Economics and Investing:

Dallas Fed President warns about the consequences of Too Big to Fail policies. Portugal Considers Paying Public Workers In Treasury Bills Instead Of Cash New Trouble for Euro in Portugal H.L. sent: 30,000 Greek Households Lose Electricity Each Month. Items from The Economatrix: Jim Willie:  Economy Will Implode Get Prepared For Economic Catastrophe: You Are Being Sacrificed To Save The Too-Big-To-Fail Banks It No Longer Pays To Go To Work




Economics and Investing:

Reader Andre D. sent us this: Rehn: big bank depositors could bear cost of bank failure: People with big deposits could suffer a ‘haircut’ under planned European Union law if a bank fails, the EU’s economic affairs chief Olli Rehn said. Reader H.L. sent this: Obama Proposes Retirement Account Limit In First “Wealth Tax” Salvo Rhode Island’s tallest building will soon go dark. Dirty Harry to World Savers “You’ve Got To Ask Yourself… – Do You Feel Lucky? Items from The Economatrix: Sinclair:  This Will Create The Mother Of All Financial Crises Economic Apocalypse Is Here! Gigantic Miss: Just 88,000 …




Economics and Investing:

The State Of Silver Bullion and Other Anomalous Events Pierre M. sent: Numbness gives way to anger in Cyprus over bailout. G.G. flagged this warning sign: Obama administration pushes banks to make home loans to people with weaker credit Voting With their Feet: Beretta Leaves Maryland Because Of Stricter Gun Laws Items from The Economatrix: Former US Treasury Official:  Fed Desperate To Save System The Chart That Will Crash The Market Wells Fargo Website Hit By Another Cyber Attack Weak Jobs Gain Hurt Economic Outlook




Economics and Investing:

Familiar imagery? If The Fed Loses Money, It Can Just Print More Tungsten Silver? Or More Salt in the Open Wound? (Thanks to Jeff L. for the link.) Kevin S. sent: Instawallet Hacked: The company is suspending its services indefinitely, and will be refunding all balances of 50 Bitcoins or less. Items from The Economatrix: The Big Banks Are Recklessly Gambling With Our Money, And It Will Cause The Global System To Collapse Jobless Claims Have Hit 4-Month High Jim Rogers:  I Suspect They’ll Take The Pension Plans Next; I For One Am Worried And Making Preparations Discouraged Job Seekers …




Economics and Investing:

State auditor: California’s net worth at negative $127.2 billion Mt. Gox under largest DDoS attack as bitcoin price surges A Tipping Point In The Financial System Reader Lance in Michigan wrote to chime in with this sign of the times: “Yesterday I went to our bank here to begin withdrawing excess reserves and was told to come back today. While there, a woman queued up at the teller window next to me was upset that they wanted to know what she was planning to do with the $20,000 she was withdrawing. My mere $7,500 didn’t solicit the same question. My …







Economics and Investing:

G.G. suggested this by Graeme Wood: My Hyperinflation Vacation Also from G.G.: Thanks, World Reserve Currency, But No Thanks: Australia And China To Enable Direct Currency Convertibility Reader Craig R. suggested this Op-Ed piece by David Stockman: State-Wrecked: The Corruption of Capitalism in America Items from The Economatrix: Peter Schiff:  Why Leave Extra Money In A Bank? Mannarino:  Very Close To Pan-Global Financial Collapse Cyprus:  The Worst Is Yet To Come




Two Letters Re: Keeping Cash and Tangibles at Home

Sir: We have had cash on hand since Y2K, which became 9/11 cash, then 2008 crash cash. I agree with the author to be careful, because depositing/withdrawing or spending large amounts of cash can trigger a report to the authorities due to the Patriot Act, or cause other problems. My own example is: In 2008 I withdrew $7,500 and closed an account at a failing bank. This money sat “under the mattress” so to speak, until just  a few months ago when I decided to purchase a small second home, using this cash as part of the down payment. I had about $5,000 left of the cash …




Economics and Investing:

Several readers sent this, and I also saw it linked at The Drudge Report: Stockton bankruptcy can move forward, judge rules. This sets a precedent,so other large cities may follow suit. How are those muni bonds doing for your? Storing Silver for the Next Generation US Household income continues to fall in midst of recovery: Since the recession started median household income is down 7.3 percent. File Under “No Great Surprise Dept.”: New Yorkers Enjoy Less Freedom Than Residents In Any Other State In U.S. Cyberattacks Seem Meant to Destroy, Not Just Disrupt Items from The Economatrix: Top Banks Investigated …




Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent: Marc Faber Spells it all out in 6 minutes Karl Denninger warns against adopting the Bitcoin currency: BitCon: Don’t. JWR’s Comments: I use Bitcoin strictly for privacy, convenience, and as an alternative to PayPal, which has anti-gun management. (We accept Bitcoins for Ten Cent Challenge subscriptions.) I never let more than 15 BTC accumulate in my wallet. Bitcoins are not an “investment.” Since they have no tangible backing whatsoever, there is a potential for a Bitcoin crash. And, of course, if the Internet ever goes “poof”, then so will your BTC balance. If you want to invest your …




Economics and Investing:

Pipelines Can’t Handle North American Oil Boom Russia to ban cash transactions over $10,000 Jim Rogers: Put Your Money In Hard Assets, Especially Farmland and Agriculture Items from The Economatrix: Cyprus Bail-Out: Savers Will Be Raided To Save Euro In Future Crises, Says Eurozone Chief Fear & Loathing Grips Cyprus As ECB Hastens Debtline Eurozone Economy Now Expected To Sink Even Deeper Into Recession; Bank of Cyprus Chairman Quits As Heads Roll After Bail-Out Debacle




Economics and Investing:

Necultchurny! The haircut news from Cyprus just got worse: “This morning Sky [News] reported that the levy on balances over €100,000 had now increased to 60%…” This now qualifies as full scale bank robbery. Ricky L. sent a link with some disturbing news: Fake 90% Silver U.S. Coins. Silver dollars are most often faked, but even smaller dominations should now be scrutinized. Bill Whittle: Canaries in Coal Mines You Will NEVER Look At MONEY The Same AGAIN. Items from The Economatrix: No Matter Outcome, Cyprus Crisis Is Blow To Business (And To Bank Customer Confidence Worldwide) International Monetary Fund (IMF) …




Economics and Investing:

Say Goodbye to the Purchasing Power of the Dollar — Mr. Bernanke goes to Crazytown Reader L.C.A. sent a link to some alarming charts on food an oil prices. Following the global credit collapse of 2008, inflation has returned with a vengeance. Peter Schiff explains how a US depression can cause a global ‘death spiral’ Too big to fail or ignore: How the US went from over 13,000 banks in 1987 to 6,000 today. $7.4 trillion in deposits backed by $32 billion dollars. (It is high time that we pull our money out of this high stakes casino. Build up …




Become Your Own Central Banker, by L.B.G.

 As I compose this essay the news of the proposed “taxation” of the depositors of the banks in Cypress via a confiscation of up to 9.9% of the balance from all savings accounts (and then the decision to not take that step) is rocking the financial world. The government of Cypress expressed the need for this measure in order to meet their obligation to the European Union. They called it a “tax on deposits” and “giving depositors a haircut”. I think a better term would be “stealing depositors’ money”.  So go to Plan B….seizing funds in pension accounts and turning …




Economics and Investing:

The recent experience in Cyprus set a dangerous precedent. With similar debt levels in Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Slovenia, and Spain, the European Banksters are likely to stage more heists. I suspect that there will be bank runs and some draconian withdrawal limits will be imposed. And FWIW, I’m not the only one predicting this. Oh, and I should also mention the Debt to GDP levels are even worse in the U.S. and Japan than they are in Europe’s southern tier. The bank runs could quickly spread from Europe. Be ready for them. Keep plenty of cash at home, and …