Tag Archives: Sovereign Debt Crisis

Dec 11 2023

India Sets Export Restrictions on Popular Ingredient


Posted originally on Dec 11, 2023 By Martin Armstrong 

India 12 2020 Protest Farmers

Onions are the latest food staple facing extensive export restrictions in an effort to control domestic prices ahead of India’s 2024 national election. The Indian government has banned the export of onions until March 31, following similar measures for wheat and rice. These actions aim to boost domestic food supply and shield consumers from rising costs.

The nation is also restricting the usage of sugar cane juice in biofuel production to grow its reserves.  The nation has also curbed wheat and rice exports in recent years and imposed significant duties. The restrictions have led to concerns about food inflation, prompting the government to take steps to stabilize the food supply.

The current food inflation rate in India is 6.61% as of October 2023, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. This marks a slight decrease from the previous month’s rate of 6.62%. The cost of food in India increased by 6.61% in October 2023 compared to the same month in the previous year. The inflation rate for food in India is expected to be 5.90% by the end of the current quarter, but the government is preparing for higher food prices GLOBALLY.

As for the central bank, the Reserve Bank of India’s decision to leave its key policy rate unchanged has raised worries about higher food prices. The average retail prices of onions, rice, sugar, and tomatoes in India have seen noteworthy increases compared to the previous year.

Dec 10 2023

The Morning Soup Kitchen Line in Milan


Posted originally on Dec 10, 2023 By Martin Armstrong 

Dec 10 2023

The French Know How to Protest


Posted originally on Dec 9, 2023 By Martin Armstrong 

Of course, if the American farmer did that in Washington, they would be called domestic terrorists or insurrectionists and either shot and killed on the spot or imprisoned for 10 years since taking a selfie in the capital building was a 5-year offense. The Constitution has been reinterpreted to the land of the free really means the government is FREE to do whatever it wants to us – the scum at the bottom of the pond – the Great Unwashed.

Dec 9 2023

End Wars, End NATO, NO Corporate Climate Agenda and NO Vaccine Mandates…Surprising Convo W/ 2024 Candidate Jill Stein


Posted originally on Rumble By Kim Iversen on:Dec 8, 9:00 pm EST

Dec 9 2023

The Ukraine/Zelensky Narrative Collapses. TikTok Permanently Bans our Show. INTERVIEW: Lee Fang Exposes Israeli Propaganda Op & Rapper “Lowkey” on Israel-Gaza | SYSTEM UPDATE #195


Posted originally on Rumble By Glen Greenwald on:Dec 8, 7:00 pm EST
Dec 9 2023

Tucker Carlson Interviews Alex Jones


Posted originally on the CTH on December 8, 2023 | Sundance 

An amazing and long-awaited interview between Tucker Carlson and Alex Jones, the second most targeted and deplatformed American citizen; with the first being Donald J Trump.  {Direct Rumble Link} Well worth watching the full 90 minutes.

TIMESTAMPS: 2:46 Alex Jones predictions, 15:07 Deplatforming, 21:59 Dividing us on race, 25:37 The border, 28:09 Austin, 32:12 New World Order, 42:09 Brian Stelter demon video, 50:57 Depopulation, 1:07:51 Food, 1:13:51 Whiskey, 1:16:22 Presidential election.  WATCH:

Dec 8 2023

Congestion Taxes Coming to NYC


Posted originally on Dec 8, 2023 By Martin Armstrong 

NYC Myopic View

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) believes that taxation could decrease traffic congestion in New York. Vehicles will be charged an additional $15 daily to enter Manhattan from 60th Street or below, while trucks will face a fine between $24 and $36. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul strongly backs the measure as she believes it will help to clean up New York.

“Congestion pricing means cleaner air, better transit and less gridlock on New York City’s streets and today’s vote by the MTA Board is a critical step forward,” Hochul commented. As a reminder, New York City just voted to slash funding for sanitation. It is not an exaggeration to say that the city is overrun with rats. The police budget is declining by $5.6 billion as well at a time when crime is through the roof and the city’s infrastructure is crumbling as busloads of illegals arrive daily.

Do they want to utterly kill the leisure and hospitality industry? As a previous resident of New Jersey, I saw the tolls into New York rise over the years. It now costs a good $20 in tolls simply to cross into the state, and parking fees in the city are some of the highest in the nation. Now you have to factor in an added daily congestion fee and it will cost the average person a good amount simply to enter Manhattan.

Obviously they want people to rely on public transportation as the coming 15-minute cities will not require personal vehicles. Taxis will charge passengers an extra $1.25 to meet the toll while Uber and Lyft plan to implement a $2.50 fee. People earning under $50,000 annually can apply for a discounted rate only after their first 10 trips per month.

They’re banning coal and wood ovens so there will soon be no reason to stop in the city for a slice of pizza or world famous cuisine. Former grand hotels are now migrant camps and thousands of undocumented military aged men are scattering the streets. Crime is rising and Soros-backed DAs won’t allow criminals to be prosecuted. The people of New York will never see the money derived from this new tax. Yet another reason why I will never return to NYC.

Dec 7 2023

WHO Proposes Global Tax Increase on Unhealthy Beverages


Posted originally on Dec 7, 2023 By Martin Armstrong 

WHO World Health Organization Flag

Permitting health agencies to dictate what we can and cannot do is a slippery slope. These health agencies, such as the World Health Organization, work on behalf of their donors who support lobbying interests. For example, numerous health agencies began telling people to consume less meat after the plans for the Great Reset were formulated. Now, the WHO believes governments globally should place a higher tax on sugary and alcoholic beverages.

There is no denying that alcohol is dangerous. The WHO estimates that 2.6 million people worldwide die from ethanol each year. The pandemic that the WHO also supported increased alcohol usage and deaths involving alcohol spiked over 25% from 2019 to 2020. In fact, alcohol killed more young people than COVID itself. However, government agencies do not need to parent the taxpayers. Prohibition failed miserably, and prohibiting or increasing taxes on a product will not decrease demand. Additionally, the WHO wants to impose these tax rules worldwide. Wine is a staple in many European diets and a number of countries do not tax the beverage at all. The WHO wants that to change.

“Taxing unhealthy products creates healthier populations. It has a positive ripple effect across society, less disease and debilitation and revenue for governments to provide public services,” said Rüdiger Krech, the WHO’s health promotion director. “In the case of alcohol, taxes also help prevent violence and road traffic injuries.”

soda

Only 108 of the 194 member states have implemented a tax on sugary beverages. The WHO believes 8 million deaths per year could be saved if people ate healthier diets. SSB (sugar-sweetened beverage) taxes account for “just 6.6% the price of soda.” The WHO does not state how high the tax should be on these products but believes higher taxation should be universally adopted.

The agency admits that poor people will be unfairly targeted by these taxes as they typically choose the cheapest option available. The average tax on beer is 17.2% and 26.5% for spirits. “A pressing concern is that alcoholic beverages have, over time, consistently become more affordable,” WHO Assistant Director-General Ailan Li said. “But increasing affordability can be curbed using well-designed alcohol tax and pricing policies.” Why not look at past RECENT examples to see the consequences?

The money earned from the proposed tax increases would never see the hands of the people. Agencies like the WHO only exist to push an agenda on the masses and they do not care about public health. I do not want to know my recommended daily insect protein intake. I do not want to pay triple the cost for the foods deemed “unhealthy” by an agency that was never elected.

Dec 7 2023

Cost Of Living Outpaces Wage Increases


Posted originally on Dec 7, 2023 By Martin Armstrong 

Powell Fed Got Inflation Wrong Nov 2021

A recent study by Achieve revealed that despite a 37% increase in income, many Americans are facing financial challenges due to rising costs and high interest rates, leading to a surge in personal debt. The average monthly participation in debt resolution programs increased by 119% in the first nine months of 2023 compared to 2020. Wages are rising but they simply cannot keep up with the growing cost of living.

The typical household income of individuals enrolled in debt resolution programs was $59,900 in 2023, a notable increase from $43,598 three years prior. The study’s findings reflect the impact of inflation, a challenging interest rate environment, and the winding down of government stimulus on consumer debt levels. The report underscores the need for measures to address the rising debt burden and its potential impact on income growth.

The study also found that people are facing financial hardship significantly earlier in life. The average age of someone facing debt resolution was 52 in 2020, but that age has since decreased to 44 in 2023. Nearly 40% of people entering debt resolution programs are Millennials, which is also the age demographic of those with the sharpest increase of credit card delinquencies. Nearly everyone is living on credit as balances rose $154 billion YoY, marking the most significant increase since 1999.

No one feels relieves when new inflation reports are released. Governments can release whatever data they like but the fact remains that the price of EVERYTHING has become too much to maintain. Inflation allegedly peaked in June 2022 at 9.1% but I cannot think of anything that has dramatically decreased in price since then.

Dec 7 2023

Should Argentina Peg its Currency to the Dollar?


Posted originally on Dec 6, 2023 By Martin Armstrong 

Monetary System 2

QUESTION: What about Argentina willing to peg pesos to USD? THANKS for all you are doing for us! ALL THE BEST TO YOU AND FAMILY

TD

ANSWER: First and foremost, what collapsed Bretton Woods and the gold standard was persistent deficit spending. They fixed the price of gold to $35 but then spent recklessly every year. you CANNOT have a fixed exchange rate, a pegged exchange rate, or any sort of a gold standard as long as you retain a Marxist/Socialist agenda where you spend more than you have.

In addition, any Pegging of a currency is significantly different than a Fixed Exchange Rate. Under a Fixed Exchange Rate, the main purpose is to facilitate trade. However, you are not expressly subordinating your economy to the economic trend of everyone else in the system. Each nation is still independent, and if their balance of payments falls out of line, then they alone have a monetary crisis.

Henry VIII Debased Groats

Sir Thomas Gresham was the agent for the English Crown in Amsterdam, the Wall Street of Europe at that time. Henry VIII was debasing the currency, and nobody wanted to lend money to him, fearing that what they would be repaid with was debased. Hence, Gresham’s law.

Pegging to the dollar Pegged

A Pegged currency is far worse for the host currency’s economic conditions are imported. If Argentina pegs to the USD, then raising or lowering interest rates by the Fed and the boom-bust business cycle are automatically exported to Argentina. It would be better to peg to a basket of currencies that would be a hybrid system closer to a fixed currency regime for trade.

Napoleon Single Currency 1024x675
970 Nero

Napoleon had actually summoned the best minds and talents from all over Europe into his service. His court was deliberately filled with able men from all over Europe: Dutch, German, Italian, and even Polish. These foreigners worked in the highest offices of his imperial civil service – not exclusively French.

It was Napoleon who created the first single currency in Europe following the Roman Empire. He standardized the weight of the coins so that 40 francs equaled 40 Lire in Italy and 320 Reales in Spain. This was really Napoleon’s idea of resurrecting the Roman empire. Please take note of his coinage. He is pictured wearing a laurel wreath as a Roman emperor. He was far more than just a general. The new movie was interesting, but they overlooked his economic decisions, which were decades ahead of anyone else in Europe.

Latin Monetary Union

The unification of Europe was the accomplishment of Julius Caesar. However, it was Napoleon who standardized the monetary system post-Rome after the Dark Age, which became the inspiration for the Latin Monetary Union by 1865 and later the Gold Standard post World War II.

EuropeanGoldCoinage 1803 1947 R

Even the United States’ $5 gold coinage was equivalent to the standardization of world coinage during the 19th century.