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To: Carl Worth who wrote (48381)	6/2/2003 6:41:23 AM
From: Larry S.	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 53068

Carl Worth and SOROS - we have, for over 5 years now, kept this thread focused on stock discussion, investing ideas, charts, etc. There is a some occassionaly friendly banter. I don't know why you have chosen us for your personal exchange here, but I, and hopefully speaking for others here< would appreciate if you continued your dialogue on another thread. thank you. larry

To: Carl Worth who wrote (48381)	6/2/2003 10:29:32 AM
From: SOROS	Respond to of 53068

Carl, To respect the thread's wishes, this will be the last post by me on this. I find almost all you say in your post as valid. Where we differ, I suppose, is in how much of the American economy (particularly stock market gains) has anything to do with anything remotely good. When a company first goes public, of course they get funds for their stock. If they never do a secondary, then the buying and selling of that paper from that point on is no more than gambling by others. If they never declare a dividend, then even those who originally invested are left with no more than "the greater fool theory" with which to make money on their investment. Anyone who does not see the majority of the stock market as tantamount to a casino is a fool in my opinion. The "rich young ruler" was simply to illustrate where his heart was -- and that is where, IMO, 90% of American's hearts are. There still are lots of giving people, and they do tremendous amounts of good. But, unfortunately, these are not the people moving and manipulating the stock markets. The Bible says a few things about trying to get something for nothing also. I have a hard time accepting that the majority of stock market trading has much to do with earning money by hard work that benefits society and does not come at the expense of others just as in a casino. There are also a few examples of "wealthy" being blessed by their giving -- J. C. Penney, etc. How many can be found today? I do not have a disdain for the wealthy. I have a disdain for the stock market system because it has evolved into a manipulated game with those at the highest levels even in the government pulling the strings while putting out utter garbage through the media they now control in this area. This coordinated deceit is where I find fault. There are multitudes of paid scum on these boards. There certainly would be plenty of money to correct most of society's ills if everyone practiced giving. And there most surely are problems with a system when a government steps in to try and "make things fair for all" -- Soviet Union. Although, these attempts usually fail because those at the top have evil hearts that are easily corrupted by wealth and power, and they abuse that -- same thing that happens in the American society as well. That said, as long as a system worships money and rewards those things such as athletic ability or acting ability to the highest degree, IMO, that society will eventually decline. As far as the government's collusion in the economy and the markets, Paul O’Neill, the former Treasury Secretary under President Bush, says it correctly. "It’s all about sound bites, deluding the people, pandering to the lowest common denominator. I didn’t adjust (in Washington) and I’m not going to start now." Of course he's gone since he would not be a part of the scam. The entire American economy is now built on and dependent on increasing debt. The bulls say it does not matter how much in debt a person, a company, or a government goes, so long as they can make the payments. I see a time coming when they won't be able to, and the marginability of the stock market was one of the primary factors in creating a lot of this economic trouble. The attitude that developed during the 1990's that everyone deserved to get rich easily for their pampered retirement through easy stock market gains was developed and encouraged by the government and Greenspasm's actions. I'm simply saying all of this is tied together and does not speak well of the majority of people. Most of the TV pastors can be lumped into this as well. For the most part, the "prosperity gospel" is being led by a bunch of charlatans, who if given the choice of "selling all" to enter Heaven, would turn around also. I'm just too cynical (a bad trait sometimes), but I'd be willing to bet a "believer" with that license plate would also choose to hang on to their wealth if put to the choice. I remain, SOROS