Solving the World's Economic Crisis - A PRIMER IN COMMON SENSE!

I sure wish you folks would let me sit this one out and fish all day, but apparently the world needs me to step in and fix this doggone thing, once and for all. Let's review the facts, and just like a mathematical equation, start with your GIVENS:

1) The world economy is in the outhouse

2) Washington can't immediately help

3) Media coverage is continuous

Have you figured out the problem yet? It's kind of #1, a little #2, but the real culprit is #3. Panic begets panic. It's Biblical. People are still going to stores, they're still buying vacations, they're still paying $3-4 a gallon at the pumps. I'm not naive enough to think it's not affecting a lot of people, but the PANIC comes as much from reading, watching and listening to the pundits wailing day and night, and the public unfortunately keeps reading, watching and listening! You know why stations televise cop/car chases? Or helicopter views of disasters for hours on end? Because we watch. Yes we do. And that's part of what's happening here. Do you think a company like GE is going out of business? General ELECTRIC? Last time I checked, electricity was here to stay and they have diversified into wind power and other investments. That's why Warren Buffet just sank billions of his own dollars into GE. So it's not like every company in the world has suddenly tanked. It's cause and effect, and the panic of us watching this all day makes us kick out our knees like an old granny, gettin' out of a bath onto a cold linoleum floor. What happens? You can wager on a busted hip or something, darn-near every time. So let's not be granny! Not an ostrich with our heads underground either, but keep it all in perspective. If you have, or had paper wealth, you haven't lost a dime unless you sell. Just make sure you buy rock-solid companies at this point.

Years ago in the mid 80's there was a semi-crash of the markets, and I remember calling my broker asking if I should sell everything. His calm reply stayed with me to this day:

"Cap'n Bob, 1 of 2 things is happening - either the world as we know it is about to end, in which case it doesn't matter what you do because whoever has the most guns wins. OR, this is the greatest buying opportunity since 1929."

I listened to him and bought excellent stocks low, and eventually made a nice little treasure chest as a result. Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT advocating you go out and buy a bunch of stocks today, as the market is still in a bit of freefall (thanks again, media). Eventually though, just like in the middle 80's, one of 2 things is happening. Get the picture? If you can't take the heat of watching the news about this, TURN THE CHANNEL. You can watch Green Acres or Kojak re-runs almost any time day or night, and if you just come back to look at things in a few months, it's quite possible miracles will happen, even without your active participation. The great and powerful Oz has spoken.