Chasing the Wind

20 responses to “Mechanical Investing – June Returns Were Great”

1. 

   Anonymous

   July 6, 2004 at 8:19 pm

   wow! you say you believe in the love of jesus and his teachings of compassion, and yet you hold stock in companies which rape the earth and its people in the name of capitalism. do you not understand the connection? probably not. oil, sure it fuels our industries and our economy, but, hmmmmm, why do so many people have to die so that you can get a few more stock options, maybe a shore house where you can teach your children to hate black people. jesus said god blesses all people, he loves all the children of the earth. did you miss that day of sunday school? or were you out stealing the lives and cultures, the history and heritage, the homelands of the majority of the people of the earth? there is a better way to live. stop american imperialism. simplify your life. all we need is food and water, shelter and love. and because of your investments, you are helping to make sure that over 1 billion people don’t have access to these fundamental human necessities for life. why don’t you take all of your profits and help as many of gods people as you can. otherwise you can be rest assured of a place in the worst part of hell.

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2. 

   Michael

   July 6, 2004 at 8:25 pm

   I stole no lives. Jesus told me not to bury my talents but to invest them. 🙂

   You should help poor people, too. May I suggest selling your computer?

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3. 

   Anonymous

   July 6, 2004 at 8:58 pm

   hey mike, i dont own a computer. so if you invest in a company that kills the earth, they you are not guilty? so if i gave millions of dollars to hitler and his war machine, technically i didn’t do anything wrong?

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4. 

   Michael

   July 6, 2004 at 9:02 pm

   You should choose to invest according to your conscience, of course, as do I.

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5. 

   Anonymous

   July 6, 2004 at 9:40 pm

   Okay, so you choose to invest according to your conscience. So if you knewn that a company that you were investing in, a company that is able to operate because of your financial assistance and input, was in some way hurting other human beings, then naturally your conscience would tell you that you were doing something wrong. now you have stock in valero. valero operates the paulsboro oil refinery in south jersey (outside philadelphia). i live inbetween this oil refinery and the coastal eagle point refinery in west deptford, right on the delaware river. over the past few decades, the occurence of asthma, breathing problems, and lung cancer have increased dramatically in our area of south jersey. you can read about this anywhere. the epa just released another report listing gloucester county as one of the worst air polluted areas in the country. well, you might be thinking, what does this have to do with you and your stocks? i wouldn’t be bothering you if you were innocent. but unfortunately i have a nephew who is dying of lung cancer… a 14 year old kid who is dying of lung cancer! his parents don’t smoke cigarettes. he has never smoked a cigarette. he is 14! and just because he lives in a poor working class town in between two oil refineries he is having is life cruelly taken from him. well, i just don’t know how you can kiss your children goodnite and pretend like you provide for them through an honest and fair occupation, when you are profiting from a company that is killing the people of the earth. its not just humans either. the university of pennsylvania is conducting a major study and is finding that thousands of young dogs, puppies, are developing severe lung cancer and dying with a year or two. Puppies! Now I know they haven’t been smoking cigarettes. and i know its not just oil refineries which are polluting the air and water in my neighborhood. the philadelphia airport is directly across the river, and every two minutes we must stop our conversations because an airplane is flying a few hundred yards above our heads. but you also own stock in companies that supply airplane parts too. i dont know if you have planes flying overhead all night long also, keeping you from sleeping. probably not. how is your conscience doing? i wish i didn’t have to bother you and fill you in on how your capitalist exploits are helping to ruin the lives of so many people. i was born into this life. i fight everyday to make it better for all people, because there are millions more who have it far worse than i do. but we have to wake you up from ignorance. you haven’t seen all the pain in the world that you cause when you support companies that hurt innocent children and animals. i do. it hurts. maybe you would like to come to south jersey and see one day. we can’t walk on the shore of the river because pharmaceutical companies and chemical plants (like dupont in delaware) dump so much garbage into the river…syringes line the beaches. we can’t swim in the water, eat the fish we catch because the mercury levels are too high. 80 % of the year we are told not to go out in the sun because the UV index is at its highest level. but i’m sure all the oil that is burned everyday has nothing to do with that. i ride a bike and dont own a car. do you ride a bike? theres a better way to live. why not invest in sustainable development projects? renewable energy? maybe support community centers in urban areas. educate your children and your neighbors about the harmful effects of wasteful lifestyles. at the very least, it will make you a little happier to know that you have done something good for your own family, your children and their children will have a place to play and will be able to breathe fresh air and drink clean water…as all people should get to do. its just common sense and true compassion. please help. its hard to let go of pride and ignorance, but i know you are not a fool and want to help too.

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6. 

   Michael

   July 6, 2004 at 9:59 pm

   Whew. You had a lot to say. Thanks for all the research.

   After I pay off my car, my mortgage, and put my son through college, I’ll consider taking advice from a helpful stranger that would prefer I become a pauper. I bet it ticks you off I work for an oil company, too.

   P.S. You should consider moving somewhere where you’ll be happier.

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7. 

   Anonymous

   July 7, 2004 at 7:50 am

   research? this is my life. would you like to come and tell all the people living here to move somewhere else? maybe we could move to your neighborhood. maybe having a racially diverse community would teach you a thing or two about the world in which you live. you don’t pick stocks according to your conscience. you pick what will bring you the most profit. you know that what you are doing is hurting your fellow human beings, but you do not care. no one is asking you to live like a pauper (though it wouldn’t be a bad idea, why do you use it as a deragotory term?). its merely a request to invest in something a little wiser, something that, although it may not bring back the biggest return, will do more to help the earth than destroy it. when you point and click and trade stocks, you’re playing with more than just numbers and dollar signs. its people’s lives that you are playing with. people’s lives that you are destroying. you might try to pretend that its social darwinism. maybe you will say that it is gods will that we must suffer…i dont believe either of these things. you are pretty much a slave master. you don’t have a plantation and a whip, but you are profitting off of the suffering of others. maybe you will recognize that you are a slave to the corporate system too. paying off a car, a mortgage, putting your son through college…you will be too old to type one day and you will realize that you wasted your life working for a dream that never came true. theres a better way, an alternative. read your bible. its all in there.

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8. 

   Anonymous

   July 7, 2004 at 7:55 am

   Christians are warm, loving, and full of fun. They want the best for *everybody*, not just their own close circle of friends. They want the best for *you*.

   you said it.

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9. 

   Anonymous

   July 7, 2004 at 7:56 am

   ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

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10. 

    Courtney

    July 7, 2004 at 8:21 am

    At what point do people start taking responsibility for their own lives and stop blaming others?

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11. 

    Michael

    July 7, 2004 at 8:33 am

    Feel free to participate on my blog, Mr/Ms Anonymous; I welcome your comments if you remain polite. If I’ve heard your advice and still decided not to take it, recognize that is my perogative, my choice.

    Your perspective is obscured by your own personal clouds. From my perspective, Valero employs over 100 of my co-workers. They are able to feed and clothe their families and send their children to school. And although I do not work on the Valero project upstairs, I would if I was asked, for then they would be feeding and clothing me and my family.

    If you call me racist or a slave master again, I’ll take offense. Play nice.

    My website’s name is taken from Ecclesiastes; I’m well aware of the meaningless of work, play, everything. But with God, enjoying our work and play is a gift from God, something I fully intend to do.

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12. 

    Michael

    July 7, 2004 at 9:50 am

    Anonymous, I’ve removed your posts for accusing me of a) enjoying hurting others and b) accusing me of being non-Christian an uncompassionate.

    Play nice.

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13. 

    Anonymous

    July 7, 2004 at 10:45 am

    you are also behind clouds. sure, your company feeds and houses and clothes 100s of employees. but what about the thousands of people who must suffer because of the waste and the pollution of this company? why do they have to suffer so a few people can live better? can’t we find a better solution for everyone?
    its a poor argument to make that the company provides resources for a few…hitler provided his master race with many fine things and much wealth and prosperity for their families, but at whose expense? the apartheid regime benefitted thousands of white families in south africa, but unfortunately had to enslave millions of blacks, who had to suffer involuntarily so that others could live in extreme exuberance. i don’t like to compare our country to these horrible regimes (you do agree they were horrible regimes, no?) but its alarming to know that our own government is starting to sway more and more towards fascism (fascism is a type of government that might be more aptly titled “corporatism” because private interests run state control and influence legislation) even here in “democratic” america we still have not made significant reparations for the absolute horror that enslaved millions of africans. but slavery ended 150 years ago, didn’t it? well what is the working class today? do they not have to work their entire lives, sometimes upwards of 60 or 70 hours a week, pay incredibly unfair amounts of taxes (especially when compared to the top 5%), live in the worst areas, go to the worst schools, and suffer the worst oppression? and now, with the global market, the US can enslave people around the world even easier so that we can have cheaper clothes and cheaper food, all in the name of “free enterprise” and capitalism. and your tax dollars helps to subsidize this process. you said yourself you have to pay a mortgage, pay for your son’s college, pay for your car. aren’t these things that should be obtained much easier, especially if one works hard his whole life to lead a simple life? a great society obviously can only survive through great contributions by the working class, but does that working class have to be treated like slaves? i do not believe that communism (which came as a reaction to capitalism) is the answer, for that system takes away all individuality for the cause of a great unified state, and it also discourages spirituality and religion (this is why the chinese committed genocide against the tibetans, the most peaceful and spiritual people on earth). religion and spirituality are extremely important to the well being and development of a human being (i think you would agree) so i ask, can’t the government at least make their lives a little more comfortable and possibly even give the working class majority a little more say in how their lives are run? why are the government and corporations so bent on discouraging unions and sending jobs overseas? why do they insist on keeping the minimum wage so low that millions must live in poverty? at least they can raise it to the minimum living wage level. it may have to do with the fact that corporations, which are protected by our government and given the same status and rights as a US citizen, operate solely to make a profit and make a greater return to shareholders. the market depends on the sale of commodities. today, everything is a commodity, even workers are considered commodities and they are therefore expendable…when profits are down a company will not think twice to layoff hundreds of employees and ship their jobs overseas. where will these people work then? if they are lucky, then maybe they can work in the service sector (mcdonalds etc). what will happen to peoples jobs in the oil industry in a few years when the oil runs out? what about their families? why not make major investments into renewable energy sources now…renewable energy means a consistent level of employment also. sure it will be an expensive business venture, but for a fraction of what it cost to invade iraq we could have made serious progress towards converting our energy dependence and setting an example for the world. you and i both know that natural resources are being extremely depleted. consider this…lets say your town is experiencing a drought and there is only one thousand gallons of water in the resevoir for the month. you and your neighbors know that they must consume the water wisely in order to survive through the month. unfortunately the mayor has naturally assumed that he is the most important in the town and should have the most water, arguing that his existence is the most crucial to the towns survival. he also believes that he must keep a great amount of water so that he can have power and sway over rival towns that are also experiencing a drought. he takes 500 gallons for himself and another 250 for his family and close relatives. then his buddies on the town counsel takes another 200 gallons for themselves, arguing that they are next in the line of importance. then there is but 50 gallons left for the rest of the town. how are they going to survive on 50 gallons? they must fight each other viciously to obtain a basic human necessity. it seems pretty unfair, doesn’t it? why don’t they just share the water equally? why don’t they work together to find a better solution. sure its important for the mayor to survive, but is it fair to the rest of the people, without whom there would be no town?
    now you are probably asking, what does this have to do with anything? its a completely hypothetical situation that could never happen. theres plenty of water. unfortunately this story is happening, and on a global level, and it effects each and every one of us. what will happen when the oil runs out? what will happen when we ruin all the grazing and farming land with chemicals and overproduction? how about when there is no more clean water? what is already happening in the world? terrorists don’t hate us because of our freedoms…they hate us because we have been severely limiting their own freedom by going into their countries and taking their resources and enslaving their people to work for our corporations. if we really wanted iraq to be free than we would not put our corporations in control of their resources, and we would not build 14 permanent military bases in their nation. i would be pretty upset if iraq invaded america and took over our economy and established iraqi militia stations throughout the states.
    we never would have been attacked on 9/11 if we never went into those countries first to steal from the people and rape their land. it may be hard to see all this from a desk in an office building. its very hard to see it from america. in fact we are kept from seeing it, which may be why michael moore’s movie is becoming so popular. yes he does spin everything and it is propaganda, but its hard to deny that what our country is doing to innocent people (in the name of “freedom” and capitalism) is pretty despicable. and, by definition, isn’t the media, television, newspapers, and even our own government all involved in the creation of propaganda? did you ever consider that we are living in a new roman empire? look at the comparison of the average americans taxes and the amount of income he actually gets to save. its almost 50/50. after taxes taken right from the paycheck, then taxes on everything we buy (food, gas, etc) and all services (phone, cable, energy, toll booths, etc) then property taxes, income taxes, other federal taxes…well its just about 50/50. this number is surprising because it is the same level as the serf slaves who had to work for wealthy land owners in england hundreds of years ago, and it is about the same as the citizens of the roman empire. the only greater percent comparisons are to be found in the worst cases of slavery, such as the system that operated in the americas for 400 years. so what can we do about all this? it seems a major task to help make life better for all humans and bring true freedom – the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – and basic human rights such as water, food, and shelter. well its not going to get any better if we continue to live in ignorance and denial. you have to understand the system in which you are living. you have to understand history, not just the “manifest destiny” lies that are taught in school. the nazis and the nationalist apartheid regime both stated that they were merely carrying out gods will. i dont believe that. and i dont believe that our country is the only one with god on its side. we are all gods children and likewise we should recognize that we are all living together as one family, regardless of color or background. the greatest leaders in history, the real heroes, were people who realized this simple fact. nelson mandela, mahatma ghandi, the dalai lama, martin luther king, even jesus christ. he was crucified because people didn’t believe that we could all live together in peace as a family, regardless of religious affiliation or personal background. the people of the roman empire did not want to give up the exuberant, wasteful, hateful, lifestyles and system of oppression to take up jesus’ teachings and live better lives. eventually his movement grew, and, the roman empire collapsed in sin. why were dr. martin luther king jr and mahatma ghandi assassinated? they only wanted people to live in peace and all people to prosper (we don’t all have to live like paupers, we just have to be responsible for our actions). well, fear, hate, and ignorance are strong forces in the world today. it is what capitalism feeds on. why do we have a police force in america? it started when corporations hired thugs to break up unions that were threatening the profits of the company by demanding better wages and living conditions, and also to keep the newly freed black population from revolting or protesting for better lives. we still have a police force, not so much to protect us but to protect corporate interests and to incriminate people of color. but because of these protesters that chose to go against the system and fight the establishment and its thugs, you are able to make a good wage and have time to spend with your family and not work 70 hours a week. you will be able to retire and live comfortably, and send you kid to college.

    i dont know if any of this is sinking in or if you think it is all a waste of time, but as most people in america are only given one side of the story (usually a story that best serves the corporate, capitalist interests of the state) i thought you might appreciate another viewpoint from someone who isn’t benefitting from the american dream. and unfortunately there are a lot more people who are on the wrong side of the poverty line, a line that can be erased if some people who were more privileged gave a little back to the people who put them into their position of privilege. we all want to live in a safe, secure, healthy world, (i hope), but its not going to happen by denying basic human rights, by washing our hands of our obligation to love thy neighbor (especially the neighbors that live far away and that we don’t see on the way to work) and by living in ignorance of the truth. just because we can’t see the people who are suffering as a result of our actions, doesn’t mean that we are not committing a sin. if i were giving money to a terrorist organization that was hurting people with chemicals, we would both agree this is bad. yet if i give money to a company that is hurting people with chemicals, than this is good? i dont understand this reasoning.

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14. 

    Anonymous

    July 7, 2004 at 10:49 am

    this last post i hope was neither viewed as accusing you of being uncompassionate or non-christian, or of accusing you of enjoying hurting others. it is only meant to create awareness and show how we can all be more compassionate and be better christians, and to help others to live better lives.

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15. 

    Anonymous

    July 7, 2004 at 10:54 am

    i know that you want all of gods creations to live in peace and happiness and i merely want to help you fulfill this goal. there are little choices we can make in life to make the world a much better place. why not start today to make these changes? if we recognize that there are many problems in the world today, and i think we both realize things could be better, why don’t we do something about it? we could all work together and make things happen. be the change you want to see. and we should never view ourselves as perfect, we can always work to better ourselves. and we should always be open to other people’s criticism, for to communicate is to open yourself up to criticism.

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16. 

    Michael

    July 7, 2004 at 11:03 am

    That was amazing. And to answer your question, yes, you’re wasting your time. I’m probably the only one reading your message and I’m not buying into any of your ideas.

    But I do appreciate you making your point without calling me names, thanks.

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17. 

    Courtney

    July 7, 2004 at 11:18 am

    Anonymous- go to blogger.com and register for your own little space on the web. It’s free and you can put all of your ideas down for the world to see. I think you’re an idealist and you have many great things to say. No sense burying them in the comments section on someone else’s site.

    Also, for readability, capatilization and paragraph breaks work wonders.

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18. 

    Anonymous

    July 7, 2004 at 2:53 pm

    So you keep a blog and expect people to read it and completely agree with everything you say and give you praise for your opinions, and you think that anyone who is different is wasting their time? It seems like you spend an awful amount of time working on this blog, considering how fast you reply to everything that is written. So, have you ever considered that what you are doing is wasting your own time? How do you benefit from this exchange if you are not open to discourse and varying viewpoints. Obviously, you are not open if you can call Michael Moore’s movie a “sack of lies” without having seen it, and then failing to produce even one lie. You do make reference to a writer whose article has since been discredited.

    And, since you don’t “buy into” any of my ideas, i can only naturally assume that you feel no qualms about supporting a company which harms innocent people. It is blood money. And thats part of the problem. If you’re never willing to even consider that what you are investing in may in some way be harming others, then how can you expect to ever help the situation? If you were told that a company which makes clothing regularly tortured and raped its child workers, and you were given proof that this was actually true, how could you ever invest in a company like that and feel good about yourself? Is raping the planet not as bad as raping a young child? Now, you are investing in several companies which are doing damage to the environment, our home and sole provider, and you don’t feel bad about it? All I want to know is how you can defend something like that? The only defense you gave was that you needed the money. You did it all for the money. You can still have a car and a house and send your son to college and not have to invest in companies that are ruining the lives of people both now and in the future. Thats what capitalism does and it shows how much we’ve been conditioned to think that its ok. “Well I don’t see how I am doing any harm at all. I love America. I’m helping the economy. Jesus told me to invest.” I don’t see how money is a talent. If Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coultier made a movie showing how corporations and oil companies are ruining the planet, would you believe it? If President Bush admitted tomorrow that oil companies have been paying scientists to discredit the threat of global warming, would you believe it?

    And courtney, before you critique someone’s writing style maybe you should proofread your own. A dictionary might help… “Capatilization”

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19. 

    Courtney

    July 7, 2004 at 4:02 pm

    Touché anonymous. I do appreciate the easier to read format, however. I personally enjoy polite discussions. The only point I was making about getting your own blog is that your opinions are highlighted, not someone elses. Carry on.

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20. 

    Michael

    July 7, 2004 at 4:26 pm

    Well, yeah, it’s my blog. I pay $4.95 a month to express my opinion. If I wanted to, I could close comments completely, and it would still be my blog. I didn’t put up a blog to change my mind; I lived a long life to form the opinions I have, and now I have a blog to share my wisdom, experience, and opinions. I am open to new ideas, but I’ve heard ideas like yours and do not subscribe to your views. I find them pessimistic.

    I heard what you said. I don’t agree with it. I thank God for providing me with a home, a job, a son, food. I feel I am taking care of the talents He entrusted to me. And I answer to my God, not to you. I am confident I’m doing the right thing.

    Could I do better? Sure. But I’m not going to invest in money-losing propositions, quit my job, or walk 17 miles to work each way in order to satisfy you. I don’t believe it’s “blood money”, that corporations are fascist and racist, that investing in Gold Bond Medicated Powder is the same as raping some young girl in a 3rd world country. I believe companies are supplying thousands of people with jobs. Capitalism makes that all happen.

    I started with little, though my father put me through school. I worked my way out of debt, saved my money, and now I invest the excess in the stock market at companies of my choosing. Those companies are legal, not unethical. And I take a happy chunk of my free cash and support charities and causes of my choosing. I am a capitalist, my friends, families, and coworkers are capitalists. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s the best one available.

    By the way, Courtney tells me she’s a capitalist, too. She had something to say and she’s saying it at http://courtneycs.blogspot.com . She has a different opinion on many issues.

    If *you* want to share *your* opinion, by golly you have every right to do so. There are 3 free sites where you can setup a blog and express your viewpoint to the world. I started off at http://blogger.com and http://livejournal.com and there’s http://bravenet.com as well. All free. I decided I wanted a little more flexibility so I’m paying to host my own. My blog: my opinion. Your blog: your opinion. My money: my investments.

    Feel free to send me your URL and if I like what you say, I’ll visit.

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