Merry Christmas From Wall Street -- And Thanks To Readers

The most famous Christmas display in New York City is in Rockefeller Center, but they also put on a good show down on Wall Street, near where my office is located. The Christmas tree in front of the New York Stock Exchange, at the corner of Wall and Broad Streets, is about the same size as the Rockefeller Center tree, and the Stock Exchange is lit festively for the season.

You may also know that the corner of Wall and Broad Streets is the very location where George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States in 1789. Although the building where he took the oath of office has been replaced, there is a statue of Washington right on the spot of the oath-taking, which is directly across Wall Street from the Stock Exchange and the tree.

It’s not just the Stock Exchange that was founded on Wall Street, but also the federal government of the United States. Don’t let the symbolism of that get lost on you. Today the term “Wall Street” stands for the creation of great wealth through the free exchange of private property. The United States stands for that too. That’s why when the likes of Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren express their hatred and disdain for “Wall Street,” they are really expressing their hatred and disdain for the United States itself, as well as for the route to success that the United States has shown the world.

The Manhattan Contrarian is proud to be located just a few blocks from this historic site.

It’s been a great year for this blog. We have broken 1 million page views (currently 1.21 million and counting) for the first time, an increase of some 60% over last year. Thanks to all readers for visiting, and especially to those who have added their thoughtful comments to the discussion. On to new records and successes in 2020!