It Comes Down to A Simple Question -- Updated

Can you trust the government?

For the last several decades, many people in the West believed that a democratically elected government could be trusted to generally do the right thing.  I do not count myself among those, partly because of native, genetic skepticism and partly because I have had some experience as an employee of government entities.

Journalists, especially broadcast journalists, attack, defend, or ignore the government and government actions depending upon whether or not their favorite section of the oligarchy gets democratically elected.  Abu Ghraib was a really big deal because some Iraqi had panties put on his head, and George Bush was president.  Benghazi was not a big deal because a U.S. Ambassador and three other Americans were brutally murdered, and Barack Obama was president.  Journalists have become, more and more, simply reviewers of the latest political stage show which has all the gripping reality of "Real Housewives of Orange County Choppers" or "Fairies 'Cross the Jersey".  (Bonus points for anyone who knows the reference for the last one.  It means you are probably over 50 and/or watch too many PBS music features.)  

There is a good chance the Cyprus crisis will fade out of the news cycle, no matter what happens.  Life will continue to be "normal" for most of us.  The talking heads will go back to talking about Snoop Otter's drug arrest or Rand Paul's secret membership in Possum Lodge.  But for a lot of people, Cyprus has raised the question of who is actually in control.  Do the citizens of Cyprus have control of their own resources, lives and futures?  Or are they subjects, the pawns of international organizations run, ultimately by a fairly small group of elitists?

I am not suggesting an Illuminati-type of conspiracy.  I think it is much simpler than that.  You have people at the top of various organizations -- governmental, quasi-governmental, and seemingly private, whose interests often converge.  Those converging interests of the elite are often at odds with the interests of the masses.  In a truly free market where currencies are pegged to some sort of objective standard and correspond, at least in some degree, to measurable assets, that some rise to the top is not really an issue.  It may be done on the basis of talent and wisdom or by contacts and school ties.  We don't care because the market will determine our own success or failure.  The trouble is in our modern world of fiat currencies and obscure, occult manipulations of money supplies and markets, of regulatory machinations and centralized controls and "planned" economies, those various organizations can do about what they like.

Very few politicians are willing to play Toto and draw back the curtains.  Fewer still do so with any success.  It is a dangerous business for nosy dogs with youthful bones buried.

The danger of a Cyprus is not in the amount of money involved, but in the exposure of the controls of the system, in the spreading realization that we are being manipulated to the benefit of those doing the manipulating.  The parasites seeking only bread and circuses do not, for the most part, care -- so long as the circus is in town and their distended bellies are full.  But those of us who are working and producing, building and creating, investing and saving do care.  And if we stop, if we drop our harness and leave that wagon full of riders in the road ... well, they don't want that.

Updated with Zero Hedge -- Really, enslaving you and stealing your assets, it's for your own good.

I don't know about the Bitcoin thing, but I do know a little about barter.  As Denninger has pointed out recently, when you get right down to it, you possess what you can defend.  Some say your real wealth is your knowledge and your skill.   I would add wisdom.

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold. -- Proverbs 3:13-14

Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. -- Proverbs 8:10-11

How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. -- Proverbs 16:16

Just keep in mind that silver is really, really good.  Nothing wrong with having both.

And one more -- If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)