Developed World In Financial Decay – How Long Before Money Collapses?

By: Julian D. W. Phillips, Gold/Silver Forecaster – Global Watch – GoldForecaster.com

Posted Wednesday, 12 September 2012 | Share this article| Source: GoldSeek.com

The Current Scene

Since 2007 and the start of the “credit-crunch” the developed world’s money system has been under stress. As a consequence, there has been an economic downturn that government and bankers have not been able to stop, convincingly, in the last five years.

The developed world has decayed to the point that it can’t handle another major crisis such as an oil price well into the $100+ area.

·Food inflation now threatening, must not be allowed to take off because consumer/voter reaction will undermine government and money still further.

·As it is confidence in both the euro and the dollar is at a low ebb. Yes, it is still the only means of exchange and it can be forced onto citizens, but general confidence in the economy, the monetary system and a broad range of markets is suffering as never before.

There are bright sparks of hope, such as the Dow Jones Index returning to the highs it saw in 2007; however, this is by no means in the same investment climate as before the credit-crunch. Fear and instability pervades most markets as faith declines.

Daily we see another Eurozone crisis unfold casting doubts on the continuance of the euro and the financial credibility of its weaker members. Overall, on both sides of the Atlantic, consumer confidence continues to fall after so many efforts by central bankers to resuscitate their economies.

Why is so large a burden being put onto the central bankers, who should only really support governments’ actions? Because the U.S. government is mired in political gridlock, it cannot achieve the vigorous action needed to do all it can to restore growth and confidence, and doubts now remain as to whether it’s too late for any government to do so.

[Forecasts of a dollar decline are seen daily as its debt levels mount to new unacceptable highs. With the impending ‘fiscal cliff’ on the horizon and promises of a heated political battle, consumers and companies expect a savage tax blow around year’s end, further damaging consumer confidence. Will we see a recession in the States next year? It seems likely. Its timing could not be worse.

In the Eurozone, we daily see discord between citizens of the financially stronger nations and the weaker ones. Government discord is constantly apparent. Growth is proving even more elusive in the world’s biggest trading bloc as it stands in a mild recession already.

Hope springs eternal, but today, realities keep hope on the run.

Can the Money System Collapse?

The thought seems unrealistic to people because it’s what we use every day. But the money we use is entirely reliant on government and its central bank. If their performance does not meet the criteria required by money then confidence in that money will collapse eventually. It’s clear that all currencies are not performing well at the moment as the balance sheet of most nations (except China) gets weaker and weaker. If most nations were individuals, then they would have been bankrupted by now.

A look back in history shows that not one paper currency system has lasted throughout the centuries, with the exception of those based solely on gold and silver which remain as money assets all the way.

Not today, you may well answer! We say oh, yes, today too. Despite all the rhetoric since 1971 gold remains in the bulk of the world’s leading reserves for that rainy day when something else is needed other than the currency issued by the nation’s central bank.

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