Ep 3300a – It’s All About To Fall Apart For The [CB]/[WEF], Time To Restructure The Economic System


Posted originally on Rumble By X 22 Report on: Mar 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm EST

Powell: March Rate Cut Unlikely


Posted originally on Mar 7, 2024 By Martin Armstrong

Powell Jerome

Those who follow this blog already knew that the Federal Reserve would not drop rates in the future due to unsustainable fiscal policies paired with America’s increasing involvement in foreign wars. All of the talking heads were preaching that rates would significantly decline to pandemic levels, as if that were the historical norm. Every fiscal policy in recent years has exacerbated inflation and the Fed cannot keep up with government spending. QE FAILED. The artificially low interest rates of the recent past were completely unsustainable and relied on outdated theories.

The outdated understanding based on Keynesian Economics remains to increase the supply of money and it MUST be inflationary. The Fed raises rates to reduce consumption and lower rates to stimulate consumption. It’s a very nice theory, but when actually tested, it utterly fails. Lower rates will NEVER cause people to invest UNTIL they believe that there is an opportunity to invest. We are watching the big players withdraw from equities, let alone government debt. We are in a private wave where money is running off the grid at a rapid pace.

DowIntRates 1929

The peak in interest rates took place in 1899 at virtually 200%. Yet, 1929 was the real bubble top and it peaked with 20% interest rates in call money on the NYSE. In theory, the biggest boom should have been met with the highest interest rate. In truth, the “real interest rate” as I have defined it is when the interest rates exceed expectations. If you think the stock market will double, you will pay 25% interest.

As you can see, while interest rates hit nearly 200% in 1899, the share market did NOT crash percentage-wise anything as it did following 1929. Look, there is a lot more to this than meets the eye. Everything must be addressed on a global scale for it all depends also on the direction of capital flows. There is just a lot more to this than simply the money supply and interest rates.

CALLMONY MA

Now, Powell continues to explain to the public that VOLATILITY and economic conditions are beyond the control of the Fed. “We believe that our policy rate is likely at its peak for this tightening cycle,” Powell said. “If the economy evolves broadly as expected, it will likely be appropriate to begin dialing back policy restraint at some point this year. But the economic outlook is uncertain, and ongoing progress toward our 2% inflation objective is not assured.”

Powell Fed Got Inflation Wrong Nov 2021

All the news of inflation waning, including recent data, is inaccurate propaganda intended to calm recessionary fears. Even by the government’s data, inflation is up 3.1% compared to last year. It was an unprecedented moment when Powell broke with Washington and criticized the government for their unsustainable spending. The Fed NEVER criticizes the government, despite the two being separate.

Hence, I say to stop blaming the Fed. They are not the ones creating all the money but are working to match monetary policy with unsustainable fiscal policies. We are looking at trillions in deficits per year. There is no restraint when creating new massive spending packages. Then people blame the central bank with no concept that it’s only a fraction of “money;” the real issue is CONGRESS.

Listen, interest rates cannot decline in the face of war. The 2020 yearly array showed a turning point for a high in 2022 and a possible correction into 2024. I explain this in more detail on the Socrates private blog but buckle up for the year ahead.

Cap on Credit Card Late Fees Hurt Financially Illiterate Americans


Posted originally on Mar 6, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

CreditCardDebt.Chart_

The Biden Administration implemented a new rule that will cap credit card late fees at $8. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has praised the measure, estimating it will save Americans over $10 billion annually in late fees, or around $220 annually per person as 45 million Americans have experienced these fees within the last year, but this measure may be more harmful than helpful.

Credit card debt in America is at an all-time high of nearly $1.13 trillion and continues to rise as around 56 million Americans carry credit card debt. The typical late fee payment is around $32, but this is merely the fee for missing a payment and does not account for compounded interest. It seems like common sense, but one must realize that the average person is not financially literate. The concept of basic finance is not a mandatory requirement for the public education system, leading many people to live off debt, well beyond their means, with no chance of recuperating. America has the leading median level of credit card debt among all developed nations. There is a widespread belief that one can afford certain goods if they are approved for a line of credit, which only benefits the banks.

Debt Hole Cannor Climb Out

Now, the banks are certainly profiting on late fees, which account for about 15% of credit card profits based on the CFPB’s 2021 Consumer Credit Card Market Report. Do these fees deter reckless spending? A 2022 ABA-led survey found that 46% of respondents said they made it a priority to pay off their credit cards on time to avoid late fees. That particular study found that a fee of $10 was enough to redirect one’s attention to their financial obligations. Another study by the Harris Poll and NerdWallet found that Americans were more likely to make a payment of their cards if a $30 fee was implemented.

Again, one must understand that the average person cannot compute the cost of compounding interest. Borrowing money is not a legal right and should be done with the utmost caution. Simply forgetting or dismissing financial obligations has consequences.

The banks will find a way to profit off the people in other ways. It is the nature of banking. Rob Nichols, the president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, explained that other measures could be implemented that will hurt everyone. “The Bureau’s misguided decision to cap credit card late fees at a level far below banks’ actual costs will force card issuers to reduce credit lines, tighten standards for new accounts and raise APRs for all consumers – even those who pay on time,” Nichols said. This is yet another Biden Admin policy favoring the financially irresponsible at the expense of others.

So, what is the CFPB recommending as an alternative? CBDC. The agency is first suggesting digitizing banking so that consumers have instant access to their credit scores and spending habits. Again, these numbers are disregarded by a portion of the population. The agency is patronizing all Americans by stating we are not intelligent enough to know when to pay off our monthly debts without digital notifications and reminders.

Financial literacy is desperately needed in America. So, while the Biden Administration is breaking its arm patting itself on the back for this surface-level win for the everyday man, the ruling does nothing to combat the growing personal debt crisis.

Ep 3292a – Big Names Selling Off Stocks, Pattern Established, Market Correction Coming


Posted originally on Rumble By X 22 Project on: Feb 26, 2024 at 7:45 pm EST

70% of American Cities in Debt – Pension Crisis will Cause Taxes to RISE


Posted Feb 23, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

Pension Crisis

A study by Truth in Accounting (TIA) revealed that 70% of America’s largest cities fell into a deficit in fiscal year 2022. Out of the 75 cities studied, 53 simply did not have the funds to pay their bills. The study found that the total debt among the 75 cities had reached $288 billion, and despite the $307.4 billion of assets shared among them, the cities held $595.3 billion in unfunded pension plans.

US law requires cities to maintain a balanced budget, yet no one is holding the representative accountable. Mind you, this data was collected BEFORE the migrant crisis toppled city budgets. Cities have been overreporting their revenue and incorporating borrowed funds into their total revenue calculations. These cities push off bills until the beginning of the next fiscal year to alter calculations.

Pensions and health care were the major issues burdening American cities long before Washington required taxpayers to bankroll the 7+ million new illegal residents. As the report notes: “The most common accounting trick cities use to understate government costs is not including true compensation costs. Cities provide employees with salaries and employee benefits, such as healthcare, life insurance, and pensions. While pension and other post-employment costs, such as health care, will not be paid until the employees retire, they still represent current compensation costs earned and incurred throughout their tenure.”

Cover Pension Crisis

I have been warned for many years that the government pension plans operate like a Ponzi scheme and have been waiting to implode. Government employees have the defined-benefit (DB) while we get the defined-contribution (DC) plans. Most state and local government employees, actually 87% of those working full time, participate in a defined benefit (DB) pension plan. They contribute NOTHING but are guaranteed a pension on top of what they earned, plus free healthcare for life. Under these promises, these employees have never been required to save for the future and will demand that the public be taxed on anything and everything to keep to this Ponzi scheme on life support.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE should you allow your pension fund to be managed by any government-related entity. They cannot pay government employees so they have sought to suck in everybody else to cover up their losses. Before 2032, there will be more people on retirement from government than actual employed workers. The government must continue to raise our taxes because they are incapable of creating reform.

The reason I highlight the migrant crisis is that we are now shelling out billions of dollars every month to support a new influx of people who have also never contributed to the system. They are providing them with “free” shelter, food, debit cards, and more. Then, they decided to prevent these very people from obtaining working permits to ensure the select few with good intentions cannot ween off government/taxpayers.

Look at history to see how this situation plays out—warning: the pension crisis will not end nicely. When the government could no longer afford to pay the army, it began sacking Roman cities that opposed their general. They turned inward and cannibalized their own cities, weakening the entire empire, thereby allowing the barbarians to come through the gates. We have followed the very same mistakes as Rome. This is just how empires always end. We are no different.

NYC Bonds Are in Sell Mode


Posted originally on Feb 22, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

Engoron Hocjul Letitia James

COMMENT: Hi Martin.

Thanks for the “astute lawyer” compliment. That was very nice, and coming from you, it is very meaningful to me.

The Epoch Times headline in your “NYC Out of Control” post calls the dollar part of the verdict against the Trumps a “penalty.” It has also been called a “fine,” but I haven’t yet seen it called “damages” in a headline. I think Hochul, Engoron, and James know that the amount was based on a damage assessment and calculation that may not hold up. New York Executive Law § 63(12) clearly reads that the attorney general “may apply…for an order…directing restitution and damages…”. [Emphasis mine.]

New York proved math calculations, not actual damages, where the damaged party had to be made whole. Had the statute recited a list of fines, they’d probably be in a more sound position, but their position now is what I would call “too dicey for comfort.” I would seize nothing in this situation because there are too many cases of improper seizures to worry about. The verdicts against those who seize property in error or improperly or hastily in a flawed or tainted case are many times larger than the amount of the money judgment used to seize and sell the property of the defendant.

Furthermore, if New York has someone running the Trump businesses, and should he or she destroy or damage the businesses, the state could be liable for many, many times the amount of the verdict/judgment against the Trump family. Trump could wind up seizing the state capitol, the governor’s residence, etc., plus having his property returned to him. I’ve seen this happen. Once, the State of Louisiana overreached, and once, the U.S. government was a litigant against a billionaire oil man, banker, and friend who could not get the IRS to return his multi-million dollar overpayment of taxes. He finally had enough, and he seized the Hale Boggs Federal Court Building. He got his money a day later.

Perhaps by dancing around exactly what legal principle the amount of the money verdict/judgment is based on (i.e., damages, fines, penalties [i.e., a payment imposed as punishment], whatever), the Hochul, Engoron, James enterprise has walked into a trap. The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive fines. If they maintain the amount is absolutely based on the principle of damages, how can they show a diminution of the state being “whole” (or “wholeness” if you will) owing to Trump’s actions with third parties. If they maintain the amount of the verdict/judgment is based on a properly enacted and published fine or penalty, then they must face the Eighth Amendment.

In my opinion, Hochul, Engoron, and James are whistling past the graveyard. They have put their careers on the line, and the dice are tumbling.

Best regards, and thanks again.

EGM

Docket Sheet Sealed

REPLY: This is so political it smells, and just because this Judge, who is not qualified to judge a turtle race, simply decrees, they think they are God, and everyone must bow down to them and kiss their ring. It is so rare to find a decent judge in New York. Judge Lawrence McKenna saw what they were doing and tried to protect me. The government went to the Chief Judge to remove him and then sealed the record.

Civil Unrest 2023

The DA belongs in prison with the governor and this disgusting judge. This DA is bragging that she will now seize Trump Tower. When the computer projected that the 2024 election would be intermixed with serious civil unrest and that neither side would ever accept the outcome, as we draw closer and closer to this date with destiny, it is looking very, very dark indeed.

DJIND M Array 2 15 24

The computer is projecting a panic cycle in September, rising volatility in October, and October will be a critical turning point heading into the 2024 election. We should no longer have the motto – Gold Bless America – it should be changed to – God Save America. These LEFTIST are destroying the very foundation of law; without that, civilization can no longer exist. That is the testimony of history – not my opinion.

NEW YORK IS DOOMED

Bond investors have piled into New York City’s tax-exempt bonds, lured by their relatively high yields. However, with a $7 billion budget deficit spiraling costs of sheltering asylum seekers and other migrants that have sought refuge in New York on top of this collapse in the rule of law, NYC is a sell – not a buy. Wall Street profits are declining, and with them, there are looming job cuts at major investment banks. Many are migrating to Florida, which puts pressure on city tax revenue. New York’s fiscal outlook is a disaster. That suggests the city’s general obligation bonds aren’t particularly attractive at current valuations – they are a sell.

The Ruse of Bitcoin & Crypto


Posted originally on Feb 21, 2024 By Martin Armstrong |  

Fink Larry

BlackRock CEO & World Economic Forum Trustee Board Member

Larry Fink Turns Bullish on Bitcoin

Larry Fink has changed his tune on crypto, saying suddenly it could “revolutionize finance,” endorsing an industry he once viewed with skepticism. Of course, as a board member of Scwab’s WEF, the crypto zealots cheered. Still, they think that Bitcoin can replace the dollar and end inflation, which they think is the result of paper money. That only reveals their own ignorance of what money is and the role it has played since the dawn of civilization.

Private Assets Government Assets

Worse still, they are telling people Bitcoin is going to be $60,000+ and fail to comprehend that even assuming that the dollar was replaced with Bitcoin, a rally then in the currency would subject the country to a Depression as took place during the 1930s.

1900 20 40

What made the depression so great was that private assets collapsed, and there was a flight to quality being cash. If Bitcoin replaced the dollar, the country would collapse, the debt would be unpayable or serviced, and private assets would decline, including gold. Democrats would no longer be able to run for office, for they could not promise gifts if you vote for them in the spirit of Marx. This is far more complicated than simply replacing the dollar. Even the people constantly calling for the collapse in the dollar do not comprehend that you are really talking about the collapse of the entire government, its debt, and the political system that would most likely fuel the divorce between the Blue & Red States. It was the dramatic rise in the dollar that compelled FDR to confiscate gold and devalue the dollar. It was the high price of the dollar that resulted in protectionism because the politicians did not understand the currency.

CBDC

They seem oblivious to the fact that the coming Central Bank Digital Currency in the USA would be unconstitutional, and the Federal Reserve will NOT issue one. Instead, the top banks are all moving to create their own and pitch for their version that will be programmable and traceable. The rumor is Fink would love to take over Bitcoin. WHY? Because all the tracing and reporting will be done by the private sector and under CURRENT law, banks MUST report suspicious behavior. So it is the COVID Model where the private sector did the censoring of free speech that the First Amendment ONLY restricts the government – not Facebook, YouTube, et al.

The Bitcoin zealots seem to overlook that the very nature of an ETF is at odds with the original ideals of Bitcoin. ETFs are an investment vehicle that’s categorically different from the original ideals of digital assets and will push the industry in the precise wrong direction into the ultimate way the government can trace everything you do and make sure they tax everything.

US Govt Targets Private Enterprise – Eminent Domain – Private Property and Patents at Risk


Posted originally on Feb 21, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

EminentDomainCartoon

A recent measure from the Biden Administration touted as a solution to lower prescription drug costs has a more sinister motive. The Bayh–Dole Act or Patent and Trademark Law Amendments Act of 1980 permitted researchers to own the patents of their products developed through government funds. The legislation permitted “march-in” rights that enabled these agencies to grant a license on their patents to third parties. For the first time in four decades, the federal government wants to invoke this measure as they are losing both money and power amid this private wave.

Codified by 35 U.S.C. S 203, the march-in rights permit the federal government to require contractors to hand over “nonexclusive, partially exclusive, or exclusive license” to a “responsible applicant or applicants.” Around 5% of patents were licensed out before the Bayh-Dole Act compared to around 69% today. On the surface, one may view this as an effective way to push back against prescription price gouging but this is an outright attack on private enterprise.

This measure is not limited to prescription medications as it expands to ever patent created through government funds, meaning every single industry could be usurped by Washington. Had the government actually wanted to lower prescription prices, there are countless measures and legislations that they could pass to do so. Instead, they are directly targeting private enterprises, no different from any communist nation.

Unconstitutional

Seizing private property has never benefitted the people of any nation. It has been attempted and tried countless times and always results in disaster. The Founding Fathers deliberately forbid this from happening in the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Most know the right to remain silent provided by the Fifth Amendment. There is a “takings clause” clearly written in the Constitution that forbids the government from seizing private property.

The US Supreme Court misconstrued this clause in KOHL v. US , 91 U.S. 367 (1875). The government decided to seize private property from landowners in Cincinnati to create public infrastructure. This case is largely cited as the beginning of eminent domain discussions and the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Federal government, so long as they provided “just compensation.” The court ruled that the government may asses the value and pay whatever they wish.

JamieDimon

The government and globalists have been searching for ways to use to ruling to seize private property. Most cases surrounded public infrastructure until recently. In 2023, JPMorgan Chase CEO and World Economic Forum member Jamie Dimon told shareholders that  “governments, businesses and non-governmental organizations” may need to invoke “eminent domain” in order to get the “adequate investments fast enough for grid, solar, wind and pipeline initiatives.”

The power provided by the pandemic tipped the scales in favor of the government over the people. Implementing socialism would be the fast-track way to achieve the World Economic Forum’s objective—YOU WILL OWN NOTHING AND BE HAPPY. Dimon suggested using the excuse of climate change to usher in the Great Reset. “The need to provide energy affordably and reliably for today, as well as make the necessary investments to decarbonize for tomorrow, underscores the inextricable links between economic growth, energy security and climate change. We need to do more, and we need to do so immediately,” Dimon added in his message to shareholders.

Then, the US government began quietly seizing farmland, particularly in South Dakota. Summit Carbon Solutions invoked eminent domain to seize private property to build a clean energy solution pipeline. Farmers reported receiving unannounced visits from surveyors who, at times, entered their personal residences without notice. The farmers were threatened and warned not to interfere in the plans to destroy their businesses. Over 80 farmers attempted to sue the company, but many were placed in contempt of court for speaking out. The US government ruled that it was legal and acceptable for Summit Carbon Solutions to seize property in the name of climate change.

Maximinus AE Denominations

History repeats as human nature NEVER changes. Look back at the Roman emperor Maximinus I (235-238 AD) who effectively declared all wealth in the country belonged to the state. He paid bribes to anyone who turned in their neighbor for hiding wealth. Once Maximinus wiped out small businesses in this manner, it led to a collapse in confidence in the economy. Commerce rapidly declined from there on out commerce and businesses did not restart. There was no Great Reset. In that instance, one Pi Cycle marked the bottom of the Roman economy from 237 AD to 268 AD (31 years).

The US government will seize more than just land in this most recent abuse of power. Our liberty is on the line and the government is seizing our rights at a rapid pace. We are entering a period of COMPLETE TOTALITARIANISM as we move toward 2032. Governments are losing control in this private wave, and the old methods of controlling the masses are not working; they are laying out the groundwork to take the utmost extreme measures to force the people to become entirely subservient to the system.

US Teens Learn About Taxes


Posted originally on Feb 20, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

A new trend is circulating on the internet, where parents in the US film their teenagers’ reactions to filing taxes for the first time. The US education system does not require schools to educate students on taxes, despite it being fundamental knowledge for sound financial health.

In 2022, teens with both earned and unearned income were required by law to file a tax return if their combined gross income was greater than $1,150, or more than their earned income (up to $12,550) plus $400. Additionally, if a teen earned $12,950 or more at their part-time job in 2022, they would need to file taxes in 2023. The standard deduction for 2022 was $12,950, so as long as a teen didn’t earn more than that amount, they wouldn’t have to file taxes. Basically, anyone who worked a part-time job was forced to give a portion to Uncle Sam.

Those advocating extreme spikes in the minimum wage do not realize that teenagers will be unable to pay. Moreover, employers will not be able to hire teens and young adults as they know they are there temporarily. These kids do not understand the system, and from a broader perspective, we need a future workforce with hands-on knowledge. Why is the government taxing teenagers who are too young to vote for representation? Why is the Biden Administration hell-bent on forgiving student loans when we are forcing teens to pay on the little that they earn? Everyone wants to talk about “equality,” but few realize that some cannot obtain higher education without a job. Not all parents are willing or able to support their children when they reach 18.

As a result, the youth is not joining the workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a further decline in the teen labor force participation rate, from 34.0% in 2014 to 26.4% in 2024, citing increased school enrollment as a contributing factor. They are encouraged by the system to focus on school and take out larger loans to pay for their expenses. They do not realize that most will be unable to find work in their field of study, nor are they educated about compounding interest on loans.

In 2023, the number of employed 16- to 19-year-olds in the US was approximately 6 million, which is expected to decline. Fewer teens are working and gaining crucial hands-on experience in the workforce. We are producing a future generation of academics who simply do not know how to work.

Yellen Believes People are Better off Post-Pandemic


Posted originally on Feb 20, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

Yellen Sec Treasury

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is proof that the establishment is completely clueless when it comes to the lives of the average citizen. “People are better off than they were pre-pandemic,” Yellen touted on national news last week. Perhaps she meant to say “politicians” rather than people, and no, one cannot point at rising US indexes and claim that is sufficient evidence that the overall economy is sound.

Yellen is akin to the Karine Jean-Pierre of America’s financial system insofar as her job is to openly lie to the public and convince them that their reality is not as it seems. She holds a high role in Biden’s cabinet and is responsible for overseeing America’s banks, tax enforcement, printing money, and the national debt. She is the bridge between the federal government and the Federal Reserve, acting as Biden’s top advisor. We know Biden is not mentally competent, and it appears his CFO has continually misled both Washington and the American public.

https://www.mrctv.org/embed/585516

So, what the hell is wrong with Janet Yellen? Her loyalty lies with the World Economic Forum and globalist elite. These are the people making decisions that DELIBERATELY wound their own nation’s economic soundness on behalf of a select few behind the curtain. Yellen admitted that the true reason behind the massive spending on the Inflation Reduction Act was to propel the climate change agenda. “The Inflation Reduction Act is, at its core, about turning the climate crisis into an economic opportunity,” the Treasury Secretary admitted months ago. That was one of the largest spending acts in the history of our nation and pales in comparison to the money being spent on foreign wars. All of this spending is intended to meet the same goal of the Great Reset.

Hence, the woman in charge of overseeing national spending is ignoring the debt crisis waiting to implode. When US debt was downgraded, she called it arbitrary and simply disagreed with the data. The government has no plans to curtail spending. Instead, they are taking measures that contribute to rising inflation, therefore reducing the quality of life for the average citizen. Yellen’s recent statement proves that Washington is not concerned about the people, and this inflationary trend will continue.