Political Posts

[ourkid8]

17 minutes ago, Parsad said:

 

"Zionist propaganda"...I sympathize with everything going on in the Middle East, but October 7th happened...which instigated all of the mayhem we are witnessing today.  Who started it...Hamas.  Who funded it...Iran. 

 

Israel may be pushing their agenda, but so is everyone else.  Cheers!  

How about the innocent Palestinian who were murdered before Oct 7th by the Israeli government? It’s not like Israelis let the Palestinians live in peace and then Oct 7th happened and everything changed. 

Edited June 18, 2025 by ourkid8

[Parsad]

2 minutes ago, Blake Hampton said:

I guess I'm turning into Cubs because it feels like I can't budge on how important this is.

 

I respect a lot of you, I believe this board is extremely intelligent on average, but I still think people are largely ignoring these risks. I think that 2% of the time where macro is important might just be enough to kill you if you're not properly prepared for it.

 

This is a hill I'm going to die on.

 

No, actually those 2% of times would not kill you.

 

In 1929, you would have gone down 85%, but remember, if you had some cash and bonds, you might be down 40%.  The markets then rebounded back to where they were in the next 7 years.  Again, you probably would move some money to cash and bonds again over that period.  When markets dropped again, you would have reinvested cash and bonds.  Overall, you would be well ahead of the market 15-20 years out.

 

In 2008, if you did the same thing, which I did...you would have invested as the market fell and rebounded in the ensuing 3 years and enjoyed one of the longest, most robust bull markets in the U.S. for another 7 years until the Pandemic.

 

2020 could also be seen the same way...complete outlier that virtually no one saw coming.  If you had some cash, you would have bought stuff 50-80% off and enjoyed a 150-300% gain the ensuing 5 years.  

 

The ones that had to worry during those three periods were those using considerable leverage, had little liquidity and/or carried large amounts of debt.  If you weren't one of those three, and had no correlated risks, you would be more than ok.  

 

I don't use leverage (other than call options on occasion), I don't carry any debt other than my mortgage, I generally have some cash/bonds in my portfolio and I have near zero correlated risks in the portfolio. 

 

I'm never going to be Ericopoly or those similar to him that turned a very small amount into a massive amount in a decade, but my portfolio will grow somewhere between 14-18% annualized, I will sleep well at night, and macro will make negligible difference to the quality of my life.  Cheers! 

[Parsad]

14 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

I think @Castanzasaid it best awhile ago; that Blake has some great potential if hes willing to learn, but also has demonstrated that its also possible he'll just be an immense waste of talent who looks a gifthorse in the mouth and rides off on a cloud of arrogance. 

 

Possibly.  But we've all been there, so I imagine he will learn like we all did.  Then again, some haven't!  Cheers!

[Parsad]

6 minutes ago, ourkid8 said:

How about the innocent Palestinian lives who were murdered before Oct 7th by the Israeli government? It’s not like Israelis let the Palestinians live in peace and then Oct 7th happened and everything changed. 

 

C'mon ourkid8...it's not like the Israeli's were simply living their lives drinking tea and coffee and watching television in comfort like most of us do in North America.  There were terrorist bombings, drone attacks, balloon attacks, suicide bombings, etc.  It's never, ever stopped. 

 

Does it justify civilian killings in Palestine?  Of course not.  And any soldiers participating in such actions should be prosecuted. 

 

But this area of the world has been a war zone for 80 years now.  We saw 30 years of such violence in Ireland...which side was truly to blame?  Both...neither.  This is just a sad part of history and humanity!  Cheers! 

[John Hjorth]

3 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

I think @Castanzasaid it best awhile ago; that Blake has some great potential if hes willing to learn, but also has demonstrated that its also possible he'll just been an immense waste of talent who looks a gifthorse in the mouth and rides off on a cloud of arrogance. 

 

Greg [ @Gregmal ], and let us just also drag @Castanza in here, just for the heck of it, and the fun :

 

The most important thing is, that the lead time - meaning the time span between a post posted here on CofB&F perhaps challenging Blake [ @Blake Hampton ] and the reply is in general very short, indicating no real intellectual activity, in most cases just leaving replies indicating no real  mental activity what so ever directed at posted provocations by others, just continuing 'the same [non-investment, macro] drill posting style', as usual, without even reacting in posting to provocations.

 

- - - o 0 o - - -

 

Blake [ @Blake Hampton ], has already tried to delete himself out this in this very topic, but to no avail, because he has already been quoted, before his deletion.

 

- - - o 0 o - - -

 

Here, I'm now done. Not worth my time.

[73 Reds]

1 hour ago, ourkid8 said:

How about the innocent Palestinian who were murdered before Oct 7th by the Israeli government? It’s not like Israelis let the Palestinians live in peace and then Oct 7th happened and everything changed. 

Even if English is your third, fifth or eighth language what part of "Death to Israel, Death to the United States" do you not understand?  Once the Iranian regime is vanquished, Palestinians and Iranians alike may actually have a chance for a better life - precisely because of the efforts of Israel.  Your hatred and antisemitism shines through here loud and clear.

[ourkid8]

1 hour ago, 73 Reds said:

 Your hatred and antisemitism shines through here loud and clear.

I find that comment deeply offensive. However, I oppose Zionism because it involves the expansion of a state where one ethnic group is privileged over another, leaving the other group permanently disenfranchised and under continuous military occupation.  Doesn’t that bother you at all on a human level? 

 

I have numerous orthodox Jewish friends who have exactly the same view and adamantly against Israel which is an apartheid state. 

Edited June 19, 2025 by ourkid8

[ourkid8]

2 hours ago, Parsad said:

Does it justify civilian killings in Palestine?  Of course not.  And any soldiers participating in such actions should be prosecuted. 

[73 Reds]

10 hours ago, ourkid8 said:

I find that comment deeply offensive. However, I oppose Zionism because it involves the expansion of a state where one ethnic group is privileged over another, leaving the other group permanently disenfranchised and under continuous military occupation.  Doesn’t that bother you at all on a human level? 

 

I have numerous orthodox Jewish friends who have exactly the same view and adamantly against Israel which is an apartheid state. 

And I find your rhetoric repulsive.  

[nwoodman]

 
No wonder he lives rent free in Trumps head.

Edited June 19, 2025 by nwoodman

[ourkid8]

3 hours ago, 73 Reds said:

And I find your rhetoric repulsive.  

thank you, I appreciate it.
 

Going back on the human level, can you at least admit killing innocent people trying to get food is wrong on all accounts and the individuals should be criminally charged?
 

“Israeli tanks fired into a crowd trying to get aid from trucks in Gaza on Tuesday, killing at least 59 people (injuring 221), according to medics, in one of the bloodiest incidents yet in mounting violence as desperate residents struggle for food. “

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-tank-shelling-kills-45-people-awaiting-aid-trucks-gaza-ministry-says-2025-06-17/

 

Edited June 19, 2025 by ourkid8

[Marco Van Basten]

43 minutes ago, ourkid8 said:

thank you, I appreciate it.
 

Going back on the human level, can you at least admit killing innocent people trying to get food is wrong on all accounts and the individuals should be criminally charged?
 

“Israeli tanks fired into a crowd trying to get aid from trucks in Gaza on Tuesday, killing at least 59 people (injuring 221), according to medics, in one of the bloodiest incidents yet in mounting violence as desperate residents struggle for food. “

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-tank-shelling-kills-45-people-awaiting-aid-trucks-gaza-ministry-says-2025-06-17/

 

Gaza health ministry is Hamas.  Hamas lied on numerous occasions.  There is no reason to believe them.  If Hamas is concerned about Gaza's civilians, then they should just surrender. 

What I don't understand is this:  this is an investment board, yet essentially all of your comments are in politics, and your comments are calculated to outrage most normal people.  It seems that the only thing you want to contribute is stress, why?  You want to rile people up?  Then go somewhere else.   

People discuss politics here because politics impacts investments, that's why I visit politics section.  Your comments in the politics section are not geared towards making better investment decisions, they are repugnant and calculated to start quarrels.  

[73 Reds]

1 hour ago, ourkid8 said:

thank you, I appreciate it.
 

Going back on the human level, can you at least admit killing innocent people trying to get food is wrong on all accounts and the individuals should be criminally charged?
 

“Israeli tanks fired into a crowd trying to get aid from trucks in Gaza on Tuesday, killing at least 59 people (injuring 221), according to medics, in one of the bloodiest incidents yet in mounting violence as desperate residents struggle for food. “

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-tank-shelling-kills-45-people-awaiting-aid-trucks-gaza-ministry-says-2025-06-17/

 

Israel does not indiscriminately kill innocent people seeking food.  Your "facts" reflect no context whatsoever.  Grow up and educate yourself.  Unlike the people you profess to protect and admire, you have an opportunity; they don't.

[73 Reds]

32 minutes ago, Marco Van Basten said:

Gaza health ministry is Hamas.  Hamas lied on numerous occasions.  There is no reason to believe them.  If Hamas is concerned about Gaza's civilians, then they should just surrender. 

What I don't understand is this:  this is an investment board, yet essentially all of your comments are in politics, and your comments are calculated to outrage most normal people.  It seems that the only thing you want to contribute is stress, why?  You want to rile people up?  Then go somewhere else.   

People discuss politics here because politics impacts investments, that's why I visit politics section.  Your comments in the politics section are not geared towards making better investment decisions, they are repugnant and calculated to start quarrels.  

@Marco, his venomous ideals are all-too-common on many college campuses and among a larger segment of Western society than I ever thought possible.  Ignorance is bad enough; intentionally remaining ignorant in pursuit of non-conforming and highly counterproductive objectives is inexcusable and must be stopped.  This is the politics section; not one President prior to Trump had the cojones to do anything about Iran until now.  That was perhaps the single-most important reason I voted for him.  Free speech is a wonderful concept but a poor excuse for inflammatory rhetoric with no beneficial purpose.  We've got a wasted generation of college graduates today who, for the most part I wouldn't hire if someone paid me.  We don't need another one.  

[Gregmal]

Eh Ive had good investment dialogue with everyone here including @ourkid8 over the years and I think perhaps emotions are high and everyone would benefit from chilling out. There's no winners in these situations and playing a bit of devils advocate, I dont think many Americans(myself included) even if they wanted to, can fully appreciate the Middle East dynamics. American culture basically promotes the idea that there is nothing good about the Middle East, especially Iran. I have no personal experience to confirm or deny that notion, but I dont think it's fair to just basketize good vs evil. 

[LC]

18 hours ago, John Hjorth said:

Here, I'm now done. Not worth my time.

 

 

12 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

I think perhaps emotions are high and everyone would benefit from chilling out

 

 

There should be a popup disclaimer with these messages when people open/close this thread

 

[73 Reds]

1 minute ago, Gregmal said:

Eh Ive had good investment dialogue with everyone here including @ourkid8 over the years and I think perhaps emotions are high and everyone would benefit from chilling out. There's no winners in these situations and playing a bit of devils advocate, I dont think many Americans(myself included) even if they wanted to, can fully appreciate the Middle East dynamics. American culture basically promotes the idea that there is nothing good about the Middle East, especially Iran. I have no personal experience to confirm or deny that notion, but I dont think it's fair to just basketize good vs evil. 

Greg, I beg to differ.  If you know any Iranian-Americans or anyone from the region, they often tell a sad, yet hopefully optimistic story about their homelands.  7th Century fundamentalist rule by leadership is what oppresses the people in certain countries and fear is their only tactical weapon.  The people there want change but they are powerless to make it happen without the help of Western society like the U.S and Israel.  The Palestinians lived in a cesspool - not because of Israel but because of their own archaic leadership who were nothing but murderous thugs.  They don't value human life; neither do the Mullahs who rule Iran, which is precisely the reason why they can never get a nuclear weapon.  Its really that simple.  Lambasting Israel for ever faulty headline someone publishes is wrong and dangerous.  That's my problem with @ourkids8.  He has an agenda and the agenda is at best ignorant, and more likely simply hateful and entirely inappropriate. 

[Blake Hampton]

2 hours ago, nwoodman said:

No wonder he lives rent free in Trumps head.

 

I believe the death of American thinking was the downfall of local newspapers.

 

The media that now shapes the average person’s worldview is so warped, so full of lies, so dominated by ignorance, that it ultimately reflects itself into basically everything.

 

Obama said we need to explore new forms of journalism, and I agree. The current model we have now is just not sustainable.

[73 Reds]

1 minute ago, Blake Hampton said:

 

I believe the death of American thinking was the downfall of local newspapers.

 

The media that now shapes the average person’s worldview is so warped, so full of lies, so dominated by ignorance, that it ultimately reflects itself into basically everything.

 

Obama said we need to explore new forms of journalism, and I agree. The current model we have now is just not sustainable.

Blake, nobody reads newspapers anymore.  But to your point, the media is largely to blame for distorted views because they report distorted facts and outright lies.

[Blake Hampton]

5 minutes ago, 73 Reds said:

Blake, nobody reads newspapers anymore.

I do.

[73 Reds]

1 minute ago, Blake Hampton said:

I do.

Newspapers at least used to be good for the comics section but they're not even funny anymore.

[lnofeisone]

17 hours ago, ourkid8 said:

I find that comment deeply offensive. However, I oppose Zionism because it involves the expansion of a state where one ethnic group is privileged over another, leaving the other group permanently disenfranchised and under continuous military occupation.  Doesn’t that bother you at all on a human level? 

 

I have numerous orthodox Jewish friends who have exactly the same view and adamantly against Israel which is an apartheid state. 

@ourkid8 - your take on Israel/Palestine is based on extremely shallow knowledge of history and any appreciation of the Middle East. 

 

Since you have friends who are orthodox Jews who are "adamantly against Israel", why don't you ask them if they deny Jewish ties to the lands where Israel is? And then ask them how they envision Jewish people maintaining their presence in those lands, given their treatment by every country in that neighborhood.

 

I find it equally hilarious that you are supporting self-determination of Palestinians, but you, in the same sentence, reject self-determination of jews. It's not a novel argument. It squares up with many of those who let their emotions drive their thinking. Anyone who has spent any time studying history, appreciating the context, etc. would realize that this is a very nuanced problem. 

 

[ourkid8]

4 hours ago, Gregmal said:

Eh Ive had good investment dialogue with everyone here including @ourkid8 over the years and I think perhaps emotions are high and everyone would benefit from chilling out. There's no winners in these situations and playing a bit of devils advocate, I dont think many Americans(myself included) even if they wanted to, can fully appreciate the Middle East dynamics. American culture basically promotes the idea that there is nothing good about the Middle East, especially Iran. I have no personal experience to confirm or deny that notion, but I dont think it's fair to just basketize good vs evil. 

Fair. I understand this is a sensitive issue, especially given how many children have been targeted. I'll shift my focus back to the investment forum. 

[Parsad]

6 hours ago, 73 Reds said:

Blake, nobody reads newspapers anymore.  But to your point, the media is largely to blame for distorted views because they report distorted facts and outright lies.

 

I do.  I read two a day.  Paper copies.  Sometimes I'll read a third.

 

Maybe more people should go back to actual newspapers instead of social media and television!  

 

Cheers!

[Parsad]

8 hours ago, nwoodman said:

 
No wonder he lives rent free in Trumps head.

 

He makes a very incisive point of view on social media around the 34 minute mark.  Cheers!