One month ago it appeared that Germany held the whip hand in its titanic struggle against those seeking to cure all economic ills with the snake oil of currency debasement. Now, it appears that the ground beneath its feet is being swept away in a flood of popular unrest and political exploitation. The recent elections in Europe, which highlight both the strong grass roots revolt against Germanic demands in Greece and France show that the cause of sound money and fiscal prudence to be a lonely and difficult endeavor.

One month ago it appeared that Germany held the whip hand in its titanic struggle against those seeking to cure all economic ills with the snake oil of currency debasement. Now, it appears that the ground beneath its feet is being swept away in a flood of popular unrest and political exploitation. The recent elections in Europe, which highlight both the strong grass roots revolt against Germanic demands in Greece and France show that the cause of sound money and fiscal prudence to be a lonely and difficult endeavor.

There are plenty of books about the entitlement disaster in our future, but few come with the backing of an academic press. The Clash of Generations is an exception. Written by economist Larry Kotlikoff, one of the creators of generational accounting, and my good friend of long standing, Scott Burns, Clash shows what current policies have already done to young people, tells stories about how both parties have allowed it to happen, and offers actual policy solutions– for banking, taxes, healthcare, and Social Security.

There are plenty of books about the entitlement disaster in our future, but few come with the backing of an academic press. The Clash of Generations is an exception. Written by economist Larry Kotlikoff, one of the creators of generational accounting, and my good friend of long standing, Scott Burns, Clash shows what current policies have already done to young people, tells stories about how both parties have allowed it to happen, and offers actual policy solutions– for banking, taxes, healthcare, and Social Security.

During the month of May so far, Brent crude oil futures have declined from $128.40 to $110.93 (-$17.47), or nearly 14%, while NYMEX Oil has declined from $106.49 to $93.65 (-$12.84), or about 22%. This has resulted in a widening of the Brent-NYMEX differential from $13 to nearly $18. Judging from both the recent up-leg pattern of the differential and the powerful position of its near-vertical momentum gauge, the Brent (British North Sea oil)-NYMEX (U.S. oil) spread should continue to widen towards a retest of its year-long resistance line, now at $19.95.

During the month of May so far, Brent crude oil futures have declined from $128.40 to $110.93 (-$17.47), or nearly 14%, while NYMEX Oil has declined from $106.49 to $93.65 (-$12.84), or about 22%. This has resulted in a widening of the Brent-NYMEX differential from $13 to nearly $18. Judging from both the recent up-leg pattern of the differential and the powerful position of its near-vertical momentum gauge, the Brent (British North Sea oil)-NYMEX (U.S. oil) spread should continue to widen towards a retest of its year-long resistance line, now at $19.95.

I must first apologize to my readers for this report being so late this week as the JP Morgan debacle has garnered my full attention. Silver plummeted $-1.471 this past reporting period and gold drove $57.90 into the ground but do you know how they got there?

I must first apologize to my readers for this report being so late this week as the JP Morgan debacle has garnered my full attention. Silver plummeted $-1.471 this past reporting period and gold drove $57.90 into the ground but do you know how they got there?

David Galland, Casey Research writes: For pretty much everyone, no matter where they are located in the economic strata, few if any questions are more germane to making plans for the future than whether the US and other major global economies are in recovery. Getting the answer to that question right is of special importance to investors and businesses.