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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAhqqQt35Lk&feature=popt00us10

http://seekingalpha.com/article/211202-niall-ferguson-u-s-fiscal-crisis-will-likely-occur-within-2-years?source=hp_wc http://www.tulving.com/ http://apmex.com/ http://www.bulliondirect.com/ http://www.providentmetals.com/ The guys I follow (a blog) are kind of split up on how badly this will end. My fear is even if we had a slim chance of getting out, the gulf is what is known as a black swan. Still being downplayed as much as possible. BP still in charge, why? I believe this way the current admin and finance knucklheads/Goldman Alumn will be able to say, what we did in QE, stimulus and bailouts would have worked (NOT). But blame BP for the current state of the nation and let us keep working (possible martial law). Sorry, I never had faith in the fiscal policy and the Gulf is the final nail (IMHO). For the conspiracy folks, isn't it funny how this happened just after the okay for more offshore was given. Also notice how quiet the environmental groups are? And finally (who knows if this is true) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-borowitz/goldman-sachs-reveals-it_b_558774.html

Priorities in our society have changed with every generation. The hottest cell phone, Lady GaGa, Farmville, and the list goes on. Everyone's out swiping these days, myself included. The difference is that I know how much is in my accounts and my credit limits and thus do not engage in "sprees". Our children are growing up thinking that money is free .. swipe and voila! you have what you want in an instant! Car & Home? Fill out some paperwork and voila! it's yours. What I'm saying isn't directly relevant, but what I'm getting at is this... Few have actual knowledge of finance, much less micro-, macro- and global economics. No one Not enough people are educated and aware of their own finances to even care. hehe, they "can't afford to give a damn". With that being said, we must start somewhere. It's our duty, as parents, to teach our children that though we swipe, that money has to come from somewhere and is never free. This should begin very early on. My 3 yo son watches me from his carseat as I swipe for gas. We must sit with them, before they head off to college, and are bombarded with credit offers, and show them our bills, our accounts, our bank statements. It's pertinent that they know what those contracts (car & home) really say and that by simply signing their name could cost them more in the end. Buying a home for $500k and paying an extensive fee to the agent who handles it for you. Amortize for 30 yrs (20 if you can) and pay multiple times more than the principal (which is the $500k) over that 30 yr period (can you say 'second mortgage'?). In that contract you could end up paying for everything if you don't know what you're doing. Fiduciary duty has loopholes too; and as always...greed will exploit them. We need to equip them with as much "in hand" or "hands on" experience as we can so that there is a clear understanding of their responsibility. In this day financial freedom is a myth for most because they have not earned it (via accountability). My 23 yr old cousin just told me that he is going to file bankruptcy so that his parents can transfer the family's vehicles into his name and then turn around and file bankruptcy themselves (for the 2nd time). Don't worry though! (he says) They're building up my other cousin's credit (since he's 18 now) so that they can buy a house in his name. They all drive nice cars, have the latest fashions and the best cellphones every few months. They still live in a sprawling 5br home with over 3k of living space. There are only 3 of them living in the home. I take that back, my grandmother recently relocated and now lives there too. Who pays for all that money they owe when they all successfully file bankruptcy, circumventing the repossession of those large money items that they will continue to use and have not paid for? We have very little debt. None if you compare us to most Americans. It isn't easy, but it's a whole helluva lot better than the alternative. **** .. I want nice things too but I can't have them all at once (we actually save and/or buy things one at a time so that we can have quality things) because I'm responsible and not a leech. It sometimes doesn't seem fair, but it's my principles that will be compromised if I side with the Jones'. Haysus Kreesto...what is this world coming to. Ok sorry if I went on a sorta-off-topic rampage. It's just that while this makes sense to us .. it doesn't to very many. They're too self absorbed to fathom what lie beyond their impulsive desires. On a side note, I think I want to take a few courses to better understand MY MONEY. I know how to stay out of debt, for the most part. I want to learn how to save more and invest wisely. Gold, huh?