The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday edition that gold bugs have been mocked for their beliefs, but they may finally be proven right. A Financial Times dispatch to the Post reports that the price of gold is up due to inflation in the United States being higher than expected, as well as general anxiety over global politics, the upcoming presidential election, and uncertainty surrounding monetary policy and markets. While these are all understandable reasons for gold to surge, there are deeper and more long-term implications to consider. Investors should take note of these underlying messages in the rise of gold. Aside from the possibility of a technology-driven productivity miracle, it is hard to think of a macro trend at the moment that is not inflationary. Gold is historically an inflation hedge. However, it is also something investors turn to when they are worried about the stability of the status quo. It will languish for decades, then break out when the world is at a major pivot point, as it is now. Many analysts are predicting a massive rally in gold. BNP Paribas Fortis predicts gold will rise from its current price of about $2,374 (U.S.) an ounce to reach $4,000 (U.S.) in "the not-so-distant future."