Trump hysteria, here we go again.

 TRUMPS VERY PRESENCE IS AGAIN EXPOSING MASSIVE CORRUPTION

NO RESTRAINT, NO LIMITS FROM TRUMP HATERS

It is indeed a marvel to watch as the ruling elite not only in the U.S. but around the world have now responded to Trumps win in Iowa with renewed hysteria and fear mongering. Trump is being portrayed as the reincarnation of Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini rolled into one. The great duel pronged political strategy of stoking fear and greed is off the charts. At present it is mostly focused on fear, I suspect we will see the greed later.

It is truly remarkable to watch that the predictions of the end of democracy, elections, a revenge based judiciary and the imprisonment and even execution of adversaries and members of the press all appeared in the major media within hours. There is indeed unhinged and unrestrained hatred and fear of Trump. Just the extremes that they are willing to go to raises the question of what is it they are so afraid of. During Trumps 4 years I don't recall any group, other than illegal immigrants negatively harmed by his policies. I have always suspected it is the fear of the exposure of their own corruption that is at the root of their fear. There must be thousands with very guilty consciences and fear that their corruption will be exposed.

Ironically most of things they predict that Trump will abuse as president is like a list of the things they are already doing, particularly to Trump and his supporters. I suspect they actually do fear that Trump may treat them as they have treated him. The reality is that even after all the "Lock her up" chants at his previous campaigns, as soon as inaugurated, Trump stated, we don't do those things in America and dismissed the idea. It appears they have certainly not given up on the idea for Trump.

It is pretty transparent that the plan of Trump's enemies and opposition has been to not make him a martyr by doing away with him, but adopting the Machiavellian policy of discrediting and disgracing him. It continues to this day, is more outrageous and more transparent in revealing their out of control hatred and fear.

Trumps mere existence has exposed the corruption and evil of the ruling elite, the American people, in growing numbers, are conceding that these people are indeed evil and out of control. They have done more damage to this country, by their extreme reactions, than Trump would or could do to this country.

U.S. dangerously weak on many fronts.

 STRONG NARRATIVE IS NOT REALITY

WHAT MAKES A COUNTRY STRONG?

We see the United States floundering around the world, involved in every dispute and every crisis, expressing the opinion of our leaders that we are the greatest economic and military power in the world and that everyone should fear and respect that imagined reality, the true reality is something else indeed. 

First of all, a strong country would not feel it has to demonstrate to the world that strength. It is in effect a sign of weakness. The United States citizens are now the most divided in its history and we now see a new escalation of hysteria and misinformation with Trump's candidacy. The present power structure is already accusing Trump of all the potential abuses that they are already engaged in, using the judicial system as a weapon, the politicization of every federal agency, even excessive prison terms for their opponents.  

After WW2 the United States was the undisputed greatest manufacturing nation in world history, it produced the wealth and the ability to provide the materials to defeat the enemy in the war. At present, manufacturing is only 11% of our gross domestic product. Our great economy is in fact a lot of smoke and mirrors of wealth, mostly in things that do not create wealth or sustain life. A lot of financial paper shuffling and bloated values. With a$34 trillion debt and deficits ballooning out of control this country may in fact have a lot smaller net worth any one wants to admit. Just keep bellowing how we are the greatest, and all will be well.

Then there is the continual boast that we are greatest and most powerful military in the world. With an $880 billion defense budget, bigger than the next 10 nations combined, including Russia and China we should indeed be the greatest. The reality is we are now behind in recruiting by 25%, our politics has discouraged the traditional backbone of this nations recruits from joining the military. Out of 11 Aircraft carriers only 4 are in serviceable condition. We see that we cannot even produce enough ammunition to maintain an essentially minor conflict in Europe. It is also becoming clear we have invested in very expensive and complicated equipment that requires long training times and a huge maintenance team, something that is usually not available in an actual war, even if you could muster the competent recruits to operate this equipment. A bloated defense budget that refuses to undergo a serious audit and reevaluation of its priorities. No one in Washington wants to really know where all the money has gone.

Our foreign policy is a policy of threats, intimidation, insults and bluster, not the indication of a strong nation. We have intentionally transformed China and Russia from competitors to enemies for political and economic purposes, a reality that may never be corrected. We are stumbling into WW3, and the reality is it may be a conflict that we will be unable to win. The rest of world is viewing this once great country as a tragic display of a lost direction, a lost morality and ongoing slide into irrelevance. Much of the world is based in a more clear view of this country and they realize it is in great trouble and they hope to not be caught up in its coming disaster.

This nation is running out of time, the warning signs have been flashing for years and only a serious effort in restoring this nation to a economic, legal and political responsibility based on sound principles of moral, financial and legal integrity with a real effort to unite in common goals rather division for political advantage. The nation will be changed either by willful repentance and restoration or by the realities brought about by its collapse.

 

Is their still hope, 

Maybe hysterical fear of Russia will help?

 INTELLIGENCE? NOW PREDICTS RUSSIAN ATTACKS ON SWEDEN AND GERMANY

EVEN REVEALING DETAILED PLANS OF ATTACKS

"Oh what a web they weave when they first desire to deceive". It is almost humorous to watch as Sweden has issued warnings to its population that they are now vulnerable to an imminent attack from Russia. They are actually taking steps to prepare for such an event. Meanwhile Germany has leaked documents revealing plans of the details of a Russian attack on Germany. Who is next, Poland, Romania, ot better yet, France. I expect it will be any country that may still have resources that could be provided to Ukraine. It sure seems to be a sign of desperation to gather public support to continue the Ukraine project.

We also see individual countries now arrive in Kiev with a checkbook in hand to pledge a security "guarantee " to provide support to Ukraine in case they are attacked. I thought they were already being attacked. First it was the UK, whose military is a midget compared to Ukraines, next came Canada, and next is supposed to be France. It is still not clear what such a "guarantee" really means and maybe that is the idea. Does anyone really believe that these gestures will intimidate Russia after 2 years of conflict. A conflict that has left the EU countries scrambling to maintain their economies while Russia has been strengthened both economically and militarily.

Will Biden attempt to be next, will he believe he can engage in a treaty of security with Ukraine without Senate approval, by an actual vote to approve such a treaty. Or will this just be another game to blame on Republicans for not granting Ukraine such a guarantee. We can expect the ultimate end of Ukraine will be blamed on others rather on those who gambled it all on Ukraine.

Yesterday there was an interview with a former aid to Zelensky, Oleksiy Arestovych, on UnHerd that is running for the presidency of Ukraine in the next presidential election. If there should be a next election, since all elections have been canceled. Of course, he is now in the United States, since if he actually went to Ukraine he would be arrested for treason. He also better watch his back right here in the USA. His platform will look to enable Ukraine to be a neutral country that will be able to end the war and allow Ukraine a prosperous existence in the future. Something that would have been possible without the outside interference that has caused this disaster.

As the world inches toward WW3, bizarre narratives escalate.

 UK PLEDGES SECURITY GUARANTEE FOR UKRAINE

WHILE UNABLE TO FIND CREW MEMBERS FOR ITS AIRCRAFT CARRIER

Overnight we have seen Iran engaged in missile attacks on U.S. and Israeli bases in Iraq. We also see increased attacks on Yemen by the U.S. and UK. Concern  is growing that it will now take only one major misstep and we will see escalation in Ukraine and the middle east. It appears we are not far from events soon taking over any attempt to cool down this crisis. A destroyed U.S. ship or multiple deaths of U.S. service members in Iraq will demand retaliation and possibly a call for ground troops in Yemen and attacks on Iran. Such an escalation will likely lead to war, disruption of oil from the gulf and world economic depression in short order. 

In Ukraine, security guarantees by Uk and now Canada are bizarre developments. What does this mean for the UK whose entire military is less than 100,000. It has been unable to send an aircraft carrier to the Red sea because it has a severe enlistment shortage and not enough sailors to send these vessels to sea. Do they really believe that making such a commitment to Ukraine will discourage further offensive action from Russia? 

At the same time, it appears the U.S. with its own enlistment crisis is verging on a wider mideast war, that once started, will be very hard to extinguish. A war that will require conscription and resources that actually do not exist. 

Present political leaders seem to believe that their manufactured narratives can create perceptions that will lead to some reality of success, even when such results are impossible, borders on insanity. The kind of insanity that is on the verge of igniting a global war. 

It is past time for members of the U.S. Congress and Uk parliament to intervene and demand these leaders are accountable and restrained in their thoughtless zeal. It appears these leaders have moved the world into a very dangerous place and they have no idea how to exit. 

  

Taiwan, similarities to Ukraine.

 ELECTION OF PRO-INDEPENDENCE LEADER

NO END TO DANGEROUS DILEMMA

The election in Taiwan has now been concluded with the pro-independence candidate winning this election. While winning with a plurality among several candidates, he won without a clear majority with 40% of the vote. This election has done little to solidify the future of Taiwan. 

The People's Republic of China has been recognized as the legitimate government of China. This decision was made by the international community, led by the United States, in 1979. It concluded that the PRC was the only legitimate government in China and that Taiwan was part of China. It was assumed and recognized that Taiwan would eventually be reunited with the mainland.

While this may have been the  missed opportunity to declare independence of Taiwan, if that was a goal, it was a decision that is still verbally recognized by the United States and the international community. Verbally, but in effect, the United States has been encouraging Taiwan to not be incorporated into mainland China and has preceded to sell military equipment and pledged to assist Taiwan in defending itself from any incorporation into China.

Taiwan and China engage in over $200 billion in trade. Taiwan has over $200 billion in investments in China and this arrangement has allowed for great prosperity for Taiwan. China is its greatest trading partner. 

Neither China or Taiwan wishes for this to rise to armed combat, but China is never going to agree to Taiwan's independence and further antagonism and meddling by outside powers will inevitably lead to fewer positive choices for Taiwan. If Taiwan becomes some sort of proxy for global rivalieries, Taiwan will be the first and greatest loser in such a struggle.

The best hope for Taiwan is some sort of local self government while still being part of China, similar to a U.S. states status. Independence would result in immediate war and Taiwan could not, and the U.S. could not, prevail in such a conflict.

While it seems Taiwan is in a serious situation, there have generally good relations, so far, with the mainland, they are the same people and neither would benefit from a war. If left to their own devices and without outside meddling they could come to some workable solution. If they become some sort of proxy for western powers in the region, their future will be catastrophic.

Yemen war begins, Chaos, Germany, Ukraine, What next?

 U.S. STRIKES YEMEN, U.S. SHIPS WILL BE TARGET

GERMANY IDLED, UKRAINE DESPERATE FOR MONEY

Yesterday the Biden administration began the war with Yemen. Numerous targets were bombed by aircraft and cruise missiles. While the Houthis may have it coming, it is another example of an out of control executive branch that wages war without congressional approval. This policy has been in place for over 2 decades and now appears to be a permanent usurpation of the constitutional process. We can now expect the Houthis to consider the destruction of a U.S. warship their main target, if they are successful, the Biden administration will be in a very difficult political situation, it will require further escalation.

Interesting hypocrisy, the EU and U.S. condemned Saudi Arabia for the same kind of retaliation when the Houthis were launching missiles against them.

Ukraine is touring the Baltic region with hat in hand, so far a measly 200 million Euros has been contributed. Ukraine needs $5 billion a month to keep the government running, salaries, pensions, police and bureaucrats. When that becomes impossible it will be the end of the Zelensky government. NATO has adopted Ukraine as its own stepchild and it is becoming clear that it is indeed a high maintenance adoption.

It is expected that the U.S. is bent on confiscating $300 billion in Russian assets in western banks and using to aid Ukraine. This is an unprecedented action. It will not be without cost to any western companies with assets in Russia, they can be expected to write them off as a total loss. We can also expect many other countries to begin to withdraw their assets from western banks in fear that they could be in jeopardy. The repercussions may be far beyond imagination.

Germany is in fact at a standstill, The rail system is 90 % idled by a strike, the highways are blocked by farm equipment, after the Government proposed removing the tax exemption for diesel fuel, the lifeblood of all farm equipment. The environmentalists declare this a subsidy, soon Germans are going to recognize what real problems are and fossil fuel elimination will be a memory. Many believe the Scholz government will not last the year.

With the demand for ammunition and weapons being strained by Ukraine, Gaza and now Yemen and a soaring debt and deficits, it is becoming indeed a major crisis. One must ask are we soon to witness new crisis in the far east and South America. Are we now on the precipice of WW3.

Of course the narrative will be this is all an accident or the machinations of America's enemies. The reality is many predicted, including this observer, that this administration, full of Hubris and ideological fever was going to blunder into this kind of catastrophe. It will likely get much worse.

Marxists still believe it can work.

 IS MARXISM AND SOCIALISM THE REMEDY FOR TODAY'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

THE SWAN SONG STILL FINDS BELIEVERS

The attacks on Capitalism seem to be increasing every day. Interesting that the advocates for Marxism still offer no solutions to their critic of capitalism. Marx was in fact a critic of all the ills of inequality of capitalism. His analysis of the problems was often accurate, but he never offered, as does today's advocates, ever offer a solid transparent alternative. I suspect that is because the reality of such an alternative would be, as history has shown, aborhorent.

The real alternative to the present, so called capitalism, which is now a blend of fascism and statism, should be, just as this nation's founders envisioned, freedom. Freedom to make decisions about how you navigate through life in your own best interest. While government is a necessary evil, it is required to restrain the lawless, and those who would deceive, steal or take advantage of that freedom.

Socialism, like Fascism, which historically was the definition of a collaboration between big business and the state to control the population, usually for ideological or economic advantage and power.

Today's Marxists, like Professor Richard Wolfe, continue to offer their criticism of capitalism, but only offer vague and undefined alternatives. The reality is that Marxism will never be incorporated without a big powerful state and force.

They contend that the means of production should be controlled and shared by the workers. That decisions should be made about wages or a shared return of revenue with the workers, in a democratic process.

After nearly a century with the possibility of workers organizing and engaging in such a company, why have they still not attempted do so. I don't know of any law or regulation that denies such a group that right or freedom. The reality is that it does takes someone with the incentive, vision and endurance to actually accomplish organizing a successful company. It is unlikely that any group could agree on a course of action and would spend most of their time in negotiations and debate. The loved activity of all true Marxists.

The Obama administration actually gave the United Auto Workers the controlling interest in General Motors, which had gone bankrupt. Has anyone ever wondered why they proceeded to sell their stock as soon as it had recovered. This was a golden opportunity to put their ideology to work. It seemed they really just decided they would rather have the money.

It also takes capital, which to simplify, is acquired by sacrifice in the use of the money you earn, to either spend it all or save some for a future investment. In effect, most Marxists do not believe in people actually having capital, or more money than they actually need to survive. It is interesting that the Big state, which Marxists need to enforce their utopian dream, will be very accommodating in attempting to make that idea a reality.

The reality is that Marxism or socialism has not yet been really successful as a sustainable economic model, while it has had it seemingly positive results in the Soviet Union and now in western Europe and the U.S. it seems to have inevitable evolution until it all collapses. 

Freedom of opportunity, freedom of using your mind and imitative will never go out of fashion and will not collapse by its weight. It also does not need a big oppressive state to enforce that way of life.

I suspect the U.S. ,in the not too distant future, will be offered a solution to the collapsing present system, we hope we can choose Freedom over a utopian dream.