I so badly want to say this is a European problem and have the US stand back in a supporting role only - but I have zero confidence anybody will step forward with a real strategy and have the motivation and political will to execute it

Oh sure all the blowhard bureaucrats will have plenty to say while they fold their arms and warm their seats

I’m just not following the logic that because something is happening on the other side of the world we won’t feel any negative impacts. I guess Ive been mistaken over the past two decades observing how ALL the financial markets are more tightly tied together as every facet has expanded globally - Europe will have an urgent and massive energy problem to solve and it will domino

You hit the nail square on the head ! - Once you see the waste it's really hard to fathom - then you see politicians declaring how "draconian" it is to cut budgets 5% and it just makes you nauseous. You spend a career seeing the same wasteful things over and over knowing how systemic and embedded it has become. I'm an advocate for smaller government in the hope that we could actually do more with less - that seems strange to a lot of people until you understand the incredible amount of waste inherent in the current system.

How is this related to stocks? I'm a believer that economics is like conservation of energy - eventually the system must be balanced and I fear the bill is coming due....

I for one enjoy the banter and pushbacks

There is no single ideal approach and I like hearing the different approaches and strategies with the specific horses to ride and why

I’m here to learn from others experience so just my opinion… please keep the dialogue going

Agree that there is compelling evidence why allowing individuals to manage their SS is a terrible idea…. Maybe there is a safer compromise?

401K seemed like a good idea when sold to the American worker but wound up killing defined pension plans that companies had offered for decades prior.

At the end of the day it relieved employers of a burden and also greatly benefitted Wallstreet - I’m sure that is just a coincidence…

For me I will just say I enjoy reading both iceman44 and kool1 posts. I’m not a sophisticated investor so I like learning from the experience of others

It is interesting to get insight on how others evaluate the market and develop investment strategy. Different perspectives is a good thing at least for me anyway

I really hope you guys will continue to participate