Italy Bailing Out…Italy!

Hello my favorite readers! Sorry for writing much less lately than I have in the past. It’s been a busy few months!

I know many of you enjoy getting these articles and for my clients, I know you enjoy ‘checking in” on my thinking. With that said, and with the messy financial world we all live in, I thought it was time for a state of the world outline article.

The best headline from today comes from super sarcastic (and super informative) financial blog ZeroHedge:

Europe Is Now Officially Bazooko’s Circus – Italy To Provide €23.5 Billion In IMF Cash To Bailout Italy

Basically, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) ‘rescue” package for Europe needed some more funding and apparently the big contributors will be Germany, France and Italy. The fact that this rescue fund goes toward backing the debt of the affected European countries (including Italy) means that Italy will be borrowing funds to provide for its own bailout.

As ludicrous as this sounds, it’s become all too commonplace in today’s financial world where highly educated “smart” people dazzle the masses with [Read more...]

Watch This European Politician at Work as He Blasts the Whole Idea of the EMU

Nigel Farage, Member of European Parliament (MEP) sharing what he thinks about the situation in Europe and especially how unelected “technocrats” (hot word of the year) are running things and pushing aside elected officials (basically “smart” people know what’s best for the people, not the dumb average voter, ie YOU).

Quite, quite entertaining – blasting the failed Euro experiment:

And more on Euro technocrats usurping elected officials’ power:

Always “Count” Your Change

“Wow they sound fake”

~ my friend Joe commenting when I dropped these quarters on the desk

 

I had lunch today and the bill came to just over $10. I plunked down $15 and the server brought me back my change. When she put down the tray, I noticed the quarters make an odd sounding clang. So I looked closer:

I noticed the dates – a bit old right? And what were quarters and silver (hint) dollars made from before 1965? You curious what these are worth? This site is helpful: Coinflation

Bottom line for me – lunch cost me NEGATIVE 6 bucks:) as each quarter is worth just under $6 with today’s silver price.

The side lesson here is now you know how much prices have risen since 1965. At the time, the quarter had the purchasing power of $6 in today’s money. Inflation destroys purchasing power and makes us all poorer. Right now, in their efforts to prop up banks, the European region, and bond & stock markets, central banks worldwide are printing money, easing interest rates and buying bonds – basically cheapening the currency. Learn to protect yourself.

Interestingly, regarding the headline quote from my friend Joe – isn’t it funny when REAL money sounds “fake” to people and the quarters made from cheap metal sound “real?” Take that into considering when thinking whether or not you are being hoodwinked by government leaders bent on printing confetti money to “solve” our problems.

Bottom line question to ask – if you plan on living another 20-40 years, will your income keep up with cost increases like this (25c to $6 in 45 years)? Take appropriate actions.

Note: for some ideas on financially protecting yourself, go to my company website here: Walnut Hill Advisors, LLC

Americans Are Lazy and Should Work More for Less-Video

Marc Faber, in an excellent analysis during a CNBC interview (video below), lays out the current economic landscape. For example:

US and Europe can not grow without debt cleansing

Protesters should go after Congress & lobbyists, not Wall St

Regulations impede initiative – net investment in US has dropped for 20 years

Investments have gone overseas, less and less investment in US

Lack of savings is problem of USA

USA needs someone to stand in front of them and tell them  ”listen you lazy bugger, you have to save more, and work more for lower salaries”

The rich are coddled in the US 

Governments in US have grown like a cancer, and they stay in power – Obama has no clue, jumps on Occupy Wall St crowd because he can pick on minority (Wall St) and “buy” votes

I personally like when someone speaks the truth without BS, and without coddling the listener. Most people are telling Americans to blame someone else and that problems will be fixed. They won’t be fixed – we have too much debt and too many disincentives and MAL-incentives. people are motivated to do the wrong thing by government policy (make more not working), by interest rate policy (borrow too much and take too much risk) and by changing ethics (don’t take responsibility – it’s cool).

Faber is saying the opposite…