Which is the free country indeed?

3:23p CT Sunday, November 16, 2008

Dear Friend of GATA and Gold:

Your secretary/treasurer's remarks at the New Orleans Investment Conference in regard to the freedom to own gold in the United States, Russia, and China prompted a response from Adi Hadi of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China, emphasizing the point those remarks meant to make. Hadi writes:

"Your remarks give a deep look into reckless manipulation of markets in the so-called 'Free World.'

"I live in China -- as a foreigner of German origin -- and I can buy in a public shop just around the corner as much physical gold or silver as I want and I can keep it in my personal possession. When I buy, nobody asks me for my name, address, or any identification, and I can take the bullion with me right away. ...

"If you consider rigging and manipulating markets to be a necessary component of what you call a free country, than I must admit that you are right. But I would prefer to live in a country that protects me from those market manipulators and lets me have as much gold and silver I wish, and call it my own."

Hadi sent along a photograph of a decorated thousand-gram gold bar available for sale in China. The cartoon characters emblazoned on the bar seem happily indifferent to the few U.S. banks that are desperately suppressing gold and silver on the New York Commodities Exchange. You can view the bar here:

http://www.gata.org/files/ChineseGoldBar.jpg

CHRIS POWELL, Secretary/Treasurer
Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee Inc.

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