Y'all have been doing an excellent job of discussing this subject without going political. Thanks, I really appreciate that!

As for gold, the thing to remember about it is that you don't buy good to use during a collapse. You buy gold as a way to get your wealth through a collapse. Once the collapse is over and things are getting better you sell the gold for whatever the new money is.

Back when my wife's family was getting ready to escape China they bought as many gold rings inside China as possible with their Chinese money. Chinese money is worthless outside of China but they knew the gold rings could be sold anywhere they ended up. The gold was a way to transport their wealth through to a new money system.

-Blast