Economics and Investing:

Living A Lie How much debt?! – Sent in by B.B.

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Why A Major Deflationary Financial Crisis Is Imminent

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

U.S. News

Why Gold-Backed Money Doesn’t Bring Booms and Busts (Mises Institute)

Zombies Appear in U.S. Oilfields as Crude Plumbs New Lows (Reuters) Article Quote: “The slump has created dozens of oil and gas “zombies,” a term lawyers and restructuring advisers use to describe companies that have just enough money to pay interest on mountains of debt but not enough to drill enough new wells to replace older ones that are drying out.”

Senator Ted Cruz Cosponsors Rand Paul’s Audit the Fed Bill (Breitbart)

International News

Putin Muffles His Anti-Western Rhetoric as Russia’s Economy Shrinks (The Economist) Thought: Never underestimate the power of economic forces at work within politics, but understand as well that these forces are fluid (not static) and Putin’s foundational views and operating philosophy of the United States (and other western nations) have not changed. He may be playing on this country’s utter lack of long term memory. He may be playing on the rising tide of American disgust for domestic politics and politicians, even anger. Russian bombers will be buzzing the U.S. coastline again, soon enough.

Personal Economics and Household Finance

Beware of ID Theft During Medical Emergencies: Couple Accused of Using Stolen Patient Information for Pricey Purchases (Fox 5 New York) Article Quote: “The conduct charged in this case is morally reprehensible. When a person is admitted to a hospital, the last thing that patient or their family members should be concerned about is whether their identity will be stolen.”