V. Arnold
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Quo Vadis? I think it’s pretty clear, in general, where the U.S. is heading.
There is no one point to go back to; but over time the U.S. citizens have allowed their country to arrive at this juncture. They vote the same corrupt bastards into power year after year after year. They voted Obama into office and then are shocked, shocked, by his actions. As with most things; the truth was there if one really cared to find it. Obviously they wanted to believe the hype. Beware belief; it will fuck you every time.
To deny this is to deny we were ever a democracy. At 70 years old I can say, for a fact, I’ve been spoon fed propaganda from day one. I woke up to that somewhere around the age of 14.
What happened to the rest of the population? Are we innocent victims? Do we hold no responsibility for our predicament?
Ilargi knows and speaks truth to power. And denial, being an apologist for U.S. citizens, will obviate change.“Energy Agency cut its global demand forecast for the fourth time in five months. Prices are down 46% from this year’s highest close of $107.26 on June 20. “By taking out $58, oil is moving towards the next target $55,” said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at Price Futures.”
It’s shit like this that just boggles the mind (mine). Four times in five months “they’ve” been, dare I say it?; wrong. Where do they divine these numbers? With a ouija board?
I think Bill Black is the only economist worth listening to; the rest are just prancing as phony witch doctors ( I mean no intent to impune legitimate witch doctors).
I think this is a seminal event (falling oil prices) and nobody knows where it will end.
Gods be good, I’m just so sick of the propagation of utter bullshit by 99% of the media; TAE excepted.
Fasten your seat-belts…Hmm, no mention of the U.S.’s role in this debacle.
There is some speculation that the U.S. has gotten Saudi Arabia to hold the line on oil production to damage Russia’s economy (Russia being an oil exporting country) by driving the prices down, way down. This is just stupid.
The U.S. is in a full court press for regime change in Russia.
It should be noted that historically the U.S. did the same thing (sanctions, severe sanctions) to Japan prior to their attack on Pearl Harbor.
The McCollum Memorandum;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCollum_memo
well documented by Robert Stinnett in his book, Day of Deceit, outlines FDR’s plot to incite an attack by Japan after severe sanctions against Japan.
The overall picture is not complete without this information.
The U.S. is playing with a man (Putin) who will not be bluffed or otherwise intimidated.
The ignorance and blatant stupidity is breathtaking…@ John Day
Well, well, good on you.
We did to Japan exactly what we’re doing to Russia today. We sanctioned the hell out of them.
12/07/41 is just another myth in the long line of myths from 1492 to the present.
It’s pretty clear to any but fools, that the U.S. will fuck you up if you don’t tow the line.
Putin, just speaking truth to power, shows the reams of lies propagated by the west for exactly what they are; the contrast is striking to say the least.
i’m just thankful that in world full of adolescent leaders there is one adult (Putin) in the room. Otherwise we might be shooting and watching mushrooms in the skies.
My bottom line is; governments are probably necessary, but NEVER to be trusted!
Fuck’em all…@ Variable81
Even Ghandi didn’t eschew violence. As distasteful as it is, there are times when it’s unavoidable. It’s never the best outcome.
The violence against the citizens of America, Britain, Spain, Greece, Canada, and on and on and on, in the name of austerity by those respective governments and the IMF is just overwhelming and criminal.
Violence back at that is not unreasonable, IMO.
It may be “our” only effective reply…
That last sentence may be a bit disingenuous given I left more than 11 years ago…Yep, I’ve never understood the growth mantra either.
I wonder how many know what its like to live a self directed existence?
Consumerism is a form of insanity…@ Variable81
A lack of consumption is not a voluntary act, IMO. Ilargi has it exactly right.
I believe I’ve read the U.S. economy is 70% driven by consumerism. That seems right.
So, it follows that with an unemployment rate somewhere north of 20% and the gains in employment are minimum wage jobs; reduced consumption must follow.
I find it laughable that savers are being demonized as unpatriotic. That should be a very strong indicator of the depths to which reason, thought, intelligence, education and a genuine view of reality have been corrupted, not only in America but across the capitalist world.
I left the states debt free and with no credit card and $400 USD in my pocket (to my name). I had a job in the place I landed, so, a bit of a leap, but under the circumstances, heaven.
My wife has a credit card and it carries no balance. Our only debt is a mortgage payment. That is 10% of our income.
We are not consumers. I’m retired now and frankly view consumerism as a sick religion foisted on an ignorant populace addicted to stuff.
Consumers do ultimately shit their nest; which no other animal on earth does.
So, do carry on and get rid of your debt; smart move, IMO, very smart move.
CheersSo, this is all fun and games. It reminds (interesting word; re mind) me of the Matrix.
The gods of the fury down-siding reign, until the gods of the fury up-siding gain purchase.
And we, the unwashed, have the best seats in the house, if only we can have the presence of mind to watch….
It’s quite a ride, all in all, no? 😉Roller coaster architects couldn’t design an actual roller coaster to the specs of this ride: Because this ride defies the laws of physics.
It would seem there is nothing to hang on to…What a gorgeous oak tree; it takes my breath away…
On another note; SNAFU! Situation Normal, All Fucked UP!
On yet another note; FUBAR!Ain’t it grand? 25°c last night after a 33°c day. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. No aircon in the tropics, just nature and not surrounded by concrete and asphalt. Trees to the south and north (we’re at 13°N latitude) and a house (an extremely modest dwelling) shaded. It only took 5 years for nature to provide the natural aircon…
Sorry, just a wee bit burned out on western newsflood…@ TheTrivium4TW
Thanks for that link, radio4all. Pure gold.
Being in another sphere, far, far away, books in English are not at hand. And hugely expensive to ship, so this is great.Just listening to the politicians in the U.S. is one of the most frightening things I do on any given day…
@ Raleigh
We don’t really disagree; it’s just the pedant in me. Such as
; “our psychopathic leaders”.
They’re not leaders, they’re rulers. I can’t say when last we had a leader…
Cheers@ Raleigh
To continue on our current path is tantamount to insanity, don’t you think?
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Yes, I agree. But it’s our nature. It would seem that if we can’t change that (our nature), then the rest is moot.
Did you know Obama quietly okay’d another pipeline to deliver tar sands oil to the gulf?
It would appear Keystone XL was/is a diversion; the Kansas City Shuffle. You look here and the action’s over there…
Here’s a link;
https://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/9/4/enbridge-keystonepipelines.html@ NooBoob
Life on earth will not end. Human life may end (I doubt that as well), but life in general will go on. The hyperbole concerning the destruction of the earth is just boring.
And it’s not based on science.
Humans are not capable of destroying the earth. Gort is another story altogether.
But we’re not there…yet…I think we’re on the verge of a post apocalyptic society. We’re there, but not quite full blown…
Serious decisions loom: Time to decide about how you’ll live; what are your values, limits, and penchant for personal violence against other and what are you willing to do to protect self and family…
To clarify; I’m not saying we’re moments away from total collapse; just recognize we’re in a form of collapse, just not the stereotypical, dystopian view, of the general MSM’s version 2.0.@ Nassim
When “the wall” fell and the Soviet dissolved, Chomsky warned that an important balance was lost. He foresaw the west taking full advantage and here we are.
Yes, let’s hope for a healthy re-balancing.@ Nassim
Here’s a video of the Russian supersonic anti-ship cruise missile (2) hitting a ship with bow on shots (very difficult). The kinetic energy alone causes huge damage even before the warheads explode.
My greatest fear is the apparent underestimation of the Russian’s technological abilities.
The hubris and hyperbole coming from the west is just stunning/numbing…https://xbradtc.com/2014/10/15/russian-supersonic-cruise-missile/
Through the late 80’s, into the 90’s, and further into the ought’s I watched as real estate just kept appreciating. I was not an owner, just a curious observer.
I kept asking myself; how is this possible? The whole economic situation seemed not real, a construct with no substance. Then I witnessed friends, whose wages (mine included) did not substantially increase, use credit to keep up with rising inflation. Homes became ATM’s which is all history now.
My point is, I saw this and questioned it and was always rebuffed as wrong and not savvy about the true financial nature of the economy. So, I spent decades with the uneasy feeling that something was wrong, but having no outside support for my feelings.
Sadly, I came to realize common sense was grossly missing from the majority, who bought the whole construct: And I saw the result and felt vindicated, but it brought little solace.
I’ll not lay claim to any expertise in economics, but good economic policy does seem a matter of common sense. Those who claim otherwise are Sophists and hypocrites, IMO.@ Rapier
If Putin is best for Russia or not I can’t guess. I simply know a unipolar world is impossible.
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Your comment in toto makes no sense.
Russia is under attack, directly from the U.S.. Do you not see this?
Putin is demonized at every turn.
If one has no understanding of Russian culture then that one has nothing to say. At least nothing of much value.
I was married to a non-U.S. born Ukrainian woman and had some involvement in their culture. What I learned was very interesting; the world is not dependent on the U.S. centric world view. And culture counts, a whole helluvalla lot!
God’s be good; do I actually have to say I don’t buy the whole spcheel?
But I do buy that the U.S. is wrong and totally fucked in its policy towards Russia and Putin!Glad to hear Gorbachev supporting Putin.
Putin is the best thing for Russia. The west, especially the U.S., does not have a clue about Russian culture. The U.S. cannot see past its own provincialism and hubris.
Fortunately there are Orlov, the Saker, and RT for those interested in just what the hell is really going on in Ukraine.
For those geographically challenged, take a look at a map and look at the vastness of Russia. Putin knows what he’s got and is trying to develop his resources.
One can only hope America’s 5th column inside Russia can be defeated.
Putin is well aware of it…Whomever is responsible for U.S. economic policy is bat shit crazy.
I think there is no “whomever”; it’s on a broken auto-pilot.
Greed is a very ugly condition, no?
Thailand won’t sign an FTA with the U.S. and that may well ease its passage through this fucked up, global, economic maelstrom. But then, what the hell do I know?A very timely piece.
My guess would be that poverty is an abstraction for most of the posters here.
Poverty is a prison with no visible walls. It’s self perpetuating. A very hard cycle to break.
The poor make bad decisions. When given choices the poor tend towards the immediate rather than the long term. Being shunned by society at large they “know” their place and don’t consider alternatives.
If education is available it is generally substandard and likely won’t be contiued beyond the legal requirements. In S.E. Asia that would be the age of 15. Even the “legal” minimum wage is out of reach due to a lack of skills.
Even when the government has programs designed to help the poor, they are ignorant of those policies and fail to get help. The poor lack phones and computors and governments are lacking when it comes to outreach.
In Thailand there are programs for the poor and healthcare is available to everybody, regardless of income. This is true of education as well, but going on to university is very difficult if even possible for the truly poor. Women of course, are the majority affected by poverty followed closely by children.
The U.S. is at war with the poor and blame them for their poverty. The bloodless politicians have cut benefits across the board and want more cuts. The U.S. Government/politicians are the largest generators of poverty in their race to the bottom. Humanity is MIA.@ John Day
The passivity of Americans is vexing. I have never understood it; having been active in anti-Vietnam war demonstrations (I barely escaped being drafted[but that’s another story]).
Frankly, I do not believe the U.S. citizens know or understand what’s being done to them. Provincialism extracts a very high price in the end. It may be that simple.Self sufficiency probably is not possible for most; but sufficiency will be imposed and those without “community” will be fucked (there’s no polite way to put it).
In fact that’s exactly the situation extant as I type this. The U.S. has lost all sense of community. Of course there are exceptions; but they are far and few between.
My view from afar is that most are not really looking for answers or solutions. Too close to the elephant’s leg…Why anybody would still be doing business with “banks” is quite beyond me.
I gave up on “banks” more than 20 years ago; credit unions are the only viable alternative, IMO. Being a member is way different than being a “customer” (translation=one-to-exploit).
As long as one plays the game, one is in the game; withdraw consent by not playing the game.Valdai. I listened to all of it; 3 hours worth of it. Putin’s best speech ever and maybe the best speech from a world leader yet in the 21st century.
I liked #6 from Orlov’s blog;
6. Russia will not attempt to reformat the world in her own image, but neither will she allow anyone to reformat her in their image. Russia will not close herself off from the world, but anyone who tries to close her off from the world will be sure to reap a whirlwind.The west’s provincialism, especially the U.S.’s, is appalling. Nobody’s talking about the Valdai conference and particularly Putin’s speech.
I’m just gobsmacked…Raúl Ilargi Meijer;
At times you overwhelm us simple folks with an avalanche of information (welcomed, by the way).
It is then, like the box tortoise, that I pull into my protective shell to consider the great “out there”, you know, the nothing. And then try to divine the best way forward.
I’m on a steady course of living small and sufficient. So far so good…What do I know?
Not much really. Maintain zero debt and up ones savings as much as possible. Live small and sufficiently.
And I think you’re correct about the viability of the dollar, at least in the not so foreseeable future…@ Formerly T-Bear;
“How long will it take for people to immediately react to such deceptions as being just another lie not worth the air it arrived on, or the bog-paper it was written on.”
This doth come to mind…
A Little Boy Blue come blow your horn,
The sheep’s in the meadow the cow’s in the corn.
But where’s the boy who looks after the sheep?
He’s under a haystack fast asleep.
Will you wake him? No, not I – for if I do, he’s sure to cry😉
Allegiance to anything other than family or friends is the end of personal sovereignty.
We truly are living in an Orwellian world where lies are insisted to be truth and truth is nowhere to be found outside of a very few conscious beings.
Governments are such vile organizations; it’s a wonder humans are so attached to them…https://rt.com/shows/boom-bust/199967-us-stress-tests-economy/
Follow the link; the E.U. stress test was phony as a three dollar bill…
The Potemkin economy marches on…@ Formerly T-Bear
I barely listen to or watch any U.S. media (Democracy Now excepted).
I refuse to listen to anything from Obama, Kerry, Clinton (both), or Cameron. I turn off the sound as their voices are offensive and insulting to any sentient soul.
I find RT to be quite refreshing for the most part; but one must listen with a very keen ear…
The Saker and Orlov are worth a visit as is TRNN (The Real News network).
Our world is enveloped in a very toxic atmosphere…Well, you got the numbers exactly correct. 25 banks failed! Good sources, no?
We’re in the era of circus maximas of the Roman games.
We’re such fools…@ venuspluto67
When one thinks one is omnipotent, then that one tends toward the absurd.
It is incumbent upon us, to recognize via common sense, when things have gone off the rails.
Seeing that, we (those with common sense) tend towards reasonable behavior. At least those of us who can still see, using our common sense…
The rest/majority? They do what they do…
