Showing posts with label Federal Reserve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Federal Reserve. Show all posts

Mar 14, 2011

Paper Money and Their Emptiness. Debt-based Economics, Financial Recessions, Central Banks, Capitalism, Socialism, Democracy – Is There a Solution to this Gordian Knot?



Capitalism is a financial system that is meant to be an opposite to Socialism, or more like the other way around. Now, it is indeed a bit confusing to say so, since the former is a financial theory, whereas the latter is a political system. Of course, in practice, these two are completely entangled and they can't really exist independently from one another. The financial and the political systems in general, that is.

Socialism is thought to have its roots in the 19th Century and the socio-political theories of the German philosopher Karl Marx. Actually, Marx's philosophy is established as Marxism and is also recognized to be a foundation to Communism. Ever since the Bolshevik revolution and especially the Cold War, Communism is regarded as a totalitarian evil and the very word of it brings about feelings of resentment.

History is a complex topic and certainly not a straighforward one, not to mention that it is shrouded in a lot of myst and propaganda, also historic events too often are distorted through the subjective interpretations of the different view points. So, when one reads history, he or she should always keep in mind that this is the subjective interpretation of a source and that there are other layers and viewpoints to it as well.

Karl Marx and his close like-minded friend Friedrich Engels aspired to a better world, where class-based society with its inequalities would become a thing of the past. They also revolted against the exploitation of the working class by the capitalists and saw religion and religious authorities as equally abusive towards the ignorant believers, in large parts because religion had a long tradition of supporing class-based societies and protecting the "divine rights" of kings and emperors. Their communist philosophy envisioned a society where there will be freedom and equality, higher consciousness, responsibility and solidarity among people. In some part, their philosophy is quite sound, in theory. In practice, however, things turned out to be very different. Just as any other beautiful theory regarding economic and political workings of a society.

In practice, what the Bolsheviks and subsequently the USSR created was a totalitarian rule, which they all labeled as "communism" and also "socialism". I don't quite agree with the interchangeability of these two terms, because of their etymology. Communism comes from community, to commune. This term expresses the core concept of a classless society that Marxism envisioned. While Socialism roots itself from Society, social, with an "ism" attached, meaning "power to the people", as opposed to "power to the kings and rulers". From here on things get complicated and volumous.

On the one hand, humanity simply isn't advanced enough so that we may completely eradicate feudal elements, as in ruling class over a majority of people mass. Such a social form isn't impossible, but it involves a society consisted of individuals of a wholly different level of intellect, culture, behavior and so on. Such a society cannot be created with a social mass of ignorant, selfish, narrow-mined, basic, low cultured and so on and so on "average" people, even less so average peasants (as with the case of the Bolshevik revolution). On the other hand, having the above prerequisite in mind, the Bolshevik's and subsequently all communists never intended to create any such "utopian" society, they simply used people's ignorance, naivete and the "spirit of the era", which was buzzing with worker's being fed up with the old capitalist-feudal order. They exploited the masses to overthrow the monarchy and set up a new monarchy of their own. As George Orwell's satire "Animal Farm" eloquently portrays. Watch an animated adaptation of his book here.

Since the striking contrast between what "Communism" was thought to be like and what it was became obvious, the whole philosophy was condemned as no good. When in reality, there was Leninism, Stalinism and Totalitarianism. What I see as more disturbing is that the term "Socialism", as well as its root Social, went along in the category of highly undesirable things to have. And many people today perceive the term Socialism as somehow related to Dictatorship. A perception readily exploited by other forms of government today, who, more or less, are back to feudal-capitalism-like forms of social order.

In conclusion, communism turned barbaric and totalitarian because The Human Element bares these qualities and infuses them in everything the human element gets involved with, thus distorting beautiful theories into ugly practices. Just like the so called "Democracy" and, of course, "Capitalism" in all of their various forms.

Modern capitalism, promotes private ownership, ideally with no government ownership at all, encourages deregulated trade and production (free market) and is generally against social policies of any kind, like benefits, free (or cheap) health care, pension funds and so on. Democracy is some highly unclear term, that incorporates in itself various "schools of thought", economic and political practices. The average person thinks that Democracy means the right to vote, which is a highly simplistic and ignorant perception, not to mention naïve.

Democracy indeed is based on people's right to choose their government, from the choices they are given, of course. Democracy also means that the government or ruling party must take into account the opinion of the majority of people in the form of referendums and local ballots on different issues, laws and decisions to be made. And, the most important and central element in true Democracy is a predominant Middle Class of educated people who have reasonable income and actively participate with reason, knowledge and sense in those referendums and public debates.

If we look around the "advanced" modern societies it would be difficult to say if the Democratic model is truly the prevailent one. Yes, people have equal rights today, but these rights can be infringed quite often, with or without people's consent. Propaganda and projection of false perceptions are still widely in use by any government today, as well as social engineering and manufacturing consent. Which are political instruments attributed to dictatorships and totalitarian forms of rule, not democracies. In theory, of course. There are barely any referendums on important legislations, laws and decisions that the so called "Democratic" governments make. And, finally, the all-important-middle class is slowly disappearing.

So, in practice, it doesn't really seem like there is true Democracy anywhere. There is capitalism, that promotes a social structure based on a small percentage of super rich and a large portion of poor, a social structure, quite similar to the way feudal societies were. Maybe with the subtle difference that today the peasants are allowed to take bank loans and have the illusion of wealth, for a while. There is still a lot of exploitation in the working place, propaganda and wide-spread ignorance, which is encouraged by the popular culture, because dumb people are simply easier to manipulate.

In the last century, financial crises are the norm, today, the theory, even describes them as "economic cycles", a natural thing, you see. Just as there is life and death in the Universe. And just as natural as it was for communism to turn into a totalitarianism. In case the reader is missing the point, the natural element is the human element.

Financial recessions are created by speculation on the stock exchange and the bank credits. By means of CDSs, Derivatives and other financial instruments in use. In other words, financial recessions are created by human greed, selfishness and irrational desire for more money, much, much more than one can ever spend. But there is more to it all. Central Banks had positioned themselves, well, as central in the economy of all "advanced", and not so advanced societies. Nearly every country today has a privately owned central bank. Central banks issue the printing of money, bank notes, and also regulate economic cycles by manipulating interest rates, currency rates and the quantity of money there are in a given economy.

For instance, when there is inflation (that is too much money units are in use in the economy, so that the worth of the individual note goes down, which in turn raises prices and lowers profits for big corporations) the central banks responds by increasing interest rates. Which supposedly would make people spend less, presuming that they will buy on credit. Or, after a financial recession, the central banks lower interest rates, to lure people into purchasing more (they call it "stimulating the economy"), presuming that the people are stupid enough not to suspect that the low interest rates will not stay low forever. Another "economic stimulus" that the almighty and all-knowing Central Banks utilize is Quantative Easing, that is they print a bunch of cash, usually in the billions, and inject it into the economy, so that it may help ease the tight economic situation.

Here comes a funny thing. There is this "economic phenomenon" called Stagflation. (stagnation + inflation). That is, prices rise a.k.a there is inflation and in the same time there is high unemployment, which presumably means that people aren't spending so much so to create inflation. Wow, what could be causing this *phenomenon* ? Could it be that the central bank is pumping empty cash (not covered by any real value, like commodity, resource, gold, silver, human lives) into the economy, thus diluting the money mass and consequently lowering the value of the individual bank note unit.. ? So that, when the value of a bank note unit goes down, prices go up in order to make up for the lost value.

By the way, the central banks are tricky institutions and they can manipulate the currency values as well. So another phenomenon occurs this way – a national currency that has a higher value than it actually should have. Or a lower one in that matter, depending on the goal of this strategy. So that is how the Federal Reserve, for instance, pumps 600 billion dollars (as in QE) into the dollar notes mass and yet the rate of the US dollar currency had steadily risen in the past few months. Isn't this magic! It is amazing how irrational modern economy can be. Just as the human element behind it.

Watch this highly provocative short documentary. The title is

  • The American Dream By The Provocateur Network




So, here is the basic scheme of the Debt-based Economy.
The Federal Reserve, which is a private bank, lends to the US government whatever sum of money (with interest) they need for their political deeds, campaigns, propaganda, ads and so on, government expenditures. The FED calls this "Bond Buying", another deceptive term. If it isn't a deception to say that you are buying something that doesn't exist (yet) with empty papers (printed by the Fractional Reserve System scheme). By now, it is highly doubtful what really is the fraction of this reserve at all – is it 1:9, is 1:90, is it 1:900…?! The most outrageous thing of it all is that if I decide to print some money for myself, the Central Bank will condemn this criminal act as "Counterfeiting". Shocking.

Anyway. In return to the Central Bank's Bond-Buying, the Government signs a contract to repay the loan ( because practically the central bank loans money to the Gvrnmnt ) in time. The way governments repay these loans are, basically, by taxing the populace. The more the government loans money form its central bank, the more it increases the various taxes that the population is obliged to pay. Crazy, isn't it? Very much. And you thought that all these money from taxes went for the collective benefit of building infrastructure, social benefits and so on. Not quite.

Here is another educational documentary that covers the issues in the above short, but in more detail and retrospective. The title is

  • The Money Masters (1995)




"Isn't it bewildering how many people just live through their lives, completely oblivious? Worrying about their trivial troubles of love, salary, relationship issues and gossip from around the entertainment industry." (comment in youtube)

I think we should majorly rethink our knowledge of history. Which makes me think again on just how much propaganda and crap is studied in schools and universities. All those young and pumped up with eagerness individuals coming out with their degrees, thinking they understand it all. When they have been simply manipulated, programmed even, to seamlessly pour into the predetermined channels of the social and economic systems. When we need change, change of paradigms. New ways of thinking and new ways of doing. We need revolution, mostly in our minds. People with revolutionary thinking, not social units content with their degrees and knowledge who will continue the old ways over and over again. We need to question the paradigms and make it a cultural norm. Only then true cultural progress and advancement will be achieved.

A true Age of Reason, of harmony, responsibility and collective prosperity in knowledge, science, medicine.. without wars and primitive retardedness. Higher education as common as primary education is today in the world. Higher awareness and deeper consciousness, wisdom and understanding a common acheivement. And no, the world will not end when everything is prosperous and people are advancing intellectually at an increasing pace, we will merely step into an entirely new era of our evolution, that we can't even imagine today.

How long will all this insanity continue in this world, over and over again? How long will people remain stupified, ignorant, narrow minded, short sighted, unaware, blinded and so basic ? What debt?

Since all these money are fictional, then we have a fictional debt to return and we may as well not return it at all! FED what? IMF what? World Bank what?! What are these institutions without people's consent? Nothing.

Two useful links for US citizens:


"A revolution is easy to start... just pull your money out of the banks, walk away from your debts, buy silver and gold, stop shopping at corporations... buy local. They are dependent on our consent." (comment in youtube)

Financial centralization is bad for this world, as well as meta governments. There is still too much primitive motivation in humans for such institutions to be healthy for social prosperity.

We need a sustainable and stable economy, reusable energy and a politically participatory society with war out of the scene. Oh, and a stable population, very important as well. No outrageous population booms, conscious reproduction, well guided with responsibility towards life and nature. Is it impossible?! Will humanity ever brake the chain of primitivity and truly move forward!? Do we need so much money in order for civilization to prosper? Are old dogmas and paradigms disrupting our cultural advancement? How long will humanity exist? Is the Universe infinite? Where is the quantum boundary between your mind and reality itself?! Is there telepathy?! Does anything exist at all?? What is your mind made of? No, really, what is it made of, beyond the atomic? Huh, what? Quarks?! 



Think outside the box. Open your eyes. (R)EVOLUTION



There is no haram, everything is halal. Discipline precedes freedom. Darkness precedes the light. Death precedes life. Ignorance precedes knowledge. Forget everything you know and learn it a new.

"This is not a doctrine, but an observation of the world. To say that Nothing is True, means that we must be the shepherds of our own civilization. To say that Everything is Permitted means that we are the architects of our own actions and we must bear responsibility for them."
Ezio 

Alexander the Great didn't spend much time in thinking sophisticated ways of solving the Gordian Knot. He just drew his sword and slashed it. I don't know what that means.






Do read this related article in the blog as well:


I also recommend that you watch these documentaries, related to the topics discussed above:


    And these movies:





      Jan 13, 2011

      The Unsustainability of Today's Capitalism and the Imminent Collapse of Debt-Based Economics. Is this the only possible way?



      In the previous episode, the topic of the feudal elements in modern capitalism and the enslavement by central banks cartels was discussed, alongside other problematic areas like "Is liberty dead in USA?". Is it time to officially retire the Statue of Liberty? And replace it with a huge advertisement of, say, Bank of America or a big banner flashing "The IRS wants YOU".

      The most obvious difference between civilization today and civilization one thousand years ago is technology and mass production. There are certain other subtle differences among more advanced societies, like heightened sense of moral and ethics, better individual self-control, education at large, more rational understanding, respect for life and equal rights between men and women. However, it is not rare when such seemingly higher culture turns out to be only a public façade, with people behind it being as primitive as their predecessors a millennium ago. For instance, the cases with pedophile professors and politicians, people who should represent the highest of cultural and intellectual standards in society. Not to mention the still persisting differences in salaries for men and women in certain professions and positions. A pitiful situation indeed. As Carl Jung sadly remarks:

      "Even those who serve as teachers and leaders in modern societies are slaves to their unconscious drives and primitive motivators"

      That is, apart from cultural advancement, modern society lacks public recognition for the need of mental advancement and raising social standards in this respect, as well. However the pressing importance of this topic, among others, I'll turn attention to another serious issue in our global society that needs to be recognized sooner, nevertheless. It is the topic of the strange workings of debt-based economics and feudal ways of capitalism, their effects on society, the political deception and propaganda in these respects and the overall unsustainability of this model that will lead to very serious social unrests in the foreseeable future.

      Capitalism is at the core of current economic systems around the world, more or less barbaric. The barbarism in capitalism is in the abusive ways corporations work, both towards the environment and workers, all to increase profits and decrease expenditures. The highly unjust distribution of money leads to social tension, all because human greed has no rational limitations. And what is this money? Means of exchange. What are those papers that we use to trade and exchange our labor for? Increasingly, just paper. Does the world need so many of them papers, in order to develop and prosper? I don't think so.

      Paper money, once, had a value denominated in Gold or Silver hard matter. The more gold a country had, the more money it could produce. However, the Fractional Reserve system of central banks increasingly depletes paper money of any actual value, so that a paper note is worth just another paper note of the same denomination. Nothing really, that is. It is an extremely weird situation and the bee hive, of sort, of such empty papers is, you might have guessed it, United States of America. The last financial recession began from there and spread around the world. This is because central banks are interconnected, global trade and also because the US dollar has been enforced, or more like deceptively negotiated, to be a main reserve currency to many countries around the world. And also is one of the main reasons why the US dollar still is able to maintain a certain value. Considering the artificial ways of financial growth that the US Federal Reserve has been applying in the past 80 years and more.

      The Fractional Reserve Requirement in the past, has been guided by some rational regulations. For instance, you can issue 9 fictional dollars covered on 1 real one, that is covered on, say a gold coin. Today, regulations are increasingly being removed, declared as evil and enemies to pure capitalism.

      So, if we take this correlation and apply it to the US economy, one can say that the real productivity is 10% and the rest 90% are debt?! This means, that this debt can never be repaid and financial crises will only grow deeper and more severe. How can we have severe financial crisis based on virtual money?! What will happen if all those money are simply deleted, burned, destroyed away from circulation? ...

      So, money turn out to be some kind of fictional value exchange notes. In the past, a paper bill represented the value, say in gold and silver, of a physical asset the paper holder had. But today, a bill virtually represents nothing. The wildest thing is that in the 16th Century, when the Fractional Reserve system began, and forward, European trade developed on virtually empty notes that had no real asset cover. And that development boomed and flourished. The inevitable conclusion here is that the world doesn't really need all those paper money in order to develop its markets and production. So weird, it is amazing. It is amazing how banks can give you "real" money that you can actually spend for whatever in exchange of some signed paper check, for instance. Such a twisted scheme. lol I have to say that banking is some kind of magic. Making money out of nothing. Brilliant. The dream of every alchemist from the past.

      US banking system and that of many other countries in the world turns out to be mostly Debt-based. Everybody owns money to someone else and that someone else owns money to yet someone else else and so on. The USA was indeed a land of freedom originally (if we don't take into account the genocide of the local population), however with the creation of the US Federal Reserve in 1913 this freedom began to loose its grounds. And why is the US Fed Res labeled as "Federal" anyway, when it is a private bank that lends money to the US government, rather than being owned by the US govrnmnt?

      It's all a big show, a game of deceit and deception. It's pretty huge, pretty serious and really awesome to behold. How easy it is to manipulate large masses of otherwise normal, not mentally retarded, even intelligent individuals. And indeed this is the strangest thing. How and why people let themselves be manipulated?

      The financial crisis involving lots of people loosing their homes that took place in 2008 was well known and discussed by dissident economists way back in 1995. I recall in one particular documentary "The Money Masters" made in 1995 where some of the interviewees warn of this upcoming crisis in plain, direct speech. Of course, the common people never take interest in such boring documentaries and prefer to switch to American Idol or some idiotic reality show. So, it is their own ignorance that led them to loosing their homes, their bad. Continue to be sheep-minded, oh mighty common people, until you get ripped off completely, so that you may finally wake up from your intellectual slumber.

      If you ask an average American about the Federal Reserve, they will be quite unable to tell you anything about it. They think it is federal and that this federal bank actually helps American economy. And the main stream media assures that this perception is sustained in the way they serve news. For example, here is a recent news title "The Fed not backing down on bond buying" as if this is something very positive and even sacrificial that the FED does in order to help, you see. When in reality, this is just a financial scheme to ensure long-term profits, for the FED, and long-term financial burden for the average American.

      The Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves. It is not a lie to say that American people have given up their constitution and their Liberty with it. Most of them just don't realize it yet. This moment of realization will surely come though.

      There are so many controversies in the United States, so many secrets, cover ups and unanswered questions, I simply can't believe that American society is so tranquil, so tranquilized. They must be putting some sort of sedative in the water supply (or else, the average American person IQ really is around 80). And the US shouldn't name their political system "Democracy", it's something else, but not Democracy.

      This entire financial system is very wrong and unsustainable. It will turn into a black hole at some point, this is inevitable. And who's to blame?

      Ordinary, working-class people, in the end, are the ultimate victims of capitalism. They have been cleverly deceived into taking those sub-prime mortgages on the one hand, but on the other hand, all those people have fallen victims to their own ignorance. Their own financial ignorance and naivity. They didn't read the fine script and didn't really thought in perspective, like "How much will I have to pay when the initial low-rate period ends?" that has been confusingly specified somewhere in between that fine script.
      So, there are two sides in this problem - the big banker's deception and wall street risk-takers' greed and on the other side all those consumers' personal ignorance and lack of sober thought on just how much they can actually afford. Thus, everybody is guilty, everyone in their own way. 

      In the end, capitalism may be a very positive idea on theory, but on practice, just as every other bright idea, is twisted by the primitive ways of the human element. It's human's, and in particular, men's irrationality in their instinctive drive to dominate, that destabilizes the whole system.

      So, is the current version of Capitalism and Democracy the only possible frames for societies? There are actually some economists who think these two are in a way "the end of the line" as in the best possible solutions. Right, just the average human narrow-mindedness speaking, I'll say. Human is such a strange creature - a bag of hardwired instincts and yet a dynamic consciousness. Intelligent and yet dull, a shallow intelligence that is the current educational standard. And so on.

      Who knows what the future will bring. It may as well be a big huge asteroid putting an end to human misery, lol.



      Nov 21, 2010

      Freedom or Delusion? The Feudal Elements in Modern Capitalism. Enslaved by Debt-Based Economics. A Wake Up Call on the Verge of a Revolution and/or Total Collapse



      Shilled into Capitalistic ideology. We, modern people, tend to think that Feudalism is a thing of the past. That today in our advanced societies we enjoy freedoms and rights, not accessible to our unfortunate predecessors. Yes, today individuals in modern societies do enjoy new-found freedoms that were unthinkable before. Like gender equality, right to assembly and public protests, freedom to express your opinion, to trade and generally live your life the way you feel like living it. Of course, all those freedoms and rights do come with certain clauses and prepositions attached. The truth is, that all of the above are still emerging and although constitutionally accepted, those rights are not fully applied in practice. They are more or less fictional and formal, even though the average consumer may not see it this way. Perhaps, the biggest illusion in today’s world is that there is a Democracy. When in reality, there is Capitalism, which is the modern form of Feudalism.

      History is a complex and entangled topic. But in history are the roots that laid today’s world. Due to a complexity of reasons, USA, with its economic ideology of Capitalistic prosperity and the American Dream, has placed itself as a world standard for social advancement, serving as an example for emerging economies. And despite all of its numerous flaws, a lot of governments do strive to follow in its footsteps, including ours, here in Bulgaria. Which I find a wrong thing to do. Indeed, whether due to a lack of alternatives or because of the short-sightedness of people in power, American Capitalism and US society had established as a world role model. But, hasn't this role model proved to be wrong?

      In reality, USA was a land of prosperity and freedom, in the past. Today, it has turned into a highly exploitative system that completely excludes the “social” element and a global military aggressor. United States sits on old glory, because today’s reality is much different than the image they still project onto the world. In fact, USA is the world leader in hypocrisy and cynicism. Reprimanding corrupt foreign governments, when the US government works for corporations, instead for the people. Speaking against terrorism and military aggression, when the US foreign policy is one of the most terror-oriented and aggressive in the world. Talking about Global Warming and environment preservation, when US corporations are some of the major pollutants and destroyers of environment both on US territory and abroad.

      Abusing non-renewable resources, as if the end of the world is just around the corner. Producing enormous amounts of waste, both organic and synthetic, that spill into rivers, oceans and all nature. The entire concept of perpetually expanding economic growth is wrong and unsustainable. A virtual economic prosperity, that still remains unexposed, but will not remain like this forever. Why virtual? Because, it is debt-based.

      It is a strange thing that USA imports much more, than they export. Yet, Americans can afford a rather higher standard of life on the average. This is a controversy. And this is where the American credit system comes in the scene.

      The land of the debt, where the average citizen has 8 credit cards and about a thousand dollars of debt on each one of those plastics. Americans are spending beyond their means and this situation puts American economy ahead of its actual GDP, thus this higher standard of living is somewhat artificially created with a lot of blink. The average American has higher rate of spending, than making money.

      There are much unhealthy elements in the way US society ended up being set. Not to mention high rates of obesity, probably highest in the world, and GMO food treated with highly toxic chemicals (produced by Monsanto, the same Monsanto who produced Agent Orange for the Vietnam war) with side effects yet to be established, such as endocrine disruptive ones, both for humans and animals alike.

      It may seem a great thing to be American, but is this only the façade? Behind the glamour there are shady mechanisms at work. Liberty, it seems, has been lost somewhere on the way.

      Americans, today, are enslaved by corporations and banks. Banks lure people in taking credits with overwhelming advertisements, great offers and discounts, counting on the average person’s ignorance. Terms and clauses are intentionally complicated and written so that contracts be as less clear to the consumer as possible. Government, on the other hand, makes sure it keeps propaganda up, motivating society to be good consumers. However, the average American doesn’t make enough money to be that good a consumer, that is why they need to spend on credit, in order to fulfill the consumer-quota required from them. Modern consumerism, on the whole, is based on deception and misleading. A legalized fraud. Unfortunately, this model propagates itself overseas as well. For instance, here in Bulgaria, six years ago there were no mortgage credits, there were no credit advertisements on TV and on street banners. And today, already there are lots and lots of people in debt, caught in the spider web of banks and debt economics.

      Banks use various strategies to keep their customers well in debt. They gladly would refinance your mortgage, so that you may fail to pay it off this time. They would even reprimand you, if you pay off your credit too fast. They don’t like you when you pay on time, thus avoiding interest. Ideally, banks want you to make minimal monthly payments forever. And, don’t worry, you can always go bankrupt and balance out your credit bills.

      While, I’m not sure if all that bank credit system is such a bad thing after all. Since, if there were no credits available to the average working individual, the whole consumer-based society wouldn’t be possible. Not at these rates at least. But, what about the social side-effects of this aggressive Capitalism? What about the continuing and growing trends of inhumane practices of corporations, like sweatshops and death salaries? And what about the complete lack of care about the environment? What about taking responsibility for future generations yet unborn? What legacy are “we” leaving to them? A shattered and poisoned world? Why sustainable economy and renewable production is kept only in theory? Why are corporations waiting for the last drop of oil to dry out, in order to really invest in those new technologies? Greed is a great barrier to social advancement. Among other primitive behavioral patterns of human beings.

      What about the growing inequality between rich and poor? Is the middle class diminishing? Where will that lead? Isn’t it time to officially declare Capitalism a mistake and move forward? Or is it that people must change their mindset first, in order that we move forward.

      The presumption of constantly expanding economy is just irrational, not to mention unsustainable, and it will inevitably turn into a black hole, crushing down under its own weight

      In one speech of his, J.W.Bush says that “Americans enjoy economic independence” Wow, I was truly stunned by this outlandish conclusion, what’s more, the sitting crowds in front of him actually clapped their hands joyfully. Amazing. It is amazing how much appreciation empty words can bring about. Of course, manipulative governments all around the world knew that effect long ago Bush was even born.

      Title: Maxed Out




      I do agree that people's own ignorance and lack of rational thought is the main reason to find themselves in such debt-overwhelmed situations. The banks having lied and deceived them into taking the bait is another element, but not really the main one. I mean, do live within your means people or at least close to it. Time to realize that the American Dream is not wealth that simply falls from the sky, it's about opportunities to earn. However, such opportunities are to be found all over the world today, so it's an old concept overall. And what about Liberty?


      It is a strange thing that there are a lot of movies, articles and analyses over the past decades raising those issues and yet as if all of them are somehow kept on the background, shut and silenced with very little public attention drawn to them, like some kind of dissidents that are unfavorable to the ruling government, because, well, they are too objective and speak the truth. Preposterous.  Here is another documentary related to Freedom and Liberty in USA that I recommend watching, some of the regulations that it criticizes are truly disturbing. Like the ban on growing vegetable in your back yard. I mean, this is a fundamental human right to grow food on Earth, banned. Crazy world. 


      Title: The End of Liberty (2010)

      You can watch it here

      And another one, examining this transition in a historical restrospection and embarking on quite a provoking trip in search of answers from some of the most notorious US institutions. Nearly a century later.. US society still walks oblivious to all this. Watch the following documentary, it is highly recommended and spread the word. Stand up and fight, for your freedom, for your rights!


      Title: America: From Freedom to Fascism (2006) 


      What we see in the above documentary is just gruesome. It is shocking and deeply, deeply disturbing. So ridiculous when people say that "USA is the freest country." Umh, think again. This sounds like the "Americans enjoy economic independence" line of Bush's. Utter and complete hot air words with absolutely no resonance in reality. Yeah, the truth is that Liberty in United States died at the beginning of the 20th Century and it is up to people now to resurrect it back. Say no to self-imposed ignorance! Informed and intelligent is cool. Dumbness is dull (not to mention highly manipulative). Wake up people.



      Title: Stupidity (2003)    


      "Anyone who believes that exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a mad man or an economist" Kenneth Boulding