jpinpb-I work for a new technology, energy efficiency software mfg and consulting firm.

Without writing a lengthy report. I think our monetary system and by extension our economy will never be functional again unless we completely revamp the whole thing. I think we are heading for massive currency devaluation without technically having hyper-inflation coupled with very high unemployment within 18 months and possibly complete systemic failure. I cashed out my 401K in early 07 and bought some gold as a disaster hedge and made some energy plays. This is around the same time my family and friends think I went a little nuts;) Now they are thinking I am a little less nuts.

I have been sitting out on the sidelines since July of last year with physical gold and cash and frankly a little overwhelmed with the enormity of what could possibly happen. I think there are some tempting short term plays in certain sectors but I’m a very distrusting of the entire systems inegrity. Who knows how much these guys are hiding.

This sums up my feelings on the matter pretty well:

http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com/2009/03/march-20-2009-life-is-pop-of-cherry.html
The longer the theater of the absurd continues in Washington, Connecticut and Manhattan, the more it becomes clear that America is not a nation where people are equal, no matter how many times anyone may quote the initial intentions to this end phrased by the founding fathers. There is a ruling class in what some still claim to be a democracy that gets away with breaking the laws of the country, including the constitution, on a daily basis.

In this, there is no difference with China, Myanmar or any other oligarchy, other than in the pictures painted by media and spin doctors, which in reality depict nothing but illusions. On Wall Street, the government’s regulatory agencies, from Congress to the SEC, habitually look the other way or are implicitly complicit. One dollar one vote means that whoever has the money also has the power, political and military. If you’re one of the boys, you can get away with anything. And I mean anything. I’ll say it once again: this is not a financial crisis, this is a full-blown political crisis. And nobody recognizes it. There is no reason for anyone to go hungry or live on the street. Those are choices made by a society.

I don’t think we can avoid some serious political and social upheaval short term. Medium/long term is up to us and I sadly think the USG will only make things worse, which is an entirely different huge discussion. Most of the political and economic body is on their own power trip at the expense of everybody else. Everything is broken and feel like I am watching the final stages of a game of Jenga.