I'm so pleased to have a knowledgeable fellow amongst us!
Thanks for the advice Lasivian!
"The stock market is a long-term investment."
..Yes, I guess so... seems regulators are putting a crimp in short selling, from what I read in the news.
"If you put your money"
? What money?
Any I see goes to houserent, oil companies, the grocer, and utilities! In that order.
"Just look at the general numbers for the NYSE and the Dow and they keep going up."
Lasivian, I disagree with that statement.
The market has fallen considerably. I expect it to fall below 10seven very soon.
Any periodic bull runs that may be seen periodically, IMO, are no more than insiders clearing out their portfolios in a manipulated market. And the brokers on the floor are loving it! ...drawing a sale commission on each one of those trades.
Perhaps you are doing well with aspects of the market I've never considered.
GM and Ford are almost a joke, if it were not so sad.
They are symbolic of our once great manufacturing capacity. The strength of our country.
Yet I'm SURE you are more knowledgeable than myself.
What is your take on Bear-Sterns? Or citi? wachovia?
What would be your position on the plight of the airlines?
May I ask, could you interpret the VIX for us? I never quite understood...
Would you give us your take on the consequences of the debacle with fannie mae and freddie mac?
"As an example, Warren Buffet has said..."
Has not Warren Buffet come out and said he would NOT be able to generate the level of profit he has in the past, and the market would be troubled for quite some time?
I would agree, the Wizard of Omaha is indeed very wise, yet not brutal, as bill gates is...
"If you are *TRULY* worried about the world falling apart, this is my recommendation."
I'm not worried. I'm very concerned for ALL of us. The elderly on fixed incomes in the short run, and our young people in the long run.
"Concentrate on paying off your property, this is a safe investment in any climate, if you own a place to live free and clear that's a major bonus in hard times."
Huh? WHAT property? I'm a tenant.
FREE and CLEAR
Whew!
(I'll calm myself down...)
SAFE INVESTMENT
?
(Didn't work!!! ...maybe I better take a prozac!)
My friend Lasivian. Are you NOT aware of a 'housing bubble' which exists, not only in our country, but in Britain, Spain, and some other countries of consequence? The current numbers of foreclosures are staggering.
I have been advised by others that home values have plummeted perhaps 30% in many places.
Do you have different information you could present here, to the group?
As a small exercise, as you go about your affairs, would you tally the number of vacant storefronts in your town?
I don't mind declaring the number is noticeably growing, in my town.
In part, a consequence of this degradation, coupled with rising costs of conducting their own business, many municipalities shall need to raise taxes to remain solvent and avoid bankruptcy as a few of our large cities already have.
At this point, may I point out that NO ONE is free and clear.
No one owns their land in fee simple.
Mandatory tax, rent to STATE, on many homes today, is MORE than what I paid for a house payment, many years ago.
Surely you are aware of many people simply dropping off keys to the home at the bank, if they even do that...
"Put about 2000$ into gold..."
...Many of us would indeed, enjoy that luxury...
"Put about 1000$ into low-quality handguns."
My friend, I'm considering I should have a yardsale and sell off some things I no longer use much and saving the money towards purchase of a Ruger 10-22 rifle and a box of shells.
You are obviously a wiser fellow than myself.
I/we shall look forward to your advice in response.
...and I say 'we' because I do not feel as though I'm the Lone Ranger!
Thank you for wishing me god luck!
I think I'll need it.
Best,
rmptr
