RE:RE:RE:Cashless bird watchersValuePro wrote: Yeah, but this just might contribute to a further evolution of "real" exchanges of goods and services via hard money. If my plumber will accept a handful of silver coins over digital currency, he wins as the deal becomes part of a growing underground economy escaping many levels of surveillance and taxation.
Of course, as this concept spreads, many people will be trapped in a system of dependency in having to accept digital paychecks and pay their bills electronically.
I lucked out in adding to my bullion stash in January and February. I will only add again as I begin to sense that stock markets are about to fail. At that point, I will sell my mining stocks - and/or ask for the certificates - in favor of bullion. I say that because a lot of brokers hedge what they hold for clients. If they fail, their customers fail and their insurance limits will not cover my losses (if and when the insurance can be paid).
Rough times ahead, IMO.
Even in Asia, people are fully aware :
https://www.techinasia.com/shenzhen-hard-pay-without-app-raising-privacy-concerns
But there has been no stopping it.
The possession of physical PMs doesn't help you because gold and silver is not accepted as the medium of exchange in everyday life. Only the government sponsored digital fiat system is functional. And only the government approved Central Bank manages physical gold tied to the digital fiat.
And that's what eventually threatens the value of gold and silver (especially physical) for the man on the street. Regardless of what one believes the value to be, it simply has no utility. It can't be used. Not even to buy a bottle of water. PMs may even be criminalized as contraband one day if found in your possession, and confiscated on the spot.
When you have become entrapped within a system, the most valuable asset is your standing within that system. Your ability to excel and prosper within it becomes the true wealth, not your belief that you can escape it. Because your income and everything that is available for consumption (including food and water) is through that system alone.
This is where it's all moving. Very fast. And governments everywhere will scramble to adopt and promote it - as in Asia, and so to in the West.
It will be interesting to see how individuals can escape it. Especially when the majority don't even want to.
Tx