Category World Economic Form

Jun 24 2017

Germany Secretly Passed Total Surveillance of Everything


Armstrong Economics Blog/The Hunt for Taxes

Re-Posted Jun 24, 2017 by Martin Armstrong


Governments routinely pass laws that are expanding their powers to the detriment of personal rights that are buried deeply in legislation only a diehard will read. We have heard about these type of sneaky legislation in the USA, but all governments are the same and Germany just proved it is no more honorable than the the worst of American politicians.

The Bundestag passed a secret legislation giving government full espionage powers against the private sector claiming it is an urgent case. The German government is now authorized, thanks to politicians claiming to represent the people, with the right to secretly install spy software on computers and smart phones clandestinely. This will be used for taxes, not just terrorism.

The law was intentionally hidden in a law on driving bans. It was secretly attached at the last minute hoping nobody would notice. Now the German government can monitor messenger services on smartphones and targets WhatsApp so they can intercept or read messages BEFORE encryption. The government can secretly download their spyware to the cell phone of the suspect without their knowledge. The government claimed: “We are increasingly observing that criminals communicate in encrypted form. This makes it increasingly difficult for the authorities to clarify even the most serious offenses, “said Thomas de Maizière (CDU). The problem is the term “criminal” and tax avoidance is a criminal offense.

The government is loving hackers for they use this as the excuse to grab more power. Rather than simply develop better security, they naturally prefer to empower their intelligence services and police authorities for monitoring measures under the pretense of it being “criminal” and then expand this power to collect taxes.

This is all about government collapsing. They know it. But they refuse to reform. Why surrender a good power until you have no alternative? The problem is, that promotes revolution.

Jun 23 2017

BREAKING: Gulf States Give Qatar List of Demands To Restore Diplomatic Relationships – All Demands Target The Muslim Brotherhood…


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on June 22, 2017 by

The latest development, in the ongoing Arab state GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) initiative to stem the destabilizing behavior of Qatar, is a list of demands presented to Qatar. If you have followed the regional issues for the past few years you’ll quickly identify how each of the demands cuts to the core of the destabilizing issues.

Included in the demands:  ♦Shut down al-Jazeera, ♦stop cooperating with Iran and ♦expel Turkish military provocateurs (Erdogan).  The binding thread that connects each of these demands is the effort to stop Qatar from supporting/assisting the Muslim Brotherhood.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kuwait has given Qatar a list of demands from Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations that includes shutting down Al-Jazeera and cutting diplomatic ties to Iran.

That’s according to a list obtained by The Associated Press from one of the countries involved in the dispute. The document says Qatar has 10 days to comply with all demands.

The list says Qatar must immediately close Turkey’s military base in Qatar and end military cooperation with the NATO member. It also demands an unspecified sum of compensation from Qatar.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cut ties to Qatar this month over accusations the Persian Gulf country funds terrorism. The U.S. has been urging them to produce a list of demands. Kuwait is helping mediate. (link)

Additionally, a reputable and reliable source for news and information within the region, specifically well-connected to the MB issues, provides the following:

This list of demands could have been personally written by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi because it is exactly what he needed to do when he expelled the Muslim Brotherhood from Egypt and restored stability in the aftermath of Mohammed Morsi’s chaos.

Jun 22 2017

“Meddling” in the 2000 Russian Election


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics

Re-Posted Jun 22, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong; I watched your movie the Forecaster with great interest. I then watched the Showtime interview of Putin by Oliver Stone. It suddenly struck me that he stated that U.S. intelligence agencies, interfered in the Russian 2000 election. That why they blocked your movie from appearing in the United States when it was on TV here in Canada and a friend of mine watched in on the airplane traveling here from Europe. That’s how Putin became president because of the attempt to blackmail Yeltsin. I had an OMG moment.

Are they still going forward with the Hollywood movie? Will this be the typical movie funding issues where people can invest in a film for a piece of the action?

Thanks. You really were the guy that knew too much.

EL

Hermitage_Capital_Management

ANSWER: I just got the script for the Movie. Handed it out to some friends and the comments are that they could not put it down. The comments from the professional Hollywood script reader’s review was:

“The Forecaster Of Princeton is a fast-paced financial
thriller in the vein of such classics as Wall Street and
The Wolf Of Wall Street. However, the script manages to set
itself apart from similar offerings by crafting a
protagonist that isn’t necessarily motivated by greed and
excess. Further, the script features a unique component,
which is the protagonist’s ability to predict foreign
events. Overall, the script is strong enough to warrant
consideration.“
Many have asked can they invest in the film production for a share. Yes. That is how it goes. I have no details on any of that. All I know is they are doing private funding. Most movies go to the banks for funding. For obvious reasons, that will not be the case here. My deal was I was only interested if it portrayed the truth about the issues of international intrigue. That has been met. It now goes to a director and then they select the case. None of that has been completed yet. I think the script was well written for the writer had legal background which helped a lot.

As for the other part of your question, the answer is also Yes. Just about everyone in that matter which surrounded my case was killed insofar as those involved with Russia. I helped Dominic Dunn break that story – Death in Monaco. Safra tried to get me to invest with him in his Hermitage Capital. I refused and warned him my model was forecasting the collapse of Russia, which ended up as the Long-Term Capital Management collapse.

Safra-Berezovsky

If it were not for the “meddling” in the 2000 Russian election blackmailing Yeltsin not to run and install Berezovsky as President to control the natural resources of Russia, Putin would never be in charge to begin with today. Berezovsky fled to Britain where he supposedly hung himself and Safra died in Monaco. There were several others who died as well. So Putin’s comments regarding the 2000 election he did not give details. I did in the Forecaster and the movie will be a fast-paced international thriller.

Jun 20 2017

Putin Offers Comey Asylum


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics

Re-Posted Jun 20, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

Putin made a joke that was on point. He said that since the former FBI Director James Comey, secretly made notes of his conversation with US President Donald Trump because he did not trust him, that does not differ from Edward Snowden who did not trust Clapper. I would trust Clapper with anything, personally. Therefore, Putin said Moscow is ready to grant Comey a political asylum. Good point.

Jun 20 2017

McCain (Songbird) v Putin – Match of the Century for 3 seconds Perhaps


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics

Re-Posted Jun 20, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

McCain’s hatred of Putin is beyond description. He would love nothing more than to start World War III with someone. Since war today would result in the deaths of countless millions, the best solution is we put just the leaders in a boxing cage match and let them fight it out. McCain wants to be the tough guy with other people’s lives a real man would stand-up and take the lead. When Julius Caesar was in battle, he wore a red cloak so everyone knew where he was in the battle. I think McCain should just challenge Putin to a cage match and we get it on. Of course, Putin would win. So the question would be how fast. I would bet on 3 Seconds and McCain goes down with tears.

Jun 20 2017

McCain Defends Hillary & Wants to Start an Energy Trade War


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption

Re-Posted Jun 20, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

John McCain wants new sanctions against Russia and it is this politicians who are the greatest threat to the world economy. Imposing such sanctions will only backfire for the damage is to European companies, rarely American. McCain is always out to create war for personal retribution for being turned into Vietnam’s version of Tokyo Rose. His latest round of sanctions is to punish Russia for interfering in the 2016 elections which still is not proven, but it put in office Trump, according to McCain who would be much more happy with Hillary. He has never smiled that way looking into the eyes of Donald Trump.

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany objected to McCain’s latest folly. She warned that it is indeed strange that the European economy is being targeted in the sanctioning of Russian behavior. “That must not be.” Economic interests and sanctions have never worked. It has not brought down Putin nor has it altered North Korean determination. There was also criticism from SPD politicians and the European Commission. McCain is quickly becoming the real issue in Europe as the man who harms the economy of Europe for personal political vindication.

The US Senate had voted last week for new sanctions against Russia, which is to be punished for an interference in the 2016 presidential election on top of the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea. Then there is the support of the government in Damascus in the Syrian civil war, without any mention that this was only to help Qatar get a pipeline through Syria. Syria does not train terrorists to attack the West.

McCain is trying to put pressure on EU companies involved in the construction of the new Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. This includes BASF and E.ON and OMV from Austria. The sanctions of McCain will not cause Putin to fall to his knees and say he is terribly sorry for exposing the truth about Hillary. So exactly what is John McCain’s objective besides personal hatred of Russia and just about any individual or country that disagrees with him? McCain is the one risking a trade war with Europe – not Trump. The criticism is not directed at Trump for the termination of the Paris Climate Protection Agreement or protectionist tendencies. This round of European criticism this time is directed at McCain leading the Senate with a total of 97 votes.

The EU Commission criticism stated: “It is important that possible new measures be coordinated between the international partners in order to ensure their impact internationally and to ensure the unity of the partners in the sanctions.” McCain seems to be getting rewarded under the table as always for the sanctions would punish Russia while promoting American gas exports and jobs in Europe give the USA is now a net exporter of liquefied gas and is thus competing with the Russian gas delivered by pipelines to the EU. As always, just follow the money.

McCain is trying to stop the construction of a second tube of the Nord Stream gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea, which is to supply additional Russian gas to Germany and the EU. If Trump supports McCain, then look for a break in European/US relations and a potential energy trade war

Jun 19 2017

EU Proves It Has Become an Authoritarian Government


Armstrong Economics Blog/European Union

Re-Posted Jun 19, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

The European Commission President JEAN-CLAUDE Juncker, has come out and boldly stated that Poland and Hungary and their refusal to take in a single refugee person under a plan agreed in 2015 to relocate 160,000 asylum-seekers from Italy and Greece, said: “Those who do not want to accept people with a different skin colour or a different belief come from a world of ideas that I do not consider compatible with the EU’s original mission.” Juncker further said that if the refugee crisis existed previously and Poland and Hungary refused to accept the refugees, they would have been denied membership.

The entire refugee crisis was created by Angela Merkel. It was never presented for a vote to the member states. The EU has proven that there is no right to vote and it has become an unelected government with authoritarian powers. Juncker never stands for election by the people. The establishment of the EU government is its a throw-back to the days of kings claiming the divine right to rule.

Meanwhile, estimates of refugees who would still migrate to Europe range in the 30 to 35 million. This indeed seems high for that is 10% of the population of the United States. Even if it is half that amount, it would break the economy of Europe and crush it into dust. You have and excess of people totally unfamiliar with Western culture or with a skill set capable of the 21st century.

Jun 19 2017

Suicide Over European Banking Crisis


Armstrong Economics Blog/Banking Crisis

Re-Posted Jun 19, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

Greece-Pensioner-2

The European “bail-in” rules have been cheered claiming taxpayer money will be spared. However, many seniors bought bank bonds for their retirement. In the rescue of the small Banca Popolare d’Etruria, a retiree who had lost more than 100,000 euros worth of bonds lost everything and committed suicide. There have been many such events that do not always make the press. In Italy,  the death of a pensioner who also committed suicide after losing his life savings as a result of a controversial move by the government to rescue four banks. The 68-year-old hung himself at his home in Civitavecchia, a port town near Rome, after the so-called “save banks” plan wiped out €100,000 in savings held at Banca Etruria, one of the four lenders included in the government rescue deal announced on November 22nd, 2015. There was the 23-year old who committed suicide over £8000 in debts for student loans. A Greek pensioner who was 77-years old committed suicide in central Athens shooting himself with a handgun just several hundred meters from the Greek parliament building in apparent despair over his financial debts.

The government have made promises and socialism was all about protecting the people from the evil capitalists. But the politicians became the capitalists and now all the promises are being reversed or modified. The crisis we face ahead is so many people believed in what they told everyone. What happens when they discover it has been just a lie?

Jun 18 2017

Grenfell Tower Fires Exposes Government Corruption


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption

Re-Posted Jun 18, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

At least 58 people are feared to have died in the fire that engulfed Grenfell Tower this past week. Prime Minister Theresa May admitted that the government response was appalling. There is mounting anger growing that many are saying that people were told to stay in their apartments and died as a result. They are also exposing the fact that there were no sprinklers to combat the fire. On top of that, many see this as a plot to get them out of a rich neighborhood.

The building is a government property managed by Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) which was formed in 1996. KCTMO manages 9,459 properties for the council, according to its business plan, and is the largest tenant management organisation in England. It was refurbished last year but no sprinkler system was installed. The issue here is similar to the World Trade Center crisis. In both cases, we are looking at government owned properties. If such properties were privately owned, the management would be thrown in prison. Because we are looking at government ownership, no such outcome is likely. Government can avoid building codes to save money that no private construction company could possible get away with.

The people are turning this into a rich v poor issue rather than looking a bit deeper.

This is another example of just how corrupt government has become.

 

Jun 18 2017

Grenfell Protests – May Must Go


Armstrong Economics Blog/BRITAIN

Re-Posted Jun 18, 2017 by Martin Armstrong

 

The protests are rising and Theresa May failed to go talk to the people right away while Jeremy Corbyn was there on TV crying with the people. He had proposed refurbishing the government housing and sprinklers should be installed last year and it was knocked down. People are blaming austerity. They are demanding an inquest, not a public inquiry. People feel that a public inquiry behind closed doors will hide the truth once again.

The Fate of Britain

We just released our report on in Britain. The markets were showing a very bearish outlook ahead and this was strange if not irreconcilable with the bullish view of BREXIT. We put it all together and warned that the Conservatives may end up being replaced by Labour and we can see Britain turn very hard left toward Marxism. This is a very important report for it goes into the pound on the cross rates with the dollar, euro, Swiss and the yen. In addition, we covered the Long Gilts and the share market. The timing seems incredible given the events following the release of this report.

Tony Blair was a socialist and took Labour to the center right. He achieved concessions from unions no Conservative could have ever accomplished. But Corbyn wants a maximum wage and intends to take Labour back to the 1970s and its extreme Marxist positions. Installing a maximum wage to prevent high paying jobs seems insane. It’s all about punishing accomplishment rather than raising the living standard. The definition of the “rich” will drop from £145,000 to £80,000 and raising the corporation tax from 19% to 26%. He wants 50% tax on anyone who earns more than £123,000. Inheritance taxes will be lowered from £850,000 tax free to £425,000 and anything above that will be 40%. This will wipe out small businesses preventing them from continuing and that applies to farmers as well. Raising taxes to this magnitude will surely lead to the migration of top-end positions out of London.