DISQUS

V Mary Abraham · 9 months ago

"So as practically every business has reacted to the downturn and closed the spigot on spending, which ones will be the first to reverse the trend and say, 'Enough!', instead, taking advantage of competitive weaknesses to seize market share, and approach a more-wary consumer base? We can't sit on our hands and expect Google and Apple to be the names that rise to the top again."

Hutch Carpenter · 9 months ago

Like the sentiment, but can't force these things. Demand is going to come ground-up.

Chris White · 9 months ago

I'm going to buy some Twitter and Facebook to help prop up the economy.

marshal sandler · 9 months ago

Banking and Manufacturing are in a scary position-in this sector of the market there is no more "ok with Corrections!" I am 72 year's old and have seen a lot of recession- The Auto Industry is as as dead as Custer and will never be the same it has destroyed its brand identity and public confidence-maybe in five years we may if the power grid will hold up drive a small electric car - Banking want's a 700 credit score included in your credit app, but most people are not Warren Buffett-We must create revenue from Medical Advances and selling our technology not giving it away- can VC survive without credit lines? I don't know-everything we invented is now being manufactured outside of our country-if we don't start electing more busiiness men to represent us in the senate and congress we are headed for socialism and I don't want our kids to swim in a sea of Guiness- I have a lot of good feelings about President Obama but the Talking heads are already making every attempt to make him look bad-I can only hope he bails out the Auto companies and Banks with a lot of strings-(:> Sorry to soap box

stonyeagle · 9 months ago

Companies are afraid to invest or do anything. They fear what the government might have in store for them tomorrow let alone 5 years from now. All you hear from Washington these days is how bad things are, and how there needs to be transparency and more regulations. Companies will blink and start to invest in America when they know the rules errr the regulations of doing business.

Chris · 9 months ago

I personally am not looking for companies to "spend"...anymore than I'm looking for consumers to "spend".

Capital is formed from "savings" and investment. So the more that I see companies "save," the better I'll feel about the future of the economy. During the artificial boom, both companies and individuals went into extreme debt, thanks to the fact that banks can create credit out of thin air.

The fact that all of the investments from the false boom (that should have never been made) are being liquidated is unavoidable. The best thing that can occur is for individuals and companies to "save".

Of course, our backwards government tries to promote the exact opposite...doing its best to subsidize reckless behavior...But fortunately, many people are using their heads and deciding to cut back and save anyway.

Savings are the key...let's hope we see it happen despite the governments attempts to thwart it.

Jeff · 9 months ago

Another great article.

Fear creates opportunity. The best time to buy into the Stock Market is now and not when the market was soaring above 13,000 pts! I personally believe in Index Funds. The lower the market means the more time it has to grow and make you money. The Market will come back because if it doesn't then we are all doomed. Microsoft and Apple started their companies when the Economy was slumping. When you start a company in a down economy you can buy goods and services a lot cheaper. Companies that continue to cut their best assets (their people) in order to manage their bottom lines will fail. You cannot cut your way to profitability but these big CEO's utilize this technique far too often. Why do they? Laying off workers is the quickest way to goose the bottom line and to please Wall Street. This technique does come back to haunt them down the road. Clear Channel Radio is one example that comes to mind.

ChangeForge | Ken Stewart · 9 months ago

Louis, in my personal opinion, I think this is one of the best articles of yours I've read. Succinct, poignant, and real. Thank you for continuing to share your thoughts.

shmuel · 9 months ago

Got 2 chime in...indeed one of Louos' best articles ever.
Wish I could offer a smart comment...sorry...this time around unless and untill the banking industry gets fixed and their toxic assests "removed", and the manufacturing segments reinvents itself, (us) techies in Silicon Valley may be able to do little...

shmuel · 9 months ago

This op-ed from Tom Friedman is very appropos

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/opinion/22fri...