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Today is the 88th anniversary of Executive Order 6102, signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “forbidding the hoarding of gold coin, gold bullion, and gold certificates within the continental United States.” The order was one of the several disastrous responses to the Great Depression that succeed in escalating the financial crisis. Later in the year, the US Congress would pass a resolution retroactively supporting the legislation, however, it was the determined autocratic leadership of FDR that gave way for these unprecedented measures.
It would be a crime for Americans to hold gold for over forty years when President Gerald Ford reversed the order in 1974.
This episode has several lessons for the current financial environment, particularly given the acceleration of tyranny-by-expert rule that has taken over much of the worst this past year.
The underlying legislation that evoked by FDR’s Executive Order was the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 – a byproduct of WWI – despite the fact US was in no way in a period of war in 1932. Similarly, we have seen War on Terror-inspired financial legislation increasingly be used against American citizens. For example, in the name of “fighting terrorism” the US Patriot Act significantly increased Know Your Customer laws, empowering Federal regulators to use the traditional banking system to better track the economic behavior of American citizens.
In the eyes of the Federal government, “anti-terrorism” legislation was quickly expanded to include additional missions – such as stopping money laundering and drug crimes. Increasingly, these boogeymen have used by policymakers around the world to erode financial privacy assets – such as cash and secret Swiss bank accounts.
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They’re Trying to Shut Us Down
Over the last several months, I’ve lost count of how many times the powers-that-be have tried to shut us down. They’ve sent hackers at us, forcing us to take extreme measures on web security. They sent attorneys after us, but thankfully we’re not easily intimidated by baseless accusations or threats. They’ve even gone so far as to make physical threats. Those can actually be a bit worrisome but Remington has me covered.
For us to continue to deliver the truth that Americans need to read and hear, we ask you, our amazing audience, for financial assistance. We have a Giving Fuel page to help us pay the bills. It’s brand new so don’t be discouraged by the lack of donations there. It’s a funny reality that the fewer the donations that have been made, the less likely people are willing to donate to it. One would think this is counterintuitive, but sometimes people are skeptical because they think that perhaps there’s a reason others haven’t been donating. In our situation, we’re just getting started so please don’t be shy if you have the means to help.
Thank you and God bless!
JD Rucker