Tag Archives: Civitas

Oct 30 2023

Sunday Talks, New Speaker Mike Johnson Discusses Israel Support Bill and Looming Budget Deadline


Posted originally on the CTH on October 29, 2023 

Within the budget process there are two different facets. Congress is charged by the Constitution with making decisions about how to spend public money. Those spending decisions are split into two parts: authorization and appropriations.  In the recent political era the “authorization” process has essentially been nulled; no one ever asks if the program (Ukraine, Israel, FBI, etc.) should be funded. 

“Authorization” is done by Congress via legislation that “can establish, continue, or modify an agency, program, or activity for a fixed or indefinite period of time,” per the Congressional Research Service. In other words, authorization is Congress saying that money can be spent on a given item — not that it necessarily will be spent on that item.

“Appropriations” are done by Congress via legislation that authorizes agencies to make payments from the federal Treasury (i.e. it allows them to spend the money that had previously been authorized). Appropriations bills are ordinarily passed each year, but in recent years it has been common for Congress to fund the government “on autopilot” via continuing resolutions that simply allow agencies to continue spending the same amount of money they were spending under the previous funding bill.

Matt Gaetz has been trying to change this dynamic because the external recipients of the appropriation spending, the lobbyists, are the ones driving the continuation of the CR approach. The lobbyists pay congress via campaign donations. Those donations come from congressional appropriation. The CR process maintains the largesse.

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Oct 27 2023

Business Deportations


Armstrong Economics Blog/World Trade Re-Posted Oct 27, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

The world will become a more hostile place in the months ahead as we move toward 2024. Governments have identified their enemies that have embedded themselves within Western society. First, governments will ask businesses owned by unfriendly nations to leave, and next, they will target individuals.

Syngenta has owned 160 acres of farmland in Arkansas for three decades. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders raised concerns over the company’s ties to China and the CCP. “Seeds are technology. Chinese-owned state corporations filter that technology back to their homeland, stealing American research and telling our enemies to target American farms,” Huckabee explained. The company is now being forced to leave America due to fears of national security. Additionally, they must pay a $280,000 fine for failing to disclose foreign ownership.

The state is providing Syngenta with a 30-day evacuation notice before they attempt to confiscate their land. A spokesperson for the company stated that they have been in operation since 1988 with no issue. “Syngenta’s work in the US — including in Arkansas — continues to benefit American farmers, strengthens American agriculture and makes the US a more innovative and competitive participant in the global agricultural marketplace,” the spokesman said, calling the move “shortsighted.”

However, the government knew this was a Chinese-run business years ago, as the US Department of Defense compiled a watchlist of companies connected to China in 2017. The growing fear of global warfare has gifted government the power to deport businesses on short notice. Slowly but surely, these companies will be asked to leave the US.

As a reminder, China is America’s largest trading partner. China is not currently at war with America. The government is opening Pandora’s box as this will lead to an exodus of foreign-run businesses and China will retaliate. We remember the ongoing trade war with China during the Trump administration with sanctions matched with sanctions. The globalists scream “Inclusivity!” left and right but plan on removing businesses simply because they’re connected to a foreign nation deemed unfriendly without a thorough investigation.

There are already discussions of deporting individuals for their religious and/or political beliefs. This will not be limited to the US. France’s Macron is attempting to deport those with “extremist beliefs.” Other countries will follow, especially with violently charged protests growing throughout Western nations that opened the doors to countless refugees since 2015 when Syrians were fleeing. The issue here is that the government has the sole discretion to decide who can stay and who must leave. If only those in charge would use history, recent history, as an example.

Oct 26 2023

Mercantilism v Consumerism – China’s Direction


Armstrong Economics Blog/World Trade Re-Posted Oct 26, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Mercantilism is the economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances, which a government should encourage by means of protectionism, according to the Oxford Dictionary. We see nations like Germany rely on this model as they produce various products to export through trade. German manufacturing has provided the nation with Europe’s strongest economy, but this is not the model China is following to become America’s successor as the financial capital of the world.

Italy may have a lower GDP than Germany, but the average Italian has a higher net worth than the average German. The average Italian has a household net of $295,020. In contrast, the average German household is worth $304,317. Yet Italy has half the GDP of Germany at 2.108 trillion compared to 4.26 trillion. A few short years ago, the average Italian or Spaniard had a higher net than the average German despite Germany having the strongest economy in the continent.

Germany has clung to inflationary fears in the aftermath of the hyperinflation that arose post-World War II. The government has kept taxes high as a result. What made America great was consumerism – people lined up to sell products to Americans. Germany, on the other hand, focuses on producing products to sell to someone else.

China understands what Germany does not. China is moving in the direction of the US to create a consumer-based economy. It will take time, but in 15-20 years, nations will line up to sell to the Chinese.

Oct 24 2023

Golden Passports


Armstrong Economics Blog/Geopolitical Re-Posted Oct 24, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

The European Union (EU) has a new excuse to tighten travel restrictions. The European Commission published a report claiming five Caribbean states have sold “golden passports” citizenship to 88,000 individuals from around the globe, including China, Iran, and Russia.

“Investor citizenship schemes (or citizenship-by-investment programmes, also commonly referred to as “golden passports”) run by third countries with visa-free access to the EU may present a number of security risks for the EU. These schemes grant citizenship rights on the basis of local investments or against a flat fee, with low or no residence requirements, weak security checks and no genuine connection with the third country in question. The third countries concerned often advertise those schemes as ‘golden passports’ with the express purpose of allowing visa-free travel to the Union to third-country nationals that would otherwise be visa required,” the report states.

These are more than merely passports as they provide a path to visa-free travel to 60 nations. The Guardian reported that these passports have a starting price of $100,000. The EU report sets out for the first time the true scale of the Caribbean passport trade, with prices starting at $100,000 a head, leading me to believe that the people of these Caribbean nations are not the main buyers.

Not only is the price tag suspicious, but the sheer number does not make sense. The Dominican Republic alone sold 34,500 of these golden passports but has a population of only 72,000. In 2015, the EU permitted citizens of certain Caribbean islands to travel visa-free for up to 90 days. Visa-free travel to countries such as the EU and US is one of the key benefits advertised by Caribbean citizenship by investment schemes.

So, the European Union already announced that a mere passport will not grant people entry beginning in 2024. Those traveling to Europe must apply for authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before their visit. Now, that restriction on free movement was implemented before the 88,000 golden passports came to light, so we can expect harsher restrictions. The European Commission now says it must overhaul regulations as it is concerned that these passports could be enabling the “infiltration of organized crime, money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption.” This is one of many reasons that I have warned travel will become increasingly difficult as we go down the long road to 2032.

Oct 23 2023

Interview: World War III Explained


Armstrong Economics Blog/Armstrong in the Media Re-Posted Oct 23, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Oct 23 2023

Tyson Foods to Use BUGS to Create Our Food


Armstrong Economics Blog/Great Reset Re-Posted Oct 23, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

The climate change psy-ops has simply gone too far. Schwab’s World Economic Forum has become like a cult declaring our last days are ahead unless we abide by asinine laws. Those promoting the Great Reset have said countless times that WE will begin to eat bugs to save the planet, and meat will no longer be available to us. Now Tyson Foods announced it acquired a minority stake in the bug protein startup company, Protix.

According to the company’s website:“Protix is the world leader in insect ingredients. We believe that feeding the growing world population should go hand in hand with protecting our beautiful planet. A huge challenge! Fortunately, the solution lies in nature itself: insects provide low-footprint proteins and other nutrients that can be processed into more sustainable feed and food.”

The website goes on to claim:“Why do we love insect ingredients? Because they’re the answer to many of the problems the world is facing today. Insect ingredients have a lower footprint than many of the ingredients commonly used in feed and food. Our insects need very little room to grow, making for far less land use than traditional ingredients. They also need less water and have lower CO₂ emissions. Plus… insects are nature’s greatest ‘upcyclers’ and thus a natural solution to the huge problem of food waste.”

Tyson said it will begin to normalize the consumption of bugs by placing it in pet food, aquaculture, and livestock production. The company will “upcycle food manufacturing byproducts into high-quality insect proteins and lipids.” So they even want to fill the animals we eat with insects and change their diets as well. Grand View Research stated that insect protein consumption will grow by 27.4% by 2028, a half cycle before 2032, when the people rise up and demand change. Governments want us sick and helpless.

Oct 21 2023

Has the Rule of Law Collapsed in Germany?


Armstrong Economics Blog/Germany Re-Posted Oct 21, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

I want to explain an incident when I was doing a world tour for the Forecaster Movie. In Europe, there would be a question-and-answer period after the film concluded. I was in Frankfurt, and a woman stood up and said this is what was wrong with America. It always protected the bankers. She was stunned at how they could keep me in prison on civil contempt with trial and no defined charges at all. She said this was not the first example of the corrupt American legal system.

Then, a German lawyer stood up and corrected her. He said in Germany, what the US did to me, they do all the time to Germans.

Reiner Fuellmich, is an attorney and international freedom advocate. He has taken a major step to investigate the criminal activity of politicians in COVID. Because Germany did not charge him, they would have to put on a case and extradite him back to Germany. They illegally kidnapped him from Mexico, which is a complete violation of international law.

This is a warning to everyone. The rule of law has completely collapsed. Nothing matters anymore. These governments are simply desperate because they know they are losing power. Just as the US imposed sanctions on Russia, that divided the world economy and sent a warning to every other nation that if they do not do as the United States Neocons demand, they too will be removed from the global financial system. The ramifications now have many preparing alternatives to this insane tyranny.

There is nothing we can do. Just as Communism collapsed from its own weight, the West will suffer the same fate by 2032. This is NOT my wish nor my opinion. Our computer’s forecast has been spot on when it comes to its geopolitical forecasts for many years.

I Fear the Geopolitical Forecasts May Have to Be on the Private Blog

Free Speech is becoming a Thing of the Past

Globally

Oct 20 2023

Travelers will need Authorization to Enter the EU in 2024


Armstrong Economics Blog/War Re-Posted Oct 20, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Be prepared as the freedom of movement will begin to decline as we move toward 2032. Starting in 2024, those traveling to Europe will need to apply for authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before their visit. The new regulations are called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). When the system launches in early 2024, it will require ALL visitors who currently travel to Europe visa-free, such as citizens from the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, to apply for travel authorization and receive approval prior to their departure.

The authorization is not exactly a visa and does not require visa-like obligations to travel, the European Commission claims. The goal of ETIAS is to increase security within the EU as they can no longer identify the enemy. America and others have compromised their borders and there are many with ill will amongst us. They claim the length of time that Americans will be able to spend in Europe as a tourist is not changing, but how will anyone be able to travel outside their respective country during an ongoing global conflict? So US passport holders are allowed to stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period, but for any stay longer than 90 days, a special visa is required.

If you travel outside of your respective country, depending on where you live, you’re on your own. Biden has abandoned American naturals in Israel and Palestine, forcing those in Israel to take out a loan merely to travel to a neighboring country. Restrictions are rarely removed once implemented as the US saw after the Patriot Act was introduced post-9/11. Our ability to travel and move freely throughout nations is coming to a halt.

Oct 18 2023

Kissinger: Allowing Migrants in Europe was a Grave Mistake


Armstrong Economics Blog/War Re-Posted Oct 18, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Where will the displaced people go when their homes are destroyed during this senseless war? No Arab nation has offered to take in Palestinian refugees. They fear the US and West knocking on their door too as the enemy hides behind the civilians. Henry Kissinger recently came out and said that Europe made a “grave mistake.”

“It was a grave mistake to let in so many people of totally different culture and religion and concepts, because it creates a pressure group inside each country that does that,” Kissinger stated. This comes on the heels of pro-Hamas, not pro-Palestine, protests emerging across Germany. In fact, violent protests are emerging across all of Europe. “The Middle East conflict has the danger of escalating and bringing in other Arab countries under the pressure of their public opinion,” Kissinger noted.

Egypt, Palestine’s neighbor, has made it clear that they will not permit their Arab brothers and sisters to enter. Egypt has deployed troops to its border with Palestine to ensure no one enters.  King Abdullah II of Jordan also said that refugees are not welcome. “There will be no refugees in Jordan and no refugees in Egypt,” the king stated. “That is a red line, because I think that is the plan by certain of the usual suspects to try and create de facto issues on the ground,” Abdullah added. He believes Israel is trying to send residents of Gaza toward the Rafah border.

“The whole region is on the brink of falling into the abyss,” Abdullah said. “All our efforts are needed to make sure we don’t get there. We have a common goal to prevent a conflagration in the region,” the chancellor said. “I once again expressly warn Hezbollah and Iran not to intervene in this conflict.”

Now Biden is heading to the Middle East to show others how weak our nation has become politically. Blinken wants to establish safe zones for the Palestinians across the Middle East, but the leaders there are saying NO do not involve us in your war. No Arab nation will open its border to Palestinians, but the West, with a completely different standard of reality, must do its part to accept people who do not fit in their society. And then those same people later chant that they want to see the very nations that accepted them destroyed.

Oct 18 2023

Why Was the 1987 Crash Important Even for Today


Armstrong Economics Blog/Training Tools Re-Posted Oct 18, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

COMMENT: I watched a pretend analyst who claimed the 1987 Crash was nothing. It is amazing how these people claim to be analysts yet do not understand the first thing about what took place behind the chart. I was there at your WEC in Princeton the weekend of the crash. I don’t remember if it was videoed. If so, you should post that.

Dan

See you in Orlando.

REPLY: Your statement is a sad epitaph on analysis these days. The “pretend analyst” is a Fed watcher who never looks beyond the shore. There is nothing you can do with these people. If they cannot look beyond a domestic economy, they are not analysts – plain & simple. Because I warned them back in 1985 that they would create a crash within 2 years by manipulating the dollar down 40%, when the Crash Came in 1987, that is when they were forced to call me.

When they began to realize that lowering the dollar by 40% also created a bear market in US assets for foreign investors, including US debt, they held the Louve Accord.  Yet, look closely at the chart. The dollar had already bun its decline. It had nothing to do with the central banks. Those in charge know less than the average investor. They proceed, always assuming they have power – but over what they do not comprehend.

They then announced that the dollar had fallen far enough. When the dollar continued to decline, that is when the market realized that the CENTRAL BANKS COULD NOT CONTROL THE WORLD ECONOMY. Once that took place, that is what unfolded as the 1987 Crash. My biggest accomplishment was to persuade the Brady Commission not to impose restrictions on the market when the formation of the G5 created the crisis. But the government will NEVER blame itself. The most significant accomplishment I was able to do was to get the Brady Commission to at least imply that foreign exchange had something to do with it.

The lesson of 1987 is NOT in the chart. It is behind the chart. Once the public realized that the central banks were not actually in control, that is when the panic took place. Today, when interest rates rise without the Fed’s actions because of the Neocons constantly threatening the world and China over Taiwan, that is when panic will strike. It all goes nuts once people realize that the government is just a ship of fools with ZERO sailing experience. That is when gold will break out. It is that CRACK IN CONFIDENCE that will cause the panic.

That is the Significance of the 1987 Crash