Merigolden

The Case for Precious Metals Is Only Getting Stronger

Doubleguns,

I didn't get an answer to my question in your response. You had intimated that selling to a dealer was dumb. Well, I had to scratch my head, because I was unaware that there was another way to do it. I figured you knew a more lucrative avenue, but now I suspect you do not, because your answer sidestepped. If you do have an alternative to a dealer up your sleve (besides Ebay), please tell me what it is because I will need to trade some bullion for some cash very soon for a real estate transaction. Thanks.


On Sep 21 03:12 PM doubleguns wrote:

> See comment to merrigolden. Answer is the same.

The Case for Precious Metals Is Only Getting Stronger

Doubleguns, in your opinion, what is the most advantageous way to sell physical bullion? Thanks for your comment.


On Sep 21 11:24 AM doubleguns wrote:

> You must be assuming we go back to caveman status and remain there.
> Piling dollars in the bunker assumes we still have a fiat currency
> during cavemen days, food/water good, dollar not good. Unless you
> need toilet paper and even then its not very practical. Better to
> stock the real stuff, wipes much better.
>
> Selling at a retailer, for those that dumb, implies you are not educated
> in investing in gold for the purpose of making money. I would advise
> you get educated since this is one of the very few investments that
> has made money in the last 10 years.
>
> On Sep 21 10:16 AM tuj wrote:

This Recession Isn't Over: Now for the Hard Part

Yes, our system desperately needs a third party and run off voting, plus real, not make believe - feel good campaign reform, since our representatives are bought and handsomely paid for. What real change are we seeing from Mr. Obama. Nada. We have traded Iraq for Afghanistan and when needed, we have plenty of off the record mercenaries (Blackwater, et al) to help us out in both places. While corporations win big time, the middle class is the biggest loser. Congratulations, we have gotten what the framers of the constitution glimpsed...a corporatocracy the likes of which has never been seen before. If American in Paris thinks Government Statistics are solid, and that American Media is not bought and paid for, wow, I find that kind of denial unbelievable and deeply troubling.


On Jul 07 12:13 AM Michael Clark wrote:

> I have to agree. If people are thinking in the old orthodox way,
> that Republicans are for Business, and Democrats for Workers, then
> they're in a time warp. That once may have been so -- and may be
> again some day. But for the past 20 years, ALL politicians have
> been out for themselves. Republican and democrat are the same today.
> I guess we need a NEW second party.

If Gold Bugs' Fantasies Came True

Psig,

Thank you for responding, but I am afraid you will not change my mind so easily. In my opinion, Michael Moore made some valid points with "Sicko". In addition, my late father had all his healthcare from the VA and he received exceptional care over a period of many years.

America is a great country, but don't let that blind you to some fatal flaws that urgently need our attention. Our middle class is what made this country exceptional and why so many of the world's poor have come here...because they had a chance for a much better life. Now, our middle class faces extinction. Maybe we also face anarchy. Got gold?

On May 16 03:52 PM psig wrote:

> Merigolden, you have been watching too many Michael Moore movies.
> May I turn your attention to the CATO Institute report which systematically
> deconstructs the making of the misleading "statistics" in the WHO
> report. The report is titled WHO's Fooling Who? The World Health
> Organization's Problematic Ranking of Health Care Systems by Glen
> Whitman. If you like the single payer system just ask a lot of
> veterans about the VA system. I am sure you have read about that
> in the paper. Just imagine the VA system times 50. What country
> makes the most advances in medicine and medical technology. If we
> have such a crappy country why are so many people trying to come
> to the USA to live and work? These health care systems in socialist
> countries are "fair" in that everyone is treated like crap not just
> a few. Who wants to live in Cuba for free health care and one chicken
> a month. Health care in these countries is rationed and limited
> and physicians have no incentive. It is my understanding that some
> US pharmaceutical cos. here even have programs to provide medicine
> for people who can't afford it. I am not unsympathetic to those
> who have medical issues and there is no perfect system but I still
> believe ours is the best. I also believe there are many charitable
> organizations that assist those with medical/financial problems.
> I have heard this talked about on the Sean Hannity program and I
> would recommend that if you know someone with severe medical/financial
> problems please have them contact his show. There is an email address
> on his website.
>
> This is the CATO website
> www.cato.org/pub_displ...

If Gold Bugs' Fantasies Came True

Psig,

When you speak of healthcare, it shows you have not done your homework. Although most people think it so, the United States is not the best in the world; on the contrary, according to the World Health Organization, we are number 36. Canada, England, France, Germany, Japan....in fact most all of the industrialized countries are many notches ahead of us.

I most certainly advocate for free markets, but it is an unfortunate fact of life that human greed is very destructive, as it had been in our current economic situation and our bloated and failed health care system. I say failed because there are currently about 50 million uninsured people unable to get health care when needed (without first losing all their savings in order to qualify for Medicaid) and millions more in the wings. For most of the rest of us who are lucky enough to have insurance, the price is prohibitive in many cases. In this area, profit has not served us. Fourteen thousand physicians agree (See Physicians for a National Health Care System). A "single payer" health care system would go a long way in making the United States once again competitive in the world markets. As it does in most countries, private insurance can co-exist for those who can pay extra.


On May 15 10:42 PM psig wrote:

> In this climate of a crisis generated required action by the gov't
> anything could happen. Weren't there lynch mobs heading for AIG
> officials recently.
> We have a supposed "crisis" in health care. The country with the
> best health care system in the world has a health care crisis. Where
> are those in Canada and England gonna go when our care becomes like
> theirs. Once the gov't has control of health care that opens the
> door to everything from telling you how many Big Macs you can eat
> due to health issues to how much beer you can buy also because of
> health issues to what kind of car you can drive.
> Another oil crisis is on the horizon. The US gov't suppresses oil
> and coal exploration and I understand is working to shut off offshore
> drilling. When gasoline starts to skyrocket again the gov't will
> step in and take over the oil cos under the guise of another crisis.
>
> As for the auto cos. this was another generated crisis through auto
> regulation and UAW costs. The solution would have been to let the
> auto cos. go bankrupt and renegotiate all of their contracts with
> the UAW. Instead you have one UAW bailout after another and now
> a bankruptcy controlled by the gov't giving the UAW and the gov't
> control of GM. This gives us a gov't run car company which will
> end up making some kind of a crap vehicle to be forced upon the public
> and a never ending gov't supply of taxpayer money to the UAW. No
> reason for the UAW to sacrifice anything.
> Watch out retirement funds. When all this gov't spending generates
> a federal bankrupty the only pile of money left for them to confiscate
> is in retirement funds. They will mostly likely offer some kind
> of social security deal in exchange for you giving the gov't access
> to your retirement account. The alternative would be your retirement
> fund downsizing to a small puddle.
> For those cos. that think they can save their ass by getting a gov't
> bailout guess who ends up telling your ass what to do. And there
> is nothing quite like making everyone equal by cutting all the big
> boys down to size. So far from what I have seen I don't see much
> difference between the US gov't and the mob.
>
> THE INHERENT VICE OF CAPITALISM IS THE UNEQUAL SHARING OF BLESSINGS.
>
> THE INHERENT VITURE OF SOCIALISM IS THE EQUAL SHARING OF MISERIES.
>
> Winston Churchill

Gold: Not a Bubble

If you are a small investor, I am quite sure you can find sellers who will be happy to sell you gold in smaller increments than $20,000. Onlygold.com is a great company. I have had several altogether satisfactory dealings with them.

Sorry, can't give you any advice on selling as yet, since I am still very long on gold!

On Mar 15 08:11 AM tcs wrote:

> So, where do you buy the $20,000 worth of gold....and how do you
> sell it when you want to? Thx. tcs

Massive Inflationary Pressures Will Lead to Uptrend in Gold

Current events are laying a foundation for inflation, and these events are playing out all around us right now. Inflationary pressures must build, the only question is when we will enter that phase. I had already totally underestimated deflation, thinking a feeble dollar would run up the price of gold. As they say, live and learn! But the bottom line...I think David Swenson is on the money.

What Is Going On With Gold?

I wish I could be as optimistic as the writer of this article. I would be having fun playing the market instead of buying gold (not near as interesting!). When you take a look around at the opportunities available, and you lack a crystal ball, it makes good sense to be defensive with gold and silver. Mr. Pragmatist is very much off the mark here, since in my view, the state of affairs in the United States and in the world at large, is far too dark to warrant his rose colored glasses.

Will COMEX Default on Gold and Silver?

I think that is the hundred dollar question. What in the world are hoards of people doing sitting on "billions in zero interest treasuries"? Do you think it is the "herd mentality"? Most anyone I talk to, including sophisticated investors, laugh at the idea of holding physical gold. I think I am either a radical pessimist or a realist, because to me it seems ridiculous to hold instead a promise from a government that is so flat out it cannot pay interest, and one so obviously drowning in its own greed and corruption.


On Dec 22 02:12 PM secmaven wrote:

> It would seem to be only a matter of time for the tiny percentage
> of outstanding dollars necessary to be presented to the COMEX for
> delivery of precious metals to cause its stocks to be exhausted.
> Why the folks sitting on billions in zero interest Treasury bills
> don't see the relative advantage of gold given its strong investment
> performance while every other investment known to man has cratered
> is beyond me. But maybe that's why I am not among those fortunate
> folks. Do they know something the rest of us don't know?

The Manipulation of Gold Prices

Chris,

Hmmm....yes, everything you say is true, but have you missed some of the central points of the author's arguments? Most all of these machinations in the gold market, as well as the dow, are engineered to prevent collaspe and at this point, certain run-away inflation. I think we can safely assume that two things drive an increase in gold value...inflation and a weak dollar. At least this much is not "internet conspiracy". Also, according to all the media, inflation is down (or can you say it's really there, only being held back...isn't this really stagflation?)...so why hasn't gold retreated further? Overall, it is still outperforming the dow and holding its own.

The economy is so huge, and the market is so often convoluted, it's always hard to know if I'm seeing things as they really are. I just read all that I can and try to draw the best conclusions possible for my own economic benefit. I thought this article was terrific and not at all over the top. I do agree with you, though, that we have to keep our BS detecting devices in good operating order!

I would like to hear more comments on how holder's of physical gold could avoid loss, in the event that the U.S. Gov't. were to eventually confiscate it as they did back in the 30's.

On Dec 05 12:06 PM Chris B wrote:

> Gold ownership or shorting performs as an inflation hedge contract
> and little else. When inflationary expectations go down, gold goes
> down dramatically, and vice versa. Whether inflationary expectations
> should go up or down is another argument. Just be sure you understand
> why the price of gold changes, or the price movements will only create
> confusion. Folks who invest according to internet conspiracy theories
> control much of the discussion about gold, but they do not set the
> reality of the market or the commodity. Is there a single sentence
> here that isn't true?

Deleveraging Pushes the Dollar Up

User,

Say you have built a stash of gold and wisely avoided a safe deposit box for its storage. If the government decides to confiscate gold, your supply may be safe, but you will not be able to spend it, either.


On Nov 28 09:35 AM User 30121 wrote:

> SUPERB article! Spot on! Thank you for writing it! I only hope readers
> will take heed and RUN not walk to their nearest gold (and silver)
> source and stock up! After our government elitist greedy bastards
> DESTROY the almighty dollar, they will come after your gold and silver.
> If you haven't accumulated an appreciable amount, there will be nothing
> left to sustain oneself on, save for the gold and silver that has
> previoulsy been PHYSICALLY accumulated and stored in a safe (place).
> It should not have to be said, but just in case there may be a cave
> dweller who has recently emerged...don't put any gold, silver, or
> ANY VALUABLE items in a safety deposit box. That will be the FIRST
> place your government looks for booty! May God have mercy on us!

Deflation, Monetary Velocity, and Why Gold's a Buy

Thank you smarty_pants. Yes, for obvious reasons I am interested in avenues of research, not so much in particular recommendations. This Alpha newsletter is really good. You can learn as much from the comments as from the articles. Your comment "When there are a trillion rabbits..." is a case in point.


On Nov 24 10:25 AM Smarty_Pants wrote:

> Merigolden:
>
> There are ETFs you can use for precious metal miners in general.
>
>
> The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX). Currently trading at 25
> and change. It has been as high as the 56 in recent months and as
> low as 16. As you can see the price can be very volitile.
>
> finance.yahoo.com/q?s=...
>
> Disclaimer: I do have a position in GDX. This is not a recommendation,
> just information. Do your own homework. You alone are responsible
> for your investment decisions.

Deflation, Monetary Velocity, and Why Gold's a Buy

What a wonderful analogy! Thank you for making that concept (velocity) so crystal clear. I have been studying gold for about 7 years, and your view is neither bullish or bearish...just plain sense/logic.

So far I have been buying physical gold, but I would like to take a position in a solid gold stock, or a small mining company with good management and upside potential. Does any reader have advice for me on ways to best educate myself in this endeavor? Thanks to Alpha for a great web-site.