Beware of falling knives

Sabbath morn, June 16, 2012.

I once heard a stock trader compare buying stocks in a downturn to catching falling knives.

That same analogy seems to apply to real world endeavors. In a climate where the average American has lost 40% of personal wealth, it matters not the arena in which you work; it’s hard, near impossible, to turn a profit on your labor or your trades.

In such times it’s all too easy to look for scapegoats rather than admit the whole damn system is sick and dying before our eyes: it’s the Mexicans, the dope dealers, the labor unions, the oil well drillers, the stock traders, the mail man, Monsanto, Wal-Mart, Middle-eastern terrorists, fat white boys, gays, the banks…

Yes, it’s all of the above and more.

Trying times, these.