We, the participants, are mostly from the Financial Services Industry (Brokers, Advisors, Money managers, Analysts, etc.) and have been in the “business” for average 25+ years. (Some, a lot longer.) We’ve experienced recessions, “crashes”, “bubbles”, etc. We tend to be optimists, try to be realists and look for opportunity.
This time it is different. See …
http://cftc.gov http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases.shtml http://www.nyse.com http://sec.gov
http://www.whitehouseforsale.org
http://www.opensecrets.org
The rules, regulations and controls that were put in place, starting in 1932, to protect the public and investor have been removed, revoked or simply ignored at the directions and control of Financial Institutions (Banks, Wall Street, Insurance Cos. Funds, etc.) who “own” Congress and both Democratic and Republican Administrations.
It was hoped that this would be reversed. Instead, Obama’s selections to head the SEC, CFTC, Treasury, etc. have a history of doing all the “bad things” and being controlled by “Goldman Sachs, Etc.” They are making things worse.
Ticking Time Bombs:
There is suspicion that shares “supposedly” held for clients (Brokers, Mutual Funds, ETFs, etc.) in omnibus “street name” accounts do not exist. (Ala Madoff)
Fixed Annuities are supposedly in “safe” income producing investments that are available on demand. Instead they may be giant Ponzi Schemes. The possibly of escalating demand for redemption is real. Any “bailout” would be many times the trillions of our current mess.
“Program trading”, exchange listed “derivatives”, uncontrolled “shorting”, etc. have turned our Financial Markets into giant “casinos”.
There is growing fear of a US dollar collapse.
The “average investor” (Us too.) is frightened, confused and has lost faith in the “markets” and government.
And more and more …..
Bottom line: We don't trust government or the markets. We believe both are thoroughly corrupt. We decided to no longer post Ideas and Outlook.
(We will contribute to http://seekingalpha.com and other idea/info/outlook sources.)
