Lately, even detached investors like me are being forced to pay attention to the housing market's difficulties.  I've been learning about some of what's going on, with Goldman-Sachs apparently at the bottom of a lot of it.  Lots of stocks have been sinking into the maelstrom, even in industries that aren't directly related to the financial sector.

The U.S. housing market is in trouble; the value of the U.S. dollar is falling.  These are the things we're all hearing about.  Even the best small caps have been suffering.  The stock market is, after all, run on money and speculation about money.  Being a strong company can only get you so far in the public trading forum if people aren't buying shares, and the housing troubles have a lot of folks in debt.

Right now it feels more and more like the game has turned to protecting the value we have rather than increasing it.  To protect our dollar, it is time to go overseas.  Small cap companies don't have enough international business, and they also have less money to protect themselves with in a market that seems to be gobbling up the weak.

Therefore, for the next several days, I'm going to pick out large cap companies with good dividends.  Until the market turns up again, this may be the best way to keep your money secure.