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Originally Posted by Cloggie

Whilst I am not as apocalyptic as Mr. Tabs, it is clearly a deteriorating situation in which Nero is fiddling while the spot fires are filling the backstreets and shops.

Root causes are largely to be laid on the ruling types who have via a perverse combination of cheap money (low interest), profligate state spending too often aimed at non-economic value add and buying votes and a propensity to do this all on the same cheap debt regime that makes all of us want to buy more without truly having the means to afford them.

Once one understands TANSTAAFL then the whole deal snaps into focus and your higher probability paths for success become clearer.

I personally oscillate between high debt which I believe has a fair chance of being inflated into nothingness or no/low debt which does not require debt service during the transition.

In terms of investment, no great insight there other than favouring companies with real, tangible assets whose services are essential to societal operation - e.g. those boring utilities, basic services, food production - no so much to make money but to avoid losing it all.

I do not support Mr. Tabs' view that there is no way out, although we are approaching the 11th hour, it will require Trump-like aggressive actions and cleanout of government bureaucracies and refocus on national interests, and the chances of that happening in most countries is the square root of dick-all.

I also have precious little faith in people as they have lost their underpinning moral standard where what were once vices are now glorified and honesty and ethical behaviour is more seen as an anachronism.

It will be an interesting ride...

Douwe

You say you do not support my view but then you cite the very basis of my rational that caused me to arrive at my view. Until the system hits bottom it can not have its moment of clarity. To be dissuaded from its fked up notions.