Toeser

Bullish Picture for Energy Once Economy Picks Up

I am extremely bullish on energy long term for one primary reason. I am an independent who hates both major political parties, but the Dems are complete idiots on the subject of energy. Obama wants to kill coal (forget what he says, look at what he does), and Pelosi and Reid have always wanted to kill oil. Our massive imports are a major factor in our terrible economy.

We should develop wind and solar, but they will never amount to more than a token amount of our total energy use. Corn based ethanol is a cruel joke. Algae will be huge - but in 20 years. We should be building nuclear plants like crazy, but we won't. So with no focus on oil and coal, and four years of these guys and we will be so far behind the energy curve we have a looming disaster in energy. A significant portion of my assets will always be in energy for these reasons.

How Gold Is Being Driven by a $4 Trillion Hallucination

I have never been a goldbug, because it is just a metal with no particular use. However, I do appreciate that a gold fad could really take hold in the current environment.

The rest of the article is bang-on. I have been waiting for a collapse of sorts for many years. The idea that deficits don't matter was promoted by and accepted by idiots. It does matter, and one way or the other we will pay the price.

Own Gold? Time to Fold

Deflation is clearly more a risk than inflation right now. Gold may be a good buy in a couple of years, but not now.

Economic Forecast and Best ETF Picks for 2009

Based upon your track record, why would anyone care what you think?

2008 - Where I Was Right and What I Could Not Have Imagined

I agree that most alternative energy sources, such as wind, will not make a meaningful dent in our future energy needs. Biofuels, such as ethanol from corn, are generally as inefficient as you state. However, there is one on the horizon that may just be our primary future energy source: algae. Experimental technologies for growing algae have found it to be literally thousands of times more efficient than corn (per acre). I just hope the government does not screw this up by picking less efficient favorites.

Lower Prices Now- Massive Inflation Later?

We started this mess with individual/corporate/g... debt to GDP at the highest levels in history - more than in 1929. The unwinding of this is causing massive demand destruction. Inflation may not return for years. When inflation does return, it will more than likely be a result of energy shortages, as today's low prices will slow investment, exploration, innovation, etc.

It's a Great Time to Be an Inflationista

You may be right in the long run, but I will be surprised if inflation shows itself sooner than 1-2 years from now. Asset destruction is the word of the day and it will take some time to work through this. Money is being destroyed as fast as it is printed.

Roger Wiegand: 'Severe Bull Market' Ahead for Gold

The problem is, nobody really knows if we will spin into hyper-inflation or deflation. Depressions tend to be deflationary. During deflation, the government can print money like crazy and it won't matter because people won't be borrowing or buying. Gold at this level is a coin flip. You could be a big winner, or a big loser. It is no sure thing.

Too Soon to Move From Equities to Gold

I agree. If things get really bad, as in a depression, that is deflationary not inflationary. Nothing the market does surprises me, but a big bull market in gold is a real long shot in my opinion.