Learn To Grow a Frickin' Tomato!"

This beautifully written column, titled I Single-Handedly Crushed the Dreams of the Next Generation, from from investment advisor Jeff Clark at GrowthStockWire.com:

Last Wednesday was "Career Day" at the local high school. I was invited to speak, just as I have for the past six years, on the opportunities in the world of finance.

The room was filled with starry-eyed students – their heads swimming with dreams of million-dollar opportunities working for Goldman Sachs, trading crude oil futures, or taking over Ken Lewis' spot heading up Bank of America.

It took me less than 30 seconds to crush those dreams.

[...]
"If you want to be successful in life," I said, "learn to grow a frickin tomato."

I then explained to my audience how the government is devaluing the dollar, how the politicians are catering to the lowest common denominator of the population, how the "let's get everything I can for myself right now" society is leading to the destruction of this once-great country, and how if you want to take care of yourself and your family in the future... you need to learn to grow a tomato.

"Take care of yourself," I said...

Take responsibility for the welfare of your family and of your close friends. Don't count on the government. The Constitution of the United States of America does not guarantee health care. It doesn't guarantee home ownership. And it doesn't guarantee cash for clunkers.

You are not entitled to a prosperous life. You are not guaranteed to live better than your parents. In fact, yours is the first generation ever in the history of this great republic that will not do so. You are, however, entitled to opportunity. But that opportunity diminishes when the government takes from the hardest working and most industrious citizens and gives to the folks who sleep in until 10:00 in the morning.

By all means, read the whole thing. This comes on the heels of the Bloomberg.com report that Goldman Sachs Group execs arming themselves against a populist uprising against bankers:

Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- “I just wrote my first reference for a gun permit,” said a friend, who told me of swearing to the good character of a Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker who applied to the local police for a permit to buy a pistol. The banker had told this friend of mine that senior Goldman people have loaded up on firearms and are now equipped to defend themselves if there is a populist uprising against the bank.
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Common sense tells you a handgun is probably not even all that useful. Suppose an intruder sneaks past the doorman or jumps the security fence at night. By the time you pull the pistol out of your wife’s jewelry safe, find the ammunition, and load your weapon, Fifi the Pomeranian has already been taken hostage and the gun won’t do you any good. As for carrying a loaded pistol when you venture outside, dream on. Concealed gun permits are almost impossible for ordinary citizens to obtain in New York or nearby states.

Just as a side note, Fifi the Pomeranian would be perfectly safe here at the Secret Hidden Bunker, unless Pokee-san the Tailless Cat decided to eat her/it. We don't have to find our ammunition here...it's already in the guns! And the guns are...at hand or on hip...where else would you want them to be?