Levered loosing positions have to raise cash. They may be forced to sell anything of value to raise cash, including gold. A good reason to NOT be levered with any gold positions you may have. Also our government has a long history of hitting gold to depress the price ahead of some bad financial news or anticipated stock market decline to make the dollar not look quite as bad. See GATA research. I know that is considered conspiracy theory, but read the evidence they provide and decide for yourself.

Yes. Volatility? You've not seen anything yet. It is going to get LOTS worse.

Buy it and forget about it. Worry about trading it for something else 3-5 years from now after the storm has passed and the US is on sounder footing and things are in a solid turn around.

Don't go overboard on anything, gold included. Do only what lets you sleep at night. Don't use leverage. Leverage (read that article again) is what got the world in the mess it is currently in.

I usually try not to give advice. This is as close as I come. Make your own decisions based on your own best judgement and study. Definitely DO NOT do anything because of me. Do it because of you and what you perceive to be the best course.

John