A peaceful, civil society keeps its mad dogs and warmongers on tight leashes. It controls the money. It insists that the military jefes take their orders from civil authorities.
An easy way to constrain the MIC would be to ban military personnel from working for the weapons companies and lobbying firms for at least 5 years after retirement. Even better would be to end private campaign financing for federal offices. Let's admit that large campaign contributions are bribes. If the feds provided equal financing to congressional and presidential candidates who had received a set number of voter signatures we would save money in the long run. Big Pharma/AG/and MIC wouldn't be able to bribe "our?" representatives.
Problem is the Representatives don't represent the people. The Representatives represent the Institutions which have been captured. This has been going on for a long time, but its no longer a dirty little secret. They not only don't listen to the people; they detest them. When they tell us they're saving our Democracy; their actual intent is to save the Institutions which they've captured. The Uniparty/Globalists can't hide this as long as we still have the 1st Amendment. The obliteration of Mainstream Media and the rise of decentralized alternative news sources has exacerbated their problem. In the long run the Uniparty/Globalists will hit the proverbial brick wall as the truth always prevails. However, it will be a painful process waiting for the Tribalists among us to finally come to the conclusion that their elected Representatives are actively working against their interests. Yes, there's some outlier Representatives, but this is a Sea Change. We here understand the Sea Change, but our votes are being nullified by the hordes of blissfully ignorant Tribalists among us. One last thought. Trump could have stopped this trend dead in its tracks by doing the following: 1) Sharing the details of the JFK Assassination, 2) Dropping the charges against Assange, 3) Pardoning Snowden. Missed opportunities or deliberate? I don't know the answer. All I know is that the rot is deep :-)
Hi Craig, Mark here. Speaking of capture, there is this by way of an example:
Agency Capture – Biden Allocated $1.2 Billion To The United Nations Relief And Works Agency (UNRWA). It's Laced With Terrorist Extremists. | February 1, 2024 | OpenTheBooks.com
That's our Achilles Heel: no true accountability and no provision for remedy of mistakes. Government by consensus is chimera, because in times of stress, people don't think logically. Best always. PM
💯 Agree with your, “That's our Achilles Heel: no true accountability…” Personally, among the U.S. 542 elected federales, they have plenty of time for a deplorable like me since they are no better than seasonal workers given Congress is in legislative session an average of 146 to 165 days in any given year. iMO, that’s a lot of time for persistent, pervasive, town hall meetings with relentless hectoring constituents.
The 542’ers have no idea how hot under the collar their constituents actually are in general and on issue(s) case by case basis. As seasonal workers, they need to be reminded there is such thing as voting constituent redress.
Squeaky wheel get the grease.
Regards,
Mark
P.S.
Open the Books has a nice archive of their prodigious work. Free to subscribe. It gives one a small sense of pleasure to deliver with a cover letter and summary to my Congressional federale a forensic accounting:
$10 Million To Harvard, Brown And Others Flowed From The “State Of Palestine” | May 8, 2024 | OpenTheBooks.com
Northwestern University Received $4 Billion From U.S. Taxpayers Since 2018, While Their Endowment Soared To $15 Billion | May 20, 2024 | OpenTheBooks.com
Wealthy, Elite Universities Like Harvard Taxed You $45 Billion In Last Five Years | November 15, 2023 | OpenTheBooks.com
Agency Capture – Biden Allocated $1.2 Billion To The United Nations Relief And Works Agency (UNRWA). It's Laced With Terrorist Extremists. | February 1, 2024 | OpenTheBooks.com
While I could see the argument regarding the lobbying part, military personnel offer invaluable insight when working with the weapons companies after getting out of service. It's also a place they are most qualified to be in. The idea of just letting people with no service experience run these companies would quickly show to be a horrible decision when an actual war happens. Plus it would eliminate many potential good paying off-ramps for good men and women who served their country instead of going to get a 4-year indoctrination at a university.
But how qualified are some of these retired generals working for the MIC? We haven't won a real war in most of our lifetimes. Once they go to work for Raytheon or Lockheed their job is to sell overpriced weapons to their friends in the military. I rather see ex-military officials working on an independent review board for weapon contracts. If these retired generals were actually concerned about our future they would strive to drive costs down.
Speaking of serving their country, and I'm saying this as a veteran, when has our military actually "served" our country? Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, etc are all unnecessary wars that only enriched the MIC. Agent Orange killed more soldiers than the Vietcong. Our "Defense Department" is worried about Israel and China but could care less about defending our borders.
All empires, eventually fail, all fiat currencies eventually fail. Not one has escaped this fate in the history of time. Now, saying exactly when that is to be, is the question.
To quote Schiller, again, “Against ignorance or stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.” I love this thought. It’s so true and so ignored. “Cynicalism” exemplified.
"Today, the US has more swords than anyone ever had. What’s next?"
Likely next is our demise by a series of atomic pocket knives, carried in through an open "border" by unvetted and CIA selected, trained and equipped "got-a-ways." That's if the collapsing dollar and internal divisions (almost ALL manufactured and false) don't get us first.
Fret not (I guess.) Most of the Countries the perpetrators are coming from have valid reasons to Hate us...
Spot-on with one addition............even us good ol' Americans are finding reasons to hate our government. Besides the border, the recent disasters with Helene and Milton clearly demonstrated how our government absolutely does not give a sh*t about us. Ugly - yes and unfortunately accurate.
Nuclear Armageddon is next. That shouldn't surprise many of the adults, should it? Just finished, "A Century of War" by Engdahl. The book actually made me physically ill. Elon's quote the other day couldn't have been more accurate unless he would've referred to every single empire in history, when he said, "America is like the greatest company ever known, run by the worst people ever born."
The lesson I learned from history is that a) man is not really capable of self-government, and b) all government eventually goes bad. These two features are rooted in man's inherently fallible nature. Some forms of government have proven to be more effective than others; some cultures have proven to be more durable and productive, but they all eventually fail, because there is no way to forestall man's fallibility.
In my case, I recall in elementary school (1958-1964) that our education when it came to civics was massive propaganda to the effect that the USA is what it is, and where it is, because our system of government is nearly perfect (even divinely inspired!) and the best possible way for humans to organize themselves. It was classic attribution bias. When the dissent came in the 60s, no one was prepared for it.
As is their wont, the politicians (foxes) seized on their opening. Blow after blow came: Kennedy assassination (an inside job), Civil Rights Act (noble but unconstitutional and divisive), The Great Society (guns AND butter, and LOTS of both), Viet Nam (oh my gawd, the government LIES to us), abandonment of the gold standard (government spending unleashed), Roe v. Wade (infanticide is justified as a matter of personal convenience, the logical product of the sexual revolution and feminism), and finally, Watergate (the government not only lies but exists solely for itself). In 10 short years, our world turned totally upside and down and was violently shaken.
No system, no government, no culture, no country could withstand assaults on its fundamental principles to this degree and survive intact, much less in so brief a timespan. We had one last "Hurrah!" as America and Americans (Reagan presidency), and the ship began its descent beneath the waves. Others, whose "ships" never were sea-worthy, swam out of the waters and clambered aboard ours, thinking it would be refuge, but all it did was accelerate our foundering.
That's it, y'all. The bar's still open for now. Get your anesthesia while you can. Best always. PM
Never be afraid or reticent to disagree with me and express same. I am not here for ego-boosting. I am here to learn. Many thanks for your endorsement, but even more for your participation. Best always. PM
Read what Victor Davis Hansen has to say about human beings and their penchant for butchery. His study of history and its lessons are eye opening. He is a national treasure in my opinion. God's blessings to all and I mean all.
I retired from the DoD aand Bill is 100% correct. I have so many stories about defense companies screwing over the military. When I tried to do something, I was told to shut up. I used to get so pissed off. All these Navy Captains and Admirals retiring and going to work for the Lockheeds and Raytheons. It was a racket. The servicemen and women are th eones getting hurt along with the taxpayers.
Well, Bill, another bash-the-conservatives essay. Well done and so predictable. All your examples, I noticed, were conservatives. Not one example of war mongering that resides or resided in the liberal camp. Just a coincidence I’m sure. Nevertheless, I believe I’ve finally cut through the fog of essayism you have cast forth and see that you are a typical Maryland liberal. You don’t come right out and admit it. You cast aspersions on the liberals on the occasion that you feel your true colors might bleed through. Otherwise, you continue to bash conservatives with special attention to your favorite: DJT. Frankly, I am a bit disappointed in you. I have several liberal friends and listen to them when they offer debate. They raise points that have merit and they do, as do I, forgive their perspective holders for a lot of dumb stuff that happens. But, I tire of your continued biases. Your group still has worthwhile things for me to hear about regarding financial aspects in my life. But, I tire of the political claptrap, especially when it seems too one sided. Here’s a thought: Drop the politics completely. Stick with money aspects, investment advice, occasional Americana essays and insight into your exciting life as a closet billionaire. All interest me. But, please no more politics.
Bill has said from day 1, that the less government the better. He doesn't care for either side. They're both led by morons, that have sold their souls for the almighty dollar.
Otherwise, one of the parties would outlaw lobbying in a heartbeat as soon as they got into power.
Allow bids for government contracts to whoever could fulfill them, at the best quality/price point. Instead of paying $90k for a bag of bushings.
Never spend a single dollar more than they brought in.
CHARGE countries/companies for escorting their boats thru war torn zones, as opposed to putting the bill at their own taxpayer's feet.
NEVER EVER lock an entire country down because of a flu bug. And then print money up to keep the people "happy."
Let the market dictate prices, not price controls.
Tie gold to the currency. In other words, make the currency a responsible one. Not a fictitious one.
Close down 180+ American bases, stop funding other people's wars and stop starting new ones. With that single move, literally wipe out the deficit within a few decades.
Bill says that almost every post. Do not spend more than you make. Less government is better.
But it ain't gonna happen. Because both political parties know which side their bread is buttered on. The military industrial complex has run the US since Kennedy was "dealt" with. And since then, it always helps the new guy in office when they get a "special" visit letting them know that if they step out of line, their entire family is going to disappear. Just like flights 77 and 93 on 9/11. Because, hey! Buildings just fall down by themselves (Building 7 at 5:00 PM) and the American people will believe whatever lie their government tells them is a fact, physics (9/11) and intel (Iraq) be damned. After all, Popular Mechanics will tell us how it really happened.
The last time a president tried to actually do the right thing, it got him killed. And that ain't gonna happen going forward any time soon either.
So buckle up and enjoy the show, buttercup. And as for your suggestion of dropping politics, its why I come here. To get a good laugh. At the circus and its clowns.
At this point, his butt-hurt ardor is almost completely aimed at the former President. If the dimocrat communists are somehow allowed to steal the election, AGAIN, thus nullifying Mr. Trump's influence, I fully expect Mr. Bonner to turn his closeted disdain of anything/all things Conservative directly toward you and I. The mistake he is making, like virtually ALL of the leftardes, is that MAGA/America First is a Movement, not a man.
Bonner doesn't need our piddling subscription fees...
Hi Dan, Mark here; since we did not get today’s smidgen yet of “ Stick with money aspects, investment advice…” here, f.w.i.w. this from Liberty through Wealth:
JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) both reported results Friday - and the market was watching closely for an update on the health of both consumers and businesses. Those big money center banks - together with rivals like Citigroup (NYSE: C) and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) - are major pipelines for money moving through the economy.
As such, they can provide bountiful information about both borrowing and spending (two activities that are vital to economic growth). We’ll have to wait and see. Here’s a trend
You nailed it Dan. Occasionally, Bill throws in a diversionary version of “they’re all bad”, but his main modus operandi is to repetitively list a series of banal truisms (ie war bad, we need energy, fiat currency bad, debt bad, corruption bad), then associate each of the bad truisms with conservatives. But far and away, his deepest pleasure is to associate his repetitive list of banal bad truisms with Israel. Bill preaches against simple minded idiots who split the world into the good side and the bad side. But he is exhibit number one.
There are only 2 ways to get stuff. Take it (win-lose). Trade for it (win-win). People tend to take the path of least resistance to get what they want. Living in denial does not change human nature.
I think we should pull our troops home from all over the world except for defending Israel. Then all these people that run us down would be crying like babies starting with European union
That's perfectly fine as it's your personal prerogative. Just understand that its not everyone's personal prerogative. It never ends well when you force your own personal prerogative onto someone else.
Fascinating to see Genghis Khan paraphrasing Conan the Barbarian. Maybe it's the other way around.
Reference: Conan movies of the 1980s. "Conan, what is best in life?!" "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women." I have no idea why that stuck in my mind.
Funny, I was thinking same, and was disappointed that Ol' Ghenghis hadn't used that beautiful turn of a phrase "hear the lamentations of their women." Also interesting that denizens of Cimmeria speak with an Austrian accent..
Humans are the most inhumane of all creatures, and the most deluded in believing humanity towards others will overcome biological drives towards power acquisition and the use of violence to sustain and maintain that power.
Many of us recognize the fallacy of that very misguided belief. We train, prepare and, at least in our minds, stand ready to do what is necessary when the pot boils over.
Bill Bonner, the one trick pony. The Jews were chanting "no more weapons, no more war..." in Grand Central Station. Weren't the Jews that were slaughtered on October 7 at a "peace concert"? Yes, there have been terrible people driven by terrible philosophies and ideas waging war on others. Bill has named some of them. Here's a rational answer to that, an answer that analyzes the "Roots of War", and does so in a way that is far beyond anything Bonner could ever come up with....
The problem today is religion: For some reason believers in Judea-Christianity have latched onto the belief that they are superior and therefore exempt from the natural laws of human coexistence and even of their own country. That is why they have been at each others' throats for millennia in Europe and why the US government has invaded many dozens of countries and killed 22 million foreigners in their homes since WWII without once honoring its own constitutionally-required "Declaration of War". It is why they (England, US and Jewish settlers) see no problem invading Palestine, stealing the homes, villages and cities, herding the inhabitants into concentration camps and reservations and now slaughtering the remaining descendants they weren't to starve to death!
The religions and beliefs that condone this behavior can temporarily avoid the consequences of soaking their/our swords in blood--which will be pariah status for Israel and imminent bankruptcy for the US.
Contrast those consequences with those generated by Vietnamese and Chinese Taoism-inspired introspection and non-aggression: zero bombs dropped or shots fired, booming economies (in spite of sanctions, tariffs, etc.), 10-fold wage increases (vs. zero in US, worse in Israel), increasing numbers of allies, paper money based on gold, investing $80 billion (what the US is investing to kill Ukrainians, Russians, Palestinians and Israelis) in Africa to duplicate the Chinese miracle there.
Substituting Statolatry for Judea-Christianity would be more accurate when describing today's environment. The politicians start the wars and expect their followers to do their fighting. One big exorcism from Statolatry could do a world of good :-)
YEP,BILL, HUMANS HAVE BEEN MASS MURDERING OTHER HUMANS FOR AT LEAST 6000 YEARS OF RECORDED HISTORY. INSANELY DUMB. AS DYLAN ASKER IN "WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE" ABOUT, 60 YEARS AGO, "WFEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN"? WAR IS PROMOTED, IN FACT MANUFACTURED, BY THE RICHEST OF THE RICH TO AGGRANDIZE THEIR WEALTH AND POWER. LET THEM AND THEIR SONS FO FIGHT THEIR WARS THE COMMON MAN HAS BETTER THINGS TO DO. FOR EXAMPLE, STAY HOME AND PRODUCE A BETTER LIFE FOR HIS FAMILY AND HIS FELLOW MAN. "THEIR IS A DESTINY WHICH MAKES US BROTHERS. NONE WALKS HIS WAY ALONE. ALL THAT WE SEND INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS, COMES BACK INTO OUR OWN." EDWIN MARKHA.
An easy way to constrain the MIC would be to ban military personnel from working for the weapons companies and lobbying firms for at least 5 years after retirement. Even better would be to end private campaign financing for federal offices. Let's admit that large campaign contributions are bribes. If the feds provided equal financing to congressional and presidential candidates who had received a set number of voter signatures we would save money in the long run. Big Pharma/AG/and MIC wouldn't be able to bribe "our?" representatives.
Problem is the Representatives don't represent the people. The Representatives represent the Institutions which have been captured. This has been going on for a long time, but its no longer a dirty little secret. They not only don't listen to the people; they detest them. When they tell us they're saving our Democracy; their actual intent is to save the Institutions which they've captured. The Uniparty/Globalists can't hide this as long as we still have the 1st Amendment. The obliteration of Mainstream Media and the rise of decentralized alternative news sources has exacerbated their problem. In the long run the Uniparty/Globalists will hit the proverbial brick wall as the truth always prevails. However, it will be a painful process waiting for the Tribalists among us to finally come to the conclusion that their elected Representatives are actively working against their interests. Yes, there's some outlier Representatives, but this is a Sea Change. We here understand the Sea Change, but our votes are being nullified by the hordes of blissfully ignorant Tribalists among us. One last thought. Trump could have stopped this trend dead in its tracks by doing the following: 1) Sharing the details of the JFK Assassination, 2) Dropping the charges against Assange, 3) Pardoning Snowden. Missed opportunities or deliberate? I don't know the answer. All I know is that the rot is deep :-)
Hi Craig, Mark here. Speaking of capture, there is this by way of an example:
Agency Capture – Biden Allocated $1.2 Billion To The United Nations Relief And Works Agency (UNRWA). It's Laced With Terrorist Extremists. | February 1, 2024 | OpenTheBooks.com
Regards,
M
That's our Achilles Heel: no true accountability and no provision for remedy of mistakes. Government by consensus is chimera, because in times of stress, people don't think logically. Best always. PM
💯 Agree with your, “That's our Achilles Heel: no true accountability…” Personally, among the U.S. 542 elected federales, they have plenty of time for a deplorable like me since they are no better than seasonal workers given Congress is in legislative session an average of 146 to 165 days in any given year. iMO, that’s a lot of time for persistent, pervasive, town hall meetings with relentless hectoring constituents.
The 542’ers have no idea how hot under the collar their constituents actually are in general and on issue(s) case by case basis. As seasonal workers, they need to be reminded there is such thing as voting constituent redress.
Squeaky wheel get the grease.
Regards,
Mark
P.S.
Open the Books has a nice archive of their prodigious work. Free to subscribe. It gives one a small sense of pleasure to deliver with a cover letter and summary to my Congressional federale a forensic accounting:
$10 Million To Harvard, Brown And Others Flowed From The “State Of Palestine” | May 8, 2024 | OpenTheBooks.com
Northwestern University Received $4 Billion From U.S. Taxpayers Since 2018, While Their Endowment Soared To $15 Billion | May 20, 2024 | OpenTheBooks.com
Wealthy, Elite Universities Like Harvard Taxed You $45 Billion In Last Five Years | November 15, 2023 | OpenTheBooks.com
Agency Capture – Biden Allocated $1.2 Billion To The United Nations Relief And Works Agency (UNRWA). It's Laced With Terrorist Extremists. | February 1, 2024 | OpenTheBooks.com
Sounds to me like open books will not be on the internet for long. Too much "truth".
Hi Don
Open the Books founded in 2011. Still chugging along quite nicely. Mostly from donations - https://tinyurl.com/9rt9ebbn
Anything is possible. Not everything is probable. Even less is imminent.
At least what my dad (RIP) used to say.
Cheers
Mark
Why is it that Dads are so intelligent? Experience is the word that I think covers the answer to My dumb question. Thanks for the info.
While I could see the argument regarding the lobbying part, military personnel offer invaluable insight when working with the weapons companies after getting out of service. It's also a place they are most qualified to be in. The idea of just letting people with no service experience run these companies would quickly show to be a horrible decision when an actual war happens. Plus it would eliminate many potential good paying off-ramps for good men and women who served their country instead of going to get a 4-year indoctrination at a university.
But how qualified are some of these retired generals working for the MIC? We haven't won a real war in most of our lifetimes. Once they go to work for Raytheon or Lockheed their job is to sell overpriced weapons to their friends in the military. I rather see ex-military officials working on an independent review board for weapon contracts. If these retired generals were actually concerned about our future they would strive to drive costs down.
Speaking of serving their country, and I'm saying this as a veteran, when has our military actually "served" our country? Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, etc are all unnecessary wars that only enriched the MIC. Agent Orange killed more soldiers than the Vietcong. Our "Defense Department" is worried about Israel and China but could care less about defending our borders.
All empires, eventually fail, all fiat currencies eventually fail. Not one has escaped this fate in the history of time. Now, saying exactly when that is to be, is the question.
Meanwhile: Live by the sword. Die by the gun.
America is living by the sword but dying by stupidity…
…picking up reading where I left off yesterday roflmao? https://tinyurl.com/3wjzwux9
To quote Schiller, again, “Against ignorance or stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.” I love this thought. It’s so true and so ignored. “Cynicalism” exemplified.
"Today, the US has more swords than anyone ever had. What’s next?"
Likely next is our demise by a series of atomic pocket knives, carried in through an open "border" by unvetted and CIA selected, trained and equipped "got-a-ways." That's if the collapsing dollar and internal divisions (almost ALL manufactured and false) don't get us first.
Fret not (I guess.) Most of the Countries the perpetrators are coming from have valid reasons to Hate us...
Spot-on with one addition............even us good ol' Americans are finding reasons to hate our government. Besides the border, the recent disasters with Helene and Milton clearly demonstrated how our government absolutely does not give a sh*t about us. Ugly - yes and unfortunately accurate.
Nuclear Armageddon is next. That shouldn't surprise many of the adults, should it? Just finished, "A Century of War" by Engdahl. The book actually made me physically ill. Elon's quote the other day couldn't have been more accurate unless he would've referred to every single empire in history, when he said, "America is like the greatest company ever known, run by the worst people ever born."
Elon is getting attacked mercilessly by the main stream media so he must be right.
Das dicke Ende kommt noch!
M
Literate in German!
Welche Kehr? Rueckkehr? Einkehr? Heimkehr?
Der Untergang des Westens ist leider unterwegs, aber sowieso bleibt uns etwas:
Zerging' in Dunst, das heil'ge roemische Reich, uns bliebe gleich, die heilige deutsche Kunst! Heil Sachs! Nuernbergs teurem Sachs!
(Ich haette eine Bitte: sage keinem, das Letzte ist von Wagner gekommen!) Das Beste immer. PM
But Paul, how is it that you can quote such a special piece of German literature so easily off the cuff ?
I 'm amazed .
And to say the least I 'm always enlightened (and sometimes amused) by your comments.
And like the laconic sound.
Take care PK
Dear Paul,
I' m terribly sorry I missed your wonderful Post!
No, in fact my avatar here is a sound imitation of my real name, which sources from one of the Romansh-speaking countries in Europe.
Basically, it's the reversal of a childhood teasing, where the name was disparaged as “Kehrbesen” and “Kehrschaufel”. Dust broom and Dust pan.
Thank you. I’ve heard dummkopf a few times.
Guess so....😀 Even more than a few times
The lesson I learned from history is that a) man is not really capable of self-government, and b) all government eventually goes bad. These two features are rooted in man's inherently fallible nature. Some forms of government have proven to be more effective than others; some cultures have proven to be more durable and productive, but they all eventually fail, because there is no way to forestall man's fallibility.
In my case, I recall in elementary school (1958-1964) that our education when it came to civics was massive propaganda to the effect that the USA is what it is, and where it is, because our system of government is nearly perfect (even divinely inspired!) and the best possible way for humans to organize themselves. It was classic attribution bias. When the dissent came in the 60s, no one was prepared for it.
As is their wont, the politicians (foxes) seized on their opening. Blow after blow came: Kennedy assassination (an inside job), Civil Rights Act (noble but unconstitutional and divisive), The Great Society (guns AND butter, and LOTS of both), Viet Nam (oh my gawd, the government LIES to us), abandonment of the gold standard (government spending unleashed), Roe v. Wade (infanticide is justified as a matter of personal convenience, the logical product of the sexual revolution and feminism), and finally, Watergate (the government not only lies but exists solely for itself). In 10 short years, our world turned totally upside and down and was violently shaken.
No system, no government, no culture, no country could withstand assaults on its fundamental principles to this degree and survive intact, much less in so brief a timespan. We had one last "Hurrah!" as America and Americans (Reagan presidency), and the ship began its descent beneath the waves. Others, whose "ships" never were sea-worthy, swam out of the waters and clambered aboard ours, thinking it would be refuge, but all it did was accelerate our foundering.
That's it, y'all. The bar's still open for now. Get your anesthesia while you can. Best always. PM
I don't always agree with you PM, but this is bang on the money.
Never be afraid or reticent to disagree with me and express same. I am not here for ego-boosting. I am here to learn. Many thanks for your endorsement, but even more for your participation. Best always. PM
Read what Victor Davis Hansen has to say about human beings and their penchant for butchery. His study of history and its lessons are eye opening. He is a national treasure in my opinion. God's blessings to all and I mean all.
I retired from the DoD aand Bill is 100% correct. I have so many stories about defense companies screwing over the military. When I tried to do something, I was told to shut up. I used to get so pissed off. All these Navy Captains and Admirals retiring and going to work for the Lockheeds and Raytheons. It was a racket. The servicemen and women are th eones getting hurt along with the taxpayers.
Maybe just Maybe Trump and Musk can clean it up.
Don’t count on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gIzfMfOyLM
1:15 video, and it's recent.
"Paging Elon Musk. Elon Musk to the Government Accountability Courtesy phone..."
$90k …33.7!! That’s ounces of Au = > a kilo of Au. For? …bushings?
That’s “sick”. That’s “racist” that’s….well, the deep state MIC for ya.
Good one Starboard
M
Well, Bill, another bash-the-conservatives essay. Well done and so predictable. All your examples, I noticed, were conservatives. Not one example of war mongering that resides or resided in the liberal camp. Just a coincidence I’m sure. Nevertheless, I believe I’ve finally cut through the fog of essayism you have cast forth and see that you are a typical Maryland liberal. You don’t come right out and admit it. You cast aspersions on the liberals on the occasion that you feel your true colors might bleed through. Otherwise, you continue to bash conservatives with special attention to your favorite: DJT. Frankly, I am a bit disappointed in you. I have several liberal friends and listen to them when they offer debate. They raise points that have merit and they do, as do I, forgive their perspective holders for a lot of dumb stuff that happens. But, I tire of your continued biases. Your group still has worthwhile things for me to hear about regarding financial aspects in my life. But, I tire of the political claptrap, especially when it seems too one sided. Here’s a thought: Drop the politics completely. Stick with money aspects, investment advice, occasional Americana essays and insight into your exciting life as a closet billionaire. All interest me. But, please no more politics.
Well played Dan. Too funny!
Bill has said from day 1, that the less government the better. He doesn't care for either side. They're both led by morons, that have sold their souls for the almighty dollar.
Otherwise, one of the parties would outlaw lobbying in a heartbeat as soon as they got into power.
Allow bids for government contracts to whoever could fulfill them, at the best quality/price point. Instead of paying $90k for a bag of bushings.
Never spend a single dollar more than they brought in.
CHARGE countries/companies for escorting their boats thru war torn zones, as opposed to putting the bill at their own taxpayer's feet.
NEVER EVER lock an entire country down because of a flu bug. And then print money up to keep the people "happy."
Let the market dictate prices, not price controls.
Tie gold to the currency. In other words, make the currency a responsible one. Not a fictitious one.
Close down 180+ American bases, stop funding other people's wars and stop starting new ones. With that single move, literally wipe out the deficit within a few decades.
Bill says that almost every post. Do not spend more than you make. Less government is better.
But it ain't gonna happen. Because both political parties know which side their bread is buttered on. The military industrial complex has run the US since Kennedy was "dealt" with. And since then, it always helps the new guy in office when they get a "special" visit letting them know that if they step out of line, their entire family is going to disappear. Just like flights 77 and 93 on 9/11. Because, hey! Buildings just fall down by themselves (Building 7 at 5:00 PM) and the American people will believe whatever lie their government tells them is a fact, physics (9/11) and intel (Iraq) be damned. After all, Popular Mechanics will tell us how it really happened.
The last time a president tried to actually do the right thing, it got him killed. And that ain't gonna happen going forward any time soon either.
So buckle up and enjoy the show, buttercup. And as for your suggestion of dropping politics, its why I come here. To get a good laugh. At the circus and its clowns.
Apparently, you and I included.
He can't/won't do it. The TDS is too strong.
At this point, his butt-hurt ardor is almost completely aimed at the former President. If the dimocrat communists are somehow allowed to steal the election, AGAIN, thus nullifying Mr. Trump's influence, I fully expect Mr. Bonner to turn his closeted disdain of anything/all things Conservative directly toward you and I. The mistake he is making, like virtually ALL of the leftardes, is that MAGA/America First is a Movement, not a man.
Bonner doesn't need our piddling subscription fees...
Hi Dan, Mark here; since we did not get today’s smidgen yet of “ Stick with money aspects, investment advice…” here, f.w.i.w. this from Liberty through Wealth:
JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) both reported results Friday - and the market was watching closely for an update on the health of both consumers and businesses. Those big money center banks - together with rivals like Citigroup (NYSE: C) and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) - are major pipelines for money moving through the economy.
As such, they can provide bountiful information about both borrowing and spending (two activities that are vital to economic growth). We’ll have to wait and see. Here’s a trend
https://dkwegfj7whlol.cloudfront.net/oxford/lw/101524LTW-rising-earnings.jpg
Das dicke Ende kommt noch!
Cheers,
Mark
Maybe it's not fat, maybe it's painfully (schmerzvoll) meager (karg)! Best always. PM
My WWII veteran step dad used to tell me a saying they had while over there:
"It's not very big around;
but it sure is short"...
You nailed it Dan. Occasionally, Bill throws in a diversionary version of “they’re all bad”, but his main modus operandi is to repetitively list a series of banal truisms (ie war bad, we need energy, fiat currency bad, debt bad, corruption bad), then associate each of the bad truisms with conservatives. But far and away, his deepest pleasure is to associate his repetitive list of banal bad truisms with Israel. Bill preaches against simple minded idiots who split the world into the good side and the bad side. But he is exhibit number one.
There are only 2 ways to get stuff. Take it (win-lose). Trade for it (win-win). People tend to take the path of least resistance to get what they want. Living in denial does not change human nature.
"Only the dead have seen the end of war" -Plato
I think we should pull our troops home from all over the world except for defending Israel. Then all these people that run us down would be crying like babies starting with European union
You had me until defending Israel. George Washington's warning about avoiding permanent alliances with foreign nations still rings true today.
I will always defend
Israel
That's perfectly fine as it's your personal prerogative. Just understand that its not everyone's personal prerogative. It never ends well when you force your own personal prerogative onto someone else.
We have 15 million new swords in ournation and we don’t know where they’re at.
Fascinating to see Genghis Khan paraphrasing Conan the Barbarian. Maybe it's the other way around.
Reference: Conan movies of the 1980s. "Conan, what is best in life?!" "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women." I have no idea why that stuck in my mind.
Definitely more catchy than “Winning hearts and minds”, or “Making the world safe for Democracy”.
I thought the samething
Funny, I was thinking same, and was disappointed that Ol' Ghenghis hadn't used that beautiful turn of a phrase "hear the lamentations of their women." Also interesting that denizens of Cimmeria speak with an Austrian accent..
It's a very popular meme.
Could be why it stuck with you... :)
Humans are the most inhumane of all creatures, and the most deluded in believing humanity towards others will overcome biological drives towards power acquisition and the use of violence to sustain and maintain that power.
Hi Doc -
Many of us recognize the fallacy of that very misguided belief. We train, prepare and, at least in our minds, stand ready to do what is necessary when the pot boils over.
Be kind - until that is no longer an option...
Bill Bonner, the one trick pony. The Jews were chanting "no more weapons, no more war..." in Grand Central Station. Weren't the Jews that were slaughtered on October 7 at a "peace concert"? Yes, there have been terrible people driven by terrible philosophies and ideas waging war on others. Bill has named some of them. Here's a rational answer to that, an answer that analyzes the "Roots of War", and does so in a way that is far beyond anything Bonner could ever come up with....
https://aynrand.org/the-roots-of-war/
The problem today is religion: For some reason believers in Judea-Christianity have latched onto the belief that they are superior and therefore exempt from the natural laws of human coexistence and even of their own country. That is why they have been at each others' throats for millennia in Europe and why the US government has invaded many dozens of countries and killed 22 million foreigners in their homes since WWII without once honoring its own constitutionally-required "Declaration of War". It is why they (England, US and Jewish settlers) see no problem invading Palestine, stealing the homes, villages and cities, herding the inhabitants into concentration camps and reservations and now slaughtering the remaining descendants they weren't to starve to death!
The religions and beliefs that condone this behavior can temporarily avoid the consequences of soaking their/our swords in blood--which will be pariah status for Israel and imminent bankruptcy for the US.
Contrast those consequences with those generated by Vietnamese and Chinese Taoism-inspired introspection and non-aggression: zero bombs dropped or shots fired, booming economies (in spite of sanctions, tariffs, etc.), 10-fold wage increases (vs. zero in US, worse in Israel), increasing numbers of allies, paper money based on gold, investing $80 billion (what the US is investing to kill Ukrainians, Russians, Palestinians and Israelis) in Africa to duplicate the Chinese miracle there.
Substituting Statolatry for Judea-Christianity would be more accurate when describing today's environment. The politicians start the wars and expect their followers to do their fighting. One big exorcism from Statolatry could do a world of good :-)
https://aynrand.org/the-roots-of-war/
Well ,somebody has to be blamed. Except the one looking into the mirror.
PLEASE FORGIVE CAPS--ALMOST BLIND
YEP,BILL, HUMANS HAVE BEEN MASS MURDERING OTHER HUMANS FOR AT LEAST 6000 YEARS OF RECORDED HISTORY. INSANELY DUMB. AS DYLAN ASKER IN "WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE" ABOUT, 60 YEARS AGO, "WFEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN"? WAR IS PROMOTED, IN FACT MANUFACTURED, BY THE RICHEST OF THE RICH TO AGGRANDIZE THEIR WEALTH AND POWER. LET THEM AND THEIR SONS FO FIGHT THEIR WARS THE COMMON MAN HAS BETTER THINGS TO DO. FOR EXAMPLE, STAY HOME AND PRODUCE A BETTER LIFE FOR HIS FAMILY AND HIS FELLOW MAN. "THEIR IS A DESTINY WHICH MAKES US BROTHERS. NONE WALKS HIS WAY ALONE. ALL THAT WE SEND INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS, COMES BACK INTO OUR OWN." EDWIN MARKHA.
SINCERELY,
LIAM OF LIAM'S LADDER