This board is broadly speaking a discussion of investing and markets. Topics often include risk factors that influence our individual investment decisions. Interest rates, rising and falling profits, inflation and deflation,,,,,, We talk about investing both in US and ex US shares and specifically unique risks of investing in emerging markets like political instability. But what about political instability right here?After watching todays historic hearing and thinking about everything that has led to today it seems fair to consider DOMESTIC POLITICAL INSTABILITY as a significant risk to our individual and collective investments. We can be like the Bogleheads and ignore the republican threats to our nation’s future or we can speak openly and honestly as we add it to the risks we must all consider. Is this a topic that this group can include or is it off the table no matter how real it is?
Comments
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3780559-live-coverage-jan-6-committee-holds-final-public-hearing/
Unprecedented.
But if the posts devolve into heated discussions of who did what and when, and who is or is not an indictable criminal, then the discussions should be restricted to the Off-Topic arena.
From experience, and the observation of human nature (including my own) I would suspect that the latter situation would be the most likely to prevail.
However, MFO is primarily dedicated to financial and investment discussions, and you asked if discussing political instability was an appropriate subject for the financial and investment forums.
As I noted, it certainly can be, if it remains as a general discussion and does not degenerate to heated political accusatory and inflammatory commentary.
For discussions which do not fit that description, MFO has, for very good reasons based on the expressed preferences of the great majority of MFO posters, established the Off-Topic arena. Like the rules generally observed for deciding elections, that majority opinion should be honored.
Frequently I also would prefer it to be otherwise, but as long as we are guests here we have an obligation to honor the rules established for this community.
Yes, political instability is an investment risk factor.
@LarryB - Depends on the “group”. I have no trouble with you raising the topic on a general purpose Twitter or Facebook page. Nor do I object to your right to address this in a town square somewhere. However you are posting on what considers itself to be primarily an investment board. I like to make money. You like to make money. etc.
Your question, somewhat cloaked in platitudes, is: “Should we as investors be cognizant of domestic political instability and factor that into investment decisions?
The problem with the question is that, unless you’ve been buried for the past decade in an underground bunker with no contact with the outside world, the answer is yes. So the real intent here would seem to be not to sharpen anyone’s investment acumen but rather to hash-out long standing, conflicting and heart-felt beliefs about the current U.S. political climate - likely with today’s recommendations of the Special Congressional Committee center stage.
There’s 2 problems: (1) This topic is, ISTM, designed more to provoke political discussion than to promote carefully considered investment decision making and (2) There is a suitable section of this board, as @Old_Joe mentioned, designed for just such “excursions” beyond the normal investment related confines. It is called “Off Topic.” It’s not a garbage bin, but rather a comfortable sanctuary where ideas about anything from sports - to music - to politics can be aired calmly without impinging on or compromising the board’s predominately investment related mission.
Now a personal beef. I can get an earful of this type of hyped up political banter by tuning in to CNN, MSNBC, FOX or any number of other cable networks. These are professional rabble-rousers. They’re well trained and well paid for what they do. They’re really good at it! Better than most here. So, why would one bother logging in to an investment board called Mutual Fund Observer to ingest the same type of vitriol? I’ll go further. Were I moderator I’d close the thread or ask the poster to move it into the OT section.
LB
@hank- Thanks. / OJ
But many investors with significant amounts of money no longer want to separate their money from their politics. A number of investment surveys reveal there is an entire generation called millennials who increasingly want to invest in accordance with their political values. So to say the intersection between investing and politics can’t be discussed here is to exclude all of those who care about both profit and people. The caveats I would recommend though are there should be a true intersection between the two and posters should try to be respectful. That I know is easier said than done.
With regard to “carefully considered investment decisions” being the only goal what about those pesky “externalities” you know like the planet? https://prospect.org/power/libertarian-delusion/