Posted originally on May 12, 2025 by Martin Armstrong
Germany has become increasingly tyrannical in its fight to combat dissenters who do not believe in abandoning nationalism for Brussels. Not only does the German government want to banish political parties who dissent from its narrative, but it has implemented a hotline where citizens may report others who spread “disinformation” and “conspiracy theories.”
The Violence Prevention Network, the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, and the Center for Applied Deradicalization Research launched “Advice Compass on Conspiracy Thinking” (Beratungskompass Verschwörungsdenken) in 2024 as part of the “LivingDemocracy!” project. “Conspiracy theories are accompanied by lies and disinformation. They are deliberately spread to divide our society and destroy trust in independent science, free media, and democratic institutions. Conspiracy theories can lead to extremist ideologies and drive perpetrators to commit crimes and acts of violence. Antisemitic conspiracy theories are particularly often spread,” Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said.
The government’s own website discusses how important it was to silence “disinformation” during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government is urging citizens to be on the lookout for anyone spreading conspiracies surrounding the war in Ukraine
Their website warns the public to look for “people in the immediate environment. Such as family, friends, or school” as they may reveal their independent thinking to the people closest to them. “Open dialogue on equal terms often seems impossible because the other person is not receptive to arguments,” the government states, warning citizens that they should report these free thinkers to authorities who are trained to combat extremism.
“Those seeking advice will receive initial orientation and help in finding suitable counseling services nearby. After a confidential initial consultation, those affected will be referred to a specialized agency if necessary. In this way, we provide very concrete support to those affected and their families while simultaneously strengthening prevention efforts to protect our society from the growing dangers of conspiracy theories,” stated Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus, who called conspiracy theories “poisonous to democracy.”
Germany calls their long-term counseling for conspiracy theorists holistic in nature, but it is a re-education and forced indoctrination program. The government does not want the people to have independent thoughts or beliefs that challenge their authority. Loyalty should lie with the government over family, friends, and classmates, all of whom could pose a threat to the government. Be suspicious of thy neighbor.
It is comical that the leftists honestly believe Germany is “finally on the right side of history” when history is in fact repeating. The economy is declining, and the nation is on the precipice of global warfare. The Germans live in fear of World War II repeating, yet, re-education programs are precisely what occurred in Nazi Germany. Schools were transformed into indoctrination centers, and textbooks were revised. Propaganda appeared in every form of media, and stern rhetoric was the primary tool that the Third Reich used to control the masses ahead of warfare. While the government’s current ideological requirements certainly differ from that of the Third Reich, the government is once again forcibly indoctrinating the people, silencing dissent, and forcing family and friends to turn on one another to protect the government above all else.
Posted originally on Apr 15, 2025 by Martin Armstrong
There is much speculation about Germany withdrawing its gold holdings from the United States. We have seen this occur in recent history. In the 1960s, French President Charles de Gaulle began challenging the U.S. dominance in the global monetary system. Gold typically flows where capital feels safe, but in this case, France repatriated its gold from the US due to political tensions.
In 1965, French President Charles de Gaulle withdrew his ministers from the Council of the EU, thereby constituting a de facto veto over all decisions, which became known as the “Empty Chair Crisis.” Several issues regarding European political integration led to the Empty Chair Crisis. There was a push at that time to create the quasi-federalization of Europe. De Gaulle believed that national governments should move towards integration. Still, he did not agree with the Commission’s attempt to create some new super-central state or a federalized Europe, extending powers of the EU beyond national borders as we have today, which Margaret Thatcher also opposed.
President Charles de Gaulle has proposed the Fouchet Plan was a plan back in 1961 to create a new grand design for Europe. Charles de Gaulle wanted to develop a three-power directorate, consisting of France, Britain and the United States. The idea was to form a new ‘Union of States’, as an alternative to the European Communities (EC). De Gaulle feared a loss of French national influence in the EC as there was a drive to federalize Europe back then.
After the failure of the Fouchet Plan and De Gaulle’s veto of the United Kingdom’s application for EC membership, the Commission attempted to move towards integration by proposing an idea that would combine the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Parliament, and Commission. De Gaulle supported the creation of the CAP and favored its enactment. However, he disagreed with the Parliament’s new role, the Commission’s strength, the shift towards federalization and a central state, and the budget proposals for financing the CAP. De Gaulle made it a condition that majority voting with a right to veto must exist if France was to participate in the EC. When de Gaulle was denied a more intergovernmental Commission or voting and veto rights, the French representative left the Council of Ministers thereby creating the Empty Chair Crisis.
The Luxembourg Accord was an agreement reached in January 1966 to resolve the “Empty Chair Crisis,” which had caused a stalemate within the European Economic Community. Then on June 21, 1966, de Gaulle withdrew France in a shocking move, taking its troops from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This decision, led by French president Charles de Gaulle, complicated relations between the U.S. and Europe amidst clashing American and Communist spheres of influence. Though France remained politically in NATO, its actions cast doubt on the organization’s future as a counter to Soviet military power and control back then.
From 1963 to 1966, France secretly implemented Operation Vide-Gousset to repatriate 3,313 tons of gold reserves from the Bank of England and the New York Federal Reserve. It took over 44 boat trips and 129 flights to export the gold back to the Banque de France. Since France converted its dollar holdings into gold, the French made out well when the dollar fell during the Bretton Woods period and lost 96% of its value against gold. France then withdrew from the London Gold Pool in 1966 after recovering its gold holdings to force the US to endure heavier losses.
France’s actions caused a gold run with nations eagerly reducing their holdings at the New York Fed. West Germany reclaimed 1,200 tons of gold. Switzerland increased gold purchases from both the US and UK, but did so more discreetly than France to avoid political upheaval. By 1971, before the gold window closed, the United Kingdom requested $3 billion in gold conversions from the US. This may have been the final move that pushed Nixon to act. The Netherlands and Belgium also began exporting gold holdings from the US at this time.
US gold stock fell from $22.7 billion in 1950 to $12 billion by 1971. On August 15, 1971, President Nixon closed the gold window, ending the convertibility of the dollar into gold. The 1971 closing of the gold window by Nixon cut the link to gold, ending Bretton Woods.
“The speculators have been waging an all-out war on the American dollar,” Nixon declared, and to “protect the dollar from the attacks of the international money speculators” would take “bold action.”
“I have directed [Treasury] Secretary Connolly to suspend temporarily the convertibility of the dollar into gold.”
France’s actions were a catalyst to the inevitable decision to close the gold window, but not the sole cause. Yet, as we are seeing today, the primary reason that nations would like to withdraw their holdings comes down to politics. Charles de Gaulle said that the dollar was “monumentally over-privileged” and moved to hurt the USD. The incoming German government is now looking to withdraw their holdings from the US solely due to their distaste for America.
Posted originally on Apr 14, 2025 by Martin Armstrong
The technology coming out of China is quite remarkable. China has unveiled the world’s first pilotless air taxi service. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued Air Operator Certificates (OCs) to EHang Holdings in Guangdong Province and its subsidiary, Heyi Aviation. The companies believe this will boost China’s tourism sector and pave the way for the normalization of flying vehicles over the next five years.
EHang’s EH216-S is a two-seat electric drone that can travel at a top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h) over a range of 18.6 miles (30 km). Heyi Aviation has a similar model as well that is meant for “low-altitude economy” flights. Initial operations will be restricted to closed-loop routes that land and takeoff at the same location.
Ehang’s Vice President He Tianxing said phase one of pilotless taxis will begin this year into 2026, focusing solely on tourism travel in Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Wuxi, Wenzhou and Wuhan. Flights will initially vary from three to 10 minutes as phase one is about novelty and the excitement of air travel rather than commuting or transportation. Tianxing said the experience is “just like riding in a car.”
“The human-carrying pilotless aviation and the low-altitude economy, as an emerging industry, is still in its developmental stage and remains a national strategic focus in China’s aviation sector,” EHang said. There are still many challenges to be addressed and improvements to be made, requiring industry-wide collaborations.”
Phase two will occur from 2026 to 2030 to include urban air taxis capable of traveling longer distances. These taxis will be used for actual commuting and transport purposes, creating a new “low-altitude economy.”
The US has attempted to compete with eVTOL aircrafts for “power-left” vehicles, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and are designed to land and take off vertically to avoid the need for a runway. However, the FAA has not approved of a pilotless aircraft. Estimates stat that this business could grow into a $30 billion opportunity by 2035.
China expects the new low-altitude economy, which also includes drones and air sports, to be worth $205 billion (1.5 trillion yuan) by the end of 2025. The CCP is aggressively pushing this new niche and expects it to double in size by 2035. What was once an idea seen only in science fiction films is now a reality. It will be quite interesting to see how this technology plays out in potentially reshaping travel.
Posted originally on CTH on April 3, 2025 | Sundance
The response from the EU is exactly what we would expect to see from the end of the 80-year-old Marshal Plan.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyden has three big concerns with the new trade/tariff reset. I strongly suggest everyone to read the EU concerns slowly to fully absorb decades of hypocrisy now surfacing:
#1 The EU will not be able to compete for U.S. market share with 20% general tariffs and 25% auto tariffs.
#2 The EU must deploy countermeasures against the risk of losing industrial capacity and manufacturing to the United States.
And #3 The EU must defend itself against China dumping cheap products into the EU now rejected by the USA.
von der Leyen is concerned mostly about the extremely valuable U.S. consumer being leveraged by President Trump, essentially blocking exploitation from EU and Asia. The EU will not tolerate losing access to the most valuable customers in the world, Americans.
Showcasing the mindset, Ursula von der Leyen vows to take all action needed to retain U.S. customers, even if those customers no longer want her products. The USA will allow Europe access, or there will be hell to pay. I must say this is quite funny.
(Via Politico) […] Von der Leyen said Trump’s tariffs would have dire consequences for consumers and businesses that have prospered through trade with the United States since World War Two.
[…] The EU chief executive said the bloc would ready countermeasures against Trump’s latest tariff broadside, in addition to a €26 billion package responding to tariffs he has already imposed on steel and aluminum. At the same time, she vowed, Brussels will work to protect the industries most exposed.
“We are already finalizing the first package of countermeasures in response to tariffs on steel, and we are now preparing for further countermeasures to protect our interests and our businesses if negotiations fail,” von der Leyen said from Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where she was attending a summit.
“We will also be watching closely what indirect effects these tariffs could have. Because we cannot absorb global overcut capacity, nor will we accept dumping on our markets,” von der Leyen said, as the bloc braces for a flood of cheaper exports coming from China and elsewhere that will be shut out of the U.S. market. (read more)
As noted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, all of the global trade partners would do themselves a favor if they did not react emotionally with increased countervailing duties.
The currently outlined U.S. reciprocal tariffs represent a ceiling amount levied. The goal is to lower the tariffs to zero by eliminating all trade barriers. If the EU raises their baseline tariffs, the only thing that happens is the U.S. side increases at the same proportion. The higher von der Leyen goes in her tariffs, the higher the U.S. countervailing duty applies.
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