I don't have ammo, a single gun, nor rice in my basement. I ...

I don't have ammo, a single gun, nor rice in my basement. I do hold silver in the form of SLV and gold mining shares that year to date have been the best performing asset class, including all US stock markets and industry groups - up around 21%.

I would bet the vast majority of others who do participate in these markets don't hoard rice and ammo either.Gold has exceeded the 'official' rate of inflation for the past 23 years, which is more of a comment on how that rate is computed.

The only real knock against holding gold has been that the price has been manipulated by naked short sellers on futures markets.

I believe that this practice is fading due to tighter bank rules as per Basel III and now weakness in that sector, and the threat is subsiding, allowing real price discovery to rule. In other words, the tail is no longer wagging the dog.