History Repeating

Bill Bonner: Fed’s policies are bringing poverty

"The Panic of 1907, before all these 'protections' were put in place, was over in 3 months...followed by full employment. The Crash of 1921 took longer - about 18 months - but when it was over anyone who wanted a job could find one. But now, we've been in the Great Correction for 5 years. Millions of people have given up; they're no longer even looking for work. And suicide has replaced car accidents as the number one threat to working-age Americans. You want to reduce the rate of suicide? Eliminate the barriers to saving, capital formation and employment." Continue reading →

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Japan’s False Dawn

"Ever wonder why Main Street investors are always the last ones into a hot stock market … and the last ones to exit long after the investment cools, and usually with losses? I know the answer. The media. Professional investors never tell reporters they’re building positions in a particular stock, a particular industry or a particular market while they’re in the process. That would undermine the advantage they have. Reporters only notice the trend after the trend is apparent. And by then, the end is already near. Which is the case today with Japan." Continue reading →

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Senator Menendez Calls for More Dead Bodies

"There are no vital national interests at stake in Syria. None. Not Iran, not Israel and not oil. Yes, we can watch from the sidelines and let the Iranians and Syrians form their own politics. This is what the U.S. did with Mexico and Canada. Did the U.S. relish interference from Spain, France, Great Britain and Russia into its affairs? How brainless is it to act as if the refugee crisis is an independent reason for intervening, when it is an outcome of the war itself, encouraged every step of the way by the U.S.? And why must the U.S. rectify this tragedy? What good is a 'freedom' that marches us off to wars willy-nilly or grabs our wealth to do what it wills?" Continue reading →

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Why John McCain Wants to Aid Lung-Eating Syrian Terrorists

"He told us the invasion and occupation of Iraq would be 'fairly easy.' He pontificated that the anthrax attacks were delivered by the Iraqis. His preferred policy for Afghanistan: we should 'muddle through,' rather than withdraw. When the North Koreans started acting out, he averred we ought to threaten them with 'extinction.' And when Russia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia got into an armed conflict over the breakaway province of South Ossetia, McCain announced 'Today, We Are All Georgians' and demanded we go to war with Moscow. He thinks Iran is training Al Qaeda: he also thinks Iraq shares a border with Pakistan." Continue reading →

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Rand Paul: Helping Syrian rebels a dangerous risk

"The United States has a history of often picking sides in Middle East conflicts to its own detriment. Empowering Islamic extremists to achieve questionable short-term goals does not serve America's long-term security or interests. Nor does it serve the interests of nearly 2 million Christians in Syria who fear they could suffer the same fate as Iraqi Christians who were abused and expelled from that country as radical Islamic forces gained influence and power." Continue reading →

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Rand Paul: Senate Is Arming Al-Qaeda and Rushing to War in Syria

"'This is an important moment. You will be funding, today, the allies of al Qaeda.' That was the declaration Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.; pictured) made on May 21 during a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Paul’s comments were directed at his colleagues, nearly all of whom voted to send arms to Syrian rebels. Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) co-sponsored the bill that authorizes 'critical support to the Syrian opposition through provision of military assistance, training, and additional humanitarian support.' The bill sailed through the committee, passing with bipartisan support by a vote of 15-3." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRand Paul: Senate Is Arming Al-Qaeda and Rushing to War in Syria

Did Senator McCain Violate NDAA by Hanging Out with Syrian Rebels?

"In fact, the same day President Obama announced our recognition of the opposition, rebel groups across Syria signed a petition pledging allegiance to the Jihad and asking America by name not to intervene. It’s hard to imagine that twelve years after 9/11, Senator McCain would be calling for US foreign and military aid be given to 'the Jihad.' Interestingly enough, this is the same Senator McCain who championed NDAA 2012, which gives our government the right to indefinitely detain Americans for doing exactly what he did: supporting elements aligned with al-Qaeda." Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Sen. McCain Visits Rebels In Syria, Congressman Questions Al-Qaeda Ties

"A secret visit to Syria over Memorial Day weekend by Senator John McCain. The Senator, meeting with leaders of the Free Syrian Army, as Washington debates whether or not to arm the rebels. But is arming the rebels a good idea?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingReality Check: Sen. McCain Visits Rebels In Syria, Congressman Questions Al-Qaeda Ties

Caitlin Long: Vulnerability of Fed’s Balance Sheet

"Several companies have recently asked us for an analysis of the Federal Reserve tapering its quantitative easing programs. One factor that is not widely analyzed is the Fed’s own balance sheet, which could be a constraint on how far and how fast the Fed permits interest rates to rise in the US. We calculate that a 143bp parallel rise in the yield curve would cause a drop in the market value of the Fed’s assets that exceeds the Fed’s own equity capital (as of May 15). The Fed balance sheet’s capacity to absorb higher interest rates has deterioriated quickly, as the 143bp capacity is down from 185bp as of last October." Continue reading →

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Bill Bonner: How Government ‘Works’

"A theory should explain something without reference to something else. That is, a metaphor doesn't work. It's just a description. If you say that government is a kind of 'social contract,' you are merely describing how it seems to you...or what you think it might be comparable to. Let's try a simpler insight: government is a natural phenomenon, an expression of power relationships, in which some people seek to dominate others by force. These dominators gather 'insiders' together so that they can take money, power and status away from other people, the 'outsiders.'" Continue reading →

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