Sovereign Debt Update

Real world continues to confirm warnings issued by Weiss, et. al.

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Global markets

Asian stocks plummeted Wednesday in reaction to the sovereign debt downgrades of Greece and Portugal, and Europe stocks extended losses, with Portuguese stocks especially volatile. Yields on two-year Greek debt surged to the 30% range. (Marketwatch e-Newsletter, 4/28/10)
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In spite of efforts by European Union to stick their finger in the dam, Greek sovereign debt problems continue to spill over into world markets. Now begin adding the same problems of Portugal, Spain, Italy, & Ireland. Unabated debt always has been and always will be bad news. Sorry about that, socialists.

Probably going to see some rough going as 2010 rolls on. Watch your backside.

National Debt Risk

I know that I am sounding like a "broken record" with this (for those too young to understand this comparison, let me know; I'll explain it to you), but I think that there is a need for continuing awareness about the issue of national debt. Even though more leading business men and women are saying that America is in an economic recovery and not facing another dip into recession, the consequences of increasing sovereign debt are becoming reality. I suppose not many Americans are concerned at all about the Greek sovereign debt crisis, but it already has an impact on world markets. Some of our most volatile days of late can be traced to global issues concerning the impending collapse of the Greek economy due to its debt obligations. Right now, the Greek government is staving off greater disaster by making arrangements for assistance from the Euro nations and the International Monetary Fund. However, also tottering on shaky financial ground are Ireland, Italy, Spain, & Portugal. And apparently striving to catch up with their debt problems is the United States.

The question being asked is, "Who can bail out the US?" The answer seems to be, "No one." Here is more discussion on this issue...

"14 Risks With Supposedly Safest Securities"

"Dollar Doomsday 2010"

I do not know what the Weiss Group is proposing with their upcoming announcement. I have observed that it typically announces a new service. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of info to be gained from the no-cost issues they provide. And I have noticed that not all advisors within the Weiss family of advisors and newsletters are quite as alarmist as Martin Weiss and Mike Larson are sounding here. So, use your own sense and experience with anything they suggest. That said, I have found in my own research and experience with them that they have made and still make sound suggestions.

I'll keep sharing what I learn, but you can go directly to the source, too.

Quotes From the Comedians

I didn't think that the late night hosts had it in them!

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Liberals are asking us to give Obama time. We agree and think 25 to life would be appropriate. America needs Obama-care like Nancy Pelosi needs a Halloween mask. -Leno


Q: Have you heard about McDonald's' new Obama Value Meal?
A: Order anything you like and the guy behind you has to pay for it. -O'Brien


Q: What does Barack Obama call lunch with a convicted felon?
A: A fund raiser. -Leno


Q: What's the difference between Obama's cabinet and a penitentiary?
A: One is filled with tax evaders, blackmailers and threats to society. The other is for housing prisoners. -Letterman


Q: If Nancy Pelosi and Obama were on a boat in the middle of the ocean and it started to sink, who would be saved?
A: America ! -Fallon

Q: What's the difference between Obama and his dog, Bo?
A: Bo has papers. -Kimmel


Q: What was the most positive result of the "Cash for clunkers" program?
A: It took 95% of the Obama bumper stickers off the road. -Letterman

Return of Americans

The last four letters in American.........I Can

The last four letters in Republican.......I Can

The last four letters in Democrats........Rats

End of Lesson! MUST MEAN SOMETHING




Had enough yet? Don't back down! Do something as the primary and general elections approach. Conscientiously choose your candidates and actively support them. Don't allow yourself to be tread upon. Let's keep Americans free!

Shooting the Messenger

One of the places I have been spending some time is with the Weiss Market Research site "Money & Markets." For those interested in keeping up with economic trends, I recommend signing up for the no-cost daily e-mail reports. I have been following them for several months now and think that they have high quality insights and recommendations.

The 3/12/2010 issue, "Politicians: Don't Like the Message? Shoot the Messenger!" by Mike Larson provides a good example.

Based upon research coming from Weiss Research and other analysts, I think that there is a good chance that U.S. and world economies will be facing some more significant recessionary/deflationary (ie, recession/depression) pressures in the not-too-distant future. I would like to be wrong, and I think that they would like to be wrong. However, international recoveries to date have been largely driven by fiscal (ie, government) stimulus. For high debt countries like the U.S. and Euro-zone, that's going to have to come to an end at some point. The looming danger is that the fundamental economics that drove us into global recession in 2007-2009 have not been eliminated. They have only been shelved until they have the chance to rear their ugly heads: foreclosures, commercial property downturns, toxic debt still on the books of major institutions, no robust job market, cautious consumer spending, still way too much debt (the average U.S. household debt-to-income ratio has come down, but is still at an alarming 120%).

Investors & savers stand to get crushed again if some thought is not applied to portfolios now. Not advocating drastic, silly moves; just be aware of and prepared for future possibilities. Giving the Weiss Market Research resources a look-over is one potential starting place.

Disclaimer: I want you to know that I receive no remuneration from anyone I have mentioned above. I refer to them only for informational purposes. They offer both no-cost and cost resources. Further investigation on your part is your choice. If interested, for a start, you might read The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide by Martin Weiss (see if you can borrow it from a library or something). The title sounds like they are all a bunch of "doom & gloomers," I know, but they are not. Neither am I. They merely outline ways to "protect your savings and boost your income... even in the worst of times."

(Photo: Mike Larson)

The Battle

Headlines like this from The Washington Post abound:

Obama: Compromise on health if GOP is serious

They all annoy me because they indicate that the health care "debate" is a matter of politics between the Democrat & Republican parties with the actual citizens of this nation, from whom this government is derived, helpless spectators & pawns.

One of the benefits of the TEA party and similar movements is that the message is being made clear that this is not a matter of two political parties reaching "common ground." This is an issue of the American people rising up in opposition to encroaching totalitarianism.

We are taking back our government, and the power broker, Saul Alinsky types do not like it.

Health Care Crisis Solution

This is my letter to my Congressmen. Feel free to use any or all of it as you see fit.

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Dear (Senator/Representative) (Insert name of Congressperson here):

Once again, citizens of this great land get to witness historic events. Today, President Obama held a lecture session with select members of Congress in a so-called bipartisan effort to impose massive, expensive, and liberty-limiting legislation and policy upon the American people under the guise of health care legislation.

In response to this day’s “bipartisan” session, I wish to politely remind you that our elected Senators and Representatives in Congress do not work for the President of the United States of America. You work for, and on behalf of, the citizens living in the districts you represent. In this regard, I remind you that Americans as a whole reject the type of socialized, bureaucratic style of health care legislation being proposed. If you feel that it is absolutely necessary to “fix” America’s health care system, then I request that all proposals be restarted from scratch. In fact, if you would be so kind, please deliver my recommendation to President Obama:

Mr. President, since you are so concerned about and disagree with the way that American health insurance companies conduct their business, I advocate that you vacate your office as President of the United States of America, gather the wealth of talented men and women around you who are wonderful community organizers, enter the private sector, and start the exact type of health insurance company that you want to mandate from your high office. I have no doubt that your company will not lack for clients and will become a model for all health care insurance companies to adopt. Best of all, the American health care “crisis” will be solved without squandering one taxpayer dollar. Indeed, citizens who invest in your business will actually prosper, as will you. To top it off, you can even take your earnings as founder, president, and CEO and contribute to numerous wonderful private organizations who provide health care for those who cannot afford it!

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my concerns.
　
Your Concerned Constituent,

Moral Ineptitude

I sometimes catch the "news magazine" Inside Edition because it follows the local news cast I watch. I find sadly amusing the reports of the bizarre plights of many of those in the entertainment industry who stylize themselves as experts in matters ranging from international politics to personal relationships.

IE and other rags are certainly getting the mileage out of the Tiger Woods' infidelity situation, which is a classic case of moral ineptitude. First, why is this even news in this culture's popular view of moral relevancy? Everything done in this whole grotesque comedy was between "consenting adults." That is all that is required for behavior to be labeled acceptable. "What is sin to you may not be sin to someone else." No one was hurt.

Second, and more to the point, I find it almost unexplainable that Tiger's many liaisons express anger and grief over being "cheated on" by Tiger. Huh? Yes, Tiger's mistresses who have agreed to interviews have all expressed being deeply hurt that Tiger cheated on them. The known fact that Tiger was cheating on his wife to have an affair with any one of them did not trigger moral concern. They are upset at discovering that they, themselves, became the "other woman" in Tiger's voluminous black book. According to them, it is grievous that Tiger lied, cheated, and deceived them. He was already lying, cheating, and deceiving his wife, for crying out loud. What other kind of moral behavor did they expect from him? Duh!

Moral ineptitude.

"For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." - Jude 4 (NIV)

Snowmageddon

All the talk of “snowmageddon” (President Obama, 2/6/10) leaves some of us wondering about the claims of global warmageddon alarmism. Although now conveniently disguised under the name “climate change,” the theory of global warming is that man’s impact is creating climate havoc that will lead to higher mean temperatures globally and alter every known climate pattern, So the claims go. Climate change (formerly global warming) alarmists attempt to deceive the general public into believing that skeptics who question their theories are “anti-science.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. Climate change (formerly global warming) theories are questioned because of science.

Rather than being able to provide specific, empirical evidence for their claims, climate change (formerly global warming) advocates have been attempting to hide the evidence that appears to weaken or destroy their presumed models. That is an action that is clearly not compatible with the scientific process. As far as we know, collected data fails to fit the models created for climate change (formerly global warming) theories. This is one reason why Professor Al Gore is always telling us that he believes that he must exaggerate the climate change (formerly global warming) claims in order to get our attention. It is also the reason why legitimate scientists who support climate change (formerly global warming) are always having to correct Mr. Gore’s outlandish claims. They value their credibility.

What about scientists who believe that climate change (formerly global warming) theories are correct? I am certainly not accusing all of them of deception. Some no doubt genuinely believe that their conclusions are correct. I merely suggest that we place such conclusions in the light of historical fact before affording them infallibility. In spite of all the sincerity in the world, scientists can still be mistaken; they have been in the past. Consider that in 1972, Dr. Reid Bryson and Dr. John Ross, Director and Associate Director of the University of Wisconsin Institute for Environmental Studies, wrote an article for the World Book Science Annual entitled “Is Man Changing His Climate?” Reflecting the scientific conclusions being drawn then, the authors wrote, “The increase of field dust in the air, much of it the result of our mechanization, could change the climate enough to affect the world’s capacity to produce enough food… A lower mean annual temperature, including summer frosts, could result if dust levels continue to rise.” Nearly forty years later, such a notion would be scoffed at by the current science community, yet this was a part of the conclusions being drawn then. It makes me wonder a little what scientists forty years from now will be saying about the conclusions being formed from today’s climate change (formerly global warming) theories.

The First Year

Here is my synopsis of the BHO first year in office...

"Here's what I want from the President: Take care of the military, hide the Easter eggs on the front lawn, and light the tree at Christmastime. The rest of it I want him to stay out of." -- Dennis Miller, 12/2009

Global Meltdown Continues

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Dec. 22 (Bloomberg) -- U.K. travel was severely disrupted as snow and ice led to gridlocked roads, delayed flights and reduced train services. -- Bloomberg News, 12/22/09

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I take it that this must be the residue from Mr. Al Gore's melting polar ice caps being redistibuted around the world in accord with climate change (formerly global warming) mock science.

The Con Is Still On

I am often amazed at how many times people are taken in by the same con game over after over. Even after they are thoroughly exposed and debunked, people still let themselves fall prey to “Nigerian” e-mails, Ponzi schemes, and pyramid scams.

I should not be surprised, then, to find people still being taken in by the worldwide con game known as “global warming.” But I am surprised. Early on, Mr. Al Gore was forced to admit that he “exaggerated” global warming data and consequences in order to get people to take it seriously. As global warming predictions failed to pan out, the lingo was changed to “climate change” so that we might forget about the “warming” part. Now, e-mails from climate change (formerly global warming) scientists reveal that raw data has been changed or ignored, that predictions based on their science are not occurring, and that scientists who express skepticism are being silenced. In spite of all this, Big Media outlets that have bothered to report any of this at all continue to raise the alarm about climate change (formerly global warming). And, in spite of the many times this con game has been exposed, world “leaders” are gathering in Copenhagen to discuss how they can use climate change (formerly global warming) alarmism to further run and ruin our lives.

Think about the known failures of climate change (formerly global warming) alarmist predictions: polar bear populations face extinction (their numbers are increasing); hurricane seasons are becoming longer, more active, and more destructive (this is one of the mildest tropical storm/hurricane seasons ever); sea levels are increasing in foot increments (where?). Yet, climate change (formerly global warming) alarmists still manage to convince folks that we must sacrifice and ruin our standards of living in order to cut energy consumption. Do you really want your government mandating where to set your thermostat, what vehicle you must drive, where and when to take vacations, and how much TV you can watch in a week? If climate change (formerly global warming) alarmists are really serious about what they preach, then let the world tyrants demonstrate their personal sacrifice by reducing the amount of energy they consume and the amount of greenhouse gasses they pour into the environment. Think that’ll ever happen? Probably not even when a certain “bad place” freezes over.

Nevertheless, I would really like to hear from those who insist that climate change (formerly global warming) must be taken seriously. For a small fee, I have a couple of free winning sweepstakes tickets I would like to send you.
　

The Remarkable Sources of the Pilgrims' Successful Survival

In spite of the historical dilution added over the years, every American raised in our school system no doubt believes he/she knows the story of the Pilgrims’ struggle and success in the New World. Images of that first Thanksgiving, similar to the picture here, flood our minds when we bother to think of it at all. In reality, most Americans probably know very little about this band of colonists who risked all for their freedom to simply obediently worship God.

The primary source of their successful survival was their reliance upon God. Regardless of their circumstance, the Pilgrims gave thanks to God. In his journal, William Bradford writes, "What could now sustain them but the spirit of God and His grace? May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and he heard their voice and looked on their adversity, etc. Let them therefore praise the Lord, because he is good and his mercies endure forever. Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord show how he hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord his loving kindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men." (The Heritage of America, Henry S. Commager & Allan Nevins, editors, p. 34)

The second source of their successful survival was the colony leaders’ change of course from a communal economy to a market economy of private ownership. Destitute and on the brink of starvation even after receiving assistance from the natives, colony leaders identified the source of their problem as a particularly vile form of what Bradford called “communism.” Michael Franc, vice president of Government Relations at The Heritage Foundation, writes about the fruitful results of the Pilgrim’s shift in 1623 from a failed, socialist agricultural system to a free-market system of private ownership of property. This is the story of the Pilgrims that, for whatever reason, fails to make it into our curriculum. Had they not shed the system of “taking away property and bringing [it] into a commonwealth” (Bradford), we would not have a legacy of the Pilgrims to tell. Concerning the market economy that the Pilgrims implemented, Bradford reported, “This had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious... much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.” The famine of 1623 gave way to abundance.

America has been blessed with much abundance over the years. This is truly a reality worthy of our most humble thanks-giving.

(Photo: Depiction of Thanksgiving)

Neverending Defamation

Ahh... the fairness, the wisdom, the intellect of the left. How can Americans - indeed, the world - fail to fall under their hypnotic spell and allow them to pursue their quest for control? They are, after all, so much smarter than we mere mortals. They prove it all the time in their assessments of anyone daring to question their motives -- like Sarah Palin. Take the misinformation circulating about her formal education. This is from Parade, 11/1/09:

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Q: In pushing her new book, Going Rogue, Sarah Palin has been claiming she has a college degree. I read that she only went to college for a few semesters. Is she telling the truth? -- Michael Hughes, Taylorsville, Utah

A: You betcha. Palin graduated from the University of Idaho in 1987 with a degree in journalism after a very well-traveled academic career: one semester at Hawaii Pacific University, two at North Idaho College, two at the University of Idaho, one at Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna College, and then back to the U. of Idaho for her final three semesters. Hey - the credits count wherever you get them.

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Now how could such misinformation get started? We wonder.

Addendum

Forgot to mention below that one of the places I am spinning some plates is at the Peter Heck / Kokomo Perspective forum. Cruise by and see what you think. Be fun to have some of your comments.

Thanks

Just a quick word of thanks for those who have asked about me. I just go through periods of working on some things and neglecting others. For those who can recall the Ed Sullivan shows, I have for a long time imagined my life (and the lives of many others) to be similar to the guy who would keep a large number of plates spinning on a stick. He has to always run from plate to plate to plate to give it a new spin. Meanwhile, the ones he neglects slow down until they are in danger of falling and crashing. So, over he runs to give it a new spin.

As I think about it, I don't know how entertaining such an act would be now, but it must have made an impression since I remember it.

Sorry I don't make updates here as often as I would like... Ooops! Excuse me, I need to run over and give one of my other plates a spin!

Yet Another Sign of Global Warmageddon

In yet another startling example of global warming, Bloomberg reports...


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Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Beijing’s airport canceled more than 60 flights and delayed more than 120 others today as the heaviest snowfall in the Chinese capital in at least 54 years blanketed the city for the third day this month.
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These global warming temperature increases are just taking my breath away. I was looking forward to affording my health care and cap & trade taxes from the savings I was expecting by not buying heavy cold weather gear and from the revenue I expected to raise from scrapping the copper in my heating system. I don't know what to do now.

Ah, all is well, President Barack Hussein Obama will soon let me know. All hail to the Barack Obama.

Won't Murder Again

"D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad executed in Virginia" FOXNews Headline, 11/10/09.

We can be certain that Mr. Muhammad will not be murdering anyone again.
Case closed.

SALUTE!

Still Dawdling

As of this date, our Dawdler-In-Chief has still not issued his decision about the prosecution of the war in Afghanistan. He is making a big deal about how "careful" and "thorough" he is trying to be so that he only commits American lives into harms way when only absolutely necessary. As noted before, what does this say about the American lives currently in harm's way?

In his typical flamboyantly political style, I expect President Barack Hussein Obama to announce his grand plan on November 11th - Veteran's Day. What better way to demonstrate his "support" for the courage and sacrifice of American military personnel than to make a decision about the prosecution of the war in Afghanistan? What better way to take credit for doing nothing? What better way to coax the flags and flag pins out of even Big Media for a day?

In sad truth, all this political posturing and maneuvering about how to proceed in Afghanistan has already done tremendous harm to American efforts there. This Dawdler-In-Chief cares very little for the lives of those who serve America so tremendously well.