This is 50% true.

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Did you know both our problems and the solutions can be found simply by looking in our mirrors...and...Never confuse the extraordinary stuff I think and write with that of a well-balanced person...

[quote]Sorry...there is no ownership...except for owning a piece of paper.

Once you lose your money in a bad stock purchase...it's gone.

'Usually goes back up'--this is the gamble! And...you never have ownership!

Don't be so arrogant since this is a very complex topic and cannot be simplified as you try to do...

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Did you know both our problems and the solutions can be found simply by looking in our mirrors...and...Never confuse the extraordinary stuff I think and write with that of a well-balanced person...

I'll bet you $1000 cash that every one of those CEO's and board members associated with the companies you mention above were primarily focused on giving investors high stock prices and maximizing profits at the potential expense of the long term benefits.

This is a feeding frenzy where the CEO reaps millions in bonuses if the stock reaches a certain value! The management of the companies many times spend inordinate amounts of time doing nothing other than trying to keep shareholders happy!

Meanwhile common sense business practices are placed on hold while these companies grab for the gold...fully knowing the risks...but they do it because for the moment they are all winning. But since it's bad business models, when the slightest hiccup comes along, they come crashing down and we're so stupid that we bail them out.

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Did you know both our problems and the solutions can be found simply by looking in our mirrors...and...Never confuse the extraordinary stuff I think and write with that of a well-balanced person...

Actually, it is 100% true. Granted, fewer than 10% of stock transactions take place in the form of initial public offerings (wherein the company itself is raising capital) and the other 90% are secondary transactions (wherein people are swapping pieces of paper that represent pieces of ownership in companies), but both are legitimate functions of a stock market.

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Theodore Lamar Heiks
BA, History/Political Science, Western State College of Colorado, 1984
MBA, Entrepreneurship/Marketing, City University of Seattle, 1993

That's like saying it's time to get rid of bicycles in favor of good old fashioned 2 wheeled pedaled transportation.

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I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts.
Abraham Lincoln
A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. Mark Twain

What is it that you believe you own? Do you think you can walk into the lobby of a company with your stock certificate and ask to see the part that you own?

Yes both are legitimate functions...I was just saying there are many more functions of a stock market which is why I said 50%...

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Did you know both our problems and the solutions can be found simply by looking in our mirrors...and...Never confuse the extraordinary stuff I think and write with that of a well-balanced person...

I don't recall mentioning a replacement for the stock market--just eliminate it.

Like I said 'what is a positive reason to have the stock market'??

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Did you know both our problems and the solutions can be found simply by looking in our mirrors...and...Never confuse the extraordinary stuff I think and write with that of a well-balanced person...

It gives businesses the money they need to expand their operations. Now this is very important if you are a small business and you can attract investment. If you can't understand this, then you are a lost cause

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I'll tell you this no eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn
You may bury my body, down by the highway side,
so my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride.
You and I must fight to survive

Always interesting to see the personal attacks...makes you feel superior or what??

Yes...some money can be raised via the stock market, but money can also be raised in many other ways...so the stock market IS NOT necessary for the reason you provided...

Still waiting for a single positive reason to have the stock market??

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Did you know both our problems and the solutions can be found simply by looking in our mirrors...and...Never confuse the extraordinary stuff I think and write with that of a well-balanced person...

Actually yes, you can walk right into any corporation and show them your stock certificates and they will show you what you own. All of the business financial records are there for your inspection. If, for example, your stock is worth 1/1,000,000th of the corporation then you can see exactly what you own.

And you can also attend the stockholders meeting where the elected members of the board are choosen by the stockholders and vote for or against individuals and proposals.

And, even though you maybe a minority stockholder, you can bring suit against the corporation if you believe the board is treating you unfairly. The courts are very sympathetic to minority owners which alledge unfair treatment by the corporation.

As a stockholder you have the right to nominate ANYONE for any elected position on the board and have equal resources to promote your candidate for that position PAID FOR BY THE CORPORATION.

A stockholder enjoys many rights related to their ownership in a corporation and the fact that most people don't exercise their rights doesn't mean they don't have them.

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Soldiers swear to protect and defend the Constitution with their lives.

Politicians swear to protect and defend the Constitution with someone else's life.