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A Government Shutdown? If Only!

By Rick Ackerman Posted on September 23, 2013, 5:26 am EDT Last Updated September 24, 2013, 5:27 pm EDT

It’s that time of year again, when talk of a government shutdown fills us with hope that Washington will actually go dark. Alas, for all of the disagreement, animosity and deep dysfunction on Capitol Hill, we can always count on our elected representatives to find a way to settle their differences and perpetuate themselves like some biologically invincible parasite.  Indeed, no matter how shrill the warnings of the mainstream media that Congress is finally about to take the Republic over a cliff, it will end up having been business as usual, with an outcome that is certain to please no one.

Unfortunately for most Americans, our n’er-do-well government is not about to shut down. Rather, it is about to take a blind leap into the economic and political morass that is Obamacare. House Republicans have threatened to defund this legislative turd unless their budget priorities are met, but the Democratically controlled Senate is sure to return the volley with equal malice. Pundits from across the political spectrum think the GOP may be shooting itself in the foot, and there is some truth to this; for even if the Senate were to backpedal on its support of Obamacare, there aren’t nearly enough votes to override the presidential veto that would follow.

Death by Obamacare

Ironically, the laughably misnamed Affordable Care Act may never be implemented, since it appears to be suffocating under its own weight. The danger grows, however, that it will take the economy with it anyway, since the monthly premiums Americans pay for healthcare coverage have been increasing by 30% per year or more as employers struggle to implement the bill’s provisions, or at least go through the motions.  For their part, insurers have warned that the heftiest premium increases to date are coming in January. We will take them at their word regardless of whether Obamacare appears to be dead in the water by then.

Seemingly oblivious to all of this, the stock market last week hit a new all-time high. What’s wrong with this picture, readers? That is the Question of the Week.

  • ter October 2, 2013, 4:59 pm

    Paraphrasing England’s Henry II’s remark about Thomas Becket, and applying it to Gary, ” Will no one rid us of this turbulent pest?”

  • DK September 28, 2013, 4:59 am

    How about those families?

    http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/hans-bader/obamacare-provides-7200-divorce-incentive-11000-older-couples

  • mario cavolo September 28, 2013, 3:55 am

    Always love being here Rick, you know that.

    But problems with LnkdN? Maybe so but you seem to love shorting the “future” of the entire planet via such stocks. They aren’t going anywhere, they are getting bigger and bigger as they diversify and transform the way the entire planet lives, behaves and does business and they will continue to do so for decades.

    LinkedIn is the best white collar professional networking site and now with the amount and type of data they have amassed they are morphing into a company that will provide deeper and deeper commercial side services to the HR/recruitment sector. I heard one of their execs give the talk here in Shanghai recently. Find another short my friend, except perhaps on short/intermediate term swings.

    Ditto Apple, I think you must be jesting as you pick on them, always with your amazingly deft wordcrafting of course, but as they came close to DOUBLING debut sales compared to just the previous year?….that’s staggering, we can’t think consumers that buy them are idiots, can we really? There’s a much bigger and longer picture here. While, somehow one of these companies might suddenly and unexpectedly experience a nasty “reversal of fortune”, shorting these stocks is the same as shorting the new societal human behavior of an entire planet. The world we live in is fundamentally morphing and doing so at an increasing rate, daily behavior it is not centric around “America” anymore.

    I put up my predictions here 3 years ago, most have hit the mark including the DOW around 15,000. The next decade or two or three will deliver a world where companies like LinkedIn, Yahoo, Apple, Google and probably a dozen other are increasingly globally massive and increasingly fused into the practices of normal daily life. These companies are not just reacting to consumers, selling them stuff they need at the time. They are integrally involved in the transformation of the entire global society. I share these points not as an expert but as a person who thinks what he is suggesting is obvious and plain for all to see without anything to suggest otherwise.

    And of course any such happy thoughts of present and future assume the world’s entire banking system will continue to avoid the the slight, gentle push of a domino….we all know what happens next.

    Cheers, Mario

  • Redwilldanaher September 28, 2013, 3:30 am

    “The republic’s in trouble, we lie about everything, lying has become the staple.” And he implores journalists to do something about it.

    Hersh a repub, a neocon, r winger, red stater, a libertarian, a conspiracy theorist?

    This is how blind and/or absurd you are.

  • Redwilldanaher September 28, 2013, 2:41 am

    While you’re busy bemoaning Fox news and Reuters Seymour Hersh of all people is laughing at you…

    http://www.theguardian.com/media/media-blog/2013/sep/27/seymour-hersh-obama-nsa-american-media

    • Redwilldanaher September 28, 2013, 2:43 am

      This should be huge news. Shows in several ways how pathetic the state of affairs truly is at present.

    • mario cavolo September 29, 2013, 11:16 am

      That is an awesome article that cuts to the bone of reality. Couldn’t be more clear. Its been the obvious new normal and getting worse for years. People talk about censorship and control in China, good grief, I swear its worse in the U.S. in many ways, its just a zebra rather than a giraffe. The difference that bugs me the most is that in China, nobody is bullshi**ng anybody about it, here’s our position, we control and run the country as we see fit, here we state exactly what and why. You may not like some of the controls, but its clear and transparent and everybody can simply take the good with the bad of their government and get on with their lives. What I’m saying is that Beijing does not “spin” messaging to its own citizens. Whereas in the U.S., this is exactly the problem, the citizens are being spun to sheepleland by the politicians and media, the media is bought and paid by a passive aggressive approach but everybody is in denial of what’s really going on. Another difference that bugs the hell out of me; regarding either govt, China or the U.S., we could of course make a huge pros/cons list of imperfections.

      However, in China, via a very clear set of 5 year plans which are drawn up and efficiently executed, the lower/middle class is benefiting along for the ride. Whereas in the U.S., its a f*&^king reverse robin hood (that’s Rich’s perfect phrase from a few days ago) scenario and the lives of the lower/middle class continue to deteriorate in every imaginable way. And the media is as complicit as a femdom slave every step of the way but trying to act like they’re not. Despicable.

      Cheers, Mario

  • DK September 27, 2013, 5:24 am

    http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/25/us-usa-healthcare-exchanges-idUSBRE98O03P20130925

    MONTHLY

    Wait until this really kicks in and we find the TRUE costs, not the “projections.” How many times have past “projections” for these grand plans even come close to reality? Better massage that CPI metric again. How much of our GDP will be reflected in this brilliance, close to a quarter by what, 2020?

    Yea, we’ll just throw that on top of our $126T tab.

    • gary leibowitz September 27, 2013, 7:57 pm

      Reuters you say. Fair and balanced reporting. Funny how the poorest states like Texas would actually benefit from the enactment. In fact the strongest foothold of the Republican party are in states that would benefit from this program. Does anyone see the irony in it? Why wouldn’t the good ole boys want the more populated and northern states to subsidies the costs for them? If anything the Democratically controlled states will pay more while the Republican states less. Am I missing something?

      • Craig September 27, 2013, 9:29 pm

        Looks like you got your issue of Government Shill Monthly this month and read it cover to cover. YAWN again, go troll prepper sights instead and ask them why they need an assault rifle and tell them they are baby killers, you will have better luck, you will have more credibility there than here.

      • Redwilldanaher September 28, 2013, 2:04 am

        “Does anyone see the irony in it? Why wouldn’t the good ole boys want the more populated and northern states to subsidies the costs for them? If anything the Democratically controlled states will pay more while the Republican states less. Am I missing something?”

        No, you’re missing EVERYTHING. First off, Texas is far from poor. Secondly, the South is still mainly poor due to the fact they had the balls to stand up to EMPIRE. “F” the Republicans and their party, it has been a fraud from the start. We here in the South do not want your money, we don’t want the Yankee states subsidize us. Get this once and for all Gary, we want to be left alone to lead or lives in a free society. You and the rest of your ilk and your posterity can lick boots for as long as you’d like. We’d rather struggle and be free. Something tells me we’ll be fine if we can rid ourselves of statist loving fools and their influence.

        Why is it that libertarians want to be left alone and to leave alone and people like you just can’t let that happen?

  • Buster September 26, 2013, 11:35 am

    It’s often good to play devil’s advocate with ourselves, as all our perspectives have some truth to them somewhere, so I won’t slight anybody’s perspective too much, but since so many of these so-called crazy ‘conspiracy theories’ are ending up as front page news I wonder why anyone uses the term in a derogatory manner anymore. The conspiracy seems to be more painfully & obviously coming from the official channels with each passing day. Some interesting conclusions can be reached by looking at the theory of the ‘wisdom of crowds’, & on in this regard 80%+ of the population are sceptical of governments motives & storyline on just about everything, to say the very least!

    Anyway, as I’ve said previously, some things have been on my mind for a while now, some of which I’ll try to show here & hope that I’m not just throwing pearls before swine, as the saying goes, so please bear with me as I think you’ll find yourself thinking about what I’m going to show you here, even if it may grate with our beliefs.
    It seems likely that the present limitless world debt system is failing due to not having the limitations of a debt jubilee, as was Biblically demanded to avoid perpetual debt slavery, with the nation of Israe’ suffering calamity as punishment for failure to keep to the debt Jubilee laws. In line with this failure, we can see the ever extending of the debt ceiling as defiance of the laws rather than respecting them. The argument presented in the second part of the following discussion, shows how the events of recent times are not only eerily in tune with the judgements of old, but also show how the market crashes we are witnessing are a consequence of our defiance of those rules, as noted previously in the 7 year cycle of major market crashes I’ve spoken of, as debt saturation reaches it’s conclusion.
    The beginning of this video is a bit debatable but the later part whereby the Rabbi explains how 9/11 events fit exactly with prophetic judgement & how the financial crashes every 7 years since is part of it is pretty spooky!
    Maybe I am onto something after all!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOHJKrxhBME

  • gary leibowitz September 25, 2013, 8:04 pm

    I give articles that scope the whole debate, give balanced intent. There are good and bad aspects to the new Obama Care, yet no one reads or wants to know the whole story. Instead I get a personalized account of one families plight. Yes that’s the type of reporting I am talking about. Sensationalize. Anyone have kids? Anyone not getting health care at work, or lost their jobs? Guess not. For people to tell me that private insurers are less expensive today is a joke. Bring out your FOX News articles to explain that one.

    As for education the answers are simple as to why kids are failing. Try looking at the source, the parents. Here are some facts you just love to dismiss or ignore: 1 – all districts with good test scores have parent participation proportional to their success. 2 – all test scores after the new implemented programs showed no improvement and no difference in whether they are enrolled in private or public schools. The breakdown of family IS in direct correlation to school achievements. Not the Unions fault, government, ill prepared teachers. 50 years ago we only had public funding yet they turned out just dandy. Never mind. Don’t challenge your own beliefs. Don’t use GOOGLE to verify or dismiss my statements.

    The only thing I am not sure of is if this article passes the RICK test. We have so many kooks spouting such conspiratorial dribble with NO verifiable backing as opposed to my honest attempt to present mainstream views (with mainstream data and articles) yet I keep getting failing grades.

    Love that Wendy’s commercial “Show Me The Beef”. AP, UPI, Reuters, reputable newspaper, etc..

    You guys aught to write a murder mystery since you got the convoluted plot and protagonists to keep readers riveted.

    • DK September 25, 2013, 9:12 pm

      Yes, Gary, look at the source and look at what I pointed at with home schooling, seems an interesting parallel there, hm? How’s that curriculum and the method in which it is taught? If the tables are leaning more towards those circumstances where the parents are more involved, that balances our view more so than your bureaucratic stance. By the way, which is more cost effective? Wonder how much harder it is for parents to get involved when both have to work increasingly harder just to maintain their standard of living. Hm, that’s odd, it all seems to be painting a much bigger, grander picture, and the pieces are falling into place. Noooo, it can’t be.

      Oh, and yes, 50 years of PLANNING to get to where we are now, what a brilliant system! Again, by design and it’s staring you right in the face. How old is the DOE now? That’s quite a track record, and steadily getting worse. Yes, lets ban their lunches and feed them pink slime, fight with parents over their studies and when they don’t comply call the truancy officer and/or a DYFS type of organization, hand out condoms, and tell them they cannot salute our flag with any kind of supposed non-P.C. lyric. Hey, here’s an idea, 3 biological parents now, yea! What a family!

      Oh, and speaking of curriculum, as I alluded to above, what’s that looking like? When was the last time you looked into a child’s history book? Many of your delusions are contained right in the middle, including the Civil War propaganda, the sinking of the Lusitania, Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, so on and so forth. Who is in charge of that, and who do THEY answer to? Oh I see, you don’t like watching where those dots connect to, do you? What does that all spell out in the macro view? No, no, that’s another trumped up fairy tale conspiracy.

      By the way, that convoluted plot has more substance backing it up than ANYTHING you can possibly muster, PERIOD. The facts lie closer to our side and any that’s rebutted is done with words and accusations, name calling, etc. Then it is covered up, not disclosed, classified, FOIA backlogged, etc. If I remember correctly, you still agree with the guvamints ufficial story on 9-11, which by the way is also a THEORY, and a paltry one at that. Your beliefs vs. the 1,500+ experts in Engineering, Architecture, Physics, Prytechnics, etc. But NO, lets NOT have a separate 3rd party investigation even though the vast majority of victims’ families want just that. No, no, they’ll just talk 24/7 about how much of a heart wrenching experience that “might” be for ONE mystery family’s circumstances, just like RWD pointed out with his Faux news link. Good reporting, huh? Talk about being delusional, but it does serve their purposes now doesn’t it? Keep munching on your corporate MSM soylent greeen. See where it get’s you. You can ignore the truth all you want, but you cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring the truth.

      Feel free to keep self inflicting by dropping excrement all over your own ideas, it’s a lot easier for the rest of us.

    • redwilldanaher September 25, 2013, 10:26 pm

      http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/25/20693736-report-atf-lost-127-million-worth-of-cigarettes?lite=

      Think about how hard it would be to lose $127 million of cigarettes Gary. That’s your beloved government at work.

      Do I really have to jog your memory about how Rummy lost $2.3 TRIL and we all know what box cutters made possible the next day.

      Seriously, you need to reestablish your credibility.

      • gary leibowitz September 26, 2013, 6:43 am

        Wow you uncovered the core reason for government malfeasance, addiction to cigarettes. Now I see where we are headed. 9/11, Area 51, Muslim infiltration into our government at the highest source, are all related to bad smoking habits.

        I would be surprised if any corporation, organization or local government didn’t have bad record keeping, unofficial misuse of money, illegal practices, etc. What the heck does that have to do with anything? You lost me there.

        20 years ago I worked for local 3, an electricians union, at their headquarters. I actually did 50 percent of my work for outside companies, illegally by the request of my immediate boss. Nepotism was rampant. They even hired relatives for jobs that they had no qualifications. One of these no-show hires was the niece of my boss. A co-worker tried hitting on her and as a result he was beat up in the company parking lot by her boyfriend. I found out that night when my co-worker called from the hospital and informed me he was immediately terminated. I came in the next day and the no-show girl was sitting at her desk with her feet propped up filing her nails. I marched into my bosses office and told him if he didn’t immediately fire her I would go to the authorities and tell them the illegal practices going on. I went on up the chain till I saw the head honcho. He said since I wasn’t a team player (and a disgruntled worker) I should look for another job. I agreed and left within the next 3 months. Bottom line is that they fired her the next day after my little talk.

        Does that prove all unions are corrupt, practice the same tactics, are unproductive, should never be formed? In your book there is a connection.

        As for the military and the foursome of Bush Cheney Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz, I can believe they had the worse intentions, war. That still has nothing to do with reasons to disband our democracy. it has to do with policing our officials. Strict no loophole rules and laws. Real checks and balances. Human nature is pretty darn constant. They will take advantage of their positions and push the envelop if allowed to. Not all, but the majority are corruptible, even most here on this board.

        The reason we had a reversal of economic fortunes after the depression was because people remembered the consequence of not keeping an eye on their political leaders. Rules and laws to prevent monopolies, safe working conditions, fair wage, union organizing, and on we go. Why do you think we always have boom/busts. Human nature. Name a 70 year cycle that we didn’t have such extremes. Name a time when there was no corruption and lavish economic discrepancies.

        Is today really any different than the last economic peak before a depression? Why not map out the conspiracies of the 20’s or 1890’s for that matter? Do we really have a better working system, a model we can use, a path we can follow? This is all we have and will likely have. In all this mess over hundreds of years we still managed to improve our station in life after every previous economic debacle. If you want to try and find the cause and affect for why we are in this current mess, go ahead. It is futile since there was no schematic people worked with. No identifying “Big Foot”. Hundreds and hundreds of cumulative reasons why we are where we are. No one evil mind, one organization intent on destruction. Complacency, greed, and disbanding of checks and balances is all you need. Stir it in a pot and the end result is always the same. Always. Forever. Unless we have a total dictatorial regime (which I am sure most here are alluding to). Sorry I just don’t see it. Personal greed and selfishness seems to prevent a cohesive group to work together for long. That’s why it always fails and the cycle starts anew.

      • gary leibowitz September 26, 2013, 6:54 am

        http://www.911myths.com/index.php/Missing_Trillions

        Regarding the Rummy speech on 2.3 trillion.

        Did you actually read and try to verify if the story is true about the 2.3 trillion? Find the smoking gun and get back to me Mr. Conspiracy all over the place.

      • DK September 26, 2013, 10:27 am

        No, Gary, let’s not throw a “debunking” or “myths” websites out there. Get your facts STRAIGHT for Pete’s sake.

        Let’s look at eyewitness testimonies of building security, firemen, survivors, and I implore you to examine the testimony of Norman Minetta, the Transportation Secretary of the US at the time. TESTIMONY for the 9-11 Commission!

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDfdOwt2v3Y

        You know, the testimonies that were NOT included in the official report. Argue your drivel with THEM.

        Regarding the “plane” that hit the Pentagon, and Hani Hanjour, how do you explain the flight parameters obtained from a FOIA request showing that the cockpit door never opened once the plane took off? In other words, how was it hijacked if the cockpit door never opened during the 90 minute flight?

        EXPLAIN BUILDING 7!

        Explain the pools of molten steel, like you’d find in a foundry, weeks after the buildings fell that firemen and clean up crew encountered. Kerosene does NOT burn hot enough to melt steel let alone keep it molten for weeks. Traces of nano thermite were found in the wreckage.

        Argue those facts against your delusional theories with experts in the field.

        Perhaps you haven’t heard/read the speeches by FDR, Woodrow Wilson, Prescott Bush, Gorbachev, Kissinger, GHWB, Clinton, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, and Obama himself discussing a NWO.

        Here’s one for you, from Memoirs, by David Rockefeller, 2002, pg. 405:

        “Some even believe that we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States… and of conspiring with others around the world to build are more integrated global political and economic structure – one world, if you will. If that’s the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it.”

      • Redwilldanaher September 26, 2013, 3:54 pm

        Why did the empire invade invade Afghanistan after box cutters brought down 3 buildings in NYC? In other words, why didn’t they simply seal team 6 Tim Osman then?

      • Craig September 26, 2013, 4:44 pm

        George H Bush 9/11/1990 exactly 11 years before 9/11 for you math impaired people…

        “We stand today at a unique and extraordinary moment. The crisis in the Persian Gulf, as grave as it is, also offers a rare opportunity to move toward an historic period of cooperation. Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective — a new world order — can emerge: a new era –”

        Who’s 5th objective? Not ours….the peoples. Welcome to the new era….police state and global dominance through stealth via the banks and militarty complex for America? No, for the bankers, da boyz, duh elite using Americas taxes to fund it and your children to be the cannon fodder and assassins to protect the elites assets. It’s all all there in front of you open your eyes…an ostrich still gets it’s head ripped off no matter how deep it buries it’s head.

      • Redwilldanaher September 26, 2013, 4:55 pm

        It’s funny that you reference open eyes. It’s clear that Stanley Kubrick’s efforts, especially paths of glory, the shining and eyes wide shut, have left Gary nonplussed.

      • gary leibowitz September 26, 2013, 5:35 pm

        Hopeless. Absolutely hopeless. I guess no one bothered to read the article where they refer to their sources. These sources are irrefutable since they were government speeches. I refer to the Rummy speech that was a rehash of one made BEFORE Bush was in office and you talk about 9/11 event. No smoking gun. In fact a report just came out this week complaining about the antiquated and non-connected financial reviews between different agencies. Still missing mucho dollars. not missing as in gone into thin air, missing as in not recorded and collected in one site.

        I guess you have already determined there is a connection. nothing will persuade you otherwise, even cold hard facts,. Dissect this article and show me where it is in error.

        Unreal!

      • Craig September 26, 2013, 5:40 pm

        So Gary your wonderful website that you states proves that the missing $2.3T does not disprove anything. Did you even read it? Even once? Do you know how accounting works?

        Rumsfeild states ON VIDEO tape we cannot account for 2.3T….and your proof of this being debunked is a stupid website that states that this is not true because the accounting systems are old and very complicated? Where is the proof there genius? Copy and paste what proves that it is debunked? Are you going to say Rumsfeild didn’t say that? Did you watch the tape? Once again we have proof and you have feelings and disinfo. Spell it out Gary…if you believe what you say, show us, copy and paste what convinced you, not just a link to disinfo site that talks in circles, that IF YOU actually read it…proves we are right. Don’t be a useful idiot for your masters. As they said (huxley) decades ago…you love your servitude.

      • Craig September 26, 2013, 5:51 pm

        You are hopeless…you think money just disappears into layers of accounting systems? Have you ever had a real job in finance or accounting? Money just doesnt walk out the door and “old” systems don’t do a worse job of accounting for the money. New systems just generate reports easier and are more user friendly. The constant blaming of old systems and incompetent people is BS. Gary it is called a checking account…they spend the money it then can be traced through such a system it never disappears….it only moves around from account to account and from agency to agency when someone does not want anyone to know what is truely going on thy is called fraud and money laundering…that’s why they have forensic accountants..that is what they DO! How can they find such info…the money always goes out the same Dior the same way…the only thing that changes is when people dont want you to know where it web on purpose. If they look at the payee of every check and wire over a certain amount they would know pretty quick where it went. The only hard part is tracing where te launders moved the expense. Stop being a useful idiot.

      • Craig September 26, 2013, 6:08 pm

        Many fortune 500 companies account for billions of dollars every month on “old systems” built in 1980….just because it uses a green screen and says copyright 1982 doesn’t mean it doesn’t work…account has been around for hundreds of years if it is paper, dos or windows based it still works te money going in and out (that’s the cash account Gary) or the banking account(s) is the source document for all tranactions no matter what you do on the back side. The government has so many accountants it is sick. Stop with the mindless dribble…think about what you are proclaiming. 100000s of companies do this with old systems and if they account for it wrong…try go to jail. If you don’t have “books” for 10 years….guess what your accountant will build financials….from….your bank statements…poof you have a balance sheet and p&L’s. You think tree is no trail, the fed just dumps bundles of cash at the pentagon every week and Suzy down in the vault did not write down where the money went and therefore we don’t know how $2.3t is gone. They moved the money around the G/L but if you just go through disbursement accounts you will find out…but they need people like you to distract everyone because all someone has to do is look.

      • Craig September 26, 2013, 7:01 pm

        Ok we are waiting for your response….I need a link to a accountingmyths or accountingsystemsdebunked dot com. Maybe a site about myths about video tapes of press conferences played on live tv are not what you thought. GARY you are the theorists you theorize that $1,000,000 can be misplaced 2,300,000 times. That’s $2,300,000,000,000. Hundred dollar bills stacked to the moon not once but 2.5 times lost in an accounting system. A system that should have 1.0T running through it a year loses 2.3 years worth of transactions because it’s so complicated. So if you bring home $100,000 a year and your account is -230k do you tell your wife the checking account is so confusing, there’s no telling where it went, the checking account is old that’s why we can’t look, we have too many accounts the accounts don talk to each to each other.

        Genius (Gary)

        “in fact a report just came out last week about the antiquated and non-connected financial reviews between different agencies. Still missing mucho dollars. Not missing as in gone into thin air, missing as in not recorded and collect in one site”. WTF are you talking about? This is your evidence??? Absolute proof?? Proof that you had zero idea what you are talking about or what you are defending. $2.3 T not collected as you say in one place, got news for you, each agency has a budget that budget ties to the total budget. Each agency has expenditures, you add those up per agency compare to the budget you have a budget variance that will equal $2.3T and you will know where it is…are that naive or do you work every single day at it?

      • DK September 26, 2013, 8:30 pm

        Craig, unfortunately, just like many of the above posts from the slew of us, they will fall on deaf ears.

        Gary is obviously not interested in the glaring proof set before him. I would love to hear his response to my last response to him above, but I don’t expect one, as usual.

        As Rick reminds me and others, just move on, it is an exercise in futility.

      • gary leibowitz September 27, 2013, 8:33 pm

        DK you might want to keep an open mind and look at this. 7 burned for over 7 hours without any response. Water pressure was one reason and the fact that they were kind of busy with the main towers. The video clearly shows the fires and the penthouse collapse first. Do you have a structural engineer saying that it was impossible to collapse this way? Another article explains the type of structure and how it pancaked down. Have you researched the type of building that was built and concluded it is scientifically impossible? The video was pretty consistent to what they say happened. Some firefighters are very upset with these conspiracy theories that dismiss their role and lost lives in this collapse.

        BTW, I worked only a few blocks away when it happened. The scene and chaos I saw was unreal. I watched a 200 foot billow of smoke slowly over run a hundred people trying to out distance the smoke. My building on White Hall street soon got covered in that black smoke. The maintenance people of the building was smart enough to close the outside vents. I stayed in the building for hours until the smoke cleared and walked home over the Brooklyn Bridge.

        Why are we so quick to believe in conspiracies ?

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFJa9WUy5QI
        http://www.debunking911.com/pull.htm

        &&&&&&

        When I worked as a newspaper reporter in the 1970s, a major demolition project I covered put me in touch with the world’s top authority on how to bring down a building — the man who pioneered the technique. I spoke with someone at his firm more recently and came away firmly convinced that the collapse of the Trade Towers and Building 7 occurred ‘naturally’. Many will disagree no matter what the evidence, but I have neither the patience nor the energy to persuade them otherwise. I have satisfied my own curiosity about the matter, and I’ll leave it at that. RA

      • DK September 28, 2013, 9:10 am

        Gary,
        I’m not going to waste the time and effort, we simply agree to disagree. Unfortunately, the camp I’m in (so to speak) is criticized, censored, shunned, and often worse in a manner that is virtually coached by the MSM and the powers that be. On that note, I often ask myself what country this is, or better, what we have become. People believe whatever they want, and to answer your question, they choose to believe in alternative story lines simply because we have been lied to, defrauded, taken advantage of, and in many cases damaged, etc. so many times. Those reasons are perceived as business as usual, historically to present day. I do not need to cite the enormous list of historical events and situations which can hardly be denied.

        Rick, with all due respect, my sentiments are the same as yours, but with the opposite view. No matter what any of us says, the evidence we provide, you have chosen to believe what you want. These are highly sensitive issues, but I respect your opinions, as ridiculous as I might think they are. I too know dozens of professionals and experts that disagree with those from your camp. Additionally, I have personal experiences that affect my conclusions and reinforce my opinion that the story just doesn’t add up.

        That’s all I will say, the mountain of information likely would not fit into this text box and it would take me far to long to condense and write succinctly.

    • redwilldanaher September 26, 2013, 7:26 pm

      Just want to thank DK and Craig for lending a hand in the constant fight to stop Gary from spreading disinfo and propaganda. If Gary isn’t a shill then it scares me even more than if he were to be one. It just shows us how we’re just as trapped by our “fellow countrymen” as we are by the invisible bars the statists have constructed around us at the direction of their nwo handlers.

      Not to be melodramatic but I remain convniced that more than half of these zombies still won’t get it even once they’re on the boxcar ride to hell on earth…

      &&&&&&

      I wish I could persuade more of you to ignore Gary’s posts more often. Once the threads that he spawns get going, however, I hate to purge them because of the effort you put into your responses. But as you know, arguing with Gary is simply talking yourself blue in the face. Is it worth it? RA

      • Craig September 26, 2013, 7:53 pm

        Garys responses remind me of Steve Martin in the Jerk where all the investment people by the pool are telling him how they will make him money and and he has zero idea what they are talking about and just repeats back what they say….yes complicated antiquated accouting systems. Yes not missing but unaccounted for because not on one site. Accounts non connected and no financial reviews between agencies, I like it.

        As much as you want to scream in frustration, cry about the invisible bars keeping us in this trap, you can also take time and laugh at these sheep as Kissinger and the Rockefellers do…even thou it reallitynisnt funny.

        Gary will be the dog running in circles and licking his masters face to be going on a car ride when the dad is really just dropping the dog off at the vet to be put to sleep because their apartment doesn allow pets.

      • gary leibowitz September 27, 2013, 2:05 am

        Excerpt of article that everyone refuses to look at.

        ===================================
        It’s not that the money is “missing”, then, at least according to Rumsfeld, more that incompatible and aging financial systems don’t allow it to be tracked throughout the system. A DoD news document from April 2002 spelled this out even more clearly:

        In fiscal 1999, a defense audit found that about $2.3 trillion of balances, transactions and adjustments were inadequately documented.

        These “unsupported” transactions do not mean the department ultimately cannot account for them, she advised, but that tracking down needed documents would take a long time. Auditors, she said, might have to go to different computer systems, to different locations or access different databases to get information.

        http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=44199

        Such massive accounting problems are obviously a huge issue, but then Rumsfeld isn’t trying to hide that, or other Defense Department problems — he was broadcasting them, saying that change was essential.

        And of course why shouldn’t Rumsfeld admit this? How is it going to damage him, or Bush? After all, the above stories reference 1999 and 2000, therefore the problem was presumably ongoing throughout the Clinton administration.
        ===================================

        Taken right from the article. it gave reason, source back tracking, and no need to make any other conclusions than what is obviously there in black and white. I am amazed how something that is clearly a reference to Clinton years takes on nefarious meaning because one of his speeches happened a day before the attack.

        I can’t be any clearer than this. Please, someone explain to me YOUR version of why Rummy discussed the trillions of defense money that was not accounted for? Please? Debunk the 1999 reference if you can. Debunk the FACT that he was referring to the CLINTON years. Nothing strange or unusual there. Rummy arguing that this government is using antiquated systems. Rummy pushing for modernization? Does anyone really think this argument is false? Anyone?

        I gave explicit documentation that dates back to 1999. What have any of you given me in this conspiracy theory? A connection to 9/11 because it happened the day before? Was the meeting and committee date a mystery? Was Rummy in on the attack? Was Clinton in on it also, since it was HIS administration they are talking about with the missing money. Give Me A Break!

        If you give me nothing I can’t dispute smoke. Claiming aliens from outer space visited us based on wall paintings from the Mayans is your way of connecting the dots. Gee, there are people that look like they have helmets on and are sitting in a position like in a cramped space ship. Yup, that is proof enough for me!

        If you had proof it would be plastered on every Mr. Murdock media outlet. Even a smoking gun would do. To imagine a conspiracy of this magnitude can be suppressed is unimaginable. We as humans are not that smart. Thousands of people in hundreds of different walks of life had to be in on this. Not one came forward, not one slipped up.

        It took me 5 years for anyone to concede that earnings was not faked. 5 years. Your conspiracy on propping up the stock market fails when you admit earnings are real. Yet here we are back in the stone ages again. I give up. You win, all untidy loose ends must be explained by way of government control, lies, manipulation. This manipulation for some strange reason has to be done for the detriment of its citizens. Why not manipulate for the good of the masses?

        Not one single traceable record. Individual eye witnesses have seen ghosts, lock ness, claimed alien abductions.

      • Craig September 27, 2013, 6:54 pm

        Navin Johnson (Gary)

        Nice try, copying and pasting a paragraph and writing 5 more and referencing and comparing facts with the lochness monster is a common tactic by your kind. How many hours if training did you go through?

        Once again you are saying with a take home income of $100,000 a year that a few years later you can not track $230,000 of transactions even though there is a records of every disbursement due to antiquated accounting systems is proof of nothing wrong (I am sure your wife wouldn’t buy that excuse). I am not going to get into this anymore per Ricks advice, but it has shown once again you are not credible and have no idea what you are trying to defend. Navin (Gary), you really need to watch The Jerk because you obvious don’t know the difference between S*** and shinola…..

      • gary leibowitz September 27, 2013, 7:46 pm

        Where is the beef!

        Once again I get responses that compare your own working knowledge against a massive bureaucratic system. Did anyone bother to read the complaint regarding the very same 2.3 trillion against the Clinton administration? Anyone?

        While Rick wishes for me to go away or you to stop responding, I want ANSWERS. I would PREFER it not agree with my stance. I am willing to accept being wrong. Are you? In fact I have been wrong many times and have accepted other voices. Expanding the mind and seeking the truth no matter where it leads.

        I have fought for years over the notion that the stock market is totally controlled, yet when I bring up thousands of earnings reports the price seems justified. How is that possible? Just because YOU can’t comprehend why human suffering isn’t proportional to corporate weakness doesn’t mean it’s not so. In fact if you back test the theory you would see many instances where weak economic activity doesn’t translate to weak earnings.

        BTW, the latest report showed housing still going up despite the 100 basis point move, and earnings actually higher than spending. Must be another propaganda tactic for everyone to accept the lofty indices.

        I was right all along. People prefer to bounce off their similar complaints rather than learn something new. Strange coming from a proprietary technical site. You seem to accept Ricks unorthodox method easily enough. I guess you examined his work with an open mind.

        The attitudes on this board reminds me of a faith forum. Once a convert, all unanswered questions get debated, but from a rigid assumption that god is involved. I realize I lost even before I speak. I will try in the future to dance around the core faith.

      • Craig September 27, 2013, 8:24 pm

        YAWN

      • mario cavolo September 28, 2013, 4:45 am

        Just on your “Is it worth it” question regarding the postings of Gary and his arch enemies, Rick.

        Definitely yes. All the arguments between Gary and his enemies are a collection well worth reading, lots to learn and glean as one parses through the arguments with intelligent parsing of both sides needed.

        When are you going to host the 1st annual Rick’s Boulder Colorado Live Debates and BBQ Festival? That would be a helluva weekend if not ending in a drunken brawl 🙂

        Cheers, Mario

  • DK September 25, 2013, 6:53 pm

    By the way, Rick, the commentary from “TODAY’S ACTION” is hilarious!

  • Phillip McKreviss September 24, 2013, 6:51 am

    October 11-13th , just a couple weeks from now, is a ‘movement’ called ‘Truckers to shut down America”… is the word getting out on this thing ? Will it make any kind of difference ?

    • VegasBob September 24, 2013, 7:19 am

      Only if the truckers put mobile guillotines on their trailers, and head for Wall Street and Washington, DC…

  • gary leibowitz September 24, 2013, 4:15 am

    Two points of fact that keep getting denied.
    One – Tapering is wanted by all. Make no mistake the Fed outlined in pretty darn clear language that the data points have to meet a critical point to start to taper. The Fed met, had a number of dissenters that the taper should be on, but majority ruled. When they do start tapering this crown will still find fault, just like every other talking point since the debacle started. How many failed predictions gets ignored instead of trying to adjust your views of reality?

    My last point is that Obama Care will “save” money, not expand it. Not good for seniors where they can deny procedures based on age and viability. Why do you think it even got passed in the first place? Think about it for one Nano-second. Every single major legislation has been defeated or stalled that had his name on it. Heck the immigration legislation will create billions of money infusion to this governments immediately. Every single political pollster, whether on the right or left, will tell you the votes are already there to pass.

    Got to love the conspiracy theories that make the origins of “crop signs” seem like a third grade science fiction project. Has anyone traced out these evil doers past going back to their innocence years? I have. Over 80 percent of all top political officials, at one time or other, was a member of the very secretive masonic organization. That surely explains how they have been molded for a life of treachery and deception with one goal in mind, total control of its citizens. OK, I admit it is a false premise, but it sounds so good in explaining why we have a group of super-evil institutions and individuals that want to wreck havoc on the world. It sure sounds more exciting than to use a Darwinian approach. People are not born with purpose or intent, they develop behaviors based on circumstance. If “you” were to work for Goldman Sachs in a high level capacity I can assure you your perspective on what is perceived as good/bad right/wrong will be twisted and defocused. Has anyone read any books by Malcolm Gladwell? He puts things in perspective and makes some very simple but startling observations.

    I am in the midst of people that will always be right no mater what the outcome. A mindset that has placed an absolute truth at the core of their belief system and anything that happens is explained from that core knowledge. Like religion, there is no discussion or debate if it involves the validity of god. Anything and everything could happen in your world and it can easily be explained using the unverifiable core truths.

    My premise has been tested and true throughout all histories. Men of good intent can be corrupted without there being a corruptor. Circumstances is just as easily to blame. A buildup of corporate power over decades when citizens complacency was at the peak. We all internalize the world by how we live. If you really try hard almost every single circumstance can be viewed differently by different people depending on their own world view. A policeman on gun control will always have a different view than say a hunter. Lets not try so hard to “find” the truth in all this. The Supreme Court equated slaves to tradable furniture. Were they evil?

    Musing number 366.

    • Troll September 24, 2013, 5:38 am

      Gary, there are two kinds of people who frequent this site: those who are NEVER wrong in their opinions, and then there is you. Good luck dealing with the former.

    • Dave September 24, 2013, 8:29 am

      “If “you” were to work for Goldman Sachs in a high level capacity I can assure you your perspective on what is perceived as good/bad right/wrong will be twisted and defocused.”

      Obviously. A co-worker?

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/goldman-sachs-rape-indicted_n_3837206.html

    • Redwilldanaher September 24, 2013, 11:02 am

      Thanks for this week’s helping of codswallop paired with a tommyrot chaser…

      • Redwilldanaher September 24, 2013, 4:07 pm

        You’ve nailed again Gary. Triple the cost for this family!

        http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/09/24/one-man-obamacare-nightmare/

        It will save money though right? List all the other big government programs that saved money for us please. It’s put up or shut up time…

      • DK September 24, 2013, 7:09 pm

        It’s great coming to such a fantastic board of lively discussion and debate. FWIW, I enjoy all of the commentary I don’t agree with, but makes me think and reexamine.
        RWD, thanks for the link and comments – high 5!

      • gary leibowitz September 25, 2013, 2:50 am

        I decided to start with Medicaid. You can look this up also if you weren’t so lazy or fixated on being right.

        As for using FOX NEWS, give me a break! In fact everyone here uses that news organization exclusively, other than the small extreme right wing blogs. Stellar example of unbiased, untainted reporting. Benghazi, accepting Obamas Muslim, non-citizen status, is just a few minor problems I have with their style of news. Puts the National Enquirer to shame on what they can get away with. The good old Brits finally caught them at their game and Mr. Murdoch and his empire got spanked for it.

        Yes you are correct. The Republicans all of a sudden care desperately that the average Joe have affordable insurance, even as they defund food stamps, health care clinics, government run child care programs, and the like. I must be seeing the “other side” of that parties ambitious push to care for the middle class and poor. Even if we discard the poor, as I am sure they would love to do, they have constantly voted to lower corporate taxes which must mean an increase on the middle class. You can’t decrease one without increasing the other to make up the difference. Simple math.

        Just remember that these comparisons are against private insurers and government insurance for all. You would think the result would be one-sided. After all the comparisons are almost as extreme as comparing public schools with religious or chartered schools. there too the results will shock you. Public means all are not only welcome but have mandatory acceptance. Wanna know what the rules are for charter and private schools? But lets not quibble. The last time the national standardized tests were reported to the public the variance between the two groups were zero. yes that’s right no difference in achievement, even as the private schools had a HUGE advantage in nit-picking.

        Never mind. Hate all government programs and actions, especially when the bleeding heart Democrats are in control. It’s so much easier to get angry when FOX spoon feeds, fuels, and directs your angst. They spell out the reasons for your problems as if you were watching a child’s cartoon. No ambiguity there.

        Now back to the articles:

        http://www.samefacts.com/2011/06/medicaid/does-medicaid-provide-better-care-access-than-private-insurance-wrong-question/

        http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2011/08/09/is-medicare-more-efficient-than-private-insurance/

        &&&&&&

        Gary, the above comments are so far beyond the pale — so utterly wrong, starting with your casual dismissal of Fox’s superb reportage on Benghazi — that I considered trashing the post. Instead, I’ll request that everyone in here please ignore it, since one cannot rebut drivel.         RA

      • Redwilldanaher September 25, 2013, 4:53 pm

        Once again Gary, you’re guilty of prejudice and transference. As Rick noted, this is bad even by your standards. I think all corporately controlled media has become a disgraceful joke including Fox news. For the record this could be the first time I’ve posted a link here from Fox news, can’t remember another one. I rely on alternative news outlets primarily.

        Sorry Gary but you remain one of the few regular commentators @ Rick’s that is still beholden to the faux dem/rep left/right good cop/bad cop paradigm and that still believes that Eddie Murrow types are faithfully bringing you your “news”.

        Have you ever self-reflected? I can recall a half dozen readers that have wondered if you are a paid Internet shill for the Cartel, yet I can’t recall that charge being made against anyone else here. That’s how over-the-top your worshipping of velvet totalitarianism is to at least some people…

        &&&&&

        Speaking of Murrow, here’s a link to a fascinating obit in Commentary for Walter Cronkite. We’ve known for a while — since he came ever-so-slightly out of the closet after retiring — that he was a stalwart Man of the Left, but just how far to the left, and how steadfastly, may surprise you. Here’s the link:

        http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2009/07/17/walter-cronkite-rip/

      • DK September 25, 2013, 6:43 pm

        Gary, for you to even give half of a breath towards education in this country is beyond reproach. You haven’t “exposed” anything that informed parents don’t already know. Public vs. private/charter? Really? With their unconstitutional subsidies and non-representative boards? We know those boards are unelected. It’s much more about social and behavioral modification/programming as anything else (see Skinner). The marketing aspect is just surface. Why do you think there is so much more discussion going on in this country about home schooling? This goes directly to RWD’s point, the DOE. Give us a break. Even the MSM is reporting that we come in 17th (!) in the developed world. 25th in Math, 17th in Science, 14th in Reading. Although much of this, I suspect, is at least in part manufactured in a way so as to continually promote stuffing the coffers of that system. Some 80% of Phd candidates in this country come from abroad! Then again, education is not the goal of the people in charge, critical thinking is shunned, and here you are comparing mediocrity (to put it nicely) at large.

        Let’s give a round of applause to a bloating of red tape and hemorrhaging cash.

        The Ron Paul camp has been involved in this discussion for years particularly because he shed so much more light on the awful stench the DOE leaves in its path as they continue to propagandize our children, while digging an ever growing debt hole and taking us with them. You should check out his home schooling curriculum, it’s pretty damn interesting.

        Medicare? Really? Yes, let’s not even begin that discussion. Any so-called benefits you mention are marginal at best.

        The entire system sucks, the foundation was unstable from the moment is let to cure and it just keeps getting worse as we kick the can further down the road. And you know it! That IS the design.

        Oh and about those secretive organizations… keep digging, it gets better.

      • Redwilldanaher September 25, 2013, 7:14 pm

        Yep, we’re all crazy conspiracy theorists here Gary, YET the proof shows up on almost a daily basis. Often cited as the “biggest market in the world”:

        Stunning Libor Fraud Admissions: “As For Kick Backs We Can Discuss That At Lunch” And Much More

        Remember when everyone decried wholesale Libor manipulation as a crazy conspiracy theory (Zero Hedge: January 2009: “This Makes No Sense: LIBOR By Bank” – after all, it was impossible for so many people to keep their mouth shut or whatever the generic justification is for disproving such “conspiracy theories”? Why, none other than ICAP chief Michael Spencer says they all though Libor was “unmanipulable.” As it turns out, not only is Libor “manipulable”, and a vast rate-rigging “conspiracy theory” is quite possible when everyone’s interests are aligned, but it also is quite profitable, as ICAP just found out to its public humiliation. $87 million worth of humiliation.

        http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-09-25/kick-backs-we-can-discuss-lunch-libor-manipulation-full-frontal

        So keep calling us crazy as the evidence is bulldozed into huge piles. You may want to look in the mirror however as you appear irrational for refusing to acknowledge all the evidence that has been put before you.

      • gary leibowitz September 29, 2013, 4:01 am

        Confusing fraud with manipulation, as in government involvement. I guess Madoff manipulated the system the same way Libor was fixed. It was illegal and OUTSIDE the government sanctions. Everyone seems to think our government is complicit with all this. Rick’s own reversal on 9/11 reinforces my belief that personal paranoia is so deep that only your own eye, or ones you personally trust, would be enough to dispel the conspiracy theories. I suppose gravity is another conspiracy, or how about the world being round. How absurd is that! I can’t see or feel or touch the proof. Only trust your instincts to mistrust everything. Someone get back to me on Benghazi and Obamas role. Love to see the proof. Wow we didn’t prepare for another 9/11 all over the world. I can’t understand that. After all we are omnipotent against our enemies. We never make mistakes. No, any mistake must be a conspiracy. Has anyone tried running a company, let alone a government? All mess ups have to be a result of evil intent on the part of our own government. Would love more info on Benghazi. I guess it’s the same as the distorted collage of 9/11 events leading up to a U.S. planned attack on itself. Phantoms, I keep chasing them with no results? I wonder why? Anyone can open this up with some verifiable proof or scientific consensus. Am I asking too much?

        The astonishingly silly notion that everything is hidden and suppressed, even as you plaster me with reports, websites, and blogs is mind numbing. You have a platform to run with all your crazy theories using GOOGLE as your source. Please don’t tell me the information isn’t out there.

      • Cam Fitzgerald September 29, 2013, 11:45 am

        You need to look at the basics of how the world works Gary. When Mom and Dad want to model a child or direct that child to a certain outcome do you really think they discuss it with Junior first?

        Of course not. Instead, if the youngster is a problem they get together with Gramps and Grandma for a discussion. They might talk to friends and neighbors on the side. Those with real problems seek the advice of professional counsellors.

        After that is done a plan is decided upon. Junior has no damned idea what is coming nor does he know how many people had input behind the scenes in dictating his future.

        To the youngster this would amount to a conspiracy because all the adults are silent in his presence. Crafty parents will engage in behavior modification without the subject child having any direct knowledge about what just happened behind the scenes.

        And that is how agendas are organized at the family level. Nothing really changes when the scope widens to politics, money, wealth transfers, getting an edge in business or even tipping an adversary into insolvency. All a conspiracy really amounts to is that a group of people with a common goal work together to achieve an end that is purposeful and profitable.

        Most of the rules are unspoken. Nobody even mentions them. And NOBODY is going to self incriminate and admit anything either. In the case of the kid who is being molded to meet his families choices he will probably go through life never appreciating that his whole childhood was one of being manipulated by his parents……

        Oh wait…I forgot about teenagers….yeah, they get it.

    • Redwilldanaher September 25, 2013, 5:34 pm

      Even more savings!

      http://washingtonexaminer.com/white-house-report-tennesee-men-face-290-women-197-obamacare-hike/article/2536363

      Tripling and doubling! Too bad we’re not talking baseball.

  • John Jay September 24, 2013, 2:47 am

    Yep, it’s all coming undone.
    And there is a dramatic sea change underway in the globalized manufacturing sphere that means a whole new level of doom and gloom.
    And this time, there is no where to run from it.

    I just read in the NYT I believe it was, about textile plants returning to the USA from overseas.
    Ah, at long last, the light at the end of the tunnel!
    However, the Devil is in the Details.

    This textile plant returning here from India is not the same plant that left here.
    The old plant employed 2,000 people.
    The new plant employs 140 people!
    With the same output!
    Full of high tech, high capacity machines, the air is filtered to protect the machines, so there is no cloud of cotton dust.

    They returned here because shipping costs and quality control trumped cheap labor in India.
    Not out of any sense of Patriotism.
    So jobs will be getting a lot more scarce in the future.
    So as manufacturing returns here there will not be a flood of new jobs created to absorb all the young and old who just need a job.
    I think GE is following the same path with appliance manufacturing.
    They are bringing it back here, but the factories are super efficient and automated.

    So there will be unlimited manufactured goods available, but how many will have jobs to pay for them?
    So, a little uptick in jobs here.
    And big trouble for the cheap labor destinations worldwide.
    More riots in the streets in the Third World.
    Man, interesting times indeed!

  • Erin September 23, 2013, 10:03 pm

    Debt ceiling…Gun control…Interest rates…Unemployment…The mockery of everything that our so called “leaders” do and say on any subject is useless and repulsive to say the least. Just one bad acting job after another. Only one question needs to be asked and answered. Why are they, the leaders, who are putting on this horrific play for the audience getting richer and richer?

    We are way past the point of anything truly changing in this country. When are we, as a society, going to cut off the blood flow from the central bank which continues to feed this cancerous growth of a tumor which we call “Government”? Is it not time to take matters into our own hands? What part of destroying America is not clear to any one who is not in a coma?

    • Cam Fitzgerald September 24, 2013, 9:48 pm

      Sorry Erin, not interested. You are on your own. The rest of us just want to invest for retirement and earn a decent profit.

    • Redwilldanaher September 25, 2013, 3:30 am

      It’s long past time. The number of “countrymen” that actually get it and have the bells to do anything real about it barely registers. All of the conditioning has worked incredibly well. The only solution is to leave. Which is why I am well into decade 2 of strongly advocating peaceful secession. Have stated it here before, we need our “tankman” moment, that is the only chance I see…

    • mava September 25, 2013, 5:45 pm

      I realize that I am only a foreigner here. However, America has given me a second home and I am thankful for that. I am very sad seeing America go down the drain. I would do anything to help it back to where it once was.

      However, Erin, America herself doesn’t want to go back to being America. It wants to be Amerika, now, with a socialist K at the end. It wants to go through monetary collapse, and onto a massive disruption in supply chains. From there, it wants to see the rise of a charismatic leader, who will promise the heavens to the morons. She wants to see the mass slaughter that leader, backed by morons will be able to unleash internally, and then see him pushing it onto the world. She wants to experience the world ganging up in defense and finally showing it’s own foot into Amerika’s throat at he end. She wants to see herself laying in ruins.

      What can a foreigner do about it? I can only help if America wanted my help, but she does not. I am not local, I have no right to force-feed her medicine.

      So, what I am saying here, is that the way I see it, the America doesn’t want any help. The way I see it, she wants to go on a trip, the same exact trip the Germany went on. I am very sad about this, but she is of a legal age. She can make her own choices.

      • Erin September 25, 2013, 7:12 pm

        Cam …”The rest of us just want to invest for retirement and earn a decent profit”…

        I am pretty sure “the rest of us” in this country are broke. Nice try. Want to take a few more petty shots?

      • Redwilldanaher September 25, 2013, 7:16 pm

        Mava!

      • Erin September 25, 2013, 7:28 pm

        Red,
        Agreed…Secession will be the answer. You see it all around. People are sick of paying for the parasites and it will only get worse when immigration reform hits.

      • Cam Fitzgerald September 29, 2013, 9:48 am

        Are you saying you did not save anything for a rainy day, Erin? And now you want to take your frustrations out on the system? The “rest of us” are most certainly not broke. Where did you get that idea? It is up to each and everyone one of us to take personal responsibility for our own financial future. Government handouts are by no means secure for the indefinate future. Unless the obligations get inflated into oblivion it is pretty sure you should be setting something aside (like cash) for an inevitable contraction in state supports. Does not matter if your income is small. You still need to do it. When I see people around me in the Third World saving 20 and 30% of their miserable incomes I have no sympathy whatsoever for crybabies who want to “take things into their own hands” (as you said) instead of getting proactive and trying to make a business for revenues or start putting some bucks away for the future which is quite unpredictable.

      • Erin September 29, 2013, 8:05 pm

        Cam,
        Where to start. You certainly have a God complex don’t you? Since when does “rest of us”, refer to me? People everywhere in the United States are becoming more broke everyday. Do you really want to deny that from your third world perch? Or are you living in your mothers basement? Come clean Cam, which third world country are you ruler of? I have been wanting to take a trip out of the country and maybe we could get together and discuss your narcissism?

        Regardless, your condescending attitude is repulsive to say the least!

      • Cam Fitzgerald September 29, 2013, 9:05 pm

        It comes with the territory, Erin. Being a tin pot dictator is MUCH harder than it looks. Try and cut some slack. I was being easy on you. By the way, you really have to stop reading the gloomer sites. The US is still the most formidable economic force on the planet with the largest economy by far. Nominal GDP for 2012 was estimated to be 16 trillion dollars. China is just half that with a multitude more people. Everyone fixates on the debt numbers of course. The world is ending for them. But look at aggregate production and global sales of technologies, commodities, food and so much more. The country is not dead by a long shot even though wages are being pressured down and flattened by competition from overseas. It is not all a bad thing though. Nobody lives in a vaccuum in the world anymore. Globalization is enforcing competition that we all need to recognize and adapt too. Can’t cry a river if we can’t control the rules of the game. It is sink or swim for everyone.

    • mario cavolo September 28, 2013, 4:23 am

      Forgive me as I recall being a bit rude a long time arguing to Cam that secession could never happen.

      Its not that I think its not a reasonable course of action as a response to changing society and governments. It may be very well be.

      My reservation is that it would never actually happen because in one way or another, the initiative will ultimately get squashed by the brute power and riches of those who are in charge who would one way or another never allow it to happen. Either nicely by money/perks/compromises if not in a dark alley at 2am, the U.S. is never again going to become less than “50 states”

      Just the idea of having to remove a star from the flag alone will be ran up the media hype machine as enough of a blasphemy to shame anyone who would despicably dare insult “our country” blah, blah, blah…talking heads will have a field day as it twist and spun to smithereens with the powers to be pulling the strings behind the scenes.

      Its the same as the pro-gun advocates idea that he wants his gun to rightfully defend himself against govt tyranny. Again great idea, back when one shot muskets were guns, not drones and all other high tech military might. The argument has no weight or relevance in current context of today’s reality. So then we would need to find another reason to justify the pro-gun position if that’s what you stand for.

      Is it worth trying against all odds and even to die in the process? Indeed there are countless such moments threading history together for thousands of years…

      I’m just suggesting that we live in a world where a great and worthy idea is an “ideal” to stand for but must be considered in current realistic context. I’m an idealist myself so I appreciate such arguments gang.

      Cheers, Mario

      • Redwilldanaher September 29, 2013, 5:21 am

        So quick to dismiss.

        And the Soviet Bloc is by how many “republics” reduced? An counties in CA are voting to secede, no?

        Feds still have to go door to door. They don’t have terminator bots quite ready just yet. People need guns for countless reasons, not the least of which would be if the J I T inventory/delivery society we live in were to suffer a hiccup. Localized systems failures etc.

        At some point the pu$$ified masses will realize that peaceful secession fits them well and will opt for it not because it actually requires the totalitarianists to show their hand, but rather because it’s the safest way to attempt to escape the immense gravitational pull of Mordor on the Potomac.

      • mario cavolo September 29, 2013, 10:52 am

        Thanks Wayne, I’ve come to more pay attention to and embrace your initiatives and ideals regarding peaceful secession. I think, should a state attempt to go for it, it would be fascinating to be able to follow how that story line would unfold over time. I even wonder if the media would in fact purposely cover it very little as they often do as the compliant media p&^%ssies they are or would such a story get massive coverage…you really think it would be a smooth and civil process?…I really don’t know.

        And sorry, I did quickly remember it was you not Cam I was making the apology to for being too rude about this subject earlier. His name mistakenly first popped into my head as my mind was breezing through the many topics we’ve all discussed here the past few years. Here at Rick’s we all get into stubborn mode sometimes and here’s a case where a person such as myself has had his interest peaked by your ideas and then starts to think about it more seriously. I’m much better off making a strong effort to be a dispassionate observer and to discuss and ask questions than pound the pulpit too much. Thanks Wayne.

        Cheers, Mario

      • Cam Fitzgerald September 29, 2013, 11:49 am

        I accept your apology Mario! 🙂

      • mario cavolo September 30, 2013, 8:02 am

        Yea, glad we made peace awhile back Cam….:)….tough issues all a round to consider…

  • mava September 23, 2013, 5:04 pm

    “We reserve all rights and all times and furthermore the laws of physics, economies, finance, divine, human, natural and unnatural do not apply here unless they can be capriciously used to our advantage and then capriciously discarded to our advantage. So says the Game Masters.”

    Ditto this.

    What’s wrong with the picture, RA?

    The stock going up means that it is now front running the government in their charade of debt ceiling. Everyone knew there is not and never has been any ceiling, but no one was so sure before. No, we all understand, that of course the new ceiling will be approved. It will be repeated forever and ever. The end will not come from new debt not being approved. The end will come from nobody wanting the dollar. This outcome is set in stone. The only possibility is inflation.

    Like I always said, your worries about deflation are misplaced, because this is not how people will act. They will not impose the needed deflation on themselves, – instead they will forever be kicking the can.

    Thus, we know the direction for the stock market: up, and only up. But, what about the exit? Well, that depends. For me, with my earned money, the stock market is an unwise place to be involved in. But, had I had my money freshly printed on demand on one hand, and the guarantee of being bailed out on another, then why would’t I want to “risk” it all? There is no downside!

    The stock market will experience “upside only” period in it’s final stage, up until the day that there is no dollar.

    I may-be that such time has arrived. The stock market is up while the debt ceiling theater supposedly fools everyone into believing there is a ceiling.

    • Rick Ackerman September 23, 2013, 9:45 pm

      The idea of Wall Street ‘front-running’ The Government gets it just about right, Mava. In the meantime, we’ll be hearing ad nauseum about the supposed ‘threat’ of a shutdown from the economic morons who bring us the news.

      Regarding deflation, I still believe it is the most likely course for the financial endgame. It cannot be ruled out no matter what you believe, however, because the most precipitously deflationary event one could conceive of — i.e, the banks failing to open one Monday morning — cannot be ruled out. I think this is likely, actually, and that’s why I have stuck to my guns — also why I have advised keeping a shoebox of cash bills around, since, on The Morning After, fundamentally worthless paper currency will be more useful for basic transactions than bullion.

      • Chuck September 24, 2013, 8:27 pm

        by the way…..FB is at $50…..what gives???

      • mava September 25, 2013, 6:05 pm

        RA, I hope you trust me that I have no interest in promoting the inflation argument over the deflation one. I simply see the inflation argument as the only valid on, in our given practical example of our country today.

        To see the inflation being the only choice, you must not be “the sky is falling type”, unlike the opposite that may seem to be the case. People tend to think of gold bugs as of people believing in ultimate freak case scenario. But if you give it a thought, it is not hard to see that it is the gold bug who is the ultimate realist.

        The gold bug believes in inflation. Deflation spells the loss of purchasing power to gold bullion.

        You said you distrust the electronic money vs the paper money. I do agree that it is less reliable, in the honest world. But, RA, do we live in the honest world?

        No, we do not! We live in the dishonest world where the desire for something makes it so. Had you not noticed that all the homeowners that should have failed and should have had lost their houses, didn’t loose any? What did this mean to you?

        To me, it meant the confirmation that we live in the dishonest society. We make it as we wish, not as the books say.

        This means that we must now account for the same behavior in all of our forecasts.

        So, when we think of a possibility of a digital money system failure, because some payments somewhere couldn’t be cleared, we must include the above learned fact. We must understand that when the digital money system fail, the government will ORDER it to remain functional. Your digital money will still be accessible to you, and remain spendable, against all odds, on orders directly from the fearless leader. The necessary “twists” will be made, don’t you worry.

        For as long as it will be possible to make wish, we will make wish. We can only fail where the wish doesn’t count for anything – that is where the other people wishes go against ours. This means this system has only one failure scenario, – the other people stop accepting the dollar.

        Untill then, nothing will stop us from inflating.

        Yes, yes, yes, the deflation is THE ONLY PROPER thing to do now. It is not that I am against the true medicine. No, I am simply saying that it doesn’t matter what I want or think.

        You must be an honest person, because you do hope for the deflation. Unfortunately, RA, it is not about what kind of person you are, or what is appropriate for this country. It is only about what the stupid will do to themselves. And what they will do is they will mandate that nothing else matters, and inflate, until they can’t no more, because nobody else thinks the dollar is worth anything.

        &&&&&&

        Regardless of whether we get deflation or hyperinflation, Mava, mass impoverishment will be the immediate result. If, relatively speaking, deflation has a ‘virtue,’ it is that the amount of pain visited on debtors would be commensurate with their sins. Concerning an ‘edict’ that would effectively make digital money legal tender, that’s a very interesting possibility, but it seems unlikely if you play it forward. For, whether likely or not, it would mean instant hyperinflation, since everyone would try to use up their credit limit as quickly as possible to acquire real goods. Were that to happen, I would expect real currency, which would be as scarce as gold with the banks closed, to quickly regain its position atop the barter heap. RA

      • mava September 26, 2013, 8:25 pm

        “If, relatively speaking, deflation has a ‘virtue,’ it is that the amount of pain visited on debtors would be commensurate with their sins.”

        Absolutely. This is why I too, believe that the deflation would be the most appropriate tool. Like the “no bailout – go bankrupt” approach it settles everything perfectly without any additional disturbances, the old fashioned way, paying attention only to a true merit.

    • Chuck September 23, 2013, 10:13 pm

      if the banks close…..will credit cards not be honored either? Is that the idea behind keeping cash on hand?

      &&&&&

      Credit cards?? Do you mean our digital money system, the existence of which rests on an infinitely complex, electronically enabled clearing system that ties together a global daisy chain comprising perhaps half-a-million banks? RA

    • Chuck September 23, 2013, 10:14 pm

      Hell, I hardly EVER use printed money these days….for ANYTHING….gas, food,…..you name it.

      • Jason S September 25, 2013, 6:37 pm

        Cash, the new barbarous relic…

    • Jill September 23, 2013, 11:01 pm

      Chuck, you should keep some cash around for emergencies such as natural disasters, in any case. After Hurricane Katrina, people couldn’t use credit cards to buy food or anything, because the electric power was off for a long time. Of course, stores were closed for a long time too, so having some food and water stored was necessary also.

    • mario cavolo September 24, 2013, 9:43 am

      Hi Chuck, yes hopefully from this day forward your complacency toward financial convenience and security has been replaced by rational concern if not outright fear of the future. Time to bone up on reality!

      Cheers, Mario

      • Cam Fitzgerald September 24, 2013, 9:34 pm

        Agree on the importance of keeping cash on hand. This subject hardly garners any attention at all. The Fed reports there is just a measly 1.2 trillion of US notes and coins in circulation and most of this is being hoarded outside the US. Thus, physical paper in America probably amounts to less than 2000 dollars per person on any given day. Now compare that to the trillions in value of M3 and credit and it staggers the imagination how little actual currency exists. It is likely most of it would disappear in a flash during a crisis too. What drives the goldbugs mad is that it is paper which is still the coin of the realm and which will be exchanged with most ease during any crisis. It is not gold and silver. It will never be gold and silver either because nobody normal knows how to value metals for trade and exchange (I am referring to probably 98% of the population who has no idea whatsoever what gold is worth on a day to day basis). What people want is what they know and that is the paper currency they were weaned on and is used as an easy marker to value virtually anything they choose to buy or sell. Everything else is a barter good and that includes precious metals. Just one reason why paper currency is important to keep on hand is that the Fed now produces more money annually in electronic version for its bond buying program than exists in aggregate in paper form in all the US. More that twice as much actually. Puts a little perspective on it I hope.

      • Cam Fitzgerald September 24, 2013, 9:44 pm

        An allocation to paper currencies should therefore be a prudent step for anyone concerned about serious economic troubles unfolding down the road. In that regard it is no different than gold. We don’t know the future of course so setting aside 5 or 10% of your portfolio is almost certainly enough especially considering that both gold and cash kept in a drawer earn no interest income and don’t participate in any revenue generating activities. Personally, I think it is foolish to hold less than 5% for that “just in case” black swan.

  • Rich September 23, 2013, 4:09 pm

    Like the market calls and new format Rick.

    Appears we are both constructive on higher market prices until further notice.

    Re “the stock market last week hit a new all-time high. What’s wrong with this picture, readers? That is the Question of the Week”:

    There is nothing wrong with the markets hitting new all-time highs picture, even if a compromised Congress is not doing its job policing the Courts and Executive Branch.

    The Fed tested the waters 22 May 2013 re tapering, found them chilly, dour and unreceptive, so continued expanding the monetary base to the surprise of many.

    No surprise to anyone who appreciates the $126 Trillion in unfunded government liabilities and $628 Trillion in unmarketable, unregulated unsecured, untransparent bank derivatives. Dodd Frank is conspicuous by its implementation of only 172 of 280 passed deadlines.

    What is wrong with our economy is the psychopathic corporate union criminal culture of the banks and lobbies on Wall Street and in Washington DC that create 1% winners and 99% losers with reverse Robin Hood policies and practices stealing from the poor and middle class long-suffering majority.

    Corporate, government and union employees and former employees alike are waking up to the fact that their benefits, jobs and pensions were robbed while they worked to support their families and futures.

    GW warned US in 1796, Ike warned US in 1953, JFK warned US in 1963.

    Beware entangling foreign alliances, political parties, military industrial complexes and secret government espionage.

    Six corporations own government and the news.

    16 intelligence and many more useless alphabet agencies violate our Constitution with impunity, defying unenforced Constitutional Oaths of public service.

    Our corporate, government and union leaders have been lying to US and stealing from US at the same time. No one really believes we have 2% inflation or 7% unemployment. Try 10% and 28% for a record Misery Index of 38%.

    In the specific case of tyrannical 0Care, written by academics with no business experience and lobbyists representing only their corporate clients, pushed through Congress on 23 March 2010 by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Teleprompter 0 and monopoly media with legislative skullduggery, no transparency as promised, containing over 20 higher new taxes and 16,000 new IRS Agents to enforce them, destroying jobs and healthcare with red-taped subsidies like Federal government destroyed education, allowing Congress, corporations and unions to exempt themselves, it is just a matter of time before most Americans realize neither political party represents them, only the special interests that fund their campaigns.

    Both political parties betray, conquer and divide the majority for their hidden masters, using phony hot button issues.

    The Empire has no clothes, economy, food or money.

    The Fed is trying to hold this House of Cards up with ever more fiat funny money since China and Russia said, “No mas.”

    If the Fed tapers, markets for the 1% collapse as well as the economy for the 99%.

    Thus the Independent Constitutional Libertarian Party political revolution of 2014 has the makings of the largest real revolution since 1776, despite losing elections since 1971 when the Libertarian Party was founded by Harry Browne, later led by Russell Means, Ron Paul and Gary Johnson.

    Libertarian voter registrations are growing right now as more and more people say, “A pox on both your political parties of poverty.”

    Corporations, foundations, parties and unions are not people. They are special interests who betrayed the majority.

    2014 candidates who refuse special interest funds and receive $100 or less per election from real people, have the best opportunity in 238 years to restore Constitutional government to our Republic. Nowhere in our Declaration of Independence or Constitution do we find the the word Democracy, the slippery slope to compromise and institutional failure.

    A market crash, the 1% making even more profits at new highs at the expense of the 99%, or yet another war would seal the deal, as 0 & N just found out with Putin, Syria and Xi, tired of the pre-emptive wars Hitler waged.

    Less government borrowing, red tape, spending and taxes will quickly do the trick to protect liberty, life, peace and prosperity for the majority of US.

    Imagine replacing the current special interest Income Tax system, where We the people pay nine times the taxes of far wealthier corporations, foundations and unions, with a Constitutionally uniform 28 basis point automated transaction tax that keeps government out of our business, politics out of our money and red tape out of our economy.

    Imagine returning to the Constitutional definition of only gold and silver are legal tender in settlement of debts.

    Imagine downsizing unproductive government bureaucracies our Constitution never authorized.

    Imagine paying down all US Debt with economic growth like Andrew Jackson in 1835.

    Exhilarating, yes?

    We can do it

    Richard Charles@RichardCharlesI

    • Redwilldanaher September 23, 2013, 4:35 pm

      Nice work by both of you “RnR”. I am looking forward to reading the rebutals from the “in some ways it has never been better” and the “don’t worry, be happy” gang that polices this forum like the most dedicated apparatchiks Amerika has ever known. Oh yea, sorry, didn’t mean to slight the conspiracy theory denier brigades. They’ll be along shortly as well.

      As for Rick’s question, obviously there is so much wrong with this picture that it rivals a snuff film. I’ve always believed that the manipulation can take the indices far higher than I would ever believed possible so I’m always open to dramatic action to either side. The lack of catalyst is one reason that I have not been overly concerned to this point. I think the problem for bears that see a hyper disconnect between index levels and reality is that the game is much more rigged and can easily become exponentially much more rigged on a moment’s notice. I have known many intelligent traders that were smoked by fighting the madness. As usual most if not all of them overlooked the fine print. “We reserve all rights and all times and furthermore the laws of physics, economies, finance, divine, human, natural and unnatural do not apply here unless they can be capriciously used to our advantage and then capriciously discarded to our advantage. So says the Game Masters.” If the dotcom bubble didn’t convince you then Amerika’s dive to 3rd world status that perfectly mirrors in the inverse the rise of the indices in $ terms ought to at least give you pause.

      • DK September 24, 2013, 7:05 pm

        Second that RWD. Rick, great article, Rich, great summary.
        How long before we get that VAT system “they” have wanted for, what, 40 years now?

      • Jason S September 25, 2013, 6:31 pm

        DK, the VAT is a little late. 15% of of nothing is, let me do the math here – let me do the math here. Nothing into nothin’. Carry the nothin’. Point is we who get the bill are all broke or shortly will be. The parasitic politicians, corporate lobbyists and free-loading public have gotten so big and numerous they have put the host on hospice. It is only a short matter of time since we wont delouse ourselves.

      • DK September 25, 2013, 6:47 pm

        Jason, it’s not as much about tax revenues as it is about another power grab. The IRS is likely to be abolished sooner rather than later.

      • DK September 25, 2013, 7:07 pm

        perhaps that should have read the IRS, as we know it, is likely to be demolished…

      • Jason S September 25, 2013, 7:23 pm

        DK, perhaps. But it seems like they are amassing all the power they want without that. For them to maintain power they will need wealth and unfortunately, the little that remains is quickly being syphoned from the middle class. The wealthy have it but they are the ruling elite (directly or indirectly) so how does the power grow when they have to start cannibalizing each other?

        Maybe entropy works in socialization and civilization as well? We will devolve back into monarchy or some other form where all the wealth and power is eventually held by one family and everyone else is a wage slave of some type working to benefit that one family.

        It does give some credence to the eight stages of democracy hypothesis:
        From bondage to spiritual faith;
        From spiritual faith to great courage;
        From courage to liberty;
        From liberty to abundance;
        From abundance to selfishness;
        From selfishness to complacency;
        From complacency to apathy;
        From apathy to dependence;
        From dependence back into bondage.

    • Rich September 26, 2013, 7:37 pm

      Thanks RWD, DK, JS, Mava, RA, Chuck, Jill, MC, Cam, E, JJ, VB, GL, Craig, B for making this real.

      NSA Prism FB now targets 105.

      The Fed made it clear it will not taper because it thinks stocks are real wealth, at least for the 1% that own them. One always wonders how secure electronic ownership is if the grid shuts down.

      Debt certificates continue to provide usury enslavement for the 99% servicing them, at least until the Jubilee, long overdue, comes again, maybe 2032 according to Martin Armstrong.

      In a century, the Fed took the dollar from $18 an ounce of gold to $1923.70, an inflationary devaluation over -99%. Are we really making profits on our “investments” adjusted for inflation after taxes?

      We may have both inflation and deflation in that order, only God, Vern Myers, von Mises and Franz Pick know when.

      The Continental, Greenbacks and FRNs all proved the mettle of precious, particularly silver, as the global Spanish Dollar was defacto US legal tender in four centuries from 1497 to 1857 as our founders wrote into our Constitution.

      Who needs a bank holiday to go out of business?

      If all the electronic money disappears with the 13-14 November GridExII shutdown or similar, this economy could deflate and return to barter in a nanosecond:

      http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/17/us/as-worries-over-the-power-grid-rise-a-drill-will-simulate-a-knockout-blow.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

      Just when many are leaving bonds and dollars, the $USD targeting +28% to 103, just might make cents to keep a bunch of cash around for a rainy day, although Federal Reserve Notes keep being redesigned to thwart hoarding.

      If the dollar is reverse split, we could see a conjunction convergence of $50 American Gold Eagle currency, face and metal value again, the ultimate money massage mirage, with enough deflation for people with real cash to scoop in and buy at low prices with blood running in the streets.

  • isjosa1 September 23, 2013, 2:20 pm

    hi is it likely that US stocks go way way higher before the collapse as money flees bonds around the globe?

    • mario cavolo September 28, 2013, 4:07 am

      Yes of course. I am God by the way.

      Oh sorry, you’re kidding right? I mean you actually ask that question here and expect a “person” who “knows” to “give” you the answer and then you will “believe” it is the “correct” answer?

      Start reading isjosa…I recommend starting with the archives here around 2010, that’ll keep you busy for awhile…

  • wayne siggard September 23, 2013, 5:39 am

    And shut themselves off from the freebie bonbons? Not likely. Boehner is likely to play the game for a nonce, ring his hands, frown assiduously, and then announce, for the good of the nation, that he will have to let the budget bill go to reconciliation; where, of course, the Democrats will pass whatever they want.
    With a most passionate decrying of the evils of Obamacare, he will let it pass while crowing how hard he tried to denounce and defund it.
    He will tell us that we don’t know how it works in Washington, and that he had no choice, or the government would shut down, which would provoke a world-wide calamity. To which we reply: We do know how it works in Washington, and it has to STOP. NOW. If it doesn’t, it will stop of its own accord, due to natural law in the not too distant future (1 year, 5 years, 10 years?)
    The can has already gone over the cliff, and if they are still kicking it, then they have also gone over the cliff. When it hits the bottom, then we will see REAL calamity.


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