Now, I don’t care who makes what. That’s between bosses and their worker bees. But I do get a little peeved when Uncle Sam tries to tell some worker he can’t get paid per his contract.

Before you go shouting about how Washington saved Wall Street and therefore we, as taxpayers, get a say over pay, let me ask you this. Does your mortgage company tell you what color to paint little Johnnie’s room? Does your car loan provider tell you how fast to drive? Does your health insurance provider tell control your diet?

Didn’t think so.

If some congressman came barging in this office right now, demanding I slash my pay, his goons would have to hold me back as I try to kick the lunatic’s shins. But if the owner of the company came with the same request, I’d have no choice but to open my wallet (and possibly refresh my resume).

But that’s the way business works. The guys that own the joint make the decisions, not the banks and certainly not government. If the workers don’t like it, they leave. It’s supply and demand and nothing else.

As taxpayers, if we want to be angry about anything, we should be angry that our government used our money to cover somebody else’s dangerous bets.

But now that Goldman shareholders are asking the company’s top brass to reduce the size of the corporate bonus pool and pass the money onto shareholders, the company had better act. If not, the free markets are going to take charge.

Shareholders are going to hit the sell button. Prices will drop. Capital will be reduced. And Goldman executives will be in pinch once again.

That’s the way the business world really works, no matter what Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank want.

When Obama was knocking on the door, Goldman said go away. But now that Mr. Common Shareholder is on the line, next Friday’s paychecks will have a few less zeroes.

Doesn’t that make you feel good? Capitalism is still alive.

***I have my eye on China and its quickly growing, yet fragile, economy.

Earlier today, I wrote a piece for TodaysFinancialNews.com that helps illustrate the potential of the Chinese markets. Instead of nervously awaiting every bit of economic data to hit the Street, savvy international investors are racking up big gains.

Here’s a bit of what I wrote:

You could say it is the tale of two economies. The best of times in Asia, the worst of times here in the States.

While domestic investors wonder when some rogue piece of data will kick out the wobbly legs supporting the top-heavy equities market, savvy Chinese investors are raking in gains from an economy soaring ahead a 7% per year clip.

Where would you rather have your money?

A look at two of today’s winning stocks will help you decide.

Zumiez is a sports-related retailer based in Everett, Washington. With 343 stores in over 30 states, its operations are as exposed to the nation’s economy as it gets. A look at the company’s third-quarter results prove how low our expectations have gotten.

Over the past three months, the $375 million company racked up profits of $5.1 million, down from last year’s corresponding figure of $6.8 million. The earnings-per-share figure of $0.17 beat expectations of $0.15, which helps explain why shares are up by over 10% so far today.

But that’s the only reason investors have to celebrate.

The company’s fourth-quarter expectations leave little room for joy. After booking revenues of $113 million last quarter, the company expects sales of just $122 million to $126 million over the next three months, which include the critical holiday shopping period. Last year’s Q4 was worth sales of $125.

Analysts, which were expecting a figure closer to $131 million, have plenty of reasons to feel disappointed with the news.

Of course, Zumiez is not the only retailer worried about a slower-than-expected fourth quarter. Keep reading here.

*** Finally, I cannot help but smile when I see the Associated Press reporting that gas prices have fallen by more than 15% so far this month. Here’s a hot tip for their reporters: It ain’t over yet!

As you probably know, over at TFN Strategic Trader, we’ve been all over this story. In fact, just yesterday we took profits on one of our four gas-related plays. But we didn’t dump it all. Instead, we sold half of our position, locking in gains of 400%.

Now we’re playing with the house’s money.

Want to know the move that led to these massive gains? Easy… read all about it here.

If passed, President Obama’s healthcare plan will reduce the quality and increase the cost of healthcare in America. But more importantly, it will severely undermine our already weak economy. To burden a country currently in the throes of a violent recession with such a bureaucratic albatross clearly illustrates the scarcity of economic intelligence in Washington.

In the first place, specifically taxing the rich to pay for healthcare for the uninsured is the wrong way to think about tax policy and is an unconstitutional redistribution of wealth. While the government has the constitutional power to tax to “promote the general welfare,” it does not have the right to tax one group for the sole and specific benefit of another.

If the government wishes to finance national health insurance, the burden of paying for it should fall on every American. If that were the case, perhaps Congress would think twice before passing such a monstrosity.

In the second place, the healthcare bill is just bad economics. For an administration that supposedly wants to create jobs, this bill is one of the biggest job-killers yet devised. By increasing the marginal income tax rate on high earners (an extra 5.4% on incomes above $1 million), it reduces the incentives for small business owners to expand their companies.

When you combine this tax hike with the higher taxes that will kick in once the Bush tax-cuts expire, and add in the higher income taxes being imposed by several states, many business owners might simply choose not to put in the extra effort necessary to expand their businesses. Or, given the diminishing returns on their labor, they may choose to enjoy more leisure. More leisure for employers means fewer jobs for employees.

More directly, mandating insurance coverage for employees increases the cost of hiring workers. Under the terms of the bill, small businesses that do not provide insurance will be required to pay a tax as high as 8% of their payroll. Since most small businesses currently cannot afford to grant 8% across-the-board pay hikes, they will have to offset these costs by reducing wages. However, for employees working at the minimum wage, the only way for employers to offset the costs would be through layoffs.

The uninsured self-employed, or those working as independent contractors, will be forced to buy insurance or pay a tax equal to 2.5% of annual income. Either choice will divert resources from more productive uses into an already out-of-control healthcare bureaucracy.

Sadly, the bill does nothing to restrain or alter the dynamics that have caused healthcare costs to spiral ever higher. In fact, the bill will intensify these pressures.
The simplest explanation of why healthcare costs so much is that demand exceeds supply. Demand is a function of how much people are prepared to pay. Insuring more people will drive demand for healthcare services even higher.

As costs continue to soar, expect additional tax hikes to fund the added expense. As these additional taxes further encumber a weak economy, the diminished tax base will yield lower total tax revenues – despite higher rates. As the politicians attempt to pass higher tax increases to make up for revenue shortfalls, a vicious cycle toward insolvency will ensue.

The worst part of the whole fiasco is trying to imagine the bureaucracy necessary to administer this plan. My guess is that the government provider will mis-price its policies on the low side, pushing employers to dump private sector insurance for the taxpayer-subsidized alternative. Such a system will further distort healthcare pricing and, ultimately, make a bad situation intolerable.

The enormity, complexity, and expense of this bill could well pull the rug out from what many of my cheerleading colleagues believe to be the beginning of an economic recovery. The way I see it, the economy is walking dead anyway, and this measure is the equivalent of a stake through the heart. But even if we manage to escape the grave this time, Congress is working on a few other ideas that will surely keep us buried.

Source: Obama’s Healthcare Plan: A Prescription for Disaster

[Editor's Note: Peter D. Schiff, Euro Pacific Capital Inc.'s president and chief global strategist, is a well-known author and commentator, and is a periodic contributor to Money Morning. Schiff is the author of two New York Times best sellers: "Crash Proof: How to Profit from the Coming Economic Collapse," as well as "The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets." For a more-detailed look at the United States' ongoing financial problems - and for some strategies that will help you protect your wealth and preserve your purchasing power before it's too late - download EuroPac's brand-new free special report, "Peter Schiff's Five Favorite Investment Choices for the Next Five Years." After one of the most-torrid rebounds on record this spring, U.S. stocks have stalled - once forcing investors to make important decisions against a backdrop of intense uncertainty. However, a a new offerfrom Money Morning seeks to eradicate at least some of that uncertainty, and actually represents a two-part bargain for investors by offering a Schiff best-selling investment book and a subscription to The Money Map Report newsletter. Schiff's new book - "The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets" - shows investors how to profit no matter which way the market moves, while our monthly newsletter,The Money Map Report, provides ongoing analysis of the global financial markets and some of the best profit plays you'll find anywhere. To find out how to get both, Check out our newest offer.]

“The bills were really quite similar, and I’m please to announce that we’ve been able to bridge those differences,” said Reid, the Senate majority leader. “Like any negotiation, this involved give and take, and if you don’t mind my saying so, that’s an understatement.”

The package has been reduced, however, from the $838 billion in spending approved by the Senate Tuesday to $789 billion.

Multiple Democratic sources had offered details on topics that had to be worked out CNN said.

• 35 percent of the bill would be tax cuts; 65 percent would be spending.
• Tax breaks for workers that had been set at $1,000 per family or $500 per individual would be scaled back to $800 per family and $400 per individual.
• $44 billion in aid to states, including money for education and other services.
• More funding to help people buy health insurance through the federal COBRA program.
• $6 billion to $9 billion for modernizing and repairing schools.

“The votes are there for passage, that is clear,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus told Bloomberg. Baucus said, while cautioning that lawmakers are working out details of the agreement. “Everyone is giving in here.”

Source: Senate, House Reach Compromise on Stimulus Bill