Day: July 31, 2009

Letter Re: One Way to Visualize Inflation and Dollar Devaluation

Sir, Let’s look at a way to visualize inflation. Let’s say you had a $1,000 bill in 1900. At that time, this would be the equivalent of letting the government safeguard [about] 50 ounces of gold for you. In 1933, Franklin D Roosevelt devalued the dollar, and as a result gold’s price rose from $20/ounce to $35/ounce. Equivalently, you could also say the 50 ounces of gold the government held for you now became 28.57 ounces of gold. The government stole 21.43 ounces of gold from you overnight! In 1971, Richard Nixon ended the Bretton-Woods gold standard for good, and …


Letter Re: Thoughts on Accumulating Silver

Mr. Rawles, I would first like you to know your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you and your family for opening our eyes to what is happening all around us and for helping to prepare us for what could happen. To borrow a phrase, “The sleeper has awakened”. On to my topic. I am what may be described as a prepper and after reading many of the countless articles by investors on the accumulation of silver, I began to take your advice as well as their advice and have been purchasing silver whenever the budget allows. With …


Letter Re: Distance Traveling by Waterways

Jim, Thanks for your work. I have been a faithful reader for quite a while (and a 10-Cent Challenge subscriber). After reading LDM in Colorado’s post, I had to e-mail and correct a few problems. While I know little of white water rafting, I do know about Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs). I was a Coast Guard Boarding Officer for many years, and I would like to correct some of his terminology. Unfortunately, some of his comments could place someone in danger. The rating system for PFDs is based on capabilities. Specifically, Type I: Provides 22 lbs of buoyancy and turns …



Economics and Investing:

I found this linked over at the Total Investor blog: After the fall; The collapse in world trade has stopped, but there is no sign of a recovery Thanks to Rebecca S. for this news link: Weak Treasury Auctions Raise Worries About US Debt Burden Reader Greg C. suggested this: Adrian Douglas: CFTC Conceals the Real Problem, the Infinite Dollar Items from The Economatrix: Weak US 5-Year Debt Auction Raises Worries Bernanke on the Record (video) The Hole in Our Universe (The Mogambo Guru) Commentary by John Browne: Dead Banks Walking Fed Report Suggests Recession May be Bottoming Out. [In …