The 5 Biggest Financial Turkeys of 2011 (and a Small Side of Stuffing)

by Bruce Watson Nov 23rd 2011 11:10PM
Updated Nov 28th 2011 4:04PM
The 5 Biggest Financial Turkeys of 2011 (and a Small Side of Stuffing) Thanksgiving has come and gone, bringing with it this year's blessings of family and food. But if you find yourself craving another helping of turkey -- and are having a hard time swallowing this year's grim economic headlines -- we offer this banquet of tasty morsels from the bottom of the financial barrel. Warning: keep a bottle of Tums handy!


Bon appetit!

Bruce Watson is a senior features writer for DailyFinance. You can reach him by e-mail at bruce.watson@teamaol.com, or follow him on Twitter at @bruce1971.


Learn about investing from the comfort of your own home.

Portfolio Basics

Take the first steps to building your portfolio.

View Course »

Investment Strategies

Learn the strategies you need to build a winning portfolio

View Course »
View All Courses

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

95 Comments

Filter by:
savemycountry911

Leno said that since the super committee failed Obama will create a super duper committee.

November 29 2011 at 9:26 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
tmoschetti

"estimates that an expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy would raise $700 billion."

Two points. Bruce, EVERYONE who paid federal income taxes, had their taxes cut! Would you, or someone, please led me to the legislation showing that only the wealthy got tax cuts. If you can't show me the legislation, or tell me where to find it please STOP THE "TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY" DEMAGOGUERY!

And as a matter of FACT, the Bush tax cuts gave the LARGEST percentage cut to the BOTTOM bracket, from 15%-10%, a 33% decrease, AND EXEMPTED millions of low income workers from paying ANY income taxes. Strange item in a tax cuts "for the wealthy" bill!

Next, if we cut spending by $700 billion (or less than HALF of Obama's ANNUAL deficit for this years) we know, we don't have to "estimate" that we''ll save $700 billion!

November 29 2011 at 3:12 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Mike Kuhne

"Man shall not lie with another man as with a woman it is an ABOMINATION" The minute Obama signed the Gay marriage act into law we were finished as a nation. As it was with Sodom and Gommorah, so it will be with us. Obama is NOT a Christian as he claims, he is a LIBERAL. He does not believe in a vengful God,, or in any kind of God at all. He is driving this nation into the ground, and if re-elected, will continue to do so.

"I am a Christian" LIAR!!

November 29 2011 at 3:00 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Mike Kuhne's comment
savemycountry911

I think abortion pretty much destroyed us as a nation.

November 29 2011 at 9:23 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
villyrod13

Do something right go to www.fatima.org and send a email to the Vatican for the aponing of the third secret to the public and the consagration of Russia for peace to the world. Thanks

November 29 2011 at 2:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jamesflea

circa 1949:

Father, must I go to work?
No, my lucky son,
We're living now on Easy Street
On Dough From Washington

We've left it up to Uncle Sam
So don't get exercised.
Nobody has to give a damn..
We've all been subsidized.

But if Sam treats us all so well
And feeds us milk and honey,
Please, daddy , tell me.. what the hell
He's going to use for money?

Don't worry , bub, there's not a hitch
In this here noble plan..
He simply soaks the filthy rich
And helps the common man.

But, father, won't there come a time
When they run out of cash
And we have left them not a dime
When things will go to smash?

My faith in you is shrinking , son,
You nosy little brat;
You do too damn much thinking son,
To be a Democrat.

November 29 2011 at 1:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to jamesflea's comment
fitzgerard

Could you kindly tell us the source of this excellent verse?
Jerry C.

November 29 2011 at 4:12 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
savemycountry911

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great poem.

November 29 2011 at 9:24 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
crorbach

ah, another liberal writer (who doesn't pay taxes himself) thinks it's a failure to raise taxes....

you idiot, the "super committee" was going to cut in the back years while they collect taxes now!!!

are you stupid!? they will NEVER use the proceeds to pay down the debt.....they will throw it into their interests to get re-elected! don't you understand history you MORON!

November 29 2011 at 1:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
themeeker

If a good idea comes from the left, the wrong wing will always say no, no matter what.

Vote democrat and say no to the hatemongers and naysayers.

November 29 2011 at 1:04 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
Our Staff

America we need to wake up and transform government by electing new leadership. This truly happens when we as a nation comes together and stand as a people and not electing those who will favor the vote as this only make a clear path for these politicians to continue their deceiving practices. We as a people (once the strongest in and before the world) must elect on principals, morals, ethics and honorable references to bring about real change. The politicians are far worse than the people putting them there because of greed back by the power we give them and allow to continue. It is not for the moment anymore focusing on our own needs but looking beyond ourselves and making decisions for our future members (children-grandchildren) so they will prosper and this has to be our reason to elect not based on right this moment and all I can get forget everything and everyone else. Our sacrifice now and voting out the comfortable corrupt in Washington has to be our premise.

November 29 2011 at 12:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
drweaks1

like most here I am sick and tired of our government and its inability to do things right...I am also sick of hearing its ALL president Obamas fault...you think this started yesterday?this has been brewing since Regan-look it up...Greenspan had his ear on free trade then and put it in the works...Clinton just happened to be the idiot that signed it...and make no mistake-whoever was in office at the time was going to sign it...globalization-free trade--lowsey immigration policies-de-regulations-tax breaks for the wealthy-all have its hand in where we are now...not just yesterday but brewing for decades...

November 29 2011 at 12:33 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to drweaks1's comment
partydoc1

Actually this began with the formation of the federal reserve in 1913, then social security, and then Johnsons war on poverty was the beginning of the end. Thats when Dems realized they could whole heartedly buy votes

November 29 2011 at 1:47 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
trbgd

Corzine (MF), Barney Frank (Fan and Fred), Obama ( too many list)--------there is a pattern here....What things do they all have in common? How can the people that vote so blindly even look at themselves in the mirror?

November 29 2011 at 12:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply