RE: Interesting TimesMetaldog, don't take this post the wrong way. I enjoy reading your posts, but talking about them with other people who read this board, we came to the conclusion that you probably have a bunker somewhere with a 10-year supply of fresh water and tinned food.
I hope you are right about silver, but I don't think you are. I'm no economist and I may say something idiotic here, but it seems to me that ever since (in my country at least) the Bank of Canada adopted an inflation control policy (trying to keep it <3%) the whole idea of a logical, demand/supply controlled market for anything went out the window. When I was a kid, you could put money in the bank and earn 10% interest. That world is gone and, with as the governments and central banks get their hands deeper and deeper into everything, you aren't going to see spiralling inflation or crippling moves in the major currencies. It just isn't going to happen - and I don't believe the simultaneous unravelling theory that many goldbugs seem to have. Give me a break - this isn't a precarious house of cards that's going to come crashing down, in my opinion.
The main thing I advise is this: sure, gold could move substantially, but I would be surprised to see anything above $300 before 2002. Silver the same - I don't think you'll see your 4.70 this year.
What does that mean for investment strategies? You have to look for companies that have properties which have good economics in this 285/4.40 climate. I like MFL here still and Russ' AIC analysis shows why. We agree on MFL, but our reasoning is different. That said, bring on 4.70 silver, I'm certainly ready for it . . .