An Addendum to Reality

I appreciated this awesome e-mail response to Land of the Greed and the Home of the Slaves - I will keep the author Anonymous, but I agree with what was stated and wanted to share it. There is a lot of thought and intellect put into this response and it will fly over 90%+ of this community's heads.



Dear Thom,

It’s always darkest before the dawn. No more posting in the middle of the night!

I think you might be getting off on the wrong track when you say that “working class” people are at the mercy of the “white collar” people. This divisionary tactic is one we must not fall for. We are all in this together and we have to be careful that we do not encourage division between classes, races, religions, age groups, etc. We need to recognize the real enemy: the international cabal of the corrupt banksters, the corporatocracy, the oligarchy, whatever name you want to use. No matter how you name them, they are still corrupt gangsters outside of the law who do whatever they like and whose power needs to be utterly broken.

This relatively small group of people intends to destroy the world country by country by gaining total control of the populations and then remaking the world according to their own plans and they have been stealthily working at it for many years. Remember that these people are not Americans, no matter what their passport might say. They are motivated only by power and control. Their immediate concern is to crush all competition and they have no moral compass to distinguish right and wrong. Their goal is a “new world order,” which they intend to control for their own benefit. The people will truly be slaves, as you said.

All media is controlled by them through just a handful of corporations: television, radio, print, and film. Through the media they have been able to brainwash Americans with their propaganda and through poisoning our water, food and environment they have made us weaker and less able to resist. But something has blossomed fairly recently that has caused them concern and slowed their plans: the Internet. The internet gave rise to the alternative media and people can learn the truth for the first time. The global cabal want to control the internet too and will do everything in their power to obtain this control. This is where we must stop them and this is where you have been playing an important part, Thom.

I know your focus is local, right here in Hickory and that is what we need; but Hickory’s economic problems can be traced back to these people and you must never let your readers forget this. Their jobs were destroyed by a combination of technology and NAFTA.

Several experts say that today we have the technology to give every person in the world the basic things they need to live a decent life. The global elite is controlling the technology and they intend to use it for themselves and to their benefit only. We have the technology to enable people to work only a few days a week if it were allowed to flower. They want one world government controlled by them and a max of 2 million people on the planet.

What can we do? Keep exposing the FED cartel and boycott their banks. Boycott the news networks and do everything we can to use and protect the Internet and keep it free. Support a strong military for defense only and speak out when you see it used aggressively abroad to destabilize nations. Make your home and car as self-sustainable as possible. Put no faith in the political system as we know both sides of the aisle, all branches and all levels have been co-opted by the global elite. When you keep it real (as you said), you will know that you can’t believe anything they tell you and you will have to do your own research.

Here in Hickory we need information about what’s really going on and I depend on the Hickory Hound to supply the information. I want to see the maps, drawings, renderings of Inspiring Spaces as well as information about the costs. Your recording of the Council meetings got things started, but now you can scale back and just make comments on parts that concern you. It looks like a lot of work and you could use your energy elsewhere. I’m really pleased to see the changes in the HDR now that we have a new editor and he has hired two new reporters. He promised more election coverage and it seems he is trying to carry through. Considering who owns the paper, he probably has to walk a fine line, but he wants to do a good job.

What we need is a critical mass of people who understand what’s going on behind the scenes and simply don’t fall for the standard explanations they are given. You have played an important part in waking me up. Primary elections are coming up soon and we need more information about who is running. Greg Brannon was a Constitutionalist who recently was brought to court on corruption charges from an incident in the past. No matter what they say, I feel he was deliberately knocked out of the race by the powers that be. They are very much afraid of the “Tea Party” and continue to seek to destroy it. It’s things like this we need to expose.

Have a good week and get some sleep!

Land of the Greed and the Home of the Slaves

The every man for themselves economy created has been fomented by the Merkin Oligarchy. Michael Douglas in the movie Wall Street said that "Greed is Good" and I swear to God that this is a Creed that many of the people at the top in this country have chosen to live by.

I guess if you're driving a luxury car, living in a luxury house, and have a detached white collar job with some security and decision making authority, then you think everything is hunky-dory and what is everyone complaining about. There are a lot of us out here that have been on a steady economic slide downwards with stagnant incomes and ever increasing expenses who are at the mercy of you white collar folks... and you folks never seem to suffer the consequences of your bad decisions like the rest of us do. If you think I'm lazy come say it to my face. If you think I've caused my problems, then please come say it to my face. Whomever you believe is not worthy, say it to their face. If you don't really want to know how I am, then don't ask.

I've still got to put together my State of Hickory 2014 and it has been hard to put together, because it isn't fun to talk about. My lone surviving grandparent had a stroke back in January and she isn't getting better. To be honest, I haven't gotten used to my other grandmother not being around, because she was basically my lifeline basically up until she died. My mother isn't in great shape and she has been helping my grandmother, which isn't easy on her... and no, we don't want anyone's help, because we know they want a ton of money. They basically want to take what little we have left.

I'm sick of it all to be frank and I've decided that besides work, I don't want much of anything to do with anyone in this community. I'll take care of my house, the best I can, and get by the best I can, but I expect every year from here on out to be worse than the last, not because I want it to be, but because of the way this place is. I have a cloud that hangs over me that makes me wonder at what point I lose everything.

I'm up here at 4am thinking about life. I'm not up because of some physical or mental disorder. I'm up because I can't get thoughts out of my mind -- all of the bad. And you will be happy to know that the stress exudes from my soul. How does someone who never wins and never gets what they want enjoy life?

We have people at the top of this community that want to tell us that our message isn't positive enough. I think we have too many sales people running this community. When they tell me this story about how great things are, they don't come off as convincing... they come off as full of it -- and I think the more vulgar term is more appropriate. I don't have confidence in these people. Sales people are only interested in selling things... making commissions... a quick fix... junkies. I'm not a junky - The Greed.

I want to see us build an economy here. I want to see some stability... security... ecosystem... progress... quality of life. I wish I could be a leader, a crusader, but this area doesn't create leaders. It chews those kinds of people up and spits them out. No one wants cutting edge, pioneer types of people here. Control freaks want people they can control, don't allow competition, and repress everything around them including themselves. If you step out, they will try to cage you. - The Slaves.

Personally, I'm going to tell it like I see it. If you don't like it, then go get blitzed or whatever you need to do to escape reality, because keeping it Real is the only thing helping me to survive at this point. So you have two options. Come cuss me out or leave me alone, because I'm not you. I'm me.

Lessons Never Learned

I looked at the Hickory Daily Record poll related to the Glorified Sidewalk along Main Avenue and the Railroad track that they are proposing to spend $27.5 million on. I told you during the election that Hickory Inc. is going to raise your taxes. They said so on May 21, 2013 at the Hickory City Council meeting..

Here are some points:

1) Remember that the Mayor said that the number being talked about was $80 million for beautification -- He said it at a Democrat meeting. I think he thought they would be receptive, because that's how the Fox News disciples think. Republicans automatically against spending money. Democrats automatically for spending money.

2) Look at the chart above. Former Alder Sally Fox said let's raise taxes now and let's fund Inspiring Spaces now. I appreciated her courage and her honesty. The others hemmed and hawed, because they were running for re-election. I think Sally knew she wasn't going to run. Those that were going to run knew that in Hickory, NC that they could not run on a tax increase. They wanted to keep it as hush-hush as possible. They should have been pushed on their obvious scheme. I tried. Oh well!

On that night, City Manager Mick Berry is saying they will need 1.5 cents for expected losses of Revenue and Operational Increases. They need at least 1-cent to repave the roads. And he talks about a three-pronged Economic Competitiveness plan and proposes that they need 4-cents for Hickory's portion of Innovate Catawba's Sites and Building plan plus Redevelopment plus Inspiring Spaces.

Here's the kicker. Mr. Berry lowballed his estimates. Look at those numbers:

4-cents for Hickory's portion of Innovate Catawba's Sites and Building plan plus Redevelopment plus Inspiring Spaces. He proposes $20 million for all of that. Now Hickory Inc. has come forward and they are asking for $27.5 million for just one project of one portion of their Economic Competitiveness plan. Do you see that this doesn't add up?

So, how much does that increase that "necessary" property tax increase? Absolutely more than 4-cents. And please remember that on their last project, they said that the Structure on Union Square was going to cost $285,000 and it ended up costing (what they will admit to) nearly $500,000. If they say this project is going to cost $27.5 million, then how much is it really going to cost?

You can see that to do what is proposed, your property tax is going up by at least 10-cents per $100.

3) Andrea Surratt, who has been in charge of this process, initially said that this plan was about jobs and population growth, but the only things we have heard mentioned are revitalized infrastructure.  I have been told that the Inspiring Spaces Advisory Committee had no input on this Main Street Project and they were surprised when City Staff came forward with it and yet we are told back on July 9, 2013 that the advisory committee is prioritizing the projects.

I am going through my files to pinpoint the remark. At one point, during the beginning of this process and along the time the structure on Union Square was being completed, Ms. Surratt said that this (Inspiring Spaces Project)  wasn't about Downtown; that Downtown had just been focused on with "the Sails" project. They were looking to redevelop and uplift other areas of the city -- this link points to where she said something along those lines - Highland Recreation Center meeting about Inspiring Spaces - November 13, 2012. 

What do you call this project? It is yet another focus on Downtown. I will be magnanimous by saying this was disingenuous.

The Hound:  Most of the RINOs, the DINOs, and the TPINOs all got together and re-elected the Status Quo back in November. These people don't understand the constructs and principles of their parties. It's just about a convenience and the contest. Everyone forgets about the governance part. 

I've heard people grousing and grumbling around here for years about the lack of direction, but they don't do anything to change their circumstances. Frankly, I'm tired of it. I've spent a lot of time over the years pointing out pure and simple reality. The bottom line is there is no accountability around here and there is a lot of nasty, lowball, petty politics. It sure isn't the stomping grounds of intellectuals, that's for sure.

It doesn't matter if 80% of the people are against it, these people, as far as I can tell, are going to build this sidewalk no matter what; just like they did their "Sails on the Square". Whether they pass the bond referendum or not, they are going to build this $27.5 million sidewalk. If the referendum does not pass, then they will have to do it piece meal. That means a little bit at a time for you devout worshipers of party politics. Taxes are going up no matter what.

If changing the way things are is Liberal, then I am guilty. If maintaining the Status Quo and doing the same things over and over again and hoping for a better result is Conservative, then I want nothing to do with it. We gave you a platform to get this whole community moving and it was rejected. You voted for "We're gonna do whatever we want and if you don't like it tough." Enjoy.

P.S. And I don't hate Hickory. The things I love are my family, God, loyal friends, freshness, fresh food, the ocean, mountain streams, underdogs, selflessness, hardworking ordinary people, justice, honor, integrity, intellectuality...

And I hate everything that is the opposite of that.

Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- February 23, 2014

X22 Report - Current Economic Collapse News Brief – Episode 297 - February 22, 2014


The Hickory Daily Record - February 22, 2014
What do you think about the city of Hickory’s $27.5 million proposal to build a park / walking trail on Main Avenue as part of its Inspiring Spaces project?

Great idea. I’m fine with raising property taxes to fund it. 15.9% 
Let’s scale it down first. 6.6% 
We could find better uses for the money. 70.4% 
I don’t care at all about new parks. 7.1% 


Is the housing recovery losing steam? - Fortune/CNN.com - By Christopher Matthews - February 19, 2014 - The latest data suggest that the promised construction boom may not materialize...                    But Wednesday morning the Census Bureau released data showing that, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, only 880,000 new homes had begun construction in January, 16% below the revised December estimate of 1,048,000 and 2% below the January 2013 rate of 898,000...

Expert Warns of Hyperinflation: “The American Way Of Life Will Be Destroyed” - SHTFPlan.com - Mac Slavo - February 17th, 2014 -If there’s one thing that’s certain about what’s happening in the world right now  it’s that uncertainty is pervading every aspect of the global economy. From fabricated employment statistics and consumer spending reports to obscene levels of debt and a failing domestic monetary policy, the writing is on the wall.                According to top Casey Research analyst Marin Katusa, who has met with energy ministers and business leaders in over 100 countries, it’s only a matter of time before the world’s reserve currency goes the way of the German Reichsmark and Zimbabwe Dollar.                 What we’re talking about here is nothing short of an outright collapse of our banking system, hyperinflation of the US dollar, and a complete destruction of the world as we have come to know it. This is a must-watch for those trying to understand what’s happening with the economic landscape, how to position yourself for an unprecedented paradigm shift in how Americans live their lives, what to expect as this crisis unfolds, and how to find opportunities when everyone else is in panic mode.


29 Percent Of All U.S. Adults Under The Age Of 35 Are Living With Their Parents - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - February 19th, 2014 - Why are so many young adults in America living with their parents?  According to a stunning Gallup survey that was recently released, nearly three out of every ten adults in the United States under the age of 35 are still living at home with Mom and Dad.  This closely lines up with a Pew Research Center analysis of Census data that looked at a younger sample of Americans which found that 36 percent of Americans 18 to 31 years old were still living with their parents.  That was the highest level that had ever been recorded.  Overall, approximately 25 million U.S. adults are currently living at home with their parents according to Time Magazine.  So what is causing all of this?  Well, there are certainly a lot of factors.  Overwhelming student loan debt, a depressing lack of jobs and the high cost of living are all definitely playing a role.  But many would argue that what we are witnessing goes far beyond temporary economic conditions.  There are many that believe that we have fundamentally failed our young people and have neglected to equip them with the skills and values that they need to be successful in the real world.                  More Americans than ever before seem to be living in a state of "perpetual adolescence".  As Gallup noted, one of the keys to adulthood is to be able to establish independence from your parents...


Gold Even More Bullish Under Yellen Than Bernanke or Greenspan! 

Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- February 16, 2014

Poll: Americans have little faith in government - Associated Press - CHARLES BABINGTON and JENNIFER AGIESTA — January 2, 2014 - Americans enter 2014 with a profoundly negative view of their government, expressing little hope that elected officials can or will solve the nation's biggest problems, a new poll finds.                          Half say America's system of democracy needs either "a lot of changes" or a complete overhaul, according to the poll conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Just 1 in 20 says it works well and needs no changes.                   Americans, who have a reputation for optimism, have a sharply pessimistic take on their government after years of disappointment in Washington.                        The percentage of Americans saying the nation is heading in the right direction hasn't topped 50 in about a decade. In the new poll, 70 percent lack confidence in the government's ability "to make progress on the important problems and issues facing the country in 2014."...                   On the economy, an area historically driven by the private sector, the poll finds a clear public desire for active government. Fifty-seven percent of Americans say "we need a strong government to handle today's complex economic problems."
Even among those who say "the less government the better," 31 percent feel the nation needs a strong government to handle those complex problems.                      Americans don't feel terribly optimistic about their own economic opportunities. Although 49 percent say their standard of living surpasses their parents', most are broadly pessimistic about the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. And they are mixed on whether people like them have a good chance to improve their standard of living.                          Few are hopeful that the pieces are in place for the government to improve. About half are pessimistic about the country's ability to produce strong leaders generally. And 61 percent are pessimistic about the system of government overall and the way leaders are chosen...


The Return of Mercantilism - Azizonomics - John Aziz - January 10, 2013


David Stockman - King World News Interview - February 13, 2014 - David Stockman was the head of the Office of Management and Budget during the Reagan Administration. In this interview he addresses the manipulation of the Money Markets by the Fed and how these artificial manipulations, such as Quantitative Easing, are going to have and will continue to have a resoundingly bad effect on World Money Markets. (King World News Interview)



Factory Production in U.S. Falls by Most Since 2009 - Bloomberg - Jeanna Smialek - February 14, 2014 - Factory production in the U.S. unexpectedly declined in January by the most since May 2009, adding to evidence severe winter weather weighed on the economy.                       The 0.8 percent decrease at manufacturers followed a revised 0.3 percent gain the prior month that was weaker than initially reported, figures from the Federal Reserve showed today in Washington. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 0.1 percent advance. Total industrial production dropped 0.3 percent even as utility output climbed the most in almost a year.
Assembly lines slowed last month as colder weather tempered production, the Fed said, showing a pause in the momentum of an industry that’s helped bolster the economy. A pickup in capital spending and faster hiring that drives consumer purchases will be needed to spur production gains.



No Janet Yellen, The Economy Is NOT “Getting Better” - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - February 11th, 2014 - On Tuesday, new Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen went before Congress and confidently declared that "the economic recovery gained greater traction in the second half of last year" and that "substantial progress has been made in restoring the economy to health".  This resulted in glowing headlines throughout the mainstream media such as this one from USA Today: "Yellen: Economy is improving at moderate pace".  Sadly, tens of millions of Americans are going to believe what the mainstream media is telling them.  But it isn't the truth.  As you will see below, there are all sorts of signs that the economy is taking a turn for the worse.  And when the next great economic crisis does strike, most Americans will be completely and totally unprepared because they trusted our "leaders" when they told us that everything would be just fine...
 
-Prominent retailers are closing hundreds of stores all over the United States.  Things have gotten so bad that some are calling this a "retail apocalypse"...

• JC Penney, which lost $586 million in three months in 2013, is planning to close 33 stores in 19 states and lay off 2,000 people. JC Penney’s stock has lost 84 percent of its value since February 2012.
• Sears has decided to shut down its flagship store in Downtown Chicago, and it has closed 300 stores in the United States since 2010. Stock analyst Brian Sozzi noted that Sear’s inventory levels have fallen by 23.7 percent since 2006. He also noted that Sears had $4.4 billion in cash and equivalents in 2005 but $609 million in cash and equivalents in 2012. Sozzi, who calls himself a guerrilla analyst, has a blog full of disturbing pictures of empty Sears stores.
• Macy’s, one of the few retail success stories, is planning to close five stores and eliminate 2,500 jobs.
• Radio Shack is preparing to close 500 stores, according to The Wall Street Journal.
• Best Buy recently closed 50 stores and eliminated 950 jobs at stores in Canada.
• Target announced plans to eliminate 475 jobs and not fill 700 empty positions to reduce costs.
• Aeropostale is planning to close 175 stores.
• Blockbuster has closed down all of its stores.

The US Participation Rate Is At A 35 Year Low: This Is How It Looks Broken Down By State - Zero Hedge - Tyler Durden - February 14, 2014 - After years of being roundly ignored by the mainstream media, and certainly by self-important economists, the issue of labor force participation is suddenly up front and center, especially now that the Fed itself finds itself scrambling to explain the humiliation of hitting its 6.5% unemployment "forward guidance" threshold without proceeding to tighten as it said it would initially when it launched QEternity in December 2012.                    Incidentally, we predicted precisely this when we said in December 2012 that "using a simple forecast, based on LTM trends across all key employment metrics reveals something very troubling, for the Fed and stocks that is: the 6.5% unemployment rate will be breached in July 2013! Now granted that is simply idiotic, and there is no way that the US economy could possibly recover that fast, but that is precisely what is implied based on the ongoing collapse in the Labor Force Participation, and the concurrent plunge in the Labor Force Participation rate, which has been the biggest marginal driver for the unemployment rate, far more than the number of people who have jobs, or are unemployed (readers can recreate our calculation on their own in 10 minutes with excel)."
Granted, we were off by six months, but we were spot on about the reason why the unemployment threshold number was hit so quickly, instead of as the Fed has originally predicted, some time in 2015/2016.

We will see more Layoffs - X22 Report - Hickory Hound - February 13, 2014
X22 Report - Episode 289 - February 13, 2014