Hi Cockerel!

"One of the misconceptions, imo, about the markets is that they create wealth.

I believe that the only thing the markets do, is re-distribute existing wealth.

There is a very fundamental difference.

If I am wrong, please correct me." - ENDQUOTE

I find it rare to disagree with you, but this time I am on the opposite side of the fence. Markets do create wealth. For example, lets look at the example of a new mining stock. The company raises money from a bunch of investors, and then puts that money to work to discover a large new metals deposit. The stock goes higher and the investors get paid for their risk. And the deposit is a valuable source of metals that helps to maintian supply for our industrial civilisation and add value for manufacturers down the line. It is win-win.

Sure there are many examples were stock investing is a zero sum game. One party sells and another party buys and someone is on the losing end of the transaction. But overall, it is the capatilist system that has put in place the funding to allow entrepreneurs to build greater wealth for all. A few crooks and scumbags that pervert that system and a bunch of incompetent government freeloaders that get in the way are part of the problem, but the system does work.

cheers!

mike