73 Reds

How many people's lives have guns protected?

Yep, only when convenient.

Right, but most people fall directly in the middle. Reasonable precaution is what has gotten us this far.

No argument with your words but it is not govt.'s responsibility to regulate everything that *may* have a negative consequence. Sanjeev proposed a mandatory flu shot. The idea is absurd. What penalty would he propose for those who refuse and how, pray tell would such a penalty be enforced? Most folks understand that policies too have consequences and no one should be forced to endure the consequences of a mandatory flu shot. People get sick, they get in accidents and sometimes bad things just happen.

That's complete nonsense. Nothing further warranted. Cheers!

In part, yes. But one can make the argument that the thousands of people who die each year from vehicular accidents can be avoided if we outlaw vehicles. The issue comes down to whether or not one chooses to take personal responsibility for their own actions while at the same time not living their life in fear of everything and anything. If you're afraid of being around people, there are many career and life choices that don't involve being exposed to many people. Its up to the individual, not the government.

Statistics are not the point. But your post clearly illustrates the distinction between the left's desire for more govt. mandates/control and the opposition's policy of more individual freedom of thought and less govt. intrusion. Personally, I'd never choose to live in a place where your polices rule the day.

The answer depends a lot on where you are in life. A younger version of me had a few goals. One of them was, when I got older not to be burdened by economic fluctuations which are entirely inevitable. So as an older person, I'm doing fine but mostly because of a strong desire decades ago not to have my financial life disrupted by factors outside of my control. Another factor for many is marketability; those who are in desirable fields and who bring strong attributes to the table rarely have a problem when it comes to employment and their careers. That too involves some degree of planning and foresight when you are young. And of course investing well over the course of a lifetime helps to smooth out a lot of bumps along the way.

What are your concerns?

Sanjeev, prior to Covid, the Flu killed tens of thousands of Americans each year. The flu is just as contagious as Covid. Did you lobby for mandatory flu shots? Please don't treat Covid vaccines as if there is no possibility of adverse side effects. It really comes down to a person decision.

I really think it is a personal decision. Some factors include age, health and overall exposure. Dealraker's story about Jenny is truly sad but also probably very rare for Covid to severely affect someone physcally fit and in great health. Personally for years I put off getting a flu shot and never got sick. The first year my doctor finally convinced me to get a shot I got the flu. Sometimes stuff just happens. Like young, healthy people who get cancer and die. Life is not always fair. I understand folks who believe that the "odds are better" when you get the Covid vaccine and flu shot. But I also understand those who, for whatever reasons don't.

Government shutdowns usually last less than a week.

<<(5) who gives a fuck anyway that he wrote a stupid card anyway..... to which everybody with a brains says then why didn't you say that at the start>> Um, some of us did. But when you refer to people as "MAGA" and all the conotations that go along with it, its hardly worth further discussion.

You're right. Most of the nonsense posted in this thread does not warrant a response.

Desirable rental real estate and great businesses, both of which should throw off a lot of cash.

In the 2010s BRK did just fine even while its universe of investments was shrinking and folks were complaining that Buffett had lost it. In any event who wouldn't be happy with 13%/year over 20 years with almost no tax consequences? Or is everyone now an investment genius?

@Hamburg Investor excellent post! For my $ it is far more important to be directionally correct over the long run than precisely correct about any single investment or cycle in the short term.

+1 If management continues doing what they are doing and the stock price stagnates or drops all the better as an opportunity to buy more. The issue is when the stock price drops BECAUSE OF what management is doing. If your holding period is long enough and if you account for both hard and soft markets and periods of low and higher interest rates, you can project a desired ROE. Unless management starts taking unnecessary underwriting risks or reverts back to making some of the errors made in the 2010s, this is not a difficult company to handicap.

Sure; where you live makes a lot of difference. The issue though is regulation. Unfortunately only two parties implement laws and regulations so the rules governing guns ultimately remains a right vs. left issue even though no one on either side wants guns in the hands of crazy people.

That is because they are fighting against abolishing guns altogether. They are not standing by; just like many political issues of the day the two sides can't figure out a way to reach a compromise. Welcome to today's US politics.

Your political bias is clear. Do you really think that the Right wants senseless killings? C'mon Man.

Yeah, Buffett has always been obsessed with the insurance model and when it comes to insurance and balance sheets, the bigger the better, particularly when you hold yourself out as a company that will consider insuring any risk at the right price.

@Viking great posts as always. On minor quibble: I'd give Buffett a 9.5 out of 10 pre 2000. (He refused to do any share buybacks).

Really? Who is arguing against stricter gun controls (not me)? There is a huge difference between that and repeal of the 2nd amendment. That is what the Left is "gunning for".

I didn't suggest in any way that it was rude. Just that it isn't fair.