Economics and Investing:

Jim W. recommended this “must watch” interview that mentions the coming derivatives implosion: Greg Mannarino – People Are Going to Suffer on a Biblical Scale Marc Faber – The Most Dangerous Trend Facing The World Today. (Thanks to H.L. for the link.) G.G. flagged this: Regulators close small bank in Minnesota for total of 41 US failures so far this year Items from The Economatrix: June Food Stamp Recipients Hit All-Time High As Three Times As Many Americans Enter Poverty Than Find Jobs 8 Reasons Why No One Should Ignore The Coming Economic Collapse Unemployment Benefits Claims Fall 12,000 Inflation …




Economics and Investing:

Canadian housing bubble goes into full mania mode – Canadian debt-to-personal income ratio near 145% while US at peak of the housing bubble was at 125%. When Working Until 70 Isn’t Enough Rex spotted this: Richard Russell: The World Can Fix Its Debt Problem By Raising The Value Of Gold To $10,000 The swan song of stagflation – Gas prices up over 100 percent from 2005 and incomes are stagnant. Ignoring a $16 trillion debt headline and repackaging food to hide stagnant incomes. Items from The Economatrix: Catherine Austin Fitts:  They’re Going to Depopulate or Bankrupt the Rest of Us …




Letter Re: The Barter Store — Update #2

JWR: To make the most sense of this note, please refer to the SurvivalBlog archives for the December 22, 2011 original post with an update March 29, 2012.   The range of feedback to the post and update ranged from supportive to beyond hostile–which was more or less what I expected. Those critical to the “Barter Store” concept mostly missed the premises–that at least in some smaller, conservative towns/cities, small-scale commerce will help preserve order and civilization; security is handled and will not be a driving issue; that “preppers” have stocked up on and will be willing to sell/trade/barter some …




Economics and Investing:

G.G. sent: Why is Putin Putting Away So Much Gold? Items from The Economatrix: 18 Indications That Europe Has Become A Black Hole Which Is Going To Suck The Life Out Of The Global Economy Lost Middle-Class Jobs Being Replaced With Burger Flipping, Retail Gigs Audit of NY Fed Reveals Technocrat’s Creation And Cover-up of Global Financial Crash Gold’s Coming Rise




Economics and Investing:

Some of the Really Bad Things That Could Happen if You Do Not Prepare tor the Coming Economic Collapse. (Thanks to Lee M. for the link.) Reader H.L. suggested this piece over at Zero Hedge: In Greece, It’s The Police Vs The Riot Police Mark I. sent: The 29 Ugliest Charts In The World The printing press is running hot, but where is inflation and how will it affect gold? Items from The Economatrix: Bernanke Says Fed Ready to Act But Short on Specifics “The Economy Stole My Retirement” Oil Has Peaked But No Relief at Pump Likely Soon




Letter Re: State Government Debt Levels

James: Reader “X.” wrote an article Re: State Government Debt Levels, in which the author makes the case that the US income to debt ratio is approximately 1:1. I think the author mixed facts to come up with a mathematical equality where none exists.  I repeat in totality the paragraph where this is stated: “The trepidation most of us feel when thinking of the current level of debt (not to be confused with deficit) is likely well-founded.  Individuals tend to think of things in relation to themselves; in other words, I earn $56,000 yearly, and I owe $212,000 on my …




Economics and Investing:

Peter Schiff: The real fiscal cliff. Bloomberg reports from Japan: The End of a 1,400-Year-Old Business. (Thanks to R.N. and G.G. for the link.) B.B. sent: $16,015,769,788,215.80 – $5.4 trillion added under Obama. JWR’s Comment: Don’t just blame Obama. It is Congress that holds the purse strings! Also from B.B.: Supermarkets being looted in Spain Items from The Economatrix: S&P 500 Trims Loss Amid Speculation Europe to Take Steps Manufacturing in US Shrank in August for Third Month Investors Assets to be Stolen in the Coming Collapse China Launching Gold-backed Worldwide Currency




Economics and Investing:

Over at Zero Hedge: Chart of the Day: 803 Years of Global Inflation A good illustrated presentation on the economy, in light of Peak Oil: What the Economic Crisis Really Means – and what we can do about it James K. was the first of several readers to send this: Fears Rising, Spaniards Pull Out Their Cash and Get Out of Spain Moody’s Changes Euro Zone Rating Outlook to ‘Negative’ Items from The Economatrix: Everything You Need To Know About The September 12 German Court Decision That Could Rock The Entire World Economic Shock:  Global Food Prices Jump 10% The …




Economics and Investing:

Federal Reserve has already started QE3, says investor Jim Rogers H.L. sent: Higher CAFE Standards: “There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch” A surprisingly good article, considering that it is coming from McNewspaper: Vanguard’s Jack Bogle: Financial ‘train wreck’ looms Steve F. recommended: Why Billionaire Frank Giustra Is Making A Massive Bet On Inflation Items from The Economatrix: Gasoline Rising to Holiday High as Storm Surge Presses Obama Consumer Confidence in U.S. Declines Most Since October The Three Frontrunners for Fed Chairman in Romney Administration (Hint:  It’s not Ben)




Economics and Investing:

Chipotle Ends the Penny Before U.S. Mint Does. (Thanks to Gregg P. for the link.) Food prices jump will hit poor, World Bank warns. Global food prices have leapt by 10% in the month of July More Monetization: Debt crisis: ECB should launch ‘unlimited’ bond buying, says OECD. Somehow, I don’t think that a country buying their own bonds is what Bing Crosby had in mind. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Charlie McGrath:  Collapse, Civil Unrest are Unavoidable The “Euphoric” Economy and Why “They” Didn’t See it Coming Into The Meat Grinder:  A “Market Meltdown …




Risk and Unrealistic Promises, by Seth D.

The problem so much of this country faces can be sourced back to one common practice that many of us cannot bring ourselves to face.  Unrealistic promises.  The world is full of risks, in fact life could be described as nothing but a massive risk management exercise. Will my paychecks be enough to cover my bills this month? Will I have any unexpected expenses this month? Will a plane fall out of the sky on to me? Will my business be adversely affected by Obamacare? Will the price of oil rise so high I can’t afford my commute? Will the …




Letter Re: State Government Debt Levels

James, I just finished reading one of the financial articles you linked in yesterday’s post.  The topic of the article was debt levels of U.S. states.  In it, the author broke down the debt burden of each state citizen; for example, a Californians’ per capita obligation is just over $16,000, while Texans are at a lower level of around $11,000.   So:  Two things.   First:  I think in doing this we are perpetuating the concept of the State’s (used here in the sense of a nation-state/political entity) authority to impose the public debt burden on non-sovereign individuals.  While I …




Economics and Investing:

Jim W. recommended this over at International Man: After The Storm: The 11stages of an Economic Crash Also from Jim W.: Breakout Move in Silver Forecasting Global Hyper-Inflation. H.L. sent: The Biggest Reason Why California is Bankrupt Libertarian billionaire warns of ‘financial Armageddon’ after U.S. election Items from The Economatrix: Jim Rogers:  The Agriculture Industry Is Doomed Home Values Rise In U.S. For First Time Since 2010 Jack Mintz:  U.S. Worse Than Europe




Economics and Investing:

Peter Schiff says Ron Paul was ignored and that an economic collapse is inevitable, regardless of who wins the presidential election. By way of our friend Remus at The Woodpile Report, a link to an eye-opening piece on the velocity of money by Mark McHugh: Shhhh…It’s Even Worse Than The Great Depression. (Warning: Includes some foul language.) H.L. sent: More Bad News Imminent: August US Auto Production Set To Plunge By Most In 16 Months I’m sure that many of you noticed that gold and silver ended the week with bang. Items from The Economatrix: Debt Crisis:  Italian Cash-For-Gold Shops …