Because Karl Marx believed that only physical labor created value, modern Leftists are unable to understand modern finance, so they deride it as merely gambling. Hence this cartoon. Of course, Wiley and many others will just say it’s only a joke.
And, of course, you notice that the guy talking to the woman is pointing a gun at her. He’s also lying by telling her that he is going to make money off her investment should SHE decide to make one.
Really? For a fee you will place a bet for me? Oh, well let me look in my purse…where is my wallet….no, no, that’s a Smith & Wesson…well, that might do…it’s got six bullets and there are only five of you…(Children! I am not advocating violence against Wall Street Urchins or any other scammers!)
The confusion with this issue – and ignored on the financial page daily – is the difference between investors and players (gamers). The day to day shifts in the markets have nothing to do with real investing in anything. It’s gaming (i.e. gambling)…. as so elegantly depicted in Wiley’s panel today!
These Dow Jones gamblers never are distinctA crowd of bulls or bears each in their turnThey travel in a flock of herd instinctAnd drink their tea and fiddle while we burn
And while our backs were turned the brand-new StandardHas made us Poor: we can’t afford farm pondsThe housing bubble and the dot.com dastard?The fault, dear Brutus, lies in our junk bonds
But now these Dow Jones lemmings head for cliffsComputer sell-off programs join the frayAnd I am far too gloomy for jazz riffsThough possibly wise heads will win the day
Behold, thou: though economy is crassThou must needs know that even this shall pass
Jesus! hallelujah…I had a positively religious…or zen…moment reading this. You REALLY are Wiley…and the guys who tipped the rates…for Libor…they actuallyare a prior guy between the sucker’s money AND the middleman placing the bets…there is one phrase that seems to hold true in every field I know about…for a pro, the FIX is in FIRST…whatever the fix is needed to tilt the results.
And what I get from this is right on…never attack people lower on society’s totem than you, the poorer or weaker…your REAL problem is further UP…Robin Hood and the Lone Ranger were RIGHT ON.
The main thing Marx got wrong was because he only had the US and French revolutions as a base and assumed that violent revolution was the only way the poor have to get justice. The Reich-wing has been trying to prove him right ever since.
Hmmm. The lottery has a much lower payoff than casinos (or street craps games like this), which is lower than a home poker game (assuming you have equal chance of winning), which is lower than a random picking of Wall Street stocks, which is lower than investing in companies and industries you know something about.
.
The real problem with short-term trading is that it is hard to make enough to offset the brokers’ fees.
I prefer the Pournelle Chart myself. It gives a bit more room for specifying where a person stands. In fact I thought of it the other day, when someone was trying to describe why Ann Rand was not a “real” anarchist.
I for one INVEST. I don’t enjoy gambling (not a moral judgement but simply a personal feeling); therefore, I don’t speculate. A couple of friends who do speculate on the stock market told me that they “play the side bets” (their words) because it was more profitable than straight stock speculation.
bmonk re: Marx: Good point, and to make matters worse, he was in London when he wrote it. Canada’s becoming an independent country was on the same pattern, but much later. Internal self-rule in 1872, separate army in 1920, flag in 196whatever, financial and foreign policy self-rule late ’70s, etc. (Dates not guaranteed, I am working from memory late at night.)
Varnes about 12 years ago
Yeah, cut in the middle man…..
Varnes about 12 years ago
I wonder which one of those guys has a momma that needs new pair of shoes……?
Linux0s about 12 years ago
The ’ol 5 card Ponzi.
margueritem about 12 years ago
This is pretty much the truth…
hsawlrae about 12 years ago
It’s all tainted money. Tain’t yours any more.
hermit48 about 12 years ago
This is a repeat strip from some years ago.
watmiwori about 12 years ago
And if he should lose, the middleman has a friend who will gladly help him out….
einarbt7 about 12 years ago
Spot on.
roctor about 12 years ago
“We make money he olde fashion way”.
ChrissyT about 12 years ago
…it’s all explained in the microscopic print.
chazandru about 12 years ago
A great line from the old Doris Day/James Garner Movie- The WheelerDealers….“It ain’t about the money little lady, that’s just how we keep score.”
pschearer Premium Member about 12 years ago
Because Karl Marx believed that only physical labor created value, modern Leftists are unable to understand modern finance, so they deride it as merely gambling. Hence this cartoon. Of course, Wiley and many others will just say it’s only a joke.
ninetoes about 12 years ago
Fits in with today’s Cornered
Can't Sleep about 12 years ago
BRILLIANT!And, unfortunately, accurate.Great one, Wiley!
CeeJay about 12 years ago
This is why 401K’s are immoral!
DesultoryPhillipic about 12 years ago
And, of course, you notice that the guy talking to the woman is pointing a gun at her. He’s also lying by telling her that he is going to make money off her investment should SHE decide to make one.
dabugger about 12 years ago
Inside Wall Street. All those big buildings, offices, computers and stock market scenes are just show for the media and rest of the public……
Vonne Anton about 12 years ago
Really? For a fee you will place a bet for me? Oh, well let me look in my purse…where is my wallet….no, no, that’s a Smith & Wesson…well, that might do…it’s got six bullets and there are only five of you…(Children! I am not advocating violence against Wall Street Urchins or any other scammers!)
Linguist about 12 years ago
Nathan Detroit, where are you when we need you ? The NYSE is " The Oldest Established, Permanent Floating, Crap Game in New York ".
yimhere about 12 years ago
The confusion with this issue – and ignored on the financial page daily – is the difference between investors and players (gamers). The day to day shifts in the markets have nothing to do with real investing in anything. It’s gaming (i.e. gambling)…. as so elegantly depicted in Wiley’s panel today!
Justice22 about 12 years ago
Very good representation of Wall Street.
Habogee about 12 years ago
My life savings are in the hands of that bunch of frightened little girls on Wall St.
Godfreydaniel about 12 years ago
These Dow Jones gamblers never are distinctA crowd of bulls or bears each in their turnThey travel in a flock of herd instinctAnd drink their tea and fiddle while we burn
And while our backs were turned the brand-new StandardHas made us Poor: we can’t afford farm pondsThe housing bubble and the dot.com dastard?The fault, dear Brutus, lies in our junk bonds
But now these Dow Jones lemmings head for cliffsComputer sell-off programs join the frayAnd I am far too gloomy for jazz riffsThough possibly wise heads will win the day
Behold, thou: though economy is crassThou must needs know that even this shall pass
tigre1 about 12 years ago
Jesus! hallelujah…I had a positively religious…or zen…moment reading this. You REALLY are Wiley…and the guys who tipped the rates…for Libor…they actuallyare a prior guy between the sucker’s money AND the middleman placing the bets…there is one phrase that seems to hold true in every field I know about…for a pro, the FIX is in FIRST…whatever the fix is needed to tilt the results.
tigre1 about 12 years ago
And what I get from this is right on…never attack people lower on society’s totem than you, the poorer or weaker…your REAL problem is further UP…Robin Hood and the Lone Ranger were RIGHT ON.
blackman2732 about 12 years ago
This is too true for me to laugh at.
catman500 about 12 years ago
playing is not investing
hippogriff about 12 years ago
The main thing Marx got wrong was because he only had the US and French revolutions as a base and assumed that violent revolution was the only way the poor have to get justice. The Reich-wing has been trying to prove him right ever since.
thirdguy about 12 years ago
Good one Wiley!My only fear, is that you may have given Vegas, and the other gambling areas, an idea for a new revenue stream.
LV1951 about 12 years ago
I thought that was said by Jule in Guys N Dolls!
bmonk about 12 years ago
Hmmm. The lottery has a much lower payoff than casinos (or street craps games like this), which is lower than a home poker game (assuming you have equal chance of winning), which is lower than a random picking of Wall Street stocks, which is lower than investing in companies and industries you know something about.
.
The real problem with short-term trading is that it is hard to make enough to offset the brokers’ fees.
Fan o’ Lio. about 12 years ago
Win or lose the broker still gets his commission.
krondor2000 about 12 years ago
Ain’t that the truth!
bmonk about 12 years ago
I prefer the Pournelle Chart myself. It gives a bit more room for specifying where a person stands. In fact I thought of it the other day, when someone was trying to describe why Ann Rand was not a “real” anarchist.
whitecarabao about 12 years ago
I for one INVEST. I don’t enjoy gambling (not a moral judgement but simply a personal feeling); therefore, I don’t speculate. A couple of friends who do speculate on the stock market told me that they “play the side bets” (their words) because it was more profitable than straight stock speculation.
Linguist about 12 years ago
Wall Street Bankers are:Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves !Dressed in Armani suits and Gucci loafers.
reynard61 about 12 years ago
[John Houseman voice] “We make our money the old-fashioned way. We STEAL it.” [/John Houseman voice]
Varnes about 12 years ago
Godfreydaniel, “And I am far too gloomy for jazz riffs..” A truly excellent line…..congratulations….
hippogriff about 12 years ago
bmonk re: Marx: Good point, and to make matters worse, he was in London when he wrote it. Canada’s becoming an independent country was on the same pattern, but much later. Internal self-rule in 1872, separate army in 1920, flag in 196whatever, financial and foreign policy self-rule late ’70s, etc. (Dates not guaranteed, I am working from memory late at night.)