HB today?

General Discussion on the Permanent Portfolio Strategy

Moderator: Global Moderator

Post Reply
arizonafan1
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:45 pm

HB today?

Post by arizonafan1 »

While still new to the PP, I love its simplicity and performance, and my own perception is that Harry Browne really knew what he was talking about.  Who is the Harry Browne equivalent today?
TripleB
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 882
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 1:28 am
Contact:

Re: HB today?

Post by TripleB »

CraigR is the HB of 2011  ;D
User avatar
MediumTex
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 9096
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:47 pm
Contact:

Re: HB today?

Post by MediumTex »

If a commentator isn't loud and strongly opinionated, it's hard to get and hold the media's attention.

Harry Browne wasn't really that kind of commentator.  He was more reflective, thoughtful and humble in his views that the future is un-knowable.

I don't think that a Harry Browne-type figure would be able to get much traction in today's media where people want a new market narrative every single day.

I have always thought that Harry Browne was much more of a philosopher than an investment advisor.  A philosopher whose ideas are unique and of practical value to ordinary people is an unusual thing.
Q: “Do you have funny shaped balloons?”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
User avatar
craigr
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 2540
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:26 pm

Re: HB today?

Post by craigr »

TripleB wrote: CraigR is the HB of 2011  ;D
There was only one Harry Browne, and he ain't me.
TripleB
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 882
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 1:28 am
Contact:

Re: HB today?

Post by TripleB »

HB is like Jesus.

CraigR is like Moses.

or for the Romney supporters:

CraigR is like the dude who read the magical plates in the hat.  ;D
User avatar
Coffee
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 733
Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:24 pm

Re: HB today?

Post by Coffee »

There's a difference: Jesus Saves.  Moses Invests.
"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is. "
User avatar
Jan Van
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 717
Joined: Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:42 am
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: HB today?

Post by Jan Van »

Coffee wrote: There's a difference: Jesus Saves.  Moses Invests.
Nice Coffee...  ;D
"Well, if you're gonna sin you might as well be original" -- Mike "The Cool-Person"
"Yeah, well, that’s just, like, your opinion, man" -- The Dude
User avatar
6 Iron
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 339
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:12 pm

Re: HB today?

Post by 6 Iron »

craigr wrote:
There was only one Harry Browne, and he ain't me.
My world paradigm is shaken. First I read that MediumTex is actually you being mixed with 2 or 3 gin and tonics, and now you confess to not being HB. This puts in doubt my theory that Clive is actually Elvis (a near perfect anagram, and, I supected, a clue).
TripleB
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 882
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 1:28 am
Contact:

Re: HB today?

Post by TripleB »

6 Iron wrote: My world paradigm is shaken. First I read that MediumTex is actually you being mixed with 2 or 3 gin and tonics, and now you confess to not being HB.
HB =/= CraigR

CraigR + 3 Gin and tonics = Medium Tex
CraigR + Crystal Meth = TripleB

;D
jackely

Re: HB today?

Post by jackely »

I first discovered HB through his political writings many years ago. He helped convince me I was probably a libertarian. If you are looking for his counterpart in that arena it would have to be Ron Paul.

I only wish I had read the investment advice at the same time. I probably could have saved myself a lot of grief.
HB Reader
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 336
Joined: Fri May 07, 2010 7:34 pm

Re: HB today?

Post by HB Reader »

MediumTex wrote: If a commentator isn't loud and strongly opinionated, it's hard to get and hold the media's attention.

Harry Browne wasn't really that kind of commentator.  He was more reflective, thoughtful and humble in his views that the future is un-knowable.

I don't think that a Harry Browne-type figure would be able to get much traction in today's media where people want a new market narrative every single day.

I have always thought that Harry Browne was much more of a philosopher than an investment advisor.  A philosopher whose ideas are unique and of practical value to ordinary people is an unusual thing.
This is so true.  HB had his biggest fame in the 1970s when he appearred to be more decisive and outspoken (although he was still pretty humble compared to most "financial experts") about hard-money investments.  Yet he was virtually ignored in the 1980s and 1990s when he championed far more valuable life wisdom about how to cope with an uncertain world and the futility of predicting.  Popular media (and financial media, especially) seems incapable of presenting ideas that integrate wisdom from many different areas of life.  Or maybe as people we are just too intellectually lazy to appreciate the difference between the physical sciences and the human experience and want some technical "expert" to tell us what to do.   
Post Reply