investmentwatchblog--2020-06-02--Four Bad Apples, Or Systemic Police Culture Of Putting Personal Loyalties Over Public Duty?

It ’ s been nearly two and a half decades since I was a brand new , freshly bald-headed cadet entering my first summer at West Point .
Everything about it was agonizing .
We operated on little sleep .
The hazing never stopped .
There were constant military and physical exercises .
And it was only the beginning of four years of endless pressure and stress .
In retrospect I can admit it was definitely a character-building experience .
And I understand why they deliberately make it so stressful .
The entire purpose of West Point is to develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to lead soldiers into combat .
They ’ re not playing around– it ’ s serious business .
And I remember one of the first things they drilled into us from Day One was the Cadet Honor Code .
At West Point , the Honor Code is incredibly strict .
It says that a cadet shall not lie , cheat , or steal , nor tolerate those who do .
If they can ’ t trust you to tell the truth about something mundane , or to not cheat on a physics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with people ’ s lives ?
The ‘ toleration clause ’ is especially unique ; tolerating someone else ’ s dishonor made you dishonorable .
If you knew someone else had violated the code , but you didn ’ t do anything about it , you were complicit .
It ’ s not to say that cadets don ’ t have strong bonds of loyalty to one another .
We do .
But our sense of duty prevailed above all else , even if that duty required expelling a friend for an honor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been ‘ self-regulating ’ in this way for more than two centuries ; the cadets themselves are responsible for weeding out the occasional bad apples who manage to make it through the Academy ’ s absurdly rigorous admissions process .
This system works .
And institutions that don ’ t have duty-first , self-regulating culture tend rot from within .
Just look at the Catholic Church : decades of criminal sex abuse and cover-ups show that their priority was NOT to seek justice or take care of their devoted followers .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by quietly and internally reassigning serial sex offenders who had a history of abusing children .
There were plenty of Church officials who knew about it .
But they ignored their fundamental duty to their followers , and instead put their own people first .
That makes them complicit .
It ’ s often the same with police .
While their primary duty is supposed to be protecting and serving their communities , cops will frequently take care of their own , first and foremost .
And the video that surfaced last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his knee to the neck of George Floyd– a defenseless , handcuffed , unarmed suspect in clear medical distress– is a example of this value system .
Chauvin displayed horrendous moral depravity .
Yet there were three other officers on the scene .
They knew what was happening .
They saw Chauvin essentially strangle George Floyd .
But they did nothing to stop it .
Maybe they didn ’ t want to be disloyal to Chauvin .
Maybe they were worried that the other cops at the precinct would think they were a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop Chauvin .
Maybe Chauvin was the ranking officer and they felt that they didn ’ t have the authority to stop him .
Whatever the reason , none of the officers present had the humanity or courage to carry out their sworn duty .
Now , whenever something like this happens , the apologists usually say , “ Oh that ’ s just a few bad apples.
” Maybe so .
And in fairness , there are countless police officers who put their duty first on a daily basis .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four bad apples just happened to respond to the same call , at the same time , on the same beat ?
Is this really some wild coincidence ?
Or is it possible that , maybe just maybe , there ’ s something in the cultural DNA of police departments that prioritizes personal loyalty above fundamental duty ?
Consider that the immediate response of the Minneapolis Police Department was to issue a vague statement that Floyd died “ of a medical incident during a police interaction.
” So even in the department ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was to protect the four officers .
Then , when the uproar started , the police union in Minneapolis issued a statement of support for the officers .
They were trying to take care of their own .
And despite all the evidence– the multiple videos and eye witness accounts– it still took four days to arrest Chauvin .
Plus the other three officers have not yet been charged , and at least two of them were allowed to leave the state .
That would never happen for a regular civilian .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strangling someone , the cops would be at our door that very day to arrest us .
There would be no statement of support , no professional courtesy .
They ’ d arrest us first , and then build the case .
But again , the police take care of their own , even if that means abandoning their primary duty to the public .
This is part of the cultural DNA of police departments around the world .
According to data pulled by the Wall Street Journal , there have been more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers since 2012 .
Only TWELVE of those 2600 ( 0.46 % ) resulted in any discipline against the officer .
This is not isolated to Minneapolis ; in major cities across the country , from Baltimore to Chicago to Los Angeles , the rate at which civilian complaints against police officers are ‘ sustained ’ is typically in the low single digits .
Is this also a wild coincidence ?
It seems obvious that culture is a major part of the problem .
And little will change as long as taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty to the public .
And to continue learning how to ensure you thrive no matter what happens next in the world , I encourage you to download our free Perfect Plan B Guide .
Because… If you live , work , bank , invest , own a business , and hold your assets all in just one country , you are putting all of your eggs in one basket .

by Simon Black of Sovereign Man
It’s been nearly two and a half decades since I was a brand new, freshly bald-headed cadet entering my first summer at West Point.
Everything about it was agonizing. We operated on little sleep. The hazing never stopped. There were constant military and physical exercises. And it was only the beginning of four years of endless pressure and stress.
In retrospect I can admit it was definitely a character-building experience. And I understand why they deliberately make it so stressful.
The entire purpose of West Point is to develop men and women of integrity to be able to lead soldiers into combat. They’re not playing around– it’s serious business.
And I remember one of the first things they drilled into us from Day One was the Cadet Honor Code.
At West Point, the Honor Code is incredibly strict. It says that a cadet shall not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do.
If they can’t trust you to tell the truth about something mundane, or to not cheat on a physics test, how can they trust you with people’s lives?
The ‘toleration clause’ is especially unique; tolerating someone else’s dishonor made you dishonorable. If you knew someone else had violated the code, but you didn’t do anything about it, you were complicit.
It’s not to say that cadets don’t have strong bonds of loyalty to one another. We do.
But our sense of duty prevailed above all else, even if that duty required expelling a friend for an honor code violation.
The Corps of Cadets has been ‘self-regulating’ in this way for more than two centuries; the cadets themselves are responsible for weeding out the occasional bad apples who manage to make it through the Academy’s absurdly rigorous admissions process.
This system works. And institutions that don’t have duty-first, self-regulating culture tend rot from within.
Just look at the Catholic Church: decades of criminal sex abuse and cover-ups show that their priority was NOT to seek justice or take care of their devoted followers.
Instead, they took care of their own by quietly and internally reassigning serial sex offenders who had a history of abusing children.
There were plenty of Church officials who knew about it. But they ignored their fundamental duty to their followers, and instead put their own people first. That makes them complicit.
It’s often the same with police. While their primary duty is supposed to be protecting and serving their communities, cops will frequently take care of their own, first and foremost.
And the video that surfaced last week of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinning his knee to the neck of George Floyd– a defenseless, handcuffed, unarmed suspect in clear medical distress– is a example of this value system.
Chauvin displayed horrendous moral depravity. Yet there were three other officers on the scene. They knew what was happening. They saw Chauvin essentially strangle George Floyd. But they did nothing to stop it.
Maybe they didn’t want to be disloyal to Chauvin.
Maybe they were worried that the other cops at the precinct would think they were a rat if they said or did something to stop Chauvin.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Maybe Chauvin was the ranking officer and they felt that they didn’t have the authority to stop him.
Whatever the reason, none of the officers present had the humanity or courage to carry out their sworn duty.
Now, whenever something like this happens, the apologists usually say, “Oh that’s just a few bad apples.”
Maybe so. And in fairness, there are countless police officers who put their duty first on a daily basis.
But are we really to believe that these four bad apples just happened to respond to the same call, at the same time, on the same beat? Is this really some wild coincidence?
Or is it possible that, maybe just maybe, there’s something in the cultural DNA of police departments that prioritizes personal loyalty above fundamental duty?
Consider that the immediate response of the Minneapolis Police Department was to issue a vague statement that Floyd died “of a medical incident during a police interaction.”
So even in the department’s official response, their first instinct was to protect the four officers.
Then, when the uproar started, the police union in Minneapolis issued a statement of support for the officers. They were trying to take care of their own.
And despite all the evidence– the multiple videos and eye witness accounts– it still took four days to arrest Chauvin.
Plus the other three officers have not yet been charged, and at least two of them were allowed to leave the state.
That would never happen for a regular civilian. If you or I were caught on video strangling someone, the cops would be at our door that very day to arrest us.
There would be no statement of support, no professional courtesy. They’d arrest us first, and then build the case.
But again, the police take care of their own, even if that means abandoning their primary duty to the public. This is part of the cultural DNA of police departments around the world.
According to data pulled by the Wall Street Journal, there have been more than 2,600 civilian complaints filed against Minneapolis police officers since 2012. Only TWELVE of those 2600 (0.46%) resulted in any discipline against the officer.
This is not isolated to Minneapolis; in major cities across the country, from Baltimore to Chicago to Los Angeles, the rate at which civilian complaints against police officers are ‘sustained’ is typically in the low single digits.
Is this also a wild coincidence?
It seems obvious that culture is a major part of the problem. And little will change as long as taking care of their own outweighs their fundamental duty to the public.
And to continue learning how to ensure you thrive no matter what happens next in the world, I encourage you to download our free Perfect Plan B Guide.
Because… If you live, work, bank, invest, own a business, and hold your assets all in just one country, you are putting all of your eggs in one basket.


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-02--4 police officers shot during George Floyd protests in St. Louis, 11 dead, thousands injured, 4,400

4 police officers shot during George Floyd protests in St. Louis, 11 dead, thousands injured, 4,400 arrested as riots rage across 140 US cities

Police say four officers were hit by gunfire after protests in St. Louis that started peacefully Monday became violent overnight , with demonstrators smashing windows and stealing items from businesses and fires burning in the downtown area .
The police department tweeted early Tuesday that the officers were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening .
It was unclear who had fired the shots .
READ MORE : George Floyd protests : Trump says he will deploy military if states don ’ t mobilize National Guard The chaos in St. Louis followed continued protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd and police treatment of African Americans , with gatherings also held in Kansas City and Jefferson City .
On Monday afternoon , several hundred people rallied peacefully outside the justice center in downtown St. Louis , including Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards .
Protestors later walked to the Gateway Arch National Park and then onto nearby Interstate 64 .
National Guard forces activated in 23 states and Washington DC as riots continue to spiral out of control with a rising death toll .
At least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured as riots continued for the seventh straight day across the US , following the death of a Minneapolis man as he was being detained by local police .
Protests were organized in more than 200 cities across the US following the death last Monday of 46-year-old George Floyd in Minneapolis .
But the protests , many of which were initially peaceful , quickly degenerated into riots , looting , arson , and in some cases shooting attacks .
Rioting spread to at least 140 cities across the US , leading 40 cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too , announced an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew Monday evening , as riots and looting spread to Lower Manhattan .
Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have activated National Guard forces to help restore order , as the death toll continued to climb Monday .
As of Monday night , eleven deaths have been linked to the riots , which in some cases have included shooting attacks .
In Oakland , California , for instance , two Federal Protective Service officers were shot last Friday night as they stood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal courthouse .
One of the officers , Patrick Underwood , was killed in the drive-by shooting , while a second officer was wounded .
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the drive-by shooting was linked to the rioting , and called the attack “ an outright assault on our law enforcement community.
” During a riot late Sunday night and early Monday morning in Davenport , Iowa , more than 20 shots were fired during a riot near the NorthPark Mall , Police Chief Paul Sikorski told reporters .

Police say four officers were hit by gunfire after protests in St. Louis that started peacefully Monday became violent overnight, with demonstrators smashing windows and stealing items from businesses and fires burning in the downtown area.
The police department tweeted early Tuesday that the officers were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. It was unclear who had fired the shots.
READ MORE: George Floyd protests: Trump says he will deploy military if states don’t mobilize National Guard
The chaos in St. Louis followed continued protests Monday in Missouri over the death of George Floyd and police treatment of African Americans, with gatherings also held in Kansas City and Jefferson City.
On Monday afternoon, several hundred people rallied peacefully outside the justice center in downtown St. Louis, including Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards. Protestors later walked to the Gateway Arch National Park and then onto nearby Interstate 64.
globalnews.ca/news/7015013/george-floyd-protests-st-louis-police-shot/
National Guard forces activated in 23 states and Washington DC as riots continue to spiral out of control with a rising death toll.
At least 11 people are dead and thousands more injured as riots continued for the seventh straight day across the US, following the death of a Minneapolis man as he was being detained by local police.
Protests were organized in more than 200 cities across the US following the death last Monday of 46-year-old George Floyd in Minneapolis.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
But the protests, many of which were initially peaceful, quickly degenerated into riots, looting, arson, and in some cases shooting attacks.
Rioting spread to at least 140 cities across the US, leading 40 cities to impose curfews. New York City, too, announced an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew Monday evening, as riots and looting spread to Lower Manhattan.
Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have activated National Guard forces to help restore order, as the death toll continued to climb Monday.
As of Monday night, eleven deaths have been linked to the riots, which in some cases have included shooting attacks.
In Oakland, California, for instance, two Federal Protective Service officers were shot last Friday night as they stood guard near a riot outside of a federal courthouse. One of the officers, Patrick Underwood, was killed in the drive-by shooting, while a second officer was wounded.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the drive-by shooting was linked to the rioting, and called the attack “an outright assault on our law enforcement community.”
During a riot late Sunday night and early Monday morning in Davenport, Iowa, more than 20 shots were fired during a riot near the NorthPark Mall, Police Chief Paul Sikorski told reporters.
www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/281189
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-02--Riots Are a Reminder that Police Don’t Protect You or Your Property

Looting and arson have followed what began as peaceful protests in response to the apparent killing of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin , a now-former member of the Minneapolis Police Department .
But whatever was the spark that set off the current round of rioting in the Twin Cities area , it is clear that most property owners and residents will have to fend for themselves where riots have taken place .
In other words , any unfortunate shopkeeper or resident who finds himself in the path of the rioters ought to just assume that police won ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mob .
For example , The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports : The police station on E. Lake Street has been the epicenter of protests this week… Nearby , Minnehaha Lake Wine & Spirits , the target of looters the night before , also was set ablaze .
…On Wednesday night , a man was fatally shot and crowds looted and burned buildings on E. Lake Street late into the night .
Earlier in the day , in St. Paul , looters broke windows , stormed through battered-down doors and snatched clothes , phones , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University Avenue near the intersection of Pascal Street .
Officers formed a barricade in front of Target .
But police were absent a block away at T.J. Maxx , where looters smashed down the door and fled with heaps of clothing piled on shopping carts .
Many business owners who now face destruction at the hands of rioters can scarcely afford it : Another man , who was working to open a sports bar in the area later this year , saw his bar destroyed .
Needless to say , with only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t around to “ protect and serve.
” Admittedly , in cases like this week ’ s riots , the police are heavily outnumbered and unable to provide any sort of general protection from rioters .
Even if individual officers were engaging in heroic behavior to turn rioters away from potential victims , there would be little they could do to confront all offenders .
But heroics or not , the outcome for victims is the same : they must rely on self defense , formal private security , or private armed volunteers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” A failure to protect taxpaying citizens from violence and crime in a wide variety of situations is standard operating procedure for police departments which are under no legal obligation to protect anyone , and where “ officer safety ” is the number-one priority .
The lesson to be learned here is that the alleged “ social contract ” between citizens and the state is a one-way street : you pay taxes for police “ services , ” and the police may or may not give you anything in return .
Police Are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now a well-established legal principle in the United States that police officers and police departments are not legally responsible to refusing to intervene in cases where private citizens are in imminent danger or even in the process of being victimized .
The US Supreme Court has made it clear that law enforcement agencies are not required to provide protection to the citizens who are forced to pay for police services , year in and year out .
[ RELATED : `` Police Have No Duty to Protect You , Federal Court Affirms Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of civil unrest , of course , be prepared to receive approximately nothing from police in terms of protecting property , or life and limb .
During the 2014 riots that followed the police killing of Michael Brown , for example , shopkeepers were forced to hire private security , and many had to rely on armed volunteers for protection from looters .
“ There ’ s no police , ” one Ferguson shopkeeper told FoxNews at the time .
“ We trusted the police to keep it peaceful ; they didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ famously , shopkeepers during the Los Angeles riots defended their shops with private firearms : During the Columbine school shootings in Colorado in 1999 , the Sheriff department ’ s “ first responders ” formed a perimeter outside the building and refused to enter because the situation was deemed too risky for law enforcement .
Meanwhile , children were being slaughtered inside .
Nearly twenty years later , law enforcement officers at the Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida cowered behind vehicles while students were murdered inside the school .
But even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enter the premises and attempt to subdue violent criminals , the victim may find law enforcement officers to be of little help .
According to 2008 data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics , police response times to violent-crime-related calls exceeded 11 minutes one-third of the time .
Things were no better twelve years earlier in 1996 , when a similar survey was conducted .
Now , twelve years after 2008 , there ’ s no reason to assume anything has improved .
11 minutes is a long time to wait when dealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when police do arrive , don ’ t expect a competent response .
The cases of Atatania Jefferson and Botham Jean provide some helpful reminders .
According to multiple accounts of the Jefferson case , a neighbor of Jefferson called police to “ check up ” on Jefferson whom the neighbor feared Jefferson might be in danger .
Jefferson was soon shot dead in her own living room by law enforcement .
The shooter — a now-former cop named Aaron Dean — entered Jefferson ’ s private property unannounced in the middle of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s windows , and within seconds , the officer had shot Jefferson dead .
Jefferson had been playing video games with her nephew .
A year earlier , former police officer Amber Guyger was sentenced to ten years in prison for unlawfully shooting Botham Jean in his own apartment .
At the time , Guyger was a police officer returning home from work .
She illegally entered the wrong apartment and promptly shot Jean — the unit ’ s lawful resident — dead .
And , of course , there is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Minneapolis Police Department to report a possible sexual assault near her home .
When police arrived , they shot Damond dead , for no known reason other than hysterical fear on the part of police .
Those who proactively attempt to defend themselves fare little better .
In 2018 , Colorado resident Richard Black used a firearm to defend his grandson against an intruder .
Unfortunately , someone called the police .
When officers arrived , they opened fire on Black , even though was only a threat to the criminal intruder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all this is that it is foolhardy , to say the least , to rely on law enforcement officers to intervene to provide “ safety ” when troubles arise .
After all , experience has shown police are thoroughly unmotivated when it comes to preventing , or even investigating true violent crime .
Confronting violent criminals is dangerous and costly .
Thus , police departments are geared much more around encouraging harassment of petty offenders ( such as George Floyd ) and going after small-time drug offenders while confiscating property under asset forfeiture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency budgets while prioritizing the targeting of easy marks , rather than violent offenders .
In the United States , more than half of serious crimes are never solved .
And yet , though it all , we hear again and again the myth that law enforcement agencies will provide protection , retrieve stolen property , and keep the peace .
Many people in Minneapolis are now experiencing the reality .

by Ryan McMaken of Mises Institute
Looting and arson have followed what began as peaceful protests in response to the apparent killing of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin, a now-former member of the Minneapolis Police Department.
But whatever was the spark that set off the current round of rioting in the Twin Cities area, it is clear that most property owners and residents will have to fend for themselves where riots have taken place. In other words, any unfortunate shopkeeper or resident who finds himself in the path of the rioters ought to just assume that police won’t be around to provide any protection from the mob.
For example, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports:
The police station on E. Lake Street has been the epicenter of protests this week… Nearby, Minnehaha Lake Wine & Spirits, the target of looters the night before, also was set ablaze. …On Wednesday night, a man was fatally shot and crowds looted and burned buildings on E. Lake Street late into the night. Earlier in the day, in St. Paul, looters broke windows, stormed through battered-down doors and snatched clothes, phones, shoes and other merchandise from shops along University Avenue near the intersection of Pascal Street. Officers formed a barricade in front of Target. But police were absent a block away at T.J. Maxx, where looters smashed down the door and fled with heaps of clothing piled on shopping carts.
Many business owners who now face destruction at the hands of rioters can scarcely afford it:
Many of the shops destroyed along this stretch of E. Lake Street are immigrant-owned businesses — many of which were already struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. “Now it’s worse,” said Roberto Hernandez, who stood guard outside his nutrition store for five hours to fend off looters. (emphasis added)
Another man, who was working to open a sports bar in the area later this year, saw his bar destroyed. Needless to say, with only a few exceptions, the police weren’t around to “protect and serve.”
Admittedly, in cases like this week’s riots, the police are heavily outnumbered and unable to provide any sort of general protection from rioters. Even if individual officers were engaging in heroic behavior to turn rioters away from potential victims, there would be little they could do to confront all offenders.
But heroics or not, the outcome for victims is the same: they must rely on self defense, formal private security, or private armed volunteers likely to be labeled as “vigilantes.”
A failure to protect taxpaying citizens from violence and crime in a wide variety of situations is standard operating procedure for police departments which are under no legal obligation to protect anyone, and where “officer safety” is the number-one priority. The lesson to be learned here is that the alleged “social contract” between citizens and the state is a one-way street: you pay taxes for police “services,” and the police may or may not give you anything in return.
Police Are Not Obligated to Provide Protection
It is now a well-established legal principle in the United States that police officers and police departments are not legally responsible to refusing to intervene in cases where private citizens are in imminent danger or even in the process of being victimized. The US Supreme Court has made it clear that law enforcement agencies are not required to provide protection to the citizens who are forced to pay for police services, year in and year out.
[RELATED: “Police Have No Duty to Protect You, Federal Court Affirms Yet Again” by Ryan McMaken]
In cases of civil unrest, of course, be prepared to receive approximately nothing from police in terms of protecting property, or life and limb.
During the 2014 riots that followed the police killing of Michael Brown, for example, shopkeepers were forced to hire private security, and many had to rely on armed volunteers for protection from looters. “There’s no police,” one Ferguson shopkeeper told FoxNews at the time. “We trusted the police to keep it peaceful; they didn’t do their job.”
More famously, shopkeepers during the Los Angeles riots defended their shops with private firearms:
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
“Where are the police? Where are the police?” [shopkeeper Chang] Lee whispered over and over from his rooftop perch. Lee would not see law enforcement for three days — only fellow Korean-Americans, who would be photographed by news agencies looking like armed militia…
Officer Safety Comes First
During the Columbine school shootings in Colorado in 1999, the Sheriff department’s “first responders” formed a perimeter outside the building and refused to enter because the situation was deemed too risky for law enforcement. Meanwhile, children were being slaughtered inside.
Nearly twenty years later, law enforcement officers at the Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida cowered behind vehicles while students were murdered inside the school.
But even in cases where police are willing to enter the premises and attempt to subdue violent criminals, the victim may find law enforcement officers to be of little help. According to 2008 data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, police response times to violent-crime-related calls exceeded 11 minutes one-third of the time. Things were no better twelve years earlier in 1996, when a similar survey was conducted. Now, twelve years after 2008, there’s no reason to assume anything has improved.
11 minutes is a long time to wait when dealing with a violent criminal.
Moreover, when police do arrive, don’t expect a competent response. The cases of Atatania Jefferson and Botham Jean provide some helpful reminders.
According to multiple accounts of the Jefferson case, a neighbor of Jefferson called police to “check up” on Jefferson whom the neighbor feared Jefferson might be in danger. Jefferson was soon shot dead in her own living room by law enforcement. The shooter — a now-former cop named Aaron Dean — entered Jefferson’s private property unannounced in the middle of the night. He peered into Jefferson’s windows, and within seconds, the officer had shot Jefferson dead. Jefferson had been playing video games with her nephew.
A year earlier, former police officer Amber Guyger was sentenced to ten years in prison for unlawfully shooting Botham Jean in his own apartment. At the time, Guyger was a police officer returning home from work. She illegally entered the wrong apartment and promptly shot Jean — the unit’s lawful resident — dead.
And, of course, there is the case of Justine Damond, who called the Minneapolis Police Department to report a possible sexual assault near her home. When police arrived, they shot Damond dead, for no known reason other than hysterical fear on the part of police.
Those who proactively attempt to defend themselves fare little better. In 2018, Colorado resident Richard Black used a firearm to defend his grandson against an intruder. Unfortunately, someone called the police. When officers arrived, they opened fire on Black, even though was only a threat to the criminal intruder.
The lesson to be learned from all this is that it is foolhardy, to say the least, to rely on law enforcement officers to intervene to provide “safety” when troubles arise.
After all, experience has shown police are thoroughly unmotivated when it comes to preventing, or even investigating true violent crime. Confronting violent criminals is dangerous and costly. Thus, police departments are geared much more around encouraging harassment of petty offenders (such as George Floyd) and going after small-time drug offenders while confiscating property under asset forfeiture laws.
This provides revenue to pad agency budgets while prioritizing the targeting of easy marks, rather than violent offenders. In the United States, more than half of serious crimes are never solved.
And yet, though it all, we hear again and again the myth that law enforcement agencies will provide protection, retrieve stolen property, and keep the peace. Many people in Minneapolis are now experiencing the reality.


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-02--WELL, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF GOVERNORS WHO SEEM UNABLE TO MAINTAIN BASIC LAW AND ORDER IN THEIR STATES

WELL, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF GOVERNORS WHO SEEM UNABLE TO MAINTAIN BASIC LAW AND ORDER IN THEIR STATES:

Trump says he will deploy military if state officials can ’ t contain protest violence .
The Insurrection Act grants broad powers .
I look forward to Gretchen Whitmer , et al.
, arguing against broad emergency power .
.
.
.
WASHINGTON — As sirens wailed and flash-bang grenades popped across the street , President Donald Trump announced from the Rose Garden that he would use the U.S. military to stop the riots across the country that have been sparked by the death of George Floyd .
“ I am mobilizing all available federal resources , civilian and military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to end the destruction and arson and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans , including your Second Amendment rights , ” Trump said in the extraordinary address , which was delivered as police fired smoke devices outside to push protesters back from the White House .
“ We are ending the riots and lawlessness that has spread throughout our country .
We will end it now , ” Trump said .
Trump said that governors should deploy the National Guard in great numbers so that they “ dominate the streets.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents , then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them , ” Trump said , referring to himself as “ your president of law and order and an ally of all peaceful protesters.
” He said he was already dispatching “ thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers , military personnel and law enforcement officers ” to Washington to stop the violence that has been a feature of the protests here .
Shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 minutes before Washington ’ s 7 p.m .
ET curfew — U.S. Park Police and the National Guard had started using smoke and flash-bangs to push away the large crowd of peaceful protesters outside .
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser complained on Twitter that the move would “ make the job of @ DCPoliceDept officers more difficult .
”

Trump says he will deploy military if state officials can’t contain protest violence. The Insurrection Act grants broad powers. I look forward to Gretchen Whitmer, et al., arguing against broad emergency power . . . .
WASHINGTON — As sirens wailed and flash-bang grenades popped across the street, President Donald Trump announced from the Rose Garden that he would use the U.S. military to stop the riots across the country that have been sparked by the death of George Floyd.
“I am mobilizing all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights,” Trump said in the extraordinary address, which was delivered as police fired smoke devices outside to push protesters back from the White House.
“We are ending the riots and lawlessness that has spread throughout our country. We will end it now,” Trump said.
Trump said that governors should deploy the National Guard in great numbers so that they “dominate the streets.”
“If a city or state refuses to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them,” Trump said, referring to himself as “your president of law and order and an ally of all peaceful protesters.”
He said he was already dispatching “thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel and law enforcement officers” to Washington to stop the violence that has been a feature of the protests here.
Shortly before he started to speak — about 20 minutes before Washington’s 7 p.m. ET curfew — U.S. Park Police and the National Guard had started using smoke and flash-bangs to push away the large crowd of peaceful protesters outside. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser complained on Twitter that the move would “make the job of @DCPoliceDept officers more difficult.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-02--SEEMS LIKE SOLID ADVICE:

SEEMS LIKE SOLID ADVICE:

GOOD !
This should have been the message from day one .
And if the authorities had taken this attitude @ @ @ @ @ would likely have been no day two .
It ’ s not fun looting armed @ @ @ @ @ defend themselves , each other , and their property .
Meanwhile , the big losers @ @ @ @ @ Big blue cities .

THIS is what a leader looks like! Florida Sheriff warns, "The people in Polk County like guns, they have guns, I encourage them to own guns. If you try to break into their homes to steal, to set fires, I'm highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns." pic.twitter.com/3UgVgHmpSk — Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) June 1, 2020
GOOD! This should have been the message from day one.
And if the authorities had taken this attitude on day one, there would likely have been no day two.
It’s not fun looting armed people who are free to defend themselves, each other, and their property.
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SHOCKER: Gun Stocks Surge Past Broader Market: Shares of gun makers jump, continuing this year’s winning streak amid coronavirus, protests.
Meanwhile, the big losers from coronavirus and protests: Big blue cities.
h/t GR


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-03--The Post-Covid Economy Will Be Very Different From the Pre-Pandemic Bubble Economy

As the old models break down , opportunities for new models will arise .
Unstable , unsustainable systems can lull observers into a comfy complacency as instability increases beneath a thin veneer of apparent stability .
That ’ s the systemic story of the past 20 years : all the extremes that were needed to maintain the veneer of stability have increased the instability building beneath the complacent confidence .
But sadly for the status quo , all bubbles pop , all extremes revert to the mean and all that is unsustainable implodes as apparently linear systems ( snow accumulating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( avalanche ) .
The majority of the Pre-Pandemic Bubble Economy was unsustainable : 1 .
Bubbles in the stock market and housing– unsustainable 3 .
College costs paid by trillions of dollars in student loan debt– unsustainable 8 .
Over-supply and over-capacity for almost everything– unsustainable I could go on but you get the idea .
As I ’ ve been discussing in recent months , these unsustainable systems are tightly bound and incredibly fragile .
Each is a row of dominoes that intersect with all the other rows , so one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the dominoes in every row .
Consider just one unsustainable sector : commercial real estate .
Thanks to decades of overbuilding caused by the Federal Reserve ’ s super-low interest rates , there is too much commercial space in the U.S. : too much retail space , too much office space , too much self-storage , etc .
There are also too many new buildings on soon-to-be empty college campuses and too many hotels , etc .
The decimation of retailers has been underway for the past four years .
The chart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store closures have only accelerated .
The U.S. has between 8 and 10 times more retail space than other developed economies .
That suggests 50 % or more of all the commercial retail space in America is superfluous .
The demand for commercial space is crashing , and nose-bleed valuations are under pressure .
This charts shows that valuations could fall in half–and that wouldn ’ t necessarily rebalance supply and demand .
All the trillions of dollars in debt piled on over-valued CRE is at risk of default .
That alone will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominoes fall .
As Richard Bonugli and I discuss in our recent podcast on “ the new normal , ” as the old models break down opportunities for new models will arise .
For example , the entire education complex based on the outdated , dysfunctional “ factory model ” of large campuses and hundreds or thousands of students packed together is ripe for disruption .
Why not have small decentralized classes without the bloated administration and centralized curriculum–not to mention the improved security of small , decentralized groups ?
In my book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small , decentralized “ apprenticeship ” groups could improve actual learning while eliminating the entire bloated administration and campus costs ( lab work could be performed onsite in existing work places ) .
Rather than accredit the institution , accredit the student .
The unsustainably costly healthcare sector is equally ripe for disruption as demand destruction and soaring costs undermine the current model of profiteering .
Decentralizing the economy sacrifices the long global supply chains and corporate monopolies for local jobs and local supply chains .
All the corporate and state monopolies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the social order were exploitive , parasitic and predatory as well as unsustainable , and their slide into the dustbin of history is accelerating as linear systems cascade into non-linear dynamics .
The post-Covid economy will be very different from the pre-pandemic bubble economy , in ways few anticipate : non-linear creative destruction and DeGrowth will be the dominant dynamics .
Models that obsolete the old , unsustainable , dysfunctional models will blossom , and that is how civilization advances .
Maybe “ shareholder value ” has been the greatest con in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the greatest rise in wealth and power inequality in American history .

by Charles Hugh-Smith
As the old models break down, opportunities for new models will arise.
Unstable, unsustainable systems can lull observers into a comfy complacency as instability increases beneath a thin veneer of apparent stability.
That’s the systemic story of the past 20 years: all the extremes that were needed to maintain the veneer of stability have increased the instability building beneath the complacent confidence.
But sadly for the status quo, all bubbles pop, all extremes revert to the mean and all that is unsustainable implodes as apparently linear systems (snow accumulating on a mountainside) suddenly go non-linear (avalanche).
The majority of the Pre-Pandemic Bubble Economy was unsustainable:
1. Bubbles in the stock market and housing– unsustainable
2. Soaring debt: corporate, household and public– unsustainable
3. College costs paid by trillions of dollars in student loan debt– unsustainable
4. Healthcare consuming 20% of the GDP– unsustainable
5. Bubble in commercial real estate (CRE) — unsustainable
6. Long supply chains to Asia– unsustainable
7. Fracking industry dependent on ever-expanding debt to fund operations– unsustainable
8. Over-supply and over-capacity for almost everything– unsustainable
I could go on but you get the idea.
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As I’ve been discussing in recent months, these unsustainable systems are tightly bound and incredibly fragile. Each is a row of dominoes that intersect with all the other rows, so one domino falling in any row will topple all the dominoes in every row.
Consider just one unsustainable sector: commercial real estate. Thanks to decades of overbuilding caused by the Federal Reserve’s super-low interest rates, there is too much commercial space in the U.S.: too much retail space, too much office space, too much self-storage, etc. There are also too many new buildings on soon-to-be empty college campuses and too many hotels, etc.
The decimation of retailers has been underway for the past four years. The chart below is from 2017, and the store closures have only accelerated.
The U.S. has between 8 and 10 times more retail space than other developed economies. That suggests 50% or more of all the commercial retail space in America is superfluous.
The demand for commercial space is crashing, and nose-bleed valuations are under pressure. This charts shows that valuations could fall in half–and that wouldn’t necessarily rebalance supply and demand.
Source: US Commercial Real Estate Prices Plunged in April, Mall Prices Collapsed
All the trillions of dollars in debt piled on over-valued CRE is at risk of default. That alone will trigger a widening financial crisis as the dominoes fall.
As Richard Bonugli and I discuss in our recent podcast on “the new normal,” as the old models break down opportunities for new models will arise. For example, the entire education complex based on the outdated, dysfunctional “factory model” of large campuses and hundreds or thousands of students packed together is ripe for disruption.
Why not have small decentralized classes without the bloated administration and centralized curriculum–not to mention the improved security of small, decentralized groups? In my book The Nearly Free University I describe how small, decentralized “apprenticeship” groups could improve actual learning while eliminating the entire bloated administration and campus costs (lab work could be performed onsite in existing work places).
Rather than accredit the institution, accredit the student.
The unsustainably costly healthcare sector is equally ripe for disruption as demand destruction and soaring costs undermine the current model of profiteering.
Decentralizing the economy sacrifices the long global supply chains and corporate monopolies for local jobs and local supply chains. All the corporate and state monopolies and cartels that have hollowed out the economy and the social order were exploitive, parasitic and predatory as well as unsustainable, and their slide into the dustbin of history is accelerating as linear systems cascade into non-linear dynamics.
The post-Covid economy will be very different from the pre-pandemic bubble economy, in ways few anticipate: non-linear creative destruction and DeGrowth will be the dominant dynamics. Models that obsolete the old, unsustainable, dysfunctional models will blossom, and that is how civilization advances.
Maybe “shareholder value” has been the greatest con in history, a PR cover story for the greatest rise in wealth and power inequality in American history.


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-03--Protesters Showed Up In Coeur d’Alene, Idaho But The Locals Made Sure That There Would Be No Riots…

When word started spreading that the same protesters that had just broken windows and looted stores in Spokane were going to come to Coeur d ’ Alene , hundreds of citizens mobilized to protect their community .
So when the protesters did show up on Monday night , they quickly discovered that a very heavily armed “ welcoming committee ” was waiting for them .
Just like most Americans all over the country , most residents of north Idaho were absolutely horrified by the death of George Floyd , and there seems to be an overwhelming consensus that the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought to justice .
But most residents of north Idaho have also been absolutely horrified by the violent riots that have erupted in cities from coast to coast , and they sure don ’ t want the same thing to happen in their neck of the woods .
If you are not familiar with the geography of the area , Coeur d ’ Alene is not very far from the city of Spokane , Washington , and there had been quite a bit of rioting in Spokane on Sunday night .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ a frenzied night of tear gas , rubber bullets and flash-bangs ” as police worked tirelessly to end the vandalism and looting .
At one point , the Spokane Police Department actually sent out a cellphone alert warning everyone in the region to “ avoid the downtown core area ” … Spokane Police were forced to issue an alert that was sent to cellphones across the greater Spokane area on Sunday .
“ A civil disturbance is occurring in the downtown Spokane area .
Please avoid the downtown core area from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street to Maple Street .
Thank you , Spokane Police Department , ” read the alert .
Spokane ’ s Mayor issued an immediate curfew just before 9:00 p.m. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to get control of protesters who were rioting and in the downtown area of Spokane , destroying property .
Rioters sprayed graffiti , broke windows , and looted select businesses .
In the aftermath of that horrible night , word began to spread that protesters were planning to show up in Coeur d ’ Alene on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened… But there were no riots , because the protesters discovered that they were vastly outnumbered by the locals that were waiting to “ welcome ” them .
A reporter for the Coeur d ’ Alene Press was in the downtown area on Monday evening , and he reported that “ hundreds of citizens ” had mobilized to protect the city… Soon , more armed men , self-described as a loosely formed group of patriots , arrived .
They took up posts at corners on both sides of Sherman Avenue .
Later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packing rifles , semi-automatic weapons , handguns , and bows and arrows .
The sidewalks were packed with people walking up and down Sherman Avenue , firearms proudly displayed for all to see .
You can see a lot more photos of these brave citizens patrolling the streets right here .
If they hadn ’ t been there , Coeur d ’ Alene may have suffered the same fate that so many other communities all over America have already suffered .
The following is how one local resident described what he experienced on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us were forewarned about possible looting activity planned by Antifa-aligned groups , at WinCo in Coeur d ’ Alene today , of all places .
Many of you would think it could never happen here , but it was reported that some were bussed in from Spokane or even from Soros-funded arrivals in Boise–most or all from out of state .
A connection at the Police Department confirmed this as did a contact one of us has in , let ’ s just say an alphabet soup agency .
I was there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a human bulwark to prevent this .
There were black-clad freaks and some purple hairs demonstrating with BLM signs , and some of them looked capable of violence–just not nearly as capable as those of us present who came to defend our city .
One of the BLM persons carried an AR-15 which he looked ill-equipped to handle , as though it was his first time ; he had no sling for the rifle and carried it by the grip one-handed the whole time .
I carried an AR-15 and two other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed , too , some with rifles .
I don ’ t know whether stuff would have gone down had we not been there , I just know that nothing terrible happened–perhaps because we were there .
Unfortunately , our nation is more divided than it has ever been in my entire lifetime , and with a presidential election rapidly approaching we are likely to see a lot more protests around the country in the months ahead .
What America really needs is a whole lot more love , but instead anger and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of people have decided that violence is the answer .
That is extremely sad , because the violence that we have witnessed over the past week has only made our national divisions even deeper .
So let us pray for America , because our country is literally coming apart at the seams right now .

by Michael Snyder
When word started spreading that the same protesters that had just broken windows and looted stores in Spokane were going to come to Coeur d’Alene, hundreds of citizens mobilized to protect their community. So when the protesters did show up on Monday night, they quickly discovered that a very heavily armed “welcoming committee” was waiting for them. Just like most Americans all over the country, most residents of north Idaho were absolutely horrified by the death of George Floyd, and there seems to be an overwhelming consensus that the police officer that killed him needs to be brought to justice. But most residents of north Idaho have also been absolutely horrified by the violent riots that have erupted in cities from coast to coast, and they sure don’t want the same thing to happen in their neck of the woods.
If you are not familiar with the geography of the area, Coeur d’Alene is not very far from the city of Spokane, Washington, and there had been quite a bit of rioting in Spokane on Sunday night.
In fact, one local news source described it as “a frenzied night of tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bangs” as police worked tirelessly to end the vandalism and looting. At one point, the Spokane Police Department actually sent out a cellphone alert warning everyone in the region to “avoid the downtown core area”…
Spokane Police were forced to issue an alert that was sent to cellphones across the greater Spokane area on Sunday. “A civil disturbance is occurring in the downtown Spokane area. Please avoid the downtown core area from Fifth Avenue to Mission Street and Division Street to Maple Street. Thank you, Spokane Police Department,” read the alert. Spokane’s Mayor issued an immediate curfew just before 9:00 p.m. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to get control of protesters who were rioting and in the downtown area of Spokane, destroying property. Rioters sprayed graffiti, broke windows, and looted select businesses.
In the aftermath of that horrible night, word began to spread that protesters were planning to show up in Coeur d’Alene on Monday night, and that is precisely what happened…
Protesters gathered outside of the WinCo Foods in Coeur d’Alene on Monday evening. An assistant general manager at the store told KREM that he estimated there were 40-50 protesters in front of the store as of about 6:40 p.m. on Monday evening. Most of the crowd had dispersed by 11 p.m. according to a KREM reporter.
But there were no riots, because the protesters discovered that they were vastly outnumbered by the locals that were waiting to “welcome” them.
A reporter for the Coeur d’Alene Press was in the downtown area on Monday evening, and he reported that “hundreds of citizens” had mobilized to protect the city…
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Soon, more armed men, self-described as a loosely formed group of patriots, arrived. They took up posts at corners on both sides of Sherman Avenue. Later, they were joined by hundreds of citizens packing rifles, semi-automatic weapons, handguns, and bows and arrows. The sidewalks were packed with people walking up and down Sherman Avenue, firearms proudly displayed for all to see.
You can see a lot more photos of these brave citizens patrolling the streets right here.
If they hadn’t been there, Coeur d’Alene may have suffered the same fate that so many other communities all over America have already suffered.
The following is how one local resident described what he experienced on Monday night…
SURREAL EXPERIENCE: ABOUT FORTY of us were forewarned about possible looting activity planned by Antifa-aligned groups, at WinCo in Coeur d’Alene today, of all places. Many of you would think it could never happen here, but it was reported that some were bussed in from Spokane or even from Soros-funded arrivals in Boise–most or all from out of state. A connection at the Police Department confirmed this as did a contact one of us has in, let’s just say an alphabet soup agency. I was there, with about forty other patriots, as a human bulwark to prevent this. There were black-clad freaks and some purple hairs demonstrating with BLM signs, and some of them looked capable of violence–just not nearly as capable as those of us present who came to defend our city. One of the BLM persons carried an AR-15 which he looked ill-equipped to handle, as though it was his first time; he had no sling for the rifle and carried it by the grip one-handed the whole time. I carried an AR-15 and two other sidearms, and most patriots there were armed, too, some with rifles. I don’t know whether stuff would have gone down had we not been there, I just know that nothing terrible happened–perhaps because we were there.
Unfortunately, our nation is more divided than it has ever been in my entire lifetime, and with a presidential election rapidly approaching we are likely to see a lot more protests around the country in the months ahead.
What America really needs is a whole lot more love, but instead anger and hatred continue to rise, and a lot of people have decided that violence is the answer.
That is extremely sad, because the violence that we have witnessed over the past week has only made our national divisions even deeper.
So let us pray for America, because our country is literally coming apart at the seams right now.


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-03--Hear The Tale Of A Fallen People Destined To Wander Their Broken Land

America is falling , is falling , and violence covers the land like a flood .
Let us cry for this once great land , because a day of reckoning is at hand .
As I was reflecting on the nightmarish events of the past several days , a line from a song from one of my favorite bands of all-time kept coming to mind , and I have made that line the title of this article .
We are truly a fallen people , and we definitely live in a broken land .
The death of George Floyd is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the police brutality that has gone on for way too many years is evidence of how far we have fallen , and the out of control rioting and looting that we have been witnessing day after day is evidence of how far we have fallen .
Of course the truth is that just about every form of evil that you can possibly imagine has been exploding in our society in recent years , and the American people just keep going back for more .
We have had an insatiable appetite for wickedness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have sown .
Do you think that it is just a coincidence that so many of our young people are completely and utterly lawless ?
We raised them in a completely upside down society that says that good is evil and evil is good , and so the way that they are behaving now shouldn ’ t surprise us at all .
If our young people truly wanted to honor George Floyd , looting retail stores is definitely not the way to do it .
Sadly , many are taking advantage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spree , and we are witnessing looting on a scale that is unlike anything we have ever seen before in this country .
For example , one of the most famous retail stores in the heart of New York City was absolutely mobbed by looters on Monday night… There has been a tremendous amount of looting on the west coast as well , and a video that showed a wild mob voraciously looting an Amazon delivery truck made headlines all over the globe… What in the world has happened to us ?
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lately .
To me , it is absolutely unthinkable that looters would be allowed to loot a store for 15 hours straight , but that is precisely what just happened at a ShopRite location in Philadelphia… Where else in the entire world would such a thing be permitted to happen ?
Once upon a time we thought of ourselves as a shining example for the rest of the planet , but now the only example we are setting is a bad one .
One of the things that has been particularly alarming to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are seeing directed toward police officers .
In St. Louis , four officers were shot by rioters last night alone… And in Las Vegas , one police officer is fighting for his life after being shot in the head… Being a police officer in this environment is one of the hardest jobs in America .
And things are not going to get any easier in the days ahead .
So many of these young people have hearts that have gone completely ice cold , and they don ’ t seem to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values .
A perfect example of what I am talking about just took place in Richmond , Virginia… When I use the word “ evil ” to describe such people , I am not exaggerating one bit .
Unfortunately , many Americans are still in denial about how badly our society has decayed .
Did you know that there are people that actually write to me to tell me that my articles are “ too negative ” because I report about such things ?
I suppose that we could all stick our heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to be just fine somehow , but that wouldn ’ t do anyone any good at all .
What we desperately need to do is to fundamentally change course as a nation and start focusing on solutions that will give us real hope .
With that in mind , let me try to end this article on a positive note .
The title of this article was taken from a song entitled “ Morningstar ” by a band called Whiteheart , and the following are the full lyrics to that song… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Destined to wander their broken land Their eyes are vacant , Full of empty meaning What they ’ re missing they just don ’ t understand Beyond the dark horizon Out where the people are crying A Morningstar will be rising Rising to show us the way Long ago a secret treasure was given To change the heart Of every woman and man But somehow the treasure Was forgotten It lies buried underneath The shifting sand Beyond the dark horizon Out where the people are crying A Morningstar will be rising Rising up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to show us the way Our eyes are not seeing Our hearts are not feeling We want to believe…

by Michael Snyder
America is falling, is falling, and violence covers the land like a flood. Let us cry for this once great land, because a day of reckoning is at hand. As I was reflecting on the nightmarish events of the past several days, a line from a song from one of my favorite bands of all-time kept coming to mind, and I have made that line the title of this article. We are truly a fallen people, and we definitely live in a broken land. The death of George Floyd is evidence of how far we have fallen, the police brutality that has gone on for way too many years is evidence of how far we have fallen, and the out of control rioting and looting that we have been witnessing day after day is evidence of how far we have fallen. Of course the truth is that just about every form of evil that you can possibly imagine has been exploding in our society in recent years, and the American people just keep going back for more. We have had an insatiable appetite for wickedness, and now we are reaping what we have sown.
Do you think that it is just a coincidence that so many of our young people are completely and utterly lawless? We raised them in a completely upside down society that says that good is evil and evil is good, and so the way that they are behaving now shouldn’t surprise us at all.
If our young people truly wanted to honor George Floyd, looting retail stores is definitely not the way to do it. Sadly, many are taking advantage of this crisis to go on a crime spree, and we are witnessing looting on a scale that is unlike anything we have ever seen before in this country.
For example, one of the most famous retail stores in the heart of New York City was absolutely mobbed by looters on Monday night…
Disturbing footage shows swarms of looters rushing into one of the world’s most famous stores — Macy’s flagship on Herald Square — as Midtown descended into chaos overnight. One overhead video showed looters racing into one of the boarded-up entrances shortly before the curfew started Monday night — with only a small unexplained explosion seeming to halt the rush.
There has been a tremendous amount of looting on the west coast as well, and a video that showed a wild mob voraciously looting an Amazon delivery truck made headlines all over the globe…
While looters targeted various clothing stores in Santa Monica, one onlooker posted a video to social media showing a group of people breaking into an Amazon van, throwing objects at the vehicle to break its windows before gathering in the back as a larger group of people appeared to run away with packages.
What in the world has happened to us?
I have been asking that question a lot lately.
To me, it is absolutely unthinkable that looters would be allowed to loot a store for 15 hours straight, but that is precisely what just happened at a ShopRite location in Philadelphia…
The owner of a West Philadelphia ShopRite says looters ravaged his store for 15 hours straight, taking whatever they wanted from the pharmacy, liquor department and cash register. Owner Jeff Brown says looters ransacked the ShopRite of Parkside and several other businesses at the ParkWest Town Center on 52nd Street over the weekend. Many of the businesses were already on financially shaky ground after weeks of COVID-19 closures. They’re now left cleaning up massive damage.
Where else in the entire world would such a thing be permitted to happen?
Once upon a time we thought of ourselves as a shining example for the rest of the planet, but now the only example we are setting is a bad one.
One of the things that has been particularly alarming to me is the amount of violence that we are seeing directed toward police officers. In St. Louis, four officers were shot by rioters last night alone…
Four police officers were shot in downtown St. Louis early Tuesday as a day of peaceful protests turned into a violent and destructive night in the city. Hundreds of people had gathered across the St. Louis region Monday to protest the Memorial Day death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
And in Las Vegas, one police officer is fighting for his life after being shot in the head…
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In a night of deadly violence aimed at police officers, a cop in Las Vegas was shot in the head and is now on life support. Despite George Floyd’s own family calling for an end to violence, multiple cities were again hit by mayhem last night. A suspect was taken into custody after an LVMPD officer was shot in the head near Circus Circus late last night.
Being a police officer in this environment is one of the hardest jobs in America.
And things are not going to get any easier in the days ahead.
So many of these young people have hearts that have gone completely ice cold, and they don’t seem to have respect for even the most basic human values. A perfect example of what I am talking about just took place in Richmond, Virginia…
The chief of the Richmond, Virginia, police department said Sunday that rioters set fire to a multi-family home with a child inside while blocking access for firefighters to get through to save the child. “One incident that is particularly poignant, that truly illustrates the seriousness of the issues we’re facing,” Chief Will Smith told reporters. “Protesters intentionally set fire to an occupied building on [West] Broad Street. This is not the only occupied building that has been set fire to in the last two days.”
When I use the word “evil” to describe such people, I am not exaggerating one bit.
Unfortunately, many Americans are still in denial about how badly our society has decayed.
Did you know that there are people that actually write to me to tell me that my articles are “too negative” because I report about such things?
I suppose that we could all stick our heads in the sand and pretend that everything is going to be just fine somehow, but that wouldn’t do anyone any good at all.
What we desperately need to do is to fundamentally change course as a nation and start focusing on solutions that will give us real hope. With that in mind, let me try to end this article on a positive note. The title of this article was taken from a song entitled “Morningstar” by a band called Whiteheart, and the following are the full lyrics to that song…
Hear the tale of a fallen people
Destined to wander their broken land
Their eyes are vacant,
Full of empty meaning
What they’re missing they just don’t understand
Beyond the dark horizon
Out where the people are crying
A Morningstar will be rising
Rising to show us the way
Long ago a secret treasure was given
To change the heart
Of every woman and man
But somehow the treasure
Was forgotten
It lies buried underneath
The shifting sand
Beyond the dark horizon
Out where the people are crying
A Morningstar will be rising
Rising up with the bright
Dawn of healing
Rising up to show us the way
Our eyes are not seeing
Our hearts are not feeling
We want to believe…


investmentwatchblog--2020-06-03--Most INSANE RIOT Videos EXPOSED! – The TRUTH You’re NOT Being Told!

Josh Sigurdson reports on the craziest videos from the riots across the United States and breaks down the truth you ’ re not being told about the national uprising .
Following the killing of George Floyd by Officer Derek Chauvin , video went viral of the officer on his neck , suffocating him .
This lead to nation wide rage .
However , the moment protesters hit the ground they were hit with tear gas , day one .
This was followed by peaceful protests that eventually ended up in chaos and mayhem which spread across the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the story .
There ’ s an abundance of growing evidence that police are planting material like bricks for protesters to throw .
Independent on the ground live videos show a completely different story than what the media is telling us about the protests .
Protesters continue to try to put out fires as provocateurs break windows , loot and start fires .
The reality on the ground is FAR different from what we ’ re being told .
The media and government are creating yet another artificial narrative in order to divide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the real issue at hand .
Government .
We show videos of agent provocateurs , police brutality , inspirational videos and videos that have you going “ WOW !
” From Minneapolis to Los Angeles , New York , Philadelphia , Dallas , Portland , Seattle , Chicago , Tampa , St. Louis and more , things are getting heated and it ’ s important to know why .

Josh Sigurdson reports on the craziest videos from the riots across the United States and breaks down the truth you’re not being told about the national uprising.
Following the killing of George Floyd by Officer Derek Chauvin, video went viral of the officer on his neck, suffocating him. This lead to nation wide rage. However, the moment protesters hit the ground they were hit with tear gas, day one.
This was followed by peaceful protests that eventually ended up in chaos and mayhem which spread across the United States. However, there’s more to the story. There’s an abundance of growing evidence that police are planting material like bricks for protesters to throw.
Independent on the ground live videos show a completely different story than what the media is telling us about the protests.
Protesters continue to try to put out fires as provocateurs break windows, loot and start fires. The reality on the ground is FAR different from what we’re being told.
The media and government are creating yet another artificial narrative in order to divide people against each other instead of focusing on the real issue at hand. Government.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-06-03--CMBS Delinquency Rate Spikes by Most on Record

Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities backed by hotel and mall properties get hit the hardest .
Mall-REIT CBL failed to make a bond interest payment today .
The delinquency rate for commercial mortgage-backed securities ( CMBS ) spiked from 2.29 % in April to 7.15 % in May by loan balance , according to Trepp today , which tracks securitized mortgages for institutional clients .
This spike of 481 basis points in the Trepp CMBS Delinquency Rate was the largest in Trepp ’ s data going back to 2009 : This 7.15 % delinquency rate is composed of mostly 30-day delinquencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such prominence , far above the later stages , indicates how sudden this event was : But the five biggest categories of commercial real estate – multifamily apartments , retail , offices , lodging , and industrial – had very different delinquency rates , ranging from minor to catastrophic .
Industrial CMBS : the delinquency rate ticked up to 1.82 % ( from 1.36 % in April ) .
This sector includes warehouses and fulfillment centers for ecommerce , which is booming and is probably one of the biggest beneficiaries of the lockdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Industrial properties are a still fairly hot sector , whose delinquency rate of 1.82 % was less than 1/10th the delinquency rate of Lodging .
Lodging CMBS : The delinquency rate in May shot to 19.13 % ( from 2.71 % in April ) .
Many hotel properties are still closed and travel has essentially shut down .
The sector remains in a death spiral .
How bad is it ?
In California , the state has made a deal with some hotel chains that would be otherwise shut down to house the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertain how well this plan is working , given the number of homeless people I still see , but at least it ’ s some revenues for the hotels .
Multifamily CMBS : The delinquency rate rose to 3.25 % in May from 1.92 % in April , according to Trepp .
Apartment buildings are under some pressure as some tenants are taking a rent holiday and as in many areas have imposed eviction holidays .
But at least for now , tenants are still mostly paying their rents , given that stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived in many households .
According to the National Multifamily Housing Council ’ s survey of 11.4 million professionally managed apartments across the US , 93.3 % of apartment households made a full or partial rent payment by May 27 ( though this was down from 94.8 % at the same time last year ) .
“ Each week we see new evidence that Americans are prioritizing rent and that the work apartment firms did to create flexible payment plans is paying dividends , ” the NMHC ’ s report said .
Publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates in their quarterly disclosures , tracked by S & P Global Market Intelligence , which today provided the latest updates on rent collection rates for April .
The REITs in this table are “ Multifamily , ” except Invitation Homes , which rents out single-family houses : Retail CMBS : The delinquency rate for retail properties shot to 10.14 % in May from 3.67 % in April , according to Trepp , as landlords are having the hardest time collecting rents .
Many of them have offered their tenants , whose stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leeway , such as allowing them to defer rent payments for months .
How bad is it ?
Rent collection rates by publicly traded mall-REITs range from terrible to abysmal .
Below are the updated rent collections , released today by S & P Global Market Intelligence .
Simon Property Group [ SPG ] , the largest of the mall REITs , does not disclose this rate and is not on the list .
These rates reflect percentages of April rents that REITs reported to have collected by the week ended May 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For example , # 3 on the list , CBL , which has over 100 malls in 26 states , serving less affluent areas , said in an SEC filing today that it has “ elected to not make the $ 11.8 million interest payment ” due on June 1 on its 5.25 % unsecured notes .
If CBL doesn ’ t make the payment within the 30-day grace period , it will be in default .
CBL ’ s shares are down to about 26 cents .
This REIT is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate for office properties ticked up to 2.4 % in May , from 1.92 % in April , according to Trepp , Looking at office REITs , a more diverse picture emerges , with rent collection rates ranging from 83 % to 98 % , according to S & P Global Market Intelligence , with some landlords clearly having a hard time collecting rents , and others less so , at least for now : The overall CMBS delinquency rate could have been worse for May and is likely to get worse for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , in its report for April , Trepp found that about 8 % of the loans by loan balance missed their April payment .
If 30 days later ( at the end of May ) , all those loans would have been deemed 30 days delinquent , it would have pushed the overall delinquency rate for May to over 10 % , “ which would have threatened the all-time high recorded in 2012 , ” Trepp said .
But instead of 8 % , only 4.98 % were 30 days delinquent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the “ grace ” period or in the “ beyond grace ” period , and were not considered delinquent , while others entered into forbearance agreements and thereby reverted to “ current.
” But be patient , in terms of setting new records .
June ’ s delinquencies are hanging out there .
According to Trepp , about 7.6 % of the loans missed their May payments but at the end of May were still less than 30 days delinquent .
If they don ’ t revert to current via a forbearance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll be 30 days delinquent at the end of June .
And even if this happens only to part of those loans , a new record will be set .
As far as CMBS is concerned , June is just the third month into this phase .
In the wake of the Financial Crisis , the peak delinquency rates of CMBS occurred four years after the Lehman shock .
Now , three months into it , delinquencies are already gunning for a record .

Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities backed by hotel and mall properties get hit the hardest. Mall-REIT CBL failed to make a bond interest payment today.
The delinquency rate for commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) spiked from 2.29% in April to 7.15% in May by loan balance, according to Trepp today, which tracks securitized mortgages for institutional clients. This spike of 481 basis points in the Trepp CMBS Delinquency Rate was the largest in Trepp’s data going back to 2009:
This 7.15% delinquency rate is composed of mostly 30-day delinquencies. The way 30-day delinquencies shot to such prominence, far above the later stages, indicates how sudden this event was:
Delinquent 30 Days: 4.98%
Delinquent 60 Days: 0.12%
Delinquent 90 Days: 0.18%
Non-Performing Matured Balloon 0.46:
Foreclosure: 0.33%
REO (Real Estate Owned by a lender, waiting for foreclosure sale): 1.08%
But the five biggest categories of commercial real estate – multifamily apartments, retail, offices, lodging, and industrial – had very different delinquency rates, ranging from minor to catastrophic.
Industrial CMBS: the delinquency rate ticked up to 1.82% (from 1.36% in April). This sector includes warehouses and fulfillment centers for ecommerce, which is booming and is probably one of the biggest beneficiaries of the lockdowns, as retail shifted that way. Industrial properties are a still fairly hot sector, whose delinquency rate of 1.82% was less than 1/10th the delinquency rate of Lodging.
Lodging CMBS: The delinquency rate in May shot to 19.13% (from 2.71% in April). Many hotel properties are still closed and travel has essentially shut down. The sector remains in a death spiral.
How bad is it? In California, the state has made a deal with some hotel chains that would be otherwise shut down to house the homeless during the pandemic. It remains uncertain how well this plan is working, given the number of homeless people I still see, but at least it’s some revenues for the hotels.
Multifamily CMBS: The delinquency rate rose to 3.25% in May from 1.92% in April, according to Trepp. Apartment buildings are under some pressure as some tenants are taking a rent holiday and as in many areas have imposed eviction holidays. But at least for now, tenants are still mostly paying their rents, given that stimulus payments and state and federal unemployment benefits arrived in many households.
According to the National Multifamily Housing Council’s survey of 11.4 million professionally managed apartments across the US, 93.3% of apartment households made a full or partial rent payment by May 27 (though this was down from 94.8% at the same time last year).
“Each week we see new evidence that Americans are prioritizing rent and that the work apartment firms did to create flexible payment plans is paying dividends,” the NMHC’s report said.
Publicly traded apartment REITs show similar rent payment rates in their quarterly disclosures, tracked by S&P Global Market Intelligence, which today provided the latest updates on rent collection rates for April. The REITs in this table are “Multifamily,” except Invitation Homes, which rents out single-family houses:
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Multifamily and single-family rent collections for April AvalonBay Communities [AVB] 93.8% Camden Property Trust [CPT] 94.3% Essex Property Trust [ESS] 95.0% Invitation Homes [INVH] 95.0% NextPoint Residential Trust [NXRT] 95.3% UDR Inc. [UDR] 95.5% Apartment Management Investment Co. [AIV] 96.0% BRT Apartments [BRT] 96.0% Bluerock Residential Growth [BRG] 97.0% Equity Residential [EQR] 97.0% Independence Realty Trust [IRT] 97.3% Investors Real Estate Trust [IRET] 98.0% Mid-America Apt. Communities [MAA] 99.3%
Retail CMBS: The delinquency rate for retail properties shot to 10.14% in May from 3.67% in April, according to Trepp, as landlords are having the hardest time collecting rents. Many of them have offered their tenants, whose stores were or are still closed, some leeway, such as allowing them to defer rent payments for months.
How bad is it? Rent collection rates by publicly traded mall-REITs range from terrible to abysmal. Below are the updated rent collections, released today by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Simon Property Group [SPG], the largest of the mall REITs, does not disclose this rate and is not on the list. These rates reflect percentages of April rents that REITs reported to have collected by the week ended May 29:
Mall REITs rent collection rate for April Tanger Factory Outlet Centers [SKT] 12.0% Macerich [MAC] 26.0% CBL Property Group [CBL] 27.0% Washington Prime Group [WPG] 30.0% Seritage Growth Properties [SRG] 47.0% Retail Property of America [RPAI] 52.0% RPT Realty [RPT] 57.8% Kimco Realty Corp [KIM] 60.0% Regency Centers [REG] 62.0% Weingarten Realty Investors [WRI] 64.0% Whitestone REIT [WSR] 64.0% Brixmore Property Group [BRX] 66.0% Cedar Realty Trust [CDR] 70.0%
And it’s getting ugly. For example, #3 on the list, CBL, which has over 100 malls in 26 states, serving less affluent areas, said in an SEC filing today that it has “elected to not make the $11.8 million interest payment” due on June 1 on its 5.25% unsecured notes. If CBL doesn’t make the payment within the 30-day grace period, it will be in default. CBL’s shares are down to about 26 cents. This REIT is a goner.
Office CMBS: The delinquency rate for office properties ticked up to 2.4% in May, from 1.92% in April, according to Trepp,
Looking at office REITs, a more diverse picture emerges, with rent collection rates ranging from 83% to 98%, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence, with some landlords clearly having a hard time collecting rents, and others less so, at least for now:
Office REITS rent collection rate for April Vornado Realty Trust [VNO] 83.0% Douglas Emmett [DEI] 87.0% SL Green Realty [SLG] 87.8% Hudson Pacific Properties [HPP] 93.0% Cousins Properties [CUZ] 95.0% Office Properties Income Trust [OPI] 96.0% City Office REIT [CIO] 98.0% Equity Commonwealth [EQC] 98.0%
Setting a new record in June?
The overall CMBS delinquency rate could have been worse for May and is likely to get worse for June, Trepp said.
A month ago, in its report for April, Trepp found that about 8% of the loans by loan balance missed their April payment. If 30 days later (at the end of May), all those loans would have been deemed 30 days delinquent, it would have pushed the overall delinquency rate for May to over 10%, “which would have threatened the all-time high recorded in 2012,” Trepp said.
But instead of 8%, only 4.98% were 30 days delinquent. In other words, some loans remained in the “grace” period or in the “beyond grace” period, and were not considered delinquent, while others entered into forbearance agreements and thereby reverted to “current.”
But be patient, in terms of setting new records. June’s delinquencies are hanging out there. According to Trepp, about 7.6% of the loans missed their May payments but at the end of May were still less than 30 days delinquent. If they don’t revert to current via a forbearance agreement or a surprise payment, they’ll be 30 days delinquent at the end of June. And even if this happens only to part of those loans, a new record will be set.
As far as CMBS is concerned, June is just the third month into this phase. In the wake of the Financial Crisis, the peak delinquency rates of CMBS occurred four years after the Lehman shock. Now, three months into it, delinquencies are already gunning for a record.