Comment by toomuchtodo
2 months ago
I think it speaks volumes that Buffet has nowhere else to put that ~$382B in cash; that speaks more about current asset valuations ("everything bubble" [1]) more than that US cash is trash. If assets classes are inflated, US treasuries are no longer a safe haven, gold and other precious metals are overbought, where do you go? There is no immediate answer, imho, but only a slow burn as the world reconfigures around the US not being a superpower, the dollar not being a reserve currency, etc. As Workaccount2 comments downthread, "The dollar sucks but everything else sucks more. [2]"
[1] Look around: Bubbles are everywhere. - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46407032
damn shit is really bad, sky is failing, bubbles are bursting… any other clickbait I need to read up on before I go spend the last of the good days with my kid…?
coolest thing about us in the 50’s is that we’ve seen and read this shit many times before and don’t fall the “bubble du jour” or “shit’s really bad this time…” - especially readers here on HN, bubbles be bursting for yeeeears now, recession is coming, crashes are coming… genuinely am sitting here scared and shook about Buffet hoarding cash, that never happened before…
I've lived through the '00 crisis, the '08 crisis, and a global pandemic. In all cases, there were signs the event was upon us, but you won't know for sure until the event is in full swing. The advice remains the same as it always does: carry as little debt as reasonably possible, don't overextend yourself without good reason, ensure sufficient liquid reserves, maximize employment and income opportunities, and have a strong network, both professional and community. Stay healthy to the best of your ability. Humans have existed for some time, we're going to exist for a while longer. I have many people who depend on me, and I'm prepared for anything short of global unexpected nuclear conflict. As long as you care, that's half the battle. Wishing you a favorable outcome.
Wishing you a favorable outcome too!!
I love pretend bubbles cause while everyone is waiting for them to burst one can make shitton of money
20 replies →
Yup. It’s wild seeing the internet chat about the latest flavor of the week of “the sky is falling”.
Try going back 1 year and look at those headlines. What you’ll find seem silly looking back.
this depends on which "headlines" you are looking at... if you are right/right-leaning your headlines from a year ago are much worse than those today, sky is falling, biden opened borders, immigrants are murdering 1/2 of the population, economy is shit, eggs are $20/piece...
a year later, if you are left/left-leaning your headlines are "sky is falling, democracy is dying, corruption is through the roof, the country is hanging on by a thread..." too funny to observe what has become of America...
People born in different eras often develop different worldviews by the time they reach their 50s. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born in the "right time".
If you're in your 50s you should have at least noticed that things have gotten progressively worse, if not for you (e.g. working in FAANG and getting by better than ever) for the majority in all kinds of ways in those 50 years: housing costs, healthcare, jobs, public debt, private debt, it's a huge list.
So, yeah, those "shit is really bad, sky is failing, bubbles are bursting" shit has been consistently right all those years, and it will get worse.
Of course some people only grok that things are bad when it happens to them personally. 80% of the people could be coughing blood outside their door, but as long as they get their bonuses, all is fine, as far as they're concerned.
> If you're in your 50s you should have at least noticed that things have gotten progressively worse...
This is exactly what I am saying, things have gotten progressively worse. The argument most people are making here is that the worse is not progressive, that it is somehow last 11 months that shit's been going really, really bad (just note how many people are talking about "degree" and "scale" of shit in this thread alone. As if somehow sky is falling right now and it was amazing before.
funny thing is - same people back in October during the election campaign were pitching how economy is "great" and how they do not understand how GOP can run on economy platform when US economy is doing amazing, much better recovery post-COVID than any other country without a doubt. now though, economy is really bad, just horrible, can't be any worse :) in both cases, the 80% of the people you are mentioning are suffering, they were in October and they are even more so now. but everyone is in their own bubble, the "opposition" (myself included) in the current political order is saying "oh shit's really bad now" and "ruling party" people are like "oh man, how great are things, tariffs are doing their thing, exports are up, imports are way down, market is red hot..." etc...
Coolest thing about you in the 50s is that you’ve spent your grandkids’ money (and used up their resources and polluted their environments) so you wouldn’t have to face any consequences for your poor decisions.
Unfortunately your grand kids have run out of money and descendants to steal money from.
it is OK, I made enough for my grandkids and their grandkids so they'll be just fine. and all without stealing a penny from anyone (well this is a lie, I did steal a chocolate once from a grocery store to impress a girl but I think I'll be forgiven for that...)