Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2422381)

I suppose that slow, sure ride to Hades worked for so many but did anyone notice the sled was really picking up speed? Many are so focused on their "portfolio" and don't have a clue as to what the real issues or problems are other than the stock market.

Where this country was heading is far worse than WWII and we have made the turn but aren't out of the woods yet. When the leader of another country states that the diagnosis of the current situation being tackled is correct, you know this can't go on.

Originally Posted by rsmurano (Post 2422384)

Out of the last 40+ years of doing my own investing, I have sold most everything 2x and that was at the end of 2021 and 4 months ago. I stayed in during the 2000’s meltdown, the 2007/8 financial crisis, and the COVID crisis in 2020. I was a long term investor and let it ride. Now, I’ll sell in a heartbeat when I think it’s close to its highs. When you are in your 50’s and older, why do you want to ride a crisis out? You know a recession can happen at anytime and last a few years and then it could take years of gains to get to where you were years ago. Also, just because you have dividends coming in today, doesn’t mean that they will be there tomorrow, during bad recessions this is the 1st thing that companies stop paying.

You have heard the phrase: “pigs get slaughtered!” This applies to people that keep stocks/funds forever instead of taking part or all of the gains from a big jump and put it into another stock/fund that is low and out of favor but has good potential. There were many stocks that I got in during late 2022 and during early 2023 that had 100’s % gains and then I got out of all of them during 2024 and everything else last December and bought money market instead. Did I sell at their highest peaks? No, I don’t time the market for the highest highs or for the very bottom. So I made 200% on 1 instead of 250%, or I sold Apple to soon because it went up 15% after I sold, but I made 100% during the time I had it, so I’m not going to fret the small stuff.

Now, just like in 2022, I want the market to go down another 20%. I want to see Apple back around $140, nvidia lower by 15% - 20%, and a lot more good companies go much lower so they are ripe to make someone a lot of money when the recovery starts.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2422390)

Unemployment compensation is an insurance program, and the premiums are paid by employers. Only some unemployed people qualify for it, and it's only available for 12 weeks unless a state provides more than that. In the case of state-sponsored extensions, those extra payments are usually paid for out of state income tax payroll deductions. Florida doesn't have income tax.

But if all the money paying for unemployed people is that big a deal, maybe more people should've made a louder noise when DOGE started firing tens of thousands of government workers whose families relied on their income - and now have none.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2422618)

Yes, basically RICH people get laws passed to favor RICH people. The problem is that passing WEALTH down through the generations is what eventually (maybe now) leads to KINGS. Warren Buffet set up a SMALL trust fund for HIS children so as to make them well off, but NOT RICH. That way each of his children will have to make their own fortune for themselves, if that is what THEY want to do. Virtually, he did what the tax law of the USA SHOULD do, which is force every generation to make it on its own. That way each generation does NOT become lazy and effete. It makes for a smarter and stronger Democracy. NOT having a strong Democracy is why we are in this GIGANTIC PICKLE today.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2422638)

I agree. And to add. Why were so many IRS employees fired?

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2422632)

I believe that TIME will tell a different story.

Originally Posted by Dahabs (Post 2422439)

If you know anything about Asian cultures, they will not. Something about loosing face.:shrug:

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2422600)

What would then be preferred to happen to those less fortunate members of society. Let them live in tents in the closest National Forest and eat any roots and wild plants that they can find. Would that be the Christian thing to do????

Originally Posted by kingofbeer (Post 2422603)

Hogwash! We buy their tv's and other products at great prices. What is the "ripoff"?

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2422390)

Unemployment compensation is an insurance program, and the premiums are paid by employers. Only some unemployed people qualify for it, and it's only available for 12 weeks unless a state provides more than that. In the case of state-sponsored extensions, those extra payments are usually paid for out of state income tax payroll deductions. Florida doesn't have income tax.

But if all the money paying for unemployed people is that big a deal, maybe more people should've made a louder noise when DOGE started firing tens of thousands of government workers whose families relied on their income - and now have none.

Originally Posted by Pugchief (Post 2422305)

If there was a person who would tell everyone to drive an EV and an electric golf cart but owned neither himself, would that person then suggest that passing money down to your kids and grandkids is evil if he didn't have any kids or grandkids? Wild speculation, of course.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2422649)

Warren Buffet believes that passing inheritance money down to his kids is WRONG. He is one of the smartest men in the US. Think of it as HIS opinion, NOT mine and it will make a lot more sense.

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2422644)

All the money we are subsidizing for those who are unemployed. Ever hear of welfare, food stamps, housing subsidies and those who have no hope or dreams of having their own homes in a safe neighborhood?

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2422649)

Warren Buffet believes that passing inheritance money down to his kids is WRONG. He is one of the smartest men in the US. Think of it as HIS opinion, NOT mine and it will make a lot more sense.

Originally Posted by Whatnext (Post 2422654)

I fail to see what that has to do with tariffs or Chinese exports!

Originally Posted by dewilson58 (Post 2422652)

Oooooooo, don't forget, Warren has given $3,000,000,000 (that's billion) to EACH of his kids foundations............which they run and received compensation from.

:faint:

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2422639)

So Daddy and Mommy should take their money and build their kids homes, pay for their cars, vacations, medical bills and so forth and not work on their own estate because the government should confiscate that. Sound idea, NOT.

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2422640)

So you won't be audited every ten minutes. You realize there are not that many billionaires for all those extra employees to audit, they're done with them in a heart beat but then you are next.

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2422648)

You do realize unemployment compensation is only payed out if one has been employed in the first place and is relatively a short period of payout. Who picks up the cost of living tab when jobs aren't available other than padded, unnecessary government positions where they could work as the assistant to the assistant, of the assistant to the assistant, etc.

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2422656)

When we don't have jobs in America for it's citizens because of massive Chinese exports from the jobs there, we need to provide for our citizens here. You can't see the correlation?

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 2422657)

Do you really think he will ever change his mind. Some people believe socialism is the greatest thing in the world and his opinion will never change.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2422660)

Ideally, the Federal government should use Estate tax to move money from Rich Families into more useful and socially stabilizing ways. For example - build back the vanishing middle class. Remember when the US was strongest (around the 1950s) BECAUSE of its GIANT middle class. Back then, the US government LED in RESEARCH leading to many important scientific and medical breakthroughs. Why !!!! They EVEN prevented polio and measles back then !!!!!