This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/related attachment ------=_NextPart_001_0022_01C4BF27.1B6F3840 Yes, I have to hit the delete key on many OT s and then go to my mail and delete those again. What does all this = have to do with a piano list ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Sarah Fox=20 To: Pianotech=20 Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2004 2:34 AM Subject: Re: Larry: OT Political -- PLEASE HIT DELETE KEY Larry, >>Sarah, there has been two stock market crashes. One was in the late = 1920s. I don't think you lost anything in that one. The other one was in = the mid to late 1980s. Are you of the opinion there was a third one?=20 You've asked me this question twice now, so with apologies to the = list, I will answer it. Those who are not interested in the economy or = the election, PLEASE delete this email. Do not read! ----------------------------------------- NUTRITION LABEL Ingredients: sad story, economic stuff(ing), sour grapes, 1 small = graphic file, natural humor and seasonings Calories: approx 30 kB/serving Fat: 10% BS: 12% OT: 34% of RDA ------------------------------------------ So Larry, I was apparently mistaken. Here's a chart of what has = happened in the Nasdaq over the past 5 years: What we see here is apparently an exceptional period of sustained, = rapid, negative growth, throughout which investors retained over 20% of = their initial net worth, resulting in a market of unprecedented = opportunity. (Don't y'all yell "BULLSHIT" at the same time, OK?) All BS aside, the market went from a high of about 5000 to a low of = about 1100, representing a 78% value loss over 30 months. By = comparison, the stock market crash of 1929-1932 took the S&P 500 from = about 300 to about 50, representing an 83% loss over almost exactly the = same time period. =20 It's hard to know how to compare apples with apples. It's true that = the S&P 500 declined to only about half its value in the crash of = 2000-2002, but of course the 1929 S&P 500 and the 2000 S&P 500 were not = the same basket, and in modern times, worthless stocks are retired out = of these indices, replaced by other stocks (so the crash doesn't appear = quite as bad as it otherwise would). Also, while the S&P 500 was = probably the best index for the 1920's reflecting the average investor's = portfolio, the modern investor's portfolio is better reflected somewhere = between the Nasdaq composite index and the S&P 500. The average = investor lost approximately 2/3 of his/her portfolio value. So yes, the = 1929-1932 crash was somewhat worse (by maybe 15% loss), and numerous = other contributing factors resulted in a much worse depression = (Republicanspeak =3D "recession"). However, the crash of 2000-2002 left = us hurting pretty badly, with people's retirement savings virtually = wiped out. Of course this is not really a "depression," because there is not the = same extent of "job loss" as currently defined. That's because in the = 1930's, when you collected bottles for change to buy a loaf of bread, = you weren't counted as an entrepreneur. Back then, a job meant 9 to 5 = (or later), and it brought in real money. People like myself wouldn't = be counted as "employed." However, modern redefinition has taken care = of that problem, and people like myself are now success stories that the = incumbent president can boast about: You see, I spent the better part of my life preparing myself for a = career in neurobiological research, receiving my Ph.D. during the early = 1990's, in the decade Prez Bush Sr. declared the "Decade of the Brain," = meaning that neurobiological research was considered extremely high = priority. So of course Mr. Bush slashed funding, and many of us had to = close down our labs, for lack of ability to put food on the table. = (Scientists have to eat too, contrary to popular belief.) So I went = into the private sector as an "entrepreneur." After three failed = ventures, I'm now on the fourth. I've "retrained" myself with the = latest in digital imaging technology, and I'm trying to make a living as = a photographer. After a couple of weeks in business, I've brought in = $50 from one sale. Extrapolating out, that would give me an income of = $2400 over the next year, which would not offset my initial investment. = (I anticipate business will pick up, but I don't exactly expect to = strike it rich.) So I am (self) employed now, in the great American = entrepreneurial spirit of private enterprise, having left the bad ol' = big-government-funded world of the academic sector. Yes, I am one of = Mr. Bush's millions of success stories. (Someone yell "BULLSHIT," OK?) Looking at the bigger picture, if you were to compare the number of = fully employed individuals nowadays (i.e. working full time at their = pre-"recession" pay rate or better, with the same benefits, and in the = same field) with the number of fully employed individuals in the early = 1930's, you might see a very different picture and might be inclined to = use the "D" word to describe our current situation -- a situation in = which Ph.D. scientists are working as photographers, substitute = teachers, exterminators, and painters, if they're working at all (to = draw from the examples of some of my colleagues). Granted, it's nothing = like the 1930's, but neither is it anything like what Bush portrays. Do I blame this mess on the Bush administration? Only somewhat. I = really put the blame on rampant corporate fraud and corruption. = Participating in that fraud and corruption were Bush and Cheney, but = they were only the tip of the iceberg. Martha Stewart was a but a = snowflake in this whole mess, but she got a lot more jail time than = either Bush or Cheney. To my knowledge, neither Kerry nor Edwards = cheated a single investor. Anyway, Larry, that's my honest assessment of what has happened. = Don't you dare tell me it didn't happen; I've lived it, toots! Having said all that, this horrible economy is honestly the least of = my concerns. I've always voted for social policy, energy policy, and = foreign policy. This year, the preservation of our Constitution is my = number one concern as a voter, and even gay/les/bi/transgender (GLBT) = rights take a back seat. (This comes from a former GLBT activist, = folks!) Peace, Sarah PS Only three days left in the Graphic Fusion Eight Inch sale. All = eight inch prints available at half price to those who have posted on = this list over the past year or two. Sale ends on election night. = (Come'on all you Republicans, give "W" one more success story to boast = about!) www.graphic-fusion.com PPS Apologies, again, to the list, and especially to those outside the = US. However, remember that we are ALL affected by the outcome of this = election in the most powerful, arrogant, and imperialistic country in = the world. What happens on Tuesday should interest you. I won't say = another word, though, unless one of you persistently goads me for a = response, like Larry did. ------=_NextPart_001_0022_01C4BF27.1B6F3840 An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/19/f9/a2/0c/attachment.htm ------=_NextPart_001_0022_01C4BF27.1B6F3840-- ---------------------- multipart/related attachment A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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