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Guest Post: Ben Bernanke's Secret Philanthropy

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Simon Black of SovereignMan blog,

Legendary oilman T. Boone Pickens famously calls America’s oil imports ‘the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the world.’

Pickens is referring to the money that is paid each year to oil exporting nations, particularly those in the Persian Gulf which raked in around $100 billion last year.

No doubt, this is an enormous transfer of wealth. But it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the TRILLIONS that Ben Bernanke gives the world’s elite.

Over the past few years, central banks have created trillions of dollars, most of which they loaned to commercial banks at 0%. The commercial banks then loaned this money to their best customers (and governments) at a slightly higher rate.

The end result is that a huge chunk of those trillions ended up in the pockets of a small handful of people. The banks and their best customers get sweetheart deals to make even more money, while the vast majority of people get screwed with inflation.

For example, the banks here in Singapore loan investment capital to their wealthiest customers at astoundingly low rates, between 0.25% and 1%! And with borrowed funds, they buy cash-producing assets which make even more money– stocks, real estate, and high-yield bonds.

Essentially they borrow at less than 1%, but generate a yield of 8% to 10% on the investment. The bank is practically giving them free money. I call this ‘philanthropy of the wealthy.’ And it starts with Mr. Bernanke.

Naturally, the average guy on the street doesn’t get these deals. Instead, he gets hit with inflation and watches his savings erode. Just this morning, in fact, they announced that Singapore’s inflation hit 4.7% in September, up from 3.9%.

This issue isn’t about rich vs. poor. Creditworthy investors are very sharp to take advantage of the opportunity. And it’s not about Singapore either, this is worldwide.

The issue lies within the system itself– that our ‘free society’ has awarded a tiny elite the supreme power to control the price of money. And in doing so, central bankers steal purchasing power from the many and benefiting the few.

The scale of this theft is in the trillions of dollars. It constitutes, by far, the greatest transfer of wealth in history, vastly exceeding America’s energy imports.

It’s an unconscionable, immoral, ridiculous game. But there’s good news– we can stop playing whenever we want. We don’t HAVE to hold their worthless currency. We don’t HAVE to keep transferring our purchasing power to an elite group. We can “opt-out”.

You see, the power they have is printing currency. So one easy way to opt out is to stop holding their paper, stop holding savings in dollars, euros, etc. Trade as much of their paper as you can for something REAL, especially physical precious metals.

And, in case one day they change the rules and try to FORCE us to hold their paper, it’s best to store your metal in a safe jurisdiction overseas, out of their reach.

 

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Wed, 10/24/2012 - 13:52 | 2916179 Aegelis
Aegelis's picture

So if I keep picking at the Great Wall of China with a toothpick, eventually I'll break through?  There is hope indeed!

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:05 | 2916210 InternetInfidel
InternetInfidel's picture

Why does Tyler keep posting Simon Black's shit?

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:18 | 2916250 kito
kito's picture

simon saved tyler's life in a boating accident years ago........................

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:24 | 2916275 Pladizow
Pladizow's picture

To: InternetInfidel

Why do you continue to read Black's articles and post the same stupid comment so many others have?

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:40 | 2916330 IBelieveInMagic
IBelieveInMagic's picture

Legendary oilman T. Boone Pickens famously calls America’s oil imports ‘the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the world.’

Doesn't he mean the greatest transfer of wealth to America? Else it is the most Machavillian statement of all times.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:03 | 2916405 MillionDollarBogus_
MillionDollarBogus_'s picture

Oil has real value... 

Fiat currency is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government...

Like a game of musical chairs, you don't want to be the last country holding treasury debt when the music stops...

The Chinese understand this...

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 18:13 | 2916968 3rdgrader
3rdgrader's picture

Soon there will be no oil to import at any price. You can always walk to Mc Donalds to work. I hope you like to eat rice, a lot of rice, because that's what you will be able to afford to eat if they don't remove Bernanke from his Godly stature.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 18:42 | 2917041 Muppet of the U...
Muppet of the Universe's picture

Can someone tell me where Simon Black is wrong?  Cus everyone is dumping on him, and he isn't wrong.  Perhaps then, the shit flinging is because mr black is late to the party, again?  Or rather, that he is wasting everyone's time with shit everyone whose anyone already knows?

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:29 | 2917143 Dr Benway
Dr Benway's picture

OK I'll tell you since you don't seem to get it.

 

Simon has ZERO understanding of economics and finance, he just regurgitates random snippets of info and thinks that means comprehension.

 

Reading his stuff you can tell he is a complete moron, it is not a matter of factual mistakes, it is just constant shitty articles that contributes zero insight. ZERO fucking insight from Simon Blacks mixed puke of cliches and ego.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 20:06 | 2917214 DosZap
DosZap's picture

there's a whole world to invest in out there outside your stack Gentlemen, try looking over it sometime and broaden your outlook/mind to a range of options for your future security

 

Please, by all means SUGGEST a few, that are portable, and cannot be confiscated by taxation, or nationalization, or the tax rates raised so high you cannot afford to keep them.The wisest thing to do IMHO outside PM's is leasing or renting, owning property of any kind, is highly dangerous esp with the regime now in charge.

If we get a 4 peat, u can bet ur ass, property,farmland,etc will become part of the great property grab of the Commies.

At least w/PM's you can hide them, and you can market them off radar..............property(land/houses) is by virtue of what it is, not portable.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:35 | 2916314 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

Because someone, somewhere, likes Chilean women who are shaped like fire plugs and almost as attractive... or maybe not.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:01 | 2916402 walküre
walküre's picture

For a moment I thought you had said, Chilean women ignite as quick as spark plugs. That would be the understatement of the day. They're faster and furiouser.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 16:08 | 2916617 Silver Bully
Silver Bully's picture

'Trade as much of their paper as you can for something REAL, especially physical precious metals.'

If there is one thing that makes me nervous as a PM investor, it is hearing Simon Black tell me to 'buy gold.' It sends cold contrarian shivers of terror down my spine.

 

''Why does Tyler keep posting Simon Black's shit?''

I believe Tyler has to pay the bills, the ads must not be cutting it.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 20:10 | 2917227 Silver Garbage Man
Silver Garbage Man's picture

Tyler posts this shit to pound it into your head that you HAVE to be in precious metals.
It's the only place to be.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:06 | 2916211 InternetInfidel
InternetInfidel's picture

Double post fail

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:08 | 2916217 DoChenRollingBearing
DoChenRollingBearing's picture

+ 1 

Happens to the best of us...

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:16 | 2916245 grid-b-gone
grid-b-gone's picture

You got it. That's how the Grand Canyon was made.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 13:54 | 2916183 icanhasbailout
icanhasbailout's picture

we give them colored paper, they give us the lifeblood of our economy

 

who's transferring wealth to whom here?

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:06 | 2916215 DoChenRollingBearing
DoChenRollingBearing's picture

+ 1

But those colored pieces of paper will fail.  When?  Beats me.

Be smart, and buy some real physical gold, you'll be glad you did!

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 13:54 | 2916184 Bear
Bear's picture

This is a continuing giveaway at 85 Billion per month ... How and when does this stop

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 13:59 | 2916196 malikai
malikai's picture

It stops when they give me $1 billion of that.

Which is to say: never.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 13:59 | 2916197 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

It stops when the system collapses not before then.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 18:21 | 2916994 3rdgrader
3rdgrader's picture

It stops when WE collapse their windpipes, not before then.

fixed

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:24 | 2916276 Glitterbug
Glitterbug's picture

It certainly makes nonsense of the Spending Cap doesn't it?

 

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 16:16 | 2916645 socalbeach
socalbeach's picture

It stops when/if inflation increases to the point where even officially downplayed figures can't hide it any more.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 13:55 | 2916188 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

We are trading our paper for Boone's Farm Strawberry.  Great on ice.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 13:57 | 2916192 TheSilverJournal
TheSilverJournal's picture

"Legendary oilman T. Boone Pickens famously calls America’s oil imports ‘the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the world."

The collapse of fiat is going to be the greatest and swiftest transfer of wealth in history. Beat the rush.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 13:57 | 2916193 q99x2
q99x2's picture

But they are committing these immoral crimes to make the world a better place to live.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:19 | 2916222 Zero Govt
Zero Govt's picture

yes i've felt materially better since Barney Frank crashed the US property market in unpayable debt and Barry O pissed away more money than any suicide socialist in history

socialism works for me, it's working wonders in Detroit, Chicago and New York, and especially on Wall Street

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 16:24 | 2916677 tsx500
tsx500's picture

FOWARD  !!!

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 13:58 | 2916194 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

Not till you see these manipulators being dragged down the streets, begging - no, screaming for mercy while being thrown at the gallows... will you see any real change.

All must turn from apathy to sympathy before we march for our freedoms. Till then you're just a shitty slave bitch.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:58 | 2916390 Urban Redneck
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:08 | 2916420 flacorps
flacorps's picture

In terms of ubiquity, mobility and utility on short notice, gallows and guillotine have long been surpassed by the humble woodchipper.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:01 | 2916200 Zero Govt
Zero Govt's picture

Simon, i agree the monopoly money systems are the biggest fraud and theft (transfer of wealth) of societies work.

I disagree metals however are any better at holding a persons wealth than paper currency in so far as all 'products' go up and down in price. Gold can rise 20% in a year in USD but stay flat in Singapore Dollars. If i was in Singapore the Sing' Dollars would be better in my hand than Gold which is alot harder to exchange

there's a world of monopolist money out there across the globe ...don't railtrack peoples thinking into a homage to Gold, that suggests bias and a certain stupidity toward using all available options

I've a stack of metals and foreign currency ...i feel better for the diversity and flexibility that portfolio offers me

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:24 | 2916229 Zero Govt
Zero Govt's picture

oh bore, getting junked by tunnel vision Gold-bugs

there's a whole world to invest in out there outside your stack Gentlemen, try looking over it sometime and broaden your outlook/mind to a range of options for your future security

 

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 17:11 | 2916715 defencev
defencev's picture

Well, at the moment all currencies are Dollar based and collapse of the Dollar will definitely effect almost any other currency with one exception. Chinese government buys a huge amount of Gold and, in my opinion, they will be ready to make renminbi Gold based at the time of Dollar collapse (but not a day earlier). Or,perhaps, even more definitely:the Dollar will collapse on their schedule. That will make renminbi a world reserve currency instantaneously. A funny ramification of this scenario is the idea promoted by many on this site that collapse of Dollar will mean a global collapse of the whole financial system. It is true only partially. Indeed, US will totally collapse and even those with physical Gold will not benefit from that (it will be either confiscated by the government or the situation deteriorate to the extent that the use of physical Gold as a medium of exchange will become simply too dangerous). Those people who are smart enough to move out of country before it happens and settle down in places like HK or Macau will find themselves in relative safety of Chinese government machine protected by relative flexibility of these cities. While those in US who are salivating at the idea of total collapse, indeed find themselves in deep shit (which they totally deserve) for a very long period of time. in other words, fiat system will definitely survive but this time with fair

winners and losers.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:05 | 2916212 Yardfarmer
Yardfarmer's picture

Trade as much of their paper as you can for something REAL, especially THEIR physical precious metals. There, Mr Black, fixed it for you. 

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:07 | 2916216 PUD
PUD's picture

I will write a check for 5 trillion $ payable to the charity of Obammys choice if he produces flying monkeys out of his ass by the 31st at 5pm...fuck you Donald Trump. You been Trumped!

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:11 | 2916230 Chupacabra-322
Chupacabra-322's picture

We have a criminal government with criminal elements as part of it who do not give one fat, friggin' damn about the ordinary people of the United States. Isn't that obvious by now?

This country is being brought down. That is no accident. That is the result of plotting and scheming for MONEY, POWER and CONTROL of anything that isn't nailed down, nationally and globally.

What I'm seeing is that if this keeps up, and the people of this slumbering nation ever stop watching the insipid, untruthful television news and wake up at last because what is happening all around, including to each of us individually, can no longer be ignored, then our hearts and our minds and our bodies may have to be put on the line.

And that's the bottom line, whether we like it or not.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:15 | 2916241 jimod
jimod's picture

Sorry but the chart for the price of gold looks like a bubble prelude.

Farmland for capital, cows for cash flow.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:32 | 2916306 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

Cows for profits when you least expect it.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:37 | 2916318 Lohn Jocke
Lohn Jocke's picture

FTW. But good luck finding any you can live off of and afford. Unless you're into Wyoming.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:43 | 2916335 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

Largest tract for sale in two counties in Ill. is 90 acres.  Got a bid in on another 45.  Two nice old barns and a one acre pond, but mostly just another place to piss in the woods.  Gotta love the simple pleasures.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:26 | 2916495 Tuco Benedicto ...
Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez's picture

Good luck in my birthplace Illinois.  If that state is not the belly of the beast it is at least its armpit!

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:46 | 2916343 Vooter
Vooter's picture

LOL...how many Americans do you think own gold and silver--even paper gold and silver, let alone physical? Who are the buyers in this "bubble" of yours? Besides, gold and silver aren't becoming more precious--the world's paper (especially the dollar) is simply becoming less precious. That's all the gold chart is telling you. It's not even a mystery: The Federal Reserve and other CBs are pretty upfront about what they're doing--why *else* would gold and silver's charts look the way they do?

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:25 | 2916491 Tuco Benedicto ...
Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez's picture

About 3% of Americans own precious metals.  This does not include necklaces and other trinkets.

Tuco

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:11 | 2916427 Freegold
Freegold's picture

It all depends on your timeframe. My gold is savings and I can wait 10 years if it came to that. When the gig is up I will be rewarded at least 20x. In 1922 the world put debt into the monetary system. Debt has to grow until it can´t. Debt meet exponential function and loss of trust and voila Freegold. If you put all the real assets in the world on one side and all the imaginary buying power of debt and it´s derivatives (currency is one of them) on the other side even an infant would spot the bubble :)

Not to say that farmland and cows will be bad, only less good than gold in the long run.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 16:39 | 2916733 tsx500
tsx500's picture

honest question here :    what's to keep the feds (utilizing one of BHO's XOs) from simply taking one's farmland (of course *cough* 'in the name of national security') , someday when the SHTF  ?       

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:16 | 2916243 PaperWillBurn
PaperWillBurn's picture

He's got it backwards. We're giving them free credits for REAL wealth..OIL.

Greatest transfer of wealth is correct..from them, to the u.s

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:25 | 2916277 AnAnonymous
AnAnonymous's picture

In 'american' societies, victimology is high. 'Americans' have to be on the wrong side of the deal.

A USD note in their pocket is worthless.
A USD note in the pocket of others is the biggest transfer of wealth ever.

That's 'american' for you.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:53 | 2916368 akak
akak's picture

In Chinese Citizenism societies, defecationology is high. Chinese Citizenism citizens have to shit on the side of the road.

A piece of toilet tissue in their pocket is worthless.
A Little Red Book in their other pocket is the biggest transfer of filth ever.

That's Chinese Shitizenism for you.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 18:40 | 2917033 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

In Chinese citizenism societies, AnAnonymous is high.
AnAnonymicans have to defecate on the dung side of the road.

A history book in front of them is worthless.
AnAnonymousitizens rewrite history through the pseudoscience of excremental phrenology, interpreting the lumps in their stools in the biggest evacuation of bowels ever.

That's AnAnonymostentatiousness for you.

"Go and shit upon the grass and feel your lumps."

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:22 | 2916270 AnAnonymous
AnAnonymous's picture

Unmatched 'americans' They always do it.

Fiat is worthless in their pockets.

Fiat is the greatest transfer of wealth when in the pockets of others.

For 'americans', everything is situational.

What a world that 'american' world.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:08 | 2916385 akak
akak's picture

Unhygienic Chinese Citizenism citizens. They always do it with their bare hands.

Toilet tissue is worthless in their pockets.

Bare-handed asswiping is the greatest transfer of filth when crapping on the sides of the roads.

For Chinese Citizenism citizens, everything is shituational.

What a turd world, that Chinese Shitizenism world.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 19:30 | 2917146 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

Unwatched AnAnonymousitizens. They always do it, and then blame Americans.

Feces are worthless confined to their pantaloons.

Feces are the greatest transfer of bowel contents when on the roadsides of others.

For Chinese citizenism citizen AnAnonymicans, everything is coprological.

What a worldwide olfactory effrontery, that Mao See Dungheap new world odor.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:24 | 2916274 surf0766
surf0766's picture

What an arrogant man (Pickens).  I got windmills to sell ya. I got water to sell ya. Oh by the way can I get some of your tax money to pay for my pet projects.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:30 | 2916504 Zero Govt
Zero Govt's picture

...and you could add his gas powered trucks too which he's tapped-up DC to support

American enterprise is stitched-up and dead as a dinosaur when you need DC's financial and legislative help to take on a project

there's no free market or free competition (especially in energy), it's all State endorsed and protected monopolies ...vibrancy has gone, State stagnation and decline assured

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:24 | 2916279 Quarky Gluon
Quarky Gluon's picture

I think a better solution would be some sort of giant worldwide clawback for the people. 

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:41 | 2916291 Anasteus
Anasteus's picture

Besides, when considering the suppression of precious metals prices in favor of less wealthy people, they indeed become an affordable value-store solution. And in the end, perhaps the only one. That's another aspect of Ben Bernanke's secret philanthropy; so secret that even he himself hasn't recognized it yet.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:30 | 2916299 adr
adr's picture

T Boone "I lay claim to the entire largest underground resevoir of fresh water in the US because I put a well on 40 acres of land in Texas, that I have been draining and selling to Mexican drug cartels" Pickens.

Prior to that he used junk bonds to buy out small oil companies and sell them off to the big players. To call Pickens an oilman is like calling Krugman an economist. That guy almost makes Obama look like a saint.

Yeah if T Boone, Bernanke, Blankfein, and Dimon were in a room, I would still kill them all. It would be a toss up as to which person would go first.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:53 | 2916373 Darth Rayne
Darth Rayne's picture

Just lock them in a room with some food and water, enough to last them a month. It would be more fun watching what happens than simply killing them.

I would bet real money (silver) that after three days only Dimon is left alive. I would then bet even more real money (gold) that Dimon doesn't make it to the weekend.

But yes, good idea about the room.

 

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 16:28 | 2916696 tsx500
tsx500's picture

don't forget Corzine , please !

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:35 | 2916316 TheCanadianAustrian
TheCanadianAustrian's picture

In case anyone gave up on trying to read the comic attached to this article on the front page, it says "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!"

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 14:48 | 2916360 helping_friendl...
helping_friendly_book's picture

Gold will, either, get you killed or get confiscated. 

Did you know gold in safe deposit boxes is NOT insurable?

The Treasury's notional value of an once of gold is $42.22/ounce:

http://fms.treas.gov/gold/index.html

Be careful! When the gov't confiscates your gold they are going to give you $42.2222 for each ounce. Not the $1700/ounce you paid.

The ETF, GLD, is just a device to accumulate all the gold in one place to ease confiscation.

Think about it. FDR did it in 1934 and it will happen again.

I wouldn't risk it. I'll take my chances in cash.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:20 | 2916474 Tuco Benedicto ...
Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez's picture

If they are gonna take our gold we might as well give them a little "lead" as well.

Tuco

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 16:00 | 2916601 gonetogalt
gonetogalt's picture

helping_...I think you've completly nailed it. As a lesser of available evils i'm betting on mining stocks...

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 16:08 | 2916621 muppet_master
muppet_master's picture

great info!

$42/oz? i'll sell one oz from my stockpile and give them $42 for every oz that I have !! see my post below.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-10-24/guest-post-ben-bernankes-secret-philanthropy#comment-2916600

 

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 17:43 | 2916900 helping_friendl...
helping_friendly_book's picture

I completely agree with you but, I cannot deny the tragedy I have been close to as a friend of my family was murdered for a few gold coins many years ago. A worker at his home saw him handling the coins, came back later an killed him and absconded w/ the coins.

I can't help but imagine how one would exchange gold for any goods without a army of protection?

Can you trust the police to protect you or will they shake you down to rip you off? 

How will you spend your metal without getting shanked, shot, robbed etc.?

I don't hold any gold and don't know the fever. I can't imagine trying to sleep at night once anyone knew you had a PM?

That's not even considering how the gov't would treat you once they found out. IRS, ATF, Secret Sevice, FBI...etc just waiting to find a reason to take it from you?   

So many questions.

Be very careful my fellow.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 18:07 | 2916959 dadichris
dadichris's picture

42/oz - so I'll turn a tidy profit on my gold-plated tungsten then.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 20:10 | 2917224 helping_friendl...
helping_friendly_book's picture

Wez Amerikans not so brite! I'll give ya $43 fer that thar' tungsten! I got some of them golden $50 pieces I got on that ther TV fer $29.99 and a shammy as a bonus. 

As I write this ridiculous post the "sell me gold sites" appear on every available inch of ad space on my screen.

Sorry unemployed advertising sales guys! We don't need you now that we have google algos to do your job.

 

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:07 | 2916384 cranky-old-geezer
cranky-old-geezer's picture

 

 

But it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the TRILLIONS that Ben Bernanke gives the world’s elite.

Fed's job is to steal ALL of Ameirca's wealth and give it to bankers.

Ok, so how does the Fed do that? 

We know currency ("money") printing is basically how.  Print enough currency to debase the "US dollar" to nothing.

But the "rules" say currency can't just be printed and handed out.  Fed must receive something to put on the asset side of their balance sheet to keep it looking like a legitmate balance sheet.

So Bernanke buys financial paper with it.  Financial paper alledged to have some stated value.  He buys a billion of financial paper for a billion freshly printed "dollars".

Of course said financial paper isn't worth anywhere near its stated value.  If it was, banks wouldn't sell it to the Fed, they'd keep it.  They only sell their most toxic worthless trash to the Fed ...at full "par value" ...plus fees and commissions.

If the asset side of Fed's balance sheet was ever marked to market they'd be hopelessly insolvent.

But it's never marked to market, Bennie can say that crap is worth whatever he wants to say it's worth. And "insolvent" doesn't matter anyway, nobody is gonna declare the Fed insolvent, ever.

Bennie might have to print $500 trillion to debase "the US dollar" to nothing and effectively give all of America's wealth to bankers.  Who knows, maybe it would have to be $1,000 trillion.

But there's not that much financial paper around for Bennie to buy.   So how's he gonna do it?

Simple.  Backstop all the derivatives out there.   Wall Street alone has about $600 trillion of derivatives in play.  Worldwide it's way over a quadrillion.

Now you know how he'll do it.

Imagine waking up some morning hearing about a "major worldwide credit event", and Bennie had to print $600 trillion to pay off all those derivatives (to bankers of course).

The "US dollar" would crash.  Worthless.  Just that fast.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:10 | 2916429 walküre
walküre's picture

Libor alone is the $800 trillion gorilla that nobody is talking about anymore.

plus fees and commissions.

You betcha. That's how it's done and that's how they operate. Creating absolutely nothing of value, not working any jobs worthy of consideration. Glorified thieves and pirates. They're stealing and affording themselves the protection of the legalized mafia a.k.a. "government".

Best not to pay any attention to it and keep finding and stashing away. The gig is up soon enough. More and more people are getting "it" and will challenge them until the system implodes. It will be nasty and there won't be many who can safely assume today that they are prepared for what is coming.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:18 | 2916432 Tuco Benedicto ...
Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez's picture

"it’s best to store your metal in a safe jurisdiction overseas, out of their reach."

 

Good article except for statement above.  Keep your metals  "cool, dry and nearby"!

Tuco

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:04 | 2916407 Quinvarius
Quinvarius's picture

I'm pretty sure they gave away the gold too.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:08 | 2916426 hapless
hapless's picture

When an article starts with the word "legendary" I know I have already read one word too many.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:12 | 2916442 jomama
jomama's picture

that Ben shalom, such a swell fellow.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 17:57 | 2916920 falak pema
falak pema's picture

the story does not tell us if Ben shalomed the lady at the end of their discussion; i'm sure she was looking for gold in the flesh, where it glittters most. 

"If you can keep it... glittering, you will get your golden rub."

 

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:14 | 2916445 Miss Expectations
Miss Expectations's picture

 

 

The story goes that Benjamin Franklin was approached by a woman as he left the Constitutional Convention

She asked:

“What have you given us?”

Franklin is said to have replied:

“A republic, if you can keep it.”

Addendum:

Then she asked:

"And what kind of money shall this republic use?"

"The only thing that has ever been money, and will forever be money:  Gold and silver, if you can keep it.

 

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:31 | 2916510 Shizzmoney
Shizzmoney's picture

Name the country:

Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson warn in their new book, “Why Nations Fail,” This autocratic government will end up suppressing prosperity, stifling innovation as it clings to power and breeding instability as factions fight for the spoils of growth.

No....their not talking about the United States......but China.

Helping steer China away from such an unstable, dangerous course is a core American goal.

Well, it is more an American Corporate goal because....well.....those profits would go bye-bye if their Communist Plantation Managers ever lost stranglehold of their Fields.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:49 | 2916575 GFORCE
GFORCE's picture

Are we still doing articles about buying gold and storing away to avoid confiscation?? Yawn!

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 16:00 | 2916600 muppet_master
muppet_master's picture

i'll be a PHYSICAL gold buyer

....@ $300/oz...NOT @ $1700, not 1800 and definitely NOT 1900 !! but, but the "strategist" marc faber said:  BUY @ 1900, 1800 and just last week he said when @ 1750:

"gold is trending higher" = i posted on zh that i don't give a rat's azz what he says...i'll patiently wait for $300 BEFORE it skyrockets to $10k..and silver??? from $4 to $150+

NOW the question about "holding it safely overseas" as the author says...i say nothing is safe !! unless you hold it somewhere underground...will you honestly trust the europeans to hold your gold?

what is odummer REFUSES to give up the presidency after a MAJOR LANDSLIDE LOSS?  what if he tells the europeans to hand over that American gold?? what if you decide to hold it in russian and/or chinese hands...and you get back gold plated copper or tungsten?

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 21:07 | 2917334 Wave-Tech
Wave-Tech's picture

Agreed - except for wishing you made your physical purchases back in 2002.  Odds are you won't see $300 Gold or $4 Silver again in your lifetime.  Better late then never, besides, you should have 10% of net worth in metals regardless of the economic or market climates.

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 17:03 | 2916806 mopickens
mopickens's picture

completely self centered comment I assure you it's been goin on for years

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 17:16 | 2916837 DowTheorist
DowTheorist's picture

There remains a safe jurisdiction overseas? Not so sure....

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 18:06 | 2916957 falak pema
falak pema's picture

the only country a nation has is its own land, that of its fathers, paid and bought with generations of blood. For those on the move, its the land they chose to plant their roots; good or bad.

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