Dear Ones,

Trying to determine whether or not we’ve been brainwashed is not an easy task.

Economist Merrill Jenkins once humorously observed, ”The unaware are unaware of being unaware.”

We can step up to a mirror, stand close, stare into our own eyes and with firm resolve, ask our reflection: “Excuse me. Have you been brainwashed?”

We still have no clue, but at least we’re on the right track. For as those enthusiastic life coaches in tight Spandex inform us, the first step in change is awareness.

So at least we’re aware that we might be brainwashed. But by whom, and to what degree?

Soooo… you do understand, don’t you?

That the savings you have parked in a 401k, IRA, bank CD, SEP, Keogh, whole life insurance policy, ad nauseam, isn’t actually money… right?

That the entire, phony, debt-fueled economy is like the nuclear device in the Bruce Willis movie, Armageddon, that they desperately try to disarm before the countdown timer reaches zero?

You do realize, this, right?

Right?

Hey, that was fun, I’ve never played around with the font “boost” button before.

Continuing… I know so many intelligent, well educated people—many of these people actually went to college!—who continue to hold their entire life savings in government fiat currency that its currently losing 12% a year in purchasing power…. and they seem to be totally OK with this.

Can you believe this? You tell me what’s going on here. Go ahead… I’ll wait. Or do we need another trip to the mirror?

Nobel Laureate, Robert Shiller, recently pointed out that the P.E. ratio of the U.S. stock market is in the largest bubble in history, even larger than before the stock market crash of 1929.

Did you catch that? “Largest bubble.”

Mr. Shiller also says that real estate needs to correct by more then 50% to find equilibrium with the greater economy.

Got some equity in your home? Close your eyes, press your fingers to your temples and envision your home equity sagging 50% from where it stands today.

Here is what 50% looks like.

One-half.

That’s gonna’ leave a mark.

And you still owe the bank a whopping boatload of mortgage money. We call this being “upside down.”

Time for another trip back to the mirror. Look yourself deeply in the eyes and ask, “OMG! How would that feel?”

OK, we’re seeing some improvement here. I sense that you’re channeling your sensitive, inner investor. That’s good…

Cult deprogramming always begins in the hind brain where we process emotion.

And all this talk about the economy going supernova is making you very uncomfortable.

Good, good… this is progress…

Did you know that since the year 2000, the price of an ounce of gold has beat the Dow Jones on a percentage basis by over 30 per cent?

Does your TV know that? Does your deeply licensed financial planner know that?

Got gold? Gold is real money. Gold cannot be bankrupted. When you own gold, there is no one standing between you and your money.

You actually own your own money.

Gold cannot suffer bail-ins, haircuts, embargos or other acts of crooked politicians and central bankers who, in a just and honest world, would be digging ditches.

Some would suggest, shot in a ditch.

But this is a family friendly publication and I would not dream of taking people who have stolen trillions off the backs of the working peoples of the world and shooting them in a perfectly good ditch that could be put to a higher purpose, like draining away liquid waste.

Back to gold.

Whatever you do, don’t buy bullion gold. Not any longer. Got gold? You want to convert it to rare coins. Gold or silver rare coins, your call. But rare nonetheless.

Why? A few reasons.

Because I am deeply persuaded that when the wheels come completely off the economy (…and they’re wobbling badly now), the government will do what it always does in a crisis: commit theft and fraud and impose draconian controls.

Maybe just impose price controls on precious metals to avoid them jumping any higher?

May require that only “preferred investors” with a net worth of over one million smackeroos can buy bullion gold?

Very possibly nationalize the entire precious metals complex, from mining to refining to stamping, coining and distributing?

Remember, these people in the ruling class can do ANYTHING THEY WANT.

Why do you think the world’s banks have been buying gold, hand over fist, for decades now? So YOU can own some? (cue the laugh track)

Rare coins have never been confiscated by any western government, even when they commanded that everyone turn in their gold, as that lying S.O.B., Franklin “Surprise Attack” Roosevelt did back in 1933.

[S.O.B. stands for Stupid Old Bully, which your 5-year-old can relate to. I told you this was a family publication!]

I have been friends with the fine folks at Rare Coins of New Hampshire for over 25 years now and they are, by far, the top experts nationwide in the field of numismatics.

Go ahead, check out their website at www.rcnh.com , but let me know that you’d like them to get in touch and I’ll arrange the intro.

I mention this since they’re working around the clock to fulfill orders. If I grease the skids you’ll go to the top of their inbox.

Rare coins increased in value by over 20% last year, even as the dollar lost 12% in purchasing power. That’s a 32% spread between what you got, and what you could have gotten.

So go ahead, make a starter purchase. Just a single rare coin. Whether you have $500 to spend or $50,000, you will love holding a piece of history in your hands.

BIG IDEA!: Think of rare coins as an offset to the human aging process. With each year that goes by you get a little older (and wear out a little more… ha!), while that “old” coin becomes even more valuable! Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

Now make a trip back to the mirror. Give yourself a big smile and an air hug.

Doesn’t that feel better?

I hope I’ve helped you today with your monetary cult deprogramming.

I’ll leave you with one of my pet phrases, “The retirement you save could be your own!”

OK, that’s it for now. I need to go polish some silver.

Have a Shiny Day,

GP