I decided to split off my postings of economic links from Jim's Thoughts, so that I can get that topic back to what it was intended to be, a place for me to post trading ideas and thoughts I had that I felt could be of interest to the readers.

This topic is where I will post links to various economic articles, for those that find them interesting. If you want to read (or post) articles about the unfolding debaucle, this is the place to look. If you are a short-term daytrader or swing trader and have zero interest in the economy, you can now just read Jim's Thoughts and not have to wade through this type of dicussion.

At best I think this material only has a direct effect on longer-term plays, the bigger swings that make up the major legs of the bull and bear markets. I follow this stuff for that reason, and because I want to have a handle on things, if that is even possible in this era of lies and deception, so that I can make decisions on life issues.

For example, as I posted in the commentary on the website and discussed with many people well in advance, this was something that wasn't hard to see coming. I saw many people who told me as late as Oct 2007 that 'this thing is about to 'break out' to the upside, and that Dow 20,000, and then much higher, was 'just around the corner' '. The type of articles I am posting discuss the type of information that helped me form the viewpoints I had back then.

If this is far from over, as I suspect, we are in a similar postion now as back then. With the rally that is unfolding right now the talk is the bull is back, the bottom is in, and we are set. I'm not so sure. So, I try to weigh up all the factors and not get too sucked in by the hype. To that end, I will post things here I find interesting.

Our country, our lifestyles, our very lives are in danger. This is just so infuriating. I don't know what all of you are doing, but I'm just being destoyed by medical insurance and costs. If you have any issues, which I do, you are just thrown under the bus. Look at the second link, his costs are over $67K per year for a regular insurance plan for his family. Yes, you read that right, and yes, that is just for a standard medical insurance plan. Seriously. Then you have the deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and all that on top of the premiums. The middle class is done.

http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/25-shocking-facts-that-prove-that-the-entire-u-s-health-care-industry-has-become-one-giant-money-making-scam

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/insurance-weather-goldie-and-snb

This is a repost from the trading thread, posted here for reference.


This is a must read (it's quick) for all those that wonder why I keep going on and on about the dollar (and all fiat currencies, which is all of them) going to zero. Literally zero. What this guy lays out is basically my exact scenario. Take it with a grain of salt, but I think it is the most likely outcome.

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/doug-casey-precious-metals-vs-usd

Here's a simplified version of what I was talking about in regards to the buying power of the USD versus the DX index. It doesn't say anything new or more detailed than I posted elsewhere, but it's a good, graphical explanation. I just saw a 'famous' guy on TV the other day explaining the dollar all in terms of the DX. He, and the rest, are just completely clueless, they just don't get it. Even if the DX was rising like crazy, the purchasing power would still be dropping.

The DX is just a way to measure the relative destruction compared to the rate of destruction of the other currencies. Note that in Euros crude is at the 2008 high. To a European, crude is relatively higher in price than it is for us in the U.S., compared to the 2008 peak. Yet the Euro is 'strong', the dollar 'weak', and crude is priced in dollars, which are getting a great exchange rate with the Euro (for them). How is that possible? All fiats are being destroyed, that's how.

http://dollarcollapse.com/inflation/one-chart-two-ways-to-measure-the-dollars-decline/

If you want a long (and I mean long) article that really gets at what we are faced with going forward, this one is for you. If you want detail, and deep, critical thinking on what is unfolding, take the time for this one. I highly recommend reading it. If you want a quip soundbite, this isn't for you. But, if what this guy says is what is unfolding (it's my most likely scenario), you'd want to grasp this on a deeper level. This article is a great start, and is serious food for thought.

http://fofoa.blogspot.com/2011/04/deflation-or-hyperinflation.html

Look at the second chart. Click on it to see the full-sized version. It's an eye opener, what our country has become...

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/here-who-funding-consumer-credit-ytd

QE3...QEinfinity coming:

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/qa-jim-grant-look-qe-3-through-qe-n

I just don't think people understand what is coming. We are nearing the currency collapse stage. People don't grasp what that actually means, what that will look like in our actual lives. And who will it hurt the most? Savers, and the ones who have been most responsible. If you are a 'well-capitalized' trader, one who held debt down, and has a trading account of any size, you are going to be flame-broiled.

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/guest-post-economic-death-spiral-has-been-triggered

I can only hope. And hope, and hope, and hope...

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/sp-400-technical-case

Some disagree with the viewpoint in this article. For the most part, I don't. I can only see currency collapse, slow or fast, who knows. One way or another, it's all I can see, though.

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/qe3-or-not-qe3-and-does-it-matter

I forgot, I do have another hero to go with Ron Paul and David Stockman, and that's Nigel Farage. Here's his latest:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-04-17/farage-unleashed-you-are-common-criminals