Kass: The Media's Muddled Message

In a recent column, I amplified some of the above thoughts and suggested six questions that every host on CNBC, Bloomberg and Fox Business Network might ask the money managers they interview in order to get a proper perspective and explanation of their views. (Importantly, these questions should apply to both bulls and bears):

1. What is your investment mandate?

2. Do you have the flexibility to raise or reduce the cash component of your portfolio? Can you go short? Can you use margin?

3. What was your cash position two years ago, what was your cash position one year ago, and what is your cash position today? And why were your cash positions at those levels?

4. If you are bullish now, have you ever been bearish? If you are bearish now, have you ever been bullish?

5. How have the deteriorating/improving economic conditions and worsening/ improving profit picture affected your market and economic views?

6. What change in conditions from current expectations would lead to a further change in your market views?

As McLuhan related in Gutenberg Galaxy, "There can only be disaster arising from unawareness of the casualties and effects inherent in our technologies."

Doug Kass is the author of The Edge, a blog on RealMoney Silver that features real-time shorting opportunities on the market.