Category: Economics & Investing

War on Poverty 50 years on, victory nowhere in sight. Snyder: “There Is Intense Competition For Virtually All Kinds Of Jobs” Congresswoman Urges Welfare Name Change: “Transitional Living Fund”. [JWR’s Comment: As I see it, so long as charity is coerced and bureaucratized, the “transition” she describes is from my wallet to someone else’s wallet, without my consent. State-sponsored Robin Hoodism cannot to be found in the Constitution. It is a modern socialist construct, and little more than organized theft. Charity should be entirely voluntary and a function of church, not state.] Items from The Economatrix: Forecast 2014: Economic Trends …

Six Reasons Why the Government Is Destroying the Dollar Big COMEX Gold Withdrawals & New Record Low Dealer Inventory K.F. flagged this: $10 Billion Bitcoin Goes Live On Overstock! Items from The Economatrix: 15 Disappearing Middle-Class Jobs Dr. Paul Craig Roberts-U.S. Markets Rigged by its Own Authorities–It Blows the Mind Deep Freeze Puts $5 Billion Chill On Economy

Dear SurvivalBloggers, How do you use your IRA /401k to fund survival property or fund a startup business in the area you want to exit to? I have been running into many of my clients here in the north east, way outside the American Redoubt, that want to take greater control over their 401k or IRA’s that have accumulated over a period of time. Being a reader of this web site for a number of years, I felt that I could explain to your readers thru a simple monograph of what an individual or group of individuals could accomplish with …

Reader C.J.C. suggested this piece by Lars Seier Christensen, the founder of Saxo Bank: What is the broader relevance of Ayn Rand for society? Extreme Cold Weather Freezes US Fuel Supply Items from The Economatrix: Unemployment Benefits Clear Senate Hurdle Employment Recovery? 1,600 Workers Apply For Just 36 Jobs At An Ice Cream Plant In Maryland How Will The Economy Improve In 2014 If Almost Everyone Has Less Money To Spend?

C.J.A. spotted this news: One Week Into 2014, UK Royal Mint Runs Out Of Gold Coins North Carolina Sheriff Swaps Out 2 Vintage Tommy Guns for 88 new ARs. (Thanks to T.P. for the link.) Dr. Paul Craig Roberts-U.S. Markets Rigged by its Own Authorities–It Blows the Mind Items from The Economatrix: Doug Casey: “We’re Really Close To The Edge Of The Precipice” A The Prepper Podcast: Three Warning Signs That A Financial Crash Is Imminent Here Is The Most Frightening Prediction For 2014

From SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate G.G.: U.S. Mint’s Silver Coin Sales Hit Record High Jim Rickards: Gold: Declining Prices Versus Skyrocketing Demand Items from The Economatrix: Going Under: Over One Million Lose Unemployment Benefits – Will Hit Five Million By End of 2014 Comparing The Inflated Cost Of Living Today From 1938 to 2013: How The US Dollar Has Lost Incredible Purchasing Power Since 1938 “The Biggest Redistribution Of Wealth From The Middle Class And Poor To The Rich Ever” Explained…

The latest video from Peter Schiff: We Have A Phony Economic Recovery More hilarious commentary from Richard Daughty: Cosmically Timeless Mogambo Monetary And Investment Wisdom (CTMMAIW) H.L. sent: Portugal’s Baby Bust Is A Stark Sign Of Hard Times Items from The Economatrix: How Will The Economy Improve In 2014 If Almost Everyone Has Less Money To Spend? The Great Income Divide: IRS Data Shows 50 Percent Of Households Make Less Than $35,000 Per Year. Top 10 Percent Pay 68 Percent Of Income Taxes. Market Crash In the Works: “A Canary May Have Just Keeled Over”

Niels Jensen: Are equity markets in a massive bubble? Doug Casey: “We’re Really Close To The Edge of The Precipice” Uncle Sam’s New Year’s Binge: Borrows $1,088 Per Household in 1 Day Items from The Economatrix: World Manufacturing Ends 2013 On A Strong Note Manufacturers Ramp Up Hiring; Housing Strengthens Cramer:  First Day Decline: An Omen Of Trouble?

Martin Armstrong Warns Europeans Of The Coming Expropriation Of 10% Of Everyone’s Accounts. (Thanks to James W. for the link.) The Historic Gold-Oil Ratio Forecasts A Much Higher Price For Gold Items from The Economatrix: Market Crash In the Works: “A Canary May Have Just Keeled Over” Is America About To Reach A Breaking Point? Anger Grows As Unemployment Benefits Get Cut Why Don’t the Jobless Get the Same Tapering Touch as Banks? Economists say the U.S. will turn a corner in 2014

Producers Panic as Ethanol Mandate Loses Support G.G. suggested: 1930s-style debt defaults likely, says IMF research Items from The Economatrix: 2014 promises faster growth, but no leap forward Unemployment benefits expiring: Should special help continue beyond 26 weeks? 2014 will be the year of the currency reset and gold backed trade note

Some more sad “Bad OPSEC” news from Australia: Bullion worth $200,000 stolen from Brisbane home of war veteran by thieves using wheelie bin Company makes good on leaving Colorado over gun laws: Colorado gun accessories maker Magpul moving to Wyoming, Texas because of new gun laws Items from The Economatrix: Retail Traffic Plunges By “Staggering” 21% In Week Before Christmas Comparing the inflated cost of living today from 1938 to 2013: How the US Dollar has lost incredible purchasing power since 1938. How does an America with no middle class look like? Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects top two …

Cuba economic reforms felt at the dinner table. (Thanks to James W. for the link.) The hidden costs of ObamaCare Items from The Economatrix: On This Day In History, Gas Prices Have Never Been Higher November Durable Goods Jump, Driven By Abnormal Seasonal Adjustments Mortgage Applications Down 66% From Highs To New 13-Year Low

There is some ground truth in this video excerpt: Will USA Default Or Inflate? Mike Maloney U.S. Jobless Claims Rise to Near Nine-Month High. (Thanks to R.B.S. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Peter Schiff On The Fed’s Audacity Welcome To Schizoland, Media Headlines Edition Gold Heads For Worst Annual Loss In 32 Years Despite The Propaganda, The US Economy Is Collapsing

Tracey in Tennessee recommended some free online courses such as Economics 101 and Constitution 101 offered through Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. B.B. sent: Bitcoin is Gold 2.0 Reader Jeff E. suggested this piece at Forbes: Romney Was Wrong About The 47 Percent, The Problem Is Much Worse

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, by Steven Cochran of Gainesville Coins. Every month, we’ll take a look at the “month that was” in precious metals, covering everything from price action, to the information that’s driving the numbers. December in Precious Metals December is traditionally a slow month for precious metals, and the second-best month for stocks. This trend was amplified this year, as we saw lots of good economic reports from Europe, China, and the U.S. The stock markets, already hitting highs fueled by central bank money printing, sucked cash out of bonds and the precious metals …