Consumers in our modern market economy primarily use government fiat debt-based currency. Historically and currently, these currencies are inflated and debased by central bankers. Quite possibly THE key factor to understand is the concept of interest rates, and the “real” interest rate I will introduce in this article. FULL ARTICLE

The following quotations from Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve are taken from the transcript of his June 3 speech to Congress. All emphasis marks are mine. The reader should be aware that I have very short fuse when dealing with Mr. Bernanke.  To discover why, please read “Bernanke’s Great Lie – The “Gold Standard” and the Great Depression” for more details.  (emblem) Continue reading →

The following is a message from Alan Greenspan’s “vaunted Federal Reserve” to the “Average Man.”  (Hat-tip to LeMetropoleCafe.com for the lead.)  (photo)

On January 17th, 1978, Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns stated from the meeting transcript (emphasis mine):

“You know, the American public, in contrast to some or many of our politicians–perhaps most of them–is very deeply concerned about inflation. People all over the country have been asking themselves the question:

“What can I do to protect my family? What can I do to protect my children, my family, and myself against the ravages of inflation? And gradually the thought has evolved and is spreading rapidly that, on the negative side, putting money in the bank or a savings and loan account is no protection.

“Buying bonds, Treasury bonds or corporate bonds, is no protection. Buying common stocks is no protection. It used to be a major protection but it no longer is.

“Then what is left? Well, gold or paintings. But the average man cannot invest in gold; he doesn’t know how. It’s not something he’s accustomed to. Likewise with paintings. Continue reading →

This is the first of several articles on Ellen Brown’s superb 2007 book titled “Web of Debt,” now updated in a December 2008 third edition. It tells “the shocking truth about our money system, (how it) trapped us in debt, and how we can break free.” Given today’s global economic crisis, it’s an appropriate time to review it and urge readers to digest the entire work, easily gotten through Amazon or Brown’s webofdebt.com site. Her book is a remarkable achievement – in its scope, depth, and importance.

In the forward, banker/developer Reed Simpson said:

“I have been a banker for most of my career, and I can report that even most bankers (don’t know) what goes on behind (top echelon) closed doors….I am more familiar than most with the issues (Brown covered, and) still found it an eye-opener, a remarkable window into what is really going on….(Although many banks follow high ethical practices), corruption is also rampant, (especially) in the large money center banks, in one of which I worked.” FULL ARTICLE

A State-run gold standard occurs when the State controls by force the monetary arrangements. States have done this in all sorts of ways and with many degrees of control. Money then becomes, wholly or in part, a product of the State, not solely of the free market. Monetary freedom is suppressed. FULL ARTICLE

The People’s Republic of China announced a rise in its official holdings from 600 metric tons to 1,054 tons, making the country the world’s #5 holder of gold reserves.  The 600 metric ton level had remained constant since 2003. While a rise of 454 tons sounds like a lot, at $900 USD per troy ounce, this is “only” $13 billion.

The United States has reported the largest reserves – over 8,100 tons, but GATA (the Gold Anti-Trust Committee) reports these holdings may not exist as they are strangely reported as “Deep Storage Gold.”  Continue reading →

Credit is neither good nor evil. Some economists point out that credit is not even necessary, but most would agree that credit has enabled many individuals and companies to grow much faster than they otherwise could have. However, not many would challenge the claim that credit has also ruined the lives of many, even though modern society has (somewhat) moved away from debtor’s prisons.  FULL ARTICLE

If the world population widely understands the above and begin to both acquire the physical metal and clamor for the restoration of gold and silver as honest money, governments and central bankers could very well lose what is amounting to a stranglehold over the global economy. The world would realize that central banks are not needed whatsoever.  FULL ARTICLE

Last weekend, Ben Bernanke took an unprecedented gamble for a sitting Fed Chairman: he granted a long-form interview to 60 Minutes, America’s most watched news program. There can be no doubt that the interview came about as the result of a coordinated strategy between the Obama Administration and the Federal Reserve. But was the decision to offer the public a rare look at the inner workings of the central bank an act of resolution or desperation? FULL ARTICLE