investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--Guess which Big Tech executive just bought a second passport

The former CEO of Google , Eric Schmidt , will be one of the last people to receive citizenship in Cyprus through the country ’ s Citizenship by Investment program .
Schmidt ’ s name showed up on Cyprus ’ s list of approved applications in October , around the same time Cyprus announced it was suspending the program .
Remember- Cyprus essentially went bankrupt in 2013 ; it was so bad that the government had to freeze its entire banking system .
They were desperate .
So the government started heavily marketing its new Citizenship by Investment program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in much needed revenue .
There are plenty of citizenship by investment programs around the world .
But Cyprus had one of the most expensive programs in the world .
Until recently , for a little over $ 2 million invested in real estate or the local economy , plus a roughly $ 175,000 donation to the government , Cyprus would hand you a passport , and congratulate you on your new citizenship .
Because Cyprus is part of the European Union , its passport opens a lot of doors– especially to Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give them access to Europe since June .
That may be one reason why Eric Schmidt is probably pretty happy he got in before the door on Cyprus closed .
The only reason Cyprus suspended the program was under pressure from the European Union , which doesn ’ t like these citizenship programs .
The bureaucrats at the EU basically feel the same way as “ news ” outlets like Vox , which “ reported ” that citizenship by investment programs “ have become the latest way for billionaires around the world to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In August CNN called this “ the elite world of investment migration.
” These people act like citizenship by investment programs are just for shady oligarchs or careless billionaires looking to exploit tax or immigration loopholes .
That ’ s not true at all .
A second citizenship is a smart move for anyone who wants to make sure one country doesn ’ t control all their travel and living options .
From lockdowns to riots to the specter of major tax increases , the events of 2020 have proven to everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plan B .
And you actually don ’ t even have to be that rich– certainly not a billionaire– to be able to afford some of the world ’ s citizenship by investment programs .
But Cyprus shows that you should seize the opportunity while it is available .
These programs are constantly changing .
And political pressure , along with complimentary mainstream media propaganda , is one factor that could push countries to drop the programs .
Luckily , Cyprus is not the only country that offers citizenship by investment .
Malta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also offer Citizenship by Investment programs… though they ’ re under the same pressure from EU bureaucrats .
Malta includes a residency requirement , and costs about $ 1 million .
Bulgaria also costs over $ 1 million , and takes at least two years to receive citizenship .
But these programs become much cheaper in the Caribbean .
St. Kitts and Nevis , St. Lucia , Dominica , Antigua and Barbuda , and Grenada all offer citizenship by investment programs starting at a little over $ 100,000 .
These passports aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s passport , but they are solid B grade travel documents .
It ’ s still a great insurance or Plan B to have in your back pocket .
The Caribbean programs are also always in flux– though lately they have been competing to lower their prices , desperate for investment since COVID has dried up their usual tourism revenue .
Citizenship by Investment is also not the only way to obtain a second passport .
Ancestry is another option .
If you ’ re part of the ‘ lucky bloodline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a country that confers citizenship to descendants of its nationals , such as Italy , Ireland , or Poland .
Or you could naturalize in a country , and obtain citizenship by maintaining official residency for a set period of time .
Permanent residency alone is a huge step in the right direction , already offering more freedom of travel , and at least one other country where you can live and work .
Marrying a foreign national , having a baby in , or even adopting a baby from places like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a second citizenship .
But again , the rules do change from time to time .
And that ’ s why it makes sense to start executing , now , before the window of opportunity closes .
It ’ s helpful just having a foot in the door before things change ; anyone who submitted their application to Cyprus before the program was suspended is still in the pipeline to be approved .
So if you are looking for more travel freedom , a solid backup plan , or a better tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as soon as possible .

by Simon Black
The former CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, will be one of the last people to receive citizenship in Cyprus through the country’s Citizenship by Investment program.
Schmidt’s name showed up on Cyprus’s list of approved applications in October, around the same time Cyprus announced it was suspending the program.
Remember- Cyprus essentially went bankrupt in 2013; it was so bad that the government had to freeze its entire banking system. They were desperate.
So the government started heavily marketing its new Citizenship by Investment program, which brought in about $8 billion in much needed revenue.
There are plenty of citizenship by investment programs around the world. But Cyprus had one of the most expensive programs in the world.
Until recently, for a little over $2 million invested in real estate or the local economy, plus a roughly $175,000 donation to the government,
Cyprus would hand you a passport, and congratulate you on your new citizenship.
Because Cyprus is part of the European Union, its passport opens a lot of doors– especially to Americans whose US passport has been unable to give them access to Europe since June.
That may be one reason why Eric Schmidt is probably pretty happy he got in before the door on Cyprus closed.
The only reason Cyprus suspended the program was under pressure from the European Union, which doesn’t like these citizenship programs.
The bureaucrats at the EU basically feel the same way as “news” outlets like Vox, which “reported” that citizenship by investment programs “have become the latest way for billionaires around the world to go ‘borderless’. . .”
In August CNN called this “the elite world of investment migration.”
These people act like citizenship by investment programs are just for shady oligarchs or careless billionaires looking to exploit tax or immigration loopholes.
That’s not true at all. A second citizenship is a smart move for anyone who wants to make sure one country doesn’t control all their travel and living options.
From lockdowns to riots to the specter of major tax increases, the events of 2020 have proven to everyone that it makes sense to have a Plan B.
And you actually don’t even have to be that rich– certainly not a billionaire– to be able to afford some of the world’s citizenship by investment programs.
But Cyprus shows that you should seize the opportunity while it is available. These programs are constantly changing. And political pressure, along with complimentary mainstream media propaganda, is one factor that could push countries to drop the programs.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Luckily, Cyprus is not the only country that offers citizenship by investment.
Malta and Bulgaria, both in the EU, also offer Citizenship by Investment programs… though they’re under the same pressure from EU bureaucrats.
Malta includes a residency requirement, and costs about $1 million. Bulgaria also costs over $1 million, and takes at least two years to receive citizenship.
But these programs become much cheaper in the Caribbean.
St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Grenada all offer citizenship by investment programs starting at a little over $100,000.
These passports aren’t as strong as an EU country’s passport, but they are solid B grade travel documents. It’s still a great insurance or Plan B to have in your back pocket.
The Caribbean programs are also always in flux– though lately they have been competing to lower their prices, desperate for investment since COVID has dried up their usual tourism revenue.
Citizenship by Investment is also not the only way to obtain a second passport.
Ancestry is another option. If you’re part of the ‘lucky bloodline’ club, you might have ancestors in a country that confers citizenship to descendants of its nationals, such as Italy, Ireland, or Poland.
Or you could naturalize in a country, and obtain citizenship by maintaining official residency for a set period of time. Permanent residency alone is a huge step in the right direction, already offering more freedom of travel, and at least one other country where you can live and work.
Marrying a foreign national, having a baby in, or even adopting a baby from places like Mexico or Brazil can also quality you for a second citizenship.
But again, the rules do change from time to time. And that’s why it makes sense to start executing, now, before the window of opportunity closes.
It’s helpful just having a foot in the door before things change; anyone who submitted their application to Cyprus before the program was suspended is still in the pipeline to be approved.
So if you are looking for more travel freedom, a solid backup plan, or a better tax situation, you will want to start as soon as possible.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--The Housing Debt Bubble Is Going To Burst

The $ 100B+ Housing Debt Bubble Is Going To Burst Lucy ’ s concern about accumulating debt echoes across America .
Millions of renters and homeowners are anxious about paying both their monthly housing bill and a ballooning debt balance .
Based on present missed payment rates , consumers will accumulate at least $ 100B in housing debt by January 2021 .
The following model describes a set of linked health , social and economic events .
These events are likely to unfold in next 6 months .
An uncontrolled wave of virus infections drives the cascading economic impact : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ > consumers use credit cards to make payments Our analysis starts by examining the virus 3rd wave and a likely increase in lockdowns .
On November 2st the U.S. had a 44 % increase in daily COVID-19 to 93,581 .
The chart below indicates the second wave of infections did not decline to the first wave low .
Thus , experts forecast a third winter wave peak of cases will be higher than the second spring wave peak .
Hospitalizations are rising in 42 states .
Nineteen states report their highest hospitalization rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uncontrolled virus infections will result in more partial or full lockdowns of intense social activity businesses including , hotels , restaurants , bars , theaters , sports stadiums , indoor arenas , offices , transit , airlines , hair salons , and personal services .
An indication of what the U.S. may face soon is unfolding now in the United Kingdom , Germany , and France .
These EU countries are tightening pandemic restrictions at levels not seen since last June .
Meantime , U.S. businesses , such as internet entertainment , technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grocery stores , will continue to grow .
The U.S. Economy is contracting according to the latest Sales Manager Index .
The next chart shows a U.S .
Sales Manager survey of national economic activity jumping in the 3rd quarter and then rolling over into contraction .
Components of the Sales Manager Index that are falling or flat include business confidence contracting , market growth flat , sales growth flat , profit margins weakening , and staffing levels falling .
Accordingly , staffing levels are critical to watch as more layoffs mean an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Department of Labor for state unemployment claims and continuing benefits shows a high level of unemployment continuing .
The trend chart below shows that while regular state benefits are declining , extended emergency benefits increase for long-term jobless workers .
There are 22.6M workers on continuing unemployment assistance .
This level of continuing unemployment is 22 times the level of 1M a year ago .
Considering 2 -3M workers who have not qualified for extended benefits or have used up their extended benefits the number of eligible workers for unemployment is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million workers unemployed is about 17.3 % of the labor force .
Labor experts set the unemployment rate at 20 % if other workers who did not apply for benefits are added .
High unemployment rates are driving personal income down .
Consumer personal income received a boost from several sources .
The CARES Act provided $ 1,200 stimulus checks , enacted the Payroll Protection Program targeting small businesses , a $ 600 weekly increase in unemployment insurance , and other emergency loans .
The following Oxford Economics analysis indicates that a budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that household income will fall by 3 % below pre-COVID levels beginning in November .
The model shows how tight household budgets will become by January 2021 .
The Mortgage Bankers Association reports for the 2nd quarter of 2020 rental income losses of $ 9.1B and mortgage payments missed of $ 16.3B .
For the 3rd quarter , rental losses were $ 9.1B and $ 19.4B in missed mortgage payments .
For the 4th quarter , we forecast a continuing $ 35B total for both missed rental income and mortgage payments .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and missed mortgage payments by 2021 is $ 90B .
However , Moody ’ s Analytics forecasts $ 70B in missed rental payments alone by 12.8M renters by January 2021 .
Confirming the 12.8M figure , a study by Joint Center For Housing Studies at Harvard reports that 12.1M renter households have at least one at-risk-industry worker .
Due to the wide variance in estimates , we forecast at least $ 100B in rental and mortgage debt due in January 2021 .
Our forecast of $ 100B in looming housing debt builds on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – Employee Catch 22 post .
In that post we identified two consumer segments , workers and professionals .
We noted all homeowners reported no-confidence in making next month ’ s payment .
The analysis indicates that 16 % of professional homeowners reported little or no-confidence in making mortgage payments for September .
Yet , workers reported twice the no-confidence rate of professionals at 34 % .
The CARES Act mortgage and rent moratorium covered homes and apartment buildings secured with federal loans through July 31st .
Renters obtained payment relief , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their funds or relief act assistance .
In mid-August , President Trump signed an executive order instructing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify households where infections may increase and mandate that household members be protected from eviction to ensure public safety .
Since the federal moratorium ended and the CDC policy has been put into effect , thousands of landlords have filed suits challenging the CDC authority to protect renters from eviction .
Courts in some states are finding in favor of landlords causing evictions to rise .
Moody ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all renters will face eviction by January 2021 .
States like California and Washington passed blanket rent moratoriums in effect until January 1st , 2021 .
Rent debt is not erased in any case .
The California moratorium calls for landlords to receive 25 % of the debt balance in January and 50 % in February , followed by 25 % increments to zero .
With no stimulus assistance to renters and distressed homeowners , housing debt will likely continue to soar .
Credit card usage by renters increased by 70 % last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the rate dipped to 50 % .
However , the credit card payment rate has risen to 65 % due to the end of stimulus assistance .
Consumers building credit card debt while unemployed or on reduced income assistance is unsustainable .
Many consumers will be unable to make their credit card payments .
Defaulting on their credit cards will hurt their credit score and make it more difficult to obtain other housing because they have an eviction record .
A surge in credit card defaults will increase losses for credit card @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missed rent payments force millions of small business landlords to fall behind in their mortgage payments .
When renters miss payments , their landlords must continue to pay the mortgage on their building .
Property corporations with access to low-interest bank loans or bond markets will have a cushion during this rent loss period .
However , many small business landlords are financially stressed .
Small business landlords own 22M properties , which are usually 1- 4 unit buildings Local small unit landlords finance their purchases with savings , other business profits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of small unit buildings were covered by the CARES Act rent moratorium , which ended on July 31st .
So , some small business landlords have taken action to evict tenants .
Facing a cash flow crunch , anxious small business landlords applied for CARES Act business emergency loans to mitigate income loss .
The Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley survey of small business landlords found 40 % of owners are not confident they can pay operating costs over the next few months .
So , small business landlords @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renter .
However , by 1st quarter of 2021 , there are likely to be millions of people evicted or with poor credit so , finding another paying tenant could be problematic .
Small business landlords facing declining income and poor prospects for new paying tenants will likely default on their mortgage .
There is likely to be a surge in multi-unit buildings for sale , causing a decline in multi-unit building construction .
Homeowners enter into forbearance plans with their lenders to avoid penalties and fees when they are likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports there are 3M mortgages in forbearance as of October 31st .
This forbearance rate is ten times the 300k mortgages in forbearance in February of 2020 .
Most of these mortgages are approaching their six-month renewal date from last March and April .
Homeowners can apply for a six-month renewal under the CARES Act .
However , after March 2021 , the forbearance period ends , and homeowners must begin paying their balance owned while continuing monthly payments .
Eighty percent of present forbearance payers have applied for a six-month extension .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there may be an increase in the number of forbearance plans .
Other homeowners who don ’ t qualify for forbearance are delinquent in making payments .
Mortgage delinquencies outside of forbearance are up by 107 % YTD as of October .
By the end of 1st quarter , 2021 defaults are likely to rise significantly .
A perfect economic storm is gathering strength from the health , social and financial forces we have identified in this post .
The corona virus continues to penetrate all facets of American life , driving uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a national virus containment program implemented , the pandemic will force economic activity down .
Without a stimulus package from Congress , millions of unemployed workers , renters , and small businesses will struggle .
With the bottom 80 % of consumers facing severe economic headwinds , consumer spending will likely dive in the first half of next year .
For investors , this is the time to prepare for a possible severe economic storm coming this winter .
Scott Minerd , Global CIO at Guggenheim , observes that we have a pause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an economic whirlwind : Patrick Hill is the Editor of The Progressive Ensign , theprogressiveensign.com/ writes from the heart of Silicon Valley , leveraging 20 years of experience as an executive at firms like HP , Genentech , Verigy , Informatica , and Okta to provide investment and economic insights .
Twitter : @ PatrickHill1677 , email : patrickhill @ theprogressiveensign.com

by Patrick Hill
The $100B+ Housing Debt Bubble Is Going To Burst
“Being self-employed, I don’t like to add extra bills or burdens, and with a moratorium, there’s no guarantee that later I won’t be further into debt.”
Lucy, freelance photographer, Colorado – July 2020
Lucy’s concern about accumulating debt echoes across America. Millions of renters and homeowners are anxious about paying both their monthly housing bill and a ballooning debt balance.
Based on present missed payment rates, consumers will accumulate at least $100B in housing debt by January 2021. The following model describes a set of linked health, social and economic events. These events are likely to unfold in next 6 months. An uncontrolled wave of virus infections drives the cascading economic impact:
Virus growth uncontrolled > economic activity contracts > unemployment rises
> personal income falls > consumers miss rent and mortgage payments
> rent and mortgage payment moratoriums fail > consumers use credit cards to make payments
> small business apartment landlords & homeowners default on mortgages (debt bubble bursts)
> consumer spending dives
Our analysis starts by examining the virus 3rd wave and a likely increase in lockdowns.
Virus Growth Uncontrolled
On November 2st the U.S. had a 44% increase in daily COVID-19 to 93,581. The chart below indicates the second wave of infections did not decline to the first wave low. Thus, experts forecast a third winter wave peak of cases will be higher than the second spring wave peak.
Source: New York Times – 11/3/20
Hospitalizations are rising in 42 states. Nineteen states report their highest hospitalization rate since the pandemic began in March. Uncontrolled virus infections will result in more partial or full lockdowns of intense social activity businesses including, hotels, restaurants, bars, theaters, sports stadiums, indoor arenas, offices, transit, airlines, hair salons, and personal services. An indication of what the U.S. may face soon is unfolding now in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. These EU countries are tightening pandemic restrictions at levels not seen since last June. Meantime, U.S. businesses, such as internet entertainment, technology services, eCommerce and, socially distanced grocery stores, will continue to grow.
Economic Activity Contracts
The U.S. Economy is contracting according to the latest Sales Manager Index. The next chart shows a U.S. Sales Manager survey of national economic activity jumping in the 3rd quarter and then rolling over into contraction.
Source: World Economics, The Daily Shot – 10/22/20
Components of the Sales Manager Index that are falling or flat include business confidence contracting, market growth flat, sales growth flat, profit margins weakening, and staffing levels falling. Accordingly, staffing levels are critical to watch as more layoffs mean an increase in unemployment.
Unemployment Rises
The latest report from the Department of Labor for state unemployment claims and continuing benefits shows a high level of unemployment continuing. The trend chart below shows that while regular state benefits are declining, extended emergency benefits increase for long-term jobless workers.
Sources: Department of Labor, J.P. Morgan, The Daily Shot – 10/23/20
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
There are 22.6M workers on continuing unemployment assistance. This level of continuing unemployment is 22 times the level of 1M a year ago. Considering 2 -3M workers who have not qualified for extended benefits or have used up their extended benefits the number of eligible workers for unemployment is closer to 25 – 26M. Twenty-six million workers unemployed is about 17.3% of the labor force. Labor experts set the unemployment rate at 20% if other workers who did not apply for benefits are added. High unemployment rates are driving personal income down.
Personal Income Falls
Consumer personal income received a boost from several sources. The CARES Act provided $1,200 stimulus checks, enacted the Payroll Protection Program targeting small businesses, a $600 weekly increase in unemployment insurance, and other emergency loans. The following Oxford Economics analysis indicates that a budget squeeze began in October.
Sources: Oxford Economics, The Daily Shot – 10/8/20
Oxford forecasts that household income will fall by 3% below pre-COVID levels beginning in November. The model shows how tight household budgets will become by January 2021.
Consumers Miss Rent and Home Mortgage Payments
The Mortgage Bankers Association reports for the 2nd quarter of 2020 rental income losses of $9.1B and mortgage payments missed of $16.3B. For the 3rd quarter, rental losses were $9.1B and $19.4B in missed mortgage payments. For the 4th quarter, we forecast a continuing $35B total for both missed rental income and mortgage payments. The total forecast for both rental income losses and missed mortgage payments by 2021 is $90B.
However, Moody’s Analytics forecasts $70B in missed rental payments alone by 12.8M renters by January 2021. Confirming the 12.8M figure, a study by Joint Center For Housing Studies at Harvard reports that 12.1M renter households have at least one at-risk-industry worker. Due to the wide variance in estimates, we forecast at least $100B in rental and mortgage debt due in January 2021.
Our forecast of $100B in looming housing debt builds on our earlier analysis in a recent Executive – Employee Catch 22 post. In that post we identified two consumer segments, workers and professionals. We noted all homeowners reported no-confidence in making next month’s payment. The analysis indicates that 16% of professional homeowners reported little or no-confidence in making mortgage payments for September. Yet, workers reported twice the no-confidence rate of professionals at 34%.
Rent and Mortgage Moratoriums Fail
The CARES Act mortgage and rent moratorium covered homes and apartment buildings secured with federal loans through July 31st. Renters obtained payment relief, while landlords continued to pay mortgage loans from their funds or relief act assistance. In mid-August, President Trump signed an executive order instructing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify households where infections may increase and mandate that household members be protected from eviction to ensure public safety. Since the federal moratorium ended and the CDC policy has been put into effect, thousands of landlords have filed suits challenging the CDC authority to protect renters from eviction.
Courts in some states are finding in favor of landlords causing evictions to rise. Moody’s Analytics forecasts that 16% of all renters will face eviction by January 2021. States like California and Washington passed blanket rent moratoriums in effect until January 1st, 2021. Rent debt is not erased in any case. The California moratorium calls for landlords to receive 25 % of the debt balance in January and 50% in February, followed by 25% increments to zero. With no stimulus assistance to renters and distressed homeowners, housing debt will likely continue to soar.
Consumers Use Credit Cards To Make Payments
Credit card usage by renters increased by 70% last spring. As renters received stimulus payments, the rate dipped to 50%. However, the credit card payment rate has risen to 65% due to the end of stimulus assistance.
Sources: The Philadelphia Federal Reserve, Census Bureau, The Wall Street Journal – 10/27/20
Consumers building credit card debt while unemployed or on reduced income assistance is unsustainable. Many consumers will be unable to make their credit card payments. Defaulting on their credit cards will hurt their credit score and make it more difficult to obtain other housing because they have an eviction record. A surge in credit card defaults will increase losses for credit card issuing banks as well. Today, missed rent payments force millions of small business landlords to fall behind in their mortgage payments.
Small Business Landlords Default on Mortgages
When renters miss payments, their landlords must continue to pay the mortgage on their building. Property corporations with access to low-interest bank loans or bond markets will have a cushion during this rent loss period. However, many small business landlords are financially stressed. Small business landlords own 22M properties, which are usually 1- 4 unit buildings Local small unit landlords finance their purchases with savings, other business profits, or family and friends. Only 12% of small unit buildings were covered by the CARES Act rent moratorium, which ended on July 31st. So, some small business landlords have taken action to evict tenants.
Facing a cash flow crunch, anxious small business landlords applied for CARES Act business emergency loans to mitigate income loss. The Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley survey of small business landlords found 40 % of owners are not confident they can pay operating costs over the next few months. So, small business landlords may evict tenants to find a paying renter. However, by 1st quarter of 2021, there are likely to be millions of people evicted or with poor credit so, finding another paying tenant could be problematic. Small business landlords facing declining income and poor prospects for new paying tenants will likely default on their mortgage. There is likely to be a surge in multi-unit buildings for sale, causing a decline in multi-unit building construction.
Home Owners Default on Mortgages
Homeowners enter into forbearance plans with their lenders to avoid penalties and fees when they are likely to be delinquent on their payments. Black Knight reports there are 3M mortgages in forbearance as of October 31st. This forbearance rate is ten times the 300k mortgages in forbearance in February of 2020. Most of these mortgages are approaching their six-month renewal date from last March and April. Homeowners can apply for a six-month renewal under the CARES Act. However, after March 2021, the forbearance period ends, and homeowners must begin paying their balance owned while continuing monthly payments.
Eighty percent of present forbearance payers have applied for a six-month extension. With unemployment increasing and lockdowns forecast, there may be an increase in the number of forbearance plans. Other homeowners who don’t qualify for forbearance are delinquent in making payments. Mortgage delinquencies outside of forbearance are up by 107% YTD as of October. By the end of 1st quarter, 2021 defaults are likely to rise significantly.
Consumer Spending Dives
A perfect economic storm is gathering strength from the health, social and financial forces we have identified in this post. The corona virus continues to penetrate all facets of American life, driving uncertainty in the economy. Until we have a national virus containment program implemented, the pandemic will force economic activity down. Without a stimulus package from Congress, millions of unemployed workers, renters, and small businesses will struggle. With the bottom 80% of consumers facing severe economic headwinds, consumer spending will likely dive in the first half of next year.
For investors, this is the time to prepare for a possible severe economic storm coming this winter. Scott Minerd, Global CIO at Guggenheim, observes that we have a pause now giving us time to prepare for an economic whirlwind:
“the relative calm we feel in the markets right now isn’t the end of the storm , it is just the eye, it may seem like there is no storm at all…yet the worst is yet to come. ”
Patrick Hill is the Editor of The Progressive Ensign, theprogressiveensign.com/ writes from the heart of Silicon Valley, leveraging 20 years of experience as an executive at firms like HP, Genentech, Verigy, Informatica, and Okta to provide investment and economic insights. Twitter: @PatrickHill1677, email: patrickhill@theprogressiveensign.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--Jason Burack: After Stanley Druckenmiller’s Comments, Wall Street Is Hardcore Pumping Bitcoin Again

In the last week , famous global macro hedge fund manager Stanley Druckenmiller disclosed that he now owns some Bitcoin @ @ @ @ @ .
finance.yahoo.com/news/billio… After the interview many Bitcoin longs like Raoul Pal and Preston Psych were @ @ @ @ @ , more Wall Street money managers may pile onto the trade now that Stanley Druckenmiller @ @ @ @ @ ’ s trades are often copied .
And now CNBC may start to pump Bitcoin @ @ @ @ @ Jason Burack is an investor , entrepreneur , financial historian , Austrian School economist , @ @ @ @ @ the startup financial education company Wall St for Main St , LLC , to try @ @ @ @ @ Main Street by teaching them the knowledge , skills , research methods , and investing @ @ @ @ @ You can also find Jason ’ s work at his blog website at www.jasonburack.com .

Wall St. For Main St., Released on 11/12/20
In the last week, famous global macro hedge fund manager Stanley Druckenmiller disclosed that he now owns some Bitcoin in a recent CNBC interview. finance.yahoo.com/news/billio…
After the interview many Bitcoin longs like Raoul Pal and Preston Psych were very happy: twitter.com/RaoulGMI/status/1…
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
However, more Wall Street money managers may pile onto the trade now that Stanley Druckenmiller is on board. Druckenmiller’s trades are often copied. And now CNBC may start to pump Bitcoin again like in 2017.
Jason Burack is an investor, entrepreneur, financial historian, Austrian School economist, and contrarian. Jason co-founded the startup financial education company Wall St for Main St, LLC, to try to help the people of Main Street by teaching them the knowledge, skills, research methods, and investing expertise of Wall Street. You can also find Jason’s work at his blog website at www.jasonburack.com.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--Trust in TV News Media Continues its Steep Decline in the U.S.

Trust in TV News has Dropped Among U.S. Consumers Americans are increasingly losing their trust in traditional institutions , particularly when it comes to TV news .
In 2020 , a whopping 49 % of U.S. consumers claim to have very little or no trust in TV news , compared to just 27 % in 1994 : What ’ s causing this loss of trust ?
A recent report by Knight Foundation and Gallup surveyed 20,000 U.S. adults to find out .
Based on the responses , the survey found that : • Too Much Bias A majority of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political bias in news coverage ( 46 % ) .
• A Hidden Agenda Americans believe news outlets have a hidden agenda , and inaccurate reporting is intentional — 52 % believe reporters will misrepresent facts on purpose .
• Younger Americans are More Skeptical 43 % of Americans aged 65+ have favorable views towards media , while only 20 % of Americans under 30 years feel the same way .
Despite these hesitations , a majority of Americans still believe news is a critical part of a democratic society .
On this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tool that holds leaders accountable for their actions , and 88 % feel the news is an essential way to keep Americans informed about public affairs .
So , it ’ s clear that the news , in theory , is valued .
It ’ s just not meeting the expectations of Americans in practice .
» Interested in the news media landscape ?
You may enjoy this full article , Who Owns Your Favorite News Media Outlet ?

by visualcapitalist
Trust in TV News has Dropped Among U.S. Consumers
Americans are increasingly losing their trust in traditional institutions, particularly when it comes to TV news.
In 2020, a whopping 49% of U.S. consumers claim to have very little or no trust in TV news, compared to just 27% in 1994:
Year A lot of Trust (%) Some Trust (%) Very Little/ No Trust (%) 1994 35 37 27 1996 36 39 24 1998 34 40 25 2000 36 40 23 2002 35 43 21 2004 30 40 29 2006 31 40 28 2008 24 43 31 2010 22 41 36 2012 21 39 38 2014 18 42 39 2016 21 38 40 2018 20 34 45 2020 18 33 49
Why Is TV News Losing Credibility?
What’s causing this loss of trust? A recent report by Knight Foundation and Gallup surveyed 20,000 U.S. adults to find out. Based on the responses, the survey found that:
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Too Much Bias
A majority of Americans see “a great deal” of political bias in news coverage (46%).
A majority of Americans see “a great deal” of political bias in news coverage (46%). A Hidden Agenda
Americans believe news outlets have a hidden agenda, and inaccurate reporting is intentional — 52% believe reporters will misrepresent facts on purpose.
Americans believe news outlets have a hidden agenda, and inaccurate reporting is intentional — 52% believe reporters will misrepresent facts on purpose. Younger Americans are More Skeptical
43% of Americans aged 65+ have favorable views towards media, while only 20% of Americans under 30 years feel the same way.
Despite these hesitations, a majority of Americans still believe news is a critical part of a democratic society.
On this note, 82% see news as a tool that holds leaders accountable for their actions, and 88% feel the news is an essential way to keep Americans informed about public affairs.
So, it’s clear that the news, in theory, is valued. It’s just not meeting the expectations of Americans in practice.
» Interested in the news media landscape? You may enjoy this full article, Who Owns Your Favorite News Media Outlet?


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--9 TO 9.5 YEAR GOLD DEPRECIATION CYCLE ENDED IN 2018 – WHAT’S NEXT?

by Chris Vermeulen of The Technical Traders My research team and I went off on a wild tangent trying to identify how the markets could react to the recent spike in price activity on Monday , November 9 , 2020 .
This is the day that Pfizer announced a 90 % effective rate with its new COVID-19 vaccine , causing the US stock market to skyrocket higher before the opening bell in New York .
As with most pop-and-drops , this incredible upside spike trailed lower for the remainder of the trading day .
My research team was curious if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future outcome or trends .
To this end , we focused on the QQQ and the SPY in relationship to Gold .
9 TO 9.5 YEAR GOLD DEPRECIATION CYCLE ENDED IN 2018 – WHAT ’ S NEXT ?
Gold has been and continues to be a store of value for many around the world .
At some times in history , Gold becomes undervalued in comparison to other assets ( like stocks , real estate , and other tangible assets ) .
At other times , Gold becomes more highly valued in comparison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken place throughout hundreds of years of history , and is rooted in the changing perceptions of market participants regarding “ what/where is true value in the markets ” .
When other assets are skyrocketing higher , Gold is out of favor in terms of real demand .
It may still be moving higher in value , but as long as other assets seem to be increasing in value faster than Gold , demand for Gold will diminish .
When most other assets enter a time of great concern or devaluation , Gold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stronger demand as the ratio between Gold prices and more traditional investment assets may be near extremes .
Many precious metals investors rely on the Gold to Silver ratio to measure how fast or slow Gold is appreciating or depreciating compared to Silver .
This ratio can often be used to help pinpoint disparities between real price valuation levels .
In our example , today , we ’ re using the ratio of the QQQ and SPY to Gold , which asseses more traditional investment asset values in comparison to Gold .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chart , below , attempts to highlight the past and current ratio levels based on an anchor price level starting on January 1 , 2000 .
The purpose of this ratio chart is to understand how the price advance in the QQQ over time relates to the price advance in Gold .
The higher the BLUE ratio level , the more valued QQQ is compared to Gold .
The first thing that caught our attention was the very high valuation levels in early 2000 .
This suggests that Gold was completely ignored in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally when technology and other assets were flying high .
As the DOT COM bubble burst , one would expect the ratio to decline over time .
However , in this case , the ratio continued to decline over a 9 to 9.5 year period – reaching a low point in 2009 ( the Global Financial Crisis lows ) .
This downward trend in the QQQ to Gold 2000 anchor ratio suggests that while the QQQ rotated up and down in a broad sideways trend , Gold continued to appreciate in value .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2009 , Gold rallied over 215 % ( from $ 289.50 to over $ 931.00 ) .
This appreciation in Gold translated into the declines in the QQQ to Gold ratio on this chart above .
It was only after 2013 that the QQQ to Gold 2000 anchor chart began to rise again .
Interestingly , this really began to take place after the 2011 peak in Gold prices ( near $ 1923.70 ) and after the US economy really began a more organic growth phase prompted by multiple US Fed QE efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below that the current peak levels ( near 0.60 ) on this ratio chart are still well below the 1.60 ratio levels from 2000 .
Although this may appear to be a weaker ratio trend , remember this chart anchors everything to January 1 , 2000 price points .
So this chart reflects the QQQ to Gold ratio based on the origination ratio that existed on January 1 , 2000 .
This next ratio chart below shows the incredible rally in Gold compared to the QQQ and the SPY since the 2000 anchor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that these ratios are based on the January 1 , 2000 anchor price level and represent the comparative price appreciation/depreciation of these assets from that anchor point .
You can see that the QQQ and SPY were both well under the 1.0 ratio level for much of 2001 through 2013 .
This suggests that these assets failed to rally above the 2000 anchor price level throughout this time .
Gold also experienced a brief decline in price below the 1.0 level in early 2000 through 2003 , but it quickly started rallying after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher recently .
Be sure to sign up for our free market trend analysis and signals now so you don ’ t miss our next special report !
When we compare the chart below to the one above , we can see that the rally in gold has extended quite a bit further than the rally in the QQQ and the SPY since 2000 .
Yet , this brings up an interesting question related to the cycles our research team has identified .
Have we reached a peak level in the QQQ and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gold ?
Are we entering a new cycle where Gold will continue to appreciate higher compared to the QQQ and the SPY – attempting to recreate a nromalized ratio ?
If our research team ’ s interpretation of this data is correct , the rally in Gold since the 2000 anchor point suggests a new momentum base has established in Gold after the 2011 peak price levels .
This new momentum base , if our cycle research is accurate , suggests a broad market peak in equity/stock assets is setting up another 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that started near 2019 .
This could be an incredible opportunity for skilled technical traders over the next 8+ years if we understand what to expect based on these cycles/trends .
In this first part of our two-part Gold series this weekend , we have illustrated the longer-term cycle patterns that originated from an anchor point in 2000 and the real appreciation in Gold compared to other assets .
In Part II , we will share incredible new information that suggests we are near another 2000-like peak in equities/stocks , suggesting another broad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last another 8+ years .
This does not mean that stocks will collapse or some external event won ’ t destroy the stock market valuations or the thesis presented .
We are merely suggesting that Metals have established a base level ( near 2015 ) while traders have focused on the equities/stocks recently and ignored metals .
This rally in stocks/equities suggests that metals have under-appreciated compared to stocks/equities .
This disparity in price valuations also suggests that either metals will rally to attempt to close the price disparity or that equities will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close the gap .
Overall , this is an incredible longer-term cycle setup that traders must keep in focus over the next few years .
If this type of cycle repeats like it did after 2000 , then Gold may be trading above $ 5500 per ounce within the next 2 to 3 years and may peak at levels above $ 10,000 before the peak is reached .
Learn how my team and I can help you find and execute better trades .
We can help grow your trading account with our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your investment account with our long-term market signals service .
Visit www.TheTechnicalTraders.com today to earn more .
If you trade options or are looking to learn more about options trading then please click here to sign up for information on the upcoming launch of our new options courses and our new options signals newsletter service .
NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER : Our free research does not constitute a trade recommendation or solicitation for readers to take any action regarding this research .
It is provided for educational and informational purposes only – read our @ @ @

by Chris Vermeulen of The Technical Traders
GOLD’S MOMENTOUS RALLY FROM 2000 COMPARED TO SPY & QQQ – PART I
My research team and I went off on a wild tangent trying to identify how the markets could react to the recent spike in price activity on Monday, November 9, 2020. This is the day that Pfizer announced a 90% effective rate with its new COVID-19 vaccine, causing the US stock market to skyrocket higher before the opening bell in New York. As with most pop-and-drops, this incredible upside spike trailed lower for the remainder of the trading day. My research team was curious if this type of setup presented any real future outcome or trends. To this end, we focused on the QQQ and the SPY in relationship to Gold.
9 TO 9.5 YEAR GOLD DEPRECIATION CYCLE ENDED IN 2018 – WHAT’S NEXT?
Gold has been and continues to be a store of value for many around the world. At some times in history, Gold becomes undervalued in comparison to other assets (like stocks, real estate, and other tangible assets). At other times, Gold becomes more highly valued in comparison to other assets. This cycle has taken place throughout hundreds of years of history, and is rooted in the changing perceptions of market participants regarding “what/where is true value in the markets”.
When other assets are skyrocketing higher, Gold is out of favor in terms of real demand. It may still be moving higher in value, but as long as other assets seem to be increasing in value faster than Gold, demand for Gold will diminish. When most other assets enter a time of great concern or devaluation, Gold and Precious Metals usually begin to see stronger demand as the ratio between Gold prices and more traditional investment assets may be near extremes.
Many precious metals investors rely on the Gold to Silver ratio to measure how fast or slow Gold is appreciating or depreciating compared to Silver. This ratio can often be used to help pinpoint disparities between real price valuation levels. In our example, today, we’re using the ratio of the QQQ and SPY to Gold, which asseses more traditional investment asset values in comparison to Gold.
The first Monthly QQQ 2000 Anchor to Gold chart, below, attempts to highlight the past and current ratio levels based on an anchor price level starting on January 1, 2000. The purpose of this ratio chart is to understand how the price advance in the QQQ over time relates to the price advance in Gold. The higher the BLUE ratio level, the more valued QQQ is compared to Gold.
The first thing that caught our attention was the very high valuation levels in early 2000. This suggests that Gold was completely ignored in the late stages of the DOT COM rally when technology and other assets were flying high. As the DOT COM bubble burst, one would expect the ratio to decline over time. However, in this case, the ratio continued to decline over a 9 to 9.5 year period – reaching a low point in 2009 (the Global Financial Crisis lows). This downward trend in the QQQ to Gold 2000 anchor ratio suggests that while the QQQ rotated up and down in a broad sideways trend, Gold continued to appreciate in value. Throughout this time, from 2000 to 2009, Gold rallied over 215% (from $289.50 to over $931.00). This appreciation in Gold translated into the declines in the QQQ to Gold ratio on this chart above.
It was only after 2013 that the QQQ to Gold 2000 anchor chart began to rise again. Interestingly, this really began to take place after the 2011 peak in Gold prices (near $1923.70) and after the US economy really began a more organic growth phase prompted by multiple US Fed QE efforts. We can see from the chart below that the current peak levels (near 0.60) on this ratio chart are still well below the 1.60 ratio levels from 2000. Although this may appear to be a weaker ratio trend, remember this chart anchors everything to January 1, 2000 price points. So this chart reflects the QQQ to Gold ratio based on the origination ratio that existed on January 1, 2000.
COMPARISON OF QQQ, SPY AGAINST GOLD
This next ratio chart below shows the incredible rally in Gold compared to the QQQ and the SPY since the 2000 anchor point. It is important to understand that these ratios are based on the January 1, 2000 anchor price level and represent the comparative price appreciation/depreciation of these assets from that anchor point.
You can see that the QQQ and SPY were both well under the 1.0 ratio level for much of 2001 through 2013. This suggests that these assets failed to rally above the 2000 anchor price level throughout this time. Gold also experienced a brief decline in price below the 1.0 level in early 2000 through 2003, but it quickly started rallying after that point and has continued to extend higher recently.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Be sure to sign up for our free market trend analysis and signals now so you don’t miss our next special report!
When we compare the chart below to the one above, we can see that the rally in gold has extended quite a bit further than the rally in the QQQ and the SPY since 2000. Yet, this brings up an interesting question related to the cycles our research team has identified. Have we reached a peak level in the QQQ and SPY in relationship to the appreciation of Gold? Are we entering a new cycle where Gold will continue to appreciate higher compared to the QQQ and the SPY – attempting to recreate a nromalized ratio?
If our research team’s interpretation of this data is correct, the rally in Gold since the 2000 anchor point suggests a new momentum base has established in Gold after the 2011 peak price levels. This new momentum base, if our cycle research is accurate, suggests a broad market peak in equity/stock assets is setting up another 9 to 9.5 year precious metals appreciation cycle that started near 2019. This could be an incredible opportunity for skilled technical traders over the next 8+ years if we understand what to expect based on these cycles/trends.
In this first part of our two-part Gold series this weekend, we have illustrated the longer-term cycle patterns that originated from an anchor point in 2000 and the real appreciation in Gold compared to other assets. In Part II, we will share incredible new information that suggests we are near another 2000-like peak in equities/stocks, suggesting another broad metals rally is just starting and may last another 8+ years.
This does not mean that stocks will collapse or some external event won’t destroy the stock market valuations or the thesis presented. We are merely suggesting that Metals have established a base level (near 2015) while traders have focused on the equities/stocks recently and ignored metals. This rally in stocks/equities suggests that metals have under-appreciated compared to stocks/equities. This disparity in price valuations also suggests that either metals will rally to attempt to close the price disparity or that equities will decline or trade sideways while metals attempt to close the gap.
Overall, this is an incredible longer-term cycle setup that traders must keep in focus over the next few years. If this type of cycle repeats like it did after 2000, then Gold may be trading above $5500 per ounce within the next 2 to 3 years and may peak at levels above $10,000 before the peak is reached.
Learn how my team and I can help you find and execute better trades. We can help grow your trading account with our Swing Trading service, and also protect your investment account with our long-term market signals service. Visit www.TheTechnicalTraders.com today to earn more. If you trade options or are looking to learn more about options trading then please click here to sign up for information on the upcoming launch of our new options courses and our new options signals newsletter service.
Chris Vermeulen
Chief Market Strategist
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com
NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER: Our free research does not constitute a trade recommendation or solicitation for readers to take any action regarding this research. It is provided for educational and informational purposes only – read our FULL DISCLAIMER here


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--David Stockman: Gridlock Is Good—Except In The Jaws Of Massive Public Debts

James Madison is surely smiling from his grave .
Pursuant to his constitutional design , a badly divided electorate got an utterly gridlocked government—with the Supreme Court and Senate in the hands of one party and the House of Representatives and White House marginally in the hands of the other .
That ’ s as good an RX against tyranny as it gets .
Vlad Putin is probably smiling , too .
His economy is being battered by Washington ’ s bully-boy sanctions because he has been falsely accused of throwing the election to Trump in 2016 .
This time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dem and Deep State Russophobes , however , Putin appears to have been AWOL .
Yet the natural Blue Wave that was allegedly aborted in 2016 by Putin ’ s hackers and social media trolls didn ’ t happen .
What we got , instead , is Sleepy Joe ( apparently ) stumbling into the Oval Office with few electoral college votes to spare .
That is , the real people of Flyover America , not the Kremlin ’ s trolls , again voted for the Donald and came up but a whisker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smiling most of all .
Donald Trump is no friend of liberty , small government or fiscal and monetary rectitude , and he ’ s now ( almost ) gone .
More broadly , large , fully mobilized governmental majorities are the handmaids of Leviathan .
Always and everywhere the expansion of state power gets abused by ambitious politicians and government apparatchiks for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many .
So paralyzed government is just the thing to safeguard personal liberty and private prosperity .
Nor are we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the threat of old-fashioned mailed fists and boot-heel tyranny where citizens are rounded up and jailed .
Today ’ s Leviathan presents more often than not as the Nanny State , wielding a velvet glove of regulation , taxation and fiscal subvention in the name of the public welfare and protection of citizens from themselves .
But the result is tyranny just the same .
The War on Drugs is a 50-year old example , while the swift , shocking and economically catastrophic imposition of economic martial law last spring to eradicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet now this eight-month old excrescence of Nanny State oppression threatens constitutional government and capitalist prosperity like rarely before .
So the fact that the Dem majority in the US House has been cut and the Senate will likely remain Republican is in many respects all to the good .
For one thing , all the hobgoblins that have terrified Mark Levin and Sean Hannity—Supreme Court packing , elimination of the Senate filibuster rule , sacking the Electoral College , making Washington DC and Puerto Rico ( Dem ) states , prohibition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare-for-all , legalization of millions of new immigrant ( Dem ) voters—are now absolute dead letters .
Even better , Sleepy Joe may well abdicate to a Kamala Harris Regency , but it will be one shorn of the Progressive/Left part of the equation .
That ’ s because on substantive legislation it will take 60 votes to break a Senate GOP filibuster , but it will be a rare day inside the beltway when 100 % of the Senate Dems including Manchin ( WV ) and Tester ( MT ) and 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of Bernie/AOC stuff that got stuffed into the Dem platform .
To the contrary , we can already hear the cries of “ sell-out ” and “ betrayal ” coming from the Progressive-Left whenever Sleepy Joe or Kamala , as the case may prove to be , send their equivalent of Stevie Mnuchin , knee pads in hand , up to Capitol Hill to pleasure with compromises Senate Leader Mitch McConnell , who is now secure in another six year term and a guaranteed 60-years on the public teat .
Indeed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feckless as they have been for years—may end up with the best of all worlds .
That is , being handed a cornucopia of attackable red meat for the 2022 mid-terms owing to the tabling of leftist agenda measures by a Biden Administration chok-a-block with progressives and woksters , even as they would have odds-on capacity to block Senate passage or even serious consideration .
So far , but , finally , not so good .
Alas , the one great flaw in James Madison ’ s design for a democracy hobbled with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the horse manages to get out the barn door , anyway .
Then you need strong majorities on both sides of Capitol Hill aligned with White House policies in order to enact positive measures to put the horse back in its stable .
We are referring , of course , to the calamitous fiscal estate that has resulted from 40-years of deficits-don ’ t-matter drift and 4 -years of the Trumpian fiscal bacchanalia .
The whole thing is now one giant Doomsday Machine driven by trillions per year of automatic entitlements , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply embedded military-industrial-surveillance complex and its counter-part domestic pork barrels .
That all was bad enough , but the Lockdown Nation economic calamity and the Coast-to-Coast soup lines that have been enacted by the bipartisan duopoly to indemnify 150 million households and millions of businesses , almost certainly guarantee that the fiscal equation will now go tilt .
That is , a perpetually weak debt-entombed economy and the resulting depleted government revenues ( including state and local government , which are the one thing Biden will get funded in the coming Everything Bailouts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as far as the eye can see , as we will quantify on another occasion .
Needless to say , our newly-elected gridlocked government is not about to do anything to ameliorate this embedded fiscal calamity .
You can be sure that the GOP Senate won ’ t enact any material Biden tax increases ; and by the same token , a Biden Administration already failing to make progress on the Progressive-Left agenda won ’ t be embracing social security , medicare and other entitlement reforms .
And , of course , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of party , election results or actual national security needs .
But here ’ s the thing .
Under any circumstance , these now guaranteed double -digit annual deficits ( i.e .
$ 2 trillion plus at current GDP levels ) aren ’ t sustainable because compounding interest expense eventually sends the ship-of-state into the fiscal drink .
In fact , in an economy that has been systematically and brutally stripped of private savings for decades by central bank financial repression , the only way to finance persistent double digit fiscal deficits and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ via 100 % monetization of new debt issues .
Undoubtedly , Wall Street ’ s talking heads might initially find that prospect untroubling , and perhaps even indulge in more insanity on the apparent theory that the great 2020 election uncertainty is coming to a imminent end , and that a nice , pro-stimulus 47-year Swamp Creature will be shuffling into the Oval Office .
Yes , the uncertainty about the name of the next president is ending soon , even as the Donald ’ s desperate effort to reverse his loss in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cropper in a Supreme Court of his own making .
At the same time , a far more consequential uncertainty is just beginning .
No known laws of economics or experiences of history permit 100 % of massive public debts to be monetized indefinitely at the central bank ’ s printing press .
It is only a matter of time until the Fed ’ s prodigious money-printing blows the nation ’ s egregiously inflated and speculation-ridden financial markets sky high .
That ’ s the real end game of the gridlock that emerged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it ’ s most definitely not the good kind imagined by the wise men who wrote the nation ’ s constitution .
Editor ’ s Note : Unfortunately most people have no idea what really happens when a government goes out of control , let alone how to prepare… The coming economic and political crisis is going to be much worse , much longer , and very different than what we ’ ve seen in the past .
That ’ s exactly why New York Times best-selling author Doug Casey and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report that explains what could come next and what you can do about it .
Click here to download it now .

via Internationalman:
James Madison is surely smiling from his grave.
Pursuant to his constitutional design, a badly divided electorate got an utterly gridlocked government—with the Supreme Court and Senate in the hands of one party and the House of Representatives and White House marginally in the hands of the other. That’s as good an RX against tyranny as it gets.
Vlad Putin is probably smiling, too. His economy is being battered by Washington’s bully-boy sanctions because he has been falsely accused of throwing the election to Trump in 2016. This time, even by the lights of the Dem and Deep State Russophobes, however, Putin appears to have been AWOL.
Yet the natural Blue Wave that was allegedly aborted in 2016 by Putin’s hackers and social media trolls didn’t happen. What we got, instead, is Sleepy Joe (apparently) stumbling into the Oval Office with few electoral college votes to spare. That is, the real people of Flyover America, not the Kremlin’s trolls, again voted for the Donald and came up but a whisker short.
Ordinarily, conservatives should be smiling most of all. Donald Trump is no friend of liberty, small government or fiscal and monetary rectitude, and he’s now (almost) gone.
More broadly, large, fully mobilized governmental majorities are the handmaids of Leviathan. Always and everywhere the expansion of state power gets abused by ambitious politicians and government apparatchiks for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many. So paralyzed government is just the thing to safeguard personal liberty and private prosperity.
Nor are we talking just, or even mainly, about the threat of old-fashioned mailed fists and boot-heel tyranny where citizens are rounded up and jailed. Today’s Leviathan presents more often than not as the Nanny State, wielding a velvet glove of regulation, taxation and fiscal subvention in the name of the public welfare and protection of citizens from themselves.
But the result is tyranny just the same.
The War on Drugs is a 50-year old example, while the swift, shocking and economically catastrophic imposition of economic martial law last spring to eradicate a super-flu is but the latest. Yet now this eight-month old excrescence of Nanny State oppression threatens constitutional government and capitalist prosperity like rarely before.
So the fact that the Dem majority in the US House has been cut and the Senate will likely remain Republican is in many respects all to the good.
For one thing, all the hobgoblins that have terrified Mark Levin and Sean Hannity—Supreme Court packing, elimination of the Senate filibuster rule, sacking the Electoral College, making Washington DC and Puerto Rico (Dem) states, prohibition of fracking and outlawing of fossil fuels, Medicare-for-all, legalization of millions of new immigrant (Dem) voters—are now absolute dead letters.
Even better, Sleepy Joe may well abdicate to a Kamala Harris Regency, but it will be one shorn of the Progressive/Left part of the equation. That’s because on substantive legislation it will take 60 votes to break a Senate GOP filibuster, but it will be a rare day inside the beltway when 100% of the Senate Dems including Manchin (WV) and Tester (MT) and 11 Republicans are corralled in favor of the kind of Bernie/AOC stuff that got stuffed into the Dem platform.
To the contrary, we can already hear the cries of “sell-out” and “betrayal” coming from the Progressive-Left whenever Sleepy Joe or Kamala, as the case may prove to be, send their equivalent of Stevie Mnuchin, knee pads in hand, up to Capitol Hill to pleasure with compromises Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, who is now secure in another six year term and a guaranteed 60-years on the public teat.
Indeed, we suspect the Washington Republicans—as undeserving and feckless as they have been for years—may end up with the best of all worlds. That is, being handed a cornucopia of attackable red meat for the 2022 mid-terms owing to the tabling of leftist agenda measures by a Biden Administration chok-a-block with progressives and woksters, even as they would have odds-on capacity to block Senate passage or even serious consideration.
So far, but, finally, not so good.
Alas, the one great flaw in James Madison’s design for a democracy hobbled with checks and balances is the case where the horse manages to get out the barn door, anyway. Then you need strong majorities on both sides of Capitol Hill aligned with White House policies in order to enact positive measures to put the horse back in its stable.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
We are referring, of course, to the calamitous fiscal estate that has resulted from 40-years of deficits-don’t-matter drift and 4 -years of the Trumpian fiscal bacchanalia.
The whole thing is now one giant Doomsday Machine driven by trillions per year of automatic entitlements, a rapidly swelling retirement-based Welfare State and a deeply embedded military-industrial-surveillance complex and its counter-part domestic pork barrels.
That all was bad enough, but the Lockdown Nation economic calamity and the Coast-to-Coast soup lines that have been enacted by the bipartisan duopoly to indemnify 150 million households and millions of businesses, almost certainly guarantee that the fiscal equation will now go tilt.
That is, a perpetually weak debt-entombed economy and the resulting depleted government revenues (including state and local government, which are the one thing Biden will get funded in the coming Everything Bailouts) will result in double-digit Federal deficits as far as the eye can see, as we will quantify on another occasion.
Needless to say, our newly-elected gridlocked government is not about to do anything to ameliorate this embedded fiscal calamity.
You can be sure that the GOP Senate won’t enact any material Biden tax increases; and by the same token, a Biden Administration already failing to make progress on the Progressive-Left agenda won’t be embracing social security, medicare and other entitlement reforms. And, of course, the merchants of war own the Congress regardless of party, election results or actual national security needs.
But here’s the thing. Under any circumstance, these now guaranteed double -digit annual deficits (i.e. $2 trillion plus at current GDP levels) aren’t sustainable because compounding interest expense eventually sends the ship-of-state into the fiscal drink.
In fact, in an economy that has been systematically and brutally stripped of private savings for decades by central bank financial repression, the only way to finance persistent double digit fiscal deficits and keep interest rates from lurching upward is via 100% monetization of new debt issues.
Undoubtedly, Wall Street’s talking heads might initially find that prospect untroubling, and perhaps even indulge in more insanity on the apparent theory that the great 2020 election uncertainty is coming to a imminent end, and that a nice, pro-stimulus 47-year Swamp Creature will be shuffling into the Oval Office.
Yes, the uncertainty about the name of the next president is ending soon, even as the Donald’s desperate effort to reverse his loss in Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere comes a cropper in a Supreme Court of his own making.
At the same time, a far more consequential uncertainty is just beginning. No known laws of economics or experiences of history permit 100% of massive public debts to be monetized indefinitely at the central bank’s printing press.
It is only a matter of time until the Fed’s prodigious money-printing blows the nation’s egregiously inflated and speculation-ridden financial markets sky high.
That’s the real end game of the gridlock that emerged from the vote on November 3. And it’s most definitely not the good kind imagined by the wise men who wrote the nation’s constitution.
Editor’s Note: Unfortunately most people have no idea what really happens when a government goes out of control, let alone how to prepare…
The coming economic and political crisis is going to be much worse, much longer, and very different than what we’ve seen in the past.
That’s exactly why New York Times best-selling author Doug Casey and his team just released an urgent new PDF report that explains what could come next and what you can do about it. Click here to download it now.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--Vegas Oddsmaker Says, “The Fix Was In, Trump Was Robbed, This Election Was Stolen”

I ’ ve been a Las Vegas oddsmaker and sports gaming expert for four decades- long before I became known as a nationally syndicated conservative talk show host .
I understand odds and gambling in a way that no other conservative media personality , host , or politician in this country could .
And I can tell you something is very wrong with this presidential election .
It reminds me of a fixed football game .
Remember the famous fixed 1978 game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles .
The Giants quarterback handed the ball off .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It fell on the ground .
Herm Edwards of the Eagles picked it up and ran it into the end zone with seconds left for a last second victory .
Every bettor in the world knows that game was fixed .
It doesn ’ t matter if you can prove it .
We all know .
Gamblers feel the same way about this presidential election .
This presidential election is rancid .
It feels as fixed as that Giants-Eagles NFL football game .
Let me give you the details of this election- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump entered the night a 2 to 1 underdog .
As soon as the polls started to close and the picture became clear , Trump ’ s odds quickly moved to even money .
Then Trump became the slight favorite .
Then a moderate favorite .
Then a 2-to-1 favorite .
Then 3 to 1 .
4 to 1 .
5 to 1 .
6 to 1 .
7 to 1 .
Finally , Trump moved to 8 to 1 favorite .
What does all this mean ?
Bettors putting their money on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proven to be deadly accurate .
Smart bettors can clearly see what direction a race is taking .
Bettors around the world clearly saw what I saw , when they stared at the electoral map- Trump was headed for an electoral landslide .
But something wasn ’ t quite right .
Fox News wouldn ’ t call Florida for Trump- even though he was ahead by a mile .
They wouldn ’ t call Ohio- even though Trump was ahead by a mile , They wouldn ’ t call Texas- even though Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sat there screaming at my television .
More strange calls .
Fox News had called Virginia for Biden at the start of the night- with Trump well ahead in Virginia .
Trump would remain ahead in Virginia for three long hours after Fox awarded the electoral votes to Biden .
Why would they do that ?
What was the rush ?
It made no sense .
Biden was awarded Virginia with Trump ahead .
But Trump was ahead by a mile in Florida , Ohio and Texas , yet Fox News refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew at that moment , something was wrong .
Something smelled fishy .
Something was rotten in the DC Swamp .
Bettors witnessed Trump dominating .
He clearly won not only those key states of Florida , Ohio and Texas , but Trump also enjoyed large leads in the entire Midwest- Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin and Iowa .
It was all but over .
Trump had an electoral landslide .
Hence the massive 8 to 1 odds in favor of Trump .
And then it happened .
It was the most bizarre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News called Arizona for Biden .
Why ?
It wasn ’ t even close to over .
There was no reason on earth to make that call .
Arizona is STILL not over 8 days later .
CNN still hasn ’ t awarded Arizona .
ABC pulled it back from Biden only 24 hours ago .
Why would Fox News be in such a rush to call Arizona for Biden ?
At that moment , Trump ’ s odds crashed almost instantly from 8 to 1 , back down to 2 to 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My friend who is one of the biggest bookmakers in the country called me to say , “ Wayne , something is wrong .
I ’ ve never seen a drop like that , let alone a drop that fast .
How can Trump go from 8 to 1 , to 2 to 1 .
Someone knows something .
We ’ ve got a problem.
” It was as if someone had decided in advance to give Arizona to Biden- whether he won it , or not .
It was as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few billionaire gamblers , “ Fox News awards Arizona to Biden.
” Six magic words .
Someone was ready for that call .
Someone waited until Trump was a prohibitive 8 to 1 favorite , then knew to bet millions of dollars on Biden at the longest odds of the night .
Someone knew the fix was in .
Someone made a fortune .
There ’ s more to the story .
First , by awarding both Virginia and Arizona to Biden way too early in the evening and also going super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by a mile , Fox News made sure Biden had the electoral lead all night .
That ’ s another big part of the story .
Just like the fake pollsters suppressed Trump voters for months in advance of the election with polls falsely showing Trump losing by a landslide , fake “ news desk ” employees sure appeared to be suppressing Trump votes on Election Night .
And also creating an air of invincibility for Biden .
If Biden led in every poll before the election , and led all night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t look like a fix was in , when Biden suddenly wound up the winner the morning after .
Right ?
One more piece of the puzzle .
From almost the moment that secret code “ Fox News awards Arizona to Biden ” was spoken , three key Midwest battleground states with Democrat Governors all decided to stop counting votes for the night , with Trump way ahead .
Why ?
Why all three , at the same time ?
Like they were coordinated in advance .
Wisconsin , Michigan and Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To add to the idea of a fix , these states merely claimed they were stopping counting for the night .
After TV cameras and Republican poll watchers were all sent home , these Democrat states all resumed counting , suddenly finding all the ballots they needed to overcome large Trump leads .
I actually took screen shots before I went to bed .
Trump was winning Michigan by over 300,000 votes when they stopped counting .
He was up in Wisconsin by over 100,000 .
In Pennsylvania he was up almost 700,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the morning I took a new screenshot .
Suddenly Biden was up by 9,000 in Wisconsin and 30,000 in Michigan .
How ’ d that happen ?
I thought they stopped counting ?
It all started with that bizarre Arizona call by Fox News .
Folks , someone knew .
The fix was in .
A few key people made millions betting on this election .
They knew the exact minute to jump in .
They knew exactly when a Trump landslide would turn to a Biden victory , with the help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fake ballots .
They knew Arizona was going to be called way too early .
They knew that fake Arizona call would trigger vote counting to stop and massive ballot fraud to begin .
I don ’ t know what the Supreme Court will decide .
But bettors all over the world know in our guts exactly what happened .
The fix was in , no different than that famous NY Giants-Philadelphia Eagle fix in 1978 at the Meadowlands .
Trump was robbed .
This election was stolen .

by Wayne Root
I’ve been a Las Vegas oddsmaker and sports gaming expert for four decades- long before I became known as a nationally syndicated conservative talk show host.
I understand odds and gambling in a way that no other conservative media personality, host, or politician in this country could.
And I can tell you something is very wrong with this presidential election. It reminds me of a fixed football game. Remember the famous fixed 1978 game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants quarterback handed the ball off. The running back didn’t want it. It fell on the ground. Herm Edwards of the Eagles picked it up and ran it into the end zone with seconds left for a last second victory. Every bettor in the world knows that game was fixed. It doesn’t matter if you can prove it. We all know.
Gamblers feel the same way about this presidential election. This presidential election is rancid. It feels as fixed as that Giants-Eagles NFL football game. Let me give you the details of this election- from a gambler’s perspective.
Trump entered the night a 2 to 1 underdog. As soon as the polls started to close and the picture became clear, Trump’s odds quickly moved to even money. Then Trump became the slight favorite. Then a moderate favorite. Then a 2-to-1 favorite.
Then 3 to 1. 4 to 1. 5 to 1. 6 to 1. 7 to 1. Finally, Trump moved to 8 to 1 favorite.
What does all this mean? Bettors putting their money on the line during Election Night have always proven to be deadly accurate. Smart bettors can clearly see what direction a race is taking. Bettors around the world clearly saw what I saw, when they stared at the electoral map- Trump was headed for an electoral landslide.
But something wasn’t quite right. Fox News wouldn’t call Florida for Trump- even though he was ahead by a mile. They wouldn’t call Ohio- even though Trump was ahead by a mile, They wouldn’t call Texas- even though Trump was ahead by a mile. I sat there screaming at my television.
More strange calls. Fox News had called Virginia for Biden at the start of the night- with Trump well ahead in Virginia. Trump would remain ahead in Virginia for three long hours after Fox awarded the electoral votes to Biden. Why would they do that? What was the rush? It made no sense.
Biden was awarded Virginia with Trump ahead. But Trump was ahead by a mile in Florida, Ohio and Texas, yet Fox News refused to award him the electoral votes. I knew at that moment, something was wrong. Something smelled fishy. Something was rotten in the DC Swamp.
Bettors witnessed Trump dominating. He clearly won not only those key states of Florida, Ohio and Texas, but Trump also enjoyed large leads in the entire Midwest- Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa. It was all but over. Trump had an electoral landslide. Hence the massive 8 to 1 odds in favor of Trump.
And then it happened. It was the most bizarre call in Election Night history. Fox News called Arizona for Biden. Why? It wasn’t even close to over. There was no reason on earth to make that call. Arizona is STILL not over 8 days later. CNN still hasn’t awarded Arizona. ABC pulled it back from Biden only 24 hours ago.
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Why would Fox News be in such a rush to call Arizona for Biden? At that moment, Trump’s odds crashed almost instantly from 8 to 1, back down to 2 to 1. That drop set off alarm bells. My friend who is one of the biggest bookmakers in the country called me to say, “Wayne, something is wrong. I’ve never seen a drop like that, let alone a drop that fast. How can Trump go from 8 to 1, to 2 to 1. Someone knows something. We’ve got a problem.”
It was as if someone had decided in advance to give Arizona to Biden- whether he won it, or not. It was as if the secret code was known to only a few billionaire gamblers, “Fox News awards Arizona to Biden.” Six magic words. Someone was ready for that call. Someone waited until Trump was a prohibitive 8 to 1 favorite, then knew to bet millions of dollars on Biden at the longest odds of the night. Someone knew the fix was in. Someone made a fortune.
There’s more to the story. First, by awarding both Virginia and Arizona to Biden way too early in the evening and also going super slow awarding states to Trump where he led by a mile, Fox News made sure Biden had the electoral lead all night. That’s another big part of the story.
Just like the fake pollsters suppressed Trump voters for months in advance of the election with polls falsely showing Trump losing by a landslide, fake “news desk” employees sure appeared to be suppressing Trump votes on Election Night. And also creating an air of invincibility for Biden. If Biden led in every poll before the election, and led all night in electoral votes, then it wouldn’t look like a fix was in, when Biden suddenly wound up the winner the morning after. Right?
One more piece of the puzzle. From almost the moment that secret code “Fox News awards Arizona to Biden” was spoken, three key Midwest battleground states with Democrat Governors all decided to stop counting votes for the night, with Trump way ahead. Why? Why all three, at the same time? Like they were coordinated in advance. Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania all mysteriously quit counting around midnight.
To add to the idea of a fix, these states merely claimed they were stopping counting for the night. After TV cameras and Republican poll watchers were all sent home, these Democrat states all resumed counting, suddenly finding all the ballots they needed to overcome large Trump leads.
I actually took screen shots before I went to bed. Trump was winning Michigan by over 300,000 votes when they stopped counting. He was up in Wisconsin by over 100,000. In Pennsylvania he was up almost 700,000 votes. But in the wee hours of the morning I took a new screenshot. Suddenly Biden was up by 9,000 in Wisconsin and 30,000 in Michigan. How’d that happen? I thought they stopped counting?
It all started with that bizarre Arizona call by Fox News.
Folks, someone knew. The fix was in. A few key people made millions betting on this election. They knew the exact minute to jump in. They knew exactly when a Trump landslide would turn to a Biden victory, with the help of a fake TV network call and fake ballots.
They knew Arizona was going to be called way too early. They knew that fake Arizona call would trigger vote counting to stop and massive ballot fraud to begin.
I don’t know what the Supreme Court will decide. But bettors all over the world know in our guts exactly what happened. The fix was in, no different than that famous NY Giants-Philadelphia Eagle fix in 1978 at the Meadowlands.
Trump was robbed. This election was stolen.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--The Soaring Value of Intangible Assets in the S&P 500

When it comes to the S & P 500 ’ s market value , abstract is in .
Intangible assets currently account for 90 % of the index ’ s total assets .
Not only is this a historical high—it ’ s a nod to just how prevalent technology has become in our lives .
Intangible assets are holdings that don ’ t carry any physical or financial embodiment .
This includes R & D , intellectual property , and computerized information such as data and software .
While they ’ re often difficult to value due to certain accounting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over $ 21 trillion .
The value of intangible assets in dollar terms has risen from $ 122 billion in 1975 , eventually soaring past the $ 1 trillion mark in the coming decades .
The 1990s ushered society into an era of tech , where intangible assets first began to take majority status .
The timeline was hardly linear and smooth transition , and some serious bumps took place along the way including two market crashes in 2000 and 2008 .
There are reasons to suggest that influence of tech and thus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engine .
The looming 5G revolution , more internet users on the horizon , and the powerful potential of new technologies are all supporting considerations .

by visualcapitalist
When it comes to the S&P 500’s market value, abstract is in.
Intangible assets currently account for 90% of the index’s total assets. Not only is this a historical high—it’s a nod to just how prevalent technology has become in our lives.
Intangible assets are holdings that don’t carry any physical or financial embodiment. This includes R&D, intellectual property, and computerized information such as data and software. While they’re often difficult to value due to certain accounting practices, today, intangibles are worth over $21 trillion.
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Year Value of Intangibles in S&P 500 1975 $122 Billion 1985 $428 Billion 1995 $3.12 Trillion 2005 $9.28 Trillion 2018 $21.03 Trillion
The value of intangible assets in dollar terms has risen from $122 billion in 1975, eventually soaring past the $1 trillion mark in the coming decades.
The 1990s ushered society into an era of tech, where intangible assets first began to take majority status. The timeline was hardly linear and smooth transition, and some serious bumps took place along the way including two market crashes in 2000 and 2008.
There are reasons to suggest that influence of tech and thus intangible assets has more steam in its engine. The looming 5G revolution, more internet users on the horizon, and the powerful potential of new technologies are all supporting considerations.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--Foreign Servers SEIZED BY US ARMY

Foreign Servers SEIZED BY US ARMY

# Breaking # BreakingNews 🚨💥🚨💥 People on the ground in # Germany report that # Scytl , hosting YOUR elections data Improperly through # Spain , was raided by a large # USARMY force & their Servers were Seized in Frankfurt .
Scytl Bankrupt Report in any further details u find to AOE .
pic.twitter.com/Rw74Bslz5I Vulcan Capital funded Scytl 40 MILLION $ , made by # BillGates # Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen ( dead ) Vulcan Capital was formed in 2003 and is headquartered in Seattle with a 2nd office in Palo Alto .
( BILLION $ Fund 5/ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here t.co/55NeF2GtQ9 You can use google translate to translate it .
pic.twitter.com/NYiy73AygO 6/ US govt Already had servers seized in # Germany in July which was hosting stolen # USA police files wikileaks style , & other hacked govt agency information & files .
Dubbed “ BlueLeaks , ” it comes from more than 200 agencies & includes # SaveTheChildren info t.co/cucvrtbixl Who is Skytl ?
Why is a Spanish company counting US votes in Germany ?
Is n't this company bankrupt ?
Are they involved with fraud in other elections ?
Kudos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this shady company.t.co/H5uTM0ABk6

#Breaking #BreakingNews 🚨💥🚨💥 People on the ground in #Germany report that #Scytl , hosting YOUR elections data Improperly through #Spain , was raided by a large #USARMY force & their Servers were Seized in Frankfurt. Scytl Bankrupt Report in any further details u find to AOE. pic.twitter.com/Rw74Bslz5I
Vulcan Capital funded Scytl 40 MILLION $, made by #BillGates #Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen (dead) Vulcan Capital was formed in 2003 and is headquartered in Seattle with a 2nd office in Palo Alto. (BILLION$ Fund
5/ You can see their investment on their website here t.co/55NeF2GtQ9 You can use google translate to translate it. pic.twitter.com/NYiy73AygO
6/ US govt Already had servers seized in #Germany in July which was hosting stolen #USA police files wikileaks style, & other hacked govt agency information & files. Dubbed “BlueLeaks,” it comes from more than 200 agencies & includes #SaveTheChildren info t.co/cucvrtbixl
You're probably asking yourself…
Who is Skytl?
Why is a Spanish company counting US votes in Germany?
Isn't this company bankrupt?
Are they involved with fraud in other elections?
Kudos to @GreatGameIndia for a good article on this shady company.t.co/H5uTM0ABk6
— oriJONal (@orijonal) November 13, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--Peter Hug: every gold, silver pullback a buying opportunity

Peter Hug , global trading director of Kitco Metals , remains constructive on gold and silver long-term , and should the economy improve next year , silver could trade in the $ 40 range .
“ On my macro perspective that gold is going to do extremely well in 2021 , I think silver at $ 24 will look cheap when you look back at it .
Is it possible that we ’ ll see silver drop to $ 20 , $ 22 , in that range on a pullback ?
Absolutely , in that context I would buy silver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m bullish gold and I think gold will perform with gold and the if the economy starts to grow , silver will outperform gold and surprise to the upside , ” Hug said .
Peter Hug has been involved in precious metals since 1974 .
He began gaining first-hand investment industry experience at Deak-Perera .
He served as SVP at Guardian Trust Company , which became one of the largest international trading houses for precious metals .
He developed the first precious metals certificate program and the first margin trading accounts for metals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquired extensive experience in the wholesale markets and international asset diversification .
A frequent speaker at precious metals conferences and in the financial media , he is one of the handful of experts who have succeeded through multiple bull and bear cycles on the strength and skills honed during the dramatic fluctuations of the 1980s .
As the Director of Kitco ’ s Precious Metals Division , Peter develops newer and better investment options for Kitco customers .

Kitco News, Released on 11/13/20
Peter Hug, global trading director of Kitco Metals, remains constructive on gold and silver long-term, and should the economy improve next year, silver could trade in the $40 range.
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“On my macro perspective that gold is going to do extremely well in 2021, I think silver at $24 will look cheap when you look back at it. Is it possible that we’ll see silver drop to $20, $22, in that range on a pullback? Absolutely, in that context I would buy silver, on the caveat that I’m bullish gold and I think gold will perform with gold and the if the economy starts to grow, silver will outperform gold and surprise to the upside,” Hug said.
Peter Hug has been involved in precious metals since 1974. He began gaining first-hand investment industry experience at Deak-Perera. He served as SVP at Guardian Trust Company, which became one of the largest international trading houses for precious metals. He developed the first precious metals certificate program and the first margin trading accounts for metals on the cash market. Peter has acquired extensive experience in the wholesale markets and international asset diversification. A frequent speaker at precious metals conferences and in the financial media, he is one of the handful of experts who have succeeded through multiple bull and bear cycles on the strength and skills honed during the dramatic fluctuations of the 1980s. As the Director of Kitco’s Precious Metals Division, Peter develops newer and better investment options for Kitco customers.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--Aaron Maté: Really incredible to see a top US official admit, and then top US journalists celebrate,

Aaron Maté: Really incredible to see a top US official admit, and then top US journalists celebrate, that the elected President was deliberately misled on troop levels in order to help continue the US military occupation in Syria.

Aaron Maté , a journalist who traditionally leans left , nails this one completely .
The disgust for this is @ @ @ @ @ and Judicial Watch founder Tom Fitton simply tweeted coup confirmed .
In addition , Tim @ @ @ @ @ sitter is actually visibly agitated and seems genuinely pissed off .
Wtf is wrong with @ @ @ @ @ the antiwar movement ?

Really incredible to see a top US official admit, and then top US journalists celebrate, that the elected President was deliberately misled on troop levels in order to help continue the US military occupation in Syria. t.co/emVXw5a2GC pic.twitter.com/8XOeSlsgPt — Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) November 13, 2020
Aaron Maté, a journalist who traditionally leans left, nails this one completely.
The disgust for this is bipartisan, as conservative activist and Judicial Watch founder Tom Fitton simply tweeted coup confirmed.
In addition, Tim Pool the milk toast fence sitter is actually visibly agitated and seems genuinely pissed off.
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Wtf is wrong with America? Wtf happened to the antiwar movement?
What a nightmare.
h/t axolotl_peyotl


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--THERE’S MUCH ABOUT THE TRUMP ERA THAT WE WILL LOOK BACK ON WITH FONDNESS:

Why we might look back on Trump ’ s foreign policy with fondness .
Joe Biden ’ s election signals @ @ @ @ @ s default liberal and progressive values , especially in foreign affairs .
Of course , @ @ @ @ @ are already getting a head start on a return to “ normal : ”

Why we might look back on Trump’s foreign policy with fondness. Joe Biden’s election signals a return to Washington’s default liberal and progressive values, especially in foreign affairs.
Of course, some members of the swamp are already getting a head start on a return to “normal:”
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h/t Ed


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL: This Video Of A Terrifying High-Speed Tesla Wreck Is A Reminder That Autopilot’

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL: This Video Of A Terrifying High-Speed Tesla Wreck Is A Reminder That Autopilot’s Problems Aren’t Just Technical.

We ’ ve written about the hacker/security researcher who goes by GreenTheOnly on Twitter before , as he has done @ @ @ @ @ the data stored in modern cars , with a focus on Teslas .
As a @ @ @ @ @ will send him black boxes and memory modules from cars , which is how he @ @ @ @ @ from a wrecked Tesla .
The video shows a pretty harrowing high-speed impact with another @ @ @ @ @ was not active right at the time of impact , I think the problems of @ @ @ @ @ involved here .
The crash took place at night , on highway CA-24 near Lafayette @ @ @ @ @ weather .
The Tesla ( which was recording via its on-board cameras ) was driving @ @ @ @ @ Honda Civic hard enough to send it flying .
There was minimal other traffic around @ @ @ @ @ have easily passed the Honda on either side .
Here , just watch the video @

via jalopnik:
We’ve written about the hacker/security researcher who goes by GreenTheOnly on Twitter before, as he has done a lot of digging into the data stored in modern cars, with a focus on Teslas. As a result, occasionally salvage yards will send him black boxes and memory modules from cars, which is how he acquired this video and data from a wrecked Tesla. The video shows a pretty harrowing high-speed impact with another car, and while Autopilot was not active right at the time of impact, I think the problems of any Level 2 semi-autonomous systemare involved here.
The crash took place at night, on highway CA-24 near Lafayette, CA, in clear weather. The Tesla (which was recording via its on-board cameras) was driving quite fast and rear-ended a Honda Civic hard enough to send it flying.
There was minimal other traffic around, and the Tesla could have easily passed the Honda on either side. Here, just watch the video:


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-14--100% COUP if true – Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney – A Three-letter US Govt Agency Caught Switching Votes

From another site .
Wish I could take credit for finding this .
Starts at 12:39 or so Copypasta from the other site : 12:39 : “ I got information from a source that a three-letter agency ( CIA ?
NSA ?
DoD ? )
in the U.S. government got caught switching votes and President Trump is well aware of it .
The swamp is trying to force this President out of office , but I guarantee you it ’ s not going to happen.
” The Chinese were also involved , they are very good at this , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but BE PATIENT AMERICA , President Trump is going to be the President in the next four years.
” He also says around 75-78 million people voted for President Trump .
“ The people running this were the same people who tried to run the Russia Hoax , the same names , starting right at the top , were involved in this ” “ HAMR/SCORECARD was used as a trial run by Obama/Biden in the 2012 election succesfully flipping FLA to Obama ” In case you ’ re unaware of Lt. Gen. Thomas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air Force Lieutenant General , who served in top military positions under the Secretary of Defense and the Vice President of the United States .
He went on Steve Bannon ’ s War Room a day before the election and blew the whistle on Scorecard/Hammer , saying “ it ’ s going to look like Trump is winning on election night and then it ’ s going to go away.
” He predicted exactly what would happen .

From another site. Wish I could take credit for finding this.
Starts at 12:39 or so
Copypasta from the other site:
12:39: “I got information from a source that a three-letter agency (CIA? NSA? DoD?) in the U.S. government got caught switching votes and President Trump is well aware of it. The swamp is trying to force this President out of office, but I guarantee you it’s not going to happen.”
The Chinese were also involved, they are very good at this, but more is going to come out, but BE PATIENT AMERICA, President Trump is going to be the President in the next four years.”
He also says around 75-78 million people voted for President Trump.
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“The people running this were the same people who tried to run the Russia Hoax, the same names, starting right at the top, were involved in this”
“HAMR/SCORECARD was used as a trial run by Obama/Biden in the 2012 election succesfully flipping FLA to Obama”
In case you’re unaware of Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney, he is a United States Air Force Lieutenant General, who served in top military positions under the Secretary of Defense and the Vice President of the United States. He went on Steve Bannon’s War Room a day before the election and blew the whistle on Scorecard/Hammer, saying “it’s going to look like Trump is winning on election night and then it’s going to go away.” He predicted exactly what would happen.
h/t EvJohn