The market goes down 300 points...no big whoop!

[CoffeeCat]

Man, we live in interesting times--that's for sure.

The DOW is down more than 300 points, and no one started a thread about it. No one mentioned it (unless I missed something).

I'm not faulting anyone for not posting about the DOW drop. I'm saying...doesn't it speak volumes about the mess we're
in and the volatility that we're now accepting--when the DOW drops more than 300 points and it's not really that big of
a deal?

We've grown accustomed to mayhem and chaos.

[uppityperson]

1. I usually post those but am busy watching flood news of family/friends

thanks for the notice of it.

[AndyA]

2. You said it: mayhem and chaos.

Brought to us by our "good friends" in the Republican Party. :eyes:

[ecstatic]

3. They're making their own beds

They collectively decide when to buy/sell. Let them do their thing. I'm done with worrying about it. And I'm not sure I want to be involved in their games even though the prices are at record lows.

[CoffeeCat]

6. I'm happy to hear someone...

...acknowledging that "they collectively decide when to buy/sell".

The current stock market seems completely disconnected from Main Street. I mean, seriously--what is catalyzing these
extreme highs and lows. The DOW gained 500 points one day last week. Now, we're down 300. Who and what is driving
these extremes?

Do you think this is institutional investors doing "their thing" as you said? That's what it feels like to me. I sense
that many middle and upper class Americans are not trading/day trading or focused on the market. This all feels driven
by the big cats. But I have no proof of this. It's just what I sense--which is why your post intrigued me. You sorta
validated what I've been wondering about.

And I think many Americans share your fatigue about the DOW and the stock market in general. I feel...done. Just completely
done with it. We pulled everything out of the stock market.

I think the average American has lost a lot of money--and is now facing unemployment or is worried about job security. They're
frantically trying to pay down debt and prepare for worse times. It just seems a bit out of character--for these same people
to be buying and trading stocks on a daily basis.

(I will also say that the media tries DESPERATELY to define what is causing these highs and lows. They have the answer every
day. Most days their rationales don't make a lot of sense to me).

Thanks for your thoughts. Much appreciated.

[ecstatic]

7. Could it be that they want to make sure regular people

don't try to buy in? They want the prices down, but they don't want the middle class to view it as an "in." So the drastic drops are maybe a warning to the little people who might be thinking about investing? :shrug:

[CoffeeCat]

8. At this point...

...who knows. Anything is possible.

I'm sure they're all playing around with the market--shorting stocks, and all kinds of other
shenanigans.

Who would put it past these criminals to share info with each other and engage in a little insider trading?

I really don't know, but I'm pessimistic after seeing what they're doing (and have done) to our economy.

[corkhead]

4. it doesn't look like anything is going to happen to fix it from being a casino

where the "house" makes ALL the money. I pulled what was left of my 401k several months ago. 300 point swings in any direction make it certain someone is going to make some serious money, but it is only the people with the access to game the system that do. At least they've stopped draining my assets to do it.

[NightWatcher]

5. 300 up or down doesnt affect 99% of us at all. it's like watching reruns of the weather channel

[Phoonzang]

9. When you think about it...yeah it is amazing that a 300 point drop

doesn't faze anyone anymore. Ten years ago that would have been the end of the freaking world.

[azmouse]

10. Large swings in the DOW will be the norm for the near future.

I can't let myself get to happy or too upset about any one day.

I just want back the 1/3 of my retirements funds that disappeared these last 6 months.

[Deja Q]

11. It's likely because President Obama kicked out GM's CEO

(who will retire on a comfy $20 mil as a reward for fuckin' up the company, but whatever...)