The reason for the financial collapse

May 1, 2009 2:01 am

Hey Guys,

This is a thought I had the other day. I KNOW this isn’t the cause for the financial collapse, but more of just an idle thesis that has been in my head for a while.

Do you think, the ultimate reason for the collapse, is that is became about “us” (those who’s only goal is to make money) instead of investors?

Instead of finding the right company to invest in (whether it be angel or just buying shares in the open market), did we instead go against what was pro-innovation and pro-nation and instead go for what made us the quickest buck?

Finance and investing is the cornerstone of our economy. If the right ideas don’t get the right funding, then that would be a collapse of innovation itself, wouldn’t it? Of course there is a counter-argument that the “right ideas” are the ones that inevitably make money, but instead was this a situation of greed taking over intelligence?

Curious to your thoughts. I know I’m over-generalizing, but could this be at the root of the problem, or just a tiny part or not part at all?

May 1, 2009 2:12 am

I think you’re right. Too much investment money went into real estate, which is essentially a dead investment, and not into innovativion and new technology.

I read once that the tech bubble, while a disaster in some ways, left behind all kinds of technological advances, most notably the Internet, which had lasing value.  In the 19th Century, the railroad boom eventually went bust, but it left behind the rail network. The bursting of the real estate bubble left behind very little of value. Even the new houses that were built were mostly big, oversized shlock.







May 1, 2009 3:01 am

[quote=buyandhold]I think you’re right. Too much investment money went into real estate, which is essentially a dead investment, and not into innovativion and new technology.

I read once that the tech bubble, while a disaster in some ways, left behind all kinds of technological advances, most notably the Internet, which had lasing value.  In the 19th Century, the railroad boom eventually went bust, but it left behind the rail network. The bursting of the real estate bubble left behind very little of value. Even the new houses that were built were mostly big, oversized shlock.
[/quote]

And the mostly big, oversized houses are ones most people soon won’t be able to afford to heat, clean, etc.

May 1, 2009 6:00 am

I wish I were a “pro,” surfing forums late night, dissing those who post in the lounge.

May 1, 2009 2:10 pm

Does this make you feel superior or something?

Anyone else want to discuss the topic?

May 1, 2009 2:35 pm

May 1, 2009 2:51 pm

Hahahahahahaha. No? You can just choose not to comment on my topics.

Or continue to. You seem to get a real kick out of it. Do you look forward to it, every morning?

Poor guy.

May 1, 2009 3:13 pm

Dang it, ice. Bad mood last night and this morning?

May 1, 2009 3:25 pm

I have to agree. I think I’ll avoid the forums for a while. Don’t want to get on ice’s bad side. I guess that’s why his name is icecold.

May 1, 2009 4:35 pm

Meh.  His theories aren’t any more crackpot than MPT.

  I keed I keed
May 1, 2009 5:32 pm

I gotta agee with Ice on this one.

May 1, 2009 10:29 pm

Look - I respect you guys. Ice, I see where you’re coming from.

I’m the new guy in the room. Maybe even that is a promotion in on itself. But you guys all contribute great content here. Your industry (and it’s people) are pretty closed off, and all I want to do here is learn, discuss, or be called an idiot when necessary.

Is that a problem? If you’re so close minded - why not shut off registration and mingle within yourselves? What did you think would happen when you show up as the first google result for "broker forum?"

Is it not okay to learn here? Curious as to the community’s thoughts…

May 1, 2009 10:40 pm
InvestorTester:

Hey Guys,

This is a thought I had the other day. I KNOW this isn’t the cause for the financial collapse, but more of just an idle thesis that has been in my head for a while.

Do you think, the ultimate reason for the collapse, is that is became about “us” (those who’s only goal is to make money) instead of investors?

Instead of finding the right company to invest in (whether it be angel or just buying shares in the open market), did we instead go against what was pro-innovation and pro-nation and instead go for what made us the quickest buck?

Finance and investing is the cornerstone of our economy. If the right ideas don’t get the right funding, then that would be a collapse of innovation itself, wouldn’t it? Of course there is a counter-argument that the “right ideas” are the ones that inevitably make money, but instead was this a situation of greed taking over intelligence?

Curious to your thoughts. I know I’m over-generalizing, but could this be at the root of the problem, or just a tiny part or not part at all?

  Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't those two people one in the same?
Doesn't "Those whose only goal is to make money" = "investors"?
May 1, 2009 10:43 pm
Moraen:

I have to agree. I think I’ll avoid the forums for a while. Don’t want to get on ice’s bad side. I guess that’s why his name is icecold.

  I think his name is Iceco1d because he listens to too much Outkast..."what's colder than being cold, icecold"
May 1, 2009 11:00 pm
snaggletooth:

[quote=InvestorTester]Hey Guys,

This is a thought I had the other day. I KNOW this isn’t the cause for the financial collapse, but more of just an idle thesis that has been in my head for a while.

Do you think, the ultimate reason for the collapse, is that is became about “us” (those who’s only goal is to make money) instead of investors?

Instead of finding the right company to invest in (whether it be angel or just buying shares in the open market), did we instead go against what was pro-innovation and pro-nation and instead go for what made us the quickest buck?

Finance and investing is the cornerstone of our economy. If the right ideas don’t get the right funding, then that would be a collapse of innovation itself, wouldn’t it? Of course there is a counter-argument that the “right ideas” are the ones that inevitably make money, but instead was this a situation of greed taking over intelligence?

Curious to your thoughts. I know I’m over-generalizing, but could this be at the root of the problem, or just a tiny part or not part at all?

  Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't those two people one in the same?
Doesn't "Those whose only goal is to make money" = "investors"?[/quote]

Well, I think there is a difference between investing $100k in a stock because you know it's going to bust (that's the only reason), instead of putting that into Angel funding inside a company that will innovate and improve society as a whole. Investment may take longer to recoup, but benefits would be multiplied by more than what you would make in return.

Maybe I'm contradicting myself.

I'll save Ice the trouble and call myself an idiot, and a moron.
May 1, 2009 11:17 pm
InvestorTester:


I’ll save Ice the trouble and call myself an idiot, and a moron.

  That's a more than fair statement.
May 1, 2009 11:50 pm
snaggletooth:

[quote=InvestorTester]
I’ll save Ice the trouble and call myself an idiot, and a moron.

  That's a more than fair statement.[/quote]

Wondering if I should just put it in my sig...
May 2, 2009 3:22 am

At least IT has a sense of humor. 

  Some people get defensive on here fairly quickly.     
May 2, 2009 3:24 am

Sorry if that last post seemed aimed at anyone - it wasn’t.