My parents asked me, out of the blue, for advice on buying silver

[phantom power]

This makes two conversations in the last couple weeks. My neighbors brought it up, also out of the blue, while discussing the crappy economy and recent stock market hilarity. "At least we have a little gold."

Now my Mom -- my Mom is saying "we'd have it in our hand."

My parents are hard-core liberals, and my neighbors are hard-core conservatives. This obviously anecdotal, and also a sample size of 2. But it feels weird. Nobody used to talk like this except people building survival compounds.

People are frightened.

[villager]

1. Shit, even I'm wondering aloud to myself about it, and I'm a broke single dad

...about six weeks away from sleeping in his car...

sigh...

[phantom power]

4. I never quite know what to say....

I feel like if somebody had a small amount, like up to a couple/few percent of their investments, as a sort of "disaster insurance," you wouldn't be likely to end up regretting that. I wouldn't buy it as an "investment" with the goal of making money. More like an emergency hedge.

It seems like silver would have the advantage that you can buy an ounce for only $40, as opposed to just-shy-of-two-grand.

I've considered it too. Heck, I guess I'm frightened like anybody else.

[Mojorabbit]

2. Most people I know are stocking up their pantries

My mother who is a low info voter told me she thinks we are in for a depression worse than the one she was born into and all her friends are thinking the same. I have always had a garden and am expanding mine. Can't hurt.

[dkf]

3. People realize we can't tax our way out of our debts. We have to print it.

Therefore Gold, then silver.

[phantom power]

5. True, but it is possible to print our way out without hyperinflation, per se.

[dkf]

6. Not with the amounts we owe.

And usually you need to print when no one wants your debt, which is when you are screwed anyway.

[Brigid]

7. You may find this article I just read today interesting.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/markets/story/2011-09-06/Talk-of-slowdown-causes-recession-in-market-confidence/50285782/1