Thursday, September 6, 2007

"WHAT THE HELL DOES WALL STREET GOT TO DO WITH ME?"

Greetings my fellow fans and haters! I'd like to share a story about an encounter I had a while back with a woman who was in her early forties. I was waiting for a haircut in my friends babershop and there was a television on. It was on CNBC the business channel . She look at me and said "Why do you care about the stock market? That stuff don't affect us black people" So I laughed and shook my head as I often do, while observing my peoples ignorance. Financial illiteracy is not a black virus it's a nationwide epidemic. I laughed and told her I invest in the stock market. She replied "Not me, none of my money in the market. Wall street does not affect me." I said is that so. She said "Yep. I don't mess with that stock stuff." I told her #1 we always hate what we don't understand. #2 The stock market crash of 1929 affected the entire USA. Just ask your mother or grandmother. I then went on to ask her if she has a pension or social security. She replied saying yes I have both. I asked her where do you think that money is? She replied in my pension and social security accounts. I couldn't believe my ears. She really believed that her money is in a special bank account waiting for her when she retires. I went on to explain to her that all pension, social security and 401k plans are all in big funds that are invested in the stock market and everything you're watching on CNBC. So since your future is in the market, you should care about it a whole lot more. After my explaination she looked baffled and promised to look into it more. I never seen her again, but I walked away realizing that was the reason that 10% of the population controls 90% of the wealth. It starts by making economics so complex that the masses are scared of it and never attempt to understand it. Therefore, we've become the servants of money while the rich use money to serve themselves. In conclusion, my people always make riches from entertainment and sports but never accumulate real wealth (i.e. land, oil, precious metals and other real assets). Remember the Golden rule my people, He who has the Gold will rule.