Actionable Thinking

Goodmorning! After18monthsofnationalcampaigningbymorethana1,000candidatesandarecordsetting$6billionspenton advertising,theAmericanpoliticalsceneremainsexactlywherewestarted:BarackObamaintheWhiteHouse, DemocratscontrollingtheSenateandRepublicanscontrollingtheHouse.PresidentObamadefiedtheRepublicanslogic thatasluggisheconomywouldopenthedoorforMittRomneybywinning51%ofthepopularvote.Ofthe9 presidentialbattlegroundstates(Florida,NorthCarolina,Virginia,NewHampshire,Ohio,Wisconsin,Iowa,Colorado,and Nevada),PresidentObamawon8of9(losingjustNorthCarolina).TheDemocratsgetoutthevoteeffortsimplywas betterthanthatoftheRepublicans(source:BTNResearch). TheBushTaxCutsweresettoexpire2yearsago(12/31/10)buttheyweregivenanextra24monthsoflifewhen Congressionalleaderscouldntmakeabig/toughdecision,defaultingtoasmall/easychoice.Congressmaystillnot resolvealltheoutstandingissuessurroundingourfiscalcliffbeforeyearend2012(i.e.,expirationoflowerincometax ratesandpayrolltaxrates,AMTissues,2013spendingcuts),butalastmonthefforttoavertanationalrecessionbegins nextweekattheWhiteHouseundertheleadershipofPresidentObama(source:BTNResearch). HouseSpeakerJohnBoehner(ROH)openedthedoortoacompromiselastWednesday(11/07/12)whenheindicateda Republicanwillingnesstoraisetaxrevenueinspiteofhisreluctancetoraisetaxrates.Democratshavemaintained theirbeliefthatweshouldraisetaxratesinordertoraiseadditionaltaxrevenue(source:BTNResearch). NotableNumbersfortheWeek:
1. THOSE THAT DID AND DID NOT An estimated 126 million Americans voted in last Tuesdays (11/06/12) Presidential Election while an estimated 93 million Americans that were eligible to vote opted not to vote, i.e., for every 4 folks that voted, 3 folks did not (source: Center for the Study of the American Electorate). 2. PERCENT OF THE WHOLE 57.5% of eligible Americans voted in last weeks Presidential Election. The state of Minnesota had the greatest turnout of eligible voters (74.6%) for the 4th consecutive Presidential Election (source: Center for the Study of the American Electorate). 3. OIL AND MILK - If the price of a gallon of milk is $2.79, then a barrel of milk would cost $117.18 (note that 1 barrel equals 42 gallons). The price of a barrel of oil closed last Friday (11/09/12) at $86.07 (source: BTN Research). 4. RARE - Only 23 pitchers in major league baseball history have thrown a perfect game. Only 17 men in political history have won election to the White House twice including Barack Obama (source: BTN Research). manage their financial information.
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