China+Gold

[jpatter666]

Re: China promises show of force in Oct 1 parade

http://dailyreckoning.com/the-daily-...ws-bill-bonner

"You know, most people don't appreciate the fact that there is something about America that is not a humble republic. America is an empire, it is clearly an empire, it has 120 military bases around the world, as many as Rome. It dominates militarily most of the world. This is an empire. It has its own imperial characteristics.

"Much of the national treasure is used to sustain the empire. Much of the military budget in America is greater than all military budgets in the world. It has a Roman-scale military and it has Roman-scale ambition, which is to dominate the world. However, what it doesn't have is Rome's money. Even though I hesitate to say that, because Rome ran out of money too with the reign of Augustus. America is running out of money and it was a long run."

Augustus??

Augustus came back with the Egyptian treasury and was one of the richest monarchs -- even at his death. His successor left even *more* in the treasury. And the Roman empire had glory days (for the empire, not so much for Rome at times) for the next 200 years or so.

[metalman]

Re: China promises show of force in Oct 1 parade

Augustus??

Augustus came back with the Egyptian treasury and was one of the richest monarchs -- even at his death. His successor left even *more* in the treasury. And the Roman empire had glory days (for the empire, not so much for Rome at times) for the next 200 years or so.

bonner's grasp of history is not his strong point... but he's right about running out of money thing.

[Thailandnotes]

Re: China+Gold

"Even though I hesitate to say that, because Rome ran out of money too with the reign of Augustus."

I was going to add a footnote. So he missed by two centuries?

[jpatter666]

Re: China+Gold

"Even though I hesitate to say that, because Rome ran out of money too with the reign of Augustus."

I was going to add a footnote. So he missed by two centuries?

Roman history was a big thing of mine for years. There *was* a credit crisis in Rome at the time of Augustus (this was after Caesar's death but before Octavian [Augustus] took the throne). After the death of Anthony and the suicide of Cleopatra, he found and took the Egyptian treasury to Rome.

Apparently *so* much wealth was brought back, that interest rates halved. The cessation of the wars and end to proscriptions brought money out of hiding and commerce resumed.

Augustus took power around 37BC. The Empire did quite well (although Rome itself had the occasional lunatic [Nero, Caligula] the bureaucracy managed the Empire reasonably efficiently) through the high point of the Roman empire with four brilliant emperors in a row (Trajan [98-117] - Aurelius [161-180]).

Each of them (until Aurelius) had no children and trained the best man he could find to become Emperor after. For a time, the Roman empire was governed as well as it could be. This was the time where you hear stories of countries *asking* to be be included to the empire.

When Aurelius dies, his son Commodus inherited the throne, idiocy resumed and the overall downward trend never really stopped.

[touchring]

Re: China promises show of force in Oct 1 parade

http://dailyreckoning.com/the-daily-...ws-bill-bonner

"You know, most people don't appreciate the fact that there is something about America that is not a humble republic. America is an empire, it is clearly an empire, it has 120 military bases around the world, as many as Rome. It dominates militarily most of the world. This is an empire. It has its own imperial characteristics.

"Much of the national treasure is used to sustain the empire. Much of the military budget in America is greater than all military budgets in the world. It has a Roman-scale military and it has Roman-scale ambition, which is to dominate the world. However, what it doesn't have is Rome's money. Even though I hesitate to say that, because Rome ran out of money too with the reign of Augustus. America is running out of money and it was a long run."

The US empire is only supported by the dollar. If the dollar goes, where would the funds to sustain the military bases come from?

[MulaMan]

Re: China+Gold

What makes me laugh is how Americans call the $800 billion yearly "defense spending"

defense against what? who? why? LOL.

Like we need a few more $billion dollar bombers...LOL

Perhaps it is "defense of the USD" spending.

"During FY 2008, the U.S. government spent nearly $800 billion on defense and homeland security, approximately 32% of tax collections of $2.5 trillion" - From Wikipedia

Think about it..while you fools argue about providing health care to your neighbors, children, fellow citizens ect.. your government wastes 32% of every dollar you pay in taxes on "homeland security". LOL

and those are the "official" figures if you believe your government - here is another view that thinks over 50% off all you tax dollars goes to "keep you safe" ....

at least you won't get blown up by terrorists while you are dying of cancer... LOL.

http://www.warresisters.org/pages/piechart.htm

[touchring]

Re: China+Gold

How will the $800 billion spent defend the USD?

$800 billion cannot even defeat a few thousand Talibans guerrillas, what can it do in a real war?

What makes me laugh is how Americans call the $800 billion yearly "defense spending"

[Slimprofits]

Re: China+Gold

I just found Mr. Black's blog through a different route.

I think it's worth a re-read, especially for Mr. Metalman.

Does anyone know anything about this Mr. Black? "Simon Black" was one of two fellas who wrote the Casey Research "Without Borders" newsletter, now spun off as an independent publication to the other fella, "Fitzroy McLean".

He allegedly has been traveling all over Asia and has posted several "road trip" reports, as long as passing along information from regional contacts.

Mr. Black also claims to have a source within the CIC.

http://www.sovereignman.com/finance/...e-gold-market/

I asked Christine Verone, my China insider you heard from last week, to shed some light on the Chinese gold market to provide some clarity:

[..]

Simply put, the Chinese government is trying to trigger a national gold craze…and it’s working.

The Chinese public now has gold trading platforms on steroids.

You can buy silver bullion or gold bars at any Chinese bank in four different sizes. Wealth management products tied to gold are skyrocketing in popularity, and the public can now instantly buy, sell, and trade gold 24 hours a day in five different forms with different eight types of services.

Also, for the first time in history, Chinese investors can even trade gold abroad (in London) with the swipe of a “Lucky Gold” card.

[dummass]

Re: China+Gold

I just found Mr. Black's blog through a different route.

I think it's worth a re-read, especially for Mr. Metalman.

Does anyone know anything about this Mr. Black? "Simon Black" was one of two fellas who wrote the Casey Research "Without Borders" newsletter, now spun off as an independent publication to the other fella, "Fitzroy McLean".

He allegedly has been traveling all over Asia and has posted several "road trip" reports, as long as passing along information from regional contacts.

Mr. Black also claims to have a source within the CIC.

http://www.sovereignman.com/finance/...e-gold-market/

I asked Christine Verone, my China insider you heard from last week, to shed some light on the Chinese gold market to provide some clarity:

[..]

Simply put, the Chinese government is trying to trigger a national gold craze…and it’s working.

The Chinese public now has gold trading platforms on steroids.

You can buy silver bullion or gold bars at any Chinese bank in four different sizes. Wealth management products tied to gold are skyrocketing in popularity, and the public can now instantly buy, sell, and trade gold 24 hours a day in five different forms with different eight types of services.

Also, for the first time in history, Chinese investors can even trade gold abroad (in London) with the swipe of a “Lucky Gold” card.

Comment #3:

Kevin T. August 14, 2009 at 10:41 am
I think I have a hunch to why they’re pushing the public to buy gold and silver: in short, what the govt can’t do en masse, that is a $250 Billion purchase of gold without sending the price to $2,500 in no time, they can get every little investor out there in China, and they have many, to try to buy gold and silver within but especially outside of China and then to import it to their home country. And probably after it’s imported, it does not get out of China. And if the Chinese citizens ever try to get it out, the exportation of metals will become illegal. Either way, they could end up with the real world money and the West, for shorting/dumping so much gold and silver over the years, will end up with paper and digital numbers in their accounts backed by nothing other than a broke country.