A couple weeks ago, we shared a segment of Peter Schiff’s recent interview with Reason TV. Here is the full interview with Reason’s Matt Welch from FreedomFest 2015. They discuss the future of the United States economy, the upcoming presidential election, and China’s relationship to the US.
Things change quickly when they change. This idea that America is an all-powerful nation is just an idea. It’s based on a myth. At one time that was true. We were a mighty nation. We did manufacture the goods that everyone wanted to buy. We were the lowest cost producer of manufactured goods. We had the most economic freedom. We had the lowest rates of taxes, the fewest regulations. We were a very free society… We built an incredible country based on those principles. We’ve abandoned those principles, and the wealth has been abandoned as well.”
This article is written by Peter Schiff and originally published by Euro Pacific Capital. Find it here.
In his July 17th blog post, “Let’s Get Real About Gold”, author and Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Zweig likened investor interest in gold with the “Pet Rock” craze of the 1970s, when consumers became convinced that a rock in a box would provide continuous companionship, elevate their social standing, and give them something hip to talk about at parties. Zweig asserts that investor faith in gold, which he argues is just another inert mineral with good marketing, is similarly irrational, and has kept people from putting money in the much more lucrative stock market.
First off, Zweig’s comparison of gold to equities as an investment vehicle sets up a false dichotomy. Gold is not an investment. It is, as Zweig indicates, nothing but a rock. But it is a rock that is extremely scarce, with highly desirable physical properties that have resulted in its being used as money for all of recorded human history. As a result, it should not be compared to stocks or real estate, but to other forms of money, such as any one of a number of fiat currencies now in circulation. Ironically, in a world awash in fiat currencies that are created at an ever increasing pace, and whose value is solely derived from faith in the issuing state, gold is the only form of money whose value does not require a leap of faith.
Jim Grant joined Kitco News to share his thoughts on the gold market. Author of The Forgotten Depression and publisher of Grant’s Interest Rate Observer, Grant is one of the most reserved and staunch gold bulls in the financial media. Grant admits he is extremely frustrated with the gold market given the underlying fundamentals of the global economy. But with his typically patient demeanor, he maintains that now is a great opportunity to buy. Grant prefers to invest in non-numismatic, physical gold bullion, like Krugerrands. He also buys gold mining stocks.
We are in one of the most radical periods of monetary experimenting in the annals of money. It could be this all works out. That is a possibility. I rate that as a very low probability. For that reason, you want to have exposure to the reciprocal asset of the paper assets that are now most popular. Gold to me is now the conjunction of price, value, and sentiment. I am very bullish indeed.”
Banks in Greece reopened on Monday, and even with strict withdrawal limits in effect, it at least gave the appearance of a return to normalcy. But Greeks also woke up Monday to a painful new reality that should serve as a warning to Americans.
Massive tax hikes went into effect, part of the austerity measures demanded by creditors in the latest bailout deal. As the AP reported, the increased taxes are another blow to Greeks already battered by years of economic crisis.
There are few parts of the Greek economy left untouched by the steep increase in the sales tax from 13 to 23 percent. The new rates have been imposed on basic goods, from cooking oil to condoms, as well as to popular services, such as taxi rides, eating out at restaurants and ferry transport to the Greek islands.
“The tax hikes are part of a package of austerity measures that also include pension cuts and other reforms that the Greek government had to introduce for negotiations to begin on a crucial third bailout.”
Gold is power.
We know that gold historically holds its value over time and serves to preserve wealth, especially in times of economic chaos. But gold also offers its holder political power.
Countries that stockpile gold create a foundation of stability for their monetary systems. This is precisely why China is increasing its gold holdings. As we reported last week, China now boasts the fifth largest story of physical gold in the world. The country continues to buy up the precious metal as it eyes a more dominant role in the world’s monetary system.
But it’s not just countries looking to gold to provide political clout and economic power. Texas recently laid the groundwork for its own gold depository. The reason? To wrest some economic power from the Federal Reserve by bringing some monetary autonomy to the Lone Star State.
Under the original Coinage Act of 1792, drafted by Alexander Hamilton, the penalty for debasing a coin was death.
Under that law, President Lyndon B. Johnson was guilty of a capital offense.
Fifty years ago today, Johnson signed the Coinage Act of 1965, setting into motion five decades of currency debasement that continues today. Under the law, silver dimes and quarters would no longer contain silver. Instead, the Treasury would mint coins made of “composites, with faces of the same alloy used in our 5-cent piece that is bonded to a core of pure copper.”
Today, we call pre-1965 dimes and quarters “junk silver,” but we really should be calling the modern coins junk, because that’s what they’re worth.
Jim Rickards appeared on Bloomberg to explain why gold hasn’t actually lost any real value. It’s just the strength of the dollar that has pushed down nearly all commodities and currencies. Rickards argues that now is a very good time to buy the yellow metal, especially if you’re looking for the safest way to preserve your wealth from fluctuations in fiat currencies.
The following article was written by Keith Weiner of Monetary Metals and recommended by our Precious Metals Specialists. Any views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of Peter Schiff or SchiffGold.
Lions, Tigers, and Gold Bears, Oh My!
We can’t count how many articles we saw today, bemoaning gold going down. The price action is bad for gold (whatever that means). China underreported their gold holdings. No, China doesn’t care about gold. No they want the price to go down so they can buy it cheap. No, they want to convince the IMF to include the yuan (which has capital controls, by the way) into the SDR basket. No, China really intends to revalue gold (whatever that means).
This is your brain on dollars. Any questions?
Fox Business asked Peter Schiff to explain why investors should continue to hold on to their gold, rather than sell it at a loss. Peter clarified that he has never recommended investing only in gold and not in stocks. Instead, owning gold is a way to protect yourself from fiat money and central bank policy.
A lot of people were as bullish on stocks…in 1999, and they were that bearish on gold. But again, I’ve never told people to sell all their stocks and hold only gold. I tell people to have 10-15% of your portfolio in gold. I stand by that allocation. But I think stocks are very expensive in the US. I think they are more expensive in general than they were in 2000, because the Fed has given more help to the market.”
In his podcast released yesterday evening, Peter Schiff explains why the price of gold plunged on Sunday night. More importantly, he reminds investors why gold is not a faith-based asset, like fiat money. He also reviews China’s relationship to gold, and compares the current market to the last time a bear market in gold ended.
I am convinced, when his market turns, it’s going to be vicious. When the people who have been selling their gold try to buy it back, it isn’t going to be there. Because the people who have been buying into the selling… they’re not going to turn around and sell it. When the speculative sellers are gone, there are no sellers left… I think the market is going to go up even faster than it has come down…
