Almost all instances of imperial decline are accompanied by monetary decline, manifesting itself as inflation, corruption, and/or bankruptcy. But the real process is profound and mostly invisible
BB-Very informative article. Our government is doomed because our society today are made up of around 50% of slaves. Slaves in the form of relying on government handouts instead of self reliance. We do need to help the ‘needy’. I can’t believe that any country can have so many people on government assistance. It can’t survive. Politicians are more interested in getting
re-elected so the freebies just keeps on coming. Protect yourself as no one will come to your rescue.
I would disagree. We do not NEED to help the needy as an obligation (if that's what you were implying). In a free society based on individual rights, you certainly are free to help anyone you want. It's called charity. But to steal from some people (productive people) to give to unproductive people (whatever the reason that they cannot take care of themselves - laziness, bad fortune, inability, etc.) is immoral. The government should be out of the welfare business. It leads to people relying on it when they could in fact take care of themselves and massive fraud.
Bill's discouraging missive today diminished my hope for the USA.
You would think that our current Administration would be dedicated to reduce our deficit; to focus on creating more taxable wealth instead of evermore debt; to fulfill our commitment to defend Europe instead of bribing our military with money we don't have.
Why would you expect the current one to be any different than those in the past?
The thought of an actual reduced deficit is worth nothing more than a laugh, and the thought of an actual balanced budget is ROFL. Both of those trains left the station many decades ago and will never be coming back.
Beyond this ol' man's imagination how people actually think there is a "fix". The system is so far past fixing to be as you so aptly noted "ROFL". What is going to happen is a horrific credit bubble collapse and how that plays out is going to be so ugly for so many of us peons. Why empires died this way is because human nature never changes. And, it ain't this time either.
It’s sad that the things promised by the big man when he was running for reelection have already gone by the wayside. The Big Beautiful Abomination is the reality of his promises. I do approve of the border being closed. Perhaps all his spending is actually an “investment in America.” Right, certainly is a new way to express the same old claptrap.
Securing the border and forceably expelling undocumented individuals are two different undertakings.
A savvy president of this nation of immigrants, most of whose forebears arrived here without documentation, would find a way to keep the ones lacking documentation but who have a record of paying taxes; starting businesses; serving in the military; helping the downtrodden
I do wonder if BPR might be a tad too early on the oil trade. The oil ETF TOTD hasn’t done much in a while. The world is awash in crude, and there’s a lot of floating inventory on the seas. Doomberg reports China’s’ early success at accessing their massive shale deposits of oil and gas, along with the highest concentration of EV’s driving their roads is putting a downer on future oil imports. I’d say the shale deposits are more important than the EV usage. China is the largest oil importer. Take their meaningful demand away, and nothing is really stacking up for crude yet. Technology in the oil patch is another constant putting downward pressure on prices.
Bill wrote an article about the origins of the United States; only one third actively supported the Revolution. That America would not have existed without French intervention. Like himself, he considered the one third that sat on the sidelines as the smartest. He intimated that it would have been better if the United States never existed.
It is a dismal, small, minded view of humanity and history. Maybe, it is the French view, he is more French than American. Maybe, he was just ticked off about the stupidity of life in Maryland.
America, the government formed by an erudite group of men, is the most outstanding contribution to mankind. It has been fraught with barbarities and difficulties. I think The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln states it best.
The Revolution lasted nine years, Washington’s dogged persistence based on his personal experiences and belief in providence were an important part of victory. There were many people involved in many circumstances that led to victory. The British like the Americans, in Vietnam were destined for defeat. French involvement was one of the many fortunate circumstances.
You only need “the salt and the yeast” to transform the world into the Kingdom of God.
The nation has endured crises. Our leaders have brought crises and Shock and Awe on the world; we have dissipated our good fortune and abundance, acted despicably.
Every generation has trying times, bleak hopeless times “That try souls.”
If we believe in God, his loving providence, we will join the active third and persevere like Washington and not let hope in victory be extinguished. Long live the United States; may it live its purpose and promise.
America the beautiful, where words are cheaper than money and both are counterfeit. The US doesn’t govern people, it services debt.
You hear about a “Warrior Dividend” and the crowd claps like seals at a seafood buffet. Dividend from what? From the same debt corpse they’ve been kicking since Nixon unplugged reality. Two hundred years of honest money built something real. Fifty years of funny money built a hallucination with a flag.
Borrowed money handed out as gratitude is just a bribe that learned how to salute. You don’t honor people by mortgaging their future and calling it respect. That’s not patriotism, that’s payday lending with a flag emoji.
The Fed didn’t just tilt the table, they lit it on fire and told everyone to dance faster. Saving is stupid, borrowing is necessary. Necessary is permanent. Permanent became slavery with a variable rate.
The borrower isn’t free. He’s terrified. And terrified people don’t rule themselves. They beg the system that trapped them to keep the lights on one more month.
I like how everyone in still votes. That’s sweet. It’s like reenacting a battle after the war ended and the generals sold the land. You feel involved, you’re not.
They tell you the system is complicated. That’s how you know it’s working. Simple systems need consent. Complicated ones need confusion.
Money used to tell you where you stood. Now it just tells you how confused you should be. You can’t tell if an hour of work equals dinner or debt. That’s exciting, in a very quiet, hopeless way.
So people argue about democracy versus republic while the real ruler, the invisible math, sits there doing what it does best. Winning without applause.
He thinks he governs himself, that’s my favorite part.
What is most interesting is the malaise as has been so appropriately put, happens in both parties, like a wing nut. Left wing, right wing same nut. However, i also find it interesting that BB and his brother An Ol' LSO blame all of this grift on Trump.
Five non-consecutive years in office, yet 250 years of grift is all his fault. Both quick to blame, neither offer a sliver of hope not solutions. Basically, nothing but bullshit to hear their own thoughts.
Interesting quote from David Stockman, Reagan's initial Budget Director:
"...Joe Biden didn’t make the cost of living unaffordable all on his own; The big spending UniParty on Capitol Hill and the money-printers at the Fed see to that year after year after year.
Alas, that’s the heart of the problem. The essence of Trump-O-Nomics is big deficits forever and even easier money per the Donald’s recent call for the inflationary foolishness of 1% interest rates.
And on top of that, toss in massive increases in import prices owing to the Donald’s inflationary tariffs.
In any case, there is absolutely no evidence that inflation is improving..."
Bill starts off his column on a negative note suggesting that liberty is a fluke because it has rarely existed. Then he once again rails against democracy (as if that's our form of government) before he makes an astonishing pivot (for him) and implies that America is a republic. That doesn't last long as he states that republics are not stable either as France has had five since 1789. No detail of what those republics consisted of, just another throwaway line to make another negative point. No mention that the USA is a Constitutional Republic based predominately on individual rights (not perfectly, there were a few cracks that the statists were able to take advantage of and hence our predicament today).
Then Bonner pivots again in a good way and discusses "real money". In the paragraph in bold, he writes: "Real money keeps people honest and keeps them free." Well, sort of, but it's actually the other way around. When people recognize what real money is and ensure that the medium of exchange is preserved as real money, that is what makes them free. In any event, for Bill, he does a pretty good job of it. Here is a link to a much better explanation that I have posted before. It shows the connection between real money, morality, and the fate of nations in a comprehensive, philosophical overview of the subject. It's usually referred to as the "Money Speech" in the novel, Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand:
Elon Musk found out the hard way that no amount of effort can overcome the entrenched bureaucracy or the big money elitists that perpetuate the decline of the American “Empire” that Bill pontificates upon. The same goes globally for the British & Europeans trying to “re-empire” their former status. You can install a new FBI or CIA head but the body will resist and defy any changes. Any positive solutions will be opposed dramatically by the usual suspects.
BB-Very informative article. Our government is doomed because our society today are made up of around 50% of slaves. Slaves in the form of relying on government handouts instead of self reliance. We do need to help the ‘needy’. I can’t believe that any country can have so many people on government assistance. It can’t survive. Politicians are more interested in getting
re-elected so the freebies just keeps on coming. Protect yourself as no one will come to your rescue.
I would disagree. We do not NEED to help the needy as an obligation (if that's what you were implying). In a free society based on individual rights, you certainly are free to help anyone you want. It's called charity. But to steal from some people (productive people) to give to unproductive people (whatever the reason that they cannot take care of themselves - laziness, bad fortune, inability, etc.) is immoral. The government should be out of the welfare business. It leads to people relying on it when they could in fact take care of themselves and massive fraud.
Spot on, John. Unfortunately, very few people believe this anymore.
just look at the outrage when they try to get just a few off the dole!
Bill's discouraging missive today diminished my hope for the USA.
You would think that our current Administration would be dedicated to reduce our deficit; to focus on creating more taxable wealth instead of evermore debt; to fulfill our commitment to defend Europe instead of bribing our military with money we don't have.
"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩"
Why would you expect the current one to be any different than those in the past?
The thought of an actual reduced deficit is worth nothing more than a laugh, and the thought of an actual balanced budget is ROFL. Both of those trains left the station many decades ago and will never be coming back.
Beyond this ol' man's imagination how people actually think there is a "fix". The system is so far past fixing to be as you so aptly noted "ROFL". What is going to happen is a horrific credit bubble collapse and how that plays out is going to be so ugly for so many of us peons. Why empires died this way is because human nature never changes. And, it ain't this time either.
So true, so true
Yep.
if anybody tried to actually fix it they would be voted out of office by the voters for someone who would keep the "free" stuff flowing
100% spot on!
Reducing the deficit and getting reelected just ain't gonna work.
It’s sad that the things promised by the big man when he was running for reelection have already gone by the wayside. The Big Beautiful Abomination is the reality of his promises. I do approve of the border being closed. Perhaps all his spending is actually an “investment in America.” Right, certainly is a new way to express the same old claptrap.
Securing the border and forceably expelling undocumented individuals are two different undertakings.
A savvy president of this nation of immigrants, most of whose forebears arrived here without documentation, would find a way to keep the ones lacking documentation but who have a record of paying taxes; starting businesses; serving in the military; helping the downtrodden
No such luck..deficit in 2019 was one trillion…with the greatest economy ever
Yep.😂😂
Yeah like all the others.
I do wonder if BPR might be a tad too early on the oil trade. The oil ETF TOTD hasn’t done much in a while. The world is awash in crude, and there’s a lot of floating inventory on the seas. Doomberg reports China’s’ early success at accessing their massive shale deposits of oil and gas, along with the highest concentration of EV’s driving their roads is putting a downer on future oil imports. I’d say the shale deposits are more important than the EV usage. China is the largest oil importer. Take their meaningful demand away, and nothing is really stacking up for crude yet. Technology in the oil patch is another constant putting downward pressure on prices.
Bill wrote an article about the origins of the United States; only one third actively supported the Revolution. That America would not have existed without French intervention. Like himself, he considered the one third that sat on the sidelines as the smartest. He intimated that it would have been better if the United States never existed.
It is a dismal, small, minded view of humanity and history. Maybe, it is the French view, he is more French than American. Maybe, he was just ticked off about the stupidity of life in Maryland.
America, the government formed by an erudite group of men, is the most outstanding contribution to mankind. It has been fraught with barbarities and difficulties. I think The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln states it best.
The Revolution lasted nine years, Washington’s dogged persistence based on his personal experiences and belief in providence were an important part of victory. There were many people involved in many circumstances that led to victory. The British like the Americans, in Vietnam were destined for defeat. French involvement was one of the many fortunate circumstances.
You only need “the salt and the yeast” to transform the world into the Kingdom of God.
The nation has endured crises. Our leaders have brought crises and Shock and Awe on the world; we have dissipated our good fortune and abundance, acted despicably.
Every generation has trying times, bleak hopeless times “That try souls.”
If we believe in God, his loving providence, we will join the active third and persevere like Washington and not let hope in victory be extinguished. Long live the United States; may it live its purpose and promise.
Amen my wise friend. 🇱🇷🇱🇷 I know all the bad but I still hope and pray.
America the beautiful, where words are cheaper than money and both are counterfeit. The US doesn’t govern people, it services debt.
You hear about a “Warrior Dividend” and the crowd claps like seals at a seafood buffet. Dividend from what? From the same debt corpse they’ve been kicking since Nixon unplugged reality. Two hundred years of honest money built something real. Fifty years of funny money built a hallucination with a flag.
Borrowed money handed out as gratitude is just a bribe that learned how to salute. You don’t honor people by mortgaging their future and calling it respect. That’s not patriotism, that’s payday lending with a flag emoji.
The Fed didn’t just tilt the table, they lit it on fire and told everyone to dance faster. Saving is stupid, borrowing is necessary. Necessary is permanent. Permanent became slavery with a variable rate.
The borrower isn’t free. He’s terrified. And terrified people don’t rule themselves. They beg the system that trapped them to keep the lights on one more month.
I like how everyone in still votes. That’s sweet. It’s like reenacting a battle after the war ended and the generals sold the land. You feel involved, you’re not.
They tell you the system is complicated. That’s how you know it’s working. Simple systems need consent. Complicated ones need confusion.
Money used to tell you where you stood. Now it just tells you how confused you should be. You can’t tell if an hour of work equals dinner or debt. That’s exciting, in a very quiet, hopeless way.
So people argue about democracy versus republic while the real ruler, the invisible math, sits there doing what it does best. Winning without applause.
He thinks he governs himself, that’s my favorite part.
What is most interesting is the malaise as has been so appropriately put, happens in both parties, like a wing nut. Left wing, right wing same nut. However, i also find it interesting that BB and his brother An Ol' LSO blame all of this grift on Trump.
Five non-consecutive years in office, yet 250 years of grift is all his fault. Both quick to blame, neither offer a sliver of hope not solutions. Basically, nothing but bullshit to hear their own thoughts.
Interesting quote from David Stockman, Reagan's initial Budget Director:
"...Joe Biden didn’t make the cost of living unaffordable all on his own; The big spending UniParty on Capitol Hill and the money-printers at the Fed see to that year after year after year.
Alas, that’s the heart of the problem. The essence of Trump-O-Nomics is big deficits forever and even easier money per the Donald’s recent call for the inflationary foolishness of 1% interest rates.
And on top of that, toss in massive increases in import prices owing to the Donald’s inflationary tariffs.
In any case, there is absolutely no evidence that inflation is improving..."
Really, hmmm... could have sworn it fell from 9.4% (Biden) to ~3% (Trump)....must be me.....yea, thats it.....its me..
That guy has extreme TDS. You are most correct sir.
"In any case, there is absolutely no evidence that inflation is improving..."
Right!
... inflation is not "improving", it is in decline...
Bill starts off his column on a negative note suggesting that liberty is a fluke because it has rarely existed. Then he once again rails against democracy (as if that's our form of government) before he makes an astonishing pivot (for him) and implies that America is a republic. That doesn't last long as he states that republics are not stable either as France has had five since 1789. No detail of what those republics consisted of, just another throwaway line to make another negative point. No mention that the USA is a Constitutional Republic based predominately on individual rights (not perfectly, there were a few cracks that the statists were able to take advantage of and hence our predicament today).
Then Bonner pivots again in a good way and discusses "real money". In the paragraph in bold, he writes: "Real money keeps people honest and keeps them free." Well, sort of, but it's actually the other way around. When people recognize what real money is and ensure that the medium of exchange is preserved as real money, that is what makes them free. In any event, for Bill, he does a pretty good job of it. Here is a link to a much better explanation that I have posted before. It shows the connection between real money, morality, and the fate of nations in a comprehensive, philosophical overview of the subject. It's usually referred to as the "Money Speech" in the novel, Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand:
https://capitalismmagazine.com/2002/08/franciscos-money-speech/
Now that you have forgotten your usual TDS. Today's post appears to be something of value.
Elon Musk found out the hard way that no amount of effort can overcome the entrenched bureaucracy or the big money elitists that perpetuate the decline of the American “Empire” that Bill pontificates upon. The same goes globally for the British & Europeans trying to “re-empire” their former status. You can install a new FBI or CIA head but the body will resist and defy any changes. Any positive solutions will be opposed dramatically by the usual suspects.
Yikes! Another bitter dose of reality! Thanks Bill. Ali
I asked two AI's, Copilot and Gemini, "Why did Nixon take the U S off the gold standard?" Their replies were interesting.
Nixon was not the first to propose it, I believe it was Kennedy or Johnson. None the less, the beginnings of the uniparty implemented it.