Since some people no longer believe that fiat currency is a legitimate
store of value, modern forms
of tangible money are seeing record price levels, such
as Bitcoins and (electronic statements
of) gold and
silver holdings.
Louis and Ryan discuss the impact
of the earthquake and tsunami on the world economy; inflation, interest rates, the Fed and Bank
of Japan action and the U.S. budget negotiations; the profile
of home purchasers today; the paradox
of government intervention to make «homes affordable for everyone»; the direction
of the rental market, rent vs. buy ratios; the comparison
of Fed action during the Volker years vs the Bernanke era; Charlie Sheen, oil prices; the direction
of the dollar and other currencies race to the bottom; the status
of the dollar
as the world's reserve currency; the abandonment
of the gold standard; the fate
of fiat currencies; Utah's gold standard push; the actions states are taking to cut spending; the price
of gold and
silver and their role
as stores of value; real estate vs. gold and
silver as investments; the impact
of shadow inventory on general inventory; the impact
of the numbers
of government workers and their salaries on the D.C. area housing market.