I wonder what percentage of the population actually has money in the stock market?
Myself and friends of mine, who are in the same boat, don't give two shits about people who have lost money in the market. There are those of us who already know that it can't get any worse for the working poor.
You don't have a 401K plan? No IRA? No mutual funds? No government pension plan? Wow I pitty people like you and your friends! The majority of Americans have some investments in the market. The people hurting the most right now are the retirees (not just the rich one), who were going to retire on this money!
And it's not just investors that are hurting, the companies on the stock market that EMPLOY A LARGE AMOUNT OF AMERICANS are hurting! What do you think they do when they are hurting?
How old are you? Do you really believe only rich people invest in the market?
Get your head out of your arse and get a job son!
I work two jobs, one gives me a 401K and that is all. Four years ago the company quit contributing to the 401K. Same company has not given a raise in over five years. The penalties for trying to use 401K makes it a non asset or viability for anything useful.
As for pitty, you can stick that in your arse. Take your eyes and look around you at the wal-mart employees or Sears, or Kmart or rany chain store for people instead of employees. Ask your self what do they make? are they trying to support a family on that money? Look at the gas station employee. Look at the guy fixing your tire, or working on your car. Look at the guys and gals who work for the small businesses in this country who can't afford to pay much or provide benefits because they are just that, "Small". Then wonder to yourself, "Hmmm.... I wonder how their portfolio is doing?"
Your definition of ordinary people investing in the market, is quite liberal. Given your definition of investing, by including 401K's, and pensions. I'm talking about the guys and gals who sit around and say "I've got this extra money I think I'll invest in the market."
As for feeling sorry for those who depended on that money to retire.

Are you serious? Look at how you just spoke to me, and now you want me to feel sorry for you? The people that are retiring right now are the ones who caused this mess in the first place, you let these idots(politicians, big business, and the uber wealthy) get away with murder, and now you want my generation to bail you out.

well guess what? you already took everything you can get from us. Pensions are a thing of the past, yours was the last to see them, and then you condoned taking it away from us. Your generation did away with the majority of manufacturing jobs that your generation got wealthy on. This isn't bitching this telling you to quit whinning and grow a pair. The rest of us don't have it as good as you, and work 50-60 hours a week to give our families a little something. So just remember you could be where I'm at.