[stockstradr]

“read Charlie Wilson’s War which details the CIA’s involvement in Afghanistan during the Russian invasion. It’s an incredible story and a fascinating read.”

I absolutely agree. And what are the lessons from that previous period of history?

What is the Great Dark Secret of history that Americans are too ignorant to know or too proud to discuss? Read this excerpt from an interview with Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Adviser:

Q [Interviewer]: When the Soviets justified their intervention by asserting that they intended to fight against a secret involvement of the United States in Afghanistan, people didn’t believe them. However, there was a basis of truth. You don’t regret anything today?

B[Zbigniew Brzezinski]: Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter. We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam War. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupportable by the government, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire.

OK, so what is the Great Dark Secret?

THE FACTS
1) Carter, Brzezinski, and others in the administration decided back in July ’79 to fund covert CIA involvement in the Afghanistan civil war with the goal to give Russia a Vietnam-like failed war.
2) That conspiracy became wildly “successful” and many historians later concluded it not only gave Russia a Vietnam-like failed war (on a greater scale), but was a pivotal element in the collapse of the entire Soviet Union.
3) Afghanistan was the real victim and “paid” the price to the tune of over ONE MILLION Afghan lives and their country was reduced to rubble, all so that America could give Russia its Vietnam on Afghani soil.
4) America sent countless CIA operatives into Afghanistan during the war, to train Afghanis how to be terrorists against Russians in Afghanistan. America sent millions of dollars in weapons into Afghanistan. What downed the 333 Russian helicopters lost during that war? It was mostly American shoulder-fired missiles.
5) Osama bin Laden was trained to be a terrorist and gained his reputation during the Afghanistan war. He fought the Russians with weapons purchased with our tax dollars, and facts suggest he was trained in part by our CIA to be a terrorist. At that time he was viewed by our CIA as a key operative within Afghanistan. It is a FACT that many Afghans who later became key leaders in Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda terrorist training camps, were in fact trained to be terrorists by our CIA with our tax dollars. Later, as Al Qaeda, they trained the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. Our CIA taught the teachers. So what turned them from “terrorist friends of the USA” (who attack Russians) INTO Al Qaeda terrorists who hate and attack Americans?

That is the first part of the Great Dark Secret. Here comes the second part…

6) After the Russian withdrawal, America turned its back on Afghanistan and abandoned that country in the middle of their frigid winter…with its million dead, many more million wounded, and all of Afghanistan reduced to rubble.

From the Afghan perspective, America betrayed Afghanistan after Afghanistan had made the ultimate sacrifice so that America could give Russia its Vietnam. Our CIA trained thousands to be terrorists and funded the Afghanistan war so they could hone their skills. Then America really pissed them off, made those terrorists hate our guts – at a time when those killers were looking for something to attack (because their civil war was over)

If you understand that (and also America’s support for Israel), then you understand the root causes behind the very birth of Al Qaeda, and the 9/11 attacks upon the USA.

So what has America done recently in Afghanistan after 9/11? We had another war on their soil, reducing their country AGAIN to rubble, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Afghans. Then we abandoned their country again so that we could go stage an unwarranted attack against Iraq. That IS history repeating itself in Afghanistan..and now in Iraq.

What America should have done after 9/11 is not destroy Afghanistan but instead completely rebuild Afghanistan, which would have been keeping our promise (and moral debt) to Afghanistan.

What is really scary is how few Americans understand the above history.

[stockstradr]

“read Charlie Wilson’s War which details the CIA’s involvement in Afghanistan during the Russian invasion. It’s an incredible story and a fascinating read.”

I absolutely agree. And what are the lessons from that previous period of history?

What is the Great Dark Secret of history that Americans are too ignorant to know or too proud to discuss? Read this excerpt from an interview with Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Adviser:

Q [Interviewer]: When the Soviets justified their intervention by asserting that they intended to fight against a secret involvement of the United States in Afghanistan, people didn’t believe them. However, there was a basis of truth. You don’t regret anything today?

B[Zbigniew Brzezinski]: Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter. We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam War. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupportable by the government, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire.

OK, so what is the Great Dark Secret?

THE FACTS
1) Carter, Brzezinski, and others in the administration decided back in July ’79 to fund covert CIA involvement in the Afghanistan civil war with the goal to give Russia a Vietnam-like failed war.
2) That conspiracy became wildly “successful” and many historians later concluded it not only gave Russia a Vietnam-like failed war (on a greater scale), but was a pivotal element in the collapse of the entire Soviet Union.
3) Afghanistan was the real victim and “paid” the price to the tune of over ONE MILLION Afghan lives and their country was reduced to rubble, all so that America could give Russia its Vietnam on Afghani soil.
4) America sent countless CIA operatives into Afghanistan during the war, to train Afghanis how to be terrorists against Russians in Afghanistan. America sent millions of dollars in weapons into Afghanistan. What downed the 333 Russian helicopters lost during that war? It was mostly American shoulder-fired missiles.
5) Osama bin Laden was trained to be a terrorist and gained his reputation during the Afghanistan war. He fought the Russians with weapons purchased with our tax dollars, and facts suggest he was trained in part by our CIA to be a terrorist. At that time he was viewed by our CIA as a key operative within Afghanistan. It is a FACT that many Afghans who later became key leaders in Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda terrorist training camps, were in fact trained to be terrorists by our CIA with our tax dollars. Later, as Al Qaeda, they trained the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. Our CIA taught the teachers. So what turned them from “terrorist friends of the USA” (who attack Russians) INTO Al Qaeda terrorists who hate and attack Americans?

That is the first part of the Great Dark Secret. Here comes the second part…

6) After the Russian withdrawal, America turned its back on Afghanistan and abandoned that country in the middle of their frigid winter…with its million dead, many more million wounded, and all of Afghanistan reduced to rubble.

From the Afghan perspective, America betrayed Afghanistan after Afghanistan had made the ultimate sacrifice so that America could give Russia its Vietnam. Our CIA trained thousands to be terrorists and funded the Afghanistan war so they could hone their skills. Then America really pissed them off, made those terrorists hate our guts – at a time when those killers were looking for something to attack (because their civil war was over)

If you understand that (and also America’s support for Israel), then you understand the root causes behind the very birth of Al Qaeda, and the 9/11 attacks upon the USA.

So what has America done recently in Afghanistan after 9/11? We had another war on their soil, reducing their country AGAIN to rubble, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Afghans. Then we abandoned their country again so that we could go stage an unwarranted attack against Iraq. That IS history repeating itself in Afghanistan..and now in Iraq.

What America should have done after 9/11 is not destroy Afghanistan but instead completely rebuild Afghanistan, which would have been keeping our promise (and moral debt) to Afghanistan.

What is really scary is how few Americans understand the above history.

[stockstradr]

“read Charlie Wilson’s War which details the CIA’s involvement in Afghanistan during the Russian invasion. It’s an incredible story and a fascinating read.”

I absolutely agree. And what are the lessons from that previous period of history?

What is the Great Dark Secret of history that Americans are too ignorant to know or too proud to discuss? Read this excerpt from an interview with Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Adviser:

Q [Interviewer]: When the Soviets justified their intervention by asserting that they intended to fight against a secret involvement of the United States in Afghanistan, people didn’t believe them. However, there was a basis of truth. You don’t regret anything today?

B[Zbigniew Brzezinski]: Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter. We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam War. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupportable by the government, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire.

OK, so what is the Great Dark Secret?

THE FACTS
1) Carter, Brzezinski, and others in the administration decided back in July ’79 to fund covert CIA involvement in the Afghanistan civil war with the goal to give Russia a Vietnam-like failed war.
2) That conspiracy became wildly “successful” and many historians later concluded it not only gave Russia a Vietnam-like failed war (on a greater scale), but was a pivotal element in the collapse of the entire Soviet Union.
3) Afghanistan was the real victim and “paid” the price to the tune of over ONE MILLION Afghan lives and their country was reduced to rubble, all so that America could give Russia its Vietnam on Afghani soil.
4) America sent countless CIA operatives into Afghanistan during the war, to train Afghanis how to be terrorists against Russians in Afghanistan. America sent millions of dollars in weapons into Afghanistan. What downed the 333 Russian helicopters lost during that war? It was mostly American shoulder-fired missiles.
5) Osama bin Laden was trained to be a terrorist and gained his reputation during the Afghanistan war. He fought the Russians with weapons purchased with our tax dollars, and facts suggest he was trained in part by our CIA to be a terrorist. At that time he was viewed by our CIA as a key operative within Afghanistan. It is a FACT that many Afghans who later became key leaders in Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda terrorist training camps, were in fact trained to be terrorists by our CIA with our tax dollars. Later, as Al Qaeda, they trained the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. Our CIA taught the teachers. So what turned them from “terrorist friends of the USA” (who attack Russians) INTO Al Qaeda terrorists who hate and attack Americans?

That is the first part of the Great Dark Secret. Here comes the second part…

6) After the Russian withdrawal, America turned its back on Afghanistan and abandoned that country in the middle of their frigid winter…with its million dead, many more million wounded, and all of Afghanistan reduced to rubble.

From the Afghan perspective, America betrayed Afghanistan after Afghanistan had made the ultimate sacrifice so that America could give Russia its Vietnam. Our CIA trained thousands to be terrorists and funded the Afghanistan war so they could hone their skills. Then America really pissed them off, made those terrorists hate our guts – at a time when those killers were looking for something to attack (because their civil war was over)

If you understand that (and also America’s support for Israel), then you understand the root causes behind the very birth of Al Qaeda, and the 9/11 attacks upon the USA.

So what has America done recently in Afghanistan after 9/11? We had another war on their soil, reducing their country AGAIN to rubble, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Afghans. Then we abandoned their country again so that we could go stage an unwarranted attack against Iraq. That IS history repeating itself in Afghanistan..and now in Iraq.

What America should have done after 9/11 is not destroy Afghanistan but instead completely rebuild Afghanistan, which would have been keeping our promise (and moral debt) to Afghanistan.

What is really scary is how few Americans understand the above history.

[stockstradr]

Most 401k’s should have a SP 500 Index fund or something close…

My reply is that your advice is about half right, or “something close.”

Try adding the word “INVERSE” to your advice about buying S&P 500 Index funds, as in:

Under these non-normal market conditions, most 401K’s should have some portion of funds allocated to INVERSE S&P 500 funds or ETF’s.

There. Much better. Now people may actually thank you for that advice.

At the top of the market last year 2007, I bought 2X (Yes, that’s 2X leveraged) INVERSE S&P 500 Index funds.

So I not only ignored your advice, I went OPPOSITE your above advice.

That turned out to be a VERY smart move for my 401K. For those wanting specific suggestions, you might try the inverse ETF products from PROSHARES, such as the Ultrashort, ticker “SDS”

I won’t even detail the numerous PUTS I also bought on the various indexes at the peak last year, but you can be sure I’ve made a hell of a lot of money on those PUTS.

If I had instead followed the advice you just gave, and had bought straight S&P 500 index funds at the top of the market last year, that portion of my 401K would now be DOWN 5%.

Now, I imagine you’ll respond and note that the S&P index was up 3.5% for 2007, and you’ll claim your advice remains sound.

Then I’ll respond (now) and remind you that 3.5% was obviously below the actual inflation rate, and also below the interest I earned (5%) last year in my online bank’s savings account!

Under normal economic conditions, your buy-the-S&P index advice is sound advice, but given the current accelerating MESS our economy is in, your advice is not good.

Last comment for anyone reading this thread: I’m NOT suggesting people dump 100% of their 401K into inverse S&P index funds, but I am suggesting allocating say 10% to 25% to inverse index funds, depending on your age and how much risk you can accept for your portfolio. And one more thing, you certainly should sell almost every stock (and bull mutual fund or ETF) you own, and consider selectively shorting some stocks.

[stockstradr]

Most 401k’s should have a SP 500 Index fund or something close…

My reply is that your advice is about half right, or “something close.”

Try adding the word “INVERSE” to your advice about buying S&P 500 Index funds, as in:

Under these non-normal market conditions, most 401K’s should have some portion of funds allocated to INVERSE S&P 500 funds or ETF’s.

There. Much better. Now people may actually thank you for that advice.

At the top of the market last year 2007, I bought 2X (Yes, that’s 2X leveraged) INVERSE S&P 500 Index funds.

So I not only ignored your advice, I went OPPOSITE your above advice.

That turned out to be a VERY smart move for my 401K. For those wanting specific suggestions, you might try the inverse ETF products from PROSHARES, such as the Ultrashort, ticker “SDS”

I won’t even detail the numerous PUTS I also bought on the various indexes at the peak last year, but you can be sure I’ve made a hell of a lot of money on those PUTS.

If I had instead followed the advice you just gave, and had bought straight S&P 500 index funds at the top of the market last year, that portion of my 401K would now be DOWN 5%.

Now, I imagine you’ll respond and note that the S&P index was up 3.5% for 2007, and you’ll claim your advice remains sound.

Then I’ll respond (now) and remind you that 3.5% was obviously below the actual inflation rate, and also below the interest I earned (5%) last year in my online bank’s savings account!

Under normal economic conditions, your buy-the-S&P index advice is sound advice, but given the current accelerating MESS our economy is in, your advice is not good.

Last comment for anyone reading this thread: I’m NOT suggesting people dump 100% of their 401K into inverse S&P index funds, but I am suggesting allocating say 10% to 25% to inverse index funds, depending on your age and how much risk you can accept for your portfolio. And one more thing, you certainly should sell almost every stock (and bull mutual fund or ETF) you own, and consider selectively shorting some stocks.

[stockstradr]

Most 401k’s should have a SP 500 Index fund or something close…

My reply is that your advice is about half right, or “something close.”

Try adding the word “INVERSE” to your advice about buying S&P 500 Index funds, as in:

Under these non-normal market conditions, most 401K’s should have some portion of funds allocated to INVERSE S&P 500 funds or ETF’s.

There. Much better. Now people may actually thank you for that advice.

At the top of the market last year 2007, I bought 2X (Yes, that’s 2X leveraged) INVERSE S&P 500 Index funds.

So I not only ignored your advice, I went OPPOSITE your above advice.

That turned out to be a VERY smart move for my 401K. For those wanting specific suggestions, you might try the inverse ETF products from PROSHARES, such as the Ultrashort, ticker “SDS”

I won’t even detail the numerous PUTS I also bought on the various indexes at the peak last year, but you can be sure I’ve made a hell of a lot of money on those PUTS.

If I had instead followed the advice you just gave, and had bought straight S&P 500 index funds at the top of the market last year, that portion of my 401K would now be DOWN 5%.

Now, I imagine you’ll respond and note that the S&P index was up 3.5% for 2007, and you’ll claim your advice remains sound.

Then I’ll respond (now) and remind you that 3.5% was obviously below the actual inflation rate, and also below the interest I earned (5%) last year in my online bank’s savings account!

Under normal economic conditions, your buy-the-S&P index advice is sound advice, but given the current accelerating MESS our economy is in, your advice is not good.

Last comment for anyone reading this thread: I’m NOT suggesting people dump 100% of their 401K into inverse S&P index funds, but I am suggesting allocating say 10% to 25% to inverse index funds, depending on your age and how much risk you can accept for your portfolio. And one more thing, you certainly should sell almost every stock (and bull mutual fund or ETF) you own, and consider selectively shorting some stocks.

[stockstradr]

Most 401k’s should have a SP 500 Index fund or something close…

My reply is that your advice is about half right, or “something close.”

Try adding the word “INVERSE” to your advice about buying S&P 500 Index funds, as in:

Under these non-normal market conditions, most 401K’s should have some portion of funds allocated to INVERSE S&P 500 funds or ETF’s.

There. Much better. Now people may actually thank you for that advice.

At the top of the market last year 2007, I bought 2X (Yes, that’s 2X leveraged) INVERSE S&P 500 Index funds.

So I not only ignored your advice, I went OPPOSITE your above advice.

That turned out to be a VERY smart move for my 401K. For those wanting specific suggestions, you might try the inverse ETF products from PROSHARES, such as the Ultrashort, ticker “SDS”

I won’t even detail the numerous PUTS I also bought on the various indexes at the peak last year, but you can be sure I’ve made a hell of a lot of money on those PUTS.

If I had instead followed the advice you just gave, and had bought straight S&P 500 index funds at the top of the market last year, that portion of my 401K would now be DOWN 5%.

Now, I imagine you’ll respond and note that the S&P index was up 3.5% for 2007, and you’ll claim your advice remains sound.

Then I’ll respond (now) and remind you that 3.5% was obviously below the actual inflation rate, and also below the interest I earned (5%) last year in my online bank’s savings account!

Under normal economic conditions, your buy-the-S&P index advice is sound advice, but given the current accelerating MESS our economy is in, your advice is not good.

Last comment for anyone reading this thread: I’m NOT suggesting people dump 100% of their 401K into inverse S&P index funds, but I am suggesting allocating say 10% to 25% to inverse index funds, depending on your age and how much risk you can accept for your portfolio. And one more thing, you certainly should sell almost every stock (and bull mutual fund or ETF) you own, and consider selectively shorting some stocks.

[stockstradr]

Most 401k’s should have a SP 500 Index fund or something close…

My reply is that your advice is about half right, or “something close.”

Try adding the word “INVERSE” to your advice about buying S&P 500 Index funds, as in:

Under these non-normal market conditions, most 401K’s should have some portion of funds allocated to INVERSE S&P 500 funds or ETF’s.

There. Much better. Now people may actually thank you for that advice.

At the top of the market last year 2007, I bought 2X (Yes, that’s 2X leveraged) INVERSE S&P 500 Index funds.

So I not only ignored your advice, I went OPPOSITE your above advice.

That turned out to be a VERY smart move for my 401K. For those wanting specific suggestions, you might try the inverse ETF products from PROSHARES, such as the Ultrashort, ticker “SDS”

I won’t even detail the numerous PUTS I also bought on the various indexes at the peak last year, but you can be sure I’ve made a hell of a lot of money on those PUTS.

If I had instead followed the advice you just gave, and had bought straight S&P 500 index funds at the top of the market last year, that portion of my 401K would now be DOWN 5%.

Now, I imagine you’ll respond and note that the S&P index was up 3.5% for 2007, and you’ll claim your advice remains sound.

Then I’ll respond (now) and remind you that 3.5% was obviously below the actual inflation rate, and also below the interest I earned (5%) last year in my online bank’s savings account!

Under normal economic conditions, your buy-the-S&P index advice is sound advice, but given the current accelerating MESS our economy is in, your advice is not good.

Last comment for anyone reading this thread: I’m NOT suggesting people dump 100% of their 401K into inverse S&P index funds, but I am suggesting allocating say 10% to 25% to inverse index funds, depending on your age and how much risk you can accept for your portfolio. And one more thing, you certainly should sell almost every stock (and bull mutual fund or ETF) you own, and consider selectively shorting some stocks.

[stockstradr]

My friend is a director at major investment bank, at a branch in San Francisco’s financial center. This is a guy who makes $500,000 a year, has a masters in economics, and is up to his neck every day in global financial markets.

His spin on this? He writes me several weeks ago…

“Hey, I’m now at a insiders’ conference on global financial markets. Mood is very dark. Insiders are running Worst Case Scenarios, and sharing disasters now unfolding at their global financial firms. These people don’t get scared and they are very scared. as for financial markets i tell you: be afraid, BE VERY AFRAID. buy gold and hide it under your bed!”

After that message I looked over E*TRADE’s financial statements, which is where I kept all our retirement accounts. I saw that E*TRADE is insolvent, in terms of bad loans on their books versus capital. I moved my accounts out of E*TRADE. That’s just one financial firm.

My message to participants of this forum is this: you are crazy or stupid if you haven’t….

1) Sold your long positions in stocks, sold your stock mutual funds (assuming they are not SHORT position mutual funds)…and braced your portfolio for a VERY bearish market and a nasty recession.

2) Checked the financial stability of any institution where you keep substantial funds.

3) Bought a lot of GOLD.

4) At least reduced your holdings of any dollar assets.

5) Carefully considered your risk for your current employer having layoffs if your employer faces nasty recession. Switch employers if your company is recession-sensitive.

[stockstradr]

My friend is a director at major investment bank, at a branch in San Francisco’s financial center. This is a guy who makes $500,000 a year, has a masters in economics, and is up to his neck every day in global financial markets.

His spin on this? He writes me several weeks ago…

“Hey, I’m now at a insiders’ conference on global financial markets. Mood is very dark. Insiders are running Worst Case Scenarios, and sharing disasters now unfolding at their global financial firms. These people don’t get scared and they are very scared. as for financial markets i tell you: be afraid, BE VERY AFRAID. buy gold and hide it under your bed!”

After that message I looked over E*TRADE’s financial statements, which is where I kept all our retirement accounts. I saw that E*TRADE is insolvent, in terms of bad loans on their books versus capital. I moved my accounts out of E*TRADE. That’s just one financial firm.

My message to participants of this forum is this: you are crazy or stupid if you haven’t….

1) Sold your long positions in stocks, sold your stock mutual funds (assuming they are not SHORT position mutual funds)…and braced your portfolio for a VERY bearish market and a nasty recession.

2) Checked the financial stability of any institution where you keep substantial funds.

3) Bought a lot of GOLD.

4) At least reduced your holdings of any dollar assets.

5) Carefully considered your risk for your current employer having layoffs if your employer faces nasty recession. Switch employers if your company is recession-sensitive.

[stockstradr]

My friend is a director at major investment bank, at a branch in San Francisco’s financial center. This is a guy who makes $500,000 a year, has a masters in economics, and is up to his neck every day in global financial markets.

His spin on this? He writes me several weeks ago…

“Hey, I’m now at a insiders’ conference on global financial markets. Mood is very dark. Insiders are running Worst Case Scenarios, and sharing disasters now unfolding at their global financial firms. These people don’t get scared and they are very scared. as for financial markets i tell you: be afraid, BE VERY AFRAID. buy gold and hide it under your bed!”

After that message I looked over E*TRADE’s financial statements, which is where I kept all our retirement accounts. I saw that E*TRADE is insolvent, in terms of bad loans on their books versus capital. I moved my accounts out of E*TRADE. That’s just one financial firm.

My message to participants of this forum is this: you are crazy or stupid if you haven’t….

1) Sold your long positions in stocks, sold your stock mutual funds (assuming they are not SHORT position mutual funds)…and braced your portfolio for a VERY bearish market and a nasty recession.

2) Checked the financial stability of any institution where you keep substantial funds.

3) Bought a lot of GOLD.

4) At least reduced your holdings of any dollar assets.

5) Carefully considered your risk for your current employer having layoffs if your employer faces nasty recession. Switch employers if your company is recession-sensitive.

[stockstradr]

My friend is a director at major investment bank, at a branch in San Francisco’s financial center. This is a guy who makes $500,000 a year, has a masters in economics, and is up to his neck every day in global financial markets.

His spin on this? He writes me several weeks ago…

“Hey, I’m now at a insiders’ conference on global financial markets. Mood is very dark. Insiders are running Worst Case Scenarios, and sharing disasters now unfolding at their global financial firms. These people don’t get scared and they are very scared. as for financial markets i tell you: be afraid, BE VERY AFRAID. buy gold and hide it under your bed!”

After that message I looked over E*TRADE’s financial statements, which is where I kept all our retirement accounts. I saw that E*TRADE is insolvent, in terms of bad loans on their books versus capital. I moved my accounts out of E*TRADE. That’s just one financial firm.

My message to participants of this forum is this: you are crazy or stupid if you haven’t….

1) Sold your long positions in stocks, sold your stock mutual funds (assuming they are not SHORT position mutual funds)…and braced your portfolio for a VERY bearish market and a nasty recession.

2) Checked the financial stability of any institution where you keep substantial funds.

3) Bought a lot of GOLD.

4) At least reduced your holdings of any dollar assets.

5) Carefully considered your risk for your current employer having layoffs if your employer faces nasty recession. Switch employers if your company is recession-sensitive.

[stockstradr]

My friend is a director at major investment bank, at a branch in San Francisco’s financial center. This is a guy who makes $500,000 a year, has a masters in economics, and is up to his neck every day in global financial markets.

His spin on this? He writes me several weeks ago…

“Hey, I’m now at a insiders’ conference on global financial markets. Mood is very dark. Insiders are running Worst Case Scenarios, and sharing disasters now unfolding at their global financial firms. These people don’t get scared and they are very scared. as for financial markets i tell you: be afraid, BE VERY AFRAID. buy gold and hide it under your bed!”

After that message I looked over E*TRADE’s financial statements, which is where I kept all our retirement accounts. I saw that E*TRADE is insolvent, in terms of bad loans on their books versus capital. I moved my accounts out of E*TRADE. That’s just one financial firm.

My message to participants of this forum is this: you are crazy or stupid if you haven’t….

1) Sold your long positions in stocks, sold your stock mutual funds (assuming they are not SHORT position mutual funds)…and braced your portfolio for a VERY bearish market and a nasty recession.

2) Checked the financial stability of any institution where you keep substantial funds.

3) Bought a lot of GOLD.

4) At least reduced your holdings of any dollar assets.

5) Carefully considered your risk for your current employer having layoffs if your employer faces nasty recession. Switch employers if your company is recession-sensitive.

[stockstradr]

We rent.

I’m certain there are mice in our garage, as there are in most garages. They are probably in there right, a team of them using a dust bunny to play a soccer game! Nevertheless, I cannot imagine ever calling any landlord about a mice “problem” in a garage.

Also, in our current home we have previously had flies problem, and ant problem.

We solved those issues ourselves. We don’t have time to screw around waiting for landlord. It is quicker to solve issues ourselves.

Now if there was a termite problem, yes we would direct landlord to solve that.

You have to pick your battles carefully. Otherwise you just become nuisance to landlord.

[stockstradr]

We rent.

I’m certain there are mice in our garage, as there are in most garages. They are probably in there right, a team of them using a dust bunny to play a soccer game! Nevertheless, I cannot imagine ever calling any landlord about a mice “problem” in a garage.

Also, in our current home we have previously had flies problem, and ant problem.

We solved those issues ourselves. We don’t have time to screw around waiting for landlord. It is quicker to solve issues ourselves.

Now if there was a termite problem, yes we would direct landlord to solve that.

You have to pick your battles carefully. Otherwise you just become nuisance to landlord.

[Author]

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