The end is near, again

It must be a DNA thing. Or something in the water. To paraphrase Democratic strategist Ann Lewis, people and investors face the same occupational hazard as generals ― focusing on the last battle and overreacting to it. Hence the hyperventilation over today's stock market plunge. You'd think it's the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Yes, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped more than 400 points. And yes, that ain't good if you're selling stocks today (the smart play: hold 'em, don't fold 'em). But we're not likely to enter "Black Thursday" territory (ok, those might be famous "last words," but I'll stick to my guns). However, we are probably in "correction" territory, the experts say. So why is the stock market diving? A perfect storm of stuff: skittish investors, the unhelpful debt ceiling debate (thanks Republicans!), dismal economic reports, Europe's government-debt crisis, computer-driven trading (which stokes the slide) and, as always, media hype. Oh, and perhaps the most important reason of all: "Markets work in strange and mysterious ways," as Michael Purves, chief strategist at BCG Financial, aptly observes. When the waters get choppy, I prefer to keep Helen Keller's wisdom in mind: "All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming."