Sunday, December 20, 2009, 5:05PM ET - U.S. Markets Closed.

Why You Shouldn't Be Investing in Stocks

Posted Jan 15, 2009 09:29am EST by Sarah Lacy in Investing, Internet, Recession, Banking

There's a new ticking time bomb in the economy.. So says my guest Roger McNamee, the high-profile Silicon Valley investor who made his name early as a tech-focused mutual fund manager. McNamee predicts state and local economies will be the next candidates in bailout nation. That means things are getting worse before they're getting better.

To get us through it, he advocates a "New Federalism," whereby the U.S. government takes over, borrows more money and spends trillions rebuilding the country's infrastructure.

What does this mean for investors? Stay on the sidelines. And he's putting his money where his mouth is: In T-Bills.

That said, he believes opportunities could be on the horizon. Coming up in another segment: McNamee’s thoughts on how investors should play the tech sector this year. Earlier we discussed:

Click "more" to embed the economy video.

134 Comments

- Thursday January 15, 2009 09:35AM EST

For me it is about now to Invest for safety like Exxon.....Then when the market get better...Find another one........Blue Chops is the best.......Most of them are half price............Cheap.........Buy......

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday January 15, 2009 09:41AM EST

I shouldn’t be investing in stocks? Finally, some decent advice!

- Thursday January 15, 2009 09:42AM EST

Okay, you invest in T-bills. I'll invest in American companies that turn profits, the backbone of this country.

- Thursday January 15, 2009 09:44AM EST

Invest only on the Wealth of the Nation = Oil and Commodities Stock. Nothing else! - Sell or short YHOO!

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday January 15, 2009 09:46AM EST

Blue Chops is the best.......More whiskey!

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday January 15, 2009 09:46AM EST

You shouldn’t invest at all. Period. And, don’t listen to a hippie. Hey don’t finish every sentence with ‘Okay’, Okay -))

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday January 15, 2009 09:49AM EST

GET THIS GUY OUTTA HERE.. Are you kidding? Not big enough? A new federalism? We dont need any more big brother intervention, please no.

- Thursday January 15, 2009 09:50AM EST

This kind of common sense (rather than the boosterism that's so prevelant) is so seldomly heard that it sounds revolutionary.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday January 15, 2009 09:57AM EST

Wall street is a big Ponzi game..... This country has too many lawyers, accountants, salesperson and bullshxt artists.......

- Thursday January 15, 2009 09:59AM EST

Why are these geniuses so ignorant about government spending? We are in for a 10 to 50 year depression unless we get leaders interested in a market oriented economy.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday January 15, 2009 10:00AM EST

Do any of you really take these Guys seriously. It's just an opinion, look what their expertise has done to the economy. When it comes to MY money, I'll do what I think is right, then I only have one person to blame.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday January 15, 2009 10:12AM EST

And where is the Govt going to get the money to back up the T Bills..?? Oh, silly me. Of course. They will just print more money. Like they have been doing all along. Hell, who needs solid assets to prop up their dollar these days - just keep the greenback printing presses working 24/7.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday January 15, 2009 10:14AM EST

And where is the Govt going to get the money to back up the T Bills..?? Oh, silly me. Of course. They will just print more money. Like they have been doing all along. Hell, who needs solid assets to prop up their dollar these days - just keep the greenback printing presses working 24/7.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday January 15, 2009 10:14AM EST

Love the hair-do Mac. Don't you have a jam session with your band later?

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday January 15, 2009 10:17AM EST

Say hello to the DOW 7000's again.

- Thursday January 15, 2009 10:18AM EST

If we don't buy the stocks of American companies, you can be sure that the Chinese and Saudis and everyone else will be.

- Thursday January 15, 2009 10:23AM EST

I'm investing in Blue Chops! They will do okay in the long term as we go through the "New Deal" and "WPA" for a second time. Roses on the other side of all this, for sure! Let's roll out that triology of trillions: I'm ready. I have my own shovel.

- Thursday January 15, 2009 10:29AM EST

Yes of course California has given away the store to public employee unions and now they expect everyone else to bail them out.

- Thursday January 15, 2009 10:30AM EST

Hey Mac, get a haircut and maybe we will take you seriously. Woodstock is over, grow up already. Blue Chips are the way to go. Also, my Canadian fund is doing much better than my US funds.

- Thursday January 15, 2009 10:32AM EST

TURN IT UP for CHOPS!!!

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