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I thought they primarily viewed gold as valuable because it's a medium of exchange that they believe will remain useful and stable in case of some sort of societal collapse? There probably won't be a lot of microelectronics getting manufactured in that scenario; gold prices dropping ought to be good for them now.

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Hoarding gold when TSHTF is stupid anyway. The only commodities in that event will be booze, ammo, and women.

Personally, I would go for food, clothing, and shelter

Hard to trade shelter, but I see what you mean - but I think those are too low on the pyramid to truly be commodities. I'm thinking painkillers and antibiotics.

Also, skills. If I were truly paranoid, instead of hoarding gold I'd be hoarding friendships with dentists and paramedics. An infected tooth can kill you, and make you wish it wouldn't take its sweet time doing it.

I realize that when TSHTF we're likely to revert at least somewhat from the lofty heights our civilization has soared to, but can we try to remember that people aren't things?

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