Gyroscopic Investing

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?

CraigR is the HB of 2011 

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.

TripleB wrote: CraigR is the HB of 2011 

There was only one Harry Browne, and he ain't me.

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. 

There's a difference: Jesus Saves.  Moses Invests.

Coffee wrote: There's a difference: Jesus Saves.  Moses Invests.

Nice Coffee... 

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).

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

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.

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.