Ok, there was a post encouraging Americans to vote. Any thoughts on the results?

[Wilful1]

I have been out of work for a while now because of the hep c and tx, so I have spent quite a bit of time watching the progress of the elections in the USA.  It was so heartwarming to see the positive reactions to the elections from so many parts of the world.  However, I do know our media can be biased, and I'm sure there were some very negative responses in the world, but I found it a moving event.  He is only a man and I hope he can hold on to his ideals for American and our children but, as we all know "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Wilful

[Marcia2202]

Or we might all have to go back to living a more simple life style. When I look around at all the stuff I accumulate and don't even use... even though I'm not a big shopper... and I give stuff away... Life could be actually much more simple... The problem is, that we always want more... human nature.

[gauf]

You sold your boat?!  Dude, you were livin the dream for the rest of us. Hope you were not forced to do it.

[Andiamo1]

I am off the drugs now and I feel the same way.  I am very worried.  

You can buy GLD the gold ETF at $72 per share.  It tracks the price of the spot gold market.

Costco and Walmart are excellent places to be.

I worry more about the next generation than I do about myself.  Not that I am rich, but I have enough to get by now that I have sold my boat.  I only hope the next generation has the opportunities that  I had.

[gauf]

Agreed. If I was in a position to invest, I would invest in value added type of businesses like Walmart or Costco. I cannot afford gold at these prices. As an average American, I am just trying to stock up on non perishable items before inflation goes through the roof. I really have a feeling something awful is almost upon us. I tell myself it is just the Riba, but I don't know.....

[Marcia2202]

I watched a program on gold a few weeks ago, and they were showing how one of the main manufacturers shelves were almost empty. They were having difficulties keeping up with the demand, as all the wealthy people had already bought off x kilos to store in their vaults. It was a huge warehouse with racks all the way up to the ceiling. Quite impressive. They had massive blocks of gold, too. All kinds of sizes.

The weird thing is, my eldest sister has been talking about a monetary crisis for years on end and about investing in gold. I always thought she was just being paranoid, as she is not a person who is very knowledgeable about these things. How she has proven us all wrong.

[Andiamo1]

Do you think the world is waking up to the fact that the dollar is losing value at an alarming rate?

I do think so.  Our trading partners know that they need to move cautiously while our economies are so closely linked.  The dollar is the world's reserve currency, so it is not easy for any country to protect themselves.

It will be important to keep an eye out for countries to start trading without using dollars.  Iran would like nothing better than to price oil in some non-dollar denomination.  Let's hope they don't succeed.

I am closely watching the price of gold.  I am considering an investment in GLD, a gold ETF.

Scary times.  Let's all pray that Obama succeeds.  If he doesn't it will be another depression.