Last week was a brilliant week in so many ways; gold and silver were very strong, signs that the times ahead for those of us in this forum are going to be very good in regards to our investing strategy... In fact almost everything was very positive- the action was better and hotter than we've had in a long while.

However (sorry as I have defended political banter on this site before) BUT COME ON GUYS!

Seriously, I'm really tired of reading trite political commentary which is written in bold, broad, fact-free opinion filled statements basically trashing anyone who thinks differently as 'brainwashed' or not understanding the very basis of how we have chosen to invest. Rubbish. I disagree with Pic and Priggly on pretty much every political topic going (however, I agree on many economic issues) and I have NO issue with their grandstanding as long as it is not emotive, provocative, patronizing, fact-free and/or downright offensive to those who hold different opinions. Pic, your rating lately has taken a hammering- get the picture dude... most of us don't want to hear it. Tell us about planetary alignment instead, it was far more interesting.

I may be fairly centrist in my views (which makes me fairly leftist for this board) but I have never felt the need to trash anyone else as braindead or lacking in intelligence. They just see things differently than I do. Here's some news... you WILL NOT change anyones mind by sending out multiple correspondences which illustrate an arrogant disrespect for others and their opinion.

I invest in silver for 1 very good reason. It is limited in quantity and is used up in a number of ways, thus actually decreasing in quantity all the time. There are more and more people who see this value and want to have a piece of it, which expedites the increase in value. Therefore my investments rise and increase the overall wealth of my portfolio and thus I have more opportunities for me and my family. I live in Switzerland with one of the best standard of livings in the world. Their political system is fairly centrist (fiscally very responsible, socially fairly generous) which I personally like very much.

I do not hold the same belief that the US became what it became solely due to conservative Christian principals. I do not profess to be an expert, but I do hold a political science masters degree in american politics (and in history), so I do know something of the topic. The US benefitted from a very complex array of circumstances; abundant resources, untapped land, a democratic and free system (including please note: freedom of speech), slavery... plus in the beginning of the 20th century, they saw their biggest competitors in Europe collapse under the weight of two devastating wars on their own soil (oh and made a lot of money off it in the process). To state anything different is to simplify all the complexity to such a degree that I would suggest looking for a job on Fox News. That is my biggest problem with your movement, you always simplify everything to a few popular but simplistic statements parading as fact. It's very east to do and you and your movement do it very well. This is a method proven to work very well in advertising and in populist movement politics... but it won't fly on a board like this with (mostly) well educated and intelligent individuals who question everything they see and hear. While most of the board are Libertarian leaning, I doubt many of them would go so far as to say they'd like to see an air-headed puppet like Palin (seriously don't even ask for quotes, it's too easy) run their country.

I like many love some of the beliefs of Ron Paul, but it's just too simple for me to act as if he and all his beliefs are infallible... or to go further and see his son as some dynastic copy of his father (I for one don't like Rand). Infallibility and arrogant surety are very unappealing traits in anyone. I like someone whose willing to question their own beliefs and put them to the test once in a while, that isn't weakness, that is a sign of strength. For only beliefs which are tested can be proven to hold up under scrutiny... such as our belief in the correctness of investing in a limited resource. It holds up under scrutiny.

In closing: get down off the freaking soapbox, drop the ego, stop grandstanding, stop believing that multiple posts pushing opinions down our throats will change our minds and talk with respect and reason. When you respect my opinion, when you respect scoutaz and others we will respect you... no matter what you believe. I for one believe that the investing, political and religious worlds are very complex and that no one is 100% correct or infallible, including myself, so why would I believe you guys when you present yourselves to be just that? Think about it.

As Gildage would respectfully say... Lotus petals.

Soul