Armstrong Economics Blog/Vaccine Re-Posted Jan 8, 2022 by Martin Armstrong
This is why vaccine MANDATES are simply unconstitutional and a violation of human rights. We are not all the same.
Tag Archives: SARS-VOVID-2
Minnesota Trucking Company CEO Warns About What Vaccine Mandate Will Do to Economy
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on January 7, 2022 | sundance | 110 Comments
Here’s a solid reference point for just one of the multitude of aspects related to the mandatory COVID vaccine and overall COVID mitigation rules that will come together to present an unavoidable outcome within the supply chain.
As CEO Eric Lawrence notes, even without the vaccine mandate, the testing mandate itself becomes an issue. How and where exactly are truckers supposed to get these weekly, and depending on state, perhaps daily, Covid-19 tests. How are they expected to modify their cross country routes, to avoid running afoul of the law, without having any idea where this testing is supposed to take place?
Follow the implementation of all these mandate tentacles across multiple industries & sectors, and what you end up with is a merging of unworkable nonsense into a logistical and supply chain mess. For the U.S. economy, a SNAFU of that significance only ends with one result.
Antifa Sleeper Cell Terrorist Arrested in Pinellas County, Florida, with Homemade Bombs and Weapons on January 6th
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on January 7, 2022 | sundance | 197 Comments
A 22-year-old man identified as a member of Antifa was arrested in Pinellas County, Florida, after he was caught with an explosive device near the location of a protest at the Pinellas County courthouse. Something spooked the suspect who was caught running from the scene according to the sheriff’s office.
The local media is trying to avoid noting that Garrett James Smith previously travelled to Portland, Oregon, for training on how to function as what authorities describe as a “sleeper cell.”
Unfortunately, the media reports show “federal agents” quickly responded to the arrest and took over the investigation. We all know what that means.
TAMPA – Garrett James Smith was arrested on charges of making and possessing a destructive device and loitering. He remains in jail on a bond of $300,000. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Smith was seen running away from a political assembly supporting an arrested Oath Keeper on the evening of Jan. 6, 2022.
[…] Smith did not detonate or place the explosive device he made. Gualtieri said Smith has not been cooperating and the Sheriff’s Office doesn’t know why he abandoned his plan or what his political beliefs are. “Smith is what we call a sleeper, and these are the most concerning individuals because there are no opportunities to intervene and thwart their criminal activity before they actually act,” Gualtieri said.
[…] Federal agents who searched Brown’s home found a sawed-off shotgun, short-barrel rifle, hand grenades and more than 8,000 rounds of ammunition.
[…] When deputies searched a black backpack Smith had, they found a homemade pipe-style explosive device, Gualtieri said. Sheriff’s deputies found a piece of paper titled “direct action checklist,” where Smith made a list of clothing, armor and gear to bring, including listed items such as a helmet and shaded goggles, a gas mask, duct tape and flammable rags.
[…] In his backpack, they also found a helmet with a logo on it that had been seen at other protests in cities such as Portland, where Smith had spent time, Gualtieri said. (read more)
Press Conference:
The Most Dangerous Part of Biden’s Economic Plan Is that He Believes in It – Read What He Says, and You Will See What Is Coming
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on January 7, 2022 | sundance | 252 Comments
The people behind Joe Biden rushed him to the microphones today to proclaim the success of his economic policy. Biden read from their prepared script for almost fifteen minutes [VIDEO HERE], then told the assembled press pool that “COVID was here to stay”, but not really “here to stay”, but his policies, rules and regulations that are driven by COVID are “here to stay.”
Did anyone else catch that?
Whiskey – Tango – Foxtrot… he said the quiet part out loud.
In essence, what Biden was saying was that even when the virus is no longer being a daily driver of government policy, the policies themselves will never go away. Just like the Patriot Act, under the guise of anti-terrorism created the permanent security state, so too is COVID-19 creating the permanent government control state under the guise of public health.
As if that isn’t alarming enough, what the White House occupant outlined regarding the economy just has to be watched or read [Transcript Here] to be believed. The most eye-opening part of his comments is that he really believes this stuff they tell him to say. So, obviously the people typing the words into the teleprompter either: (a) believe it themselves; or (b) more likely, know what they are doing is going to end up with the total collapse of the U.S. economic system, and that’s okay because the guy reading it is disposable for their plan. I believe the latter is accurate.
Take a look at one metaphor Biden read from his teleprompter to see exactly how insane these policies are when said out loud. Keep in mind, this is a direct quote from the transcript as he read it (emphasis mine):
Joe Biden – […] “I’m not an economist, but I’ve been doing this a long time. But here’s the way to look at it. If car prices are too high right now, there are two solutions: You increase the supply of cars by making more of them, or you reduce demand for cars by making Americans poorer. That’s the choice.
Believe it or not, there’s a lot of people in the second camp. You’ll hear them complain that wages are rising too fast among the very middle-class and working-class people who have endured decades of stalled incomes.
Their view of the economy says the only solution to our current and future challenges is to make the working families that are the backbone in our country poorer or keep them in the state they’re in.” (link)
The guy, whose policies are making more people poorer faster than any prior time in U.S. history, doesn’t see the hypocrisy of his statements. Forget cars as the example, use bread or milk or anything else.
The Biden economic policies are driving prices through the roof. No one is contemplating buying a new car, heck we are trying to figure out if we should buy a loaf of bread or a single gallon of gasoline to get to work.
Go stand in the line of any convenience store, and watch how people are trying to cope with the price of gas. Not the people who pull in, gas up, pay at the pumps and exit. I’m talking about the people who walk in with ten dollars in cash, have no electronic connection to the digital economy, and who just spent half of a $20 bill on a single loaf of bread and a package of bologna. That remaining $10 buys them two gallons which are needed to get them to the jobsite for the next few days.
This pontificating pustule of sanctimonious bulls**t has the audacity to use “making Americans poorer” in his metaphor for car prices, as if any essential worker with dirty fingernails standing in the f**king line at 7-11 is contemplating their preferred interior and exterior color selection.
My blood pressure cuff just exploded. ‘Scuse me for departing…
Biden Sends $8 Billion of COVID Recovery Relief as Payments to Offset Outcome of His Energy Policy for Democrat Constituents
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on January 7, 2022 | sundance | 88 Comments
Many people have wondered how the Biden administration could implement massive economic policies against the interests of their own constituents. The answer to that question is hidden inside the COVID relief bills, which are used as a method to pay the expenses of his policies so that targeted Democrat groups in urban regions do not have to pay for the policy.
One example of this policy and urban dependency scheme is found in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The “American Rescue Plan”, the mechanism to use taxpayer monies as redistributive subsidies to special interests under the guise of COVID bailouts and relief, contained $8 billion in funding to pay for the electricity and home heating costs of low income families.
WHITE HOUSE – […] In 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration and Congressional Democrats delivered $8 billion in LIHEAP funding nationally, more than doubling typical annual appropriations, thanks to an additional $4.5 billion provided by the American Rescue Plan. These funds represent the largest appropriation in a single year since the program was established in 1981. (more)
In essence, what this scheme allows is the Biden administration to trigger ‘Green New Deal‘ energy policies that drive massive increases in the cost of electricity, home heating, and energy use for the middle class and working class families, and yet the federal government pays those costs for the constituents they need to keep voting for them. Lower income families do not feel the energy policy burden, but middle class families are punished.
Yes, this is fundamentally class warfare, using the federal government to select the groups they do not want to feel the pain. It’s the same principle of increasing food stamp and SNAP food subsidy assistance by 25% this year, while those who do not qualify are forced to pay for higher food costs and the subsidy -via income taxes- of those same groups.
Additionally, “The American Rescue Plan provided other critical resources that states and localities can use to address home energy costs. ERA programs, which received an additional $21.5 billion in funding from the American Rescue Plan, can provide help with past-due utility bills or ongoing assistance with energy costs to help distressed renters avoid shut-offs and keep current on expenses.” (link)
So, when people ask how Joe Biden and the Democrats are able to drive policies that massively hurt the American economy overall; remember, the pain we are feeling from the collective weight of these policies is not hitting the constituents the Democrats need in order to keep them in office.
The champagne socialists and investment class are protected. The lower income and willingly subsidized class are protected. It is the middle class who are being punished by the collective weight of this economic mess.
None of this is accidental. This is a continuance of the ‘share/spread the wealth’ economic roadmap used by Obama.
Lunch-bucket Joe?… Ya, sure.
We Have Less Than Two Weeks to Finalize Preparation
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on January 7, 2022 | sundance | 386 Comments
I do not know how better to emphasize the points other than to be direct and brutally honest. Sometimes you just have to call the baby ugly. The window to prepare for the incoming crisis of our lifetime is now down to two weeks. Hopefully, that is specific enough.
As we have discussed on these pages, the interventionist policies and regulations from the people creating the COVID response (writ large) have been fubar from the beginning. {Go Deep} When they shut down the restaurants and hospitality sector (2020 lockdowns), the advisors and bureaucrats triggered a cascading series of events inside the food supply chain {Go Deep}.
Every policy implementation since then has made matters worse {Go Deep}
Adding to the supply chain and inflation crisis, in about a week the vaccine mandate and subsequent commercial passport means 30,000 cross border truckers are about to get shut down from operating between the United States and Canada.
“70% of the 700 billion in trade between Canada and the US is moved by truck. This will have a dramatic effect on supplies and services reaching their destination and getting in the hands of those who need them. One needs to look no further than the recent UK fuel shortage, where the military had to be brought in to deliver fuel as a result of a lack of truck drivers. We are already seeing shortages, if these shortages reach critical levels on items such as fuel, food, blood, medicine or medical supplies, we will see real long-lasting damage.”
~ Mike Milliam, President of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada
As noted by those following the issue(s) closely: “Starting January 15th, 2022, truckers must show a proof of vaccine to cross the Canada/US borders. Since March 2020, drivers were considered “essential”. They could cross the border without a covid test or the vaccine. Under Biden/Trudeau administration, this is about to change”:
22 000 truckers are about to lose their job. But this estimate is from the Canadian Trucking Association. The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) estimated this number closer to 31 000 truckers.
We are looking at a meltdown of the supply chain, or at least some severe disruption.
Get everything you need now. Inflation is about to get real. (read more)
CTH readers are already well versed in the domestic side of this issue {Go Deep}. When you overlay the USMCA aspect and recognize the critical sectors of the North American economy that are reliant upon each other; and when you realize that no one outside of the blue collar crews who have specific expertise in applying commonsense to this equation are talking about it, then you begin to realize what is obviously about to hit, and yet all will claim they never saw it coming.
We have approximately two weeks left. After that, I genuinely do not know what things will look like…. but I do know it will not be good. We are in very uncharted and unstable waters.
Act as if… or be acted upon. Ultimately, this appears to be our choice right now.
If we are wrong, then we will breathe a sigh of relief. However, if we are correct….
….. FUBAR!
December Jobs Report Shows 199,000 Gains, 400,000 Were Expected
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on January 7, 2022 | sundance | 112 Comments
The pundits are just not getting it. It’s the inflation, stupid.
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) released the December jobs report today [DATA HERE] showing 199,000 job gains in December, approximately half of what was expected. Most financial pundits are perplexed as the employment rate drops to 3.9%, because many people have dropped out of the labor force. The labor participation rate remains unchanged at 61.9%.
Keep in mind, the November jobs report showed a decline in retail jobs of 29,000, and this report shows that despite November & December being the largest shopping months for holidays, the retail sector jobs were nonexistent.
The issue is what we have discussed here for months, inflation.
The job quits and JOLT turnover reports from last week showed massive numbers of employees quitting their jobs. In part this is pressure from the vaccine mandate (more on that later). However, in the majority what we are seeing is employment decisions based on inflation hitting the labor market.
Additionally, the current BLS report does not have the Omicron “winter of death” employment impact within it. That impact will come in the January report, and it will not be good. But let’s get down to reconciling December jobs data with reality on the ground.
Inflation is chewing up income amid the workforce. This is not debatable, and this is reflected in every opinion poll and economic statistic that has surfaced for the past six months. The BLS report somewhat surprised people in the 0.6% wage gains, and average wage increases are now 4.7% year over year. That should be a good thing. However, inflation at 20 to 50+% on energy, fuel, gasoline and food means a 4.7% growth in wages is a pittance.
A nickel more for a dollar earned is futile against food store inflation at 20 to 40% average price increases. We have never seen food, fuel and energy increase in price at such a rate and in such a short period of time (6 months). That real price situation is not going to improve. Economists call this “sticky” inflation, but that catch phrase does not adequately explain the foreboding issue of how damaging this is.
As this inflation relates to jobs and employment, the situation is obvious. Pundits pretend not to know things, but the two issues are connected. Ordinary workers need much higher wages to compensate for massive increases in housing costs, energy costs, gas prices and, more importantly, food prices.
The fastest way to get a quick pay increase to compensate for fast and furious inflation is to switch jobs and start the new job, in the same sector, at a higher wage. That is what we are seeing with the overall turnover rate, quits report, and larger employment data. They are all connected.
Beyond inflation, you can see from this BLS data that things are tenuous in the economy. The November retail employment figure (-29,000) was a big red flag that everyone ignored. Additionally, holiday sales at +8% when the prices are +15% or more, means that people were buying less stuff at higher prices. Overall, less stuff (units sold) was purchased.
The December BLS data shows us actual hours worked in manufacturing declined (0.1 hrs), and overtime declined (0.1 hrs). Remember, the third quarter productivity rate dropped a stunning 5% overall.
Big Picture = less stuff is in demand, less stuff is being made, and less hours are being used; however, the amount of available labor in the creation of durable goods still exceeds the demand for those durable goods, hence productivity has dropped.
Construction employment is modest at +22,000 in December, but it is lower than the prior three months average of +38,000. Some of this is seasonal, but the trendline is much softer than a customary 3.9% total unemployment economy would show. Again, more evidence of weakness in the structural economy (no pun intended).
Two-thirds of the U.S. economy overall is dependent on people buying stuff. When people cannot afford to buy stuff, because their disposable income has been wiped out by inflation, things in the data start to show the wobbly wheels of a tenuous economic train.
When the number of people quitting their jobs, or switching jobs, is twice the number of people getting officially hired in the BLS jobs report, then you know things are sketchy.
Let me repeat the issue and try to emphasize the problem. It’s the inflation, stupid.
We have a looming problem that does not reconcile with 3.9% unemployment. The pundits are perplexed.
The confusion is because NO ECONOMIC data has ever shown this level of inflation in such a short period of time. There are no models. There is no experience in this situation. This is not like the 1970’s where oil prices were the direct and primary cause. This is different, because we are experiencing shortages and price increases specifically due to policy.
Energy policy is killing us (oil and natural gas prices). Legislative policy is killing us (spending and bailouts). Monetary policy is killing us (cheap lending, quantitative easing, devaluation). All of this is causing massive inflation at a level we have never seen in history, and it’s on everything.
Then we throw in a vaccine mandate, and perpetual fear of a virus that hits both the demand side and the employment side simultaneously…. and, well, here you go. The disruptions inside the economy are like deep cuts, thousands of them, and they are not accidental.
Many, if not most, of these disruptions are being done at the altar of climate change and the Green New Deal.
COVID-19 mitigation and mandates only make this worse.
The disruptions in the supply chain are a direct result of policy. Now, we have to prepare for inflation AND shortages. This will not get better in 2022.
Prepare your family accordingly. I believe those of you reading this article represent the people best prepared for what is about to happen.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Investment Portfolio
Armstrong Economics Blog/Traders Re-Posted Jan 7, 2022 by Martin Armstrong
Bill Gates did not become one of the richest men in the world by investing in stocks. I am not recommending any of these particular stocks, but I do want to point out where Bill Gates’ interests lie. Notice how his foundation is invested in what many would consider COVID-sensitive equities such as Caterpillar and FedEx. Nearly half (45%) of his portfolio under his foundation is invested in his former buddy Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffett subtly distanced himself from Bill Gates last year and resigned from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation after 15 years.
Before I share Bill’s portfolio, I must mention that Warren Buffett is now obligated to provide shares to the Gates Foundation. In June 2006, Buffett drafted the following letter:
"I greatly admire what the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (“BMG”) is accomplishing and want to materially expand its future capabilities. Accordingly, by this letter, I am irrevocably committing to make annual gifts of Berkshire Hathaway “B” shares throughout my lifetime for the benefit of BMG. The first year’s gift will permit an increase in BMG’s annual giving of about $1.5 billion. In the future, I expect the value of my annual gifts to trend higher in an irregular but eventually substantial manner. Here are the mechanics: Ten million B shares will be earmarked by me for BMG contributions. (I currently own only A shares but will soon convert a number of these to B.) In July of every year, or such later date as you elect, 5% of the balance of the earmarked shares will be contributed either directly to BMG or to a charitable intermediary that will hold the earmarked shares for the benefit of BMG. To illustrate, in 2006, 500,000 shares will be contributed. In 2007, 475,000 shares (5% of the 9,500,000 remaining after the 2006 contribution) will be contributed and thereafter 5% fewer shares will be contributed each year. There are three conditions to this lifetime pledge. First, at least one of you must remain alive and active in the policy-setting and administration of BMG. Second, BMG (or any intermediary) must continue to satisfy legal requirements qualifying my gifts as charitable and not subject to gift or other taxes. And, finally, the value of my annual gift must be fully additive to the spending of at least 5% of the Foundation’s net assets. I expect there to be a ramp-up period of two years during which this condition will not apply. But beginning in calendar 2009, BMG’s annual giving must be at least equal to the value of my previous year’s gift plus 5% of BMG’s net assets. If this amount is exceeded in any year, however, the excess can be carried forward and be offset against a shortfall in subsequent years. Similarly a shortfall in a given year can be made up in the following year."
Buffett followed the letter by stating that in the event of his death, he expects contributions to the foundation to continue. “I will soon write a new will that will provide for a continuance of this commitment,” he penned. Although Buffett resigned last year, he also gifted the foundation $3.2 billion. However, that is based on the formula presented in his letter above from 2006 as Berkshire shares have spiked. Buffett knows that he will receive a tax incentive for donating money to the foundation as it could not possibly spend it all. Buffett says he received 40 cents in tax benefits for every $1,000 donated, but tax experts seem to believe that is misleading. Since he is avoiding capital gains and estate taxes that could hover around 40%, some experts believe he is saving around $400 to $740 on every $1,000 he gives away.
Here is a list from 2021 of the foundation’s portfolio:
- Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B)
- Waste Management (WM)
- Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)
- Canadian National Railway (CNI)
- Walmart (WMT)
- Ecolab (ECL)
- Microsoft (MSFT)
- Crown Castle International (CCI)
- United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)
- Schrodinger, Inc. (SDGR)
- Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. (KOF)
- Deere & Company (DE)
- FedEx Corp. (FDX)
- Grupo Televisa SAB (TV)
- Coupang, Inc. (CPNG)
- Alphabet (GOOG)(GOOGL)
- Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSGS)
- Weber Inc. (WEBR)
- On Holding AG (ON)
- Mexico Fund (MXF)
- Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM)
Trudeau Accused of Treason
Armstrong Economics Blog/Canada Re-Posted Jan 7, 2022 by Martin Armstrong
Comment: Dear Mr Armstrong,
Not everybody agrees in Canada with this bribed psychopath/traitor !!!!
-B
Reply: Oh, I am aware that our neighbors to the north are in no way under the illusion that Trudeau’s tyranny will work in their favor, at least not the people who read this blog. Thank you for sharing the video posted above (shared over Rumble and not YouTube, as YouTube will certainly remove this content).
"You sold us out to globalism. You are not working for Canada! You are working for your globalist partners! I wonder how much they are paying you to betray Canada. What do we do to traitors in Canada, Mr. Trudeau? We used to hang -- hang them for treason. And you're doing that very same thing to us now. We know what you're doing."
Hats off to that woman for speaking her mind! This video was taken at a town hall meeting in January of 2019, and Trudeau’s popularity has only declined since then. An Ipsos poll in November indicated that over half the population (52%) disagreed with the Trudeau Administration. Of the 48% that approve of the Liberal government, only 8% “strongly approve,” while 40% “somewhat approve.” Among the 52% who disapprove, 25% “somewhat disapprove,” while 27% “strongly disapprove.” There are significantly more people who strongly oppose the Liberal government compared with those who strongly approve.
Even among those who approve of Trudeau, the majority said they were on the fence, leading me to believe that the people are beginning to realize his policies have been harmful to the people of Canada. As Trudeau attempts to grab more power, civil unrest will grow as no one wants to experience a third year of COVID tyranny. As that brave woman pointed out — WE KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING!
January 6th & Ukraine
Armstrong Economics Blog/Russia Re-Posted Jan 6, 2022 by Martin Armstrong
Today on January 6th, 2022, Britain warned Moscow that it was working with Western partners on high-impact sanctions targetting Russia’s financial sector should it invade Ukraine. Of course, Russia could equally turn off the flow of gas to Europe and watch it freeze. That would cripple Germany. There U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met in Washington on the 5th to discuss the Ukrainian Crisis. The major critical issue was that of the increase of Russian troops along the border of Ukraine. The issue appears to be over Ukraine’s attempts to join NATO. Both representatives agreed that this military presence is very dangerous. Meanwhile, the G7 warned Russia of ‘massive consequences’ if Ukraine is attacked.
President Vladimir Putin has demanded legally-binding guarantees that NATO will not expand further eastwards. NATO has been provoking Russia for years. While claiming to be purely defensive and Russia as the aggressor, NATO has used the fall of the Soviet Union to move eastward. The West simply seems to ignore Putin and then blames him as an aggressor.
“We will not accept the campaign Russia is waging to subvert its democratic neighbours,” Foreign Secretary Liz Truss of Germany told parliament. “They have falsely cast Ukraine as a threat to justify their aggressive stance.” “Russia is the aggressor here,” Truss said. “NATO has always been a defensive alliance.” That is pure nonsense. NATO has been decisively moving eastward and sees Russia as its enemy. Without Russia, NATO would not exist.
Much of Eastern Ukraine is composed of ethnic Russians who moved there during the Soviet Union. I warned from the outset this is not a game of monopoly. Just because that was the border of Ukraine under the Soviet Union means nothing. Even Crimea was historically Russian and was only given to Ukraine to administer during the Soviet Union. Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and the West imposed sanctions while hurling condemnation at Putin. Kyiv demands the territory back as if this is a Game of Thrones Conquest App.
Those in Crimea are predominantly Russian and there are Tatars there from the old Mongol invasion days. The border should be redrawn according to the language. This would be no different from Mexico demanding the return of Texas when the majority of the people are Americans. People’s lives are lost for such political posturing. The old days of Empire are long gone. The wealth of a nation is its people – not the territory it occupies.
So is January 6th, 2022 the day of decisions with these announcements and will amount to the Die is Cast? Our model does not like the other side of February in many markets.
Centinel2012 