Coach, Along the same lines as the above post, it seems counterintuitive that the government would allow the mining shares to collapse and leave investors with no choice but to own physical metal outright during this time of uncertainty. Greenspan and the like, have worked hard to keep physical out of the mainstream investors' hands so that the money remains in the "system" while the govt/feds continue to play with it, leverage it, and keep spending it to continue to prop up the various farcical financial markets.

So my opinion, would be that at somepoint this will end- whether it be that mining shares (or more appropriately, wide naked shorting) turns around, or, a policy dictate flutters down issuing an order with respect to limits to naked short in some manner. In other words, I beleive the politicos must have an eye on the naked shorting game to ensure it doesnt spiral out of control because if it does the natural receptor is physical precious metal as it relates to an alternative monetary system. And that's exactly what it would be, an alternate, away from the current financial market system, which I know those rat bastard elites don't want.