the day the finance world died

it would only be most disrespectful of me to not say a few words over the death of america's most prized creation, the object that threw USA on the map in terms of a serious influence on the world, etc: the finance industry.

the finance industry--where the market is merciless, where making serious money was as tangible as keeping up on breaking news, where only the smartest motherfuckers survive--has finally bitten off more than it could chew.  the general disregard for the risks taken in the bets made in the past 20 or so years have caught up, and now we are forced to pay the price. the dow jones industrial average dropped 500 points (4%) and all around the world, stock markets have followed suit.

stock prices are the best indicators of the sentiment of the company, the market, the general economy. because only the smartest motherfuckers in the world play the stock market, there is no manual labor required and the money made is easy money. they have the knowledge and the foresight to predict where the stock price will move and will buy and sell accordingly. the price of a stock will always be the first and foremost leading indicator of the health of the company, even if it will sometimes take one or two years before we, several levels away from the smart traders, the equity researchers, the junior analysts at investment banks, realize the reason or cause of any price movements.

the failed lehman brothers speaks volumes of the current state of today's economy. it is the ceremonious changing of the guards, out with the old and in with the new. like walmart taking over small propriety mom and pops shops, like best buy and circuit city taking over smaller appliance/electronic stores, like macy's buying out hechts.  there is always an economic reason for these actions to occur.  we let the market carry out its own bidding. and like any transition period, we see that the market is ruthless; it shows no remorse, no sympathy for the unlucky ones.

the future is shrouded in uncertainty, and we can only depend on ourselves, our ability to build rapport with others, our work ethic, our talent, our ability to improve and to learn, in order to survive.

but of course, we are all placed on this earth to enjoy ourselves, to succumb to our hedonism, to find joy and happiness, and of course love.

why should we let something as manmade as finance dictate the direction of the world?

andy