GOLDBUG: The shift from dollar-based global economy to something else is glacially slow but you can see it happening

Saturday, November 2, 2024

https://www.gold-eagle.com/article/commodity-currency-revolution

The Commodity Currency Revolution
Alasdair Macleod
Author & Head of Research @ Goldmoney
April 7, 2022

*** begin quote ***

We will look back at current events and realise that they marked the change from a dollar-based global economy underwritten by financial assets to commodity-backed currencies. We face a change from collateral being purely financial in nature to becoming commodity based. It is collateral that underwrites the whole financial system.

The ending of the financially based system is being hastened by geopolitical developments. The West is desperately trying to sanction Russia into economic submission, but is only succeeding in driving up energy, commodity, and food prices against itself. Central banks will have no option but to inflate their currencies to pay for it all. Russia is linking the rouble to commodity prices through a moving gold peg instead, and China has already demonstrated an understanding of the West’s inflationary game by having stockpiled commodities and essential grains for the last two years and allowed her currency to rise against the dollar.China and Russia are not going down the path of the West’s inflating currencies. Instead, they are moving towards a sounder money strategy with the prospect of stable interest rates and prices while the West accelerates in the opposite direction.

The Credit Suisse analyst, Zoltan Pozsar, calls it Bretton Woods III. This article looks at how it is likely to play out, concluding that the dollar and Western currencies, not the rouble, will have the greatest difficulty dealing with the end of fifty years of economic financialisation.

Pure finance is being replaced with commodity finance

*** end quote ***

We’ve seen the price of gold in dollars rise.  ₿itcoin is another example of the little people seeking to save in the face of massive inflation.  And, those ₿itcoiners who are holding on for dear life (aka HODLers) are obviously big winners and just don’t let go.

Some Gooferment just levied a 42% tax on ₿itcoin capital gains.  Good luck collecting that.  That’s why self-custody is almost mandatory.  I can see generations of family practicing tax evasion and avoidance as wealth is transferred inter-generationally by means of ₿itcoin, precious metal “coins” (i.e., rounds), and other hard invisible assets.  

For the “tiny savers”, for whom the price of gold and silver is too big a barrier to entry, ₿itcoin and Goldbacks are low cost ways to enter the market.

Not every seismic change happens quickly like a Tsunami, Earthquake, or Hurricane.  But like small tremors lead up to a big quake, this is happening right before us.

—30—


GOLDBUG: When priced in gold, beer was $3 a litre in 301AD

Friday, February 17, 2023

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2023/02/alasdair-macleod/golds-return-as-money/

Gold’s Return as Money
By Alasdair Macleod
Goldmoney
February 17, 2023

*** begin quote ***

To confirm gold’s price stability, we can go even further back to the time of Diocletian, who produced his edict of maximum prices in 301AD. The circumstances were that the purchasing power of the denarii coin was falling due to its debasement. From the edict, we find that a gramme of gold was fixed at 216 denarii, giving us a conversion value for goods listed in the edict for comparison with today. From this, we know that in today’s currency pork was about $4 a pound, sea fish about $8 a pound and a dozen eggs $3.32. Vin ordinaire was $2.96 for a 75cl bottle, and good quality wine $11.10 a bottle. Beer was $3 a litre. Clearly, prices for staples which we still consume were similar to today, irrefutable evidence that gold valued as money is stable even over thousands of years. 

*** end quote ***

The gold standard did not collapse. Governments abolished it in order to pave the way for inflation. The whole grim apparatus of oppression and coercion — policemen, customs guards, penal courts, prisons, in some countries even executioners — had to be put into action in order to destroy the gold standard. Solemn pledges were broken, retroactive laws were promulgated, provisions of constitutions and bills of rights were openly defied. And hosts of servile writers praised what the governments had done and hailed the dawn of the fiat-money millennium. — Ludwig von Mises

I always use my three silver dimes for a gallon of gas in the Sixties to demonstrate that the “dollar” has lost its purchasing power due to inflation.  That and “penny candy” which has long since disappeared. 

I can’t translate what $3 per liter of beer equates to, money wise BUT, (and there is always a BIG butt), I do know that a liter is about 33 fluid ounces. That’s about two 16 ounce bottles that I pay 6$ each for at the local tavern.

So in 301AD two bottles would be 3$ and today it’s 12$.

So when the politicians and bureaucrats tell you “what inflation?”, you can tell them %$^#&@( themselves.

Argh!

—30—


GOLDBUG: When does the clock strike midnight and Cinderella’s dream world end?

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2022/11/alasdair-macleod/the-upside-down-world-of-currency/

The Upside-Down World of Currency
By Alasdair Macleod
Goldmoney
November 19, 2022

*** begin quote ***

The gap between fiat currency values and that of legal money, which is gold, has widened so that dollars retain only 2% of their pre-1970s value, and for sterling it is as little as 1%. Yet it is commonly averred that currency is money, and gold is irrelevant.

*** and ***

At some stage, the inversion of monetary reality, where legal money is priced in fiat, will change. Instead of legal money being priced in fiat, fiat currencies will be priced in legal money. But that will be the death of the fiat swindle.

*** end quote ***

Goldbugs have been predicting disaster since the 60’s when the welfare / warfare state went financially nuts.

It’s hard not to be a permanent-bear when the “facts” seem so obvious.

Nothing seems to wake up “We, The Sheeple” who are sleepwalking towards this economic disaster.

Look at modern day Japan that has a debt to GDP of 230%.  The USA is 124%.  This is pure insanity.

What can we tell future generations other than “sorry suckers; deal with it”?

What should we be telling people to do?  Like Casandra, the Oracle at Delphi, who could see the future but couldn’t change it.

If I was advising a youngster, then it would be to study and live like the Amish. Buy land, do some farming, bury some bullion, get a cheap education, minimize your wants, and prepare for the hard times to come.

Success for your generation is: (1) ruthless financial discipline — no bad debt; (2) a life long interest in learning — education — a degree — they can’t take it away from you; (3) a NON-OFFSHORABLE white collar job in order to save big bux; (4) a blue collar skill for hard times — never saw a poor plumber; (5) one or more internet based businesses — your store is always open; (6) a free time hobby that generates income; and (7) a large will-maintained network of people who can “help” you.

Like the Amish!

Argh!

—30—