Kendell Lang Social Media Optimization Guru

Why the MegaUpload.com situation matters to U.S. Small Business Owners

2012-01-23T09:35:00.000-08:00

With over 150 million registered users, the file sharing site MegaUpload.com is one of the most popular on the Internet. At least, it was.

Megaupload's website was shut with no notice from the government and no opportunity to challenge it in court. Megaupload Ltd., registered in Hong Kong, is the website's owner of record, according to the indictment. The locales of its computer servers with the allegedly illegal content included Ashburn, Virginia, and Washington, according to the indictment.

The site has now been seized by the US government and its homepage converted to an FBI anti-piracy warning. Its founder, a high tech entrepreneur named Kim Dotcom (yes, he had it legally changed), was arrested in New Zealand after his homes were raided and assets seized.

These actions were all at the behest of the US government. And it's just the latest example of Big Brother overextending its authority across the entire world.

Megaupload is advertised as having more than 1 billion visits to the site, more than 150 million registered users, 50 million daily visitors, and accounts for 4 percent of Internet traffic, prosecutors said.

Megaupload paid millions of dollars in incentives to subscribers to the site, who were rewarded for uploading content that others could then use, according to the indictment.

A survey released in December of 1,600 corporate customers of Palo Alto Networks Inc., a computer security company, found 57 percent of the companies had workers who spent some time trading film clips and games on Megaupload.

The indictment contains one count of racketeering, one count of conspiring to commit copyright infringement, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering and two counts of criminal copyright infringement.

The racketeering and money laundering charges carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison while the copyright infringement charges have maximum five-year penalties.

Prosecutors said the conspiracy was led by Kim Dotcom, a 37-year-old resident of Hong Kong and New Zealand, and a dual citizen of Finland and Germany, who had legally changed his last name. Dotcom founded Megaupload Ltd. and is the director and sole shareholder of Vestor Ltd., according to the indictment.

In 2010, Dotcom received more than $42 million from the conspiracy, the indictment alleges. Dotcom, who also goes by Kim Schmitz and Kim Tim Jim Vestor, was one of those arrested.

When police arrived at Dotcom's Auckland home, he entered his house and activated electronic locks, Detective Inspector Grant Wormald said in a statement today. Police neutralized the locks and then had to cut their way into a safe room, where Dotcom was found with what looked like a sawed-off shotgun, Wormald said.

"It was definitely not as simple as knocking at the front door," Wormald said.

New Zealand police said they carried out 10 search warrants and seized 18 luxury vehicles, including a Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe and a 1959 pink Cadillac. The vehicles are valued at NZ$6 million. Police said as much as NZ$11 million in cash was restrained in various accounts.

Last week, I posted information about efforts to stop passage of the SOPA/PIPA legislation that would give the US government jurisdiction over the Internet. Wikipedia blacked out its English language pages to raise awareness of the issue, and people went completely nuts.

Congress subsequently withdrew the bills amid popular outcry, and the public rejoiced that their efforts successfully thwarted further encroachment on their liberty. Or so they thought.

On the exact same day that everyone was celebrating victory over SOPA/PIPA, the US government simply used another set of regulations to nab Dotcom and seize his assets. The fact that SOPA was scrapped turned out to be completely irrelevant, they just found other rules to apply (or break).

As usual, it's probably not legal. But such technicalities don't matter in the 'guilty until proven innocent' system in which we live. Executive agencies exercise extreme latitude when confiscating assets, and victims often don't have the opportunity to address the matter in front of a judge for years, if ever.

In Dotcom's case, the man probably won't even successfully make it past the extradition process for at least a year... let alone bring the issue to trial. The government is using its bureaucracy to completely circumvent due process and make an example of somebody that they consider a nuisance.

So why should they care? What interest could the US government possibly have in a silly file sharing site? None. But the entertainment industry does.

You see, we don't live in a representative democracy. Democracy is an illusion to make people believe that they're free. Instead, it's blocs of large corporations who are really in control. If the entertainment business wants Kim Dotcom to go away, the government will invent or break any law necessary to make it happen. They're all in bed together.

What's more, it doesn't matter which group or party is in power. Democrat or Republican, Labour or Conservative, Liberal or New Democratic... they're all for sale. Citizens concern themselves with the outcome of elections, investing heavy emotional and financial support for 'their guy'. Companies just wait it out and buy off whichever candidates win.

Kim Dotcom, though a wealthy and successful entrepreneur, was essentially a lone wolf standing against the entire industry. Rather than find ways to work with him in what is clearly emerging as a dominant media platform, they chose to eliminate him... by having the US government send the New Zealand government to arrest him and seize his assets.

About an hour after the indictments were unsealed, the public websites of the Justice Department, the Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America wouldn’t load. The hacker-activist group known as Anonymous took credit for the disruptions, citing the Megaupload prosecutions, according to Twitter accounts used to publicize the group’s activities. The sites were disabled by a so-called directed denial of service attack, which floods websites with so much traffic that they temporarily crash without harming network systems or giving attackers access to confidential information.

It's mind numbing when you really think about it.

Ultimately, Dotcom may successfully find his way back to a normal life after years in court and perhaps some time in jail. In the meantime, though, his case certainly makes a strong argument for flying under the radar. It's a stark reminder that, if they really want to get you, they'll apply, invent, or break whatever laws are necessary to do so.

Social Media Marketing and the impact of Social Video

2012-01-18T15:10:00.000-08:00

Why Is Video So Important?

Don't take our word for it. See what others are saying about the power of online video!

"New York Times Highlights Advantages Of Online Video For Small Business"
http://www.varvid.com/2011/03/new-york-times-highlights-advantages-of-online-video-for-small-businesses/

"27 Benefits of Online Video"
http://www.sitepoint.com/27-benefits-of-online-video/

"Why You Should Use Online Video Advertising For Business"
http://www.famousbloggers.net/online-video-advertising-business.html

"5 Benefits Of Online Video Marketing"
http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Benefits-Of-Online-Video-Marketing&id=858538

"B2B:The Benefits Of Online Video"
http://www.onlinevideo.net/2010/09/b2b-the-benefits-of-online-video/

"Does Online Video Sacrifice SEO Benefits?"
http://www.davidrisley.com/does-online-video-sacrifice-seo-benefits/

"Explore The Benefits Of Online Video Optimization"
http://www.industrialsearchenginemarketing.com/blog/2009/02/03/explore-the-benefits-of-online-video-optimization/

Our goal is to provide our clients with a marketing tool that can be used to promote their business online, provide a powerful and positive impact to their SEO (search engine optimization) and allow customers to meet the face behind their business. That’s why we are excited to provide our clients with what is quickly becoming the most powerful tool on the internet, a video!

WHO: You, the Local Expert and Small Business Owner

WHAT: As a Guest Expert via Skype Video Interview

WHERE: Online at WorldClassTV

WHEN: At your convenience, from the comfort of your home or office

WHY: Creating videos is great way to increase the potential of being found on searches for your products, company, industry, or services, at least on Google. Google now incorporates video results into its Web search, specifically those videos hosted on YouTube, which is an affiliate.

Let me ask you the following questions:

Did you know that having effective video on your website is the best way to "be real" for prospects?
Do you have a YouTube Channel for your business?
Do you know how many videos are viewed on YouTube every day?

If you are following any of the major marketing guru's these days, there is a consistent encouragement to return to"being real". There is no better way to "be real" with your target customers than to share who you are in a video.

A video message is much more appreciated because it feels more personal to your target audience. Instead of reading words, they can see your facial expressions, smiles and other emotions you wish to convey. Plus, a video could make them feel as if they’re talking to you.

You can also engage your customers by requesting them to send in their videos, such as a video of themselves talking about your service and the great experience they've had with you.

And lastly, there is a great new way for you to be presented in a "real" format by being interviewed through the WorldClassTV Social Media Internet Show.

Be A Guest Expert on WorldClassTV

If you have been watching the news recently you've likely seen the increased use of Skype to remotely interview Guest Experts. If you have a laptop computer with a video camera, we can provide you with a great new Guest Expert Video personalized for your business. This video is produced at your convenience, no travel involved and done at a time convenient for your schedule.

30 minute to 50 minute "Infomercial" TV Interviewers are charging $12,000 to $15,000 to produce this type of Guest Expert Interview and are then charging you thousands of dollars per month for local cable distribution. Our production costs are a fraction of this, and we will give you the source video for you to freely distribute through your social network. We will also host your video on our Internet Channel at no additional cost!

Link to WorldClassTV Show Opener

Your Skype Video Interview

We have developed a very convenient and cost-effective way to interactively interview you from the convenience of your home or office. The Skype Video Interview Package is available for a limited time. This promotional pricing is being done for $297 USD which includes the following:

30 Minute Personalized Interview
Questions Provided in Advance
Your graphics and logo included in the video
Call-to-Action Close with Your Contact Info
Royalty Free Background Music included
Review and Approval of Final Video
Full Length Video included
Short Promotional Video included
Source Video File for both is Yours.

Link to Order Your Skype Video Interview

Social Media Marketing is being greatly impacted by Social Video, and our unique Skype Video Interview lets you get the benefit of being interviewed as a "Guest Expert" on the WorldClassTV Social Media Show.

100,000,000 – that is the # of YouTube videos viewed per day- is your Small Business Video on that list?

A recent survey of more than 3300 participants titled the State of Social Media Marketing found that 77% of social media marketers plan to increase their focus on video marketing in 2012.

The only option is to start with ourselves

2012-01-17T09:52:00.001-08:00

But, I wasn’t successful.
So I decided to change the country.
But, I wasn’t successful.
So I decided to change my community.
But, I wasn’t successful.
So I decided to change my street.
But, be wasn’t successful.
So I decided to change my family.
But, I wasn’t successful.
So I decided to change myself.
AND I WAS SUCCESSFUL (still a work in progress) :).
AND MY FAMILY CHANGED AND THEY AFFECTED THEIR STREET.
AND THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET AFFECTED THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY AFFECTED THEIR COUNTRY.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY AFFECTED THE WORLD.

Folks, the system remains intact just as our founders envisioned, but it has been corrupted by flawed men. The only way we are going to allow our system to work the way it was designed is to change ourselves and hold ourselves to the standards which we know to be true.

Look at the bondholders of GM who were unilaterally wiped out regardless of priority contracts, look at the little investors in MF Global who got wiped out but JP Morgan and Goldman were made whole (even approved by the BK judge and unlike Bernie Madoff, Corzine gets off scott free) ...when WE became a nation of men deciding who are the winners and losers WE allowed those corrupt men to change us from being a nation of laws. When the President is openly bypassing Congress to implement his own agenda and no one cares (and useful idiots applaud not even realizing that the President is fundamentally undermining the Constitution)...we are getting what we deserve for not standing up for the system with which we were entrusted. Until we are willing to hold each other accountable to the law...our system is truly lost.

We have but one more exit on the highway to destruction...I hope the great people of these United States see the signs and are willing to take the exit and get off this fast lane to societal ruin.

Happy New Year and Bye Bye to 2011!

2011-12-30T18:07:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

Social implications of economic collapse - why this isn't fixable

2011-12-28T10:48:00.000-08:00

Simply put, the United States and much of Europe are borrowing an extraordinary amount of money now just to pay interest on the money they've already borrowed. They cannot even self-fund their mandatory entitlement programs without going into the hole, and their options are limited:

Option 1: Continue borrowing, keep the party going.

As long as the government CAN do this, they WILL do this. Regardless of their intentions, though, more debt only worsens the situation, creating higher borrowing costs in the long run, and even more debt. As this happens, the pool of buyers begins to dry up, especially from overseas.

Option 2: Inflation

The more buyers stop purchasing Treasury securities, the more the Federal Reserve will mop up the excess liquidity. In doing so, the Fed essentially conjures up money and loans it to the government. This leads to the coming destruction of the dollar.

No matter what the government monkey statistics say, this is inflationary, plain and simple. The more money they print, the greater the level of inflation in the long-term. Meanwhile, as foreigners simultaneously reduce their US dollar holdings, this inflation will become more acutely felt in the US.

Option 3: Austerity

There's going to come a time when the US government is forced to face its economic reality and make some incredibly deep cuts that would be felt across society, from Wall Street and the military industrial complex to project housing on the other side of the tracks.

Option 4: Default

Eventually, the debt burden is simply going to be too much, and the most obvious solution will be to default. Politicians will make China out to be the enemy and they will probably invent a war just to have an excuse to default on Chinese owned debt. Americans will wave the flag and celebrate defaulting on their enemies.

Option 5: Economic Cannibalism

In the best traditions of Atlas Shrugged, the government will continue its persecution of the productive class- professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers. Existing taxes will rise, new taxes will be created, trade barriers will be enacted, and a maze of cost prohibitive regulations will be passed.

The first option (keeping the party going) is what has been happening for years. Politicians make small concessions to show they're "serious" about fiscal discipline, cutting laughably small programs while dumping hundreds of billions of dollars into wars and entitlement programs.

The worse the debt situation becomes, though, the higher the borrowing costs become, and the worse the debt situation becomes. It's not an enviable position. Existing lenders will continue backing away from the US Treasury market, giving option 1 a half-life measured in months at best.

In the longer term, only options 2-5 remain: inflation, austerity, default, and cannibalism. Each of these remaining options will shake the financial system to its core. More importantly, each of these has the power to create widespread social upheaval.

When inflation eats away at a family's already meager standard of living, when austerity eliminates the benefits to which recipients have grown accustomed, when default vanquishes a retiree's savings, when high taxes make workers feel like they're just government serfs- this is when the real turmoil will begin:

* Rising crime: devoid of a job or means to support their families, people will turn to crime out of desperation

* Class warfare: with dividing lines drawn between have's vs. have-not's, it will become unpopular and even dangerous to be successful

* Corruption: low-level public service officials will look to supplement their income through bribery and kickbacks

* Black economy: An underground, cash-only (probably gold or foreign currency) economy will emerge with people getting paid in envelopes

* Censorship: Of course they'll blame it on national security, but the idea will be to prevent public disparaging of government policy

* War: The government will need another major event to distract people from the real problems

* Protests/Riots: This is when things turn bloody

* Police state conditions: The government will close ranks and send the cops out to show all the little people who's really in charge

There are a number of other manifestations, and many are already showing signs of emergence. The US and European police states are alive and well. Crime is on the rise.

In Europe, cops are doing battle in the streets with their citizens. Think it can't happen in the US? Remember tanks in the streets during the LA riots? Remember New Orleans? Remember any number of G8/G20 protests?

Here's the bottom line: all you have to do is glance at the headlines to see what happens when you strip people of their livelihood, of their ability to put food on the table for their families.

The US has been able to kick the can down the road with the most blunt social implications simply because the country benefits so much from a US-oriented financial system. This is coming to an end very, very quickly.

As a rule of thumb, the greater the economic distortion, the harder the collapse. The US economy has been in a fantasy world for so long, and when its dominant primacy is yanked away, the collapse will be at freefall speed.

Listen... I'm not talking about the end of the world here, I'm talking about difficult times ahead, and the things that go beyond economics. It's time to face facts and look at how society will change (and has already changed).

Will you be prepared or caught unaware?

Why Politicians Don't Matter - and Other Christmas Fairy Tales I Wish Were True

2011-12-17T09:15:00.000-08:00

Call me cynical, but tell me if you haven't had any of these thoughts.

There are people who are constantly reminding us that the current way of things is unacceptable...and that they need (or are the only ones with the real solution) to fix it. Without their improving, their constant drive to liberate us from the horror of having to think for ourselves and to accept responsibility for our own actions, we’d be left in a worse situation than that in which we now find ourselves. Clearly, we first need to distance ourselves from the “world improver” class. So let’s make sure to discard them from the debate. Oh wait...is there anyone left standing?

Not that politicians don’t have some utility. It’s easy and amusing to poke fun at them, to chide them and harangue their idiotic decisions. And one can indulge this guilty pleasure in so very many ways, there's just so much material to work with it's hard to know where to begin. You just can't make this stuff up!

It’s amusing, for example, to invent various forms of alternative employment for randomly chosen demagogues and sociopaths currently in the government's employ... tasks more befitting of their respective skill sets. One could, without too much difficulty, imagine Secretary of State Hillary Clinton selling fridge magnets from a tin tray at a busy intersection on a hot, midsummer’s afternoon. Picture for a moment the scuffed Ferragamos underfoot, the grey, late ’90s-cut pants suit, mottled with perspiration in all the most unflattering areas, the usually well-coiffed mop frantically frizzing in the humidity, mascara running like Rocky the Raccoon and a thin layer of smog and car soot blowing over those deeply entrenched frown lines, augmenting the lifeless facial landscape like shifting sands across some barren desert.

Fun, huh?

But so what? Beyond a moment’s entertainment, the time and effort spent conjuring such a frightful image is hardly worth the reward. And besides, when you do inevitably stir from your fitful daydream, you’re left with the cold, gut-punch reality that this woman is not offering anything of even moderate use, nor is she putting her considerable (stolen) wealth and (coerced) power behind anything of marketable value. Instead, she is busy waging an “information war” on your behalf, furnishing would-be enemies around the globe with exactly the kind of motivation their own warped doctrines require to justify the pursuit of violence against citizens who happen to hold a US passport.

We really have no voice in the US presidential elections, and I've shared before my belief that the right and the left are equally corrupt. It is rare for a decent man (collective man, not to exclude the smarter half - and I really do like Michele Bachman) to seek public office. He is ashamed of pandering. He is embarrassed by the stupidity of his own slogans. He is appalled by the low-lifes and quasi criminals with whom he must associate and from whom he must beg support. The Repubican elite had already made up their mind about Mitt Romney being the heir apparent, but the surge of the Newt has put a monkey wrench in what otherwise seemed to be a lock. Now, how do you think all that happened?

The new choice is now Republican Newt Gingrich. Of course, some people find him completely repulsive, you may as well. But he does appear to be the man of the hour. You could argue that history needs him, to carry on the work of Bush and Obama, hustling the great nation on its way to oblivion.

They are all swarming around Newt Gingrich now. The handlers, pollsters, word polishers, idea chiselers, fund raisers, donors, hangers on, groupies, roadies — carpet-bagging rascals every one of them. Now they’ve got the scent in their nostrils. Their chests heave. The hearts pump. If they can just keep their man Newt from blowing himself up they’ll be in high cotton for at least 4 years. One will head a commission or a cushy seat at the UN. Another will get a contract to provide the pentagon with new ID badges. Another will ride into a remote Congressional seat on Newt’s coattails. Power. Money. If Newt wins, they win. Newt’s women will think themselves smarter and prettier. The men among them will feel their brains growing bigger.

American presidential candidates generally fall into three categories. Those who are obviously incompetent. Those who are scalawags. And those who are jackasses. The job of the voters is to choose the defect most suited to the time.

Winston Churchill was a disaster as First Lord of the Admiralty during WWI; the Gallipoli campaign was his doing. Then, on how to deal with the Iraqi insurgents, circa 1920, he offered this advice: Use chemical weapons “against recalcitrant Arabs as an experiment,” he suggested, adding, “I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes to spread a lively terror.” Later, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he put Britain back on the gold standard, but at a level that was bound to cause trouble. It came, in 1929.

He may have been incompetent. He may have been a big-mouth imperialist. But Churchill was the man Britain needed in 1940.

When times are good, the public generally prefers a scalawag. Clinton was the perfect president for the ’90s boom years. Warren Harding would have been a great fit with the boom of the ’20s. He drank. He played cards. He snuck out of the White House to go to girlie shows. Otherwise, he left people alone. But he was a little early. Most of the “Roaring Twenties” boom happened during the Coolidge administration. On the surface, Coolidge was a mismatch. Straitlaced. A bit of a scold. But he minded his own business and — like Clinton during the dotcom bubble or Bush during the property bubble — he let speculators ruin themselves without raising an objection.

The trouble with Herbert Hoover was that he was too much of a nuts and bolts engineer. The public turned him out. They preferred Roosevelt’s confident malarkey. They wanted a man with a plan. No matter that the plan was crap. They’d never figure that out.

That’s the problem with Obama. He has no plan. He doesn’t know what is going on, or what to do about it. Which at least marks him as more intelligent than most of his challengers, who have the wrong idea on both counts. But neither brains nor competence is what the public wants now. In an emergency it wants Churchill, not Chamberlain. A Roosevelt, not a Hoover. It wants a bold liar. A hearty delusional.

Gingrich is their man. A letter in The Financial Times compared him to Churchill. He compares himself to de Gaulle. Both are correct, in my view. He is as humble as de Gaulle and at least as competent as Churchill. He is a cad who reportedly told his second wife that she was too old and too ugly to be a president’s wife. He is a scoundrel who took $1.8 million from zombie mortgage lender, Freddie Mac. He makes angels weep; the gods get their backs up. So cometh Newt Gingrich to the Republican race. If you’re dumb enough, you think he’s smart. If you’re corrupt enough, you think he is honest. If you compare him to the field of candidates, he doesn’t seem any more asinine than the rest.

He is incompetent, scalawag and jackass all in one package. A man for all seasons. Most importantly, he is committed to keeping America on course to its own destruction. The US already runs the biggest deficits in the developed world. Gingrich would add to them — by about $850 billion, according to one estimate. He hopes Reagan- era growth will eventually balance the books. He also thinks an Electro-Magnetic Pulse is one of the biggest dangers America faces. And he believes in American exceptionalism — as if the nation can dodge fate with some special math that applies to it alone. But if you begin asking questions about Newt’s thoughts, ideas or plans you are missing the point. America’s empire is decadent and degenerate...rotten at its core. It needs a man like Newt to help it on its way... to where all exceptional empires end up — on the scrap heap of history.

If I were to declare a preference and were he to toss his hat in the ring, I would put my support behind former Senator Jon Corzine. The ex-Goldman chief has the experience that America needs. He has been a front-runner in politics...and in the world of finance, what he doesn’t know about front running is probably not worth knowing. Presuming, however, that Corzine will be too busy fending off lawsuits or jail sentences, I am left to ask the question...is there anyone who is really going to make a difference as our next President?

Given all the above, does it really sound so far fetched to think that Ron Paul could be the next President? The sheer absurdity of contemplating him in the White House is actually a welcome possibility compared to maintaining our lemmings to the sea wall cliff march that we're on. All of a sudden, that guy doesn't seem so whacked out and if you actually read the plans he has proposed...he would definitely take us to a different place than we're heading on our current course. I'd much rather give true hope and change a chance, how about you?

Damn the torpedos...I'm voting for Ron Paul!

An ounce of preparation...and thankfulness

2011-11-29T09:02:00.000-08:00

I've been committed to focusing on being thankful for all the blessings I've been given. Staying focused on being thankful is not always easy, especially in light of what's going on all around us. I have stopped sharing observations about what's going on because either you get it or you don't and anything I share at this point isn't going to move you if you haven't already confirmed your position and beliefs.

If you are paying attention and not burying your head in the sand, no doubt you've noticed that each week it seems the tension in the streets is escalating and sadly I think that will get worse.

I know it's hard to imagine but there are all sorts of people who feel America needs to literally be torn down and they're committed to that goal. If you read that and thought to yourself, "that's just not true" then you are experiencing the normalcy bias.

While we're busy living our lives, growing our businesses, paying the bills and raising our kids, others are cranking out schemes to disrupt society for their own ends. While we have been dutifully paying attention to the positive aspects of building our lives based on the American dream, others have been working out plans to undermine the very fabric of what has allowed us reach for the stars in the first place. It is almost inconceivable that people would harbor so much malice and hatred that they really want to tear all this down, but all you have to do is listen to them in their own words.

To such people, anything can be justified when they believe 'the system' needs to be collapsed, even the total breakdown of the fabric of society.

Did you know that only 9% of Americans are in any way prepared while 91% are at risk of being blindsided.

In a crisis, you may have only minutes to respond and statistics show you MUST be able to survive for up to 40 days completely on your own without ANY assistance.

Confusion keeps people from getting prepared because there are so many factors to consider.

Unfortunately, that's like a deer freezing in the headlights of an oncoming car.

The fact is that getting prepared is way easier and more affordable than you think when you have a specific plan.

A little targeted preparation goes a long way.

Now, more than ever, you need to be ready. Not just for yourself, but so that you can be a help to others around you when the proverbial $h!t hits the fan.

Warning From Wall Street Broker: “The Entire System Has Been Utterly Destroyed”; Recommends “ALL customers Withdraw From All of the Markets”

2011-11-21T12:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.benzinga.com/news/11/11/2140209/james-koutoulas-responds-to-ann-barnhardts-letter-thinks-shes-taking-the-easy-way

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Warning From Wall Street Broker: “The Entire System Has Been Utterly Destroyed”; Recommends “ALL customers Withdraw From All of the Markets”

Mac Slavo

November 18th, 2011

Editor’s Note: You will rarely, if ever again, see a brokerage firm close their doors not as a result of losing all of their customers’ money, but rather, preemptively in order to prevent them from being wiped out.

That’s exactly what Ann Barnhardt of Barnhardt Capital Management did Thursday morning when she advised clients that her firm was liquidating all customer brokerage and options accounts.

In a series of letters published on her web site, disseminated by Zero Hedge, and brought to us by The Daily Crux, Ms. Barnhardt takes the unprecedented step of shutting down her firm in order to prevent losses in what she says is a system that “is no longer functioning with integrity and is suicidally risk-laden.”

The reasons for her taking the steps she did to save client investments are, in our opinion, nothing short of heroic (prompting even Rush Limbaugh to give her kudos) given recent developments in the global economic crisis that include the collapse of government primary dealer MF Global and the untennable situation in Europe. While most Wall Street tycoons and brokers continue to manage money in a highly leveraged marketplace on the verge of collapse while talking their books on financial news shows in an effort to instill confidence in their customers who are swallowing the hopium hook, line and sinker, Barnhardt will have none of it and chose, instead, to pull the plug and get her customers out.

This is an absolute must read warning for all American investors. Though Barnhardt’s firm dealt primarily in futures and options trading, she cautions that ALL markets have been infected with systemic contagion, including the underlying cash commodities – known in layman’s terms as the physical delivery of goods. With the recent collapse of MF Global, the details of which suggest direct fraud and theft of customer accounts, and the government’s lack of any serious response, Barnhardt seems to think there is a real possibility of cascading, system-wide failures in the broader financial sector.

Look out folks, because if she is right then we’re in serious trouble – and soon. The takeaway is,

If you’re not sure what is happening in the markets then get out and get your money to safety, otherwise it will soon be added to the asset pool of the organizations complicit in orchestrating the destruction of our financial markets and economic system.

Without further ado, prepare to be blown away:

________________________________________

BCM Has Ceased Operations (source)

Posted by Ann Barnhardt – November 17, AD 2011 10:27 AM MST

Dear Clients, Industry Colleagues and Friends of Barnhardt Capital Management,

It is with regret and unflinching moral certainty that I announce that Barnhardt Capital Management has ceased operations. After six years of operating as an independent introducing brokerage, and eight years of employment as a broker before that, I found myself, this morning, for the first time since I was 20 years old, watching the futures and options markets open not as a participant, but as a mere spectator.

The reason for my decision to pull the plug was excruciatingly simple: I could no longer tell my clients that their monies and positions were safe in the futures and options markets – because they are not. And this goes not just for my clients, but for every futures and options account in the United States. The entire system has been utterly destroyed by the MF Global collapse. Given this sad reality, I could not in good conscience take one more step as a commodity broker, soliciting trades that I knew were unsafe or holding funds that I knew to be in jeopardy.

The futures markets are very highly-leveraged and thus require an exceptionally firm base upon which to function. That base was the sacrosanct segregation of customer funds from clearing firm capital, with additional emergency financial backing provided by the exchanges themselves. Up until a few weeks ago, that base existed, and had worked flawlessly. Firms came and went, with some imploding in spectacular fashion. Whenever a firm failure happened, the customer funds were intact and the exchanges would step in to backstop everything and keep customers 100% liquid – even as their clearing firm collapsed and was quickly replaced by another firm within the system.

Everything changed just a few short weeks ago. A firm, led by a crony of the Obama regime,

stole all of the non-margined cash held by customers of his firm. Let’s not sugar-coat this or make this crime seem “complex” and “abstract” by drowning ourselves in six-dollar words and uber-technical jargon. Jon Corzine STOLE the customer cash at MF Global. Knowing Jon Corzine, and knowing the abject lawlessness and contempt for humanity of the Marxist Obama regime and its cronies, this is not really a surprise.

What was a surprise was the reaction of the exchanges and regulators. Their reaction has been to take a bad situation and make it orders of magnitude worse. Specifically, they froze customers out of their accounts WHILE THE MARKETS CONTINUED TO TRADE, refusing to even allow them to liquidate. This is unfathomable. The risk exposure precedent that has been set is completely intolerable and has destroyed the entire industry paradigm. No informed person can continue to engage these markets, and no moral person can continue to broker or facilitate customer engagement in what is now a massive game of Russian Roulette.

I have learned over the last week that MF Global is almost certainly the mere tip of the iceberg. There is massive industry-wide exposure to European sovereign junk debt. While other firms may not be as heavily leveraged as Corzine had MFG leveraged, and it is now thought that MFG’s leverage may have been in excess of 100:1, they are still suicidally leveraged and will likely stand massive, unmeetable collateral calls in the coming days and weeks as Europe inevitably collapses. I now suspect that the reason the Chicago Mercantile Exchange did not immediately step in to backstop the MFG implosion was because they knew and know that if they backstopped MFG, they would then be expected to backstop all of the other firms in the system when the failures began to cascade – and there simply isn’t that much money in the entire system.

In short, the problem is a SYSTEMIC problem, not merely isolated to one firm.

Perhaps the most ominous dynamic that I have yet heard of in regards to this mess is that of the risk of potential CLAWBACK actions. For those who do not know, “clawback” is the process by which a bankruptcy trustee is legally permitted to re-seize assets that left a bankrupt entity in the time period immediately preceding the entity’s collapse. So, using the MF Global customers as an example, any funds that were withdrawn from MFG accounts in the run-up to the collapse, either because of suspicions the customer may have had about MFG from, say, watching the company’s bond yields rise sharply, or from purely organic day-to-day withdrawls, the bankruptcy trustee COULD initiate action to “clawback” those funds. As a hedge broker, this makes my blood run cold. Generally, as the markets move in favor of a hedge position and equity builds in a client’s account, that excess equity is sent back to the customer who then uses that equity to offset cash market transactions OR to pay down a revolving line of credit. Even the possibility that a customer could be penalized and additionally raped AGAIN via a clawback action after already having their customer funds stolen is simply villainous. While there has been no open indication of clawback actions being initiated by the MF Global trustee, I have been told that it is a possibility.

And so, to the very unpleasant crux of the matter. The futures and options markets are no longer viable. It is my recommendation that ALL customers withdraw from all of the markets as soon as possible so that they have the best chance of protecting themselves and their equity. The system is no longer functioning with integrity and is suicidally risk-laden. The rule of law is non-existent, instead replaced with godless, criminal political cronyism.

Remember, derivatives contracts are NOT NECESSARY in the commodities markets. The cash commodity itself is the underlying reality and is not dependent on the futures or options markets. Many people seem to have gotten that backwards over the past decades. From Abel the animal husbandman up until the year 1964, there were no cattle futures contracts at all, and no options contracts until 1984, and yet the cash cattle markets got along just fine.

Finally, I will not, under any circumstance, consider reforming and re-opening Barnhardt Capital Management, or any other iteration of a brokerage business, until Barack Obama has been removed from office AND the government of the United States has been sufficiently reformed and repopulated so as to engender my total and complete confidence in the government, its adherence to and enforcement of the rule of law, and in its competent and just regulatory oversight of any commodities markets that may reform. So long as the government remains criminal, it would serve no purpose whatsoever to attempt to rebuild the futures industry or my firm, because in a lawless environment, the same thievery and fraud would simply happen again, and the criminals would go unpunished, sheltered by the criminal oligarchy.

To my clients, who literally TO THE MAN agreed with my assessment of the situation, and were relieved to be exiting the markets, and many whom I now suspect stayed in the markets as long as they did only out of personal loyalty to me, I can only say thank you for the honor and pleasure of serving you over these last years, with some of my clients having been with me for over twelve years. I will continue to blog at Barnhardt.biz, which will be subtly re-skinned soon, and will continue my cattle marketing consultation business. I will still be here in the office, answering my phones, with the same phone numbers. Alas, my retirement came a few years earlier than I had anticipated, but there was no possible way to continue given the inevitability of the collapse of the global financial markets, the overthrow of our government, and the resulting collapse in the rule of law.

As for me, I can only echo the words of David:

“This is the Lord’s doing; and it is wonderful in our eyes.”

With Best Regards-

Ann Barnhardt

It's Going to be a GREAT YEAR 2013!!!

2011-11-20T13:57:00.000-08:00

One sunny day in January, 2013, an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue where he'd been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Obama."

The Marine looked at the man and said, "Sir, Mr. Obama is no longer President and no longer resides here."

The old man said, "Okay," and walked away.

The following day the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President Obama."

The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Obama is no longer President and no longer resides here."

The man thanked him and again just walked away.

The third day the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same U.S. Marine, saying, "I would like to go in and meet with President Obama."

The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Obama. I've told you already that Mr. Obama is no longer the President and no longer resides here. Don't you understand?"

The old man looked at the Marine and said, "Oh, I understand. I just love hearing it."

The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow, Sir.

Where are your priorities and what really matters to you?

2011-10-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

Politicians have delayed addressing the problem yet again.

2011-10-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-26T21:16:00.001-07:00

"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

2011-10-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-10-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

“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?

2011-10-18T12:09:00.001-07:00

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

2011-10-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

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 :)

2011-10-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

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

Rep. Jesse Jackson urges 'extra-constitutional action' in jobs crisis

2011-10-13T16:15:00.000-07:00

The fact that this elected "useful idiot" likens GOP opposition to Obama's jobs bill with Southern rebellion in 1860 recommends the Congressman for early committal to an insane asylum.

But how creepy is this closet authoritarian when he recommends the suspension of constitutional liberties in an economic crisis?

The Daily Caller:

Illinois Democratic Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. told The Daily Caller on Wednesday that congressional opposition to the American Jobs Act is akin to the Confederate "states in rebellion."
Jackson called for full government employment of the 15 million unemployed and said that Obama should "declare a national emergency" and take "extra-constitutional" action "administratively" -- without the approval of Congress -- to tackle unemployment.
"I hope the president continues to exercise extraordinary constitutional means, based on the history of Congresses that have been in rebellion in the past," Jackson said. "He's looking administratively for ways to advance the causes of the American people, because this Congress is completely dysfunctional.
"President Obama tends to idealize - and rightfully so - Abraham Lincoln, who looked at states in rebellion and he made a judgment that the government of the United States, while the states are in rebellion, still had an obligation to function," Jackson told TheDC at his Capitol Hill office on Wednesday.
"On several occasions now, we've seen ... the Congress is in rebellion, determined, as Abraham Lincoln said, to wreck or ruin at all costs. I believe ... in the direct hiring of 15 million unemployed Americans at $40,000 a head, some more than $40,000, some less than $40,000 - that's a $600 billion stimulus. It could be a five-year program. For another $104 billion, we bailout all of the states ... for another $100 billion, we bailout all of the cities," he said.

I doubt this moron ever cracked a history book in his life. There is a difference between a congress being "dysfunctional" and "in rebellion." And, of course, a congressional "rebellion" is not a revolution against the United States or its government, but rather a president - usually of the same party as the congressional majority!

His idea about the government hiring 15 million people - doing what he doesn't say - echoes the idiocy of the Occupy Wall Street protestors. And can you imagine the stampede if the government were hiring at $40 thousand a head? Most of those making less than that would quit their jobs to get a piece of that action. Also, the congressman might want to note that we sent $180 billion to states in 2009 and many of them are worse off today than they were then.

Where does America get these clowns who serve in Congress?

Source:

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/10/rep_jesse_jackson_urges_extra-constitutional_action_in_jobs_crisis.html

Source:

Welcome to the American Fall

2011-10-12T16:01:00.000-07:00

Gang...the revolution has begun. It started in Tunisia and now we're in revolution here in America. This was the Arch Duke Ferndinand moment of our day and the Arab Spring has rolled right across the Middle East and has now shown up on our doorsteps as the American Fall. Are you worried about what's going on now in Iran? If you knew how to think like them, you'd have a sense of what they're planning. Or better yet, just read what they say, "the U.S. is in full blown crisis...corrupt foundation has been exposed to the american poeple" so there's no surprise when Obama admits to doing an end run around congress and implementing the Jobs Bill through administrative action without Congressional authorization and plans to "just get it done." Are you kidding me? How corrupt is that? The problems are not going to be fixed by talking about them, so the only solution is to take "peaceful" action which doesn't throw us into chaos. What action are you going to take?

Learn to think as a revolutionary. What do they want? Have you figured out what the "Occupy Movement" is protesting against? Have you asked yourself why they've started out all friendly and happy? Stop thinking like Americans in 2007, that's over. The world is being redesigned and if you want to survive...at all...you've got to think differently. We should be as tense as the country was during the Russian missile crisis, but we're not...why not? Situational blindness and normalcy bias...WAKE UP!

Only thing missing right now to blow past the tipping point is assassinations. Every other element is here from the 1960's, and if you're trying to recreate the 1960's (can you say Weather Underground Agenda - their goal was to create a clandestine revolutionary party for the violent overthrow of the US government.) then you've got to believe assassinations are coming. Oh...guess what, they're already starting...did you watch the news announcement about the attempted assassination against the Saudi and Israeli Ambassadors? Why is it that one of the two alleged assassins is not under our control? The DOJ has supposedly been investigating this terror attack for months, but didn't reveal it until the day before Holder is going to be subpoened for lying to Congress.

As I was watching the combined press conference of Eric Holder, the FBI and some other related agencies I just got this sick feeling in my stomach. The few remaining hairs on the back of my neck stood up. The pieces just don't fit. My gut reaction was, this just doesn't pass the sniff test. Does this smell right to you? The disclosure of this supposed plot BEGS for some kind of military action against Iran, but what is your belief about what Obama will do? Obama has been clear through his actions that he has NO intention of confronting Iran and we are being weakened yet again on the International front.

Have you asked yourself why Isreali and Saudi Ambassadors were the targets? Who benefits from having that happen. What happens when the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia are united in action against a common enemy? Who is that common enemy and what do they gain by putting our three countries into alliance? What is our response, or lack of response? We announced the plot and then we're still deciding whether to respond? Did I hear that right? Well, yes...because another press announcement by Hillary Clinton confirms exactly that! We've known about this since May, but haven't done anything? We have now put the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia in a position where we MUST respond, or the lack of response will embolden them to further action. What happened when we didn't respond in Beirut in the 80's? Somethings not right with this story...all of our possible outcomes are bad.

Think like a revolutionary. This is where it all starts to work and without this framework it makes no sense. Why would this administration release this information now, especially if they've had it for so long?

What are you going to do with this information? I hope you ponder it, I hope you start thinking out of the box, I hope you start questioning EVERYTHING you see...because we're not being told the truth. Releasing the plot without a plan of action or recourse causes confusion and chaos. Words are meaningless now and have become so jumbled that it's almost impossible to discern what's actually going on.

Question with boldness...trust but verify!

Declaration of Rights & Responsibilities

2011-10-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

Declaration of Rights & Responsibilities

As the American Declaration of Independence clearly states, when in the course of human events it becomes necessary for people to band together and collectively declare their rights and responsibilities to which the laws of nature and nature’s God entitle and bind them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should disclose the causes which impel them to such.

Therefore let us declare that we still hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But with those rights come responsibilities.

In order to continually experience life, liberty and happiness as promised, nature’s God demands obedience to His law to protect those rights. This is where we have fallen short and therefore, in order not to lose the blessings of freedom, the people of the world must turn from the sole focus on rights, and recognize the inherent and required responsibilities that we have.

Among the responsibilities to which we must adhere to maintain our God given rights are honor, courage and vigilance.

Over time, we believe that these basic human responsibilities have been trampled, and replaced with degradation, fear and apathy.

But when a long train of abuses of the people and conscience by the media and by other segments of society, pursuing the same path of reducing them to ridicule, scorn and even sub-human status, it is their right, it is their DUTY, to peacefully, but vehemently take a stand.

Men want to be king, and the more we concentrate on our rights and the more we are told not to worry about our responsibilities, the more we lose our rights.

Just as physics show, for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. The time has come to declare that at least for the western world human rights are generally accepted and moving in the right direction however a new movement is required a movement of human responsibility.

The media, politicians and large institutions both academic and political have been lying to us, and we must demand the truth be told.

Political correctness has polluted our language and clouds our every discussion.

With that demand, comes the responsibility that we tell the truth first, in ourselves. Too many of us delegate our responsibility to the media…and too many believe there is no personal responsibility at all.

What was once accepted as good and right, is now considered bad and evil, and that which was bad and evil is now presented to the world as good and decent.

Opposing thoughts or opinions are referred to as crazy, insane, non-factual and utterly without merit. Furthermore, we are told, they should not even be heard.

Now, the time has come to take a stand by exhibiting the traits – honor, courage and vigilance.

What is honor? It is being honest in all of our dealings. It is showing loyalty and fairness, and being a beacon of integrity in all our beliefs and actions. It is showing respect for others.

Ruth honored Naomi when she told her that she would not leave her. That she would go wherever Naomi went, that she would live where Naomi lived and die where Naomi died. Her God would be Naomi’s God.

Courage is the ability to face danger, criticism or scorn – not without fear, but while overcoming fear to deal with that which comes our way.

When no one else in the Kingdom wanted to face the mighty giant, Goliath, young David was willing. David must have felt fear at the sight of his foe, but overcame it, and courageously vanquished his enemy.

Vigilance is being watchful for all forms of treachery and tyranny, lies and deceit. The person in the watchtower, waiting all night, suddenly sounding the alarm that the enemy is coming. The careful observer of the markets and economies who proclaims to the world, all is not well, there is trouble ahead and the outspoken critic of the powerful, going against societies’ grain, warning that all is not as we’re being told. These are the vigilant.

We implore all people to stand with these characteristics – honor, courage and vigilance.

To that end, we must restore honor in our own lives. Seek after the truth. Declare right now, that no longer will we simply accept what is told us by the media or anyone else.

The media has the responsibility to tell the truth, we have the responsibility to learn it.

Stand with courage, even if it means the end of our jobs, the end of our positions in life…or even the end of our very lives.

We must have the courage to be peaceful, while recognizing the courage to defend and respond to threats and/or attacks when necessary.

Turn the other cheek when possible.

We must be vigilant. We must think the unthinkable. The holocaust occurred because no one could imagine it, but evil never sleeps, and neither must we.

As Edmund Burke said, “all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” We must DO something. Stand watch. Speak up. Become involved.

Thus, we the people do hereby declare not only our rights, but do now establish this bill of responsibilities.

1. Because I have the right to choose, I recognize that I am accountable to God and have the responsibility to keep the 10 commandments in my own life.

2. Because I have the right to worship as I choose, I have the responsibility to honor the right of others to worship as they see fit.

3. Because I have freedom of speech, I have the responsibility to defend the speech of others, even if I strongly disagree with what they’re saying.

4. Because I have the right to pursue happiness, I have the responsibility to show humility and express gratitude for all the blessings I enjoy and the rights I’ve been given.

5. Because I have the right to honest and good government I will seek out honest and just representatives when possible. If I cannot find one then I accept the responsibility to take that place.

6. Because I have the God given right to liberty, I have the personal responsibility to have the courage to defend others to be secure in their persons, lives and property.

7. Because I have the right to equal justice, I will stand for those who are wrongly accused or unjustly blamed.

8. Because I have the right to knowledge, I will be accountable for myself and my children’s education…to live our lives in such a way that insures the continuation of truth.

9. Because I have the right to pursue my dreams and keep the fruits of my labor, I have the responsibility to feed, protect and shelter my family, the less fortunate, the fatherless, the old and infirm.

10. Because I have a right to the truth, I will not bear false witness nor will I stand idly by as others do.

Unconditionally, while maintaining my responsibility to compassionately yet fiercely stand against those things that decay the natural rights of all men. And for the support of this declaration, and with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our lives, fortunes and sacred honor.

Why Greece Will Fail and a Greek Default is Inevitable

2011-10-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

Date: October 10, 2011 Reporting From: Bangkok, Thailand

Let's pretend for a moment that Greece is a human being. I'll call him George.

George is a hairdresser and makes $40,000 per year. George has limited assets. He has zero savings, no precious metals, and is way underwater on his mortgage. His credit card debt is over $100,000, and his bare minimum living expenses are $45,000 annually, over 10% more than he makes. George's credit is pitiful, and he cannot obtain any more new loans.

George's neighbor Hans has a big family. All the kids work hard and contribute to the family savings. Hans sees George's plight and decides the neighborhood has to stick together; he starts loaning George some money out of his family's savings, and eventually begins to take on more and more of George's personal debts.

Many of the other neighbors-- Luciano, Seamus, and Juan-- are in the same boat as George: drowning in debt with massive personal expenses and no hope to pay them back.

Everyone is looking to Hans for help. He's the responsible one in the neighborhood. Now, Hans doesn't want them all to go bust because he knows it would be bad for the neighborhood property values... but Hans's children are balking at the prospect of working hard on their newspaper routes just so that George can keep his plasma screen TV.

Very soon, George is going to run out of options and will have to have a difficult conversation with his credit card companies. In the real world, there is no other choice.

In the pretend world of politics, however, European leaders have been able to convince everyone that it's all under control. Never mind that the whole situation has completely fractured capital markets; traditional valuation metrics have taken a back seat to rumors of secret meetings and loud talk of bailout plans.

Think about it: Dexia passed summer bank stress tests with flying colors. A couple of months later it's going bust. How can markets function without confidence in balance sheet accuracy? Or whether a government will even be around tomorrow? This is kind of a problem when sovereign debt is the cornerstone of the financial system...

And yet, stock markets worldwide surged today on the news of a European 'pledge' to help banks.

Do yourself a favor and stop watching their lips move. These 'plans' are nothing more than lies and misdirection. Just like our friend George, a Greek default has to happen. Politicians can pretend whatever they want, but in the real world where we live, financial deadbeats have no other options.

Until tomorrow,

Simon Black
Senior Editor, SovereignMan.com

What you may not know about Herman Cain

2011-10-01T10:16:00.001-07:00

What you may not know about Herman Cain who is running for president....

He’s not a career politician (in fact he has never held political office). He’s known as a pizza guy, but there’s a lot more to him. He’s also a computer guy, a banker guy, and a rocket scientist guy.

Here’s his bio:

Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics.
Master’s degree in Computer Science.
Mathematician for the Navy, where he worked on missile ballistics (making him a rocket scientist).
Computer systems analyst for Coca-Cola.
VP of Corporate Data Systems and Services for Pillsbury (this is the top of the ladder in the computer world, being in charge of information systems for a major corporation).

All achieved before reaching the age of 35. Since he reached the top of the information systems world, he changed careers!

Business Manager. Took charge of Pillsbury’s 400 Burger King restaurants in the Philadelphia area, which were the company’s poorest performers in the country. Spent the first nine months learning the business from the ground up, cooking hamburger and yes, cleaning toilets. After three years he had turned them into the company’s best performers.
Godfather’s Pizza CEO. Was asked by Pillsbury to take charge of their Godfather’s Pizza chain (which was on the verge of bankruptcy). He made it profitable in 14 months.
In 1988 he led a buyout of the Godfather’s Pizza chain from Pillsbury. He was now the owner of a restaurant chain. Again he reached the top of the ladder of another industry.
He was also chairman of the National Restaurant Association during this time. This is a group that interacts with government on behalf of the restaurant industry, and it gave him political experience from the non-politician side.

Having reached the top of a second industry, he changed careers again!

Adviser to the Federal Reserve System. Herman Cain went to work for the Federal Reserve Banking System advising them on how monetary policy changes would affect American businesses.
Chairman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank. He worked his way up to the chairmanship of a regional Federal Reserve bank. This is only one step below the chairmanship of the entire Federal Reserve System (the top banking position in the country). This position allowed him to see how monetary policy is made from the inside, and understand the political forces that impact the monetary system.

After reaching the top of the banking industry, he changed careers for a fourth time!

Writer and public speaker. He then started to write and speak on leadership. His books include Speak as a Leader, CEO of Self, Leadership is Common Sense, andThey Think You’re Stupid.
Radio Host. Around 2007—after a remarkable 40 year career—he started hosting a radio show on WSB in Atlanta (the largest talk radio station in the country).

He did all this starting from rock bottom (his father was a chauffeur and his mother was a maid). When you add up his accomplishments in his life—including reaching the top of three unrelated industries: information systems, business management, and banking—

STACK THAT UP AGAINST THE 'COMMUNITY ORGANIZER'....

Herman Cain may have the most impressive resume of anyone that has run for the presidency in the last half century.

Hizb ut Tahrir and the Muslim Brotherhood Should Be Banned in the United States of America!

2011-09-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

According to Islam Watch Hizb ut-Tahrir (the Party of Liberation) is banned in virtually all Arab nations in the Middle East, such as Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and the pre-revolution Egypt. It is banned in Tunisia and pre-revolution Libya, and also Turkey. It is regarded as such a threat that it is even banned in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which are already cauldrons of extremism. It is banned in all the former Soviet states in Central Asia, and since February 2003 it has been banned in Russia. It has been banned in Germany - on account of its anti-Semitism and its desire to use force for political ends – since March 2003, and it is also banned in the Netherlands. Recently also banned in Bangladesh.

Yet in the United States the group remains free to operate.

Hizb ut-Tahrir is a conveyor belt for terrorism operating openly in the U.S., so why haven't we outlawed this organization like other countries have done? Worse than that, we have politicians and bureaucratic boot lickers LYING to us on national television that organizations like this, or the Muslim Brotherhood, are non-violent political organizations. The Wayback retrospective search engine confirms historical connection of Hizb ut Tahrir and their links to Al Qaeda preceding 911, as well as some appalling anti Semitic comments as recent as 2003.

It is well documented that the Muslim Brotherhood in 1948 was the group that assassinated the Egyptian prime minister; and group members fought in the 1948 war against Zionist forces in mandate Palestine.

Hizb ut Tahrir and the Muslim Brotherhood Should Be Banned in the United States of America!

Hizb ut-Tahrir as defined by Wikipedia

Muslim Brotherhood as defined by Wikipedia

Hizb ut-Tahrir is seeking a global government through Caliphate including here in the U.S.

Are you ready to be under Sharia Law?

Organization of Islamic Cooperation, who just changed its name in June of 2011 from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, could be the basis of the new Caliphate, an attempt to replace Judeo-Christian Governments around the world, including a recent conference in Chicago where they outright stated that it was their goal to include the United States in this global change in governance. The OIC has a permanent delegation to the United Nations, and describes itself as the second largest international organisation after the United Nations. President Obama has decided it would be a great idea to team up with the UN’s Organization of Islamic Cooperation in an effort to combat Islamophobia which may soon result in the delegitimization of freedom of expression as a human right. The international effort to do away with Islamophobia will be undertaken at the expense of United States taxpayers, of course.

Maggies Notebook and the National Review have well researched and footnoted articles you might want to read about the cooperation between Obama and the OIC.

We have to be willing to stand and call a spade a spade. A wolf in sheep's clothing is still a wolf, and no matter how many name changes these organizations go through (like Acorn, which is alive an well under different names thanks to the Obama administration which is stonewalling efforts on two fronts to investigate the still-operating ACORN infamous for its thug tactics and election fraud) these leopards cannot change their spots. We need to repel the terror onto the "terrorists" themselves. Make those who thrive on spreading hatred and fear - especially those extremists who hide their true aims, like Hizb ut Tahrir or the Muslim Brotherhood – squirm and disperse. Draw the appropriate line in the sand NOW and be clear that if we get it wrong...those who succeed us in trying to clean up this mess will be working for decades and consumed by removing groups like Hizb ut Tahrir and the Muslim Brotherhood from the free world - and that would be an awful waste of human capital, of time and of our hard-fought freedoms.

Hello...knock, knock...Mr. Eric H. Holder, Jr. - Attorney General of the United States, are you there? Oh no, I forgot...you're meeting today with Muslim Leaders in Portland. You say you're there to talk with Arab-American and Muslim leaders in Portland to discuss the department’s commitment to protecting the rights of the Muslim, Sikh, Arab-American, and South Asian communities? You mean rights granted by the Constitution or by Sharia Law? I'm confused. Aren't you charged to protect and defend our homeland, while upholding the promises of the Constitution, including respect for civil liberties, a commitment to religious freedom and honor for the diversity of the American people? So how does letting known terrorist organizations operate freely in the U.S. accomplish those objectives?

Energy Independence - Alaskan Oil - DRILL BABY DRILL!!!!

2011-09-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

FIRST do you know what ANWR is? ANSWER: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Now A comparison

And some perspective

NOTE WHERE THE PROPOSED

DEVELOPMENT AREA IS?

(it's in the "ANWR Coastal Plain")

THIS IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS,

LIBERALS AND "GREENS" SHOW YOU

WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT ANWR

and they are right these ARE

photographs of ANWR

ISN'T ANWR BEAUTIFUL? WHY

SHOULD WE DRILL HERE

(AND DESTROY) THIS BEAUTIFUL

PLACE?

WELL THAT'S NOT EXACTLY

THE TRUTH

Do you remember the map?

The map showed that the proposed

drilling area is in the ANWR Coastal

Plain Do those photographs look like a

coastal plain to you?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE

THAT IS NOT WHERE THEY ARE

WANTING TO DRILL!

THIS IS WHAT THE PROPOSED

EXPLORATION AREA ACTUALLY

LOOKS LIKE IN THE WINTER

AND THIS IS WHAT IT ACTUALLY

LOOKS LIKE IN THE SUMMER

HERE ARE A COUPLE SCREEN

SHOTS FROM GOOGLE EARTH

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE AREA

WHERE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT

DRILLING IS A BARREN WASTELAND.

OH AND THEY SAY THAT THEY

ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECT

ON THE LOCAL WILDLIFE?

HERE IS A PHOTO (SHOT DURING THE

SUMMER) OF THE

"DEPLETED WILDLIFE" SITUATION

CREATED BY DRILLING AROUND

PRUDHOE BAY *

DON'T YOU THINK THAT THE CARIBOU

REALLY HATE THAT DRILLING?

HERE'S THAT SAME SPOT DURING

THE WINTER.

HEY, THIS BEAR SEEMS TO REALLY

HATE THE PIPELINE NEAR

PRUDHOE BAY *

*The Prudhoe bay area accounts for 17% of U.S.

Domestic oil production

NOW, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT

THE DEMOCRATS ARE

LYING ABOUT ANWR?

REMEMBER WHEN

AL GORE SAID THAT

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK TO

ARTIFICIALLY RAISE GAS PRICES

TO $5.00 A GALLON?

WELL AL GORE

AND HIS FELLOW DEMOCRATS HAVE ALMOST

REACHED THEIR GOAL!

NOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE

DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN LYING,

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO

ABOUT IT?

YOU CAN START BY FORWARDING

THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW

THE TRUTH.

The Greater Depression of 2012 and Why It Is Coming

2011-09-04T19:48:00.000-07:00

If policymakers do not understand the real cause of a problem, they will in all likelihood be unable to provide a genuine solution.

The current administration and both the current Houses of Congress do not understand the real cause of our current debt crisis. The economic blindness is afflicting both Democrats and Republicans and they are equally clueless. They are politicians first and foremost, and they do not understand the most fundamental economic realities of free market capitalism. While both parties are caught up in preserving the power structure and maintaining status quo in the politically elite circles, what they don't understand is that a market correction is coming which will overtake our economy and they will be powerless to stop it. It would be unwise to count on anyone in current office, especially some Vulcan-eared lunatic like Timothy "tax-cheat" Geithner, to tell us when the Great Recession is over, or let you know that in fact we are already into the first stages of the Greater Depression.

Look, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand the data. The problem is that most of the lame-stream media has so obliterated the data as to make it virtually useless and meaningless in an attempt to confuse the population. The cause of the Great Depression was simply this, over leverage. Excessive debt at both a personal, corporate and government level. Excessive debt levels are the direct result of the completely unconstitutional institution known as "The Fed" providing artificially low interest rates. You look at what Congress encouraged in terms of lending policies which were all but shoved down the throats of lenders, and to now see the politicians using the Federal Government to sue the banks which they virtually forced to lend (and by the way, they guaranteed with the full faith and credit of our government through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) is it any wonder that our society is leveraged in a way not even seen during the Great Depression?

The only real and viable solution to allow the natural market forces to start the correction process and begin the required healing is for both the public and private sectors to undergo a radical period of reducing debt. The coming Greater Depression is, in actuality, that very healing process at work. The signs to watch for to see that this over-leverage is unwinding is to watch for the selling of assets and the paying down of debt. Are you saying any of that happening yet? Are you seeing the bloated balance sheets of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac being realistically put into the market yet?

Unfortunately, the natural human reaction is to resist change, so our politicians and bureaucrats are focused on fighting this natural healing process by promoting the accumulation of even more debt. This is why the Greater Depression is coming, despite what these Keynesian idiots would like you to believe.

Getting through the coming Greater Depression is going to be a painful process, but debt reduction is the only real cure for an economy swimming in an ocean of debt. It boggles the mind that during this current crisis the administration's response has been to dramatically increase its own borrowing. I'm willing to stand corrected with fact-checks, but I believe our gross national debt was equal to 65% of GDP when Obama came into office. It has since exploded to 90% of GDP! Compare that to the level of debt during the 1930s (which never exceeded 44% of GDP) with today's pile of government debt clearly illustrates the reason for the coming Greater Depression.

Today, gross national debt and household debt are both at or above 90% of GDP for the first time in our history.

Here is the simple truth which policymakers do not understand...that the cause of the coming Greater Depression is debt. Get your personal house in order and eliminate your debt as quickly as you can.

You have to be absolutely out of your mind!!!

2011-08-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I thought it was a joke when I first heard this quoted, but then I went to http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/opinion/06gross.html and discovered that this rocket scientist, Daniel Gross, actually did write, "The renewed willingness and confidence to spend money we don’t have is vital to the continuing recovery."

It is hard to believe such a backwards belief will get us anywhere except deeper into the toilet boil around which we're already swirling. What kind of idiotic blather are these Keynesian economists going to continue to spout? It really does blow my mind.

Barbara Boxer Responds to Cut Cap Balance...not

2011-07-18T23:46:00.000-07:00

I sent Barbara Boxer a request to support the Cut Cap Balance Petition, to which she responded as follows:

Dear Mr. Lang:

Thank you for taking the time to write and share your views with me. Your comments will help me continue to represent you and other Californians to the best of my ability. Be assured that I will keep your views in mind as the Senate considers legislation on this or similar issues.

If you would like additional information about my work in the U.S. Senate, I invite you to visit my website, http://boxer.senate.gov. From this site, you can access my statements and press releases about current events and pending legislation, request copies of legislation and government reports, and receive detailed information about the many services that I am privileged to provide for my constituents. You may also wish to visit http://thomas.loc.gov to track current and past federal legislation.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I appreciate hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

Dormant Mind from Daniel Hendrick's New CD

2011-07-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

'Dormant Mind' from Daniel Hendrick's new cd
'Know You Know'

Don't have iTunes? Get it here @ cdBaby
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/danielhendrick
Psychologists, Musicians, Scientists, Spiritual Leaders Worldwide Agree!
"Daniel, a modern day Socrates, bursts open the door of consciousness, and reveals the hidden truth within" Dr. De Morse, PhD, Psychologist contributing author of "Wake up" with Deepak Chopra & Wayne Dyer

3 Reasons Why The Debt-Ceiling Debate is Full of Malarkey

2011-07-18T08:46:00.000-07:00

All anybody in Washington can talk about these days is the debt limit or debt ceiling -- the total amount of money the federal government is authorized to borrow at any given time. After a decade in which spending increased by more than 60 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars and the debt limit was raised no fewer than 10 times, the government is about to max out its $14.3 trillion credit line, leading to fears that Washington is going to default on its bonds, stop cutting Social Security checks, and destroy the economy more than it already has.

But the current debate over the debt ceiling is full of malarkey for at least three reasons.

1. August 2 is a phony deadline. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has pushed back the drop-dead date when the U.S. finally reaches its limit a bunch of times already: March 31, April 15, May 31 were all cited as deadlines before August 2 was inked in as Armageddon. But this time, he means it, man, really.

2. Reaching the debt limit is not the same as defaulting on our debt -- which would indeed be catastrophic.

Think about it: You can max out your credit cards but as long as you keep paying the minimum amount due each month, your creditors don't go crazy. Interest on the debt is a small fraction of total outlays and the government has a series of tools -- from using cash on hand to selling assets to scrimping on nonessential payments -- to make sure interest payments are made and seniors aren't put on an all cat-food diet.

3. Legislating-by-Panic is no way to run a country. The reason we're in this mess is because government can't stop spending. And the government can't even pass a budget on a year's notice. But we're expecting them to come up with a good plan for the country's borrowing in a couple of weeks? Trying to force through an expansion of the country's credit line by promising cuts in spending down the road is exactly why we're in this situation to begin with.

It makes far more sense to do something like sell some TARP assets -- the government is sitting on $320 billion in outstanding direct loans and equities investments -- to cover interest payments through the end of the fiscal year then force Congress and the president to come up with a budget that cuts spending -- and borrowing -- for real, next year, not is some distant future

WorldClass Social Media Marketing

The Start-Up of YOU

2011-07-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

The Start-Up of You

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Published: July 12, 2011

REPRINTS

The rise in the unemployment rate last month to 9.2 percent has Democrats and Republicans reliably falling back on their respective cure-alls. It is evidence for liberals that we need more stimulus and for conservatives that we need more tax cuts to increase demand. I am sure there is truth in both, but I do not believe they are the whole story. I think something else, something new — something that will require our kids not so much to find their next job as to invent their next job — is also influencing today’s job market more than people realize.

Josh Haner/The New York Times

Thomas L. Friedman

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Look at the news these days from the most dynamic sector of the U.S. economy — Silicon Valley. Facebook is now valued near $100 billion, Twitter at $8 billion, Groupon at $30 billion, Zynga at $20 billion and LinkedIn at $8 billion. These are the fastest-growing Internet/social networking companies in the world, and here’s what’s scary: You could easily fit all their employees together into the 20,000 seats in Madison Square Garden, and still have room for grandma. They just don’t employ a lot of people, relative to their valuations, and while they’re all hiring today, they are largely looking for talented engineers.

Indeed, what is most striking when you talk to employers today is how many of them have used the pressure of the recession to become even more productive by deploying more automation technologies, software, outsourcing, robotics — anything they can use to make better products with reduced head count and health care and pension liabilities. That is not going to change. And while many of them are hiring, they are increasingly picky. They are all looking for the same kind of people — people who not only have the critical thinking skills to do the value-adding jobs that technology can’t, but also people who can invent, adapt and reinvent their jobs every day, in a market that changes faster than ever.

Today’s college grads need to be aware that the rising trend in Silicon Valley is to evaluate employees every quarter, not annually. Because the merger of globalization and the I.T. revolution means new products are being phased in and out so fast that companies cannot afford to wait until the end of the year to figure out whether a team leader is doing a good job.

Whatever you may be thinking when you apply for a job today, you can be sure the employer is asking this: Can this person add value every hour, every day — more than a worker in India, a robot or a computer? Can he or she help my company adapt by not only doing the job today but also reinventing the job for tomorrow? And can he or she adapt with all the change, so my company can adapt and export more into the fastest-growing global markets? In today’s hyperconnected world, more and more companies cannot and will not hire people who don’t fulfill those criteria.

But you would never know that from listening to the debate in Washington, where some Democrats still tend to talk about job creation as if it’s the 1960s and some Republicans as if it’s the 1980s. But this is not your parents’ job market.

This is precisely why LinkedIn’s founder, Reid Garrett Hoffman, one of the premier starter-uppers in Silicon Valley — besides co-founding LinkedIn, he is on the board of Zynga, was an early investor in Facebook and sits on the board of Mozilla — has a book coming out after New Year called “The Start-Up of You,” co-authored with Ben Casnocha. Its subtitle could easily be: “Hey, recent graduates! Hey, 35-year-old midcareer professional! Here’s how you build your career today.”

Hoffman argues that professionals need an entirely new mind-set and skill set to compete. “The old paradigm of climb up a stable career ladder is dead and gone,” he said to me. “No career is a sure thing anymore. The uncertain, rapidly changing conditions in which entrepreneurs start companies is what it’s now like for all of us fashioning a career. Therefore you should approach career strategy the same way an entrepreneur approaches starting a business.”

To begin with, Hoffman says, that means ditching a grand life plan. Entrepreneurs don’t write a 100-page business plan and execute it one time; they’re always experimenting and adapting based on what they learn.

It also means using your network to pull in information and intelligence about where the growth opportunities are — and then investing in yourself to build skills that will allow you to take advantage of those opportunities. Hoffman adds: “You can’t just say, ‘I have a college degree, I have a right to a job, now someone else should figure out how to hire and train me.’ ” You have to know which industries are working and what is happening inside them and then “find a way to add value in a way no one else can. For entrepreneurs it’s differentiate or die — that now goes for all of us.”

Finally, you have to strengthen the muscles of resilience. “You may have seen the news that [the] online radio service Pandora went public the other week,” Hoffman said. “What’s lesser known is that in the early days [the founder] pitched his idea more than 300 times to V.C.’s with no luck.”

The Constitution of the United States

2011-07-06T09:01:00.001-07:00

The Constitution of the United States

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article 1 – The Legislative Branch

Section 1 – The Legislature

All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section 2 – The House of Representatives

The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.

No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers,[which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons]. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one representative; [and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose 3, Massachusetts 8, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 1, Connecticut 5, New York 6, New Jersey 4, Pennsylvania 8, Delaware 1, Maryland 6, Virginia 10, North Carolina 5, South Carolina 5 and Georgia 3].

When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.

Section 3 – The Senate

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, [chosen by the legislature thereof,] for six years; and each senator shall have one vote.

Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year;[and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any state, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies].

No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen.

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a president pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States.

The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States: but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.

Section 4 – Organization of Congress

The times, places and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, [except as to the place of choosing senators].

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, [and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December,] unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Section 5 – Membership, Rules, Journals, Adjournment

Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each house may provide.

Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.

Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting.

Section 6 – Compensation

The senators and representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either house, they shall not be questioned in any other place.

No senator or representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no person holding any office under the United States, shall be a member of either house during his continuance in office.

Section 7 – Revenue Bills, Legislative Process, Presidential Veto

All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills.

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to that house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.

Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill.

Section 8 – Powers Granted to Congress

The Congress shall have power:

Section 9 – Powers Forbidden to Congress

The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person.

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.

No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed.

No capitation, [or other direct,] tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state.

No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one state over those of another: nor shall vessels bound to, or from, one state, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another.

No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time.

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince or foreign state.

Section 10 – Powers Forbidden to the States

No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility.

No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection laws: and the net produce of all duties and imposts, laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury of the United States, and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress.

No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops, or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.

Article 2 – The Executive Branch

Section 1 – The President

The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected, as follows:

Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of senators and representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress: but no senator or representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector.

[The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each; which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the president of the Senate. The president of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by ballot one of them for President; and if no person have a majority, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the President, the person having the greatest number of votes of the electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice President.]

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes; which day shall be the same throughout the United States.

No person except a natural-born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services, a compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation:

Section 2 – Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments

The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law: but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.

The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session.

Section 3 – State of the Union, Convening Congress

He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States.

Section 4 – Disqualification

The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Article 3 – The Judicial Branch

Section 1 – Judicial Powers

The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.

Section 2 – Trial by Jury, Original Jurisdiction, Jury Trials

The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to controversies to which the United States shall be a party; to controversies between two or more states; [between a state and citizens of another state;] between citizens of different states; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, [citizens or subjects].

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.

Trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed.

Section 3 – Treason

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted.

Article 4 – Relation of the States to Each Other

Section 1 – Each State to Honor all others

Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.

Section 2 – State Citizens, Extradition

The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.

A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another state, shall on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime.

[No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due.]

Section 3 – New States

New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned as well as of the Congress.

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular state.

Section 4 – Republican Government

The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence.

Article 5 – Amending the Constitution

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided [that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and] that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

Article 6 – National Debts, Supremacy of the National Government

All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.

The senators and representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

Article 7 – Ratifying the Constitution

The ratification of the conventions of nine states, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the states so ratifying the same.

Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven and of the independence of the United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

George Washington--President and deputy from Virginia

New Hampshire

John Langdon
Nicholas Gilman

Massachusetts

Nathaniel Gorham
Rufus King

Connecticut

William Samuel Johnson
Roger Sherman

New York

Alexander Hamilton

New Jersey

William Livingston
David Brearley
William Paterson
Jonathon Dayton

Pennsylvania

Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Mifflin
Robert Morris
George Clymer
Thomas FitzSimons
Jared Ingersoll
James Wilson
Gouverneur Morris

Delaware

George Read
Gunning Bedford, Jr.
John Dickinson
Richard Bassett
Jacob Broom

Maryland

James McHenry
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer
Daniel Carroll

Virginia

John Blair
James Madison, Jr.

North Carolina

William Blount
Richard Dobbs Spaight
Hugh Williamson

South Carolina

John Rutledge
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler

Georgia

William Few
Abraham Baldwin

Attest: William Jackson, Secretary

Amendments to the Constitution

Amendment 1 – Freedom of Religion, Speech, and the Press; Rights of Assembly and Petition (ratified December 15, 1791)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment 2 – Right to Bear Arms (ratified December 15, 1791)

A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Amendment 3 – Housing of Soldiers (ratified December 15, 1791)

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment 4 – Search and Arrest Warrants (ratified December 15, 1791)

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment 5 – Rights in Criminal Cases, Compensation for Taking Property (ratified December 15, 1791)

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment 6 – Right to a Speedy Trial (ratified December 15, 1791)

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment 7 – Rights in Civil Cases (ratified December 15, 1791)

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment 8 – Cruel and Unusual Punishment (ratified December 15, 1791)

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment 9 – Rights Retained by the People (ratified December 15, 1791)

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment 10 – Powers Retained by the States and the People (ratified December 15, 1791)

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Amendment 11 – Lawsuits Against States (ratified February 7, 1795)

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.

Amendment 12 – Choosing the President and Vice President (ratified June 15, 1804)

The electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the president of the Senate;

The president of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;

The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, [before the fourth day of March next following,] then the Vice President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.

The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice President, shall be the Vice President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President of the United States.

Amendment 13 – Abolition of Slavery (ratified December 6, 1865)

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment 14 – Citizenship Rights (ratified July 9, 1868)

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, [excluding Indians not taxed]. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state.
No person shall be a senator or representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Amendment 15 – Black Suffrage (ratified February 3, 1870)

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment 16 – Income Taxes (ratified February 3, 1913)

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

Amendment 17 – Direct Election of Senators (ratified April 8, 1913)

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the Senate, the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: provided, that the legislature of any state may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

Amendment 18 – Prohibition of Liquor (ratified January 16, 1919). Repealed by Amendment 21, December 5, 1933

After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
The Congress and the several states shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several states, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the Congress.

Amendment 19 – Woman Suffrage (ratified August 18, 1920)

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment 20 – Terms of the President and Congress (ratified January 23, 1933)

The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of senators and representatives at noon on the third day of January, of the year in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the third day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.
The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.
Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within seven years from the date of its submission.

Amendment 21 – Repeal of Prohibition (ratified December 5, 1933)

The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
The transportation or importation into any state, territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
The article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several states, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the Congress.

Amendment 22 – Limitation of President to Two Terms (ratified February 27, 1951)

No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states within seven years from the day of its submission to the states by the Congress.

Amendment 23 – Suffrage in the District of Columbia (ratified March 29, 1961)

The district constituting the seat of government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: a number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of senators and representatives in Congress to which the district would be entitled if it were a state, but in no event more than the least populous state; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the states, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a state; and they shall meet in the district and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment 24 – Poll Tax Barred (ratified January 23, 1964)

The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for senator or representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment 25 – Presidential Disability and Succession (ratified February 10, 1967)

In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress.
Whenever the President transmits to the president pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as acting President.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the president pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the president pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the president pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

Amendment 26 – Suffrage for 18-year-olds (ratified July 1, 1971)

The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of age.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment 27 – Congressional Salaries (ratified May 7, 1992)

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the senators and representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.

From Wells Fargo Report

2011-06-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

Just in case you didn't have enough good news today, here's the latest from Wells Fargo:

Persistent unemployment has left 30 states’ insurance programs insolvent and owing the federal government $41 billion in loan repayments. For loans that have been outstanding longer than one year, interest payments are due by Sept. 30—a total of $833.7 million across all the states. The recent May unemployment report offers little solace for the 27 states where nonfarm payroll employment fell. Moreover, states for which unemployment trust funds are in the red may not be able to continue borrowing from Treasury to pay benefits until the national debt ceiling is resolved.

Summer of RECOVERY? Really????

Smackdown! Our Regulators have gone CRAZY!!!

2011-06-22T17:08:00.000-07:00

This is one of the greatest smackdowns of a liberal environmental terrorist I've seen yet...WAY TO GO RAND PAUL!!!!!