Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The Decline of Empire, Idiot Solons and Pentagon Zombies / Politics / US Politics
By: Bill_Bonner
What’s Bill doing in Cyprus…?
Markets a big move to the upside. And why? No apparent reason. Gaddafi bit the dust, almost literally. And the Europeans seemed to be stumbling to yet another solution…in which they borrow more money to help fund the troubles created by borrowing money in the past.
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Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The U.S. Is Fast Becoming a Third World Police State / Politics / US Politics
By: Jeff_Berwick
As a P.T. (often referred to as perpetual traveller, permanent tourist or prior taxpayer), I have travelled to nearly 100 countries. During those travels there has always been one defining moment, upon entry into a country, which shows that the country is what is generally thought of as a "third world country".
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
We Pay Tax for the Privilege to Have Currency / Politics / Fiat Currency
By: Casey_Research
In this video excerpt from the Casey Summit When Money Dies, Rich Dad advisor Mike Maloney explains how currency is created, "fractional reserve banking," and why our banking system is a pyramid scam of epic proportions.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Occupying Wall Street, The State Is the 1 Percent / Politics / US Politics
By: Douglas_French
The "occupy" protest movement is thriving off the claim that the 99 percent are being exploited by the 1 percent, and there is truth in what they say. But they have the identities of the groups wrong. They imagine that it is the 1 percent of highest wealth holders who are the problem. In fact, that 1 percent includes some of the smartest, most innovative people in the country — the people who invent, market, and distribute material blessings to the whole population. They also own the capital that sustains productivity and growth.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The Wealth of the 1percent Provides the Standard of Living of the 99percent / Politics / US Politics
By: George_Reisman
The protesters in the Occupy Wall Street movement and its numerous clones elsewhere in the country and around the world chant that 1 percent of the population owns all the wealth and lives at the expense of the remaining 99 percent. The obvious solution that they imply is for the 99 percent to seize the wealth of the 1 percent and use it for their benefit rather than allowing it to continue to be used for the benefit of the 1 percent, who are allegedly undeserving greedy capitalist exploiters. In other words, the implicit program of the protesters is that of socialism and the redistribution of wealth.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
How Difficult Will it be to Solve the Problems of the Eurozone? / Politics / Global Debt Crisis
By: John_Mauldin
Do we need a law that makes it illegal to push a moose out of a moving aircraft? In baseball, what are the odds of a perfect game? How difficult will it be to solve the problems of the Eurozone? These and other issues are meditated upon by Grant Williams in his Things That Make You Go Hmmm… letter, which is this week’s Outside the Box. Maybe it was the baseball set-up (as my Rangers battle the Cardinals in the World Series) or that I keep getting asked about Europe here in New Orleans at the 2011 Oppenheimer Wealth Management Roundtable, but Grant really pulled me through his weekly missive when I got started, and I believe you will enjoy it as well. Long and short, Grant lays out the problems that we face in a very realistic assessment. I will also point out that he makes me look like a euro-optimist.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Global Debt Crisis, What They Are Doing? / Politics / Global Debt Crisis
By: Fred_Sheehan
The Euro and You described a fundamental problem of world finance. The quantity of debt grows as the quality recedes. The problem of bad loans is no longer just the pre-2008 mortgages, CDOs, and LBOs. Debt issued after the bust is defaulting, such as Greek sovereign bonds, issued in June 2010. Some securities are born to part investors from their money, but it's remarkable the extent and variety of such instruments issued in 2011. The world choked on similar bonds and derivatives only three years ago, many of which are still held at false prices on financial institutions' books.
Monday, October 24, 2011
What Do The Euro Crisis Summit Volcanic Eruptions Mean? Pyroclastic Flow Next / Politics / Euro-Zone
By: DK_Matai
1. The summits of European leaders and finance ministers happening this weekend appeared to be filled with despair as personal relations amongst major European leaders -- most notably the Germans and French -- collapsed much further. In parallel, Anglo-French relations also deteriorated as British prime minister Cameron became embroiled in a furious row with French president Sarkozy over Britain's role in talks to resolve the euro crisis. The heated exchange between Cameron and Sarkozy was so bad that it held up the conclusion of the EU-27 summit for almost two hours.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Europe’s Bank Bailout Bill: $3 Trillion / Politics / Credit Crisis Bailouts
By: Dr_Jeff_Lewis
As the European Union continues to discuss the possibility of a new bailout fund, news is breaking that any European banking bailout may cost as much as 2 trillion Euros, or $3 trillion. The $3 trillion sum, which would be raised through the EFSF, may also be charged to the IMF.
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Sunday, October 23, 2011
Gov. Buddy Roemer Calls for Withdrawal From NAFTA, WTO / Politics / Protectionism
By: Ian_Fletcher
I have detailed in previous articles my search for a Republican presidential candidate who is good on trade issues. The candidates range from the pro-China Huntsman, to the corrupt and naïve Perry, to those who sound good but leave unclear where they really stand, like Cain, to those who leave doubt as to whether they would back up their nice words with deeds, like Romney.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Government is a Monopoly of Force - Video / Politics / US Politics
By: Casey_Research
An excerpt of Doug’s musings on why “the problems we’re facing are 100% caused by the US government” – from the recent Casey/Sprott Summit When Money Dies.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Greece Bailout, Austerity and Protests, Greeks May Look North / Politics / Euro-Zone
By: John_Browne
As a final bailout framework for Greece continues to elude negotiators from France and Germany, the situation on the ground in Athens continues to deteriorate alarmingly. Protests have turned increasingly violent and riots have occurred in the most sensitive portions of the Greek capital.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Occupy Wall Street and the End of Crony Capitalism / Politics / US Politics
By: David_Knox_Barker
Occupy Wall Street demonstrations are sweeping the globe. Universally, demonstrators recognize that there is something fundamentally flawed with the current system of international political economy. Most interesting, the left and the right agree on a few key issues. For decades, big business has bought and paid for political favors that have undermined the system, rotting the foundation of international free market capitalism. Hard work, individual responsibility and accountability are now optional. Just reward for success and the consequences of failure are now subject to political caprice. A civilization built on essential but abandoned principles is coming apart at the seams.
Friday, October 21, 2011
The U.S. Is Headed for Revolution, as Debt Slaves Whisper Treason / Politics / US Politics
By: Bill_Bonner
Nothing much from the markets yesterday. The Dow fell 72 points. Gold went down $5.
Meanwhile, the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement goes on in America. And 70,000 Greeks “clash with police,” say the news headlines.
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Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Arrogance of France, Sarkozy Fights Merkel and ECB / Politics / Euro-Zone
By: Mike_Shedlock
The "Merkozy" coalition is one again in open dispute with itself. German chancellor Angela Merkel has one position and French President Nicolas Sarkozy another.
Historically, Sarkozy's disputes with Merkel have always been resolved with Merkel buckling like corn flakes run over by a cement truck.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Eurozone on the Edge of Chaos: Illusion of Hope & Misaligned Expectations / Politics / Euro-Zone
By: DK_Matai
Financial markets appear to be oblivious to the scale of danger associated with the Eurozone skirting on the "Edge of Chaos.” The consequences of that event horizon are likely to be sudden and far from benign. Lord Wolfson -- chief executive of Next and a Conservative life peer -- has declared that working out how to handle a break-up of the eurozone "is a very big question."
Thursday, October 20, 2011
A Night With Occupy Wall Street / Politics / US Politics
By: Rudy_Avizius
A call went out over the Internet stating that the city of New York was preparing to “clean” the park where the Occupy Wall St protests were taking place and that the protestors would have to leave the park. The occupiers were cognizant that this was a thinly veiled attempt to evict them from the park. They asked for people to converge on the park to defend it from the NYPD who would be charged with clearing it.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Occupy Wall Street, A Lesson in Democracy / Politics / US Politics
By: James_Quinn
First I’d like to start off saying that Saturday was one of the most invigorating and inspiring days of my life. I came back from NYC with hope that the young people of this country, with the help of some members of the older generations that care about the future of this country, have the will and the fortitude to sweep away the existing corrupt corporate fascist state that exists in this country today. It was such a whirlwind day that my narrative is unlikely to have much structure. I’ll just unleash everything I can remember.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Protectionism Cannot Bring Prosperity / Politics / Protectionism
By: Mike_Shedlock
It is not often I vehemently disagree with Michael Pettis at China Financial Markets regarding trade. This time I do. Interestingly, there are some points of his recent analysis that I strongly agree with.
Via Email, interspersed with my comments please consider the following point counterpoint discussion.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Power of Self Assembling Dynamic Networks / Politics / Social Issues
By: DK_Matai
ATCA 5000 only made one forecast for 2011: Beware "Self-Assembling Dynamic Networks" and boundary-less tribalism! Little did we realise when making the forecast that this year would see:
a. The Arab Spring from Tunisia to Egypt, from Libya to Syria, and from Bahrain to Yemen;
b. Unprecedented riots and looting in London and other British cities like Manchester and Birmingham;
c. Luxury automobiles of the elite being set alight in Berlin and other German cities like D�sseldorf and Hamburg;