Debt & Deficits

For the bulls yesterday's news of a much higher-than-anticipated jump in consumer borrowing is yet more proof that the recovery is on track. [For the bears it is outright confirmation that America's spending is setting it up for a major financial crash! Let me explain.] Words: 527

I believe our fiscal situation is much worse than most people realize. True, the situation might be resolvable with a hard-nosed turnaround specialist in charge [Romney?] but, even here, the emphasis is on “might”! In a political context, where citizens have been conditioned to believe they are entitled to live at the expense of government (i.e other citizens because, after all, government has nothing that it first does not take from someone else), the situation is beyond hopeless. Let me address the true economic situation of the U.S. by way of an email I received from a regular reader recently. Words: 615

The U.S. government is spending more than a trillion dollars more than it takes in every year...[which] all gets into the pockets of ordinary Americans [who,] in turn,...use that money to pay the mortgage, buy food, shop at the mall, etc. - creating a "false prosperity" bubble that is not real. It may feel real to you right now, but it is unsustainable...We are living in the greatest debt bubble the world has ever seen and, as such, a devastating economic collapse is on the horizon no matter what we do [so] don't let this false prosperity and this "calm before the storm" fool you...There is going to be a massive amount of pain so you might want to get yourself and your family prepared for that. [Let me explain.] Words: 1211

Lots of iconic brands have filed for bankruptcy recently. Some blamed weak consumer demand, others pointed to rising commodity costs and pension demands. In any case, you can count on many more companies to follow suit. Here is a list of the 17 largest companies with the greatest probability of financial distress. Words: 571

Canada has the lowest total debt-to-GDP ratio of the world's 10 largest economies (Australia is 2nd best, Germany 3rd and the U.S 4th) while the U.K. and Japan are 9th and 10th but when such debt is broken down by sectors the findings are quite different. Let's take a look. Words: 800

Countries around the world, particularly in the West, are hopelessly in the red, with debt rising every day. Even worse, politicians seem paralyzed, unable -- or unwilling -- to do anything about it. It is a global disaster that threatens the immediate future... [Let me explain.] Words: 1132

Evidence shows that the U.S. money supply trend is in the early stages of hyperbolic growth coupled with a similar move in the price of gold. All sign point to a further escalation of money-printing in 2012...followed by unexpected and accelerating price inflation, followed by a rise in nominal interest rates that will bring a sovereign debt crisis for the U. S. dollar with it as the cost of borrowing for the government escalates...[Let me show you the evidence.] Words: 660

Question: What do you get when you mix negative real interest rates with stimulative money supply efforts by global central banks? Answer: An exceptionally potent formula for higher gold prices that could send gold to the unimaginable level of $10,000 an ounce. [Let me explain further.] Words: 1049

With most of the world’s major economies as well as the financial system bankrupt...most people will rely on governments and central banks to save us but how can anyone possibly believe that totally incompetent and clueless politicians and central bankers could solve the problem they created in the first place... The main objective of governments is to stay in power and thus to buy votes, therefore they are incapable of taking the right decisions and the opposition, aspiring to power, is even less suitable since they will lie through their teeth and promise the earth in order to be elected. So what is the solution? Read on! Words: 2391

In 1956 Hubbert predicted that US oil peak [production] would be sometime between 1969 and 1971 for [which] he was ridiculed...[but it did precisely that - ] in 1970... Then, in 1974, he predicted [that] the world ] production of crude] oil [would] peak [around] 1998 [qualifying that projection by saying] that if OPEC were to restrict the supply, then the peak would be delayed by 10-15 years which would put it at 2008-2013, or exactly right. OK, now is anyone willing to make a bet that Hubbert's THIRD prophecy about the cultural crisis he expected is wrong? Didn't think so. Here it is [- and I include in the article several suggestions on how Hubbert's 3rd forecast might actually be averted were the powers to be agree to take drastic action, which is unlikely]. Words: 1369