Is Gold the Ultimate Insurance Policy in a World of Debt?
Let’s talk about a classic asset: gold. When we look at all this talk about government debt, fiscal deficits, and central banks potentially printing money to cover costs, gold starts to look mighty attractive, doesn't it? Here's the core philosophy behind gold: it’s viewed as the ultimate opposite of fiat currency—paper money . When a government, particularly the US, racks up too much debt, the historical answer is usually not to strictly earn its way out, but to print money to dilute the value of the outstanding debt .
However, the US can't just print money willy-nilly; that would destroy the dollar’s global dominance . They only do it during moments of grave necessity or global financial crisis, like the 2008 financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic . This is the precise moment when gold performs its insurance function: every time the dollar supply is massively inflated during a crisis, gold prices tend to surge in the period immediately following, as people seek refuge from depreciating paper assets .
From my perspective, trying to time gold’s price movements daily or monthly is a fool's errand because its value is tied to long-term systemic stability (or instability) . The key is understanding that another major "dollar-printing event" will inevitably happen someday, whether it’s a massive financial shock or a geopolitical crisis that forces the US government’s hand . Therefore, instead of asking when gold will spike next, we should view it as a necessary, long-term component of a balanced portfolio—a hedge against the eventual, likely devaluation of paper currency . In the end, whether you’re looking at currencies, tech stocks, or commodities, the lesson remains the same: diversification is our strongest defense against an uncertain future .