Gaffer & Diogenes - with all due respect, I must say the following:
1) I don’t know either of you.
2) I don’t have anything against either of you.
3) I am pretty sure that you are both bright and sincere people of good will.
4) That all being said, Travis McGee - Matt Bracken - has repeatedly (including in this thread) taken a great deal of time and effort to warn people about the possible consequences of various potential governmental actions. While I cannot speak for him, I am reasonably certain that having people on one of his threads that deals with potential problems in the FUTURE commenting interminably about the “unpleasantness” in this nation between 1861 and 1865 was not at the top of his list for making this post.
5) Speaking for ME - only - I am very tired of the interminable arguments over whether the Civil War (as it is popularly called) should be considered a civil war, or a revolt of some kind...or whether it should be called the “War of Northern Aggression” instead of the “Civil War.” I frankly don’t care WHY it started, WHAT it was over, or HOW you title that conflict - for all I care, call it the war of Hillary’s Sharted Tablecloth Masquerading as a Pantsuit.” Really, guys, WHO CARES? The war has been over for 151 years and about 4 months. Precious few alive now could have heard a first-hand account of any action during that period. It is done. It is over. Times have changed and that is not the issue that Matt Bracken put before us. How about stick to the topic - possible FUTURE government action, and what to do or not do about it? HMMM, how about it, guys?
Thanks.
Even so, the consequences of it are still being felt, and if you think something doesn't matter because it's over, you are very much mistaken.
The Civil War created numerous institutions, power blocks, changes in law, and social consequences that are still causing serious damage to the nation today, the latest being "Gay Marriage. (Based on the 14th amendment.)
I believe it is important for people trying to get out of a mess to understand which wrong turn caused them to end up in the mess.
How about stick to the topic - possible FUTURE government action, and what to do or not do about it?
Already discussed some of this. See mine and other's comments about currency and stored value.