Last year when I went over to China the exchange rate was 7/1 and 12 months later it was 5/1.What do you think about holding savings in a different currency?

To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Umpqua Bank, Roseburg, Oregon, to assume the insured deposits of the Bank of Clark County.http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2009/pr09005.htmlNational Bank of Commerce, Berkeley, Illinois, was closed today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named receiver.

One important item is the currency exchange and transfer fees.

In my opinion, no matter how you slice it, giving a central cartel of bankers the ability to expand and contract a fiat money supply, complemented by a fractional reserve banking system... well, based on world history, there is zero probability of our currency surviving.

Well there would not be any 'nominal' prices if the free market was allowed to regulate the currency.

In inflation, you want to own 'stuff' as that will "increase" (in currency terms anyway).

I can see the headlines now: "China seeks safe haven in Wisconsin Farve Currency":

Succesfully investing in real estate is a job that takes work.Succesfully investing in equities is a job that takes work.Succesfully investing in foreign currencies, antiques, an ice cream parlor or whatever -- is a job that takes work.

Free market theory does not apply to fiat money and the the right to issue currency.

Look around you already, see if more than one out of ten is either unemployed or seriously under-employed against cost of living.Pretty ain't the picture, but the future IS brighter because of the revaluation of currency vs. products - products are quickly splitting into two categories; NEEDS and "Don't even WANT it any more".That's trouble in the short term, but once the economy adjusts to the new (old) rules, real progress will be made as people turn to CREATING NEEDED GOODS WITH MINIMUM COST OF PRODUCTION.That's going to take a while, longer because the Gov't is concentrating on getting people to buy stuff they never needed and sure don't need now.