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The American Dream Part 1 - America Is No Longer A Republic Or A Democracy

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Bill Bonner via Acting-Man blog,

House of the Rising Stock Market

Last week was bad for the dollar, but good for US stocks. On Friday, the greenback capped its worst five days of trading in four years. The Dow rose another 168 points – or nearly 1%.

This took place after Madame Yellen, proprietress of the House of the Rising Stock Market, said she would neither be patient nor impatient about raising rates.

Investors drew the obvious conclusion: She has no idea what she is doing. Until she finds a clue, or is startled out of her paralysis by events, it is business as usual.

The piano player will keep his head down. The bartender will keep the liquor flowing. The cardsharps will keep pulling aces out of their sleeves. And the girls upstairs will continue plying their trade.

 

Yellen-cheap-money

The proprietress of the House of the Rising Stock Market on her yacht, gazing at easy money for as far as the eye can see …

Cartoon by Paresh

A Profound Transformation

This is hardly what you’d expect from a respectable central bank. Then again, so much has changed over the last half-century. Although there are an infinite number of plots and subplots, only very few are worth following.

The world of today is not the same world it was half a century ago. We have a new kind of money. We have a new economy. And we have a new kind of government. All have been transformed… in ways that few people have noticed and fewer still have understood.

Our job is to try to understand that story. Not in its entirety (that would be impossible)… but in its most gaudy outline and most sensational details. We’ve already spent much of our time, and much of yours, trying to figure out how our monetary system changed after Nixon ended the gold-backed currency standard in 1971.

In the next few days, we will look at how this new money changed the economy… and how it (along with other things) transformed our government too. As you’ll discover, this last transformation is the most salacious of all.

 

SPX-with-Yellen

Valuations might be a little on the high side, but what can you do? After all, no bubble is in evidence anywhere, and if there is one, it’s not the Fed’s fault. Moreover, it will be macro-prudentially held in check (this means they will try to make sure prices don’t fall) – click to enlarge.

 

Neither Republic nor Democracy

“Government can have no more than two legitimate purposes,” wrote the 18th-century English political philosopher William Godwin, “the suppression of injustice against individuals within the community and the common defense against external invasion.”

But the US system of government – nourished by the almost unlimited credit that its money gives it – has swelled to a shape that would have been grotesque and unrecognizable to Godwin. To those who still maintain some romantic attachment to the ideals of the American Revolution, it is merely repulsive.

Did you realize that we no longer have a political system that can properly be called a republic or a democracy? Did you realize that voting is a waste of time because the system is rigged to favor powerful elite groups?

One of them – what President Eisenhower called the “military-industrial complex” – steals trillions of dollars from the rest of us. It also creates enemies the same way the Fed creates money… out of nothing. This keeps the US in a constant state of alarm… whacking one phony enemy after another to no apparent benefit, except to the elite who are paid to do it.

Another of these elite groups was on display, prominent in the gallery, when Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his controversial speech on Capitol Hill last week. Billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, paid good money for that speech, just days before the presidential election in Israel.

And it paid off: Netanyahu was reelected in a landslide. In politics today, money makes the nag run. Adelman has so much of it, practically every jackass in Congress feels his spurs or fears his lash.

 

sheldon-adelson-money-gets-anti-gambling-bill-to-congress

The US Congress has undoubtedly been bought and paid for by Sheldon Adelson. He is the quintessential crony “capitalist”, as for instance shown by this story of how he managed to destroy his online gambling competition in the US by exerting his political influence.

Image via lockerdome.com

 

Off to the Races

But that is a long story. And we don’t want to get distracted. Today, let’s just look at the economy…

At the risk of repeating ourselves, we note that the post-1971 money was credit-based, not gold-based. The supply of gold is limited. The supply of credit is not. Most important, gold-backed money is impossible for politicians to create. Credit is not.

As soon as the new money found its legs, it was off to the races. The supply of credit in America expanded 50 times in about 50 years. And it knew where to go, too.

Although income gains between 1930 and 1970 were broadly shared among all the people of the US, the new money found its way more and more to the people who controlled it: the political class and its cronies.

Americans substituted expanding credit for flat earnings. This allowed them to buy more and more stuff they couldn’t afford. Global trade boomed. Chinese factories filled up with bumpkins. All was, apparently, well.

Then in 2007, US consumers reached what Ronald Reagan’s budget adviser David Stockman calls “peak debt.” It became obvious that Americans couldn’t pay for all that expensive real estate they had bought. Housing collapsed, along with mortgage-backed financial instruments.

Central banks responded with more credit. But US consumers have not been able to join the party. Global trade has been sluggish. And China has slumped. In fact, it may be nearing a recession and/or credit crisis.

Meanwhile, interest rates on government bonds fell – in some places into negative territory – as the new money looked for a safe home. Governments borrow to reward favored industries, fund its pet projects and buy votes to keep the plain people in line.

Businesses borrow too – enriching management and shareholders (more or less in that order). Malinvestment, scams, boondoggles and giveaways follow – just what you’d expect. They spend it like they stole it, in other words. At Madame Yellen’s place. More to come…

 

Crony-Capitalism-Pyramid

The crony socialism/velvet glove fascism pyramid. Note the remark about the corporatist elite: “Those benefiting from business-government collusion in order to eliminate competition and gain private advantage through state violence and force; often confused with capitalism” (this is why we have become reluctant to call it crony capitalism. We don’t want to let them rob us of a perfectly good term and get away with perverting it. Ultimately this linguistic confusion is a danger to us all, as the electoral successes of far-left socialist and fascist fringe parties in Europe show all too clearly) – click to enlarge.

 

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Wed, 03/25/2015 - 14:43 | 5926280 Thirst Mutilator
Thirst Mutilator's picture

It's a Joocockcrazy

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 14:56 | 5926332 ratso
ratso's picture

Another simplistic analysis of government.  BOooooo!

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:02 | 5926360 Xibalba
Xibalba's picture

When Corporations merge with the State...I believe it's called FASCISM.  

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:06 | 5926376 Thirst Mutilator
Thirst Mutilator's picture

I thot it was called Israel...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:30 | 5926422 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

Actually today they call the practice of bankers, corporatists and foreign agents running the government and writing the laws for the people of other countries be it the Ukraine or the USA... DEMOCRACY

And Victoria Nudleman wants to see Russia and the rest of ther planet become 'democracies' in the worst possible way...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:20 | 5926694 mvsjcl
mvsjcl's picture

"...respectable central bank."

 

Didn't know there was such a thing.

Sun, 03/29/2015 - 13:26 | 5939380 Sages wife
Sages wife's picture

If it's delivered by a B1 bomber or a tank, then it's democracy.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:19 | 5926427 Xibalba
Xibalba's picture

bitchplease.. trying to diminish the truth does not make it a lie.   

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:35 | 5926451 Thirst Mutilator
Thirst Mutilator's picture

Bitch Please...

 

If you're gonna write an article and then CARTOON PRESENT it with Grandma Fucking Matzo Ball Yellen [the latest in, 4 in a row, moneyprinting jews in charge of the PRIVATE FEDERAL RESERVE, since the disintegration of 'Bretton Woods' & the onset of unbridled FIAT money printing], at the helm of a boat?...

 

Then you better come at me with something more concrete that might make me change my mind about my ORIGINAL, 'knee jerk' premise [& which supercedes the half dozen or more, bought & paid for, joojunkers, who swarm over these threads 24/7 to pocket some sheckels on the side]...

 

I'M the only one NOT getting paid here... How da ya like THAT for 'Capitalism'?...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:11 | 5926643 BLOTTO
BLOTTO's picture

Is this the best the Universe can produce?

.

Pathetic

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:13 | 5926651 Thirst Mutilator
Thirst Mutilator's picture

science tells you that 'BLACK HOLES' are a reality...

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 02:27 | 5927512 nailgunnin4you
nailgunnin4you's picture

science tells you that 'BLACK HOLES' are a reality...

 

I love scientism, probably my favourite religion at the moment especially when you consider most of the believers don't even realise they rely on faith as much as any dumbfuck jew/christian/muslim. Ask any flop who believes climate change is caused by humans, why they believe this. They can't tell you anything other than "the science is in", these flops can't even explain the simple processes of the Earth’s carbon cycle, aka the cycle that is never alluded to among the religion of science as it destroys any anthropogenic climate change hypothesis.

 

They gladly admit complete ignorance of the actual science, but their priests (scientists) told them so, so it must be true. They accept spurious climate models that predict the weather in 100 years despite the fact we can’t predict the weather in 100 days. A guy literally told me once he does not know anything about the science of supposed man-made climate change but that he is happy to listen to - as he put it - “the smart guys”, no faith employed there hey?

 

A quick perusal of the history of science shows they are easily the most regressive force in the history of human intellectual progress. Most of the ‘scientists’ we idolise today as being visionaries ahead of their time were mostly persecuted and many times executed by the very institution of science (itself historically aligned with the church). 

 

The institution of science is inherently conservative, they abhor change as the cogs in that machine have all built their careers on this hypothesis or that hypothesis (hypothesis of course being a fancy science word for belief). When guys like Copernicus or Galileo made discoveries that completely advanced our understanding of the world, thereby disproving most of the work of “science” up until that point, their strongest detractors came from the science world desperately clinging on to outdated beliefs since proved fallacious. Which of course makes perfect sense. 

 

/end rant

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 21:26 | 5932109 LibertarianMenace
LibertarianMenace's picture

+++

 

"Why is this a relevant question? Because, as Brush explains in a subtitle, "The way scientists behave (according to historians) might not be a good model for students."

"Should the History of Science Be RatedX?" by Stephen G. Brush

 

No surprises, since it's a human endeavor. Trouble is, alot of modern scientists don't accept or even recognize that.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 18:14 | 5927126 Consuelo
Consuelo's picture

In many respects and in many high level arenas, it is indeed.    Shame that one can't call a spade a spade however, without having to suffer the rather lame and ineffective Canard of 'anti-semitism'...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 14:42 | 5926282 JRobby
JRobby's picture

Since 1913

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 14:57 | 5926336 jaxville
jaxville's picture

The pyramid is just more disinformation.   Everyone knows that it is central bankers at the top.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:12 | 5926399 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

“Let me issue and control a nation’s money and I care not who writes the laws.”

Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1812), founder of the House of Rothschild.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:40 | 5926493 Usurious
Usurious's picture

 

 

kinda ironic that they named a Boulevard  (Rothschilds Blvd in Tel Aviv) after these ponzi-schemers....

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:46 | 5926809 Fun Facts
Fun Facts's picture

Especially since they're all from Khazaria [modern day Ukraine/Georgia].

Nuland & Associates trying to retake their actual homeland maybe.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:36 | 5926479 centerline
centerline's picture

+1 there jax.  The spin machine is working hard to shove politicians under the bus.  Not that they don't derserve it.  But, it is diversion of sorts nonetheless. 

Me, I am hoping for a regular Reservoir Dogs thing to happen.

(long popcorn and rope).

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 14:44 | 5926287 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

Kleptocracy at its finest and the road goes on forever and the party never ends.....

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 14:43 | 5926289 B2u
B2u's picture

Let's put Kermit the Frog in charge...or ET....or Yoda...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:32 | 5926469 ctiger2
ctiger2's picture

Umm, ET IS in charge...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 14:45 | 5926293 billbengen
billbengen's picture

Is this news? Try to oppose the interests of any one of the three major lobby groups in California- Casino Indian tribes, Teachers, and Prison guards, and you will appreciate this instantly. The individual citizen's desires don't count for much on all but the most local and insignificant matters. Supreme Court, you're as bad as Congress, permitting the powers of corporate lobbies to grow exponentially. Find a way to reduce the effects of big money on politics, our only hope!

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:31 | 5926464 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

"...Try to oppose the interests of any one of the three major lobby groups in California- Casino Indian tribes, Teachers, and Prison guards..."

The Prison guard lobby??? ...only in America! I'm not questioning your statement of such, billbengen. I had just sot of labored under the delusion that things weren't this bad yet in the U.S.

It's difficult for me to wrap my head around that one. Poor, naive little me.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:39 | 5926491 centerline
centerline's picture

That is the big "up yours" we have to look forward to.  In the end, as the system really starts to fall apart, all the unions will pull it apart at the seams trying to preserve thier piece of the action.  The final blame for system failure will be on the people themselves.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 14:45 | 5926297 lawyer4anarchists
lawyer4anarchists's picture

It isn't a matter of "no longer" it never was.  The fairy tale about the founding is just that.  A fairy tale.  http://www.thetruthaboutthelaw.com/they-really-put-the-con-in-constituti...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:25 | 5926448 mastersnark
mastersnark's picture

I spent 13 consecutive years in schools run by the government and all their government employees made it clear you are wrong.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 18:23 | 5927153 Consuelo
Consuelo's picture

I gave you an up for that link, counselor.   Indeed, ditching the Articles of Confederation for Federlism was the undoing.   That and Lincoln's war.    And all I need to confirm it is when I hear Mark Levin babble on about the 'Constitution this and the Constitution that' about 100 times per episode on his daily radio program, to know the whole 'Constitution' meme is long past its sell date...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 14:54 | 5926325 cn13
cn13's picture

I have been saying since 2005 that the U.S. is slowly turning into the old Soviet Union.

People still look at me like I am nuts but they are slowly catching on.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:09 | 5926391 crisrose
crisrose's picture

Remember the jokes? All their products were badly built and quickly fell apart? How they were a nation of alcoholics? The photos of fat, ugly, shabbily dressed peasants standing in lines?

We are already there.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:01 | 5926581 hoist the bs flag
hoist the bs flag's picture

older article, but spot on with what you aresaying about USA/USSR comparisons:

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2006-12-04/closing-collapse-gap-ussr-w...

 

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 14:58 | 5926338 XqWretch
XqWretch's picture

Sheldon Adelson, probably the biggest, greediest asshole on the planet. Lottery is legal, horse racing is legal, dog racing is legal, scratch offs are legal, but playing a card game online for money is illegal. What a bunch of hypocrytical fucking nonsense. I used to make about 2k a month playing poker online until they shut it down in 2011. Thanks assholes. Fuck this world.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:02 | 5926359 maskone909
maskone909's picture

and taking depositers money to buy futures, and bet against the depositers, is legal.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:06 | 5926378 chunga
chunga's picture

And anybody that doesn't like it is a racist.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:06 | 5926374 JRobby
JRobby's picture

Move to a state where it is legal.

When you get there, don't tell too many people about yourself.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:10 | 5926394 thamnosma
thamnosma's picture

Adelson has a lot of competition so I wouldn't call him the biggest or the greediest.  However, he is a globalist leech and an asshole.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:58 | 5926567 Grinder74
Grinder74's picture

But what did your sister-in-law make working from her kitchen table?

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:03 | 5926598 centerline
centerline's picture

"on" her kitchen table?  can he send pics?

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 14:59 | 5926345 yogibear
yogibear's picture

Obama said his model was Europe when he was elected. 

So the US goes down like Europe.

 

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:00 | 5926348 no more banksters
no more banksters's picture

"America Is No Longer A Republic Or A Democracy" : A long time ago, since Dec. 23, 1913.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:00 | 5926349 Fun Facts
Fun Facts's picture

single digit congressional approval rating through 4 administrations and a 96 percent incumbent re election rate

the polls are rigged

the contestants are corrupt sponsored puppets

the people have lost their voice

the corporate media project a fantasy world upon the plebs

the truth has become the enemy of the state

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:00 | 5926350 Deathstar
Deathstar's picture

Some corporate taglines redux by moi
Enjoy :)

GOLD Everywhere you want to be
LEAD It's whats for dinner
SILVER The other white metal

USD ”The Ultimate Diving Machine”
EUR Good to the last drop
GRD "Do More"
JPY The next stage
RUB Takes a licking and keeps on ticking
CNY Legendary reliability
ZWL I’ve fallen and I can’t get up

4PM The pause that refreshes

SEC No rules Just right
PPT We move the world
FED Talk They’ll listen
CNBC The art of performance
ProShares How well do you share?
Hewlett Packard Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman
Madoff Investment Securities LLC That was easy

Ak47 Reach out and touch someone

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:01 | 5926351 rubiconsolutions
rubiconsolutions's picture

America has elements of socialism, communism and fascism with a wee bit of democracy and oligarchy. In other words, politically it's a mixed breed. However you label it the individual is simply an afterthought, a cog in the mechanism of state. The myth of America as a republic ended long ago with Lincoln or even before with ratification of the most overrated document in history, the US constitution.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:10 | 5926354 hampsterwheel
hampsterwheel's picture

Which is why I am in favor of elimiating the 2nd amendment - in that Consitituional amendment, the founders created the means by which a freedom loving people could defend the Republic against the onslaught of tyranny; however when you have a vast majority of the population liking tyranny and accepting things like the Patriot act, NSA, TSA , civil asset forfitures - then you no longer need the means to defend that which is no longer wanted --- and as an added bonus the confiscation of firearms will finally make theose " cold dead hands " individuals bow their heads and obediently hand them over  - for they do nothing but collect dust now - if the "cold dead hands" crowd hasn't dusted them off in defense of their loss of the 1st, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th ones (a;; down the toilet) they sure as hell wont use them..... ever ---- I mean what are they waiting for -- the founders would all have been hung or free from Tyranny by now fighting the tyranny that is -- the cold dead hands crowd is at walmart...... 

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:43 | 5926509 Armed Resistance
Armed Resistance's picture

Your argument assumes that the people willingly went along as they were stripped of their constitutional rights.  And while I agree that the general populace has been distracted to the point of apathy, I think there is a more plausible explanation at hand.  That explanation is that violence (for true liberty lovers) has to be the absolutely last resort.  The small business owners and thinking people all saw what has transpired, but likely thought that the system as it was designed was going to self-correct in a peaceful manner.  Unfortunately, most weren't aware of the depth of corruption, collusion and infiltration before it was too late.

Now that we see the one party system and full NWO operating plans, it's safe to say people are more apt than ever to respond with violence.  Just look at Bundy Ranch- it was a trigger pull away from starting civil war.  But hey, I've exited the system.  I stopped paying taxes out of moral obligation to do my part.  I go about my life now just wanting to be left alone until the false flag or financial collapse occurs, whichever comes first.  

As far as bowing heads and handing over weapons, you're delusional.  Idiots like you who want to eliminate the second amendment should lead the confiscation attempt yourself.  I'll be on the other side singing the theme tune to "three's company" with a 40 round mag.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 18:31 | 5927171 BigJim
BigJim's picture

TPTB will never take guns off Americans. As long as Americans have guns, they can defend themselves from tyranny. Thus, as long as they have guns, there is never any tyranny to use them against.

Clever, huh?

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 21:06 | 5927694 unicorn
unicorn's picture

controlling mind and data ist more important than weapons...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:02 | 5926357 Prober
Prober's picture

Propaganda, propaganda, propaganda !!!!!

The only way that the obomination and his allies could get into office is by being elected, that makes the system "democratic" - only problem is that the system is dominated by proletariat entitlement-tit-sucking parasites, which is why 60%+ government spending is entitlement programs.

NOT corporations, NOT banks, NOT wealthy elites, NOT oligarchs, NOT boogey men from planet fantasy - ENTITLEMENT TIT-SUCKING PROLETARIAT SCUM !!!!!!!

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:12 | 5926402 thamnosma
thamnosma's picture

But that dumbed down tit-sucking majority has been purposefully created by hijacking economic freedom and recreating a feudal state.  The welfare-warfare state is intentional.  Try starting small businesses these days.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:52 | 5926533 Prober
Prober's picture

I HAVE started and built MANY businesses,

YES it has become MORE difficult,

and ALL the blame goes to the socialist parasites and thieves who want to expand the coercive-collectivist-redistributionist-entitlement state - go git em !

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 05:18 | 5928392 Dave
Dave's picture

Throughout it's history 100% of the time America gets the government it deserves. We, all of us that vote, elect the shit that governs us. Why? Because nobody gives a damn enough to check out who we vote for on either end of the political spectrum.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:02 | 5926358 LawyerScum
LawyerScum's picture

Karl Marx's "10 Planks" :

  1. Abolition of Property in Land and Application of all Rents of Land to Public Purpose.

  2. A Heavy Progressive or Graduated Income Tax.

  3. Abolition of All Rights of Inheritance.

  4. Confiscation of the Property of All Emigrants and Rebels.

  5. Centralization of Credit in the Hands of the State, by Means of a National Bank with State Capital and an Exclusive Monopoly.

  6. Centralization of the Means of Communication and Transport in the Hands of the State.

  7. Extension of Factories and Instruments of Production Owned by the State, the Bringing Into Cultivation of Waste Lands, and the Improvement of the Soil Generally in Accordance with a Common Plan.

  8. Equal Liability of All to Labor. Establishment of Industrial Armies, Especially for Agriculture.

  9. Combination of Agriculture with Manufacturing Industries; Gradual Abolition of the Distinction Between Town and Country by a More Equable Distribution of the Population over the Country.

  10. Free Education for All Children in Public Schools. Abolition of Children's Factory Labor in it's Present Form. Combination of Education with Industrial Production.

 

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:13 | 5926405 thamnosma
thamnosma's picture

None of that applies to the Inner Party.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:05 | 5926370 henry chucho
henry chucho's picture

When people stop believing in the Fairy Tale,the Nightmare really begins..

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:06 | 5926377 cherry picker
cherry picker's picture

Thanks to Clinton, Bush, Obama.

Traitors selling out the Constitution and Americans.

Clinton's watch, children burning to death at Waco Texas.  Children who should have been protected by the goons surrounding the joint, but Reno was in a hurry.

Bush, 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq.

Obama, transparent dictator.

All three should be brought in for trial for not adhering to their oath of office and human rights "we tortured some folks" crimes.

Congress during these administrations should be charged as well.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:00 | 5926577 Grinder74
Grinder74's picture

Does no one have a 30-06 with a scope?

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:06 | 5926613 centerline
centerline's picture

Frankly, I am really shocked that no one to date has done something wacky.  I mean, there are a lot of people who are close to edge already.  Shit, some folks seem to have permanent addresses at the edge of the cliff.  Doesn't take much to push some folks panic buttons.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 18:35 | 5927180 BigJim
BigJim's picture

TPTB are well protected. And most desperate people have kids.

You shoot Hilary - what do you think would happen to your children? Even if an agent of the State didn't do them in, some misguided 'patriot' probably would.

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 05:23 | 5928395 Dave
Dave's picture

Nobody is foolish enough to do that. It would leave Joe Biden in charge.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:13 | 5926403 Billy Bob101
Billy Bob101's picture

Since corporations are people too, maybe we should just elect Goldman president?

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:17 | 5926424 drbill
drbill's picture

The average person (clueless voter) still has no idea who Goldman Sachs is or who they represent. That would change if Goldman became president and that's the last thing that Goldman wants.

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 05:59 | 5928408 Kobe Beef
Kobe Beef's picture

Exactly. What is not recognized cannot be stopped.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:13 | 5926408 Fix It Again Timmy
Fix It Again Timmy's picture

The only thing our Congress is worthy of is a Firing Squad...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:15 | 5926415 Magooo
Magooo's picture

Other than for a very brief period after the Brits were kicked out, it is has never been either.

 

You replaced one elite with another.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:23 | 5926429 venturen
venturen's picture

Shouldn't that be Blankfein driving and Jamie navigating? Maybe with the citadel guy and Buffet in a deck chairs? Why no mention of Soros, Steyer or a host of democrat billionaires

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:24 | 5926443 papaswamp
papaswamp's picture

Thank you Captain Fuckn Obvious..... No shit..come on ZH...this is way below your intel level. Preach up don't go down...the sheepie will either catch up, or be eaten, but dont fucking leave the rest of us in mental fucking coma...we know this shit from almost a decade ago.....yea its a long game, but force the cream up...don't go for the shit cheese at the bottom.

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 06:02 | 5928412 Kobe Beef
Kobe Beef's picture

Reading Bill Bonner's site a decade ago is how I found Zero Hedge. He's not shit cheese. He's a bridge. Help your neighbors cross it.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:33 | 5926471 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Guillotines can right the ship. Or at least remove the dead weight.

The banksters need to repay us.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:36 | 5926483 q99x2
q99x2's picture

In preparation of the take down of the citizens of the United States of America the NWO is having the LAPD park their cars at their residences to give the appearance of threat for when the SHTF. I just noticed this while jogging within the last month. Its getting close bitchez.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:02 | 5926594 Deathstar
Deathstar's picture

Silly pigs, don't they know that those are just target markers? Dumb idea

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:26 | 5926733 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Yeah, the thugs in a community near me stopped taking them home, as they would find them vandalized.
The on-call CSI guy quit using one as well, as he would drive his to stores and restaurants while on-call, and he would routinely have to inspect the tail pipe for a blockage before leaving.

The last time his vehicle had to be towed because someone in a Walmart parking lot filled the tailpipe with that orange sealing foam from a can, but deep inside where it couldn't be seen from the outside. Awesome.

Serves the treasonous criminals right, and just wait until the Molotov cocktails one day fly.

The banksters need to repay us.

 

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 17:45 | 5927027 Deathstar
Deathstar's picture

The foam takes too long. 24 hours for full cure. Easily blown out before full cure. Potatoes and a short stick are much better..

Full seal immediately, cheap, plausible deniability (you're taking it home for dinner) and easily concealable.

Spuds, does ameriKa good!

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 06:04 | 5928417 Kobe Beef
Kobe Beef's picture

Project Mayhem lives.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:40 | 5926494 I Write Code
I Write Code's picture

It's an affirmative action golf-ocracy.

The people take their votes on American Idol more seriously than their votes for political office, and the Federal Reserve, with the very best intentions, have turned the country into some weird spreadsheet neo-fascist enterprise.  This, we call progress.  The mainstream press is beneath contempt.

But at least we have ZH, until they come and shut it down.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 18:47 | 5926803 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

The other important aspect about the founding of the American republic was the sovereignty and competition of the states.

In a sense, if one did not like the gun, abortion, etc. laws of one, they could just vote with their feet and go to another. In affect there were occasional votes for managers, heads, of the republic, but daily plebiscites by the people within the states. In this way a state, by losing revenue from people leaving, would grow weaker in it's ability to force unpopular, and/or treasonous laws on the people.

One sort of sees this now in the form of tax abatement, discounts, or whatever, in an effort to entice a business or businesses to their state. One can also see this in the two great migrations of blacks from the south, and starting in the 1970s, the great migration of workers and businesses to the less corrupt south.

The banksters need to repay us.

 

Note: The people and states are supposed to be a "check and balance" against tyranny, not the Supreme Court.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:45 | 5926516 talisman
talisman's picture

US is clearly a Plutocracy

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:54 | 5926828 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

The DC US nation that is criminally occupying and persecuting the American country and people is a Zionocracy.

That is, the plutocracy within is run by and for the plutocracy without.

The banksters need to repay us.

 

The hens need to go home.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:15 | 5926665 DutchBoy2015
DutchBoy2015's picture

Generally speaking the Useless Snakes is a nation fatass retards.   

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:18 | 5926677 dcohen
dcohen's picture

Call a spade a spade.

 

Congress, The White House, the Courts, all bought and paid for by Jews - with your taxdollars.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:20 | 5926689 Zymurguy
Zymurguy's picture

I"d have to say there's nothing wrong with the US... the people of the US.  It's the maniacle psycopaths who have usurped power and control of the country that are so fuked up.

Oh, and what is the aministration going to say now about Bergdahl?  Can't wait to see this.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 17:45 | 5927026 TeethVillage88s
TeethVillage88s's picture

Henry Kissinger, Zbignew Brzezinski, Trilateral Commission put together by Rockefeller & Brzezinski in 1974, the silent coup of Elites in these groups in the National Security Office, the US Trade Office, the Executive Office, the resulting Trade Treaties... and all their hidden plans and projects to create a new economy and new political system.

Or at least it seems we have a problem with secret groups and elite groups.

How does a Population control Secret Plans & Secret Groups?

- Have to demand Transparency, Insight into the People and Officials and Private organizations that conduct business of any kind that looks like Government, and a Free Press that publishes real data and real info regarding Transparency.

- This means Breaking up Media Organizations in the USA & EU & Latin America, Anti-Trust Legislation

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:19 | 5926691 Zymurguy
Zymurguy's picture

connection reset double post...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:36 | 5926784 Hohum
Hohum's picture

And it never will be unless it's broken into many smaller pieces.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:41 | 5926800 Berspankme
Berspankme's picture

america is finished, a smoldering shell of what it once was. people want to be dependent on .gov and in doing so give up any semblance of liberty or freedom. I love my country but I hate the vast majority of people who inhabit it. They are weak, soft, lazy and apathetic

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 16:49 | 5926821 PoasterToaster
PoasterToaster's picture

Until "none of the above" is on the ballot, the whole notion of voting is a lie.

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 00:18 | 5926885 UserZero
UserZero's picture

Doesn't take much historical research to discover that the fascism pyramid was imposed through military force over 150 years ago, with the implementation of "American System" economics, a "national citizenry" and every one of the ills the Colonies originally declared independence from.

It's just taken this long for the elites to suck enough wealth out of society for a critical mass of subjects to see the Endgame looming just a year or two down the road (if that).

Thanks Abe - hope you're still burining in Hell.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 17:29 | 5926921 Jack4952
Jack4952's picture

A CLARIFICATION:

1.) A "democracy" is where the majority ALWAYS rules - there are NO guaranteed "individual rights"

2.) A "republic" is where the PEOPE rule with GUARANTEED individual rights despite what the majority may desire or vote for

3.) The USA was created as a "democratic Republic" where:

    a.) The HOUSE members were directly elected by the people in districts in each state

    b.) The SENATE members were elected by the STATE LEGISLATURES - NOT the people.

    c.) The Federal government could levy NO direct taxes on the people; its only sources of income were TARIFFS and indirect taxes (usage fees now called "EXCISE TAXES")

    d.) The LAW of the USA and all states was the COMMON LAW (as in Britain). Legislated Acts (statutes) encated by the Congress applied ONLY in "federal zones" (territories, Washington, DC, and possessions of the USA) and/or federal employees. All legislated acts (statutes) were considered to be "OFFERS TO CONTRACT" for people living outside the "federal zones" - each man individually could CONSENT to a specific act (and thus fall under Federal jurisdiction) OR could withhold his CONSENT (and thus NOT fall under Federal jurisdiction with respect to that specific act). That is what was meant by "government by the consent of the people" - a Federal ACT applied to you ONLY if you individually CONSENTED to it, in which case it fell under "contract law" or "commercial law".

    e.) The Constitution applied only to the Federal government - to limits powers.

    f.) The "Bill of Rights" was added to ENSURE that the Federal goverenment never attempted to infringe on people's Natural Rights.

    g.) The "ELECTORS" from each state (who actually voted and still "elect" the president ) were chosen by the state legislatures.

    h.) Each state was (and still is, affirmed by numerous Supreme Court decisions) to be its own "country", with the remaining states AND the Federal government to be considered as "foreign nations" with respect to that state.

    i.) Any changes regarding the powers of the Federal government required an AMENDMENT to the Constitution, which must be ratified by three-fourths (3/4) of the state legislatures.

Article V of the Constitution prescribes how an amendment can become a part of the Constitution. While there are two ways, only one has ever been used. All 27 Amendments have been ratified after two-thirds of the House and Senate approve of the proposal and send it to the states for a vote. Then, three-fourths of the states must affirm the proposed Amendment.

The other method of passing an amendment requires a Constitutional Convention to be called by two-thirds of the legislatures of the States. That Convention can propose as many amendments as it deems necessary. Those amendments must be approved by three-fourths of the states.

 

In short, the STATE legislatures controlled all direct taxes; elected the U.S. Senate members; chose the "Electors" who then selected the new President; and the Amendment process.

My goodness !!!!  How much the USA has changed (for the worse)!!!

 

John-Henry Hill, M.D.

retired physician

http://JohnHenryHill.Wordpress.com

 

 

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 17:33 | 5926971 Hohum
Hohum's picture

You forgot to mention that very few could vote and a slave was 3/5 of a person (for representational purposes).

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 06:12 | 5928428 Kobe Beef
Kobe Beef's picture

And that's a bad thing? Now everybody can vote 12 times in 10 different precincts. Community Organiizin', ya know. Tell me it's produced a better result.

It's far easier to create a parasite than a producer, and inevitably, they will outvote you. They will vote for more of your stuff.

Bring back the poll tax, bring back the literacy requirement, introduce a valid tax receipt, if you want to vote.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 17:38 | 5926989 TeethVillage88s
TeethVillage88s's picture

What about the Wiemar Republic or the Third Reich.

Normally there is this argument that a majority can take away Individual Rights, abuse the defenseless, abuse Minorities, and even engage in Eugenics.

A Majority can vote for a "One Germany" and to Invade the Sudetenland.

There is nothing to Stop a Republic from have military expansionist goals and to suppress Individual Rights in other Sovereign Countries.

What about the power of money and gifts to expand and influence the Federal or National Level Government in a Republic or a Democracy or Syndicated Anarchy?

Lower level Governments at the state level, City Level can resist corruption with more access by local citizens, but Cities get too big and can no longer resist. Like Big Corporations who get corrupted and follow the bureaucratic Paradox of compensation looting and high admin costs for fancy offices, big buildings, airplane & Limos... it seems Cities also have to be Broken Up by Anti-Trust Legislation

Yes, break up big Corporations, Big banks, and Big Cities, and Big Military republics with Anti-Trust Legislation.

Yes, break up with Anti-Trust, but strengthen the States with Power, military Power, and Financial power.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 17:23 | 5926934 TeethVillage88s
TeethVillage88s's picture

A strong Military Republic, Empire, or Super Power Requires:

-

1) Strong Central Government
2) strong Military, Strong Military Budget
3) Strong Trade To Obtain Resources
4) Strong Finance & Strong Money Creation or Piracy
5) Strong Businesses or Corporations or other Entities to Support the MIC, the Economy, Provide Food & Energy
6) A means for Hiding Foreign Policy, Foreign Wars, information about Foreign Peoples, Foreign Slavery, foreign Government Problems, and Subversion of Foreign Governments, Peoples, and Democratic Processes
7) Strong Treaty Process, clauses to protect banker debts since banks finance War & Government, Clauses to protect Trade Interests whether Protectionism or Free Trade Policies
8) Strong indoctrination in belief that Government or Monarchy or Dictator is the Ultimate Authority, not the Rights of Men, Not God or Gods, not Individualism, not self Determination or a philosophy (Hegel's Education)
9) Strong Response by government to Money and those with funds, since MIC & Central Government always have more projects and more people that want to join or influence

Conclusion: At best we have a Military Republic, at Worst we have an Empire or Dictatorship

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 17:34 | 5926977 blindman
blindman's picture

Give me control of a nations money supply, and I care not who makes it’s laws
Amschel Rothchilds famous quote of course. But what did he mean by it exactly?
__________________
Those who have knowledge don't predict. Those who predict don't have knowledge - Lao Tzu, 6th century BC poet
.
http://www.trade2win.com/boards/economic-fundamental-analysis/63984-give...
.
"“Capitalism has driven just about every great innovation that has made our world a more prosperous, comfortable and inspiring place to live. But..."
the same could be said for slavery; the dark creative force
of the master capitalists closet (them that didn't fare well in the hierarchy,
social or financial)
the truth is that individual"ism" and nutrition (ism)is the
the source of everything new and innovative. i assume
we all appreciate what an individual mind is or represents.
the question then becomes what is this "nutrition" input
and from where does it come? capitalism? or some other
ism? ism ..sim ,a.siiisnsmm nsm ism.
slavery(ism)?
capitalism is just a virtual, become legal, transcription of
codified distribution of benefits from the coordination of
individual insight and innovation manifest as mass production
via slavery, forced conformity by law.
no? not the pretty way to say it, granted.

g reply
speed
.
re-think private property-- as in your life, liberty and pursuit of happiness -- private property is a principle upon which capitalism as well as emancipation rests--Slavery is a right of kings --way way different-

reply
blindman
.
@.." private property is a principle upon which capitalism
as well as emancipation rests."...
emancipation , the term has been associated with
human beings being freed from their bondage, as property,
of other men. or being forgiven their "debts" to other
men. these emancipated people then go out to own
other property, people and debts of other men?
that is not progress, not that you said it is but
the concept of "property" and ownership needs to
be refined some imho.
i have to go ....
.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-03-23/revolution-war-taxes-complete-p...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 17:40 | 5927000 reTARD
reTARD's picture

The US was never a republic or democracy fromt the beginning. It was by design. Read "Our Enemy, The State."

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 18:29 | 5927154 TeethVillage88s
TeethVillage88s's picture

I agree.

But what about reporting and Transparency on Suicides and missing persons in the USA?

Seems like Patriarchs, those that seek power & office, might have a hidden agenda or want to impose rules on "us". And they might be coordinating with a "captured" MSM. We all know that Media is owned by a few newspaper publishers and a few TV & Cable Producers.

Why would they down play suicides except to protect business, commerce, government employees, officials, and of course the protection of those that are said to be perhaps weak family or friends of the victims.

Say a postal Worker went "Postal" or a Veterans Admin Employee went "Postal"... isn't it better for everyone to know how government or corporate systems work??

Say a young woman jumps from a bridge into an Icy river in a clear Suicide... don't we want to know if someone was abusing her, what her circumstances were??

Transparency in Government & Free Press is important for "Feedback Loop" to correct government procedures and government employee and to correct individuals who might be mean, nasty, poor supervisors, poor employers, breaking employment laws, who knows?

- Systems Analysis relies on Identification of Problems.
- Transparency solves many problems even the influence of power and money.
- Anti-trust Legislation can aid in removing the influence of government, wealthy, powerful, or control freaks.
- Patriarchs also want to take our guns, but we see lots of Crime on the Roads, in Cities, in places with no LEOs.

What is the story of people that go missing in the USA? Do we have percentages of Sex Trade Victims, Emancipation seeking Run-ways, Wild Animal Killings, Scientific Experiment Victims, Serial Killers, Crazy Rural Dwellers, Foreign Agents, Divorced parents??

We all just want to make sure we don't have Patriarchs like B. Clinton or H. Kissinger that are doing something in some kind of conspiracy to sell our children to Saudi Arabian Brothels or Drug Lord or European Royalty. And the power at the Governor, President, National Security Adviser, Diplomat, Federal Reserve, Ambassador, State Dept., and Intelligence Contractor or Intelligence Agency level is much too high...

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 18:15 | 5927130 dizzyfingers
dizzyfingers's picture

Voter for no one has to be one choice on every ballot.

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 18:20 | 5927145 Seek_Truth
Seek_Truth's picture

There is only one candidate (for any/all offices) I would vote for in the next election, and this is the platform that this candidate would run on:

-No new laws, bills, legislation, taxes, etc- we have enough wrong already from previously passed laws, bills, legislation and taxes.

-No declarations of war, no declarations, period.

-Will work for free, including no perks, meals, expenses, travel, etc.

-No assistants, no security, no personnel- none, zero.

-No heating or cooling for their office, white house, house of Reps, Senate, etc.

-no perks, retirement, healthcare, burial expenses, etc- none.

Now, you might be thinking that no such candidate exists, but I assure you, you are wrong.

There are many such candidates.

And each and every one of these candidates is light years better than any of our existing or previous candidates.

In fact, they would fulfill the entire platform, truthfully, no lies or deception, guaranteed.

Allow me to nominate the next President & VP of the US:

Dog Turd for President & Banana Peel, VP.

< THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE>

In fact, any inanimate object would fulfill the entire platform, truthfully, no lies or deception, guaranteed.

And you ask me why I don't vote?

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 20:39 | 5927546 TeethVillage88s
TeethVillage88s's picture

I am enjoying this article. The writing, descriptions, word usage, reference to David Stockman, the Length of Article, and the Diagram.

It might actually draw me into other conclusions as I think about it further.

It's Mind Control for Congress or the Citizens to think that Janet Yellen or the FED will fix the Economy or Create Jobs. That is Propaganda.

I see where people would say less intervention by Congress and fewer "Jobs" type Programs are better.

But QE, TARP, Bailouts for Banks, GM, GE, Fixed Interest Rates, LIRP, ZIRP, NIRP are huge Manipulations, but are called temporary interventions,... not Fixes, Solutions, or Reforms.

Do we need Reforms, Sweeping Reforms. Yes. It is Clear. Like:

- Transparency, Glasnost
- Anti-Trust Break Ups of Big Organizations of all kinds, maybe even the Federal Government which has grown into an Empire for Career Managers
- Getting Money out of Politics and Government Careers, Gift Giving of all Kinds is bad and appears in Medicine, Justices, Universities, Drug Testing, and all Agencies
- Break up the MSM & Bring Back Free Press that can print anything they want about War, War Dead, War Costs, War Misery, and the US President & US Congress & US Banking & FED & Lawyers & Corporations which are "Behemoths"

What is Federal Government or the FED Doing? They have a hidden agenda to ignore current trends in wealth redistribution, joblessness, under employment, low labor participation rate, increased costs for major categories of Cost of Living.

What is the Hidden Agenda? Obviously some kind of Social Engineering. It could be to create bigger Regional Governments or expand US, North American, European, or other Governments... it could very well be some new kind of Technocracy run by Technocrats (Elites).

We could be looking at the Privileged making their own rules as they see fit to Rule all Americans and Europeans.

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 16:03 | 5930774 rex-lacrymarum
rex-lacrymarum's picture

Happy to hear it. I republish Bill's articles on acting man and spice them up with pictures and charts (I also write the image captions. On acting man, I'm known as Pater Tenebrarum - for some reason registration on zerohedge under that name failed way back when). Anyway, Bill certainly has his moments, and I like that he's an un-PC equal opportunity offender, knows his history and economics and has a great sense of humor to boot, which is why we publish his stuff.  

Wed, 03/25/2015 - 23:23 | 5928052 windywoo
windywoo's picture

The so-called republic was founded by aristocrats who fled europe to set up their fiefdoms in the new world, overshadowing the earlier Christian settlers.  Our "founding fathers" were freemasons, they were deists, who basically think that God did his creation thousands of years ago and left us to our own devices, and they see themselves as His replacement.  The occult symbols and sigils have predominated from the beginning of their rule.  It is a total myth that the US was ever a Christian nation. The US military has been deeply involved in the satanic and the diabolical for a very long time.  We need to wake up and realize that if there is to be a nation we can be proud of, we're going to have to create one.

Thu, 03/26/2015 - 04:10 | 5928359 donhuangenaro
donhuangenaro's picture

it never really was...

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