Am I un-American?

[BrentWill4U]

I have been working hard since High School, went though College, and I am now a Captain in the Army. With deployments to Iraq I have been able to put away 120K dollars. I have invested with www.dodgeandcox.com . The VAST majority of my money is in their international fund. Does the fact that I invest so much of my money outside of America, make me Un-American? Should I change this and invest more here?

[Rowdyboy]

1. If you'll give me your social security number and a major credit card ....

number, I'll do a numerological chart for you that should give you excellent financial advice. I have connections in the Nigerian government (personally related to a member of the royal family).

[BrentWill4U]

2. Nah..

Don't think I will be doing that one...

[Bjornsdotter]

3. Do what's best

for you and your family. The government doesn't worry about you....besides most of America is owned by foreign interests.

Cheers

[BrentWill4U]

5. I don't have any family..

But perhaps one day my savings today will come in good.

[Catherine Vincent]

9. No family?

Are you available? :)

[BrentWill4U]

10. Depends what you mean...

I broke up with someone I was seeing a month ago, so I am single right now. And I guess I am still available for about 3 more months.

[amitten]

4. I think you should invest more here if you can.

Of course, this is still a free country and that is a personal choice.

[evlbstrd]

6. Given that BushCo had destroyed the local economy

I'd say invest in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, etc. That's where his family interests lie.

[Mind_your_head]

7. Dodge-n-Cox since 1988.....

Seriously, they're not affiliated to Dodge N. Cheatem, are they?

[BrentWill4U]

8. What?

Dodge and Cox was established in 1930. Been making money for a LONG time.

[Mind_your_head]

11. It's a *joke* (read it out loud)

:eyes:

If you're happy with the ROI (return on investment), I would leave it where it is.

If you're unhappy with "investment in the American Infrastructure"....well, you have a large group of people who would agree with you. Make money, use it wisely.....invest in America....but, first "make money"?! :shrug: <--- if you have some money, you can "call some of the shots" ;-)

[BrentWill4U]

14. Oh.. sorry..

Yeah, I am an idiot.

[Name removed]

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[BrentWill4U]

13. I have been to Iraq..

I am going for my second time in January. That is one of the big reasons why I have so much savings. Single and in a war zone. So basically, you take home a years pay because there really isn't much to spend money on.

[Name removed]

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[BrentWill4U]

19. Well, I have the pictures and the memories to prove it...

So I don't know what to tell you...

[Erika]

22. Sure you do

My marine nephew has done two tours in Iraq as part of the kill squad. He neither brags about pictures and keeps his memories to himself. Sure you do.

[BrentWill4U]

31. I doubt that..

That is not what the military does, as a whole. If he was part of a "kill squad", he should be taken tried under UCMJ and justice should be found.

[Name removed]

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[BrentWill4U]

39. I have been around plenty of Marines..

I was with 1-9 INF in Ramadi, which was part of 1MARDIV. We worked with Marine Units all the time. Fallujah was a case of changing ROE. Not forming "kill squads"

[Erika]

41. Sure, you did.

[BrentWill4U]

45. As I said...

My offer still stands. Tell me you will take me up on it. I will send you an email with my homepage. It is as much proof as you are going to get on the net.

[Catherine Vincent]

21. You don't believe he's been to Iraq?

Hmm.

[Erika]

23. No. n/t

[BrentWill4U]

35. As I told the other poster..

If you want it, you can have my myspace homepage. Send me an IM on that. It pretty much proves I am who I say I am.

[BrentWill4U]

24. BTW...

If you want, I will give you my myspace page. I think I have one picture of me in Iraq up. Just email me on that, and that should prove who I am.

[Erika]

26. Vets do not claim "here I am", and my web page shows it

That's not the way they are. At least not marines.

[BrentWill4U]

28. I don't shout it but..

I don't hide it either. You asked is the only reason you know. My friends who are in the Army are on the page and I have one picture up of me in Iraq. AND it isn't even that good of a picture. Me after a mission. I really don't take good pictures.

[Erika]

33. Sure

My marine nephew sees no need in self grandizement. Two tours.

[Name removed]

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[BrentWill4U]

42. No they aren't..

Give me an Army Ranger or an SF guy ANY DAY. In fact, give me your basic army infantry guy over a Marine. Marine's don't use their heads and get killed because of it. That was my experience, at least.

[Name removed]

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[blonndee]

46. Erika, are

you sure you're on the right track?

[Erika]

50. Yep, anyone throwing shit at the marines

isn't anyone I would call an American. My nephew suffered a severe concussion after an IED explosion and loss of hearing. He also had to scrape his buddy up for burial. I'm not into hearing how marines are inferior.

[BrentWill4U]

53. So it isn't "throwing shit" at the Army..

To suggest that The Army is inferior?

[Name removed]

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[BrentWill4U]

62. But an Asshole that is in the Army, and not the Marines....

So at least I am an intelligent and alive asshole.

[BrentWill4U]

48. No...

Just telling you what I have seen from Marines and giving you my view on how effective they are compared to certain Army units. Does that make me an "asshole"?

[Erika]

51. Yes, n/t

[Rosemary2205]

29. Brent - what did you do buddy??

You slip and say Ann Coulter is a cutie or something??
Fail to agree everything from teen acne to hurricane Katrina was all Bush's fault? What?? LOL.

[Name removed]

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[Rosemary2205]

16. Open mouth insert foot.

:)

[Rosemary2205]

18. What's un-American about it?

A good saver that invests carefully. What could be more American than that?

[Erika]

20. America is not about money

Take a deep breath. You think it is?

[Rosemary2205]

25. Can't feed the poor with dreams.

Can't fight stolen elections with dreams either.

No, it ain't ALL about the money but raising a good family and helping the neighbors along the way takes just a little bit of moolah sister and barring investment in a known company of douchebags I see it as a smart move.

[Erika]

27. Huh?

[Mind_your_head]

30. Investing RESPONSIBLY.....and not supporting corrupt entities

is what is at issue here, I believe.

However, these days the companies giving the best ROI's are WILDLY corrupt (that's why their ROI's are so high, ain't it???). The yokel asks a good question.

[astral]

38. You're not un-American.

You're willing to risk your life doing your patriotic duty.

America is going to crash totally financially here any minute now. It already has, really, but it will be shortly become obvious to everyone even the dumbest among us.

[Mind_your_head]

44. I think you meant to respond to the OP, didn't you? n/t

[BrentWill4U]

49. I meant this to be an honest question..

is it un-american to invest most of your money outside of this country? Just used myself because I thought it would be more interesting.

[Mind_your_head]

59. ehm, I asking a question of "Astral" and YOU respond? I'm confused

and

Just used myself because I thought it would be more interesting.

YOU MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE $120,000?!?!?!?! The wedding is OFF!!!!! D*mn <------ thought I had a 'live one' there ;-)

[mnhtnbb]

34. You're not alone in investing in international funds. In fact,

I have some money in DODFX, as well as their balanced fund (DODBX) and stock fund (DODGX). The whole family of funds is well-known with an excellent
track record.

Having a diversified portfolio is recommended by many analysts.
That said, there are advisors who are cautious on the US market (and economy). Depending on your age and tolerance for risk, you might want to use corrections to diversify your holdings.

[rucky]

47. Dick Cheney's hedging against the US Dollar...

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2006/06/18/m10a_blackburncol_0619.html

Cheney mum, but his money talks

By Tom Blackburn

Palm Beach Post Columnist

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Vice President Dick Cheney's investment portfolio got a little attention among bloggers recently. Nobody really jumped on it. The rules are different for Republicans.

In theory, you can tell what a person expects from how he invests. The theory hasn't been applied to important public officials much before. Kiplinger's Personal Finance applied it to the Cheneys' financial disclosure statement and printed the analysis under the provocative headline, "Cheneys betting on bad news?"
More from Opinion
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The bad news would be of two kinds: A higher rate of inflation and a lower value for the dollar.

Kiplinger's got the inflation hint from the Cheneys' stakes in a fund that specializes in short-term municipal bonds, a tax-exempt money market fund and an inflation-protected securities fund. The first two hold up if interest rates rise with inflation. The third is protected against inflation. The disclosure statement provides ranges for the investments, so Kiplinger's could tell only that the Cheneys have between $10 million and $25 million in the municipal bonds, between $1 million and $5 million in the money market and between $2 million and $10 million in the inflation-protected securities.

The hint about a loss of value of the dollar comes from their $10 million to $25 million in a foreign, mainly European, bond fund. Of course, a weak dollar - which no government ever admits to encouraging - would help exports. That would help to cut the trade deficit. Not all "bad news" is bad news for everybody in all respects.

more...


So to answer your question: Yes, it does make you un-American. heh.

[U4ikLefty]

52. Yeah, and I was a member of the Starship Enterprise

Hey c'mon, I thought I would live out a fantasy just like the OP.

[BrentWill4U]

55. And I repeat..

As I told two other posters, say okay, and I will email you my myspace account. Go to it. My friends are in the Military, it shows me in the military. I am who I say I am.

[Name removed]

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[Rosemary2205]

58. Has this moved on to stalking yet?

I'm just sayin.

The offer was made for proof........

[U4ikLefty]

63. LOL,, are you kidding..."Myspace"??? That IS funny!!!

Maybe "Tom" will approve you as certified military. This shit is funny!!!

[BrentWill4U]

64. Well, lets see

If I send you a link, and you go to it. It has a picture of a guy who appears to be in the military, and of friends that are in the military. You send an email to the guy on the page. He sends you an email back, confirming that it is me. Would that not be the "best" proof you are going to get on the net? What more do you want? I can talk about the military, I know about the military, and I am in the military. The fact is, you guys are going to believe what you want anyway.

[blonndee]

66. Check your pms. Or if you have a user on DU that you trust

give them your .mil address so they can send you an email and you can reply.

[BrentWill4U]

70. Sent you an IM..

[Name removed]

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[BrentWill4U]

69. Okay dude..

I just emailed blonndee some proof. Let her come back and tell you who I really am.

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[pitohui]

61. invest where you think you will get the best return for the degree of risk

i don't know anything abt this fund, but if it gives you a decent risk/reward ratio then go for it

investment decisions should be made on the math and the logic, not on sloppy sentiment

[blonndee]

65. I don't think people should be ganging up here, unless I'm missing

something big...I've used search and I can't find any reason for the suspicion and ridicule. Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm usually pretty good at searching.

I would really hate for someone to be driven away if their intentions are good. Am I the only one thinking this way on this thread?

[Catherine Vincent]

71. I don't understand either.

:shrug:

[Mind_your_head]

73. Yes.....you're missing something big eom

[Rosemary2205]

75. Agreed

Something to do with a low post count maybe.

They put me through hell the first 100 odd posts too.

[blonndee]

74. Okay, everybody. Brent is indeed in the army.

He gave me his .mil address and I sent an email there and have received a response.

So I can vouch for the fact that he is indeed in the army. You can't fake a .mil address.

[Name removed]

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[BrentWill4U]

82. I didn't enlist...

I am an Officer and I was telling you what I have seen from Marine units because you said they were the "best". Then you made me mad, and I went into more detail.

[Name removed]

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[BrentWill4U]

78. Would anyone else..

Like to call me a fake?

[Catherine Vincent]

98. I saw your page and it looks legit.

Thanks.

[Mind_your_head]

79. Well that settles it then!

blonndee has spoken!

:eyes:

[blonndee]

81. Do you have anything you'd like to ask me?

Or just more smilies to post?

[Name removed]

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[blonndee]

87. I don't think I'm important at all. I was just trying to give

this guy a chance to prove he really is in the army, as he claimed.

Why the personal attack on me?

[BrentWill4U]

88. Oh, so now she is a lair..

Sure..

[Mind_your_head]

85. no, not really....

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

(God, I love smilies.... :rofl: )

[blonndee]

83. Maybe you could ask the mods to intervene

and check it out for you. I was just trying to give a guy a chance to prove himself, since everyone is doubting him.

[Name removed]

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[blonndee]

89. I understand why you're upset, but that doesn't have

anything to do with his being who he says he is. That was the big question here--and a lot of people started doubting him. Anything else is a personal fight that I don't want to get involved in.

[Erika]

92. Then don't be

When he insults the Marines, he insults all of us.

[blonndee]

99. I don't see why you felt the need to attack me.

We're on the same side after all, in the big picture.

[Name removed]

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[Nutmegger]

91. This has turned into an all-you-can-eat flame fest

Wow...

[Rosemary2205]

93. Yeah, makes ya wonder where the lady with the lock is.

[BrentWill4U]

95. Maybe, we can just return to the Original subject..

Before someone called me a lair.

[Rosemary2205]

96. Um, that was unamerican AND a liar. :)

and I bet you use the wrong fork with salads too you brute!

:)

[Name removed]

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[Rosemary2205]

102. I'll ignore that and abandon the thread

you've had enough for one day.

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[Mind_your_head]

97. No need for a lock....

everyone here has shown "extraordinary" restraint....no rules broken. No harm, No fouls....

edit: or is that fowls (sp?)

[Name removed]

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[Stargazer99]

104. UnAmerican?

I don't see where you have much choice, if there is anything unAmerican it is the damn monetary system controlled by international bankers.

[ContraBass Black]

105. I someone suggesting that you're not?

[varkam]

106. Locking.

Sorry gang, but this is just a giant flamewar now.