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Thursday, August 18, 2011

America's 14 Most Ready to Riot Cities

This Presentation includes an article by Chaz Valenza of OpEdNews.com and a short audio presentation on the subject from Gary Null of the Gary Null Show.

Gary Null cites 14 American cities that are ready to riot according to him , number one in his list is Detroit where the official unemployment is 20 percent but which is probably around 40 percent , it has the highest crime rate in the United States . Troops and mercenaries will be used to detain Americans in prison camps, warned Gerald Celente in previous interviews , Gerald Celente says that America will see riots similar to those currently ongoing in Greece and that the cause will be a hyper-inflationary depression, leading to the inevitable use of troops and mercenaries to deal with the crisis as Americans are incarcerated in internment camps.Celente believes there is a possibility for a civil war, “but we predict that it will end with the breakup of the Empire, which can’t sustain itself,” adding that his team originally forecast this back in fall 2002. Ultimately this means that the US “will look like [post-Soviet] Russia.” Here we are in 2012. Food riots, tax protests, farmer rebellions, student revolts, squatter diggins, homeless uprisings, tent cities, ghost malls, general strikes, bossnappings, kidnappings, industrial saboteurs, gang warfare, mob rule, terror.

“Goldman Sachs is running Washington, look at the fingerprints, they are all over the place,” he said. “It is disgusting; they are robbing the nation blind. In fact, this is what we are writing about in the autumn issue of the Trends Journal. This is the greatest heist in US history, happening in broad day light.” "We want to make it very clear that the policies leading to the decline of ‘Empire America’ have been long in the making,” he said. “What has happened in the Obama Administration is that they have taken policies far beyond even what Bush took with the TARP program; for example, with his stimulus package, with the buyouts, with the bailouts, the rescue packages, these are unprecedented in American history.” “When this bubble bursts, unlike the financial/real estate bubble that burst, the dot-com bubble before that, and the ’87 stock market bubble before that” US taxpayers will now be on the hook for trillions in losses as our “government is [a major] equity holder in private corporations. That never existed before. Clearly, the people running this nation are “out of control,” Celente continues, noting that as economic conditions further deteriorate “people are going to start losing it,” he said. “But, they are going to lose it in different ways: our greatest fear for the future [is] rampant crime, and the society breaking down.” He pauses briefly, and then offers a truly frightening thought. “When we say food riots, it’s going to people rioting just to eat.”


America's 14 Most Ready to Riot Cities 
- Chaz Valenza - OpEd News - August 11, 2011

The 14 cities are Detroit, Miami, Cleveland, Memphis, New Orleans, Buffalo, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Baltimore, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Long Beach, Newark, Philadelphia.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of August 16, 2011

This newsletter is about the Hickory City Council meeting that I attended this past week. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.

At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.

You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date.

Here is a summary of the agenda of the 8/16/2011 meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:

Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.
Invocation by Rev. Bud Zehmer, Pastor, Church of the Master


Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Tax Refund, as Recommended by Catawba County Tax Office, to National City Commercial Capital Co. LLC in the Amount of $620.79 - This request for refund in the amount of $620.79 is due to an incorrect listing on leased equipment in 2009. Business personal property listed by the company was leased to Duke Energy Corp. at the Hickory garage and was also listed as public utility with the State by Duke Energy Corp. The leased equipment was listed correctly in 2010 and 2011. The records have been checked and verified by the Tax Collector’s Office.

B. Request for Approval of Agreement of Conditions and Resolution to Accept Grant from North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) for Four Lidars and Four Pole-Mounted Radar Systems at a Cost of $32,000 (GHSP - $24,000; City - $8,000) - Hickory Police Department requests approval of Agreement of Conditions and Resolution to Accept Grant Funds from the NC GHSP in order to purchase four lidars and four pole mounted radar systems at a cost of $32,000 (GHSP - $24,000; City - $8,000). Lidars will cost $3,500 each and will be placed in each PACT for use to estimate speeding vehicles in order to thwart traffic crashes and injuries to citizens. The polemounted radar systems will cost $4,500 each and will be placed in high traffic areas to get the attention of oncoming drivers as a reminder to slow down.

C. Request From Hickory Downtown Development Association for Use of Union Square for 2011 Oktoberfest on October 7, 8 and 9, 2011 (Event Start Time: Noon on Friday, October 7th; Event End Time – 5:00 on Sunday, October 9th)

D. Municipal Agreement With NC Department of Transportation for Inspection of Bridges on City’s Street System in the Amount of $4,160 The Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1978 requires the inspection of all bridges on a cycle not to exceed two years. NC DOT is requested to employ a qualified engineering firm to perform the inspections and analysis of the structures and to prepare the necessary structural inventory and appraisal forms for submission to the Federal Highway Administration. The inspections are to be performed in Spring, 2012. The Federal Highway Administration participates up to 80%, with the City being responsible for 20% in the amount of approximately $4,160. Reports for each structure will be submitted to the Engineering Department. Funds are budgeted

E. Renewal Option of Lease Agreement Dated March 5, 1996 with FMD Aviation, LLC (Frank Drendle, Owner) For An Additional Five (5) Years as Noted in the Original Lease FMD Aviation LLC constructed a hangar located on the south side of the Hickory Regional Airport in March, 1996, and desires to utilize their lease option for an additional five (5) years. All original terms and conditions will remain in full force and effect. FMD Aviation LLC is currently paying $1,321.68 per month to the City of Hickory. The lease agreement states every twelve-month period following the initial twelve-month period shall be adjusted by two percent (2%) or CPI, whichever is lower. The 5-year renewal period will expire in March, 2016. Staff recommends approval to renew the lease option with FMD Aviation, LLC for an additional five (5) years.

F. Grace Chapel to US 321 Road Project – Temporary Construction Easements for Two Properties in the Total Amount of $1,800. The following two easements are necessary to construct the Grace Chapel to US 321 Road Project. The City is responsible for acquiring the temporary construction easements, and NC DOT is responsible for the construction funding.

C. Phillip and Brenda Suttlemyre $1,300 Richard D. Berry, Jr. and Mary F. Berry $500 (Total - $1,800)
These amounts have been agreed to by the property owners, who have signed all the appropriate documents subject to approval and payment. Staff recommends approval of the negotiated transactions and purchase of the temporary construction easements.

G. Citizens’ Advisory Committee Recommendations for Assistance Through the City of Hickory’s Housing Programs
Ms. Liza Ramirez is being recommended to City Council for First-Time Homebuyers Assistance to purchase a house located at 1920 15th Avenue SW, Hickory, in an amount not to exceed $6,500 for assistance with down payment and closing costs. The First- Time Homebuyers Assistance Loan is zero interest, no payments and repaid upon sale, refinance or payoff of first mortgage.
Ms. Debra Patterson, 240 2nd Street, SE, Hickory, is being recommended to City Council for assistance under the City of Hickory’s 2010 Urgent Repair Program in an amount not to exceed $5,000.

H. Lease Agreement With Hickory Christian Academy for Classroom and Office/Conference Space at Neill W. Clark Jr. Recreation Park for an Initial Term of 10 Months and 15 days in the Amount of $1,851 Per Month - Hickory Christian Academy is a not-for-profit corporation which operates a private
Christian school for students in grades K-12 and is located adjacent to Neill W. Clark Jr. Recreation Park. Due to school facility constraints, school representatives approached the City about the possibility of leasing space beginning with the 2011-2012 school year. The leased space is located in the Neill Clark’s main building, and leasing of this space will have no adverse effect on any programs offered and conducted by the Parks and Recreation Dept. The lease agreement is for an initial term of 10 months and 15 days beginning August 17,2011 and continuing until June 30, 2012. The lease will automatically renew for successive one-year periods beginning July 1, 2012 and expiring June 30, 2016. Hickory
Christian Academy will pay the City $1,851 per month during the initial term of the lease.

I. Offer to Purchase and Contract By City of Hickory to Walter M. and Rebecca W. Craig for Property Located at 222 3rd Street SW (Catawba County PIN 3702-06-48-7586) in the Amount of $47,000. This offer to purchase and contract is for the .26-acre property located at 222 3rd Street SW, which is adjacent to the Hickory Police Department property. There is a structure located on the property. The property could be used for potential future expansion of the Police Department. The tax value is $48,200.

J. Proclamation – Proclaiming August 13 – 20, 2011 as “High Flying in Hickory Week” – North Carolina Harley Owners Group (HOG) Rally

K. Resolution Opposing Various Electricity Rate Increases For North Carolina On July 1, 2011, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC filed with the NC Utilities Commission for a general rate increase to be effective February, 2012 which includes substantial rate increases. This resolution opposes the rate increases to the public lighting tariff and the other various electricity rate increases that are proposed by Duke Energy.

L. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 3
1. To budget a $1,988 insurance claim check from Trident Insurance Company in the L.P. Frans Stadium Maintenance and Repair of Buildings line item. This claim check is for lightening damage at the stadium.

2. To appropriate $47,000 of General Fund Balance and budget in the Police Department Land line item. This appropriation is necessary to purchase property located at 222 3rd St. SW Hickory. This property is located adjacent to City property at 347 2nd Ave. SW and could be used for potential expansion of the Hickory Police Department.

3. To re-appropriate $55,044 of Water and Sewer Fund Balance to the Water Plant Maintenance and Repair of Equipment line item. This appropriation is necessary to pay Covington $29,058.20 for repair to the existing generator and Sunbelt $25,984.87 for the standby generator rental. These items were budgeted prior to the end of the fiscal year; however, work was not complete at that time. Therefore funds rolled back into Water and Sewer Fund Balance and a re-appropriation is necessary.

4. To transfer $69,295 from General Capital Reserve and $49,200 from the Library's budget for computer replacements to the Information Technology Computer Equipment, Maintenance and Repair of Computer Equipment and Departmental Supplies operational line items. The transfer of these funds in addition to $44,650 currently budgeted in the Information Technology Computer Equipment line item are needed to pay to convert the Library to a virtual desktop environment called Virtual Desktop Integration (VDI). VDI transitions from the common individual personal computer per station to a computer monitor that is integrated directly to the server. The project converts 75 computer stations and enables future computer
replacements throughout the organization to convert to virtual desktop as well. The project totals $163,145 and, as a result of this conversion, reduces the individual computer replacement cost by approximately $1,000 and doubles the useful life of each station.

New Business - Public Hearings
1. Voluntary Contiguous Annexation of the Property of the City of Hickory and Public Right-of-Way Located Along 9th Street NE and Cloninger Mill Road - The Cloninger Mill Property is a city owned, 79-acre tract of land in northeast Hickory and is adjacent to Lake Hickory. A portion of this property is already in the City limits, and the remaining 67.74 acres is recommended to be annexed. This property was first identified as a potential park site in the 1979 Parks and Recreation Master plan and was recommended again as a future park site in 1997 when the Parks and Recreation Master Plan was updated. Following an assessment of the property, it was determined that portions of the site were best suited for commercial and residential use. With this realization, staff identified a 10-acre parcel adjacent to the intersection of Highway 127 and Cloninger Mill Road that was best suited for commercial development. Likewise, an analysis of the property identified land adjacent to 9th Street NE that was well suited for residential use. The remaining balance of the property has been set aside as a future park, with the recommendation that proceeds from the sale of the commercial and residential property be used to help start park development. In 2008, planning began on the development of a master plan for the park site. City Council accepted the Cloninger Mill Park Master Plan in March of 2009. The City of Hickory has submitted a petition for the contiguous voluntary annexation of 67.74 acres of property and public street right-of-way located along 9th Street NE and Cloninger Mill Road, the same being three parcels bearing PIN Nos. 3715-19-50-8795 (Deed Book 0789, Page 0127), 3715-19-60-6388 (Deed Book 1939, Page 1441) and 3715-19-70-2637 (Deed Book 0758, Page 0345). The property is located within the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction area (ETJ) and is zoned R-1 Residential and Neighborhood Commercial (NC). The property is currently publicly owned, and the majority of the property is planned to be part of a future public park. The public street right-of-way consists of approximately 860 linear feet of 9th Street, NE, which is an improved street. The property meets all August 16, 2011 5 the statutory requirements for voluntary contiguous annexation, and adequate public services and infrastructure are available. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on August 5, 2011.

Cloninger Mill Park - 3rd meeting - The Master Plan - 3/10/2009

You can go back and read my excerpts from the first meeting that was held September 24, 2008 here (1st Cloninger Mill Park Meeting) and the second meeting on January 15, 2009 meeting here (2nd Cloninger Mill Park Meeting).

Here are Links to pictures and schematics that were presented at the Master Plan meeting along with my previous Google photo of the property (a couple aren't 100% focused, but you can see the end result):


My Google aerial photo of the property
Black and White Aerial Map
Final Master Plan photos 1 / 2 / 3
Site Analysis (1/15/2009) / Slope analysis / Soil Analysis / Site Photos


New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Second Reading - Lease Agreement With Hickory Christian Academy for Classroom and Office/Conference Space at Neill W. Clark Jr. Recreation Park for an Initial Term of 10 Months and 15 days in the Amount of $1,851 Per Month Due to time constraints, Staff is requesting a second reading on this item. - Mac McLeod came addressed the council about the fact that Hickory Christian Academy has outgrown their current facilities. The city has had numerous meetings with Hickory Christian Academy related to this matter. (The Hound - This is the former North State Academy, so it definitely suits the purpose.)


The Hound's General Comments - This weeks meeting lasted less than 20 minutes. Mayor Wright and Alderman Meisner weren't present. Alderman Lail presided as the Mayor Pro-Tem. It is good to see the Cloninger Mill Park agenda moving forward. I hope you will take a look at the amenities that this park will offer.

One issue that was not pulled from the Consent Agenda was the issue of Oktoberfest. I am glad we didn't hear the rancor related to this issue that we did in relation to Hickory Alive, although I know for a fact that it is the exact same type of event, only held on a much grander scale over a three day period. I hope when next year roles along and the issue of Hickory Alive is brought to the fore again that we see the same tolerance and acceptance that we see offered to Oktoberfest.


It is also my hope that the audience that reads this newsletter will take the time to listen to the presentation from Taylor Dellinger of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments. This presentation relates the pieces of the puzzle related to the Hickory area's demographics and what needs to be addressed along the Highway 70 corridor, the South side of Hickory, and the Highland area.

Taylor Dellinger Presents Hickory Metro Census to the Future Economy Council of Catawba County



We have to accept how this area has developed and take the bad with the good related to those issues and understand that we can make positive adjustments to right this ship. There are members of our community that are working hard towards moving Hickory into a positive position going forward, but there are others who want to stand pat, because they are more comfortable with the status quo. We need to start helping the average people of Hickory or I will assure you that we are going to see a mass exodus out of here. You know that this is right in your heart of hearts. If you have a business, what will this mean for that business? What will that mean for the growth of that business? Most people are already affected by this. People need to understand that the surest path to failure is only looking out for oneself and not helping others. The smallest gestures toward helping your neighbors can make the biggest difference in the world.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Taylor Dellinger Presents Hickory Metro Census to the Future Economy Council of Catawba County

The following presentation is from August 11, 2011. The Catawba County Chamber’s Future Economy Council invited the public to attend the meeting to hear about the “Economic Impact of the 2010 Census Data on the Hickory Metro Region.” The meeting was held at the CVCC auditorium; Taylor Dellinger with Western Piedmont Council of Governments presented the program.

2010 Census topics that were included: population trends; race and Hispanic origin; age group demographics; household composition; housing data; poverty and educational attainment among others. Questions to be answered include: What does Census 2010 tell us about the Hickory Metro? How did the region’s economy impact the Census 2010 results? How can business and industry use the results of the 2010 Census for their benefit?




Taylor Dellinger of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments gives a presentation of the 2010 United States Census as it pertains to the Hickory Metro Area and Catawba County.

This first video includes the introduction of Taylor by Future Economy Council President Terry Bledsoe.
Why Does the Census matter? Taylor displays Hickory Metro Growth and the growth in the Individual counties (Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba) and discusses the dynamics of this growth.

Taylor then goes on to compare Hickory's growth with that of other Metropolitan communities in North Carolina and gets into specifics related to the growth of specific geographic locales in the Hickory Metro Area.

The second video delves further into the growth
of specific geographic locales in the Hickory Metro before discussing the cultural growth and makeup of the area and thoughts about future population growth in the area. The growth of the Hispanic Demographic in the area. Taylor also compares these numbers to those in the other Metro areas in the State of North Carolina.

The third video in this series breaks down the Population Age Distribution in the area. This subject matter is related to the Brain Drain and the loss of the younger generations versus the aging population and influx of Seniors into the area. Information shows that Hickory ranks dead last in the Metro areas of North Carolina in growth of the 25 to 34 age bracket with a 18.6% loss of citizens in this category. The Statistics also show that the 60-64 age bracket is not keeping pace with most of the rest of the State, but still far outpaces the growth of the younger generations.

Taylor then begins to present the individual population numbers of Alexander, Burke, and Caldwell counties and the effects of these numbers.

The fourth video of this series
begins with the discussion of the effects of the population numbers on Catawba County and how this will effect the local social infrastructure. He then answers some question pertaining to the poor population growth numbers in Burke County.

The next subject involved the makeup of households in the area. This involved a discussions of numbers of individuals per household and gets into the categories of types of houses listed by the census.

In the fifth video in this series,
Taylor further explores the Household makeup in the area and more specifically Catawba County. He then goes into the progression of build out of homes in the metro and Catawba County. He goes into the issue of Vacant units of Housing in the area. He shows the loss of the Homebuilding Industry in the area over the last decade, which saw 995 permits for homes to be built at the beginning of the decade and has subsequently seen that number decrease to 152 in 2010.

The sixth video is this series exhibits the issues we see in the area pertaining to foreclosures. Annual foreclosures have more than tripled in the area over the past decade. The WPCOG initially attributed most of the foreclosures to complex and possibly predatory lending habits, but what they are now seeing is that people who have lost the jobs are having a tough time making mortgage payments.

There were several questions and comments related to this subject matter. People wanted to understand the effects on the tax base and the breakdown of how the numbers were defined. There were also comments related to the National Policy of housing.

Taylor then talked about the dynamics of Rental versus Owned Housing in the area. Next, he once again compares our area's housing vacancy to other areas in the State and displays how we aren't in that bad of a position related to this matter.

Taylor then discusses the American Community Survey and defines the parameters of that survey. What he relates in that this survey is showing an epidemic of increased poverty in our area and how this is probably hand-in-hand related to the emigration of the young people in our area. It is completely related to the jobs issue. He displays maps that show where this emigration is specifically happening and it is in the industrial corridors of Hickory (Highway 70), Morganton, and Lenoir where furniture and textiles were King not that long ago.

This is the seventh and final video in this series.
Taylor speaks about the issue of educational attainment and how we rank dead last in the State of North Carolina.

The IHS Global Insight report for the US Conference of Mayors summarized that it will take over a decade to get back the jobs that we have lost in our area. The trends mesh perfectly with the data. These numbers show the poverty located along the former industrial areas in Hickory, Lenoir, and Morganton where Furniture and Textiles were our cornerstone industries.

What are we doing to bring about a recovery and restoration of our job market? You gotta think something new! Look at that Southeast corner of Catawba County. There is something to be learned there. they are focused on Charlotte.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- August 14, 2011

The International Forecaster - Bob Chapman - August 13,2011 - US workers were less productive in the spring for the second quarter in a row, a trend that may not bode well for hiring. Productivity dropped 0.3 percent in the April to June quarter, following a decline of 0.6 percent in the first three months of the year, the Labor Department said yesterday. It was the first back-to-back decline in productivity since the second half of 2008.

The drop in productivity helped push unit labor costs up 2.2 percent. That follows a 4.8 percent rise in labor costs in the first three months of this year, the biggest increase since the last three months of 2008. Rising labor costs reduce corporate profits. Labor represents the largest expense for most companies. When workers are less productive and cost more, companies are less likely to add jobs.

Productivity measures the amount of output per hour worked. Higher productivity is generally a good thing because it can raise standards of living by enabling companies to pay workers more without raising their prices and increasing inflation. Still, productivity gains can be painful in the short run if they are a result of job cuts.

That’s what happened in the recession, when productivity rose sharply as companies laid off millions of workers and figured out how to do more with less. Employees worked harder and companies invested in labor-saving technology and machinery. A slowdown in productivity growth is bad for the economy if it persists for a long period. It can be good in the short term when unemployment is high, if it means companies are reaching the limits on how much output they can get from workers.

If economic growth increases later this year, less productive companies may have to step up hiring. But the gains are unlikely to be large. Many economists forecast growth of roughly 2.5 percent in the final six months of the year. That’s barely enough to keep up with population growth.

Economists say a drop in productivity when economic growth has declined is a
troubling sign. That probably means companies hired too many workers earlier this year, 6 based on the assumption that growth was picking up. The result: weaker output from a larger workforce.

“If demand remains weak, there’s a danger that businesses may try to boost productivity by cutting jobs,’’ said Paul Dales, an economist at Capital Economics. The productivity trends are a sharp reversal from last year, when worker efficiency grew and labor costs fell. Productivity rose 4.1 percent in 2010. Labor costs, meanwhile, dropped 2 percent, the biggest decline on records dating back to 1948.


FBI wants businesses watching for customers paying with cash - Government calls buying 'night flashlights,' making 'extreme religious statements' indicators of terrorism - WorldNetDaily - Bob Unruh - August 12, 2011 - Just days after the White House announced a community-based approach to combating terrorism in the United States, the FBI and other agencies are asking managers of surplus stores to spy on their customers, watching whether they pay in cash, make "extreme" religious statements or purchase products such as waterproof matches... And the request from the government also is going to gun shops, fertilizer suppliers, motels and hotels, authorities say... The report warns that while the Constitution recognizes freedom of expression, "even for individuals who espouse unpopular or even hateful views," it also is the responsibility of government to deter "plots by neo-Nazis and other anti-Semitic hate groups, racial supremacists, and international and domestic terrorist groups." (The Hound - This is where the Domestic Security Grid continues to be unleashed on the American People. They tell you that it is for your own good, but where does it stop and who is keeping an eye on this Security apparatus and ensuring that they are accountable to the historical codes and laws of the People. Does any of this make you feel safer?)



What QE3 will look like - Activist Post - Robert Bonomo - August 12, 2011 - The recent financial fireworks in the US and in Europe have made it clear that QE3 is close at hand. The third installment described herein is much more than just another revving up of the printing presses, as it will involve a paradigm shift intent on restoring currencies and maintaining the current power structure... It's an all too common mistake to see the central bankers and their mainstream media propagandists derided as incompetent fools. These “fools”control the money and the message and it's their game to lose. Most pundits think the powers that be have lost control and can do little more than kick the can down the road. They are wrong. We are about to witness one of the greatest orchestrated events in human history; a monumental slight of hand that will restore economic prosperity, keep the masses happy and, most importantly, maintain the parasitic elites in power.


Analysis of Financial Terrorism in America
- Over 1 Million Deaths Annually, 62 Million People With Zero Net Worth, As the Economic Elite Make Off With $46 Trillion - Global Research - David DeGraw - August 11, 2011 - Editor’s Note: The following report includes adapted excerpts from David DeGraw’s book, “The Road Through 2012: Revolution or World War III.” Release Date: 9.28.11

Analysis of Financial Terrorism in America
By David DeGraw, AmpedStatus Report
Abstract :: Welcome to World War III
Introduction
Part One :: The Economic Devastation
I :: Poverty
II :: Food Insecurity
III :: Unemployment
IV :: Declining Income
Part Two :: The Economic Elite
V :: How Much Wealth Do The Economic Elite Have?
VI :: Who Rules America? Revealing The Economic Top 0.1%
VII :: Tax Breaks For The Rich, Budget Cuts For The Rest Of Us
Part Three :: The Perfect Storm Overhead
(Inequality = Debt = Austerity = Civil Unrest = Inflation + Deflation = Stagflation)
VIII :: Debt Slavery
IX :: Inflation
X :: The Beaten Masses
Part Four :: Fascism in America
XI :: Modern Day Slavery
XII :: The Death Toll
XIII :: Deliberate Systemic Attacks


Dylan Ratigan telling it the way it is about how both Parties have sold us out. A bought and owned Congress and A bought and owned President.


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

August Rant - USA....USA...USA!!!

USA no longer stands for United States of America these days. The United States of America is a country of by and for the people. Today USA stands for the Union of Sociopaths and A**holes. Read about what a sociopath is below and see how it relates to what we see from leadership today. Who has vision? Who provides inspiration? If you can't do that, then you can't lead.

The people who are in leadership positions in this country are liars. There is no other way to label it. The people in this nation need to confront the liars. The finaglers manipulate the statistics and the message. They control the news that is released by the Old Timey "News" Relayers. The people that operate the Newspapers, Television and Radio Stations are compromised by their complicity in toting the party line of the Sociopaths.

The Equity markets are completely rigged. The stock market is gyrating like a spinning top, but in the end paper assets are trending negatively. Computer algorithm trading with programs set forth by Governmental and Quasi-Governmental agencies are not worthy of investment by the general public and in the end this system, while creating paper wealth, is destroying real, physical wealth and the ability to grow the real economy.

How do we solve this? The States that have been negatively affected by the megabanks have every right to indict those responsible for fraudulent instruments being traded within their State and they also have a right to go after predatory corporate institutions which can be shown to have taken advantage of the public by not being forthright about investments and fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities towards those who they are doing business with. If a bank is not fulfilling these obligations, then a State has the right to take away their charter and not allow them to do business in that State any more.

It is time for our State and others to serve subpoenas to get to the bottom of the fraud that has been perpetrated by the banks and those who have done their dirty work.




Profile of the Sociopath

Sociopath - a person, as a psychopathic personality, whose behavior is antisocial and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience. 

This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.


Glibness and Superficial Charm


Manipulative and Conning - They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.


Grandiose Sense of Self - Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."

Pathological Lying - Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.


Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt - A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

Shallow Emotions - When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

Incapacity for Love

Need for Stimulation - Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.

Callousness/Lack of Empathy - Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.


Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature - Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.


Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency - Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.


Irresponsibility/Unreliability - Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.

Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity - Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.


Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle - Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.


Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility - Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.




Other Related Qualities:

  1. Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
  2. Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
  3. Authoritarian
  4. Secretive
  5. Paranoid
  6. Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
  7. Conventional appearance
  8. Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
  9. Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
  10. Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
  11. Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
  12. Incapable of real human attachment to another
  13. Unable to feel remorse or guilt
  14. Extreme narcissism and grandiose
  15. May state readily that their goal is to rule the world

(The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.)

Monday, August 8, 2011

Asia - Go - Extended Remix - 2011 U.S. Economic Crisis (Astra 1985)





This is a video correlated to the evolution of what has happened over the past 25 years leading to the 2011 United States Economic Crisis. Presidents, war, character flaws, and the Money trail that attaches to Power have led us where we are today.

I have made this video in conjunction with Asia's song GO from the Album Astra, which is a prophetic tale of where we are today. Many of us knew where we were headed, but we've been so outgunned by the political machine of the American Empire that there is little that we could do, since we are subject to the whims and fancies of a morally bankrupt, pop culture society; but we continue to press on with the Good Fight!

Wake Up America! Wake Up!!! Get up off of your knees!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- August 7, 2011

The International Forecaster - Bob Chapman - August 6, 2011 edition
“Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical.” Blaise Pascal, Rossi
STAND OR KNEEL?
When people fear the government you have tyranny. When government fears the people, you have freedom. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. (Proverbs 29:2) There is only one reason to kneel – in the presence of God or His Son Jesus Christ. Kneel to no one else. You can judge a society by how they treat those least able to return a favor such as the unborn (Matthew 25: 41-46). America has a problem with apathy and is getting her just desserts right now. And apostate preachers will tell their congregations to obey and submit to government as the Bible teaches. Anyone that believes that hasn’t read Romans 13. In Romans 13 we are to be subject to a higher power for there is no power but of God and the power that is ordained by God. Preachers will twist this verse to say that if you resist “the power” (meaning man’s government) you resist God’s ordinance and are damned. Read verse 3 and discover that God says; “the rulers” should not be a terror to good works but to evil. Righteous rules are expected to take on evil and if rulers ruled in righteousness, there is nothing for the people to fear. Those who rule in righteousness are considered God’s ministers and He empowers them to be a revenger with a sword to those that do evil (verse 4). To such righteous rulers we are to be subject to and to support monetarily and avoid all debt (verse 5-8). So, if government rulers create and enforce evil laws and evil acts, we are not to be subject to them. Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.

YOUR POWER
You can expect evil to corrupt the good God created, including foods and herbs. The question is; will you let them? Don’t let evil steal your power to be healthy, safe, righteousness and most importantly - your eternal crown. If you have ears to hear and eyes to see this makes sense to you. Seek the Lord’s face. This means to listen for His voice in prayer. Ask Him what He wants you to do, not what you want Him to do. If you hear the Lord, you are not crazy. Comedian Lily Tomlin once said, “Why is it when we talk to God we are said to be praying, and when God talks to us, we’re said to be schizophrenic?” This humor is pathetically accurate of what the world thinks about real faith. Hit the knees to seek the Lord’s face in faith believing and God will honor that. Take note that God says His Word is eye salve and you can ask Him to remove your apathy and the Holy Spirit will help teach you the meaning of God’s word. (Rev.3:14-22).


New Fee to Bank Cash - Wall Street Journal - Liz Rappaport - August 5, 2011 - Bank of New York Mellon Corp. on Thursday took the extraordinary step of telling large clients it will charge them to hold cash... The unusual move means some U.S. depositors will have to pay to keep big chunks of money in a bank, marking a stark new phase of the long-running global financial crisis... The shift is also emblematic of the strains plaguing the U.S. economy. Fearful corporations and investors have been socking away cash in their bank accounts rather than put it into even the safest investments... The giant bank, which specializes in handling funds for financial institutions and corporations, will begin assessing a fee next week on customers that have been flooding the bank with dollars, Bank of New York told clients in a note reviewed by The Wall Street Journal...


Why the District of Criminals is desperate to kill Social Security - The PPJ Gazette - August 2, 2011 - This is what the District of Criminals is trying to eliminate, the calling in of all the monies stolen from Social Security, due and payable to the investors in Social Security; the working class. Should the fund actually ever incur a shortage, the Social Security Administration could lawfully force the federal government to borrow money to cover the theft and to restore the 2.7 trillion stolen so far from the fund...
In November 2009, The Economist estimated the additional federal tax revenue generated from eliminating certain tax expenditures, for the 2013-2014 period. These included: income exemptions for employer-provided health insurance ($215 billion); and various income deductions such as mortgage interest ($147B), state & local taxes ($65B), capital gains on homes ($60B), property taxes ($33B) and municipal bond interest ($37B). These total $557 billion. All of these steps together would reduce the projected deficit at that time by nearly half.[94]...   And every one of these proposed eliminations of tax expenditures unfairly and unequally targets the average citizen. That would be you. This is what most likely will come out of the District of Criminals as they actively and with malice towards the overall population, increase the average working family tax burden while protecting corporations which account for only 9% of revenues now and the uber wealthy...


How JP Morgan Took Over All Kentucky's Financial Services, And Why You Should Be Scared
- One of the major players in the global financial crisis is now in charge of all financial transactions in an entire state. Could this spread? - Alternet - Danny Mayer - August 4, 2011
- On July 1, JP Morgan Chase became the Commonwealth’s bank. As the state’s official depository, JP now receives all deposits, writes all checks and makes all wire transfers on the $12-15 billion that flow through Kentucky state government in the course of a fiscal year. It will cut payroll checks, receive federal and other funds earmarked for the state, and disburse educational or transportation or any other funds to their appropriate monetary endpoints. For its trouble, the bank will receive $1.3 million in state fees and the ability to re-lend idle state funds out to customers for private gain...   ( Local first) - In the most recent of a slew of fraud-related lawsuits targeting JP Morgan’s financial transactions, the corporate giant has been forced to pay $228 million in damages for rigging bids on municipal bonds—public debt incurred to pay for expensive infrastructure projects. The lawsuit accused JP Morgan of insider dealings that inflated the taxpayer cost on over 90 projects spanning 31 states. As is standard in these cases, the money the bank was forced to pay back reflected only a percentage of what they made off the deals, quarters on the dollar. What’s more, because the settlement did not require the bank to admit guilt, it has been effectively insulated from any future litigation on behalf of the specific localities that were defrauded... One of these states, it should be known, is Kentucky. A small blurb appearing in the July 13 Herald-Leader, less than 2 weeks after state leaders made JP Morgan Chase our Commonwealth bank, cited two separate bid-rigging schemes that had made their way onto the 31-state lawsuit: Western Kentucky’s Henderson County received $224,000 from the lawsuit, while the University of Kentucky stood to recoup $66,000 as part of the settlement.


13 Reasons Why The U.S. Is Now OFFICIALLY BANKRUPT - The Daily Bail - ATTENTION IDIOTS IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA - Stop The Budget Lies - There Are NO Cuts - House Passes Bill To INCREASE Spending By $7 Trillion Over The Next 10 Years... Lies, Damn Lies And Government Budgets


And from the Ashes - Further signs of Economic Depression - The Hickory Hound - August 6, 2011 - The only way out of this is to hold those who have perpetrated this fraud accountable and claw back the money that has been stolen from the American people. Then it is time to start rebuilding our industrial base towards a system that builds infrastructure, instead of destroying it. It is time to bring our troops home and it is time to bring this Security Apparatus under control, because none of this mess is what America was founded on or built upon. You want to rebuild the American Economy, then you have to unleash the positive spirit of the American people and you have to afford them the opportunity to succeed. We can foster this success, but we are currently heading in the opposite direction. The direction of Tyranny. Get off of your knees people. Stand Up!!!

The new silent majority of America by 2012 - Warren Pollock