Letter Re: The Family Cow as a Measure of Wealth

Dear Mr. Rawles: Whether you are bugging out, hunkering down, or just trying to live well in uncertain times, it is hard to beat a dual-purpose meat and milk cow as a portable and productive asset. The family cow has historically been a family’s single biggest store of wealth. Until quite recently, in places like Ireland and Texas, cattle were the primary measure of wealth even for chieftains and barons. Some say that cattle still are the only measure of real wealth. Is anyone going to argue that wealth is better stored in Federal Reserve Notes, pieces of paper representing …




Economics and Investing:

Jon M. in England sent this: Are we heading for a replay of 1930s? Agoura Hills and a $280,000 discount on a once million dollar home. B.B. sent this one: 1099 Supply Shock for Gold Buyers. Perhaps its time to switch to fractional gold bullion coins, and VF slabbed $5 and $10 gold pieces. Steven B. forwarded this: Chinese Economy Next Enron: Chanos video Jim Rogers: Gold to Soar to $2,000 an Ounce in Decade. (Thanks to Brett G. for the link.) Mike H. flagged this: House passes bill aimed at Chinese currency. “How dare they free-float their currency? The …




Letter Re: Europe’s Anti-Austerity Protests

JWR: Here are two links to recent news articles: Anti-austerity protests sweep across Europe, and Demonstrators protest spending cuts across Europe. How long until something similar begins to impact the U.S. may be as simple as this. The “hidden from public” depression, camouflaged by government “Robin Hood” programs like Food stamps, EBT cards, extended unemployment, various grants and subsidies, will become increasingly evident when, not if, the Fed slows down and/or stops payments that keep the masses satiated. It certainly can happen if austerity budgets rear their ugly heads and the wheels begin to come off our society. Or hyperinflation …




Economics and Investing

G.G. sent this: Capital controls eyed as global currency wars escalate Reader Danny B. forwarded this: Citi sued by Norwegian central bank Michigan, Florida Lead 34 States With Drop in Household Income Meredith Whitney’s new target: The states David S. suggested this: Politics Versus Gold Items from The Economatrix: World Gripped by “International Currency War” How Realistic is $5,000 Gold? Faber: Accumulate Gold and Keep it as Cash “Gold To Go” Taps into Gold Fever with ATMs Stocks Sizzled in Third Quarter, But Will it Last? Jobless Benefit Applications Drop to 453,000




Letter Re: Thoughts on Upcoming Quantitative Easing

Mister Rawles: As many of the SurvivalBlog readers and individuals who are on the inflation/deflation watch have noticed over the weekend is the rumor that the Federal Reserve will begin what is commonly referred to at this point as Quantitative Easing, Round 2 (or “QE2”) , Fed Will Boost Balance Sheet by $500 Billion . Why is this important for the average American? The opening of the novel “Patriots” lays out a scenario where the Federal Reserve begins to buy U.S. Treasury debt which spirals out of control leading to the implosion of the government. There should be warning lights …




Economics and Investing:

Norman A. was the first of several readers to mention this: Ben Davies – The World Monetary Earthquake. Here is a quote: “Within a single week 25 nations have deliberately slashed the values of their currencies. Nothing quite comparable with this has ever happened before in the history of the world. This world monetary earthquake will carry many lessons.” B.B. sent this: U.S. Mint says it has run out of Buffalo gold coins Fred D. flagged this: Is Gold Going up or is it Just the Dollar Going Down? Job Experts Lose Jobs! (A hat tip to Jim P. for …




Economics and Investing:

H.H. sent this: European Central Banks Halt Gold Sales Jeff E. was the first of several readers to send this: Banks Keep Failing, No End in Sight From G.G.: Banks Keep Failing, No End in Sight U.S. Economy “Close to a destructive tipping point” Glenn Hubbard Says. (Thanks to John G. for the link.) Merry recommended a Mike Maloney lecture video. Items from The Economatrix: Cold Hard Reality Hits Oregon Supply Squeeze of Physical Gold and Silver May Be Heating Up The Currency Crisis of 2010-2011 A Hazard of Buying Bond Funds Now A Red Alert Threat To The Regime …




Economics and Investing:

KAF pointed us to this: On the Secret Committee to Save the Euro, a Dangerous Divide Mike Williamson sent us this: Slideshow: The Most Taxed States in the U.S. G.G. suggested: Taleb Says Unawareness of Deficit Risk Has Him `Extremely Bearish’ on U.S. The latest from Dr. Housing Bubble: Palms Mar Vista correction. From $740,000 to $540,000 and still overpriced. The Westside of L.A. enters an accelerating correction. Items from The Economatrix: Why QE2 + QE Lite Mean that the Fed Will Purchase Almost $3 Trillion Treasurys and Set the Stage for the Monetary Endgame Banks Keep Failing, No End …




Economics and Investing:

More, more, more MOAB: Bernanke Says U.S. Economic Growth Too Slow Even With Fed Bond Purchases. Gee, if the Fed just buys lots and lots of stocks and bonds, we’ll all be multi-trillionaiares, just like those wealthy Zimbabweans. SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this from Zero Hedge: Debunking The Great Myth Of US Consumer Deleveraging, Or Why The US Economy Will End Not With A Whimper But A Bang K.T. mentioned: 15 Bone Chilling Signs That Part Two Of The Double Dip Housing Crash Has Begun Revisiting option ARM data – Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and …




Economics and Investing:

Unemployment Could Remain High Until 2013. JWR Adds: To be more accurate, I would have written: “…Until 2023.” Yale Economist Robert Shiller Warns Seven Years of Economic ‘Bad Times’ in Store for US L.J. sent some more bad news from England: Mortgage lending plummets to 10-year monthly low as housing market remains ‘exceptionally’ weak. From the Wall Street Journal‘s Australian bureau: Silver looks ready to rip. (Thanks to Bob G. for the link.) Russian crop misery spreads to world’s supermarkets. Items from The Economatrix: California Attorney General Asks GMAC to Stop Foreclosures Economy Heading Toward “Catastrophic” Collapse They Are Printing …




Inflation Watch:

The Reality of Inflation Food Inflation: Coming to the USA? Interview: Dr. Marc Faber on the Federal Reserve and Hyperinflation Larry T. sent us this bit of stupidity: In Praise of Inflation. Our Editor at Large Mike Williamson sent this photo link: Those incredible shrinking paper towel packages. Get Ready to Pay More for Tires




Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent this article about the latest $30 Billion expansion to the MOAB: U.S. Bails Out Major Credit Unions Sherman Oaks enters correction phase. $1,200,000 home now selling for $720,000. Tamara (over at the excellent View From The Porch blog) posted a link to an amazing video that shows a labor union hiring minimum wage non-union protestors to picket Wal-Mart for paying minimum wage and being non-union. Warren Buffett: We’re Still in a Recession Despite What Officials Say. (Thanks to Brett G. for the link.) KAF sent this: China Allows Banks to Sell Loans on Interbank Market; 21 Lenders Sign …




Economics and Investing:

Does this sound familiar? Russia’s kopeck coin may soon be scrap metal. (A hat tip to RBS for the link.) B.B. sent us this: For the Unemployed Over 50, Fears of Never Working Again Also from B.B. a link to a piece over at the GATA site: Brazil’s central bank president says no country can hold dollar up G.G. sent this: Haven Trust is the 126th bank to collapse this year. Items from The Economatrix: The Curious Case for $936 Oz. Silver US Is Bankrupt And We Don’t Even Know It Banking System Collapse, On The Edge Of The Precipice …




Economics and Investing:

“Hi-yo Silver!” (I’ll spare you the “I-told-you-so” snide comments. Or did that just count as one?) Cy D. mentioned this over at Zero Hedge: Wal-Mart’s CEO Provides the Starkest Visual of the Modern Bread Line Yet B.B. sent us a link to these comments by Howard Katz: Sobering Lesson for the World as Gold and Silver Set to Explode Higher Obama tells UN leaders world has dodged depression. Yeah, right… Items from The Economatrix: Homebuilding Industry Years Away From Recovery Fed Signals It Will Take Further Steps If Needed. [JWR Notes: I get nervous whenever I hear someone with weapons …




Inflation Watch:

The Yahoo-Bing Search Deal May Raise Ad Rates. Online advertisers may see up to a 78% price increase in paid-search rates once Yahoo and Microsoft wrap up their search alliance. Cost-per-click will likely rise sharply as advertisers shift to the single Bing search platform. Unusual Worry for the Economy: Is Inflation Too Low? Corn, Soybeans Hit Two-Year Highs While Cotton Jumps to 15-Year Peak Food Makers Ready to Raise Prices