Tag: FED

MONEY: Will the Gooferment admit that they are “counterfeiting”?

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https://www.kiteandkeymedia.com/videos/should-the-us-mint-stop-making-pennies/?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email

Making Change: Do We Need Pennies?
When making money involves losing money
January 2024

*** begin quote ***

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

  •     It costs around three cents to produce a single penny.
  •     The United States lost over $93 million producing pennies in 2022 alone.
  •     Eliminating the penny likely wouldn’t raise costs for American consumers.

*** end quote ***

I doubt the Gooferment will ever stop making pennies because then they would have to admit that they have been stealing the people’s wealth.  Silently and surreptitiously.  At least when you are robbed by a mugger, you know it. 

Penny candy, a nickel cigar, and dime a gallon gas are bright neon signs that the Gooferment mafia has robbed you.

Wake up rube and see the road map.

—30—

GOVEROTRAGEOUS: How about the sneakiness of the Gooferment with our “money”

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FROM NEXTDOOR

Ronald P. Society Hill • 2 Nov • 

*** begin quote ***

The sneakiness of manufacturers! 

One has to be so aware of how manufacturers dupe their customers. 

We have been a big fan of Chock Full O’Nuts Coffee for many years. Always liked to wait for when the coffee went on sale for $1.99 per can. The new sale price at ShopRite reducing it from $5.69 a can is now $2.99. We put the coffee in a canister instead of using it out of the can. Suddenly the canister did not get filled. Apparently the amount of coffee that is now in the can is 10.3 ounces instead of 13 ounces! So now the sales price went up 50% and the quantity of coffee went down over 20%. 

I have found that manufacturers slip in a new reduced package size when they put the item on sale and customers don’t pay attention to the quantity. 

This is not unique to this company but seems to be practiced widely. It is always buyer beware.

*** end quote ***

Let’s not ignore the Gooferment’s role in all of this.

It has inflated the number of dollars in circulation by several trillion.  

Don’t you think that has some role in all this?

See my blog rants about penny candy, nickel cigars, and dime comics!

Shrinkflation is the manufactures’ response to a dollar devaluation.

“Dollar stores” are proliferating because that’s what people can afford.  

I can’t imagine shopping for food in a dollar store, but I think we are going to see more of this.  Not less.

Time to vote the clowns out and just resist.

—30—

MONEY: “Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value – zero.” -Voltaire, 1694-1778

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FROM AN EMAIL FROM BITCOIN.COM

*** begin quote ***

Unlike dollars, there will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin

“Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value – zero.” -Voltaire, 1694-1778

The history of fiat money (ie. money issued by government decree) shows that governments consistently increase supply far beyond demand. This invariably leads to devaluation of the currency over time, something that we experience as inflation. Looking at some examples:

    The U.S. dollar has lost 96% of its value since 1913

    The euro has lost 40% of its value since 1997

    The pound has lost 99.602% of its value since 1751

“It’s going to be very hard to unseat bitcoin as a store of value, because it’s got a 14-year brand, and there’s a finite supply.”  — Billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller

*** end quote ***

I have put some spare change into ₿ and bullion on the off chance that the USA goes into a hyperinflation.  Based on the spending by Congress and the “printing” by 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.  — I think more and more that this is a distinct probability.  Look at Turkey, Venezuela, Nigeria, and many other countries.  That’s what a runaway inflation looks like.

YMMV FWIW FAIWWYPFI 

“Bullets, beans, bandaids, bullion, booze in a safe retreat”  — Unknown

—30—

MONEY: The coming default by the US FED / Treasury?

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https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/are-you-ready-coming-us-government-default

Are You Ready For The Coming US Government Default?
by Tyler Durden
Monday, Nov 07, 2022 – 07:20 AM

Authored by MN Gordon via EconomicPrism.com,

*** begin quote ***

The vast herd of investors are a deluded crowd. Following the Federal Reserve’s much anticipated 75 basis point rate hike on Wednesday the major stock market indexes jumped upward.

Optimistic investors keyed in on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement and, in particular, the remark that the Fed, “will take into account the cumulative tightening of monetary policy, the lags with which monetary policy affects economic activity and inflation and economic and financial developments.”

*** and ***

In other words, this bear market may not bottom out until well into 2025. What’s more, the entire dollar based financial system will likely blow up sometime beforehand.

*** and ***

But many won’t recognize heavy handed monetary policy as reasons for their disappointment. The erosion of purchasing power can be subtle over long periods. Moreover, the effects of currency debasement policies extend to all corners of the economy.

*** end quote ***

Depends upon how you define default. What happens when no one wants to buy US Treasuries?

It’s going to be ugly. As the interest rate goes up, more of the Federal budget should go to interest on the debt. If they don’t cut, then more dollar printing.

A vicious cycle.

Sigh!

But what will be the form of it? Us tin foil hats are trying to guess will they just: “print”, “default on the bonds (i.e., tough <synonym for excrement> you suckers)”, or something involving a FED version of mandatory bitcoin (i.e., cash is recalled just like gold was)?

And, then what will the sheeple do?

—30—

VOCABULARY: Federal Reserve and Debt — interest versus usury?

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https://www.unz.com/mhudson/the-federal-reserve-and-debt/

The Federal Reserve and Debt
Michael Hudson • September 17, 2022 

*** begin quote ***

Well, the question is, why do people go into debt? And there are two kinds of credit. And this goes all the way back to the church theologians in the 14th century. Ancient societies didn’t have any different word for interest and usury. All that was developed to overcome the church’s banning of interest for a 1,000 years, certainly among the clergy. And then the European takeoff began. And after the Crusades it was obvious that some kind of credit was necessary to finance foreign trade. And some people benefited from credit, so the church said, all right, if you’re making a loan, the debtor gains from it, then it’s interest, then its mutual gain. And usury is when the borrower doesn’t really receive a gain but has to pay the interest out of income that they earned elsewhere.

*** end quote ***

Interesting distinction?

So what is our current scenario?  

Taxes are theft. And, they are usury to the extent we don’t benefit from them.

—30—

ECONOMICS: FT Opinion ignores that there is no way to pay the debt that has been created

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https://www.ft.com/content/db0a2535-7292-4c84-9015-0d9c4af67713?segmentId=b385c2ad-87ed-d8ff-aaec-0f8435cd42d9

Opinion The FT View
US recession is a smaller danger than long-term inflation
The Fed needs to hold its nerve on tightening further
The editorial board

*** begin quote ***

Investors have spent much of this week puzzling over what this all means — edging up predictions for the future path of interest rates and for the chances of recession. But there is good news in some of it — it is hard to read the markets’ responses as indicating that investors think this ultra-high inflation is now a permanent feature of American life. The Fed has credibility. But it still needs to tighten further to justify that faith.

*** end quote ***

I respectfully disagree.

The current 30T$+ national debt and the guesstimated 226T+ in unfunded liabilities that our posterity will have to deal with is inescapable.

The Russian “sanctions” over Ukraine have put the USA on a collision course to crush the U$D.  (The fact that it’s the cleanest dirty shirt in the laundry is little comfort.)

For decades, responsible people have been pointing out that empires fall when their currency is debased.  Why should the USA be any different?

We have kicked the can down the road and we can see the end of the road.

End the FED and return to sound money.

—30—

ECONOMICS: There should NOT be any taxes on “Virtual Currencies”

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https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/virtual-currencies

*** begin quote ***

Virtual Currencies
 
Virtual currency transactions are taxable by law just like transactions in any other property. Taxpayers transacting in virtual currency may have to report those transactions on their tax returns.

What is Virtual Currency?

Virtual currency is a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and/or a store of value. In some environments, it operates like “real” currency (i.e., the coin and paper money of the United States or of any other country that is designated as legal tender, circulates, and is customarily used and accepted as a medium of exchange in the country of issuance), but it does not have legal tender status in  the U.S. Cryptocurrency is a type of virtual currency that utilizes cryptography to validate and secure transactions that are digitally recorded on a distributed ledger, such as a blockchain.

Virtual currency that has an equivalent value in real currency, or that acts as a substitute for real currency, is referred to as “convertible” virtual currency. Bitcoin is one example of a convertible virtual currency. Bitcoin can be digitally traded between users and can be purchased for, or exchanged into, U.S. dollars, Euros, and other real or virtual currencies.

*** end quote **

Sounds like they are defining “money”!

We don’t tax when “dollars” (i.e., Federal Reserve Note fiat greenbacks) are converted to Euros or visa versa.  So why are we taxed on “Virtual Currencies”?  For that matter, why are we taxed when buying gold or silver?  Doesn’t the Constitution define a “dollar” as an amount of gold or silver?

Argh!

Guess the IRS is going have a hard time finding all the non-custodial crypto wallets!!!

#endthefed 

If they can keep drugs out their prisons, how will the keep crypto out of a free society?

—30—

ECONOMICS: Inflation reduces real wages

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https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/feb/05/fed-raise-interest-rates-shaft-american-workers-robert-reich

The FED is about to raise interest rates and shaft American workers – again
Robert Reich — Sun 6 Feb 2022 01.00 EST

  • Policymakers fear a labor shortage is pushing up wages and prices. Wrong. Real wages are down and workers are struggling

*** begin quote ***

Fed policymakers are poised to raise interest rates at their March meeting and then continue raising them, in order to slow the economy. They fear that a labor shortage is pushing up wages, which in turn are pushing up prices – and that this wage-price spiral could get out of control.

It’s a huge mistake. Higher interest rates will harm millions of workers who will be involuntarily drafted into the inflation fight by losing jobs or long-overdue pay raises. There’s no “labor shortage” pushing up wages. There’s a shortage of good jobs paying adequate wages to support working families. Raising interest rates will worsen this shortage.

There’s no “wage-price spiral” either, even though Fed chief Jerome Powell has expressed concern about wage hikes pushing up prices. To the contrary, workers’ real wages have dropped because of inflation. Even though overall wages have climbed, they’ve failed to keep up with price increases – making most workers worse off in terms of the purchasing power of their dollars.

*** end quote ***

It’s a fact of life the at the FED’s 2% inflation target is a joke.  The FED has debased the currency of 99% of its value with its “2% target”!  But over and above that, the inflation has been robbing poor people, working slobs, and senior citizens on fixed income.

So maybe a good liberal like Reich might be enlisted into the “End The Fed” movement.

IMHO we need to go back to “real money” aka gold and silver.

Under hard money, prices go down and real wages go up naturally.

—30—

MONEY: The FED is “shrinking” the value of your money silently and secretly

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https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2021/10/15/yes-we-can-trust-the-fed-to-keep-devaluing-our-money/

Yes, We Can Trust the Fed. To Keep Devaluing Our Money
By: Stefan Gleason | Published on: Oct 15, 2021

*** begin quote ***

Former Fed chair Yellen wants us to trust current Fed chair Jerome Powell when he says inflation is “transitory” and merely the effect of supply disruptions.

She doesn’t want us to focus on the fact that the central bank is now buying well over 50 percent of all new Treasury debt. Nor does she want us to be concerned that the M2 money supply is growing at a 13 percent annual rate.

Sure, let’s trust the Fed.  What the Fed can absolutely be trusted to do is continue inflating.

But that means investors can’t trust fiat dollars to hold their value. Debt instruments denominated in U.S. currency will almost certainly return less than the inflation rate. Over time, bondholders risk an enormous loss of purchasing power even if the issue never results in formal defaults.

*** end quote ***

What is a “poor” “We, The Sheeple” to do?

“Poor” is used in the sense of not rich, but yet not poor enough to qualify for the Gooferment’s dole.

Well, if you’re in the bottom of that spectrum, save your nickels and stockpile your everyday needs whenever you see a bargain. I particularly like Shoprite’s “can can” sale where the Progresso soup, which is usually near $3 / can, for a dollar if you buy ten.  I was putting them under my bed and using them when I felt like soup.  Have to watch the expiration dates. But I usually write them on top with a big black sharpie.

For those who are the top of that spectrum, I recommend a monthly buying program of whatever you can afford in a 50/50 gold and silver mix.  It doesn’t take long before you can “amass” a decent portion of “hard money”.  This presumes that you have no “bad debt” (i.e., credit cards, non-zero interest car or other capital goods credits).  

You can, of course, do both. 

Be aware of “shrinkflation”!  That’s where the package size stays the same but the content is reduced. Unit costs are the key metric.

And, remember this when the politicians say “free”!

—30—

 

MONEY: Inflation 101

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https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/peter-schiff-government-serves-grade-bs-inflation?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zerohedge%2Ffeed+%28zero+hedge+-+on+a+long+enough+timeline%2C+the+survival+rate+for+everyone+drops+to+zero%29

Peter Schiff: Government Serves Grade-A B.S. On Inflation
BY TYLER DURDEN
TUESDAY, OCT 05, 2021 – 01:35 PM
Via SchiffGold.com

*** begin quote ***

In fact, there is always a shortage of supply. We don’t have unlimited stuff. So, we have to ration supply with prices. The more money we have in circulation, the higher the prices have to climb in order to ration the supply. You have more dollars chasing the same amount of stuff. This is inflation 101.

*** end quote ***

MONEY: Penny candy and other economic lessons

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https://schiffgold.com/interviews/peter-schiff-with-tucker-carlson-inflation-is-a-painful-tax/

Peter Schiff With Tucker Carlson: Inflation Is a Painful Tax
APRIL 6, 2021  BY SCHIFFGOLD 

*** begin quote ***

We’re told inflation isn’t a problem. But a quick trip out to the grocery store or to fill up your car with gas tells you otherwise. Prices are going up. Peter Schiff recently appeared on Tucker Carlson’s show to talk about inflation. He said the price of everything is going up and the value of everything is going down.

It’s clear that prices are rising.

*** end quote ***

I’m tired of ranting about inflation. 

Just do a search on the blog for “three silver dimes” and you’ll see some of my best examples (i.e., the Roman’s cloak, penny candy, 1968 gas prices).

It all comes down to the politicians and bureaucrats having an incentive for silent taxes.  If some Gooferment goon came in every year and seized 2% of your wealth (i.e., 2/100ths of your house), then you’d understand.

I don’t know what I can write that will make the point of inflation is due to 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.)

Sure the rich, the elite, politicians, and bureaucrats love inflation.

It’s a racket.

“It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it! You, and I, are not in the big club.” — George Carlin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5dBZDSSky0

—30—

MONEY: Virginia repeals sales taxes on money

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http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2018/01/now-in-effect-virginia-law-takes-first-step-to-support-sound-money/

Now in Effect: Virginia Law Takes First Step to Support Sound Money

*** begin quote ***

RICHMOND, Va. (Jan. 7, 2018) –  On Jan. 1, a Virginia law that repeals sales taxes from some purchases of gold and silver went into effect. It represents an important first step toward encouraging its regular use as currency and breaking the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money.

A bipartisan coalition of delegates and senators sponsored House Bill 1668 (HB1668) and Senate Bill 934 (SB934). The legislation exempts gold, silver, and platinum bullion or legal tender coins whose sales price exceeds $1,000 from state sales tax. Each piece of gold, silver, or platinum or legal tender coin need not exceed $1,000, provided that the sales price of one entire transaction of such pieces exceeds $1,000. With gold over $1,000 an ounce, a single bullion coin will exceed this threshold.

Under the new law, the exemption will remain in place until June 30, 2022.

*** end quote ***

This seems to be the first step to “killing” the Fed.

It’s a backdoor way but who cares how we can do it. Just that we do!

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POLITICAL: Tom Woods destroys the JFK mythology

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http://tomwoods.com/podcast/ep-562-the-real-jfk-the-fed-the-economy-and-more/

In a forty five minute podcast, Tom Woods destroys the JFK mythology.

Especially in vogue today, is an assertion that the JFK assasination was partially due to his opposition to the FED.  Tom destroys that illusion.

Well worth a listen in my opinion.

# – # – # – # – # 

POLITICAL: How Americans perceive “war”

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http://www.unz.com/article/nazis-on-the-backlot/

Nazis on the Backlot
How Hollywood has changed our perception of war
BY PHILIP GIRALDI • MAY 26, 2015

*** begin quote ***

Memorial Day used to be a somber occasion, dedicated to reflection and remembrance of those killed in America’s wars. Today it is instead a celebration of ongoing wars, a long shopping weekend and the unofficial start of summer. Part of the problem with America’s shifting perception of the price to be paid when one goes to war is that it has been shaped by Hollywood and video games, so much so that it has become divorced from the horrible reality of what happens when countries and peoples do their best to kill each other.

*** and ***

My point is that when Americans think of war they think of something heroic and relatively painless unless you are somehow electrocuted by your PlayStation. There are no bad consequences arising from stomping on Afghans from a control center in Nevada. And if you screw up and kill a wedding party, so what? I am not advocating a salutary invasion of the United States to create an awareness of just how terrible war is, but a little more creative candor from the media, Hollywood and the political class might just help make the public think twice before it goes into that voting booth to pull the handle for Ted Cruz or Jeb Bush. Or Hillary.

*** end quote ***

“WAR is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.” –Major General Smedley Butler

Gooferment needs war to keep the Crony Capitalists pouring “campaign contributions” into the politicians and bureaucrats.

I have often blamed “giving women the right to vote” for the rise of “organized crime” because they pushed Prohibition and other “Progressive” causes. I add to that they have failed to stop us from going to war so many time. 

“Yes, when we get out of here. We’re going to have to fix that. You know we control something that can get it done. Not the ballot box, but the other box. (A giant sucking sound as pure Miss Marie used that very rude idiom.) We can end war.” — character “Marie” being anti-war in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 1 Page 262

As I’ve aged, I’d like to think I’ve gotten wiser. 

And, one topic of growth is about the wars.

I don’t understand why “We, The Sheeple” can NOT wake up and see the rows of graves and ask “Why?”

You can trace it back to brainwashing, propaganda, and Gooferment Skrules.

It’s rooted in the FED printing press money that allows the Welfare / Warfare state to spend without restraint. (One reason for the FED was so that Gooferment could spend money without having to forcibly extract it from the people.)

SO how do we roll this back and put Gooferment back in avery small cage?

Have to end the FED. Have to end Gooferment Skrules. Have to bring all the girls and boys home now.

Be more like Switzerland.

Secession is the key. Just like the USSR imploded, so to will the USA. 

Argh! Not going to happen in my lifetime.

# – # – # – # – # 

MONEY: Save the penny; it’s educational

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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.

# – # – # – # – # 

RANT: Micromanaging the Free Market by politicians and bureaucrats

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http://channel-surfing.blogspot.com/2014/11/this-mall-is-running-like-ghost-mall.html

Monday, November 10, 2014
This mall is running like a ghost mall
By Hank Kalet …. 8:00 AM

*** begin quote ***

My sense, as I said, is that we probably want to get ahead of the market forces that might otherwise determine the future of the mall. That doesn’t mean mandating what goes there, but looking at the zoning — signage, parking, allowable square footage — and trying to determine what will work best there. In the end, the mall may require a complete renovation — remember, Home Depot revamped the back end of the property to suit its needs. In fact, it may need a fresh start, as we are seeing with the Marketplace on Route 27.

I certainly don’t have the answers, but I would like to hear people asking the questions. So here goes: What would you like to see happen to the South Brunswick Square Mall?

*** end quote ***

While I hate the Gooferment doing anything … …

… … it would seem to be a good park and ride.

And, say a service dealer’s intake, Brad Benson? STT? 

As well as, it could host a “market” like used to be on Route 18 before WalMart took over.

How about the township gives new business there a 10 tax holiday like NY State is doing?

It’s always the Gooferment causing market distortions.

Micromanaging the Free Market by politicians and bureaucrats is a giant mistake!

Argh!

Get out of the process to the greatest extent possible!

And, tell me again how the economy has recovered thanks to the FED’s zero rate interest, QE to infinity, and BHO44’s enlightened leadership?

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MONEY: The tomato soup standard of value

Published on by reinkefj1 Comment

http://keywestlou.com/a-good-time-last-night

*** begin quote ***

Then to Publix. I bought nothing. Cost $51. How do families do it?

When I was in high school, I worked in what was then called a supermarket. The time 1949. Supermarkets then were not the huge stores of today. Not even close. One of my jobs was to stock the shelves. One of the items was Campbell Tomato Soup. Five cents a can. I noticed Publix was having a Campbell Tomato Soup sale. Four cans for $4.95. $1.24 a can.  Although more than 60 years later, still a major increase!

*** end quote ***

I would suggest to you that the difference is not “a major increase”, but a way to recognize that the value of “a dollar” — whatever that is — has dropped from 0.05 to 1.24.

Some economists — mostly from the Von Mise’s “Austrian School” — have asserted — I believe correctly — that the dollar has lost anywhere from 99.9% to 90% of its value depending on the interval you choose to measure.

In your specific example, it’s 95%!

Argh!

It’s about the Federal Reserve System, that is the OPEC of American Banks, Gooferment debt, Gooferment spending, cowardly politicians, and spendthrift bureaucrats.

The dollar, like the history of the French Franc, has been “devalued” day by day. Today the dollar is a shadow of its former self.

That’s the problem. 

Tomato soup hasn’t become more expensive; the dollars used to buy it are worth so much less. Ditto gas. Ditto every other product or service.

Argh!

# – # – # – # – #   

POLITICAL: Global financiers create political cover

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http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-12-13/war-china-inevitable

Is War With China Inevitable?
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 12/13/2013 22:10 -0500

*** begin quote ***

Global financiers created the circumstances that have led to America’s probable economic demise, but they don’t want to be blamed for it. War provides the perfect cover for monetary collapse, and a war with China might become the cover to end all covers. The resulting fiscal damage and the terror Americans would face could be overwhelming. Activists who question the legitimacy of the U.S. government and its actions, once considered champions of free speech, could easily be labeled “treasonous” during wartime by authorities and the frightened masses. (If the government is willing to use the Internal Revenue Service against us today, just think about who it will send after us during the chaos of a losing war tomorrow.) A lockdown of civil liberties could be instituted behind the fog of this national panic.

*** end quote ***

You have to look at the financial fraud being pulled by the Fed.

The Chinese are in control of our fate. (Not that they don’t have their own problems.)

So, when these very ugly chickens come home to roost, how will the elite avoid the “french revolution’s guillotine”? 

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POLITICAL: Bernard von NotHaus, “Rosa Parks” opposing the FED

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LIBERTY DOLLAR NEWS:
December 2013 Vol. 15 No. 12

Tortured Without Being Sentenced: Bernard von NotHaus

*** begin quote ***

Judy Shelton, a noted economist who knows which way is up, author of The Coming Soviet Crash (1989) and Money Meltdown (1994) that influenced my work on the Liberty Dollar, a longtime veteran of Washington, a friend who was an approved witness for my trial by not called to testify by my Dumb and Dumber attorneys and the first person to brand me as the “Rosa Parks of monetary policy,” has published a quick 68 page booklet, Fixing the Dollar Now.

*** end quote ***

This fellow, Bernard von NotHaus, made a mistake. Poking the Banking Cartel, called the “Federal Reserve System” (i.e., the OPEC of money). Note that despite the name, it’s not “Federal”. It’s a private cartel!

And, as Bernard von NotHaus pointed out, the “dollar”, (technically The Federal Reserve Note), is NOT a store of value.

This is a direct assault on the wealth of the People. It hurts the “non-rich”, who have the capability of holding non-dollar denominated assets. The poor and those on fixed income, who have to spend most or all of their income, are paying the hidden taxes. And when they get a few dollars ahead, their savings are marginalized by low rates of return and the Fed’s printing press.

You have to hold gold, silver, nickels, or any asset that is not in “dollars”. Jury is still out on bit coins in my mind.

YMMV!

I call this political because Bernard von NotHaus is a political prisoner in limbo!

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GOLD: Cash is not a “store of value”

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-impact-families-hoard-cash-5-yrs-crisis-042042926.html

AP IMPACT: Families hoard cash 5 yrs after crisis

Associated Press BERNARD CONDON 3 hours ago

*** begin quote ***

NEW YORK (AP) — Five years after U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed, triggering a global financial crisis and shattering confidence worldwide, families in major countries around the world are still hunkered down, too spooked and distrustful to take chances with their money.

An Associated Press analysis of households in the 10 biggest economies shows that families continue to spend cautiously and have pulled hundreds of billions of dollars out of stocks, cut borrowing for the first time in decades and poured money into savings and bonds that offer puny interest payments, often too low to keep up with inflation.

“It doesn’t take very much to destroy confidence, but it takes an awful lot to build it back,” says Ian Bright, senior economist at ING, a global bank based in Amsterdam. “The attitude toward risk is permanently reset.”

A flight to safety on such a global scale is unprecedented since the end of World War II.

The implications are huge: Shunning debt and spending less can be good for one family’s finances. When hundreds of millions do it together, it can starve the global economy.

Weak growth around the world means wages in the United States, which aren’t keeping up with inflation, will continue to rise slowly. Record unemployment in parts of Europe, higher than 35 percent among youth in several countries, won’t fall quickly. Another wave of Chinese, Brazilians and Indians rising into the middle class, as hundreds of millions did during the boom years last decade, is unlikely.

*** end quote ***

“Money is a matter of functions four, a medium, a measure, a standard, a store.” He repeated that four times like poetry. “Six Characters in Money: Portable – Durable – Divisible – Uniformity – Limited Supply – Acceptability.” — CHURCH 10●19●62 (Vol 1) 978-0-557-08387-9 page 110

Sorry, but “cash” isn’t money these days. While it is a “medium of exchange” and “measure”, it fails as a “standard” or “store”.

And maybe if it fails “standard”, it may be failing “measure”.

OK, it does serve as a “medium of exchange”. 

But that’s it.

Note that in disasters and civil unrest, there is no exchange.

And, the TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) preppers point out you can eat money. But you can make an expensive fire and poor quality toilet paper out of it.

Let’s tackle “standard” next. What is a “dollar”? It’s got no measure. It’s purchasing power decreases year over year due to inflation. An ounce, a gallon, a meter — they don’t change.

Back to “measure”, a 100 is still a 100. But it’s like baseball and football records. How do we measure if every year they change the definition of distance?

And cash is certainly not a “store”. The “rats” are eating the “seed corn” of value.

Argh!

I suggest the preppers’ mantra — beans, bullets, bandaids, and then bullion!

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POLITICAL: the Rosa Parks of alternative money

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://dailyreckoning.com/the-domestic-terrorist-you-can-call-a-hero/

Daily Reckoning
The “Domestic Terrorist” You Can Call a Hero
Jeffrey Tucker
Posted Sep 10, 2013.

*** begin quote ***

I dreamed I saw Bernard von NotHaus, alive as you or me.

Said I, “But Bernard, you’ve been jailed two years.”

“I never was,” said he.

Bernard has been the called the Rosa Parks of the alternative money movement. More than 10 years ago, he had this idea that he would make his own money — not the fake stuff we are used to, but the real stuff made of actual silver. He called his currency the Liberty Dollar (and why not, since there is no trademark on the word dollar?).

The feds raided him in in 2006. In 2007, the government outright stole 2 tons of coins from him, many of them featuring an image of Ron Paul, plus 500 silver coins and 50 gold coins. They threw him in jail and dragged his name through the mud many times.

He was later convicted of making counterfeit coins — an ironic conviction given that he was making silver coins to compete with official coins made out of scrap metal. That conviction was in March 2011, fully 2½ years ago. The government labeled him a “domestic terrorist.” Yet — and this is what amazed me — he still hasn’t been sentenced. He walks around as free as you or me.

*** end quote ***

It’s all about keeping the Sheeple sleeping.

I bought Liberty Dollars.

As a hedge.

The two silver discs are a little tarnished, but retain their value.

I forget what I paid for them but they have “held” their value.

The only mistake Bernard made was to put the word “dollar” on them. 

(Even though it’s not a restricted term.)

He should have just stuck to the weight.

But they are no more “counterfeit” than they are “worthless”.

Argh!

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RANT: Free Competition in Currency Act of 2013

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

Letterhead
August 23, 2013
Mr. Ferdinand Reinke
1641 International Dr Unit 414
McLean, VA 22102-4831

Dear Mr. Reinke:

Thank you for contacting me about H.R. 77. I appreciate hearing from you.

H.R. 77, the Free Competition in Currency Act of 2013, was introduced by Representative Paul Broun on January 3, 2013 and was referred to the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law. This legislation would allow any metal coins issued by a government or individual to be legally accepted currency.

The Federal Reserve System was established in 1913 to provide stability in the banking system through the regulation of bank reserves. It is the central bank of the United States and formulates the nation’s monetary policy, with a dual mandate of fostering maximum employment and price stability. It is also the “lender of last resort” in our nation’s financial system. Its record reflects its commitment to promoting low levels of inflation and unemployment, as well as maintaining economic stability.

The Fed is purchasing $85 billion in assets each month in an effort to stimulate spending and spur investment in businesses and homes. These asset purchases are known as quantitative easing (QE). There is uncertainty about the Fed’s ability to unwind from QE without some financial or economic disruption, including inflation. However, currently inflation and inflation expectations remain low; consumer prices rose 2% in July 2013, compared to a year earlier.

Since August 2012, the Fed has released quarterly financial statements in addition to its annual reports, in response to demands for accountability and openness. I think this is an important step and believe we will continue to see such measures from the Fed in the future.

Thank you again for contacting me with your views.

Sincerely,

Signature

Tim Kaine

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Notice that he never addresses the issue.

I know what the fluff says.

But the dollar has lost 99% of its purchasing power in my life time.

Argh!

Why bother writing these goes?

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GOLDBUG: Gold, Silver, and Oil

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article41457.html

Gold and Silver Investors Greatest Secret Weapon
Commodities / Gold and Silver 2013 Jul 18, 2013 – 04:01 AM GMT

By: Steve_St_Angelo

*** begin quote ***

As the FED turns up the heat in the central bank frying pan, the frogs (public) don’t realize they are being cooked to death by inflation. I am quite amazed how loud the sizzling sound has become, but for some odd reason hardly anyone notices it.

Unfortunately, we are well past the point of no return. It’s only a matter of time now before the whole “Financial Cliff” falls off the mountain side. Until then, gold and silver investors will have to put up with some of the worst analysis ever to come out of government and MSM.

*** end quote ***

Another indication that “someone” is cooking the books.

In a free market, commodities don’t diverge from glacial trends.

Of course, as a tin foil hat, I suspect manipulation.

The FED can print “dollars”, but they can’t print gold, silver, oil, land, food, water, bandaids, or bullets.

This is all a fraud being pulled on the Sheeple and Clovers.

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MONEY: Default is unavoildable

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://lewrockwell.com/north/north1264.html

—  begin quote —

Will the federal government default? Yes. Will investors learn their lesson? Not for long. But for a time, yes.

Here is the lesson: Do not trust a politician who says America cannot, must not, and will not default.

Here is the rule: “Never believe a rumor until it is officially denied by the government.”

Obama has officially denied it.

It’s coming.

— end quote —

Regardless of how you define “default”, what the FED is doing in buying debt with more paper, is de facto default.

So what the individual to do?

Buy assets that are not dollar denominated.

Bullion coins are my favorite. Nickles too.

Diversify. Pay off debt. And “get small in your hole”. (Any vet knows what that means!)

–30–

 

MONEY: Financial planning with old memes

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-coming-retiree-crisis-2012-10

Take Action Now To Prepare For The Great Retiree Crisis

Jeff Voudrie, See It Market | Oct. 10, 2012, 8:30 AM

***** begin quote *****

The financial planning community has largely relied on assumptions regarding equity, debt and inflation percentages that have been experienced over the last 30 years.

There are 3 problems with these assumptions:

Equity returns the last 30 years have been extraordinarily high as a result of the longest and greatest Bull market in the history of U.S. stock markets. Accordingly, many financial plans used projections that assumed equity returns of 8-10% a year.

Debt returns over the same period are equally skewed. Remember the double-digit interest rates of the 1980’s? In 1989, as a young broker, I was selling 30-year TVA bonds yielding 10%! Financial plans the last 5-10 years have used interest rate assumptions around 5-6% a year.

The scenarios that led to the historic markets the last 30 years are very unlikely to EVER be repeated in today’s retiree’s lifetime. And those who are taking distributions based on these outdated assumptions may soon run out of money.

For instance, let’s assume that someone retired 5 years ago at age 60 with a $500,000 investment portfolio. Based on financial plans popular at that time, the retiree is taking $2500 a month in distributions—money they need to maintain their current standard of living. Since the plan anticipated the ability to average a 7% return on a portfolio with close to 50% in equities, the retiree expects to be able to take those distributions and never run out of money.

Adjusting those assumptions based on what many believe resembles more reasonable assumptions going forward requires decreasing the rate of return assumption for a similar-risk portfolio to around 4% and increasing the inflation assumption from 1-2% a year to 3-4% a year (which may still be too conservative). Suddenly, the portfolio that should last forever is now projected to be exhausted in only 16.8 years! That means that the entire nest egg and what it earns cannot sustain the current withdrawal rate. Since the retiree started the withdrawals five years ago, now they are down to 11.8 years—running out of money around age 76!

***** end quote *****

Clearly, the political class has screwed up the American economy.

Pity the poor, the elderly, the middle class, those on fixed income.

Inflation is grossly understated by the “official” stats.

Are we headed to be like Europe or pre-WW2 Germany?

Clearly, everyone needs to update their financial plans.

I’ve recommended to my turkeys that they adjust their “money reserve requirements”.

Everyone better plan to work for a longer time.

— 30 —

POLITICAL: Morris on the Income Tax

Published on by reinkefjLeave a comment

http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/the-history-of-the-income-tax-dick-morris-tv-history-video/

THE HISTORY OF THE INCOME TAX – DICK MORRIS TV: HISTORY VIDEO!
By Dick Morris
01.28.2012

*** begin quote ***

In this video History commentary, I discuss how income tax came to be, how tax cuts grew the economy, and how tax hikes hurt it.

*** end quote ***

The Stock Market Crash was due to the Smoot Hawley Tariff being passed in Congress.

That was the straw.

The FED and the politicians further made things worse by raising the interest rate and the tax rate.

The Dead Old White Guys had it right — tariffs and excise taxes.

That would have saved our manufacturing base or at least not allowed the export of jobs and the import of “stuff” minus the cost of our social welfare programs.

They’ve demonstrated that we don’t understand the impact of changing things. Especially when those things being changed are large complex economic systems with lost of moving parts.

Capitalism with economic freedom and personal liberty have lifted us out of poverty. We need to insist on that going forward. The economy and the political order is too complex for humans to “tinker with”. Especially when those humans attempting to “run” it are so corrupt and corruptible.

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