Now there's an idea. I like it.

One error in your above statement - politicians, once elected to office, can not learn any thing new - they know it all (everything) already - just ask them.!!!!! Yes, there are minds in Washington - just all wasted on the greedy path to power and prestige more of our money to them!!!!!

There's a lot of truth to what you're saying, Strider.

I figure I'll vote for McCain, since, MAYBE, the Democratic Congress will force him to compromise in a way which actually benefits most of us. I was gonna vote for Obama, until I really began to sniff out his agenda, which is to tax our way out of the mess ALL of the politicians have made, AND, he says he'll tighten border security even more, while renegotiating NAFTA, all of which could spell economic disaster.

I've postured myself so as to be insulated from any economic downturns which may occur when interest rates start going back up, and I advise everyone else to do the same.

I think it's wise for investors to put money into foreign index funds in countries which are benefiting from the Asian growth phenomenon. I also have money in Australian Dollars, and, even the Mexican Peso, because they both pay fat interest rates, and, both appear to be poised to outperform the dollar over a relatively long period of time.

It's going to take decades to heal the damage done to our economy by Bush's self-serving policies.

This is why I've moved abroad. I can't tell you how many phone calls I made to Bush volunteers when I was naive enough to think he actually cared about doing anything but line his own pockets. I got tired of his Stepford-like drones politely listening with abject ignorance, as I discussed the corrupt nature of this Administration.

If people want to prepare themselves financially for some of what we're going through now, and into the foreseeable future, I recommend getting rid of debt, and investing in a mix of stocks that pay nice, healthy dividends. Many of these stocks were beaten down during the 7-month market correction. ANYONE can learn how to invest. For those who prefer the mutual fund approach, they might want to consider the Dreman Value Income Edge Fund, which gets a high rating from the investment rating services.

About 65% percent of my investment portfolio sits in cash, in case the broad markets get hammered when rates start going up, and, because of the uncertainty of election year politics. The other 35% of my money is split this way:

2 out of every 1 dollar is invested in assets whose underlying
wealth comes from OUTSIDE the US markets.

For example, I have money in BOTH the Australian index fund (which pays a nice dividend), along with my shares in the Australian Dollar Trust. I also have shares of the Brazilian, Chinese, Malaysian, and Singapore stock indices.

It's also good to have exposure to metals, which I've done by getting shares of BHP Billeton, a HUGE mining conglomerate out of Australia. It's a diversified mining stock, as it mines Aluminum, Iron Ore, Gold, all the other precious metals, many of which are used for industrial as well as consumer purposes, and, Uranium.

I don't worry about volatility any more, because I've structured my portfolio so as to pay me nice, steady dividends, regardless of which direction the market moves in.

Sorry to be so long-winded, but people need to know there are sane ways to get through these hard times.

I should also say that, I've had all these market positions for longer than the last 72 hours (most I've had for months or weeks).

Everyone should consult an investment adviser before putting money into the markets. (I'm not a trained investment adviser, but, I did get my undergrad degree in Business Finance.)

Like you, Strider, I realize that Ron Paul got shafted by the bribed media elites, but, if I vote for him, Obama could get the job. Apparently, he hangs out with some goof-ball loser that allegedly was a member of the Weather Underground. I believe the guy's name is Jim Ayers. Apparently, the FBI botched their evidence up, and they couldn't get a conviction, even though the guy confessed to bombing buildings during the Vietnam era.

Obama is long on talk, and, he's done great things for whistle-blower protection, via the law he helped craft, but he needs more seasoning, in my view.

McCain says he'll cut spending AND taxes. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt, WHILE I hedge my bets by living on the opposite side of the planet from our troubled Not-So-New Roman Empire.

Your concerns are valid, sir. I regret that I allowed myself to get sucked into Obama's rhetoric.

I'd like to see Ron Paul in the White House, but, I'll vote for McCain, and hope he does a decent job.

I like the fact that McCain wants to cut federal spending and taxes, and I hope he can gracefully exit the nightmare in Iraq in a large enough measure to drastically cut our military spending.

Meanwhile, while stupid naysayers on Blogster once poked fun of me for advocating hydrogen-powered cars, even the "mainstream" press have begun to talk about it ...

Read my comments above, which were made to Strider and to think141.

We know from history that no matter which on, Hillary or Obama, quite interchangeable, what the overriding party platform and agenda says is going to happen. John McCain - who can tell which party, which side of the aisle, that he is affilliated with - but it does seem that his one major similarity with the democrats, his agreements are not with the people in fly-over country!!!!