You need a cold and hard winter in order to be reborn with the first signs of spring that then ease you into summer. The storm was good. It paralysed us, it showed us our weaknesses and it told us that we're all still human. It has brought some reason, albeit pessimistic, into a market that had forgotten what 'asking a question' meant. It does not stop to look at colour or size or quality, it sweeps them all.
Information is the answer.
There are dozens of channels in every town or city in North America that have their own networks to provide a check to the information that government weather bureaus let out. They constantly monitor highway conditions, check forecasts with information from independent agencies and newsgroups, report on the news from the ground and inform the common man on what the real conditions are. The North American trading system is similar. Private broadcasters, in the event of a rumour are on the scene in seconds to beam the 'real' story live accompanied by well-informed analysis and opinions. Listed companies are forced to make material disclosures public in seconds and the market 'watchdog' is quick to penalise any abuse of shareholder rights - big or small.