Gyrating

About ten years all one needed was a computer, a modem, an online trading account, and a business magazine (or a copy of The Wall Street Journal) and one was in business as a day trader.

I had a friend who did it -- more of a hobby than anything else. On a good day, he would make up to $40. That's right, forty bucks.

I always thought it was too much work for what seemed to be an iffy ROI at best.

Fortunately, our President has figured the same thing out. As he boldly proclaimed yesterday:

"What I am looking for is not the day-to-day gyrations of the stock market ... but the long-term...''

Most folks though, are investors. They are in for the long haul -- whether it's for retirement, a rainy day, or their children's education. They aren't looking at the daily "gyrations." But it's only the obstinate or foolish who can't see the market sinking.

Perhaps it was the tax-dodger, who told Obama, in Cheney-esque fashion, that the stimulus, the budget, and the various bailouts will have them them greeted as liberators on Wall Street.

Then again, maybe not.

Obama is not a stupid man. If he was concerned about the investor-class he would do something about it. His advice to buy more stocks rings false when he continues to burden business with additional "feel-good" regulations; a union-first mentality; and one big tax bill.

Maybe it's time to start thinking that a $40 score is worth it.