IMHO, the stock market is still a place to make money…albeit, one where most don’t do their homework. It also can easily be manipulated to cater to the needs of the corporate and banking elites.

It is no secret the Federal Reserve has more power now, given to them by congress with the passing of the Finance Reform bill earlier this year. The fact that the “audit” of the Fed was not included in this bill shows how powerful these corporations are and how many in congress are complicit in catering to them.

Bernanke even came out in support of the stock market recently, via a Washington Post Op Ed which is unheard of by a Fed chairman.

There are more billionaires in the U.S. than any other country. Just a few of them can band together to move a market in their direction. The Fed has given money to Goldman and J.P. Morgan and made them bank holding companies. They have bailed out individual companies like GM and AIG. AIG was the counter-party to many of the derivatives of J.P. Morgan. Lehman died because they didn’t give enough money to the right people. Goldman has all of their former people in high places.

But it’s the banks who are the one’s in trouble. They will need even more money moving forward. I wrote an article on this about B of A and foreclosures; The Real Reason Bank of America Halts Foreclosure In 50 States – They’re Broke! http://buygoldandsilversafely.com/economy/the-real-reason-bank-of-america-halts-foreclosure-in-50-states-theyre-broke/

Expect more QE, more bailouts, and eventually the truth revealed that the stock market is overvalued. This doesn’t mean that one can’t jump on trends and make money though (whether up or down). At least with the influx of ETFs, they can bet on the market in more ways, including up or down. I used the word “bet” for a reason, ha.

Just don’t get greedy and take profits. That’s the key to successful investing.

I wonder if we could loosen the “strangle hold” the stock market seems to have on people who don’t understand the financial securities (like myself). The media (I don’t watch news very often, but when I do…) seems to focus on that “DOW” number so intently, that it guides the perception of the entire economy’s health…but it would seem to me that the private companies should be factored into that “health reading.”

I just wonder where “that line” is where they figure out how to secure the nation the best, without sacrificing even one of our freedoms.

Yeah…technology is taking over…perhaps the rise of the machines?