investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--Central banks are increasingly entering the world of politics

Yesterday brought a barrage of central banking news .
So let us start with something rather remarkable from the head of the world ’ s number one which is the US Federal Reserve .
The crucial part of the speech given by Jerome Powell to the National Association for Business Economists is below .
The expansion is still far from complete .
At this early stage , I would argue that the risks of policy intervention are still asymmetric .
Too little support would lead to a weak recovery , creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses .
Over time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise , harming the productive capacity of the economy , and holding back wage growth .
By contrast , the risks of overdoing it seem , for now , to be smaller .
Even if policy actions ultimately prove to be greater than needed , they will not go to waste .
The recovery will be stronger and move faster if monetary policy and fiscal policy continue to work side by side to provide support to the economy until it is clearly out of the woods .
Some of the economics is really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that he is interfering in a political decision which is fiscal policy in the middle of an election campaign .
It used to be considered the the Federal Reserve would go into a type of purdah during an election campaign but apparently not now .
In the past that would usually mean a period where interest-rates would not be changed.The situation is somewhat different now as interest-rates have already been reduced so close to 0 % so the weapon of choice would be more QE bond buying but the principle is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of overdoing policy actions is small is familiar territory for central bankers .
But this is really rather extraordinary .
Such a situation would be likely to be one exhibiting inflation .
The inflation would be most likely to be in house and other asset prices but none the less would be there , albeit it would be ignored by the main consumer inflation measures .
Also if we look at the opening speech we see some familiar cheerleading for policy .
So strong in fact that “ Moderate growth ” is considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel a similar journey if we look at his view of the recovery which is quite a success .
But then there is quite a bit of slip-sliding away .
I have pointed out more than a few times how and why the international definition of unemployment has failed us in this pandemic .
So it is more than disappointing to see a central banker who should know better using it .
In a familiar theme that is the behaviour of a politician .
Meanwhile if we switch to actual politicians the fiscal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with The Donald .
Lewis Carroll would be proud .
Although there is a brief flash of insight .
Really ?
!
However we return to a place “ far , far , away ” in the section on the ECB itself .
Meanwhile back on the ranch the ECB has a President who is a politician and former French Finance Minister and a Vice-President who is the former Economy Minister of Spain .
So independence from political control has been established by er , putting politicians in charge !
It does at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then when it is doing their bidding ?
After all if monetary policy was more overtly under the control of politicians how much more could they have done ?
If we switch to the Bank of Russia we get a laugh out loud section .
We are assured this .
The idea of independence under Vladimir Putin seems not far off insane which somewhat bizarrely they then confess .
Seems to be a similar model to Roman Abramovich at Chelsea football club albeit no manager there survives for that long .
Just when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over there is an early premonition of Halloween .
From the Wall Street Journal .
Just as a reminder the Deposit Rate and the Current Account Rate are already -0.5 % .
Last time this came up for discussion ( about a year ago ) it was about a move to -0.6 % .
Does anybody believe a 0.1 % move would make any difference right now ?
There are three issues with this .
The first is simply that the evidence is that this does not work as otherwise why so we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This leads her to an official denial and we know what to do with them .
Next comes the international impact as another interest-rate cut would affect countries which explicitly ( Denmark ) and implicitly ( Switzerland ) set their interest-rates against the Euro exchange-rate .
Thirdly we are pretty much back to trying to devalue the Euro which relates to the point before .
The problem here is that central banks have found themselves behaving like politicians.The move towards independence did not last long as the various establishments shifted towards appointing people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us ” .
That is most explicit at the ECB where an actual politician in Christine Lagarde is President .
In the United States we have seen a different tack where Jerome Powell was seemingly pressurised by President Trump to do his bidding and cut interest-rates .
Neither looks especially independent .
As to fiscal policy in the US President Trump may already be switching his tune .
That is the problem with playing politics as it can change daily and indeed hourly but the economy can not .
Rather ironically a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more like Oliver Twist and the President saying what ?
just like The Master in the story had another turn .
Until then US bond yields were rising ( 30 year at 1.6 % ) meaning that we might actually see some of the promised Yield Curve Control .
But the Trump Tweet ended that at least for now .

by Shaun Richards
Yesterday brought a barrage of central banking news. So let us start with something rather remarkable from the head of the world’s number one which is the US Federal Reserve. The crucial part of the speech given by Jerome Powell to the National Association for Business Economists is below.
The expansion is still far from complete. At this early stage, I would argue that the risks of policy intervention are still asymmetric. Too little support would lead to a weak recovery, creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses. Over time, household insolvencies and business bankruptcies would rise, harming the productive capacity of the economy, and holding back wage growth. By contrast, the risks of overdoing it seem, for now, to be smaller. Even if policy actions ultimately prove to be greater than needed, they will not go to waste. The recovery will be stronger and move faster if monetary policy and fiscal policy continue to work side by side to provide support to the economy until it is clearly out of the woods.
Some of the economics is really rather dubious. But the main driver is that he is interfering in a political decision which is fiscal policy in the middle of an election campaign. It used to be considered the the Federal Reserve would go into a type of purdah during an election campaign but apparently not now. In the past that would usually mean a period where interest-rates would not be changed.The situation is somewhat different now as interest-rates have already been reduced so close to 0% so the weapon of choice would be more QE bond buying but the principle is the same.
The Economics
The claim that the risk of overdoing policy actions is small is familiar territory for central bankers. But this is really rather extraordinary.
Even if policy actions ultimately prove to be greater than needed, they will not go to waste.
Such a situation would be likely to be one exhibiting inflation. The inflation would be most likely to be in house and other asset prices but none the less would be there, albeit it would be ignored by the main consumer inflation measures.
Also if we look at the opening speech we see some familiar cheerleading for policy.
As the coronavirus spread across the globe, the U.S. economy was in its 128th month of expansion—the longest in our recorded history—and was generally in a strong position.
So strong in fact that “Moderate growth” is considered to be “slightly above-trend”
We travel a similar journey if we look at his view of the recovery which is quite a success.
After rising to 14.7 percent in April, the unemployment rate is back to 7.9 percent, clearly a significant and rapid rebound.
But then there is quite a bit of slip-sliding away.
A broader measure that better captures current labor market conditions—by adjusting for mistaken characterizations of job status, and for the decline in labor force participation since February—is running around 11 percent.
I have pointed out more than a few times how and why the international definition of unemployment has failed us in this pandemic. So it is more than disappointing to see a central banker who should know better using it. In a familiar theme that is the behaviour of a politician.
Meanwhile if we switch to actual politicians the fiscal stimulus call had a bit of trouble with The Donald.
Nancy Pelosi is asking for $2.4 Trillion Dollars to bailout poorly run, high crime, Democrat States, money that is in no way related to COVID-19. We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith. I am rejecting their request, and looking to the future of our Country.
Top of the Class
The ECB decided to issue a career enhancing discussion paper yesterday.
Despite this renewed debate, traditional indices of central bank independence do not suggest a deterioration in central banks’ de jure independence after the GFC. ( GFC = Global Financial Crisis)
Lewis Carroll would be proud. Although there is a brief flash of insight.
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The benefits of central bank independence are currently not obvious for many citizens,
Really?! However we return to a place “far,far,away” in the section on the ECB itself.
There have been no visible changes in either the de jure or actual independence of the ECB. The legal frameworks protecting the ECB’s independence have been tested,
and have served to establish its independence more firmly.
Meanwhile back on the ranch the ECB has a President who is a politician and former French Finance Minister and a Vice-President who is the former Economy Minister of Spain. So independence from political control has been established by er, putting politicians in charge! It does at least explain this bit.
Comments by euro area governments on the ECB’s policy decisions are unusual.
Why would then when it is doing their bidding? After all if monetary policy was more overtly under the control of politicians how much more could they have done?
If we switch to the Bank of Russia we get a laugh out loud section. We are assured this.
Central bank independence seems to be observed in Russia, although it was not tested in a controversy with the government in the analysed period.
The idea of independence under Vladimir Putin seems not far off insane which somewhat bizarrely they then confess.
In January 2015, the head of monetary policy was reportedly replaced by a person more acceptable to
bankers, who had called for lower interest rates.
Seems to be a similar model to Roman Abramovich at Chelsea football club albeit no manager there survives for that long.
Interest-Rate Cuts
Just when you though that this game might be over there is an early premonition of Halloween. From the Wall Street Journal.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said the bank is ready to inject fresh monetary stimulus to support the eurozone’s stuttering economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, including by cutting a key interest rate further below zero.
Just as a reminder the Deposit Rate and the Current Account Rate are already -0.5%. Last time this came up for discussion ( about a year ago) it was about a move to -0.6%. Does anybody believe a 0.1% move would make any difference right now?
Insane in the membrane
Insane in the brain!
Insane in the membrane
Insane in the brain! ( Cypress Hill )
There are three issues with this. The first is simply that the evidence is that this does not work as otherwise why so we need ever more doses of it? This leads her to an official denial and we know what to do with them.
ECB hasn’t yet reached the point where a fresh interest-rate cut would do more harm than good, known to economists as the reversal rate. ( WSJ)
Next comes the international impact as another interest-rate cut would affect countries which explicitly ( Denmark) and implicitly (Switzerland) set their interest-rates against the Euro exchange-rate. Thirdly we are pretty much back to trying to devalue the Euro which relates to the point before.
Comment
The problem here is that central banks have found themselves behaving like politicians.The move towards independence did not last long as the various establishments shifted towards appointing people who were and are “one of us”. That is most explicit at the ECB where an actual politician in Christine Lagarde is President. In the United States we have seen a different tack where Jerome Powell was seemingly pressurised by President Trump to do his bidding and cut interest-rates. Neither looks especially independent. As to fiscal policy in the US President Trump may already be switching his tune.
If I am sent a Stand Alone Bill for Stimulus Checks ($1,200), they will go out to our great people IMMEDIATELY. I am ready to sign right now. Are you listening Nancy?
That is the problem with playing politics as it can change daily and indeed hourly but the economy cannot.
Rather ironically a day which started with Jerome Powell calling for more like Oliver Twist and the President saying what? just like The Master in the story had another turn. Until then US bond yields were rising ( 30 year at 1.6%) meaning that we might actually see some of the promised Yield Curve Control. But the Trump Tweet ended that at least for now.


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--Explanation of Saturn’s formation of the hexagon storm. 3-D representation.

One of Saturn ’ s mysteries involves the massive storm in the shape of a hexagon at its north pole @ @ @ @ @ an atmospheric phenomenon that has been fascinating planetary scientists since its discovery in the 1980s @ @ @ @ @ , and the subsequent visit in 2006 by the U.S.-European Cassini-Huygens mission .

One of Saturn’s mysteries involves the massive storm in the shape of a hexagon at its north pole. The six-sided vortex is an atmospheric phenomenon that has been fascinating planetary scientists since its discovery in the 1980s by the American Voyager program, and the subsequent visit in 2006 by the U.S.-European Cassini-Huygens mission.
phys.org/news/2020-10-d-formation-hexagon-storm-saturn.html
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OT


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--“This is what Pelosi wanted in her Stimulus Bill” (Or ‘Why Democrats Are Lying to You’)

Nancy Pelosi is asking for $ 2.4 Trillion Dollars to bailout poorly run , high crime , Democrat States , @ @ @ @ @ way related to COVID-19 .
We made a very generous offer of $ 1.6 Trillion @ @ @ @ @ , she is not negotiating in good faith .
I am rejecting their…

Nancy Pelosi is asking for $2.4 Trillion Dollars to bailout poorly run, high crime, Democrat States, money that is in no way related to COVID-19. We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith. I am rejecting their…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--The Mail-In Ballot Fraud

The Mail-In Ballot Fraud

Normally , absentee ballots are not a major issue .
However , they are also rarely needed to decide elections .
The problem which seems to have been deliberately created is using this fake virus that has been presented as lethal when it is nothing more than the flu killing mostly the elderly , to convince people to vote from home .
They really have no legitimate reason for not going down to vote .
They have been terrorized by the left media with CNN leading the charge .
The 2008 election Obama beat McCain taking 52.9 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won with only 51.1 % of the popular vote .
This illustrates the problem we face .
By increasing the mail-in ballots , this has been a deliberate move to complicate the election and at the same time reaffirm that you may die if you leave your house and come close to strangers .
This is a clever means to support the claims that every death is because of Trump – not the virus .
Biden said nobody would have died if Trump did his job .
CNN showed it unethical bias since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had the courage to say Biden was wrong .
FactCheck.ORG at least wrote : “ Biden made the far-fetched claim that data show President Donald Trump could have prevented “ all ” of the U.S. deaths from COVID-19 if he ‘ had done his job.
’ There ’ s no research that supports such a claim.
” We do NOT see any of the major leftist news media correcting Biden because this is part of the scheme , terrorize people so they vote from home and that will ensure they vote for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority of the people voting from home will not be because they can not , but because they have been terrorized that they will risk death by voting in person .
The assumption is now that the majority of mail-ins will be for Biden .
The diehard Democrats could care less about corruption Already we have major problems appearing showing that these mail-in ballots are going to really complicate the election and leave it so both sides will declare fraud .
Over 100,000 ballots were already declared illegal in Iowa .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in New York City with the wrong addresses .
We have laws in Nevada that would nullify federal laws prohibiting ballot harvesting as has been taking place in many parts of the country .
Pennsylvania Supreme Court has allowed mail-in ballots to be accepted 3 days after the election .
This is just scratching the surface .
All of this could have been avoided by simply creating an APP to allow people to vote .
If you can buy using your credit card from Amazon securely , surely you could have voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also no federal guidelines for voting federally .
This is one giant mess that will FOREVER allow both sides to claim the election was rigged .

by Martin Armstrong
Normally, absentee ballots are not a major issue. However, they are also rarely needed to decide elections. The problem which seems to have been deliberately created is using this fake virus that has been presented as lethal when it is nothing more than the flu killing mostly the elderly, to convince people to vote from home. They really have no legitimate reason for not going down to vote. They have been terrorized by the left media with CNN leading the charge. The 2008 election Obama beat McCain taking 52.9% of the popular vote and the 2012 election he won with only 51.1% of the popular vote.
This illustrates the problem we face. By increasing the mail-in ballots, this has been a deliberate move to complicate the election and at the same time reaffirm that you may die if you leave your house and come close to strangers. This is a clever means to support the claims that every death is because of Trump – not the virus. Biden said nobody would have died if Trump did his job. CNN showed it unethical bias since their leftist fact-checkers remained silent. Some have had the courage to say Biden was wrong. FactCheck.ORG at least wrote: “Biden made the far-fetched claim that data show President Donald Trump could have prevented “all” of the U.S. deaths from COVID-19 if he ‘had done his job.’ There’s no research that supports such a claim.” We do NOT see any of the major leftist news media correcting Biden because this is part of the scheme, terrorize people so they vote from home and that will ensure they vote for Biden.
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There is little doubt that the majority of the people voting from home will not be because they cannot, but because they have been terrorized that they will risk death by voting in person. The assumption is now that the majority of mail-ins will be for Biden. The diehard Democrats could care less about corruption
INVALID MAIL-IN BALLOTS
Already we have major problems appearing showing that these mail-in ballots are going to really complicate the election and leave it so both sides will declare fraud. Over 100,000 ballots were already declared illegal in Iowa. We have another 100,000 ballots that were mailed out in New York City with the wrong addresses. We have laws in Nevada that would nullify federal laws prohibiting ballot harvesting as has been taking place in many parts of the country. Pennsylvania Supreme Court has allowed mail-in ballots to be accepted 3 days after the election. This is just scratching the surface.
All of this could have been avoided by simply creating an APP to allow people to vote. If you can buy using your credit card from Amazon securely, surely you could have voted from home using an APP. There are also no federal guidelines for voting federally. This is one giant mess that will FOREVER allow both sides to claim the election was rigged.


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--White House physician says Trump feeling great

Back to campaign rally mode now ?

Back to campaign rally mode now ?
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AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--WHAT HAS CAPITALISM EVER DONE FOR POOR PEOPLE?

The amazing 80 % reduction in world poverty from 42.3 % in 1981 to 8.6 % in 2018 .
It @ @ @ @ @ cut the poverty rate in half from to 84 % to 42 % in 1981 @ @ @ @ @ get to 21 % in 2005 and then only 10 years to cut it in @ @ @ @ @ in 2015 .
# Capitalism pic.twitter.com/VcIeopwW44

The amazing 80% reduction in world poverty from 42.3% in 1981 to 8.6% in 2018. It probably took 1,000 years to cut the poverty rate in half from to 84% to 42% in 1981; then 24 years to get to 21% in 2005 and then only 10 years to cut it in half again to 10% in 2015. #Capitalism pic.twitter.com/VcIeopwW44
— Mark J. Perry (@Mark_J_Perry) October 6, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--Billionaire George Soros just donated $1.5 million to help the nation’s most populous county elect a

Billionaire George Soros just donated $1.5 million to help the nation’s most populous county elect a Black Lives Matter-endorsed prosecutor who promises to lock up fewer criminals.

Leftwing billionaire George # Soros just donated $ 1.5 million to help the nation ’ s most populous county elect @ @ @ @ @ who promises to lock up fewer criminals .
Read : t.co/cWgkZ6K6xd

Leftwing billionaire George #Soros just donated $1.5 million to help the nation’s most populous county elect a Black Lives Matter-endorsed prosecutor who promises to lock up fewer criminals. Read: t.co/cWgkZ6K6xd
— Judicial Watch ⚖ (@JudicialWatch) October 7, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--So now we know. Hillary was behind it. Obama gave the order. The only question now is will someone b

So now we know. Hillary was behind it. Obama gave the order. The only question now is will someone bring out the indictments and the handcuffs? #ObamaGate

So now we know .
Hillary was behind it .
Obama gave the order .
The only question now is @ @ @ @ @ with this information .
Will we merely talk about it or will someone bring out @ @ @ @ @ ?
# ObamaGate

So now we know. Hillary was behind it. Obama gave the order. The only question now is what our side will do with this information. Will we merely talk about it or will someone bring out the indictments and the handcuffs? #ObamaGate
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) October 7, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--TRUMP TWEET: Ready to sign a standalone Bill for $1200 individual stimulus. Are you listening Nancy?

If I am sent a Stand Alone Bill for Stimulus Checks ( $ 1,200 ) , they will go out @ @ @ @ @ .
I am ready to sign right now .
Are you listening Nancy ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ SpeakerPelosi @ SenSchumer

If I am sent a Stand Alone Bill for Stimulus Checks ($1,200), they will go out to our great people IMMEDIATELY. I am ready to sign right now. Are you listening Nancy? @MarkMeadows @senatemajldr @kevinomccarthy @SpeakerPelosi @SenSchumer
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--The Federal Reverse Is Gaslighting America

Man is the Reasoning Animal .
Such is the claim .
I think it is open to dispute .
– Mark Twain Around 350 BC , Aristotle was the first person to formally study logic and reason .
Aristotle did not invent logic and reason any more than Isaac Newton invented gravity .
He merely discovered and defined the rules already in place as a necessary condition for human beings to carry on meaningful discourse .
He identified the principles of reasoning already built into our humanity .
Logic measures the relationship between ideas , premises , and propositions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be compared to see if they are consistent and coherent or contradictory .
Logic is a necessary condition for meaningful communication and analysis .
Logic is necessary for a healthy nation and economy .
It is worthy of understanding amidst the multitude of incoherent and contradictory voices raging in our ubiquitous news feeds .
As we will discuss , the Federal Reserve ( Fed ) is among the guilty .
As we assess the landscape of the cultural , political , environmental , and market news cycles , how do we reconcile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
What role does logical theory play ?
How do we identify contradictions ?
Have we become too intellectually lazy to even bother ?
Each year on September 11th , Americans mourn , acknowledge , and pray on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks .
Like the Gettysburg Memorial , Pearl Harbor National Memorial , and others , the 9-11 Memorial in New York City is especially hallowed .
As Americans , one can feel the souls there .
Those were horrific events , but they are now part of our national fabric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our country .
In 2020 , some foolishly suggest that Americans must erase what we know to be true about certain historical leaders and episodes .
Just as we can not unread a book , nothing can change our past .
Telling history accurately , both the good and the bad is critical to the future .
The only thing that is affected by trying to change the unchangeable is the erosion of our leadership ’ s integrity .
Without integrity , the foundation of our system is at risk .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that lack integrity try to rewrite history and manipulate their narrative of events .
They are decidedly not countries that value freedom and human rights .
The integrity of any political , monetary , and free-market system is vital to its effectiveness .
The logic behind that fact is clear .
Exceptions are temporary , precisely because a healthy functioning system ultimately sustains itself on its integrity .
When technology stocks trade at a triple-digit price-to-earnings ratio , logic is lost .
When home prices rise at a pace never before seen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dishonesty in qualifying information , integrity is absent .
We know the restoration of logic and integrity brings forth a necessary correction .
Accordingly , we know that today ’ s irrational markets face many very similar challenges .
Prior periods where the madness of men took control of markets are obvious in retrospect ; tulips in the 17th century , the South Sea Company in the 19th century , and the stock market bubble in the roaring 1920s .
More recently , we watched the tech stock bubble in 2000 and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and many others ended with the restoration of logic and integrity .
Although reluctant to acknowledge their role in recent crisis episodes , the Fed is complicit in setting the stage and enabling market manias through undisciplined monetary policy .
Today , the Fed prints trillions of dollars to accommodate exploding government deficits and corporate malfeasance .
Through self-evident Ponzi dynamics , they tell us it is prudent and a logical part of the monetary “ toolkit.
” Actions taken by a small group of unelected officials rationalize their decisions are well within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is patently false .
Much of what the Fed is doing is not authorized or legal .
They blur the lines between monetary and fiscal policy .
They pick winners , and therefore also losers , by buying corporate debt .
We know from experience that holding interest rates too low for too long is bad policy .
We also know from applying simple logic that purchasing trillions in public securities distorts asset prices .
Meanwhile , Fed officials tell Congress and the public that what they are doing is not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even the possibility of harmful side-effects of their policy .
These are contradictions for the ages .
In 1938 , English playwright and novelist Patrick Hamilton wrote the play Gas Light .
In the story , a husband attempts to convince his wife that she is insane by manipulating small elements of their environment and insisting that she is mistaken , remembering things incorrectly , or delusional when she points out the changes .
The play ’ s title alludes to how the abusive husband slowly dims the gas lights in their home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an effort to make his wife doubt her cognitive perceptions and awareness .
Logic is the policeman in the human brain .
It tells us if what we are seeing or hearing makes sense .
When it does not make sense , our conscience sets off alarms in our brains .
For example , we watch the news and see images of rioting , looting , beatings , and fires burning property in major cities .
Meanwhile , news reports tell us that what we are observing are “ peaceful protests.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ lights ” in discussions around achieving an inflation target of at least 2 % .
They must , they say , keep policy accommodative in alignment with the “ mandate ” of stable prices .
However , stable prices and a 2 % inflation target are two different things .
That is not only a contradiction but a lie .
A zero-percent inflation target is a pure definition of “ stable prices ” .
Additionally , prices that do not rise are beneficial for most Americans as they do not have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to live as their wages stagnate .
Meanwhile , a 2 % targeted inflation rate benefits banks , corporations , and wealthy investors who deploy capital before the adverse effects of inflation .
Everyone else suffers .
We wrote about the winners and losers in a separate article entitled The Fed ’ s mandate to Pick Your Pocket .
Gaslighting a feckless Congress and the American public into believing that a 2 % inflation target is in the best interest of the country erodes the integrity of the Fed .
It is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true .
It is a contradiction and illogical .
As described in the article , it exacerbates the wealth divide .
Most importantly , it contributes to the civil unrest we see in America today .
Any Fed governor or Fed president that follows Greenspan ’ s path is either intentionally disingenuous or intellectually unqualified .
Unfortunately , Greenspan ’ s obfuscation seems to be the primary tactic in the Fed ’ s playbook .
The Fed can not accurately measure inflation , so how can they know what the rate of inflation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misleading and generally gamed to provide more latitude for the Fed to do whatever they choose .
Meanwhile , Congress , which has oversight of the Fed , is complicit by failing to ask the right questions .
They apply no rigor in questioning the veracity of Fed claims .
They have yet to challenge the Fed ’ s radical and extreme policy-settings since the financial crisis .
By definition , those abject failures mean Congress is not acting in the best interests of their constituents .
That is part of the oath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An inflation target selectively benefits the wealthy and is oppressive for the lower and middle class – 95 % of all Americans .
It ’ s Not Just the Fed The problem goes well beyond the Fed and Congress .
Their actions seem to abet others in promoting irrational decisions .
For example , do these facts make sense ?
• Tesla , a company that makes a tiny fraction of the cars in the U.S. and loses money , has a market cap that is four-times larger than the big three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % in 2020 , and nearly 500 % since 2015 with a market cap of $ 2 trillion .
The tremendous gains come despite a slight decline in earnings growth since 2015 .
• Jeff Bezos and his now ex-wife are worth $ 200 billion • CEO ’ s in the United States , on average , make more than 300 times the average wage of workers • Household net worth just hit new all-time highs , but 70 % of Americans have less than $ 1,000 in savings , and 45 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average worker a record 114 hours of pay to buy one share of the S & P 500 • Despite high unemployment , a recession , and acute levels of uncertainty about the future , stock markets are new record highs Regarding the last bullet point , we share the graph below courtesy Cornerstone Macro .
These are just a few examples , but there are dozens more .
Many experts tell us in a serious tone and with silver-tongued articulation why they are occurring .
The problem is their explanations defy logic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a suit and tie is all that is required to make irrational claims of “ insight ” .
Congress and the public are being “ gaslit ” by the Fed .
The Fed plays the role of the husband in the Patrick Hamilton script .
Their upside-down logic dims the lights to justify their actions .
Congress politely asks unobtrusive questions that reflect their poor grasp of the facts .
Relying on elected officials , the public is unwilling or unable to question Fed logic .
Meanwhile , we sense that something is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is disfiguring and warping markets .
Market prices ( market prices such as stocks , bonds , houses , cars , and food ) are no longer set by the bid or offer of an arms-length buyer and seller .
Prices are being deformed by trillions of dollars being digitally printed by central banks and flooding into what were once free markets .
You will not hear that from the “ suit ” on TV .
His or her wealth depends on compliance with and support of the warped system .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chooses corporate winners and losers today just as they did with criminal banks in 2008 .
The only big loser is the public to whom the Fed claims they are beholden .
That , however , is a provable lie .
Logic as a necessary condition for meaningful communication and analysis is being aborted .
Our unelected elites think that they are better informed than the public and billions of global buyers and sellers .
Like the reflection from a funhouse mirror , zero-bound rates and quantitative easing ( QE ) warps the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tried , stepping away from the mirror is difficult and painful .
A genuinely free market can only return when logic and integrity return .
Trust in the Fed ’ s platform will eventually be rejected .
It is a frightening thought , but that day will inevitably come .
It always does .

by Michael Lebowitz and Jack Scott
The Federal Reserve’s Gaslighting of America
Man is the Reasoning Animal. Such is the claim. I think it is open to dispute. – Mark Twain Around 350 BC, Aristotle was the first person to formally study logic and reason. Aristotle did not invent logic and reason any more than Isaac Newton invented gravity. He merely discovered and defined the rules already in place as a necessary condition for human beings to carry on meaningful discourse. He identified the principles of reasoning already built into our humanity. Logic measures the relationship between ideas, premises, and propositions. It allows for two or more ideas to be compared to see if they are consistent and coherent or contradictory. Logic is a necessary condition for meaningful communication and analysis. Logic is necessary for a healthy nation and economy. It is worthy of understanding amidst the multitude of incoherent and contradictory voices raging in our ubiquitous news feeds. As we will discuss, the Federal Reserve (Fed) is among the guilty. Leadership without Integrity As we assess the landscape of the cultural, political, environmental, and market news cycles, how do we reconcile what we hear with what we see? What role does logical theory play? How do we identify contradictions? Have we become too intellectually lazy to even bother? Each year on September 11th, Americans mourn, acknowledge, and pray on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Like the Gettysburg Memorial, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and others, the 9-11 Memorial in New York City is especially hallowed. As Americans, one can feel the souls there. Those were horrific events, but they are now part of our national fabric and an important part of the path of our country. In 2020, some foolishly suggest that Americans must erase what we know to be true about certain historical leaders and episodes. Just as we cannot unread a book, nothing can change our past. Telling history accurately, both the good and the bad is critical to the future. The only thing that is affected by trying to change the unchangeable is the erosion of our leadership’s integrity. Without integrity, the foundation of our system is at risk. Not surprisingly, countries like China and Russia that lack integrity try to rewrite history and manipulate their narrative of events. They are decidedly not countries that value freedom and human rights. Logic and Integrity are Essential The integrity of any political, monetary, and free-market system is vital to its effectiveness. The logic behind that fact is clear. Exceptions are temporary, precisely because a healthy functioning system ultimately sustains itself on its integrity. When technology stocks trade at a triple-digit price-to-earnings ratio, logic is lost. When home prices rise at a pace never before seen, and the mortgage system enables and rewards dishonesty in qualifying information, integrity is absent. We know the restoration of logic and integrity brings forth a necessary correction. Accordingly, we know that today’s irrational markets face many very similar challenges. Prior periods where the madness of men took control of markets are obvious in retrospect; tulips in the 17th century, the South Sea Company in the 19th century, and the stock market bubble in the roaring 1920s. More recently, we watched the tech stock bubble in 2000 and the housing bubble in 2007. Those periods and many others ended with the restoration of logic and integrity.
#FEDGIBBERISH
Although reluctant to acknowledge their role in recent crisis episodes, the Fed is complicit in setting the stage and enabling market manias through undisciplined monetary policy.
Today, the Fed prints trillions of dollars to accommodate exploding government deficits and corporate malfeasance. Through self-evident Ponzi dynamics, they tell us it is prudent and a logical part of the monetary “toolkit.” Actions taken by a small group of unelected officials rationalize their decisions are well within the boundaries of what is authorized. That is patently false. Much of what the Fed is doing is not authorized or legal. They blur the lines between monetary and fiscal policy. They pick winners, and therefore also losers, by buying corporate debt.
We know from experience that holding interest rates too low for too long is bad policy. We also know from applying simple logic that purchasing trillions in public securities distorts asset prices. Meanwhile, Fed officials tell Congress and the public that what they are doing is not only legal but even noble. They deny even the possibility of harmful side-effects of their policy. These are contradictions for the ages.
Gaslighting
In 1938, English playwright and novelist Patrick Hamilton wrote the play Gas Light. In the story, a husband attempts to convince his wife that she is insane by manipulating small elements of their environment and insisting that she is mistaken, remembering things incorrectly, or delusional when she points out the changes. The play’s title alludes to how the abusive husband slowly dims the gas lights in their home, while pretending nothing has changed, in an effort to make his wife doubt her cognitive perceptions and awareness.
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Logic is the policeman in the human brain. It tells us if what we are seeing or hearing makes sense. When it does not make sense, our conscience sets off alarms in our brains.
For example, we watch the news and see images of rioting, looting, beatings, and fires burning property in major cities. Meanwhile, news reports tell us that what we are observing are “peaceful protests.”
Fed Gaslighting
Similarly, the Fed often adjusts the “lights” in discussions around achieving an inflation target of at least 2%. They must, they say, keep policy accommodative in alignment with the “mandate” of stable prices. However, stable prices and a 2% inflation target are two different things. That is not only a contradiction but a lie. A zero-percent inflation target is a pure definition of “stable prices”.
“When asked at the July ’96 FOMC meeting the level of inflation that truly reflects price stability, he said, “I would say the number is zero, if inflation is properly measured.” – David Rosenberg quoting Alan Greenspan
Additionally, prices that do not rise are beneficial for most Americans as they do not have to pay more for the things they need to live as their wages stagnate.
Meanwhile, a 2% targeted inflation rate benefits banks, corporations, and wealthy investors who deploy capital before the adverse effects of inflation. Everyone else suffers. We wrote about the winners and losers in a separate article entitled The Fed’s mandate to Pick Your Pocket.
Gaslighting a feckless Congress and the American public into believing that a 2% inflation target is in the best interest of the country erodes the integrity of the Fed. It is not true, and it could never be true. It is a contradiction and illogical. As described in the article, it exacerbates the wealth divide. Most importantly, it contributes to the civil unrest we see in America today.
Obfuscation
“It’s a language of purposeful obfuscation to avoid certain questions coming up, which you know you can’t answer and saying—“I will not answer or basically no comment is, in fact, an answer.” So you end up with when, say, a Congressman asks you a question, and don’t wanna say, “no comment,” or “I won’t answer,” or something like that. So, I proceed with four or five sentences which get increasingly obscure. The Congressman thinks I answered the question and goes onto the next one.” – Alan Greenspan
Any Fed governor or Fed president that follows Greenspan’s path is either intentionally disingenuous or intellectually unqualified. Unfortunately, Greenspan’s obfuscation seems to be the primary tactic in the Fed’s playbook.
The Fed cannot accurately measure inflation, so how can they know what the rate of inflation is? The measures they use are misleading and generally gamed to provide more latitude for the Fed to do whatever they choose.
Meanwhile, Congress, which has oversight of the Fed, is complicit by failing to ask the right questions. They apply no rigor in questioning the veracity of Fed claims. They have yet to challenge the Fed’s radical and extreme policy-settings since the financial crisis.
By definition, those abject failures mean Congress is not acting in the best interests of their constituents. That is part of the oath they take when they enter the office. An inflation target selectively benefits the wealthy and is oppressive for the lower and middle class – 95% of all Americans.
It’s Not Just the Fed
The problem goes well beyond the Fed and Congress. Their actions seem to abet others in promoting irrational decisions. For example, do these facts make sense?
Tesla, a company that makes a tiny fraction of the cars in the U.S. and loses money, has a market cap that is four-times larger than the big three automakers combined
Apple stock is up 70% in 2020, and nearly 500% since 2015 with a market cap of $2 trillion. The tremendous gains come despite a slight decline in earnings growth since 2015.
Jeff Bezos and his now ex-wife are worth $200 billion
CEO’s in the United States, on average, make more than 300 times the average wage of workers
Household net worth just hit new all-time highs, but 70% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings, and 45% have nothing
It now costs the average worker a record 114 hours of pay to buy one share of the S&P 500
Despite high unemployment, a recession, and acute levels of uncertainty about the future, stock markets are new record highs
Regarding the last bullet point, we share the graph below courtesy Cornerstone Macro.
These are just a few examples, but there are dozens more. Many experts tell us in a serious tone and with silver-tongued articulation why they are occurring. The problem is their explanations defy logic. Apparently, appearing on television in a suit and tie is all that is required to make irrational claims of “insight”.
Summary
Congress and the public are being “gaslit” by the Fed. The Fed plays the role of the husband in the Patrick Hamilton script. Their upside-down logic dims the lights to justify their actions. Congress politely asks unobtrusive questions that reflect their poor grasp of the facts. Relying on elected officials, the public is unwilling or unable to question Fed logic. Meanwhile, we sense that something is wrong.
Years of extreme monetary policy is disfiguring and warping markets. Market prices ( all
The Fed chooses corporate winners and losers today just as they did with criminal banks in 2008. The only big loser is the public to whom the Fed claims they are beholden. That, however, is a provable lie.
Logic as a necessary condition for meaningful communication and analysis is being aborted. Our unelected elites think that they are better informed than the public and billions of global buyers and sellers. Like the reflection from a funhouse mirror, zero-bound rates and quantitative easing (QE) warps the perception of reality. As has already been tried, stepping away from the mirror is difficult and painful.
A genuinely free market can only return when logic and integrity return. Trust in the Fed’s platform will eventually be rejected. It is a frightening thought, but that day will inevitably come. It always does.


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--Women bark like dogs against Trump supporters

On October 3 , 2020 , supporters of President Trump held in street rally in Claremont California .
A group @ @ @ @ @ by barking and growling like dogs .
You tell me if this isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ll be spewing green bile and spinning their heads .
Ann Loy , @ @ @ @ @ video , says Demonrats acted like this in every Trump rally she ’ s attended @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been to they act like this , … Like caged rabid dogs who @ @ @ @ @ I was at this rally in Claremont , by the way !
And yes , @ @ @ @ @ this video of the rally I was at was the same behavior I saw at @ @ @ @ @ was at !
Note that it ’ s all women doing the growling .
I @ @ @ @ @ grave sin , is a portal to demonic possession .

by Dr. Eowyn
On October 3, 2020, supporters of President Trump held in street rally in Claremont California.
A group of enraged Biden supporters protested by barking and growling like dogs.
You tell me if this isn’t demonic possession.
Next, they’ll be spewing green bile and spinning their heads.
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Ann Loy, a commenter on the YouTube video, says Demonrats acted like this in every Trump rally she’s attended:
Every Trump rally I’ve been to they act like this,… Like caged rabid dogs who missed their rabies vaccines! I was at this rally in Claremont, by the way! And yes, the behavior you see in this video of the rally I was at was the same behavior I saw at the other seven rallies I was at!
Note that it’s all women doing the growling.
I truly believe pro-abortion, a grave sin, is a portal to demonic possession.
~Eowyn


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--Mannarino: TRUMP FOLDS AGAIN!

Mannarino: TRUMP FOLDS AGAIN!

Gregory Mannarino started his career working for the securities and trading arm of the now defunct Bear Stearns before the @ @ @ @ @ that working on Wall Street was not like the movies , he moved on to @ @ @ @ @ practiced medicine as a Physician Assistant .
He also served in the United States Naval @ @ @ @ @ having attained the rank of Lieutenant .
He is an active trader of the capital @ @ @ @ @ books pertaining to finance , global economics , and equity trading .
Gregory currently hosts @ @ @ @ @ ” on YouTube .
You can find out more about what he offers at his @ @ @

Liberty and Finance, Released on 10/7/20
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Gregory Mannarino started his career working for the securities and trading arm of the now defunct Bear Stearns before the dot-com bubble. After realizing that working on Wall Street was not like the movies, he moved on to get a medical degree and practiced medicine as a Physician Assistant. He also served in the United States Naval Reserve Medical Service Corps, having attained the rank of Lieutenant. He is an active trader of the capital markets and has published several books pertaining to finance, global economics, and equity trading. Gregory currently hosts a business day “MarketReport” on YouTube. You can find out more about what he offers at his website Traderschoice.net.


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--The Democrats know it’s bullshit – they don’t wear masks and they’re using the masks to control peop

The Democrats know it’s bullshit – they don’t wear masks and they’re using the masks to control people

CAUGHT : Mad Maxine Waters Caught in Public Without Mask After Lecturing the Rubes on Wearing Masks ( VIDEO )

CAUGHT: Mad Maxine Waters Caught in Public Without Mask After Lecturing the Rubes on Wearing Masks (VIDEO)
www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/10/caught-mad-maxine-waters-caught-public-without-mask-lecturing-plebes-wearing-masks-video/
Pennsylvania Rep Ullman and Gov Wolf Caught Admitting Masks Are “POLITICAL THEATER”
Feinstein caught without mask in airport:
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Pelosi caught without mask in salon:
Fauci:
Philly restaurants and bars close permanently due to covid restrictions:
h/t ElleMira


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--Corruption Is Now Our Way of Life

Corruption Is Now Our Way of Life

by Charles Hugh Smith via Of Two Minds Systemic corruption and the implosion of the social contract have consequences : It ’ s called collapse .
Social and economic decay is so glacial that only those few who remember an earlier set-point are equipped to even notice the decline .
That ’ s the position we find ourselves in today .
Many Americans will discount the systemic corruption that characterizes the American way of life because they ’ ve known nothing but systemic corruption .
They ’ ve habituated to it because they have no memory of a time when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-enrichment by any means available wasn ’ t the unwritten law of the land .
If you don ’ t yet see America as little more than an intertwined collection of skims , scams , frauds , embezzlements , lies , gaming-the-system , obfuscation of risk and exploitation of the masses by insiders , please read How Corruption is Becoming America ’ s Operating System .
( nakedcapitalism.com , via Cheryl A . )
Here on oftwominds.com , you might want to read No Wrongdoing Here , Just 6,300 Corporate Fines and Settlements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morgan Chase engaged in fraud and was fined a wrist-slap $ 1 billion , nobody went to prison because nobody ever goes to prison for corporate fraud and criminal collusion : JPMorgan to pay almost $ 1 billion fine to resolve U.S. investigation into trading practices .
Simply put , corruption is cost-free in America because most of it is legal .
And whatever is still illegal is never applied to the elites and insiders , except ( as per Communist regime corruption ) for a rare show trial where an example is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Madoff : whistleblowers ’ repeated attempts to expose the fraud to regulators were blown off for years .
It was only when Madoff ripped off wealthy and powerful insiders did he go down . )
There are three primary sources for the complete systemic corruption of America .
One is the transition from civic responsibility for the social contract and the national interest to winner-take-most legalized looting .
This transition is visible in the history of empires in the final stage of collapse .
The assumption underlying the social order slides from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow citizens to an obsession with evading civic duties : military service , taxes , and following the rules are all avoided by insiders and elites , and this moral/social rot then corrupts the entire social order as elites and insiders lean ever more heavily on the remaining productive class to pay the taxes and provide the military muscle to defend their wealth .
That corruption is now everywhere in America is obvious to all but those adamantly blinded by denial .
The JP Morgans pay fines as a cost of doing corrupt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game the system to maximize their pensions with a variety of tricks : colluding to boost the overtime of the retiring insider ; finding a quack physican to sign off on a fake “ heart murmur ” so the insider pays no taxes on their “ disability ” check , and so on in an endless parade of lies , scams , skims and insider tricks .
The excuse is always the same : everybody does it .
This is of course the collapse not just of the social contract but of morality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take most .
Insiders look the other way lest their own skims and scams be contested , and elites and insiders view those who aren ’ t skimming and scamming as chumps to be pitied .
The second dynamic is that financialization has completely corrupted the American economy , and that corruption has now spread to the political and social orders .
Once the financial sector conquered the real economy , it began siphoning 95 % of the economy ’ s wealth to the top .01 % and their toadies , lackeys , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they hollowed out the real economy , distorted incentives and made moral hazard the guiding principle of the American way of life , the recipients of financialization ’ s domination gained the wealth to buy political power from the pathetically corruptible political class .
The corruption that we call financialization corrupted democracy and undermined the social contract by eviscerating the value of labor and creating a pay-to-play political order that ’ s a mockery of democracy .
The third factor is the decay of America ’ s institutions into fronts for personal gain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of self-serving PR , the truth is they ’ re not concerned about their debt-serf “ customers ” ( students ) learning the essential skills needed in the tumultuous decades ahead–they ’ re worried that the revenues needed to pay their enormous salaries and benefits might dry up .
“ Education ” is nothing but a front for the corruption of self-enrichment by the elites and insiders at the top .
The same is true of “ healthcare.
” The concern of insiders isn ’ t the declining health of America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in revenues as fewer “ customers ” come in for the financial scalping of emergency care .
“ Healthcare ” is nothing but a front for the corruption of self-enrichment by the elites and insiders at the top .
Thanks to the Federal Reserve ’ s endless free money for financiers and endless federal borrow-and-blow deficits , the unstated belief is since there ’ s endless “ money ” , my petty frauds and skims won ’ t even dent the feeding trough–there ’ s always another trillion or three to skim and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any limit to the feeding trough .
There is no limit until the system implodes .
Then the collapse becomes limitless .
Ironic , isn ’ t it ?
The oh-so convenient belief that America ’ s wealth and power are eternal and godlike in their glory fosters the crass corruption that has weakened America to the point of no return : systemic fragility and brittleness .
American Exceptionalism has been turned on its head : America is now as perniciously corrupt as any developing-world nation we smugly felt so superior to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inequality that surpass even the most rapacious kleptocracies .
This destabilizing “ exceptionalism ” is now the defining characteristic of the American economy , society and political order .
Systemic corruption and the implosion of the social contract have consequences : It ’ s called collapse , baby , and the rot is now too deep to reverse .
Goodbye To All That : Are Our Rituals of “ Prosperity ” Increasingly Meaningless ?
The Road to Nowhere : Whatever Can ’ t Be Politicized Ceases to Exist The Bill for America ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is Overdue My new book is available !
A Hacker ’ s Teleology : Sharing the Wealth of Our Shrinking Planet 20 % and 15 % discounts ( Kindle $ 7 , print $ 17 ) Read excerpts of the book for free ( PDF ) .
The Story Behind the Book and the Introduction .
What Could Go Wrong ?
( 43 minutes , with Gordon Long ) A Hacker ’ s Teleology : Sharing the Wealth of Our Shrinking Planet ( Kindle $ 8.95 , print $ 20 , audiobook coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free ( PDF ) .
Will You Be Richer or Poorer ?
: Profit , Power , and AI in a Traumatized World ( Kindle $ 5 , print $ 10 , audiobook ) Read the first section for free ( PDF ) .
Pathfinding our Destiny : Preventing the Final Fall of Our Democratic Republic ( $ 5 ( Kindle ) , $ 10 ( print ) , ( audiobook ) : Read the first section for free ( PDF ) .
The Adventures of the Consulting Philosopher : The Disappearance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 8.95 ( print ) ; read the first chapters for free ( PDF ) Money and Work Unchained $ 6.95 ( Kindle ) , $ 15 ( print ) Read the first section for free ( PDF ) .
If you found value in this content , please join me in seeking solutions by becoming a $ 1/month patron of my work via patreon.com .

by Charles Hugh Smith via Of Two Minds
Systemic corruption and the implosion of the social contract have consequences: It’s called collapse.
Social and economic decay is so glacial that only those few who remember an earlier set-point are equipped to even notice the decline. That’s the position we find ourselves in today.
Many Americans will discount the systemic corruption that characterizes the American way of life because they’ve known nothing but systemic corruption. They’ve habituated to it because they have no memory of a time when looting wasn’t legalized and maximizing self-enrichment by any means available wasn’t the unwritten law of the land.
If you don’t yet see America as little more than an intertwined collection of skims, scams, frauds, embezzlements, lies, gaming-the-system, obfuscation of risk and exploitation of the masses by insiders, please read How Corruption is Becoming America’s Operating System. (nakedcapitalism.com, via Cheryl A.)
Here on oftwominds.com, you might want to read No Wrongdoing Here, Just 6,300 Corporate Fines and Settlements. (May 2015)
When JP Morgan Chase engaged in fraud and was fined a wrist-slap $1 billion, nobody went to prison because nobody ever goes to prison for corporate fraud and criminal collusion:JPMorgan to pay almost $1 billion fine to resolve U.S. investigation into trading practices.
Simply put, corruption is cost-free in America because most of it is legal. And whatever is still illegal is never applied to the elites and insiders, except (as per Communist regime corruption) for a rare show trial where an example is made of an egregious fall-guy (think Bernie Madoff: whistleblowers’ repeated attempts to expose the fraud to regulators were blown off for years. It was only when Madoff ripped off wealthy and powerful insiders did he go down.)
There are three primary sources for the complete systemic corruption of America. One is the transition from civic responsibility for the social contract and the national interest to winner-take-most legalized looting.
This transition is visible in the history of empires in the final stage of collapse. The assumption underlying the social order slides from a shared duty to the nation and fellow citizens to an obsession with evading civic duties: military service, taxes, and following the rules are all avoided by insiders and elites, and this moral/social rot then corrupts the entire social order as elites and insiders lean ever more heavily on the remaining productive class to pay the taxes and provide the military muscle to defend their wealth.
That corruption is now everywhere in America is obvious to all but those adamantly blinded by denial. The JP Morgans pay fines as a cost of doing corrupt business, while “public servants” game the system to maximize their pensions with a variety of tricks: colluding to boost the overtime of the retiring insider; finding a quack physican to sign off on a fake “heart murmur” so the insider pays no taxes on their “disability” check, and so on in an endless parade of lies, scams, skims and insider tricks.
The excuse is always the same: everybody does it. This is of course the collapse not just of the social contract but of morality in general: anything goes and winners take most. Insiders look the other way lest their own skims and scams be contested, and elites and insiders view those who aren’t skimming and scamming as chumps to be pitied.
The second dynamic is that financialization has completely corrupted the American economy, and that corruption has now spread to the political and social orders. Once the financial sector conquered the real economy, it began siphoning 95% of the economy’s wealth to the top .01% and their toadies, lackeys, apologists, enforcers and technocrats.
As they hollowed out the real economy, distorted incentives and made moral hazard the guiding principle of the American way of life, the recipients of financialization’s domination gained the wealth to buy political power from the pathetically corruptible political class.
The corruption that we call financialization corrupted democracy and undermined the social contract by eviscerating the value of labor and creating a pay-to-play political order that’s a mockery of democracy.
The third factor is the decay of America’s institutions into fronts for personal gain. While Higher Education insiders are masters of self-serving PR, the truth is they’re not concerned about their debt-serf “customers” (students) learning the essential skills needed in the tumultuous decades ahead–they’re worried that the revenues needed to pay their enormous salaries and benefits might dry up.
“Education” is nothing but a front for the corruption of self-enrichment by the elites and insiders at the top.
The same is true of “healthcare.” The concern of insiders isn’t the declining health of America’s populace, it’s the decline in revenues as fewer “customers” come in for the financial scalping of emergency care.
“Healthcare” is nothing but a front for the corruption of self-enrichment by the elites and insiders at the top.
Thanks to the Federal Reserve’s endless free money for financiers and endless federal borrow-and-blow deficits, the unstated belief is since there’s endless “money”, my petty frauds and skims won’t even dent the feeding trough–there’s always another trillion or three to skim and scam, and there will never be any limit to the feeding trough.
There is no limit until the system implodes. Then the collapse becomes limitless.
Ironic, isn’t it? The oh-so convenient belief that America’s wealth and power are eternal and godlike in their glory fosters the crass corruption that has weakened America to the point of no return: systemic fragility and brittleness.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
American Exceptionalism has been turned on its head: America is now as perniciously corrupt as any developing-world nation we smugly felt so superior to, and with extremes of wealth and income inequality that surpass even the most rapacious kleptocracies. This destabilizing “exceptionalism” is now the defining characteristic of the American economy, society and political order.
Systemic corruption and the implosion of the social contract have consequences: It’s called collapse, baby, and the rot is now too deep to reverse.
Of related interest:
Goodbye To All That: Are Our Rituals of “Prosperity” Increasingly Meaningless?
The Road to Nowhere: Whatever Can’t Be Politicized Ceases to Exist
The Silent Exodus Nobody Sees: Leaving Work Forever
The Bill for America’s $50 Trillion Gluttony of Inequality Is Overdue
“Inflation” and America’s Accelerating Class War
My new book is available! A Hacker’s Teleology: Sharing the Wealth of Our Shrinking Planet 20% and 15% discounts (Kindle $7, print $17)
Read excerpts of the book for free (PDF).
The Story Behind the Book and the Introduction.
Recent Podcasts:
What Could Go Wrong? (43 minutes, with Gordon Long)
AxisOfEasy Salon #24: It’s Not a Conspiracy. It’s a Culture. (1 hr)
My COVID-19 Pandemic Posts
My recent books:
A Hacker’s Teleology: Sharing the Wealth of Our Shrinking Planet (Kindle $8.95, print $20, audiobook coming soon) Read the first section for free (PDF).
Will You Be Richer or Poorer?: Profit, Power, and AI in a Traumatized World
(Kindle $5, print $10, audiobook) Read the first section for free (PDF).
Pathfinding our Destiny: Preventing the Final Fall of Our Democratic Republic ($5 (Kindle), $10 (print), ( audiobook): Read the first section for free (PDF).
The Adventures of the Consulting Philosopher: The Disappearance of Drake $1.29 (Kindle), $8.95 (print); read the first chapters for free (PDF)
Money and Work Unchained $6.95 (Kindle), $15 (print) Read the first section for free (PDF).
If you found value in this content, please join me in seeking solutions by becoming a $1/month patron of my work via patreon.com.


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--Super-Exponential Dollar Collapse And Money Printing Next

Financial and precious metals expert Egon von Greyerz ( EvG ) stores gold for clients at the biggest gold vault in the world buried deep in the Swiss Alps .
This year , EvG ’ s company , Matterhorn Asset Management , has seen “ a major inflow , a massive inflow of big amounts of gold ” being vaulted by his wealthy clients .
Why the big spike in people wanting physical gold ?
EvG says , “ You have seen this year incredible money creation around the world by central banks along with the massive debt increases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the money supply , which has been going up for 50 years , but now .
.
.
it ’ s going up in a straight line .
So , we are now entering into the exponential phase of this financial system .
We are seeing unlimited money printing , helicopter money like Ben Bernanke ( former Fed Head ) called it .
Then we are going to see accelerated debasement of the currency .
The real moves in gold and silver haven ’ t started yet.
” This next move , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a global phenomenon .
EvG explains , “ The bond market is going to collapse , and interest rates are going to go a lot higher .
Inflation is going to go a lot higher , and , eventually , the currency collapses , and it is a collapsing currency that leads to hyperinflation .
When the currency falls , we will see hyperinflation .
.
.
.
The next group of people that are going to come into this are the institutional investors .
We ’ ve already seen signs of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would say is the highest ever in history .
You have never had a situation in history where basically every country in the world is in the same position .
In the past , you have had individual countries that have had problems , economic collapse and hyperinflation .
You have never had a situation where the whole world has had an insoluble debt problem .
That is now about to collapse .
That ’ s never happened in history , and that ’ s why it ’ s going to be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am not a prophet of doom and gloom .
I am just someone who analyzes risk , and I say it is inevitable .
This has to happen .
It ’ s not a question of when , it ’ s just a question of how long will it take.
” What also has to happen are dramatically higher gold and silver prices ?
EvG says , “ Silver at $ 25 per ounce is incredibly cheap .
In my view , silver is going to go to at least $ 600 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be at least $ 10,000 per ounce right now .
.
.
.
Gold should be $ 20,000 per ounce on an inflation adjusted basis .
.
.
.
When gold is $ 100,000 or $ 100 million ( per ounce ) or whatever it reaches , then everyone is going to be talking about gold .
Gold is going to reach an ultimate peak , but that depends on the amount of money printed .
.
.
.
America has had a budget deficit for 90 years .
What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy .
It ’ s going to get worse because now you are getting into the crisis situation .
That ’ s why it ’ s going to accelerate .
.
.
.
Nobody can believe these forecasts of gold and silver .
People just like to extrapolate a few percent a year .
That ’ s not where we are now .
We are not at a point now where it ’ s going to happen gradually .
We are at the exponential point , and the super exponential point of money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s why this will be reflected in the precious metals prices .
”

youtu.be/7ok_fsANEVM
GREG HUNTER INTERVIEW WITH EGON VON GREYERZ ON USA WATCHDOG
Financial and precious metals expert Egon von Greyerz (EvG) stores gold for clients at the biggest gold vault in the world buried deep in the Swiss Alps. This year, EvG’s company, Matterhorn Asset Management, has seen “a major inflow, a massive inflow of big amounts of gold” being vaulted by his wealthy clients. Why the big spike in people wanting physical gold? EvG says, “You have seen this year incredible money creation around the world by central banks along with the massive debt increases. You are looking at . . . the money supply, which has been going up for 50 years, but now . . . it’s going up in a straight line. So, we are now entering into the exponential phase of this financial system. We are seeing unlimited money printing, helicopter money like Ben Bernanke (former Fed Head) called it. Then we are going to see accelerated debasement of the currency. The real moves in gold and silver haven’t started yet.”
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This next move, according to EvG, is going to be a global phenomenon. EvG explains, “The bond market is going to collapse, and interest rates are going to go a lot higher. Inflation is going to go a lot higher, and, eventually, the currency collapses, and it is a collapsing currency that leads to hyperinflation. When the currency falls, we will see hyperinflation. . . . The next group of people that are going to come into this are the institutional investors. We’ve already seen signs of that. . . . The risk I would say is the highest ever in history. You have never had a situation in history where basically every country in the world is in the same position. In the past, you have had individual countries that have had problems, economic collapse and hyperinflation. You have never had a situation where the whole world has had an insoluble debt problem. That is now about to collapse. That’s never happened in history, and that’s why it’s going to be on a much bigger scale than before. I am not a prophet of doom and gloom. I am just someone who analyzes risk, and I say it is inevitable. This has to happen. It’s not a question of when, it’s just a question of how long will it take.”
What also has to happen are dramatically higher gold and silver prices? EvG says, “Silver at $25 per ounce is incredibly cheap. In my view, silver is going to go to at least $600 per ounce. . . . Gold should be at least $10,000 per ounce right now. . . . Gold should be $20,000 per ounce on an inflation adjusted basis. . . . When gold is $100,000 or $100 million (per ounce) or whatever it reaches, then everyone is going to be talking about gold. Gold is going to reach an ultimate peak, but that depends on the amount of money printed. . . . America has had a budget deficit for 90 years. What’s your forecast? It’s so easy. It’s going to get worse because now you are getting into the crisis situation. That’s why it’s going to accelerate. . . . Nobody can believe these forecasts of gold and silver. People just like to extrapolate a few percent a year. That’s not where we are now. We are not at a point now where it’s going to happen gradually. We are at the exponential point, and the super exponential point of money printing, deficit and of currency collapse. That’s why this will be reflected in the precious metals prices.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--U.S. antitrust committee finds Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook guilty of “using monopoly power”

The antitrust subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee has completed its investigation into competition in digital markets to examine the abuses of market power by Apple , Google , Amazon , and Facebook .
In a 449-page report , the committee shared findings and recommendations .
The report indicated that , as of September 2020 , the combined valuation of the four big tech companies is more than $ 5 trillion—more than a third of the value of the S & P 100 , and those companies “ have captured control over key channels of distribution and have come to function @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that the companies create “ a position that enables them to write one set of rules for others , while they play by another.
” “ To put it simply , companies that once were scrappy , underdog startups that challenged the status quo have become the kinds of monopolies we last saw in the era of oil barons and railroad tycoons .
Although these firms have delivered clear benefits to society , the dominance of Amazon , Apple , Facebook , and Google has come at a price , ” reads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run the marketplace while seven also competing in it—a position that enables them to write one set of rules for others , while they play by another , or to engage in a form of their own private quasi regulation that is unaccountable to anyone but themselves .
”

The antitrust subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee has completed its investigation into competition in digital markets to examine the abuses of market power by Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook. In a 449-page report, the committee shared findings and recommendations.
The report indicated that, as of September 2020, the combined valuation of the four big tech companies is more than $5 trillion—more than a third of the value of the S&P 100, and those companies “have captured control over key channels of distribution and have come to function as “gatekeepers”. The committee found that the companies create “a position that enables them to write one set of rules for others, while they play by another.”
“To put it simply, companies that once were scrappy, underdog startups that challenged the status quo have become the kinds of monopolies we last saw in the era of oil barons and railroad tycoons. Although these firms have delivered clear benefits to society, the dominance of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google has come at a price,” reads the report.
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“These firms typically run the marketplace while seven also competing in it—a position that enables them to write one set of rules for others, while they play by another, or to engage in a form of their own private quasi regulation that is unaccountable to anyone but themselves.”
www.mobilemarketingreads.com/u-s-antitrust-committee-finds-apple-google-amazon-and-facebook-guilty-of-using-monopoly-power/


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--Looks like the Fed needs to get its hands dirty again.

Very odd. MOVE index spiked the most in its history. 45% surge in one day. Other extreme moves happened: – Prior to the S&L crisis
– During the tech bust
– During the Oil & EM Crash Looks like the Fed needs to get its hands dirty again. pic.twitter.com/9jeab3VQWW — Otavio (Tavi) Costa (@TaviCosta) October 7, 2020
A massive 40% of $SPX Stocks are still down >20% from their highs. This gauge peaked in JUNE – it's not just a narrow market, it's one of the weakest in history. Unless there's substantial improvement soon, ANY selling of the few remaining leaders could trigger a Major decline. pic.twitter.com/6WkbYl1wLD — Macro Charts (@MacroCharts) October 7, 2020
No stimulus. Biggest crash in history will come. The economy is really weak and can barely stand up. No checks and the little thing left of it will crash too. — Hoz (@Hoz94s) October 7, 2020
No stimulus, no problem? t.co/3A5usnfIMB I think the recession is over. But does a lack of fiscal spending endanger the recovery? — Edward Harrison (@edwardnh) October 7, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--Movie Industry Collapsing, Airline Companies Falling Retailers Closing, Gigantic Lines At Food Banks

Many determinant events will likely boost another round of economic collapse .
The US GDP has dropped to levels never seen before in history .
And despite the belief there will be a rebound in the third quarter , there is plenty of reason to believe things will get worse .
In this video , we discuss how the recent unfoldings will create another economic meltdown .
Considering the generalized lockdowns drastically collapsed the economic activity , the GDP dropped to rates last seen in 1958 .
But as states started to reopen , regaining a few jobs , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant rebound .
However , as we approach the end of the year , many aggravating events , such as another round in bankruptcy files and lay-offs , and another surge of viral cases are still going to resonate their effects in the beaten US economy .
Recent evaluations indicate that even if we record a rebound on the third-quarter GDP , the US economy will shrink this year , for the first time since the Great Recession .
In the April-June quarter , the GDP declined at a rate of 31.4 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The unprecedented economic plunge documented in the spring may lead to a reversal effect , in which the GDP could register a record rebound .
However , this only means the drop was so deep that to get out of the economic rock bottom a major spike had to happen .
That is to say , since some businesses have reopened and people have gone back to work , a significant bounce could be seen , but economists affirm it is still a longshot and it will not be translated into economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest that economic growth will dramatically fall in the final three months of this year to 4 % , leaving America on the brink of another deep recession if Congress doesn ’ t approve another stimulus bill or if there is a resurgence of viral cases .
Right now , there are spikes in infections occurring in some regions of the country , including New York .
The estimated 4 % GDP fall would mark the first annual decline in GDP , signaling an end to an almost 11-year-long economic expansion .
Moreover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fiscal stimulus expiring , flu season approaching and election uncertainty rising , all the pressure is now on the fragile labor market , which can lead the country to a lot of trouble , because as jobs are being recovered , job losses are mounting , pointing the critical deterioration of the labor market .
Many workers that were re-hired are being let go once again , and others who thought their dismissal was temporary are now being permanently laid-off .
787,000 initial claims for unemployment insurance were filed last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be much bigger than that .
So far , almost 60 million people have sought benefits , but as the health outbreak lingers , employers continue to lay off hundreds of thousands of workers .
The unemployment figures track the course of the virus , and the rate of positive viral tests has been staying high .
This can induce states to pause or roll back plans to reopen businesses , slowing the rehiring of workers or laying off workers for a second time , as they run out of federal aid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To make things worse , companies are announcing massive lay-offs to take place before December .
As many as 50,000 airline employees will be laid-off starting Thursday .
Collectively , American Airlines and United Airlines will let 32,000 employees go .
Allstate communicated that it will be laying off 3,800 employees , and Disney has scheduled 28,000 lay-offs to happen by December , at least a quarter of those job losses will come from Florida , counting 6,390 dismissals and the numbers could get even bigger .
We also analyzed the stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the labor market , giving us reason to imply that much more distress is coming for us .
In short , the gain in jobs from the recall of workers on temporary layoff is hiding an increasing number of permanent job losses , and none of these second layoffs are reflected in the most recent numbers from the Labor Department .
Furthermore , the situation of many workers many not allow them to find a job in their field any time soon .
So everything points to the fact that things are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal ” any time soon .
By the year-end , we will witness a colossal breakdown of the American economy .

Many determinant events will likely boost another round of economic collapse. The US GDP has dropped to levels never seen before in history. And despite the belief there will be a rebound in the third quarter, there is plenty of reason to believe things will get worse. In this video, we discuss how the recent unfoldings will create another economic meltdown.
Considering the generalized lockdowns drastically collapsed the economic activity, the GDP dropped to rates last seen in 1958. But as states started to reopen, regaining a few jobs, the third-quarter GDP is expected to show a significant rebound. However, as we approach the end of the year, many aggravating events, such as another round in bankruptcy files and lay-offs, and another surge of viral cases are still going to resonate their effects in the beaten US economy.
Recent evaluations indicate that even if we record a rebound on the third-quarter GDP, the US economy will shrink this year, for the first time since the Great Recession. In the April-June quarter, the GDP declined at a rate of 31.4%, the largest decline in U.S. history.
The unprecedented economic plunge documented in the spring may lead to a reversal effect, in which the GDP could register a record rebound. However, this only means the drop was so deep that to get out of the economic rock bottom a major spike had to happen. That is to say, since some businesses have reopened and people have gone back to work, a significant bounce could be seen, but economists affirm it is still a longshot and it will not be translated into economic growth.
Quite the opposite, forecasts suggest that economic growth will dramatically fall in the final three months of this year to 4%, leaving America on the brink of another deep recession if Congress doesn’t approve another stimulus bill or if there is a resurgence of viral cases. Right now, there are spikes in infections occurring in some regions of the country, including New York.
The estimated 4% GDP fall would mark the first annual decline in GDP, signaling an end to an almost 11-year-long economic expansion. Moreover, as the economic momentum is cooling, fiscal stimulus expiring, flu season approaching and election uncertainty rising, all the pressure is now on the fragile labor market, which can lead the country to a lot of trouble, because as jobs are being recovered, job losses are mounting, pointing the critical deterioration of the labor market.
Many workers that were re-hired are being let go once again, and others who thought their dismissal was temporary are now being permanently laid-off. 787,000 initial claims for unemployment insurance were filed last week, but the real numbers are likely to be much bigger than that. So far, almost 60 million people have sought benefits, but as the health outbreak lingers, employers continue to lay off hundreds of thousands of workers.
The unemployment figures track the course of the virus, and the rate of positive viral tests has been staying high. This can induce states to pause or roll back plans to reopen businesses, slowing the rehiring of workers or laying off workers for a second time, as they run out of federal aid, and businesses struggle with sharply reduced revenue.
To make things worse, companies are announcing massive lay-offs to take place before December. As many as 50,000 airline employees will be laid-off starting Thursday. Collectively, American Airlines and United Airlines will let 32,000 employees go. Allstate communicated that it will be laying off 3,800 employees, and Disney has scheduled 28,000 lay-offs to happen by December, at least a quarter of those job losses will come from Florida, counting 6,390 dismissals and the numbers could get even bigger.
We also analyzed the stories of some workers to illustrate the instability of the labor market, giving us reason to imply that much more distress is coming for us. In short, the gain in jobs from the recall of workers on temporary layoff is hiding an increasing number of permanent job losses, and none of these second layoffs are reflected in the most recent numbers from the Labor Department. Furthermore, the situation of many workers many not allow them to find a job in their field any time soon. So everything points to the fact that things are not going to “come back to normal” any time soon. By the year-end, we will witness a colossal breakdown of the American economy.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--20 things that you must believe in order to convince yourself that everything is going to turn out o

Despite everything that we have already been through in 2020 , the dominant narrative in our society right now is that everything is going to be just fine once we get past our temporary problems .
So many people that I hear from can ’ t understand why I am so “ negative ” about the future , because they are completely convinced that really great days are just around the corner .
As odd as this may sound , we are seeing this sort of wild optimism among both Democrats and Republicans , Christians and atheists , capitalists and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country will have their optimistic hopes for the future brutally crushed by the results of the upcoming election , but we aren ’ t there yet .
For now , both sides are absolutely convinced that they are going to win , and both sides are envisioning a wonderful new era for our nation in which their values reign triumphant .
If only things were that easy .
The truth is that many of our largest problems have been steadily growing for decades , and they aren ’ t going to magically disappear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
Our debt levels are absolutely exploding , our economy has plunged into a depression , there is widespread civil unrest in our streets , our nation is more divided than it has ever been in my entire lifetime , and our society is literally coming apart at the seams as just about every form of evil that you can possibly imagine is growing rapidly all around us .
But there are a whole lot of people out there that want to stick their heads in the sand and pretend that everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you would like to be just like them , the following are 20 things that you must believe in order to convince yourself that everything is going to turn out okay somehow… # 1 “ Being 27 trillion dollars in debt is not a problem .
We can go into as much debt as we want , and future generations of Americans won ’ t mind at all that we are dumping all of our bills on them.
” # 2 “ The fact that the Federal Reserve creates trillions of dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis erupts doesn ’ t really matter .
We can debase the reserve currency of the world as much as we want and the rest of the globe will continue to use it and the inflation rate in this country will never get out of control.
” # 3 “ Antifa is just an idea , and all of the rioting , looting and violence will somehow magically come to an end after the upcoming election.
” # 4 “ When I see people smashing windows , setting buildings on fire and shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remind myself that those are really just peaceful protesters.
” # 5 “ It is perfectly okay that a former intern for Joe Biden will moderate the next presidential debate .
He has promised that he will be perfectly neutral , and I believe him.
” # 6 “ Kamala Harris will never become president if Joe Biden wins the election , because Joe Biden is so strong and vigorous that he could easily make it through two terms.
” # 7 “ The Democrats would never pack the Supreme Court , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way too decent to ever allow that to happen.
” # 8 “ Once the election is over , the big social media companies will give us our freedom of speech back because that is the right thing to do.
” # 9 “ It makes perfect sense that the stock market has soared to record highs while the real economy has plunged into a horrifying depression .
This isn ’ t a bubble , and stock prices will just keep going up indefinitely.
” # 10 “ It is perfectly okay that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born outside of marriage .
America can certainly prosper without strong marriages and strong families because so many other great civilizations have shown that it can be done.
” # 11 “ Even though study after study has shown that antibodies fade very rapidly and that any immunity is very short-lived , a vaccine will save us from this pandemic.
” # 12 “ Once this virus has been eradicated , they won ’ t make us wear masks anymore , and they certainly wouldn ’ t try to force people to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them.
” # 13 “ Now that everyone has seen how much chaos this pandemic has caused , evil people would never purposely release more deadly viruses because they wouldn ’ t want to kick us while we are down.
” # 14 “ There is no need to worry that our relationships with Russia and China have gone down the tubes , because our military is so strong that nobody would ever dare getting into a military conflict with us.
” # 15 “ Even though the head of the UN World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be famines of ‘ biblical proportions ’ , I am sure that any food shortages are just temporary and everyone in the world will have plenty of food to eat in 2021 and beyond.
” # 16 “ More than 60 million Americans have filed new claims for unemployment benefits this year , but most of those jobs will quickly come back , and we are on the verge of the greatest era of economic prosperity in U.S. history.
” # 17 “ The rapid rise in crime rates in cities all over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am sure that things will go back to normal in 2021.
” # 18 “ We can ignore the hundreds of earthquakes that are shaking the west coast , because ‘ the Big One ’ probably won ’ t happen for thousands of years.
” # 19 “ The fact that tens of millions of Americans will be mailing in their ballots won ’ t cause any issues at all .
All of the ballots will be counted quickly , efficiently and accurately , and the American people will remain perfectly calm while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find out the winner of the presidential election.
” # 20 “ Even though more than 60 million children have already been aborted , and even though every form of evil that you can possibly imagine is exploding all around us , there will never be any serious consequences for our actions and the greatest days for America are still ahead of us even though we completely refuse to change our ways .
”

by Michael Snyder
Despite everything that we have already been through in 2020, the dominant narrative in our society right now is that everything is going to be just fine once we get past our temporary problems. So many people that I hear from can’t understand why I am so “negative” about the future, because they are completely convinced that really great days are just around the corner. As odd as this may sound, we are seeing this sort of wild optimism among both Democrats and Republicans, Christians and atheists, capitalists and communists. Of course about half the country will have their optimistic hopes for the future brutally crushed by the results of the upcoming election, but we aren’t there yet. For now, both sides are absolutely convinced that they are going to win, and both sides are envisioning a wonderful new era for our nation in which their values reign triumphant.
If only things were that easy.
The truth is that many of our largest problems have been steadily growing for decades, and they aren’t going to magically disappear just because a particular candidate wins an election. Our debt levels are absolutely exploding, our economy has plunged into a depression, there is widespread civil unrest in our streets, our nation is more divided than it has ever been in my entire lifetime, and our society is literally coming apart at the seams as just about every form of evil that you can possibly imagine is growing rapidly all around us.
But there are a whole lot of people out there that want to stick their heads in the sand and pretend that everything is going to be just fine.
If you would like to be just like them, the following are 20 things that you must believe in order to convince yourself that everything is going to turn out okay somehow…
#1 “Being 27 trillion dollars in debt is not a problem. We can go into as much debt as we want, and future generations of Americans won’t mind at all that we are dumping all of our bills on them.”
#2 “The fact that the Federal Reserve creates trillions of dollars out of thin air whenever a major crisis erupts doesn’t really matter. We can debase the reserve currency of the world as much as we want and the rest of the globe will continue to use it and the inflation rate in this country will never get out of control.”
#3 “Antifa is just an idea, and all of the rioting, looting and violence will somehow magically come to an end after the upcoming election.”
#4 “When I see people smashing windows, setting buildings on fire and shooting at police officers, I just remember to remind myself that those are really just peaceful protesters.”
#5 “It is perfectly okay that a former intern for Joe Biden will moderate the next presidential debate. He has promised that he will be perfectly neutral, and I believe him.”
#6 “Kamala Harris will never become president if Joe Biden wins the election, because Joe Biden is so strong and vigorous that he could easily make it through two terms.”
#7 “The Democrats would never pack the Supreme Court, because Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are way too decent to ever allow that to happen.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
#8 “Once the election is over, the big social media companies will give us our freedom of speech back because that is the right thing to do.”
#9 “It makes perfect sense that the stock market has soared to record highs while the real economy has plunged into a horrifying depression. This isn’t a bubble, and stock prices will just keep going up indefinitely.”
#10 “It is perfectly okay that 40 percent of U.S. children are being born outside of marriage. America can certainly prosper without strong marriages and strong families because so many other great civilizations have shown that it can be done.”
#11 “Even though study after study has shown that antibodies fade very rapidly and that any immunity is very short-lived, a vaccine will save us from this pandemic.”
#12 “Once this virus has been eradicated, they won’t make us wear masks anymore, and they certainly wouldn’t try to force people to take vaccines if they don’t want them.”
#13 “Now that everyone has seen how much chaos this pandemic has caused, evil people would never purposely release more deadly viruses because they wouldn’t want to kick us while we are down.”
#14 “There is no need to worry that our relationships with Russia and China have gone down the tubes, because our military is so strong that nobody would ever dare getting into a military conflict with us.”
#15 “Even though the head of the UN World Food Program is warning that there will be famines of ‘biblical proportions’, I am sure that any food shortages are just temporary and everyone in the world will have plenty of food to eat in 2021 and beyond.”
#16 “More than 60 million Americans have filed new claims for unemployment benefits this year, but most of those jobs will quickly come back, and we are on the verge of the greatest era of economic prosperity in U.S. history.”
#17 “The rapid rise in crime rates in cities all over the nation is just temporary. I am sure that things will go back to normal in 2021.”
#18 “We can ignore the hundreds of earthquakes that are shaking the west coast, because ‘the Big One’ probably won’t happen for thousands of years.”
#19 “The fact that tens of millions of Americans will be mailing in their ballots won’t cause any issues at all. All of the ballots will be counted quickly, efficiently and accurately, and the American people will remain perfectly calm while we wait for days or even weeks to find out the winner of the presidential election.”
#20 “Even though more than 60 million children have already been aborted, and even though every form of evil that you can possibly imagine is exploding all around us, there will never be any serious consequences for our actions and the greatest days for America are still ahead of us even though we completely refuse to change our ways.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-10-07--DOJ Announces Press Conference TODAY at 11 AM ET “On a Matter of National Security”

-Asst .
Atty Genl for National Security -FBI Director -2 US Attorneys ( DC and ED of Va ) -all @ @ @ @ @ Matter '' tomorrow morning .
Anyone got thoughts on what this is about ?
pic.twitter.com/X7gvjpPbAg

-Asst. Atty Genl for National Security
-FBI Director
-2 US Attorneys (DC and ED of Va)
-all on a "National Security Matter" tomorrow morning.
Anyone got thoughts on what this is about? pic.twitter.com/X7gvjpPbAg
— Ken Bensinger (@kenbensinger) October 6, 2020