The time worn explanation by the Fed, Hizzoner Greenspan, and other employees of government and various universities, is that it is consumer spending which makes the wheels of the economy go ’round. It matters not whether the buyers of all this glop have a dime in the bank or not, nor where the stuff comes […]

A truism in any economic system, is that savings are the source of capital for development. In an ideal, honest situation, a bank can loan only what is has on deposit. If a person wanted to start a company to make widgets, and it would cost $100,000 to start the company, it is to be […]

A while back, I wrote in this column, that the ratios between gold and silver were an all-important factor to use in purchasing…with a few exceptions. This advice needs to be repeated. So I will. I thumbed through some back sheets of daily prices, which I keep in a huge stack. I found that on […]

There goes the buck? Will that flashy new currency and coinage called the euro, spell doomsday for the used to be almighty dollar? Hardly. Before we go into the euro, its history, and coverage, let’s state at the very beginning, that all the rumors and talk about the euro being backed 15% with gold, are […]

Since the judge ruled in favor of United Airlines, and against their employees, I must continue with the comments made two weeks ago. Pity the United retirees and retired. The brass at UA, has decided to try to keep the ship afloat, even though it is taking on water far faster than the bilge pumps […]

My wife and I took a seven hour course on the Constitution last weekend, given by Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian presidential candidate. Supremely intelligent man! Had he been allowed to debate either Bush or Carey, he would have wiped the floor with them. I voted for him, but eating and visiting with him, plus taking […]

This will contain several thoughts, none of which is long enough for a complete column, but all pertinent. NICKELS When one is at an advanced age, as I am, one can’t help but remembering one’s childhood, teens, and even early adulthood. I do not remember what made me think of it, but what a nickel […]

Millions of Americans as well as citizens of all nations, are or will depend on, their pension plans to carry them through retirement. Most of these pension recipients have contributed to the plans during their working years, and rightfully expect them to return their monies plus interest and dividends as their lives enter declining years. […]

Bernard Saint Gaudens came to Ireland from his home in Aspet France, and found a job in shoe factory. While there, he met Mary, whom he married, and produced three male offspring. The first two, Louis and George died before the third boy Augustus was born on March 1st, 1848, at 35 Charlemont St, in […]

The housing bubble will deflate, not burst. As I mentioned last week, the dot com bubble burst, because suddenly a ton of investors decided to get out, and there were no buyers and a lot of sellers. The drop was sudden, as it was in 1929 and 1987. Housing is far different. People LIVE IN […]