Is Fragility the real culprit?

[blazespinnaker]

It seems to me that the 900 pound gorilla in the room isn't any one particular thing, but rather the general fragility of the world at this point in time.

Much like in 1914 when the assasination of archduke ferdinand set off World War I, we are in a world when pretty much any particular significant event could trigger a meltdown.

We have a presidency in transition - a black democrat elected over a highly partisan, highly racist superpower. We have Pakistan/India, Russia and its neighbours, Israel and the middle east, and terrorists everywhere ready to light a fire at the first opportunity. On top of all this, we have a world economy teetering on the edge.

I think the argument for being in Gold isn't so much inflation/deflation, but rather, insurance against a wildfire in a geopolitical forest of extremely dry timber.. at least until we return to some semblance of calm and normality.

Personally, I don't believe meltdown is an inevitability, but we have to appreciate that the minute hand is awfully close to the 12 o'clock position these days.

And doomsday might be something much worse than just a nuclear bomb blowing up somewhere..

[goadam1]

Re: Is Fragility the real culprit?

I agree. I don't want to be called a doomer but...

This isn't a parlor game to guess the price of gold. This is a time to wonder about how to take care of your business and family.

I don't know about the rest of you but things feel off. The world seems to complex and that we are just waiting for something.

[strittmatter]

Re: Is Fragility the real culprit?

I agree. I don't want to be called a doomer but...

This isn't a parlor game to guess the price of gold. This is a time to wonder about how to take care of your business and family.

I don't know about the rest of you but things feel off. The world seems to complex and that we are just waiting for something.

Agreed.

For the past two years I've not been able to shake the nagging underlying notion that something "drastically changing" was just over the horizon - that seemingly we were playing out the final act in this blockbuster chapter. I have a wife, three kids, a big family and a business. The past six months have been a blur, as never before in my 41 years have I had so many "AH HA" moments.

From the info and insight within this forum and a few others, I have tried like hell to reposition/hedge/prepare myself and my crew the best way I know how.

This is NOT a doomer post from a doomer. I've just never really felt this "sober".

Mid January - real SHTF?

[Serge_Tomiko]

Re: Is Fragility the real culprit?

We have a presidency in transition - a black democrat elected over a highly partisan, highly racist superpower.

No nation in the history of mankind has accept so many people of other races as has the United States in the past 30 years. Those nations founded by the descendants of the native peoples of Europe, the United States included, are the only places in the world where people of different races live and work together. This is a fact. I am deeply offended by your assertion the United States is a "highly racist superpower".

[Adeptus]

Re: Is Fragility the real culprit?

I think you left out a few items: (not even close to a complete list...)

• Greece in a country-wide strike & riots breaking out
• Britain contemplating switching the Pound for the Euro :rolleyes:
• Treasury bubble *may* burst :eek:
• Comex *may* eventuall default on delivery
• CDS derivatives still unwinding
• Hedge Funds still unwinding :rolleyes:
• CDO blow-ups still to come :eek:
• Corporate Bonds not doing so hot :confused:
• Real Estate in nearly 30 countries continues a downward slide
• AIG just lost another 10 billion :mad:
• Big 3 Automakers just got 15 billion to burn :mad:
• Goldman Sachs recommending buy CDS against 6+ States :confused:
• Monthly Unemployment figures hitting record highs in Canada, US, UK, and probably a long list of other countries
• Stock market index Elliot Wave 5 (down) is yet to hit :eek:
• BrettonWoods III still in the works :confused:
• The FDICs of the world can't cover all bank deposits
• USA basically insolvent (same for UK, Spain, *insert long list of countries here*) :cool:
• Chinese YUAN 25-35% devaluing against USD, Russia's next, GPB will dive much lower, USD setup for eventual massive dive :eek:
• ZIRP/liquidation trap around the corner for a multitude of countries:confused:
• FED wants to play Treasurer (Fed to sell debt?) :confused: :confused:
• US Medicare/Medicaid etc, insolvent beyond repair
• Oil may still go lower :p
• IMF can't bailout the world (thank god!)
• G7 or G20 meetings yielded no result :confused:
• EU - what's good for one country is devistating for another :rolleyes:
• Iran still working on nukes. God only knows wtf North Korea is cooking up.
• Tibet still being oppressed by China
• Somali pirates continue taking over big ships
• USA still playing world police at the cost of thousands of lives and billion$ a day. US foreign policy needs massive overhaul. Like 180 degrees.
• Several African countries (Congo, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone....insert long list here), are going from a very very bad situation, into utter chaos.
• Western youth morality at an all time low (What do you expect with all those reality TV shows?)
• Baby boomer's retirement funds are in a highly questionable position.
• Argentina and governments of several other countries contemplating taking over pension funds to bail out their countries.
• With the world finances in such a mess, the Environment continues to take severe beatings. Kyoto agreement, what Kyoto agreement?:mad:
• Did I mention we're screwed? Oh but don't worry, I'm an optimist... if I wasn't I'd be in a psychological depression for sure!

Adeptus

PS. Personally, I'm looking forward to alien intervention. What? You got a better solution to this mess? Hey God, your Windows version Earth is crashing, time to hit the reset button, eh?

[pwcmba]

Re: Is Fragility the real culprit?

What was the big crises in '79/'80 anyway? Looks like child's play now.