Tag Archives: Hunt for Taxes

Nov 8 2018

Bundesbank warns of Coming Pension Crisis


Armstrong Economics Blog/Pension Crisis

Re-Posted Nov 8, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

The Bundesbank has come out warning that there is a German pension crisis. They have proposed that states raise the pension tax and that they should gradually increase the retirement age because the life
expectancy in the future has risen. Central Bank President, Jens Weidmann, has stated that he is generally in favor of raising the statutory retirement age beyond 67 years.

We must understand that the ECB policy of “stimulating” the economy with negative interest rates has bankrupted state pension plans. This theory that lowering interest rates to get people to borrow and thus manipulate demand higher has NEVER been proven to have ever worked. The consequence of what we now face is a major pension crisis that is undermining the future of Western economies

Nov 7 2018

Midterm Election Recap


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics

Re-Posted Nov 7, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

It looks like we will not have the final number on the MidTerm Elections at least until tomorrow. There are more than a dozen races across multiple states that are too close to call which include contests in Arizona, Florida, and Montana for the U.S. Senate and in Georgia for governor. There is a Senate special election in Mississippi that has gone to a runoff. Meanwhile, Florida Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson has called for a recount in his race for re-election after unofficial results appear to show him narrowly trailing behind Republican opponent Rick Scott, who is currently the state’s governor. When we look at all of these numbers, what jumps out and smacks you in the face is precisely how divided the nation has become. With each side believing that a razor-thin majority gives them the right to exploit the other 50% there is no doubt that projecting this out long-term, we cannot expect this to end nicely.

The two sides are just so far apart it really looks like we are headed into the fall of the United States the same as we saw the decline and fall of the Roman Republic. As it stands right now, the Democrats lost 2 seats in the Senate and that means they elected a Bearish Reversal which is extremely important to know. The declared House vote is 220 to 193 places the Democrats at 48% which is just under the technical resistance at 48.2%. This is still well below their last high of 56.7% in 2015. Of the 37 seats still not declared, if the Democrats won every seat in these close elections that would put them at 57%. If just one of those 37 seats not yet declared is won by a Republican, that keeps the Democrats below the previous high. The Democrats need 17 more House seats to be impressive.

Obviously, we have a HIGHLY contentious election that is not conclusive for the country and it just keeps getting worse to the point something will have to give. Meanwhile, the stock market has breathed a sigh of relief that there was no Blue Wave that would undo everything that has supported the market post-Trump election.

Nov 7 2018

Does Birthright Citizenship Win Elections?


Published on Nov 1, 2018

While lawyers and pundits argue over the Constitutionality of President Trump’s threatened ban on birthright citizenship, the men of ‘Right Angle’ consider the political implications of his remarks just days before a crucial election?
Nov 7 2018

Into Harm’s Way: Trump Challenges China


Published on Oct 24, 2018

U.S. Naval vessels plow through the Taiwan Strait, challenging Communist China’s creeping Pacific ambitions. Bill Whittle leads Stephen Green and Scott Ott to discuss whether Trump may trip the trigger for World War III, on this episode of ‘Right Angle.’ Regular viewers of ‘Right Angle’ benefit from a committed crew of contributing members who fund the production and distribution of it, ‘Bill Whittle Now’, and more. Join the producers now for just $9.95/month at http://BillWhittle.com/subscribe

Category

News & Politics
Nov 7 2018

Thread #4 – 2018 Midterm Election – Results and Discussion Thread


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on November 7, 2018 by

Republicans winning in key Senate races in: Florida (Rick Scott), Missouri (Josh Hawley), Indiana (Mike Braun), North Dakota (Kevin Cramer), Tennessee (Marsha Blackburn), and Arizona (Martha McSally) looks good.   Disappointing loss for John James (Michigan).

Governor races also generally good for republicans in hot races: Florida (Ron DeSantis), Ohio (Mike Dewine).  Additionally, Georgia (Brian Kemp), South Dakota (Kristi Noem) looks good.  Disappointing results in Kansas (Kobach loss).

New York Times – Results Available Here

Politico – Results Available Here

CNN – Election Results Here

Decision Desk HQ – Election Results Here

AP Politics – Election Results Here

Nov 7 2018

Gold & Bitcoin


Armstrong Economics Blog/Cryptocurrency

Re-Posted Nov 7, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

 

QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong; I really encountered an insane goldbug who claimed you were paid off by the gold cartel to keep the price down. These people cannot open their eyes and see anything but gold or bitcoin. Then they argue the age of knowledge and bitcoin will become the new reserve currency. You really have to wonder if these people are on drugs. Will you be doing a gold report soon? Is it still a viable option for some portion of wealth in the future. Bitcoin seems to depend entirely upon a power grid. I was traveling back to the States and was actually asked if I had cryptocurrency. I said no. What is all that about?

IK

ANSWER: Yes we will be doing a gold report soon. Yes, these people are insane. Why would the gold cartel want to suppress gold prices? They claim to force people to sell their gold at cheap prices. But the annual production of new gold is about 3150 tons as of 2017. There are 32,150.75 troy ounces per metric ton. That means the annual production during 2017 was 101,274,862.5 troy ounces. That is a lot of new gold coming to the market every year. That is far more than small investors would be dumping. You really think they would suppress the gold price to force small investors to sell say even 10 million ounces when they mine more than 100 million annually? That is really just sophistry and it is a shame people would even believe such nonsense.

I really cannot imagine that any government would surrender power to Bitcoin. Come on. Spain is criminally prosecuting Catalonia politicians for simply advocating a democratic vote to separate from Spain. But governments will surrender their power to Bitcoin? The dollar is not even the RESERVE CURRENCY by choice. The USA has been trying to encourage competition and advocated the creation of the Euro back at the Plaza Accord in 1985. The USA always wants a cheaper dollar to sell more goods overseas to create in theory domestic jobs. Even Trump advocates that position of a cheaper dollar. Only a fool would believe that governments will lay down their power simply because you ask them to. Open any history book. Power shifts NEVER come involving government without major uprisings. Sorry, they will NEVER sit on their hand and watch their power evaporate. They will only surrender power during revolutions for they will kick and scream every step of the way.

As far as cryptocurrency declarations, they are beginning to look at anything that they can confiscate that is more than $10,000 when traveling calling it all cash. Italy confiscated bonds a man had in a briefcase on his way to Switzerland. It was not “cash” but they are calling anything that can be converted or sold as “cash” because they are desperate. I wrote about those proposed regulations last year.

During August, gold fell to 1162.70 intraday. The channel support rests at 1144.03. Gold open interest is about 488,000 contracts which amount to almost $600 million. That compares to the production in 2017 valued at $121.5 billion. The total market capitalization of the US share market alone is about $30 trillion. The US National Debt is about $20 trillion. Total world sovereign debt is closer to $250 trillion. Gold is simply not a big enough market to displace everything of value out there. It is one component that will rise in value. But gold will NEVER replace the dollar and governments will NEVER return to any commodity standard.

The true wealth of every nation is its people and their productive capacity. China, Japan, and Germany, all rose to be major economies with no gold reserves. Russia, which had all the resources, moved from communism to an oligarchy and that prevented its economy from exploding as was the case in China. All the gold, diamonds, and oil, did not propel Russia to #2 economy. It is the people that create wealth – not merely resources. Forget returning to any commodity based currency. It does not work any more than austerity works in Europe.

Nov 6 2018

CTH Election Day Coverage 2018


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on November 6, 2018 by

For the midterm election day we have a pretty good idea what the overall media approach will be [See Here]. Knowing the gaslighting will likely be even worse than 2016, it becomes more important to tune out the media’s narrative and stick to substance. That’s where the value of YOUR ground reports come in.

Based on scale, CTH has readers in every state, every city, and likely almost every precinct in the country.

So, YOU are now the media.

We will present ground report threads for you to share your insight and voting experience in your community on this midterm election. Past experience tells us the best approach is to use a noon thread (12pm – 3pm ET / 9am – 12pm PT); and a mid-day thread (3pm – 6pm ET / 12pm – 3pm PT), for you to share individual ground reports.  From these reports we can get a good picture of what’s going on coast-to-coast.

Then starting at 7:00pm ET we will begin reviewing election results in two hour increments. NOTE: I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to ignore “exit polling” pushed by media. Exit polling is a complete con, used to fabricate and shape talking points for media pundits. Ignore exit polling, especially in the mid-west and west coast. As we saw in 2016, exit polling is disconnected from actual voting results.

Nov 6 2018

Rush Limbaugh Breakout Speech During Cape Girardeau MAGA Rally…


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on November 5, 2018 by

Radio personality Rush Limbaugh appeared on stage just ahead of President Trump at the final MAGA campaign rally of midterm season 2018. Mr. Limbaugh is from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where the rally was held.

Nov 6 2018

The Predictable Midterm Election Day Media Narrative Operation….


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on November 5, 2018 by

Based on an overlay of how the media narrated the November 2016 presidential election; and accepting an exponential doubling-down for their midterm election effort; we can forecast how the media will push a midterm narrative to bolster their overall efforts.

Starting around mid-day tomorrow the corporate media (majority left-wing) will draw attention to pre-selected races they are confident will turn from Republican to Democrat control.  The goal of this media effort will be to aid a surging ‘Democrat wave’; and, as a consequence, attempt to influence the mid-west and western state turnout.

Example: As soon as polls close on the east coast; those selected race outcomes will be used to push and deepen the disenfranchisement narrative.  Republican redistricted seats like Dave Brat (Virginia CD-07), with Democrat governors (Ralph Northam), are targets for use in advancing the narrative.   Should Brat lose to his Democrat challenger Abigail Spanberger, the media will use the example to push the ‘Democrat Wave’ headline, forecasting doom for the GOP House majority.  This is how the media operates.

Close races all along the east coast states will be used as examples to push a media story-line intended to suppress mid-west/western state republican voters from going to the polls; even though there are several hours of voting still available.

Additionally, close eastern time-zone senate/governor races will also be used for these purposes.  The goal will be to diminish turnout in states where polls are still open.

Any election outcome that does not that align with this narrative will be down-played.  If there are strong republican election wins in the eastern time-zone (House, Senate or Governor) those races will not be called, and the results intentionally held back.  This is how a specific narrative is framed.

These insufferable efforts were visible in the 2016 presidential election (Trump v. Clinton), and can be predicted to be deployed again in the midterm, this time with stronger intensity.   Media “exit polling” is always used to advance a narrative; lift their allied candidates and diminish any victory by their political opposition.  Remember, most media are glorified corporate lobbyists for ideological intents and purposes.

As the evening progresses, and more state polls close, any race that supports the Democrat ideology will be emphasized.  Any race or victory that does not advance the agenda will be downplayed and/or ignored completely.

To avoid falling into the trap, everyone should ignore all ‘exit polling’ and continue to vote regardless of the inbound barrage of structured disinformation from media.

If you live toward the western U.S., or in a time-zone that is hours behind eastern time, it is critical you continue to turn out to vote regardless of what you hear pushed through the media.  There are dozens of key races that will come down to a few hundred votes.  Make sure your voice is counted.

Nov 6 2018

President Trump MAGA Rally, Cape Girardeau, Missouri – 10:00pm ET / 9:00pm CT…


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on November 5, 2018 by

For the final MAGA rally of the midterm election President Trump heads to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for a rally at the Show Me Center.  In addition to President Trump, special guests Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Lee Greenwood will be in attendance.

The anticipated start time is 9:00pm CT / 10:00pm ET, with likely pre-rally speeches and events highlighting the importance of tomorrow’s midterm election.

UPDATE: Video Added

RSBN Livestream Link – Fox News Livestream Link – Alternate Livestream Link