Tag Archives: employment

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? IMF says no such thing for the United States! Blame your Elite leaders! De-leveraging will continue until the economy improves, and that means you!

And he causesth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell…

When an individual is deleveraged, it means they can no longer buy or sell using credit/debit cards, or even checks, as their accounts have been frozen.

January 24, 2012, the International Monetary Fund released some reports concerning economic recovery.  It’s not good, in fact for the average person it ain’t gonna happen.

“The global recovery is threatened by intensifying strains in the euro area and fragilities elsewhere. Financial conditions have deteriorated, growth prospects have dimmed, and downside risks have escalated.”

They not only blame it on the economic/financial disaster slowly unfolding in Europe, but the IMF blames U.S. business and government leaders as well.

“…risk arises from insufficient progress in developing medium-term fiscal consolidation [this is another way of saying ‘downsizing’ spending, or, more business closings and layoffs are needed, ie Mitt Romney style of capitalism] plans in the United States…”

“…as long as public debt levels are projected to rise over the medium term, and in the absence of well-defined and credible fiscal consolidation strategies, there is the possibility of turmoil in global bond and currency markets. A more immediate risk is that an accident-prone [a nice way to say our leaders are incompetent] political economy will lead to excessive fiscal tightening in the near term in the United States.”

If U.S. warmongering over Iran actually stops the oil flow then it’s guaranteed things will get worse: “The oil market impact of intensified concerns about an Iran-related oil supply shock (or an actual disruption) would be large…”

The IMF is pushing “deleveraging”, or the reduction of debt, held by governments, companies, banks and “households”, as a major part of stabilizing the world economy.

Deleveraging has already hit U.S. households in the form of the mortgage fiasco, as well as credit card companies (too big to fail banks) arbitrarily canceling credit for individuals and small businesses.

Remember, those too big to fail banks got bailed out when they were faced with “deleveraging”, but do we get bailed out when they forcefully deleverage us?  Hell no!

The IMF says deleveraging of households (meaning most of you. I’ve already been arbitrarily deleveraged having never missed a payment, never been late with a payment, and actually paid more than the minimum due. That is until I was deleveraged) will continue until the economy improves.

“In many advanced [includes United States] economies, notably those with external deficits, the deleveraging of households is set to continue for some time.“

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Black Horse & Taxes: The IRS says 4,000 people officially renounce U.S. citizenship because of taxes

…there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

According to Nina Olsen, of the Taxpayer Advocate Service (an office of the Internal Revenue Service), at least 4,000 people, from 2005 to 2010, officially renounced their U.S. citizenship specifically over taxes.

What’s more important is that those number have greatly increased with every passing year.  In Federal Fiscal Year 2008 it was 148 people, but in 2010 1,534 people gave up being ‘Americans’, because of taxes.

Not all the numbers are in for 2011, but for the first half of last year 1,024 people quit the U.S.

Nina Olsen told Congress that the biggest reason for people leaving the U.S., to avoid taxes, is that they are confused “…by the complex legal and reporting requirements they face and are overwhelmed by the prospect of having to comply with them.”

Other economists agree: “…the tax code is just maddening in the complexity, and they don’t necessarily want to soak the rich but they don’t like to see when companies like General Electric get all these preferences!”-John Berlau, economic analyst

A CBS News poll found 52% of people in the U.S. believe “unearned” income (capital gains, dividends, ie Mitt Romney style income) should be taxed the same as “earned” income (that’s right Romney did not “earn” his income under current tax rules).

Olsen also accused the IRS (whom she actually works for) of tricking people who owe back taxes, with “…the promise of reduced penalties, only to find themselves subjected to steeper penalties.”

Anyone remember the official reason for the Revolutionary War that created the United States?  “No taxation without representation!”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Black Horse & the Next War: Get ready to literally fight for Your Job! “…hell is coming.” End Romney style Capitalism, create true free enterprise

…there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

Gallup CEO, Jim Clifton, has written a book which says the next ‘currency’ will be jobs!  The book is called The Coming Jobs War.

Clifton was also interviewed for Freeenterprise.com.  He basically said the need for employment will soon override all other desires, even religious beliefs.  He gave a dire warning concerning the lack of job creation in the U.S.: “…we have to be in a state of mind of free enterprise or hell is coming!”

Clifton also said that Corporate America must stop operating on debt, and that the government should enact policies that reward businesses who make real money and not those who ‘cook their books’: “What companies really want is organic growth, not acquired growth [ie Mitt Romney style venture capitalism]. What you want is quality sales growth.”

Companies with weak sales can blame their leadership, not their front line employees: “Where you have lousy sales growth, it’s because you’ve named the wrong person manager.”

The coming jobs war actually starts with customers “…because jobs follow customers, not the other way around.”

Government, and Unions, must act to create a true free enterprise system: “Leaders have to create the spirit of free enterprise in their cities, encourage startups and entrepreneurs, and make it fun to be in business. Nobody builds anything great when they lack confidence in the future of free enterprise.”

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3 & Government/Corporate Incompetence: United States and Europe will suffer from loss of Iranian oil, expect $150 per barrel oil soon, Iran now economically independent

A visit from the International Atomic Energy Agency seems to have put a vote by Iranian lawmakers, to stop oil shipments, on hold.

On Sunday, January 29, the vote was postponed.  One factor is debate over how long Iran should block sales of oil to Europe; some lawmakers want a five year block, while others want 15 years.

Iran’s Oil Minister, Rostam Qasemis, has pointed out that stopping oil shipments to Europe, or the United States, will not greatly affect Iran’s oil business. In the case of the EU, he says they get only 20% of Iran’s oil exports.  British media say it’s 25%, but that’s still not enough to adversely affect Iran’s economy.

Qasemis also said Iran is on the verge of being completely independent when it comes to oil industry supplies: “We can produce all the items needed for the (oil) industry inside the country and cut our needs to the foreign counties through relying on the ability and knowledge of local experts.” 

The International Monetary Fund is also warning the West of any stoppage of oil from Iran.  Some Western media reports say the IMF predicts world oil prices could soar 20-30% if Iran halts oil exports.  And that’s only at the beginning of the oil stoppage.

Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Company, Ahmad Qalebani, said that when oil exports to the EU are ended you can expect oil prices to immediately jump to $150 per barrel.  Again, that will only hurt the U.S. and Europe, not Iran.

In fact the increase in oil prices would only benefit Iran.  At only $85 per barrel, Iranian officials say they will see $57 billion in revenue from March 2012 to March 2013. They’d love $150 per barrel.  And to think our own leaders want to embargo Iranian oil.  (gotta love the global oil industry)

 

 

 

 

Fukushima

Pacific Ring of Fire & Japan Modern Day Atlantis round 5: Southern Honshu could suffer Tsunami even larger than the one that hit in March 2011

A team of researchers from University of Tokyo, and Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), have discovered that southern Honshu will get hit by a much larger tsunami, than the one that hit north eastern Honshu in March, 2011.

Their reason is that they’ve discovered, off the Kii Peninsula, a deep ocean fault cliff that’s 200 km (124 miles) long and 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) tall!

The Kii Peninsula is on the Central Tectonic, or Japan Median Tectonic, fault line, which runs from eastern Honshu down through Kyushu.  On the south side of that line is the highly unstable Philippine Plate.

Professors are now warning local officials that they need to draw up new earthquake/tsunami survival plans in light of the discovery.

JAPAN MODERN DAY ATLANTIS ROUND 4: MINAMISANRIKU, HOMETOWN OF HEROINE MIKI ENDO IS BECOMING THE ATLANTIS I PREDICTED

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Are you a health care worker who wants to get out of the United States? Japan wants you!

Japan is facing a major shortage of health care workers.  Partly because millions of Japanese have left the country due to the ongoing nuclear disaster, but also because Japan’s national qualification test for health care workers is too tough.

Most foreign health care workers, in Japan, come from Philippines and Indonesia.  For the latest exam the Japanese government tried to make it easier by adding Hiragana alphabet and English equivalents for technical terms.

The pass rate for foreign health care workers is only 2.6%!!!  But don’t blame it on the fact that they might not understand the Japanese language, half of all Japanese who take the test, fail!

Don’t worry, if you go to Japan for a new life as a health care worker, you’ve got four years (after you’ve arrived in Japan) to practice your Japanese, along with three years of official training, before you have to take test.

Business/Economics, International, Technology

Pale Green Horse, Radiation & Global Food Crisis: Japan to increase radiation detectors in food industry, sets new contamination standards

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Japan’s food industry is being required to install more cesium detectors in their factories, and the Health Ministry says it can pay for only half of them.  Japan’s food  producer will have to find a way to pay for the rest.

Japan’s Health Ministry has also changed contamination guide lines.  They’ve actually made them stricter when it comes to cesium.  Beginning April, 2012, general food products will be allowed 100 becquerels of cesium per kilogram, which is an 80% reduction from the current “safe” level.

Also, baby food and milk will be allowed to contain 50 becquerels.  However, drinking water will be allowed only 10 becquerels.  I wonder why they think it’s OK to have 50 becquerels in milk but only 10 in water?

To question, even more, the 10 becquerel drinking water limit is the fact that the new cesium detection equipment can not detect any cesium below 25 becquerels!  So how can they test the water accurately?

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Iranian President says the United States, and Europe, are White Horse Bullies

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

The following are comments made by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on January 26, 2012.

“The West must be aware that the Iranian nation….does not need them. You impose embargo on Iran’s oil but do not see that the United States has not bought oil from us for 30 years, but nothing happened, and Iran followed its path with dignity.”

“The recent brewhaha about Iran has been created because Iran is on the path of progress and development, and the enemy is seeking to hinder this progress.”

“The U.S. says the Iranian nation is not the target of sanctions and that they (sanctions) target officials while they are of the type that directly affect the masses and do not hurt officials.”

“They say, ‘we adopt sanctions because Iran does not negotiate.’ And this is while they adopted sanctions ahead of Iran’s negotiation and are seeking to find an excuse to avoid negotiations.”

“Why should we make up excuses? A person who has logic and has something to say does not avoid negotiations, but rather those who are bullies and hegemons make excuses.”

“You impose sanctions on our central bank, but did you have dealings with our central bank? The value of our annual foreign exchange transactions is $200 billion, only 24 billion of which are with Europe.”

“At a certain juncture, 90% of our foreign exchange transactions were with Europe, but you are aware that the transactions have now decreased to 10% and (sanctions) cannot affect Iran’s economy.”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3 & Government/Economic Incompetence: Iran will stop buying products from Europe and the United States! Working with China and India to trade oil for gold!

“According to one of the main clauses, the Islamic Republic of Iran will halt all oil exports to European countries as long as they continue to ban oil imports from Iran. Another clause obliges the government to forbid imports of all goods from countries which have imposed sanctions on our country.”-Nasser Soudani, Majlis (parliament) Energy Committee

January 28, Iranian lawmakers have finalized a bill that would freeze all oil shipments to Europe.  But the bill would also place an embargo on any products being sold to Iran from countries that have joined the U.S./EU oil embargo against Iran!

This shows the Iranians have realized that the U.S. and EU are not in a good economic position to impose embargoes.  They are taking advantage of that and  will not only stop all oil shipments to oil starved Europe, but with stop buying products from countries who embargo Iranian oil.

The Iranians created a petroleum trade institution that does not use U.S. dollars. It’s very successful, and part of why Iran has become so wealthy.  Not only do they not take U.S. dollars, but they actually accept barter for oil, such as trading raw oil for refined fuel.

Iran has become a major producer of refined fuel in the Middle East.  In fact, in February, 2011, Iran stopped buying refined fuel from other countries!  On January 14, 2012, Iran announced they now make their own jet fuel.

A German political analysts told Russian media that Iran has learned how to succeed under sanctions: “All the present faithful customers to Iran oil are set to continue buying this oil, and they will find a way, rest assured. This is the signal I get from Tehran.  I was personally present when the deputy economics minister of Iran was talking to a foreign society in Berlin, and the gentleman said very openly to the shocked audience ‘OK. You don’t want to buy our goods. Well, the Chinese do.’”-Christoph R. Hörstel

Now Israeli media are reporting that Iran, India, China and several other countries are working on a oil for gold trade deal.  The deal would allow countries to avoid going through U.S. and European banks to buy Iranian petroleum products!

Also, on January 26, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated: “Today, we have attained a status that we need not sell oil to Europe, and we are following our path determinedly.”

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3 & Government Incompetence: Oil embargoes are double edged swords. Iran about to swipe back at Europe, could stop all oil shipments voluntarily!

Europe is dependent on foreign oil.  The European Union was pushed into joining the United States in placing an embargo on Iranian oil (in exchange for exempting British Petroleum).  Now Iran says, so what, we’ll voluntarily cut off European oil supplies!

Lawmakers in the Iranian Majlis (similar to a parliament or congress) will decide a new bill on January 29, 2012.  If approved it would cease all oil shipments to Europe by the end of next week.  That’s significant, because the EU oil embargo involves only new oil contracts, not existing ones.

So, in reality the EU oil embargo is a paper tiger, because it doesn’t involve existing oil deals (part of the deal with the U.S. and exempting BP).  The Iranians have realized that oil is, at this point, their greatest weapon.

The United Kingdom is already suffering increasing fuel costs, and their fuel stations are running dry, because of internal problems.  So how stupid are countries who rely on foreign oil suppliers, when they threaten their own oil suppliers?

Could Iran voluntarily halting oil shipments, to U.S. and EU buyers, be a greater incentive to go to war, then their alleged nuclear weapons program?   Modern societies don’t run on nuclear bombs (not counting the ticking time bomb nuclear power plants), they run on oil.