QTR’s Fringe Finance

QTR's Fringe Finance critically examines financial, political, and societal issues through a libertarian lens, frequently questioning mainstream narratives around topics like monetary policy, media honesty, and government interventions. It delves into the impact of economic policies, the role of alternative media, and promotes skepticism towards established financial and governmental institutions.

Monetary Policy Media Critique Government Intervention Inflation and Economic Analysis Libertarianism Financial Markets Cryptocurrency Civil Liberties Political Commentary

The hottest Substack posts of QTR’s Fringe Finance

And their main takeaways

Underestimating Washington D.C.'s Debt Trap

26 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
  1. The US government debt is soaring and may exceed $37.5 trillion by the end of the fiscal year.
  2. Rising interest rates and foreign apathy towards investing in dollars could worsen the debt situation.
  3. Foreign holders of dollars may react if the dollar loses value, potentially leading to a monetary crisis.

Petrodollar Endgame Moves Even Closer

27 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
  1. The UAE stopped using U.S. dollars for oil transactions.
  2. BRICS countries have control over nuclear arsenals and natural resources.
  3. There are significant developments indicating the decline of the petrodollar.

The Fed-Enabled Apartment Bubble Is Unraveling

26 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
  1. The apartment investment industry is facing a massive bubble due to easy money and bad loans.
  2. Syndicators used bridge loans and speculative real estate investing, resulting in risky financial situations.
  3. Many syndicators are now struggling with floating-rate loans, facing challenges in covering debt payments and maturing loans.

"All Bull Markets Run Out Of Money": Dave Collum

23 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
  1. Dave Collum believes that all bull markets eventually run out of money.
  2. Dave Collum is known for his unique investing outlook.
  3. In his investments, Dave Collum holds a mix of assets including real estate, cash, bonds, and riskier assets.

24 Stocks I'm Watching For 2024: Part 2

23 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
  1. The post discusses 24 specific stocks to watch for 2024.
  2. It mentions that almost all of 2023 has passed and reflects on the stocks from that year.
  3. The content is available for paid subscribers only.
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The Fed Can't, And Won't, Nail The Dismount

28 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
💰 Finance Market Analysis Inflation Federal Reserve Economic Trends
  1. Predicting market movements can be difficult, and it's important to acknowledge when predictions are not accurate.
  2. Even if past predictions have been off, it's necessary to stick to the underlying thesis and reasons for the forecasts.
  3. Quick excitement about economic factors like inflation or rate cuts may not always be warranted; it's important to take a more balanced perspective.

Money Supply Growth Continues to Support the Stock Market

17 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💰 Finance Investing Economics Markets Stocks Indicators
  1. Money supply growth is crucial for supporting the stock market as it indicates the tightness or looseness of current monetary conditions, regardless of interest rates set by the Fed.
  2. Monitoring money supply trends can provide insight into the direction of the economy and stock market - a rise in money supply can have inflationary effects.
  3. Historical trends show that fluctuations in money supply can influence stock market movements, with drops often preceding market dips.

Hayek Helps Us Understand Why People Are Losing Their Minds

34 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Moral Philosophy Political Philosophy Social Philosophy Ethics
  1. F.A. Hayek's 'The Fatal Conceit' helps us understand how reason is not the cause but a product of civilization.
  2. Reason does not exist separately from our social environment, impacting our ability to resist tyranny.
  3. Humanity's evolution and civilization were shaped by following rules and morality, not by mere intellect or socialist ideals.

Expecting The Expected Unexpected

19 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
  1. Market behavior can sometimes be unexpected and defy common logic.
  2. The stock market is forward-looking and can react in ways that may seem contrary to economic data.
  3. It's important to reevaluate assumptions and understand market dynamics to navigate fluctuations.

Should the US Congress Audit the Federal Reserve?

15 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Legislation Federal Reserve Congress
  1. The Federal Reserve in the US is uniquely designed and operates independently, unlike other central banks worldwide, being neither part of the government's executive branch nor an independent federal agency.
  2. Calls for a full audit of the Federal Reserve have been advocated by various politicians like Ron Paul and Thomas Massie, aiming for transparency in the Fed's operations and financial decisions.
  3. Besides legislative actions, potential reforms for the Federal Reserve may involve the judiciary branch, particularly through cases that could impact the agency's independence, questioning the traditional Chevron doctrine.

The Wuhan Coverup: Review And Analysis

17 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
  1. The book 'The Wuhan Coverup' sheds light on the causes of the global disaster of Covid-19, exposing the trends, forces, and institutions behind it.
  2. The rise of the biowarfare-industrial-complex is highlighted, showing how military, intelligence, public health services, and more have significantly influenced the Covid response.
  3. The deep ties between the CIA, biowarfare research, and the emergence of the modern biowarfare program are examined, demonstrating the broad participation by academics and scientists in bioweapons research.

As the US Treasury Runs Out of Creditors, Its Options Dwindle

24 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
  1. The US Treasury is facing a dwindling number of creditors
  2. Rising government debt is causing challenges in interest payments and financing
  3. Options to address the debt crisis include financial crisis, debt crisis, and a 'soft default'

There's No Easy Way Out of This Debt Spiral

26 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
  1. National debt is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by the end of fiscal year 2024.
  2. When interest rates rise, debt repayment becomes a critical issue.
  3. Government faces a debt spiral if it doesn't cut spending or manage interest rates effectively.

No, We Cannot Afford to Fund Yet Another War

28 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
  1. Wars are expensive and cannot be easily funded
  2. American public is burdened financially and emotionally by ongoing wars
  3. Funding wars indirectly through inflation extracts real resources from the private economy

Trading Armageddon: October 2023 Portfolio Review

28 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
  1. The author discusses the impact of global geopolitical tensions on the market
  2. The market is showing signs of shakiness and potential volatility
  3. High interest rates and geopolitical unrest could lead to a significant market shift

Student Loans: The Continuing Crisis That Is Getting Worse

23 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
  1. The student loan system is unsustainable and may not end well as a loan program.
  2. There is a lack of control measures and accountability in how student debt is managed and forgiven.
  3. The Department of Education's approach to student loans demonstrates a shift towards viewing individuals as dependent clients rather than contractual parties.

Yemen: The Forgotten Neoconservative-Supported War in the Middle East

19 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
  1. Yemen is facing a war supported by neoconservatives in the Middle East.
  2. US is considering military intervention in Yemen under the guise of protecting global trade.
  3. More war and brutality in Yemen won't lead to a positive outcome, and US interventionism is already causing harm.

The Interest Rate Shock Will Blow Up the Government’s Ponzi Game

24 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
  1. Interest rates are rising globally due to central banks' response to high inflation.
  2. Investors are becoming wary of holding US government debt, leading to an economic slowdown and potential recession.
  3. The increasing interest rates reveal the unsustainable nature of government debt, functioning as a Ponzi scheme.

How Myocarditis Became the Silent Scandal of Covid Vaccination

27 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
  1. Reports of myocarditis cases emerged after COVID-19 vaccination began, raising concerns about vaccine risks
  2. Authorities initially ignored and downplayed the myocarditis cases, pushing for widespread vaccination
  3. Despite increasing evidence, authorities maintained that benefits of vaccination outweighed risks, leading to questions about vaccine safety

Elon Musk And Dark Forces

22 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
  1. Elon Musk's recent comments may impact his and Tesla's history.
  2. This era might define the legacies of both Elon Musk and Tesla.
  3. 2024 could be a crucial year in determining Elon Musk's life story.

7 More Stocks To Watch In 2024

19 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
  1. The post discusses 4 banks that may perform well in 2024.
  2. It also mentions 3 stocks that were losers in 2023 but might work in 2024.
  3. The content is available for paid subscribers.

Where No One Is Looking Or Everyone Is Panicking

18 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
  1. The investor Chris DeMuth Jr. discusses his market strategy for 2024.
  2. Chris DeMuth Jr. focuses on opportunities where no one is looking or everyone is panicking.
  3. Chris DeMuth Jr. founded Rangeley Capital and Sifting the World, and hosts Sifting the World on Seeking Alpha.

100 Years Ago Today: The End of German Hyperinflation

23 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
  1. German hyperinflation was halted by stopping monetizing government debt and issuing a new currency.
  2. Hyperinflation led to economic challenges, high unemployment, and political extremism in Weimar Germany.
  3. Lessons learned include the need for monetary reform and the risks of relying on fiat paper money.

X Marks the Spot: Social Media’s Last Stand

20 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
  1. Elon Musk's X could be a key player in challenging censorship on social media.
  2. Regulations in Europe like the Digital Services Act may impact X's ability to maintain free speech.
  3. The EU's investigation into X's content could greatly influence the platform's future and freedom of speech online.

"When The Fed Pivots, We Get Paid": Lawrence Lepard

17 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
  1. Gold and Bitcoin responded positively to the Fed's pivot in monetary policy.
  2. Global M2 money supply growth correlates with gold prices, impacting their performance.
  3. The US fiscal position is not improving, especially due to the growing federal debt burden.

This "Unprecedented" Fiscal Doom Loop Is Getting Worse: Larry Lepard

24 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
  1. Larry Lepard discusses the fiscal doom loop getting worse in his latest investor letter.
  2. The market is showing signs of stagflation with a mix of falling stocks, rising commodity prices, and a bad quarter for bonds.
  3. Lepard's investment fund saw slight growth and outperformed the Gold Stock Juniors ETF in the third quarter of 2023.

The United States Needs Its Own Javier Milei

21 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
  1. Liberty can win, as shown by Milei's victory in Argentina
  2. The US faces economic challenges due to inflation and government involvement in key sectors
  3. To improve, the US needs to address monetary policy, reduce government involvement, and end global intervention

‘Caught-Red-Handed’: Scientists Call for Full Retraction of Nature’s Covid Proximal Origin Paper, Fraud Accusations Mount

31 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
📰 News Science Health Politics U.S. Politics Finance Ethics
  1. Scientists are calling for the retraction of a high-profile study on the origin of Covid-19 published in Nature, due to evidence of deception and scientific misconduct.
  2. The study authors expressed doubts privately that the virus had natural origins, contradicting their public statements.
  3. The lack of accountability in this situation highlights the concept of power and impunity in the scientific community.

The Future of Bitcoin in Light of a Spot ETF

16 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
  1. The SEC approved Bitcoin spot ETFs, marking a significant step in Bitcoin's adoption in traditional financial markets.
  2. As institutional money flows into Bitcoin, there may be pressure to alter Bitcoin's rules to comply with regulations, potentially leading to a split in the coin.
  3. Maintaining self-custody of Bitcoin protects against potential government seizures, highlighting the importance of decentralized peer-to-peer transactions.