Friday, October 17, 2008
One of the most emailed stories at the NYT website today is an Op-Ed piece by Warren Buffett entitled Buy American. I Am.
I think this piece deserves some closer attention because Warren Buffett is so influential in the world of money. Let’s examine his ideas closely.
The financial world is a mess, both in the United States and abroad. Its problems, moreover, have been leaking into the general economy, and the leaks are now turning into a gusher. In the near term, unemployment will rise, business activity will falter, and headlines will continue to be scary.
My Comment: So far, so good. I am in full agreement with this assessment.
So…I’ve been buying American stocks. This is my personal account I’m talking about, in which I previously owned nothing but United States government bonds. (This description leaves aside my Berkshire Hathaway holdings, which are all committed to philanthropy.) If prices keep looking attractive, my non-Berkshire net worth will soon be 100 percent in United States equities.
My Comment: Warren Buffett is 78 years old. Moving to 100% equities without any international diversification is a puzzling move, even during the best of times. I would not recommend that anybody in or near retirement attempt this without first being a billionaire. It is a very risky move. While it could pay off, it could also fail spectacularly. I think it is irresponsible for him to suggest, however indirectly, that others should consider doing the same. He’s a billionaire and he can do what he wants. Perhaps he’s lost touch with the fact that his circumstances are very different from everybody else’s?
A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors. To be sure, investors are right to be wary of highly leveraged entities or businesses in weak competitive positions. But fears regarding the long-term prosperity of the nation’s many sound companies make no sense. These
by cmartenson 
