HD,
I don't commend or condemn you for being well off. In 98.2% of your posts you play the role of the richer, smarter, and all around better than you, persona. It occurred to me a while back that you are all go go gadget globalist, all of the time without any humility. It is like watching a pitcher throw 104 mph fastballs day after day. Impressive, sure. But somewhere in there, it would be nice to see .... The human side of TR.
8trackdisco wrote:
Humility (adjectival form: humble) is the quality of being modest or respectful. Why is it important to see humility in a form that you have deemed acceptable only. Perhaps I've always shown humility but you don't recognize it. I may throw 104 mph fastballs but I never aim at anyone's head. NEVER. Would it be humble to pretend I'm not a globalist? I have people working for me in three countries and do business in three global currencies daily. That doesn't mean I don't like long walks on the beach and sunsets.
Sure, I can sit around the campfire and complain about how the Republicans (or Democrats) are shrinking the middle class while passing out Pabst Blue Ribbons. I recognize that this would make people happy. There are people smarter and richer than me here already doing this. In the words of the legendary Adroomi, wouldn't that just be a circle-jerk?!
It's been a tough five years for the average American. The feeling that the big boat is sinking, with people either scrambling up the boat in hopes of staying away from the waves that seem to be gaining on them every day.
8trackdisco wrote:
During those those tough five years, how many of those average Americans went into that period with the mindset that they'll just keep doing the same things they've been doing and they'll be fine. Yet they were not. How many people today are doing the exact same things they were doing 7 years ago? The playing field changed in bigger ways than it ever has in our lifetimes. How many people changed anything at all or just assumed that what they were doing would fit on the new playing field.
When the USA decided to bail out the banks to preserve the credit-based economy, the USA chose to have a long drawn-out recession and slow recovery instead a a sharp recession and sharp recovery. We saved the lender at the expense of the borrower and the taxpayers. The USA chose a European style recession instead of an American recession. I said this and warned of this years ago right here. This has significant business model implications. Some listen, some don't.
Before Obama was even elected I advised that people needed to get under the Obama Cone of Protection. It was clear that certain segments of the economy where going to have his favor during any recovery and other segments were going to be killed. The people aren't dumb enough to elect a guy with no executive experience, we won't elect a black man, we won't elect a socialist, he's not even American-born....well we won't elect him a second time! blah blah blah. Some listen, some don't.
The big boat is sinking. That isn't just a feeling. I've been saying that all along. When you recognize that the big boat is sinking, you do different things. When you think it is just leaning a bit to the port side, you don't change a thing and just head off to the coal mine each day for work meanwhile there is a growing need for life preserver salesmen and less coal.
While at the same time, the blow horn communications from the nearby luxury liner is talking about subpar caviar, and the need for the peasants to spit shine your anchor..... it an be a bit much. (I can say that because I have never offended anybody or taken a joke too far.)
8trackdisco wrote:
Eventually the peasants will sink the luxury liner because it seemed like the most convenient thing to blame. Only afterwards they will discover that it solved nothing.
The decisions you made to put yourself in the financial position you are in today were paid for in other areas I'm sure.
I'd like to have a cigar with you. You've got to have a thousand interesting stories to tell. Somewhere in there is probably a normal dude- once the smoke disappears from you lighting your cigars with $100 bills. I'd like to learn from your mistakes.
8trackdisco wrote:
All decisions have a cost. It is all about making a balanced decision. Risk versus reward. I'm up for a cigar anytime. I hate to disappoint you but I light them with a Ronson from Walmart. I use Ronson fuel in it, not that 5x refined super whatever stuff that others swear on.
