Populism Is the #1 Headwind We Face in 2010

This blog post originally appeared on RealMoney Silver on Dec. 23 at 7:42 a.m. EST.

As I noted on The Edge for RealMoney Silver in early November, Beltway gridlock (and political stalemate) has likely contributed to the strength in equities. It is said that politicians campaign with poetry and govern with prose. Of late, in the process of making that transition from campaigning to governing, President Obama seems to have damaged his brand, the byproduct of which have been his declining popularity and a legislative logjam. We first saw this in the Democratic Party's loss of the New Jersey governorship, in which a 15-point Obama plurality in that state in the November 2008 election was turned into a 5% Republican Party victory for the newly elected Governor Christie. We now see it in the dilution of health care legislation. The ensuing political impasse, which followed a massive Democratic presidential victory 12 months ago, has likely been one of the contributing and underappreciated factors to the sharp ramp in the capital markets, which has been manifested in the recent strength in health care stocks. I disagree with Jim, however, that the standstill and the administration's low popularity level are a permanent condition as it is important to recognize the emergence of a very negative attitude toward wealth in our country. It remains my view that there will be a continued and growing schism between the haves (large businesses) and the have-nots (the average American consumer and small businesses). The more productive American industry is and the greater the perception that corporations are taking a larger piece of the profit pie from the average American, the more that will be asked from corporations and the wealthy.   Loading Comments...   < Previous 1 2 Next >

SHARE:

Featured Photo Galleries Go to Slideshow Archive

Connect with TheStreet

Business News From The Web

Ford agrees Volvo sale to Geely

BBC

Home Sales, Prices Brighten

The Wall Street Journal.

Nice Home. Wheres the Rest of It?

New York Times

China&#8217;s GDP May Surge 12% on Rebound in Exports (Update2)

BusinessWeek Online

Modifications: The Rentership Society

Calculated Risk

Why Arent Banks Lending? They Are Being Rational

The Big Picture

Silver Lining In Copenhagen 'Fiasco'

Forbes.com: Business News

The geography of recession

The Story Behind the Space Jam Jordans Hype

Business Pundit

Home loans double as personal borrowing falls

Latest Business News from Times Online More Headlines Dow Jones S&P 500 NASDAQ 10-Year Note 10474.3 1121.06 2270.02 37.42 Oil * 75.12 UP 9.37 UP 3.04 UP 17.35 DOWN -0.02 10 Yr 3.74% SPDR Gold 107.04 0.09% 0.27% 0.77% -0.05% Data delayed 20 minutes More From TheStreet Latest Headlines Top Rated Stocks from TheStreet Ratings NEW: Market Data Section if (Math.floor(Math.random() * 100) < 45) { document.write("Stock Picks for 2010"); } else { document.write("Investment Ideas"); } Find returns with the Dividend Calendar if (Math.floor(Math.random() * 100) < 45) { document.write("UPDATED: Top-rated ETFs from TheStreet Ratings"); } else { document.write("UPDATED: Top-rated Mutual Funds from TheStreet Ratings"); } Twitter RSS Facebook YouTube adsonar_placementId=1341369;adsonar_pid=879768;adsonar_ps=-1;adsonar_zw=320;adsonar_zh=280;adsonar_jv='ads.adsonar.com'; Brokerage Partners YAHOO.util.Event.on(window,"load",function(){ setTimeout(function(){ TSCM.util.attachScript('scr_intellitxt','http://thestreet.us.intellitxt.com/intellitxt/front.asp?ipid=10685'); },1200); }); Sponsored Links Get your credit score in 2 easy steps for free. By Experian Consumer Direct var ads = [ { link:"http://FisherInvestments.click-url.com/INV/go/131834384/direct/01/", text:"How to plan for a secure retirement.", trk:null }, { link:"http://ad.wsod.com/click/8bec9b10877d5d7fd7c0fb6e6a631357/83.45.img.TEXT/", text:"Free stock symbol lookup: Scottrade stock research", trk:'http://ad.wsod.com/embed/8bec9b10877d5d7fd7c0fb6e6a631357/83.45.tk.TEXT/' }, { link:"http://ad.wsod.com/click/8bec9b10877d5d7fd7c0fb6e6a631357/83.45.img.TEXT/", text:"Free stock symbol lookup: Scottrade stock research", trk:'http://ad.wsod.com/embed/8bec9b10877d5d7fd7c0fb6e6a631357/83.45.tk.TEXT/' }, { link:"http://clk.atdmt.com/TNY/go/175928010/direct/01/", text:"Stretch out with fully flat beds. Fly Virgin Atlantic Upper Class.", trk:null }, { link:"http://www.entrepreneur.com/business-opportunities/index.html?cam=thestreet&cid=Homepagetextlink1109", text:"Be Your Own Boss and Start your Own Business Today!", trk:null }, { link:"http://www.usfunds.com/adclick.cfm?adid=2212", text:"What's Driving Gold? Learn more.", trk:null }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;219703317;4639705;k?http://www.investors.com/Register/Campaign.aspx?id=aei-n&src=ACECKR3", text:"Are you using the #1 Investing System?", trk:null }, { link:"http://www.goldline.com/d/index.html?id=557&utm_source=thestreet.com&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=street-gold-delivered", text:"Goldline.com – A leader in gold investing since 1960.", trk:null }, { link:"http://clk.atdmt.com/ANY/go/173953744/direct/01/", text:"Take advantage of new opportunities at ups.com/whiteboard", trk:'http://view.atdmt.com/ANY/view/173953744/direct/01/' }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;220321087;43695531;a", text:"COME HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS IN A 2010 RANGE ROVER. LEARN MORE.", trk:'http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N3016.TheStreet.com/B4104094.27;sz=1x1' }, ]; function __trackingpixel(url){ var ord = Math.floor(Math.random() * 100000000000); if(typeof url != "undefined") { if(url.indexOf('[timestamp]')!= -1) { url = url.replace("[timestamp]", ord); } return ""; } } var counter=-1; var limit = 3; function __write_textlink() { counter++; if(counter >= limit)return; var index = Math.floor(Math.random() * ads.length * 10 % ads.length); var it = ads.splice(index,1); var o = it[0]; document.write(''); document.write( o.text ); document.write( '' ); if(o.trk != null){ document.write(__trackingpixel(o.trk)); } if(ads.length > 0) { __write_textlink(); } else { } }; __write_textlink(); TheStreet Premium Services All Services Action Alerts PLUS Get free access to Cramer's portfolio picks at Action Alerts PLUS - Try it now Free RealMoney Jim Cramer's RealMoney team of 70+ Wall Street pros will give you wealth-building strategies - Get started Free RealMoney Silver Doug Kass + our 5 Premium Services - all in one place - Get a free 14-day trial today Stocks Under $10 David Peltier is ready to help you find affordable Stocks Under $10 which could lead to a big-money payoff - Get access to his portfolio FREE ETF Action Don Dion's brand new service can help investors at all levels build profitable ETF portfolios - Learn more document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js' %3E%3C/script%3E")); var beaconurl=""; if(TSC.util.isDefined(document)){ beaconurl=document.URL; try{ if (top.location != self.location){ beaconurl=document.referrer; } }catch(e){} } COMSCORE.beacon({ c1:2, c2:"6036014", c3:"", c4:beaconurl, c5:"", c6:"", c15:"" }); var pvar = { cid: "us-thestreet", content: "tsc", server: "secure-us" }; var trac = nol_t(pvar); trac.record().post(); View Directory Jim Cramer Doug Kass Market Movers Breakout Stocks Options Alerts Stock Under $10 RealMoney Don Dion's ETF Action Hot Topics: How to Invest in Gold - Fast Money - Motorola Droid - Cramer's Picks - Cash for Caulkers |    Hot Blogs: Undergraduate Investor - Wall Street Social Resources About Us Advertise Corrections Customer Service Employment Investor Relations Make a Suggestion Privacy Policy Readers' Feedback Sitemap Video Sitemap Subscribe Terms of Use Financial News Archive Topic Archive TheStreet Premium Services Compare All Services Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS: Now any level of investor can trade right alongside a Wall Street pro — and enjoy 24/7 access to his portfolio! Learn More Login NEW! Don Dion's ETF Action: A concise two-step strategy for learning and trading in this increasingly lucrative area of investing. For all levels of investors! Learn More Login RealMoney: Jim Cramer's team of 70+ investment pros offer a daily wealth of fast-breaking market news... analyses... red-hot opportunities...and wealth-building strategies. Learn More Login RealMoney Silver: The genius of Doug Kass + 5 Premium Services = an unrivaled group of expert fundamental analysts, technical analysts, and Wall Street observers. Learn More Login Breakout Stocks: Bryan Ashenberg combines sophisticated screening software with eagle-eye analysis to find small and mid-caps ready to break out! Learn More Login Market Movers Deep in the Money Calls Stocks Under $10 Top Gun Trader TheStreet Ratings Daily Swing Trade Top Stocks ETF Shark Alerts Options Alerts try { function DM_onSegsAvailable(segs, cust_id) { for(var i=0;i

Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes for all exchanges. Market Data provided by Interactive Data. Company fundamental data provided by Morningstar. Earnings and ratings provided by Zacks. Mutual fund data provided by Valueline. ETF data provided by Lipper. Terms & Conditions. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions.

TheStreet.com Ratings updates stock ratings daily. However, if no rating change occurs, the data on this page does not update. The data does update after 90 days if no rating change occurs within that time period.

IDC calculates the Market Cap for the basic symbol to include common shares only. Year-to-date mutual fund returns are calculated on a monthly basis by Value Line and posted mid-month.

*Oil Data in Market Overview is Brent Crude Pricing

'); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.sz = "728x90"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.resetTargets(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.calltype = "adj"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.includeDcopt = true; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.additionalTargeting = ";;storytype=investingOpinion;kval=investingOpinion"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.writeTag(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.sz = "233x224"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.resetTargets(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.calltype = "adj"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.adtype = "cau"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.additionalTargeting = ";;storytype=investingOpinion;kval=investingOpinion"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.writeTag(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.sz = "336x280,336x850,300x250,468x648"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.resetTargets(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.calltype = "adj"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.additionalTargeting = ";;storytype=investingOpinion;kval=investingOpinion;;storytype=investingOpinion;kval=investingOpinion"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.writeTag(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.sz="336x280,300x250"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.resetTargets(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.setSite("remnant.thestreet.com"); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.additionalTargeting=";box=second"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.calltype="adj"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.writeTag(); var _isIE = false; /** * absolutley positions an ad using an existing container as an 'anchor' * can optionally update the height of the placeholder (cfg.flexibleHeight) */ TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder = function(cfg) { var Yud = YAHOO.util.Dom; var ad = Yud.get(cfg.ad); var placeholder = Yud.get(cfg.placeholder); if(!ad || !placeholder) {return}; if(cfg.flexibleHeight === true) { //option to update height of placeholder based on ad //thanks to IE, we can't do this the simple way with getStyle var height; if (_isIE) { //IE6, IE7 var adRegion = Yud.getRegion(ad); height = adRegion.bottom - adRegion.top; } else { height = Yud.getStyle(ad, 'height'); } //set default height for caus if height detect fails if (height === '0px' || height == '0' || height < '220' ||height === 'undefined' && placeholder.id === 'cauContainer') { height = '220px'; } Yud.setStyle(placeholder, 'height', height); } Yud.setXY(ad, Yud.getXY(placeholder)); //position the ad over the placeholder }; /** * function wrapper that places all DART ads using TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder * if positionToPlaceholder can't find the elements specified, it just returns and is ready for the next call */ TSCM.ads.placeLazyLoadingAds = function() { // DART 1 (banner) TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder({ ad: 'ad728x90', placeholder: 'bannerContainer', flexibleHeight: false }); // DART 1 (expander) //TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder({ // ad: 'expanderad', // placeholder: 'expanderbar', // flexibleHeight: false //}); //DART 2 TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder({ ad: 'customUnit', placeholder: 'cauContainer', flexibleHeight: true }); //DART 3 TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder({ ad: 'boxAd', placeholder: 'boxAdContainer', flexibleHeight: true }); //DART 4 TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder({ ad: 'secondBoxAd', placeholder: 'secondBoxAdContainer', flexibleHeight: false }); }; TSCM.ads.placeLazyLoadingAds() window.onresize = function() { setTimeout(function() { TSCM.ads.placeLazyLoadingAds(); }, 1000); };

Ford agrees Volvo sale to Geely

Home Sales, Prices Brighten

Nice Home. Wheres the Rest of It?

China&#8217;s GDP May Surge 12% on Rebound in Exports (Update2)

Modifications: The Rentership Society

Why Arent Banks Lending? They Are Being Rational

Silver Lining In Copenhagen 'Fiasco'

The geography of recession

The Story Behind the Space Jam Jordans Hype

Home loans double as personal borrowing falls

After the Bell

Before the Bell

Booyah! Newsletter

ETF Weekly

Midday Bell

TSC Top Ten Stories Newsletter

Winners & Losers

TheStreet Mobile Edition

Take Our Tour

Connect with TheStreet

Read Full Article »