Donnie constantly repeats that other countries have been ripping us off for years. But perhaps we've been ripping them off. The Fed prints money out of thin air and we use it to buy goods. The other countries get Fiat currency and we get products. Then, many of these countries invest their paper in our bond and stock markets helping to keep the USS Titanic afloat.
The Austrian School economist, Jerome Smith, calls this phenomenon "exporting inflation". Still, the world has not gotten "nothing" for playing the paper-dollar game. It has enjoyed the so-called Pax Americana, AND it has used the paper dollar to run its individual countries' scams, the so-called underground economies where the US $100 bill is the coin of the realm. Accepting the paper dollar is also the universal ticket to entree to the US consumer market, the only real economy (such as it is) left in the world. I'm not justifying our paper-dollar gambit; it's obviously a scam. I'm just pointing out it's not all so one-sided as it might appear. Best always. PM
As far as Pax Americana what type of peace do these countries get. I'm reading The Devil's Chessboard by David Talbot. Apparently the US was already interfering in Italian elections in 1948 because they feared the communist party would win. Maybe the "peace" the US brought them isn't worth the price.
Hate to disagree, Paul - but only one side of the political aisle has embraced communism. And degeneracy and hate and stupidity and humanism and homosexuality and corruption and destruction and murder and fraud and violence and, and, and...
Hi Starboard. Aren't we all commies now? We have a Central Planning Committee, the Fed, where a bunch of insiders like the Politburo get to control the economy. We have Alphabet agencies that can read our communications - wouldn't the KGB or Stasi loved to have those abilities. We have a Congress that is not responsive to the voters akin to the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Classic example is the bailout of the banks in 2008/9 which a majority of Americans were against or the current refusal of Congress to compel the release of the Epstein files - instead shutting down Congress and running to Israel to visit our war criminal buddy Nuttyyahoo.
Really Cartero? Are you seriously saying there is no difference between the two political parties?
You're deflecting and attempting to equivocate because you have traditionally supported the side that is now existentially harmful to our Country and our Society. You realize this, but are too indoctrinated to break the conditioning and Trump hatred - as a result, you must assert things that are increasingly ridiculous and out of touch with Reality - things that even a few years ago you would have laughed at when hearing someone else expound.
But you're not alone. You are betraying yourself, like so many have before you....
Everything you mention GOES with communism, because communism is amoral. 50% of the electorate are either outright commie or like to side with it for sake of image, personal comfort, escapism, whatever. You know me well enough by now to know that I am well aware many of us are fighting communism and its best friend, nihilism, but when 50% of the voting public is pro-commie, everything grinds to a halt, and the net effect is they win, and if not win, at least can bollix the whole arrangement. That's what I meant. Even so, the fact that it got to that point, where 50% of "us" got comfortable with communism sort of maybe makes my point. Best always. PM
Perkins was trained to convince leaders of underdeveloped countries to accept substantial development loans for large construction and engineering projects, thus trapping them in a system of American influence and control.
It’s considered semi autobiographical and some people think that he made some of it up! I’m inclined to believe him! I believe there are still some video snippets where he talks about his “work”!
Seems like you are bemoaning a sometimes bad situation in favor of a "could have been" that would have UNDOUBTEDLY been much, much worse for a greater number of people...
So interfering in foreign elections is permitted when we do it? Shouldn't these people have a right to make their own decisions? The US knows what's best for everyone? But I'm not bemoaning anything - it is what it is. Just tired of the hypocrisy of crying about things like Russian interference in our elections while we do the same. Or crying about the Ukraine invasion when we have in invaded multiple countries.
Constantly getting into other people's business for the good of "the neighborhood." .... It's everywhere and it will always be everywhere. Check out "Classical Wisdom.".. Become a subscriber. A b p r family publication....
If you are a fan of having an impending digital biometric prison imposed on you, and you are interested in a potential war with Russia, China, NK, Iran and maybe others, we have a winner!
A lot of money will be spent on AI, with very little reward for the common person, because data centers use a great deal of electricity and water and they cause a variety of different types of pollution! More than likely, they’re not going to make us a lot of money either!
That golden dome will be another huge financial boondoggle, and very likely may not even work very well, and that’s if we don’t get nuked before it’s finished! The neocons in this country are going to keep antagonizing Russia until something very bad happens, and then they’ll probably be happy about it because they want depopulation!
The Big Man absolutely thinks that he can bully his way throughout the world!
I’m not sure exactly who’s advising him but he probably needs new advisors!
One bird, two wings, uniparty! Very few of our elected officials give a 🐀’s ass about the people!
If I can think of something else cheery to say, I’ll add it !
Consensus implies data centers rendered them obsolete.
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... I can think of other things to cheer about too... did you miss the stock market rise?
Sure, it will inevitably crash... until then hold on to your shorts!
There is much to fear, yet likely more to be gained from the impending neo-tech take-over.
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Yes, a lot of money is being spent on Ai.
It is a matter of national security, maintaining competitiveness and preparedness.
The alternative is first to be last.
We already spend too much for war (M.I.C.).
Spending on Ai is akin to spending on strength (deterrents).
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Space is likely the next battle ground; a golden dome whether 100% capable or not would be an effective deterrent.
How else does one stop a satellite from attacking?
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I have mentioned low-tech annelation before, Kim Jung Un can simply launch a rocket filled with BB's to explode in satellite orbit, rendering life as we now know it back to the 1940's.
A number of people don’t seem to realize that we live in a multi polar world, and that the likelihood of the United States maintaining their hegemony is not that good ! I know there are plenty of people running our government that would disagree with me!
Do you seriously think that they’re going to be able to build this golden dome and make it impenetrable to the very vast majority of attacks? I’ve read a variety of opinions and some of them aren’t all that positive! Idk!
I don’t particularly see AI as a tremendous benefit! Colonel McGregor says that it’s actually emitting quite a bit of radiation along the AI Alley in Virginia!
My best friend just told me that their rates are getting ready to jump by 13% on electricity and he said you know why and I said Data Centers!
Just where are we going to get all these rare earth metals? I understand that we don’t have them here and that’s why we’ve been getting them from China.
I know Trump did that marvelous deal with Ukraine for their earth metals, 50% of which are located in territory controlled by Russia, whom Trump is also antagonizing!
Martin Armstrong‘s computer is showing a very very high chance of war in Europe with Ukraine flatlining, and the EU (NATO) doing quite poorly! He hasn’t said a whole lot about the United States involvement, but what he did say was, don’t worry about vaccines at this point there may not be any need anymore! Also that if Elon Musk actually had a shuttle to go to Mars, he would definitely want to be on it!
Perhaps I have a negative attitude, and I’ll accept that! I call it trying to be rooted in reality! I do laud your attempt at having a positive attitude about all of this! I sincerely hope it will last!
Oh, so are you saying, Bill, that it's NOT Trump's fault after all? Or that you only recently figured out what has caused the BS after triggering the "phony baloney" money scam? Why don't you do some b*tch*ng about those who have set this crap system up in the first place?
I presume you are referring to Jekyll Island, 1910 (a private meeting of then movers and shakers at which the groundwork, the Aldrich Plan, was laid for the Federal Reserve Act of 1913) and, perhaps even more so, Bretton Woods Conference (July, 1944, a conference of nominally 44 nations and 730 delegates), where dollar hegemony was established via the IMF and what was to become the World Bank? Best always. PM
G Edward Griffin is 93 years old and still trying to warn people! He publishes a newsletter, and he also has a red pill expo every year in various cities!
A prophet is never heard among his own. The fact is, Carole King got this one right: It's too late, baby. To paraphrase (or abuse) Cole Porter, fish gotta swim. birds gotta fly, all governments over time gotta go bad. We are beyond fixing; the best we can hope for is to hold off whatever is coming. I believe Mr. Trump, The Big Man, is the one who can do that the best. If it weren't for him, we'd already be in the slaughterhouse and on the killing floor. My opinion. Best always. PM
A popular song at the height of the Viet Nam conflict was "Killing Floor" by The Electric Flag. A great vocal by Nick Gravenites (q.v.) PM
Indeed he has, but he's gotten away from that and veered off into being offended by President Trump. Let's say I was not a 30+ year follower of Mr. Bonner, and that I had to base my subscription money on his current work vs. what he has produced in his prime. I'm not sure I'd be around, but, alas, I keep waiting to see how it plays out. Best always. PM
Bill, your missive are absolutely spot-on. I thoroughly enjoy your views and pointing out - some times not so subtly - the absurdness of the follies of the TACO Clown. Many Americans - and apparently many roaming these Comments - just can't seem to grasp the facts of what is actually going on. One day - maybe - they'll wake-up. But, then again, probably not. The Trump Devotion Syndrome (aka "TDS") seems to follow the gang drinking the kool-aid in Jonestown. So instead of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, the U.S. has the Big Orange Man and the MAGA Temple. Won't change where the U.S. and the world is going though. One question - do you read the Comments to get a few laughs? I do.
When I took my first business trip to Europe (Zurich) about 40 years ago I was appalled by what the people were willing to put up with. I told my host no American would ever stand for this. Then when Obama took office we started becoming more and more like Europe. NOW WE EVEN HAVE A VAT TAX! I still have many customers in Europe and Scandinavia. The VAT tax is the biggest impediment to my business as it adds roughly 30% on average to everything that they buy from me. 30% more for my customers translates into 30% less that I earn for my work!
Government managed trade is a major departure from the last 70yrs? First off, that’s complete BS. Secondly, ANY departure from what the government has been doing for the last 70yrs. is EXACTLY what the American people VOTED FOR, Bonner. You keep referring to the President as a Big Man, and as the duly elected President, he is. What is it about the Republic that you seem to hate so much? It’s small minded petty guttersnipes like yourself that seem to be the problem. No wonder you spend all your time in France and South America!
Can't wait to see Bonner pretzelize himself next week in his ignorant effort to gaslight us into believing how many "right wingers" are turning on the President. "Facts" about the situation from Politico, Bloomberg, CNN, NYT and WAPO incoming.
🤣 there you go again,Starboard! Front running Mr Bill! It would be laughable, if it wasn’t so pitiful, how predictable his bile has become. Been reading him for over 30yrs but I really do think he needs a family intervention at this point. It’s truly flabbergasting how many seemingly normal people have totally been driven insane by President Trump. I’m in my 60’s and have never witnessed anything l remotely like it. Truly something to behold.
Still Trump is not good for fiscal conservatives (do they exist still in the USA?), free traders across the world, especially Ukrainians, Switzerland and all the Africans suddenly bereft of USAid and starving.
...there hasn't been a fiscal conservative President since Eisenhower.
Hard to agree with your statement as there is no "free trade" now... it's all tariffed, VATted or restricted.
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Authentic fiscal conservatives want private concerns, churches, help groups and volunteer donations to aid the unfortunate, not tax depleting gov't organizations like USAid.
Do you know if Mary Pat Bonner is related to Bill? She is the lead fundraiser for media matters a leading democratic promotion arm. Just read her name in zero hedge and was wondering???? It would explain a lot of his commentary if she is related. From the article
s was Musk’s intention when he brought it," wrote Elias staffer Ezra Reese in a letter to Media Matters President Angelo Carusone and lead fundraiser, Mary Pat Bonner. Reese offered to discount the fees by half - if they paid $2.25 million within about a week. If Media Matters refused, the Elias firm would expect full payment of the original amount, and would "go pens down and take steps to withdraw from the case by the end of the month."
The global financial system is based on US Treasury debt, so Bill’s critique impacts everyone to some extent. The American people are voting us all into trouble. Their perception of the rest of the world is very limited. I would think this is unusual amongst empires, they normally try to figure out what they need to do to stay at the top. The US seems to be working out how to be as independent as possible. Usually this costs in living standards and losing your #1 position. Do you speak any Chinese?
Mark Smith wrote: "The American people are voting us all into trouble."
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I am sorry, but your statement is laughable.
Given the binary choice, the right candidate won.
Open borders almost ruined this country.
So many believe allowing in millions is a good thing have yet to explain in any form of logic "why".
Do we really need/want an American Caste?
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Dwindling housing, emergency resources, tax base expenditures and gov't transfer payments, transportation and medical capacities, there simply is no benefit to the current taxpayer allowing in millions if unchecked souls to take-over.
Are there more supermarkets?
Are there more hospitals? Doctors?
Are there more roads?
Is there comporting tax income? (not even close).
The perception of the U.S. from the foreign perception is also very limited.
The Orange King believes more debt is the way forward. The USA system only enables two parties to exist (at a high level anyway), which is a bit of an outlier amongst developed countries.
In the UK a new party is getting the highest poll ratings, although I won’t vote for them. Maybe one day you’ll have the opportunity to vote for a new party. The US constitution is creaking a bit, especially when someone like Trump tries to burst the boundaries.
The pertinent question is what the American people think of their global system of selling dollar bits of paper to foreigners to buy lots of foreign goods. The world trading system is based on their needs. If they blow it apart, will they feel richer or poorer?
And there's this, from the article: "The public currently owns $29 trillion in US government debt, about 96% of US GDP."
Who is this "public"? And what is this verb, "owns"? I don't own (ie, possess, control, hold in a brokerage account, etc.) a single govt treasury debt instrument. Well, okay, I have Federal Reserve "notes" -- ie, cash -- in my wallet, but that's just everyday currency. And nobody who I know owns any treasury debt, either. I suspect that if I attended an NFL football game, very few of the 60,000 or so fans in the stadium own any govt paper. So, just how many of the 350 million or so people in USA "own" any of this govt debt? Precious few, I suspect.
It's probably accurate to say that banks own govt debt. And big corps. And I suppose really wealthy people own this stuff, via their family offices and advisers. But the "public"? no way...
When one sees the word "public," it implies a sort of democratic angle to things... That large numbers of people participate, spread out across the fields of the Republic, all part of a vast project. But no, that's not the nature of "owning" public debt.
Meanwhile, every time I make a tax payment (eg, every two wks when the paycheck gets dinged for taxes), a large whack of the funds go straight off the top to pay interest on that govt debt. And I never see an interest check from Uncle Sam for all that "debt" that I don't in fact own.
Byron, the Left tells me everyday, every minute even, ad nauseam, I must "own" my 3 votes for President Trump. Maybe that's what they mean with the debt? Your position and mine sound awfully close to "no taxation without representation". Isn't that what got us started in the first place? Best always. PM
If we’re being candid — yes, it can be seen that way.
When “ownership” means the power to tax your income, regulate your actions, inflate away your savings, and even conscript you in times of war, it starts looking less like freedom and more like a softer, modern servitude. Sure, you can still choose your job, your home, and your phone plan — but only while keeping up with the government’s tab.
Your quip — “I prefer it the other way around: whom does the government own?” — lands squarely on that uncomfortable truth. The chains and whips are gone, but the leverage remains. Say “no” to your share of the bill, and the consequences are just as tangible.
So maybe the real question is: are we truly free, or have we simply dressed up feudalism in democratic clothing? The castles may be gone, but the lords still collect their due — now with tailored suits, press conferences, and a promise that it’s all for our own good.
Hi Byron. As far as owning government debt ever since the Fed finally increased interest rates we have become owners of government debt via an account with the Treasury. Short term T bills are paying over 4% interest and it's quite easy to set up an account.
Because Bill Bonner said so? And you consider yourself a serious person?? LMAO at the whole bunch of you leftardes, circle-jerking in your tiny cardboard echo chamber.
Expect to see highly selective, misconstrued and out-of-context "quotes" by questionable "right wing leaders" vomited onto us next week by Bill. He's a master at taking something that could be a negative and building an entire fantasy around it - all in a lame attempt to get you to disbelieve the evidence of your eyes and ears while intending to generate Hate in otherwise Righteous people....
Why in the world do you torture yourself by reading Bonner's opinions that you religiously contend generate hate? And always without any sensible counter-point?
But I do enjoy some of your castigations of anyone who enjoys Bonner's comments. Many are imaginatively artful (e. g., ... "leftardes, circle-jerking in your tiny cardboard echo chamber.")
Let's look at another facet of the tariff. So far as I can tell, it's the only tax that can be unilaterally opposed by the Executive. If so, that makes it unique in the panoply of tax opportunities. You know that I am anti-government and anti-tax. I am not arguing for tariffs, just doing the old compare-and-contrast from jr. high days. Best always. PM
But tariffs are a two way street. Maybe some exporters are celebrating but India paused the purchase of six Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and is reconsidering the purchase of F-35s. Plus, Modi recently had direct talks with Xi focusing on improving relations. We'll have to see how it plays out, but what if the tariffed nations get to together and decide to retaliate?
Maybe India is smarter than we. Would you buy Boeing at this point? It's a fair question. In my view, the central issue here is not tariffs. The central issue is how best to leverage the one asset we have that NO one else does: the vast, capitalized, American consumer market. President Trump seems to be trying to take advantage of the world's fear of missing out. As you say, we have to see how it plays out. So far, we don't know. It appears people are still buying. Best always. PM
Trump is hoping to get foreign countries thinking about which nation they want to trade with.
As bad as the media makes this sound, keep in mind every country has and utilizes protectionist policies... the U.S. is no different, only much larger.
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So large in fact it trades about 27% of GDP whereas others trade about 63%.
Stumbled on the truth in the dark maybe? Stumbling on things in the dark is often painful. Doggie nylabones in particular are in that category. I say Americans will ignore the higher prices initially. The American consumer is so spoiled, he'll pay whatever it takes to get what he wants. NOW. Best always. PM
I agree that the US consumer is spoiled. Buy now, pay later. But he's also tapped out with over a trillion dollars in credit card debt and deliquencies increasing. I feel like a dinosaur - we bought our first sofa on lay-away and I've never paid one cent of credit card interest. I'm ready to sing along with Archie Bunker - Those were the good old days.
Why is it important to you to make shit up? “We have inflation…..”. Show me. We have not been this close to the Feds supposed target of 2% in decades. Most of your post makes sense, until you get to the lying part. I expected more from a supposedly practicing catholic, then again, the Catholic Church is one of the most corrupt orgs. On teh face of the planet so maybe you, like the Muslims can claim the means justify the end.
In this case, attempting to turn more and more folks against the changes that are occurring. Most of your posts reflect (Like Putin) going back to the way it was. I for one am really disappointed in your constant negativity, not about financial concerns, but about changes.
I said it before - the world has left Bill Bonner behind. Apply relevance to his words accordingly.
Take note that his contributions to the current BPR offering are strictly for 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀, or in some minds to reinforce the successful "Media" + dimocrat/communist conditioning of Orange Man Bad, About EVERYTHING, All The Time....
…and yet, another record day on Wall Street. Damn “The Big Man.”
If only we still had “The Big Guy” in office. Don’t you miss those days, Mr Bonner? Now we have the “The Big Man” not taking a salary, giving it all back to the treasury (essentially paying a 100% income tax), spending his own money on White House flag poles and ballrooms. What a crock. Doesn’t he know he should be on the take like his predecessor, you know, the good ol’ days of “10% for the Big Guy”?
Damn The Big Man. And how DARE the market have the gall to go up! Don’t all these investors know they should be hunkered and bunkered down? The Big Loss™️ is coming!
I must say this article by BB has created a lot of comments, some good some bad
My only take is that governments in general (all countries) don’t give a dam about the public. We get screwed no matter what we do. My only desire is for them to leave a little for me and my family to have a reasonable life style.
It’s not easy when you have so many self servings pigs as politicians
We have had the ever-increasing Imperial Presidency since Theodore Roosevelt.
Trump is just bombastic and hated, and the ugly state of the dictatorship of The Deep State rears its ugly head in voracious disgusting agony.
Bonner says, repeatedly, “Inflate or die.” You inflate with credit. There are two types of inflation currency (kept at a minimum for 20 years because of cheap imports from abroad) and asset inflation which has been a 1,000% or more.
The Fed made credit cheap, they helicoptered money into Wall Street Banks, Hedge funds, and private equity. They thought it would produce jobs; it did not, jobs, in real terms, decreased over 20 years, because American manufacturing was being eviscerated. Hedge funds and private equity were taking the easy credit, buying businesses, and stealing assets, destroying jobs.
The entire US economy was transformed; corporations ruled and owned all things.
There is a huge credit bubble! It will crash. The 5% have dug themselves a hole and they will do anything to kick the can down the road.
Americans can’t afford assets, housing, and now they can’t afford food.
Trump didn’t cause it. It is idiotic to keep blaming him.
Bill should be writing about the future, how we are going to survive. What will we do to restart America. What can we do now.
If i may make a comment, well I should not ask , because I will say. Learn from history! Not select history. But all . It may take a day or 2 but well worth the read!
All of history! Learning from history is an incremental process, step by step, knowledge and experience, hopefully achieving wisdom, discernment, truth, a high place, the realm of God, spirit.
We are all capable of it, we all need it to chart the extreme individuality of our destiny, life. All guided by the “Invisible Hand.” All, through diligence, enlightenment, confronting our reality (reality, today, is difficult among great obfuscation) producing good.
We delineate the calendar: BC - AC. I have a BC and AC in my life.
I wonder about the decisions of mankind, history, what would it look like if Christianity, God’s will, had any impact.
In the BC period of my life, when I recollect, there is a strong force of providence.
In the AC of my life, I reflect, have I done the will of God, increased in righteousness?
Even if I had, what is the efficacy of it. What is the real purpose of my life in Christ.
I am stuck in history. “Each day has trouble enough of its own.”
I have to worry about my decisions, my reactions. It keeps me busy and I don’t know if such busy has any meaning. It seems all things do not work for good. The good is to keep working for the good in yourself with the Grace, help, inspiration if God.
Excellent way to describe ones life cycle. Without Our Creator , My life would be a disaster. because all My intentions would be by My own ideas and not from Infinite wisdom. Thanks for the comment . I do appreciate it. To Me it seems to come from Your heart.
Jeez Louise, more lies. Architecture is in and of itself harmless. Architecture is the essential combination of the practical of the universe with the artistic imagination of Man. It harms nothing and enables much. USING architecture is where the problems come; doing something, because we CAN, is often where the harm comes. Example: We CAN print money, so we DO print money. Example: We CAN offload responsibility onto government, so we DO offload responsibility onto government. Further: We CAN control ourselves, so we DO control ourselves, right? ... RIGHT? Best always. PM
It sounds like a lot of people like to pay taxes. P.M. stated , more or less the He hates paying Taxes. If taxes were to be voluntary, that would be ok with Me But if You and I do not pay them, people with guns come to Yours and My place to collect. Freedom and liberty, that was a dream of the past.
Bill, I rarely attempt to present an opinion to someone who is a deep thinker and has the ability to see beyond the horizon. But, (here it comes) is a commentary on your 'big man' descriptions over the last several weeks.
I am in maximum security mode, I have followed your analysis for years and trust your judgment. You tried to advise the political beings in DC before you founded Agora Financial and realized it was a hopeless endeavor.
It has remained hopeless (you are right again) and the current administration has emerged because the citizens of this Nation want changes. Big changes to the crippling effects from the self-serving, grifters who have systematically avoided making improvements to decisions that are ruining the Nation. They are in large enough numbers can see it coming. And they are looking for the leader who will make those changes.
The first human who stepped upon the political stage with the message of forcing massive changes on the federal government is the twice elected, current President. Opposition forces tried to kill him and he did not soften his stance. Does he have the knowledge to accomplish his goal of putting main street on an equal footing with wall street? I am not holding my breath.
The disastrous policies of the last 45 years can never be undone in one, two, or ten election cycles. It has to be a struggle of decades long commitment away from the advantages the bureaucracy has encased itself in. Are the rank and file employees evil? Not at all, they want to protect the jobs, earnings, and lifestyle they enjoy. Any rapid changes instill panic and resistance from the ranks.
Are those demanding changes to the bureaucracy evil? No, again. They can see the consequences looming in their future and their children's future and demand a solution.
So, they place their hopes on a man who at least addresses the plight of the true middle class citizen. Can he fulfill the collective dream of reform? Can an aging Empire save itself?
I prepare myself and my family as best I can for the decline that will eat away the Nation's capabilities until it buckles. Is it Trumps fault? No, he cares and is limited in what he can accomplish. Is he wise? No, he has his flaws and does not accept critical messages. Is anyone else capable of leading a decades long contraction to a better outcome? Another generation will have to answer that question. That is my limitation.
PM, Starboard Edge, and others, does anyone know if Mary Pat Bonner is related to BB? Just read a zero hedge article that said she is the lead fund raiser for media matters a leading democratic promotion arm. Might explain some of bill’s bias? I don’t know if there is a connection or not but it sure would be great if bill stuck to finance and the economy. I enjoy most of his thought provoking articles because of the comments that come in from them.
From the zero hedge article “s was Musk’s intention when he brought it," wrote Elias staffer Ezra Reese in a letter to Media Matters President Angelo Carusone and lead fundraiser, Mary Pat Bonner. Reese offered to discount the fees by half - if they paid $2.25 million within about a week. If Media Matters refused, the Elias firm would expect full payment of the original amount, and would "go pens down and take steps to withdraw from the case by the end of the month."”
Donnie constantly repeats that other countries have been ripping us off for years. But perhaps we've been ripping them off. The Fed prints money out of thin air and we use it to buy goods. The other countries get Fiat currency and we get products. Then, many of these countries invest their paper in our bond and stock markets helping to keep the USS Titanic afloat.
The Austrian School economist, Jerome Smith, calls this phenomenon "exporting inflation". Still, the world has not gotten "nothing" for playing the paper-dollar game. It has enjoyed the so-called Pax Americana, AND it has used the paper dollar to run its individual countries' scams, the so-called underground economies where the US $100 bill is the coin of the realm. Accepting the paper dollar is also the universal ticket to entree to the US consumer market, the only real economy (such as it is) left in the world. I'm not justifying our paper-dollar gambit; it's obviously a scam. I'm just pointing out it's not all so one-sided as it might appear. Best always. PM
As far as Pax Americana what type of peace do these countries get. I'm reading The Devil's Chessboard by David Talbot. Apparently the US was already interfering in Italian elections in 1948 because they feared the communist party would win. Maybe the "peace" the US brought them isn't worth the price.
Isn't that RICH? The Communist Party ALWAYS wins. Why? Because the BS they're selling is what the people want to hear. Sound familiar? Best always. PM
P.S. We were SO afraid of communists in the day, and little by little, we became them. Sad.
Hate to disagree, Paul - but only one side of the political aisle has embraced communism. And degeneracy and hate and stupidity and humanism and homosexuality and corruption and destruction and murder and fraud and violence and, and, and...
Hi Starboard. Aren't we all commies now? We have a Central Planning Committee, the Fed, where a bunch of insiders like the Politburo get to control the economy. We have Alphabet agencies that can read our communications - wouldn't the KGB or Stasi loved to have those abilities. We have a Congress that is not responsive to the voters akin to the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Classic example is the bailout of the banks in 2008/9 which a majority of Americans were against or the current refusal of Congress to compel the release of the Epstein files - instead shutting down Congress and running to Israel to visit our war criminal buddy Nuttyyahoo.
Really Cartero? Are you seriously saying there is no difference between the two political parties?
You're deflecting and attempting to equivocate because you have traditionally supported the side that is now existentially harmful to our Country and our Society. You realize this, but are too indoctrinated to break the conditioning and Trump hatred - as a result, you must assert things that are increasingly ridiculous and out of touch with Reality - things that even a few years ago you would have laughed at when hearing someone else expound.
But you're not alone. You are betraying yourself, like so many have before you....
Everything you mention GOES with communism, because communism is amoral. 50% of the electorate are either outright commie or like to side with it for sake of image, personal comfort, escapism, whatever. You know me well enough by now to know that I am well aware many of us are fighting communism and its best friend, nihilism, but when 50% of the voting public is pro-commie, everything grinds to a halt, and the net effect is they win, and if not win, at least can bollix the whole arrangement. That's what I meant. Even so, the fact that it got to that point, where 50% of "us" got comfortable with communism sort of maybe makes my point. Best always. PM
Have you ever read John Perkins Confessions of an Economic Hitman?
Assuming you asked this of me, the answer is "no". Give me a one-sentence reason to do so, and I might look into it. Many thanks and best always. PM
Perkins was trained to convince leaders of underdeveloped countries to accept substantial development loans for large construction and engineering projects, thus trapping them in a system of American influence and control.
It’s considered semi autobiographical and some people think that he made some of it up! I’m inclined to believe him! I believe there are still some video snippets where he talks about his “work”!
Just like the Chinese now in Africa and the Pacific.
That is a great book! I had to put it down for a bit as it is a bit depressing. I will finish it now!
Anything that tells the truth without an axe to grind, is, by definition, depressing. As in, "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth."
Best always. PM
"𝘈𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘗𝘢𝘹 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵. "
Seems like you are bemoaning a sometimes bad situation in favor of a "could have been" that would have UNDOUBTEDLY been much, much worse for a greater number of people...
So interfering in foreign elections is permitted when we do it? Shouldn't these people have a right to make their own decisions? The US knows what's best for everyone? But I'm not bemoaning anything - it is what it is. Just tired of the hypocrisy of crying about things like Russian interference in our elections while we do the same. Or crying about the Ukraine invasion when we have in invaded multiple countries.
Sounds like a bad H.O.A.
Constantly getting into other people's business for the good of "the neighborhood." .... It's everywhere and it will always be everywhere. Check out "Classical Wisdom.".. Become a subscriber. A b p r family publication....
Good points!
If you are a fan of having an impending digital biometric prison imposed on you, and you are interested in a potential war with Russia, China, NK, Iran and maybe others, we have a winner!
A lot of money will be spent on AI, with very little reward for the common person, because data centers use a great deal of electricity and water and they cause a variety of different types of pollution! More than likely, they’re not going to make us a lot of money either!
That golden dome will be another huge financial boondoggle, and very likely may not even work very well, and that’s if we don’t get nuked before it’s finished! The neocons in this country are going to keep antagonizing Russia until something very bad happens, and then they’ll probably be happy about it because they want depopulation!
The Big Man absolutely thinks that he can bully his way throughout the world!
I’m not sure exactly who’s advising him but he probably needs new advisors!
One bird, two wings, uniparty! Very few of our elected officials give a 🐀’s ass about the people!
If I can think of something else cheery to say, I’ll add it !
Hi linda -
Here's something cheery for you:
Thank GOD that we have Trump and the team he has selected living LARGE AND IN-CHARGE. Otherwise we'd all REALLY have something to cry about....
AI is not better than a human being.It's just cheaper. Just another tool that can be abused, or used to great benefit.
Yeah... so much for the climate change theories.
Consensus implies data centers rendered them obsolete.
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... I can think of other things to cheer about too... did you miss the stock market rise?
Sure, it will inevitably crash... until then hold on to your shorts!
There is much to fear, yet likely more to be gained from the impending neo-tech take-over.
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Yes, a lot of money is being spent on Ai.
It is a matter of national security, maintaining competitiveness and preparedness.
The alternative is first to be last.
We already spend too much for war (M.I.C.).
Spending on Ai is akin to spending on strength (deterrents).
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Space is likely the next battle ground; a golden dome whether 100% capable or not would be an effective deterrent.
How else does one stop a satellite from attacking?
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I have mentioned low-tech annelation before, Kim Jung Un can simply launch a rocket filled with BB's to explode in satellite orbit, rendering life as we now know it back to the 1940's.
A number of people don’t seem to realize that we live in a multi polar world, and that the likelihood of the United States maintaining their hegemony is not that good ! I know there are plenty of people running our government that would disagree with me!
Do you seriously think that they’re going to be able to build this golden dome and make it impenetrable to the very vast majority of attacks? I’ve read a variety of opinions and some of them aren’t all that positive! Idk!
I don’t particularly see AI as a tremendous benefit! Colonel McGregor says that it’s actually emitting quite a bit of radiation along the AI Alley in Virginia!
My best friend just told me that their rates are getting ready to jump by 13% on electricity and he said you know why and I said Data Centers!
Just where are we going to get all these rare earth metals? I understand that we don’t have them here and that’s why we’ve been getting them from China.
I know Trump did that marvelous deal with Ukraine for their earth metals, 50% of which are located in territory controlled by Russia, whom Trump is also antagonizing!
Martin Armstrong‘s computer is showing a very very high chance of war in Europe with Ukraine flatlining, and the EU (NATO) doing quite poorly! He hasn’t said a whole lot about the United States involvement, but what he did say was, don’t worry about vaccines at this point there may not be any need anymore! Also that if Elon Musk actually had a shuttle to go to Mars, he would definitely want to be on it!
Perhaps I have a negative attitude, and I’ll accept that! I call it trying to be rooted in reality! I do laud your attempt at having a positive attitude about all of this! I sincerely hope it will last!
Linda... ;)
So long as King Dollar is around you need not worry about hegemoney.
Trump is attempting to put BRIC's in their place...
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Even if the Golden Dome only operates at 50% capacity, an adversary isn't likely to attack knowing retaliation is certain.
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Ai is landing rocket ships upright on the launch pad.
Blind people are seeing!
Handicap can walk and use limbs...
Robots are serving humans.
Ai is farming our food!
Drones are delivering goods.
There is much Ai and the neo-techs promise.
The world will never be the same...
It's as if though the wheel were just invented.
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NATO is part responsible for the Ukraine fiasco,
EU leaders are not their constituents' friends.
They (Merkel & Co.) have ruined Europe as liberals have ruined California.
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REE's (Rare Earth Elements) are not so rare...
The reason China has a monopoly is due to their apathetic disregard of environmental processing practices.
The U.S. is awakening in this field.
I suggest MP NB USAR LYC study the charts.
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Linda... quit drinking the negative Kool-Aid, we are living in the most exciting times in the planet's history!
Touché! As they say time is the great equalizer!
Maybe we’ll be able to revisit this issue again later on down the Pike and see how things are going!
In the meantime, I wish you good health and serenity!
I'll bet he would prefer some pictures. Pink hair and all....😁
I agree with most of your points but you have to agree trump is better
Better than what?
Kamala
Ask what you can do not just be a black hat
Oh, so are you saying, Bill, that it's NOT Trump's fault after all? Or that you only recently figured out what has caused the BS after triggering the "phony baloney" money scam? Why don't you do some b*tch*ng about those who have set this crap system up in the first place?
I presume you are referring to Jekyll Island, 1910 (a private meeting of then movers and shakers at which the groundwork, the Aldrich Plan, was laid for the Federal Reserve Act of 1913) and, perhaps even more so, Bretton Woods Conference (July, 1944, a conference of nominally 44 nations and 730 delegates), where dollar hegemony was established via the IMF and what was to become the World Bank? Best always. PM
G Edward Griffin is 93 years old and still trying to warn people! He publishes a newsletter, and he also has a red pill expo every year in various cities!
A prophet is never heard among his own. The fact is, Carole King got this one right: It's too late, baby. To paraphrase (or abuse) Cole Porter, fish gotta swim. birds gotta fly, all governments over time gotta go bad. We are beyond fixing; the best we can hope for is to hold off whatever is coming. I believe Mr. Trump, The Big Man, is the one who can do that the best. If it weren't for him, we'd already be in the slaughterhouse and on the killing floor. My opinion. Best always. PM
A popular song at the height of the Viet Nam conflict was "Killing Floor" by The Electric Flag. A great vocal by Nick Gravenites (q.v.) PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3NpefijqrY&list=RDv3NpefijqrY&start_radio=1
Good tune! Thanks!
Bill has been bitching about those that set up the crap system in the first place for years!
Indeed he has, but he's gotten away from that and veered off into being offended by President Trump. Let's say I was not a 30+ year follower of Mr. Bonner, and that I had to base my subscription money on his current work vs. what he has produced in his prime. I'm not sure I'd be around, but, alas, I keep waiting to see how it plays out. Best always. PM
Bill, your missive are absolutely spot-on. I thoroughly enjoy your views and pointing out - some times not so subtly - the absurdness of the follies of the TACO Clown. Many Americans - and apparently many roaming these Comments - just can't seem to grasp the facts of what is actually going on. One day - maybe - they'll wake-up. But, then again, probably not. The Trump Devotion Syndrome (aka "TDS") seems to follow the gang drinking the kool-aid in Jonestown. So instead of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, the U.S. has the Big Orange Man and the MAGA Temple. Won't change where the U.S. and the world is going though. One question - do you read the Comments to get a few laughs? I do.
When I took my first business trip to Europe (Zurich) about 40 years ago I was appalled by what the people were willing to put up with. I told my host no American would ever stand for this. Then when Obama took office we started becoming more and more like Europe. NOW WE EVEN HAVE A VAT TAX! I still have many customers in Europe and Scandinavia. The VAT tax is the biggest impediment to my business as it adds roughly 30% on average to everything that they buy from me. 30% more for my customers translates into 30% less that I earn for my work!
Government managed trade is a major departure from the last 70yrs? First off, that’s complete BS. Secondly, ANY departure from what the government has been doing for the last 70yrs. is EXACTLY what the American people VOTED FOR, Bonner. You keep referring to the President as a Big Man, and as the duly elected President, he is. What is it about the Republic that you seem to hate so much? It’s small minded petty guttersnipes like yourself that seem to be the problem. No wonder you spend all your time in France and South America!
Can't wait to see Bonner pretzelize himself next week in his ignorant effort to gaslight us into believing how many "right wingers" are turning on the President. "Facts" about the situation from Politico, Bloomberg, CNN, NYT and WAPO incoming.
Tally ho, suckers....
🤣 there you go again,Starboard! Front running Mr Bill! It would be laughable, if it wasn’t so pitiful, how predictable his bile has become. Been reading him for over 30yrs but I really do think he needs a family intervention at this point. It’s truly flabbergasting how many seemingly normal people have totally been driven insane by President Trump. I’m in my 60’s and have never witnessed anything l remotely like it. Truly something to behold.
TDS is real and quite the phenomena.
I first saw it in my life long Republican father (92 yrs old) who voted for Biden.
My German relatives can't believe I support Trump.
(while they supported "let the Muslim's in Merkel" and the machinations of the Ukrainian war).
Still Trump is not good for fiscal conservatives (do they exist still in the USA?), free traders across the world, especially Ukrainians, Switzerland and all the Africans suddenly bereft of USAid and starving.
...there hasn't been a fiscal conservative President since Eisenhower.
Hard to agree with your statement as there is no "free trade" now... it's all tariffed, VATted or restricted.
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Authentic fiscal conservatives want private concerns, churches, help groups and volunteer donations to aid the unfortunate, not tax depleting gov't organizations like USAid.
"Pretzelize"! I like that. Approaching laugh of the day status, there, SE. Best always. PM
Do you know if Mary Pat Bonner is related to Bill? She is the lead fundraiser for media matters a leading democratic promotion arm. Just read her name in zero hedge and was wondering???? It would explain a lot of his commentary if she is related. From the article
s was Musk’s intention when he brought it," wrote Elias staffer Ezra Reese in a letter to Media Matters President Angelo Carusone and lead fundraiser, Mary Pat Bonner. Reese offered to discount the fees by half - if they paid $2.25 million within about a week. If Media Matters refused, the Elias firm would expect full payment of the original amount, and would "go pens down and take steps to withdraw from the case by the end of the month."
The global financial system is based on US Treasury debt, so Bill’s critique impacts everyone to some extent. The American people are voting us all into trouble. Their perception of the rest of the world is very limited. I would think this is unusual amongst empires, they normally try to figure out what they need to do to stay at the top. The US seems to be working out how to be as independent as possible. Usually this costs in living standards and losing your #1 position. Do you speak any Chinese?
Mark Smith wrote: "The American people are voting us all into trouble."
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I am sorry, but your statement is laughable.
Given the binary choice, the right candidate won.
Open borders almost ruined this country.
So many believe allowing in millions is a good thing have yet to explain in any form of logic "why".
Do we really need/want an American Caste?
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Dwindling housing, emergency resources, tax base expenditures and gov't transfer payments, transportation and medical capacities, there simply is no benefit to the current taxpayer allowing in millions if unchecked souls to take-over.
Are there more supermarkets?
Are there more hospitals? Doctors?
Are there more roads?
Is there comporting tax income? (not even close).
The perception of the U.S. from the foreign perception is also very limited.
Most can't understand Trump.
The Orange King believes more debt is the way forward. The USA system only enables two parties to exist (at a high level anyway), which is a bit of an outlier amongst developed countries.
In the UK a new party is getting the highest poll ratings, although I won’t vote for them. Maybe one day you’ll have the opportunity to vote for a new party. The US constitution is creaking a bit, especially when someone like Trump tries to burst the boundaries.
...agreed Orange actions indicate more debt.
Orange lips express otherwise...
TBD...
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To the joy of TDS folks everywhere, the fact is every President's second tenure was worse than his first.
The pertinent question is what the American people think of their global system of selling dollar bits of paper to foreigners to buy lots of foreign goods. The world trading system is based on their needs. If they blow it apart, will they feel richer or poorer?
What do American people think of their global system of selling bits of paper to foreigners to buy lots of foreign goods?
The American people (in general) don't have a clue and never gave it a thought.
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...what I think you are messaging is how will U.S. taxpayers react if king dollar implodes?
...that is what Trump is allegedly attempting to thwart.
And there's this, from the article: "The public currently owns $29 trillion in US government debt, about 96% of US GDP."
Who is this "public"? And what is this verb, "owns"? I don't own (ie, possess, control, hold in a brokerage account, etc.) a single govt treasury debt instrument. Well, okay, I have Federal Reserve "notes" -- ie, cash -- in my wallet, but that's just everyday currency. And nobody who I know owns any treasury debt, either. I suspect that if I attended an NFL football game, very few of the 60,000 or so fans in the stadium own any govt paper. So, just how many of the 350 million or so people in USA "own" any of this govt debt? Precious few, I suspect.
It's probably accurate to say that banks own govt debt. And big corps. And I suppose really wealthy people own this stuff, via their family offices and advisers. But the "public"? no way...
When one sees the word "public," it implies a sort of democratic angle to things... That large numbers of people participate, spread out across the fields of the Republic, all part of a vast project. But no, that's not the nature of "owning" public debt.
Meanwhile, every time I make a tax payment (eg, every two wks when the paycheck gets dinged for taxes), a large whack of the funds go straight off the top to pay interest on that govt debt. And I never see an interest check from Uncle Sam for all that "debt" that I don't in fact own.
Byron, the Left tells me everyday, every minute even, ad nauseam, I must "own" my 3 votes for President Trump. Maybe that's what they mean with the debt? Your position and mine sound awfully close to "no taxation without representation". Isn't that what got us started in the first place? Best always. PM
Apparently Byron, your (any even my own) definition of "public" and the government's (as well as Bill's) is a tad different.
Rather than answer here, you know TL;DR, I made it into a post:
https://lucaskandia.substack.com/p/who-really-owns-the-us-government
I prefer it the other way around: whom does the government own? Best always. PM
If we’re being candid — yes, it can be seen that way.
When “ownership” means the power to tax your income, regulate your actions, inflate away your savings, and even conscript you in times of war, it starts looking less like freedom and more like a softer, modern servitude. Sure, you can still choose your job, your home, and your phone plan — but only while keeping up with the government’s tab.
Your quip — “I prefer it the other way around: whom does the government own?” — lands squarely on that uncomfortable truth. The chains and whips are gone, but the leverage remains. Say “no” to your share of the bill, and the consequences are just as tangible.
So maybe the real question is: are we truly free, or have we simply dressed up feudalism in democratic clothing? The castles may be gone, but the lords still collect their due — now with tailored suits, press conferences, and a promise that it’s all for our own good.
Hi Byron. As far as owning government debt ever since the Fed finally increased interest rates we have become owners of government debt via an account with the Treasury. Short term T bills are paying over 4% interest and it's quite easy to set up an account.
Haha, and then they own you! Just making fun, here, pardner.... Best always. PM
Excellent assessment of our times and trends. Interesting too to regard our tariffs as akin to a VAT.
Also interesting was learning MAGA intelligentsia are doubting the direction their leader is taking the good ship America
Worrisome times
"𝘈𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘈 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢"
Because Bill Bonner said so? And you consider yourself a serious person?? LMAO at the whole bunch of you leftardes, circle-jerking in your tiny cardboard echo chamber.
Expect to see highly selective, misconstrued and out-of-context "quotes" by questionable "right wing leaders" vomited onto us next week by Bill. He's a master at taking something that could be a negative and building an entire fantasy around it - all in a lame attempt to get you to disbelieve the evidence of your eyes and ears while intending to generate Hate in otherwise Righteous people....
Why in the world do you torture yourself by reading Bonner's opinions that you religiously contend generate hate? And always without any sensible counter-point?
But I do enjoy some of your castigations of anyone who enjoys Bonner's comments. Many are imaginatively artful (e. g., ... "leftardes, circle-jerking in your tiny cardboard echo chamber.")
... in no way is a tariff comparable to VATs.
A tariff can increase some consumer costs, that's where the similarity ends.
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Many on both sides complain about Trump methodology.
I have yet to hear MAGA intelligentsia (isn't that an oxymoron to liberals?) lamenting Trump's polices.
Iceberg, We differ on scale: you say "A tariff can increase some consumer costs..." I say they increase all consumer costs.
As for whether they are akin to a VAT, the emphasis is "akin." Both are government imposed costs
Let's look at another facet of the tariff. So far as I can tell, it's the only tax that can be unilaterally opposed by the Executive. If so, that makes it unique in the panoply of tax opportunities. You know that I am anti-government and anti-tax. I am not arguing for tariffs, just doing the old compare-and-contrast from jr. high days. Best always. PM
As a small government, suitable tax advocate, I stand informed that the President alone can cancel any tariff.
Our current one is imposing them willy-nilly, which-- constitutionally-- is a authority assigned to Congress.
Hopefully, the on-going court case will clarify who is supposed to do what with tariffs.
... lets be clear, "all" consumer costs is somewhat nebulous.
I could argue "all consumer costs are always going up".
Yes, anything to do with imports will likely go up.
But...
Exporters are celebrating.
Domestic manufacturers are reading for business.
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Because we utilize many things, surely everyone will pay more for certain items.
and some of those items will be less.
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Importantly.
And Mr. Bonner agrees, the past couple of decades status quo will absolutely lead us off the cliff...
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In that sense the tariffs are very inexpensive protections against future demise.
But tariffs are a two way street. Maybe some exporters are celebrating but India paused the purchase of six Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and is reconsidering the purchase of F-35s. Plus, Modi recently had direct talks with Xi focusing on improving relations. We'll have to see how it plays out, but what if the tariffed nations get to together and decide to retaliate?
Maybe India is smarter than we. Would you buy Boeing at this point? It's a fair question. In my view, the central issue here is not tariffs. The central issue is how best to leverage the one asset we have that NO one else does: the vast, capitalized, American consumer market. President Trump seems to be trying to take advantage of the world's fear of missing out. As you say, we have to see how it plays out. So far, we don't know. It appears people are still buying. Best always. PM
...they already have, it's called BRICs.
And that in part is the purpose of the tariffs.
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Trump is hoping to get foreign countries thinking about which nation they want to trade with.
As bad as the media makes this sound, keep in mind every country has and utilizes protectionist policies... the U.S. is no different, only much larger.
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So large in fact it trades about 27% of GDP whereas others trade about 63%.
Iceberg: Agree I will that Exporters are happy.
They will sell more as the dollar declines.
Importers are unhappy twice over: Trump's tariffs and the declining dollar make what they bring into the US more costly.
Alas, we consumers are faced with higher prices for whatever we buy that originated abroad
Stumbled on the truth in the dark maybe? Stumbling on things in the dark is often painful. Doggie nylabones in particular are in that category. I say Americans will ignore the higher prices initially. The American consumer is so spoiled, he'll pay whatever it takes to get what he wants. NOW. Best always. PM
I agree that the US consumer is spoiled. Buy now, pay later. But he's also tapped out with over a trillion dollars in credit card debt and deliquencies increasing. I feel like a dinosaur - we bought our first sofa on lay-away and I've never paid one cent of credit card interest. I'm ready to sing along with Archie Bunker - Those were the good old days.
Why is it important to you to make shit up? “We have inflation…..”. Show me. We have not been this close to the Feds supposed target of 2% in decades. Most of your post makes sense, until you get to the lying part. I expected more from a supposedly practicing catholic, then again, the Catholic Church is one of the most corrupt orgs. On teh face of the planet so maybe you, like the Muslims can claim the means justify the end.
In this case, attempting to turn more and more folks against the changes that are occurring. Most of your posts reflect (Like Putin) going back to the way it was. I for one am really disappointed in your constant negativity, not about financial concerns, but about changes.
Remember, the only constant, is change.
I said it before - the world has left Bill Bonner behind. Apply relevance to his words accordingly.
Take note that his contributions to the current BPR offering are strictly for 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀, or in some minds to reinforce the successful "Media" + dimocrat/communist conditioning of Orange Man Bad, About EVERYTHING, All The Time....
Bill Bonner left Bill Bonner behind. That's the sad part of it. Best always. PM
...and seemingly unlimited hate for the Orange Man.
“…explained a French friend at a party last night. The moon was full. We dined outside in a magnificent garden. Red wine and philosophy…”
Just a hunch: I’m starting to think Mr. Bonner doesn’t hang out in the same social strata as I. Probably can’t really “relate” to us plebeians.
Just a hunch…
And there we have it; I had dam-near(ly) given up hope. Laugh of the day here, folks! Best always. PM
…and yet, another record day on Wall Street. Damn “The Big Man.”
If only we still had “The Big Guy” in office. Don’t you miss those days, Mr Bonner? Now we have the “The Big Man” not taking a salary, giving it all back to the treasury (essentially paying a 100% income tax), spending his own money on White House flag poles and ballrooms. What a crock. Doesn’t he know he should be on the take like his predecessor, you know, the good ol’ days of “10% for the Big Guy”?
Damn The Big Man. And how DARE the market have the gall to go up! Don’t all these investors know they should be hunkered and bunkered down? The Big Loss™️ is coming!
I must say this article by BB has created a lot of comments, some good some bad
My only take is that governments in general (all countries) don’t give a dam about the public. We get screwed no matter what we do. My only desire is for them to leave a little for me and my family to have a reasonable life style.
It’s not easy when you have so many self servings pigs as politicians
We have had the ever-increasing Imperial Presidency since Theodore Roosevelt.
Trump is just bombastic and hated, and the ugly state of the dictatorship of The Deep State rears its ugly head in voracious disgusting agony.
Bonner says, repeatedly, “Inflate or die.” You inflate with credit. There are two types of inflation currency (kept at a minimum for 20 years because of cheap imports from abroad) and asset inflation which has been a 1,000% or more.
The Fed made credit cheap, they helicoptered money into Wall Street Banks, Hedge funds, and private equity. They thought it would produce jobs; it did not, jobs, in real terms, decreased over 20 years, because American manufacturing was being eviscerated. Hedge funds and private equity were taking the easy credit, buying businesses, and stealing assets, destroying jobs.
The entire US economy was transformed; corporations ruled and owned all things.
There is a huge credit bubble! It will crash. The 5% have dug themselves a hole and they will do anything to kick the can down the road.
Americans can’t afford assets, housing, and now they can’t afford food.
Trump didn’t cause it. It is idiotic to keep blaming him.
Bill should be writing about the future, how we are going to survive. What will we do to restart America. What can we do now.
This Trump hate syndrome is useless prattle.
"Bill should be writing about the future, how we are going to survive. What will we do to restart America. What can we do now.
This Trump hate syndrome is useless prattle."
Yes, please....
If i may make a comment, well I should not ask , because I will say. Learn from history! Not select history. But all . It may take a day or 2 but well worth the read!
All of history! Learning from history is an incremental process, step by step, knowledge and experience, hopefully achieving wisdom, discernment, truth, a high place, the realm of God, spirit.
We are all capable of it, we all need it to chart the extreme individuality of our destiny, life. All guided by the “Invisible Hand.” All, through diligence, enlightenment, confronting our reality (reality, today, is difficult among great obfuscation) producing good.
Yes incremental in terms of man kind. This history that I have mentioned is Mans' history. God's is a much different one than what man has created.
We delineate the calendar: BC - AC. I have a BC and AC in my life.
I wonder about the decisions of mankind, history, what would it look like if Christianity, God’s will, had any impact.
In the BC period of my life, when I recollect, there is a strong force of providence.
In the AC of my life, I reflect, have I done the will of God, increased in righteousness?
Even if I had, what is the efficacy of it. What is the real purpose of my life in Christ.
I am stuck in history. “Each day has trouble enough of its own.”
I have to worry about my decisions, my reactions. It keeps me busy and I don’t know if such busy has any meaning. It seems all things do not work for good. The good is to keep working for the good in yourself with the Grace, help, inspiration if God.
Excellent way to describe ones life cycle. Without Our Creator , My life would be a disaster. because all My intentions would be by My own ideas and not from Infinite wisdom. Thanks for the comment . I do appreciate it. To Me it seems to come from Your heart.
Jeez Louise, more lies. Architecture is in and of itself harmless. Architecture is the essential combination of the practical of the universe with the artistic imagination of Man. It harms nothing and enables much. USING architecture is where the problems come; doing something, because we CAN, is often where the harm comes. Example: We CAN print money, so we DO print money. Example: We CAN offload responsibility onto government, so we DO offload responsibility onto government. Further: We CAN control ourselves, so we DO control ourselves, right? ... RIGHT? Best always. PM
...architecture affects land value.
Land value is taxed based upon its ability to draw income (i.e. tax base).
The fact land value is a prime source of gov't income I don't understand the statement either.
It sounds like a lot of people like to pay taxes. P.M. stated , more or less the He hates paying Taxes. If taxes were to be voluntary, that would be ok with Me But if You and I do not pay them, people with guns come to Yours and My place to collect. Freedom and liberty, that was a dream of the past.
Bill, I rarely attempt to present an opinion to someone who is a deep thinker and has the ability to see beyond the horizon. But, (here it comes) is a commentary on your 'big man' descriptions over the last several weeks.
I am in maximum security mode, I have followed your analysis for years and trust your judgment. You tried to advise the political beings in DC before you founded Agora Financial and realized it was a hopeless endeavor.
It has remained hopeless (you are right again) and the current administration has emerged because the citizens of this Nation want changes. Big changes to the crippling effects from the self-serving, grifters who have systematically avoided making improvements to decisions that are ruining the Nation. They are in large enough numbers can see it coming. And they are looking for the leader who will make those changes.
The first human who stepped upon the political stage with the message of forcing massive changes on the federal government is the twice elected, current President. Opposition forces tried to kill him and he did not soften his stance. Does he have the knowledge to accomplish his goal of putting main street on an equal footing with wall street? I am not holding my breath.
The disastrous policies of the last 45 years can never be undone in one, two, or ten election cycles. It has to be a struggle of decades long commitment away from the advantages the bureaucracy has encased itself in. Are the rank and file employees evil? Not at all, they want to protect the jobs, earnings, and lifestyle they enjoy. Any rapid changes instill panic and resistance from the ranks.
Are those demanding changes to the bureaucracy evil? No, again. They can see the consequences looming in their future and their children's future and demand a solution.
So, they place their hopes on a man who at least addresses the plight of the true middle class citizen. Can he fulfill the collective dream of reform? Can an aging Empire save itself?
I prepare myself and my family as best I can for the decline that will eat away the Nation's capabilities until it buckles. Is it Trumps fault? No, he cares and is limited in what he can accomplish. Is he wise? No, he has his flaws and does not accept critical messages. Is anyone else capable of leading a decades long contraction to a better outcome? Another generation will have to answer that question. That is my limitation.
PM, Starboard Edge, and others, does anyone know if Mary Pat Bonner is related to BB? Just read a zero hedge article that said she is the lead fund raiser for media matters a leading democratic promotion arm. Might explain some of bill’s bias? I don’t know if there is a connection or not but it sure would be great if bill stuck to finance and the economy. I enjoy most of his thought provoking articles because of the comments that come in from them.
From the zero hedge article “s was Musk’s intention when he brought it," wrote Elias staffer Ezra Reese in a letter to Media Matters President Angelo Carusone and lead fundraiser, Mary Pat Bonner. Reese offered to discount the fees by half - if they paid $2.25 million within about a week. If Media Matters refused, the Elias firm would expect full payment of the original amount, and would "go pens down and take steps to withdraw from the case by the end of the month."”