George Orwell was a socialist.
I remember being surprised to discover this, given how powerful his criticism of totalitarian socialist regimes was.
And Orwell was no Das Kapital-thumping, armchair socialist; he volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War against Franco. When he spoke out against the evil the Soviet regime had become, he had the knowledge and the stature to deliver knockout blows.
Of the two deeds, it seems to me that volunteering to take on the leftist intellectuals of his day was braver than picking up a rifle and jumping into the trenches in Spain.
Going to war with one’s clear enemies is one thing.
Taking on one’s friends and allies in defense of the truth is quite another.
No wonder he wrote under a pen name. (His real name was Eric Arthur Blair.) I’m sure the fact that just how right he was became increasingly impossible to deny over time only made him all the more insufferable.
I can sympathize.
Making You Money vs. Making You Happy
As I’ve said numerous times, I’m no cheerleader. I’m not here to tell you what would make you feel good about your investments. I’m here to tell you the truth—or as close to it as I can get.
That’s what due diligence is all about, after all.
Of course, if it results in more big wins than losses, that should make us all happy. But in the short run, nobody enjoys hearing that they may have made a big mistake in an even bigger speculation.
Enter my reputation as Dr. No.
I think it’s important to stress this because the list of stocks covered in My Take is growing rapidly as the flood of requests continues. The count is currently 143, but I’ll be publishing a score of fresh takes Monday—all of them companies people have asked about.
If that includes you, and you don’t enjoy what I have to say, please remember that my job is to help make you money over time, not make you feel happy today.
This applies to the general subjects covered in this free service as well. If you’re a copper fan and I’m not buying copper yet, please don’t take it personally. I’m not trying to rain on your parade. I’m trying to offer you the best guidance I can.
I’m especially concerned on this score regarding all my uranium-loving friends out there. They are so passionate on the subject. That’s great for me now, while I’ll bullish on uranium, but I fear they’ll see me as a traitor when I think it’s time to cash out and move on.
So, if you ever find yourself hating something I say that affects your investments… please remember Orwell’s bravery in telling his friends what they didn’t want to hear.
Don’t take it personally.
Understand that my goal is to provide valuable guidance, not be your emotional support wolf.
Now, if you disagree with me, that’s fine. By all means write in and correct me. If you present data and convince me I’m wrong, I’ll change my tune and publish accordingly.
But if you’re just unhappy—or angry—with what I’ve written, don’t forget to consider the possibility that I may be right.
And remember Orwell.
Caveat emptor,
