I have mixed feelings when the market is doing well while people are losing their jobs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing prevents anyone from owning stock and from participating in the fortunes of the companies whose shares they buy. No reason to sympathize with people who choose not to be investors. You can open a brokerage account at some firms with $0, and some require maintaining a balance of only $100 or more. Many brokers allow tradiing with very small amounts, regardless of the minimum opening balance.

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. Sow nothing, reap nothing.

I HATE people like you who are so quick to pile on people who are already struggling. Of course they should have saved. It's very easy to look at others who have not done as well as you and blame them. I'm sure it makes you feel good. I hope you live long enough to enjoy your millions.

Compassion is free.

DP: I agree compassion is free.

However, most of Americans do NOT plan for life and emergencies. They don't even attempt to live within their means. I have a relative who is a teacher, so makes good salary, but not great (in a top paying state relative to the COL). They have always lived above their means, bought things and figured they'd worry about it later. Would replace a 5 yo car simply because they wanted a new one (old one was Honda, had only 90K---you can easily get 150-200K out of them and was running without any issues), yet traded it in as soon as their loan was done and started the process again. They could have chosen to go another 3 years, save the $300+/month car payment and the lower insurance because of a 5-8 yo car and then have $12K+ to put down on the next car (and thus have a much smaller payment/shorter loan). That is how you get ahead. This wasn't a 14+yo car on its last legs---they easily had 3-5+ years more without any issues. Yet they complain they never have any money. Apply the same principle to, the same person grabs lunch at work, or orders takeout for dinner way too much, when they don't have the money. It's all these smaller things that add up to "oh shit, the roof needs a repair, how can I ever pay for it?" when they could if they made it a budget item and saved, rather than getting a new car.

Yes some live paycheck to paycheck truly. Most don't have to and could be saving and budgeting differently. Not realizing life is much easier if you don't spend everything you have and save some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last week my friend told me he can't wait until AI wipes out so many jobs because he can then buy a bunch real estate etc at a deep discount since so many will be jobless and assets can be bought at a discount.

You are friends with someone excited about swaths of people becoming homeless and destitute. Watch your back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/26/block-laying-off-about-4000-employees-nearly-half-of-its-workforce.html

I have mixed feelings when the market is doing well while people are losing their jobs

I probably have shares of this company or ones like it that cut people to prop up their stock price.

On one hand we complain about companies laying off people, but we sure do like it when stock prices go up.

It’s called capitalism. Businesses are there to make money not be a charity. If cutting unnecessary jobs is the means to boost profits or stay solvent then so be it. if you don’t like it then move to a socialist country.

Or work to change this country into a moral one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing prevents anyone from owning stock and from participating in the fortunes of the companies whose shares they buy. No reason to sympathize with people who choose not to be investors. You can open a brokerage account at some firms with $0, and some require maintaining a balance of only $100 or more. Many brokers allow tradiing with very small amounts, regardless of the minimum opening balance.

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. Sow nothing, reap nothing.

Well, money does prevent them. If you are earning $16 an hour there's not much left to invest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing prevents anyone from owning stock and from participating in the fortunes of the companies whose shares they buy. No reason to sympathize with people who choose not to be investors. You can open a brokerage account at some firms with $0, and some require maintaining a balance of only $100 or more. Many brokers allow tradiing with very small amounts, regardless of the minimum opening balance.

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. Sow nothing, reap nothing.

I HATE people like you who are so quick to pile on people who are already struggling. Of course they should have saved. It's very easy to look at others who have not done as well as you and blame them. I'm sure it makes you feel good. I hope you live long enough to enjoy your millions.

Compassion is free.

DP: I agree compassion is free.

However, most of Americans do NOT plan for life and emergencies. They don't even attempt to live within their means. I have a relative who is a teacher, so makes good salary, but not great (in a top paying state relative to the COL). They have always lived above their means, bought things and figured they'd worry about it later. Would replace a 5 yo car simply because they wanted a new one (old one was Honda, had only 90K---you can easily get 150-200K out of them and was running without any issues), yet traded it in as soon as their loan was done and started the process again. They could have chosen to go another 3 years, save the $300+/month car payment and the lower insurance because of a 5-8 yo car and then have $12K+ to put down on the next car (and thus have a much smaller payment/shorter loan). That is how you get ahead. This wasn't a 14+yo car on its last legs---they easily had 3-5+ years more without any issues. Yet they complain they never have any money. Apply the same principle to, the same person grabs lunch at work, or orders takeout for dinner way too much, when they don't have the money. It's all these smaller things that add up to "oh shit, the roof needs a repair, how can I ever pay for it?" when they could if they made it a budget item and saved, rather than getting a new car.

Yes some live paycheck to paycheck truly. Most don't have to and could be saving and budgeting differently. Not realizing life is much easier if you don't spend everything you have and save some.

That's a simplistic way to look at the decision making of poor households. Don't forget we have a predatory capitalistic system. You take it for granted that everyone knows even the most basic financial aspect of any transaction..the truth is that's not the case. Our financial system is built entirely on taking advantage of you if you are unaware. It's done in subtle ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last week my friend told me he can't wait until AI wipes out so many jobs because he can then buy a bunch real estate etc at a deep discount since so many will be jobless and assets can be bought at a discount.

You are friends with someone excited about swaths of people becoming homeless and destitute. Watch your back.

Isn't it how most Americans are though?

[Anonymous]

I agree, OP. But we are now in the position of putting yourself first. Republicans made it this way. The SCOTUS made it this way. So it's sink or swim and we are proceeding as such.

We do volunteer and give to charity but, in the end, we put ourselves first with how we spend, save, invest, etc.

I would happily pay more in taxes so that there is a basic standard of living for all (universal HC, paid parental leave, minimum wage bumps, etc.) So long as billionaires were to pay a wealth tax first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree, OP. But we are now in the position of putting yourself first. Republicans made it this way. The SCOTUS made it this way. So it's sink or swim and we are proceeding as such.

We do volunteer and give to charity but, in the end, we put ourselves first with how we spend, save, invest, etc.

I would happily pay more in taxes so that there is a basic standard of living for all (universal HC, paid parental leave, minimum wage bumps, etc.) So long as billionaires were to pay a wealth tax first.

You have morals far more than the average American. Our society favors winners over losers. And to win everything is on the table.

Look at what's been happening with the prediction markets. People with inside knowledge making bets and winning big. That's the American way sadly.