Originally Posted by Guest

Maybe not, but I do understand what moves markets and how to employ strategies to take advantage of those movements. Making the statement that the markets are a ponzi scheme just shows your lack of understanding as to what REALLY moves markets.

Originally Posted by Guest

If, they privatized Social Security and people were allowed to invest their own money we would create a similar thing to what happened with sub prime mortgages.

Nothing can mess things up the way government can. We were convinced that real estate always goes up. Except like the stock market IT DOES NOT ALWAYS GO UP. People bough homes that they simply could not afford-convinced that real estate only goes up. When, the price of those homes DROPPED dramatically and people were allowed to buy those homes with little or nothing down, THE PEOPLE EXPECTED AND GOT A GOVERNMENT BAIL OUT.
Terms like SHORT SALE became normal language. The profit on that house that you OVERBOUGHT would have been yours had it gone up. In a short sale you stick the bank the taxpayers WITH THE LOSS DUE TO YOUR DECISIONS.

If, they were to allow self directed investment of YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS people who did poorly would expect those that did well in the market to be taxed to make up for their mistakes.

ASIDE: The stock market always goes up. Only if you think LONG TERM. Someone who invested money JUST before the 1930 depression did recover their money JUST IT TOOK TILL 1967. The current rise in the stock market is due to GOVERNMENT ACTIONS. On a historical basis-LONG TERM, people is our age group would or should build a treasury bond ladder. The ten year bond would pay 2% above the rate of inflation. Today, we have a 2% rate of inflation and ten year bonds pay about 1.5%. If, you are getting more than that it is because your bond fund is leveraging the bonds they hold-they buy more bonds by selling the right to buy bonds they already hold.
TRANSLATION-there is much higher risk in bond funds then many people realize. OH, and you pay your full tax rate on the interest your receive. GOVERNMENT ACTION has forced people into the stock market. oNCE AGAIN AS IN THE 1920's everyone is in the market. everyone is making money-THE STOCK MARKET ALWAYS GOES UP-UNLESS IT DOESN'T.

Originally Posted by Guest

Look at your current money it says based on the full faith and credit of the US. I think few Americans do not wonder about faith it our government.

We have been told, or perhaps MISLED ok deliberately MISLED that China is our largest creditor. The FACT is we actually owe slightly more to Japan the to China. THE REAL SHOCK IS that Japan and China together hold about 20% of our national debt SOCIAL SECURITY HOLDS 42%
OF THE NATIONAL DEBT. Our TRUSTED? government spent the money we/I paid to them over 45 years AND THEY SPENT IT.

As to the stock market, we hear and we accept that trillions have been lost or gained. IF, MONEY IS REAL IT CANNOT SIMPLY DISAPPEAR. If, I invest and loose 1,000 that 1,000, if it is real, would move from my account to someone elses. We toss about the term BUFFET LIKE.
Hell you are not even invited to the market where he buys and sells stocks.