He didn’t say but I’m willing to bet that he gets hand outs. This way it keeps him from the evils of capital gains and losses.

Over the long haul, stock investment returns have very closely matched profitability. That is a fact. For short periods, emotion is a big factor and returns have varied widely.

It’s important to realize that the economic basis of the country and much of the world has been the ability to raise capital through the stock market.

It’s also important to know that since 1820, the approximate start date of modern capitalism, more economic wealth (translation: vastly improved lifestyles with vastly less effort) has been created than in all of previous history combined. The list of wonders includes life saving drugs, autos, airplanes, electricity, telecommunications, many-fold increases in food production, air conditioning, and on and on.

The long-understood flaw of capitalism is that it is cyclical and subject to boom and bust cycles. The only thing unusual about Sep / Oct 2008 is that it appears suspiciously coincidental with the late stages of an effort to elect the first true Socialist / Communist to the presidency of the worlds premier capitalist society.

If that criminal cabal succeeds in its quest to CEMENT THEIR OWN POWER at the expense of the wonders that free markets have brought to the world, then you should know that lifestyles worldwide will quickly revert back to the 1820′s.

So complain if you will, but enjoy your 800 square foot houses, 60 hour work weeks, shorter lifespans, walking to work, and spending 50% of your labor to buy food.

I think most people have heard about owning paper stock certificates, and the mentality way back then was that stock in a company was an investment that would grow over time. However someone had the bright idea that since the continued success of a company could not be guaranteed, that instead to buy stock in lots of companies doing the same thing and make it a fund people can buy into.

The same with our retirement funds and and everything else, and the result was the entire stock market was a massive casino game where stocks were traded like chips and everyone was supposed to win because the game was only ever growing bigger.

That said the economic crisis was something the West has brought on itself. However, I can’t help but look at the riches being spent by the rulers in the Mideast and not think their system is any better, only funded by the colossal money maker of oil.

I remember hearing somewhere how there were two kinds of salesmen in the world. The first is honest and helpful to his customers, and builds up strong loyalty. He doesn’t make lots of money, but has many repeat customers. The second is high pressure and in your face. He pulls every trick in the book to make you buy from him. He makes a lot of money, but only for a short while as he ticks everyone off and word spreads.

Most companies veer towards the second type in how they deal with people, and sadly most customers do also. They’ll take more variety and a slightly reduced price over quality service nearly every time.

Take those same approaches and apply them to the financial world, and it’s no wonder we’re in the mess we are now.

Capitalism at its finest!

Anyone ever hear that saying, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be”?

Just asking.

I work with a Muslim young adult who is studying to be a rocket scientist. Seriously, this guy is so smart, I look at his math, engineering and physics homework and I so don’t get even a piece of it, and I consider myself pretty smart. He’s not a rabid follower of Islam, though at work we all made efforts to help him get through Ramadan (we tried not to eat in front of him, much like you’d try to be nice to a person observing Lent and not do whatever he/she’s given up for the time period, be it chocolate or meat).

His minor concentration was psychology because he was interested …

When I read stuff like Shaykh Muhammad al-Munajjid’s words of wisdom [*cough*] I wonder, “Why is Sahil even trying so hard to do well in school, to pick such a challenging occupation, when his ‘religion’ would prefer he herds goats and someday have multiple wives?”

I think about that and am grateful his family had the good sense to trickle out of the region starting in the 1960s. He may have been born there, but he isn’t going back. The U.S. gets to benefit from his brain!

However, I do agree with this statement:

What has befallen the people is not a problem from heaven; rather it is a calamity that has befallen them because of their sin and what their own hands have wrought.

What has happened to our economy is due to sin (simplified somewhat)—people lied to get into homes they knew they could not afford, banks lied to get those people into homes they knew they could not afford, and (mostly liberal) politicians smiled and lied and said “home ownership is an American right.”

Most of us haven’t done anything wrong and we are paying for those sins. And it wasn’t/isn’t God’s job (or even my job or your job, my friends here at S&L) to save people from their own stupidity and greed.

The absolute insanity of their “points” is clear.

But that the people oppressed by this thinking seem to suck it up is just a crime against humanity. This century is shaping up to be a real deusey . But as has been said, we understand technology….and we can fix it and maintain it. They….cannot.

It must be getting old counting the camel equivalents.