Be VERY careful when investing in gold. Commodities by their very nature are RISKY. Many people have lost BIG BUCKS on commodities including professionals. Gold "may" "shoot through the roof" OR it could fall again. Be very very careful when playing this market.

I am still waiting for someone to show me which section of the Constitution authorizes social security.

Hi Dolans ... Love your work, but I need to take exception with your ascertation that not raising the celing means the United States of America goes into default. That is just not true. The U.S. has tremendous cash flow.

Every day billions flow into the coffers in tax revenue. By not raising the debt-ceiling, that will not cause default. Interest on the debt will always be the first priority and there is plenty of cash flow to do that.

What will happen is the other stuff ... the discretionary spending on everything from federal employees to funding of the arts and EVERYTHING else comes after servicing the debt. And that's what SHOULD happen. Cut the spending! Get rid of 10% of the federal employees for starters. Slash the foreign aid to countries who want to kill us.

Cut everything including the WH staff salaries (good God ... what a horrible example is being set there)

So I have to strongly disagree with your statement. It will not result in the U.S. defaulting on its debt obligations if the ceiling is not raised. I pray that it is not raised.

How about cutting the retirement that Congressmen, Senators, Presidents, etc get? They don't get the same Social Security benefits that we do. CUT THEIR BENEFITS!!! They never bring THAT option up, do they?

perhaps the Government should re-evaluate all the perks and services our elected officials get for free (we pay for them through our taxes) like full salary for the rest of their lives, full medical benefits (and they only get the best), not to mention expense accounts, transportation, lodging, etc. hmmmmm wonder how much money all this expense involves?Anybody who has a real job that offers all these things, please let me know where to apply.

America At Work Do you remember the 1960's? America at work! American workers building america: Apollo, Minute Man, Deep space navagation and many other programs. american workers payning into their future. The American worker paying in to social security making it stronger.

Today we have exported the good paying jobs, and created welefare for America. The new american ethic is the check is in the mail, why work. Welefare has become our bigest employer. welefare comes in many forms but does not make payments in to our social security system, or other needed benfits. Ironically as pepole set idole nothing is paid into our future.

America needs something to do that is good paying. Work should be internal in America and contributing to benfits. Remember the saying: So goes General Motors so goes the world. Who will pay for our future cars? The people who have made good wages have been put on welfare of some kind.

i agree with diane, and in fact i also wrote to my political rep about all this fancy stuff. our founding fathers did not have all these perks.
in regards to taxes and so on, what about the compounding interest on tax revenues that come in? if the social security acct. is collecting fica, etc., hasn't the compound interest on this money been considered. where is it. all workers pay into this every paycheck.
we've earned it and should not be subject to cutbacks,etc.

This country is ripe for a revolt, and I think I will see it during my lifetime. Too much greed, secrecy,and double-dealing. We The People have had enough of it. Oh and Weiner? He resigned but will still get full pay. What a deal huh?

Dolans? You see the dissent in here. Do you have any ideas how we Americans can fix the mess we are in?

Although Americans in general are not happy with the idea of socialized medicine.... but with all the new restrictions and copayments and deductibles, who you can and cannot see, what procedures the administrative people at insurance companies (and not the doctors) decide are applicable to your medical situation...... kinda sounding like socialized medicine to me. pretty sneaky, huh?

Start drug testing everyone or legalize it. If you're on welfare and fail the drug test no more welfare for you. Secure the border. If you can't speak English go home. Stop the anchor baby debacle. All government employees including elected and appointed, should have the same benefits as the average worker. Pay into social security and Medicare. Instead of retirement for life a 401-k plan and pay for your health insurance then, Medicare at age 65. Change the tax system to a flat tax for everyone.....

No, we do not need to raise taxes! Raising taxes or reducing deductions in a recession is nonsense! If taxes are raised or deductions reduced, those costs will be passed on to consumers by businesses or they will result in lower spending by the individuals being taxed. Government spending is the problem! It is now 25% of our economy. Government does not create prosperity. The private sector creates prosperity. Rather than reducing services, government entities should reduce their labor costs as such costs are generally about 60%+ of any entity. How come our President, Congress, governors, legislatures, and public employees are not willing to take pay cuts. I certainly have taken a severe pay cut. I am unemployed! Where is the shared sacrifice within government?