Though many stocks retreated during today’s open market trading, are we gradually progressing in the right direction? Or will the blue chip index be back in the 8,000-point range by next week? With the debate on healthcare reform, a newly announced plan to improve America’s school system, Obama’s approval rating regressing, and threats from overseas… I wouldn’t be surprised if the latter possibility prevails.

As of this morning, however, the company stock sits at less than $1/share with talks of bankruptcy in the air. Close to ten of GM’s plants will be shut down and a few more will idle as the company continues to reduce production and labor costs under bankruptcy protection.

It’s just sad to see this happen. Ten years ago, who would’ve ever thought that General Motors would be filing for bankruptcy? Heck, security is built into the company’s name – “General!” It’s such a large company with influences in far more than one brand of car. For example, in 2004, the company owned or had stakes in Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Fiat, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Suzuki, and a few others. Try going a day without seeing any of the aforementioned cars (or maybe even having one in your own garage) and ask yourself how the mother company could be in this much trouble.

It’s amazing what corporate greed and a few poor financial decisions can have on a seemingly indestructible company. At this time, I really think that if Ford plays its pieces properly and acquires the appropriate remnants of GM’s shattered empire, the company will reign as the undisputed symbol of American cardom. Definitely makes me happy as an investor.

Now I’m going to make this short because I’m sure people are sick of me complaining, but come on… $30 billion additional dollars to AIG? Bleh, at this point, I wish some of these companies would go bankrupt (though that’ll be even more catastrophic).

The free enterprise economy of our nation is cyclical by nature. There will be periods of prosperity, intermittent durations of stagnation, and even some frames of recession. Mind you, the second half of 2008 brought more than the typical “recession” in terms of losses, but the way it’s being handled by excessive government spending is utterly ridiculous. I was reading one of my friend’s Facebook posts, and he cleverly acknowledged the fact that you rarely see people in the lower income bracket generating jobs, and therefore revenue, for others. While the lower and middle classes may account for the majority of citizens in this country, it’s the large corporations and small businesses which bring forth the jobs. With outsourcing, executive abuses, etc. aside, in order to “create more jobs”, you need to keep the “job creators” happy.

Also, starting at the end of 2009, my brother and I will be filing our income taxes independently from our parents and businesses. In doing so, we’ll be considered members of the lower-middle class (by income) and start getting our feet wet with social security, Medicare, FUDA, and SUDA taxes. Never too early for any of that. Ultimately, we plan to have Kumar Creations Inc. (consulting), RK Creations LLC (DBA Sport Clips), and our respective medical practices classified under one “foundation.” Still years away from seeing that realized.

The stock market really is a beautiful thing… sometimes. A few weeks ago when Steve Jobs announced his medical leave till the summer, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) reached a new 52 week low ($78.20/share) as investors panicked and pulled out. Today, the stock is hovering around $100/share. In other words, whatever amount of money you put in Apple a few weeks ago would have gone up by 25% without you having to lift a finger. Yeah, I’m excluding the trading/broker fees and income taxes, but even a 20% profit is substantial for such a short amount of time.

I have to go to the gym now to make up for yesterday’s Mexican-food-outing. I’ll come home, wait for the Dish Network satellite guy to upgrade the dish equipment, and continue looking at stocks.