Bob Chapman summarizes matters quite nicely:
Public debt has become a problem worldwide. What is becoming more and more evident is that it is unsustainable and simply unpayable. It could be compared to a giant Ponzi scheme. We see no meaningful debt reductions thus, government will have to raise taxes, which will further suppress the economy, or people and companies will be forced to buy such bonds, or perhaps pension and retirement funds will be seized to continue the game for a while longer.
More importantly, Mr. Chapman expects very high inflation (if not hyperinflation), government defaults and generally terrible economic conditions:
Higher interest rates will cause major problems for banks, private equity funds and hedge funds. The cost of borrowing and using leverage will be prohibitive. Many banks and funds will go under. Defaults will abound and cash flow to bond holders will diminish making outflows greater than inflows. This process of losses will in part mirror what we saw in the early 1930s, not only in reduced value but also in the doubling of gold prices and the increase in gold and silver shares of more than 500%. This also will be accompanied by a complete collapse in living standards.
At this stage we depart from the crowd of economists. We think these conditions will persist for some time. Wall Street and banking will still exist but in an abbreviated form. The stars of Wall Street will be gold and silver shares free to trade freely without government manipulation. Tariffs on goods and services will be erected and money will start to flow to redevelop industry. Savings rates will rise and capital formation will take place. The illegal aliens will be forced to return to their homes and people will start to get on with their lives. The world will go on having been taught a good lesson.
Thank you very much for this post. It is giving me hope.
OK, there is a tough bill to pay, but, after that, there is at least a chance of a better world!
Have a good Sunday.