The Reedy Creek Improvement District


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politically Correct Re-Posted Apr 4, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Are you familiar with the Reedy Creek Improvement District? Perhaps you have heard of Disney. A 1967 piece of legislation permitted Disney to operate independently from the government. That’s right – Congress awarded Disney with special privileges to operate above the law:

 “The district encompasses approximately 25,000 acres in both Orange and Osceola counties, servicing 19 landowners, including Walt Disney Co. and its wholly-owned affiliates. RCID operates in accordance with its Charter and Chapter 189, Florida Statutes, The Uniform Special Districts Accountability Act.”

Their special privileges have come under scrutiny in recent years as Disney dealt with the coronavirus separately from the state of Florida. However, the company is now intent on preserving the woke agenda and defying state law by acting as a moral guardian. Former Disney CEO Bob Iger said he plans to continue fighting Governor DeSantis on the Parental Rights in Education bill. “It’s about right and wrong,” Iger told reporters at CNN while denying that his opposition had any political backing.

Their woke message bit them at their last shareholder meeting where CEO Bob Chapek stated he would actively seek to oppose the bill. They were accused of turning a blind eye to the Uyghur camps in China. “Disney executives say they will not release any new films in Russia due to Vladimir Putin’s aggression against Ukraine. Since when do ESG principles mean you get to support genocidal regimes in Asia, but you must oppose colonial warmongering in Europe?” one shareholder questioned. In fact, a third of shareholders are now requesting that Disney take action against China despite profits.

Why is a company becoming entrenched in a state bill surrounding teaching children about sexuality? How will this bode for shareholders? Interestingly, Socrates noted in advance that this would be a volatile week for Disney:

“The week of March 28th with the opposite trend implied thereafter into the week of April 4th which is a Directional Change.”

DeSantis is now considering repealing their ability to operate as an independent district. “Disney has alienated a lot of people now,” DeSantis said at a West Palm Beach press conference. “And so the political influence they’re used to wielding, I think has dissipated. And so the question is, why would you want to have special privileges in the law at all? And I don’t think that that we should.”

Time will tell whether Disney has sacrificed itself for the woke agenda.

Political Corruption – House of Cards


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Apr 3, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Biden – Inflation – Risk to National Security


Armstrong Economics Blog/Opinion Re-Posted Apr 3, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

QUESTION: Hi Martin,
What do you think banks will do with mortgages if we continue experiencing high inflation and/or hyperinflation? Do you think we might be able to pay off a mortgage with gold if things get bad enough?

Marc

ANSWER: No! The contract is in dollars and that cannot be altered. There won’t be hyper-inflation for that takes place when the CONFIDENCE in government completely collapses. The shallow analysis of even the German Hyperinflation has created such a myth that inflation is the result of an increase in the money supply – WRONG!!!!!!

To set the record straight, the hyperinflation followed the Weimar Republic’s FORCED LOAN in December 1922 when they seized 10% of everyone’s assets and gave you a bond you can buy on Ebay. Once that took place, people would no longer accept German currency and exchanged everything for foreign currencies, art, rare coins, stamps, and real estate.

In 1925, when Germany had to issue a new currency, it was backed NOT by gold, but by real estate. The same human response took place in Zimbabwe and even Japan because the emperors would devalue the outstanding money supply to 10% of what it was valued out and issued their own coins at the new value. The people refused to accept Japanese coins turning to Chinese and bags of rice. Japan lost the ability to issue coinage for 600 years.

This inflation is NOT based on printing money. This inflation is based upon shortages of goods. The source is very different and this is not going to end well. Biden’s sanctions have undermined the entire world supply chain. We are all connected and that includes Russia and China.

To create even more deliberate chaos, the Biden Administration is now out to impose trade restrictions on China as well. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai is advocating a dramatic change in the United States’s relationship with China. The Biden White House has concluded that trade with China should be altered to be a defensive economic posture rather than continuing under the Phase One trade deal brokered between the Trump administration and Beijing. Like everything else, whatever Trump did, Biden is going out of his way to reverse it.

This will only further increase inflation right into 2024 and destroying the world economy removes any incentive to work together. Once Biden destroys the economic foundation ties with China all to put pressure on the World Economic Forum’s Great Reset, it looks like all-out World War III will unfold after 2024. Biden and his entire family have been bought and paid for. I find it outrageous that the Democrats demand Justice Thomas recuse himself because of comments of his wife, yet Biden is perfectly fine dealing with China and Russia when they have poured millions into his family’s pockets.

Biden seriously needs to be REMOVED from office as a matter of National Security.

The Laptop from Hell – DOJ Protects the Biden Family


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption Re- Posted Apr 2, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

The Fifth Sunday of Lent


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on April 3, 2022 | Menagerie 

Jn 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.

They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

The Fourth Sunday of Lent


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on March 27,  2022 | Menagerie 

Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable:

“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.’”

The Third Sunday of Lent


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on March 20, 2022 | Menagerie

Lk 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them—
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.’”

The Second Sunday of Lent


Posted originally o the conservative tree house on March 13, 2022 | Menagerie

rie | 9 Comments

Lk 9:28b-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.

Remember That You Are Dust, and To Dust You Shall Return


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on March 2, 2022 | Menagerie 

Jl 2:12-18

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, “Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.

Added, from a comment I made yesterday on the Mardi Gras post, in answer to a question about Mardi Gras excesses. I think part of it fits here as well.

I’m not from New Orleans, or any of the other cities across the world where Mardi Gras and Carnival are celebrated. I don’t understand the costumes or krewes or other traditions, nor how they got started. I would guess though, that their origins were not entirely without religious significance. The secular world has of course intruded, but there are deep roots underneath.

I myself hope to slay some demons of my own during the 40 days. Perhaps giving face to them now helps do that.

Here is my Catholic take, for what it is worth.

My celebration of Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras is quite simple, maybe having pancakes for supper, a few extra sweets, especially if I’m giving them up for Lent. It’s a little celebratory, clear the decks kind of day as I focus my mind on the upcoming journey I want to make with Jesus during Lent. Kind of a clear out the old, extraneous, the unnecessary, the frivolous to make room for more somber, serious, and much more worthwhile things.

From a religious standpoint, Fat Tuesday is really about Lent. I have never experienced more changed (me, inside), joy filled, grace filled Easters than I have since converting to Catholicism and learning to live by the liturgical calendar, following the life and ministry, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and the building of the Church, especially Lent and Easter.

We Christians are not meant to stand still, to tread water. We are meant to literally burst at the seems with driving, passionate, exploding growth. Lent helps us grow, pare back, trim off dead growth and condition ourselves for that growth.

Today we celebrate and appreciate all the culmination of great things the Lord has given us. Tomorrow we begin to give back in a special way some of those gifts in order to make room for more.

God is bountiful like that. The more he gives us, the more we accept and give away in turn, the more and more and more he wants to give us.

Lent is a journey where we get to know and love Jesus a little better, and to open ourselves to the true light and joy and love and hope of Easter Sunday.

If you aren’t familiar with it, and you are interested in learning more, begin with us today and follow along weekly as we journey toward the Cross and Resurrection with Jesus.

The First Sunday of Lent


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on March 6, 2022 | Menagerie

Temptation of Christ

Gospel

Lk 4:1-13

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan
and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days,
to be tempted by the devil.
He ate nothing during those days,
and when they were over he was hungry.

The devil said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
command this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered him,
“It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”
Then he took him up and showed him
all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.
The devil said to him,
“I shall give to you all this power and glory;
for it has been handed over to me,
and I may give it to whomever I wish.
All this will be yours, if you worship me.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It is written
You shall worship the Lord, your God,
and him alone shall you serve.
Then he led him to Jerusalem,
made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
throw yourself down from here, for it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,
and:
With their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It also says,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.
When the devil had finished every temptation,
he departed from him for a time.