[RKC]

No, the market's performance is not a good argument against the privatization of Social Security. But the government's response is.....

Buffet is more rational than I, so I bought some BRK.B during the last downturn and it is doing nicely....

My stepmom bought a bunch of Continental Bank back in the day, betting on a bailout, and made a fortune. She later worked for the RTC....

Those big 1980's bailouts were also under Republican leadership.

It is sort of like "My Country, Right or Wrong." At some point, almost everyone will defend their turf if sufficiently threatened. Could be "Red Dawn" kids in a movie or politicians of either party in real life - if the calamity is big enough, they throw their "free market ideals" or "help the downtrodden" or whatever claptrap they are selling to get elected, and DO SOMETHING to help ensure that they GET re-elected. Hence Clinton curtails welfare and Bush II interferes with the free market.

I don't say this to pass judgement, but merely to gain knowledge of how to navigate the world, place financial bets, etc. After all, we are all only human - as Mark Twain said, "Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to."