Buy American. I Am.
Also Maybe Some NVDA While You're At It
Buy American. I Am… But Also Maybe Some NVDA While You're At It
Warren Buffett—yes, the Warren Buffett, the man who eats McDonald’s like it’s a superfood and still somehow beats the market—wrote an op-ed back in 2008 called Buy American. I Am. In it, he essentially told everyone to stop freaking out, put on their big-boy pants, and buy U.S. stocks while the market was nose-diving. And, surprise surprise, he was right. Again.
The Buffett Playbook: Buy When Everyone Else is Crying in Their Cereal
Buffett’s golden rule of investing? “Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.” In plain English: when the stock market is tanking and your neighbor is considering selling a kidney to cover his losses, it’s probably time to start buying.
Of course, this advice is brilliant in hindsight. In the moment, when the news is flashing MARKET IN FREEFALL like it’s the season finale of a reality TV show, the idea of investing feels about as safe as juggling chainsaws.
Bad News is Basically a Discount Code for Stocks
Buffett argues that bad news is an investor’s best friend. Think about it:
The Great Depression? Terrible, but also a massive buying opportunity.
World War II? Stocks took off.
The 1980s? Inflation ran wild, but the market exploded.
The point? The best stock market gains happen before the economy looks great. If you wait for happy headlines, you’re already too late—like showing up to a Black Friday sale at noon.
So, Should You Mortgage Your House and YOLO Into the Market?
Let’s not get crazy. Even Buffett admits he has no idea what the market will do next month (which is reassuring because neither does that guy on YouTube promising 500% returns). What he does know is that, over the long haul, stocks beat cash.
And honestly, if you don’t believe him, just check your grocery bill. Cash is getting eaten alive by inflation. Your Starbucks order that used to cost $5 is now the price of a small used car. Meanwhile, stocks? They keep climbing.
Follow Buffett, But Don’t Ignore AI Stocks
Buffett once said he follows the lead of a restaurant that put up a sign saying, “Put your mouth where your money was.” That’s why his money—and mouth—say U.S. stocks.
But if Buffett were 30 today, would he still just be buying banks and railroads? Or would he also be eyeing AI, data centers, and semiconductor companies? Because let’s face it—more AI, more data, more GPUs—it’s like the ‘buy American’ thesis, but with more silicon.
Disclaimer (Because My Lawyer Said So)
This is not financial advice. If you sell your car to go all-in on stocks and end up biking to work for the next decade, that’s on you. Invest responsibly, or at least pick a scenic bike route.
