MONEY: Negative real rate of return for the LAST FORTY YEARS!

Thursday, March 24, 2016

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/03/no_author/german-response-negative-interest-rates/

German Response to Negative Interest Rates: Safe Deposit Boxes
By Paul-Martin Foss 
Carl Menger Center
March 19, 2016

*** begin quote ***

The Japanese response to negative interest rates was to buy personal safes. The German response is to pull money out of bank accounts and stick it in safe deposit boxes. Both are perfectly understandable reactions to the prospect of having to pay interest to a bank for holding deposits.

It is particularly interesting in Germany, where the Bundesbank a few years ago admitted that the average real rate of return on savings deposits has been negative for nearly the past 40 years.

Now that nominal rates have turned negative too, the facade of savings accounts as a safe place to park money to earn a little bit of income has finally been ripped away.

*** end quote ***

Wow, I stumbled across this when I was reading. What an admission!

I “know” that the FED (The Federal Reserve Bank is a misnomer. IT ain’t “federal”. It reserves nothing. And, it ain’t a “bank”. It is a private cartel of the elite banks run for their benefit and that of the entrenched politicians.) runs the printing press and adds electronic digits as it “needs” to. That continually robs “We, The Sheeple” of their purchasing power.

Now with “nominal interest rates” near zero, I would think that people would be waking up to the scam.

This statement really rubs everyone’s nose in it. And, like <synonym for excrement>, it’s a very unpleasant experience.

So what is Joe Sixpack to do?

Clearly “savings” are being silently, quietly, and invisibly taxed aka stolen away.

You can’t even calculate how much of Joe Sixpack’s earnings are being stolen.

The sadder part is that Joe doesn’t even realize that he’s been robbed.

Argh!

Even most sad about the whole thing is that all the Joe Sixpacks are suffering from the same lack of realization.

Argh!

Buy assets, bullion, or even bullets. Anything to preserve value.

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RANT: Ask the governor by the website

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Can a homeless person use a post office box for their “home address” for their driver’s license?

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Thank you for contacting me.

As Governor, I welcome input from those throughout the Garden State and beyond who are eager to share with me their thoughts, concerns, questions, and ideas. My staff and I will endeavor to be as responsive as possible to the many people using this electronic means of communication, as well as to those who, through letters and phone calls, contact my office.

Again, I appreciate your taking the time to write to me.

Sincerely yours,
Chris Christie
Governor

NOTE: You can also contact Governor Christie by writing to the Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 001, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0001, or by calling (609) 777-2500.

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Posted by reinkefj

GOLDBUG: A universal gram based gold currency is what the world needs

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

http://www.321gold.com/editorials/moriarty/moriarty031516.html

Reviewing The New Case for Gold
Bob Moriarty
Mar 15, 2016

*** begin quote ***

… … what we need is for all countries to accept a gram based gold currency unit instead of gold being tied to anything. The financial problems of the world today are caused by fake money and the solution is not another fiat currency that no one understands but real money that you can touch and feel and hold. Gold fills the bill, SDRs do not.

*** end quote ***

Imagine how easy it would be for commerce and travelers.

And, no more controversy about exchange rates, “currency manipulation”, and “racing to devalue”.

The Tower of Babel says that humanity was cursed with different languages. Maybe we were cursed with different currencies and that is really the thing that keeps us separate. And, under the proverbial thumb of the Bankers.

Of course, that will never happen.

“Honest money” is the friend of the poor, senior citizens on fixed incomes, and anyone trying to save! For retirements, a house, a child’s education.

Remember that “Cross of Gold” speech? How much better of would be those Farmers if their “wealth” hadn’t been stolen by the Gooferment with it’s inflation, “price supports”, and regulations?

While there’s no way to know for sure, it couldn’t be as bad as the “hidden tax” of the inflation of the US dollar. It has lost 99% of its value in the last 40 years.

Argh!

And, don’t forget the the current 18T+ national debt and the guesstimated 200T+ in unfunded liabilities that our posterity will have to deal with!!!

Gold is the standard.

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GUN: It’s obvious that law-abiding contributing members of society live matter more

Monday, March 21, 2016

http://bearingarms.com/family-laments-shooting-death-teen-burglar-homeowner/

Family Laments Shooting Death of Teen Burglar By Homeowner
Posted by Bob Owens on March 15, 2016 at 12:33 pm

*** begin quote ***

For our civil society to remain intact, we must resist attempts by opportunistic politicians and activist groups to insist that criminals be treated as the most important members of society, instead of the drain on civil culture that they clearly are and have been. If we allow criminals to assume that their lives matter more than that of law-abiding, contributing members of society, then our entire culture and way of life if at risk.

*** end quote ***

I’m a pro-life pro-choice little L libertarian.

It’s never “right” to initiate force against anyone.

The right to property is a fundamental right. Our property represents how we have spent our time and the choices we’ve made.

This criminal was just that. Someone, who just stole, with out regard to “rights” or what was “Right”.

I agree that the tactical decision made by the shooter was “dumb” and could have turned out badly.

But, we need to think clearly who are the “victims” of “violence”.

It’s not the criminals.

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RANT: Is an Amazon “oversold” like an Airline “bump”?

Sunday, March 20, 2016

This morning I was thinking about my fiancée’s recent experience with an Amazon purchase.

Background, she ordered a “new” (antique!) Blackberry phone. All well and good. It “disappeared”. Even though USPS reported it as delivered to her door.

Yeah, I know all about “porch pirates”. And, was perfectly fine until this morning.

Then, when safely under my tin foil hat, my Conspiracy Theorist bent came to the forefront and began asking questions.

Interesting that when she ordered it, Amazon said they had five for sale. When she called to complain about the missing delivery, the representative offered a refund OR A REPLACEMENT. She was told to wait until the follow ing Monday to make it official. When she did, “Amazon is no longer selling these”. (a polite FU! imho)

So as a certifiable Conspiracy Theorist, perhaps like the airlines who “bump” flights that they deliberately “overbook”, I suspected that maybe Amazon “oversold” this items.

Now, I’m an Amazon Prime-er, and I order lots of stuff. (18 items alone in 2016!) And, I have NEVER fallen prey to a “porch pirate”. That day, I got a delivery that USPS put in a locker. The next day, Sunday, I got a USPS delivery to the door.

Argh!

Now, maybe Amazon oversold it, realized that, and decided “who do we screw”?

Maybe Amazon has a label to the USPS that says “Lose this package”. And, USPS plays along. 

Why would USPS do that? Collision with Amazon; lest Amazon decide to bribe Congress that it want to deliver mail. Perhaps, even Amazon pays more for the “lose this package” service?

Argh!

I urged her to grip to Amazon a lot louder, the USPS, and any Gooferment entity that would listen.

Isn’t interesting that the same phone is available at Blackberry for 100$ more — no problem.

So why didn’t Amazon just buy one there and send to her to keep the Customer happy? Yeah, now it’s all about money!

I wonder if other people have had similar experiences.

Argh!

You’re right. I don’t trust ANYONE or ANY Crony Capitalist corporation. 

I’m sure the US Gooferment is going to rush to investigate itself.

Argh!

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INSPIRATIONAL: Climate Scientists don’t really understand the mechanics of what happens

Saturday, March 19, 2016

http://tomwoods.com/podcast/ep-613-climate-change-what-does-science-really-say/

Ep. 613 Climate Change: What Does Science Really Say?
9th March 2016
Tom Woods

To call any aspect of the climate change orthodoxy into question is to risk being condemned as “anti-science.” But are the arguments and computer models of the so-called mainstream really so rock solid?

About the GuestChip Knappenberger is assistant director of the Center for the Study of Science at the Cato Institute. He has over 20 years of experience in climate research and public outreach, and has published numerous papers in the major atmospheric science journals on global warming, hurricanes, precipitation changes, weather and mortality, and Greenland ice melt, among many other areas.

Articles Mentioned
“The Case against a Carbon Tax,” by Chip Knappenberger, Robert Murphy, and Patrick J. Michaels
“Climate Models and Climate Reality: A Closer Look at a Lukewarming World,” by Patrick J. Michaels and Chip Knappenberger

Guest’s Links
Center for the Study of Science, Cato Institute
Chip’s Cato page (with his writings)

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What I found interesting was the following points:

  • Politicians and bureaucrats want a crisis; even if it’s not understood.
  • Media hypes the outrageous “solutions” aka “it bleeds, it leads”.
  • It’s a good possibility that the activities of man influences local weather. Maybe even global climate.
  • Warming maybe a good thing for humanity (i.e., wine grapes in England; farms in Greenland; a thriving Roman Empire).
  • It may be a 100 years before the sea level rises 18 inches. Humanity adapts to all sorts of “stuff”.
  • Can’t do much to deprive poor people of electricity which is carbon based.
  • Maybe radical “solutions” aren’t needed.
  • Climate Scientists don’t really understand the mechanics of what happens.

What I found inspirational was the quiet reasoned discourse about a controversial subject without rancor. I found that I could accept this. Probably because it was reasonable and reasoned. 

YMMV.

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GUNS: Murder for defense of his Mom?

Friday, March 18, 2016

http://bearingarms.com/son-charged-murder-killing-moms-attacker-virginia/

Son Charged With Murder For Killing His Mom’s Attacker
Posted by Jenn Jacques on March 10, 2016 at 2:13 pm

*** begin quote ***

“At that point, the 15-year-old son went to a place in the home where he knew there was a firearm,” Spotsylvania Sheriff’s spokesman Capt. Jeff Pearce said .”[He] took a semiautomatic firearm from a nearby location in the room and fired several shots at Conroy, striking him multiple times.”

*** end quote ***

He should be given a medal and sent home. Period.

Argh!

He saved the taxpayers a bunch of buxs.

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SOFTWARE: Add emergency-contact info to your iPhone lock screen

Thursday, March 17, 2016

http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-add-emergency-contact-info-to-your-iphone-lock-screen/

Add emergency-contact info to your iPhone lock screen
A simple tweak to your existing wallpaper might just save your life — or at least help recover a lost phone.
by Rick Broida  @cheapskateblog / December 17, 20149:07 AM PST

*** begin quote ***

The reason we password-protect our phones is simple: If it gets stolen, the thief can’t access all our data. But there’s a flipside: If your phone is lost, or you’ve been injured and someone is trying to call your family, there’s no way to access your ICE (In Case of Emergency) info.

*** end quote ***

Thumb IMG 1915 1024

I did it to mine. What about you?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: NYS vehicle charging stations

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

FROM MY EZPASS STATEMENT

NY’s 1st high-speed electric vehicle charging stations are open on the NYS Thruway. High-speed stations power in 30 minutes, 10x-20x faster than standard chargers. Northbound locations: Plattekill & Malden Service Areas between exits 17 & 21. Southbound locations: Ulster & Modena Service Areas between exits 20 & 17.For more information, visit: http://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/travelplazas/

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Does anyone think this is DUMB!

30 minutes to “fill up” your electric car?

Think of the “gas lines” in the summer!

Only in the Pepuls Republic of Nu Jerk!!!

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Overpriced Drugs?

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/03/joseph-mercola/medical-cover-ups/

Hospital-Acquired Infections, Dangerous Tests and Other Medical Cover-Ups
By Joseph Mercola Mercola.com
March 9, 2016

*** begin quote ***

Drug Companies Siphon Tax Dollars for Dangerous, Useless, Overpriced Drugs

As if it wasn’t enough that you pay with your health for the drug industry’s lackadaisical approach to side effects — both by their downplaying the risk of death or serious injury in their ads, and by their filing adverse event reports that are useless for predicting risk to other patients — you also pay for their crimes with your tax dollars.

Sovaldi, a hepatitis C drug made by Gilead was under investigation for 18 months by the Senate Finance Committee. In the end, the Committee decided that the price of the drug — $1,000 per pill, or $84,000 per treatment — “did not reflect the cost of research and development and that Gilead cared about ‘revenue’ not ‘affordability and accessibility,’” the Epoch Times writes.

In 2014 alone, Medicare and Medicaid shelled out more than $5 BILLION for Sovaldi and another hepatitis C drug called Harvoni.

Writing for the New York Times, columnist Nicholas Kristof notes that in the year 2015, the drug industry “spent $272,000 in campaign donations per member of Congress … to bar the government from bargaining for drug prices in Medicare. That amounts to a $50 billion annual gift to pharmaceutical companies.”

*** end quote ***

Sorry but this is what you get when the Gooferment picks winners and losers.

Unfortunately, when folks pay for their own medical care. it may hurt in the pocketbook, but the bills get careful scrutiny.

Waste, fraud, and abuse are REGULARLY reported in Gooferment “programs”. None more wasteful than “medicine”. I remember reading an article that asserted a huge percentage of “medical spending” in Florida was due to FRAUD.

Sigh!

The only way to cure that is to incentivize the patients to spend wisely. How can we do that? Make them pay 1%. Ever seen seniors look at an early bird special dinner check? Vultures would admire their attention to detail. 

Argh!

Doubt it will ever happen. Seniors vote!

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