Category Marxism

Dec 16 2021

Stunning Stupidity – The Salvation Army Discovers Meaning of Get Woke, Go Broke


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 15, 2021 | Sundance | 573 Comments

At first blush, this story seemed too bizarre to be true; alas it is not.  [h/t Gateway Pundit]  As noted by Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit, a few weeks ago the Salvation Army stepped into the social justice arena and began promoting the premise of white guilt.

According to an “internal study guide” from the charitable organization intended to “foster positive conversations and grace-filled reflection among Salvationists“, the white members and donors to the Salvation Army were requested to reflect on their inherent racism.  According to the Salvation Army’s “International Social Justice Commission“, this was presumably of some charitable value.

Obviously, this request stirred up some controversy.  In an era where the toxic issues around Critical Race Theory being taught in schools has been in the headlines, there is likely not a worse time for a charitable group to join the social justice cause and push CRT toward the aggregate public.

Many people were surprised by the decision of the Salvation Army to push the divisive issue of racism in what appeared to be an effort by the organization to enter the orbit of wokeism.

Quite frankly, I cannot reference a more ridiculous organizational decision than this example in recent memory.  However, that said, while the original decision was nuts, the effort to clean up the mess they created for themselves is exponentially more nuts.  Amid the backlash, the Salvation Army released the following statement:

[LINK]

The first thought of ‘what were they thinking‘, becomes compounded by realizing the Salvation Army is a partner with something called the “International Social Justice Commission.”  I mean, seriously, what the heck is this all about?

Mistake one might be taking the intent of a historic organization away from charitable giving and into the toxic and divisive world of racial politics.  Mistake number two is doubling down on the decision to engage with race in some ill-fated effort to establish politically correct bona fides.

If you wanted to completely destroy the guiding mission of a charity, the Salvation Army is showing everyone exactly how to do it.

I’m not sure what qualifications or prisms others use, but myself, as a donor, I want to see my money used by a charity in such a way as to care for people who are in the most need – and that has absolutely nothing to do with race or any other qualification.  I am literally stunned by the intent of the Salvation Army in this mess, and their cleanup effort is even worse.

This is one of the biggest disappointments of the year, and yet, again shows that organizations can lose their entire purpose by following leadership making stupid decisions.

Jim Hoft follows up the issue with a highlight showing the Salvation Army is in a crisis now, because people are not giving to the charity at the time of year when the Christmas Season Salvation Army kettles usually raise a lot of money.

(Fox-13) […] Not only is the nonprofit organization short on donations, they also are in desperate need of bell ringers to staff the red kettles seen at businesses around the country. (read more)

Well, DUH!  What exactly did The Salvation Army expect to happen?

Dec 15 2021

US Producer Price Index Reaches 11-Year High


Armstrong Economics Blog/Inflation Re-Posted Dec 15, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

The US Producer Price Index (PPI) for November reached an 11-year high, according to the Labor Department. The PPI for final demand rose 0.8% in November, the index for final demand services increased 0.7%, and prices for final demand goods moved up 1.2%. Alarmingly, the final demand PPI soared 9.6% for the 12 months ending in November, marking the fastest 12-month advance since November 2020 when that data was first collected. Core PPI advanced 6.9%, marking the largest spike since August 2014. As a reminder, this measures the average price movement established by domestic producers for goods and services sold both domestically and internationally.

Companies are facing higher costs, and that cost is passed on to the consumer. As a result, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.8% in November, marking a 6.8% increase in inflation on an annual basis. The Labor Department noted that this was the fastest pace of inflation since June 1982.

These levels are unsustainable. The Fed’s 2% inflation target seems laughable considering prices in every area continuously rise with no end in sight. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has stated that the central bank would step in with a more aggressive policy if they saw runaway inflation. How high do prices need to rise for the central bank to take action?

Dec 15 2021

Make-A-Wish Denies Unvaccinated Boy’s Dying Wish – Don’t Donate to Them!


Armstrong Economics Blog/Vaccine Re-Posted Dec 15, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

The hatred toward the unvaccinated population has become so alarming that the risk of violence is imminent. Heartbreakingly, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has refused a 4-year-old child his dying wish because he is not vaccinated. Rocco, a terminally ill boy from Staten Island, New York, wanted to meet Mickey Mouse in Disney World, as many kids do.

Not to worry – Rocco will have a chance to meet Mickey and friends. Wigs and Wishes, a more ethical non-profit organization, will pay for Rocco and his family to visit Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation quickly retracted its policy to deny end of life wishes to unvaccinated children. However, the company’s “vaccine policy” still prevents unvaccinated children from large gatherings or air travel. “Make-A-Wish’s recent decision regarding how to begin to lift some restrictions for wishes involving air travel and large gatherings was made to protect the health of children with critical illnesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic […] There are many other wish options for children who do not currently meet the requirements for air travel and events involving large gatherings,” the company stated.

This child is terminally ill, under 5, and likely cannot risk any adverse reactions from the vaccine. This is not about preventing COVID from spreading but rather another attempt to punish those who chose not to be vaccinated.

Dec 15 2021

Fauci Actually For Once Spoke the Truth – Do Not Vaccinate Your Children


Armstrong Economics Blog/Vaccine Re-Posted Dec 15, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

These are experimental vaccines that have NEVER before been approved, nor tested on such a wide scale of human society. Fauci admits that they used vaccines just a few years ago that made children more likely to get the disease. Our problem is that the politicians have used this as part of the agenda to force Schwab’s Great Reset. I have spoken to others in the documentary film industry who also had information in advance that a “virus was coming.”

With the track record of vaccines, it takes 12 years normally to get approval from the FDA – not months or weeks. Do not experiment with your children. I have four grandchildren who got COVID as did their parents. The children had very mild symptoms compared to their parents who were sick for about 10 days. When they met others who were vaccinated and still got sick, they did not get sick thanks to their natural immunity.

Any doctor who tells you the political line, find another for they have surrendered all medical training for politics and peer pressure. This is not high school. CAUTION should be the wise decision of a parent. We do not know if these vaccines will still be considered safe 2 years from now. Independent analysis is already warning that these vaccines are not safe for humans. To think that politicians are mandating them with huge penalties without any understanding of the long-term impact is disgraceful and may prove to be a crime against humanity.

Dec 15 2021

The Sanctimonious, Insufferable and Clownish Liz Cheney Seeks Revenge for Republican Ridicule


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 14, 2021 | Sundance | 204 Comments

The intemperate Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney is on a hate-filled kamikaze mission to attack the base of the political party she abhors. {Direct Rumble Link Here}

Previously, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski set the low bar for contempt against the Tea Party movement, however, this week Liz Cheney says ‘hold my beer’ and goes all in against the MAGA base.  Ugly is as ugly does – inside and outside.

(WaPo) – Rep. Liz Cheney’s disclosures of intriguing Jan. 6 text messages between Mark Meadows and both Donald Trump Jr. and Fox News personalities are the big news in the committee’s investigation right now. But don’t lose sight of what Cheney said immediately after she read those texts aloud.” (more)

Deep State alum Ms. Liz Cheney is desperately trying to use her position on the ridiculous January 6th committee to gain position inside the DC system.  As a person with no redeeming qualities, the DC swamp is about the only place where her unlikable lawfare skills still have some marketing viability.

As the Washington Post notes, Cheney is desperate to attach some element of criminal lawbreaking to President Trump.   Cheney was pointing to a specific criminal statute — a felony, 18 U.S. Code § 1512 — that she suggests President Donald Trump violated.

Cheney’s comment matches the language of the statute. It states, “Whoever corruptly … obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.” That law defines an “official proceeding” as including “a proceeding before the Congress.”

Is there a more self-centered, arrogant, smug and narcissistic member of the current Republican Party?  I cannot think of one.

Dec 15 2021

Despite High Vaccination Rate Amtrak Suspends Vaccine Mandate, The Background Tells A Story


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 14, 2021 | Sundance | 226 Comments

Reuters is reporting on an interesting dynamic within the vaccine mandate as it pertains to Amtrak.  Reading between the lines tells us something very specific about this vaccine mandate that we have discussed here, and it’s starting to show.

The article itself points to how Amtrak is suspending their vaccine mandate as a result of the federal courts blocking enforcement of any mandate pending litigation.  From their perspective as a federal contractor, Amtrak is now in a position to cease the vaccine requirement until the legal issues are resolved.  However, there’s an element touched upon that needs to be considered.

First the article (the emphasis is mine):

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) – U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak said on Tuesday it will temporarily suspend a vaccine mandate for employees and now no longer expects to be forced to cut some service in January. In a memo seen by Reuters, Amtrak Chief Executive Bill Flynn said the railroad would allow employees who were not vaccinated to get tested.

Currently, fewer than 500 active Amtrak employees are not in compliance. Last week, the railroad told Congress it anticipated “proactively needing to temporarily reduce some train frequencies across our network” because of the mandate.

Flynn said 95.7% of Amtrak’s 17,000 employees are either fully vaccinated or have an accommodation — and including employees with one dose 97.3% of employees are in compliance.

Amtrak cited a U.S. district court decision that halted the enforcement of President Joe Biden’s executive order mandating vaccines for federal contractors by January. “This caused the company to reevaluate our policy and to address the uncertainty about the federal requirements that apply to Amtrak,” the memo said. (read more)

Let’s cut through some politically correct corporate speech and media spin, and instead focus on a few key aspects:

First, the cause of the operational change, a frequency change in Amtrak service, was specifically admitted to be due to the vaccine mandate.  This is EXACTLY the opposite of the White House claim earlier today (see below).  The vaccine mandate was the cause of the operational change.  Amtrak admits this – the White House refutes this.

Second, a reduction of 500 non-vaccinated people amid a company payroll exceeding 17,000, to the extent that the reduction actually changes the operational service of the company, tells us the unvaccinated people were specifically critical to the service the company provides.

This second point gets to the heart of a thesis we have proposed before.   It’s not an issue of how many people, or what percentage, quit over a vaccine requirement.  It’s a more specific issue of WHO those people are and what they do.

In any organization, there are people critical to the operation and people not so critical.

In a cumbersome top-heavy organization, that relies upon government largess and subsidy to operate, employment is bloated beyond what is efficient.  I have long stated that the key group of most productive people, the very critical group for efficient operation, are a small subset of the total company employment.

I would bet, and it is essentially admitted by the statement from Amtrak, that a much higher percentage of the critical workers are refusing the vaccine than exist in the total employment ranks.  The most productive and critical employees within any organization are independent minded, dependable and capable of a much larger influence than the average person.  It is inside that core group of highly critical employees where effects from a vaccine mandate refusal makes the biggest impact.

As a result, the issue for any mandate is not the percentage of compliance overall, but rather how those very critical employees respond to the mandate.

There can be a specific skillset or duty needed in an organization, even a massive organization, that is only being done by a handful of specifically skilled people.  If those people stop working, the effect on the entire organization is far beyond scale.   In some instances, even in large organizations, that handful of people can shut down the entire operation if they do not perform their job(s).

500 out of 17,000 is only 3%,… yet that 3% were obviously critical enough to the operation of Amtrak in such a scale as the organization was planning to modify it’s entire operation due to their absence.   This fact points as evidence to the theory that the most critical blue-collar people inside every organization carry a tremendous amount of clout when it comes to this vaccine mandate.

It’s not a matter of how many refuse the mandate, it’s an issue of who they are.

The blue-collar effort to bolster the resistance by these brothers and sisters in freedom, does not have to be too massive to have an impact. Remember, almost all of the leftists and elite-minded communists, who now operate as Democrats, have no capacity for self-sufficiency.  If the working class stops picking up their trash, stops mowing their lawns, shopping for them, doing their cleaning and essentially facilitating their lives, this entire group of people cannot function.

If the always dependable shift-worker who never misses a day of work; the person who is always dutiful, diligent, trustworthy and can solve problems independently; the person who goes the extra mile and is proactive in planning their responsibilities, does not show up with the keys to be the switch operator, well, then the switch doesn’t get operated.  And, that person is very hard to replace.

Remember, the part where Amtrak said the change in service schedules was due to the vaccine? Well, here’s the White House denying the change in Amtrak services was caused by the vaccine.  WATCH:

From a commonsense and logistical perspective, regardless of the federal outlook, there’s no way they can pull it off.  We are the quiet, and according to those who look down their noses – the “invisible” unwashed masses.  However, when it comes to keeping the gears turning, we are the majority.

We keep their shit working and just want to be left alone.   The system will not function if tens-of-millions of American workers stand united against the vaccine mandate. It really is that simple.

Dec 15 2021

EUREKA, Someone Finally Points Out The Obvious


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 14, 2021 | Sundance | 142 Comments

Finally!  Good grief, it’s been a long wait to see someone on the TV pointing out the obvious.

CNBC’s Steve Liesman points out what all the financial pundits keep ignoring.

The price of raw material at origination is still climbing…. which means the prices of intermediate manufacturing goods will keep climbing… which means the prices of finished goods (to wholesalers) will keep climbing…..  which means consumer prices will keep climbing.   WATCH:

♦Here’s the kicker.  The rate of raw material price increases are still higher than the rate of intermediate price increases, which are still higher than the rate of price increases in finished goods, which are still higher than the rate of price increases in consumer goods (retail).

As long as the rate of price increase for raw material, the very first step in the supply chain, remains higher than the rate of the price increase for the next step in the process, then you can guarantee future prices will go up.  It’s a simple and commonsense way to look forward when evaluating inflation.

If the stuff starts at a higher price (day one), the end product at day 90 will be at a higher price than today.  This is how you can tell that inflation is not slowing down.  The first sign of inflation easing is when the rate of inflation for raw material is lower than the rate of inflation in the next step.

Dec 15 2021

Scientists Identify Young Vaccinated People as Source for Omicron Variant


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 14, 2021 | Sundance | 280 Comments

This is a little interesting.  According to The Telegraph [Tweet Link], the ‘scientific data’ is showing that young vaccinated people are the source carriers for the latest Omicron variant.  {Telegraph Article, Paywall}

What makes this interesting is both the timing and sequence.

The “Delta” variant surfaced and spread during the vaccination program for people over 40 years old.

The “Omicron” variant surfaced and spread during the vaccination program for people under 40 years old.

It’s almost as if… the vaccination and boosters are what creates the variant.

Dec 15 2021

November Producer Prices Rise Record Breaking 9.6 Percent Year Over Year, Biggest Single Month in History, as Massive Inflation Builds Within The Supply Chain – Again, No Signs of Slowing Down


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 14, 2021 | Sundance | 280 Comments

We said it was happening {Go Deep}, and it is.  Last month CTH put the preparation window at 60 days +/- depending on region.  That window is now around 30 days before the next spike in inflation shows up from cumulative costs snowballing throughout the supply chain. The “producer price index” is essentially the tracking of wholesale prices at three stages: Origination (commodity), Intermediate and Final.

The final product inflation rate in July (reported in August) was alarming at 7.8%. However, we warned it would get worse. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) then released stunning price data for October [DATA Here], showing an even more dramatic 8.6% price increase in final demand. More intense warnings shared.

Today, we get the November BLS Result [DATA Here], and unfortunately the results are showing what was expected.  The cumulative costs of massive increases in energy prices are building into the supply at an astonishing rate.  The November data shows a rate of wholesale final goods inflation at 9.6%, the largest single month comparative rate increase in history.

The bureau even went back and revised/increased the August price index from 7.8 to 8.4 percent, and revised/increased the October figure from 8.6 to 8.8 percent.  The average monthly price increase is almost a full percent… every month.  It looks like the BLS backward revisions are an attempt to smooth down the rate of increase.

(BLS) – “The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.8 percent in November, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices moved up 0.6 percent in each of the 3 prior months. (See table A.) On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index rose 9.6 percent for the 12 months ended in November, the largest advance since 12-month data were first calculated in November 2010.” (more)

I modified Table A (final demand product pricing), taking out some of the noise to make it a little easier to see the big picture of what is happening.

When you see the wholesale level of prices almost double the increase in consumer level inflation rate, you can predict that consumer prices will likely go even higher.  Future finished goods, at a retail level, will carry the current wholesale price increase.

Stuff costs a lot now… and because the inbound stuff to make the finished goods is still climbing in price…. stuff is about to cost even more.   You can see this in the inflation rate of intermediate goods which I have highlighted below.

You can see from Table A (above) that finished good prices are still climbing.  That’s the higher price inflation you are feeling when you buy a product.

More alarming is to look at the “intermediate demand” products [Table B below] as they flow through the manufacturing system.  Two types of products are at the intermediate wholesale level:  Processed Goods, and Unprocessed goods.

I have again modified Table B (above) to remove the noise.  Notice two key aspects:

(1) Prices for both types of products are still climbing in the manufacturing process.  Compare August, Sept., Oct., and now November, noticing how the prices are still climbing.  Some of that has to do with energy and fuel costs still climbing.  The increasing price for gasoline is built into each part of the transportation process.

(2) Notice the scale of the increase in the prices from prior months.  The trend line is not leveling off, instead it’s doing the opposite.  The rate of inflationary climb (price increase), at the intermediate level of goods coming into the system, is getting even more steep.  The stuff coming into the manufacturing process is not only costing more, it is costing much more than before.

The wholesale prices of products into the system that end up at the retail level are still through the roof. In a major way, this is being driven by massive increases in energy costs throughout the entire supply chain.

This is going to get even uglier. Even if wages jumped in price 5% overnight (single month), which would be a large increase in wages, those wage increases are nowhere near enough to deal with this level of price increase at a consumer level. A nickel more per dollar earned is futile against a loaf of bread costing $1 more, or gasoline at $4.00/gal.

Do what you can now to start preparing your weekly budget in ways you may not have thought about before. Shop sales, use coupons, look for discounts and products that can be reformulated into multiple meals or multiple uses. Shelf-stable food products that can be muti-purposed with proteins is a good start.

Consider purchasing the raw materials for cleaning products, and reformulate them yourself to avoid these massive increases in petroleum costs.

Remember, when inflation hits like this, you can NATURALLY expect an eventual demand side response.  People will stop purchasing things, because those things are just too expensive.  When that happens, the inflationary spike can/will start to level off as the demand slows and excess inventory builds, albeit with higher prices built into the unaffordable existing inventory.

Unfortunately this drop in demand, a contraction in the economy, is what’s known as a recession. That leads to layoffs and unemployment, which only exacerbates the problems and puts downward pressure on wages – while the prices remain high.

Joe Biden spending more to try and subsidize people through this inflationary economic cycle only makes things worse for the middle class.  More spending results in more inflation, which requires more subsidy, which requires more spending, which creases more inflation.

Your goal is to prepare yourself and your family for that moment when the economy starts contracting – yet prices remain high.   If you can avoid future expenses by taking action before the highest prices hit, you will be in a better position.  Be proactive with your household maintenance, and think about things that normally hit your monthly budget unexpectedly.

Try to avoid any unexpected expenses your memory provides you, by doing what you can do now.

Act or be acted upon.

Protect your family.  Even if, heck, especially if, your kids or grandkids cannot see what is coming.  Prepare yourself to help them even if they don’t know, or won’t admit, they will need the help. Be wise in your counsel, but do not alarm.  Do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Fellowship is not only needed, it is critical.

It is empowering to be prepared for the storms of life, just as it is to be prepared in advance of storms from weather.

Dec 14 2021

Afghanistan Poised to Become Largest Distributor of Crystal Methamphetamine


Armstrong Economics Blog/Middle East Re-Posted Dec 14, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

The Taliban has sadly revived Afghanistan’s booming drug business and now poses a stark threat to the rest of the world. According to a BBC report, the country has expanded from opiates to producing crystal methamphetamine. Estimates say the nation produces an average of 3,000 kg per day at 500 separate laboratories. The herb ephedra grows naturally in the nation and can be used to create ephedrine, a key ingredient in the highly addictive drug crystal meth.

The Taliban recently eliminated the tax on ephedra by simply banning it from public production. The ban has allegedly caused prices on ephedra to double among the region, where it is sold openly at markets. Dr. David Mansfield, a researcher who tracks Afghanistan’s drug trade using satellite imagery, said that the ephedra ban came after cultivation, and the full effect of the ban will not be felt until next July when the harvest is due. Dr. Mansfield believes that the amount being produced could become the Taliban’s most lucrative drug.

Effectively cut off from international trade and the broader world economy, the Taliban is likely to allow the drug trade to flourish. Around 80% of the world’s supply of opium comes from Afghanistan, and numerous farmers have told reporters that drug-related harvests are the only lucrative crops for them to plant. An informant told the BBC that a kilogram of heroin, produced from opium, would cost around $66,000 in Britain. Bilal Karimi, a Taliban spokesman, told the BBC that they could not take away opium cultivation from the Afghans until they found “an alternative.”

Domestic sales of the drug are also on the rise due to the low cost. Afghanistan’s drug trade has overshadowed Iran’s as well, with one user claiming a gram of meth that previously sold for $15 now sells for around $0.31 to $0.41. The last time the Taliban took over, they waited six years before publicly banning the drug trade. As a result, the Taliban will continue to illegally export drugs such as crystal meth and heroin worldwide, which is an actual threat to international security.