lewrockwell--2020-09-03--Why Your Nation-State Is on Its Way to the Scrap Heap of History

People believe the State is necessary and—generally—good .
They never even question whether the institution is permanent .
My view is that the institution of the State itself is a bad thing .
It ’ s not a question of getting the right people into the government ; the institution itself is hopelessly flawed and necessarily corrupts the people that compose it , as well as the people it rules .
This statement invariably shocks people , who believe that government is both a necessary and permanent part of the cosmic firmament .
The problem is that government is based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a minimum , suboptimal to base a social structure on institutionalized coercion .
In fact , it ’ s not only possible but increasingly necessary to minimize organized coercion .
For society to function in the 21st century and beyond , the State has to be minimized—a reversal of the current trend .
Even while technology controlled by the State makes it ever more dangerous , those same technologies make the State increasingly obsolete .
The Diamond Age : Or , a ... Stephenson , Neal Best Price : $ 1.49 Buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example .
One of the huge changes brought on by the printing press and advanced exponentially by the Internet is that people can now easily pursue different interests and points of view .
As a result , we have less and less in common with each other .
Living in the same political jurisdiction is no longer enough to make us “ countrymen ” with strangers .
That ’ s a big change from earlier times , when members of the same region had almost everything in common , including genetics , language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s no longer the case with today ’ s nation-states .
If you ’ re honest , you may find you now have very little in common with most of your countrymen besides superficialities and trivialities .
What do you have in common with your fellow countrymen ?
A mode of living , perhaps a common language , possibly some shared experiences and myths , and a common ruler… but very little of any real meaning or importance .
In fact , your fellow citizens are more likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a presumed “ enemy ” country like Iran .
If you earn a good living , and certainly if you own a business and have assets , your fellow Americans are the ones who actually present the clear and present danger .
The average American ( about 50 % of them now ) pays no income tax .
Even if he ’ s not actually a direct or indirect employee of the government , he ’ s a net recipient of its largesse—which is to say your wealth—through Social Security , Medicare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs .
Not to mention the multitrillion-dollar giveaways of recent months .
Over the years , I ’ ve found that I have much more in common with people of my own socio/economic station in France , Argentina , or Hong Kong than with a US Government employee in Washington or a resident of the LA barrios , a project in Chicago , or a trailer park somewhere .
They may or may not be decent people , but we don ’ t have too much in common .
It ’ s very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect that many of you agree with that observation .
What ’ s actually important in relationships is shared values , principles , interests , and philosophy .
Geographical proximity and a common nationality are meaningless—no more than an accident of birth .
I have much more loyalty to a friend in the Congo—although we ’ re different colors and have different cultures , native languages , and life experiences—than I do to the Americans who support Bernie , Kamala , and AOC .
I see the world the same way my Congolese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asset to my life .
I ’ m necessarily at odds with many of “ my fellow Americans ” ; they ’ re an active and growing liability .
Some might read this and find a disturbing lack of loyalty to the State .
It sounds seditious .
As far as I can tell , there are only three federal crimes specified in the U.S. Constitution : piracy , counterfeiting , and treason .
That ’ s a far cry from today ’ s world , where almost every real and imagined crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole document is a meaningless dead letter , little more than a historical artifact .
I ’ m not overly concerned about piracy .
But the counterfeiting and treason—not to mention over 5000 other , more recently minted , federal crimes , are problematic .
Counterfeiting is simple fraud .
But the Federal Reserve now legally debases the currency on a gigantic scale .
The average American , however , thinks it ’ s part of the cosmic firmament , assuming he even knows what it is .
Treason is usually defined as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdraw loyalty from a sovereign .
This is a rather odd proviso , considering the framers of the Constitution had done just that only a few years before .
That said , I suspect the government is at risk of a de facto , if not de jure , overthrow in the not too distant future .
Its replacement is likely to be even less friendly to freedom .
Political Culture and ... Weisband , Edward Best Price : $ 19.96 Buy New $ 56.05 The Constitution was imperfect , even in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by far , is the Bill of Rights .
But that ’ s been interpreted out of existence for all practical purposes .
America was a unique and excellent idea , but it ’ s almost vanished .
It ’ s been replaced by the United States—which isn ’ t much different from any of the other nation-states that cover the face of the globe like a skin disease .
Even the United States is on the slippery slope .
The way I see it , Thomas Paine had it right when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wherever liberty lives.
” But where does liberty live today ?
Actually , it no longer has a home .
It ’ s become a true refugee since America withered away .
So now what ?
Here ’ s where the ongoing communications revolution comes in .
It ’ s facilitated the possibility of Phyles .
The concept of phyles originated with the sci-fi writer Neil Stephenson , in his seminal book Diamond Age .
I ’ ve always been a big fan of quality science fiction .
There ’ s no question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a vastly better predictor of social and technological trends than anything else—including full-time “ think tanks.
” The book , set mostly in China in the near future , posits that while states still exist , they ’ ve been overwhelmed in importance by the formation of phyles .
Phyles are groups of people bound by whatever is important to them .
Maybe it will be their race , religion , or culture .
Maybe their occupation or hobby .
Maybe their worldview or what they want to accomplish in life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ objective .
There are thousands—millions—of possibilities .
The key is that a phyle might provide much more than a fraternal or beneficial organization ( like Rotary or Lions ) does .
I take the concept quite seriously .
It ’ s one reason I believe organized charity is on its way out .
“ Big charity ” is mostly a scam to benefit its managers and allow its enablers to feel righteous , while generally degrading its supposed beneficiaries .
Phyles would know their members personally , obviating most fraud and self-aggrandizement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide insurance services very effectively , since a like-minded group—held together by peer pressure and social approbation—eliminates a lot of moral risk .
It might very well offer protection services ; a criminal might readily harm a citizen “ protected ” by a State .
But they ’ ll think twice before attacking members of the Mafia—which is , in fact , a criminal variety of phyle .
People are social .
They ’ ll inevitably organize themselves into groups for all the reasons you can imagine .
In the past , technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geography—they had to be in the same area .
That ’ s changed over the last century , with the emergence of the train , the car , and especially the airplane .
The same goes for communication .
The telephone and television were huge leaps , but the Internet is the catalytic breakthrough .
It ’ s now possible for people to reach out all over the world to find others that are their actual countrymen , not just some moron who shares a piece of government ID .
Rule of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : $ 5.09 Buy New $ 10.15 As things develop , people will discover—or create—places where their loyalties lie .
The nation-state has mostly been a counterproductive and expensive nuisance ; it ’ s rapidly becoming completely insufferable and , as governments bankrupt themselves , dangerous .
The people living off the State ( those who act as parasites upon their “ fellow citizens ” ) are going to resist having their rice bowls and doggy dishes broken .
They ’ ll undoubtedly use the coercive powers of the State to try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the police will be out in force , wearing riot gear , in the next few years .
They ’ re necessary to maintain order in today ’ s world .
But remember , their loyalties are first to their coworkers , then to their employer , and only then to those whom they ’ re supposed to “ serve and protect.
” You can ’ t rely on them .
You ’ re much better off finding a protophyle… as the real thing evolves .
The next decade is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been catalyzed by the mass hysteria surrounding COVID-19 .
The virus will go away in the next few months , the way they all do .
But the damage the hysteria has caused will linger and compound .
I suspect the bankruptcy of most States , as well as major sections of the population , are going to result in some major political and social upsets .
We ’ re just at the start of a new era .
The State will use an intimidating variety of technologies to keep its subjects under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Blues—who ’ ve come to hate each other—each try to gain control of it .
The State will do any number of things to maintain itself , its cronies , and accompanying parasites—who all , in turn , support it .
But while that happens , free thinkers will use evolving technologies to find each other and reorient their loyalties .
More and more people will conclude the State no longer serves a useful purpose .
The Best of Doug Casey

People believe the State is necessary and—generally—good. They never even question whether the institution is permanent.
My view is that the institution of the State itself is a bad thing. It’s not a question of getting the right people into the government; the institution itself is hopelessly flawed and necessarily corrupts the people that compose it, as well as the people it rules. This statement invariably shocks people, who believe that government is both a necessary and permanent part of the cosmic firmament.
The problem is that government is based on coercion, and it is, at a minimum, suboptimal to base a social structure on institutionalized coercion. In fact, it’s not only possible but increasingly necessary to minimize organized coercion. For society to function in the 21st century and beyond, the State has to be minimized—a reversal of the current trend. Even while technology controlled by the State makes it ever more dangerous, those same technologies make the State increasingly obsolete.
The Diamond Age: Or, a... Stephenson, Neal Best Price: $1.49 Buy New $4.85 (as of 11:13 UTC - Details) Communication technologies are an example. One of the huge changes brought on by the printing press and advanced exponentially by the Internet is that people can now easily pursue different interests and points of view. As a result, we have less and less in common with each other. Living in the same political jurisdiction is no longer enough to make us “countrymen” with strangers.
That’s a big change from earlier times, when members of the same region had almost everything in common, including genetics, language, traditions, religion, and worldview. That’s no longer the case with today’s nation-states. If you’re honest, you may find you now have very little in common with most of your countrymen besides superficialities and trivialities.
Ponder that point for a minute.
What do you have in common with your fellow countrymen? A mode of living, perhaps a common language, possibly some shared experiences and myths, and a common ruler… but very little of any real meaning or importance. In fact, your fellow citizens are more likely to be an active danger to you than those of a presumed “enemy” country like Iran. If you earn a good living, and certainly if you own a business and have assets, your fellow Americans are the ones who actually present the clear and present danger.
The average American (about 50% of them now) pays no income tax. Even if he’s not actually a direct or indirect employee of the government, he’s a net recipient of its largesse—which is to say your wealth—through Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and numerous other welfare programs. Not to mention the multitrillion-dollar giveaways of recent months.
Over the years, I’ve found that I have much more in common with people of my own socio/economic station in France, Argentina, or Hong Kong than with a US Government employee in Washington or a resident of the LA barrios, a project in Chicago, or a trailer park somewhere. They may or may not be decent people, but we don’t have too much in common. It’s very un-PC to say so, but I suspect that many of you agree with that observation.
What’s actually important in relationships is shared values, principles, interests, and philosophy. Geographical proximity and a common nationality are meaningless—no more than an accident of birth. I have much more loyalty to a friend in the Congo—although we’re different colors and have different cultures, native languages, and life experiences—than I do to the Americans who support Bernie, Kamala, and AOC. I see the world the same way my Congolese friend does; he’s an asset to my life. I’m necessarily at odds with many of “my fellow Americans”; they’re an active and growing liability. Some might read this and find a disturbing lack of loyalty to the State. It sounds seditious. As far as I can tell, there are only three federal crimes specified in the U.S. Constitution: piracy, counterfeiting, and treason. That’s a far cry from today’s world, where almost every real and imagined crime has been federalized, underscoring that the whole document is a meaningless dead letter, little more than a historical artifact.
I’m not overly concerned about piracy. But the counterfeiting and treason—not to mention over 5000 other, more recently minted, federal crimes, are problematic.
Counterfeiting is simple fraud. But the Federal Reserve now legally debases the currency on a gigantic scale. The average American, however, thinks it’s part of the cosmic firmament, assuming he even knows what it is.
Treason is usually defined as an attempt to overthrow a government or withdraw loyalty from a sovereign. This is a rather odd proviso, considering the framers of the Constitution had done just that only a few years before. That said, I suspect the government is at risk of a de facto, if not de jure, overthrow in the not too distant future. Its replacement is likely to be even less friendly to freedom. Political Culture and ... Weisband, Edward Best Price: $19.96 Buy New $56.05 (as of 04:40 UTC - Details)
The Constitution was imperfect, even in its original form. Its most important part, by far, is the Bill of Rights. But that’s been interpreted out of existence for all practical purposes. America was a unique and excellent idea, but it’s almost vanished. It’s been replaced by the United States—which isn’t much different from any of the other nation-states that cover the face of the globe like a skin disease. Even the United States is on the slippery slope.
The way I see it, Thomas Paine had it right when he said: “My country is wherever liberty lives.”
But where does liberty live today? Actually, it no longer has a home. It’s become a true refugee since America withered away.
So now what? Here’s where the ongoing communications revolution comes in. It’s facilitated the possibility of Phyles.
Phyles
The concept of phyles originated with the sci-fi writer Neil Stephenson, in his seminal book Diamond Age. I’ve always been a big fan of quality science fiction. There’s no question sci-fi has been, and still is, a vastly better predictor of social and technological trends than anything else—including full-time “think tanks.”
The book, set mostly in China in the near future, posits that while states still exist, they’ve been overwhelmed in importance by the formation of phyles. Phyles are groups of people bound by whatever is important to them. Maybe it will be their race, religion, or culture. Maybe their occupation or hobby. Maybe their worldview or what they want to accomplish in life. Maybe it’s a fairly short-term objective. There are thousands—millions—of possibilities.
The key is that a phyle might provide much more than a fraternal or beneficial organization (like Rotary or Lions) does. I take the concept quite seriously. It’s one reason I believe organized charity is on its way out. “Big charity” is mostly a scam to benefit its managers and allow its enablers to feel righteous, while generally degrading its supposed beneficiaries. Phyles would know their members personally, obviating most fraud and self-aggrandizement.
In the same vein, phyles might provide insurance services very effectively, since a like-minded group—held together by peer pressure and social approbation—eliminates a lot of moral risk. It might very well offer protection services; a criminal might readily harm a citizen “protected” by a State. But they’ll think twice before attacking members of the Mafia—which is, in fact, a criminal variety of phyle.
People are social. They’ll inevitably organize themselves into groups for all the reasons you can imagine.
In the past, technology only allowed people to organize themselves by geography—they had to be in the same area. That’s changed over the last century, with the emergence of the train, the car, and especially the airplane. The same goes for communication. The telephone and television were huge leaps, but the Internet is the catalytic breakthrough. It’s now possible for people to reach out all over the world to find others that are their actual countrymen, not just some moron who shares a piece of government ID. Rule of the Clan Weiner, Mark S. Best Price: $5.09 Buy New $10.15 (as of 04:40 UTC - Details)
As things develop, people will discover—or create—places where their loyalties lie.
The nation-state has mostly been a counterproductive and expensive nuisance; it’s rapidly becoming completely insufferable and, as governments bankrupt themselves, dangerous. The people living off the State (those who act as parasites upon their “fellow citizens”) are going to resist having their rice bowls and doggy dishes broken. They’ll undoubtedly use the coercive powers of the State to try to maintain the status quo.
The military and the police will be out in force, wearing riot gear, in the next few years. They’re necessary to maintain order in today’s world. But remember, their loyalties are first to their coworkers, then to their employer, and only then to those whom they’re supposed to “serve and protect.” You can’t rely on them. You’re much better off finding a protophyle… as the real thing evolves.
The next decade is going to be tumultuous. The Greater Depression has been catalyzed by the mass hysteria surrounding COVID-19. The virus will go away in the next few months, the way they all do. But the damage the hysteria has caused will linger and compound. I suspect the bankruptcy of most States, as well as major sections of the population, are going to result in some major political and social upsets.
We’re just at the start of a new era. The State will use an intimidating variety of technologies to keep its subjects under control. Even while the Reds and the Blues—who’ve come to hate each other—each try to gain control of it.
The State will do any number of things to maintain itself, its cronies, and accompanying parasites—who all, in turn, support it. But while that happens, free thinkers will use evolving technologies to find each other and reorient their loyalties. More and more people will conclude the State no longer serves a useful purpose.
Reprinted with permission from International Man.
The Best of Doug Casey


lewrockwell--2020-09-03--The Right Versus the Axis of Wokeness

The Right Versus the Axis of Wokeness

In response to the recent riots and protests , America ’ s biggest companies have committed hundreds of millions of dollars to so-called racial justice organizations such as Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) and denounced political speech on the right as hate .
The conservative establishment has greeted this rise in corporate “ wokeness ” with a mixture of surprise , fury , and a sense of betrayal .
In reality , it ’ s just the chickens coming home to roost for the establishment right .
For years , National Review , the Heritage Foundation , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silent about the growth of corporate power and its influence on the U.S. political and social landscape .
They have finally woken up to the fact that big business has never been their friend .
There has been no “ change in values ” within the executive suites .
In fact , multinational corporations and the far left are natural bedfellows .
Both factions are staunch supporters of globalism , including mass immigration , according to former NYU professor Michael Rectenwald .
Pushing for open borders provides cheap labor and an expanded consumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left ’ s political demands for multiculturalism .
Springtime for Snowfla ... Michael Rectenwald Best Price : $ 10.51 Buy New $ 14.65 Rectenwald says big business treats some of the very fundamentals of nationhood—borders , citizenship , cohesion , and historical ties—as impediments to the free flow of capital and labor .
He says these are considered “ obstacles to global corporate dominance ” generally .
The corporations ’ far-left allies , he says , simply see borders and distinctions between peoples as discriminatory .
What corporations actually gain from the hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Camus once likened this relationship to an old , rich woman with an execrable reputation introduced to an ambitious young man with good credentials but no money .
The apparent odd couple soon find that they have a lot to offer one another : the former has money and media access ; the latter embodies seeming virtue and can provide a good image-boost .
It ’ s the combination of these two forces that makes the axis of wokeness between corporations and the left so strong today .
Google Archipelago : Th ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buy New $ 8.77 Americans need to understand that corporations are essentially psychopathic entities .
The 2003 documentary The Corporation contains a memorable scene in which a psychologist is asked whether a corporation , if treated like a person , would be considered a “ psychopath.
” Running down the list of symptoms including deceitfulness , incapacity to experience guilt , and reckless disregard for its effects on others , the doctor concludes corporations fit the profile .
A typical corporate chief executive commits his focus and energies to one thing only : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the equity analysts at the major investment banks .
Any campaign that claims corporate values are social values is either phony brand activism or what Rectenwald calls a “ rhetorical placebo ” designed to divert attention from things like stagnant working-class wages .
The profit motive tends to overshadow even the personal politics of chief executives .

In response to the recent riots and protests, America’s biggest companies have committed hundreds of millions of dollars to so-called racial justice organizations such as Black Lives Matter (BLM) and denounced political speech on the right as hate. The conservative establishment has greeted this rise in corporate “wokeness” with a mixture of surprise, fury, and a sense of betrayal.
In reality, it’s just the chickens coming home to roost for the establishment right. For years, National Review, the Heritage Foundation, and the rest of the mainstream right have been silent about the growth of corporate power and its influence on the U.S. political and social landscape. They have finally woken up to the fact that big business has never been their friend. There has been no “change in values” within the executive suites.
In fact, multinational corporations and the far left are natural bedfellows. Both factions are staunch supporters of globalism, including mass immigration, according to former NYU professor Michael Rectenwald. Pushing for open borders provides cheap labor and an expanded consumer base for corporations, while satisfying the left’s political demands for multiculturalism. Springtime for Snowfla... Michael Rectenwald Best Price: $10.51 Buy New $14.65 (as of 10:49 UTC - Details)
Rectenwald says big business treats some of the very fundamentals of nationhood—borders, citizenship, cohesion, and historical ties—as impediments to the free flow of capital and labor. He says these are considered “obstacles to global corporate dominance” generally. The corporations’ far-left allies, he says, simply see borders and distinctions between peoples as discriminatory.
What corporations actually gain from the hard left is legitimacy. French novelist Renaud Camus once likened this relationship to an old, rich woman with an execrable reputation introduced to an ambitious young man with good credentials but no money. The apparent odd couple soon find that they have a lot to offer one another: the former has money and media access; the latter embodies seeming virtue and can provide a good image-boost. It’s the combination of these two forces that makes the axis of wokeness between corporations and the left so strong today.
Google Archipelago: Th... Michael Rectenwald Best Price: $4.99 Buy New $8.77 (as of 11:20 UTC - Details) Americans need to understand that corporations are essentially psychopathic entities. The 2003 documentary The Corporation contains a memorable scene in which a psychologist is asked whether a corporation, if treated like a person, would be considered a “psychopath.” Running down the list of symptoms including deceitfulness, incapacity to experience guilt, and reckless disregard for its effects on others, the doctor concludes corporations fit the profile.
A typical corporate chief executive commits his focus and energies to one thing only: meeting the quarterly profit expectations set by the equity analysts at the major investment banks. Any campaign that claims corporate values are social values is either phony brand activism or what Rectenwald calls a “rhetorical placebo” designed to divert attention from things like stagnant working-class wages. The profit motive tends to overshadow even the personal politics of chief executives.
Read the Whole Article


lewrockwell--2020-09-03--Standing at a Crossroads

Standing at a Crossroads

“ The more we gained knowledge of these new totalitarian systems of mass-rule , the more we realized not only their similarity of structure , but also the fact that we had to do with a type of dominance that had been known in earlier epochs .
We discovered that what the ancients called “ tyrannis , ” or ‘ cheirokratia , ” what Sulla or the tyrants of the Italian Rennaissance had practised , and what finally alarmed the world in the French Revolution and under Napoleon , had surprisingly many similarities with modern totalitarianism , although this latter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be compared , and although it possessed means of domination unknown in past ages.
” This is an old quote I very much admire , it is as relevant today as it was in the past .
History does not repeat but it does rhyme .
Therefore , I believe it is fair to say that the world has already changed tremendously over the past few months in an irreversible way .
The current central planners are already promoting the future reality they have in store for us – to let the old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government-controlled and planned transition into a new economy that is “ green and emission-free ” .
The new Modern Monetary Theory ( MMT ) is ready to finance this “ man-made paradise ” that we have analyzed in detail in the previous two issues of this magazine .
The digitalization shift that occurred over the last 20 years also massively contributes and accelerates this process .
In Their Own Words Bracken , Donagh Best Price : $ 29.11 Buy New $ 28.94 Of course , this technology , like any other , can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for decentralization and increased independence , or for the concentration of power in the hands of the few and for the exertion of control over everyone else .
The government naturally prefers the latter , as it recognized its practical value .
We see real-life implementations of this more and more over the last few years .
The establishments and promotion of “ anointed experts ” , who practice the art of divination while playing God and making decisions “ for the greater good ” , will inevitably lead to a relentless technocratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t already , where individuals as treated as units , to be counted and to be tallied , in a vain attempt to forcefully balance a meaningless equation .
In the end , and this must be clear by now , this path leads to the full-scale nationalization of the private economy , to a system without private property rights and without individual liberty .
The political measures in connection with the Corona crisis have already served as a preview to that bleak future .
They also highlighted that the greatest losers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weakest and the most marginalized among us , as low-income workers and small business owners were the hardest hit by the lockdowns and the shutdowns and they ’ ll be the last to recover , if they recover at all , which seems increasingly unlikely .
The only way out Ludwig von Mises said it best , decades ago : “ The market system is the basis of our civilization .
Its only alternative is the Führer principle.
” People today have to decide for themselves if they want to remain in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in full control or if they want to opt-out .
There are many ways one can do that , depending on their circumstances .
It can be as simple as using private money and decentralized technologies to regain personal sovereignty , privacy and control , or it can be done through jurisdictional diversification of one ’ s assets and wealth or even by relocating to areas with like-minded people .
At the end of the day , we always have a choice .
If people want to live in a system that espouses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like having to sing the international anthem every morning , they can .
Whoever likes the sound of that can join , whoever doesn ’ t can move to a different town , that embraces different ideas and values .
The Fourth Reich : The ... Rosenfeld , Gavriel D. Best Price : $ 16.78 Buy New $ 21.49 Let the competition begin , by moving away from a centralized government and allowing people to have options .
Allow ideas to freely compete with each other , without forcing anyone to live under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This would be the crucial first step in the right direction and I personally expect that we are about to take it .
I believe we ’ re at a historical turning point , at the beginning of a shift that will eventually inspire and enable people to organize everything on a much smaller scale , to gather together on the level of small towns and municipalities and to form their own social and political systems , based on the principles that all the people on the local level consent to .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current monetary system and all its toxic effects .
Physical precious metals , in particular gold and silver , are the insurance against all the arbitrary experiments and monetary manipulation of the last decades .
They can ’ t be printed and controlled by central banks and they can not be used to support and transmit any of their political goals and agendas .
This is why I expect physical precious metals to play a key role in the foundations of any truly free society .
Without the financial shackles of fiat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reasserted by the individual .
John Maynard Keynes turned the world upside down with his argument that saving is not the lifeblood of investments ; instead , he argued , it is a burden for the economy .
His opinion was that wise and all-knowing central planners ( in other words , a pseudo-benevolent politburo ) could correct macro-economic imbalances by manipulating market signals .
The implication of such a system , wholly congruent with Marx ’ s fifth “ commandment ” , is that it enables a massive centralization of power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or should be taught ) in every political science 101 class : power corrupts , and absolute power corrupts absolutely !
This central planning precept furthermore contradicts not only common sense and trivial observation , but also the full historical record : indeed , the driving force behind economic health are savings , financial prudence and investment ; not reckless spending , mindless consumption , and debt .
In the same way that nihilism is a self-refuting ideology ( if existence is meaningless , being the prophet of that meaninglessness is a proof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( and its neoclassical successor ) is contradicted by reductio ad absurdum : if all that matters is debt , then let ’ s all stop working , let ’ s only print paper , and we ’ ll solve world hunger !
The Age of Surveillanc ... Zuboff , Shoshana Best Price : $ 18.59 Buy New $ 19.06 The problem is exacerbated by the fact that paper money used to be a property title , but has become a debt security .
These IOUs represent the promise that future generations will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes and inflation .
In such an environment , the populace is automatically divided between winners and losers : the former being those close enough to the monetary spigot , the latter everyone else .
Moral hazard becomes the rule of the game ; merit and talent die with it .
It is a fraud of gigantic proportions .
Gold and silver should not be seen as a trading vehicle , but rather as an insurance in a highly uncertain world , a protection against the insanity of central planners , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the monetary and financial order .
Although it is impossible to determine how fast it will happen , it should be obvious by now that the coming months , especially in the western world , will be dominated by a declining real economy , higher unemployment rates , financial repression measures , such as higher taxation and government restrictions .
Interest rates , which are kept artificially low , are causing low or even negative real return on investments .
In such an environment , gold is a high-yield asset !
Direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stored outside of the banking system is therefore essential , if you are interested in a real and practical insurance against the ongoing problems in our monetary system and the uncertainties in our world today .
As a Swiss citizen , I can directly attest to the unique features and advantages of a nation that is defined by its own people ’ s will , having taken an oath not to pay taxes to foreign reeves .
Even before the enforced confederation of 1848 , Switzerland was the most industrialized country on mainland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics nowhere .
Even under intense external pressures , Switzerland retained its sovereignty and remained an armed neutral country , resisting two world wars , with a track record that it can be proud of .
Up to this day , it still has one of the most decentralized political structures in the world .
Its constitution outlines the basis of its political system and its government ’ s limits , according to the principles of subsidiarity and direct democracy .
The Left , The Right , & ... Rockwell Jr. , Llewelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New $ 15.00 Instruments such as referendums “ against the state ” and initiatives “ from the people ” help to keep the state in check and the country as decentralized as possible .
And although the last 20 years have seen political pressure put on Switzerland to follow the way paved by the EU rather than its own , a culture of trust , free speech , limited government and respect for private property remains more solid than in most countries on this planet .
In other words , the Swiss still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away what it has stolen from someone else .
In terms of stability and security , especially from a physical gold investor ’ s point of view , it is clear that Switzerland has withstood the test of time .
Its long-standing neutrality position , its solid non-interventionist foreign policy record and the fact that more than 50 % of households in the country are armed , create a safe environment and provide peace of mind both for its citizens and for investors .
Furthermore , the strict limits placed on its government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record of the government staying well within those limits , make confiscation scenarios of precious metals stored under Swiss law very improbable .
However , because you can never be sure of what the future holds , it always makes sense to look at other jurisdictions too , which might also offer a solid basis .
Unfortunately , not many are left on this planet , but the Principality of Liechtenstein is a great candidate .
The Principality of Liechtenstein is not in the EU ; it is however a member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zone .
Although it became independent in 1806 , it can be argued that the values exhibited by today ’ s Liechtenstein were mostly formed after WWII .
It was then that today ’ s monarch , Hans-Adam , had to take over a bankrupt country and effectively managed to turn it into a highly competitive , innovative and agile financial hub of international renown .
Liechtenstein is led by one of the oldest noble families in European history and its roots go back into the eleventh century .
They have a long-established @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Habsburg Monarchy .
The country ’ s standing as a reliable business and banking center and the princely house ’ s reputation as being ahead of the curve are still undeniable today .
For example , Liechtenstein and members of the princely family have established the Center for Austrian Economics under the guidance of H.S.H .
Prince Michael of Liechtenstein and H.S.H .
Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein .
Therefore , it is fair to say that the ruling figures of Liechtenstein fully embrace the values of individual and financial freedom and recognize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tyranny of the Fed ... O'Brien , Brian Best Price : $ 16.00 Buy New $ 16.99 The system of government is classified as a constitutional monarchy , with the decision-making power being shared by the monarch and the democratically elected parliament .
The Prince retains significant political power , as head of state , and also has veto power .
Hans-Adam himself wrote the political treatise “ The State in the Third Millennium ” in 2009 , in which he promotes sound money in the form of gold and silver .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of secession right down to the level of the municipality and he is a fierce proponent of limited government , free trade and free speech .
Overall , Liechtenstein remains a solid jurisdiction .
It is built on a system of governance that shows great restraint and respect towards individual freedoms , private property , the right to privacy and the financial sovereignty of its people .
From a military aspect , Liechtenstein is protected by the Swiss military and has strong ties with Switzerland in general , even though it remains independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international policy .
Both jurisdictions make a convincing case for gold storage , with regard to stability and private property rights , which is infinitely strengthened when compared to the risks and uncertainties that what most other jurisdictions entail .
Even from a more practical perspective , it also makes sense to store gold in jurisdictions with ready access to active commercial gold markets , that are not bank-based , as for example is the case for London .
Switzerland is a global leader and hub of gold refining and has extensive and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when selecting a location to store parts of your wealth in physical precious metals , one has to look carefully at the political system , as well as the government ’ s track record through thick and thin .
It is also important to consider the country ’ s “ gold culture ” and relevant tradition , as in nations with a long history of widespread private gold ownership , governments face formidable obstacles and serious opposition against aggressive legislation , like ownership restrictions , seizures or confiscation orders targeting precious metals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ definitely seem to have an advantage , at this point in time .
The Best of Claudio Grass

“The more we gained knowledge of these new totalitarian systems of mass-rule, the more we realized not only their similarity of structure, but also the fact that we had to do with a type of dominance that had been known in earlier epochs. We discovered that what the ancients called “tyrannis,” or ‘cheirokratia,” what Sulla or the tyrants of the Italian Rennaissance had practised, and what finally alarmed the world in the French Revolution and under Napoleon, had surprisingly many similarities with modern totalitarianism, although this latter had elements with which they cannot be compared, and although it possessed means of domination unknown in past ages.”
Willhelm Röpke
This is an old quote I very much admire, it is as relevant today as it was in the past. History does not repeat but it does rhyme. Therefore, I believe it is fair to say that the world has already changed tremendously over the past few months in an irreversible way. The current central planners are already promoting the future reality they have in store for us – to let the old economy and system crash and prepare for government-controlled and planned transition into a new economy that is “green and emission-free”. The new Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) is ready to finance this “man-made paradise” that we have analyzed in detail in the previous two issues of this magazine. The digitalization shift that occurred over the last 20 years also massively contributes and accelerates this process. In Their Own Words Bracken, Donagh Best Price: $29.11 Buy New $28.94 (as of 06:23 UTC - Details)
Of course, this technology, like any other, can be used for good or evil, for decentralization and increased independence, or for the concentration of power in the hands of the few and for the exertion of control over everyone else. The government naturally prefers the latter, as it recognized its practical value. We see real-life implementations of this more and more over the last few years. The establishments and promotion of “anointed experts”, who practice the art of divination while playing God and making decisions “for the greater good”, will inevitably lead to a relentless technocratic system of governance, if it hasn’t already, where individuals as treated as units, to be counted and to be tallied, in a vain attempt to forcefully balance a meaningless equation.
In the end, and this must be clear by now, this path leads to the full-scale nationalization of the private economy, to a system without private property rights and without individual liberty. The political measures in connection with the Corona crisis have already served as a preview to that bleak future. They also highlighted that the greatest losers in that system are the poorest, the weakest and the most marginalized among us, as low-income workers and small business owners were the hardest hit by the lockdowns and the shutdowns and they’ll be the last to recover, if they recover at all, which seems increasingly unlikely.
The only way out
Ludwig von Mises said it best, decades ago: “The market system is the basis of our civilization. Its only alternative is the Führer principle.”
People today have to decide for themselves if they want to remain in a system were central planners will be in full control or if they want to opt-out. There are many ways one can do that, depending on their circumstances. It can be as simple as using private money and decentralized technologies to regain personal sovereignty, privacy and control, or it can be done through jurisdictional diversification of one’s assets and wealth or even by relocating to areas with like-minded people. At the end of the day, we always have a choice. If people want to live in a system that espouses the virtues of socialism and if they like having to sing the international anthem every morning, they can. Whoever likes the sound of that can join, whoever doesn’t can move to a different town, that embraces different ideas and values.
The Fourth Reich: The ... Rosenfeld, Gavriel D. Best Price: $16.78 Buy New $21.49 (as of 04:06 UTC - Details) Let the competition begin, by moving away from a centralized government and allowing people to have options. Allow ideas to freely compete with each other, without forcing anyone to live under a system they don’t like. This would be the crucial first step in the right direction and I personally expect that we are about to take it. I believe we’re at a historical turning point, at the beginning of a shift that will eventually inspire and enable people to organize everything on a much smaller scale, to gather together on the level of small towns and municipalities and to form their own social and political systems, based on the principles that all the people on the local level consent to.
This brings me to the antidote to the current monetary system and all its toxic effects. Physical precious metals, in particular gold and silver, are the insurance against all the arbitrary experiments and monetary manipulation of the last decades. They can’t be printed and controlled by central banks and they cannot be used to support and transmit any of their political goals and agendas. This is why I expect physical precious metals to play a key role in the foundations of any truly free society. Without the financial shackles of fiat money, direct control can be reclaimed and reasserted by the individual.
The rational aspect of owning physical precious metals
John Maynard Keynes turned the world upside down with his argument that saving is not the lifeblood of investments; instead, he argued, it is a burden for the economy. His opinion was that wise and all-knowing central planners (in other words, a pseudo-benevolent politburo) could correct macro-economic imbalances by manipulating market signals. The implication of such a system, wholly congruent with Marx’s fifth “commandment”, is that it enables a massive centralization of power. However, as is taught (or should be taught) in every political science 101 class: power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely!
This central planning precept furthermore contradicts not only common sense and trivial observation, but also the full historical record: indeed, the driving force behind economic health are savings, financial prudence and investment; not reckless spending, mindless consumption, and debt.
In the same way that nihilism is a self-refuting ideology (if existence is meaningless, being the prophet of that meaninglessness is a proof against it), the Keynesian school (and its neoclassical successor) is contradicted by reductio ad absurdum: if all that matters is debt, then let’s all stop working, let’s only print paper, and we’ll solve world hunger! The Age of Surveillanc... Zuboff, Shoshana Best Price: $18.59 Buy New $19.06 (as of 03:11 UTC - Details)
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that paper money used to be a property title, but has become a debt security. These IOUs represent the promise that future generations will pay off their predecessors’ debt via taxes and inflation. In such an environment, the populace is automatically divided between winners and losers: the former being those close enough to the monetary spigot, the latter everyone else. Moral hazard becomes the rule of the game; merit and talent die with it. It is a fraud of gigantic proportions.
Gold and silver should not be seen as a trading vehicle, but rather as an insurance in a highly uncertain world, a protection against the insanity of central planners, and a safety net against a possible forthcoming crash of the monetary and financial order.
Although it is impossible to determine how fast it will happen, it should be obvious by now that the coming months, especially in the western world, will be dominated by a declining real economy, higher unemployment rates, financial repression measures, such as higher taxation and government restrictions. Interest rates, which are kept artificially low, are causing low or even negative real return on investments. In such an environment, gold is a high-yield asset!
Direct and unencumbered physical ownership of precious metals stored outside of the banking system is therefore essential, if you are interested in a real and practical insurance against the ongoing problems in our monetary system and the uncertainties in our world today.
The case for Switzerland
As a Swiss citizen, I can directly attest to the unique features and advantages of a nation that is defined by its own people’s will, having taken an oath not to pay taxes to foreign reeves. Even before the enforced confederation of 1848, Switzerland was the most industrialized country on mainland Europe. The economy was everywhere and politics nowhere. Even under intense external pressures, Switzerland retained its sovereignty and remained an armed neutral country, resisting two world wars, with a track record that it can be proud of. Up to this day, it still has one of the most decentralized political structures in the world. Its constitution outlines the basis of its political system and its government’s limits, according to the principles of subsidiarity and direct democracy. The Left, The Right, &... Rockwell Jr., Llewelly... Best Price: $18.00 Buy New $15.00 (as of 04:43 UTC - Details)
Instruments such as referendums “against the state” and initiatives “from the people” help to keep the state in check and the country as decentralized as possible. And although the last 20 years have seen political pressure put on Switzerland to follow the way paved by the EU rather than its own, a culture of trust, free speech, limited government and respect for private property remains more solid than in most countries on this planet. In other words, the Swiss still understand that the government cannot give away what it has stolen from someone else.
In terms of stability and security, especially from a physical gold investor’s point of view, it is clear that Switzerland has withstood the test of time. Its long-standing neutrality position, its solid non-interventionist foreign policy record and the fact that more than 50% of households in the country are armed, create a safe environment and provide peace of mind both for its citizens and for investors. Furthermore, the strict limits placed on its government’s powers and the long track record of the government staying well within those limits, make confiscation scenarios of precious metals stored under Swiss law very improbable.
However, because you can never be sure of what the future holds, it always makes sense to look at other jurisdictions too, which might also offer a solid basis. Unfortunately, not many are left on this planet, but the Principality of Liechtenstein is a great candidate.
Liechtenstein’s unique advantages
The Principality of Liechtenstein is not in the EU; it is however a member of the European Economic Area and the Schengen visa zone. Although it became independent in 1806, it can be argued that the values exhibited by today’s Liechtenstein were mostly formed after WWII. It was then that today’s monarch, Hans-Adam, had to take over a bankrupt country and effectively managed to turn it into a highly competitive, innovative and agile financial hub of international renown. Liechtenstein is led by one of the oldest noble families in European history and its roots go back into the eleventh century. They have a long-established history as advisers, especially during the Habsburg Monarchy.
The country’s standing as a reliable business and banking center and the princely house’s reputation as being ahead of the curve are still undeniable today. For example, Liechtenstein and members of the princely family have established the Center for Austrian Economics under the guidance of H.S.H. Prince Michael of Liechtenstein and H.S.H. Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein. Therefore, it is fair to say that the ruling figures of Liechtenstein fully embrace the values of individual and financial freedom and recognize the importance of private property rights. The Tyranny of the Fed... O'Brien, Brian Best Price: $16.00 Buy New $16.99 (as of 04:50 UTC - Details)
The system of government is classified as a constitutional monarchy, with the decision-making power being shared by the monarch and the democratically elected parliament. The Prince retains significant political power, as head of state, and also has veto power. Hans-Adam himself wrote the political treatise “The State in the Third Millennium” in 2009, in which he promotes sound money in the form of gold and silver. In it, he also defends the right of secession right down to the level of the municipality and he is a fierce proponent of limited government, free trade and free speech.
Overall, Liechtenstein remains a solid jurisdiction. It is built on a system of governance that shows great restraint and respect towards individual freedoms, private property, the right to privacy and the financial sovereignty of its people. From a military aspect, Liechtenstein is protected by the Swiss military and has strong ties with Switzerland in general, even though it remains independent when it comes to local laws and international policy.
Weighing the options
Both jurisdictions make a convincing case for gold storage, with regard to stability and private property rights, which is infinitely strengthened when compared to the risks and uncertainties that what most other jurisdictions entail. Even from a more practical perspective, it also makes sense to store gold in jurisdictions with ready access to active commercial gold markets, that are not bank-based, as for example is the case for London. Switzerland is a global leader and hub of gold refining and has extensive and vibrant bullion commercial activity.
Overall, when selecting a location to store parts of your wealth in physical precious metals, one has to look carefully at the political system, as well as the government’s track record through thick and thin. It is also important to consider the country’s “gold culture” and relevant tradition, as in nations with a long history of widespread private gold ownership, governments face formidable obstacles and serious opposition against aggressive legislation, like ownership restrictions, seizures or confiscation orders targeting precious metals. Thus, overall, Switzerland and Liechtenstein definitely seem to have an advantage, at this point in time.
Originally published under www.executive-global.com
The Best of Claudio Grass