[doubleInt]

Do you own stocks?

If you don't, and your reasoning above is the reason why, I strongly recommend you reconsider. There is more to be lost by fearing your lack of control and failing to invest than there is by investing, in say, index funds.

[BeetleB]

You're the second or third person assuming I'm advocating against stocks. Why do people keep assuming this from my comment? Nothing in my statement suggests owning stocks is a bad idea.

I own stocks. My wealth portfolio is high in stocks. This has little bearing on my comment. I'm not recommending against stocks - in the US I've not found a better investment (real estate is worse).

I'm simply pointing out that the notion of ownership in a company via stocks is very different from what most people imagine. You own almost nothing, and you have virtually no control over the means of production.