I've always said that the problem with y2k is that its too large of a concept to fit inside one persons head. Howard Ruff has done a damn good job of squeezing it into a nutshell.

Note the lack of any polly rebuttal on the following thread (thanks to Ed Lizard for his foraging skills):

Link to Howard Ruff summarization

-- a (a@a.a), September 30, 1999

Answers

If you want a serious article about the stock market overvaluation, read the following:

http://www.dismalscientist.com/thoughts/stock_prices_123198.stm

Mr. Ruff's analysis of p/e ratios is a little lightweight. If you like his style, however, you might enjoy his newsletter (a la North) available at:

http://www.rufftimes.com/

Ruff has been talking about "rough" times since the 1970s. Of course, this includes a period of time that is now the longest economic expansion in U.S. history.

Oops.

-- Ken Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), September 30, 1999.

The law of averages comes into play here at some point. Sooner or later, ol' Howard is gonna be right. I think his time is coming sometime next year.

-- cody (cody@y2ksurvive.com), September 30, 1999.

You can argue with Ruff's motives, track record, or sexual preference. But you can't argue with his facts. They're nothing new. We've discussed them endlessly on this site. What he did however, was to encapsulate an understanding of the y2k problem (technical+management+economic+social)in one very readable article. Commendable.

-- a (a@a.a), September 30, 1999.

Howard Ruff has a good tract record. He was a Hard-Money man in the 70's, and in the early 80's switched to the stock market. I wish that I had too, but I stayed with gold. He was right and I was wrong. I haven't followed Ruff but if he is back on the gold wagon, that's where I want to be as well.

-- Carl Eschbach (eschbachcr@ar-arng.ngb.army.mil), September 30, 1999.

"Ruff has been talking about "rough" times since the 1970s. Of course, this includes a period of time that is now the longest economic expansion in U.S. history."

Respectfully, Mr. Decker, that is because after 1971, the US dollar was not supposed to prosper for close to three decades. It was presumed to last 5, maybe ten years at the most after the disengagement from it's gold backing. What we have experienced to date is unprecedented.

Understandably, this whole situation has surprised the best of 'em.

-- OR (orwelliator@biosys.net), September 30, 1999.

Howard Ruff is responsible for this family being ready in the 70's and We STILL have our gold...and grain mill....and grain....and how to books..and, and,and.

Taz

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), October 01, 1999.