US issues

First off, let me say up front that I AM NOT a stockbroker. I do not trust them, as the person exists today. And I do not play the market, nor do I invest in the market at this time. And here is why.

The stock market used to be used for LONG-TERM investments, not the short-term as it appears to be the case today as I see it. And there are WAY too many EXPERTS, who although they may have a lot of education have no real common sense. As I watch some of the programs on satellite TV, I am just blown away by this or that expert who makes a comment about a company and that company’s stock raises or falls. Who are these people and how much do they REALLY know. Do they have time to dig into a company? Have they taken the time to really see what makes it tick?

Are they aware that by making the wrong statements how many people whose lives that they might mess up? And what about all of the insider trading and stock manipulation? Why is it that Wall Street and the SEC are so slow to correct these problems? To me the biggest problems stem from the “day trader”. The market seems to be concerned about the “FAST BUCK”, not on real growth.

So. How can we fix the system? There is no real way unless investment firms take a strong hand in correcting the problems I have discussed. Now, I know that things are being worked on. But the problems should not have happened in the first place. INTEGRITY is the key. Not greed. (I do not care what Mike Douglas said in the movie “Wall Street”, today’s stockbroker seems to care very little about what they sell, or who buys it. All they seem to care about is, ”What’s in it for me?” And some of the people who manipulate the market seem to be even worse.

Also it seems as if Wall Street does not care about what a company plans to do long term. If a company announces that it will spend x% of profit on new research, or to update equipment, then that company gets pounded on the market because some people seem to thinks that ALL profits should go to the investors. For any company to stay on top of the game, a company MUST plan for the future. Brokerage firms have so many different categories to rate a company. Now I know what they mean, but it should be simplified. Here’s why. Wall Street is chomping at the bit, and lobbing like crazy to do away with the Social Security System, so that they can get their hands on the cash in the system. (This is a broad statement, because there is no real cash in a separate account, but you get the idea.) And what they will do is drain it dry by charging fat fees to handle our accounts. So, a stock should have only two categories, buy, or sell. Period. I say all of this for several reasons.

1.)	Brokers are like lawyers in that you can never be sure if they are telling the truth. Because after all, they are only worried about their bottom-line not ours. If we go belly up, well then, they just get someone else.
2.)	I learned a long time ago that to play the market, only use money that you could throw away. So if the market has more than 50 % of your nest egg in it, you could be in real trouble.
3.)	Now, I know that over the long term the market has a much better return that say U.S Savings Bonds, or other ways to save. But what if YOU are ready to retire just as the market takes a huge downturn before you can change things.
4.)	Wall Street firms MUST act as if the funds, and accounts that they are handling are their very own. ANY FIRM that does not act in a fair manner toward its customers should be penalized, and made to make restitution. After the second time, they should be stripped of their credentials, and no member of the firm should be allowed to act in ANY capacity in any other firm. The head of these firms should act responsibly. In the military a ships Captain, or a company commander are held responsible for the actions of those under them, because it was on the their watch. The same set of standards should apply.

If all of this sounds cruel, or harsh, you must think of what is at stake here. We cannot afford to have another Enron situation happen again. Again, I am no expert. But maybe some one will see this and take one of these ideas or thoughts and expand on it. Or maybe someone who has some real power will read this and see some truth of what I am talking about. 09/11/2001 was an attempt to break our will as a nation by destroying the financial heart of our country. I am a very strong believer in our free enterprise system. I support the system. But if we keep shooting ourselves in the foot, we will destroy our country from within.

The Problems With Wall Street

The Plight of the American Worker

Three Stikes Law

Rebuttal - Three Stikes Law

Environmental Hazard