Quote Originally Posted by dragonrider
Actually if you look at the overall performance of the stock market, it has been esentially flat since around the begining of the year 2000. It goes up, it comes back down, but overall there have been very little gains for most of the decade. With fees and operating expenses, it is not surpirsing that many people have seen a decline in portfolio value during this time.
And how is this the governments fault. The government is not responsible for the free market, the free market takes care of itself.

If you are losing money then ultimately this is your own fault. I manage my own stocks and have not lost any money since 2002.

If you have actually been actively investing during the whole time, buying on a periodic schedule regardless of the market conditions (like a little each paycheck in a 401k), then you have probably made some money. This is becasue you buy more shares when prices are low, and fewer when prices are high --- so if even if there are a lot of ups and downs, as long as the market still returns to the same value, you generally stand a good chance of still making money. But if you invested a lump sum of 20,000 at the begining, you have probably lost money.
If you invest a lump sum of money at the beginning of a decline with unsure market conditions than this is a poor decision made on the investor. The government is not responsible for poor investment decisions.

I am not disclosing how much I have in the market but it is significantly more than 20k... and I have not lost anything since 2002.


If the money is in a 401k, then there are is little opprtunity to "Take control and invest your own money." The most you can do is choose from among the investment options offered.
And with the rising cost of oil you would think that if you're losing money in your funds that you would move it to a fund that was heavily vested in oil. Again, this would be a smart investment decision that should be made by the investor. It is of no fault of the government.

And you've sort've gone off topic, the only reason 401k's were mentioned were in relation to windfall profits tax. Which if you have any kind of DECENT stock portfolio then you will have at LEAST 1 oil stock as well as several other slow steady performers.