If you're familiar with the Sovereign Society, you know that we are blessed with experienced investment and currency experts with enviable track records in their stock and currency picks, even in these tough times.

That expert advice comes from sound personal judgment and - in many cases - firsthand knowledge about the recommendations they make.

Similarly, when we recommend offshore trusts or specific offshore jurisdictions, one of the major factors we consider is local political stability. Not to mention the jurisdiction's form of government and its policies towards free market economics.

Based on those important factors, I doubt that our experts would recommend investment in any number of American-based banks, financial houses or, now, selected automotive companies. And the Doomsday list is growing.

"I'm from the government...and I'm here to help you."

That's because these hitherto privately managed companies have suddenly (and dangerously) acquired a major new stockholder - the United States government.

Understand that when we say "the government" we mean bureaucrats, public employees and political appointees, who for the most part couldn't make it in the private sector. If you enjoy standing in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles, you'll love this new fascist business model.

Americans are now being asked to pretend that these political appointees suddenly are endowed with more business acumen and wisdom than the managers of the businesses that they are "bailing out."

The massive bailouts supposedly justified by the current economic crisis have made them experts. And with the billions in taxpayers' cash come the strings, if not the chains.

But the real threat to private America enterprise, (aside from the stupidity of some of its own mangers), comes from unprincipled politicians in the U.S. Congress.

As I recently wrote: "The federal government's plans to spend trillions propping up banks large and small, along with recent bailouts, as well as guarantees, to support the auto industry, business loans, money markets and bank lending, represents the most sweeping government intrusion into the nation's business and financial markets since the Great Depression (1928-1942) - and perhaps ever in history."

Political Power Play: One step closer to absolute power

There is every proof that the antics of the likes of Senator Chris ("Sweet Heart Mortgage Deals") Dodd (D-CT) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) seriously contributed to the housing mortgage collapse, as these worthies led the parade for abundant Freddie Mac and Fannie May backing for billions in questionable mortgages.

Now these same politicians are leading demands in Congress for micro-management and restrictions on the recipients of federal bailout funds. They want to control executive pay at banks, curb meeting expenses considered to be too luxurious, and who knows what else.

Granted, these modest demands are all for the protection of the taxpayer, but where does it end? When will private enterprises no longer be obligated to follow government mandates? At what point does the disastrously inefficient artifice of state yield control back to the market?

David Brooks put his finger squarely on the crux of the matter: "But the larger principle is over the nature of America's political system. Is this country going to slide into progressive corporatism, a merger of corporate and federal power that will inevitably stifle competition, empower corporate and federal bureaucrats and protect entrenched interests? Or is the U.S. going to stick with its historic model: Helping workers weather the storms of a dynamic economy, but preserving the dynamism that is the core of the country's success."

BOB BAUMAN, Legal Counsel