What may play out will probably take much longer than some would think. The banksters will keep this going as long as they can, and not before they've been able to position themselves to profit from the way the world comes to view money. I believe this means going to some kind of gold standard, but not necessarily anything close to a pure gold standard.

At this point, I believe the system is as much capable of an inflationary depression as it is a deflationary one, ...has to do with the speed of money, not productivity or the lack thereof.

Some argue there is not enough gold above gound for a gold standard in the US, let alone the world, but this is an ignorant, or biased argument, because gold can trade in mico-grams on paper cirtficates and/or by electronic entries just as money does at present. Of course, the bullion will have to be on deposit somewhere.

Also, and for a commodity-based money, proven wealth IN THE GROUND can be used as an asset to help back a currenty. It's happened in history, and can happen again.

In the worst case, our currency will not become completely worthless. You will, I'm sure, be able to trade it in for the new currency, though the rate of exchange may feel like the dollars you hold now have become nearly worthless.

If such plays out again, is holding bullion now a good idea? It was not in the Great Depression when the government confiscated gold paying, I think, 28 dollars an ounce, then raised the price for international transactions to 35 dollars, stealing 25 percent from those who earlier traded in their gold. Miners and shareholders in miners were not hurt, though. They gained substantially by the new price.

...just a few thoughts. Gott'a cut this short. Bye.

VP