Category Economic Collapse

Sep 26 2022

Do You Feel Safe in America?


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Sep 26, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Crime has been rampant across America over the last two years. The economic downturn hurt low-income communities the most, and some are turning to crime for quick money. The borders are open, and anyone can enter America from the south. Laws have been repealed to permit an assortment of crimes, sweetheart deals for violent offenders are common, and nearly every city has reported a sharp uptick in crime under the Biden Administration.

The Trafalgar Group conducted a study to ask Americans if they feel safe in the land of the free. An alarming 67.9% reported that they no longer feel safe in America compared to two years ago under the Trump Administration. Even 44.9% of Democrats admitted that they no longer feel safe, while 86.8% of Republicans cited fears.

Murders increased by 6% in 2021 across the nation but spiked 30% from 2019 to 2020. New Orleans, Louisiana, surpassed St. Louis as the murder capital of America with 52 homicides per 100,000 residents. Overall crime in New York City rose 37% this year alone – grand larceny is up 49%, auto theft rose 46.2%, robberies are up 39.2%, and assaults increased 18.6%. Crime in Chicago makes NYC look like Disneyland. Murders in Chicago are 5X higher than NYC and 2.5X higher than LA. Crime in Lightfoot’s Chicago rose 37% from 2021, and the police cannot do anything to help due to the law. Carjackings occur every five hours in that city. Homicides in Philadelphia reached a record high of 562 in 2021 and are on track to surpass that level in 2022. The full data for 2022 is not available, but crime is up everywhere you look.

Our Supreme Court cannot define “women,” but violence against the XX community is atrocious. One in five American women has been the victim of a rape or attempted rape. Around 43.6% of American women will experience sexual violence, and these figures are notoriously underreported.

I hope the 67.9% of Americans who no longer feel safe remember that when voting this November. The Democrats want to focus on guns, mainly taking them away from law-abiding citizens afraid of the rise in crime. There is no plan under the Biden Administration to curtail your chances of becoming a crime victim.

Sep 26 2022

US Housing Due for a Correction?


Armstrong Economics Blog/Real Estate Re-Posted Sep 26, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that the US housing market would “probably” go through a “correction” period. It is of no surprise as home prices were steadily rising from 2020 until recently after mortgage rates rose and many were simply priced out of the market. The supply chain shortages continue to present a problem for builders. Investors with cash were able to outbid other buyers, and houses lasted less than a week on the market before being sold for above asking. Clearly, this is unsustainable in the long term.

The great American dream of owning a home with a white picket fence sharply rose during World War II thanks to suburbs expanding and the GI bill that assisted service members in purchasing real estate. Homeownership during this time jumped to 65% from the Great Depression period. Surprisingly, home ownership actually increased during the Great Depression as well by 3.7% to 4%. Mind you, cultural dynamics were different back then. Women could not even open their own bank accounts. Living at home was common until marriage for both men and women, multi-family homes were more common, and people simply lived with less. The playing field is completely different today.

In 2021, the real estate industry accounted for 17% of GDP in the US. Investors, landlords, and house flippers did well during this housing boom, naturally. The average American suffered as rental prices are in line with monthly mortgage payments, but obtaining a house remains difficult for the middle class. Those with fixed low rates are not likely to sell. Shelter composes the majority of our household expenses, and countless people who did purchase at the height feel house rich but cash poor. The Fed is focusing on the demand side since it cannot control supply.

Sep 25 2022

The Police State Is Here (Ep. 1850) – The Dan Bongino Show


The Dan Bongino Show Published originally on the conservative tree house on September 13, 2022

In this episode, I address the shocking new moves by the deep state to intimidate and frighten team Trump. I also show disturbing video about digital currencies and how they plan to use them.

Sep 25 2022

The Head of Pfizer is a Veterinarian


Armstrong Economics Blog/Disease Re-Posted Sep 25, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Albert Bourla is a veterinarian and not a medical doctor who is making a fortune selling his vaccines, not for animals – but people. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of Pfizer, after joining the company back in 1993. He use to be the chief operating officer.

He has COVID again. It seems that those who took the vaccine are developing immune deficiency to COVID like Biden who keeps getting it multiple times. I am not vaccinated, had it once, and that was it. When my daughter insisted I should go to Tampa Hospital to see the head of pulmonary, I said I was tested 5 times and it was always negative. He said the tests were not valid and they still think it was COVID. I went to a new doctor after my old one retired, when he asked if I was vaccinated and I said NO!, I was waiting for the propaganda. He said – Good!

Since this veterinarian tells the world we must be vaccinated, he seems to then listen to the CDC on how to take his own shit. When history is written about this period, I do not think it will be kind to this veterinarian handing out medical advice to people.

I would always make sure my kids were vaccinated. I would take the flu shot sometimes. Now, I will not take anything that comes from Pfizer. I would not trust this guy, especially with my dog. No wonder – he never had to take the Hippocratic Oath.

Sep 25 2022

Hillary Clinton Compares Trump Supporters to Nazi’s Following Hitler, as Baseline for Denying Autocracy of Democrats


Posted originally on the conservative tree houe on September 24, 2022 | Sundance

There it is again. A lot of attention is being paid to the remarks by Hillary Clinton where she compared President Trump MAGA rallies to Adolf Hitler rallies and President Trump supporters to Nazis. However, that’s not the dynamic that should be emphasized.

The real issue at the heart of the leftist nonsense is the part where they keep contrasting “democracy” vs “autocracy.”

It’s an issue I keep referring to {Here and Here and Here} because their nonsense is so easy to deconstruct.  Never has there been a more obvious example of Democrats acting as unilateral Autocrats as was exhibited during the COVID-19 crisis.  Biden literally mandated a vaccine.  Democrat governors and officials literally mandated rules and regulations by fiat with zero representative input.

For a full year of COVID-19, Donald Trump never dictated a single mandate and deferred everything to the states.  Trump’s unwillingness to force action, including federal mask mandates, became an election year campaign issue.  However, as soon as they took power, the Joe Biden authoritarian government, in combination with the state leaders who supported it, instantly became most autocratic, non-democratic, leaders in modern U.S. history.  Yet, in order to retain their insane ideological projection, all of them – including Hillary Clinton in this soundbite – must deny and pretend not to know that reality.  WATCH:

[Transcript] – “I remember as a young student, you know, trying to figure out how did people get, um, basically, bought in by Hitler?  How did that happen? And I watched newsreels and I’d see this guy standing up there and ranting and raving, and people shouting and raising their arms, and I thought – what’s happened to these people, why did they believe that?  

“I saw the rally in Ohio the other night, Trump is there ranting and raving for more than an hour, and you have these rows of young men with their arms raised. I thought, what is going on?  So, there is a real pressure, and I think it is fair to say we are in a struggle between democracy and autocracy.”

“You know, I believe one of the reasons that Putin decided ‘what the heck, I’m going to go invade Ukraine, I’m going to go and take them over, you know in three or four days’, is because he assumed if Trump had been reelected, Trump would have pulled us out of NATO, and then Trump didn’t end up back in the White House.”  

Man, I would love to have a few minutes with these knuckleheads, ask questions and challenge their bulls**t.

Sep 23 2022

Teen Killed Over Conservative Views – Killer Released on Bail


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Sep 23, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

In Biden’s America, you can walk free after killing people who oppose your liberal political views. A 41-year-old man by the name of Shannon Joseph Brandt of North Dakota murdered an innocent 18-year-old boy over “a political argument.” The murderer recently posted $50,000 bail and was released. As a reminder, those who simply protested on January 6 remain in jail. There is a chance that Brandt will walk free after the trial, depending on the judge and jury.

The circumstances around this case are atrocious. Brandt was driving a 2003 Ford Explorer SUV while intoxicated. He exchanged words with the teenage boy before running him over with his truck and fleeing the scene. He did not even check on the boy and left him to die in an alleyway. He later called the police to explain that he had to kill the boy. Brandt claimed the teenager was part of a Republican extremist group and felt threatened because he placed a call for reinforcements. In reality, the teenage boy called his mom because he was afraid of the drunken man chasing him in his truck. That was the last phone call he ever made.

Biden himself has made countless speeches about how MAGA Republican conservatives are the ultimate threat to America and democracy in general. Trump was blamed for every politically motivated protest or arrest under his presidency. I have yet to read one article blaming Biden for instigating violence against his political opponents. Civil unrest is on the rise. The leader of the “free world” is encouraging violence, and the legal system is turning a blind eye to the sharp rise in crime across the country. Politically motivated crimes will become more commonplace as we enter the mid-term elections as Biden has clearly defined and demonized the enemy — you.

Sep 23 2022

The Bank of England All but Admits Recession


Armstrong Economics Blog/BRITAIN Re-Posted Sep 23, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

The Bank of England (BoE) all but admitted the UK is officially in a recession. Bank Governor Andrew Bailey stated weeks ago that there was nothing the central bank could do to prevent a recession at this stage. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to raise rates by half a percentage point to 2.25%, marking the highest level since 2008. The markets were expecting a 75 bps hike, but the central bank is moving slowly and aiming to avoid panic.

The central bank foresees a 0.1% drop in GDP over the next three months after experiencing a 0.1% decline last quarter. The CPI report for August came in at 9.9%, which is only a slight drop from July’s 10.1% reading. Winter is coming, and that is when the full impact of the energy crisis will be felt. The BoE believes inflation will rise to 11% in October when energy caps are altered. Like the Federal Reserve, the BOE is a long way from its 2% inflation target and relied on QE for far too long.

The dollar’s strength continues to cause a devaluation in sterling as the USD is seen as the last safe haven.

Sep 23 2022

Massachusetts Energy Companies Announce 64% Increase in Electricity Rates Beginning November 1st


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on September 22, 2022 | Sundance 

National Grid and Eversource are the two major electricity providers for Massachusetts. Both companies have notified the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) that rates for electricity are about to skyrocket.

National Grid has announced a 64% increase in electricity rates effective November 1st. While Eversource is on a different schedule, they too have announced an increase in natural gas rates of 38% on November 1st and the January 1, 2023, electricity rate will be announced in the next few weeks. Eversource is anticipated to announce a similar rate increase to National Grid. WATCH:

Both major power companies rely on natural gas to create electricity.  Thanks to Joe Biden’s energy policies, which includes the massive export of natural gas in LNG form, domestic prices for natural gas have skyrocketed and will continue increasing as production is further shut down by regulation.

We are helping the EU survive their sanction driven energy crisis by sending them natural gas (LNG format), while simultaneously forcing Americans to pay more in order to maintain the EU export.   Everything about the process is FUBAR.

Massachusetts – […] National Grid said the monthly bill of a typical residential customer using 600 kilowatt-hours of electricity will increase from $179 last winter to about $293 this winter, an increase of about 64%. National Grid said the delivery portion of electric bills will basically remain flat.

“National Grid buys electricity on behalf of its customers from the wholesale power market through a regulatory approved process established 20 years ago. That process has served customers well over the years and provides flexibility for unforeseen events, like limited supplier response to solicitations. But things have fundamentally changed,” Helen Burt, the company’s chief customer officer, said in a statement. “Today, under a sustained, high market price environment, it is challenging to maintain affordable prices. Given that, we think it’s a good time to work with our regulators and other stakeholders to review the process and electricity supply dynamics in the region, with an eye toward reducing price volatility and maintaining a secure, reliable and resilient energy system for the future.”

The company also announced that its natural gas rates are expected to rise on Nov. 1. They said they have a pending proposal with the state Department of Public Utilities that would result in the monthly bill for an average Boston Gas residential heating customer using 115 therms per month of $278, an increase of $50, or 22%, compared to last winter’s rates.

Eversource, the state’s other major electric provider, said in an email that it is on a different schedule than National Grid for setting its electric rates so no increases are currently planned.

“We file electric base service rates twice per year with the DPU,” company spokesman Chris McKinnon said. “Our last change was on July 1, 2022 and our next change will be January 1, 2023, which we will be filing for in the coming months.”

Over the border in New Hampshire, Eversource announced in July that electric rates would be doubling for many residents due to higher natural gas prices fueled in part by the war in Ukraine.

Eversource did announce Wednesday that it has submitted a proposal to the Department of Public Utilities seeking to raise its natural gas rates. They said their average residential customer using 126 therms of gas a month would see an increase of about 38%, or $86 on their natural gas bill over last winter. Those rate increases would take effect Nov. 1.  (read m0re)

Sep 23 2022

Checkbook Economics, Household Expenses Rise $961 Per Month, $11,532/yr, While Incomes Remain Flat


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on September 22, 2022 | Sundance

With most financial media being intentionally obtuse with the Biden economic impact upon Main Street, it is refreshing to see analysis that cuts to the heart of the matter.  HatTip to ZeroHedge who provides a link to a great article outlining reality for blue and white-collar working families.

The folks at NerdWallet have taken the inflation date from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) and applied the math to real life.  The result is a good encapsulation of checkbook economics and how the Biden economy is painful for the working class.

In total, Joe Biden’s energy policy driven inflation has added $961/month to preexisting expenses.  That’s $11,532 a year just to retain the status quo standard of living.

(NerdWallet) – […] In all of 2020, American households spent $61,300, on average. This number includes everything we spend our money on: housing, food, entertainment, clothing, transportation and everything else. In 2022, it stands to reach $72,900, a difference of more than $11,500 if consumers want to maintain the same standard of living. Keep in mind, this is an average, a number that represents an approximation across all Americans, but one that’s exact to a very few. Those who earn (and therefore spend) more will see more dramatic dollar increases. Those who earn less may see less dramatic dollar jumps, but the impact of these rising prices could be more significantly felt. (read more)

If the average household spent $61,300 and inflation is adding $11,500 to the expense, that means we now have to spend 18.7% more just to maintain the current standard of living.  That average is in line with what we are seeing in the real world.

Sep 22 2022

Interview WORLD FIRST: The Plot to Seize Russia, War Propaganda, and More


Armstrong Economics Blog/Armstrong in the Media Re-Posted Sep 22, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Listen to my latest interview with Maria from Zeee Media.

Description from Maria:

World renowned economist Martin Armstrong joins us to break the story of the several-decade long plan to seize Russia, detailing how he has obtained declassified documents from the Clinton Administration, and how he was previously targeted for possessing this knowledge – which he is finally able to release.

Martin takes us through his encounter with an alleged terrorist from 9/11 while he served in prison, who was actually a Pakistani Christian that was framed by the US Government. We also discuss world events, war propaganda, and Martin’s insight into where we are heading.