RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:This is why TA schools anyones Opinion/EgoIf you are referring to the Hunt Brothers debacle in 1980, it is a historical fact that the COMEX changed the rules to protect their control over the market. Now, you can debate whether that was fair or not, but changing the rules just because you are "losing" smacks of manipulation.
Anyhow, you mention that one group whines about the price being suppressed and then you turn around and whine about the "mafia" pumping the price. So, if one group shorts silver to pocket illicit gains and another group hikes premiums, what is the difference? It is like you shorting a stock and having no problems pocketing the gains but you start crying crying about longs profting off a short squeeze if the trade goes in the opposite direction. If you have no problems with one group profiting you shouldn't with the other.
OK, so miners base sales off the derivatives market. I have to base the price I pay when I collect silver coins as a HOBBY off the real price. Back when I stocked up on bullion as an investment it was a buck and change over the "spot paper price" which more or less covered fabrication and marketing costs.
Even if you don't like it or agree with it, we are witnessing a divergence between paper silver and physical silver. THAT is good for the silver market. Millions of retail investors making small purchases and putting pressure on silver supplies is good as it gets us closer to breaking the manipulation on the silver market. Yes, I know the old adage that all markets are manipulated, but that doesn't mean I agree with it.