Loot and Lobby

Why the Government's Gold Reserve Is a Bad Thing Mar 11, 2025

Does the US government need a gold reserve? No, it doesn't. The government's gold is basically an emergency slush fund for elites to use to preserve their political power.

Citation: "What share for gold? On the interaction of gold and foreign exchange reserve returns" by Omar Zulaica, BIS Working Papers, No. 906: bis.org/publ/work906.pdf

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

How Big Is the US Gold Reserve and What Is It Worth? Mar 07, 2025

Should we audit the US gold hoard? First, let's take a look at what the official numbers say about how big the US gold reserve is, where it is located, and how much it is worth in US dollars.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

33 Counties In Illinois Have Voted to Leave the State Mar 03, 2025

Activists in Illinois and Indiana are talking about changing the state borders so separatist Illinois counties can join Indiana. As you'd expect, many politicians hate the idea.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

The Fort Knox Gold Was Stolen From the American People Feb 28, 2025

The gold in the US gold reserve is a legacy of the time the US government refused to keep its promise to redeem dollars in gold, and when it reneged on its legal obligations to repay debts in gold.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

California Secession Would be Great for the Rest of America Feb 04, 2025

California secession would not change the US into a laissez-faire paradise, but the positive change would be immense.

See also Breaking Away: The Case for Secession, Radical Decentralization, and Smaller Polities by Ryan McMaken: Mises.org/BreakingAway

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Don't Put Your Trust in the Supreme Court Feb 03, 2025

No matter how the court rules on birthright citizenship (or anything else), it certainly won’t be the “last word” on the matter, and nothing is decided beyond the short term.

Additional Reading

“Birthright Citizenship Isn’t Real” by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/power-market/birthright-citizenship-isnt-real

“Don’t Confuse Immigration with Naturalization” by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/mises-wire/dont-confuse-immigration-naturalization

“The Problem with the Arbitrary Line between Legal and Illegal Immigration” by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/power-market/problem-arbitrary-line-between-legal-and-illegal-immigration

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

The World Is Getting Rid of Birthright Citizenship Jan 29, 2025

Europe has no countries that offer “birthright citizenship” anymore. The US and Canada are rare exceptions. Most countries that still have it are countries with net out-migration like Mexico.

Additional Reading

“Birthright Citizenship Isn’t Real” by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/power-market/birthright-citizenship-isnt-real

“Why Birthright Citizenship Is Rare In Europe” by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/mises-wire/why-birthright-citizenship-rare-europe

“Don’t Confuse Immigration with Naturalization” by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/mises-wire/dont-confuse-immigration-naturalization

“The Problem with the Arbitrary Line between Legal and Illegal Immigration” by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/power-market/problem-arbitrary-line-between-legal-and-illegal-immigration

“There Is No Such Thing as Settled Law” by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/mises-wire/there-no-such-thing-settled-law

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

The Problem with "Birthright Citizenship" Jan 27, 2025

In the 1870s and 1880s, and through the 1920s, it's clear that many legislators and judges did not agree that birthright citizenship applied to everyone born in the borders of the US. The modern interpretation is highly debatable.

Additional Reading

"Why the World Is Giving Up on Birthright Citizenship" by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/mises-wire/why-world-giving-birthright-citizenship

“Why Birthright Citizenship Is Rare In Europe” by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/mises-wire/why-birthright-citizenship-rare-europe

“Don’t Confuse Immigration with Naturalization“ by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/mises-wire/dont-confuse-immigration-naturalization

“The Problem with the Arbitrary Line between Legal and Illegal Immigration“ by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/power-market/problem-arbitrary-line-between-legal-and-illegal-immigration

"There Is No Such Thing as Settled Law" by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/mises-wire/there-no-such-thing-settled-law

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

2025’s Federal Deficit May Be the Biggest Ever Dec 13, 2024

If you thought federal deficits and spending would go back to normal after the covid panic, you were wrong. If anything, deficits are now on track to be bigger than the covid years.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

Trump’s Immigration Plans: The Good and the Bad Nov 20, 2024

One does not need to be an advocate of open borders to have concerns when one hears about a federal law enforcement agency engaging in a “crackdown.”

See also "A Free-Market Guide to Trump’s Immigration Crackdown" by Ryan McMaken: https://mises.org/mises-wire/free-market-guide-trumps-immigration-crackdown

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

Presidential Elections Are a Lot Closer than You Think Nov 13, 2024

Since 1956, few presidential candidates have managed to get more than 51 percent of the vote in national elections.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

Why "Majority Rule" Doesn't Work Nov 12, 2024

Even if whole regions of the country vote overwhelmingly against a president, they are still forced to submit to four years of that president’s rule-by-decree.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

Congress Should Fire Jerome Powell Nov 08, 2024

The Fed wants independence so it can serve the interests of the banker class. There is no higher principle here. There is only power.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

3 Tough Questions for the Fed at Thursday's FOMC Presser Nov 07, 2024

The Fed claims things are going very well, but Fed Chairman Jerome Powell got three questions at the press conference that he had trouble answering honestly.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

The Private-Sector Job Market Is Shrinking Nov 04, 2024

Job growth was only positive in October because of government jobs, funded by huge federal deficits.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

The Problem with Trump’s Pro-Tariff “Tax Reform” Oct 29, 2024

Trump’s tax reform just replaces one tax with another. And would probably result in higher taxes.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

Why the Money Supply Is Growing Again Oct 21, 2024

In August, the money supply grew at the fastest rate in 23 months. The Fed fears a recession, so we can now expect even more monetary growth.

For graphs and more, read https://mises.org/mises-wire/money-supply-growth-hit-23-month-high-and-fed-wants-more

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

What the New Jobs Report Really Says Oct 09, 2024

September's job numbers were driven by big increases in government jobs and part-time work.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

The Fed's Two-Percent Inflation Target Is Meaningless Oct 04, 2024

The two-percent price inflation target is just a political slogan, and the Fed has many ways of ignoring its supposed two-percent target.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

The Fed Hits the Panic Button Sep 19, 2024

The Fed is desperate for you to think that "this time is different." Unfortunately, Powell can't seem to come up with an explanation of why that is the case.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

America Now Has Fewer Employed Workers than It Did a Year Ago Sep 07, 2024

The total number of employed persons has fallen by 66,000 since August of 2023. Moreover, the new job growth is almost all in part-time jobs.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

Rising Prices Are Caused by Monetary Inflation, Not Greed Aug 31, 2024

Price inflation is never caused by greed. It's always caused by a growing money supply. The money supply has grown big-time since 2020, and now we pay a lot more for food and housing.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

Powell: More Easy Money Is Coming Soon Aug 23, 2024

The Fed promises a soft landing, but the fact that the Fed now plans to start cutting interest rates is one of the strongest recession signals we can get.

Be sure to follow the Loot & Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL

The Feds’ Runaway Deficits Are Here to Stay Aug 22, 2024

The US will add another $2 trillion to the total debt this year, and the US is now spending a trillion of your dollars on interest per year. There is no end in sight.

Be sure to follow the Loot & Lobby podcast at Mises.org/LL