Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
The European Union is Bursting at the Seams / Politics / Euro-Zone
By: Pravda
The European Union is arguing about the controversy surrounding the proposals of France and Italy to restore border controls within the Schengen area due to the influx of refugees from North Africa. As it turns out, the other southern European countries support their initiative. However, the third pillar of the EU - Germany - is against it.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
The Federal Reserve Destroying the U.S. Empire, A Fistful of Dollars / Politics / Central Banks
By: James_Quinn
It is not easy to destroy the greatest empire in the history of mankind. The 20th Century was the American Century, but as with all empires, the combination of hubris, monetary debasement, imperial overreach and delusional overconfidence have set in motion the inevitable downfall of the American Empire. The policies, decisions, beliefs, and institutions implemented over decades have led the country to the threshold of financial disaster. Based on my observations, a catastrophic combination of demographics, fiat currency debasement, titanic levels of debt, smothering taxation, power in the hands of the few and Wall Street greed have led us to peak Empire. It will be downhill from here as we experience collapse, revolution and ultimately, retribution for the guilty and presumed guilty. I have already addressed the Baby Boomer generation’s contribution to our current plight, to the delight and accolades of Boomers across the land in For a Few Dollars More – Part One. The Boomers were a victim of their size and the timing of their arrival on the scene of empire collapse. Their delusions of debt based wealth and me first attitude could not have been satiated without the creation of the Federal Reserve and the institution of the personal income tax in 1913.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Declare Your Independence From the Empire, Foreign and Domestic / Politics / US Politics
By: Michael_S_Rozeff
The peoples of the world once looked up to America and Americans. They held them in high respect and esteem. They respected their ideals. They respected their know-how and products.
Now, by its foreign policies of empire and their domestic counterparts, the U.S. government is destroying the dignity of America and Americans. Our morality is falling along with our productivity. Today, there is less and less of which Americans can be proud and there is more and more of which to be ashamed.
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Sunday, May 01, 2011
Why I Hung Up on a New York Times Reporter / Politics / US Politics
By: Gary_North
Yesterday morning, a New York Times Op-Ed writer called me. He wanted to write a piece where I am quoted. I chose not to talk to him.
I asked him straight out: "How did you get my phone number?" He said a staffer had retrieved it. The number is unlisted.
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Saturday, April 30, 2011
Money and The Truth about America / Politics / US Politics
By: John_Kozy
President Obama has said that he will not allow people-programs to be cut so that the wealthy can receive tax cuts because our nation is "better than that." But what America is cannot be distinguished from its economy which exists merely to accumulate money. It's why the maxim is let the buyer, not the vendor, beware. But in an equitable economy, no one would need to beware. No banker will ever be prosecuted for the banking practices that brought down the economy, because if such questioning were allowed, the entire basis of the "American way of life" would be called into question. An economy whose primary concern is not the welfare of the people it serves will always require the people to live and die for some non-human goal. People will be used just like worker ants, and no one will really care when they fail to return after being sent off to do their prescribed jobs. To be subordinated to some non-human purpose is to be expendable.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Is the Bernank Smart Enough to Resign Before the Next Stock Market Crash? / Politics / Central Banks
By: Robert_Murphy
The big financial news this week was the Federal Reserve's first press conference. The financial press and bloggers have already parsed Bernanke's every last syllable, but I'll make some observations that I haven't seen elsewhere.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Bernanke Falls Flat / Politics / Central Banks
By: John_Browne
Despite loud huzzahs from a variety of boosters who proclaimed that Chairman Bernanke spoke with gravitas and wisdom at the first ever Federal Reserve press conference, the wider investing public clearly saw the performance as unconvincing. During and immediately after the proceedings the prices of gold and silver rose strongly to new highs as the U.S. dollar plummeted. The affair seemed to solidify the understanding that Bernanke and his cohorts have no intention whatsoever to reverse the current trend of inflation and a weakening dollar.
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Friday, April 29, 2011
Bernanke, How to Be a Central Bank Celebrity / Politics / Central Banks
By: Bill_Bonner
Bernanke spoke!
Yes, he held a press conference. Why would the world want a press conference from a central banker? Ah…good question. Because he’s a celebrity… He’s powerful. He moves and he shakes. He’s as popular as William and Kate put together.
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Friday, April 29, 2011
Federal Reserve For Dummies / Politics / Central Banks
By: Videos
From the bears who explained Quantitative Easing, we now get a crash test dummy simplifying the Federal Reserve's current outlook on life.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Grand Theft Bernanke, The Quantitative Easing Scam is Exposed / Politics / Central Banks
By: Mike_Whitney
It's the biggest flim-flam in the nation's history. But, thanks to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the scam has been exposed and the public can now get a good look at the type of swindle that passes as monetary policy.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Inflation Inferno / Politics / Inflation
By: MISES
George F. Smith writes: Throughout history, governments have fought against the use of sound money. In 1912, Ludwig von Mises identified the reason for this:
Read full article... Read full article...The sound-money principle has two aspects. It is affirmative in approving the market's choice of a commonly-used medium of exchange. It is negative in obstructing the government's propensity to meddle with the currency system.[1]
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Power to Tax Destroys Freedom, Prosperity and Market Efficiency / Politics / Taxes
By: Fred_Buzzeo
The landmark Supreme Court decision McCullough v. Maryland (1819) has had wide impact on the powers of the federal government. In fact, this decision, more than any other, is responsible for the incredible growth of federal authority throughout the years. Today, Washington has a tight grip on every aspect of our lives, and much of this federal intrusion is due to the "implied powers" doctrine that emanated from this court decision.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Kaspersky Russian Kidnapping Lessons / Politics / Russia
By: STRATFOR
Scott Stewart writes:
On April 24, officers from the anti-kidnapping unit of Moscow’s Criminal Investigation Department and the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) rescued 20-year-old Ivan Kaspersky from a dacha in Sergiev Posad, a small town about 40 miles northeast of Moscow. Kaspersky, the son of Russian computer software services billionaire Eugene Kaspersky (founder of Kaspersky Lab), was kidnapped on April 19 as he was walking to work from his Moscow apartment. A fourth-year computer student at Moscow State University, Kaspersky was working as an intern at a software company located near Moscow’s Strogino metro station.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Are the Poor Breeding Like Rabbits? / Politics / Social Issues
By: Vi_Ransel
Even as the overall population of the world continues to increase, the increase in the number of poor people outstrips that growth. How is this possible? Are the poor simply breeding like rabbits, increasing their numbers geometrically in a suicidal, lemming-like production line of poverty-stricken people? Or are they getting some outside aid in their catastrophic endeavor?
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Ron Paul Rips into Bernanke's Ridiculous Fed Press Conference / Politics / Central Banks
By: Dr_Ron_Paul
"Chairman Bernanke's press conference today was unprecedented, and it demonstrates that Federal Reserve officials are very concerned about growing public criticism of Fed policies. Although Mr. Bernanke predictably provided no substantive information, the American people want real answers about Fed bailouts, lending to foreign banks, and most of all inflation. Mr. Bernanke continues to ignore his culpability for the inflation all Americans suffer due to the Fed's relentless monetary expansion. Rising prices are the direct result of Fed devaluation of our dollar. Yet rather than addressing the Fed's loose dollar policy, Mr. Bernanke continues to assure us that inflation is not a problem.
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Thursday, April 28, 2011
Balancing the U.S. Budget, Radical Plan to Cut Military Spending / Politics / Government Spending
By: Mike_Shedlock
My long held belief is the US cannot afford to be the world's policeman. Moreover, I question whether it is wise to pursue such a policy even if we could pay for it. Regardless, it is beyond absurd to leave cuts in defense spending off the table when the budget deficit is $1.5 trillion.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Demographics, Energy and The End Game: Exponential Functions / Politics / Demographics
By: DK_Matai
If the Middle East conflicts continue to escalate could oil touch $150-$200 per barrel in the months ahead? What are the consequences of this development for both the East and the West? Let us not forget that the Middle East turmoil was primarily triggered by high food prices, inflation and youth unemployment. As the turmoil in the Middle East escalates, continuously bumping the price of energy upwards, this is having a further knock-on effect on the price of other natural resources as well as food.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
America is the Prison Capital of the World / Politics / US Politics
By: LewRockwell
Stephen Cox writes: After years of deficit financing, my state, California, is currently hurtling toward bankruptcy, the revenue from its savage personal income tax having been consumed, and over-consumed, by government employees' salaries and benefits. Yet in the midst of the budget turmoil, Governor Jerry Brown has just negotiated yet another Rolls Royce contract with one of the biggest beneficiaries of state government, the prison guards' union.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Why Did The Fed Lend Billions To Foreign Banks? And 15 Other Questions for Bernanke / Politics / Central Banks
By: Gary_North
The Federal Reserve System is on the defensive. This has not happened before in my lifetime.
On Wednesday, April 27, Ben Bernanke will hold a press conference. This has never happened before. Journalists will be allowed to ask questions. It will be held at 2:15 in the afternoon, Eastern Daylight Time. The Bankrate site has set up a reminder program so that you won't miss it. It will be broadcast on their site.
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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Royal Wedding, America's Fascination With Royalty / Politics / US Politics
By: Walter_Brasch
In case you're in a funk because you think the reason you didn't receive an invitation to the royal wedding is because the Brits are still ticked off about that silly little skirmish back in 1776, the American media have a solution for you.
The media had been pumping out news, features, and gossip about the wedding for more than three months. Almost every radio, TV, and cable network, except for maybe the Cartoon Channel, will be covering the wedding on Friday. All. Day. Long.