MONEY: Stealing what’s left of your wealth

Thursday, February 4, 2016

http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/so-the-seizure-begins-bloomberg-op-ed-calls-for-an-end-of-cash/

So The Seizure Begins: Bloomberg Op-Ed Calls For An End Of Cash
by ZeroHedge • February 1, 2016

*** begin quote ***

In a moment of curious serendipity, a little over 90 minutes after we showed what a dystopian, centrally-planned, cashless society unleashed in a negative interest rate world would look like (“by forcing people and companies to convert their paper money into bank deposits, the hope is that they can be persuaded (coerced?) to spend that money rather than save it because those deposits will carry considerable costs”), and briefly after we laid out the countless recent warnings from “very serious people” that cash is evil and should be banned:

*** end quote ***

This is all about stealing what little wealth the people have left.

The “powers that be” keep figuring out ways to force people to support the fat cat businesses.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #  2016-Feb-02 @ 15:39  


MONEY: Manipulating “We, The Sheeple” by pretending that the value of money is a constant

Friday, January 29, 2016

 

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/01/no_author/inflation-banknotes/

Inflation And Banknotes: The War on Money
By Paul-Martin Foss 
Carl Menger Center
January 28, 2016

*** begin quote ***

In practice, however, the Treasury has not printed notes above $100 since 1945, and the Federal Reserve has not issued notes above $100 since 1969. The ostensible discontinuation of those notes was due to lack of use. However, now that inflation has eroded the value of Federal Reserve notes it makes more sense than ever to issue larger denomination notes. The $20 Federal Reserve Notes that we receive at ATMs today buys the equivalent of what $3 would have purchased in 1969. And the $100 bill in 1969 would buy the equivalent of $646 today. It would make a lot of sense to begin printing $500 and $1000 bills again.

But due to the war on drugs and the war on cash, US authorities don’t want to issue bills larger than $100, as they claim it would only facilitate money laundering. By maintaining its policy of not printing notes larger than $100 and by increasing the reporting requirements on cash transactions, the Treasury has pushed more and more financial transactions into the electronic arena, where they are easier to monitor and control. The desire for control is ultimately driving factor behind the war on cash in the United States and in Europe. That’s why it’s so refreshing to see Argentina’s new government immediately enacting policies that respond to consumer demands for cash. Let’s hope that President Macri is able to bring the central bank under control so that Argentina won’t need to issue any larger banknotes in the future.

*** end quote ***

Note the effect of inflation on your wealth.

You can’t “save” in cash!

See if you use your “card”, then everything you do can be tracked.

And, it’s not just the porn buyers who have to worry. Make a contribution to the “wrong” candidate or cause and your name is on a list somewhere.

When do “they” come to load you on the train to the “reeducation camp”?

Hell, you send your children to the Gooferment Skrules everyday which is nothing more than a “reeducation camp”!

Oh yeah, it can’t happen here. Tell that to the American Citizens of Japanese Ancestry!

# – # – # – # – # 


MONEY: Should be called the non-jobs report

Sunday, December 6, 2015

JOBS REPORT: 94,446,000 Americans Not Working…

…56,295,000 American Women Not in Labor Force…

# – # – # – # – # 

Argh!

This is a DISASTER.

Lost productivity. Stuff not created. Retirements not saved for.

This too will end badly.

# – # – # – # – # 


MONEY: RIC EDELMAN made a shocking (to me) point about identity theft targeting children

Monday, November 23, 2015

This is a about a 4 minute audio clip. The steps to detect it and correct it are rather easy. But do parents do them on an annual basis? Obviously not, if that 1/10 stat is reliable.

Here’s the link:

http://www.edelmanfinancial.com/radio/november-14-2015/identity-thieves-newest-target-how-to-protect-your-kids

Identity Thieves’ Newest Target: How to Protect Your Kids

*** begin quote ***

A recent study from Carnegie Mellon found that one in 10 kids under the age of 10 has had their Social Security number compromised.

Have you checked the financial records of your young children or grandchildren? Most people don’t even consider checking their kid’s financial records because … they’re kids. But that’s exactly why thieves target them.

They know children won’t use their Social Security number for years – usually until they’re old enough to go to college or get a credit card. By then the thief has successfully opened accounts, borrowed money and made purchases without anyone noticing.

“It’s a complicated world these days, and we need to be ever vigilant and diligent to protect ourselves,” Ric Edelman said.

Listen to the full clip above to learn the steps you can take to protect your child’s identity.

*** end quote ***

I know what I’d do every year on their birthday? Check. But then I don’t have any so it’s easy for me to say.

YMMV

# – # – # – # – # 


MONEY: Silver coins — gone but not forgotten

Saturday, September 19, 2015

http://fff.org/explore-freedom/article/the-libertarian-angle-what-ever-happened-to-silver-coins/

HAPPENED TO SILVER COINS?
by Future of Freedom Foundation
September 15, 2015

# – # – # – # – # 

Good question!

What happened?

# – # – # – # – # 


MONEY: A good used car is as good as gold?

Monday, August 17, 2015

http://ericpetersautos.com/2015/08/13/buy-gold-buy-a-used-car-instead/#comment-634721

Buy Gold? Buy A Used Car Instead!
by eric • August 13, 2015

*** begin quote ***

Gold may not have the high rate of return that the casino called Wall Street offers … to insiders. But it is a really good way to store value – and that accounts for its popularity among people who may not get rich quick but tend to avoid becoming poor.

Used cars are another great way to transmute depreciating paper money into a durable asset that – like gold – is portable and fungible (i.e., easily converted into other things of value).

The government has inadvertently created a bull market for them, too. 

*** end quote ***

Unfortunately, I didn’t pay attention when my grandfather would fix what ever particular “$50″ wreck I was driving that week.

In the past, my strategy was to buy new on a three year loan and keep “paying” myself until it died. Eventually, I could pay cash for cars. Seemed to work for me.

Last car, with “zero down and zero interest”, my financial advisor convinced me to take the free money and leave the cash in my portfolio. I’ll drive it until the wheels fall off which means it should last about 9 years.

What I’ll do then I have no idea. What the economic climate will be I have no idea. But I’ll adapt since it’s obvious that the “only constant is change”.

For anyone who’s got some mechanical ability, old cars / trucks that you can still work on seems to be a profitabe niche.

When I drive to and from the Jersey shore, I see veritable series of “one car used car lot” (i.e., each house  along the way with one, or maybe two, used cars for sale). As the season progresses, more “projects” roll out for sale. The peak is around “back to school season” when the sports cars seem to dominate the “lots”.

The USA has become the throw away consumer economy at its own peril. Perhaps this is the renaissance?

I think this is more a reflection on the value of Federal Reserve Notes and the bad behavior that it has “trained” the shepple to engage in.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 

 


MONEY: CAT retail sales indicates global depression

Monday, July 27, 2015

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/07/tyler-durden/forget-recession/

Forget Recession: According To Caterpillar There Is A Full-Blown Global Depression
By Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
July 23, 2015

*** begin quote ***

And the cherry on top: there has now been an unprecedented 31 consecutive months of CAT retail sales declines. This compares to “only” 19 during the near systemic collapse in 2008.

*** end quote ***

SO why is the stock market not going down?

The FED and its Zero Interest Rate.

The politicians and bureaucrats continue to borrow and spend to expand the welfare / warfare state.

Like the old war movie — i forget which — “get small in your hole”.

Bad times are coming.

Sooner or later, some very ugly chickens will come home to roost.

# – # – # – # – # 


MONEY: Pension in your future — maybe, maybe not!

Friday, July 24, 2015

http://www.thedailysheeple.com/day-of-reckoning-for-american-pensions-is-fast-approaching_072015

Day of Reckoning for American Pensions Is Fast Approaching
Joshua Krause
The Daily Sheeple
July 18th, 2015

*** begin quote ***

For decades, local and state governments in the United States have made promises to their employees that they cannot keep. They guaranteed a certain level of income to retirees at a time when America was its most prosperous, and when most people didn’t live as long as they do now. Those lucrative pensions they promised are starting to catch up to them in a big way.

Earlier this week, Moody’s cut Chicago’s credit rating to “junk,” largely due to their $20 billion pension shortfall, and they put the City of Houston on notice. Many of the major pension funds use the stock market to bolster their savings, but despite record profits on Wall Street, it doesn’t seem like any of them reached their revenue goals. California’s Public Employees Retirement System only reached a third of the annual revenue they projected, and the state’s teacher fund failed to reach their goal. Overall, Moody’s found that the 25 largest public pension funds in the US have a $2 trillion budget shortfall.

*** end quote ***

So what will happen?

I’d look at Greece and, closer to home, the Delta Pilot’s pensions.

The Federal “Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation” does not insure plans offered by federal, state, or local governments.

So, I’d expect a severe “haircut”. Pensions, if we use the PBGC limits, would be reduced to about 57K per year.

I can imagine the riots when it happens, but happen it will. 

If I was planning on a pension for my golden years, then I meet with a fee-based register financial adviser to revise your plans. 

Argh!

Hard times ahead.

# – # – # – # – # 


MONEY: Unfunded and underfunded liabilities

Monday, July 6, 2015

http://charleshughsmith.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-coming-era-of-pension-poverty.html

WEDNESDAY, JULY 01, 2015
The Coming Era of Pension Poverty
Assuming “growth” will fund all promised pensions and entitlements is magical thinking.

*** begin quote ***

Promises made in flush times cannot be kept in lean times. Common sense suggests that public employee pension benefits should be tied to the revenues required to pay them and the rate of low-risk returns on pension funds. If common-sense is “union bashing,” then we not only have a pension-funding problem, we have a propaganda problem.

Regardless of what was promised, what can’t be paid won’t be paid. The federal government can print money, but state and local governments cannot print money to pay soaring pension and healthcare costs. Push taxes and junk fees up enough and you will spark a taxpayer rebellion. If you doubt this, check out the origins of Prop 13 limits on property taxes in California.

*** end quote ***

Unfunded and underfunded liabilities about in the Zero Interest Rate Environment set up by the FED.

The estimates are staggering.

And yet the corruption continues. Politicians give Gooferment Unions big ‘benefits’ and Gooferment Unions give politicians big ‘campaign contributions’. And the taxpayer is on the hook.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – # 


MONEY: Save the penny; it’s educational

Friday, May 22, 2015

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/keep-using-cash-support-killing-penny/

If You Want People To Keep Using Cash, Support Killing The Penny
By Justin Pot on 15th May, 2015 

*** begin quote ***

There’s quote you might have heard.“A penny saved is a penny earned” -Ben Franklin

First: Franklin never said that. Second: adjusting for inflation, an early 1800’s penny is worth about 25 cents today. With these points in mind, I propose the following update: “A quarter saved is a quarter earned” -Unknown

My point is simple: when the penny was worth more, no one saw the need for a piece of currency valued at 1/25th of a penny. Creating something like that would have been stupid, because you couldn’t have bought anything with it.penny-bucketToday, it’s nearly impossible to find anything that costs one cent. Anywhere.Seriously: try to find anything that costs a penny. You’ll have to resort to a single nail at the hardware store, but when you try to pay for it with your penny the clerk will probably tell you not to bother – saying to just take the nail and leave. 

*** end quote ***

I disagree. The penny is an in your face constant reminder that the Gooferment, specifically the FED (i.e., Ferderal Reserve Bank) … …

— 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. —

… … stolen the wealth of the world by inflation. I insist on ranting every time some wants to get rid of the penny, by pointing to Ron Paul and the evils of fiat currency. 

Without the Fed’s fiat currency, WW1 and WW2 could not have been fought and the current welfare / warfare state would be impossible. 

The penny is the “canary in cage” for the national debt, the deficit, the unfunded liabilities, and the out of control spending.

Keep the penny and let’s not forget WHY it’s worthless!

If you doubt any of this rant, listen to the Tom Woods podcast http://tomwoods.com/podcast/ep-397-the-fed-the-lifeblood-of-the-empire/ and how the FED enables war.

# – # – # – # – #