For more than a century, the United States has treated Latin America as its sphere of influence—its so-called “backyard.” Research by Columbia University historian John Coatsworth shows that the US has overthrown or intervened in at least 41 governments across the region, often using military force or covert operations to […]
It’s hard to believe the United States government was ever debt-free. But it happened once—in 1835—thanks to President Andrew Jackson. He was the first and only president to pay off the national debt completely. One biographer says the former president viewed debt as a “moral failing,” a sort of “black […]
1913 was a terrible year for America and human freedom. It was the year Congress passed the Federal Reserve Act and ratified the 16th Amendment to the US Constitution, which authorized a federal income tax. At first glance, these two unfortunate developments may seem unrelated. Yet what are the odds […]
Gold has quietly overtaken the euro to become the second-largest component of global foreign exchange reserves. While the US dollar and US Treasuries still dominate, their share has been steadily shrinking as gold’s role expands. Central banks now hold gold at roughly 20% of their reserves, compared to the euro’s […]
Every time the US government has faced an existential financial crisis in its history, it has chosen to change the rules rather than honor its promises in full—usually by replacing gold or silver with paper. From the War of 1812 when interest payments were missed, to the Lincoln’s Greenbacks, to […]
“Since 1789, the United States has paid all of our bills on time,” said former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. “In our history, we have never defaulted on our debt or failed to pay our bills,” said President Biden’s press secretary. “… the United States has never defaulted on its debt,” […]
In today’s financial system, what many people take for granted as foundational truths are actually deeply flawed assumptions or outright deceptions. Last week, I uncovered five of the most dangerous myths in modern finance. This week, I’ll expose five more that most people still believe. Below is a breakdown of […]
In the east, the Roman Empire generally ended where the Persian Empire began. Unlike most other nation states in the Middle East, Iran (known as Persia before 1935) is not an artificial construct. By race, religion, and social history, it is a nation. European bureaucrats didn’t dream up Iran by […]
In the east, the Roman Empire generally ended where the Persian Empire began. Unlike most other nation states in the Middle East, Iran (known as Persia before 1935) is not an artificial construct. By race, religion, and social history, it is a nation. European bureaucrats didn’t dream up Iran by […]
Gold has been at the heart of the US monetary system since the nation’s founding, evolving from a direct anchor for the dollar to a strategic reserve asset. Though it no longer backs the dollar, gold remains a cornerstone of central bank reserves, a discreet but powerful force in global […]