Is it just me?

[Azred]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: The only thing I'll say on the Clinton/Gore comments is I'd let 'em back in for a third term if it would bring back the economy of the 90's. Are you watching the market lately? Bush's fault / not Bush's fault - whatever - I had more money when the fat pervert was in office than I do with the monkey in office.

There are four reasons why the economy has stalled:
1) too many investors engaging in speculative behavior with stocks. This is just a nice way of saying gambling; when you gamble, you eventually lose.
2) too many companies pad 401(k) plans with company stock instead of money. When the stock take a hit, so do the 401(k)s, eroding retirement savings.
3) the economy had to have a natural stall after a period of growth. History proves this.
4) the accounting disasters such as Enron, WorldCom, and Tyco. To say that this is criminal is an understatement.
If you want to invest money in stocks, then statistics show that you must invest in 10 to 15 different industries to minimize risk. This is the power of diversification.
I can show you--or anyone--how to invest and make money regardless of whether the markets go up or down. [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img]

The reason the Democrats are being so vocal lately is because elections are coming up. As the party out of power, they are supposed to criticize the Republicans so they can win elections and become the party in power. That is our system.

I agree with Cerek--I hardly think Barbara Streisand knows what it is like to be in touch with the common person. When was the last time she stopped in for a cheeseburger on her way to the WalMart? [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

[Timber Loftis]

Azred-
First, I admit I'm going into an [img]graemlins/offtopic.gif[/img] excursus.
I'm no expert on this, believe me. But, I ask, why diversify when the market as a whole is tanking? Wouldn't that simply assure you that you get to rise and fall with the Dow (like my mutual funds are proving to do). Wouldn't you be better-served to watch individual stocks closely and pick them up a few at a time. Simply put, my understanding is that long-term market prospects are down, but daily fluctuation of the market and individual stocks is large enough to allow day-traders to still make a buck.

Again, I'm no expert. Don't have $$$ or time to try it this way, though I will take note of expected good stock picks in preparation for the (hopefully sooner rather than later) day I can play the game.

[Iron_Ranger]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Wow, Iron Ranger. It's good to know there are still close-minded new-idea-hating blindly-following-the-status-quo right wing family value folks out there to keep us from evolving. And friendly? The only thing I'll say on the Clinton/Gore comments is I'd let 'em back in for a third term if it would bring back the economy of the 90's. Are you watching the market lately? Bush's fault / not Bush's fault - whatever - I had more money when the fat pervert was in office than I do with the monkey in office. Oh, and the Senators. Do you know that the MAJORITY of Rep. senators don't even own passports? That's embarrasing. Such astounding lack of travel among the affluents who run this Country shows a serious lack of cultural understanding. Remember what we learned about the U.S. historical isolationist view in the first half of this century? On the same note, you can't honestly understand any issue unless you view it, truly, from both sides. This is why you *should*, just for shits and giggles, take Grojlach's advice and at least attempt seeing it his way. If I really don't like someone, I go read a book they've written so I understand them better. "Nothing Narrows the mind so wonderfully as foreign travel" - Old WH40K rulebook (quoting more correctly the original citation)

Wow, where to start on this one.

First off, I never said I hated new ideas. Your are sterotyping that because I am a conservitive that I am close minded. Tell me...Where was I talking about new ideas and being openminded? I was crtizing the radical left, thats all. And yes, I would critize the radical right if they did something incredible stupid. And Yes, believe it or not, people can carry on these conversations while being friendly.

Azred covered the encomy deal. And last, you dont know me personaly. So how can you say that I am close midned, open minded, how I should look at things, how I shouldnt, yadda yadda yadda. I do look at things from both sides usally, but most of the time I cant see any scence in most leftist views [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 10-03-2002, 02:11 PM: Message edited by: Iron_Ranger ]

[Timber Loftis]

Well, I.R., I have to admit I was being rather polemico again. Plus, I was still on my first cup of coffee. Believe it or not I have been accused of being a staunch conservative myself - but my beliefs are mostly centralized around being a devil's advocate more than anything else. I guess I'm equally annoyed by the left and the right depending which issue we take up and discuss.

But, I haven't seen the left acting as out-of-control as in previous times. I think the left just go so quiet for a period after 9/11 - when there was nothing for anyone to do other that say "oh my god" in the wake of the shock - that it strikes us when the old disagreements start back up again. Enough time has passed that those opposed to the right won't hesitate to disagree, whereas within the first period of time after 9/11 any rebuff could have been viewed as anti-American. The polls have showed this as well. President Bush's approval rating reached what will likely be an all-time high shortly after the tragedy, and has gone more-or-less slowly down until now as the unity of the moment has worn off. It's still pretty high, but not above 80%.

[Iron_Ranger]

No worrys [img]smile.gif[/img]

Of course I will get hit with the 'Yes lets all blindy follow News polls', but I think Bushs approval rating is around 69% or so. Maybe 60% actaully.

[RevRuby]

i didn't read ver many replies. i just want to say we all have our opinions, and we all have the freedom to voice them. but if streisand opinion mattered she wouldn't be made fun of on south park.

[Charean]

I think the left and the right wings are out of their tree... but that is nothing new.

The elections coming up are making both sides pretty vocal, as Azred pointed out. Just like Bush spouted "middle of the road" promises until he got elected and then did what he saw fit. Both sides tend to go as moderate as possible to get elected and then do what their party tells them to.

I look at it this way - if we were all the same, and had the same ideas, we would have no way to grow or learn as people. It is the adversity and challenge of new ideas that makes us who we are. So watching the radicals on both sides can be a learning experience. At the very least, we can see what works and what doesn't. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[johnny]

Originally posted by RevRuby: i didn't read ver many replies. i just want to say we all have our opinions, and we all have the freedom to voice them. but if streisand opinion mattered she wouldn't be made fun of on south park.

The guys who created Southpark make fun of EVERYONE.

[Spelca]

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: Personally, I'm still waiting for Alec Baldwin to make good on his promise to "move out of the country" if Bush became President...and waiting....and waiting........and waiting.....

I think he said he'd move out if Bush got elected president. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Azred]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Azred- First, I admit I'm going into an [img]graemlins/offtopic.gif[/img] excursus. I'm no expert on this, believe me. But, I ask, why diversify when the market as a whole is tanking? Wouldn't that simply assure you that you get to rise and fall with the Dow (like my mutual funds are proving to do). Wouldn't you be better-served to watch individual stocks closely and pick them up a few at a time. Simply put, my understanding is that long-term market prospects are down, but daily fluctuation of the market and individual stocks is large enough to allow day-traders to still make a buck. Again, I'm no expert. Don't have $$$ or time to try it this way, though I will take note of expected good stock picks in preparation for the (hopefully sooner rather than later) day I can play the game.

I agree, it seems like if you wait for a stock price to hit a bottom you can buy it, then sell when the daily fluctuation in the price goes up. However, this is what causes investors to "lose their shirt", because no one, not even "experts" who have been trading stocks for 30 years, can predict the market. This is because the market's nature is counter-intuitive.
I don't know if you remember the "crash" back in 1987, in which many people lost a lot of money, but if you compared the Dow average on 1 January 1987 versus 31 December 1987 the market actually gained about 2%. The long-term nature of the stock market is positive growth. A proper diversification means that you can take advantage of this growth, regardless of which way the day-to-day averages turn.
The way to succeed is to pick a dollar amount, say $100 per month, and invest that amount every month, especially if the market is going down. [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img] When the market is down your money buys more; when the market eventually rises your investment will skyrocket. Mathematically, I can prove that a stock price can fall 75% yet a monthly investor can turn a profit. You can't beat that with a stick! [img]graemlins/awesomework.gif[/img]
In short, pick a good mutual fund that is well-diversified and invest monthly.

This may have been really off-topic, but I can correct that. *ahem* The economy follows its own patterns and nature, regardless of which party is in power or the economic policies they institute. The Fed, which governs interest rates, have much more influence on the economy.

On to another of Iron Ranger's original topics: since Senators are in charge of American foreign policy, they should go to foreign countries more often to get a first-hand grasp of the situation. No, individual Senators do not have the authority to negotiate treaties, agreements, or accords, but more knowledge never hurt anyone. Were I a Senator, I would be travelling abroad as part of my responsibilities. Since I am over 30, perhaps I should run.... [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]