Hi all, just to demonstrate how completely disjointed things are in the US and to provide just my humble opinion on the economy one only has to look at the DOW and international markets during this shutdown period. How, in the name of anything sensicle can US markets float along, go up and down but not really enter a bear sentiment. The US is broke, prints money and spends it at will, shuts down its periferal operations much to its embarassment internationally and is approaching the limit of borrowing.

The sad reality of all this is markets are ruling the day, QE is now sure to continue into 2014 which the markets love, and investors are not worried in the least it seems in fact they like all this because the US keeps dumping cash into bonds. Well, one day, and one day very soon I believe the artificial stimulation of the economy will come back to roost. US believes they had to nurture the economy along artificially until it could stand on its own feet. The trouble is it can't stand on its own two feet and when the crutches are taken away it is going to falter. And fast. This is huge for gold/silver although inflation is nowhere to be found...yet. Many have never been more afraid of the future than they are now and with, what appears to be, very good reason. Middle class better off? More cash in your pockets? More security in your future? Less taxes and more income? Not me, for one. I pay more taxes than some people make and hate it, can't get away from it, over 50% when all is said and done.

Sorry, my rant for the day but I agree with WC Guy and this US thing really bugs me.

Best regards all,