SPDR S&P 500 (SPY)

[leftyg]

It's interesting that the Chinese people are rushing as head-long as their government will allow, into capitalism...while, at the same time the most successful capitalist society of all time is showing strains. The main risk of social upheavel is if the IRA's lose half or more of their value, to coincide with a loss of value of the family home....often, much of many families nest egg. The Fed simply cannot let that happen, and will go to any extremes to prevent it.

There has been wealth re-distribution, engineered into the tax system, all of my life.....most of that social engineering seems to have been for naught in lifting the truly poor. Examples abound..but one might suffice. The building of very nice hi-rise apartments in the inner cities, with subsidized or low rent for the occupants, have been largely abandoned, because of vandalism to the buildings, and becoming a concentrated breeding ground for drugs and the crimes that follow.

I don't think anything can replace a desire to take the extended helping hand and help lift yourself and your family out of poverty. Until those in that condition are willing to help lift themselves, the giant sucking sound is going to be more of the noise of tax dollars going to support a life of indolence, drugs, and crime.

Just my opinion.