NEWS: Recession or Depression?

Just check your typical CE board for examples if you don't believe him.

And FTR made some good points as well. (worth noting that an old girlfriend had major problems paying her credit card bill at one point and was STILL getting credit applications and even ads from her current card asking if she wanted to upgrade to "platinum" status)

Did someone mention the Chinese just waiting to buy GM in the 'Bail The Shit Outta Detroit' thread (I stopped paying attention after said thread got PetePollied, speaking of derailing forces).

I still haven't been to it. This is on my to do list before the end of the year.

First, some constructive criticism. I found this article to be very forward and well stated. You sir have a knack for being roughly to the point. I do feel though that you should spend more time proofreading before you post, as there were a few unneeded grammatical errors.

On to the discussion at hand.

As far as long term investments, as you stated in the final paragraph, what suggestions would you have? Where should one invest? What particular investments, in the long term, would reward the individual investor?

I ask myself this, wondering what companies and corporations will be prosperous and unheeding to the consequences of the degradation of our economic status.

When we begin to see the sunrise at the other end of these fleeting dark times, what names will be on the skyscrapers causing shadows in my path?

The Vice Fund


SQM

The Vice fund is down 50% for the year and totally flat for 5 years. I have serious doubts about it being a good place to park your money for the next year or two.

I think they've been unfairly beaten down in the midst of all the uncertainty and paranoia. Empirical evidence suggests no real slow down in smoking and drinking during times of economic woe.

(I make this claim after extensive and thorough research on the subject.)

I hear what you're saying - and they had a spectacular 150% run up this bull market for the last 5 years, but even a simple dow jones index fund did over 50%. Over a 5 year basis, keeping your money in cash in a lousy 3% paying CD handily outperforms both while being 100% safe.

Of course, this benefits from 20/20 hindsight and people who got out of the market in time made some serious bank... but you could say much the same about real estate. If you were in VICE and got out in time, kudos for making serious bank.

It is. Farmers who didn't lock in prices are fucked. Guess we're just not seeing it at the counter yet.

First, I've decided to start using the phrase "getting PetePollied" in everyday speech. I suggest you all follow suit.

Second, does anyone else think that economists' major resistance to bandying about the "D" word comes from fear of further damaging investor confidence? I lean towards this theory, but I also don't rule out this being no more than bombastic, free-market cheerleading.