Matt: The Fitts book looks like a good read. Thanks.

Did someone say Fitts!

http://www.solari.com

http://www.solariactionnetwork.com/phpBB2/

Start up a good Peak Oil discussion. I'd like to see someone other than Daybrown post!

Fitts had the correct reply. The stock markets, interest rates, dollar index, and gold prices are all actively managed. The Fed (~JPMorgan) and Treasury (~GoldmanSachs) have all the tools required to prevent abrupt market discontinuities. The BOJ, BOE, and ECB are all partners in this process. There will only be a financial "crash" when and if the PTB want one.

In addition, for people who have significant investments, "crashes" can be immensely profitable. Selling some stock (even in Evergreen Solar) and buying some put options can put one in position to profit from a "crash".

As for real estate, the "crash" can't come soon enough for this renter. IMO, someone who bought their house or farmlet in 1977 should be very happy to sell it to me for a 1997 price and make a huge profit. But, they still are greedy enough to want a 2007 wishing price, which is at least twice a reasonable multiple of local income and no buyer will pay it. Bring on the "crash", please!

What is the BOJ, BOE, and ECB and the PTB?

Bank of Japan
Bank of England
European Central Bank
Powers That Be

MH,

I intend to poach you from TOD over to the LATOC forum. I can offer you lots of turnips.

Everything MH said about the PTB and a crash are pretty much dead-on, however, if the PTB really had all the power they think they do, and all that we attribute to them, we wouldn't be in quite the level of sh!t we are in right now.

The best laid plans, and all that.

And a crash can also be profitable a little later on when large amounts of material resources can be had for fire sale prices, but one again needs significant resources to begin with.

The rich get richer, etc.

710: TPTB are rich-they are getting richer-they are presently too busy to worry about everybody else's problems.