Baltimore — I admit that I probably spend more time discussing the realm of politics than I should in a contrarian investing newsletter. But in my defense, politics play a larger role in our personal wealth now than they ever have before.

But while I so stubbornly poke holes in the political machine in Washington, I must avoid being hypocritical. If I shame our legislators for disregarding the democratic keystone principals of checks and balances, I must be careful to avoid the same pitfalls.

Baltimore — Who do you trust more, the Chinese government or the politically connected folks at the helm of Goldman Sachs?

For years, the Street has looked at any Chinese economic data with a weary eye. Without the checks and balances of a democratic government, Beijing had plenty of reasons to manipulate its growth figures.