SeekingTruth

Retail Investors Should Get Out of U.S. Stocks - Now

To Khargosh,
Thanks for your POV.
Yes, I gree that many people are expecting a fall, and are investing accordingly.
My comment was mostly for young very busy investors who may getting beguiled with current momentum plays.
In that respect, I meant what I said and stand by it.
More experienced investors better know the risks, can take skilled defensive measures , and should as always , name their own poison.
The author did his best, and I still appreciate his efforts.

Retail Investors Should Get Out of U.S. Stocks - Now

Gold Digger,
Your concerns are well reasoned but not necessarily prophetic.
Nevertheless, anyone having high cash needs within the next two years or so would be well advised to take heed.
Many fundamental and technical indicators are flashing caution signals, and some are shouting.
Full attention is warranted, and the casual, or too busy to stay alert small investor could get badly hurt (again).

The Coming Consequences of Banking Fraud

As comprehensive as one should expect on this site of free flowing thought, ie. great work!
Right or wrong, we are of like mind.

Five Reasons the Market Could Crash This Fall

Whether the market crashes in the Fall or not, the established modus operandi of the markets will still be in place, and as such, it shall remain "The Big Casino in the Sky".
There is and always has been far too much corruption in the markets. That is why there are millions of dollars of fines being paid every day with no admission of innocence or denial, in itself another form of corruption supported by the "system".
As long as we have State supported and protected Corporate corruption, the markets shall remain far more treacherous to the small investor than they truly should be, and to an increasing degree, unacceptably so.
So step up ,place your chips and spin the Big Wheel as you wish, you just might hit it lucky.

A Summary of Q1 Bank Earnings: World, You Just Got Hustled

In previous comment , I failed to acknowledge author with thanks for a fine article.
The money laundering shell game and Ponzi scheme that has now reached conspiratorial levels with agencies of the Government and private enterprise will no doubt continue to wreak havoc for many years to come.
The author has given us much to research, chew on , and ponder, and my concerns are that much of it , and even much more hidden in the woodwork, will yet prove to be true.

A Summary of Q1 Bank Earnings: World, You Just Got Hustled

I agree with AV Altendorf about computer productivity if referring to the PC variety ,i.e..

Disastrously flawed software, a punitive learning curve, persistently bad hardware, esp. Hard Drives and latent flaws, (which continues to this day), outrageously high prices, and frequent replacements prevented productivity from being positive.
But it did get people to spend money and learn some skills, so it had some positive effects even back then . Also it advanced the state of the art faster than what it otherwise would have been.
Another plus was the incorporation of computer technology into a variety of products.
Did it increase net productivity in the early years, and "save us " from anything ?
Definitely NOT.

Global Markets in Review: Risky Assets Surge

In general , I agree with Jeremy Granthams forecasts/concerns about an "enduring" recovery, and possible sub normal growth, main difference is that this may well be the optimistic case (as contraction is also possible a la Japan) , but which few even remotely consider, and anyway, they are not enough in number or influence to make an impact either way.
A good time to depart from the herd in one's thinking.

Financial Elites and the Enronization of America (Part II)

Why would money have to be backed by just gold and silver?
Why not include all precious metals and commodities of high value, including oil?
In today's world, even medical services could be considered.

I have had many of the same thoughts well expressed in your article, but our system, as it stands , assures that substantial improvements will NOT take place - guaranteed.

It's a "fix the dike only after it fails" type system i.e. Katrina and TVA 5.4 million cubic yards "toxic coal fly ash spill" onto homesites and into the Emory river are recent examples. Even the "fixes " are almost always less than satisfactory, and cost vast multiples of proper preventive measures.
Financial meltdowns, and financial ongoing parasitic effects due to present and future money laundering shell games are also guaranteed.
It's our system, change and improve it , or get used to it.

Bank 'Stress Tests' Not So Stressful

Stress testing is constructive only if properly implemented.

The complexities of doing this, even it were the true goal, would take far longer than we have time to accomplish it.

Therefore , the stress testing only serves as a smoke screen for the authorities to do whatever it was they were going to do anyway, while indicating some degree of "credibility".

Better that we had applied stress testing to the agencies that betrayed and failed us and allowed this all to blow up in our faces.

PPIP Watch: Banks as Bidders and Sellers...Hmm, Remember Enron?

Enron proved to be not the end, but just the beginning of the money laundering shell game now unfolding with great skill, adroit cunning and deception.

Congress was not set up to deal with this kind of chicanery which is why they are so inept at it.

The agencies that were set up to deal with them have betrayed us and are a part of the problem, and in fact, have colluded in it.

Only a small handfull of Congressmen are seeking to resist all this and bring the malefactors to justice.
If the American people fail to recognize them, and fail to offer them our full support, then we will all live to regret it - GUARANTEED!

Are the Big Banks Gaming the Taxpayer?

Yes, they always have.

10 Reasons Why We Still Haven't Hit Bottom

This question is tangential, but I think it is worth asking:

What industries, activities, projects, programs, goals, and all in total are going to produce and generate general prosperity in America in the coming years on the macro economic scale necessary to accomplish this for the majority of the American people, and esp. your children and mine?
While technology, medicine, information, alternative energy, etc. etc. will certainly play their part, they have demonstrated that they alone cannot carry the day to the depth and degree necessary and required for general prosperity.

It seems to me that we must reasses our entire framework and begin to adjust immediately to meet new requirements or we are going to plunge and condemn an entire generation into a plight of poverty, uncertainty, and undeserved misery.

Ultimately, the stock market will reflect whatever degree of success we have or don't have in this regard.
How have we performed in the last ten years?

Better that this had been forseen and prepared for a generation or more ago. Are we up to the task?

Global Markets in Review: More Grim Economic Fodder

Superb work, Prieur, and far better than I can find and distill in a reasonable amount of time from a large stack of popular publications, and even solid online data sources.
Thanks again.

The 'Stress Test' Challenge: Transparency and Intellectual Integrity

Rakesh, a well reasoned article, and I am at least as skeptical as you are.
A major problem , is , however, a truly valid stress test is so incredibly complex, that with even perfect transparency, few, except the most advanced experts would understand it and be able to certify it as legitmate and valid. A major dilemma to be sure.
This means that we would have to trust our officials and experts. I do not trust Bernanke or Geithner, although I think they are basically good people by most standards, I think their politically (and corporate) motivated pressures and tendencies outweigh their prime objectivity in these matters.
So it looks like more of the same 'ol same 'ol relative to ever knowing the truth. Wonder how much of the taxpayers TARP money etc. will end up in Swiss bank accounts, and elsewhere overseas?

Financial Bailout Remains a Work-in-Progress, Chaos-in-Motion

Rakesh, Your term "State Capitalism" strikes me as most apropos in describing our current direction. A term I have used for years is "Quasi Capitalism-Socialism" but I think your term is more succinct and "telling".

Thanks again for a job well done and for a new highly descriptive and appropriate term.