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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Central Bankers Urge Governments to Throw Economic Lifelines

Central Bankers Urge Governments to Throw Economic Lifelines: Harvard University Professor Martin Feldstein, who attended the conference, told Bloomberg Television there are "better than even" odds of another U.S. recession, while Stanford University's John Taylor called it a "recovery in name only." Allen Sinai, president of Decision Economics, said the chance of a global slump is 30 percent.

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» The American economy is in shambles and Bernanke has no clue what to do about it Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» The American economy is in shambles and Bernanke has no clue what to do about it Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: By all metrics the American economy has not recovered in any way and by most metrics it is continuing to degrade at a dangerous pace.

However, the mainstream media continues to pretend that none of this is true by pointing to small rallies in certain stock sectors and currencies as proof of “investors […] starting to entertain the notion that the economy may yet avoid slipping back into recession” as Reuters reports.

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» Kucinich: Obama’s job czar / G.E. CEO expert at creating foreign jobs Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Kucinich: Obama’s job czar / G.E. CEO expert at creating foreign jobs Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) said Tuesday that it’s time for the head of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to resign or be fired because he’s sending jobs to China.

In a press release last week, Kucinich noted that in his role as the CEO of General Electric, Obama job czar Jeffrey Immelt was sending advanced technology and U.S. jobs to China.

“Jeffrey Immelt has a conflict of interest,” the Ohio congressman said. “He cannot ethically advise the President on how to create American jobs and promote American competiveness, while at the same time leading a company that is exporting American technology and, along with it, American jobs.”



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» New footage: Rescue team searches NYC subway after 9/11 Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» New footage: Rescue team searches NYC subway after 9/11 Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: - Sent using Google Toolbar
http://landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?freewheel=90166&sitesection=rawstory&VID=23524613

» New footage: Rescue team searches NYC subway after 9/11 Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» New footage: Rescue team searches NYC subway after 9/11 Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: - Sent using Google Toolbar
http://landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?freewheel=90166&sitesection=rawstory&VID=23524614

» Establishment Prepares 9/11 Official Story Onslaught Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Establishment Prepares 9/11 Official Story Onslaught Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Former military analyst and famed whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg recently said that the case of a certain 9/11 whistleblower is “far more explosive than the Pentagon Papers“. He also said that the government is ordering the media to cover up her allegations about 9/11. And he said that some of the claims concerning government involvement in 9/11 are credible, that “very serious questions have been raised about what they [U.S. government officials] knew beforehand and how much involvement there might have been”, that engineering 9/11 would not be humanly or psychologically beyond the scope of the current administration, and that there’s enough evidence to justify a new, “hard-hitting” investigation into 9/11 with subpoenas and testimony taken under oath.

A 27-year CIA veteran, who chaired National Intelligence Estimates and personally delivered intelligence briefings to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, their Vice Presidents, Secretaries of State, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and many other senior government officials (Raymond McGovern) said “I think at simplest terms, there’s a cover-up. The 9/11 Report is a joke”, and is open to the possibility that 9/11 was an inside job.

A 29-year CIA veteran, former National Intelligence Officer (NIO) and former Director of the CIA’s Office of Regional and Political Analysis (William Bill Christison) said “I now think there is persuasive evidence that the events of September did not unfold as the Bush administration and the 9/11 Commission would have us believe. … All three [buildings that were destroyed in the World Trade Center] were most probably destroyed by controlled demolition charges placed in the buildings before 9/11.” (and see this).

20-year Marine Corps infantry and intelligence officer, the second-ranking civilian in U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence, and former CIA clandestine services case officer (David Steele) stated that “9/11 was at a minimum allowed to happen as a pretext for war”, and it was probably an inside job (see Customer Review dated October 7, 2006).

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» Establishment Prepares 9/11 Official Story Onslaught Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Establishment Prepares 9/11 Official Story Onslaught Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: MILITARY LEADERS

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan (Col. Ronald D. Ray) said that the official story of 9/11 is “the dog that doesn’t hunt” (bio)

Director of the U.S. “Star Wars” space defense program in both Republican and Democratic administrations, who was a senior air force colonel who flew 101 combat missions (Col. Robert Bowman) stated that 9/11 was an inside job. He also said:

“If our government had merely [done] nothing, and I say that as an old interceptor pilot-I know the drill, I know what it takes, I know how long it takes, I know what the procedures are, I know what they were, and I know what they’ve changed them to-if our government had merely done nothing, and allowed normal procedures to happen on that morning of 9/11, the Twin Towers would still be standing and thousands of dead Americans would still be alive. [T]hat is treason!“

U.S. Army Air Defense Officer and NORAD Tac Director, decorated with the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Soldiers Medal (Capt. Daniel Davis) stated:

“there is no way that an aircraft . . . would not be intercepted when they deviate from their flight plan, turn off their transponders, or stop communication with Air Traffic Control … Attempts to obscure facts by calling them a ‘conspiracy Theory’ does not change the truth. It seems, ‘Something is rotten in the State.’ “

President of the U.S. Air Force Accident Investigation Board, who also served as Pentagon Weapons Requirement Officer and as a member of the Pentagon’s Quadrennial Defense Review, and who was awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses for Heroism, four Air Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, and nine Aerial Achievement Medals (Lt. Col. Jeff Latas) is a member of a group which doubts the government’s version of 9/11

U.S. General, Commanding General of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, decorated with the Bronze Star, Silver Star, and Purple Heart (General Wesley Clark) said “We’ve never finished the investigation of 9/11 and whether the administration actually misused the intelligence information it had. The evidence seems pretty clear to me. I’ve seen that for a long time.”

Air Force Colonel and key Pentagon official (Lt. Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski) finds various aspects of 9/11 suspicious

Lieutenant colonel, 24-year Air Force career, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the Defense Language Institute (Lt. Colonel Steve Butler) said “Of course Bush knew about the impending attacks on America. He did nothing to warn the American people because he needed this war on terrorism.”

Two-Star general (Major General Albert Stubbelbine) questions the attack on the Pentagon

U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, former instructor at the USAF Fighter Weapons School and NATO’s Tactical Leadership Program, with a 20-year Air Force career (Lt. Colonel Guy S. Razer) said the following:

“I am 100% convinced that the attacks of September 11, 2001 were planned, organized, and committed by treasonous perpetrators that have infiltrated the highest levels of our government ….

Those of us in the military took an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic”. Just because we have retired does not make that oath invalid, so it is not just our responsibility, it is our duty to expose the real perpetrators of 9/11 and bring them to justice, no matter how hard it is, how long it takes, or how much we have to suffer to do it.

We owe it to those who have gone before us who executed that same oath, and who are doing the same thing in Iraq and Afghanistan right now. Those of us who joined the military and faithfully executed orders that were given us had to trust our leaders. The violation and abuse of that trust is not only heinous, but ultimately the most accurate definition of treason!”

U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, a fighter pilot with over 300 combat missions flown and a 21-year Marine Corps career (Lt. Colonel Shelton F. Lankford) believes that 9/11 was an inside job, and said:

“This isn’t about party, it isn’t about Bush Bashing. It’s about our country, our constitution, and our future. …

Your countrymen have been murdered and the more you delve into it the more it looks as though they were murdered by our government, who used it as an excuse to murder other people thousands of miles away.

If you ridicule others who have sincere doubts and who know factual information that directly contradicts the official report and who want explanations from those who hold the keys to our government, and have motive, means, and opportunity to pull off a 9/11, but you are too lazy or fearful, or … to check into the facts yourself, what does that make you? ….

Are you afraid that you will learn the truth and you can’t handle it? …”

U.S. Navy ‘Top Gun’ pilot (Commander Ralph Kolstad) who questions the official account of 9/11 and is calling for a new investigation, says “When one starts using his own mind, and not what one was told, there is very little to believe in the official story”.

The Group Director on matters of national security in the U.S. Government Accountability Office said that President Bush did not respond to unprecedented warnings of the 9/11 disaster and conducted a massive cover-up instead of accepting responsibility

Additionally, numerous military leaders from allied governments have questioned 9/11, such as:

Canadian Minister of Defense, the top military leader of Canada (Paul Hellyer)

Assistant German Defense Minister (Andreas Von Bulow)

Commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy (Anatoli Kornukov)

Chief of staff of the Russian armed forces (General Leonid Ivashov)


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» Establishment Prepares 9/11 Official Story Onslaught Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Establishment Prepares 9/11 Official Story Onslaught Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Highly Credible People Question 9/11

The following people question the government’s version of 9/11, or the government’s openness in providing information about the September 11 attacks.

9/11 COMMISSIONERS

The co-chairs of the 9/11 Commission (Thomas Keane and Lee Hamilton) said that the CIA (and likely the White House) “obstructed our investigation”.

The co-chairs of the 9/11 Commission also said that the 9/11 Commissioners knew that military officials misrepresented the facts to the Commission, and the Commission considered recommending criminal charges for such false statements, yet didn’t bother to tell the American people (free subscription required).

Indeed, the co-chairs of the Commission now admit that the Commission largely operated based upon political considerations.

9/11 Commission co-chair Lee Hamilton says “I don’t believe for a minute we got everything right”, that the Commission was set up to fail, that people should keep asking questions about 9/11, that the 9/11 debate should continue, and that the 9/11 Commission report was only “the first draft” of history.

9/11 Commissioner Bob Kerrey said that “There are ample reasons to suspect that there may be some alternative to what we outlined in our version . . . We didn’t have access . . . .”

9/11 Commissioner Timothy Roemer said “We were extremely frustrated with the false statements we were getting”

Former 9/11 Commissioner Max Cleland resigned from the Commission, stating: “It is a national scandal”; “This investigation is now compromised”; and “One of these days we will have to get the full story because the 9-11 issue is so important to America. But this White House wants to cover it up”.

9/11 Commissioner John Lehman said that “We purposely put together a staff that had – in a way – conflicts of interest“.

The Senior Counsel to the 9/11 Commission (John Farmer) who led the 9/11 staff’s inquiry, said “I was shocked at how different the truth was from the way it was described …. The tapes told a radically different story from what had been told to us and the public for two years…. This is not spin. This is not true.”

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» Establishment Prepares 9/11 Official Story Onslaught Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Establishment Prepares 9/11 Official Story Onslaught Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: One look at your TV guide over the next 10 days will tell you everything you need to know about how petrified the establishment is over the flimsy credibility of the official 9/11 fable.

Naturally, the 10-year anniversary of the attacks would be expected to merit a deluge of media coverage, but what sticks out is the overbearing emphasis on countering so-called “conspiracy theories” about the events of that day, or in other words, reinforcing the official “conspiracy theory” that 19 poorly trained Arab hijackers were able to cripple America’s air defenses and make three giant steel-framed structures crumble to the ground at near free fall speed.

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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

» Feds May Seize Liberty Dollars Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Feds May Seize Liberty Dollars Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Coin World reports that the feds are looking to seize liberty dollars from collectors and those using the coins instead of inflation-ridden Federal Reserve notes.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office said on August 24 that the coins are contraband. The Secret Service, the federal agency responsible for confiscating counterfeit money, did not provide any definitive comments concerning under what circumstances Liberty Dollars would be seized, according to Paul Gikes of Coin World.

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» Feds May Seize Liberty Dollars Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Feds May Seize Liberty Dollars Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Coin World reports that the feds are looking to seize liberty dollars from collectors and those using the coins instead of inflation-ridden Federal Reserve notes.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office said on August 24 that the coins are contraband. The Secret Service, the federal agency responsible for confiscating counterfeit money, did not provide any definitive comments concerning under what circumstances Liberty Dollars would be seized, according to Paul Gikes of Coin World.

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» Infowars Nightly News: The Revolution Will Be Televised Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Infowars Nightly News: The Revolution Will Be Televised Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Thursday September 1st marks the exciting launch of Infowars Nightly News with Alex Jones, a brand new television show available exclusively to Prison Planet.tv subscribers.

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» Larry Silverstein: No response on WTC 7 lies Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Larry Silverstein: No response on WTC 7 lies Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: There are so many unanswered questions about the days 9/11, and instead of making up theories and speculating, we go to the horse’s mouth to get answers; sadly the response we get from these questions only invites more speculation about what happened on 9/11.

Ask questions, demand answers. We Are Patriots, We Are Fearless because We Are Change.

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» Eric Schmidt Admits Google+ Is a Giant Advertising Database Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Eric Schmidt Admits Google+ Is a Giant Advertising Database Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: - Sent using Google Toolbar

» LA Artist Faces Police Questioning for Painting Banks in Flames Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» LA Artist Faces Police Questioning for Painting Banks in Flames Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: - Sent using Google Toolbar

Sunday, August 28, 2011

A Monetary Maze From Which There Is No Easy Escape | International Forecaster Weekly Bob Chapman The International Forcaster | Economy News | Investing | US Market Information | Gold | Silver | Wall Street Bailouts | Investment Trends | Money Resources | US and Worldwide Politics

A Monetary Maze From Which There Is No Easy Escape | International Forecaster Weekly Bob Chapman The International Forcaster | Economy News | Investing | US Market Information | Gold | Silver | Wall Street Bailouts | Investment Trends | Money Resources | US and Worldwide Politics: It has been almost three years since the Federal Reserve took its interest rates to 1% and most recently to zero. This allows member banks to borrow money at no cost. The Fed lends to large banks with little or no control, so that these banks, some of which are owners of the Fed, can really do as they please. The Fed even lends at zero and re-borrows from these banks at a higher level, guaranteeing the banks a riskless profit. Those profits would have gone to the US Treasury and the American taxpayer. These profits for the most part are the result of the creation of money and credit by the Fed.

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Seeking broader access to legal system, Mexico announces Internet court proceedings - The Washington Post

Seeking broader access to legal system, Mexico announces Internet court proceedings - The Washington Post: Officials say that civil, tax and administrative cases will be processed through a state website. Officials expect everything from filings to rulings to be done electronically.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon says the initiative will allow broader and faster access to the country’s legal system. Officials didn’t say when it would be launched.

The Internet initiative announced Wednesday is one of a series of legal reforms Mexico has attempted in recent years, with mixed success.

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Downside risks to global economy rising, says IMF - Hindustan Times

Downside risks to global economy rising, says IMF - Hindustan Times: Europe weighed in at the central bankers conference in Jackson Hole, Wyo, on Saturday, with the president of the European Central Bank and president of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) calling on governments to do more to address the deteriorating world economy. "The downside risks
to the global economy are increasing," Christine Lagarde, president of the IMF and former French minister of finance, said during a joint appearance with Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank.

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Fears grow that August will show net loss in jobs picture – USATODAY.com

Fears grow that August will show net loss in jobs picture – USATODAY.com: At a time when the economy should be creating employment at a fairly steady pace, the U.S. actually may have lost jobs in August.

* Recruiters speak at a job fair in the James L. Knight Center on Aug. 23 in Miami, Florida.

By Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Recruiters speak at a job fair in the James L. Knight Center on Aug. 23 in Miami, Florida.

EnlargeClose

By Joe Raedle, Getty Images



That disturbing trend could be made apparent next week when the government releases its monthly nonfarm jobs report. Some prominent economists think the report will show a modest decrease in jobs when the final tally is made for the turbulent month.

In an economy that is more than two years from the technical end of the recession, a drop in jobs now would be a disturbing sign.

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More Americans Hungry For Food Stamps : NPR

More Americans Hungry For Food Stamps : NPR: Whether the food stamp program can keep pace with demand is unclear because the program is very expensive for taxpayers — about $68 billion last year.

For recipients, it's not particularly generous. The maximum for a family of four is $668 a month, which works out to about $42 per person per week. If each person were to eat three meals a day, that's about $2 for each meal. But the collective cost of all those meals is significant at a time when Congress is looking to cut spending.

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More Americans Hungry For Food Stamps : NPR

More Americans Hungry For Food Stamps : NPR: Whether the food stamp program can keep pace with demand is unclear because the program is very expensive for taxpayers — about $68 billion last year.

For recipients, it's not particularly generous. The maximum for a family of four is $668 a month, which works out to about $42 per person per week. If each person were to eat three meals a day, that's about $2 for each meal. But the collective cost of all those meals is significant at a time when Congress is looking to cut spending.

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Saturday, August 27, 2011

IMF's Lagarde Says Risks To Global Economy Rising

IMF's Lagarde Says Risks To Global Economy Rising: -Lagarde: Countries must act quickly with right policy mix

--Lagarde: Monetary policy must remain easy due to recession risks

--Lagarde: Europe banks need urgent recapitalization

By Luca Di Leo

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. -(Dow Jones)- Risks to the global economy are rising and countries must be quick in adopting the right policy mix to ensure a continued recovery, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde said Saturday.

"Developments this summer have indicated we are in a dangerous new phase," Lagarde told a meeting of top monetary policy makers from around the world. "The stakes are clear: we risk seeing the fragile recovery derailed. So we must act now."

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Schaeuble says world economy may see 7 lean years | Reuters

Schaeuble says world economy may see 7 lean years | Reuters: . GALLEN, Switzerland, Aug 27 (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said the global economy may see "seven lean years" as a result of needed fiscal consolidation programmes, even as top U.S. economists questioned the effectiveness of austerity measures.

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Fed chief scolds Congres on debt ceiling showdown - The Washington Post

Fed chief scolds Congres on debt ceiling showdown - The Washington Post: Even as he underlined the prominent part that Congress can play in fostering — or jeopardizing — the nation’s economic health, Bernanke gave no sign that the Fed, for its part, was preparing to take new steps to bolster the flagging recovery.

That reticence disappointed some investors and market observers, who had expected Bernanke to use the speech to signal new Fed moves to try to boost growth, such as resuming the purchase of vast sums of bonds to pump money into the economy.

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Friday, August 26, 2011

» Study shows powerful corporations really do control the world’s finances Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Study shows powerful corporations really do control the world’s finances Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

[1107.5728] The network of global corporate control

[1107.5728] The network of global corporate control

[1107.5728] The network of global corporate control

[1107.5728] The network of global corporate control

» Libyan Rebels Try To Arrest NATO Critics Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Libyan Rebels Try To Arrest NATO Critics Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Ron Paul: “They’re Setting The Stage For Violence In This Country” Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Ron Paul: “They’re Setting The Stage For Violence In This Country”

European Loan Growth Slowed in July as Crisis Weighed on Economy - Bloomberg

European Loan Growth Slowed in July as Crisis Weighed on Economy - Bloomberg

World Facing 50% Danger of Another Recession, Nobel Laureate Spence Says - Bloomberg

World Facing 50% Danger of Another Recession, Nobel Laureate Spence Says - Bloomberg

All ears await Bernanke speech as US economy plods along - National Business - MiamiHerald.com

All ears await Bernanke speech as US economy plods along - National Business - MiamiHerald.com

Poor economy takes toll on pets | SILive.com

Poor economy takes toll on pets SILive.com

House GOP lawmakers worry voters' anger over economy could sting them - TheHill.com


House GOP lawmakers worry voters' anger over economy could sting them - TheHill.com

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Art Project Sends Big Message To Fed - Kansas City News Story - KMBC Kansas City

Art Project Sends Big Message To Fed - Kansas City News Story - KMBC Kansas City: A huge piece of artwork is about to send a big message about money, taking 117 shipping containers to spell out a six-letter phrase.

"It's really rewarding to see it. I'm savoring the experience," said artist John Salvest.

Art Project Sends Big-Money Message

He said he managed to round up 117 shipping containers in different colors to make a seven-story stack near the Liberty Memorial. The project, which sits just across the street from the Federal Reserve Building, will soon spell out "USA" on one side and "IOU" on the other.

» 10 Things Citizen Spies Should Report to DHS Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» 10 Things Citizen Spies Should Report to DHS Something is very suspicious about the official version of the attacks of September 11th, 2001. First, corporate media restricts discussion of the events of 9-11, especially technical aspects like how a 47-story steel skyscraper (WTC Building 7) collapsed into its own footprint without being hit by a plane, steel turning to powder or molten liquid, or destroyed insider trading records of airline put options, among many other anomalies. The idea that investigating these mysteries is in any way harming the 9-11 family members is nonsense. Report the WTC lease holder, Larry Silverstein, to the DHS for pre-wiring WTC 7 for demolition. Report “Tricky” Dick Cheney for standing down when being told a plane was approaching the Pentagon.

» Scientists respond to overuse of agricultural chemicals by genetically engineering crops to produce fertilizer Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Scientists respond to overuse of agricultural chemicals by genetically engineering crops to produce fertilizer Speaking about his endeavors, U-A plant biologist Allen Good stated recently that farmers purchase more than $100 billion worth of nitrogen fertilizers a year to treat their crops. Good rightly admits that both the mining and use of these fertilizers is damaging to the environment, including even the post-use fertilizer runoff that ends up settling in streams and lakes and creating algae blooms.

All of this is true, of course — commercial fertilizers and the industrial agricultural paradigm to which they cater are both an unsustainable environmental blight that cannot persist forever. But where Good goes wrong is in his solution to this problem, which only adds to it by interjecting more man-made “solutions” that only temporarily treat the symptoms of the problem, at best. And at worst, these interventions cause untold environmental and human destruction in the form of lost biodiversity and ill-health.

» Barack Obama Cannot Get Congress To Pass Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Barack Obama Cannot Get Congress To Pass Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: If you are an illegal immigrant and you have not been arrested for committing a crime, the odds that you will ever be deported have now gone way, way down. With the Republicans in control of the House of Representatives, Barack Obama knows that he simply is not going to be able to get amnesty for illegal immigrants passed by Congress. But instead of giving up, Obama has decided to ram amnesty for illegal immigrants down our throats any way that he can. The head of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet

» Journalist’s Twitter Account Suspended Over Libya Coverage Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Journalist’s Twitter Account Suspended Over Libya Coverage Quite obviously my coverage of Libya has a lot of people upset. I had received a concerted barrage of attacks by suspiciously similar accounts all tweeting 24/7 for weeks regarding Libya, all overtly pro-NATO just before my account was suspended. I was covering the Rixos Hotel and how even mainstream media admitted that snipers were targeting the building and Qaddafi’s troops were attempting to protect it. Despite this the media suggests the journalists are “hostages.” The troops have now, in fact, allowed them to leave. This was yet another hoax, on par with the “Saif al-Islam” hoax where a very much free and energetic Saif showed up to personally dispel BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, NATO propaganda.

» Ron Paul: Liberty is More Important Than the Illusion of Safety Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Ron Paul: Liberty is More Important Than the Illusion of Safety Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

Dollar Lays Anchor As QE3 Speculation Takes Over - TheStreet

Dollar Lays Anchor As QE3 Speculation Takes Over - TheStreet: Will Fed Chairman Bernanke use this forum to announce QE3 or not? That will be the question that keeps the dollar and underlying risk appetite frozen. Though, in the meantime, any headline that is remotely related to this upcoming event (or that can be interpreted as having some form of connection) can still generate a considerable level of volatility. Monday, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard was messing with the scales when he pulled back slightly from his hawkish bearing by saying he could back the FOMC to take action should growth weakened “substantially” and inflation began to turn to “deflation”. That said, he noted that he still expects stronger growth through the second half of 2011.

EIU sees at least 40% risk of eurozone breaking up - People's Daily Online

EIU sees at least 40% risk of eurozone breaking up - People's Daily Online: SINGAPORE, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) now saw a chance of at least 40 percent for the eurozone to break up and an equal chance for the global economy to go into a recession, local daily Business Times reported on Monday.

Robert Bew, chief economist of the research unit of the Economist Group, said in an interview with the newspaper that the eurozone breakup would have "disastrous consequences" that would in themselves drive a global recession.

"Worse is we might get both together," he was quoted as saying.

Gaddafi's Stake In UniCredit Has Helped Bolster Italian Banking System | Business | Sky News

Gaddafi's Stake In UniCredit Has Helped Bolster Italian Banking System | Business | Sky News: Trade in shares of Italy's largest bank has been suspended - as it emerges that events in Libya have helped prevent a collapse of the Italian banking system.

Unicredit logo on bank in Milan

UniCredit's share price tumbled as a solution for eurozone debt appeared distant

UniCredit's share price has plunged in the past month because of market fears over eurozone debt - and now share dealing has been halted due to volatility.

Although it may sound far-fetched, the Libyan revolution of the past six months may have saved it and other Italian banks amid the crisis.

» Order: Kill non-mainstream reporters in Libya Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Order: Kill non-mainstream reporters in Libya Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Targeted Killings of non-mainstream reporters in Libya ordered: Attempts to bury truth

The Examiner learned in communications from human rights defenders and independent journalists throughout Monday that they were shaken with news of 1300 Libyans killed and 5000 wounded Saturday, plus, the U.S. allegedly ordered Targeted Killings of Voltaire Network reporters, Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya and Thierry Meyssan, non-mainstream reporters in Libya covering the NATO war, while other independent reporters there are being fired upon and one, Mohammed Nabbous was killed Saturday according to ABC News. In an interview with journalist Don DeBar on KPFA radio, he reported most mainstream “news” about Libya has been untrue, as alternative news sites heavily report but are increasingly persecuted according to their recent reports.

» NATO Gives Al-Qaeda Access to Deadly Weapons Stockpile Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» NATO Gives Al-Qaeda Access to Deadly Weapons Stockpile Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Concern on behalf of NATO powers France, Britain and the United States that Al-Qaeda could smuggle deadly weapons out of Libya is somewhat rich given the fact that senior Al-Qaeda terrorists who killed U.S. troops have been commanding western-backed Libyan rebels for the past six months.

“The United States, France and Britain have asked Libya’s neighbors to beef up security on their borders to prevent the possible smuggling out of weapons,” reports RIA Novosti.

“The West is afraid that in the chaos of Gaddafi’s downfall the leftovers of his military capabilities could fall into hands of al-Qaeda or other militant groups.”

Such worries arrive late in the day considering the fact that it was NATO who shipped in terrorists to lead the rebel siege on Tripoli this past weekend, according to Webster Tarpley and other independent reporters in Libya.

» Cops Confiscate Cameras at Ohio Congressman’s Town Hall Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Cops Confiscate Cameras at Ohio Congressman’s Town Hall Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: A congressman from Ohio had cops grab the cameras of constituents during a town hall meeting. Steve Chabot, a Republican, had cell phones and cameras confiscated in order to “prevent an embarrassing Youtube video from making the rounds,” according to Carlos Miller, who runs a blog documenting efforts by the state to stifle the First Amendment rights of photographers.

See video of the incident below.

Police said the cameras were taken “to protect the constituents.” A local television station, however, was allowed to videotape the meeting and the brazen move by Chabot and the cops.

Think Progress, the Soros-funded media operation, also reported the incident, primarily because Chabot is an establishment Republican and protesters outside the event called for more taxes. The Democrat blog reported:

» Media Openly Admits Foreign Special Forces Behind Overthrow of Gaddafi Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Media Openly Admits Foreign Special Forces Behind Overthrow of Gaddafi Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: “Special forces troops from Britain, France, Jordan and Qatar on the ground in Libya have stepped up operations in Tripoli and other cities in recent days to help rebel forces as they conducted their final advance on the Gaddafi regime,” a NATO official told CNN today.

British forces, in particular, have assisted rebel units by “helping them get better organized to conduct operations,” the official said. Some of these forces from all the countries have traveled with rebel units from towns across Libya as they advanced on Tripoli.

The official declined to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the intelligence information.

Overall, the special forces have helped rebels “improve their tactics,” the official said.

The forces have also provided targeting information to warplanes conducting airstrikes and conducting reconnaissance missions in Tripoli, he said. This has been especially critical in recent days in the capital, as fighters from both sides have mixed together in close range. The forces have also assisted rebels in communications as they conducted the assault on the capital.

Qatari and French forces also have provided some armaments, the official said

» As his numbers continue to improve, Ron Paul presents challenge to Obama, other GOP candidates Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» As his numbers continue to improve, Ron Paul presents challenge to Obama, other GOP candidates Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: (NaturalNews) President Barack Obama’s campaign has dismissed his candidacy as a Tea Party fringe, much the same way as his fellow Republican presidential contenders have, but that’s par for the course. Ron Paul knows he has always been an underdog.

But new polling data is showing Paul in a close race with Obama and other leading GOP contenders. Is it an anomaly? No, it’s not and it shows clearly how Paul’s message is increasingly resonating with a larger percentage of the American people, making him much less the underdog now than during any of his previous presidential bids.

According to Gallup, Paul is statistically tied with Obama, with the president leading slightly 47-45 percent. Paul out polls Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann (she’s behind Obama 48-44 percent), and just under former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (he leads Obama 48-46 percent) and Texas Gov. Rick Perry (who splits with the president 47-47 percent).

Obama plans to finish vacation despite Libya, earthquake, economy - TheHill.com

Obama plans to finish vacation despite Libya, earthquake, economy - TheHill.com: The White House said President Obama has no plans to change his schedule in Martha’s Vineyard this week, despite the aftermath of an earthquake, the onset of a hurricane, the anemic economy and the developing situation in Libya.

Obama continues to get regular updates on Libya, the work of his economic team and the natural disasters threatening the East Coast, according to deputy White House press secretary Josh Earnest.

How Much More Can the Fed Help the Economy? - NYTimes.com

How Much More Can the Fed Help the Economy? - NYTimes.com: With the risk of another recession on the horizon, many economists and investment analysts are hoping that Ben S. Bernanke will signal on Friday that the Federal Reserve is ready to step in once again and save the economy from disaster. After all, Congress seems wholly unwilling to engage in fiscal stimulus, and instead is planning further fiscal tightening.

But there are reasons to believe the Fed’s remaining tools may be losing their potency.

Monetary policy works best when the Fed cuts interest rates, giving banks a good opportunity to extend more loans. If more loans go out to people and companies, those people and companies can buy more goods and services, creating more demand and eventually more jobs.

Bernanke Feels The Squeeze As Economy Falters | FoxNews.com

Bernanke Feels The Squeeze As Economy Falters | FoxNews.com: Why then, did stocks soar on Tuesday? Not only did markets have their best day in weeks, not even the largest earthquake to hit the East Coast in decades could shake them from their heights.

The answer is that the news on Tuesday continued a concatenation of economic indicators so bad that investors now believe that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will have no choice but to engage in another round of what is euphemistically called “quantitative easing” in Washington and on Wall Street.
Wall Streeters love when the Fed makes up money. They love it when the Fed drove interest rates to zero and kept them there. They love it when Congress spends stimulus money or gives a big tax cut. They love anything that creates a predictable change in the trajectory of the economy, no matter how small or how short. Anything that can be forecast can be profited from.

Mortgage Payments One Month Late Jump as Economy Weakens - Bloomberg

Mortgage Payments One Month Late Jump as Economy Weakens - Bloomberg: The percentage of U.S. mortgages overdue by one month rose to the highest level in a year in the second quarter as homeowners who lost jobs were unable to make their payments.

The share of home loans overdue by 30 days rose to 3.46 percent of all mortgages, from 3.35 percent in the first quarter, according to a report today from the Mortgage Bankers Association in Washington. The percentage of mortgages overdue by 60 days increased to 1.37 percent from 1.35 percent, while foreclosures dropped for the second consecutive quarter.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Mortgage Payments One Month Late Jump as Economy Weakens - Bloomberg

Mortgage Payments One Month Late Jump as Economy Weakens - Bloomberg: The percentage of U.S. mortgages overdue by one month rose to the highest level in a year in the second quarter as homeowners who lost jobs were unable to make their payments.

The share of home loans overdue by 30 days rose to 3.46 percent of all mortgages, from 3.35 percent in the first quarter, according to a report today from the Mortgage Bankers Association in Washington. The percentage of mortgages overdue by 60 days increased to 1.37 percent from 1.35 percent, while foreclosures dropped for the second consecutive quarter.

Financial Crisis Is Too Big for Developed World to Cope, Ex-IMF Head Says - Bloomberg

Financial Crisis Is Too Big for Developed World to Cope, Ex-IMF Head Says - Bloomberg: The crisis threatening the global financial system exceeds the capabilities of developed nations and requires a new International Monetary Fund “debt facility,” former IMF head H. Johannes Witteveen said.

“Unusual problems require unconventional solutions,” Witteveen wrote in an opinion piece in the Financial Times today. “The world’s financial system is threatened by a new crisis that could be even worse than that of 2008.” He was IMF managing director from 1973 to 1978.

New national debt data: It's growing about $3 million a minute, even during his vacation - latimes.com

New national debt data: It's growing about $3 million a minute, even during his vacation - latimes.com: Swallow all liquids in your mouth before reading any further.

Updated numbers for the national debt are just out: It's now $14,639,000,000,000.

When Barack Obama took the oath of office twice on Jan. 20, 2009, CBS' amazing number cruncher Mark Knoller reports, the national debt was $10,626,000,000,000.

That means the debt that our federal government owes a whole lot of somebodies including China has increased $4,247,000,000,000 in just 945 days. That's the fastest increase under any president ever.

Remember the day the Democrat promised to close the embarrassing Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility within one year? That day the national debt increased $4,247,000,000. And each day since that the facility hasn't been closed.

Bundlers wrapped up in government - Byron Tau and Ben Smith - POLITICO.com

Bundlers wrapped up in government - Byron Tau and Ben Smith - POLITICO.com

Obama pays Sunday visit to CEO | POLITICO 44

Obama pays Sunday visit to CEO | POLITICO 44
Friends in high places, eh?

» Gerald Celente & Alex Jones: The House of Presstitution Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Gerald Celente & Alex Jones: The House of Presstitution Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Rick Perry — Big Pharma president? Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Rick Perry — Big Pharma president? Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

(NaturalNews) Rick Perry has officially announced he is running for president, and we now face the possibility having a tyrant in control of our country. Not only does Perry have a bad track record – including having the death and harm of young women on his hands — he “has shown himself to be the most duplicitous, deceptive politician that I have ever studied in the history of the United States.” – Alex Jones (listen to more here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSBX…)

S&P replaces president Deven Sharma after U.S. downgrade | Reuters

S&P replaces president Deven Sharma after U.S. downgrade | Reuters: S&P management has been criticized for its handling of the downgrade, although some advocates said it was acting responsibly in light of mounting debt and Washington's political inability to devise a long-term solution to the issue.

Sharper Surveillance and NATO Coordination Aided Rebel Advance - NYTimes.com

NATO’s targeting grew increasingly precise, one senior NATO diplomat said, as the United States established around-the-clock surveillance over the dwindling areas that Libyan military forces still controlled, using armed Predator drones to detect, track and occasionally fire at those forces.
Sharper Surveillance and NATO Coordination Aided Rebel Advance - NYTimes.com

Let's be realistic about what the Fed can do for the economy - The Term Sheet: Fortune's deals blog Term Sheet

Let's be realistic about what the Fed can do for the economy - The Term Sheet: Fortune's deals blog Term Sheet: But even if the Fed commits another trillion dollars or so to QE3, what difference will it make? Not enough, I fear. The country needs a sustained boost to demand, an end to the housing bust, and a resolution of the European debt crisis, none of which the Fed is in a position to deliver. While third-quarter growth appears to be picking up a bit -- retail sales jumped in July -- for the year as a whole we will be lucky if the economy expands by 2%, which is pretty pathetic for the third year of a "recovery."

Monday, August 22, 2011

» Ron Paul: “They’re Setting The Stage For Violence In This Country” Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Ron Paul: “They’re Setting The Stage For Violence In This Country” Alex Jones' Infowars:
VIDEO


» FEMA Camps in America: Alex Jones Tv Sunday Edition Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» FEMA Camps in America: Alex Jones Tv Sunday Edition Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: In this Sunday edition, Alex Jones discusses the controlled implosion of America now underway via economic sabotage, as well as 2012 Presidential Candidate Ron Paul’s comments on the plans for FEMA detention camps under H.R. 645, the Emergency Centers Establishment Act. Paul recently told an activist reporter that “They’re setting up the stage for violence in this country, no doubt about it.” Alex will also give a rundown of other news and take your calls.

» US, NATO Officials Openly Admit To Arming, Training Libyan Rebels, Forcing Regime Change Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» US, NATO Officials Openly Admit To Arming, Training Libyan Rebels, Forcing Regime Change Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!
Video: Global Research journalist Mahdi Nazemroaya says he fears for his life and is being threatened for “not going by what NATO is presenting” as news out of Libya. He says he believes that some of the journalists covering events are “not real journalists”, but are instead working for security services.
Video

» US, NATO Officials Openly Admit To Arming, Training Libyan Rebels, Forcing Regime Change Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» US, NATO Officials Openly Admit To Arming, Training Libyan Rebels, Forcing Regime Change Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: As some quarters of the mainstream media are still reporting that the battle for the Libyan capitol Tripoli is part of a popular uprising, Senior US and NATO officials confirmed today that the intensification of fighting was initiated by NATO, as it candidly presided over rebel forces.

The New York Times today quotes an anonymous senior diplomat who states that over recent weeks NATO has been directly coordinating rebel groups, despite the fact that its UN endorsed mandate did not extend beyond “protecting” Libyan civilians and specifically outlined that NATO should not seek to influence the outcome of the conflict.

» Bloomberg reveals massive corruption in the private Federal Reserve Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Bloomberg reveals massive corruption in the private Federal Reserve Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Today Bloomberg has revealed that the “Wall Street Aristocracy” received a staggering $1.2 trillion in loans. Yes, you read that right: $1.2 trillion.

The private Federal Reserve calls these hand-outs to their corporate cronies “emergency loans” but in reality they are nothing more than friends giving friends unfathomable amounts of money in order to “keep the economy from plunging into depression”.

Of course Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Bloomberg opt to characterize the giveaway of public funds as legitimate “unprecedented efforts” to help our withering economy, when this is far from the case as we have seen from the entire “stimulus” package that has just driven American deeper into the black hole of debt.

Home sales: In a difficult housing market, more homes sell for less than $10,000 - baltimoresun.com

Home sales: In a difficult housing market, more homes sell for less than $10,000 - baltimoresun.com: Andrew Wells is hoping to buy a Baltimore home for around the cost of an old car: Less than $10,000.

Turns out he's in good company.

One of every 10 city homes sold during the first half of the year — about 275 in all — fell in that price range. Twice as many sold for under $20,000.

Often foreclosures, these properties are usually in bad shape but seem like deals to real estate investors and the occasional hopeful owner-occupier — such as Wells.

"I don't have to worry about trying to get a loan," said Wells, 40, a bill-processing technician who works in Annapolis. "That was the purpose of me searching in that price range. I could buy something, pay cash, and I could live in it and renovate at the same time."

» NATO Hands Terrorists Who Killed U.S. Troops Control of Libya Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» NATO Hands Terrorists Who Killed U.S. Troops Control of Libya Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: While U.S. troops are dying in Afghanistan and Iraq in the supposed fight against terrorists, those same terrorists are now being handed control of an entire country, along with its lucrative resources, as a massive NATO bombardment of Tripoli aids the Al-Qaeda backed rebels in their overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi.

Newsmax's Aftershock Survival Summit

Newsmax's Aftershock Survival Summit
An Estimated One Million Americans Have United to View This Powerful Warning to Prepare for a 2012 Economic Crisis! I Strongly Suggest You Take the Time to Join Them by Launching a Private Airing of This Broadcast Below . . .

Thousands Show at Job Fair as Jobless Rate Rises - ABC News

Thousands Show at Job Fair as Jobless Rate Rises - ABC News: Thousands of unemployed waited overnight, camping out in their business suits and office heels and braving the tormenting heat in Atlanta to stand in line for a job fair Thursday. Authorities treated 20 people for heat exhaustion as they struggled to keep the line moving and get people moved inside.

The incredible turnout at the job fair comes on the heels of the state labor commissioner's announcement that Georgia's jobless rate rose.

Why is George Soros selling gold and buying farmland?

Why is George Soros selling gold and buying farmland?: (NaturalNews) Food prices are skyrocketing all across the globe, and there's no end in sight. The United Nations says food inflation is currently at 30% a year, and the fast-eroding value of the dollar is causing food prices to appear even higher (in contrast to a weakening currency). As the dollar drops in value due to runaway money printing at the Federal Reserve, the cost to import foods from other nations looks to double in just the next two years -- and possibly every two years thereafter.

» Evacuation of foreigners planned from Tripoli Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Evacuation of foreigners planned from Tripoli Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: The rebels, who have transformed the battlefield this week with victories taking them ever closer to the city, launched an assault east of the capital but were taking heavy casualties, a Reuters reporter at the front line said.

Rebel advances west and south of Tripoli in recent days have cut the road links between the capital and the outside world and severed the supply lines of Gaddafi’s forces, putting his 41-year-old rule under unprecedented pressure.

In a sign of fighting hitting closer to Gaddafi’s inner circle, the brother of the spokesman who has served as the leader’s public face was reported killed.

Full story here.

Housing’s Drag on Economy May Worsen - Bloomberg

Housing’s Drag on Economy May Worsen - Bloomberg: As the U.S. economy shows signs of sputtering, instability on Wall Street is sapping the confidence of would-be property buyers, said Karl Case, co-founder of the S&P/Case-Shiller home- price index. That means housing, which aided every recovery except one before the most recent recession, may deepen its five-year drag on growth.

“There’s a dramatic effect on an economy when a major sector is flat out,” said Case, professor emeritus of economics at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. “If housing takes another leg down, it’s an accelerator. It’s going to make a recession happen faster and deeper.”

Sunday, August 21, 2011

» Bernanke under pressure to calm markets Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Bernanke under pressure to calm markets Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke will face intense pressure to announce new measures to calm the world’s frenzied financial markets this week, as central bankers hold their annual summer retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

After a tumultuous week, which saw billions of dollars wiped off share prices on both sides of the Atlantic, investors will be hoping for a signal that the Fed has more policy options to tackle the crisis.

Bernanke is due to speak on Friday, on the topic of “Near- and Long-Term Prospects for the US Economy”. He used his speech at last year’s gathering to pave the way for “QEII”, the Fed’s second round of quantitative easing, the radical policy of pumping electronically created money into the economy to avoid deflation.

Prison Planet.com » One in five American children now living in poverty according to new report

Prison Planet.com » One in five American children now living in poverty according to new report: A national study on child well-being published today found Nevada had the highest rate of children whose parents are unemployed and underemployed.

The state is also home to the most children affected by foreclosures — 13 percent of all Silver State babies, toddlers and teenagers have been kicked out of their homes because of an unpaid mortgage, the study found.

Across the nation, the research by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that child poverty increased in 38 states from 2000 to 2009. As a result, 14.7 million children, 20 per cent, were poor in 2009.

Prison Planet.com » Jobless Claims, Inflation Rise More Than Expected

Prison Planet.com » Jobless Claims, Inflation Rise More Than Expected: New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, according to a government report on Thursday that suggested hiring in August was steady but not robust.

Meanwhile, the Labor Department says the Consumer Price Index rose 0.5 percent in July, following a drop of 0.2 percent in June. Gas prices accounted for much of the swing. Prices increased by a seasonally adjusted 4.7 percent, after falling sharply in June.

Confidence in Obama and Economy Continues to Decline | The Gateway Pundit

Confidence in Obama and Economy Continues to Decline | The Gateway Pundit: More concerning for the president is the fact that he continues to see a decline in support from groups that are critical to his reelection.
From the article:

Three groups in particular stand out for having especially large declines. First is what Gallup terms “pure independent” voters, among whom Mr. Obama’s approval rating has dropped by 10 points since the start of the year. These pure independents are true swing voters; Gallup defines the category to exclude the many voters who call themselves independent but in fact lean toward one or another party and behave like partisans… Another group with whom Mr. Obama has experienced an alarmingly large decline are Hispanic voters — also about 10 points since the start of the year… Finally, Mr. Obama’s approval ratings are down about 9 points with conservative Democrats.

REGION: Unemployment climbs again as economy slips

REGION: Unemployment climbs again as economy slips: Unemployment climbed in San Diego and Riverside counties in July as renewed concerns of a teetering economy have led some analysts to worry that employers may be holding back on hiring until global financial markets settle, according to data published Friday by the state's Employment Development Department.

Low mortgage rates sign of hope as worries over economy continue | WJLA.com

Low mortgage rates sign of hope as worries over economy continue | WJLA.com: The rate on the most popular 30-year fixed mortgage dipped to 4.15 percent from 4.32 percent a week ago, Freddie Mac said Thursday. Its previous low of 4.17 percent was reached in November.

The last time long-term rates were lower was in the 1950s, when 30-year loans weren't widely available. Most long-term home loans lasted 20 or 25 years.

U.S. Stocks Drop as Economy Concern Offsets Valuations; HP Falls - Businessweek

U.S. Stocks Drop as Economy Concern Offsets Valuations; HP Falls - Businessweek: .S. stocks fell, posting the fourth straight weekly slump for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, as the cheapest price-earnings ratios since 2009 failed to lure investors amid concern the global economy is weakening.

Friday, August 19, 2011

U.S. Economy: Consumer Prices Climb, Manufacturing Falters

U.S. Economy: Consumer Prices Climb, Manufacturing Falters: Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- The cost of living in the U.S. climbed more than forecast in July, which could make it harder for Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke to convince colleagues to immediately act to spur growth after manufacturing in the Philadelphia region plunged in August.

The consumer-price index increased 0.5 percent from June, more than twice the 0.2 percent median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News, figures from the Labor Department showed today in Washington. The Philadelphia Fed's general economic index dropped to minus 30.7 this month, the lowest since March 2009, when the economy was in a recession.

Stocks slumped and gold prices soared to a record as the data showed the world's largest economy was in danger of shrinking even as inflation picked up.

Stocks Close Down Sharply Over Anxiety on Economy - NYTimes.com

Stocks Close Down Sharply Over Anxiety on Economy - NYTimes.com: But the declines began in Asia and in Europe, where an unidentified bank had resorted to borrowing from the European Central Bank, hinting of strains in the banking system that some fear could ripple to the United States. Europe’s chronic debt problem continues to plague the Continent’s banks because so many of their assets are invested in the region’s troubled countries.

Investors rushed into United States Treasuries as a safe haven, despite unease about how the government will address its deficit and economic slowdown. Bond prices rose and the yield on the 10-year bond fell below 2 percent for the first time since at least the early 1960s.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

U.S. Stocks Tumble on Global Growth Concerns - Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Tumble on Global Growth Concerns - Bloomberg: “It’s almost like a worldwide buyers strike,” Michael Mullaney, who helps manage $9.5 billion at Fiduciary Trust in Boston, said in a telephone interview. “There’s a general malaise on global economic activity. People continue to downgrade their expectations on growth. There’s concern about funding problems. That’s making us very nervous and we want to take risk out of portfolios at least for the immediate future.”

Prison Planet.com » ‘Ice levels were about 50% lower 5,000 years ago’

Prison Planet.com » ‘Ice levels were about 50% lower 5,000 years ago’: Scientists say current concerns over a tipping point in the disappearance of Arctic sea ice may be misplaced.

Danish researchers analysed ancient pieces of driftwood in north Greenland which they say is an accurate way to measure the extent of ancient ice loss.

Writing in the journal Science, the team found evidence that ice levels were about 50% lower 5,000 years ago.

They say changes to wind systems can slow down the rate of melting.

They argue, therefore, that a tipping point under current scenarios is unlikely.

Prison Planet.com » US buys most expensive drones ever

Prison Planet.com » US buys most expensive drones ever: With $14 trillion in the hole and a slew of wars seemingly no one wants America to be in, what better way for the United States to spend their money by putting $23 billion into spy planes?

The US will drop billions on defense spending with the purchasing of 55 Global Hawk drone planes over the next few years. Each of the four dozen-plus spy crafts comes at a price tag of $218 million apiece — ten times the price of the largest armed attack drone.

Global Hawk drones are capable of flying twice as high as commercial aircrafts and can spot insurgents up to 100 miles away. Once identified, the robotic crafts that are controlled from 24-hour command stations can then send images to intelligence centers or directly to troops.

Prison Planet.com » 69% Say It’s Likely Scientists Have Falsified Global Warming Research

Prison Planet.com » 69% Say It’s Likely Scientists Have Falsified Global Warming Research: e debate over global warming has intensified in recent weeks after a new NASA study was interpreted by skeptics to reveal that global warming is not man-made. While a majority of Americans nationwide continue to acknowledge significant disagreement about global warming in the scientific community, most go even further to say some scientists falsify data to support their own beliefs.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 69% say it’s at least somewhat likely that some scientists have falsified research data in order to support their own theories and beliefs, including 40% who say this is Very Likely. Twenty-two percent (22%) don’t think it’s likely some scientists have falsified global warming data, including just six percent (6%) say it’s Not At All Likely. Another 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here .)

Prison Planet.com » Oil Erases 2011’s Gains on Economy Concern

Prison Planet.com » Oil Erases 2011’s Gains on Economy Concern: Crude oil wiped out all of its gains for 2011 and natural gas closed below $4 for the first time since March in New York as concern the global economy is weakening sent raw materials prices tumbling around the world.

Twenty-one of the 24 commodities on the Standard & Poor’s GSCI Index declined slipped as a rout in equities drove the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to its worst nine-day slump since March 2009. Silver dropped 5.6 percent, gold retreated from a record and wheat slumped the most since June.

» Cafferty Says Ron Paul the “Only Grown-up in the GOP” Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Cafferty Says Ron Paul the “Only Grown-up in the GOP” Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: We’re not sure about the grown-up comparison, but he certainly is the only candidate running who is not an establishment sock puppet.

» World stock markets plunge as fears of recession intensify Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» World stock markets plunge as fears of recession intensify Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Global stock markets have resumed their recent slide, weighed down by fears that the world is sliding into a double-dip recession.

Concerned that the eurozone debt crisis could be spreading to the US banking sector, regulators in New York have stepped up their scrutiny of the US arms of Europe’s largest banks. Further pressure came from worse-than-expected new jobless claims in the US last week, while inflation was faster than anticipated in July.

The FTSE index in London dropped more than 200 points to 5123 at one stage in the early afternoon, a decline of 3.9%, with all 100 stocks on the index down – banking and mining stocks among the biggest fallers, led by Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland.

» Republican Voters Are Losing Their Appetite For War Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Republican Voters Are Losing Their Appetite For War Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: As presidential candidate Ron Paul builds his campaign around an anti-war message of bringing the troops home from conflicts that the United States can no longer afford to pay for, polls show that Americans, and particularly Republicans, are losing their appetite for war.
War

“Voter confidence about the short-term course of the war in Afghanistan has fallen to its lowest level in nearly two years, while confidence about the direction in Iraq over the next six months has dropped to the lowest point in almost five years of surveying,” according to Rasmussen.

Only 15 per cent of of likely U.S. Voters think the situation in Afghanistan will improve over the next six months, while more voters than ever before – 59 per cent - now want an immediate troop withdrawal or a firm timetable to be set for ending the occupation. Republicans are more pessimistic than Democrats about the future course of operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

» 20 Signs That The World Could Be Headed For An Economic Apocalypse In 2012 Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» 20 Signs That The World Could Be Headed For An Economic Apocalypse In 2012 Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: If you thought that 2011 was a bad year for the world economy, just wait until you see what happens in 2012. The U.S. and Europe are both dealing with unprecedented debt problems, the financial markets are flailing about wildly, austerity programs are being implemented all over the globe, prices on basics such as food are soaring and a lot of consumers are flat out scared right now. Many analysts now fear that a “perfect storm” could be brewing and that we could actually be headed for an economic apocalypse in 2012. Hopefully that will not happen. Hopefully our leaders can keep the global economy from completely falling apart. But right now, things don’t look good. After a period of relative stability, things are starting to become unglued once again. The next major financial panic could literally happen at any time. Sadly, if we do see an economic apocalypse in 2012, it won’t be the wealthy that suffer the most. It will be the poor, the unemployed, the homeless and the hungry that feel the most pain.

» Do You Realize That The Government Is Still Paying Banks Not To Lend…? Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Do You Realize That The Government Is Still Paying Banks Not To Lend…? Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Money that the banks have but aren’t lending out–money that banks are just keeping on deposit at the Fed.

The Fed is paying banks 0.25% interest on this money.

0.25% interest may not sound like much, but it’s more than the banks are paying you to keep money in your savings or money-market account. It’s also more than you’ll earn if you lend the Federal government money for 2 years.

Oh, by the way, why, exactly, are you earning so little interest in your savings accounts and money-market funds?

Well, because, thanks to another one of its bank-bailout programs, the Fed is keeping short-term interest rates at zero.

» Gold Hits New Record After Chavez Announces Plan To Pull Reserves From US, European Banks Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Gold Hits New Record After Chavez Announces Plan To Pull Reserves From US, European Banks Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Despite a report from the World Gold Council showing that demand for the precious metal has subsided, gold soared to a new record high today on the back of another stock market plunge and an announcement from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that the country’s gold mining industry would be nationalized.

Gold touched a new record high of around $1827 dollars an ounce as the Dow Jones plunged by 500 points in early trading.

Gold soared to new heights even in the face of a World Gold Council report that said demand was down 37% year on year.

However, the report noted that there was “increasing acceptance of higher price levels” globally, which explained a modest 3% fall in recycling gold on the supply side.

Although today’s new high for gold is obviously being driven by a flight to safety as the stock market crumbles, Hugo Chavez’s announcement last night that he was to nationalize the country’s gold mining industry undoubtedly has had an impact on today’s trading.

US STOCKS-Wall St tumbles on economy, bank worries | Reuters

US STOCKS-Wall St tumbles on economy, bank worries | Reuters: NEW YORK, Aug 18 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks tumbled more than 4 percent on Thursday after data pointed to a stalled U.S. economy and as bank shares sank on a report regulators were scrutinizing the U.S. units of big European lenders.

The decline was broad as well as steep, with just a small handful of the S&P 500's components in positive territory.

The KBW bank index .BKX slid 5.5 percent, with Citigroup Inc (C.N) off 9.6 percent at $27, and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) down 7.5 percent at $15.75.

"The market is in meltdown mode," said Sal Catrini, managing director for equities at Cantor Fitzgerald & Co in New York. "The data continues to stink. We continue to be in a soft patch."

Gallup poll: Obama's rating on economy hits new low - politics - White House - msnbc.com

Gallup poll: Obama's rating on economy hits new low - politics - White House - msnbc.com: Seventy-one percent of Americans said they disapproved of Obama's handling of the economy, up 11 percentage points from mid-May, when Gallup last questioned people about the issue.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

» Ron Paul’s new ad: ‘The one who can beat Obama’ Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Ron Paul’s new ad: ‘The one who can beat Obama’ Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Texas Congressman Ron Paul’s latest television advertisement lumps his Republicans rivals together with Democrats and claims he is the only GOP presidential candidate that can defeat President Barack Obama in 2012.

» Big Sis’ Latest Terrorists: More White Americans Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Big Sis’ Latest Terrorists: More White Americans Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Despite causing controversy last month with a video that portrayed white middle class Americans as the most likely terrorists, the Department of Homeland Security has released yet another PSA that depicts an attempt to bomb a subway station not by Al-Qaeda Muslims, but well-dressed white people.

» Ron Paul’s new ad: ‘The one who can beat Obama’ Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Ron Paul’s new ad: ‘The one who can beat Obama’

» Obama’s Feared “Lone Wolf Attack” Could Save His Presidency Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Obama’s Feared “Lone Wolf Attack” Could Save His Presidency Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: Barack Obama made headlines yesterday when he spoke about his fear of a “lone wolf attack” in America carried out by an individual with a “hateful ideology”. But far from striking a blow against his administration, such an attack would galvanize Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, as many political strategists have pointed out.

» Ron Paul Responds To Perry Fed Smackdown Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Ron Paul Responds To Perry Fed Smackdown Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: The Congressman showed great class, as ever, in not rushing to attack his political opponents, instead focusing on his own campaign and his long standing concerns over monetary policy.

“To me the fascinating thing is that the Governor comes into the race, he gets a lot of attention and on the first day out they are asking him about the Federal Reserve. This hasn’t been done, maybe ever.” Paul said.

» Author Details Pentagon’s Fake al-Qaeda Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Author Details Pentagon’s Fake al-Qaeda Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: The Pentagon can now brazenly admit it creates terrorism and we are expected to assimilate this without question or further intellectual processing. If we point out the obvious, we are either ignored, dismissed as insane – a favorite tactic of neocons such as Newt Gingrich – or accused of aiding and abetting the enemies of freedom.

Seal Team Six slaughter! Sending a message in Afghanistan - YouTube

This is an interesting video. Has bad language but you can tell he is passionate.
Seal Team Six slaughter! Sending a message in Afghanistan - YouTube

SEAL TEAM 6 MURDERED!-Sources Reveal - YouTube

SEAL TEAM 6 MURDERED!-Sources Reveal - YouTube

PressTV - Small town retirees face heavy pension cuts

PressTV - Small town retirees face heavy pension cuts: The city of Central Falls, Rhode Island says they are so broke they had to give their retirees a dreaded ultimatum - give up 50% of your pension or risk losing it all. Infowars.com



The ultimatum has been given as part of an overall restructuring plan for the city in which broad sweeping sacrifices and deep budget cuts are being made across the board in order to close the gap on the city's $80 million dollar budget shortfall.

Gallup Finds The Part Of America That Believes The Economy Is Doing Well

Gallup Finds The Part Of America That Believes The Economy Is Doing Well: Yes, it seems that the one and only place in America where anyone has any confidence in the economy also happens to be Washington, D.C., home to political elites, the media that covers them, the people who win the relevant contracts and the people who feather their nests lobbying for the laws that impact the other United (in their lack of economic confidence) States Of America.

Consumer fear over economy stalls sales - CBS News

Consumer fear over economy stalls sales - CBS News: Wal-Mart stores account for more than 11 percent of this country's retail sales. But CEO Mike Duke said his customers are stretched, struggling and worried about jobs.

It showed in Wal-Mart's second-quarter sales -- down nine-tenths of one percent -- their ninth-straight quarterly drop.

Add to that another report out that says sales at U.S. chain stores overall fell one-and a-half percent last week -- the third-straight weekly decline. CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod reports on how a cutback in consumer spending is threatening the recovery.

From televisions to townhouses, consumer fear of the future is stalling sales.

"The pace of sales was slower than we ordinarily would like to see them," said New Jersey developer Russ Lupino.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

» Why is George Soros selling gold and buying farmland? Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Why is George Soros selling gold and buying farmland? Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

Obama calls for tax hikes, blasts GOP - Washington Times

They are all a bunch of crooks. I say throw both parties out!


Obama calls for tax hikes, blasts GOP - Washington Times: "CANNON FALLS, Minn. — President Obama launched a Midwestern bus tour devoted to the economy Monday by again calling for tax increases and accusing Republicans who oppose his plans of failing to put the “country first.”

Several hours away in Iowa, Texas Gov. Rick Perry wolfed down hard-boiled eggs on a stick at the Iowa State Fair and pointed the finger right back at Mr. Obama, saying the president has burdened the economy with taxes, regulation and spending, and vowed to undo Mr. Obama’s signature achievement of enacting a health care law."

Inside the Beltway - Washington Times

Inside the Beltway - Washington Times: "But wait. Though the excursion is packaged with humble appeal, it looks like nobody’s sleeping on the bus. The White House has reserved the entire historic Hotel Winneshiek in Decorah, Iowa, and 60 rooms at nearby Luther College, and that’s just one stop on the tour."

Rosenberg Sees U.S. Recession Risk in `Anemic' Economy - The Washington Post

Rosenberg Sees U.S. Recession Risk in `Anemic' Economy - The Washington Post
Am I the only one that thinks we are already in a double dip?????

Warren Buffett on the two dangers to U.S. economy (video) - BlogPost - The Washington Post

Warren Buffett on the two dangers to U.S. economy (video) - BlogPost - The Washington Post

I think 84% of Americans have already lost faith!

Wow! The Economy Seems Great! (But Only if You Live in D.C.)

No Big surprise here!

Wow! The Economy Seems Great! (But Only if You Live in D.C.): "According to a new Gallup poll, the District of Columbia is the only place in the country where a majority of people think the economy is improving (60 percent, in fact). In every state in the union, most people say the economy is getting worse."

» Disapproval of Congress Hits All Time High of 84% Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Disapproval of Congress Hits All Time High of 84% Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: "Disapproval of Congress has hit an all time record high of 84% according to a Gallup poll released today, barely a week after pollster Pat Caddell warned that a dramatic loss of confidence in the country’s leadership meant Americans were now “pre-revolutionary”."

Monday, August 15, 2011

While Not in Panic Mode, Agency Execs Monitoring Economy Closely | Adweek

While Not in Panic Mode, Agency Execs Monitoring Economy Closely | Adweek: "n an 'are-you-worried-about-the-economy' scale of 1 to 10 (10 being a repeat of the 2008 meltdown), agency chiefs are more worried than not that the glitchy economy will hurt their business through the rest of this year and into the early quarters in 2012."

PressTV - Quick News: Fannie Mae survey shows 64% pessimistic on US economy

PressTV - Quick News: Fannie Mae survey shows 64% pessimistic on US economy

Obama Says Debt Fight Created More Uncertainty - Bloomberg

Obama Says Debt Fight Created More Uncertainty - Bloomberg: "President Barack Obama said the standoff in Washington over the debt ceiling damaged the economy by creating more uncertainty about the nation’s direction and stalling work on measures to boost jobs and growth.

“We have a political culture that doesn’t seem willing to make the tough choices to move America forward,” Obama said at a town-hall event in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, the opening leg of a three-day trip in the Midwest.

The president is seeking to reassure anxious voters that he has a plan to prop up the ailing economy when his ability to deliver on the necessary prescriptions is anything but certain.

He mostly reiterated a familiar set of plans: renewal of a 2-percentage-point cut in the payroll tax for workers and extended unemployment benefits, both set to expire Dec. 31; establishment of an infrastructure bank to fund public works spending; ratification of free-trade deals; and overhauling patent law."

GERALD CELENTE BLOG: Prodding For Business

GERALD CELENTE BLOG: Prodding For Business

GERALD CELENTE BLOG: Prodding For Business

GERALD CELENTE BLOG: Prodding For Business

» Half Of Americans Believe Austerity Will Lead To Violent Unrest Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Half Of Americans Believe Austerity Will Lead To Violent Unrest Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: "If the situation is allowed to spiral out of control and the “post-industrial revolution” unfolds quicker and more unwieldy than anticipated, the global elite may find themselves with an entirely different kind of revolution on their hands – one led by the people against the corrupt plutocrats intent on exploiting the suffering they masterminded in the move towards an authoritarian one world government."

In China, anger rises as the economy falls - Los Angeles Times

In China, anger rises as the economy falls - Los Angeles Times: "Laid-off toy company workers smash windows and computers and overturn police cars in Guangdong province. Employees of a liquor company in Harbin travel to their company's Beijing headquarters to demand back wages. Taxi drivers, as many as 20,000 of them, scuffle with police in protests that have spread into seven provinces."
 The economic downturn is hitting hardest in places like Dongguan, where factories once churned out toys, shoes and clothing to satisfy the seemingly insatiable demand of American consumers. Now demand has plunged because of the U.S. recession and the scandals over tainted foods and dangerous toys produced in China.

» The Tuidang Movement: 100 Million Chinese Renounce Communist Party Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» The Tuidang Movement: 100 Million Chinese Renounce Communist Party Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: "Meanwhile, millions of peaceful Chinese citizens are monitored, arrested, and tortured to death, because the CCP considers their religious beliefs to be a threat to its rule."

» Whither Sarkozy’s ‘ancien regime’? Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Whither Sarkozy’s ‘ancien regime’? Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

Under Scrutiny, Perry Walks Back HPV Decision — Rick Perry | The Texas Tribune

Under Scrutiny, Perry Walks Back HPV Decision — Rick Perry | The Texas Tribune

Thursday, August 11, 2011

» Police surround NY Federal Reserve after ‘End the Fed Flash Mob’ Facebook post Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Police surround NY Federal Reserve after ‘End the Fed Flash Mob’ Facebook post Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» U.S. Wants to Know Why China Needs Aircraft Carrier Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» U.S. Wants to Know Why China Needs Aircraft Carrier Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Analysis of Financial Terrorism in America Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

» Analysis of Financial Terrorism in America Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!


The American public has sustained intensive economic attacks across broad segments of the population. While the attacks have been increasingly severe in scale over the past four years, they have been implemented with technocratic precision. They have been incrementally applied thus far, successfully keeping the population passive and avoiding any large-scale civilian unrest, while effectively reducing living standards for the majority of the population. As you will see in this report, the 55 million Americans that have been hit the hardest have thus far acquiesced due to temporary financial assistance, such as food stamps and extended unemployment benefits.

Poll: Majority of public has lost faith in government ability to fix economy - The Washington Post

Poll: Majority of public has lost faith in government ability to fix economy - The Washington Post


The Associated Press: Stocks resume sell-off; Dow finishes down 519

The Associated Press: Stocks resume sell-off; Dow finishes down 519 The fear is that if European governments default on their bonds, it will hurt the European banks that own them. That could start a chain reaction that hurts the United States, because large U.S. banks own European bank debt

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Bernanke Gets Hammered, Tells Truth About US Economy









August 3, 2011
Yes, this is from the Onion. But in this surreal, centrally planned by none other than Ben Bernanke reality, the mirror in mirror effect is extremely disturbing.
Drunken Ben Bernanke Tells Everyone At Neighborhood Bar How Screwed U.S. Economy Really Is
SEWARD, NE—Claiming he wasn’t afraid to let everyone in attendance know about “the real mess we’re in,” Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke reportedly got drunk Tuesday and told everyone at Elwood’s Corner Tavern about how absolutely fucked the U.S. economy actually is.
Bernanke, who sources confirmed was “totally sloshed,” arrived at the drinking establishment at approximately 5:30 p.m., ensconced himself upon a bar stool, and consumed several bottles of Miller High Life and a half-dozen shots of whiskey while loudly proclaiming to any patron who would listen that the economic outlook was “pretty goddamned awful if you want the God’s honest truth.”
“Look, they don’t want anyone except for the Washington, D.C. bigwigs to know how bad shit really is,” said Bernanke, slurring his words as he spoke. “Mounting debt exacerbated—and not relieved—by unchecked consumption, spiraling interest rates, and the grim realities of an inevitable worldwide energy crisis are projected to leave our entire economy in the shitter for, like, a generation, man, I’m telling you.”
“And hell, as long as we’re being honest, I might as well tell you that a truer estimate of the U.S. unemployment rate is actually up around 16 percent, with a 0.7 percent annual rate of economic growth if we’re lucky—if we’re lucky,” continued Bernanke, nearly knocking a full beer over while gesturing with his hands. “Of course, if everybody knew that, it would likely cripple financial markets across the entire fucking globe, even in various emerging economies with self- sustaining growth.”
After launching into an extended 45-minute diatribe about shortsighted moves by “those bastards in Congress” that could potentially exacerbate the nation’s already deeply troublesome budget imbalance, the Federal Reserve chairman reportedly bought a round of tequila shots for two customers he had just met who were seated on either side of him, announcing, “I love these guys.”
Numerous bar patrons slowly nodded in agreement as Bernanke went on to suggest the United States could pass three or four more stimulus packages and “it wouldn’t even matter.”
“You think that’s going to create long-term economic growth, let alone promote job creation?” Bernanke said. “We’re way beyond that, my friend. There are no jobs, okay? There’s nothing. I think that calls for another drink, don’t you?”
While using beer bottles and pretzel sticks in an attempt to explain to the bartender the importance of infusing $650 billion into the bond market, the inebriated Fed chairman nearly fell off his stool and had to be held up by the patron sitting next to him.
Another bargoer confirmed Bernanke stood about 2 inches from her face and sprayed her with saliva, claiming inflation was going to “totally screw” consumer confidence and then asking if he could bum a smoke.
Read full article

U.S. outlook casts shadow over world economy: Reuters poll

A trader stands outside the New York Stock Exchange following the end of the trading day, August 4, 2011. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
BANGALORE | Tue Aug 9, 2011 3:02pm EDT
(Reuters) - The chances of another U.S. recession are rising and Europe's recovery is also at risk, according to the latest Reuters poll, taken during the worst stock market selloff since the nadir of the financial crisis.
The latest survey of more than 200 economists, published four years to the day that credit markets first started to dry up, showed analysts cutting forecasts for U.S. growth, a reflection of widespread concern the global economy is slowing rapidly.
Punishing losses in world financial markets, culminating in widespread carnage in risky assets this week following Standard & Poor's downgrade of U.S. sovereign debt, suggest sentiment has soured -- and decisively.
"The world doesn't look particularly rosy at the moment. There's no question about that," said Mark Miller, senior international economist at Lloyds Banking Group.
"The equity market reaction over the last few days is a particular concern. It doesn't point toward a strong pickup in investment activity, which is needed in many countries."
World stocks, as measured by the MSCI, crashed into a bear market on Tuesday, falling 20 percent since May after days of punishing losses that have wiped away trillions of dollars in company equity around the globe.
While economists are still clinging to hopes for better days, the consensus for 2.3 annualized U.S. growth in the current quarter -- slashed from 3.1 percent -- will not be enough to turn around the moribund labor market.
The forecasts come just hours before the Federal Reserve -- now expected to hold rates near zero through this year and next -- meets to set policy.
But investors and market speculators hoping for a third round of bond purchases, or quantitative easing (QE3), after $2.3 trillion already doled out, may be disappointed.
The poll found there is only a 30 percent chance that will happen, even though the probability that the world's largest economy sinks into a second recession has risen to one-in-four, from one-in-five just a month ago.
Seven of 40 economists now see at least a 50 percent chance of more QE, compared with just one of 46 in a poll taken two months ago.
Earlier on Tuesday, China reported industrial output growth, the engine of the world's second-largest economy, slowed in July while inflation unexpectedly shot up, a reminder that all is not well in Asia either.
Prospects for Europe are darkening too, even though Germany, the continent's largest economy, has remained a bulwark of economic and fiscal strength through the recovery.
But economists seem even more reluctant to acknowledge that a sovereign debt crisis that started in Athens, spread to Dublin and Lisbon and is now circling Madrid and threatening Rome, will do much more than delay a broader euro zone recovery.
While the latest euro zone purchasing managers' indexes suggest the recovery, led by France and Germany, is grinding to a halt, the Reuters consensus merely slipped to 0.3 percent growth from 0.4 percent for the current quarter.
And while a majority of euro zone money market traders polled by Reuters on Monday said it was a bad idea for the European Central Bank to begin raising interest rates in April, economists still see one more hike, to 1.75 percent, this year.
For Britain, where the capital's police cells are full and other cities across the country are reeling from the worst riots in decades, the economic outlook is also turning down, particularly for 2012, when London hosts the Olympic games.
That is also when the government's planned dramatic spending cuts, to plug a huge hole in the budget thanks to British bank bailouts and the deepest recession since World War Two, will be in full swing.
Economists still see 0.5 percent growth in the current quarter, following a nine-month period of essentially no growth. But economists have pushed back the timing of the first rate hike by one quarter for the fourth straight month.
The first move up in the Bank Rate, which the Bank of England has held at a more than 300-year low of 0.5 percent since early 2009, is not expected until the second quarter of next year.
The chances of a second round of QE in Britain rose to 30 percent this month, from 25 percent a few weeks ago and 20 percent about a month ago. The BoE completed the first 200 billion pounds of purchases early last year.
"It is looking ever more likely that a further round of QE will take place," said Rob Harbron at CEBR, an independent forecasting company.
Japan, still reeling from its worst natural disaster since World War Two and a persisting nuclear crisis, is set to emerge from recession in the current quarter.
Economists have generally been more optimistic on Japan's prospects because of an expected reconstruction boost.
But a strong yen -- which due to its safe-haven status is now trading close to a post-war high against the dollar set in March, despite intervention by the Japanese authorities -- is likely to hamper its export-reliant economy.
(Polling and analysis by the Bangalore Polling Unit, Jason Lange in Washington, Kaori Kaneko in Tokyo, Andy Bruce and Jonathan Cable in London; Writing by Ross Finley; Editing by Susan Fenton)