So hypothetically if someone wanted to opt-out of this essentially corrupt system completely, how would they go about it? I mean paying taxes in a country with bailouts certainly ties you up into the system. Even without bailouts, living in a country tied to a dollar that's being printed like mad kind of ties you up into it too right?

So... how exactly would one go about this? Possible?

It's not trivial, but one way you could opt out would be...opting out.

http://www.trulymovingpictures.org/festival-years/2010/movie...

Linked is a review of the movie Zero Currency, about a former social worker who stopped using money or barter. Disclaimer: I haven't seen it.

A good place to start would be to own your own home, aggressively invest in solar energy, and grow your own food.*

All that's pretty expensive though...maybe you could go work in finance and save up?

*3D printing might also be worth a look for some items.

Even if you own your own home, you typically still have to pay taxes. You may have to earn some income if you don't have money saved up for your taxes, so you'll probably have to pay income taxes as well.

Bottom line, it's difficult to fully opt out. But what you suggest is not a bad start.

I'll check it out. I've always been fascinated by this way of living.

If only they had a solution for defending themselves and an answer to why national governments would deal with them (i.e., seasteads are unlikely to be self-sufficient, even in the aggregate, for many years if ever and therefore dependent on trade with existing national polities).

That's pretty interesting. If only it were more wife friendly.

It is not just Goldman doing this and not just for metals

http://www.simplerna.com/2011/11/who-are-biggest-commodity-t...

Like JP Morgan renting Supertankers to hold their oil: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a...

Goldman is good but not THAT good. If Goldman knew everything why would anyone take their iBanking elsewhere?

Try investing $1,000 with Goldman and asking if you can get in on the next IPO.

You'll find out that the Goldman you're using is not the same Goldman that the elite have access to.