Suze Orman Returns to Biggest Loser

Financial analyst and consultant Suze Orman returned to Season 9 to speak with the contestants about the problems with their FICO scores and debt. Orman was on the show in Season 8 and correctly predicted Danny to be the winner based on his high FICO credit score. This season, she has predicted that Sunshine will be the winner.

In my opinion, this is a very important step in the process of telling America how important it is to be fiscally fit. Our country spends too much money that it does not actually have. We can see this from the personal level in your own life when you choose to use the credit card or make a purchase for a new appliance on credit. However, we can also see this from the government as the national debt continues to increase every year, with record amounts of increase during the Bush Administration.

Suze Orman compared the problems of debt to the problems of obesity on The Biggest Loser on tonight's episode. Just as obese individuals carry large amounts of weight, the weight of debt brings us down also. The nagging collection calls and credit bills can often be mentally and financially exhausting.

If you listen to nothing else from me, remember that Mr. Opinionated said TAKE CARE OF YOUR DEBT!!! Get out of debt now, and stay that way! Do not let your life be overrun by debt. Trim the fat of your overweight fiscal life so that you can finally breathe better, move freely, and live your life again. Stop allowing other people to tell you how to live your life. Take control today!

- Mr. Opinionated

U.S. Trade Deficit Increases ... Again!!

I just found this story posted on the News section of Yahoo!.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100413/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/us_economy

Apparently, the federal trade deficit has continued to increase and grew by $39.7 billion in the month of February alone. For those of you that do not know what a trade deficit or surplus means, here goes. The U.S. economy sends out exports and receives foreign-made imports for sale. A trade deficit means that the U.S. is bringing in more imports than it is shipping out exports.

Some economists in the field believe that the current trade deficit has increased because the U.S. economy is finally starting to break out of the recession (yeah right!). In other words, Americans are able to purchase more, while the value of American products internationally has remained the same.

If you want to know the truth, the problem is that China is tired of being pressured by the U.S. government to adjust is currency to account for the dollar. The U.S. dollar holds very little weight in the international economy and China knows it. The U.S. has been working hard for almost a full year now to force China to change its currency amounts to allow the U.S. dollar to compete. President Obama even tried discussing it with Hu Jintao (the Chinese President) over last week's Nuclear security summit.

Enough is enough! Quit trying to pressure China! They aren't going to bend to negotiations, threats or any other political antics. We need China more than they need us right now. We have a struggling economy that is showing small signs of life for the first time in years and our military continues to be overstretched in the Middle East. The U.S. has very little value in the international marketplace for economic powerhouses like China. Every time the U.S. faces international struggles, we flex our proverbial muscles. The days of these intimidation tactics having any effect are over. We aren't the biggest kid on the block. Find another way to work with China or find another way to reduce the trade deficit. Just as companies need to find other ways to compete, the U.S. exports must find alternative ways to compete in a global arena.

Isn't economics fun??

- Mr. Opinionated

Inaugural Post

Welcome to the inauguration of the Bottom Line. I am your host Mr. Opinionated. Each day you will have the opportunity to read fresh, educational and overly opinionated topics about the world we all share. You may love it or hate it, but that's the point! Share your own thoughts or just read mine! If there is something you want to see opinionated, all you have to do is ask!

Enjoy the Ride!

- Mr. Opinionated