Submitted by Charles Hugh-Smith of OfTwoMinds blog,
Wishing it was true doesn't make it true--it makes you a chump who fell for the con.
Once upon a time in America, no adult could survive without possessing a finely tuned BS detector. Herman Melville masterfully captured America's fascination with cons and con artists in his 1857 classic The Confidence-Man, which I discussed in The Con in Confidence (October 4, 2006).
An essential component of the American ethos is: don't be a chump. Don't fall for the con. And if you do, it's your own fault. The Wild West wasn't just thieves shooting people in the back (your classic "gunfight" in the real West)--it was a simmering stew of con artists, flim-flammers and grifters exploiting the naive, the trusting and the credulous.
We now inhabit a world where virtually everything is a con. That "organic" produce from some other country--did anyone test the soil the produce grew in? It could be loaded with heavy metals and be certified "organic" because no pesticides were used during production. But what about last year? And the year before? What's in the water used to irrigate the crops?
The employment/unemployment statistics are obviously BS. 93 million people aren't even counted any more--they're statistical zombies, no longer among the living workforce. If the unemployment rate were calculated on the number of full-time jobs and the true workforce (everyone ages 18 - 70 that isn't institutionalized or in prison), the unemployment rate would not be the absurdly delusional 5.6% claimed by the bureaucratic con artists.
The corrupts-everything-it-touches bribe vacuum known as Hillary Clinton is still disgracing the national stage, 24 years after she first displayed her con-artist colors. Hillary's most enduring accomplishment is the Clinton Foundation--a glorification of bribery, chicanery, flim-flam and cons so outrageously perfected that it serves up examples of every con known to humanity in one form or another.
And as she learned from hubby Bill--if the smarmy charm-con fails, quickly revert to veiled threats. "You'll never work in this town again!"
Hillary would fit right into Melville's river boat teeming with con-artists. The accent she uses on the marks--oops, I mean audience--changes as readily as the camouflage on a chameleon. Upper Midwest, Noo Yawk, Fake-Southern--what you hear depends on the credulity of her marks.
The entire American political system is a con, a sleazy mix of legalized bribes, auctioning off of favors, revolving doors between government agencies and the corporations they enrich and the blatant hypocrisy of snake-oil salespeople who know the marks (voters) face a false choice between two parties that are the same poison sold under different labels.
Which brings us to China, one of the greatest credit bubble and financial cons ever. Please examine this chart of the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSEC). Clearly, there is no upper limit to the Chinese stock market: 5,000 today, 10,000 next week, 50,000 the following month and 100,000 shortly thereafter. The sky's the limit, Baby!
Everybody who thinks China's economy is healthy because its stock market is soaring has been suckered. Every good con-man/ con-woman knows that the con only works if the chump/mark wants to believe the impossible is true--that the snake-oil remedy will actually cure their ailments, that the "hope" candidate will actually change the corrupt system from the inside (ha-ha, they fell for it), and that China's economy is on its way to becoming the world leader in everything.
But wishing it was true doesn't make it true--it makes you a chump who fell for the con. We want to believe our political system isn't an unreformable cesspool, that our economy is a vibrant creator of new middle class jobs and that China will manage the greatest credit bubble in history without a hitch. But these are all cons put over to protect the wealth and power of those benefiting from the con.
If your BS detector isn't shrieking, it's broken. You've been conned. Wake up.
I was thinking bout buying me a ghost city. Lotta good concrete there. I could ship the concrete over to taiwan and make a killing in the next earthquake.
Gotta bridge Heyeah! Real good bridge heyeah!
hahaha - funny. Too bad funny does not translate to $$$$. hahahaha.
I'll bet you love to invest in exponential curves. help me out here, do you wait till they are near vertical so you can verify they are exponential, then buy in?
"But then many savvy Western elites are already migrating to China."
Huh???????? What I'm seeing are hordes of Chinese people who are escaping the polluted, corrupt, aging, sickly, baby-girl-aborting shithole that they grew up in, by moving to the U.S.. Can't say I blame them, either. But maybe I am just imagining things, LOL.
ya China is the only one....HA HA HA
The con is the mark's drug. It feels so good now; they'll worry about the consequences later.
And Hillary's con-artistry goes back much more than 24 years, - as a staff attorney during the Watergate hearings she was noted as being "...a liar. She was an unethical, dishonest lawyer, she conspired to violate the Constitution, the rules of the House, the rules of the Committee, and the rules of confidentiality." This was 1973, 43 years ago, virtually her entire working lifetime.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/politics/clintons/zeifman.asp#CDRTIXwKYtCKus6v.99
But the Chosenite media loves them some Hitlery.....and so it shall be.
Yea! Yet another post citing the "93 million" number - speaking of BS. I mean, we should absolutely include high school juniors, homemakers, and 80 year old retirees in the unemployment statistics. Makes complete sense, and would give a true picture of workforce participation.
Government Troll! Show us where you got your figures.
Dear Dumbassed Idiot.....
WHY do retirees retire IF they really want a job? How fucking stupid are you?
All of those people eat, but don't work. We can only pull so many people in the wagon. It is a valid number to cite and be concerned about.
You just bumped up the number of fully accredited morons in the US by one.
Dollars are the carrot to politicians and the wealthy are the one's holding it with the stick.
They can buy America with that funny money--just like the Wall Street Mafia; then, nothing can be done other than...?
I recently purchased "organic" honey
Who the f'k followed those bees around to make sure they were only f'king organically grown flowers?
bees categorize, that's why you can buy different sorts of honey. No magic, just knowledge.
Bees, whose increasing disappearance is another possibly catastrophic event our world must face.
In the making of 'organic' honey, it is the abscense of miticides and other chemical treatments to fight bee virus' that makes the honey 'organic'. I have three hives in the garden, all of my bees were collected from swarms that appeared on my property. Never treated them with anything stronger than a dusting of powdered sugar each spring. The honey collected at different times of year, from different bloom cycles will be, as mentioned, segregated in the combs by the bees and have a different taste if extracted separately from each other.
Long BULLSHIT.....best trade...always goes up.
And Yet ZH gets suckered into bashing oil on false overstated EIA data points and GS BS?
As long as the stocks markets are near record highs, nothing will matter. Nothing.
The banksters know this which is why the effort is so concerted between the world's central banks to keep them pegged.
It is all smoke and mirrors.
My biggest fear is that once the inevitable bubble implodes, the banksters will fall back on war as a diversionary tactic.
All fine and dandy cutesie articles like this . . . . . . but I continue to wait and see when people with the ability to distribute information start truly calling it what it really is. We know the markets are complete bullshit and rigged. Let's just cut to the chase. It goes way beyond that. Everything is controlled by a criminal Cabal. The Cabal controls everything to pursue their agenda and their ability to print counterfeit money is the primary source of their power. They have people whacked. They support and enhance Bibi's control of Congress. Bibi hangs threats over the puppet stooge politicians so he can attempt to foster a perpetual state of war and conflict. Essentially all politicians are criminals and we certainly do not have a Republic in America. America is run by a criminal corporation.
I realize there is risk in exposing this truth for someone like this author in that you can certainly get Vince Foster'ed or RFK'ed if you wake up people, but the shenanigans have gone on for so long and things have gotten so absurd at some point there needs to be a breaking point. I also realize "Alternative Media" exposes some of these things but it also needs to come from the so called "smart guys" and "prestigious intellectuals" that seem quite happy pontificating about how smart they are yet unwilling to just call it for what it really is.
Sounds like you've been watching too many "Person of Interest" re-runs....
http://www.tv.com/shows/person-of-interest-2011/community/post/person-of...
Did I miss the part where this piece talked about the Feds financialization of the economy, fiat money, the MIC, war on drugs and war on terror? Without those this is controlled opposition. O
And in the "What could possibly go wrong here?" segment of the news of the day...
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/toronto-host-massive-orgy-disabled...
I like this one:
Italy out today saying they are not the next Greece.
So the EU saga building.
Spaniards up in arms, Portugal on their knees and now Italy with a traditional no no no everything is fine in Italy.
Ya, right uncle Gary.
Suspension of consequences. Across the board. Allows people to believe whatever they want. It is pervasive because it feeds a mentality that if you just like the idea of a particular outcome of your actions - ignore it!
So far, it pretty darn hard to not get medical care, food, etc. Heck, just look around at how many ghetto dwellers have iPhones. You think they feel entitled to them at this point? lolz.
How about politicians who pretty much can piss on the laws of the nations. Cops who can do whatever they want. Government employees running amok with local, state, and federal money with little more than a slap on the wrist. Scandal after scandal.
Suspension of consequences will continue until the redistributive process underneath exhausts itself. Then, it all goes to shit. For everyone.
Suspension of consequences...
Who knew Dire Strait's "Money for Nothing" would actually become a National Anthem? I understood they meant it to be sarcasm but it evidently struck the same cord all the garage bands in the 60’s heard and followed, only this time, instead of FM radio, MTV was there to provide the “alternative / subcultural” attractant.
I agree with your “suspension” comment and would frankly see it as an improvement to the adolescent belief of “absence of consequences” now gripping not only the alternative / cultic following masses of media blinded nymphs subjected to our current non-conventional TeeVee devices, but their chronologically advanced handlers as well.
"Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the sons of men is fully set to do evil." -- Ecclesiastes 8:11 (RSV)
I find it rather amusing that this particular observation was made nearly 3000 years ago.
jmbelief
Cool quote Boxed. I have really developed an appreciation for ancient literature lately thanks to the studied who post it. So, to you... thanks for sharing. Yeah, we have been warned again and again.
Is amazing how people so readily becomes addicted to lies as long as consequences are avoided - and how it grows into (and warps) the very fabric of society like a virsus. In advanced stages of this "disease" (as where we are now) society winds up so twisted that it defends lies over the truth.
We're all on Fury Road. Might as well go out historic. I live, I die, I live again. I am awaited in Valhalla.
Saudi Arabia's oil ministry said on Tuesday the rise in its oil production over the past three months was a result of increased global demand
As ZH focuses on supply rest of media NO ONE is reporting demand as reason for supply..what distortions
Sadly, this is the essential truth of the American political system:
The entire American political system is a con, a sleazy mix of legalized bribes, auctioning off of favors, revolving doors between government agencies and the corporations they enrich and the blatant hypocrisy of snake-oil salespeople who know the marks (voters) face a false choice between two parties that are the same poison sold under different labels.
I would say it is Kabuki Theather for the masses but that insults Kabuki Theather.
and for Nth time media told u demand was going to be weak
When everyone else is blowing bubbles and accruing unpayable debt, it is a losing move to not do so yourself....especially with an export economy.
China's economy in trouble? sure. But *relative* to the us and most of europe... no, no it is not.
The US can not.contain China, threaten Russia, and remake the middle east to pipe gas from Israels Leviathan/ Oded Yinon plan all at the same time.
The US has become a SF-dependent global counter insurgency police force... a fat bellied cop kneeling on a young teens neck.
Didnt Israel learn that years of shooting at rock throwing kids did not prepare them for the Lebanese Resistance, even with unquestioned air power? (of course, Israel wants.Lebanese gas and water...and having an agent lob a rocket from sheeba farms into a field is easy enough, will get in the papers, right to defend, muslims bad, etc)
Anyway, the shame of it is, the good guys are not coming to save us, and we are ruled by traitors. all of us.
http://geopoliticainternazionale.blogfree.net/?t=5139524
Tiananmen Square massacr ... FALSE FLAG ? CIA and Mossad ?
If you hang around with thieves the thieves will do what they do so well, which is steal your stuff.
The world is awash in debt an nary a debt rating agency to be heard.
More BS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nLD2BjR644
I say we run the sleepers into the big ugly truth head first until they wake up or die. Mother Nature has a prize for those that cant handle the truth,
My BS meter isn't broken, but it's going off continuously so I tend to ignore it; it's become background noise.
If ya get a job with the beast Im told its sounds like sweet music. All bunnies and sunshine. As long as the checks keep comming.
The Chinese real estate bubble is in big trouble. so why not blow another bubble, say in equities . . .that would help the Chinese feel wealthier for a while?
Down payment being 30% for first home, second home did not allow any mortgage (pay in full cash up front). They have now recently changed to 40% down for second. So keyboard worriors, this isn't exactly the US real estate market with its NINJA loans etc.
So, thanks for the bullshit, but its BULLSHIT. Yes, the prices have been steaming back up recently, but that is due to the second home being mortgageable. Bubble, not! Prices are too rich YES!
Disinformation for the uninformed makes entertaining reading.
Well, now we know which bubble you have invested in, LOL.
Now I know you have non hahaha.
Plus, where's my risk when I paid full no mortgage. Moron! Haha haha
Being able to pay in full is something alien to the west.
Where is your risk when you have purchased by paying in full? That it will go down in value, moron. Which it will, since you are in a bubble. And then you and a bunch of other sheep will try to sell, and it will go down far more. And then someone smarter than you (not difficult) will come in and scoop up your places for little, since you will have all become outraged and despondent at the same time and will be agitating outside of the sellers' offices and will want to dump them. Or, if you don't try to sell, you'll simply have paid a lot of money for something not worth much; enjoy hanging onto that. There will be no money around to maintain the place and it will fall apart entirely. Unfortunately you will probably then have another big murderous kill-off, which China has periodically, so even the bottom-price purchaser won't do well.
In a real market, that is not a bubble, it can make sense to purchase a house with cash. I know people who have done it; it worked out fine. In a bubble it is simply moronic sheep-behavior.
dickhead - what price did I get my apartment for? What was the high and how low did I get it before the rebound. You dunno shit and and pretend you have some insight. Sad thing is people like you provide NO VALUE to ZH as you are but broke lemmin trying to porn yourself off as someone with intelligent comments. Sad thing is, majority of the negative posters have ZERO exposure to the China anyway becoz you don't qualify as QFII or similar investors. So, outside of just hitching a ride on the clueless hurd train, what else can you achieve or do. Sad MOFO.
I provide the info. so people can get a on the ground perspective. Clearly your just another loser with nothing better to do than promote your inner failures as an individual. Sad to see people like you around.
Hahahaha, you sure are mad. You must be pretty scared about your crappy investment, and your polluted and corrupt country. I would feel sympathy, but you are a moron and a shill and a troll, trying to trap other people into lousy choices.
I don't want any exposure to China; I live in Silicon Valley and the people I meet who are fleeing the place don't make me think it would be a good place to invest; they are getting every penny they can out of the place.
I live in San Jose, worked for HP for over 3 years dickhead in their consulting division. My family lives there right now. Half of my LSE colleages are there. Too bad they are still working for a company and not making the real returns.
Whats to trap when YOU CANNOT INVEST HERE....Truly clueless.
Emmmmm....who should I take advise from? You a keyboard moron with no credentials or myself who worked as an investment banker in the AP region, with 2 ivy league degrees and was able to 10x my net worth since 2008?????
Being poor is a mental state. Clearly your views keep you that way.
I don't believe that you have an Ivy league degree; the quality of your writing is not nearly good enough for that to be credible. And, increasing your net worth tenfold is not so impressive if you start with one dollar.
And oh, yes, I am dreadfully poor, LOL. Simply destitute!!! Due to my "views." Hahahaha.
do I give a shit what you think? Nope! Becoz you are but a loser and nothing but a worthless keyboard worrier with ZERO contribution.
Troll pretty much aptly describes dickheads like you.
The title of this BS article pretty much describes YOU. BS. No Job, No experience, No insight and No money = LOSER = PORN actor who thinks they know anything outside of his orifice. No, you haven't even step a foot in China let alone know anything about the nation outside of the propaganda circulating the western media channels. Hey where is Qianhai? Where is the Xian New Silk Road corridor? how many strategic corridors are there to be? how are free trade hubs opening up the chinese market to foreign investors? What are they promoting industry wise in these free trade hubs?
You could not answer any of them with any insight let alone know where the fark they are located on a map! Sad imbecile.
Plus, 99% of you can't invest in China anyway, so what's it to you!
The last line of the article should read "Wake the FUCK up".
See YouTube: The Flim-Flam Man (1967) pt.1/10
Memorable lines from the movie.
“Mordecai C. Jones (Scott) - a self-styled "M.B.S., C.S., D.D. — Master of Back-Stabbing, Cork-Screwing and Dirty-Dealing!”
“Greed is my line, and 14 carat ignorance, they never let you down.”
"You can't be conned unless you are greedy and ignorant."
“Only cheat the cheaters, boy - you can't cheat an honest man!”
“You can sell anything on god’s green earth, if the customer believes it’s stolen.”
Other Great Movies on Cons.
You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man (1939) – W.C. Fields, Edgar Bergen, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Constance Moore, John Arledge. Director – George Marshall. Universal.
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941) – W.C. Fields, Gloria Jean, Leon Errol, Billy Lenhart, Kennrth Brown. Director – Edward F. Cline. Universal Pictures.
God speed, dear Ocean, we barely knew ye.
Yet never fear, when we are wiped from this planet, ye shall be fine in 200,000 to 2,000,000 years, climate change, nuclear lies, and all. Yet the spectacular variety....
http://nukeprofessional.blogspot.com/2015/06/epithat-for-ocean.html
My BS detector has been screaming and is now broken.
This stuff has been going on forever, but never institutionalized around so many people. Wait... maybe that's not correct, because there were as many people in Noah's day and they were all believing a lie. The lie that it would go on as it had, forever. But then, those "people" were only half people. The other half being hybrid demonic. Oh, wait, that too maybe true today. Oh, well...
This isn't a con.
It takes me two hours to mow my one acre lot. There's no getting around it and all the BS in the world isn't going to make it easier.
My detector is broken from overuse. Pretty sure this has been mentioned in other comments but no need to go look.
I have no affiliation with this website. I do have a shirt from them though. I want to buy another one from then but they are sold out of the one I want. These guys do have some pretty hilarious shit though.
http://despair.com/collections/demotivators
Yet another total BS article. Hey, Americans, the Feds have been making chums outta you fgor over 100 years now with the so called "Federal Reserve Bank" and you don't think you are chums?
It's good to be able to live in a fantasy. Just wait when the reality hits you in the face thouh, it's damn painful: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-06-09/petroyuan-born-gazprom-now-sett...
It's only a con if you believe it. Otherwise it's evidence and an indictment.
Liberty is a demand. Tyranny is submission..
The guillotines are never fooled.
It takes your mom an hour to make minute rice
: Well perhaps the laws of physics cease to exist on your stove! Were these magic grits? I mean, did you buy them from the same guy who sold Jack his beanstalk beans?!
when the con is up, blood will flow
Hope; is not a strategy.
My total contempt for this system knows no bounds...You have no idea how I dream of the painful deconstruction of this whole fake Ponzi...
Or maybe you do. After all, this is Zero Hedge.
Stack gold and silver, avoid payroll taxes, keep only a month's expenses in any bank.
And for the love of God, disregard all official statistics or opinions!
"It's easier to keep fooling people than to convince them they have been fooled"...Mark Twiain..
That's a little bit of wisdom from the past and sadly it's true, welcome to Duperville, USA as the intangible threat models have changed significantly as the data selling business is now almost a $200 billion a year business and keeps inequality growing...people are scored into corners where they can't get out..all virtual of course but it's where the real world intersects.
http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2015/05/privacy-duping-of-america-intangible.html
My BS detector has been SCREAMING for a almost 2 fuckin' decades, but this SCAM is still going on! Why isn't this garbage dead and buried?
Such negativity, I recommend everybody on ZH purchase and read The Audacity of Hope.