I’m sorry I haven’t checked the mailbag for ages. I didn’t realize how many messages were in there, unanswered, until today. I’ll get right to answering some of them. Next week, I’ll try to answer some more.

Davos Defeated

Sean,

You didn’t mention a transformative change that Kamala would have installed, with the global elites, Black Rock, and the treasury ensuring the centralization of USDC and controlling the programmable money supply. Trump will hopefully stop this and the Davos gang, which you did mention. Davos is a big issue, but not as big as our fiscal sovereignty.

Bill B.

Thanks for writing, Bill. CBDCs and Davos go hand in hand. It would only be a matter of time before all the CBDCs were linked to a global database controlled by the UN, IMF, or, heaven forbid, the WEF. But I agree that Trump has zero interest in launching a digital dollar, thank God.

Yes, Biden/Harris blew it on student loans, mandated EVs, and taxing unrealized capital gains. They could have sold those ideas as "loan forgiveness for public service," taxing only the 'income' derived from using capital holdings as collateral, and incentives only for EVs, without mandates. Economics is not a strong suit of politicians. Donald Trump is no Javier Milei, and I suspect we will see the difference soon as Trump is about to give us a lesson in scattershot, ill-informed policies that will sting for a decade.

Damon C.

Hi Damon! Probably. But Bidenflation will live with us for decades. We can still hope with Trump.

If you think Trump is “deeply flawed,” I would like you to define that and give examples of others who are not deeply flawed and would be better presidents. While I agree with you on some things, you have not been paying attention to what Trump has actually said, or you are interpreting it to apply criticism. You are going to be surprised when you see what he does. Part of that surprise could come as early as today.

Carl H.

Thanks for writing, Carl. In response, I only have two words: Ron Paul.

And two from Robert R.:

Seanie,

Did you miss Trump's reply: "Remember Hillary, she said deplorables. I think garbage is worse." Adroit, locking down Joe with a tie-back. The probability of a T-blowout just increased further, after the WaPo, LATimes & USAToday non-endorsements.

—--

Seanie,

I'm for abortion but for reasons seldom/never heard. Still, I'm deeply insulted by Ms. Harris and Dem Senate contestants who pretend they can restore Roe. Nancy Pelosi judged she could not as US House Speaker in 2H22 with good House control, solid Senate and Presidency. She had six months, including a lame-duck, more if you add the lead time from the SCOTUS leak. Why do these stand-ins think they can? I may deplore Nanc, but she is a competent politician. Nancy did evaluate it and decided against it, most likely because either a) legislation can't re-order amendments (10th trumps 9th) or b) Chuck couldn't overcome a Senate filibuster. Or both. I'm watching the races to see how many can see through these lies. And most likely, just stay home. That's how elections are won and lost. To the extent Trump lost in 2020, it was because his base stayed home, disappointed he had not done more with Covid (fired Fauci & Birx).

Robert R.

Hi Robert, I wish I had read your messages before the election. I would’ve felt much better. I think you’ve been proven correct on all counts.

Chairman Pow

I've never not known who the Keystone Cops are, c'mon man! Methinks that the Fed (Jay) has an impossible task. It's like being a bad weatherman. No matter what, you predict it wrong. Can you think of any scenario in which the Fed could get ahead of the data with any certainty that it was doing the right thing? Maybe your early rate hike would have helped, but PP has taught me that all they control is overnight bank interest rates, and short-term rates follow. Even that is too much for a lot of us.

James T.

Hi James! Old joke: Why did God create economists? To make weathermen look good. No, I can’t imagine any scenario in which they’d get ahead… because no central bank ever has.

Dignity in the Workplace

Hi Sean,

Reading the Rude is my daily morning treat. I learn so much! Regarding the above topic, while I disagree that McDonald's hamburger is nutritious (it's just calories) - read The Dorito Effect and The End of Cravings, the same author (the most interesting books I've ever read) - I wholeheartedly agree that every job has dignity and every job is a learning experience.

My dad was a small business owner who sold electrical supplies to contractors. He wore a tie and jacket every day to work, but when the pipes and wire, etc., came in on the semis, the jacket came off, the tie was tucked into his shirt, and he was out there hauling pipe and wire, rain or shine, even though he had guys in the warehouse that did that job. No job was too "lowly" for him. I learned that every worker has dignity because of their job. I also learned that there is no top of the ladder without the bottom of the ladder. All of us, even the highest and mightiest, depend on the lowly among us to be successful at their jobs.

And, one more point: my employer hires a lot of kids out of college. One thing we've stopped doing is hiring kids who haven't had some kind of job before. We prefer service industry jobs because of all the traits a kid learns while doing that kind of job, such as customer service, etc., as you said. Anyway, keep up the good work!

Jim S.

Hi Jim! Thanks for writing in and for the kind words. I love how your dad conducted himself. That’s the way genuine leaders set examples for the rest of us.

Poo Pooh Platter?

Morning Sean,

I don't want to be "that guy" but my Mom was an English teacher, so I have to. The expression is "pooh pooh" to indicate foolishness or impracticability. Sorry if I'm the 100th person to respond. The way you have it suggests the byproduct of digestion. Love "The Rude."

Best,

Brian H.

Hi Brian! Thanks for writing in and for your kind words. Stunned, I looked it up here. My way of spelling it is the less common way of doing so, but it’s apparently acceptable. But I like your way better. From now on, I shall include the “h.”

Candlestick Charts

Hi, Sean.

I love the Rude! Anyway, you often show those candlestick graphs. I'm not sure I understand how to read them and have no idea how you read them to come to your assessments. Any chance we could get some of your teaching on this? Thanks!

Jim S.

Thank you, Jim! What a great idea! Barring any crazy happenings over the weekend, I’ll do candlestick charts in Monday’s Rude.

Gold Week!

Complete & concise first time approach greatly appreciated. Please, offer suggestions on exactly where to buy physical gold.

Sincerest thanks,

Beverly H.

It's my pleasure, Beverly! Paradigm Press has had a long relationship with Hard Assets Alliance, which is a great place to start. 

Wrap Up

Thanks for writing in, and have a wonderful weekend!