flatlander

The Kindle looks like a wonderful device, I am definitely adding it to my list!

Cheers on your birthday, Sanjavalen!

Great point, EC. In fact if any single event illustrates the power of activism and advocacy on the internet (albeit for ideas drastically opposed to our own), it was Obama's election. Obama's campaign established a cult of personality that gives the appearance of an unstoppable juggernaut. Such an appearance is essential for the continued support of the collectivist herd. The worldwide support that was rallied for Obama is epic in scale. Equally epic is the very disturbing cult of personality and messiah-like worship that went with it. In fact I had to have a few words with some of my staff who would post on Obama boards during work hours. But what struck me as interesting during the campaign were very specific moments that seemed as an oblique targeting of Objectivism. We all know that conservatism is a dead end road. It leads to cynical pragmatism or to theocracy. I think that Obama's strategists know it too. I think they see the intellectual activism being carried out by Objectivists and while they knew we did not have the numbers to pose an electoral threat, they recognized that our ideas have power. Obama's line where he said, "I don't know when they decided to make a virtue out of selfishness," was, I think, intended as a shot across our bow. I don't think we are flying under the radar any longer. We may still be small in numbers, but we cannot assume that Obama's people haven't noticed the activities of Objectivists.

I was thinking the same thing. I, too, am reading The Ominous Parallels.

Later episodes roll back the slow-motion a bit. Yes, it was definitely over-used in episodes 1 and 3. Episode 3 was the worst episode of the series. The most recent episodes have improved in many ways, but the show is still a very watered down version of the books and most of the philosophy has been soft-pedaled at best, sabotaged at worst. I have continued to watch the show looking for signs of improvement.

Thanks for asking me the right questions and thereby assisting me in thinking through my reasoning. You're right, I do not have any particular target gold price in mind, my approach to gold is more long-term. Philosophical, one might say.

I shudder to think of what would become of America if Obama's gang fails to learn from Canada's disastrous socialized healthcare policies. Does the USA want to become another Canada?

Most of my activity would be purchases, with the assumption that gold is on a long term upward trend. Or, more specifically, that the US$ will be significantly debased by the Fed. I do, however, have a set of circumstances that will require for me to withdraw several thousand US dollars within the next two years. My wife and I are in the process of an international adoption, and the final country fees are in USD. As I live in Canada, most of my financial dealings are in Canadian dollars. If gold has a significant increase in that time, it may be advantageous to use some of the proceeds from a gold investment (though it is more likely that I will simply use my US$ bank account). While the likelihood that I would sell gold in the next year or two is low, I want to keep my options as open as possible. My investment strategy overall is long term. I certainly don't want to put myself into a state of reacting to every blip in the price of gold.

The Crystallex mine nationalization did not even make the news in Canada from what I have seen. I guess the leftist media are shilling for their guy Chavez, even up here in Soviet Canuckistan. Chavez should be ordered to immediately reverse the theft of this mine. If he fails to comply, the mine should be destroyed, diplomatic relations with Venezuela should be severed, and a complete economic embargo should be initiated against Venezuela.

GreedyCapitalist, this discussion parallels (somewhat) my question in another thread regarding Bullionvault. A couple of questions: 1)Could you tell me the name of your single mutual fund that focuses on ETFs? If you would prefer, you can PM me. 2)Regarding your gold bullion, did you buy it from a local coin dealer or an online service like Bullionvault?

I am new to gold investment, so I am still investigating my options. That is correct. They hold it for you in the vault of your choice in Zurich, London or New York. The chain of integrity through their use of Good Delivery bars is one of my main reasons to find Bullionvault attractive. I also like that I can buy and sell gold in quantities as little as 1 gram. I have not ruled out buying some gold in the form of Gold Eagles, Maple Leafs or Krugerrand. I do intend to carry out some trades in and out as I watch the market, so the delivery savings are a consideration. The spreads on Bullionvault tend to be small (as little as zero), and commissions are low. Their FAQ page is worth a look. I'm still investigating my gold buying options. I may still go with gold ETFs. I have yet to decide on the mix. To me, so far the appeal of Bullionvault is mainly 1)I am buying real physical gold, which I then own. 2)storage is taken care of by Bullionvault, and I can sell gold and withdraw funds very easily from anywhere in the world, day or night. Good questions, all.

There is certainly the risk of buying gold at a peak price and having it decline. With gold at near-all-time highs it definitely is not something to buy as a short-term investment. But if this recession is a symptom of a fundamental, long-term economic collapse, then buying gold, even at the currently inflated price may still be a good move as a hedge against inflation. So upon further reflection is the current recession simply another economic recovery period, or is it a part of a fundamental collapse of the entire central-banking/fiat-money system?

What country is that, Sophia?

I am not from Calgary but I am from Saskatoon. So that must count for something! After all, isn't half the city of Calgary from Saskatoon originally, lol? The Saskatchewan NDP-driven diaspora lasted 70 years, after all!

You are harking back to the ludicrous idea of "competing governments." There can be no "competing governments" in any given geographic area. A government must have a legalized monopoly on the retaliatory use of force in its given geographic area. Otherwise it is not a government. It must be strictly limited by a constitution of objective laws so that it may act as an agent to protect the individual rights of its citizens and not as an oppressor. In your "competing state" example, what would be the logical outcome of two neighbors, each signed up under a different "state", who get into a dispute that turns violent? Tactical teams show up from both "competing" states and the result is at best a Mexican standoff and at worst a bloody shooting war in a residential neighborhood. Imagine the results if surrounding neighbors are signed up with additional competing governments. Do you want to live in a Quentin Tarantino movie? You would reduce the police to the level of a private security firm, and the rule of law would come to an abrupt, violent end. Your competing governments situation is best described as anarchy.

Lately I have read numerous articles and have seen several videos where the more rational economics experts such as Peter Schiff warn that our current recession/financial crisis/depression will lead to a period of deflation, followed by rapid inflation as our statist governments attempt to spend us out of recession. Many suggest that buying gold is the best way for investors to safeguard a portion of their wealth from looming catastrophe. My question is: what are the best ways to buy gold? Is anyone familiar with Bullionvault? I look forward to your insights.

Yes indeed, this is the legacy of decades of welfare statism in this country. I myself have been involved in arguments with leftists who screamed blue bloody murder that Harper was going to cut a small percentage of arts funding (the capitulating Harper reversed that decision, of course. Pragmatist idiocy.). The nihilist/Obamabot with whom I had this argument wheedled that "If the arts go, there goes OUR CULTURE!" To which I replied "Any country that is dependent upon taxpayer funding for artists has no culture and is a doomed country full of bad art at best, propaganda at worst. There should be absolutely no taxpayer funding of the arts." The incoherent expletive-filled diatribe to which I was then subjected will not be repeated here. I turned and walked away while the leftist and his fellow drones sputtered and yammered in impotent rage. I wonder how many of us realize that Canada's goose is cooked?

I suppose you might want to give some thought to what constitutes "irreparable damage." Those irrational fools (admittedly the majority of citizens of the USA and other mixed economies) who beg and plead for the government to "do something" will get what they've asked for, but reality will catch up to them. I can offer no better illustration than the plot of Atlas Shrugged.

I must say I agree 100% with fletch's statements. As Objectivists or students of Objectivism we have this profound philosophical understanding of the very underpinnings of all that is wrong with the world. Our views and knowledge are met with dismissal, derision and outright hatred from people in our daily lives. Our philosophy is in direct opposition to the dominant morality of our society. Every day the news is filled with reports of our "leaders" rushing headlong down roads that we know lead straight to oblivion. It is very, very easy to give in to pessimism, despair, even fatalism. I have been known to harbor such thoughts, and I am sure I am not alone in this. How does a rational individual get beyond it? As softwareNerd pointed out, happiness is achieved in the values of your own life. We also have a great advantage that did not exist in Ayn Rand's time. The internet allows for discussion forums like this for us to share ideas with like-minded individuals. Knowing you are not completely alone in a hostile world is instrumental in helping you find the strength to live in it.

Indeed. I don't think that any American state could secede peacefully. At the very least there would be civil unrest caused by those loyal to Obama, er, Washington. If we were talking about Canadian provinces, however, I think that a province could not only secede peacefully but that it could be morally justified in doing so.

Beautiful work Paul. I love the violin-like inlay on the bow of the canoe.

FBI cuts ties with CAIR? They should be turning over every slimy rock and shining light into every corner in a massive investigation of CAIR. Their close ties makes any investigation suspect. The FBI should safeguard American lives, not engage in touchy-feely, politically-correct nice-making with Muslims.

I was only too happy to join a Facebook group advocating the eviction of that cesspool of tyrant-appeasement, the UN.