Saturday July 5, 2008, 3:39 am
I used to (in the bad good old days) have a very modest stock portfolio that nevertheless performed rather well. It's all gone now...and I don't imagine the majority of everyday people have a huge personal financial stake in the stock market.

Having said that, we all know from recent experience - remember the rescue of Bear Stearns? - how much the investment market affects us all further down the line. Now the SEC wants to relax the regulations regarding foreign investors and investments - ultimately to the detriment of the American investor and our economy.

The proposed changes would water down the protections that currently apply and relax the rules enacted after the failure of Enron and other investing giants. Another loophole for greed and theft is about to be opened up.

Well, let's see - they've sold our health and our children to China, our cars to Japan and Germany, and now the government wants to auction off our stock market to the highest bidders. What will be left a the end of the day?

Saturday July 5, 2008, 3:46 am
OK - the b**tards at the Times changed the link. Here it is:

Accounting Plan Would Allow Use of Foreign Rules

Saturday July 5, 2008, 4:06 am
they changed it again cate... those bastages, do you suppose they are sorry they printed the article?

Saturday July 5, 2008, 5:29 am
I am so disgusted with this country anymore. Everyday I am afraid to see what is happening here. And here it is. We are being screwed big time. Noted with anger. Thanks Cate.

Saturday July 5, 2008, 5:47 am
The S.E.C., apparently as a matter of policy, has long abandoned it's role anyway. When market corruption is in most cases not investigated anyway and a few showcase trials are held when needed for appearence, and they (much like the DOJ anti-trust division) have abandoning rules they often no longer enforce, it makes rather little practical difference. Perhaps the NYSE can become like the AMEX, where specialists openly sell on the down tick for decades in open violation of the securities exchange act (oops, the SEC choose to abandon that rule, yes, in 2007, in one of the most significent sellouts already, though that one most people missed hearing about entirely, maybe they can also make that ex-post-facto to make past illegal actions "legal", too...), and hold portfolios in the companies they are processing. The only difference is that the AMEX is an openly rigged market, where the NYSE is more subtle...

Saturday July 5, 2008, 6:01 am
Noted. Being in the stockmarket is scarier these days than ever and, since I realized some time ago that I could neither afford to play or to lose, I got out and am still out. Only the well-connected can do well there for the most part. Every day is an adventure in the world of politics and economics...what next?, indeed! Thank you Cate for the story.

Saturday July 5, 2008, 6:20 am
Ban the SEC

Saturday July 5, 2008, 6:35 am
Hi again Cate: I have become so paranoid about our government! I now think they have raised the gasoline prices so that people will finally agree to drilling in the beautiful sites of our country! Why hasn't our government spent the last 30 or 40 years researching and developing solar energy instead of letting OIL take over our lives! I'm so frustrated!
Sylvia V.

Saturday July 5, 2008, 6:39 am
Support your local Mom and Pop Store-stop giving the corps your money to the best of your ability.Buy a large portion of your food from local growers, get clothes from second hand stores,garage sales or make them yourself ,, support your local greenhouse,your local dairy, your local craftshop ,,keep your money local to the best of your ability,buy your soaps from people who make them-Stop feeding the pockets of these corrupt people, The people in the stockk market fuel the Big Business which sell us out to the highest bidder,We have the power to change it all with our dollars,I already do most of these things I have stated and am working on doing more.We won't be able to stay completly away but we can make a big dent.

Saturday July 5, 2008, 7:52 am
I already do all those things and then some Faith :) Have for years. Good advice!

I have always marveled at the thought that people would gamble their hard earned money away on the stock market. If you are a regular run-of-the-mill Joe Public--you will loose. It has been and always will be for the well off and well connected. Rules for insider trading are a joke folks! They do it everyday. Now, with this 'easing of the rules' they are merely taking the curtains down that hid it before, completely down so it will be 'in your face'.

Personally, being a Democratic Socialist at heart, I would love to see the end of the stock market for good and all corporations nationalized, you know like the oil companies, the utilities companies, the mega-pharma corporations and the like. All those who continually and mercilessly exploit, abuse, murder and basically f***k all us little schmoes. Put the money and the power back in the hands of the people.

But that will never happen in AmeriKKKa. Gawd, I wish I could move to FINLAND!!!!! True Socialism is NOT the big bad boogieman that our wonderful rogue capitalist overlords would have you all believe. Socialism is NOT Communism, there is a HUGE difference.

Saturday July 5, 2008, 8:16 am
Noted Cate, and thanks. While lots of us frequent local, mom and pop stores, a large majority of the population can't resist the cheaper prices at Walmart or Home Depot, or Lowes, and the mom and pops slowly disappear.
I never had any money on the stock market except for some IRA funds I rolled over (not much, gone now) when I left a job. Seems like soon there may be reverse immigration and they'll have to put Lady Liberty on the OTHER side of the pond!

Saturday July 5, 2008, 9:56 am
i want to move to canada

Saturday July 5, 2008, 10:35 am
Barb, will it be any better in Canada after they pass the NAU (North American Union and replace the dollar with the Amero? I guess that some in the UK are beginning to think that joining the EU wasn't such a great thing after all. Oh yes, we also have a bill (S2433) in the Senate which goes by the inocuous name of the Global Poverty Act which binds us to the United Nations Millennium Declaration Goals and makes our government and our level of foreign aid subservient to the UN. Global Socialism and we don't even get a vote.

Saturday July 5, 2008, 12:30 pm
Noted and agree with Joyce B

Saturday July 5, 2008, 12:39 pm
thank cate i want to move but where?

Saturday July 5, 2008, 1:06 pm
Littlewing, I don't know anymore. I have always cherished the dream of retiring (if I can afford to!) to Prince Edward Island Canada. But if the North American Union DOES become a reality, it will be like living here all over again, albeit in a much cleaner, friendlier, more beautiful location.

Saturday July 5, 2008, 1:44 pm
Yes, love the idea of being at the whim of the UN - not! The UN was a dream that has proven to be nothing but a shill, another nightmare for the people of the planet, just like the World Bank, one of the most usurious, underhanded, corrupt entities on Earth!

Saturday July 5, 2008, 2:30 pm

The SEC has been a nightmare for many years.
First they never go after fraud unless millions can be stolen in fines by them. Second they ususaly let the FBI do the work, and then step in calling any thing of financial gain to their coffers, 'SEC Regualted'.

It's been crimminal and becoming more corrupt simce the 70's and banks lobbying to go back to business as usual (as in the cause of the great derpession).

The SEC never protected investors, period.
It looks out for it self, and even when they manipulate millions in frozen assets and fines... the investor gets a big 0 for their cooperation.

Like all corporations, that is all the SEC is and does.
They have never helped anyone but their self.
Also have injured many many small Am. companies in unverifiable accusations to plump their financial portfolio, not to mention all the attorneys on both sides that make out like kings, while the victims aren't even allowed to be informed.

Abolish the SEC. It is a non productive expense that puts on a face only.

Saturday July 5, 2008, 3:11 pm
noted and thanks Cate, i too want to move, say, like a desserted island with noone to tell me what i can and cannot do, i will be able to rule myself without big brother and their b.s.

Saturday July 5, 2008, 3:53 pm
Noted,Cate! You can always come up with the most interesting post! I to wish to move. I have resigned myself to so many thing in life. The fact that I need to change and then change things!But keep trying do not give up!

Saturday July 5, 2008, 5:17 pm
This country is run by the rich. They could care less about "we the people."
We'll just have to vote the house & senate out..they will then get what's coming to them.
I'd love every one of them to live the life of the middle class for one month just so they know what it's like.
I guess the folks in washing ton that weren't born with a silver spoon in their mouths forgot where they came from!

Saturday July 5, 2008, 6:32 pm
I wanna move to canada too...It really is getting unbearable with prices so damn high..I live pay check to paycheck any more and my animal donations suffer so....The government is about to break me....I still at least still have my home....

Thanks Cate sweetie

Big Gorilly Hugs

Saturday July 5, 2008, 10:13 pm
Joycey B. said it all. Cate, thank you

Saturday July 5, 2008, 11:46 pm
It pisses me off, these shenanigans
that nytimes.com is playing, moving
this article and cutting off links.

The worst part about censorship is
****** ** ***** ***, ***** * ****!

(the above has been redacted by The Ministry
of Homeland Security for your protection.)

Thanks, Cate.
noted.

Saturday July 5, 2008, 11:49 pm
I hope this article also helps to motivate those who have investments that deal with the market...., to sell and get out of that dark den. I agree very strongly with faith a., and she gives terrific advice. "The powers that be" have an agenda that is becoming more transparent, as "we the people" are awakening to Truth and Knowledge of ourselves, and to the relative of this world.
Noted and thank you, Cate.

Sunday July 6, 2008, 3:25 am
Noted and thanks Cate.
Moving to Canada would never be the answer to the problems here because in Canada prices are even higher with the exception of health care and the government they have right now is in lock step with Bush !
New Zealand might be a better choice !

Sunday July 6, 2008, 4:02 am
I agree Linda R. The last time I looked at the Esso gas station price board, it was $1.41 per liter [less than quart] so that works out to more than $5.00 per gallon. Food prices are going up due to rising cost of fuel to move it. Everything is being effected.In New Zealand, most of the land face is vertical [mountains] and flat areas are cities, towns and sheep pastures!LOL.

Sunday July 6, 2008, 11:22 am
Good one Tim R, I agree with you as most of the rest! Thanks Cate for posting.

Sunday July 6, 2008, 4:11 pm
Hi Cate AND ALL,I invite you to come to sunny Australia...you can see real BLUE skies here.....we have little air pollution...We haven't progressed to the level of disaster that you have in America....and hopefully never will....trouble is ....you can't just walk in here anymore....
Here We have the stock market going down, real estate going down,just had a second hand car yard employee in the shop, and he said they never sold a car last month.....not good signs... I get the feeling that by the end of the year, our economy may not be traveling too good here...but from what I read, you are going through similar problems in America....but we have a better social security system than you do....without your huge national deficit...currently we have no deficit...Ken

Sunday July 6, 2008, 4:38 pm
There is no place to go; this is the rich pigs in each country (de facto, the rich make up their own country)making sure that they protect each other's class interests. "Global socialism"?? Not hardly! Global fascism by the rich and for the rich, yes.

Sunday July 6, 2008, 6:15 pm
Good grief, Ken...great white sharks and killer k