Doug Casey's International Man: A Dying Man Will Try Any Medicine

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Doug Casey’s International Man Communiqué is a free, email-based newsletter offering contrarian insights and strategies for international diversification, targeting freedom seekers and investors. It combines geopolitical analysis, investment speculation, and practical advice on offshore strategies, rooted in Casey’s libertarian philosophy. 

On May 23, 2025, A Dying Man Will Try Any Medicine, written by Chris MacIntosh, was distributed.

Overview: 

Here is a summary of A Dying Man Will Try Any Medicine by Chris MacIntosh:

The article by Chris MacIntosh discusses the current state of global trade, politics, and the financial system, focusing on U.S. tariffs, the decline of the dollar-based financial order, and the rise of alternative systems like China's CIPS and Bitcoin. It frames these developments within historical monetary cycles, geopolitical tensions, and technological disruptions, warning of potential economic and social consequences.

Key Points:

• Global Trade and Tariffs:
• Recent U.S. tariffs, described as "reciprocal" by former President Trump, are not based on fairness but on trade surpluses of other countries with the U.S. MacIntosh argues they aim to restructure global creditors, akin to bankruptcy proceedings, targeting nations like China to slow their economic rise.
• The tariffs reflect a U.S. attempt to preserve its financial dominance as the dollar-based system weakens, with fears of China’s growing influence through its industrial base and digital yuan.
• Four Historical Forces:
• Monetary and Credit Cycle: Sovereign debt crises drive restructuring, as seen in the U.S.’s fragile Treasury bond and stock markets.
• Domestic Conflict: Political polarization hinders resolution through discourse, increasing instability.
• International Conflict: Rising powers like China challenge the U.S.-led order, threatening the dollar’s dominance.
• Technological Changes: Innovations like China’s CIPS (surpassing SWIFT in transaction volume on April 16, 2025) and cryptocurrencies disrupt traditional finance.
• U.S.-China Trade War:
• The trade war is less about "fair trade" and more about the U.S. protecting its monetary dominance. China’s financial systems (e.g., CIPS, digital yuan) threaten the U.S.-led SWIFT and dollar-based order.
• U.S. concerns include China’s ability to undermine the dollar’s role as the global reserve currency, with tariffs as a tool to delay this shift.
• U.S. Financial Fragility:
• The U.S. Treasury bond market and stock market are vulnerable, with fears of foreign nations (e.g., China, Japan) selling Treasuries, prompting punitive tariffs.
• The U.S.’s $7.5 trillion budget and borrowing needs (over 10% of GDP annually) highlight unsustainable debt levels, with efforts like DOGE (cutting $50 billion) being insufficient.
• Bitcoin and Gold:
• Bitcoin stocks are poised for significant gains, with MacIntosh promoting a report on a top Bitcoin stock pick, citing potential 32x or 75x returns due to Bitcoin’s growing adoption.
• Gold is in a bull market, though short-term pullbacks are possible. MacIntosh advises against selling in a bull market or buying in a bear market (like bonds).
• Implications:
• The U.S. is depicted as a "dying empire" trying to maintain financial control, while China’s rise signals a shift toward a multipolar financial order (see also [1]).
• The article warns of systemic risks, including potential social unrest due to economic imbalances and loss of confidence in the U.S. financial system (see also [2]).

See Also:

1. Prague Finance Institute with Lyn Alden, Author of Broken Money
2. Decoding the Fourth Turning: Why War, Debt, and Social Unrest Loom