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Central banks perform a number of functions; basically they act as the government's own bank, holding the government checking accounts and collecting tax receipts, facilitating the issuance of bonds, etc. They are also frequently given regulatory functions, such as the enforcement of fractional reserves...
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I've long been convinced that the real threat Iraq and Iran pose is to the hegemony of the dollar. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Oil_Bourse Now read this, but skip all the 'whereas'es and read what it specifically calls for: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=hc110...
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Good question. The New York Fed does not lend money to major securities dealers; it buys securities and pays for them with a check. These securities do not always have to be Treasuries. Last year, the Fed bought mortgage-backed securities. If the number of securities remained constant, there would indeed...
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[quote user="Norak"]Wouldn't it be better to simply buy land in the country, stockpile on food, guns, water, and so on? You can't eat gold.[/quote] Possibly. However, not everybody can buy land or grow their own vegetables. Therefore, gold serves the rest of us who need to trade. The...