score is like a 600 and i cant get approved for a personal loan anywhere....i cant turn it into a consolidation company because my parents are co-signed on the two biggest debts i have. I dont know what to do. In order to keep my head above water i would need to work two full time jobs. I cant work two full time jobs and go to school full time as well. I just really dont know what to do... i need help. I need to figure out a way to pay it off fast. Does anyone know of any student loans that i could get that would allow me to pay them off? I dont have bad credit i dont have any late payments on anything that are on my credit so i really dont want to make it any worse than it already is. Someoen please help me find a solution. Thank you.

Where can I find the best debt negotiation solution? After almost 2 years of paying Consumer Credit Counselors in a debt managment plan, we will no longer be able to meet their required monthly payment amount. I believe my best option is to stop paying credit card debt to them, pay my property taxes (they are behind) and essentials, and let my accounts go to a debt reduction negotiator. Where is the best place for me to look? I am interested in contacting you Brooke, but I do not have contact information. boxbeatle@yahoo.com

resume objective?really need your help? i really need help putting together a resume objective for this job description for my cousin. she is 17 and has gotten the job over a phone interview. all she needs to do is submit a resume .can u please helppp me?thanx alot Looking for bright, articulate candidates with excellent phone skills for a great opportunity with a growing consumer debt solutions company. Must be very comfortable speaking to prospective clients over the phone. Telemarketing experience a big plus.

How it's effect debt management program to my credit report? I'm current in all of my credit card.I try to pay it down and the American consumer credit solution offer me to reduce my APR to pay it in 48 months. But I'm not able the use card other wise I will out of the program.they will start pay to creditor as same as I start to pay them as how much approved by my creditors.

Lucent Technologies: evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

Debt consolidation or not? I am having a hard time choosing between solution to my debt problem. i have around $8000 in credit card debts right now. All of them are in collection agencies now and I have no means in paying all of them and all are delinquent too. I've been thinking of doing a debt program. I've been looking around and have seen debt consolidation programs, debt settlement programs, consumer credit counseling, credit counseling agencies and debt management plan... and I have a feeling there are more I don't know of. My question is which one would be the best option. By now I know my credit is bad and I have nothing to put into collateral. I'm not really comfortable in doing anything online because I want to see and talk to someone face to face. What are the fees involved in the programs? Do you have to pay them monthly too? I just need all the information I can get right now.

Debt settlement????? Talk to me about it....? Does anyone have any opinions or experiences that they have encountered with debt settlement? I want to know what the pros and cons are for signing up for such programs as Consumer credit or Precept financial solutions.

Does anyone have any real solution for eliminating debt without using any of those ...? I do not want to file consolidate my debt. I want it gone!!! I know that I got myself into this.Some things just can't be helped. NO bankruptcy...consumer counseling or other rip off ideas. Thank you for your help and insight.

What does ADSTLAN stand for? Alternative Debt Solutions???? It eliminates debt by negotiating with creditors without using consumer credit counseling.

What is the U.S known to be number one in the world for? Besides number one in the world per capita for imprisoning it's people. Number one in spending more money on prisons than schools in the world. Number one in spending more money on military industrial complex than any other country including China, Russia and Europe combined. Number one in consumer debt. Number one in national debt. Number one in illicit drug use. We are also losing ground to Europe in terms of the number of scientists we produce in this country. Our dollar is losing ground, and the American worker is losing ground in terms of workers rights against powerful corporations and their lobbyists who are cozy with D.C political insiders. On this July 4th, can you suggest ways of making our country better and solving these problems without saying get rid of liberals or without saying get rid of conservatives. What are some real solutions to our problems? http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/04/22/us/20080423_PRISON_GRAPHIC.html#

The following is a excerpt from Lucent Technologies Management? The following is a excerpt from Lucent Technologies Management? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies?

Lucent Technologies: Evaluate asset,debt & equity structure as well as trends & changes on common sz bal sheet? Here are the questions: 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional finanacial and non-financial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? The info: Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

Lucent Technologies: evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure?Concern that investor & creditor may have? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

The following is an excerpt from Lucent Technologies’ Management? The following is an excerpt from Lucent Technologies’ Management? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911 * 1 month ago

Can someone help me with this regarding Lucent technologies? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

The Following is an excerpt Lucent Technologies Management? The following is a excerpt from Lucent Technologies Management? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies?

The following is an excert from Lucent Technologies Management? The following is an excerpt from Lucent Technologies’ Management? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies?

Help, Credit experts! What do you do with THIS real case? The person who came to me for help: $40K income, healthy, in debt US$140K (yes, one hundred forty thousand dollars) ($60K student loans in forbearance, $7K auto loan, the rest unsecured debt: $50K is maxed out credit card debt, mostly at default 30+% rates and the rest is loans from friends. About $1K in tax liability.). Some debts are freshly (30 - 60 days) delinquent, but none has gone to collections yet. No previous BK, charge-offs, collections or judgments. All 3 Credit reports have no serious errors, FICO scores unknown. Person is motivated, has already shown me recent credit reports and bills, cut up credit cards, developed detailed list of assets (car + $3K in illiquid assets + $1K cash) and liabilities, and is writing a monthly budget. What do you advise? Is the Consumer Credit Counseling Service Debt Management Program the best solution? What are your successes or failures with the CCCS DMP? Costs and benefits? Please answer the questions I've asked. Thanks.

How will this govt. solution to the 'financial crisis' affect us as consumers? I've been watching the news on this financial crisis we're in. And they keep talking about where the money will be coming from, and how banks keep loaning money to people who don't have it to pay it back. Their idea of fixing it is for the government to reimburse the banks? How will this affect me and my debt? Will it work to my advantage? Or will it only work to the advantage of my creditors? etc.

who are the best financial credit consumers too go with? is one debt solution a good firm too go with

Need advise to get collections off my back? I have several credit card debts that I've fallen behind after an illness and then losing my job. They are now all in collections (agencies) and threatening to take me to court. They have all offered to settle for less then the original balance, but I can't even do that, I have no money, real estate or assets. I have recently went back to work and attempting to get back on my feet, but none of them now are willing to make payment arrangements, they want to settle it all. Any help or advise will be helpfull. Will consumer credit solution companies still help, even though it has gotten this far? My total debt is close to $11,000.00.

Is the credit crisis breeding fascism for the "good of the public?"? The Wall Street Journal had one fact correct regarding Wall Street's accelerating collapse when on September 20th they wrote: When government officials surveyed the failing American financial system this week, they didn't see only a collapsed investment bank or the surrender of a giant insurance firm. They saw the circulatory system of the U.S. economy—credit markets—starting to fail . The Wall Street Journal was correct in that the circulatory system of the US economy was failing. Because the Wall Street Journal is the house organ of Wall Street investment banks and their co-conspirators in government, the Wall Street Journal blamed deteriorating credit markets for America's troubles, not those responsible— to wit, Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, and their cohorts at the Federal Reserve Banks. ALAN GREENSPAN'S BASTARD SON Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan's surrogate successor at the Federal Reserve is using Greenspan's discredited playbook to hopefully resuscitate America 's economy. But pouring more credit into America 's stalled economy will not restart the US economy anymore than pouring gasoline into a flooded engine will restart an engine. Excessive credit caused the problem and more credit will only exacerbate it. The US central bank, the Federal Reserve, however is now backed into a corner, a corner from which there is no exit. After credit markets contracted in August 2007, it was hoped that central bank intervention would reverse the deterioration of global markets that was then only beginning. A year ago, on October 1, 2007 , I addressed that hope in my article, The Winter of Our Discontent : As we collectively move towards the economic disaster awaiting us, the investment community is hoping the world's central banks will be able to save them from the crisis set in motion by this summer's August 2007 credit collapse. If the truth be known—and someday it will be—central banks are at the very center of today's problems. Indeed, they caused them. Today's disintegration of capital markets based on debt-based paper began in 1913 with the creation of the US Federal Reserve Bank, the central bank of the US . …Debt-based paper money has led nations and the world down a very dangerous path. Facilitating expansion by encumbering future revenues with compounding debt inevitably indebts individuals, businesses, and governments beyond their ability to repay. In the beginning, production expands, needs are met and everyone goes home happy. In the end, everyone's home gets repossessed. This is when the amount of debt has grown so large, governments, businesses, and consumers collapse under its collective weight. That's where we are today. We lived off tomorrow and tomorrow has arrived. What a surprise. Although in the past, continuing central bank intervention has proved inadequate, the ignorant, unknowing and desperate are yet again hoping that Paulson's latest plan will save them. But the collective solutions of Bernanke, Paulson, et. al . will again prove wanting. Indeed, Paulson's and Bernanke's continuing attempts to reverse the accelerating credit contraction will only make the final rendering all the more devastating. What I wrote last year is true today—except, today, we are now one year closer to the inevitable end of this still unfolding crisis. cont'd, The Winter of Our Discontent October 1, 2007 ...As autumn approaches, this summer's credit crisis continues to spread through the global grid created by today's financial wizards—wizards so adept they do not understand what they have set in motion. That this summer's credit crisis surprised them the most is the most disturbing news of all. The financial wizards of Wall Street and The City are hoping this summer's credit crisis is a bad cold at worst, that perhaps a slight fever and time will heal the illness and they can return once again to the task of carving out billion-dollar bonuses from capitalism's rotting carcass ( sic capitalism, any economic system based on central bank issuance of debt-based paper money). But the wizards of Wall Street and The City will be wrong this fall. This summer's credit contraction looks increasingly less like a cold and more like cancer which has metastasized and made its way into the lymph nodes of our global economy. The credit contraction of August 2007 was not a cold. It was cancer and since then it has spread with increasing rapidity throughout the US and global economies; and, now, one year later, the ignorant, unknowing and desperate led by the deceitful, selfish and clever are hoping that its only pneumonia. CHINA 'S KEEPING THE PATIENT ALIVE Some are alleging that the US government's accelerating bailout of banks, insurance companies et. al. is socialism. Although it is government intervention in extremis , such intervention in the markets does not constitute socialism. The bailout of investment banks and corporations by the US government is fascism; the It bet the typical brainwashed american TED didnt even read the post like most sheeples in his case Penny....It seems that you have your eyes wide open

Will all these stores closing cause a depression worse than the 1930's? The real economy contracting rapidly Behind the reassuring statements from Paulson and others that the "worst is over" the reality of the credit collapse since August 2007 is a deepening economic contraction which I have said several times in this space will surpass the Great Depression of the 1929-1938 period. A good friend who is an unemployed homebuilder in a prosperous part of Arizona just sent me the following list of US department retail store closures. It is worth noting that over 70% of the US GDP is consumer spending and that the entire Federal Reserve strategy of Alan Greenspan after the March 2000 collapse of the stock market bubble, was to bring US interest rates to their lowest levels since the 1930's in order to stimulate consumer spending on credit, i.e. debt, to avoid "recession." Note the scale of the following store closings across America in recent weeks: Ann Taylor closing 117 stores nationwide. Eddie Bauer to close more stores after closing 27 stores in the first quarter. Cache, a women's retailer is closing 20 to 23 stores this year. Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines closing 150 stores nationwide Talbots, J. Jill closing stores. Talbots will close all 78 of its kids and men's stores plus another 22 underperforming stores. The 22 stores will be a mix of Talbots women's and J. Jill. Gap Inc. closing 85 stores Foot Locker to close 140 stores Wickes Furniture is going out of business and closing all of its stores. The 37-year-old retailer that targets middle-income customers, filed for bankruptcy protection last month. Levitz - the furniture retailer, announced it was going out of business and closing all 76 of its stores in December. The retailer dates back to 1910. Zales, Piercing Pagoda plans to close 82 stores by July 31 followed by closing another 23 underperforming stores. Disney Store owner has the right to close 98 stores. Home Depot store closings 15 of them amid a slumping US economy and housing market. The move will affect 1,300 employees. It is the first time the world's largest home improvement store chain has ever closed a flagship store. CompUSA (CLOSED). Macy's - 9 stores closed Movie Gallery ­ video rental company plans to close 400 of 3,500 Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video stores in addition to the 520 locations the video rental chain closed last fall as part of bankruptcy. Pacific Sunwear - 153 Demo stores closing Pep Boys - 33 stores of auto parts supplier closing Sprint Nextel - 125 retail locations to close with 4,000 employees following 5,000 layoffs last year. J. C. Penney, Lowe's and Office Depot are all scaling back Ethan Allen Interiors: plans to close 12 of 300 stores to cut costs. Wilsons the Leather Experts ­ closing 158 stores Bombay Company: to close all 384 U.S.-based Bombay Company stores. KB Toys closing 356 stores around the United States as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. Dillard's Inc. will close another six stores this year. For anyone familiar with American shopping malls and retailing, this represents a staggering part of the daily economic life of the nation, from furniture stores to clothing to video rentals to leather. The process has only begun and neither major party Presidential candidate has dared to mention this on the ground economic reality, because they evidently have no solutions to offer that would not jeopardize their campaign finances. Obama is tied to not only Pritzker but also to Omaha billionaire, Warren Buffett and George Soros. McCain depends on the traditional money contributions of the Republican Party which demand permanent tax reform for highest income earners and a pro-bank laissez faire treatment of millions of homeowners facing home foreclosure and asset seizure by banks.

Whose fault is the economic crisis anyway? So let’s look at how we got here: ILLUSIONS Big part of what makes the American Dream is hope. However unrealistic, uneducated, and misinformed choices replace hope with illusions. Buyers had the illusion that homes would always keep increasing rapidly in value. However, they failed to understand that the real estate market has cycles. Some of the factors that create a change in the market are increased amounts of supply or demand, deregulation of the financial industry, easy and available credit, low interest rates and much more. People who bought homes they could not afford did it because they saw an opportunity to “invest” their life savings and achieve the American dream. They viewed this opportunity as attainable because banks made it possible, unscrupulous agents/brokers made them believe it was possible, and because they lacked the knowledge necessary to understand the responsibilities, risks and benefits of owning a home. Other illusions buyers had was their wages. The had the illusion that their wages would go up enough year after year to cover their ever increasing debt due to a lavish life style. This illusion, the lack of financial education and self-control allowed for people to live well beyond their means. Today people, banks, and our government are drowning in debt. CREDIT Competition in the market forces business to improve on their products and allows the consumer to purchase those products at affordable prices. However, competition between banks in a booming economy and low interest rates created a credit bonanza. Instead of banks improving on their products and services, they began utilizing creative financial tools to attract more borrowers. They also lend money to risky borrowers with little regard of their qualifications. Anybody that had a pulse could literally get a loan. Banks can’t accommodate the demand for credit only with their money reserves. So if they want to lend more money, they sell these mortgages to commercial banks and Wall Street lenders. Financial Crisis: Who's Fault Is It, Anyway? Doesn't matter. Because just about everyone is to blame. Republicans opened the door through debt-based credit derivatives and deregulation. Democrats further contributed by turning a blind eye to Fannie and Freddie and insisting that even those who couldn't really afford mortgages be allowed to get them. The Bush Administration touted consumer spending as a means to boost the economy, and encouraged reckless consumer behaviors with billions in "stimulus"money, all while fueling the national debt through a disastrous war and tax cuts for people who don't really need them. And, of course, greedy banks and mortgage lenders went along, doing their best to bilk whoever came through door for whatever they could get -- before passing the risk on to equally greedy investment banks and hedge fund managers. Consumers came along for the ride, abandoning reasonable financial practices and using credit to fuel materialism -- as well as making poor decisions by buying homes they couldn't afford with "creative" mortgage financing. Nearly everyone shares some of the blame. This is not the time to bicker over who is most at fault. It doesn't matter. The past is past. It's time to move forward and fix the problem. REALLY fix the problem. With practical solutions (that's right, follow the link for just one alternative -- and better IMO -- solution) that don't involve throwing a large, arbitrary amount of money at the problem. This is something that requires measured thought. And a change in how our society now views debt, money and the economy. There's no reason to rush into a bailout plan right now. Instead, a little more analysis is needed.

Are we becoming a "A Country of Serfs Ruled By Oligarchs"? Is an economy based on credit, debt, and so called free trade a sustainable one? Have we been sold out by the Oligarchs: A member of an oligarchy, someone who is part of a small group that runs a country (In this case, political and business interests alike.) (my ramblings may make more sense if you read the article)http://www.creators.com/opinion/paul-craig-roberts/a-country-of-serfs-ruled-by-oligarchs.html A few things jumped out at me: "The problems of the American economy are too great to be reached by traditional policies." - Now that's a scary thought. The big government types could have a ball with that couldn't they? "It is a different situation today. Layoffs result from the jobs being moved offshore and from corporations replacing their domestic work forces with foreigners brought in on H-1B, L-1 and other work visas. The U.S. labor force is being separated from the incomes associated with the goods and services that it consumes. With the rise of offshoring, layoffs are not only due to restrictive monetary policy and inventory buildup. They are also the result of the substitution of cheaper foreign labor for U.S. labor by American corporations. Americans cannot be called back to work to jobs that have been moved abroad. In the New Economy, layoffs can continue despite low interest rates and government stimulus programs." - So how would YOU go about bringing these jobs back to US? "Without growth in consumer incomes, the economy can go nowhere. Washington policymakers substituted debt growth for income growth." - Can we have a healthy economy based on debt? So where do we go from here? The author, much like Pat Buchannan, is an expert at explaining where we are and what the problem is. I've seen a LOT of doom and gloom lately but few solutions. How do you respond to some of the points made by the author? Can any country without a strong manufacturing base truly be independent and can it survive in the long run?

Just thinking outside of the box here: What about a homeowner bailout? Here's what I propose: Have the government bailout the mortgage companies by purchasing their bad debt at a 20% discount and then re-negotiate the loans with the consumer to pay the balance a 0% interest over 50 years with no early payment penalty? If the consumer defaults payments on that generous deal, the government takes possession of the property and sells the property on the open market. That way, the banks get liquidity and their costs decrease in that they don't have to waste money sending default notices, etc., the homeowner is happy because they get to stay in the house and actually might be able to afford the house which they were erroneously advise they could afford by realtors when they couldn't. The government is happy because they'd be receiving cash when normally, typical government spending is even less profitable (look at the price paid by governments for toilet seats). Quite possibly, the only unhappy people would be attorney's because no one would be able to afford one. I'm all for keeping attorneys being miserable. Would you buy this investment? What other solutions might there be given that declaring random wars on countries doesn't seem to have work in USA's current political administration?

Would it be better to refinance every U.S. Citizen's Primary mortgage than give >$1tril to financial giants? The current ~$700Billion plan looks a lot like Government is bailing out its buddies in BIG BUSINESS, and nothing will ever trickle down to the common U.S. Citizen. To turn that around use the leftover ~$300Billion Bush Administration bail-out plus President Elect Obama's $825Billion to pay the Mortgage industry (the cost of processing the loan) to alter an process every U.S. Citizens primary residence mortgage decreasing it by ~20% and refinance that amount at the current Fed bank-to-bank trading rate. Banks are writing down all these mortgages/loans anyway because of decreasing values. Yes, these institution have some medicine to take, but there are hard times ahead, and the majority (U.S. Citizens) need to feel support. The majority of U.S. Citizens upside-down in their mortgages are more likely to see value in making payments rather than just giving their house keys to the bank and vacating, which will wash-out home values, equity, and personal wealth in our Nation with catastrophic effect. This will allow every U.S. Citizen, in our Nations consumer economy, a long-term (30-year mortgage term!) solution to add breathing room in the upcoming years of this global economic downturn. The beneficiaries are the U.S. Citizen that then trickles up to U.S. Retailers, U.S. Banks, and Wall-Street. This provides relief to ALL U.S. Citizens, even Us that made conservative decisions knowing what we could afford, while also restructuring recent mortgages of those duped by the greedy practices of this decade. The majority of mortgages will still get paid, banks can maintain cash flow, homeowner mortgage vs. home value evens, right-sides up, or equity is built. If the U.S. Citizen losses their house it's a good bet they will walk away from Credit Card debt and any other outstanding loans. Then what will happen to the Financial industry and all the $400billion in tax-payer money that's already been handed to them to do with as they please? This isn't about the American public seeing immediate benefit (i.e. one-time stimulus check), but as a longer term (~30 year mortgage term!) solution to stimulating our consumer (~62%!) economy. It also shows that Government is supporting real people, not just big business. I think if You do the math You will find that the cost of writing these loans, which is consumed by the leftover ~$300Billion Bush Administration bail-out plus President Elect Obama's $825B stimulus package, doesn't compare to the cost to Financial institutions, and the U.S. Tax-payer swallowing ~10% (or greater) National home foreclosures. What will Financial institutions do with all these assumed homes and property that are now worth 30-50% less than their original cost to them? Will Government, I mean the U.S. Tax-Payer, buy them? Restoring consumer confidence is what the focus is here. How does getting 9 financial institutions to start loaning money to ultra qualified people that don't need a loan, compare to ~130,000,000 homeowners across 50 states having a few hundred extra dollars a month, for the next 30 years, to do with how they see fit? Excellent response Jeff T, but if the U.S. is trying to support homeonwnership, which is a massive staple of our 62% consumer economy, when the next avalanche of foreclosures hit what will happen to personal wealth in all classes in the U.S. Remember the original question dealt with if the Government couldn't do nothing, would it have been better to give the money back to the people in the form of refinanced 20% decreased mortgages very low interest rates so 10's of millions of families would opt to keep paying their mortgages (and other debta) rather than just walk away to let the remaining tax paying nation to bail them out. And then what about after the next wave, then the next? As foreclosed homes flood the market and the nations wealth is swept away, and more an more credit is lost, and more and more banks board their doors, who will be left to bail them out? How can this chain of events be stopped? We must bring more minds to the table to discuss this!

Why won't politician do something about the coming '08 Panic? The same question has been asked throughout history: "How could it have been that, with all the evidence staring them in the face, people couldn't see disaster coming?" History is again repeating itself. Despite the mountains of evidence and baskets of statistics pointing to "Panic," the media, the man on the street and the politicians avoid the facts and deny the ugly truth or defend their beliefs with a vengeance attacking those who beg to differ. Battered equity markets, rising unemployment, a diving dollar, $100 per barrel oil, soaring commodity prices, plummeting real estate values, record home foreclosures, slumping retail sales, crumbling consumer confidence, a credit crunch, the subprime crisis, write- offs and write-downs the data doesn't lie. Banks, brokerages, and bond insurers begging for bailouts and pleading for cash. SIVs, CDOs, ARSs VRDNs, hedge fund operators, derivative players, buyout specialists an alphabet soup of exotic scams, rigged games, Wall Street cons and double dealers. America's on the rocks and sinking fast and there's no one there to save it. Not the Federal Reserve, the President of the United States, nor the presidential wannabes in waiting. There are no quick fixes or human geniuses that can make the debt-bloated pig fly, yet a desperate public prays that its pathetic politicians will lead them to economic salvation. Dumb and Dumber Of the Democrats, Hillary Clinton's and Barak Obama's economic plans are essentially the same, and there is little dispute between the two when arguing the differences. "My opponent came to Wisconsin a few days ago and basically gave my speech. That's OK, I want everybody to agree with me," said Clinton claiming that Obama heisted her economic blueprints. Either ignorant of the facts or afraid to say the word, both candidates have yet to admit America is in recession, nor have they warned of the critical conditions that will soon face the nation. Prescribing a stimulus package of bromides and minor trade agreement modifications, their promised tax adjustments, infrastructure building and "green" job schemes will neither relieve fiscal pain nor cure the nation's economic malignancy. (See "Panic and Fear ­ Solutions and Hope," Trends Journal, Winter 2008.) On the Republican side, John McCain falters badly on the economic front. "I don't believe we're headed into a recession," he said as the global markets trembled during January's historic bout of financial turmoil. "I believe the fundamentals of this economy are strong and I believe they will remain strong," he fantasized. Proclaiming that "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should," McCain said, "I've got (Alan) Greenspan's book," as though reading the former Fed Chief's book would somehow matter. "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated," the presidential contender had said. Publisher's Note: In addition to being economically challenged, McCain's promise to "Follow Osama bin Laden to the Gates of Hell" and fight the Iraq War "for a hundred years" if necessary, calls into question his military and foreign policy prowess. Cast as a "genuine war hero" and military strategist ­ McCain's serving time as a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down while bombing Vietnamese, qualifies him as neither. More accurately termed a victim and survivor, McCain's torture at the Hanoi Hilton (as with those persecuted at Guantanamo) does not elevate him to hero status nor does the loss of his jet fighter during battle qualify him as a military strategist.

Will Obama go along with the American people and pass Buy American? A poll shows 90% support Buy American but only 38% support the rest of the bill. Why did buying decrease? Credit implosion. Why did the credit go bad? Bad credit standards. What did they buy? Outsourcing. Where is are industry that can rebuild our economy? China. In the last 15 years imports have roase 1500% while exports dropped 1100%.The credit debt of Americans has increased along the same lines as there are fewer dollars from GDP going to workers. This meant consumption went up and industry went down. This could be compared to a poor man with balloon loan except it was the retail Business buying jets and outsourcing customers at the same time. When you send more then half of your growth to another country it balloons faster then a bad loan. When it fills to much with inflation and credit debt it pops. Then you have no industry, the retailer have a smaller customer base, and the banks have more debt then equity. The only solution that works is to rebuild what every enemy in the world fears American industry and are workers so much better that when even threaten it the crooks around the world scream in fear. We need to tax non American made goods in stores to make the consumer not want to buy them.

Will Obama go along with the Buy American plan in the stimulus bill or let the bill fail because? If you are a seminar blogger giving out propaganda from your EU & Chinese specialist interest group don't answer. Who cares if we have a trade war with Europe they do nothing for working Americans any way Americans love Paris but hate Europe John Kerry lost in 2004 because of it, and the only time Mccain lead Obama was after he went to Europe. If Buy American fails Obama's poll numbers drop to 40's. There are 12 Democratic Senator who only signed on because of Buy American. A poll shows 90% support Buy American but only 38% support the rest of the bill. Why did buying decrease? Credit implosion. Why did the credit go bad? Bad credit standards. What did they buy? Outsourcing. Where is are industry that can rebuild our economy? China. In the last 15 years imports have roase 1500% while exports dropped 1100%.The credit debt of Americans has increased along the same lines as there are fewer dollars from GDP going to workers. This meant consumption went up and industry went down. This could be compared to a poor man with balloon loan except it was the retail Business buying jets and outsourcing customers at the same time. When you send more then half of your growth to another country it balloons faster then a bad loan. When it fills to much with inflation and credit debt it pops. Then you have no industry, the retailer have a smaller customer base, and the banks have more debt then equity. The only solution that works is to rebuild what every enemy in the world fears American industry and are workers so much better that when even threaten it the crooks around the world scream in fear. We need to tax non American made goods in stores to make the consumer not want to buy them. Obama's rating dropped from 79% to 68% could this be the issue that makes him Carter?

Will Obama be able to fix the fall out of the inflation bubble with the buy American plan? Why did buying decrease? Credit implosion. Why did the credit go bad? Bad credit standards. What did they buy? Outsourcing. Where is are industry that can rebuild our economy? China. In the last 15 years imports have roase 1500% while exports dropped 1100%.The credit debt of Americans has increased along the same lines as there are fewer dollars from GDP going to workers. This meant consumption went up and industry went down. This could be compared to a poor man with balloon loan except it was the retail Business buying jets and outsourcing customers at the same time. When you send more then half of your growth to another country it balloons faster then a bad loan. When it fills to much with inflation and credit debt it pops. Then you have no industry, the retailer have a smaller customer base, and the banks have more debt then equity. The only solution that works is to rebuild what every enemy in the world fears American industry and are workers so much better that when even threaten it the crooks around the world scream in fear. We need to tax non American made goods in stores to make the consumer not want to buy them. There American made products but the unfair big imports gangsters want to kill are working class.

Will Obama fix the problem or treat a symptom? In the last 15 years imports have roase 1500% while exports dropped 11000%.The credit debt of Americans has increased along the same lines as there are fewer dollars from GDP going to workers. This meant consumption went up and industry went down. This could be compared to a poor man with baloon loan except it was the retail buisness buying jets and outsourcing customers at the same time. When you send more then half of your growth to another country it baloons faster then a bad loan. When it fills to much with inflation and credit debt it pops. Then you have no industry, the retailer have a smaller cutomer base, and the banks have more debt then equity. The only solution that works is to rebuild what every enemy in the world fears American industry and are workers so much better that when even threaten it the crooks around the world scream in fear. We need to tax non American made goods in stores to make the consumer not want to buy them.

Will Obama be able to fix the fall out of the inflation bubble with the buy american plan? In the last 15 years imports have roase 1500% while exports dropped 1100%.The credit debt of Americans has increased along the same lines as there are fewer dollars from GDP going to workers. This meant consumption went up and industry went down. This could be compared to a poor man with baloon loan except it was the retail buisness buying jets and outsourcing customers at the same time. When you send more then half of your growth to another country it baloons faster then a bad loan. When it fills to much with inflation and credit debt it pops. Then you have no industry, the retailer have a smaller cutomer base, and the banks have more debt then equity. The only solution that works is to rebuild what every enemy in the world fears American industry and are workers so much better that when even threaten it the crooks around the world scream in fear. We need to tax non American made goods in stores to make the consumer not want to buy them. There American made products but the unfair big imports gangsters want to kill are working class.

Once again -- a solution for the economic doldrums? New projections show little recovery despite the bailouts and stimulus directed toward the banks and corporations, nor do propositions for tax-breaks seem to offer much. Banks in particular seem to have returned to their carpetbagging, raising interest rates and lowering available credit, while continuing to give bonuses and golden parachutes to their executives. Meanwhile, news reports say retailers are already desperately cutting prices to try and bolster holiday sales. In Miami where I live (and am facing bankpruptcy), every week sees new exposures of felony corruption in government, while the State has ingeniously disguised what I would estimate as a 30% real unemployment rate by simply closing all the unemployment offices. I filed online (the only method) and received a refusal of benefits letter which said "...the State of Florida has no record of your qualifying employment...". Of course not. I worked in New York last year. I followed the recorded message after waiting half an hour, only to be given another 800 number which in turn gives another message after another half-hour wait: "Due to the volume of calls, we are unable to take your call at this time. (*Click*)." A dozen tries like that and I realized I was facing a brick wall. SO HERE IS MY SUGGESTION. If the problem is indeed getting money into the public's hands as the experts say -- why not circumvent the banks? Take those people like myself who fell victim to the banks' usurious practices of selling "debt-equity" to one another and charging arbitrary and stratospheric interest rates (mine are as high a 31.4%). Select those who have repaid the principle, say, 3 times over as I have -- and make those debts amnestied by law, either permanently or for a period of time like the eighteen months that the banks were allowed to continue their practices which will become illegal in February of 2010. Or even six months! In my case, that would give me $600 each month to put directly back into the enconomy -- and I am sure there are millions like me. Please, abstain for calling me an idiot for borrowing money at 30% as has happened when I offered this idea in the past. My loans were not "introductory rates" that expired, but fixed-rate below 10% that were sold from one bank to another which set new rates as allowed by the small print in the credit-card agreement; a practice which is now illegal under the law. The most onerous of these was Chase, which took over my card and account when it was gifted all of WAMU's assets by the FDIC. Thus, Chase has collected from me for the last 18 months on a debt for which it paid nothing, and meanwhile paid THEIR bad debt though my taxes, as well as part of the recent $65M "retirement package" given the CEO of bank of America which also holds one of my notes.. That one originated at Suntrust, was sold to MBNA which raised the rate from 8% to 24.9%, and then on to B of A which raised it to 29.9%. I have been paying that one faithfully for 9 years, and -- once again, their bailout and their executives windfalls as well. That's about it. Now on disability, I can pay no more. So, 90 days delinquent, I am facing bankruptcy a age 60 as I said. Meanwhile Chase declared last-quarter profits of $3.47Bn, and harasses me daily for the $2K I "owe" them from WAMU, ruining my credit rating so badly I cannot even get a Christmas part-time at Macy's because of my poor FICO score. Like I said: amnesty the debt. Given the chance with the publicly supported bailout, the banks and brokers have not shown any indication they will rehabilitate. So why not give me, the consumer -- and people like me who have shown good faith by paying consistently over a long time -- a chance to do better? Reuben: Despite the seemingly condescending "just simply", I did enjoy the links you supplied to the Cabalist prophet. I liked his stating his viewpoint in an unequivocal way. The thing is with prophets; from Isaiah to Nostradamus -- what they predict is unprovable before the fact, and often arguable afterward. It's when philosophy begins to call itself science that I get worried. Take Josef Goebbels, for instance. frenzy: Right with you up until that last sentence denouncing President Obama. What has he conceivably got to do with the creation or existence of the Federal Reserve? P.S. frenzy: ...If that's who you mean by "Oma". Unclear to me. It's just a guess that was a typo.

Lucent Technologies questions? Questions: 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? Reading: Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

Lucent Technologies Management? 2. Evaluate the asset, debt and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 4. What additional financial and non-financial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

Lucent Technologies Questions? Questions: 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? Reading: Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

My Economic Solution? Here's my economic solution: 1. Decrease dependence on foreign materials; America needs to start manufacturing its own goods instead of depending on China and Japan. I think this one is pretty obvious. Starting manufacturing jobs would involve opening factories, which in turn would ease part of the un-employment numbers. 2. Tax the hell out of the wealthy, tax cut the poor. Make CEOs pay high taxes on the bonuses they get, maybe upwards of 50%. 3. Tax credits, but don't make the tax credits on something one will buy once every five years. Make a tax credit for a certain amount spent on food or clothes. Such as for family spending over $20,000 on food, tax credit $1,000. 4. Ease taxes now. Consumers need the money in their pockets. That's the only way to get out of the "recession" we're in. Make next year the lowest taxable year. Then raise taxes a certain percent to ease debt. Such as raising taxes 1.5% year until normal tax line is reached. Those are my economic solutions. I really don't know if any of the plans I mentioned would work at all. What do you guys think? Anything I should add, modify, or delete?

Lucent Technologies Case? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 1591

Lucent Technologies? Here are the questions: 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional finanacial and non-financial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? The info: Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

Accounting assignment? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES The following is an excerpt from Lucent Technologies’ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations: Executive Summary. We design and deliver the systems, software, and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitivelocal exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement/employment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares:10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004, and 4,170 issued and 4,

LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC.? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

Is it possible to end this downward spiraling of the economy? I'm wondering if it is possible to stop the downward spiraling of the economy. With tens of thousands of people getting pink slips this week, it seems there will be even less consumer spending and more homes lost, which will cause even more people to lose their jobs. The government built up a huge deficit in good times and as a result, it appears it may not be in a position to continue to create more debt. If it keeps do this, it could become insolvent. I guess it could just devalue the dollar and print more, but that is hardly a solution. Obviously, the government has to be prohibited from creating debt during good times and it has to set limits for business practices so greed doesn't rule over common sense. But, how do you envision us getting out of the current mess? Personally, I think the government got us into this hole and is responsible for getting us out of the hole. The government eased regulations on home buying and overspent on the war in Iraq. The government has created so much unnecessary debt that when interest rates do rise, it's going to have to raise taxes significantly to reduce debt. There's no way I could ever repay my $30,000 share of the govt's debt.

Lucent Technologies? help? The following is an excerpt from Lucent Technologies’ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations: Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? C A S E S Case 2.1 Lucent Technologies Understanding

Sandy I need your help with Lucent Technologies? Compose a 500- to 750-word paper that includes your answers to questions 2-4 on p. 79 (Ch. 2). Lucent Technologies: evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

Acc 230 Lucent Technologies Case? The following is an excerpt from Lucent Technologies’ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations: Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? compose a 500-750-word paper in APA format that includes your answers to questions 2-4 LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15,911 See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Winners & Losers of the Economy? Here're my opinions on the current economy... The economy isn't a zero-sum game. As long as resources (tangible & intangible) continue to be utilized, recycled & re-utilized again, value will continue to be created & net economic wealth will always increase. Yet, it's still a win-lose game where there's rich, there's poor. In the end, the theory of demand & supply still determine all, including wealth distribution, production & buying power. Even though the wealth pie continue to increase consistently through value creation, the way it's distributed continue to create winners & losers. And true enough, where there're winners there're losers. And all these lie in wealth distribution. Unequal wealth distribution can't create all-winners situation. There won't be equilibrium in demand & supply. Imagine world production is at $1 trillion & yet world buying power is only at $0.5 trillion, how will there be prosperity with $0.5 trillion difference? This difference is possible when companies around the world continue to restructure & people continue to be laid off. The idea behind this is to cut costs & increase productivity. The best solution is to replace human labor with new technologies. The result is increasing productivity with decreasing market buying power. Ironically, while many continue to get laid off, high-level executives continue to get fat bonuses & other financial rewards. Rich-poor gap gets severe. When there's not enough buying power to cover production, overproductivity occurs. Consumer debt is created as a short-term solution which later result in bankruptcies. Inflation doesn't provide a fair & level playing field here. Governments around the world urge us to spend to save the ailing economy & yet major companies around the world are the biggest savers by cutting costs through layoffs, sub-standard employments & reduced benefits. Increasing productivity doesn't necessarily come with increasing value as the motive is to increase profits & most "values" created aren't what everyone wants or else no advertising or promotion will be needed since people will automatically go out & spend on every product/service produced. And I'm well aware of advertising used to instill awareness & another used to instill perceived values & needs to generate spending. When these happen (creating false values & generate the needs to accept these values), a lot of resources would have gone to waste. The market can never be efficient no matter whoever genius say otherwise as long as self-interest continue to be at stake. Or else no company advertising & promotion to instill consumer spending will work because everyone will know what's good for them without being impulsive buyers, as a reason. New job creation from the tech & knowledge-based industry is a bullsh*t excuse if the cost incurred from these jobs are less than the cost of retaining traditional jobs. These new jobs don't retain/increase net market buying power or else there won't be cost-saving from restructuring. And if market buying power decrease, overproduction occurs, consumer debt be promoted as short-term cure & the economy get into recession. Healthy competition isn't relevant here because in creative destruction only capital & resources change hands while everything else remain the same. Creative destruction producing competitive companies being effective, efficient, generous, benevolent & look after the market remain just a theory only kids will fall for as truth. In fact, there's no such thing as creative destruction in the current state of the world's economy. That means while a lot of values & more "values" continue to be created, a lot of resoures continue to be utilized as well as wasted. That leaves some doubt on whether the economic system is really not a zero-sum game. There's no such thing as win-win solution or else no one will be motivated to work, innovate & contribute. Imagine everyone has $1 million. While there won't be poor guys, neither will there be rich guys because there won't be differences to compare to. And being equal isn't an interesting thing for everyone. So if we want to be rich & well off, others must be made poor & lose. There's no other way even if the economy isn't a zero-sum game. Now, is the economy a great system or what?

Lucent Technologies: evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure?Concern that investor & creditor may have? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911 *****Read Case 2.1 Lucent Technologies on pp. 79-80 (Ch. 2) of the text. Then, compose a 500- to 750-word paper in APA format that includes your answers to questions 2-4 on p. 79 (Ch. 2).***** my email is preetypeeps@yahoo.com Thank you for all your help

What to konw about Ethanol Industry ? and the result of this political idea? another state plan ? Each year in early October my grandfather summoned my entire family to come to his farm and harvest potatoes. Hunched over on all fours, each person quietly filled their buckets with these "earth apples." Each year he used a different field for his crop. One year he would plant potatoes, the next year beets or wheat. The potato replaced the grain diet on the European continent. It became survival food, especially during the two World Wars. Dumplings, potato salad and mashed potatoes are only a few potato dishes found in a long list in the European cuisine. The easy adaptability of the potato to grow almost anywhere in the world can produce an annual crop of 322 million tons of potatoes. Many African countries greatly benefit from growing the potatoes because they make them more self-sufficient in their food production. In the age of nation building, stamping out of global warming, and driving for energy self-sufficiency, the new state appointed rival of the potato is maize, which is better known as corn – the yellow cob-born grain used in the production of ethanol fuel. As a blend with gasoline, biofuel powers automobiles and farm equipment. Its environmental friendly side effect is to reduce greenhouse gases, and some say it is the key to everlasting energy security in the future. Ethanol fuel production received its first stimulus after the Arab oil crisis in 1973. During 1978 the US federal government sealed the project with the Energy Tax Act authorizing tax exemptions by blending gasoline with 10 percent ethanol. A floodgate of free money opened up for farmers and ethanol producers as the energy and agricultural departments spent billions of dollars on subsidies. This year’s estimates are between $5.5 billion to $7.3 billion of our tax dollars to be handed out to corn growers. The incentives for farmers to grow corn in the US is not to meet the needs of a market that entails a healthy profit. Instead, they plant corn because they get paid to do so by a federal government interested in ethanol production. And as it turns out, producing ethanol is an expensive process. Archer Daniels Midland Corporation (ADM) out of Illinois, one of the largest producers of ethanol, received as much as $10 billion in subsidies between 1980 through 1997 along with favorable tax breaks costing taxpayers an average of $30 for every dollar ADM earns in profits. Add to that the $500 of federal and state subsidies it takes to reduce one metric ton of CO2-equivalent, one can literarily say that it is governments who heat up the globe by burning cash. This year corn production has already increased by 15 percent over last year. Even President Bush, not a green lover but excited about ethanol, is expecting that farmers will plant 90.5 millions of acres of corn in 2007 in order to meet the demands of ethanol production of 132 billion liters by 2017. Corn prices already went up by 50 percent. The average price per bushel of $1.95, which had held steady over the past eight years, jumped up to $3.05 in January of this year, and is expected to rise as high as $3.40. Corn is feedstock. It is consumed not only by humans but also by hogs, chickens and cattle. The drastic side-effect of higher corn prices is now reflected in the higher prices in the grocery store. The price of food went up 3.9 percent last year – faster than the inflation rate, which ranges around 2.7 in 2007. In particular, pork, beef, milk, eggs and poultry show drastic increases in their prices. So do fruits and vegetables. Considering that most people spend an average of 10 percent of their disposable income on food, higher prices in grocery reduces the spending on cars, homes or clothing. Health Nazis should also be concerned, since these higher prices drive people to cheaper processed foods that add to increased health risks in the poor segment of the population. The US Federal Government’s targeted goal is to replace gasoline with corn-based fuel as an alternative energy source. This has caught the attention of poorer countries. Mexico, for example, is gradually replacing agave, a spiky-leaved, large plant which grows on high and arid land and takes eight years to reach maturity, with corn. Agave is the main ingredient for Tequila. Mexico produced 25 to 35 percent less agave this year and farmers take less care of their agave crop in favor of higher corn prices. The World Food Program (WFP), which recently stated that it can no longer feed the poor due to the impact of biofuel demand on food prices, is foolishly encouraging African and Latin American countries to take advantage of the rising demand of biofuels by planting corn; a popular world practice that is now devastating 900 million of the world’s poorest which rely on the UN feeding program. It is quite clear that the state-inflated demand for corn is causing a global imbalance in food production. Farmers are replacing a variety of vegetables and fruits with corn due to the higher profit-per-acre corn brings. The two-year practice of crop rotation for corn drains the soil and requires more fertilizers on the following soybean crop. The additional cost ends up with the consumer. As food prices rise, it is the poor who suffer most from this inflated demand for biofuel. It is a burden that most people cannot afford as inflation keeps rising because of irresponsible spending and government debt. The federal budget for the fiscal year beginning this October called for $2.9 trillion dollars in government spending. It includes increases for all the various cabinet-level departments. Among them were a 5.4 percent increase for the Department of Energy and 3.6 percent increase for Agriculture. According to Richard M. Ebeling, President of The Freeman, the average US household would have to shell out approximately $25,845 in taxes to cover the budget. Include with it the US federal government’s pre-existing liabilities of several trillion, and the average US household would have to pay an additional $31,000 a year for 75 years to pay off the debt already incurred by government spending. How can an average income household cover the basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter when tax burdens already devour the wages of a lower income population? Poor people only become poorer as spending continues. Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ron Paul seems to be the only congressional member who understands the global effects of subsidies. During his second presidential debate the question came up about oil profits. His response was: "I don’t think the profits are the issue. The profits are okay if they’re legitimately earned in a free market. What I object to are subsidies to big corporations when we subsidize them and give them R&D (Research & Development) money. I don’t think that should be that way. They should take it out of the funds that they earn..." Here lies the answer to many of the energy questions. Let the private sector find a solution to new energy sources. Already technology advances at a rapid speed and its products remain ultimately competitive on the market where prices drop and become affordable to the average consumer. Just think of recent changes from VCRs and phonograph records to DVD’s and CD players, and the addition of cell phones and portable computers to modern life. All are now available at reasonable prices to low-income households. Industry continually comes up with new inventions that contribute highly to communication, organization and entertainment. The only sectors that remain high in cost with outrageous prices are sectors that are under government regulation and control: health care, medicine, education, housing, and now food prices. It would be a life-saving act of mercy to close these various departments of government, if people want to have a future for the next generation. The trouble caused on the global market by the federal government’s sponsored ethanol industry increasingly outweighs the good it does. The idea of sacrificing food production in the name of biofuel as a future source of energy is an irrational concept. The consequence of higher food prices due to corn production hasn’t come from consumer choice but from government coercion. If the demand for energy is increasing, and biofuel is the answer, then where will the world grow its food? The big believers in a government supported biofuel industry might have to prepare for another big tsunami to hit the shores of Third World countries and at home if this insanity isn’t stopped. Just don’t blame capitalism if and when it comes. July 21, 2007 Sabine Barnhart

Will Obama be able to fix the fall out of the inflation bubble with the buy american plan? In the last 15 years imports have roase 1500% while exports dropped 11000%.The credit debt of Americans has increased along the same lines as there are fewer dollars from GDP going to workers. This meant consumption went up and industry went down. This could be compared to a poor man with baloon loan except it was the retail buisness buying jets and outsourcing customers at the same time. When you send more then half of your growth to another country it baloons faster then a bad loan. When it fills to much with inflation and credit debt it pops. Then you have no industry, the retailer have a smaller cutomer base, and the banks have more debt then equity. The only solution that works is to rebuild what every enemy in the world fears American industry and are workers so much better that when even threaten it the crooks around the world scream in fear. We need to tax non American made goods in stores to make the consumer not want to buy them. There American made products but the unfair big imports gangsters want to kill are working class.

Could we not blame the subprime problems on the lack of basic math knowlege of American Consumers? Who promoted these folks past 4th grade? By 4th grade you should have addition and subtraction down - you should even be able to multiply. If you cannot make a budget for yourself you need to find someone who can, right? It seems odd that folks are focusing on lenders who did actually disclose the consequences of the loan. If these bump up rates were not in the contracts (that were signed by consumers) the lenders would not be able to impliment these rates. Perhaps the best solution is to not forgive any debt regardless of forclosure or otherwise. Let folks live with the burden and perhaps they will not repeat the mistake. Folks might even teach their kids how to budget. Folks might also learn that they need to have more than one weeks spare income....to live within your means no matter how much you have. I would live in a tent (and have) before I borrow more than I can pay. The lack of basic knowledge amoung a few Americans can have worldwide economic consequences-bad. Kind of interesting that I have to budget over 5% of my income to pay for local education, but the kids are never tought how to do taxes or make a budget they can live with. "They are the most sophisticated people in this transaction they should be held responsible for their greed." - Are you serious? - that's the beginning of a long and dangerous road.

Lucent Technologies Management? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

Why the polls say Obama is worse than Bush? There is much more to the fact that President Obama now polls lower than President Bush did at fifty days into his presidency than merely what bi-partisan pollsters Schoen and Rasmussen were able to point out this week. In nearly every category of performance, President Obama has adeptly demonstrated that he is in over his head, and sinking fast. "We the people" sense his inability to make sound decisions and thusly, the President has wiped out nearly all of the Republican support he enjoyed not long ago, and Independents are not far behind. When you consider the sector of the Democratic base that thinks raising taxes on everyday working people is bad, you even begin to see a schism in his base not previously thought to be possible. Seriously, in nearly every category of governance he has messed up royally, and is clueless, or wantonly stubborn to do the things that will fix any of the problems. At the end of the day something will change. President Obama will formulate new policies, or "We The People" will use a shepherd's staff rather easily in 2012. In my syndicated column and on my blog, I have been tracking the number of campaign promises that he has broken. Yet many of these don't even rise to half the level of importance on the issues that "We The People" are growing increasingly concerned about. On the economy, the unemployment numbers have skyrocketed in the opposite direction, escalating especially hard following the signing of his stimulus plan. The plan, according to leading ecconomists, that only dedicated roughly 3% of the total amount towards actual job creation. On this point Warren Buffet, one of President Obama's strong supporters in the campaign, expressed grave reservation. One of the great lies that President Obama continues to try to perpetuate is to say that "going green" would jump start economic growth. At the same time, he restated in his address to Congress what he had said on the campaign trail: that no family earning less than $250,000 would see an increase in taxes. Yet every family in America is going to pay additional tax under his cap and trade program. By essentially punishing "evil big business" for carbon footprints, the feds claim they will tax said "evil" businesses to show them who's boss. Oddly enough, those "evil" businesses will never feel the sting because they will pass the cost of the imposed taxes on to the consumer in the form of higher prices for simple things like electricty, natural gas, and whatever forms of energy they may use. On foreign relations he spoke loud and long about removing embarrassment from the reputation of the United States to our allies. He prompty begins his administration by giving the very first sit down interviews to networks run by our enemies. He then thrice insults Great Britain, our closest ally of all. He is left with major distance between his wishes and those of Israel, our closest ally in the mid-east. And topping it off, this past week his administration dealt with Brazil, our closest ally in South America, with the same kind of "White House gift shop" hospitality he had just kicked Great Britain in the knees with. On national security Chavez has taunted him, North Korea has threatened him, Iran has burned him in effigy, and Russia, Cuba, and Venezuela are plotting ways to put Russian long range bombers in our hemisphere and directly off our coast. On terrorism Iran, Al Qaeda, and bin Ladin are openly laughing at him. Maybe his giving Hamas -- a terror group, on the international terror watch list -- 90 million dollars, wasn't quite the bold stroke of genius his cabinet told him it would be. No doubt, however, that President Obama's most pressing problem with the public is the fact that now 83% of the American people say they are worried that the steps he has taken to fix the economy will have the opposite effect and make things worse. 82% of the American people say they are worried about the monstrous rise in the national debt. 78% of the American people believe inflation will come quickly. And 69% do not have any confidence in the role of government mandated solutions to the economy. There is also now no sense in the American people that the stimulus will have any positive effect any time soon. Only 60% hold out hope that it will have any impact realized four years from now. Most importantly by a margin of 12% the American people believe the stimulus will only help and unfairly benefit those who have already been irresponsible. Every single one of the actions described and taken in this piece are actions connected directly to Obama. Remember, a clear majority of Americans thought any form of stimulus help should have come primarily through reducing the tax burden, not saddling it up for rides into the sunset. We've heard the word "crisis" roll off the lips of the administration like syrup in recent days. But now, President Obama has one of his own. His policies are failing But now, President Obama has one of his own. His policies are failing in every direction. "We The People" are worried. So for a man who campaigned on change, why not start practicing what you preach Mr. President? http://townhall.com/Columnists/KevinMcCullough/2009/03/15/why_the_polls_say_obama_is_worse_than_bush?page=full&comments=true "Can't get anyone to pay attention to your rant on your own blog, so you've come trolling here, is that it?" No. I've been here for months now, racked up quite a few points. Look at my posting history. The opinions I give. does that look like someone who is trolling? "Say any silly thing you please on your own site...but the people who exchange information on Yahoo!Answers are neither your captive audience nor denizens of your private fishing pond waiting for a hook." Oh wow. Look at who is the self appointed monitor of YA. 90 percent of the stuff posted here are rants. I do post this for an exchange of information. Your problem is that its information you dont want to hear. "If you have a question, ask it. If you have a diatribe, find another platform." Oh sheesh. Would you like to discuss the info contained in the article or not? "Nice rant.Your republican rant site doesn't interest me though otherwise I'd turn on FOX news.Got a more credible source?" Another typical cliched liberal response. Cant find anything to dispute the information so wave it away by attacking the messenger, but not the message. Its a Rassmussen poll. "In reality, here is what last week's WSJ/NBC poll found: "[Obama] is more popular than ever, Americans are hopeful about his leadership, and opposition Republicans are getting drubbed in public opinion". Here is the last-week's polling writeup from MSNBC.com:" You too attack the reliability of the source, then have the nerve to give me polls from NBC and MSNBC? And last weeks polls at that? The point of the polls is to show that Obamas populsarity is less than what Bush's was at around the same time frame. Apparently that went way over your head.

If lack of spending were the problem how did the recession hit when we and govt were spending like drunkards? Ron Paul asks that question and says the reason capital isn't investing now is that the government has decided to act, and no one has a clue what whim might enter the government's head for action, and capital doesn't want to take that risk. What do you think? Here is the whole speech: "This week, Congress and the administration once again showed their lack of economic understanding, as they ramped up spending to record levels. On the surface, maybe it does look to some like the economic crisis is a liquidity problem, that the economy is in trouble because money is not changing hands at the pace it once did in the boom years. They believe that to get back to a booming economy money needs to start changing hands again – and the quickest way to do this is for the federal government to massively expand spending to pump new money into the system. If this is the extent of their understanding, no wonder they call for spending, taxing, bailouts and inflation. If spending was the solution, we never would have had a problem. During the last eight years, we’ve blown up the size of government and certainly had no want of spending on foreign or domestic policy. The Bush administration increased spending almost 20% its first term, and nearly doubled the national debt by the end of the second term. Certainly the case cannot be made that lack of government spending created the problem or can be the solution. This is mirrored in American households. According to CNN private sector debt is 365% of private sector gross domestic product. Many relied simply on steady and continued increases in home values to enable spending and secure more debt. That trend has proven unsustainable and many Americans are adjusting their finances accordingly. For the first time, household debt is beginning to fall as consumers wake up to the realities of paying off debt and living within their means. Wouldn’t it be great if the government would do the same? A lot of capital and liquidity is out there waiting in the wings as the new administration is bringing about government uncertainty, a concept discussed by Robert Higgs as prolonging the Great Depression. In other words, it is a foregone conclusion that government will act. But, like a chicken with its head cut off, no one knows which way it will run, just that it will flail about wildly until it collapses. Why start a business, when businesses could face the brunt of an increase in future taxation? Similarly, why hire a new employee if tax policy will just force you to fire them later on to stay afloat? Why buy a house, when you have no idea how future government meddling in the housing market will affect its value? Why spend at the shopping mall, or buy a new car when you don’t know how tax policy will affect your family budget, or if your job will come under the axe because your employer’s tax burden is increased? I argue that these kinds of questions and concerns contribute to the weakening economy. This type of tax policy keeps capital out of third-world nations, and now is keeping capital in hiding here in the US. People are concerned about security and savings again, retrenching their household and business budgets. The economy could be helped if the government would just get out of the way and restore sound monetary and fiscal policies. N, I don't think that is what Ron Paul is saying. But I disagree with government dictating the economy. I think we should let it go to true, sustainable levels. I think cutting oil subsidies should precede discussion of taxation.

Edit my report for me please? What Are the Causes and Effects of the Great Depression? The Great Depression has affected the United Sates in many ways and has caused a loss that we can never fully recover from. It was gap in U.S. history that had cost us many lives and jobs. The depression began in late 1929 and lasted for about a decade. The 1920’s or “The Roaring Twenties” played a big role in causes of the great depression. The 1920’s were a time of peace and great prosperity. After World War I, the “Roaring Twenties” was fueled by increased industrialization and new technologies, such as the radio and the automobile. Air flight was also becoming widespread, as well. The economy benefited greatly from the new life changing technologies. As the stock market soared, many investors quickly snapped up shares. Stocks were seen as extremely safe by most economists, due to the powerful 1920s boom. Investors soon purchased stock on margin. Margin is the borrowing of stock for the purpose of getting profit. If a stock drops too much, a margin holder could lose all of their money and owe their broker money as well. From 1921 to 1929, the stocks rocketed. Millionaires were created instantly. Soon stock market trading became America’s favorite pastime as investors bought stocks to make a quick profit. Investors mortgaged their homes, and foolishly invested their life savings in hot stocks, such as Ford and RCA. To the average investor, stocks were a sure thing. Few people actually studied the fundamentals of the companies they invested in. Thousands of fraud companies were formed to trick uneducated investors. Most investors never even thought a crash was possible. To them, the stock market “always went up”. By 1929 the stock market reached its all time high and investors were buying stocks by the dozen. Then all of a sudden prices started lowering. All investors sold their stock buy no one wanted to buy. This one day had caused a decade of Depression. The causes of the Great Depression In 1929 a panic on the New York stock Exchange introduced a mouth dropping effect. The stock market that had been giving everyone the profit they wanted collapsed. Several events that occurred before 1929 caused this to happen on a long term basis. During the roaring twenties everyone was prospering and making profit. The manufacturers were trying to sell there products to as much financial groups as possible, but they were unable to lower there prices so the poor can buy there products. (Lamb, Annette 2008). The government came out with the process of credit. It worked by a person buying a product over time paying a monthly bill. For example, if someone wanted to buy a washing machine that cost $500 but they only had $100. They would pay there $100 and then pay a certain amount every month till the washing machine was paid off. The government also charged the buyers more than the product actually cost in stores, so in the end they wound up paying more than the original price. This process put many Americans in debt. In record almost every American spent 75% of there yearly income on consumer goods. (Lamb, Annette 2008). When Americans put more on credit than they could afford they went into debt. This happened to many Americans making the nations total go down and causing a worldwide problem. The short term reason for the stock market crash of 1929 was the middleclass people getting into the stock market. Middle income people started buying stocks on margin in order to get themselves in on the economic boom the U.S. was having during the roaring twenties. At that time there were soaring prices for stocks. People paid a small percentage of a stock's price as down payment and borrowed the rest from a stockbroker. (Lamb, Annette 2008) The system worked well as long as stock prices were rising. If they fell, however, investors would have no money to pay off the loan. In September 1929, some investors began to think that stock prices became too high. They started selling their stocks, believing prices would soon go down. By Tuesday October 24, the gradual lowering of stock prices had become an all out slide downward. A panic resulted. Everyone wanted to sell stocks, and no one wanted to buy. Prices plunged to a new low on Tuesday October 29. A record 16 million stocks were sold. Then what Americans thought could never happen, the stock market collapsed. The effects of the Great Depression The Great Depression affected not only the people but the country as well. International trade and industrial production dropped sharply right after the stock market crash of 1929. Wages shrank, unemployment rose, and widespread misery proved that something was wrong with the economic system. The whole world felt the impact of this tragedy but Americans suffered it the worst. (Slee, Tom 2008) What people in America noticed almost instantly about the Depression was the reduction of their incomes. In addition to millions of wage earners who were thrown out of work entirely, millions more became part-time laborers. Even those who kept full-time jobs often had to accept a reduction in wages. (Slee, Tom 2008) In addition to the cut wages the Depression also affected international trade and manufacturing which shrank rapidly and filled many people with apprehension. In 1929 the estimated value of United States imports and exports had reached almost ten billion dollars. (Mandel, William 2008). By 1933 the value had dropped to three billion. Furthermore, American industrial output was cut in half. This had a big affect on the United States because most of there exports were used by the government to pay bills. With all the people taking there money out the bank to try and recover their savings, the banks went bankrupt. Thousands of banks were forced to close as a result of this. Business owners also suffered from the Depression. With there bills and debt rising they were no longer able to pay there workers or buy their products, and were forced to fire many workers. (Mandel, William 2008). It was hard to find affordable materials and eventually many businesses had no choice but to close. The dislocation of trade and industry, the falling prices, and the rising unemployment that came with the Depression forced statesmen and economists to seek remedies. But the experts could not agree in what was wrong or what measures would prove most effective in restoring the U.S economy. The solution to this problem would soon come. (Mandel, William 2008). During the 1930s the government was providing weapons, tanks and other much needed necessities to Great Britain under the lend-lease act. This was a pre-start to the coming war effort. In 1939 when America was hit at Pearl Harbor, World War Two struck out. Many Americans enlisted to go to war in order to get money and start a new life for there families. (Mandel, William 2008). With all the needed supplies for the war, the government hired people in factories to make weapons, munitions, tanks, airplanes and any other supplies needed for war. This was a big opportunity for unemployed people and many took the job as factory workers. As the unemployment rate was lowering so was American debt. (Mandel, William 2008). With people getting money and paying off there bills, they were able to buy everyday items to keep them going. This cycle opened many more businesses and eventually pulled the United States economy out of the Great Depression. ok well this is my social studies report on the causes and effects of the great depression. it is split into three parts. the first is the introduction and explains what led up to the great depression. the second is the causes and the third is the effects. i just need you just to edit my grammar and punctuation and im good. also i still need a conclusion if you can help me with that. :) ohh yea and the names with parenthesis and years are just giving credit to the sources i used. don't ask my teachers made me do it.... i did this all in like a night and i think i deserve to get it edited for all the work i went though. and i suck at grammar so i cant edit it myself.

Is buying a home a 'scam perpetrated by corporations'? According to this Yahoo article: "Altucher says the notion of buying a home being a ticket to financial security is a "scam" perpetrated on the American people by corporations seeking to keep us in debt, less mobile and with the storage to purchase all sorts of needless consumer goods. Rather than concentrating so much of your wealth in a potentially illiquid asset, Altucher says most of us would be better of renting." I agree with this article that owning a home has many downsides and hidden costs but I think the author's conclusion is all wrong. The solution is not for all of us to become renters. The solution should be: don't be a slave to your mortgage. Don't throw all your money into a house with a big mortgage payment, high property taxes, high insurance premiums, and high maintenance costs. Live within your means. A big house is nice but a big mortgage that leaves you with nothing at the end of the month is not. After the novelty of buying your house wears off, you will still be stuck with the mortgage. His solution that we should all rent is ludicrous. We can't all be renters. And we do pay these hidden costs as renters in the form of higher rent. And there is something to be said for controlling the space where you live, deciding who gets to live next to you, and doing what you please with your property. As a renter, you have little control over such things. Buying a house is more than just a financial investment. It's an emotional one. You can't put a price on things like clean air, lots of living space, good neighbors, pride of ownership, big backyards, a good place to raise kids, etc. Simply looking at it as a profit-loss statement is misguided. I have a low mortgage payment, low taxes, low insurance premiums, low maintenance costs while still enjoying plenty of space out in the country. It's because I did my homework and made some tradeoffs, not because I rent. http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/home-economics-the-hidden-costs-of-the-%27american-dream%27-409285.html?tickers=REZ,IYR,XHB,HD,LOW,DHI,PHM

NOW WILL ANYONE LISTEN TO ME? November job losses: 533,000 December job losses: 524,000 January Job Losses: expected to be 500,000+ Consumer prices are falling, commodity prices are falling, interest rates are either zero or approaching zero, manufacturers inventories rising. Nearly every sign points to deflation and a classic Keynesian downward spiral. It's all demand driven - unemployed people do not buy more stuff. They cut back on spending, not increase it. The solution is so obvious to me. Why won't anyone listen? Have the IRS cut a $5000 check to every person who filed their 2007 taxes (in 2008). (except those who died since). A lot of people will spend it, which will increase demand and help the economy directly. A lot of people will use it to pay down mortgage debt. This should help to dramatically reduce foreclosures and stabilize those loans underlying the toxic debt held by financial institutions. Many will use it to pay down their credit card debt, which will help to prevent what could become the next misfortune of the financial industry. Only those few who will save or invest it will not contribute to the economic recovery. But this check should not be covered by the government which is already overburdened by debt. Instread, the Federal Reserve Bank would cover the checks without issuing any debt to the federal government. In essence, they will be electroically minting the money without charging anyone for it. And since this is not a "tax rebate" or any such thing, it will not reduce Federal revenues (in fact, I suggest they not even have you claim it as income on next years taxes). This prevents the govt from taking on further debt, stops deflation and get's interest rates off the floor, stimulates the economy exacly as it should according to Keynesian economics, and puts people back to work producing products and services that people are going to be buying. Is there anyone willing to listen to reason? This just in: Employers slash 598,000 jobs in Jan., most since `74; unemployment rate bolts to 7.6 percent http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Employers-slash-598K-jobs-in-apf-14276946.html There were two flaws in Bushs $600 or $1200 tax rebate. First, it was not enough according to Keynesian theory - It should be somewhere in the neighborhood of 5X-10X that amount. The other problem was that it was a tax rebate - which reduced govt. revenues and saddled it with further debt. That's why I propose handing out all that money in a way that does not incur govt. debt or redcuing revenue. Mr. Nice Guy - pay attention - Deflation is the problem now - the opposite of inflation, and expanding the money supply is EXACTLY the best way to fight deflation. http://www.inflationdata.com/inflation/Inflation_Rate/CurrentInflation.asp scroll down to the table and look at the inflation data for Oct. though Dec. January is expected to be a negative number despite a key inflation fighting interest rate being 0%. Saving it would also help - reducing CC debt will prevent the next big hit to financials and paying down mortgages will help stabilize the toxic debt that is killing the financials. It's a win/win situation there. The only one's who will not directly help are those who invest it. Creating jobs will not help as much as you think. Nobody will recall employees or hire new ones when they cannot get rid of the inventory they already have. You need someone to buy that inventory before companies will start expanding production again.

Will Obama be able to fix the fall out of the inflation bubble with the buy american plan? In the last 15 years imports have roase 1500% while exports dropped 11000%.The credit debt of Americans has increased along the same lines as there are fewer dollars from GDP going to workers. This meant consumption went up and industry went down. This could be compared to a poor man with baloon loan except it was the retail buisness buying jets and outsourcing customers at the same time. When you send more then half of your growth to another country it baloons faster then a bad loan. When it fills to much with inflation and credit debt it pops. Then you have no industry, the retailer have a smaller cutomer base, and the banks have more debt then equity. The only solution that works is to rebuild what every enemy in the world fears American industry and are workers so much better that when even threaten it the crooks around the world scream in fear. We need to tax non American made goods in stores to make the consumer not want to buy them.

Do you agree with Ron Paul's assessment on government spending? From his weekly "Texas Straight Talk" newsletter: This week, Congress and the administration once again showed their lack of economic understanding, as they ramped up spending to record levels. On the surface, maybe it does look to some like the economic crisis is a liquidity problem, that the economy is in trouble because money is not changing hands at the pace it once did in the boom years. They believe that to get back to a booming economy money needs to start changing hands again – and the quickest way to do this is for the federal government to massively expand spending to pump new money into the system. If this is the extent of their understanding, no wonder they call for spending, taxing, bailouts and inflation. If spending was the solution, we never would have had a problem. During the last eight years, we’ve blown up the size of government and certainly had no want of spending on foreign or domestic policy. The Bush administration increased spending almost 20% its first term, and nearly doubled the national debt by the end of the second term. Certainly the case cannot be made that lack of government spending created the problem or can be the solution. This is mirrored in American households. According to CNN private sector debt is 365% of private sector gross domestic product. Many relied simply on steady and continued increases in home values to enable spending and secure more debt. That trend has proven unsustainable and many Americans are adjusting their finances accordingly. For the first time, household debt is beginning to fall as consumers wake up to the realities of paying off debt and living within their means. Wouldn’t it be great if the government would do the same? A lot of capital and liquidity is out there waiting in the wings as the new administration is bringing about government uncertainty, a concept discussed by Robert Higgs as prolonging the Great Depression. In other words, it is a foregone conclusion that government will act. But, like a chicken with its head cut off, no one knows which way it will run, just that it will flail about wildly until it collapses. Why start a business, when businesses could face the brunt of an increase in future taxation? Similarly, why hire a new employee if tax policy will just force you to fire them later on to stay afloat? Why buy a house, when you have no idea how future government meddling in the housing market will affect its value? Why spend at the shopping mall, or buy a new car when you don’t know how tax policy will affect your family budget, or if your job will come under the axe because your employer’s tax burden is increased? I argue that these kinds of questions and concerns contribute to the weakening economy. This type of tax policy keeps capital out of third-world nations, and now is keeping capital in hiding here in the US. People are concerned about security and savings again, retrenching their household and business budgets. The economy could be helped if the government would just get out of the way and restore sound monetary and fiscal policies. 60's rad - when have you ever seen a free market to know if it works? 60s rad what are you talking about? There was too much regulation and hes pointing out that bush doubled the national debt in 8 years. The banks were practically FORCED to lend. The fed reserve offered cheap credit when we had a negative savings rate? Do you know the first thing about economics, or do you just repeat what you hear on msnbc? Who cares if spending has been ridiculous for the past 28? It only got worse the last 8 years. blueevent this is money being taken out of the private sector, the sector that creates wealth in order to provide for the public sector, the sector that destroys wealth. Also Obama is only extending our military. Dont forget that we have 700 bases in 130 countries around the world, many of them from WW2! Dont you realize this is hurting the economy .... 60's rad. Its called rules of law. The people that commit fraud go to jail. What is your point? Ron Paul isnt suggesting that people should be off the hook for fraud. WHY DONT YOU UNDERSTAND THIS? blueevent you obviously dont know the first thing about the economy. Fannie was created by the government. It is GSE. It would not be able to do anything it did in a free market. Please understand what you are talking about before you talk about it. you guys fail to realize that free markets DONT mean no rule of law. It just means no legal plunder. No benefits for one group over another. Rule of law is fine and beneficial. it keeps everyone honest. But what we have now is not even close to a free market, so for you people to blame the free market is wrong because you have never seen a free market. do you pay attention blueevent? i didnt say they are a government agency I said they were created by the government and are called a GSE! you cant even read write it seems. And nonetheless they would not be able to do what they did in a free market. ** read right. rule of law are laws created to protect life liberty and property. I didnt say they couldnt survive in a free market, I said that they wouldnt be able to do what they did in a free market. Huge difference man. it seems you enjoy twisting my words to make an argument work for you. You cant show me how government spending is FAR better for the domestic economy while I show you that it is harmful because these funds are taken from the public sector. You must remember that there is no demand for the work the public sector is doing because if there was demand, the private sector would already be doing it. But you are self-righteous it seems and will choose to ignore the facts. Thats fine I deal with a million of you democrats per day. The fact is Im right. Accept it if you wish. Stay self-righteous if you wish. It doesn't make a difference to me. ** taken from the private sector.

Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communic? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

The following is an excerpt from Lucent,Technologies’ Management’s Discussion. Help? The following is an excerpt from Lucent Technologies’ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations: Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? C A S E S Case 2.1 Lucent Technologies

Giving Obama as much of the benefit of the doubt - How can this spending program not produce hyper inflation? He is calling it investment --- but he has printed more money in a shorter time frame ( or ordered it to be printed) than any other President I know of in either the 21 or 20 th century This spending program -- with the outsourcing of materials and jobs -- the inflation and stagnant wages the closures and lack of consumer ability to purchase looks like the Wiemar republic's strategy . That stradegy lead to a worthless currency and the fall of a young fragile democracy which later gave rise to Hitlers Nazi party Bush turned to the printing press --- and 700 billion appeared and then another 800 billion to buy out bad assets ( defaulted mortgages ) and tax payers bought banks houses Did his solution work ? Because Obama appears to have the same solution but with bigger numbers How will he finance the trillion dollar deficits on top of the 11 trillion dollar debt fight in Afghanistan and carry on daily expenses plus whatever other plans the government might have ? ----------------------- Giving President Obama the widest latitude and the biggest benefit of the doubt you are able How can this spending program based off printed money not lead to hyper inflation ? michelob86 But by putting out -- trillions in spending --- that must create inflation as there will be more dollars to the ratio of products and services The fed clawing it back is reactionary to that situation -- Once out they will take it back but after the inflation hits because of the ratio adjustments of dollars to products and services Even if the money was only out there a week and then they took it back -- you would still have a week of insane inflation That scheme is purely reactionary to a created problem -- isn't it ?

Has anyone read this article? Good food for thought? Why the Dollar Bubble is about to Burst? IRAN HAS REALLY DONE IT...more deadlier than the nuclear.. The Voice (issue 264 -) ran an article beginning, ' Iran has really gone and done it now. No, they haven't sent their first nuclear sub in to the Persian Gulf . They are about to launch something much more deadly -- next week the Iran Bourse will open to trade oil, not n dollars but in Euros' This apparently insignificant event has consequences far greater for the US people, indeed all for us all, than is imaginable. Currently almost all oil buying and selling is in US-dollars through exchanges in London and New York . It is not accidental they are both US-owned. The Wall Street crash in 1929 sparked off global depression and World War II. During that war the US supplied provisions and munitions to all its allies, refusing currency and demanding gold payments in exchange. By 1945, 80% of the world's gold was sitting in US vaults. The dollar became the one undisputed global reserve currency -- it was treated world-wide as `safer than gold'. The Bretton Woods agreement was established. The US took full advantage over the next decades and printed dollars like there was no tomorrow. The US exported many mountains of dollars, paying for ever-increasing amounts of commodities, tax cuts for the rich, many wars abroad, mercenaries, spies and politicians the world over. You see, this did not affect inflation at home! TheUS got it all for free! Well, maybe for a forest or two. Over subsequent decades the world's vaults bulged at the seams and more and more vaults were built, just for US dollars. Each year, the US spends many more dollars abroad that at home. Analysts pretty much agree that outside the US , of the savings, or reserves, of all other countries, in gold and all currencies -- that a massive 66% of this total wealth is in US dollars! In 1971 several countries simultaneously tried to sell a small portion of their dollars to the US for gold. Krassimir Petrov, (Ph. D. in Economics at OhioUniversity ) recently wrote, 'The US Government defaulted on its payment on August 15, 1971 . While popular spin told the story of `severing the link between the dollar and gold', in reality the denial to pay back in gold was an act of bankruptcy by the US Government.' The 1945 Breton Woods agreement was unilaterally smashed. The dollar and US economy were on a precipice resembling Germany in 1929. The US now had to find a way for the rest of the world to believe and have faith in the paper dollar. The solution was in oil, in the petrodollar. The US viciously bullied first Saudi Arabia and then OPEC to sell oil for dollars only -- it worked, the dollar was saved. Now countries had to keep dollars to buy much needed oil. And the US could buy oil all over the world, free of charge. What a Houdini for the US ! Oil replaced gold as the new foundation to stop the paper dollar sinking. Since 1971, the US printed even more mountains of dollars to spend abroad.The trade deficit grew and grew. The US sucked-in much of the world's products for next to nothing. More vaults were built. Expert, Cóilínn Nunan, wrote in 2003, 'The dollar is the de facto world reserve currency: the US currency accounts for approximately two thirds of all official exchange reserves. More than four-fifths of all foreign exchange transactions and half of all world exports are denominated in dollars. In addition, all IMF loans are denominated in dollars.' Dr Bulent Gukay of Keele University recently wrote, 'This system of the US dollar acting as global reserve currency in oil trade keeps the demand for the dollar `artificially' high. This enables the US to carry out printing dollars at the price of next to nothing to fund increased military spending and consumer spending on imports. There is no theoretical limit to the amount of dollars that can be printed. As long as the US has no serious challengers, and the other states have confidence in the US dollar, the system functions.' Until recently, the US-dollar has been safe. However, since 1990 Western Europe has been busy growing, swallowing up central and Eastern Europe .French and German bosses were jealous of the US ability to buy goods and people the world over for nothing. They wanted a slice of the free cake too. Further, they now had the power and established the euro in late 1999 against massive US-inspired opposition across Europe , especially from Britain - paid for in dollars of course. But the euro succeeded. Only months after the euro-launch, Saddam's Iraq announced it was switching from selling oil in dollars only, to euros only -- breaking the OPEC agreement.. Iran , Russia , Venezuela , Libya , all began talking openly of switching too -- were the floodgates about to be opened? Then aero planes flew into the twin-towers in September 2001. Was this another Houdini chance to save the US (petro) dollar and the biggest financial/economic crash in history? War preparations began in the US But first war-fever had to be created -- and truth was the first casualty. Other oil producing countries watched-on. In 2000 Iraq began selling oil in euros. In 2002, Iraq changed all their petro-dollars in their vaults into euros. A few months later, the US began their invasion of Iraq . The whole world was watching: very few aware that the US was engaging in the first oil currency, or petro-dollar war. After the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, remember, the US secured oil areas first. Their first sales in August were, of course, in dollars, again. The only government building in Baghdad not bombed was the Oil Ministry! It does not matter how many people are murdered -- for the US , the petro-dollar must be saved as the only way to buy and sell oil - otherwise the US economy will crash, and much more besides. In early 2003, Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela talked openly of selling half of its oil in euros (the other half is bought by the US ). On 12 April 2003, the US-supported business leaders and some generals in Venezuela kidnapped Chavez and attempted a coup. The masses rose against this and the Army followed suit. The coup failed. This was bad for the US . In November 2000 the euro/dollar was at $0.82 dollars, its lowest ever, and still diving, but when Iraq started selling oil in euros, the euro dive was halted. In April 2002 senior OPEC reps talked about trading in euros and the euro shot up. In June 2003 the US occupiers of Iraq switched trading back to dollars and the euro fell against the dollar again. In August 2003 Iran starts to sell oil in euros to some European countries and the euro rises sharply. In the winter of 2003-4 Russian and OPEC politicians talked seriously of switching oil/gas sales to the euro and the euro rose. In February 2004 OPEC met and made no decision to turn to the euro -- and yes, the euro fell against the dollar. In June 2004 Iran announced it would build an oil bourse to rival London and New York , and again, the euro rose. The euro stands at $1.27 and has been climbing of late. But matters this month became far, far worse for the US dollar. On 5th May Iran registered its own Oil Bourse, the IOB. Not only are they now selling oil in euros from abroad -- they have established an actual Oil Bourse, a global trading centre for all countries to buy and sell their oil! In Chavez's recent visit to London ; he talked openly about supporting the Iranian Oil Bourse, and selling oil in euros. When asked in London about the new arms embargo imposed by the US against Venezuela , Chavez prophetically dismissed the US as 'a paper tiger'. Currently, almost all the world's oil is sold on either the NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange, or the IPE, London's International Petroleum Exchange. Both are owned by US citizens and both sell and buy only in US dollars. The success of the Iran Oil Bourse makes sense to Europe , which buys 70% of Iran 's oil. It makes sense for Russia , which sells 66% of its oil to Europe . But worse for the US , China and India have already stated they are very interested in the new Iranian Oil Bourse. If there is a tactical-nuclear strike on - deja-vu - `weapons of mass destruction' in Iran , who would bet against a certain Oil Exchange and more, being bombed too? And worse for Bush. It makes sense for Europe , China , India and Japan-- as well as all the other countries mentioned above -- to buy and sell oil in Euro's. They will certainly have to stock-up on euros now, and they will sell dollars to do so. The euro is far more stable than the debt-ridden dollar. The IMF has recently highlighted US economic difficulties and the trade deficit strangling the US-- there is no way out. The problem for so many countries now is how to get rid of their vaults full of dollars, before it crashes? And the US has bullied so many countries for so many decades around the world, that many will see a chance to kick the bully back. The US cannot accept even 5% of the world's dollars -- it would crash the US economy dragging much of the world with it, especially Britain . To survive, as the Scottish Socialist Voice article stated, 'the US , needs to generate a trade surplus to get out of this one. Problem is it can't.' This is spot on. To do that they must force US workers into near slavery, to get paid less than Chinese or Indian workers. We all know that this will not happen.What will happen in the US ? Chaos for sure. Maybe a workers revolution, but looking at the situation as it is now, it is more likely to be a re-run of Germany post-1929, and some form of extreme-right mass movement will emerge... Does Europe and China/Asia have the economic independence and strength to stop the whole world's economies collapsing with the US ? Their vaults are full to the brim with dollars. The US has to find a way to pay for its dollar-imperialist exploitation of the world since 1945.. Somehow, eventually, it has to account for every dollar in every vault in the world. Bombing Iran could backfire tremendously. It would bring Iran openly into the war in Iraq , behind the Shiite majority. The US cannot cope even now with the much smaller Iraqi insurgency. Perhaps the US will feed into the Sunni v Shiite conflict and turn it into a wider Middle-East civil-war. However, this is so dangerous for global oil supplies. Further, they know that this would be temporary, as some country somewhere else, will establish a euro-oil-exchange, perhaps in Brussels . There is one `solution' -- scrap the dollar and print a whole new currency for the US . This will destroy 66% of the rest of the world's savings/reserves in one swoop. Imagine the implications? Such are the desperate things now swimming around heads in the White House, Wall Street and Pentagon. Another is to do as Germany did, just before invading Poland in 1938. The Nazis filmed a mock Polish Army attack on Germany , to win hearts and minds at home. But again, this is a finger in the dam. So, how is the US going to escape this time? The only global arena of total superiority left is military. Who knows what horrors lie ahead. A new world war is one tool by which the US could discipline its `allies' into keeping the dollar in their vaults. The task of socialists today is to explain to as many as possible, especially our class, that the coming crisis belongs purely to capitalism and (dollar) imperialism. Not people of other cultures, not Islam, not the axis of evil or their so-called WMDs. Their system alone is to blame. The new Iranian Oil Bourse, the IOB, is situated in a new building on the free-trade-zone island of Kish , in the Persian Gulf . It's computers and software are all set to go. The IOB was supposed to be up and running last March, but many pressures forced a postponement. Where the pressure came from is obvious. It was internationally registered on 5th May and supposed to open mid-May, but its opening was put off, some saying the oil-mafia was involved, along with much international pressure. ........................... In 2007 Crude was traded around 60 usd. Everyone know dollar was getting weaker and weaker day by day. Then US with the help of their two NYMEX & IPE exchange started raising the price of crude by Future trading on crude( called speculation). Today crude is around 140 usd. It means whole world who were paying 60 usd, now paying 140 usd, means demand of dollar increase to 230% and dollar start again rising. Even OPEC recently that in hike og crude, 60% contribution is due to speculation (Future market). Moral of story is USA has & will go to destroy any nation to keep its monopoly of dollar in world.

how soon will The Coming economic collapse happen? latly we have witnessed mass lay-offs , increasing debt , companies closing left right and centre. We dont feel the decline as much becuase the FED and banks have poured money into the economy keeping the consumer like you and me strong with our buyin power but thats only a temporary solution, even now we see californians reverting to IOU's for tax returns becuase there deficits are so high Please read this link which goes into good detail on our economic strength and the consequences we'll be forced to deal with, and tell me how soon you think the world economic collapse will take to come , keep in mind this would be worse then the great depression ever was only on a global scale. http://www.rense.com/general69/econm.htm

Some of the brightest economists and big investors don't see a bottom in the recession. Are you worried? Some are warning of a possible currency crisis AND a commercial real estate crash that will be worse than the current consumer real estate crash. Warren Buffet and George Soros and Jim Rogers appear to be quite worried too. They see no possible solution to the credit crisis and the billions and billions of dollars in toxic debt. Few folks have faith in the stimulus bill. What is going to happen? I used to think a worst case scenario was impossible in this day and age but I don't think anyone can stop this crash. This is bad and is getting worse. I wish there was some kind of emergency shut off valve but there isn't. I hate to be all gloom and doom but I think this is the real deal here.

The new bailout bill has a mental health parity? Thought this was about the fiduciary stability of the country? http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/30/campaign.wrap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview Consumer confidence is up, Wall Street rallies, Asian markets are recovering, HK grew, EU is handling its own, India is predicting it will not be affected, the "real" price of oil is resetting, the American public is more willing to see a loss on their quarterly statements than to take on an additional $700B (read trillion ++) dollars in debt. When you consider the term and language of the current plan it really invites that trillion to become at least 2 trillion. $605B in short-term loans has been made available to financial institutions through the Fed and central banking systems. Perhaps a slight reduction in interest rate can be offered to the most credit worthy, this should help offset the effect of LIBOR. How about a immediate small business credit guarantor program? It was really shoddy to release the $650B in secret, prior to the actual vote. Ireland was hit hard, but that was after a long period of unimaginable gains. Australia has its own mortgage scandal. Take a look at all the offshore banking institutions, some will be strong and others may not make it – too bad. Taxpayers don’t want to shore up institutions where the uber-wealthy go to NOT pay taxes and then be asked to pick up the CODB through loans AND bailouts. End the hysterics and regulate the market action. It is cyclical economics and we need to be in a regulatory cycle. Let investors bargain hunt – its better than risking the credit rating of this country any further. You got offshore drilling rights, the country is open to nuclear as well as alternatives. Energy and infrastructure are key to this country’s future and that’s going to be expensive and profitable. Big Oil has the dough to foot the bill. Olmert is ready to deal, Iran has a workable solution. Vladimir isn’t SO mad and General P is in place. All thats needed is a multi-trillion dollar international security deal and you will be golden. Oh yeah, the the TED spread, an indicator of credit risk, fell to 3.15% from a 26-year high of 3.58% Monday, indicating a slight easing of the market. The TED spread is the difference between what banks charge each other to borrow for three months and what the Treasury pays. Hi Digitaldeli - can you please post the pdf link to http://libertycoalition.net/cognitive-liberty/psychiatry-gone-wild-teenscreen-documents-exposed The article link is no good.

Who is really behind the sub-prime mortgage bailout,? If you thought Hillary Clinton’s government takeover plan for health care was bad, wait ‘til you see what she has in store for the housing sector. As always with the Clintons, the market is the problem and Big Nanny is the solution. Unfortunately for taxpayers, Hillary has bipartisan company in the Bush administration on this issue. Their election season prescription? Rewarding bad behavior. Punishing responsible behavior. Doing more harm than good. In case you’ve been living in a cave, there’s a painful credit crunch underway. The culprit is the subprime mortgage — a species of risky home loans to buyers with dubious credit and income. Cash-rich lenders doled out the subprimes hoping rising home prices would compensate for any failed bets. But when housing prices started plummeting and interest rates began rising, many borrowers started defaulting. Insolvency looms for countless lenders. Instead of letting lenders and subprime mortgage-holders suffer the consequences of their actions, politicians and grievance-mongers are riding to the supposed rescue. In a supreme irony, the very same champions of the needy in the Democrat party who complain constantly about the lack of “affordable housing” are now fighting tooth and nail to keep housing prices high. To “cure” the housing crisis, Hillary wants a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures for homeowners who default on subprimes. In addition, she wants a five-year freeze on the monthly rate for subprime adjustable mortgages. While she demonizes lenders as predatory out of one side of her mouth, the other side of her mouth is floating legislation to protect lenders from lawsuits and let them convert certain mortgages into “stable, affordable loans.” On top of all that federal meddling, she proposes a $5 billion — yes, that’s “billion” with a “b” — fund to “help communities suffering from high rates of foreclosures.” Jesse Jackson is also stirring the pot. With subprime victim sob stories flooding the news and anecdotes of minority homeowners in trouble, there’s no way the shakedown king could stay away. But the subprime mess isn’t a result of ruthless racial discrimination. If anything, it’s the result of too little discrimination by lenders too willing and eager to sign on people who had no business taking on mortgages. (And you know Jesse Jackson would be screaming either way. The lenders are damned if they lend and damned if they don’t.) Let’s boil this down to fundamentals: Why should the rest of us have to shoulder the burden because some buyers made poor choices, overextended themselves, and bought more house than they could afford? Why should other business owners bear the costs of lenders’ failed bets? And why are falling home prices such a catastrophe to be “fixed” in the first place? Sacramento Bee columnist Daniel Weintraub put it well: “It is great news when the price of energy, food, transportation, health care and consumer electronics drops. But for some reason it is bad news when the price of shelter drops. . . . Shouldn’t we be seeing stories filled with anecdotes about formerly priced-out middle-income families finally getting their chance at the American Dream?” There’s another side of the housing crunch equation that’s not making it onto the newspaper front pages and presidential campaign websites. “For every house sold because the buyer couldn’t make the payments,” Weintraub notes, “there is a buyer on the other end of that transaction who got a good deal. And for every foreclosure, there are probably 10 buyers of nearby homes who benefited from the general easing of house-price pressure.” Bingo. Fiscal conservatives ought to be balking at HillaryCare for housing. But President Bush’s treasury secretary, Hank Paulson, is singing a similar tune. He proposed a new safety net to stem the tide of home foreclosures through a bailout plan for homeowners with bad credit scores. They’d be eligible for relief from paying hundreds of dollars in additional monthly payments when their mortgage rates reset. Those who have been responsible enough to maintain good credit, however, will be out of luck. In addition, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has proposed that government-sponsored mortgage enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac be allowed to raise their loan limits and have their debt explicitly guaranteed by the public dole. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are colluding to protect the reckless and keep home prices high on the backs of prudent taxpayers. Who’ll bail us out from this perversion of the American Dream?

Does this make sense? <Lower Profits (still in the billions/mutli-millions)=Job Cuts/Wage Freezes=Consumers have less money=Less consumption/Overproduction=Lower profits> == Supply-side Economics <Progressive Taxation System=Less Government Debt=More money for public works projects/Health care/Education/Election Reform/etc...=Mitigated impact of Recessions=Private/Public Competition=More stable job market=Greater Social Justice, thus social stability, less class disparity> -- Possible solution to America's problems?? What do you all think of these equations? And if you do not understand everything I propose here, please look it up instead of dismissing it as what typical less educated individuals call "Communism"

How does cutting taxes increase government dollars for schools, roads, etc? I understand the Republicans concept on cutting taxes to put more money in the consumers pocket, in turn pumping more money into the economy by increasing spending. I realize this means a stronger economy and then a better standard of living, ideally. But if taxes are cut, how do we ever attempt to alleviate our national debt and deficit? How can we afford the refund tax payers will soon receive(which just seems like a quick solution to a much larger solution - like a band aid)? The only way I can think tax cuts work is if increased spending leads to increased profits and demand for money. With a larger supply more dollars are being taxed, even at a lower tax rate. Is this correct?

The following is a excerpt from Lucent Technologies Management? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911