Reply #18: As a former broker...

[kazoo35]

I got out of the business because I know what's coming in our economy. I got out, and I'm out of the stock market entirely. I'm almost totally out of the bond market. I have a few other things, but nothing substantial.

If you have your money in the stock market, you're done for. If you have it in the bond market, you're probably still done for.

If you can exchange your US dollars for Euros or Canadian dollars you're better off. These two moves should prove useful for a couple years. After that, we're headed for a global depression that will cripple things like food production and local transportation.

Middle class in India exploding. Hah.

I advise you all to learn how to play chess for your entertainment, get physically fit and remain that way, do away with your desire for material posessions, and prepare to move on a moment's notice.

If you live in Las Vegas or Phoenix, go somewhere else. If you heat your home 24/7 in the winter, move. If you don't know where the water comes from that comes out of your tap, move.

You're better off having a skill than a job, better off living with less than being optomistic, better off doing than having. Unless you're rich, in which case I'm pretty sure you'll be able to take care of yourselves.

I'd suggest learning to enjoy reading the classics and improving yourselves in that fashion. If you enjoy debating the love life of J-Lo or P-Diddy, remember how totally absurd that was ten years from now when you look back on it.

If you are over 70, you might not notice what's coming up unless you travel a lot. If you're over 60, your retirement will not be anywhere near as comfortable as you thought it might be. If you're over 50, the golden years of your life will be made of lead. From 40 to 20, your lives will be something like the lives of the people who lived and worked and struggled during the Great Depression. The younger ones, well, I wish you saw how great a civilization could be and experience it to the fullest. Maybe it's better that you never knew, you won't miss it as much.