Hedge funds around the globe continue to get axe murdered as witnessed by Friday's late day sell-off. Given the crumbling of many high profile institutions, and the ineptness of the US government, if you didn't know better, you would think we live in some piss poor South American country. Clearly, given all the corruption and greed on Wall Street, you can see that we live in one of the most corrupt country's in the world. Our politicians have no business calling any other nation corrupt. I suggest they look in the mirror. From Bill Clinton's antics in the oval office (Monica Lewensky), to Larry Craig, Ted Stevens, and the like, an extreme house cleaning must take place. This being said, it will never happen. Why? It looks as if many in society have joined their party. America is going through a disciplining process. How long it will last is anybody's guess. My suspicious side tells me that the powers on Wall Street are waiting for their savior to take office. And once he does, the mood and sentiment towards the financial markets will change. Right now the moods of investors are being controlled by the media. The "depression word" is being thrown around so much that it is only second to the famous scare word- nine eleven (9-11). Unless I am way off base, I think you see an immediate shift in sentiment once Barrack Obama takes office. At this point, investors could careless who changes the negative sentiment in the country, they just want it to change. Once sentiment changes, so will the moods of investors, consumers, and corporations. The economy will begin to turn, corporations will begin to hire, and by 2012, President Obama will look like a hero. Investing in anything requires faith in the future and confidence. I believe the media will make sure we have confidence in the new administration through their daily broadcasts. In turn, investors will begin looking beyond the valley of the recession, the economy will stabilize, and the stock market will rally. What Should the Punishment be for Corporate Crooks on Wall Street- Part 2 On Tuesday, November 11th I referenced an article where "China executed four people, including employees of two of its Big Four state banks, for fraud totaling $15 million." I would venture to say that China's government has a handle on their corporate crooks. Unfortunately, we don't. Maybe our governments needs to take some notes. Here is an article where China again executed the former head of its food and drug administration for approving untested medicine in exchange for cash. Our court system failed to discipline Wall Streeters in 2000 for issuing bogus research reports to investors. Now the lying and cheating is back in full force.