Erroneous stock market information. What a misleading story...

There are already a lot of lies, whether outright or by omission, in our media. But when they start with the financial news, it's even worse. Yesterday I heard that Bank of America might need some government funds--that's the last I ever heard about it. They don't want us to know the truth.

Well, I meant gross lies or bald faced lies, I guess. I know there are plenty of lies in our media. At least for now, we know or can find out enough to see if they are lies. When we don't know any better, that's the end of the game. I heard that Donald Trump invested in Bank of America. I wonder what he knows that we don't?

That's strange, I don't understand why anyone would invest in a bank that is said might need a bailout soon. He usually likes real estate, especially golf courses, to invest in. I hope his bet pays off.

Yes, but a lot of people trust the media and believe everything they say. I wonder what's really going on in London with the riots but the media doesn't really delve into that. They just sensationalize the whole thing and talk a lot but say little. Nobody seems to care about why the riots are happening but they provide a great soapbox for people who criticize the British government.

It was the recent rioting in England which I had in mind when I wrote my response! In fact, it was originally a much longer one but I was having difficulty expressing my feelings sufficiently well.

Do you have anything saved for when you can no longer work? It seems useless these days sometimes, since investing is so risky and many times the capital is even lost but we have to be pro-active about insuring we won't be much of a burden on others. I trust God to take care of me but I know that He helps those who help themselves, or at least give it their best shot. Trouble is, we are trying to help ourselves and we're getting beaten down. Remember the story about the 3 servants that were given talents and were to return in a few years? One buried the money to keep it safe, one invested it so that he could give the capital and profits to his master and one foolishly wasted it. The investor was rewarded with praise and material reward as using the money wisely. I wish there was something safe to invest in but by their nature, investments are a gamble. And it's worse when the media twists the facts or lies to manipulate the public.

I agree. I make it a policy never to believe anything I hear and only half of what I read. I do my own research, pay attention how things are said. I know they are manipulating the public. I'm glad you understand the point I was trying to make.

I'd rather have the pants scared off me and have an idea of what to expect than be suddenly blindsided and knocked flat. Of course, I know that not everyone feels that way. But being prepared is always safer and more beneficial than being surprised. I agree about the children. I pulled some punches in my kids' real life education, depending on their age at the time, but they knew what to expect when they were ready to leave the nest. They knew it wasn't pretty but also that life would be what they make of it. They know they are not equal to everyone in all things. They're doing very well, too.

That is one reason I'm not heavily into stocks. I have a very small retirement fund and most of it is in "safe" investments, low growth but preserving the principle (base amount). I have no doubt that the market is being manipulated and the media's mis-reporting may or may not be deliberate.

The exact quote on my local station was, "this is the fourth straight day of gains of more than 400 points", I just heard it again. According to that the Dow should be over 12,000 as it was at the beginning of Monday when it first fell. The media here is very inaccurate. They don't even know good grammar and even when they are reading the teleprompter they mess it up because they don't have decent reading skills. Reporting the market in this way is misleading. They did not say fluctuate, they said gains. Probably the person who wrote the copy didn't understand the report he or she was working from. What you said is probably what was distributed to the news stations here. I can't believe we have such uneducated people reporting the news.

Yes, remember the swine flu scare? There was a LOT of pressure for people to be vaccinated. I'm 57 and every time I'm around any kind of person who has anything to do with medicine they try to get me to have a flu shot. I won't. And this twisting of the financial news is scary. That means we don't know how to protect ourselves financially anymore, if indeed it can even be done.