Buy and hold may not be to your benefit

I saw a comment about buy and hold today. This is what I thought after I had read "long term buy and hold is dead. " Long term buy and hold has apparently been to the benefit of many, many people. Unfortunately, the person putting up the money has not bee one of them. This crisis may be revealing the reality of the stock system that may not be of such great benefit to those saving for retirement in 401 k and mutual fund accounts. The banks,brokerages and funds have managed to make trillions, lose trillions, pay out trillions over the past decades and most long term investors are up, if they are up 10% give or take........?....Imagine how stimulating it would be to the economy if they could spend all the money they pay out in fees for getting this 10%. Yes I am being a bit cynical but those negative percentages that you mention were probably even more costly and more expensive. I am of the belief that we have set up a system that has as much to do with Momentum and psychology of the large fund managers as it does with fundamentals. Everything is growth and rising market. Our economy can not function long without the "real or imaginary" gains that creates wealth. I just don't understand how people can be so anti real estate because of the so called "imaginary gains" when the stock market is exactly the same. What is so different about a stock jumping 5 one day and down 10 the next because another "comparable company" did poorly. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.....geez...

press reveal ignorance through cell phone use

How ignorant do you have to be to go into the white house press briefing with your phone not on vibrate? I have never seen such a display of ignorance and disrespect that what I saw today during the press briefing. The White House Press Secretary handled it well but the second guy who stood up and walked out from the front row talking on his phone should never be allowed in that room again. I don't even like this administration but I am standing up for the White House on this one. This guy should be cut off from all white house contact after that episode. The Press Secretary handled it the best he could and all the guy had to do was to play along and give the phone up for 10 minutes but he had to be defiant. He seemed to have to prove his arrogance and ignorance by standing up and walking out. It is sad to see how ignorant and disrespectful the press has become regarding the white house and its press Secretary. The reality is that the press has no leg to stand on if it intends to act with such hubris and bravado. The press was completely derelict of its duty during the previous campaign and banking crisis and should take some humility after being revealed as the frauds and shills.

Caddies: Steve Williams-some never learn as Woods does Damage control

Tiger Woods has had a great run with his current caddie Steve Williams. Williams seems to be 100% in Tiger's corner, confidant and friend with his boss. He has always kept his exposure to the media to a minimum and seemed to understand that Tiger expected his caddie to keep his opinions to him self and to keep from doing anything that would take focus away from winning golf tournaments. No doubt Williams has become wealthy thanks to Tiger. Even if Williams is the world's greatest caddie, Tiger can win with him or with out him.

Recently Williams made some inexcusable comments about Phil Mickelson, one the world's other top golfers. The dismissive and derogatory comments were more telling of William's immaturity and pettiness than a description of Mickelson. Mickelson handle the situation with dignity and class as usual and made reference to how lucky he was to have such an excellent caddie on his bag. It was a telling moment for Mickelson, who is an extremely popular player. His comments were even more dismissive than those of Williams and showed that Mickelson as skilled in public relations as he is with his 60 degree wedge.

There was not a lot Tiger Woods could do other than cringe once Willams was recorded. He did make a phone call to Mickelson. I am sure both professionals know it is better for everyone to put this behind them but a gag order for Steve Williams might be put into place by the Woods camp so this hole doesn't get dug deeper with inept and insincere apology attempts. The truth and reality of PGA tour caddies is that they are to be seen and not heard-especially in the media. Mickelson made it clear that good caddies know their job does not include spouting off to the media.

Any other issues that call for Tiger to step up and do damage control will likely send Steve Williams to his home........... back down under.