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What They've Thought
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What They Thought February 6, 2005 R.A.
Hawkins Click here for columnist bios |
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No column this week. R.A. Hawkins Web Site Contact Back to Top |
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'Twas the night before the election in the land of Iraq, but all through the eastern seaboard bars, Democratic senator Edward Kennedy could be heard roaring, “President Bush, your Iraq policies are a catastrophic failure!" Over a scotch on the rocks, Kennedy demanded that the American troops immediately begin to withdraw. Kennedy then turned his head like a jerk, belched and declared, "We have no choice but to make the best we can of the disaster we’ve created in Iraq." Certain Democrats began to distance themselves from the swollen red-faced man when all of a sudden he fell from his barstool and made such a clatter. Then lying sprawled out on the floor, he laid a finger inside of his nose and declared that the retreat of American forces should be completed "as early as possible in 2006." Lastly, as the bloated old Senator arose from his prostrate position and staggered towards the bar room door, he suggested that, in Iraq, American troops are a bigger problem than terrorists. Once upon on a time, there was a man named John Kerry who wore a red cape with a hood and served in Vietnam. He spent Christmas in Cambodia, and voted for the $87 billion before he voted against it. With well thought out speeches and quotes, Kerry and his wife named Theresa spoke to the hearts and souls of Americans as they tried to win back the White House from the big bad wolf…I mean the Republicans. Kerry and his good-looking southern boy Edwards took their liberally stuffed picnic baskets to America’s front porches during their campaign, and we were feed pseudo-pastries called "Bush’s plan in Iraq was just another Vietnam." The last bitter morsel little red Johnnyhood delivered to the gullible grannies in America was his Iraqi Election Day quote on Meet the Press with Tim Russert. Kerry stated, “No one in the Unites States should try to over-hype this election.” I think little Johnny’s liberally filled basket of pseudo pastries has become overgrown with the mold of green envy. How can an oversaturated Senator from Massachusetts demand that we withdraw our troops by a certain date? As the head of terrorism lies within Syria, its body is strewn across many parts of the Middle East, and the black heart of terror is pumping in Iraq. Kennedy demands that the completion of withdraw by American forces must occur as early as possible by 2006. How, Senator, do we set a deadline? According to your bottled state, the deadline for withdrawal must come by hook or crook, hell or high water, continuing threats worldwide, terrorist roaches blowing up more Twin Towers, embassies, discotechs, military barracks, ships, etc… Why Russert wasted valuable TV time (Sunday January 30, 2005 edition of Meet the Press) interviewing the loser (and former presidential hopeful) John Kerry is incomprehensible. Kerry’s pearls of wisdom dripped forth during the interview, and he warned America not to “overhype this election.” Set aside political views for a moment, Kerry, set aside your doom and gloom view of the world, and place your ego aside. Iraqis—in enormous numbers—got to vote for who they want to run their country. Celebrate with their success at least for a brief moment. A basket of molded pseudo pastries never sits well with anyone. Some people are just plain ol' sore losers. Without a doubt, yesterday's euphoric accomplishment of holding an election in a country that was formerly run by a ruthless dictator has many days ahead filled with terror bombings, suicide attacks, and the hard work of bringing together a country with many diverse religious and political views. However, let us appreciate the moment and rejoice with the Iraqi citizens. Ponder for yourselves what the Iraqi people, the United States, the various military sources, and our allies did to help bring democracy to a nation hungry for freedom. Why are the whined, dinned, and pickled dinosaurs of the Democrat party so anti-freedom? Speaking as a woman who lives in a country where I am free to do as I please, the most momentous part of Iraq’s election day for me was the fact that women who have been oppressed, tortured, raped, and murdered got to vote Sunday. Iraqi women actually voted. Do we understand this, or even appreciate the depths of what this freedom to elect our own government leaders means not only to men, but to women as well? Iraqi women actually chose who they wanted to write in, and then placed it in their ballot box. They didn’t have to stay at home with the kids while only the hubby went and voted. They didn’t have to be told who to vote for by their husbands, boyfriends. or by a tyrannical leader. Iraqi women, who were oppressed under the Baathist Regime and were treated many times as nothing more than a piece of property, were able to get ink on their finger. Historically, by comparison in Iraq’s earlier decades and its bordering countries, Iraqi women have been the most educated on one hand; but at the same time, they’ve been the most oppressed. Independent political activism was never accepted under the rule of Saddam Hussein. This hindrance had prevented any form of women’s organizations to materialize. The abhorrent suppression of Iraqi women had reintroduced the appearance of a severely strict dress code, the Hijab. The Hijab became the only garment seen on women in Iraq from the very young to the very old (let the women choose when they want to cover themselves completely; I think they can handle it). The forced wearing of this widespread veil was not simply an expression of increased cultural codes, but it was an increase of oppression by the Baathist regime. The increased restrictions on women’s movements and clothing, and the close monitoring of their behavior have been nothing but an excuse in the belief that there needs to be constant concern over a woman’s honor (which was, and is not, honorable at all to women). The most atrocious facet of monitoring "women’s honor" was the rise in honor killings. Iraqi women who were suspected of sexual misconduct were killed by their husbands, brothers, or fathers to save the "honor" of the family. So how many honors killings were performed by an overly suspicious father or a husband who was tired of his wife? May the Iraqi dress code stay modest, but give honor to the woman who doesn’t deem it unholy not to cover herself in cloth from head to foot. This is only the beginning in what women in Iraq will now be able to do. I pray the Iraqi women build their women’s organizations, but that they don’t follow the pattern of the far left feminist. I pray the Iraqi women find a comfortable dressing style of their own, but that they don’t begin to undress their bodies so that no part is left for discovery by her husband to be. May the women of Iraq pursue what is truly vital in developing a democracy—and that is regaining their level of educational status so that their voting and societal involvement will be filled with knowledge of their process. Encouragement needs to be sent to the Iraqi women to serve their government on many levels and contribute their points of view to build a democracy that fits their religious and cultural standards. May Iraqi women be honored and respected by their peers, and by the opposite sex. Who knows what great things will be accomplished by the hands of a fellow sister striving for peace, honor, dedication, and the anticipation that only comes from a world full of the hope of freedom? The veil of tyranny is slowly being rent asunder, and intelligent, caring, and hard working Iraqi women have begun their journey toward self-discovery. People such as Kennedy and Kerry need to be smacked with the shoes of Iraqi women. Better yet, they need to go back to their corners and think about changing their envious and pious views towards a day filled with jubilation for a people who’ve lived under tyranny. Within the layers of freedom, election day in Iraq has meant so much to so many. |
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Regular readers (Hi Mom, hi Dad!) know I have been pretty relentless in my attacks on Pennsylvanians since moving to southeastern Pennsylvania last summer. Mostly, it’s been in self-defense. I’m a defensive driver. And Pennsylvanians can’t drive. But it occurs to me now, with the Super Bowl-bound Philadelphia Eagles in the national spotlight, that I’ve rarely, if ever, had anything nice to say about my new neighbors. This just isn’t fair. I mean, sure, they drive slow, fail to signal, and show a general disregard for the fact that, usually, if I’m on the road, it means I need to get somewhere. But this doesn’t make them bad people. And even if it does, there are still many nice things to say about them. Take Eagles football, for instance. Philly’s a town that does football right. Now, any discussion on Philadelphia sports must, of course, start with the passion of the fans. So let me tell you upfront: Eagles fans aren’t just passionate; they are out of their goddam minds. This is not a casual observation (though, rest assured, I’ve seen it myself several times), but rather an accepted fact of life in the greater Philadelphia area. Moreover, it’s a badge of honor. Eagles fans know they’re out of their goddam minds. And they know that you know it. They wouldn’t have it any other way. Eagles fever goes beyond mere fandom. It’s a medical condition. It belongs in the DSM-IV. To say that folks take the Birds seriously is a serious understatement. You’re not allowed to root for other teams around here. You’re not even allowed to not like football. But as overwhelming as this may seem, it isn’t off-putting. It’s hard not to get swept up in the spirit of things. In December, makeshift merchandise stores began popping up in local parking lots, selling everything from Eagles Santa hats to Eagles beer sleeves. The guys who run these stores are like mailmen. Nothing can stop them. Not rain. Not snow. Not even Eagles games. In this way, they’re actually more hardcore than mailmen. They work on Sundays. You know, so people can buy stuff during halftime. That’s how nuts it gets around here. When I say “people,” by the way, I mean people of all kinds. Not just men ages 18 to 45. Eagles fandom is an equal opportunity employer. Everyone’s the same color inside, and that color is Eagles green. News stations flash pictures of babies and puppy dogs in full team garb every morning. Women wear pink Eagles hats. Pizzerias sell sweatshirts. Local veterinarians dress in jerseys on game day. Pastors do the Eagles cheer (E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!) from the pulpit. Even cars get in on the action; dual flags flap proudly from their windows as I quickly pass them by. You can’t drive two miles around here without seeing at least one Eagles logo. It’s impossible. No such two-mile-stretch exists. Recently, ESPN’s Brian Murphy called Eagles fans “the most neurotic, insane, comedic group of fans you will ever see outside of a ‘Cops’ episode”—which I believe he meant as a compliment. Warrick Dunn, of the Atlanta Falcons (who the Eagles beat on January 23rd to advance to the Super Bowl), concurred: “No disrespect to our fans,” he said, “but the fans in Philly are a little bit different.” Of course, all this passion isn’t always a good thing. Sometimes it gets out of hand. Dunn says the fans are “rude as hell,” and calls Philly “one of the most hostile environments… a player can play in.” Indeed, when the Eagles beat the Vikings a week before the Falcons, Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper complained that the locals spit and shouted at him. Last year, Carolina Panthers fans were scared to come watch their team beat the Eagles for the NFC Championship. And on draft day in 1999, Eagles fans booed Donovan McNabb… for having the nerve to be drafted by their team. (This would be the same McNabb who led the Eagles to this year’s Super Bowl. But what’s he done for them lately, you know?) You may wonder why Philadelphians are so proud of this reputation. But the truth is, they don’t want this reputation so much as a reputation—this just happens to be the one they got their hands on. After all, being loud and rambunctious is a good way to remind people that you exist. Philadelphia is a marvelous city, you see, but it suffers from middle-child syndrome and an identity crisis. To the south, it’s a short trip to the capital of America (Washington); to the north, the capital of the world (New York). Some say this gives Philadelphians an inferiority complex. I think that’s partially true. Philadelphia’s just as good if not better than other major cities. Two hundred years ago, no one would’ve doubted it. But now? Now they’re sort of ignored. So they project this onto the football field, where their fair city can battle with others and, God willing, get noticed. Self-doubt, however, is a big part of being an Eagles fan—that’s the tragic flaw. A single loss is enough to push some people straight off the edge. The fact that they’ve never won a Super Bowl doesn’t help, either. Remember Boston’s Curse of the Bambino? Well, in Philly, it isn’t a curse. It’s a conspiracy. Everyone’s out to get them—including themselves. When WR Terrell Owens went down with an injury in December, fans wondered if the Cowboys’ Roy Williams took him out on purpose. Likewise, fans claim the national media roots against their city and team. The week before the Falcons game was especially jittery: This match-up would be for the NFC title, and the Eagles had lost NFC title games in each of the last three years. “They’re trying to find something that will go wrong,” radio host Howard Eskin said. “By Saturday night, these people won’t be able to sleep.” He was probably right. But you know what? That didn’t stop Eagles fans from trudging through snow to get to the Linc at eight o’clock Sunday morning. Nor did it stop the Eagles from winning 27 to 10. That says something. It’s no coincidence that the fictional figure most closely associated with Philly is Rocky Balboa. In his finest moment (i.e., the original “Rocky"), Rocky lost. But he stood toe-to-toe with Apollo Creed and took the best that the champ had to offer. Rocky made Apollo look ordinary… or Apollo made Rocky look world-class. It depends on your perspective. But, either way, Rocky proved he wasn’t a bum. He proved he belonged there. And this, in itself, was a victory. Now, I won’t sit here and tell you Philadelphians are happy just to have their team in the Super Bowl; they’re certainly happy about it, but they want like hell to win. In a way, though, just being there proves they can bang with the best of ‘em—Boston, New York, wherever. This means the world to them. And that’s why the NFC title carries such significance. You know, growing up in North Jersey, you didn’t hear a whole lot about the Eagles. There, you’ve got the Giants and the Jets. I tried to get into those teams but never could. They play in Jersey, yet call themselves “New York”—for me, that always seemed disingenuous. Eagles fandom really is “a little bit different,” though. It’s a phenomenon—an animate, electric force. I watched the Vikings game at one of the local sports bars a few weeks ago. In the second quarter, Freddie Mitchell caught a fumble while standing in the end zone—scoring a touchdown. Eagles fans erupted. “This never happens for us,” one patron cheered. I saw that guy again a week later, when the Eagles beat the Falcons. We high-fived and I said, “We finally did it, man.” For me, it wasn’t the culmination of 24 years of waiting for an Eagles Super Bowl. But it was the culmination of one year of buying green pajamas, listening to 610 WIP, and staying home on Sundays to watch the Iggles fly. I made a conscious decision to get into this team when I moved to Pa. last summer. If you ever find yourself in a new city with all the requisite new city challenges—nothing to do; nowhere to go—I suggest you do the same. Everything I know about southeastern Pennsylvania, I know through the prism of Eagles football. That’s how I know it isn’t so bad here. So, true, some Eagles fans go overboard. And, true, those that do may reflect poorly on their city. Any hobby—be it sports, the lottery, even sewing—can become an unhealthy obsession. But a little fever every now and then won’t kill you. And sometimes it’s fun to be out of your goddam mind. Living near Philly, this is something I’ve come to know. Jonathan David Morris Web Site Contact Back to Top |
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Any serious academic discussion about the issues confronting K-12 and higher education needs to cover the following subjects if it is to be considered comprehensive in nature and scope. These controversial topics must be debated in order to arrive at tenable solutions for the future solvency of our academic institutions. The range of concerns is so vast that it is worthwhile to classify them under three broad categories: Curriculum and Instruction, Academic Standards, and Delivery System. Although there are many areas that can and should be considered, for now, the following fifteen ideas are a suitable starting point from which to start questioning generally accepted standards of practice and begin thinking “outside the box” of traditional education. Under the category of Curriculum and Instruction falls the following: 1. Civic Education/US Constitution versus global/politically correct ideas The current focus in our schools reflects a global/politically correct agenda. The media reports more on whether or not cultural diversity is embraced by our teachers and students than on their woefully inadequate grasp of Civic Responsibility or knowledge of the US Constitution. It is not of large concern to educators because student mastery in these areas isn’t really considered when measuring academic progress. Examples of society’s ignorance in our nation’s history abound. "This is one of the most dangerous bills we've had before us," said Molly Spearman, executive director of the S.C. Association of School Administrators. "It's abandoning a covenant our founding fathers made to provide a public education for everyone." "I think the founders of this country had it right in creating public schools to level the playing field for all children," she said. (St. Paul Superintendent Pat Harvey, ) Nowhere is public education mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. “The Founders wanted most aspects of life managed by those who were closest to them, either by state or local government or by families, businesses, and other elements of civil society.” Read More: Cato Handbook for Congress 2. “Balanced Literacy” versus “Direct Instruction in Phonics” It matters not that
student progress has gone down in reading ever since schools of education
began indoctrinating their teacher trainees in “whole language”
reading methods, now called, “balanced literacy”. A recent
development
in Rockford Illinois exemplifies “Educracy’s”
indifference to product versus process in the school system. It was
more expedient to transfer a principal who bucked the system by espousing
“direct instruction” methods in phonics; producing superior
reading scores and proving the merits of this teaching practice, than
fight the educational establishment’s endorsement of inferior
methods of teaching; in this case, reading. Much has been written about the inadequacy of textbooks due to publishers guidelines which “screen out topics and ideas that might be considered traditional or controversial or offensive.” Bulky, heavy texts which easily become outdated should be replaced with “modular” curriculums. Chapter length books and first source materials can and should be mixed and matched. Teachers can focus on the areas which they feel are most important. These books can be written by experts in the field and their opinions can be considered as an addendum to the information. Students wouldn’t be weighed down by full backpacks that can result in bodily injury, not to mention function as a deterrent to actually completing homework. 4. Vocational versus Academic track By eliminating the arts and other curriculum tracks, we have limited student access to what might be a chosen profession. They are given the subliminal message that these fields are less important and not a worthwhile undertaking. Yet in the real world, many non academic vocations pay very well and provide good benefits. 5. Liberal Professors ...are not fairly representing conservative viewpoints and are penalizing students for speaking out against liberal ideas. Today, many students are rebelling by becoming Conservatives. Students shouldn’t arrive at a belief in any particular persuasion until they have a satisfactory idea about what must be considered in every situation. 6. Mandatory Mental Health Testing ...is a frightening proposition considering that it serves to further an agenda in which people learn not to take responsibility for their individual actions and move on; but rather to obsess over their past and blame their environment and genetics for their decisions. What else can explain lawsuits against fast food enterprises for obesity and hot coffee? Making excuses will not result in achievement or accomplishment. Labeling people with disorders limits their choices and takes away individual responsibility for their actions. Making excuses won’t get a job done. Recently, a family sued a school district for assigning homework over summer break and spoiling what was supposed to be a mental break. School break was never about rest. It was to allow children to help with the responsibilities on the farm. Now it’s become a right? It’s hard to believe a school can be sued for doing their job. But mental health will become the excuse for every child who fails to learn. Ayn Rand’s book, Atlas Shrugged, is great for clarifying the difference between producers and takers in society. No matter how many labels are thought up to describe what’s considered abnormal behavior, the bottom line is it is up to every individual to overcome adversity and obstacles and become productive respectable citizens. Otherwise, society will carry the burden of every person. I believe that is called Socialism and the last I heard, we were a Democratic Republic. Of course, those not properly educated in our history and constitution wouldn’t know the difference. Academic Standards 7. Social Promotion continues ...even under the auspices of NCLB. How can this be? John Chubb reports that, “NCLB requires that all public schools bring all students to "proficiency" within ten years but leaves it to the states to define proficiency. In recent years many states had set tough proficiency standards, but with their schools now threatened with federal sanctions, states are lowering their definitions of proficiency. 8. Teacher Training There has been a question of whether or not schools of education adequately prepare teachers for the demands of the classroom. Whether or not any of the methodology or classroom management courses are useful is important and deserves attention. However, to base a teacher’s compensation solely on this type of coursework and number of years in the classroom is not fair and does nothing to ensure that students are getting a quality education. Merit pay should be based on the number of graduates, academic scores of students, and overall ranking of the school in which they work. Just as better quality food and merchandise commands more dollars, so should better quality education. Poor performing schools should provide teachers with financial and other incentives to bring up the quality of education and pay teachers accordingly. Contracts between parents and teachers would require that parents put in the necessary time with their children to assure that homework is completed, and in a timely manner. Parents who do not comply will give up their rights over the child during the school year and these students would become wards of the state, for educational purposes. Discipline would be more manageable and wayward kids would be assigned mentors, to help them complete their education. 9. Lowering of Expectations In many colleges, the emphasis has been on bringing in the educational dollars to maintain their institutions and less on requiring a certain standard of proficiency in those who receive a diploma. Many students graduate from college unable to present clear and logical arguments orally or in the written form. 10. Meaningless Diplomas A degree of motivation should be given equal consideration to the level of education attained when a job candidate applies for a job. This is especially important since many businesses report that they have to remediate those hired so that they are able to fill in basic business forms, count back change, and make a good impression on clients. The unreliability of a diploma is further complicated by the fact that there are many fake degrees and certifications that can be purchased over the internet; which lend more suspicion to what are supposed to be reliable certificates of achievement. Delivery System 11. School Choice versus Controlled School Choice True choice in education
gives parents complete control over where they send their children for
school. This means that parents should not have to pay twice if they
decide on private or independent education. Controlled School Choice
mandates that parents pay taxes to receive a publicly funded education—be
it good or bad. Parents have limited choices, within the public school
system, for alternative education than the local school. There may be
a charter school option, a magnet school option, or a school that is
making adequate yearly progress in their educational goals, but that’s
about the extent of any choice they are afforded. They may not necessarily
be provided transportation, the school might be a significant distance
from home and the neighborhood, and they may not be picked if the number
of spots is limited for one of their choices. Competition for students
would improve the quality of education in any situation. Entitlement
of educational dollars removes incentives. ...is a boon to anyone with the resources and initiative to take advantage of the opportunity. Any school teacher that suggests that the internet is an inferior source for research is not moving into the 21st century. The web is the most comprehensive source of information available and being able to navigate the web and separate the wheat from the chafe is something to encourage instead of employing antiquated methods of research using only books and encyclopedias from the local library. Accessing information instantly via a hyperlink is infinitely more efficient than hunting through volumes of stacks to acquire the same information and more suitable for the direction in which our world is moving. It looks as though we’ll have to drag the educational community kicking and screaming into the 21st century. 13. English Language Learners We need a common language and that language is English. We are hindering the ability of immigrants to take advantages of a free, economically advantaged society if we aren’t encouraging them to learn our language and customs. Our form of government is the best in the world and aliens need to understand the importance of maintaining our way of life. 14. If we are to maintain a public school system ...perhaps it would be more advantageous to do so through a sales tax rather than a property tax. The funding formulas for education would be less complicated and everyone would be responsible for the cost of an education, including illegal aliens and non-homeowners. 15. We must end the litigation to fund appropriate education because there is no research to date which proves conclusively that more money in the system will ensure that it makes it to the classroom. As a matter of fact, it’s likelier that school districts will use more money for administration than students. Instead of requiring families to utilize the public schools, which may or may not be the best option for the kids, money for cost of an alternative education should be available to those who don’t want a public education . Lawsuits which allege that the funding of education is inadequate to the task would never be an issue. The judiciary would not have an opportunity to legislate from the bench. This is a starting point for enlightened discussion about all the issues that must be addressed in order to improve education in the United States. Whether or not the reader agrees with this analysis is not the point. The task ahead is to prepare future generations for the responsibility of maintaining this great republic …for which it stands…and in that, we are failing. Nancy Salvato Web Site Contact Back to Top |
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The average investor finally, has gotten the wake up call that they have been ignoring. It required a dramatic drop after weeks of steady decline. Some analysts call it a free fall, while the more astute view it as the ultimate insider opportunity. Yes, serious money can be made from the relics of the duped. If your timing is correct, shorting the index is pure joy. Ever hear of a zero sum gain? Well, welcome to the realm of financial misery for the many and glee for the few. While Jesse Livermore was the most famous short seller, he died broke and at his own hands. How many of the believers in the American dream will befall the same fate? Mutual funds, the 401 K and IRA's are a way of life for most investors. They bought into the rising market theory and plunged in with both feet. Now the reality of the corporate mirage, sinks into their consciousness, just as their last quarterly report tanks. What most fail to grasp is that those phantom gains were always funny money, that only existed in the expectations of the apparition. When a stock price far outpaces it's true value, not everyone can sell at its peak. There would never be enough new buyers, to take them out at the apex. The short seller knows this fact very well. Their technique is to sell the rebound dream, while they drive the prices even lower. The financial community has never been a level playing field, nor should sensible people ever expect it to become one. Manipulation is the art of the conductors in this orchestra - chanting the requiem for fiscal suicide for the uninformed. When a trade closes as the price drops for a stock, it means that there is a gain for the buyer who sold short. This occurs because there is a settlement or reconciliation at the end of the day. But what happens when the owners of the stock refuse to panic and maintain their position? The carnage should stop, right? But what we have is a system that gives great latitude to the fund manager to make the portfolio look good for the next report. A task that only the rare fund can accomplish since they are invested in the ownership of a wide range of securities, as the prices for most indexes continue to fall. When nervous investors run for the door and demand redemption, the fund manager is forced to sell from his holdings which continues the downward momentum. The short seller smiles all the way to the bank . . . He loves the frenzy and often feeds the scare. Have you ever wondered why so many savvy traders love crashing markets? The pigeons are easy pickings. But when a company goes bankrupt, it's stock value evaporates because no new buyers are available at any price. At that point and only under this circumstance, is wealth truly destroyed. Under normal conditions, it is a game of musical chairs, scored by Mozart and played by your local high school band. Liquidation is the real danger of a deflating economy. Bankruptcy is the danger we all should rightly fear. While the scheme can still be held together, the financial markets reward handsomely, the practitioner of the 'Rothschild Piller' strategy. "one cause of his [Nathan's] success was the secrecy with which he shrouded, and the tortuous policy with which he misled those who watched him the keenest." This lesson from history needs to be understood today, if the American public wants to retain some marginal vestige of independent control over their own financial destiny. During the uncertainty about the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo, the London Stock Exchange became the focal point of a colossal transfer of wealth. Because of the fear that Napoleon won the battle, the selling turned into a panic as people rushed to unload their 'worthless' consuls or paper money for gold and silver in the hope of retaining at least part of their wealth. Consuls continued their nose-dive towards oblivion. After several hours of feverish trading the consul lay in ruins. It was selling for about five cents on the dollar. At that point on the cue from their director - Nathan, dozens of Rothschild agents made their way to the order desks around the Exchange and bought every consul in sight for just a 'song'! Can history be repeating itself once again? Well, any astute market student would conclude that we have just gone through our own version of TULIPOMANIA. No doubt that historic price earning ratios has been out of sync for well over a decade. A significant downturn has long been overdue. All that talk about a new paradyne for a different economy seems to have fallen flat. Just look at the failure of the AOL - Time Warner model. But there are many serious and somber enterprises that still remain and will continue to function, as long as the domestic economy requires their products and services. The actual functional disconnect that drags down the economy is caused by the international trade deficits. The short seller knows this all too well. They will talk up the need to have Free Trade while they launch their assault on domestic companies. Might there be a little of Rothschild blood flowing in their veins? Well, we will see if the recent wake up call, can be converted into a musical ballad, or will the public continue to hear with a tin ear? No decent person would take enjoyment in the dramatic eradication in value of their neighbor's portfolio. But when was acting morally and proper a trait of Wall Street colluders? Hedging may be too late for most, but panic may well have you working for Nathan's. Maybe you won’t need to be serving up hot dogs, but will you be employed by an inheritor of that other Nathan? Jesse Livermore viewed the markets as sport. Accumulators of short positions see investors as marks. And the typical share holder is befuddled by their sinking investment statement. Maybe now you can begin to understand who is building all those multimillion dollar estates!
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