Wednesday, May 8, 2013

15,056.20 new DOW record

Tuesday is the first time the Dow went above 15,000 and stayed there ever. Many markets around the world are breaking records now including the U.S. Dow. I think it is very strange to have the unemployment problems worldwide that we now have while the DOW goes this high. Likely there are many reasons for it. For example, in the U.S. and possibly Europe as well the high cost of labor to manufacture things often is offset by buying technology of various kinds from computers to software to robotics to replace people. Possibly in developed nations this might be a way companies use to compete with lower waged nations. However, then there is the social cost when people cannot find jobs in those developed nations. Somehow, people's needs to survive and to stay alive must also be recognized and dealt with. However, on a world wide basis until there is zero population growth and universal birth control this is unlikely to happen. So, possibly a worldwide useful goal might be to create a worldwide zero population growth so people's right to live will be respected and become practical worldwide.

In the meantime it is amazing that the DOW has gone beyond 15,000. A few years ago when it was around 7000 many people sold their investments and stayed permanently out of the market. However, those who stayed in or those who got in then and rode it up to 15,000 have had an amazing ride.

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