One thing I've seen remain constant in this world, through economic dips and rises, is the hardworking nature of the American entrepreneur. I personally know loads of individuals who are working daily to build a business, spread an idea, or help advance a cause. I trust these people, I believe in what they are doing, and I have a pretty good idea of the metrics they're seeing. So why am I not investing in them? Why am I instead investing my hard-earned cash in companies to whom I have no connection, in companies who have erected an iron wall between myself and their inner workings? I have no stake in seeing them succeed- in fact, if I invest in (let's say) WalMart, and my stock goes up, great. I just made some money. But, on the contrary, WalMart just got the ability to come into my local town, tear down some trees, and erect a box store in my backyard.

So maybe, in this difficult economic time, we should instead look to the small independent thinkers that we all know, and give them a little push forward. Invest in their company, give them some start-up cash, and help build the diverse network of small businesses that can help rebuild the world's economy.