[ame="http://www.amazon.com/How-Charts-Gerald-Everett-Jones/dp/1419651439/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320097652&sr=1-2"]Amazon.com: How To Lie With Charts: Second Edition (9781419651434): Gerald Everett Jones: Books[/ame]
2008 4.3 4.0 4.0 3.9 4.2 5.0 5.6 5.4 4.9 3.7 1.1 0.1 3.8 2009 0.0 0.2 -0.4 -0.7 -1.3 -1.4 -2.1 -1.5 -1.3 -0.2 1.8 2.7 -0.4 2010 2.6 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.0 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.5 1.6 2011 1.6 2.1 2.7 3.2 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.8 3.9 And that is from the new CPI index. The old way they did it would be double. Not to mention the money supply (I think M3) they don't use in the CPI anymore.
True, but look where it started from before those nine quarters. Preceded by a terrible month in September and November is not off to a hot start I don't really study these metrics but I can believe it based on how it's calculated. The issue isn't whether or not these metrics are improving but whether or not the economy is improving. We have ongoing bad news and bailouts in Europe, high unemployment, and terrible partisanship in Congress. Yet the stock market is up 80-85% from it's lows. It just doesn't make sense. I think everyone is trying to convince themselves everything is okay when it isn't. I would venture to guess that you aren't invested as if we are at the beginning of a bull market. I'm sure as hell not.
Yes, the GOP left a total mess and a negative GDP. Why do you want those boys back? I never invest as if its the beginning of a bull market. Trying to time the market is a recipe for losing money. I have a balance of investments to match a risk profile that is good for me. Not all of it is in the market. The idea is to have investments that make money when the market doesn't. I've been fairly growth oriented for many years, but now approaching retirement, I'm transitioning to an even less risky profile with a lot more bonds and property and fewer stocks to preserve wealth with base hits rather than trying to hit one out of the park. I'm optimistic about the market, but I'm in a position to ride out the bears and ride on with the bulls and make safer money in the long run. Because in the long run, people who stay invested do better than the timers. In the long run, the market makes money. Having your cake and eating it too is a major tenet on the philosophy of Red.
Be careful! Robin Obamahood doesn't like it when people invest wisely and make a profit. They may soon be knocking on your door for their cut. You've obviously had an unfair advantage and need to pay your fair share to those who didn't earn/contribute...OOOPS...I mean those who were underprivileged and lacked opportunity to attain wealth.
I never said anything about it being Obama's fault, wanting GOP back, or brought up politics other to say that we have sever partisanship in congress which no one with half a brain would refute. The point isn't about who's fault it is, the point is that it feels like we're teetering. And I would argue that you can't create serious wealth with long term investing for the most part. You can get comfortable and retire with a million or two in the bank but you have find opportunities to really knock it out of the park. I like to have my cake and eat it too too. :grin:
I swung for the fence as a young man, took enough risks to make a respectable pile, but never so risky as to lose it all. Now . . . I don't need homers anymore and am becoming more risk averse with the pile. Getting to move up another step on the ladder is always nice and I'm not out of the game, but stepping down is unacceptable to me at this point. So I risk less.
I agree with you. I was just responding to this part of your post..... I think it's great for some, or even most, people. But not everyone.
