Free Republic

International Man: In practically every country, the allowable limit for cash withdrawals and transactions continues to be lowered. Further, rampant currency debasement is lowering the real value of these ridiculous limits. Why are governments so intent on phasing out cash? What is really behind this coordinated effort? Doug Casey: Let me draw your attention to three truths that my friend Nick Giambruno has pointed out about money in bank accounts. #1. The money isn’t really yours. You’re just another unsecured creditor if the bank goes bust. #2. The money isn’t actually there. It’s been lent out to borrowers who are...

The top three finishers of each Olympic competition are awarded the gold, silver, and bronze medals, respectively. While the name seems to imply it, Olympic gold medals are not 100% gold. At one time the prize given to the first-place finisher in each competition was solid gold, but now Olympic gold medals are made mostly from silver. For that matter, the second-place silver medals aren't always 100% silver either, though they do contain the same amount of silver as the gold medal. As for the third-place bronze medal, it is made of exactly what its name claims. The specific composition...

..."The brilliance of the marketing for 'Love, Simon' lies in its honesty and in not shying away from the fact that the film is a gay teen romantic comedy," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for online measurement company ComScore. "While many films that have gay themes or a LGBTQ subtext often hide those elements in order to obscure the true message of the movie in order to make the film more 'commercial' or 'mainstream,' this film is rightly and innovatively celebrating and embracing its themes and point of view."

Detroit was to be a workers' paradise, a symbol of progressive success. Instead, it has become a symbol of big government failure, corruption, violence, and decay. In 2013, after a great withdrawal of more than a million productive residents, once-great Detroit became the largest American city ever to declare bankruptcy. "The Great Withdrawal" explores why Detroit failed, why other liberal cities may soon follow, and how this could drag America into insolvency and prolonged depression. It explores the bizarre Nanny Statist Progressive movement that took power in America in 1913 and has driven America on a 100-Year detour away from...

Craving of Fame, Lavish spending and unprecedented currency debasement. Comparing and contrasting the two tyrants. (video)

At its most fundamental level, SocGen's Dylan Grice notes that economic activity is no more than an exchange between strangers. It depends, therefore, on a degree of trust between strangers. Since money is the agent of exchange, it is the agent of trust. Debasing money therefore debases trust. Grice emphasizes that history is replete with Great Disorders in which social cohesion has been undermined by currency debasements. The multi-decade credit inflation can now be seen to have had similarly corrosive effects. Yet central banks continue down the same route. The writing is on the wall. Further debasement of money...

The politics of economics has again risen in the wake of the stock market's recent haircut. Economists and experts from both the right and the left are now falling all over themselves to "do something". Why the stock market is the universal signal, the hunter's bugle call to action, is not yet known. After all, the economic and financial problems of August 2011 have been largely unchanged since August 2007, and indications of these unresolved imbalances have been, and continue to be, numerous. What is troubling is this bipartisan political urge to "do something". In the space of a few...

A Glimpse Ahead Timothy Snodgrass The Impossible Will Come Alive In 2005 01/28/05 In January of 2004, as we began to intercede for the New Year the Holy Spirit gave us the prophetic slogan, "The Seas will Roar in 2004". This year we were given a new slogan, "The Impossible will come Alive in 2005". As the veil of darkness begins to come down over nations and regions, along with great shakings will come great breakthroughs; signs, wonders, healings and a spectacular release of miracles in impossible circumstances. This year, although we are ultimately poised to gain much ground, there...

Are you ready to play some Hardball? Not so fast, to join this game you’re going to really have to know your stuff, because nobody knows politics like Chris Matthews.