# CIA Insider Warns: "25-Year Great Depression is About to Strike America"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [October 12, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132 "2014-10-12T19:46:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/1 "2014-10-12T19:46:12Z")
I came across this news article today.
> [@](#):
>
> You will want to remember this date April 12, 2015.
>
> According to one of the top minds in the U.S. Intelligence Community, that is when the United States will enter the darkest economic period in our nation’s history.
>
> A 25-year Great Depression.
>
> And alarmingly, he and his colleagues believe the evidence they’ve uncovered proves this outcome is impossible to avoid.
Read more here.
[noparse]http:// [moneymorning.com/ext/](http://moneymorning.com/ext/). articles/rickards/. 25-year-great-depression.php?iris=252778[/noparse]
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/2 "2014-10-12T19:52:54Z")
Your link calls him " CIA’s Financial Threat and Asymmetric Warfare Advisor", but neither his Wiki page nor [his own biography page](http://www.jamesrickardsproject.com/about-james-rickards/) mention _any_ such link to the C.I.A.
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/3 "2014-10-12T19:59:04Z")
The guy reminds me of [Joe Granville](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Granville).
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### Author:  [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/4 "2014-10-12T19:59:08Z")
The guy seems to be real. That prediction is stupid, though, and the site is one of those scammy places with a popup that tries to lock you in. Reporting for link removal.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/5 "2014-10-12T20:07:55Z")
Maybe the OP could outline the argument? Is ISIS going to crash our financial system? Maybe the site, which I’m not going to visit (thanks for the warning **Sage Rat** ) is selling gold or something?
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/6 "2014-10-12T20:14:49Z")
What total bullshit.
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### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/7 "2014-10-12T20:15:09Z")
looks like the kind of infotainment ad that we are getting in many websites “You may like…”
Similar to “Guy discovers dirt cheap dirt based medicine! Doctors hate him”.
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/8 "2014-10-12T20:30:01Z")
> [@sweat209](#):
>
> I came across this news article today.
No. You came across a promotional ad that was located on a news type web page. It has been running for several week, touting some nonsense that has no connection to reality, but it is not a “news” article, even if you found it scattered among a few newsy type links on The Weather Channel or [aol.com](http://aol.com) or [yahoo.com](http://yahoo.com) or wherever.
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### Author:  [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/9 "2014-10-12T20:34:54Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#):
>
> looks like the kind of infotainment ad that we are getting in many websites “You may like…”
>
> Similar to “Guy discovers dirt cheap dirt based medicine! Doctors hate him”.
This is in part true. The headline “CIA insider” should ring allsorts of bullshit alarm bells. Jim Rickards is one of the more serious financial analysts though. His opinions are legitimate enough - though they are just that, _his_ opinion. The fact that he once or twice consulted with the CIA should have no bearing on the issue. The link is scaremongering porn.
I think Rickards broadly agrees with the Hayek school of economics. Therefore his theory is as sound as your typical Hayek economic theory. In other words no-one knows for sure if he is correct or not - though I worry that he may in fact be proven correct in the long run.
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### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/10 "2014-10-12T21:55:49Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#):
>
> This is in part true. The headline “CIA insider” should ring allsorts of bullshit alarm bells. Jim Rickards is one of the more serious financial analysts though. His opinions are legitimate enough - though they are just that, _his_ opinion. The fact that he once or twice consulted with the CIA should have no bearing on the issue. The link is scaremongering porn.
>
> I think Rickards broadly agrees with the Hayek school of economics. Therefore his theory is as sound as your typical Hayek economic theory. In other words no-one knows for sure if he is correct or not - though I worry that he may in fact be proven correct in the long run.
So the guy is real? He is CIA insider? But other financial analysts do not belief him ? Other financial analysts think he is making it up?
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### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/11 "2014-10-12T21:57:50Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#):
>
> The guy seems to be real. That prediction is stupid, though, and the site is one of those scammy places with a popup that tries to lock you in. Reporting for link removal.
I have had no pops ups or malware alerts from that web site.
Are you saying there are malware in the ads there at that web site.
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### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/12 "2014-10-12T22:02:16Z")
This same guy said last year that gold is headed to $7,000 an ounce, so buy now, people. As of last year, gold is set to skyrocket any time!
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/13 "2014-10-12T22:07:06Z")
I wouldn’t have thought David Letterman’s 68th birthday would have such global implications.
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### Author:  [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/14 "2014-10-12T22:14:14Z")
> [@sweat209](#):
>
> So the guy is real? He is CIA insider? But other financial analysts do not belief him ? Other financial analysts think he is making it up?
I dont have many precise answers to your questions. Rickards says he has done(or does do)work for the CIA. I’ll take him at his word for it. Then again I expect many such analysts do the same sort of work for the CIA when asked. Many of whom will disagree with this gentleman.
He has a number of presentations and interviews on youtube. Do a search for them and see what you think. From what I have seen and heard he is not one of these scaremongering nutjobs. He at least has a coherent narrative. This doesn’t mean he is correct, but he is plausible. Many do agree with him, just as many disagree. When it comes to economics and the current international financial system its safe to assume that few people have any definite answers, even egghead Nobel Prize winners in the subject.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/15 "2014-10-12T22:15:28Z")
Well, since the earth is going to [expire by 2050](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=714145) it really doesn’t matter much.
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### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/16 "2014-10-12T22:22:20Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> I wouldn’t have thought David Letterman’s 68th birthday would have such global implications.
> [@](#):
>
> Well, since the earth is going to expire by 2050 it really doesn’t matter much.
There are a lot people who say gold will go up.
But it is hard to sort out real from doomsday articles we come across.
Like some articles on the internet saying by 2050 we will run out of fossil fuels. Or by 2050 ww3 will be over major water shortage
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/17 "2014-10-12T22:28:45Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> Well, since the earth is going to [expire by 2050](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=714145) it really doesn’t matter much.
… Counts on fingers…
Shit, that only gives us 10 years of recovery. Can’t the Earth expire later, say, 2100?
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### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/18 "2014-10-12T22:30:32Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> Well, since the earth is going to [expire by 2050](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=714145) it really doesn’t matter much.
Telemark some people here said there is no shortage of water and food.That the reason some go with out water and food is distribution problem.
Same with trees.There is enough trees to last has long time so no shortage of wood.
Some other things like copper ,metal and fish are real points.
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### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/19 "2014-10-12T22:33:31Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#):
>
> I dont have many precise answers to your questions. Rickards says he has done(or does do)work for the CIA. I’ll take him at his word for it. Then again I expect many such analysts do the same sort of work for the CIA when asked. Many of whom will disagree with this gentleman.
>
> He has a number of presentations and interviews on youtube. Do a search for them and see what you think. From what I have seen and heard he is not one of these scaremongering nutjobs. He at least has a coherent narrative. This doesn’t mean he is correct, but he is plausible. Many do agree with him, just as many disagree. When it comes to economics and the current international financial system its safe to assume that few people have any definite answers, even egghead Nobel Prize winners in the subject.
If there was to be a Great Depression by April 12, 2015. would we not be seeing some signs now?
---
### Author:  [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cia-insider-warns-25-year-great-depression-is-about-to-strike-america/701132/20 "2014-10-12T22:43:55Z")
> [@sweat209](#):
>
> If there was to be a Great Depression by April 12, 2015. would we not be seeing some signs now?
Forgotten all about 2008, have we?
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