Economic Overviews

"The American Century Ends, and the Pacific Century begins." Seriously? We say B.S. to that. This moment in history is not the end of American dominance. If anything it is a beginning. In terms of dominance, America has barely rolled up its sleeves. [Let me explain.]

Since the launch of economic reforms in 1978, China has become the world's second-largest economy, the largest merchandise trader, the largest manufacturer and the largest creditor of the U.S...BUT the nation is still a laggard in so many respects that it still can't compete with the United States. Let's take a look at why that is the case.

Most American households are making less money than they would have 14 years ago with adjusted dollars. It begs the question, what is happening with America’s middle class? Why is there a decline?

...The U.S. is destroying itself through senseless (and expensive) warfare and is no longer dancing around the socialist tar pit—it is now diving in [Obamacare]... It is an empire on the brink of losing its position to the next empire. That much is as clear as day. What we find surprising is that so many Americans cling so desperately to the possibility that a collapse can somehow be avoided and that the U.S. will somehow remain "liveable," or at least that the present standards will continue. [The truth of the matter is, unfortunately, that the U.S. is facing a series of hurdles, followed by a cliff. Let me explain.]

What is taking place around the world these days is analogous to the children's game of Musical Chairs, where everyone is happily going round and round at the beginning of the game but they all know that at some point soon the music will stop and those without a chair to sit in will be out of the game! I see PMs as being the chairs and, when the current financial music stops, those without PMs will be left holding nothing but paper money and history is full of examples of paper money suddenly becoming worthless!

Many of those who observe the daily news reports are beginning to figure out that they are being fed misinformation and that neither political party truly represents them or, for that matter, is even concerned for their welfare. Those folks are now navigating in the dark and, as the Great Unravelling progresses, they are being caught unawares and unable to even understand what has occurred, let alone take action to save themselves. [This article attempts to enlighten such individuals as to why such events are unfolding and what the eventual - inevitable - consequences will be for them unless they]..educate themselves and prepare an alternative life.

Do you share concerns about the world today, and the path we are headed on? Do you believe a total economic collapse is a real risk? Many would say it’s a concern but doubt it’s actually going to happen. It’s always been okay, so it probably always will be, is certainly the view that most of us hold. The thing is, though, that it hasn’t always been ok and it could easily happen again. Are you prepared for such an eventuality?

Gold has a long and impressive record of warning of trouble ahead in the global economy. It has usually been right in the past — and it is telling us right now that the outlook is much less secure than the market assumes. You ignore it at your peril.

The plunge in emerging markets that started this year has given us the Fragile Five (Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, Turkey and India), courtesy of Morgan Stanley, because their big current-account deficits mean they are acutely vulnerable to a sudden exit of foreign capital. The trouble is, it isn't true. The next crisis will start, as did the last one, in one of the developed economies [and this time round] it is likely to come from one of these 5 countries:...

News out of Venezuela continues to be quite grim, pointing to further economic deterioration... Here is the the latest: