Where are your priorities and what really matters to you?

Read each question and answer to the best of your ability.


In times of doubt, sadness, loneliness or confusion. Reflect. Repeat. Receive.


1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.


2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.


3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.


4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.


5. Name the last five Academy Award winners for Best Actor and Actress.


How did you do?


The point is, none of us remembers the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They’re the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.


Now here’s another 30 second reflection. See how you do on this one:


1. Name three teachers who aided your journey through school.


2. Name three friends who helped you through a difficult time.


3. Name five people who have taught you something worth while.


4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.


5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.


Easier?


The lesson?


The people who make a difference in your life aren’t the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They’re the ones who care.

Dominate Google with Video - WorldClass University Video Training

Politicians have delayed addressing the problem yet again.

I'm not sure what it is politicians (European and U.S.) don't get, and it's even scarier that the markets act so naively when it comes to delaying the inevitable.  Folks, we are going to pay the Piper, one way or the other.

I had written an article a few weeks ago titled, "Why Greece Will Fail and a Greek Default is Inevitable" and the fundamental issues, just like with the U.S., is that the only thing they have accomplished is to kick the can down the road...AGAIN!!!

Look at it this way, if you bought a house on the beach in Del Mar, CA for $3,000,000 and financed 100% your monthly payment would be approximately $20,000 per month (30 year, 5%).  Your financial situation is that you can actually afford to pay $5,000 per month (30% of a monthly salary of $16,675 per month, $200,100 annual salary).  So, you fall behind in your monthly payments and you meet with your bank to work out your own personal debt crisis.  You are able to bring your political connections with the Obama administration to put pressure on the bank and they agree to cut your mortgage in half.  You have now succeeded in reducing your mortgage to a mere $1,500,000 and your payment is cut to $10,000 per month! You celebrate and party like you've just won the lottery, right!

If you do, you're an idiot because you still can't afford to pay this adjusted mortgage and you're still upside down.  This is EXACTLY what the European debt crisis is doing...and the markets are partying like this is some miraculous solution when in fact all they've done is forestall the inevitable.

The Greek Debt Reduction deal isn't enough to save Europe, and the problem is likely to come back to haunt investors in the near term.  Just like with the story of your mortgage above, you're going to get another visit from the bank wanting to know how you're going to pay the $10k per month and when they realize you aren't even capable of paying that...you're going to be going through another negotiation, just like Greece and other EU members are going to do.  Greece and many other EU members are flat broke, it's just that no one is willing to speak the truth and call it what it is.  

Most EU members continue to increase their debt, only following the horrible example of the U.S.  The fact that there is an organization called the "International Swaps & Derivatives Association" should be scary enough, but the fact that they project $3.7 billion of debt-insurance contracts won’t be triggered should have you asking the question...how much debt is still outstanding and when does that come due?

IF you follow the advice of Robert Kiyosaki, author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and the new book, "Unfair Advantage" you will be out of the craziness of the markets and focusing on the 5 G's.  Gold, Ground (Real Estate), Grub/Groceries, Gasoline and Guns. 

In my article titled, "The problem with the EU crisis is that no one really knows much of anything" I stated, "At some point, the Europeans are going to be forced to either default honestly and painfully...or to bail themselves out boldly and fraudulently, like we Americans. 

As Americans we are already on the path to financial self-destruction, it's not a question of if...only a matter of time. All Europe is doing is following our horrible example and delaying the inevitable. Our financial implosion will pick up speed, until we finally reach our destination."

Quote for the day - True Entrepreneur

"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer." -Nolan Bushnell

Hizb ut-Tahrir in their own words...they say what they mean, and mean what they say

Believe me, I am no expert on the Middle East...so all I'm doing is sharing information about what I've learned by reading their own words on their own websites.  This doesn't sound very neighborly to me...but read it for yourself.


http://english.hizbuttahrir.org
Hizb ut-Tahrir is a political party whose ideology is Islam. Its objective is to resume the Islamic way of life by establishing an Islamic State that executes the systems of Islam and carries its call to the world. Hizb ut-Tahrir has prepared a party culture that includes a host of Islamic rules about life’s matters. The party calls for Islam in its quality as an intellectual leadership from which emanates the systems that deals with all man’s problems, political, economic, cultural and social among others. 


Political Situation in Syria
It seems that Bashar al-Assad will remain in power for the moment once the icons of the old guard who are impeding the execution of the American reforms are removed together with the security teams whose hands are tainted with the blood of the demonstrators and once the unilateral dominion of the ruling Baath party is terminated, even if it led to its dissolution.


Answers to Questions
It is important to study the issues according to their original plane when making a political link. This would be by identifying the root from which the events have originated and the track towards which they are proceeding. It would be wrong to pile up the events and the issues on the top of each other without the presence of a link between them, or for simply suspecting the presence of a link. In order to maintain the soundness of political perception, it is imperative to discard logic and not to resort to universal analogy and generalisation.


The International situation
The United States of America is forging ahead towards strengthening her grip on the international issues in terms of overseeing these issues and conducting the various crisis. She endeavours to rapidly establish a host of fresh relations and conventions, through which she will be able to maintain her unilateral dominance of the international situation, and to prevent any other state or any other force from competing with her or rivalling her or even from aiming at budging her from the apex of the international situation.

Unilateral Dominance of the U.S. over the International Situation

Answer to a question
One of the most important fundamental basics of explaining the current political events in the wake of the unilateral dominance of the U.S. over the international situation is reflected in the fact that the U.S. endeavours to establish and promote the world peace through the regional situations, regimes and the international relations in a manner that would enable her to establish hegemony over the world. 


Changes that the U.S.A has endeavoured to introduce to the U.N
One of the fundamental objectives of the United States, of which she has already achieved a great deal while on her way towards completing the rest of her objectives ever since she effectively participated in establishing the United Nations Organisation, was to destroy the role of Europe in running international politics and controlling the international situation, and to turn Europe into being part of the world policy


A unified Europe, after all these changes, is not expected to have any effect on the international situation. This would rather consolidate the American position as the sole superpower in the international situation. America’s use of the unified European stance in the international issues will help disguise the ugly face of the American supremacy in the international situation, i.e. the “Uni-polar Policy”. America does not object to allowing the European states to gain some benefit in return for this. Meanwhile, the European states see no harm in supporting the American policy aimed at establishing peace and stability in the world, because this serves the interests of the European companies as well as the interests and investments of America.


Out of these information and current events, and out of this profound political perception of the leading superpower’s reality, and what may become of this state and these relations in terms of changes that necessitate accurate pursuance and sound linkage, it is possible to determine the situation of the Islamic World, in order to eradicate America in her quality as a head of Kufr and a state of corruption. At the same time, the hope rests on those who work towards resuming the Islamic way of life to press their ranks closely together, rally their forces, gather the faculties of the Ummah and activate her dormant powers of goodness, under the international conditions that drive nations and various human societies to search for higher values and aspirations than the existing ones, amidst the fierce domestic struggles and the cauterisation by the corrupt values of the Western system and its economic, cultural and social policies, as well as its colonial legacies. Now that the means of diffusion, pursuance and knowledge have become diverse and sophisticated, it is no longer easy to conceal the facts from peoples and nations, and it is no longer easy to get away with the acts of deception and distortion in the long term. Hence, the policies of economic privatisation, the market economy, the so called democracy and  the fight against dictatorship will have direct adverse effects upon the relationship of the ruling factions and the political circles, with the peoples and the rest of the various sections of society. This will lead to instabilities in the viewpoint about the nature of the current relationships in society and will expose the reality of the authority that supervises such relationships. This in turn will pave the way, in an effective manner, to rob them of their sleep and to shake the earth beneath them. It will also develop peoples’ and nations’ desire to seek the right to determine the reality of their respective authorities. Hence, the antecedence in deciding  which direction the settlement of this aspect should take will undoubtedly be in favour of those who seriously work in the field of resuming the Islamic way of life and within a sound programme. This necessitates from the Da'awah carriers to have a tremendous determination and a formidable mettle,  to work assiduously towards pressing close together the ranks of their Ummah and to be her weapon in her war against the Kuffar, so that they succeed together in implementing Islam, uproot the influence of Kufr, restore the light of Islam and its political entity, remove the leading superpower from her position and rearrange the international relations according to what Islam stipulates in terms of justice and mercy.


Allah (swt) says: [9-33] “It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Deen of Truth to proclaim it over all religions even though the unbelievers may detest it.” T.M.Q. 


The Media Forum of Hizb ut-Tahrir

Neo in the Social Media Matrix

I’ve written previously about the current economic times in which we find ourselves, and uncertain times like these drive me into a big picture, naturally reflective state – “What does this mean for me?” “What should I do with this information?” “What do I value most personally?” and “Is social media turning us into the Matrix?”

One of my all-time favorite movie trilogies is the Matrix.  My number one all-time favorite is Blade Runner, but I’ll save the analogy to that movie for another day.  In the Matrix all humans “live” plugged in to the outside world through cocoons that facilitate all of their interactions electronically.  They see, talk, hear, feel, taste, etc through nasty cable connector plugs that connect to their brain through the back of their head.  No physical interaction is necessary; it’s all done electronically.

Neo in the Social Media Marketing Matrix.

I first noticed the Matrix at the airport and on the M in Washington, D.C.  Everyone was plugged into their iPods or their laptop, no talking, no looks, just zombie-style existence moving through the day.  Everyone is in the same place but very much alone.

The Matrix also lives on planes, trains and automobiles, where individuals text, IM, surf the web, and talk on their phones.  No face-to-face interaction, only electronic communication.

The Matrix is also disturbingly showing up in the classroom.  It’s no secret that many (most?) students are on Facebook, Google Chat, Twitter, and email consistently during classes, including during the middle of lectures by professors in college.

My kids have grown up in a world where they didn’t know the Internet didn’t exist before.  They have grown up in a wired world with a multi-tasking perspective that is all about connections. Technology by itself isn’t necessarily a good thing or a bad thing; it’s how it’s used that determines good or bad, so I’m just providing some observations about impacts I’m seeing.  I think we can safely say that social media has increased the ability of all of us to be, well – social – at least electronically, but with networks much more diverse than we were able to maintain before.

But what price do we pay for social media?  Is social media decreasing our ability and comfort with communicating physically, through face to face interaction?  After all, when Neo emerged from the Matrix, his body was weak, he had to heal and build strength before he could survive in the real world!

While I’ve been amazed at the amount of interaction that an individual can maintain through social media, I’ve been slightly underwhelmed by their ability to translate that electronic interaction into physical interaction.  Furthermore, the decline in effective communication skills and ability to deal with confrontation, conflict resolution and relationship building is an alarming trend that does not bode well for the future of my Digital Youth.

No one talks to each other at the gym or on the bus.  In the real world, people might Google Chat about life issues, but not ask questions verbally.  I’ve seen individuals in group settings who remained silent during group meetings only to unload all their thoughts in a brain dump email after the meeting was over.  A number of folks even question the value of meeting face-to-face period, saying “we can all just figure it out through email.”

I think it is an easily drawn conclusion that the more you use social media, the more comfortable – and reliant – you become on it as a means of communication.  We all know it’s tough to introduce yourself to someone face to face, and it seems that my Digital Youth are practicing that interaction less and less.

I spent some time researching this topic, but was unable to find a direct answer to my question.  There are a number of articles posted on both the perils of social media usage in the classroom, and the potential benefits.  One article proclaims that continuous connection to electronic devices is killing face-to-face interaction, while another suggests it could actually create dissociative disorder.  I found a couple of people asking the same question, one from his video blog, and another who realized he was being unsocial while on his computer during a Superbowl party.   There is even a survey trying to figure out the answer!

So the ultimate paradox is that I’m using social media to both vent and pose the questions.  Social media is supposedly all about dialogue and creating conversations.  So…is social media turning us into the Matrix?  As electronic communication facilitates more and more of our daily interactions, will it decrease our real world ability to connect face to face, or at the very minimum, devalue face to face interaction?

There is coming a "Climax Moment" that will be played out

For those of you who have asked me how I get to some of my conclusions about OWS and the Liberal Left agenda, I'm going to share as much of the truth as I know it and as I've been able to discover it.  Do your own homework, click on the links I've provided...see for yourself whether you agree or disagree with what these sources are saying in their own words.  Mock me, disagree with me, argue with me...but do yourself a favor and insure you're not being duped as a "useful idiot" in the course of fulfilling someone else's agenda.


In order to have a productive discussion about the issues, it's important that you know where I stand and my frame of reference. I believe that what we're looking at, fundamentally...is good versus evil. The second thing I believe is that you have to think like the enemy to understand what evil is doing (globally, in a way never before possible). Nothing makes sense if we filter everything through our traditional lenses where things are supposed to be logical. Marxist, communists, anarchists, revolutionaries, and Muslim extremists have already joined together across the globe (including right here in the good ole USA) to destabilize capitalism and overthrow the western way of life. If you filter all the news and the facts through that filter (like what's happening right before our eyes to destroy Israel), you can start to see that there is an agenda working to be fulfilled and it's not about politics. I'm happy to walk you through the litany of facts over the course of the last 3 years (quite an extensive timeline of facts) where Obama and his administration have overtly and covertly laid the foundation for exactly what's happening across the middle east, and it's coming home to roost right here at home. For the administration to naively think (as most ideologue socialists do) that they could encourage and finance all this "peaceful revolution" and then wonder why they are no longer our friends (or why people are dying) and why they don't embrace democracy is yet another historical marker that reveals the true agenda. Tunisia was likely the Arch Duke Ferdinand moment of our day, so if you understand what's happened to get us to this point I think you'd be surprised how direct the Obama administration intentions have been, and how misguided they are. So do you believe that the "Occupy" movement is a spontaneous bunch of ideological protesters? Do you know the facts about how long these "protests" have been planned, who is behind them and how they tie to the Arab Spring?


Again, I challenge you to answer those questions for yourself by looking at what the Liberal Left says, in their own words.


You have to draw your own conclusions once you look at the words coming out of their own mouths.  Here is what I believe is being shown, in their own words:


1.  OWS is NOT organized by students, it is not organic, it is not spontaneous and there is a specific agenda being played out.


Former ACORN communication director, David Swanson, on theREAlNews.com back in August 2001 said this is "modeled after Tahrir Square and Mass European Protests" - watch it in his words by CLICKING HERE.


This actually started last spring, when it was first exposed by Stephen Lerner at a Progressive Conference in NYC, April, 2011.  The video has been conveniently scrubbed from the Internet...but, again on Sep 10, 2011 a full week ahead of the first OWS movement Stephen Lerner said “It seems to me that we’re in a moment where we need to figure out in a much more, through direct action, much more concrete way how we really are trying to disrupt and create uncertainty for capital, for how corporations operate,” Lerner said during the progressive conference in New York.  You can read his words and read the letter sent by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) to Attorney General Eric Holder regarding the shocking video (now removed from the Internet).


Stephen Lerner published his own words back in March, which you can read at http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/7125/this_can_be_our_moment/  Stephen Lerner serves on the Service Employees International Union's (SEIU) International Executive Board and is the architect of the Justice for Janitors campaign. 


2.  Unions are DEEPLY involved in the Planning of OWS and they have a very clear agenda.
On February 26, MoveOn.org, AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees), SEIU (Service Employees International Union), the AFL-CIO, American Rights at Work, USAction and dozens of other progressive organizations sponsored “Defend the American Dream” rallies in every state capitol in America.


3.  60's radicals & Revolutionaries are leading OWS and they are trying to recreate 1968 riots, so let's talk about Lisa Fithian. Lisa Fithian is an American political activist who in the early 1990s joined the labor movement, bringing her experience to the Justice for Janitors campaigns in Washington DC, Denver and Los Angeles and to nursing home workers in San Francisco and Detroit. She also provided training and support work to the United Auto Workers Union and with the Detroit Newspaper Strikers. Lisa has continued her work for social, economic and environmental justice, providing training and organizing support to many of the global justice mobilization around the world since the shut down of the WTO Ministerial in Seattle in 1999. She has written throughout the years including the introduction to the post-9-11 edition of Abbie Hoffman's Steal this Book.  Abby Hoffman's Steal this Book includes advice on such topics as growing cannabis, starting a pirate radio station, living in a commune, stealing food, shoplifting, stealing credit cards, preparing a legal defense, making pipe bombs, and obtaining a free buffalo from the Department of the Interior. It discusses various tactics of fighting as well as giving a detailed list of affordable and easy ways to find weapons and armor that can be used in the event of a confrontation with law enforcement. The book advocates rebelling against authority in all forms, governmental and corporate.  Abbot Howard "Abbie" Hoffman (November 30, 1936 – April 12, 1989) was a political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party ("Yippies"). Hoffman was arrested and tried for conspiracy and inciting to riot as a result of his role in protests that led to violent confrontations with police during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, along with Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, Lee Weiner and Bobby Seale. The group was known collectively as the "Chicago Eight"; when Seale's prosecution was separated from the others, they became known as the Chicago Seven. Hoffman came to prominence in the 1960s, and continued practicing his activism in the 1970s, and has remained a symbol of the youth rebellion of that era.  Hoffman was 52 at the time of his suicide on April 12, 1989, which was caused by swallowing 150 phenobarbital tablets along with hard liquor. He had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1980. At the time he had recently changed treatment medications and was reportedly depressed.  Lisa Fithian idolizes Abbie, including her rewrite of his book.


The Roots of American Communism - read the chapter titled, "The Manipulated Revolution" Which basically outlines that the American militant is the most inexperienced, never dealt with he masses, doesn't know how to organize and the shift in their focus was to move into positions of authority within Labor Unions and to speak the message of empathy towards the plight of the workers pension and that then their radical end will not seem so bad.  As Van Jones put its, "Drop the radical pose for the radical end."


American's don't want revolution, we don't want socialism, marxism or radical overthrow of our government...do you understand that is what the Socialist left is after?
       
4.  This is an openly anti-JEW movement, read http://patdollard.com/2011/10/foreign-jews-shocked-by-anti-semitism-of-occupywallstreet/ and read more about other protestors at http://toddkinsey.com/blog/2011/10/17/los-angeles-usd-employee-hurls-anti-semitic-remarks/. You can see the video at http://reason.tv/video/show/reasontv-anti-semitic-proteste.


Watch this video to see the evidence of anti-semitism at Wall Street.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIlRQCPJcew&feature=player_embedded


5.  The Left Intends To Collapse (Transform) Capitalism - you can listen to the audio of Stephen Lerner talking about the real agenda at http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201103220007. 


6.  OWS now has Muslim support.  Egypt's top "Facebook Revolutionary" now advising OWS.  “An official invitation issued by CAIR’s New York chapter tells members to show “solidarity” with ‘the 99%” by attending Friday prayers in Zuccotti Park at 1:00pm. CAIR’s stated goal in hosting the prayer service at OWS is to “expand the role of New York Muslims in the Occupy movement.’”  Video: CAIR-NY Launches Campaign to Introduce U.S. Muslims
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGD2w3IdEnA


US Group Uses Times Square to Promote Islam (Al-Arabiya)
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/12/23/95052.html


“I am Muslim, I am American” Ad Airing in Times Square (elan)
http://www.elanthemag.com/index.php/site/blog_detail/i_am_muslim_i_am_american_ad_airing_in_times_square-nid972168929/


Read more at http://www.pipelinenews.org/index.cfm?page=cair10242011101.htm and here's the brief CAIR bio:  CAIR is a highly controversial radical Muslim pressure group whose associations are so noxious that it was named as an unindicted co-conspirator [see, U.S. Dist. Court Document U.S. vs. Holy Land Foundation For Relief and Development [see doc at, http://www.pipelinenews.org/images/2007-05-29-US%20v%20HLF-ListCoConspirators.pdf] in the nation's most extensive prosecution of domestic funding of the terrorist group Hamas, U.S. vs. Holy Land Foundation. In that proceeding, all of the defendants were found guilty on a total of 108 charges.


Wow, so a group with ties to radicalized Islam is uniting with Occupy Wall Street. Shocker.


Add to that the latest from progressive publication AdBusters which advertises, “Open your insurrectionary imagination. Anything, from a bottom up transformation of the global economy to changing the way we eat, the way we get around, the way we live, love, the way we communicate. Be the spark that sustains a global revolution of everyday life! Let us occupy the core of our global system. Let’s dethrone the greed that defines this new century. Let us work to define our one great demand.”


There is coming a climax moment that will be played out in a very visibile, high profile way.  What is it these people want? MSNBC Analyst Cheering Violence: Donny Deutsch 'Repulsed" By the Tea Party Hopes For A 'Kent State' Type Moment So The Occupy Wall Street Movement Can Really Resonate With The American People 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_36PZ_qFkg


It's easy to understand this seemingly odd alliance between the left and the Islamists; they both hold Western culture in contempt and are actively working to subvert it. What is out of the ordinary this go around is the active support being given to the Marxist/OWS movement by Team Obama, the House and Senate Democrat leadership as well as the big labor bosses. Perhaps they feel this is their last chance to grab the golden ring and somehow squeak out a win in 2012.


By allowing the Occupy Wall Street protesters to camp out in New York’s Zuccotti Park, Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a “terrible mistake,” Joe diGenova, a former U.S. Attorney in Washington


Read more on Newsmax.com: Ex-US Attorney: Time to Dismantle Anti-Wall Street Camp http://www.newsmax.com/RonaldKessler/Wall-Street-protesters-diGenova/2011/10/21/id/415332


Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. ~C.S. Lewis

Top Ten Steps to Earthquake Safety - Great California ShakeOut

Hello all,

As part of its ongoing efforts to encourage Americans to prepare for all hazards, The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging all Californians to participate in the "Great California ShakeOut" on Thursday, October 20, 2011. 

The ShakeOut is the state's annual public earthquake drill, organized by the Earthquake Country Alliance. During the drill, which will be conducted at 10:20 am pacific standard time, anyone can practice how to protect themselves during and after a major earthquake - whether at work, at home or at school. To date, over 8.4 million Californians have signed up.

The main goal of the ShakeOut is to get Californians prepared for major earthquakes, so use the ShakeOut as an opportunity to learn what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. Visit Free Earthquake Safety Guide for tips on how to prepare, protect, and recover.

Free Earthquake Safety Guide

Top Ten Steps to Earthquake Safety

The problem with the EU crisis is that no one really knows much of anything.

“The euro. Everyone has a view, and everyone is profoundly ignorant at the same time. No one knows the answers — there is no template, no relevant past experience.” Pyrford International, a UK fund manager.

I think that’s it. The EU crisis is extraordinarily complicated on a lot of levels. With 17 different countries that can’t seem to agree on much, it is hard to handicap an outcome. But the essence of the problem is that some of these governments — like Greece — borrowed money they cannot re-pay. So either the rest of the EU comes to its aid, or Greece defaults. A default means lots of losses for banks (and others) holding the defaulted debt (with ripples all the way back to the U.S. FED, we just don't know how much or how bad this is going to be for the U.S. because the FED is not disclosing how much has been lent to Europe by the FED).

There are several governments in trouble beyond just Greece. Portugal, Italy, Spain and others are in trouble, too. So do they all get bailouts? Or not? If the EU breaks up, then we’re talking huge losses and the probable disappearance of a number of banks. Just like in 2008 in the US.

Reckoning today from Paris, France...
Yesterday, rumors circulated that the Europeans had their problems in hand. The Dow rose 180 points. The euro went up too, and now trades at $1.37. For all the talk of a disintegrating Europe, the euro has been holding together pretty well.

Gold fell $23 for no apparent reason.

As the day went on, however, the euro solution looked less and less like a solution and more like a disaster. Moody’s took Spanish debt down two notches...and warned that it was looking at France. The New York Times has the story:

Moody’s warned late Monday of a possible downgrade to France’s flawless credit rating. French finance officials worry that any such move would make it hard for Paris to negotiate solutions, according to an official who was not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

The rally in American stock markets was set off by a report late Tuesday on the Web site of The Guardian, a British newspaper, that France and Germany had agreed to increase the size of the rescue fund — the European Financial Stability Facility — to as much as 2 trillion euros to contain the crisis and backstop Europe’s banks. But almost as soon as those hopes soared, European officials quickly brought them back to earth, with denials flooding forth from Brussels, Paris and Berlin.

This latest round of rumors and rebuttals about a European solution was a repeat of earlier situations... Such episodes have played out several times since the debt crisis intensified this year. Most recently, investors have been pegging hopes on a meeting of Europe’s leaders set for this coming Sunday in Brussels, anticipating that a comprehensive solution to the debt crisis might be unveiled.

Now that the rating agencies are circling France, the whole rescue project is in danger. It is one thing for the big, strong nations — France and Germany — to rescue the little, marginal nations, such as Greece and Ireland. But who’s going to rescue France?

At some point, the Europeans are going to be forced to either default honestly and painfully...or to bail themselves out boldly and fraudulently, like we Americans.

As Americans we are already on the path to financial self-destruction, it's not a question of if...only a matter of time. All Europe is doing is following our horrible example and delaying the inevitable. Our financial implosion will pick up speed, until we finally reach our destination.

Source:
 Bill Bonner
 The Daily Reckoning
 www.dailyreckoning.com

Do you know who started Occupy Wall Street? Can you answer these questions?

WHO STARTED OCCUPY WALL STREET?>> WHO IS THE FATHER OF OWS?
>> HOW DID THIS MOVEMENT START?
>> WHO PLANNED THIS EVENT?
>> WHO IS PAYING FOR THE MADISON AVENUE MARKETING FIRM? THE NEWSPAPERS? THE FLYERS?
>> WHAT ROLE DID SEIU PLAY IN THE PLANNING OF THIS EVENT?
>> WHO IS STEPHEN LEARNER?
>> WHO IS VAN JONES?
>> WHAT IS THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS?
>> WHO IS GEORGE SOROS?
>> WHAT IS HIS RELATIONSHIP TO CAP?
>> IS HE A CRONY CAPITALIST?
>> DOES HE PAY HIS FAIR SHARE?
>> IS HE GETTING RICH OFF OF THE CORRUPT SYSTEM OF WALL STREET SPECULATION?
>> HOW DOES HE MAKE HIS MONEY?
>> HE MADE $7 BILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR PERSONALLY THROUGH HIS HEDGE FUND AND INVESTMENTS — IS THAT OKAY? IF YES, WHY? IF NO, WHY?

ECONOMY>> NAME THE TIME IN HISTORY THE GLOBAL ECONOMY COLLAPSED (AS IT IS SHAPING UP TO DO NOW)
>> IF YOU CANNOT… PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME… WHY NOT?
>> IF YOU WERE TO PLAN A GLOBAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE – HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE BETWEEN THE CORRUPT SYSTEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND THE NEW SYSTEM YET TO BE CREATED?
>> WOULD THERE BE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES?
>> COULD PEOPLE DIE?
>> IF NONE, WHY?
>> IF YES, ESTIMATE HOW MANY — AND HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THOSE DEATHS?
>> BY COLLAPSING THE SYSTEM (WALL STREET) AND CAUSING ECONOMIC CHAOS – HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU DIFFERENT THAN ONE OF THE CORPORATIONS YOU ARE PROTESTING?

FAIR SHARE:AGREED: PEOPLE SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE IN TAXES.
QUESTIONS
>>WHAT IS THAT NUMBER? WHAT IS FAIR?
>>IF IT’S NOT ZERO – PLEASE EXPLAIN GE (AND WHY WASN’T IMMELT ON THE RICH HOMES TOUR?)
>> WHAT ABOUT GEORGE SOROS?
>>RUSSELL SIMMONS?
>>KANYE WEST??.
>>ARE THEY WALL STREET CRIMINALS? ARE THEY NOT AN EVIL CORPORATION IN BED WITH GOV?
>> CAN THERE BE GOOD PEOPLE IN AN EVIL CORPORATION? IF SO, HOW DO YOU JUDGE WHO IS WHO?
>> GE PAYS NO INCOME TAX, THEIR CEO IS ON THE PRESIDENTS ECONOMIC COUNCIL – WHY DO YOU NOT PROTEST GE? DO YOU SUPPORT THIS PRESIDENT OR ADMINISTRATION?
>>EXPLAIN GREEN WEEK on NBC
>> IF YES IN ANY WAY…WHY?
>>IF HE IS IN BED OR EXCUSES BEHAVIOR SO BAD THAT THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE COLLAPSED SHOULDN’T HE BE DEEMED GUILTY AS WELL?
>> IF YES, EXPLAIN WHY.
>> IF YES COMPARE GE GREEN WEEK ANSWER ABOVE

CAPITALISM IS DESTROYING AMERICA

ROCKEFELLER, ASTOR MELLON, AND CARNEGIE ARE KNOWN AS “ROBBER BARRONS” AND WOULD PROBABLY BE TARGETS OF OCCUPY WALL STREET.

>>WHO BUILT THE LINCOLN CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS?
>> WHO BUILT MOMA?
>> THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY?
>> CARNEGIE HALL?
>> CARNAGE MELLON UNIVERSITY
>> THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART?
>> WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ROCKEFELLER CENTER AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY?
>> DOES THIS MEAN CAPITALISM HELPED COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY?
>>HOW DID CAPITALISM HELP COLUMBIA?
>>DOES CAPITALISM HELP OR HURT COLUMBIA TODAY?

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION:>> DOES YOUR UNIVERSITY SUPPORT THIS ADMINISTRATION AND ITS POLICIES?
>> DID YOU OR THOSE YOU ARE WITH VOTE OR CAMPAIGN FOR THIS PRESIDENT IN THE PAST?
>> ARE YOU CAMPAIGNING FOR HIM NOW?
>> IF SO, ARE YOU BETRAYING YOUR IDEALS BY HELPING SOMEONE WHO HAS COMPROMISED ON IMPORTANT ANTI-CORRUPTION PRINCIPLES?
>> IF HE HAS NOT DONE ALL THAT HE PROMISED TO DO AND IN FACT BETRAYED HOPE AND CHANGE WHAT STOOD IN HIS WAY?
>> COULD YOU NAME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES?
>> HE CLAIMS THAT HE IS NOT IN BED WITH BANKERS AND BIG CORPORATIONS. IS HE LYING?
>> IS HE JUSTIFIED FOR NOT TELLING THE TRUTH IF IT FURTHERS YOUR OR HIS AGENDA?
>> WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS A LEADER CAN LIE TO YOU AND IT BE JUSTIFIED?

INVESTIGATIONS/FINANCIAL>> WHY HAS THIS ADMINISTRATION NOT DONE INVESTIGATIONS ON BANKS AND BANKERS?
>> WHY HASN’T THIS ADMINISTRATION DONE INVESTIGATIONS ON THE FED?
>> WHY HASN’T THIS ADMINISTRATION DONE INVESTIGATIONS ON FREDDIE OR FANNIE OR SALLY MAC?
>> WHY HAS NO ONE EXCEPT BERNIE MADOFF GONE TO JAIL UNDER THIS OR THE LAST PRESIDENT?
>> WASN’T THE HOPE WE WERE LOOKING FOR AND PROMISED SUPPOSED TO COME FROM A PRESIDENT THAT WAS DIFFERENT? THAT WAS BEYOND POLITICS?
>> WASN’T THE CHANGE THAT AMERICA WAS LOOKING FOR AN END TO CRONY CAPITALISM?
>> WERE YOU WRONG ABOUT THIS PRESIDENT LAST TIME ELECTION?
>> HOW ARE YOU SURE THIS TIME?
>> DID AMERICA LEARN FROM ITS MISTAKE OF NOT DEMANDING A CLEAR DECLARATION OF WHAT HOPE AND CHANGE MEANT?
>> SHOULD THERE HAVE BEEN A CLEAR PLAN TO ENSURE THAT THIS NEW PRESIDENT REMAINED ON COURSE TO DELIVER THE CHANGE PROMISED AND HOPED FOR OF AN END OF CORRUPTION AND CRONYISM?
>> WHAT IS SOLYNDRA? WHAT IS LIGHT SQUARED?
>> DO YOU THINK THOSE WHO HAVE DESIGNED THIS EVENT (COLLAPSE WALL STREET) SHOULD HAVE A CLEAR PLAN TO MAKE SURE AFTER THE COLLAPSE THEY WILL DELIVER THE CHANGE OF AN END OF CORRUPTION AND CRONYISM?
>> DID IT DISCREDIT THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT THAT IT WAS SAID TO BE FUNDED, ORGANIZED AND OR CO-OPTED BY THOSE WHO HAD DIRECT TIES AND INTERESTS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?
WOULD IT TAINT OR HURT OCCUPY WALL STREET IF THAT WERE THE CASE HERE?

EQUAL JUSTICE/SOCIAL JUSTICE>> CAN SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL JUSTICE CO EXIST?
>> IS EVERYONE ON WALL STREET PUNISHED FOR THE CRIMES OF THE GUILTY?
>> IS EVERYONE ON WALL STREET GUILTY?
>> IF NO, ARE YOUR ACTIONS TO COLLAPSE WALL STREET PUNISHING THOSE WHO ARE INNOCENT?
>> IF YES, IS THAT EQUAL JUSTICE IN SEEING THAT YOU WOULD BE PUNISHING THE INNOCENT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE?
>>DO YOU BELIEVE IN FAIR TRAILS? A JURY OF YOUR PEERS? A CHANCE TO FACE YOUR ACCUSERS? GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT?
>>SHOULD WALL STREET BANKERS:
A). LOSE THEIR JOBS
B). HAVE ALL OF THEIR WEALTH TAKEN?
C). GO TO JAIL? IF YES, HOW LONG? IF YOU WISH FOR A JUDGE AND JURY TO DECIDE, WHY?
D). IF YES TO BOTH IN C. SEE EQUAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INCOMPATIBLY ABOVE.

LYNCH MOBS THEN AND NOW>> DO YOU BELIEVE LYNCH MOBS (IN CIVIL RIGHTS ERA) ARE/WERE WRONG? IF SO, WHY?
>> WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LYNCH MOB AND WHAT YOU ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO DO NOW? (LEWIS, HOMES OF WEALTHY)

COPS:>> ARE COPS GOOD OR BAD?
>> ARE THERE GOOD COPS AND BAD COPS?
>> IF THERE ARE BOTH GOOD AND BAD POLICEMEN HOW DO YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE?
>> IF YOU WERE A COP, A GOOD ONE NOT BAD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO RIGHT NOW IN THIS SITUATION ON WALL STREET?
>> IF YOU WALKED AWAY (AS A COP) AND ALLOWED THE CROWD FREEDOM TO DO AS IT WISHED, WOULD YOU BE A HERO OR A COWARD?
>> WOULD DAMAGE TO PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROPERTY BE DONE IF THE POLICE WOULD LEAVE? DOES THAT MATTER?
>> COULD INNOCENT PEOPLE BE HURT? DOES THAT MATTER?
>> IF YOU OR ANYONE IN YOUR GROUP ANSWERED THERE ARE NO INNOCENT HERE — DOES THAT MATTER?
>> IF NO ON ABOVE PLEASE CHECK ANSWER FOR CONSISTENCY ON LYNCH MOBS AND JURY TRIALS?
>> DEFINE MOB RULE – IS THIS GOOD OR BAD?
>> THERE ARE MANY PRISONERS THAT HAVE BEEN WRONGLY ACCUSED AND CONVICTED. IT HAPPENS THE WORLD OVER BUT ESPECIALLY IT SEEMS IN AMERICA. THE RECENT EXECUTION IN GA (ACCORDING TO YOU) IS MERELY ONE EXAMPLE. IN LIGHT OF THIS AND KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED?
>> IF THE SYSTEM IS CORRUPT, HOW WILL YOU ASSESS AND FIX IT?
>> IS IT FAIR TO LEAVE THE POSSIBLE INNOCENT BEHIND BARS WHILE THAT PROCESS IS GOING ON?

COLLEGE: Many of the signs on Occupy Wall Street complain about student loans.

WE AGREE:
>> MANY HAVE STOLEN FROM US
>> NO ONE SHOULD PAY WHAT YOU ARE PAYING (HAVE PAID) FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

>> WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRICE OF EDUCATION?
>> WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRICE OF THAT PRIVATE COLLEGE EDUCATION RISING 8 % JUST LAST
>> HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN YOUR UNIVERSITIES ENDOWMENT FUND?
>> IS THERE NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO LOWER TUITION COSTS?

MOM & DAD

>> ARE YOU SINCERELY WORRIED ABOUT YOUR PARENTS AND WHAT THEY FACE AS WELL AS WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR YOU?
>> HAVE YOUR PARENTS WORKED HARD FOR THEIR HOME AND WHAT LITTLE MONEY THEY HAVE SAVED DURING THEIR LIFETIME?
>> IF YOU SUCCEED IN COLLAPSING WALL STREET, WHO IS HURT AND WHO IS HURT THE MOST?
>> ARE YOUR PARENTS HURT? YOUR FRIENDS PARENTS?
>> UNION PENSIONS ARE INVESTED IN WALL STREET
>> YOUR UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT
>> THE AVERAGE AMERICAN (401K) IS INVESTED IN WALL STREET.
>> WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LIFETIME OF WORK BY YOUR PARENTS IF YOUR ACTIONS CAUSE A COLLAPSE OF THE SYSTEM?

FOREIGN COUNTRIES>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ANY GOVERNMENT ABROAD WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN ECONOMIC COLLAPSE OF THE UNITED STATES THAT WOULD HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON YOUR FREEDOMS?
>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT US TROOPS SHOULD BE CALLED HOME?
>> DO YOU BELIEVE TOUR TROOPS ARE BABY KILLERS? OR PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO WERE EITHER MISGUIDED OR USED?
>> WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE TROOPS OVERSEAS IF THERE WAS AN ECONOMIC COLLAPSE?
>> DO YOU BELIEVE IF YOU DON’T PULL THE TROOPS OUT BEFORE A COLLAPSE THERE WOULD BE A GREATER OR LESSER CHANCE OF MORE KILLING?
>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT FORCES ON EITHER SIDE COULD OR WOULD USE AN ECONOMIC COLLAPSE AS AN EXCUSE FOR MORE KILLING?
>> WOULD YOU HAVE PLAYED ANY ROLE IN THAT POSSIBLE KILLING BASED ON YOUR ACTIONS HERE TO COLLAPSE WALL STREET?
>> IF NO; DO THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS?
>> IF YES; IF THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS… DOES THAT INCLUDE THE DEATH OF INNOCENTS?
>> IF NOT WHY?
>> IF YES, EXPLAIN WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT THAT GEORGE W BUSH, WHO ALSO THOUGHT HE WAS RIGHT.

EGYPT>> HOW DID THE EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION TURN OUT?
>> IS IT BETTER THAN WHAT THEY HAD?
>> FREE, FAIR AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS WERE PROMISED TO BE HELD BY AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, WHAT DATE WERE THEY ACTUALLY HELD?
>> WHO IS CURRENTLY IN CHARGE OF EGYPT?
>> DO YOU BELIEVE IN MILITARY RULE?
>> WOULD YOU WANT TO LIVE UNDER IT HERE?
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MILITARY RULE HERE AND IN EGYPT?
>> THE MEDIA CLAIMS YOU ARE THE SAME AND ARE STRIVING FOR THE SAME IDEALS AS THE YOUTH THAT OVERTURNED THEIR OPPRESSIVE AND CORRUPT SYSTEM. IS THIS TRUE?
>> IF YES, IF YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO LIVE UNDER MILITARY RULE WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DO YOU HAVE TO CORRECT THE INJUSTICE OF THEIR SYSTEM?
>> IF YOU ANSWER THAT YOU DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY.
>> WASNT AMERICAN INSERTION INTO GLOBAL POLITICS WHAT CAUSED THE HATRED FOR THE WEST?
>> HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE FIGHTING ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND NOT HELPING THOSE WHO WILL DEVELOP A REPRESSIVE REGIME?
>> IS IRAN A REPRESSIVE REGIME?

POST REVOLUTION>>IF THOSE WHO TAKE POWER, AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL OCCUPY WALL STREET COLLAPSE, BETRAYED THE REVOLUTION AND THE PEOPLE BY NOT FOLLOWING THE PLAN (THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN DEVELOPED) WHAT SHOULD THE PEOPLE DO?
>>WOULD THOSE NEW LEADERS STEP DOWN OR WOULD AN EVENT LIKE THIS NEED TO BE STAGED AGAIN TO FORCE THEM OUT?
>>IF THEY DIDN’T VOLUNTARILY STEP DOWN WOULD YOU SEEK TO HAVE THEM ARRESTED?
>>IS VIOLENCE AN OPTION TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF REVOLUTION?
>>CAN YOU SOLVE VIOLENCE WITH VIOLENCE?
>>SHOULD THE PEOPLE BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A GUN IN CASE THOSE IN CHARGE DID BETRAY THE REVOLUTION?
>>IF YES, WHY.
>>IF YES, WHY DOES THIS NOT APPLY TODAY?
>>IF NO, WHO AUTHORIZES THE USE OF FORCE AND WHAT FORCE IS ALLOWED?
>>WHO PROTECTS THE IDEA OR YET TO BE FORMED IDEAS OF THE NEW REVOLUTIONARY DEMOCRACY?
>>WHO WOULD ARREST THOSE WHO BETRAYED THE REVOLUTION IF THE SYSTEM HAS COLLAPSED AND THE COPS WERE >>ALL EITHER FIRED OR JAILED?
>>ARE JAILS NEEDED?
>>IF YES, WHO RUNS THE NEW DEMOCRATIC JAILS FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX?

>>ASSUMING THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE CITIZENS POLICE FORCE ENACTED TO REPLACE THE CORRUPT SYSTEM THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WHAT SYSTEM OF TRIAL WOULD YOU ENGAGE?
>>CHE SAID “WE DON’T NEED A TRIAL TO CONVICT THE GUILTY”. DO YOU AGREE?
>>IF NO, WOULD THERE BE A JURY?
>>WHO WOULD BE THE JUDGE?
>>WHAT WOULD THE RULES OF EVIDENCE BE?
>>WILL THE PEOPLE HAVE RIGHTS?
>>WHAT ARE THEY?
>>HAVE THEY BEEN WRITTEN DOWN ANYWHERE?
>>IF NO, BECAUSE YOU WERE PLANNING ON DOING THAT AFTER THE COLLAPSE, IF THE ABOVE SCENARIO PLAYED OUT WOULD YOU REGRET THAT DECISION?
>>IF YES, WHAT WERE THEY BASED ON?

>>WHERE DO MANS RIGHTS COME FROM?
>>IF THEY COME FROM A COMMITTEE OR LEADERS, WHY THEN CANT THE LEADERS YOU NOW SAY BETRAYED THE REVOLUTION CHANGE YOUR RIGHTS AND DECLARE YOU A TRAITOR TO THE REVOLUTION?
>>HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED IN HISTORY?
>>IF YES, WHERE?
>>WHAT WERE THE CONDITIONS?
>>WHERE THERE WARNING SIGNS?
>>DO ANY OF THOSE SIGNS EXIST NOW?

ENERGY>>NOW THAT THE ECONOMY HAS COLLAPSED IN AMERICA BUT NOT SOMEHOW EFFECTED THE REST OF THE WORLD, HOW >>CAN WE AFFORD MIDDLE EASTERN OIL TO BUY GASOLINE?

IF YOU SAY WE CANNOT AFFORD GASOLINE AND THAT IS A GOOD THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, LET’S FOR ARGUMENT SAKE AGREE:

>> HOW DO WE FUEL TRACTORS FOR FARMING ON THE SCALE NEEDED TO FEED THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND ELSE WHERE?
>> HOW IS SAID FOOD TRUCKED TO STORES HERE IN NEW YORK IF TRUCKERS COULDN’T AFFORD FUEL?
>> HOW DO YOUR PARENTS GET FOOD FROM THE STORE TO THEIR HOME?

>>NOW THAT THE POLICE FORCE HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A CITIZEN PATROL, ARE YOUR PARENTS SAFE WALKING THE STREETS WITH FOOD IN AN AREA AFTER THE CURRENCY HAS JUST COLLAPSED?
>> IF ONE OF THEM WERE HURT OR KILLED DUE TO A SCENARIO LIKE THIS, WOULD YOU BE IN ANYWAY RESPONSIBLE?
>> IF THEY WERE HURT AND COULDN’T RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT IN TIME BECAUSE THE EMS COULDN’T AFFORD GAS FOR THE AMBULANCE WOULD YOU IN ANY WAY BE RESPONSIBLE?
>> HOW WOULD THE HOSPITALS PAY DOCTORS AND EMS WITHOUT A CURRENCY?
>> WHY WOULD DOCTORS OR NURSES BE AT WORK?
>> TO ENSURE THEY DID GO TO WORK, WHO WOULD PROTECT AND FEED THEIR FAMILIES WHILE THEY SERVED?
> HOW DO THE DOCTORS AFFORD GAS TO GO TO WORK?
>> WHAT SYSTEM OF ELECTRICITY IS RUNNING THE HOSPITALS?

CRONY CAPITALISM
DEFINE CRONY CAPITALISM.
>> WHEN THE GOVT TOOK OVER GM, GAVE ALL THE BANKS TARP MONEY AND ALLOWED COMPANIES LIKE GE PAY NO TAXES WHILE MAKING BILLIONS AND SHIPPING JOBS OVERSEAS – IS THAT CRONY SOCIALISM, CRONY CAPITALISM OR CRONY STATISM?
>> IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?

IN ALL THREE SCENARIOS WHAT IS THE PROBLEM, THE SYSTEM OR THE CRONYISM?>> WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO END CRONYISM?
>> HAS YOUR APPROACH EVER BEEN TRIED BEFORE?
>> IF YES, LIST ALL EXAMPLES OF ATTEMPTS FAILED AND SUCCESSFUL.
>> WHY DID THEY FAIL?
>> HOW DID THOSE THAT FAILED BEGIN?
>> WHO LEAD THE WAY ON THOSE FAILED ATTEMPTS?
>> HOW DID THOSE WHO BEGAN THE REVOLUTION FAIR IN THE NEW SYSTEMS?
>> WHO IS THOMAS PAINE?
>> WHAT WAS HIS ROLE IN THE FRENCH REVOLUTION?
>> WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
>> WHAT DID HE LEARN ABOUT REVOLUTIONS?
>> HOW DID THE FRENCH REVOLUTION END?
>> WHO TOOK POWER IN FRANCE?
>> WAS THAT GOOD OR BAD FOR THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE?
>> WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN AMERICA?
>> DO YOU HAVE HOSTILE FEELINGS ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS? WHY?

IF YOU ARE READING IN A GROUP OF LIKE MINDED, OPEN MINDED AND EDUCATED PEOPLE — TAKE NOTE – HAVE THEY PROVOKED ANY SERIOUS DISCUSSION. IF NOT WHY?>> IF SO, DID YOU DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO GET THOSE IN WASHINGTON TO INVESTIGATE AND ARREST THOSE WHO WILL NOT “CHANGE” AND BEGIN TO DO BUSINESS IN A LEGAL AND NON CORRUPT WAY?
>> WHY DIDNT THAT WORK?

IF YOU ARE NOT PLANNING ON THEM HOLDING ON TO POWER PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:A). WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE? WILL THEY BE YOU? OR THE LEADERS YOU HAVE NOT YET CHOSEN?
B). HOW WILL YOU ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO DO TAKE POWER ARE NOT CURRENTLY PART OF THE PROBLEM?
C). WHO WILL FUND THE UNIVERSITIES, HEALTHCARE, K-12 EDUCATION, HOMELESS, AND POOR WHILE A NEW SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO STABILIZE THE POPULATION, REPLACE THE CORRUPT SYSTEM OF CORPORATISM, BIG MEDICINE, BIG OIL AND BIG FARMS
D). WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE MILITARY AND THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich - Economic disaster begets social unrest

In his seminal work The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, William Shirer recounts how the struggling Weimar Republic printed its way out of reparation debt from World War I. Out-of-control printing caused the German mark to fall from 75 per dollar in 1921, to more than 4 billion just 3-years later.

Talk about chaos. After a brief period of credit-fueled economic respite, the onset of the global depression in 1929 had people in the streets clamoring for change. Hitler's National Socialism promised the world... and under such economic distress, people believed him.

There are two important lessons here. First is that hyperinflation comes very quickly. Confidence languishes for months, even years... until one day the currency begins to slide, slowly at first, then exponentially.

The second is what followed. Economic disaster begets social unrest, the two are inextricably linked. Populist rebellions and roving gangs became a constant presence in the republic.

It's at this point, when people are really hurting, they're the most impressionable. They're looking for somebody, anybody, to lead them out of the turmoil. What they got was a charismatic leader with a grand plan.

Here in Cambodia, a similar story unfolded in the 1970s. 

Years of constant American B-52 bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War took its toll on the country. Over 500,000 tons of bombs were dropped on Cambodia during the war.  By the time the last US forces withdrew from Vietnam in 1975, nearly three-quarters of Cambodia's agrarian economy was destroyed. 

Malnourishment and starvation were rampant, and Cambodians were ready to follow anyone with a plan.

Pol Pot's agrarian socialism struck a chord. After years of civil war, Cambodia's economic ruin opened the door for his communist forces to take over the country.

Just like Germany in 1930, economic hardship swayed just enough people to allow a criminal madman's rise to power. Neither case required a popular majority, but merely a critical mass of vocal activists. The rest of the country either fell in line or was exterminated.

Under both regimes, people never got what they expected. Pol Pot waged mass genocide on his own people, murdering as much as a third of Cambodia's population. Teachers, doctors, students, artists... anyone who could possibly pose a threat was neutralized.

I've had the opportunity to learn first hand about many of these cases during my times here. And not far from Phnom Penh, the infamous killing fields are still littered with human remains. 

History is full of examples of governments taking draconian action in times of economic-fueled social turmoil. Faced with terrible circumstances, people cry out for their governments to 'do something'. Politicians happily oblige. 

It's concerning right now to see the early stages of economic decline spawning populist uprisings; most are being met with unconscionable force by the police state.

Mark Twain used to say that while history may not repeat itself, it certainly rhymes. I'd encourage you to think clearly about what's really happening in the world, and not simply write off such events as temporary aberrations.

Let me be even more clear: it's not crazy to have a plan. You're not a lunatic for considering your international options. In a world fraught with so much uncertainty, it's the only sane choice.

Until tomorrow,
 

Simon Black
Senior Editor, SovereignMan.com

Here's my "Herman Cain" 999 Disaster Readiness Plan...it's just me...oh, and Glenn Beck :)

It finally hit me, I don't care about politics, really.  I'm clear that politicians are not going to solve these problems.  Don't get me wrong, I'm going to stay informed, I'm going to vote, but the problems we are facing are not going to be solved with the coming vote in 2012.  The reality is that we're going to solve these problems ourselves.  We have to take responsibility to take control of our futures and fix the issues the way we know how.  So, what's the plan...well, I don't know your plan so I'm going to share my plan.

Here's a list of things I'm planning on doing myself.  Here's a question, how do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.  People may mock me, but I don't really care.  I apologize to any of my family and friends where I've made you feel uncomfortable or if I've made it more difficult to maintain a relationship.  This is not panic, but there is a sense of urgency around doing this, so I'm praying for a miracle but planning for disaster.

"Our current economic path is unsustainable" has been said by an incredible list of everyone on the left and the right, and the warning has been unanimous...they are all warning of total economic collapse.  The warning I'm giving you now is not my words, but their words.  They aren't giving you solutions, so I'm going to share my plans.  You may not like what I've got to say and a lot of people won't do it because they don't want to think about it.  I've written before about situational blindness and the normalcy bias, so if you've read anything I've written I hope you're at least willing to consider the possibility that you can't get hurt by having a plan.

When Al Gore says, "the debate is over, it is unanimous...there is severe danger ahead" I tend to agree with him - I know, hard to believe, huh?

Raaammmmiiiinnnggggg ssssppppeeeeedddddd!!!!!! Brace for impact my friends.  There's no fairy with magic pixy dust or a magic wand who is magically going to solve this...there is no government solution coming, there's no way that politicians or bureaucrats are going to be able to create solutions faster than the rate at which our society is decaying and the rate at which evil is accelerating its agenda.

Once the proverbial crap hits the fan, you are going to have a maximum of 72 hours to be at your "survive in place" location after that crisis...is that enough time for you to adequately prepare.  Obviously not, so better get cracking.  Why 72 hours?  Because that's how long it's going to take before the looters realize the police aren't coming and you're fair game.

Reuters identifies Soros as the instigator behind Occupy Wall Street...is that any surprise at this point?  If you read history...revolutions, especially those of socialist/communist/marxist origination ALWAYS end in violence.

Illinois Rep Jesse Jackson, did you see this story yesterday?  http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/12/jackson-obama-should-declare-a-national-emergency-add-jobs-with-extra-constitutional-action/ calling on Obama to call a special emergency and to exercise "extraordinary" means of administrative controls because "congress is in rebellion" and encourages Obama in continuing to find ways to advance the cause of the American people.

Am I in a parallel universe where I'm the only one that sees this as a major red flag?

It was Israel who broke the news to us about the Iranian Terror attempt, not the U.S. intelligence community.

Center for American Progress just 'happpened' to be the location from where, Hillary Clinton, speaking about the Iran situation announced her verbal tongue lashing against this terrorist nation, really?

What about the massive Blackberry outage?  It started in Europe, went through Canada and then the U.S.  Three days of a major outage where there is supposedly triple redundancy in the system?

What is critically important is that you are responsible for discovering the truth because it is not being told to you.  Our Republic is under direct attack.  So...here are the steps - directly taken from Glenn Beck:

MONEY:
1. Gold, Food, Cig, Liquor, Sugar, Guns, Ammo, Seeds
2. Skills, Barter, Alliances
3. 30 Days Cash on Hand (if banking system goes down, you're out of luck, no ATMS working - think about Katrina)
4. Knowledge (is money, is power) build, fix, design, real value in education
5. Buy a House with Farmland (true water source)
   LOCATION - No Place Untouched
   Texas, Mountains, God
   If cannot Move - Alliances (create a network of those you know who can help)
6. Stop ALL excess spending
7. Choose Quality Durability/Fixable over fad and fashion
8. Measure 2x, Cut Once, do not waste anything
9. Fuel efficient, not to save the planet, but if we go to war in the Middle East - gas could go to $10 per gallon
10. Truck-SUV (pre 1979) take it off road, get around obstacles, durable, and something which has parts you can repair not relying on electronics that you can fix yourself.

TRADITIONS:
1. Preserve truth
2. Shed Commercial

ELECTRONICS: (assume e-bomb, electronic crash)
1. Paper Documents - Take W/(Deeds, Notes, Contracts, Bank Statements)
2. Reduce/Remove/Simplify (do not become completely dependent)

EDUCATION:
1. Apprenticeships
2. Discuss Value of the School/What Can You Earn?  Is it worth it?
3. No Labels (Yale, Harvard) what do you get at the end of it?
4. Other Options (online)
5. Faith Education
6. College is NOT a given, not even a requirement in a sane society, trade schools are fine
7. Demand Merit from the school or GET OUT!  if they're not teaching and doing the job you're paying them
8. Always read, educate yourself
9. Hard copy of classic books
10. Learn old and lost practices like mending, canning, farming
12. Learn to fix an engine
13. Relearn and teach your children how to read a map
14. Stay up on True News
15. Know other side - if you don't know the arguments, if you can't state the other sides opinion, you can't argue against it.

BIZ/JOB
1.  Do your best, what's stopping you from being better?
2.  Be irreplacable, be the one that they can't cut in downsizing
3.  Be the product or service no one can cancel
4.  Learn from Depression
    - conserve/preserve
    - advertise (chevy) 10-1 Ford outspent before the depression,
    - downsize to help
5.  George Bailey
6.  Honesty, Integrity, Charity
7.  Spit yourself out of the system, innovate - highest spike of innovation in the 20th century came out of the Depression, the mother of invention
8.  Put Your Money where your Heart is.  don't put money with people who don't share your values.
9.  Do Business in symbiotic ways, we're all going to be in trouble and we're going to have to work together.  If I help you...you'll help me.
10.  Do Not try to put others out of business
11.  Gimbles/Macys
12.  Never be the smartest in the room
13.  Take care of employees
14.  give more/take less
15.  Read Franklin/Washington, find the people who are remarkable to you

LIFE
1.  Do not plan & move
    Plan - Pray - Obey
2. Practice Franklins Religion, i don't care what your faith is, we have to stop trying to baptize each other - we have to be more interested in loving each other than saving each other.  I want to be at a church who loves me for who I am, I want to be around people who respect me, honor me and love me for who I am.
3. Honor All obligations, be honorable
4. Draw your children close
5. Teach/Live Values
6. Do with Less Now
7. Serve and Share
8. Link up with 9/12 - phone, map
9. Have a meeting place, don't gather where others say to gather
10. Read Bible daily
11. Have a Gun, know how to shoot it
12. Resolve Inner Conflicts
13. Stop all Behavior that doesn't expand me into a better person
14. Make amends/find peace - get to work
15. Teach your children work ethic (I'm so proud of my kids, they GET IT!!!)
16. Tolerate nothing that you feel is wrong by remaining silent, you don't have to make a scene or fight, just leave IMMEDIATELY - vote with your feet, GET OUT
17. Never feed anger - righteous anger is all well and good, but we are rarely capable of that, we have to avoid giving in to anger...be more interested in loving than in being right.

It's never the first look that is the problem, it is the second look that leads to trouble

For my kids...BE happy and optimistic...life goes on, make plans for the future, get married and have children, raise your family...but always have a backup/disaster readiness plan, then you'll never be at someone else's mercy.

Not sure why...but the last thing Glenn said was to...

Sing songs

Thailand has an interesting export for us...you'll never guess

Parts of Thailand have experienced terrible flooding lately, and much of the country's production shut down as a result. Thailand makes everything from tire factories to hard disk drive manufacturers to rice... and given the slowdown in the economy, it couldn't have come at a worse time.


Not to worry, though, the government has a plan to fix it. Let me explain:


Thailand's central bank is sitting on roughly $212 billion in net foreign reserves right now. That's up 37% from last year and nearly 80% from 2009. Curiously, it all starts with Ben Bernanke.


When Ben Bernanke conjures trillions of new dollars out of thin air for QEx, that money has to end up somewhere... usually the Treasury Department or banks. (you may recall that banks were able to swap their worthless toxic securities for Bernanke's worthless dollars-- a truly bizarre trade...)


As funds make their way into the banking system, money managers often deploy those new dollars overseas to developing markets where the expected rate of return is much higher than in developed economies. 


Thailand is one of the largest economies in Asia and is capable of absorbing large capital flows. Neighboring Laos, for example, only has a $6 billion economy. You can't move $10 billion into Laos without seriously moving the needle. Conversely, Thailand's GDP is $247 billion, making it more suitable for large investments. 


Even with the size of Thailand economy's, though, the inflow of foreign funds has pressured the Thai baht. As Thailand is an export-oriented economy, nobody here wants a strong baht.


Thailand's central bank has aggressively fought the baht's appreciation. Taking a page from Bernanke's playbook, the bank has suppressed interest rates below the rate of inflation while simultaneously creating billions of new currency units with which to buy all the new US dollars flowing into the country. 


This is how the bank ended up with an 80% surge in foreign reserves from 2009-- it simply printed new baht to purchase the newly printed dollars. 


Thai people are not fooled by this trickery. Unlike brainwashed westerners who believe in their worthless paper, Thai people know that fiat money is a scam. Even the poorest Thais occasionally buy a few grams of gold with whatever savings they can scrap together on expectations of inflation.


They've turned out to be right; prices are rising. All of the new money ends up somewhere, and with interest rates below the rate of inflation, businesses, consumers, and banks all have an incentive to constantly redeploy funds.


The real estate sector has been the net beneficiary of this frenzy. Hell, everyone knows it's a bubble... the government, the developers, and even all but the most dim-witted customers. 


Developers are feverishly building as quickly as possible, sacrificing quality for speed, so that they can finish and collect the customer's money before the bubble bursts. It's like watching a live game of musical chairs.


Thailand now finds itself between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, the country is faced with rising inflation and a number of bubbles. On the other, it faces a declining economy. Orders from China, Europe, and the US have slowed, and the domestic economy isn't developed enough to tighten the slack.


Production shutdowns from the recent flooding certainly haven't helped.


The government's solution? Print money and put it directly into people's pockets by overpaying peasant rice farmers. 


Under the government's new plan, local farmers will receive the equivalent of roughly 40% more than the market price for rice. Anyone who slept through high school economics can tell you that price controls don't work. This is the stuff that feeds inflation, creates shortages, and misallocates production resources. 


Needless to say, there are global implications when one of the world's biggest producers and exporters goes down the path of inflation. 


This is exactly what happens when a government with access to cheap credit meets with an opportunity to launch a populist agenda. As President Obama's former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said, "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste."


Thailand's flooding is a crisis, no doubt. Populist-driven inflation will be an even greater economic crisis. Make no mistake, when inflation comes home to roost in North America, it will be exported from countries like Thailand. 


This is an early sign that Mr. Bernanke is about to get some of those dollars back.


SOURCE:
Simon Black
Senior Editor, www.SovereignMan.com