Bruce’s Poor Man Recession Bulletin
Your choice for urban survival resources
http://www.PoorManSurvival.com
In This Issue:
1. Communists are now our friends
2. 10 Riskiest places to give out Social Security number
3. Cool products you can get for free
4. Send a free ecard or one with money
5. Humorous cartoon movie explaining Fed moves
6. How to properly check basement for water problems
7. Surviving in the City
Whenever destroyers appear among men, they start by destroying money, for money is men's protection and the base of a moral existence. Destroyers seize gold and leave to its owners a counterfeit pile of paper. This kills all objective standards and delivers men into the arbitrary power of an arbitrary setter of values. Gold was an objective value, an equivalent of wealth produced. Paper is a mortgage on wealth that does not exist, backed by a gun aimed at those who are expected to produce it. Paper is a check drawn by legal looters upon an account which is not theirs: upon the virtue of the victims. Watch for the day when it bounces, marked: 'Account Overdrawn.'"
-- Ayn Rand
The Paradox of US Recession-Or, Can I use food stamps as collateral?
There is much confusion in America surrounding the recession. The nightly news brings stories of homeless and hungry, foreclosures and federal actions…but we also see stories of sold out Carnival Cruise ships limping back to the United States or one day staggering sales of new video games and Ipod phones.
I see record shattering prices paid at auction for all kinds of items (including a recent gun auction we attended, but that doesn’t surprise me as much) and I can’t help but wonder - where are these people getting the money?
Train traffic is another economic indicator and a set of tracks runs very close to our home and it runs 24/7. Last night, within a 25-minute time span, seven trains went by. That tells us someone isn’t hurting.
Does everyone get a good paycheck, perhaps working for the government? We know government workers earn on average 60% more than there private sector counterparts, but even state and local governments are hurting. So many contradictory messages floating about such as this one:
Car, retail sales boost outlook for economy
The economic outlook has brightened noticeably in recent days, with a splurge of car-buying by consumers unexpectedly lifting retail sales and businesses putting some of their nearly $2 trillion in stashed cash to work buying other companies with an eye toward growth.
According to the US Census, which has a data base dating back to 1946 for federal employment, current "civilian" employment is about the same it was during the Regan era - slightly under 2,000,000. The largest growth in Federal employment since 9/11 is for TSA (airport security) and the . We now have more than 19 million federal employees (about 310 million citizens).
Scroll down to near the end of this week’s bulletin to watch a damn cute little video which explains the Fed’s QE2 actions…you’ll love it. Thanks Mike for sharing!
As I’ve written previously, here in MI it’s tough to get a tradesman to even return a call. They all must be busy working on other projects? The local commissars still think everyone has a whole bunch of money and income as they discriminate against lower cost housing projects…so exactly what gives?
http://www.givemeliberty.org/
This is the time of year to stock up on seasonal grocery items such as turkey and baking goods. Purchase extra sale items and stockpile them away for later in the year. If you find butter, for example, on sale, buy extra and freeze it.
Finally, it would appear many eBay customers believe I offer lay-away. At last count, I had a dozen unpaid purchases from my storefront?! A large uptick in slow paying ebayers.
Here’s what readers can buy the Poor Man for Christmas…get me a Solar Impulse HB-SIA, the zero emission, solar & battery powered aircraft. I’ve always wanted a helicopter, but this will work!
When the socialist economies of Eastern Europe disintegrated, the cause was evident to nearly everyone: the stifling directives of central planning had all but obliterated individual initiative and accountability. The cure was just as obvious: a healthy dose of entrepreneurship and private enterprise."
-- Dr. Lawrence W. Reed
(1953-) President of the Foundation for Economic Education
This week’s cool stuff n resources
Cool Products and Services You Can Get for Free
Look hard enough and you can find a bevy of 100% discounts, especially online. "Facebook is a great source of freebies right now, as so many brands try to attract fans and establish themselves," says Julia Scott, who runs the popular blog BargainBabe.com.
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/111305/cool-products-and-services-you-can-get-for-free
One App Will Set You Free…SIRI Personal Assistant uses natural language processing and personal preferences/context to understand complex requests using your voice commands as prompts. Cost-FREE
www.Siri.com
DIY Clay Pot Smoker & Other Projects Can be found at:
www.Instructables.com
10 Riskiest Places to Give Your Social Security Number
We should always be leary about giving our social security number, but at some places, it is more risky to do so. McAfee looked at places that have had the most data breaches.
More consumers are selling the gift cards they already possess for around 10% to 20% less than face value to third-party sites like GiftCards.com, CardHub.com, PlasticJungle.com and GiftCardRescue.com. Sales at GiftCardRescue.com are up 1,000% through October of this year compared to the same period in 2009, says Kuadey. PlasticJungle.com says sales have more than doubled through the middle of this year. “People would rather use the cash anywhere they like than be restricted to a specific store,” says Dan Horne, professor of marketing who tracks the gift-card industry at Providence College. In turn, consumers who shop at specific stores can buy the cards at a discount; for example, GiftCards.com recently listed a SpaFinder gift card worth $100 for $86 and a $37 Home Depot card for …
Read more: Why Cash Is the New Plastic - Spending - Budgeting - SmartMoney.com http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/budgeting/3-signs-cash-is-making-a-comeback/#ixzz15M6hNraq
Send a free Thanksgiving e-card…animated and personalized with your message
www.Care2.com/send/catthanks1.html
Even though the popularity of gift cards seems to have waned somewhat, try this new service to make it more personal by uploading a special image and message. Go to:
www.GiftCardMall.com
Does your kid have a wish list?
Send a letter to Santa via Macy’s which has placed special boxes at their mall locations. For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Dave Guindon’s eBay feedback analyzer software-free
http://www.feedbackanalyzer.com/download.php
If your furnace quits or breaks down try these eight simple solutions before you call for service help. You can solve the problem and avoid a $200 service call.
http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Heating---Cooling/Furnace-Repair/simple-furnace-fixes?pmcode=IAFEC967&_mid=765734&_rid=765734.595400.338589
Make Your Own Windshield Scratch Remover
Ever see those guys standing on a street corner offering to remove scratches from your auto glass free of charge? Most of the time it is a scam designed to bilk your insurance company. Grit on your wiper blades will cause scratches (along with neighborhood kids) making night time driving a pain in the butt as the light from oncoming cars can be blinding especially as one gets older. Try this home made approach before calling your insurance agent.
Ingredients
Jeweler’s rouge
4 oz. of ammonia
1 gal of water
Get out that handy portable drill you have and fasten a lamb’ wool buffing pad to it. You might want to wear some rubber gloves and use a safety rated indoor/outdoor extension cord for your drill.
Rub the rouge onto the buffing pad until it is coated with powder. Place on your windshield where the scratches are and turn on. If the scratches aren’t too deep, this action will restore the glass. Afterward, mix the ammonia and water in a bucket (this is why you might want rubber gloves) and wash the windshield and then dry with some paper towels.
Note: you can get the rouge from a jeweler and ask for a grade suitable for polishing glass.
Damp Basement?
We didn’t find basements too often while living in AZ but MI has many and they’re often referred to as MI basements due to dampness. Here’s a pretty quick way to determine if the moisture is seepage from inside or merely condensation from inside.
Tape a piece of aluminum foil tightly to the inside of your basement wall. After a few days, examine the foil. If the wall side is wet, you have seepage. If the room side is wet, the problem is condensation. If both sides are wet, you need to waterproof that basement and use a dehumidifier.
Surviving in the City
This article appears on the End Times Report webpage
(http://www.endtimesreport.com/Surviving_in_the_City.html) and should be required reading for any individual
who is preparing for 'hard times', regardless of cause. This article is from Christopher Parrett's book,
"The
LDS Preparedness Manual" which is posted for free downloading to any and all at
http://www.abysmal.com/LDS/Preparedness/ The author also has a web site at
www.anothervoiceofwarning.org This has been around since Y2K days and is still relevant.
Download one of the themed shopping lists from FreePrintableGroceryList.com. The Thanksgiving list features a cute turkey graphic and lists items commonly purchased for that holiday. The site also has a Christmas menu planner and a gift-shopping list template. Everything at the site is free to download and print, and you can choose from PDF or editable DOC versions. (The DOC versions are especially handy, because you can type right into the lists using Microsoft Word or another compatible word processing program.) Here's link to the holiday lists, but be sure to check out the master grocery list and other printables as well:
www.FreePrintableGroceryList.com/category/holiday
Vanishing Point: How to disappear in America without a trace
http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/vanish.htm
May we be a channel of blessings for all that we meet.
-- Edgar Cayce, American spiritualist (1877-1945)
Guest Editorial
Our Vanishing Rights
Our inalienable rights, guaranteed by the United States Constitution, have steadily become alienable. The actions of Congress and the States are restricting our freedom.
Years ago, with the advent of the automobile, when codifying this new means of transportation, states decreed that having a driver's license was a right. Today, having a driver's license is a privilege. It would be awkward, if not impossible, for the courts to penalize individuals by taking away their right to drive a vehicle.
In many states, you can be ticketed for not having a seat belt fastened when driving a vehicle or not wearing a helmet operating a motorcycle and riding a bicycle.
There are federal and state laws preventing smoking in certain prescribed areas. There are a multitude of rules and regulations dictating how businesses, professions, and manufacturing can be managed.
Politically correct speech, though not a formal law, is an incursion on our vocabulary. A subtle control on how we express ourselves.
Undeniably, some of these laws, such as requiring seat belts and helmets, are logical measures to lessen injuries if there are accidents. Non-the-less, if some people are foolish enough not to take these precautions, it is their constitutional right to make those choices. This philosophy of "the government knows what is best for you" leads to complete control of our lives. Big Brother telling us what to do is a Dictatorship not a Democracy.
Some of these controls and restrictions may be unconstitutional. Yet, there is no uproar by the passive public, which results in the further removal of our rights. One feature in the proposed national health insurance plan calls for mandatory insurance for all citizens.
The appeal and success of our Republic is based largely upon the freedom its citizens enjoy, unrestricted by authority. Let's not squander anymore of our constitutional rights to our control-seeking, elected officials. Vote the incumbents out of office to re-establish that they are our servants, not our masters.
By: A. Woodrow
Author, How to Make Your Vote Count
Founder, Democracy Conservator Foundation
"Preserving our democratic representative government through smart voting"
http://www.DemocracyConservator.org
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2785668/are_our_constitutional_rights_eroding.html
Sidebar:
Your property rights are under assault
There’s no doubt private property was one of the founding tenets of our country but state and local governments have increasingly violated those rights.
Private property rights have attributes in addition to determining the use of a resource. One is the exclusive right to the services of the resource…
weakened private property rights are socialism and “commonly owned” resources. Under socialism, government agents—those whom the government assigns—exercise control over resources. The rights of these agents to make decisions about the property they control have expanded greatly in America without regard to the rights of the citizens who have paid for the property.
http://www.realtor.org/library/library/fg802
http://prfamerica.org/speeches/10th/USPrivatePropertyRightsUnderIntlAssault.html
http://www.cato.org/testimony/ct-pi210.html
I have no need to run for president anymore. The Democratic Party has adopted my platform!
--Norman Thomas-Socialist Party/1940
Thanks Mike for sharing this…
I Should Have Moved to OK vs. Communist MI…drat!!!
Several weeks ago, OK passed a law, declaring Oklahoma as a Sovereign state, not under the Federal Government directives. Joining Texas, Montana and Utah as the only states to do so. More states are likely to follow: Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolina's, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, West Virginia,Mississippi, Florida. Save your confederate money, it appears the South is about to rise up once again. HJR 1003 (Wooops!)
The federal Government has made bold steps to take away our guns. Oklahoma, a week ago, passed a law confirming people in this state have the right to bear arms and transport them in their vehicles.
Just this month, the state has voted and passed a law that ALL driver's license exams will be printed in English, and only English, and no other language. They have been called racist for doing this, but the fact is that ALL of the road signs are in English only.
Oklahoma recently passed a law in the state to incarcerate all illegal immigrants, and ship them back to where they came from unless they want to get a green card and become an American citizen.
The property which every man has in his own labor, as it is the original foundation of all other property, so it is the most sacred and inviolable.
--Adam Smith in the Wealth of Nations
Oddities:
**A Mystery Missile if fired off the coast of California to who knows where and no one will admit who or what did it.
In the same area a cruise ship is disabled, the Chinese have submarines in the area and the president is in Asia for 10 days. A few days earlier UFO's were spotted and filmed over New York City and El Paso, Tx and Pennsylvania
**Airport security began confiscating little old ladies' knitting needles and breaking the mouse-sized nail files off of passengers' nail clippers. Surprisingly, no decrease in the number of hijacking attempts by little old ladies and manicurists was noted.
**Humorous, must-watch animated video explaining Fed economic actions.
http://www.examiner.com/right-side-politics-in-national/quantitative-easing-explained-video
Subscriber Specials-Announcements
How low is Your Wallet?
Create a fat Wallet Here
No Cost
http://social.peoplestring.com/brenda763/blog/27189/
Foxfire Series Vol 1-6 + Bonus Reports
Only $5 postage paid!
http://www.poormansurvival.com
Don't Get Caught With Your Pantry Down-New 11th Ed.
http://tinyurl.com/PMBasics
Parting Thoughts…our friends in China
A reader sent this note-I find it hard to argue with…ever wonder why we’ve cozied up to Communist China, once an avowed enemy? It’s because the US is becoming more communist every day and we‘re now owned by it!
There was a time when we rounded up Communists, now we’re their buddy. We have Communists within & without…for the first time, true income equality will appear (for all but the political class), but the only thing available to share will be poverty. Ask a Russian.
Chinese missiles can ravage U.S. bases
China's military can destroy five out of six U.S. bases in Asia with waves of missile strikes as the result of its large-scale military buildup that threatens U.S. access and freedom of navigation in East Asia, according to a forthcoming congressional report.
Communism in the United States is something of an anomaly. The basic principles of communism are, by design, at odds with the free enterprise foundation of U.S. capitalism. The freedom of individuals to privately own property, start a business, and own the means of production is a basic tenet of U.S. government, and communism opposes this arrangement. However, there have been, are, and probably always will be communists in the United States.
Charges that the federal government is inching ever closer to communism are far from new – this 1955 academic editorial contends that arresting all card-carrying members of the communist party would have little effect on our march toward communism: Our own politicians will get us there quite handily on their own.
The Von Mises Institute, in Human Action, argues that Marxist redistribution is a direct form of coercive suppression. They say that both the initial and ongoing forms of redistribution are direct coercion of the victims.
Milton Friedman argued that the absence of voluntary economic activity in communism makes it too easy for repressive political leaders to grant themselves coercive powers. Friedman's view was also shared by Friedrich Hayek and John Maynard Keynes, both of whom believed that capitalism is vital for freedom to survive and thrive.
When most middle class wealth is built on jobs, no jobs = no middle class. So will the jobs be back soon? Short answer: No. And the main reason, politicians' speeches to the contrary being lies, is deliberate government policy
In Saving Freedom, Senator Jim DeMint addresses his concern that the United States - the world's great bastion of freedom - is sliding toward socialism. Federal control now extends in various ways to education, health care, financial markets, real estate, businesses, and religion. The walls between government and the private sector are getting thinner every day.
Out-of-control government spending and increased debt are draining the economic and political strength of our people. Senator DeMint provides a firsthand account of the behind-the-scenes actions in Congress that are altering the character of our Nation. He illuminates key principles of freedom and how they are being compromised by big government. More important, he lays out an action plan to reclaim America's freedom based on legislation that would reduce debt, fix Social Security, and provide a tax credit for every family to buy health insurance.
That’s it for this issue from your merry muckraker-I am looking out for you!
http://www.PoorManSurvival.com
http://www.GreenIrene.com/Poorman
http://www.OldBookNook.com
A Shallow Planet Production
Our Mission: To protect and promote your freedom, civil rights, financial well being and overall self reliance in these turbulent times.
Showing posts with label fed screws america. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fed screws america. Show all posts
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Use Gray Water, Precious Metal Buying Tips, Job Clubs
Bruce’s Poor Man Bulletin
Your choice for urban survival resources
http://www.PoorManSurvival.com
Inside this issue:
Precious metal buying protection tips
How to use gray water
Connect with a job club
Waste less food
#1 Halloween treat
Interview excerpt w/ Phil Donohue & Milton Friedman
Lots of mixed economic signals; the inside scoop
War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away (hey)...
- Rolling Stones, "Gimme Shelter"
More wonderful signs as to how the feds are screwing us
It's official now. The Fed said it in their meeting notes. And Bernanke said it again on Friday:
He's going to run the money printing presses.
It's the same trick we've seen in countries like Brazil, Argentina and Russia. It's the age-old tactic of GUTTING THE CURRENCY — this time targeting the most important one on Earth, the U.S. dollar…
The United States has piled on so much debt that world is going to abandon the dollar, says Jim Grant, founder and editor of "Grant’s Interest Rate Observer."
“By the numbers, we are more encumbered now than we have ever collectively been,” Grant tells the Business Insider.
The United States debt has soared to the point where people can expect to see the dollar get the same reaction as in the 1970s, Grant tells the Business Insider. He said that European hoteliers in the Carter years would ask American tourists if they could pay in anything but greenbacks.
“The world has expressed preference for currencies not called the dollar. It’s happened,” he told the Business Insider.
The dollar has fallen recently, including hitting a 15-year low against the yen after sluggish unemployment figures increased expectations that the government will inject cash into the economy, which weakens the currency.
“The market is in a state of anxiety over what’s likely to come from the Fed,” Lee Hardman, a foreign-exchange strategist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in London, tells Bloomberg…
If you think about it, our nation’s financial problems didn’t start until the Fed & IRS were created, taking the printing press out of government hands and out-of-control spending into hands of politicians who didn’t have a clue or simply did not care.
One of my trusted advisors, Garry, who is a certified financial planner, stock broker, etc for decades, feels this is the path which will most likely take place…a slow decline in the value of our money, leading to inflation and hardship for more Americans, especially those on fixed incomes.
For those of who sell non-essential items for a living, those discretionary dollars will become mighty scarce, meaning lower and slower sales as most eBay sellers will tell you.
Ironically, in a weekend test I listed about a dozen books each on eBay and Amazon. Within two hours I had sold five books on Amazon and not one on eBay?!
Finally, did anyone notice how Parisians are launching massive protests about their government raising the retirement age to 62? The sheep in America would never do that even as our government has essentially raised the age to 70 and no COLA raise for retirees two years in a row…all the while, Congress-critters can retire with full benefits after only two terms…what a shining example!
There ought to be a better way than government to run the world!
Weekly tips n tricks to use
A step-by-step guide to wasting less food
Americans are notorious for wasting food. Each year, we toss out about 27 percent of edible food , and the average family of four throws out about $600 worth of groceries. Here's one way to visualize the collective impact of all the limp lettuce and moldy bread that makes its way to landfills. We waste enough food each day to fill up the Rose Bowl (a 90,000 seat stadium in Southern California), according to Jonathan Bloom, author of America... More on this story >>
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/152/a-step-by-step-guide-to-wasting-less-food.html
Connect with a job club-faith-based job search groups can boost your search. Here are a few to get you started.
>Crossroads Career-national coalition of independent churches.
www.crossroadscareer.og
>Jewish Vocational Service-counseling, job placement, training, etc.
www.iajvs.org/iajvs_affiliate_agencies.htm
>Work Ministry-private firm that helps faith-based & community groups.
www.workministry.com
Every year in the US, 1.7 million hospital acquired infections occur, causing 99,000 deaths. A good place to avoid!
Whiten your teeth without bleach…you can spend a ton of bucks on products and dental services to get your teeth whiter-here’s a cheap way. Each bristle on this toothbrush is embedded with microscopic pellets of calcium carbonate…from Reach Total Care. Cost: $3 & up
www.ReachBrand.com
Portable Water Purifier-works without electricity or batteries…
SteriPen’s purifier can filter water anywhere. First of its kind with a crank-powered ultraviolet light, which zaps toxins from water in its one-litre tank. Cost=$100
www.Steripen.com
Another source for rewarding recycling…Check this program out for getting points toward gift certificates at 2,400 retailers including CVS, and Omaha steaks.
www.RecycleBank.com
Sell your hobby equipment by hooking up with a club that might want the items:
www.Meetup.com
Sell your DVDs & Cds…sure, you can always try eBay but this site will grab those dust collecting disks if they’re in good condition-prices vary by item but it’s worth a look see:
www.SecondSpin.com
With the consent of the people…the Liberty Bell is silent!
Promotional Messages
Thanks to these FREE videos, I am getting some massive
results, and building my business actually has become
fun again. I think they can help you greatly as well.
http://anet3.magneticsponsoringonline.com
=Warning= Do not say no to this program, you will find
out later on that you could have made a huge amount
of money. Sign Up Today and I Guarantee You
Over 100 People will be in Your Downline in 24 Hours.
http://www.toplevelposition.com/EliteWealthGroup
Beware China lest the west get mugged by reality in the coming currency wars…the Poor Man
Simple Ways to Collect Greywater
Place a bucket in the shower while you're waiting for the water to warm up
Save unused drinking water
Wash your dishes inside a dishpan instead of directly in the sink
Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl of water, instead of under running water
Capture the rinse water from your washing machine
Use a bucket to scoop out your water after a bath
Ways to Use Greywater
Greywater can be used to water your indoor and outdoor plants. It can also be used to flush toilets. Just pour a bucket of greywater into the bowl, and the toilet will flush without the use of any fresh water.
Greywater Safety Tips
1. Water from toilets and dishwashers should never be reused.
2. Do not use water that is contaminated with fecal matter (the rinse water from a load of dirty diapers, for example).
3. Water that is contaminated with bleach and other harsh chemicals should not be used on plants.
4. Do not reuse excessively dirty dishwater.
5. Do not use greywater on edible plants.
6. Do not apply greywater to plants with a sprayer, sprinkler or hose, as this could spread any bacteria or chemicals present in the water.
7. Keep open water containers out of the reach of children and pets.
8. Use water within 24 hours of collection to avoid the spread of bacteria.
More Considerations
1. To eliminate concerns about the presence of chemicals in your greywater, switch to plant-based, phosphate-free cleaners for all of your household needs.
2. Some areas have rules about how greywater can be collected and used. Check with your local government before using greywater outdoors or before setting up a greywater system.
Why Bother with Greywater Collection?
According to OasisDesign, Greywater makes up 50-80% of the wastewater that leaves our homes. Just think how much your water bill would shrink if you started using that water twice
>>>
Precious Metal Buyers under government scrutiny
It should be apparent to most readers that the government is worried about any challenges it sees to its fiat currency system and the Federal Reserve System. Under the guise of so-called money laundering, non-governmental competing currency and drug cartel laws, the government monitors EVERY financial transaction you make which is why it’s nearly impossible to open any kind of financial account in the US without the socialist slave number or why the IRS has violated international law by going after offshore accounts in Switzerland and elsewhere.
In 2008 the Poor Man wrote about a group which offered subscribers an alternative to using fiat FRNs by using their pure silver Liberty Dollar instead. Evidently, the FBI felt their small operation threatened the FRN and they seized all the gold and silver being held by the group.
Another private precious metal ’currency’ in the cross hairs of the FBI is e-gold, which after government harassment, now requires a ton of private identification of its members due to such scrutiny and possible confiscation by government agents.
Because you never know what shenanigans Congress will pull, such as when Roosevelt confiscated gold from American citizens (you cannot trust these congress-critters) we suggest purchasing precious metals via local flea markets and dealers who do not request personal identification for purchases under $10,000. In 2011 there will no longer be any constitutional checks and balances on IRS intelligence gathering so the agency can extract more money from business owners, et al…essentially, anti-citizen senators including Sens Max Baucus (D) and Charles Grassley have pushed for less stringent laws to allow IRS fishing expeditions, essentially ripping out protections of the 4th and 5th Amendment rights
Here's a source for silver to consider...forget the bailout, we need a life raft-check the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBP_f_YtxD8&feature=player_embedded
<<<>>>
No Easy Fix for Unemployment
Despite talk of America’s recovery, unemployment rates remain stagnant.
Many components are at work creating this negative job environment. By not providing a secure tax future before adjourning for elections, Congress has left many businesses in limbo as to whether they can survive the year ahead. A crashing housing market has left many American families in over their heads and unable to move to a better
Read the rest of this interesting insight at: http://blog.getliberty.org/default.asp?Display=2713
On a related note, a recent Wall Street Journal report shows another effect of the recession…
Growing numbers of Americans with health insurance are walking away from their prescriptions at the pharmacy counter, the latest indication that efforts to contain costs may be curbing health-care consumption.
A review of insurance-claims data shows that so-called abandonment -- when a patient refuses to purchase or pick up a prescription that was filled and packaged by a pharmacist -- was up 55% in the second quarter of this year, compared with four years earlier….
As we reported previously…
Thanks to the recession, 2009 was one of the worst years for poverty in America in more than half a century. The total number of Americans living in poverty hit 43.6 million, the highest level in 51 years and the national poverty rate rose to 14.3 percent from 13.2 percent, according to data released last month by the Census Bureau.
All told, one in seven Americans are living in poverty. To visualize America's startling rise in poverty, Mint, the personal finance site, put together this interactive chart…
http://news.yahoo.com/s//huffpost/20101019/cm_huffpost/767734_201010190954/
…Ironically, Deutch Bank in Germany is reporting the US will not experience a double dip recession and will do well in the coming year…despite the fact the US is now ranked #8 in the world by Forbes magazine in terms of being competitive.
Walmart Rolls Back Rollbacks: Food Prices at Two-Year High
Walmart has rolled back its rollbacks. Earlier this year, the retailer tried to spark sluggish U.S. sales by lowering its prices - already bargains - even further. One analyst called it "an initiative that screams: Price! Price! Price!" These rollbacks, as they are known in Walmartspeak and in the company's advertising, were intended to overwhelm the shopper. In May, according to one shopping website, the price of a 40-oz. bottle of Heinz ketchup, which had been $2.42, was chopped to $1. Kraft mac and cheese, which had been going for $3.58, was reduced to $2.50. The rollback of a 50-oz. bottle of Tide laundry detergent, which was priced in the $7.48-$8.12 range, gave shoppers a $2.50 discount. Walmart expected a flood of customers to its stores, which would help lift the company's stock out of its rut and get Walmart rolling again.
>>>
Corrupt lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are polluting Capitol Hill, but you don’t need me to tell you that. So today, CREW released The Most Corrupt Members of Congress: Unfinished Business. The report highlights in clear detail the need to strengthen the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), and create a similar independent ethics office in the Senate. We figured there was no better way to do that then by highlighting the actions of this motley crew of lousy lawmakers, who still belong to an institution that is supposed to be policing itself?
http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/report
Parting thoughts & Observations…
More states at risk for going broke-what it means
California tops the list for its risk of insolvency. Some other top states going broke include: Illinois, Michigan, Nevada and New York…no big surprises there. State budgets have been squeezed (just like the middle class) but have been slow to reduce their workforce or high cost benefits.
Fiscal failure odds can be accelerated by lack of leadership over tough spending cuts, no more federal bailouts, investors refusing to invest in new muni bonds, etc. While states cannot declare bankruptcy, they can default on their obligations or issue IOUs like CA…Arkansas did this during the Great Depression. Many cash strapped cities in those states will no longer get state aid either if this takes place. I see this as a strong prelude to the coming crash and another warning sign…based on reports of 10/13 I see more reason to remain soured on our economic picture and this will hurt states too…
The dollar is a mere THREE-TENTHS of ONE PERCENT away from making all-time RECORD lows against ALL major currencies!
Not only is the U.S. still mired in the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression ...
Not only is the Fed embarking on unprecedented misadventures to boost inflation ...
But we ALSO face one of the most historic Congressional elections, ever!
What will happen?
There is no question in my mind that, in this teetering economy ...
We will see, as I indicated two issues ago, a tug of war between a more conservative Congress and a more aggressive Fed backed by the Obama administration ...
Consumers and investors are running for cover. Enjoy the following excerpt from the Phil Donohue show…
Phil Donohue: When you see around the globe the maldistribution of wealth, the desperate plight of millions of people in underdeveloped countries, when you see so few haves and so many have-nots, when you see the greed and the concentration of power, did you ever have a moment of doubt about capitalism? And whether greed is a good idea to run on?
Milton Friedman: Well first of all tell me, is there some society you know that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on greed? You think China doesn't run on greed? What is greed? Of course none of us are greedy. It's only the other fella that's greedy. The world runs on individuals pursuing their separate interests. The greatest achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus. Einstein didn't construct his theory under order from a bureaucrat. Henry Ford didn't revolutionize the automobile industry that way. In the only cases in which the masses have escaped from the kind of grinding poverty that you are talking about, the only cases in recorded history are where they have had capitalism and largely free trade. If you want to know where the masses are worst off, it's exactly in the kind of societies that depart from that. So that the record of history is absolutely crystal clear, there is no alternative way, so far discovered, of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by a free enterprise system.
Phil Donohue: Seems to reward not virtue as much as the ability to manipulate the system.
Milton Friedman: And what does reward virtue? You think the Communist commissar rewards virtue? You think a Hitler rewards virtue? Do you think... American presidents reward virtue? Do they choose their appointees on the basis of the virtue of the people appointed or on the basis of political clout? Is it really true that political self-interest is nobler somehow than economic self-interest? You know I think you are taking a lot of things for granted. And just tell me where in the world you find these angels that are going to organize society for us? Well, I don't even trust you to do that.
-- Milton Friedman
(1912-2006) Nobel Prize-winning economist, economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan, "ultimate guru of the free-market system"
Source: Phil Donohue interviews Milton Friedman, Feb. 11, 1979
In politics there is an old saying…’it’s not who wins or loses, but who gets to control the wreckage.’ When the private sector falls apart it will be more easily dominated by the state (and/or the federal reserve, Washington’s most powerful puppet master)!
On another note…the number one candy of choice for trick-or-treaters is the Snickers Bar!
Yours for better living - the Poor Man Ghoul!
http://www.PoorManSurvival.com
http://www.GreenIrene.com/Poorman
http://www.OldBookNook.com
Don't Get Caught With Your Pantry Down-New 11th Ed.
http://tinyurl.com/PMBasics
A Shallow Planet Production…feel free to share!
Your choice for urban survival resources
http://www.PoorManSurvival.com
Inside this issue:
Precious metal buying protection tips
How to use gray water
Connect with a job club
Waste less food
#1 Halloween treat
Interview excerpt w/ Phil Donohue & Milton Friedman
Lots of mixed economic signals; the inside scoop
War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away (hey)...
- Rolling Stones, "Gimme Shelter"
More wonderful signs as to how the feds are screwing us
It's official now. The Fed said it in their meeting notes. And Bernanke said it again on Friday:
He's going to run the money printing presses.
It's the same trick we've seen in countries like Brazil, Argentina and Russia. It's the age-old tactic of GUTTING THE CURRENCY — this time targeting the most important one on Earth, the U.S. dollar…
The United States has piled on so much debt that world is going to abandon the dollar, says Jim Grant, founder and editor of "Grant’s Interest Rate Observer."
“By the numbers, we are more encumbered now than we have ever collectively been,” Grant tells the Business Insider.
The United States debt has soared to the point where people can expect to see the dollar get the same reaction as in the 1970s, Grant tells the Business Insider. He said that European hoteliers in the Carter years would ask American tourists if they could pay in anything but greenbacks.
“The world has expressed preference for currencies not called the dollar. It’s happened,” he told the Business Insider.
The dollar has fallen recently, including hitting a 15-year low against the yen after sluggish unemployment figures increased expectations that the government will inject cash into the economy, which weakens the currency.
“The market is in a state of anxiety over what’s likely to come from the Fed,” Lee Hardman, a foreign-exchange strategist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in London, tells Bloomberg…
If you think about it, our nation’s financial problems didn’t start until the Fed & IRS were created, taking the printing press out of government hands and out-of-control spending into hands of politicians who didn’t have a clue or simply did not care.
One of my trusted advisors, Garry, who is a certified financial planner, stock broker, etc for decades, feels this is the path which will most likely take place…a slow decline in the value of our money, leading to inflation and hardship for more Americans, especially those on fixed incomes.
For those of who sell non-essential items for a living, those discretionary dollars will become mighty scarce, meaning lower and slower sales as most eBay sellers will tell you.
Ironically, in a weekend test I listed about a dozen books each on eBay and Amazon. Within two hours I had sold five books on Amazon and not one on eBay?!
Finally, did anyone notice how Parisians are launching massive protests about their government raising the retirement age to 62? The sheep in America would never do that even as our government has essentially raised the age to 70 and no COLA raise for retirees two years in a row…all the while, Congress-critters can retire with full benefits after only two terms…what a shining example!
There ought to be a better way than government to run the world!
Weekly tips n tricks to use
A step-by-step guide to wasting less food
Americans are notorious for wasting food. Each year, we toss out about 27 percent of edible food , and the average family of four throws out about $600 worth of groceries. Here's one way to visualize the collective impact of all the limp lettuce and moldy bread that makes its way to landfills. We waste enough food each day to fill up the Rose Bowl (a 90,000 seat stadium in Southern California), according to Jonathan Bloom, author of America... More on this story >>
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/152/a-step-by-step-guide-to-wasting-less-food.html
Connect with a job club-faith-based job search groups can boost your search. Here are a few to get you started.
>Crossroads Career-national coalition of independent churches.
www.crossroadscareer.og
>Jewish Vocational Service-counseling, job placement, training, etc.
www.iajvs.org/iajvs_affiliate_agencies.htm
>Work Ministry-private firm that helps faith-based & community groups.
www.workministry.com
Every year in the US, 1.7 million hospital acquired infections occur, causing 99,000 deaths. A good place to avoid!
Whiten your teeth without bleach…you can spend a ton of bucks on products and dental services to get your teeth whiter-here’s a cheap way. Each bristle on this toothbrush is embedded with microscopic pellets of calcium carbonate…from Reach Total Care. Cost: $3 & up
www.ReachBrand.com
Portable Water Purifier-works without electricity or batteries…
SteriPen’s purifier can filter water anywhere. First of its kind with a crank-powered ultraviolet light, which zaps toxins from water in its one-litre tank. Cost=$100
www.Steripen.com
Another source for rewarding recycling…Check this program out for getting points toward gift certificates at 2,400 retailers including CVS, and Omaha steaks.
www.RecycleBank.com
Sell your hobby equipment by hooking up with a club that might want the items:
www.Meetup.com
Sell your DVDs & Cds…sure, you can always try eBay but this site will grab those dust collecting disks if they’re in good condition-prices vary by item but it’s worth a look see:
www.SecondSpin.com
With the consent of the people…the Liberty Bell is silent!
Promotional Messages
Thanks to these FREE videos, I am getting some massive
results, and building my business actually has become
fun again. I think they can help you greatly as well.
http://anet3.magneticsponsoringonline.com
=Warning= Do not say no to this program, you will find
out later on that you could have made a huge amount
of money. Sign Up Today and I Guarantee You
Over 100 People will be in Your Downline in 24 Hours.
http://www.toplevelposition.com/EliteWealthGroup
Beware China lest the west get mugged by reality in the coming currency wars…the Poor Man
Simple Ways to Collect Greywater
Place a bucket in the shower while you're waiting for the water to warm up
Save unused drinking water
Wash your dishes inside a dishpan instead of directly in the sink
Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl of water, instead of under running water
Capture the rinse water from your washing machine
Use a bucket to scoop out your water after a bath
Ways to Use Greywater
Greywater can be used to water your indoor and outdoor plants. It can also be used to flush toilets. Just pour a bucket of greywater into the bowl, and the toilet will flush without the use of any fresh water.
Greywater Safety Tips
1. Water from toilets and dishwashers should never be reused.
2. Do not use water that is contaminated with fecal matter (the rinse water from a load of dirty diapers, for example).
3. Water that is contaminated with bleach and other harsh chemicals should not be used on plants.
4. Do not reuse excessively dirty dishwater.
5. Do not use greywater on edible plants.
6. Do not apply greywater to plants with a sprayer, sprinkler or hose, as this could spread any bacteria or chemicals present in the water.
7. Keep open water containers out of the reach of children and pets.
8. Use water within 24 hours of collection to avoid the spread of bacteria.
More Considerations
1. To eliminate concerns about the presence of chemicals in your greywater, switch to plant-based, phosphate-free cleaners for all of your household needs.
2. Some areas have rules about how greywater can be collected and used. Check with your local government before using greywater outdoors or before setting up a greywater system.
Why Bother with Greywater Collection?
According to OasisDesign, Greywater makes up 50-80% of the wastewater that leaves our homes. Just think how much your water bill would shrink if you started using that water twice
>>>
Precious Metal Buyers under government scrutiny
It should be apparent to most readers that the government is worried about any challenges it sees to its fiat currency system and the Federal Reserve System. Under the guise of so-called money laundering, non-governmental competing currency and drug cartel laws, the government monitors EVERY financial transaction you make which is why it’s nearly impossible to open any kind of financial account in the US without the socialist slave number or why the IRS has violated international law by going after offshore accounts in Switzerland and elsewhere.
In 2008 the Poor Man wrote about a group which offered subscribers an alternative to using fiat FRNs by using their pure silver Liberty Dollar instead. Evidently, the FBI felt their small operation threatened the FRN and they seized all the gold and silver being held by the group.
Another private precious metal ’currency’ in the cross hairs of the FBI is e-gold, which after government harassment, now requires a ton of private identification of its members due to such scrutiny and possible confiscation by government agents.
Because you never know what shenanigans Congress will pull, such as when Roosevelt confiscated gold from American citizens (you cannot trust these congress-critters) we suggest purchasing precious metals via local flea markets and dealers who do not request personal identification for purchases under $10,000. In 2011 there will no longer be any constitutional checks and balances on IRS intelligence gathering so the agency can extract more money from business owners, et al…essentially, anti-citizen senators including Sens Max Baucus (D) and Charles Grassley have pushed for less stringent laws to allow IRS fishing expeditions, essentially ripping out protections of the 4th and 5th Amendment rights
Here's a source for silver to consider...forget the bailout, we need a life raft-check the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBP_f_YtxD8&feature=player_embedded
<<<>>>
No Easy Fix for Unemployment
Despite talk of America’s recovery, unemployment rates remain stagnant.
Many components are at work creating this negative job environment. By not providing a secure tax future before adjourning for elections, Congress has left many businesses in limbo as to whether they can survive the year ahead. A crashing housing market has left many American families in over their heads and unable to move to a better
Read the rest of this interesting insight at: http://blog.getliberty.org/default.asp?Display=2713
On a related note, a recent Wall Street Journal report shows another effect of the recession…
Growing numbers of Americans with health insurance are walking away from their prescriptions at the pharmacy counter, the latest indication that efforts to contain costs may be curbing health-care consumption.
A review of insurance-claims data shows that so-called abandonment -- when a patient refuses to purchase or pick up a prescription that was filled and packaged by a pharmacist -- was up 55% in the second quarter of this year, compared with four years earlier….
As we reported previously…
Thanks to the recession, 2009 was one of the worst years for poverty in America in more than half a century. The total number of Americans living in poverty hit 43.6 million, the highest level in 51 years and the national poverty rate rose to 14.3 percent from 13.2 percent, according to data released last month by the Census Bureau.
All told, one in seven Americans are living in poverty. To visualize America's startling rise in poverty, Mint, the personal finance site, put together this interactive chart…
http://news.yahoo.com/s//huffpost/20101019/cm_huffpost/767734_201010190954/
…Ironically, Deutch Bank in Germany is reporting the US will not experience a double dip recession and will do well in the coming year…despite the fact the US is now ranked #8 in the world by Forbes magazine in terms of being competitive.
Walmart Rolls Back Rollbacks: Food Prices at Two-Year High
Walmart has rolled back its rollbacks. Earlier this year, the retailer tried to spark sluggish U.S. sales by lowering its prices - already bargains - even further. One analyst called it "an initiative that screams: Price! Price! Price!" These rollbacks, as they are known in Walmartspeak and in the company's advertising, were intended to overwhelm the shopper. In May, according to one shopping website, the price of a 40-oz. bottle of Heinz ketchup, which had been $2.42, was chopped to $1. Kraft mac and cheese, which had been going for $3.58, was reduced to $2.50. The rollback of a 50-oz. bottle of Tide laundry detergent, which was priced in the $7.48-$8.12 range, gave shoppers a $2.50 discount. Walmart expected a flood of customers to its stores, which would help lift the company's stock out of its rut and get Walmart rolling again.
>>>
Corrupt lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are polluting Capitol Hill, but you don’t need me to tell you that. So today, CREW released The Most Corrupt Members of Congress: Unfinished Business. The report highlights in clear detail the need to strengthen the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), and create a similar independent ethics office in the Senate. We figured there was no better way to do that then by highlighting the actions of this motley crew of lousy lawmakers, who still belong to an institution that is supposed to be policing itself?
http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/report
Parting thoughts & Observations…
More states at risk for going broke-what it means
California tops the list for its risk of insolvency. Some other top states going broke include: Illinois, Michigan, Nevada and New York…no big surprises there. State budgets have been squeezed (just like the middle class) but have been slow to reduce their workforce or high cost benefits.
Fiscal failure odds can be accelerated by lack of leadership over tough spending cuts, no more federal bailouts, investors refusing to invest in new muni bonds, etc. While states cannot declare bankruptcy, they can default on their obligations or issue IOUs like CA…Arkansas did this during the Great Depression. Many cash strapped cities in those states will no longer get state aid either if this takes place. I see this as a strong prelude to the coming crash and another warning sign…based on reports of 10/13 I see more reason to remain soured on our economic picture and this will hurt states too…
The dollar is a mere THREE-TENTHS of ONE PERCENT away from making all-time RECORD lows against ALL major currencies!
Not only is the U.S. still mired in the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression ...
Not only is the Fed embarking on unprecedented misadventures to boost inflation ...
But we ALSO face one of the most historic Congressional elections, ever!
What will happen?
There is no question in my mind that, in this teetering economy ...
We will see, as I indicated two issues ago, a tug of war between a more conservative Congress and a more aggressive Fed backed by the Obama administration ...
Consumers and investors are running for cover. Enjoy the following excerpt from the Phil Donohue show…
Phil Donohue: When you see around the globe the maldistribution of wealth, the desperate plight of millions of people in underdeveloped countries, when you see so few haves and so many have-nots, when you see the greed and the concentration of power, did you ever have a moment of doubt about capitalism? And whether greed is a good idea to run on?
Milton Friedman: Well first of all tell me, is there some society you know that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on greed? You think China doesn't run on greed? What is greed? Of course none of us are greedy. It's only the other fella that's greedy. The world runs on individuals pursuing their separate interests. The greatest achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus. Einstein didn't construct his theory under order from a bureaucrat. Henry Ford didn't revolutionize the automobile industry that way. In the only cases in which the masses have escaped from the kind of grinding poverty that you are talking about, the only cases in recorded history are where they have had capitalism and largely free trade. If you want to know where the masses are worst off, it's exactly in the kind of societies that depart from that. So that the record of history is absolutely crystal clear, there is no alternative way, so far discovered, of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by a free enterprise system.
Phil Donohue: Seems to reward not virtue as much as the ability to manipulate the system.
Milton Friedman: And what does reward virtue? You think the Communist commissar rewards virtue? You think a Hitler rewards virtue? Do you think... American presidents reward virtue? Do they choose their appointees on the basis of the virtue of the people appointed or on the basis of political clout? Is it really true that political self-interest is nobler somehow than economic self-interest? You know I think you are taking a lot of things for granted. And just tell me where in the world you find these angels that are going to organize society for us? Well, I don't even trust you to do that.
-- Milton Friedman
(1912-2006) Nobel Prize-winning economist, economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan, "ultimate guru of the free-market system"
Source: Phil Donohue interviews Milton Friedman, Feb. 11, 1979
In politics there is an old saying…’it’s not who wins or loses, but who gets to control the wreckage.’ When the private sector falls apart it will be more easily dominated by the state (and/or the federal reserve, Washington’s most powerful puppet master)!
On another note…the number one candy of choice for trick-or-treaters is the Snickers Bar!
Yours for better living - the Poor Man Ghoul!
http://www.PoorManSurvival.com
http://www.GreenIrene.com/Poorman
http://www.OldBookNook.com
Don't Get Caught With Your Pantry Down-New 11th Ed.
http://tinyurl.com/PMBasics
A Shallow Planet Production…feel free to share!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)