Lester

Independence Day: Decoupling Gold and Silver from the Dollar

Dear Mr.Conrad and Other Readers!

I am not an economist, but I study von Mises. I was born after the Great Depression. Would someone kindly explain to me why the govt was "forced to expropriate gold from the people"? What role did gold play in the declared "national emergency"?

Did gold somehow mismanage the economy? Or was it someone else?
Was gold ownership an obstacle to production, i.e. feeding the people? Or was it an obstacle to govt control of the economy?
Did gold in govt vaults become harmless to the economy? Or did it become harmless to govt policy-makers?

The reason why I pose these questions is because watching history repeat itself, I concluded that gold ownership renders the individual a little bit sovereign. Not wholly, but some. An economically independent individual is more than likely politically independent as well. At least by using gold-enforced accountability of govt, a sovereign individual can extort valid political rights from govt.

I say "extort", because rights are not granted by the goodwill of govt, but by threat of forcible removal from office. I trust most of you would agree with that process. Any thoughts on that?

Sorry, There Is No Silver Conspiracy

I have a little concern here for all the good and thinking people to chew on. It's all fine to know the value of PMs and to have some at home. But... What good is it if we can't use it, trade with it?
A desperate and devious prez has made it illegal before, what's to keep him from doing it again?
Those shadowy spooks, who pulled off 911 have achieved the ultimate goal of putting all of us under the yoke of the patriot act, can and would confiscate it again. Those forces are not accountable to anybody's Law, only to their own aims.
We can't make use of PMs in the concentration camp.
Houston, we have a problem!

Is the Price of Gold Artificially Depressed?

I see an amendment coming! In the inevitable event of greater national emergency, the Patriot Act will be used to again confiscate physical gold held by citizens wherever US marshals can reach with their grubby hands.
Given the extent of US military presence all over the world, that's pretty far and wide. Given that Washington was able to invade Iraq to gain greater control over the oil supply lines - which is not even the only line - what's there to stop the clandestine robbery of gold wherever it may be stored? Obviously neither international law, nor any other factor can stop this army on the march!
Nobody is going to threaten a nuclear standoff over gold! Ultimately, Washington is most likely to use clandestine methods to ensure the survival of the dollar. The existence and operation of Guantanamo proves that the US military IS the law.
Anyone to the contrary?

M3 Money Supply and Inflation: Got Gold?

All those unfortunate retirees present and future, who have their nesteggs managed by a mutual fund manager, need to compare their own standard of living with the fund manager's lifestyle, and then they will learn who benefits from mutual funds!
And when the "Fund" doesn't make enough profit or income to cover operating expenses, the manager's payroll is met from the capital account! Whose money is that?
Trust the System and get screwed.