Topic: Martin Armstrong Discussion - page 346. (Read 647280 times)

I like TPTB_'s paragraph as it shows the virtues and excesses of both ends of the spectrum (although only hints at the other side of the spectrum )

I sit with a foot in either camp, both ways overshoot when they have control.

Big multinationals controlled Venezuela's natural resources, mostly moving profits offshore, while the country remained mired in poverty. Then, Chavez swept to power, kicked them out and used the resource wealth to redistribute wealth to all in society. The upper class were of course, horrified. It worked well for a time, but sanctions, corruption, international pressures and a downturn in commodity prices have now largely destroyed the country. It is a pariah with runaway inflation and hard to extract, thick, tar sand oil. There is a high crime rate and corruption but also a concerted international campaign to not only destroy the country but incite the people (see the CIA backed attempted coup of the Chavez govt a few years back). Unfortunately no country exists in a vacuum. The world is interconnected and so a system that works locally may not work at all globally.

Socialism rises to 'help' the common man, often after a period of brutality, corruption or dictatorship (eg Lula in Brazil came after the corruption of Collor and the military dictatorship). Sometimes though, as TPTB alludes to, the leaders succumb to the corruptions etc that they replaced.

Many countries in South America have had roots in leaning to the left since at least the 60's & 70's, and countries like Chile, Argentina etc were relatively successful in being so. Unfortunately, this drew the ire from the other end of the spectrum (neoclassical free markets / blank staters) and of the big corporations, so with planning by the Chicago schoolers and implicit backing of sections of the US these countries were essentially invaded for 'liberalisation' of markets.

Allende was murdered and replaced by US backed Pinochet, Argentina was similarly screwed. What replaced them were death squads, corruption and multinationals that plundered their natural resources. Horribly, as their local economies broke down, the Chicago schoolers thought that only further adherence to their neo classical ideology. It only made things much much worse, and is ironically reminiscent of the Keynesian 'moar QE' crowd today. Chile & Argentina are still yet to recover.

Because idealistic fervor for socialism will drive totalitarianism. All hate starts off as a delusion about love that is really Freudian desire for control.

Caucasians have this culture and mindset of thinking man can improve everything. Whereas, Asians believe in cycles and realize life is like a circle and you come back around to where you started.

Westerners succeeded because the Black Death ended the oversupply of labor and caused the Industrial Revolution. Asia was held back because rice is much more labor intensive than wheat and so there was no pressure to industrialize.

But now the West has squandered all its lead and has wasted it on this myopic notion that Europeans have that man can improve nature.

America used to have this rugged individualism, but that has finally been conquered with immigration, multiculturalism, pop tarts, TV, McUpSize it, etc..

Sorry it is just time. It must crash and burn but it will consume 15 years more at least. Perhaps north america and northern Europe will just continue going down and down in the coming Little Ice Age which gets into full swing around 2030.




April 22, 2013 was the day that Edward Snowden made his irreversible moves to reveal the NSA's activities. Armstrong predicted that event 2 decades in advance.

Armstrong is predicting the USA will breakup into regions. It won't remain united politically.

The UK Libertarian party seems fairly standard in it's goals and by extension the definition of a Libertarian. What difference do you perceive or believe is perceived in Europe? Please don't reference UKIP labelling themselves as a Libertarian Democratic party even if Farage is as close to a Libertarian MP as I've seen in my life (surely there must be others?).
Also, Libertarianism isn't really known amongst my generation (mellennial). Most of my peers see nothing wrong with sledgehammer state power to fix problems.

You must be talking about Asian stocks? I thought the premise is that the West was going to be dying a slow death after 2020.

I'm wondering why you believe that the devolution of the UK will result in it ending very badly. I'm attempting to learn before things unfold as best I can; the distinction between challenges to wider Europe in general to that of the UK.



As a late Boomer, I don't really find myself connecting with the alleged values my own cohort should posess of "politics are loyalty, enforcing idealistic values, and maintaining entitlements"; a broad generalization, surely. I find I have more in common with the attributes of GenXers and Millennials.

While as a Brit I've benefitted from free education, healthcare and the welfare safety net, I no longer take these for granted. Rather than clinging to an unrealistic expectation of entitlement, sustainable civilization would be closer to my (perhaps somewhat lofty) goal; but difficult to invisage with growing population numbers and increasing demands from the non-productive (whether through misfortune, illness, laziness or being surplus to requirements etc) on the productive. I've seen the writing on the wall for some years now. I'm a pragmatist looking for realistic options.

Btw, I think the interpretation of Libertarianism to Americans seems quite different to that of Europeans.

Do you plan on buying stocks and such in 2020?

I think that this whole situation of "neoliberals" leaving space for "leftists" is intentional. Let's put it another way; everybody (from the 1st clan) sees that the boat is sinking and looking for someone (from the 2nd clan) fool enough to take the wheel. Regardless of how competent this man is; he won't be able to make a difference.

They will hit him hard with a vengeance, stating that it's his fault and convince the people that the most proper solution is a totalitarianism governance that with strict austerity measures (ie: steal the people's properties), will be able to make the wrong, right. You can have a glimpse of what's like with the "preview" of Greek tragedy vs the EU unrelenting policy against the "lazy Greeks".

BTW: While everyone is convinced that the debt is not viable, Schaeuble has proposed (yet again) a ban of Greece from the EU. It will probably has to do with the Schengen treaty cancellation and a place for them to dump the migrants... What an angelic world we're living into.

I think you misunderstood my comment. I was commenting from a statist standpoint (it's certainly not going anywhere right now), and there is huge demand for housing in the UK, which is stifled by land-zoning laws. A mandate is not the best way to deal with the problem but better than the continued mess of real estate in the UK. I'd much rather a freer market, alas that doesn't seem to be the want of anyone in the UK. I won't be voting, and can only assume that the public will be lead in whichever direction benefits them least.

That Galloway video does illustrate your point. And most of my generation (at least the less intelligent ones) are generally extremely socialist in their ideals. You know I appreciated your input on that house hunting thread

No, I don't think Cam and Ozzy are idiots, but not exactly rigorous thinkers either, or of the standard of holders of their positions found at times in previous generations; most of those who are I believe choose to do something else with their professional lives.

Yes, the less hope the more popular Corbyn's rhetoric will become, and the less convinced people will be of Tory rhetoric.

I believe we see too much assumption of entitlement both from the rich and the poor alike; each attached to their entrenched positions over generations. Events will soon shatter our illusions I reckon. Enjoy the (relatively) good times while you can, yeah?

I watched the Oxford Union speech:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZvAvNJL-gE

bigtimespaghetti, you are obviously part of the younger socialist generation. I've seen it numerous times where you drift left. You even were going to take out a loan to attain real estate right at the peak of the Real Estate dead-cat bounce recently (and you know I worked hard to try to convince you not to do it, but I probably shouldn't have).

So to you it doesn't look that bad. Whereas, I am hardcore anarchist and free market proponent. I mean look at me. I am suffering in the Philippines from a serious health ailment and I am too proud to return to the USA where I will be forced into ObamaCare. Hell no, over my dead body. I'll solve my own health problem or I will die. Simple as that. I will not be a ward of the State.

I think watching the following short video is very demonstrably and emphatically illustrative of my point:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kitRRfe-sX0

The people love socialism until the extraction of resources for free runs out of other people's money. Chavez stole all the oil from the oil corporations that invested and he extracted that "free" (stolen) resource to give the citizens a free jump out of poverty. But eventually that runs out because the people expectations only rise and the oil price declines and then investment in maintaining the infrastructure declines and then entire thing falls into the abyss. Which is what is coming to Venezuela and socialist South America in general over the next decade.

The starry-eyed youth of the UK are being sold this false dichotomy (the Hegelian dialectic that the elite use to fool them) between abusive multi-nationals and abusive socialism. When in fact, this is just two-heads of the same monster.

This is the start of the devolution of the UK and it will end very, very, very badly. Mark my word. Watch and learn if you can (unfortunately most Westerners have been so indoctrinated they can't see the truth).

ZH needs a bit of a (mental) health warning at times 

Yes people are drawn to him because he seems well meaning (I can't fault him for that). As to debate- I think he is not going to be the sole proprietor at PM's question time I heard he was going to allow any member of his party to question Cameron. As to Cam and Ozzy. I'm not convinced they are idiots, but that's another topic.

I find the foodbanks somewhat enabling (at least to those who do not want to help themselves), there are a lot of contributing factors I know. I grew up dirt poor and still managed to get fed. But yes, personal debt (which contributes to the foodbank problem especially) and the housing shortage are serious (largely regulatory) issues.

If people give up hope, Corbyn's rhetoric may be more attractive. Hell, I even agree with the idea of public infrastructure upgrade and housing developments (again this is a mainly regulatory issue). If you're gonna have a huge state, after all

Thanks for clarifying this; I guess most of the articles I'm now reading are pointing to this specific direction. That short-of making me trigger happy.

Bigtimespaghetti, while Corbyn is a clearly a decent bloke and means well, I wonder if he has the calibre to stand up to the rigorous debate (I'll check out that Oxford Union talk you mentioned) he is soon to encounter. I'll watch with interest - mind you, the intellectul bar is set particularly low already with Cameron and Osborne! To many outside the UK it is assumed we are generally prosperous; relatively speaking, yes, but they generally fail to mention the large amount of personal debt, the number of working people forced to attend food banks because they can't make ends meet; the housing shortages and high rents etc.

Edit - to prevent ambiguity. Btw, I'm not a Socialist in case you were wondering. I have empathy for the suffering of the disadvantaged but don't buy into Socialist economic solutions. The British public are of course fickle and will generally vote Tory if they think that they will prosper under them, and Labour if they are hurting too badly and want a fairer deal. Well anyway, let's hope collapse doesn't occur here over night and we have a bit of breathing space to make decisions.


I just checked, and I could get delivery tomorrow from my usual place if I chose. I've stopped reading these gold-promoting articles on ZH - I noticed this one was via BullionStar.com

FED will be deciding on September 17 if they're gonna raise the interest rates. Here's a link stating the stance of every member has:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/where-every-fed-member-stands-on-raising-interest-rates-2015-08-28

IMHO, such a decision will initiate an eventual crisis, causing stock markets to fall further and USD and probably PM (and maybe BTC) will raise. Another interesting article from yesterday's news is this one:

Peter Hambro: "It's Virtually Impossible To Get Physical Gold In London"
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-09-13/peter-hambro-its-virtually-impossible-get-physical-gold-london

While today's resume of China's stock slide hits another bell that signifies the obvious... that the world economy is in deep sh*t.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/11/catalonia-pro-independence-rally-barcelona-spain

Watch some of his talks (the one done at Oxford University (Union?)is short and sweet) I was shocked at how outdated and laughable his rhetoric was- people seem to really buy the idea that there is any real poverty in the UK. But it will give you a feel for his 'style'. But I agree- he's not a pure Marxist (just expresses admiration for Marx) but he is compared to Ed Miliband and certainly since any politician in his position since the 70s.

Even if he did get elected, probably worth betting on that just in case you make a fortune collapse would not happen overnight. But I doubt it would be good news for those that earn an above average salary.

Sincerely hoping for a dud! Though gearing-up my preparations.

I'm still unclear of Corbyn's "true goals," (if he's actually formulated any with such short notice) and I remain to be convinced he's the "hard Marxist" he's being made out to be by the media, though of course I don't discount it.

The apparent stark alternatives Brits are offered, with crony capitalism on one hand and apparent Communism on the other, seems like a choice between either being shot or knifed. The general public appear to have been attracted to both ends of the political spectrum in numbers, both to Corbyn and Farage for their seeming lack of guile and rejection of slick PR tools.

I can't recall Armstrong describing how Britain might fair in comparison to the fate of the rest of Europe.