Tag Archives: M5S

Jun 2 2018

GDPR resulting in Destroying German Internet


Armstrong Economics Blog/European Union

Re-Posted Jun 2, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

After the first week, the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe has done far more damage that Brussels ever anticipated. This regulation, which was intended to really prevent political marketing against the government, is actually destroying the German Internet. Operators have chosen to simply shut down their websites for fear of lawsuits. Many online services have chosen to delete their users’ accounts. In case of violations of the regulation, companies face fines of four percent of their turnover.

At the same time, law firms are licking their lips and see a whole new fortune to be made while rubbing their hands. Lawyers have sprung into action and have set up consumer protection associations armed with this new regulation which explicitly states that consumers are entitled to take action for damages. Activists have targeted companies on a large scale all looking to make huge profits.

The US Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger once said: “We may well be on our way to a society overrun by hordes of lawyers, hungry as locusts, and brigades of judges in numbers never before contemplated.” These words seem to be very much on point in Europe. One day, we can only hope that Brussels will admit a serious mistake as just ask – What have we done? But since they refuse to admit error in anything else from creating a federalized Europe without consolidating debts or the refugee issue that is tearing Europe apart, it looks like GDPR is just another nail in the coffin of the EU.

Jun 1 2018

Head of Spain Ousted on Corruption – The Man who Sent in Troops to Catalonia


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption

Re-Posted Jun 1, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

The head of Spain, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who sent in troops against Catalonia has been one of the most corrupt politicians in modern time.  At last, he has been overthrown by Parliament after an unprecedented corruption scandal in Madrid. Now we are introducing political uncertainty in Spain, Italy, and Greece will soon follow. In Spain, a broad party alliance emerged based on the vote of no confidence of the Social Democratic PSOE against Rajoy of the conservative People’s Party (PP). The motion was supported by 180 MPs, requiring at least 176 votes. This is PSOE boss Pedro Sanchez who is the new head of government. He is expected to be commissioned by the king to form a new government quickly. Those who have supported the no-confidence vote included the leftist party Podemos and two separatist parties from Catalonia.

Rajoy simply gave up for his support vanished before the vote. Corruption is fine until it is exposed. Rajoy came to office back in December 2011 and led a conservative minority government since 2016. The PSOE head came out and proclaimed: “Today we are opening a new chapter in the history of democracy in our country.” He is a former economics professor.

The corruption scandal has involved 29 defendants, including former PP leadership cadres, who were sentenced to 351 years in prison for corruption, embezzlement, money laundering and illegal enrichment. Corruption among politicians is just off the charts. Obama’s longtime fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko was convicted on federal fraud and money laundering charges, and anyone else would have been brought up on conspiracy if they were no Obama. On the same day, the Obamas closed on their house, Rezko’s wife, Rita Rezko, bought a vacant lot next door from the same seller, at the full asking price of $625,000 so Obama got a deal on the house. Later, Rezko sold the lot to Obama for $300.000. Obama said he paid fair market value for the property decline. By more than 50%. Of course, the press and the police look the other way when anyone else would call it outright corruption.

Welcome to the real world where corruption is just off the charts everywhere!

May 25 2018

GDPR – It’s Here Like it or Not


Armstrong Economics Blog/Armstrong Economics 101

Re-Posted May 24, 2018 by Martin Armstrong


We have sent out emails to our clients and request that you respond to them ASAP. We do not flood people with constant emails. We do not require even registering to view the site. We also DO NOT sell your personal information to ANYONE. We have always respected everyone’s privacy and we are not desperate for money so you need not milk every single penny from everything.

Nevertheless, politicians get bored and when they do, they write laws that sometimes are far too ambiguous that allows they to reinterpret just about anything. As the Duke of Richelieu and Fronsac (1585–1642) once said:

“If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him.”

(Source: The Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations (1896) by Jehiel K̀eeler Hoyt, p. 763 : some dispute this quote)

The deep concern many have had is that the real purpose of this is to be able to shut down anyone who creates email campaigns against the EU. It will be flatly illegal to simply send out bulk emails for political purposes and you can bet they will be the first prosecuted. The revelations of the use of emails by Cambridge Analytica Ltd during the US 2016 campaign has been the real motivation behind this legislation.

May 14 2018

Malaysian Election Demonstrates the Wave of Political Change of Trump, BREXIT, Italy, Spain, etc is still in motion


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics

Re-Posted May 14, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

COMMENT #1: You were right. You said there would be a political change here in Malaysia in 2018 at your Bangkok conference. How do you do this? I am coming to Singapore.

COMMENT#2: Wind of change has swept through Malaysia on May 9th as incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition 61-year rule since 1957 Independence was ended after people rose up to reject a super corrupt and tyranny regime. An opposition coalition called Pakatan Harapan (PH) form a new federal govt, the first time in our history we have a peaceful transition of power.

People are fed up with BN blatant corruption like 1MDB scandal, abuse of power whereby cases of whistleblowers that expose politicians corruption are charge and sentenced to jail while the perpetrators still walk free and holding senior govt positions!

But the hard work has just begun as the new govt inherit a mess from decades of mismanagement, corruption, and abuse of power. Reform in judicial, executive and legislative branches are badly needed. Also, our country is facing a severe debt crisis due to our corrupt politician’s insatiable appetite to borrow.

Socrates forecast of this global trend is indeed amazing. A new Malaysia is born.

REPLY:  Malaysia’s former leader Mahathir Mohamad, 92, won the election last week, which has shocked everyone for they said it could not be done. This election is part of the same movement globally where we are witnessing a rising up of the people against the corruption of governments that have been ruling in general since World War II. This wave of political change brought Trump to power, BRXIT, Hungary election against the EU, Catalonia rising up in Spain, and the Italian election just to mention a few.

This year, 2018, in the case of Malaysia, was 72 years from the April 1st, 1946 event when the Straits Settlements were dissolved and replaced by the Malayan Union, which was conceived to unify the Malay Peninsula under a single government. Then in 1956, a constitutional conference proposed the appointment of the Reid Commission to devise a constitution for a fully self-governing and independent Federation of Malaya. In February that year, talks between representatives of the government of Malaya and Malayan Communist Party sought to resolve the Malayan Emergency situation. Therefore, 2018 was on a very simplistic way, the convergence of two important cycles – the 72-year cycle and two Pi cycles of 62 years. However, we will see the culmination of the full political reform finally come to pass in 2043. Malaysia is still in the transition period. Do not expect the corruption to go quietly into the night.

The corruption in Malaysia was far deeper than anyone suspected. I explained that previously and the involvement of Goldman Sachs. True, this has been a political earthquake that toppled the scandal-plagued premier. Ousting his regime that has ruled for over six decades is easier said than done. Behind the curtain, there are way too many bureaucrats who benefit from the corruption. So while the people delivered a political triumph that, like Trump, almost no one had predicted, the end of the grip of the power of the Barisan Nasional party which has ruled Malaysia since its birth as an independent country will indeed be a struggle going forward.

Mahathir previously ruled the country with also an iron fist for 22 years. You can replace the head of state, but the corruption never ends there. It has infected every possible level of government. This is why revolution often ends up the only final recourse because the bureaucracy is far too often the real problem. So the final victory will come more likely in 2043.

Apr 13 2018

The New Head of the EU Commission – they Call Him the “Monster”


Armstrong Economics Blog/European Union

Re-Posted Apr 13, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

Martin Selmayr, nicknamed “the Monster” by colleagues because of his fearsome reputation, has become the new European Commission Director General – the man in charge of the European Commission. He has been one of Brussels’ most controversial EU officials and he was unexpectedly put in charge of the entire EU civil service. Selmayr, who was chief of cabinet to president Jean-Claude Juncker since 2014, replaces Alexander Italianer, who had announced he would be stepping down after three years in the job. But the rumors behind the curtain tell a different story. With the Hungary election, Italian election, BREXIT, and Catalonia, the handwriting is on the wall. The EU is crumbling from its undemocratic internal authoritarian power that refuses to yield concerning its European Project to federalize Europe. If the Euro goes, there goes Brussels. They refuse to even concede that they created a nightmare with the Refugee Crisis. Italianer left because he disagreed with the internal policies. Selmayr is known as the “Monster” and this is a desperate turn to force central power upon the whole of Europe

Apr 4 2018

British Lab Admits They Cannot Confirm Russia was the Source of the Poison in the Spy Case


Armstrong Economics Blog/BRITAIN

Re-Posted Apr 4, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

Russian has called upon the Hague’s executive council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to challenge the allegations of Britain that it was responsible for the poisoning of the double-agent. British scientists at the Porton Down have admitted now that the nerve agent used to poison cannot be traced to Russia. Nevertheless, they have stated that the poison had been identified was a military-grade novichok nerve agent, which they maintain was most likely deployed by a nation-state. The UK government has quickly responded claiming that prime minister, Theresa May, had always been clear that the assessment from Porton Down was “only one part of the intelligence picture”. There seems to be some back-peddling but clearly, there is a p[re-disposed attitude toward Russia probably because government social programs are failing and they will economically need an external enemy soon.

Categories: BRITAIN, Politics, Russia
Apr 4 2018

France Embracing Austerity?


Armstrong Economics Blog/Europe’s Economic History

Re-Posted Apr 4, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

The old-school ideas of economic theory will ensure that Socialism collapses and very hard at that. The Germany influence upon Europe has infected the mindset of most northern Europeans. French President Emmanuel Macron has come out an made public debt one of the key points of his policy. Macron is supporting austerity and thus the EU’s guidelines. The French statistics office, Insee, reported that new borrowing during 2017 for France was 2.6% of GDP. The worker unions, in general, are starting to mobilize. Public debt is still high and employee protection is now severely limited and this is a dangerous cocktail that will inspireFrench civil unrest. Nevertheless, France has been criticized by the EU for its high level of new debt within the Eurozone. Thus, the country had twice been given more time to fix its budget. Under the Maastricht Treaty, the new debt of an EU state may not exceed 3% of GDP. New borrowing last year was 3.4%.

The entire problem here is the theory that an increase in the deficit spending will be inflationary. Yet after nearly 10 years of Quantitative Easing, this entire theory has been proven to be just nonsense. There are so many loaded assumptions hidden at its core that one must wonder how rational people still believe in a theory that cannot be proven by history. France is where the entire theory of Communism began. It was the French Communists who persuaded Karl Marx to abandon pure socialism.

With Macron embracing austerity and the guidelines of the Maastricht Treaty, we are watching the gradual collapse of socialism. All the promises of government to provide the safety-net are crumbling before our eyes. Austerity supports the bondholders against the people. This will also fuel the rise of class warfare as we head into 2022.

Mar 27 2018

Germany Arrests Former Head of Catalonia for Spain Confirm the Spanish Constitution Violates Human Rights


Armstrong Economics Blog/Uncategorized

Re-Posted Mar 27, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

One day soon, the world will suddenly discover that the European project is authoritarian because they believe the people as stupid and politicians know better. When that day dawns, the crisis in Europe will erupt in total shock and this will undermine the entire economy which has rapidly fallen to even behind China. At the core of this true European Crisis is the fact that individual human rights come behind the rights of politicians. Make no mistake about it, politicians in the West secretly admire China where some view the model for democracy in the West as crumbling before their eyes.

Germany has arrested the former Catalan Prime Minister Carles Puigdemont enforcing Spain’s dictatorship and anti-Democratic government to save the EU. Spain is by NO MEANS a democratic nation and evidence of that statement is the Spanish Constitution. It exempts all politicians and Judges holding them above the law and denies the right of the people to even disagree with the government. Puigdemont was arrested on the German-Danish border traveling from Finland to Belgium. The state police office in Kiel announced that Puigdemont had been arrested and the charge is advocating a democratic vote in Catalonia to separate from Spain. This is the most outrageous legal persecution that has taken place since the Communist Revolution in Russia who imprisoned or killed anyone who opposed them.

Puigdemont proclaimed Catalonia’s independence from Spain in October, that Madrid says violating the constitution. Their interpretation of their Constitution is permanent slavery no different from the positions of France and Britain that justified the French and American Revolutions. Then the Spanis judiciary began investigations into rebellion and charged Puigdemont and other leading separatists who were forced to then flee to Belgium into exile. Clearly, anyone one charges with a political crime MUST leave Europe for the governments will conspire to save the EU.

Puigdemont went to Finland to attend a conference and Spain submitted an application for the arrest of the deposed regional president. Finland then agreed to arrest Puigdemont so he fled to return to Belgium. Germany intercepted him and arrested him and he now faces 25 years in prison where he will certainly die. Spain’s Supreme Court opened criminal proceedings against Puigdemont and other regional politicians. Imprisoning people for their political ideas has been the hallmark of tyranny. It is a sad day to watch the ruthless behavior of the Spanish government and its Judiciary is a disgrace to the nation and the Spanish people.

The entire problem underlying this crisis exposes the Spanish Constitution that NEVER truly provided a democratic nation for it did not provide a workable transition from dictatorship to democracy. This Spanish Constitution is a contradictory document that denies any democratic resolution or process and maintains the Franco Dictatorship. In Spain, all members of parliament, including those in regional parliaments, enjoy immunity, judges cannot be dismissed. The Constitution defines political parties as “the main instrument of political participation” (Article 6), giving them a role that goes far beyond the process of public opinion-making, as understood in most democracies.

In Spain, the self-interest of government prevails over the rights of the individual. This is the plain reading of Article 155 (see below). The Franco regime organized the Society around its National Movement and the vertical, professional syndicates. Therefore, it was not even the people as a whole that was considered to be the nation but the party. Following the dictator’s death, Spain did open up to political and trade union pluralism, but there was no real redefining revision of Franco’s means of dictatorship. The citizens do not vote for deputies, but closed lists of a party whose candidates move into Parliament depending on the number of votes. MPs do not have offices in their constituencies.

There is no actual representative form of government when you look closely at the structure. There is no actual accountability for the political party itself and they are isolated from the public opinion and their own base. This is why political corruption runs ramped in Spain – there is no actual direct representation or accountability. The Spanish section of Transparency International called on the parties to abolish the closed lists and publish their campaign budgets no later than three months after the election back in 2014. Nothing has been done.

The entire Spanish Constitution contradicts the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. Article 10 of the ECHR provides the right to freedom of expression and information, subject to certain restrictions that are “in accordance with law” and “necessary in a democratic society”. This right includes the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas. However, the Spanish Constitution outright contradicts Article 10 by its Article 155. Clearly, the Spanish Constitution was no more than a compromise between democracy and Francoism. Above all, the fathers of the Spanish Constitution wanted to prevent a civil war by retaining an authoritative clause that allowed dictatorial action. The new constitution was therefore settled between an authoritarian, national Catholic leader system and a democracy and has never actually placed individual liberties in a role of importance violating the very idea of human rights.

The Spanis government will undoubtedly fall. It will be 43 years and ripe for its complete collapse in 2021. The arrest of Puigdemont proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Spanish Constitution denies freedom of expression and human rights. Puigdemont did not engage in violence and thus is simply a political prisoner and Germany is endorsing the dictatorship of Spain.

No one in the EU leadership stand for public election either. No wonder they too support Spain.

The Spanish Constitution

PREAMBLE

The Spanish Nation, wishing to establish justice, liberty and security, and to promote the welfare of all who make part of it, in use of her sovereignty, proclaims its will to:

Guarantee democratic life within the Constitution and the laws according to a just economic and social order.

Consolidate a State ensuring the rule of law as an expression of the will of the people.

Protect all Spaniards and all the peoples of Spain in the exercise of human rights, their cultures and traditions, languages and institutions.

Promote the progress of culture and the economy to ensure a dignified quality of life for all

Establish an advanced democratic society, and

Collaborate in the strengthening of peaceful and efficient cooperation among all the peoples of the Earth.

Consequently, the Cortes approve and the Spanish people ratify the . . . Constitution.

ARTICLE 155

  1. If a Self-governing Community [e.g., Catalonia] does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the Constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain, the Government, after having lodged a complaint with the President of [that] Self-governing Community and failed to receive satisfactory response, may, following approval granted by the overall majority of the Senate, take all measures necessary to compel the Community to meet said obligations, or to protect the abovementioned general interest.
    –
  2. With a view to implementing the measures provided for in the foregoing paragraph, the Government may issue instructions to all the authorities of the Self-governing Communities.

 

Mar 26 2018

Stunning Trial Discovery – Father of Pulse Nightclub Terrorist Was FBI Informant…


Re-Posted from The Conservative Tree House on March 26, 2018 by

Omar Mateen was the Islamic terrorist who attacked the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando Florida in June of 2016 killing 49 people.  Mateen’s wife Noor Salman is currently going through trial for assisting her husband leading up to the attack.

Previously it was disclosed Omar Mateen was on the radar of the FBI and interviewed prior to the attack for threatening Sheriff’s deputies.   Stunningly, it is revealed today the shooter’s father Seddique Mateen was an FBI informant from 2005 through 2016.

ORLANDO – […]  Mateen’s father was the subject of motion by Salman’s defense late Sunday, asking for the case against to be thrown out or declared a mistrial and arguing prosecutors failed to disclose that Seddique Mateen is a former confidential informant for the FBI.

Omar Mateen’s father was also investigated after agents assigned to the shooting case found receipts for money transfers to Turkey and Afghanistan, according to the motion filed by Salman’s defense. U.S. District Judge Paul Byron said he would consider the motion later today.

“I’m not going to address it right now,” he said. “It’s gonna take too much time.”

[…]  Mateen’s father, Seddique Mateen, was on the government’s witness list but was never called to testify. His wife, Shahla Mateen, testified. According to the newly filed motion, Seddique Mateen acted as an informant at various points in time between January 2005 and June 2016.

However, he also was found to have made money transfers to Turkey and Afghanistan during the period between March 16, 2016 and June 5, 2016 — a week before the Pulse attack.  (read more)

Mar 26 2018

Spain Arrests Leaders of Catalonia Independence Movement & They Dare to Claim Russia Does Not Respect Democracy?


Armstrong Economics Blog/SPAIN

Re-Posted Mar 26, 2018 by Martin Armstrong

 

The Spanish government has shown to the entire world that it denies human rights and has absolutely no democratic principles whatsoever. The next step is for the pretend elected government to declare a perpetual state of emergency and suspend all elections nationwide to complete what is rapidly becoming a dictatorship. Thousands in Catalonia have now rise4n up in protest against the Spanish government once again as the arrested the five leaders of the independence movement. The mood in Catalonia is turning more anti-Madrid and based upon the emails we are getting from Spain, many are now beginning to see that how the Spanish government is treating those in Catalonia means that the government views them as well as having no rights.

Clashes with police are being reported with at least 24 demonstrators injured, according to rescue workers. Independent journalists are reporting that policemen in Barcelona were using batons against demonstrators approaching the regional government building. Some demonstrators in Barcelona were even burning pictures of King Felipe VI, which is a crime in Spain. They were also burning photographs of judge Pablo Llarena, who ordered the arrests. The protesters waved Catalan flags and shouted “freedom for political prisoners”.

Spain refuses to respect human rights and Brussels has refused to defend the people because they too seek a dictatorship. The irony here is they have the guts to point the finger at Putin and China as suppressing democracy?