Turning Crypto Users into Felons
We frequently comment on the almost uniquely American practice of “criminalization”—the conversion of our daily activities into crimes. For instance, we recently discussed how a Google search for the wrong…
How important is timing?
When it comes to his recommendations, a well-known newsletter writer simply tells people to buy. At no particular price. With no obvious exit strategy. And yet it’s mostly worked for…
Search Google, Go to Jail?
We periodically remind our American readers that by simply going about their daily lives, they’re likely committing multiple crimes. As we pointed out last month, for instance, you could be…
The Hidden World of Uncle Sam’s Sanctions
In my role as the president of Fortress Trust, Ltd., a trust and financial services company based on the island of Nevis, in the British West Indies, I receive weekly…
Is the “commodity supercycle” really over?
Investing in commodities in the 2000s was easy. Just put your money into something that tracked various commodities and largely, you’d make money. China was the reason. Never before had…
Form Your Own Country!
“What’s wrong with just starting your own country?” That’s the question my friend and mentor, the late Bob Kephart, used to ask rhetorically when he became particularly irked by political…
Airport Security Theater Is Alive and Well
The sole job of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is to keep weapons and explosives off airplanes. And despite its $8 billion annual budget, it has a long record of…
How do you spot a good offshore investment anyway?
I (Brandon) have lived the international life for a couple decades now. It’s also been the focus of my career ever since (investment research firm) Casey Research asked me to…
Why Not a Trillion-Dollar Coin?
We admit to not paying much attention to the periodic congressional debates over raising the “debt ceiling,” if only because the outcome is preordained. There’s no more doubt to it…
Will China Do What Uncle Sam Should Have Done in 2020?
Whatever your personal feelings about the People’s Republic of China, there’s no arguing with one salient point. Since what we once called “Red China” embraced capitalism in the 1980s, Chinese…
What’s the Last Crime You Committed?
If you’re an American, you probably break the law every day, often without even knowing it: Do you own a dog? You could face six months in federal prison if…
What the “Pandora Papers” Prove Isn’t What You Might Think
Another day, another offshore data leak. Last week, in what’s become a depressingly regular ritual, following yet another massive data leak, the mainstream media lined up in its latest efforts…
Will Crypto Have “Staying Power?”
The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) isn’t one of our favorite federal agencies. It’s placed numerous roadblocks in the way of Americans looking to invest overseas. And the agency’s attempt…
Sense and Nonsense about Offshore Investing
We’ve been in the “offshore” business long enough to have some fairly long memories. Thirty or 40 years ago, it was cool to have an offshore bank account. At a…
More Holes in the Dollar’s Reserve Currency Status
Would you put your life savings into this asset? If you’re an American, your life savings probably are overwhelmingly in this asset – the US dollar. Since 1913 – not…
The Only Winner in Afghanistan Was…
I came of age during the War in Vietnam. If I’d been just a year or two older, I would probably have been drafted and sent to Southeast Asia to…
Apple’s Plan to Scan for Child Porn Leaves You Defenseless
We’re proponents of encryption. When you properly encrypt your data, only you and those you intend to share it with listen to your voice calls or read your electronic messages.…
The Truth about the “Climate Emergency”
The scenes are apocalyptic. Smoke-filled skies over a large part of the planet, along with record-breaking floods. Record-breaking heat and a slow, but inexorable rise in sea level. We’re referring,…
“The AI Will See You Now…”
When I purchased my first PC in the early 1980s, I remember encountering a program called “ELIZA” on a bulletin board system. At the time, ELIZA was billed as an…
Ransomware Hits Close(r) to Home
Ransomware is a particularly vicious class of malware that infiltrates a victim’s computer, encrypts their files, and demands a ransom to unlock them. The first ransomware attack occurred in 1989…
Will Automation Fill in the Pandemic Employment Gaps?
As the US economy slowly reopens, unwinding from the COVID-related lockdowns of 2020 and early 2021, employers are facing an unprecedented shortage of available workers. Many reasons have been cited…
“Right to Repair” Is a No-Brainer
Imagine you’re a Marine Corps logistics officer stationed in South Korea. An electrical generator your unit depends on has just broken down. You order one of your subordinates to fix…
“Vaccine Passports” and Your Rights
Our January article on vaccines and “informed consent” was easily one of the most controversial we have ever published. And just as we predicted, “vaccine passports” (or “immunity passports”) showing…
Where’s the Beef?
In the early morning hours of July 1, a handcuffed 73-year-old man was led into a New York courtroom to face a litany of charges, including grand larceny. Detectives were…
Your Property is Guilty Until Proven Innocent
We’ve called civil forfeiture “the beast that won’t die,” characterized it as a “war on your wealth,” and warned that cash is especially vulnerable to this despicable legal process. Police…
Searching for Truth in the Age of Partisanship and Fake News
Last week, I went to dinner with a group of liberty-minded friends to discuss the topic of censorship. One member of our party had recently volunteered to assist in the…
You May Have More in Common with Britney Spears than You Think…
We’re not exactly dedicated followers of pop culture, but it was hard to miss the sensational headlines last week following Britney Spears’ impassioned statement to a probate judge. And while…
Domestic Spying Is Even Worse Than We Feared
We haven’t been shy over the years in highlighting the threat to our privacy and wealth that Uncle Sam’s wars on (some) drugs, (some) terrorists, and (some) money launderers pose.…
Insurance Companies Monitor Your Every Move
I’ve had the same car insurance agent for over 20 years. About five years ago, I called to let him know I had purchased a new vehicle. During the call,…
Another Reason to Keep Wearing Your Mask
Do you have an “expectation of privacy” when it comes to your facial features? That’s an unfounded assumption in the good ol’ USA. . In this “land of the free,”…