Investment Advice

For almost 100 years, people in the United States have been playing the stock market. Average people, mom and pop, buy stocks in things they don't understand. The market rises and falls and some people win and most lose. Somehow, people think it's respectable or good for their money to make money. The antinomian, or outright sociopathic activities of corporations makes them "wealthy". Their standards are sold out by companies like Apple, Nike, GE or whatever, but they get paid a dividend, or in stock buy-backs, so it's all good.

Retirement savings has institutionalized that system with 401(k)'s and IRA's. Resources that used to stay in a community go to New York and Los Angeles and San Francisco. The houses, roads, and infrastructure of people's home towns get gradually more dilapidated. Their kids move away to seek a job for funny money in the big city.

In my hometown, where I actually still live, several local businesses buck this trend, and actually do very well. Plowing resources into the local community--making an Ark or fortress against trouble--is a really good idea. Investing in businesses that routinely do evil, and are run by people that hate your existence is a bad idea.