Why Can’t We Admit That…

…Citigroup, parent of the once-proud Citibank and Salomon Brothers, is bankrupt?

…larger venture firms are fair-weather friends and lack the staying power that their prodigious committed capital balances would indicate?

…venture capital and private equity Limited Partners got burned by the old maxims of the ratio of funded commitments to committed capital?

…venture capital is a cyclical business, and that a dedicated focus on any one stage will leave a firm exposed when the cycle shifts?

…the stock market will continue to go down, regardless of perceptions that “this quality stock is cheap” or “this is the buying opportunity of a lifetime?”

…Berkshire Hathaway is genuinely threatened by a potential run on its credit, due to contractual provisions in its derivatives agreements that could compel it to post more collateral at exactly the worst time?

…if we are even talking about Berkshire Hathaway being at risk, then ANY company is at risk of a run on its credit?

…as well-intentioned as those in our Government might be, that most have no idea of how to address the issues that threaten our national prosperity and well-being?

…any institution for which buying a bank is even remotely logical will do so to gain access to TARP funds, whether necessary or not?

…spending on infrastructure to get people back to work while re-building and upgrading essential services is a useful expenditure of taxpayer funds?

…everyone is scared, from the top 1% of the wealth pyramid down to those doing everything in their power simply to get by?

…there is a difference between being pragmatic and being pessimistic, and that what seems overly depressing and negative in most environments is merely pragmatic in today’s historic down-cycle?

…there will always be trading strategies that outperform in a given market, and that while CTAs, trend-followers and long volatility strategies look terrific now they often look like crap in market upturns?

…B of A buying Merrill Lynch is beyond insane and that BAC shareholders should rebel and vote “no” on what will surely be a value-killer for their holdings?

…derivatives need to move to exchanges to ensure transparency, liquidity and collateral adequacy?

…financial company balance sheets need to be marked-to-market unless assets can be financed on a long-term basis?

…Jerry Yang killed his own company, having shifted from his appropriate role of Chief Yahoo to CEO and blowing firm strategy in the process?

…good seed stage investors need to do what they do best, assess and take risk, and put money to work at sick prices for businesses that can weather the economic storm for the next 18-24 months?

…we are all in this thing together, as cratering Asian and European economies decline in sympathy with the embattled U.S. markets?

…as long as we’ve got our health and love in our lives that the Sun will rise tomorrow and bring new opportunities and challanges that make us feel alive and vital?

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