Gold is real, Art. Paper money is a fictional construct based on a promise made by people known for breaking their promises. That is why people value gold as they do. The same goes for silver, platinum, oil, water, and other things that are real. They will always have a value in people's minds because they are real. Period.

I have noticed that you're trying to make a point of some kind in your series of comments on this thread, artbrooks, but I'm darned if I can figure out what it is... ;-) I can't fathom what it is that you are (seemingly) attempting to defend, and I can't figure out what makes you think I am attacking it either.

The main point here that concerns me, just from my own private point of view, is the changing exchange rate on US dollars as regards Cdn dollars. US dollars are losing their value rapidly against other major currencies. That is causing my income to decline dramatically. That goes for pretty well everyone else in Canada who is in the manufacturing business and produces real goods...because the biggest market for those real goods for Canadians is the USA.