Category Civil Society

Jan 20 2017

KOMMONSENTSJANE – HOW GOD CREATED TEXANS


Makes sense to me … lol

kommonsentsjane's avatarkommonsentsjane

Thursday, January 19, 2017 12:03 PM

How God Created Texans…

Just had to share”!  Still laughing!
When God created the world for humankind to prosper & multiply, He decided to give each group two (2) virtues. As an example, He made the Japanese patient & hardworking, He made the Germans tenacious & hard-headed, He made the Americans organized & pragmatic, And so on.
When God considered Texans, He told the record-keeping angel, “Texans are going to be intelligent, honest, & democrats.” When God finished creating the world, the angel noticed that God had given every group two (2) virtues except the Texans, who had recv’d three (3).The angel thought that this would give the Texans an unfair advantage over the other groups of human beings. He pointed this out to God.

God said, “Oh, my goodness, you are certainly right, but since virtues given by God cannot be changed, We…

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Jan 18 2017

Where to Draw the Line Between Charity & Socialism


Armstrong Economics Blog/Armstrong Economics 101

Re-Posted Jan 18, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

Socialism v Capitalism

QUESTION:  A helping hand is not socialism I get perturbed about the lack of distinction between socialism and where a helping hand of the kindly state ends. I refer with due respect to your blog on differences between capitalism and socialism. Marty, As you know in all families there are those children and some adults who need a helping hand to get on their feet in order to start running. Giving them a chance, a break, a start is not taking away their dignity. It is actually a good thing and binds the families together. A bridge over troubled waters from the state is not socialism, it is good old common sense.

Can you please help us understand where to draw the line?

Thanks for all the good work you do.

School-Kids

ANSWER: I fully agreed that there is a place for charity. When you do something for someone it makes you feel good inside, which is a selfish feeling I suppose. There are people who do not understand giving anything. I discovered that in my own case with the government. I had purchased computers for my grade school and funded computer classes during the early 1990s, way ahead of just about anyone. They would send me photos to show the progress. I did not take a tax deduction because you always had to defend such things with government. Any deduction is like taking bread out of their mouths. I preferred to do it all anonymously so I was the mysterious benefactor and the terms were that my name was not to be revealed.

The receivers on my case, Alan Cohen and Tancred Schiavoni, demanded all these missing computers I had bought for they might have vital information on them. They didn’t believe someone would do such a thing, I suppose, because people judge others based on themselves. They contacted the school to verify the story.

John D. Rockefeller’s benefactions from 1855 to 1934 totaled $530,853,632 before there were tax deductions. It was Rockefeller who probably made the largest donation to help the American Red Cross become who they are today. Most of the people I have known who made a lot of money donate to various efforts, not for tax deductions, but to feel they are giving something back.

Government is incapable of feeling anything and they are certainly incapable of running anything, including a charity or bubblegum machine. Those in government are either insanely greedy or insanely jealous of anyone in the private sector. Very few people in government are benevolent outside of the people who are there just for the job. There is no right or wrong with government — they are always right. That is why people have said you cannot fight City Hall. They fine people for various things and then that becomes the incentive to punish people. I remember my father took a position as a judge in a local municipality and the politicians told him they wanted the maximum fines imposed for everything. He refused and quit.

Socialism is only power for government. They promise all sorts of things and then constantly default. Look at Social Security. They keep raising the age and reducing benefits after taxing you your whole life. Government is in this for itself. They always talk about the “rich” and income tax, but they borrow from the poor and middle class without interest and then hand them a refund check as if they are magnanimous. They blame the “rich,” saying when the stock market goes up they get richer. Yet they deny the average person the right to invest by stuffing Social Security with government bonds and denying people the ability to invest in the markets.

The line should be drawn clearly. Government should get out of the socialism pretense that just lines their pockets. End the income tax and simply have a sales tax; then it would not matter if someone were an alien who, unlike citizens, do not have to pay income taxes. Consumption taxes should be the only way to fund local government. You do not need mayors for every little town and separate police forces. We have so much duplication in government that consumes the national wealth. People would be a lot better off if they were free to invest and participate in the economy without government interfering all the time.

Jan 15 2017

Rush Limbaugh TORCHES Meryl Streep: ‘A SPECIAL KIND OF STUPID!’


Jan 15 2017

Stefan Molyneux Chats With a Woman Who HATES MGTOW


Jan 15 2017

What About Collectibles?


Armstrong Economics Blog/Collectibles

Re-Posted Jan 15, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

SilverCoins

QUESTION: Hi Marty! I would like to have your thinking about one important thing: the exit of this mess. I was in the last two WEC with my friend Mark and enjoy them a lot and we will be on the next one for sure.The two months that follow the last one in November 2016, I really connect all the dots for the first time even if I read you since 2008. So, I realize what we face to 2032,95 and after. The actual private wave of 51,6 is going to push money flow to the privates assets and end the confidence in government. This wave is the last one of the 309,6 years cycle that will end socialism. If we put in perspective that this 309,6 cycle is the last one of the mega cycle of the 1857,6 years (6 x 309,6), we know without question that what is coming to 2032,95 and after, will be epic and horrible time for the world. If you add the war cycle and the maunder minimum cycle to that, it’s become even worst. I Know that the private assets are suppose to improve in value to 2032,95. I know that the government will do whatever he can to tax us to death and in some cases, confiscate our assets.

So, even if I know all that, I feel trap. With the increase in interest rate, the debt bubble, the increase of taxes on houses thank to the fund pension crisis plus the real estate cycle that go down until 2033, I am sure that real estate is not the good place to protect our money. Physical gold and cash will be probably be chased by gouvernement. The blue chips are a good choice only if your broker or your bank stay alive during this crisis. Like you see, we are trapped.

So my question is, what do you think about the rare collection items, like old coins, old sports cards, or other smalls things collection that have a big value and can be move easily to an other country, even by plane. Thank so much for what you do for people! You help me a lot to open my eyes and see the world like he is. I will always grateful for that.

See you in november at the WEC!

Thanks,

GL

 

China Cowry Shell Evolution

ANSWER: Collecting is instinctive within humanity. Everyone has formed a collection of something, no matter how small. From childhood, we all have accumulated objects in different categories, be it matchbox cars to collections of Barbie dolls. Their questionable usefulness is only second to the fascination of playing with them. The first coins used in China were cowrie shells. They were beautiful and rare since they could not be found everywhere. The first attempt to expand the money supply, and make bronze appealing and acceptable, involved making the money into the image of a cowrie shell.

Rembrandt father

I got the bug when I bought my first Roman coin for probably $5 when I was 10 to 12. I would recommend ancient coins, for their market is global. Canadian coins are salable in Canada just as the best market for the U.S. coins is in the United States. Yet, ancient coins cross all borders. The Chinese and Russians are big buyers these days. Cars are too hard to store. Fine art is also something I have collected over the years. I can more than quadruple my investment in things like Rembrandt etchings (the one pictured is of his father).

I have collections of rare books and autographs as well. There are collectors for every category of object. There was the Villa of the Papyri, a private house in the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, who collected art and books. This tremendous collection has fascinated visitors beyond belief. Collectors have existed throughout history.

FDR Stamp CollectorHunt-Decadrahm

Franklin Roosevelt was a stamp collector, and Teddy Roosevelt was an ancient coin collector. Then there was the ancient coin collection of the Egyptian King Farouk. There was also the fabulous ancient coin collection of Nelson Bunker Hunt – yes, of the silver market.

Other famous coin collectors included Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, King George III and King Louis XIV. Pope Boniface VIII was also an ancient coin collector. The first major collector of ancient coins was the first Roman Emperor Augustus (27BC-14AD) according to Suetonius.

DBLEDIECollectibles are always a hedge against government. They survive the great monetary crash that sweeps through the world economy every so often. Money is ONLY a medium of exchange – it is NEVER the store of value. That is true even when gold is used as money for whatever might be used as money is then on the opposite side of everything else. So small collectibles are always a good bet. Keep in mind the scope. So ancient coins are salable worldwide while a 1955 Double Die penny will find its best market in the United States. Hence, you can hop on a plane with a Double Die with no problem. However, the sale value in a foreign land may be 20% less than in the States.

Jan 13 2017

Language & Culture are the Keys


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics

Re-Posted Jan 13, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

culture

QUESTION: Martin

Really enjoy the blog & Socrates. Has given me insights I otherwise would have never had. You have mentioned that one of the reasons why the EU will fail and the USA as a union works is a common language. With the pace of tech moving so quickly and nearing a point where we can get real time transition (see: https://futurism.com/sciencenonfiction/instanttranslation/ ) do you see this impacting the global currency system to form a single currency eventually?

Regards,

C

ANSWER: It depends on the group and class you are talking about. Real-time translation is helpful to business and the tech-savvy younger generation. However, it will take another decade for the bulk of the population to move into retirement or expire. Understanding another language is one thing, but to really speak a language fluently, you need to think in that language. There are concepts in Japanese that I think about in Japanese, and then I have to try to translate it back to English. So every language has a unique culture attached and a thinking process. Translation services will help in general communications, but it will still not overcome culture.

Jan 13 2017

Do Not Trust Governments or Their Employees


Armstrong Economics Blog/Rule of Law

Re-Posted Jan 13, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

Rule of Law

QUESTION: Hi Martin,

I am familiar with the case of Robert Kahre who eventually lost a battle with the IRS for paying his employees in $20 gold pieces to avoid payroll taxes. However, do you think holding foreign currency gold pieces in a foreign bank account would be different from a US tax perspective so that the legal tender value in that country would apply towards the $10,000 reporting level?

ANSWER: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California has upheld the criminal conviction of Robert Kahre, the man who tried to circumvent the IRS by paying his employees in gold coin. He relied on the face value of the gold coins being below the legal threshold that triggers withholding taxes. A $20 gold coin is legal tender for only $20 — not its gold value. Gold was never demonetized. From a strict construction perspective, Kahre was correct and should not have been charged legally. However, the IRS interprets the value of the gold, not the legal tender value. The Court held that Kahre didn’t do his duty to serve as a tax collector for the United States, for which you, as an employer, are not paid. Kahre is currently serving a 15-year sentence.

You must understand that you are dancing with the devil. There is absolutely NO RULE OF LAW whatsoever and all your constitutional rights are fictional. Your liberty and human rights are in the hands of every petty government officer because they get to do whatever they desire and it has become your burden to go to court to PROVE you have any human rights. This is what happens in all republics. Whenever you have a political class, they always exert their power against the people. There is ABSOLUTELY NO HISTORICAL EXCEPTION!

I understand that people say I am wrong about bitcoin or cryptocurrencies. You cannot possibly fight against government. They can say whatever they want and their judges rule in government’s favor. Forget it! You cannot find any possible legal argument that will ever survive.

Politicians often promote the least ethical people to various positions to ensure that they will have no loyalty, except to the person of their benefactor. Saint Thomas Becket (1119/1120 – 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170 at the altar of the church. He was the drinking buddy of King Henry II, King of England. Henry wanted to control the church and installed his friend who had never been a priest. Upon becoming Archbishop, Thomas found religion. He suddenly defended the church and was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral. So there are a few historical exceptions. However, the typical appointment of someone by politicians is normally to further their own power.

Commodus-Hercules

Edward Gibbon commented in “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” how the rule of law collapses In this case, he was commenting on Commodus:

“[Each] distinction of every kind soon became criminal. The possession of wealth stimulated the diligence of the informers; rigid virtue implied a tacit censure of the irregularities of Commodus; important services implied a dangerous superiority of merit; and the friendship of the father always insured the aversion of the son. Suspicion was equivalent to proof; trial to condemnation. The execution of a considerable senator was attended with the death of all who might lament or revenge his fate; and when Commodus had once tasted human blood, he became incapable of pity or remorse.”

(Book 1, Chapter 4)

There is no sure-fire way to beat the government. They can say whatever they desire and the likelihood of you prevailing in a court of law is somewhere below zero. There are no fair trials. They do not exist anymore.