Good points.

I try to look at it from the most conservative point of view. Then if any of the other conspiracy type stuff turns out to be true, it can only get better from the base point of view.

My biggest concern would be counterparty risk of my broker, like an MF Global type of thing. Central Fund of Canada and Sprott funds (where I have nearly all my gold and silver ownership) I have faith that they actually hold the metal they say they do (surely a person has to have faith that there at least a few honest people still in the financial industry). Central or bullion banks do not have ready access to it like some other funds whose custodians are the banks in question and are the only ones that can redeem shares. When the fox is guarding the hen house, it makes the hens look all the more tempting when the fox gets hungry. If a farmer with a shot gun is guarding the hen house, the fox might look elsewhere for a meal.

If we have societal break down, yes holding physical would the the only way for it to do much good. I'm hoping any turmoil does not go that far. Most of mine is held via Vanguard brokerage. Vanguard is a mutual company, with the account holders being the owners. That does not mean that crooks are not still running it, but Vanguard has long been regarded one of the lowest cost and well run of the bunch. I also have a fair amount via Ameritrade, which is owned by a big bank, which I am not as comfortable with, but figure I need some diversity of brokerages.

If it gets worse to the point I need physical...................... well I have a pond stocked with fish and I guess I will learn to like eating fish a lot more than I do now. Fish are kind of hard to steal and get all of them (dynamite I suppose would do it). If I can keep the taxes paid and have enough ammo to keep the bad guys out, that may be all I can expect from what life I have left if things get that bad. I have no small kids to worry about as they are all grown and can take of themselves. Like I said, I'm hoping it does not go that far. I do not believe it has to, but history is filled with leadership making catastrophic decisions for societies and societies have a history of going bezerk.

Time will tell. I'm not a prepper getting ready for Armageddon. Yet.

John