Q: Don't laugh at me, but what is a deficit? A: It's actually not a dumb question. Here's why.

It’s been exactly two years since Standard & Poor’s did the unthinkable and downgraded the U.S. government’s debt rating...and yet, it’s as if it never happened…

At this point, thanks to a long-standing policy of wanton money printing, the Fed has more liabilities than ever before in its history - by an enormous margin - and this precarious balance sheet is dangerous, because if the Fed goes bust, everyone loses [- including YOU. Let me explain why that is the case]. Words: 398

Anyone that thinks that the U.S. economy can keep going along like this is absolutely crazy. We are in the terminal phase of an unprecedented debt spiral which has allowed us to live far, far beyond our means for the last several decades. Unfortunately, all debt spirals eventually end, and they usually do so in a very disorderly manner.

Little has been done in the past six years to restructure economies and cut debt i.e. learn the lessons of 2008. Because we’ve partially recovered from that traumatic period, that’s led to complacency. All the while, the debt that caused the bust in the first place has compounded and threatens to undo the world again. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

This article brings you up to date as to the degree of current bearish sentiment regarding both gold and silver using 5 sentiment indicators (with 9 illustrative charts), as well as provides you with an opportunity to observe the price outcome of previous bearish extremes using these sentiment indicators.

It would appear that the price of gold has fallen enough to qualify as a "bear market," and we've begun hearing about what a terrible investment gold is now… and throughout recorded history. Below are the 12 most commonly-spread myths about gold as an investment.

Risk is inevitably mispriced when unprecedented intervention suppresses risk [and, as such, the] policies that appear to have been successful for the past four years may continue to appear successful for a year or two longer but that very success comes at a steep, and as yet unpaid, price in suppressed systemic risk, cost, and consequence. [This article identifies 8] key dynamics that will continue to play out over the next two to three years [and an] understanding of the eventual consequence of such influential trends - that risk is inevitably mispriced when unprecedented intervention suppresses risk. Words: 1299

As the year comes to an end, it is natural to reflect back on what has occurred. From an economic standpoint, there has been no improvement. The economy is barely above water and nearing exhaustion from treading water so long. Will it have the energy to get through 2013 or will it succumb to the forces that are dragging it down? [For the answer] I invite you to look at these 12 charts below. They should disabuse you of any misplaced optimism.

Injecting massive amounts of liquidity into the banking system can spur dramatic economic growth if that liquidity is used. On the other hand, if public perception is negative and fearful, that liquidity remains untapped and no growth occurs. We are in a new earnings season and for the most part - based on lowered expectations - the numbers are looking OK so what should we expect based on these modestly improving numbers? Words: 2176