Tag Archives: eu

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

Global Class War: Hungary taxes potato chips last year, now adds cell phone calls! Nebraska already suffering with highest cell phone tax rate in United States!

In September 2011, Hungary joined several countries placing extra taxes on snacks like potato chips.  Full of crap western news media said it was an effort to fight obesity, but a recent Japanese report straight up said it was a way for the Hungarian government to raise more money to pay its out of control debts!

In May 2012, Hungary also passed an extra tax on cell phones calls!  It’s called the voice-traffic levy.  The Hungarian government hopes the new phone tax will create at least $133.6 million USD this year.

NHK (nippon housou kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation) reporting that Hungary was forced to create the extra tax under demands from the European Union.  But some people have switched to using smartphones which can make calls through the internet.  Hungarian officials did not tax internet based calls.

Here in the U.S. state of Idaho, groceries are already taxed.  It’s fun to watch people from out of state go into shock when they find out they have to pay tax on groceries.

Idahoans are not happy about the decades old grocery tax.  Political leaders have tried to throw us a bone by allowing a grocery credit on the end of year tax filings.  But woe to them that try to add extra taxes on snacky foods in the name of forcing us to be healthy, when in reality they just want to steal more of our increasingly limited money.

But wait, there’s more!  According to a 2011 Money article, Nebraska leads the U.S. with the highest cell phone tax rates!  Combined federal, state and local cell phone tax rates amounted to 23.69% in 2011!!!

Idaho’s state and local tax rate was 2.2% (not counting federal taxes).

“Cellphone users are overtaxed relative to consumers of other goods, and at risk of double taxation. Additionally, the wide number of taxing authorities and the wide variety in rates makes tracking problematic and burdensome.” -Joseph Henchman, Tax Foundation Director of State Projects

The reason this is class warfare is that these kinds of taxes do not affect the elitist wealthy, they target the overwhelming majority of citizens who are not rich!

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 23 June – 27 June. Oil starts flowing, Iran joins oil production, Uzbeistan interferes. More U.S. led troops die. Afghans accuse U.S. led troops of stealing their money, Israeli style. Cops poisoned. Cops join Mujahideen. More girls poisoned.

27 June 2012

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) stated that two U.S. led occupying personnel were killed by an explosion in eastern Afghanistan.

“It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.”

iCasualties.org reports 217 occupying forces killed so far this year.

In Ghazni Province, local officials report gun battles between locals and supposed Mujahideen/Taliban. They believe the shootout was the result of people refusing to join a specific organization.

In Paktiya Province, local officials claim that 28 Mujahideen were killed in battles there. The battles were between Mujahideen and Afghan government forces backed up by U.S. led occupying forces.

ISAF claims 10 Mujahideen killed and 21 captured in battles in Ghazni, Logar, Nangarhar, Parwan and Wardak provinces.

26 June 2012

In Helmand Province, five family members were assassinated.  The family had just accepted agricultural seeds from the local government.

In Takhar Province, a suicide bomber was captured before he blew himself up.  Afghan police say he is connected with the Jendullah Group of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

ISAF claims seven Mujahideen killed and six captured in Ghazni, Khost, Paktika and Wardak provinces.

25 June 2012

In Badghis Province, Mujahideen claim 15 local cops defected to them.  Local government officials admit cops did defect, but not that many.

In Logar Province, locals are complaining that U.S. led occupying forces are taking their money and government identification documents. It’s happening during night time raids on homes (Israeli style).  Some people also say the occupiers are taking electronic items like computers.

One unnamed occupying official said items, including money, are taken because U.S. led forces believe such things will be used against them (same excuse the Israelis use when they steal stuff from the Palestinians). ISAF Brigadier General, Carsten Jacobsen, claims that people are given paperwork which allows them to get their money/items back, but many Afghans say they are still waiting months later, with no response from ISAF.

In Uruzgan Province, at least six cops were killed by an explosion, three others were wounded after the explosion when Mujahideen open fired on them.

An Italian occupying troop was killed, two wounded, in eastern Afghanistan when a police shooting range was bombed.

Dozens of people killed when Afghan Mujahideen attacked Pakistani border patrol forces.  Mujahideen released a video of the beheading of 17 Pakistani soldiers (who says Pakistan isn’t doing enough for the United States?).

In Helmand Province, about 40 cops were poisoned. It happened at the police academy. The cops recovered.

In Sar-e-Pul Province, at least 90 Rahmatabad high school girls were poisoned. They have recovered.

Afghan security officials are claiming they have proof that Uzbekistan is trying to stop oil production in the Amu River basin.  China’s National Petroleum Corporation was awarded the oil extraction contract last December.

An unnamed security official said U.S. puppet General Abdul Rashid Dostum (accused of the Dasht-i-Leili massacre where hundreds of unarmed prisoners were murdered) has been hired by the Uzbek government to interfere with the Amu River oil project.

Iran announced a oil pipeline project between Iran and Afghanistan. The proposed pipeline will bring Afghanistan refined petroleum products.

24 June 2012

ISAF announced two U.S. led occupiers were killed in a traffic accident, in southern Afghanistan. Another occupier died from a non-combat incident in eastern Afghanistan.

In Ghazni Province, one person was killed, another wounded, after explosives planted on a “cycle” exploded.

In Bamiyan Province, local officials claim they captured a Mujahideen leader.

In Sar-e-Pul Province, extraction of oil from the Amu River Basin officially begins.

Afghan Attorney General officials announced investigations regarding General  Dostum’s interference in oil field production.

ISAF claims to have captured Mujahideen explosives expert in Paktiya Province.

23 June 2012

ISAF reports one U.S. led occupier killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan.

In Sar-e-Pul Province, about 116 people, mostly girls, were poisoned at the Hazrat Imam Zada Yahya high school.

In Parwan Province, a Mujahideen leader, and a woman he was involved with,  were killed by fellow Mujahideen.  Mujahideen claim the leader and the woman were actually double agents for the Afghan government.

In Nangarhar Province, an explosion near a Hindu owned CD shop left two people dead, and two people wounded.

In Logar Province, a local police boss was assassinated.  Local cops say one body guard was killed, one wounded, and two Mujahideen killed in the attack.

In Kandahar Province, an Australian occupying force CH-47 Chinook helicopter force landed.  It happened while providing close support to ground troops. One crewman was injured: “One of the aircrew was injured and has been treated on site. All other personnel onboard underwent precautionary health checks following the incident.”-Major General Stuart Smith

In Uruzgan Province, three people killed, one wounded, when they drove over a mine.

In Faryab Province, a local cop and four members of his family were assassinated.

Afghan officials claim 11 Mujahideen killed, seven wounded and 51 captured, in battles in Kabul, Nangarhar, Baghlan, Balkh, Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, Khost, Paktia, and Ghazni provinces.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Operation al-Farouq! Saudi Arabia puts military on high alert, buying 800 top-o-the line Leopard tanks

A letter dated 27 June 2012, and signed by Saudi King Abdullah, shows that Saudi Arabia’s military was ordered on high alert.

The supposed top secret order is calling the operation al-Farouq.

The king claims the move is to prevent “foreign or terrorist attacks.”  For some reason the U.S. main stream news media are ignoring the developments.

Speculation that this could be a move to defend against the growing revolutionary movement calling for the end of the U.S./U.K. puppet Al Saud Royalist regime.

Also, there are problems with the royal family in that heirs are dying off, and there is infighting over who will become the next ruler.

This news comes as a Reuters report revealed that Saudi Arabia has increased its order for German made Leopard 2A7 tanks, to 800!  The original order was for 300, and some in Germany’s parliament tried to stop the sale on grounds that it violated the German constitution.

Reuters was citing a German newspaper: “The Saudi order could secure the future of German tank-makers Krauss-Maffei Wegman and Rheinmetall, which urgently need new markets because of the restructuring of the German army.”-Bild am Sonntag

It’s interesting that last year German officials originally denied such a military sale was being made!

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Cyprus joins growing list of European countries asking for a bailout!

25 June 2012, the small island country of Cyrus has asked the European Union (EU) for a bailout.  It’s the fifth country to do so, after Greece, Ireland, Spain and Portugal.

The economy of Cyprus is directly tied to Greece, and the economic disaster there has dragged down banks in Cyprus.

Fitch just downgraded the Cyprus’s sovereign credit (bonds) grade by one notch to a junk status of BB+.  Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s also rank Cyprus at junk level.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Article 5; an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all! Open War with Syria and U.S. led NATO! Syria shoots down Turkish F-4, Turkey admits it was in Syrian airspace!

“The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all, and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self defense recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually, and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.  Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the [United Nations] Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.”-Article 5, North Atlantic Treaty creating NATO,  4 April 1949

On 22 June 2012, Syrian government officials announced they had shot down a Turkish F-4 Phantom 2, because it had violated their airspace.

On 23 June 2012, Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, admitted the F-4 had violated Syrian airspace: “It is routine for jet fighters to sometimes fly in and out over borders…when you consider their speed over the sea.”

Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, admitted the same thing, but added that it was not for very long, and had no hostile intentions: “The plane did not show any sign of hostility toward Syria and was shot down about 15 minutes after having momentarily violated Syrian airspace.”

24 June 2012, NATO officials announced they will meet on 26 June to discuss the issue, because Turkey has invoked Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty.  Turkey is a member of NATO.

The last time Article 4 was invoked was in 2003, by Turkey as well.  Guess what happened after that? The U.S. led invasion of Iraq.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Government Idiots: Japan oil industry says U.S. & EU oil sanctions against Iran will not affect global oil supply!

“For the time being we will be able to continue smoothly transporting Iranian oil to Japan. I would like to thank the government and all parties concerned for their efforts.”-Yasushi Kimura, Petroleum Association of Japan

21 June 2012, Yasushi Kimura, president of the Petroleum Association of Japan, basically said the U.S. and European oil sanctions against Iran are impotent!

Kimura based his conclusion on the fact that there is plenty of oil supply, and that because of the continued downward spiral of the international economy global demand for oil will drop.

The fact that the United States exempted several countries from their oil sanctions, including Japan, also proves that the U.S. sanctions against Iran are nothing but hot air!

So what were U.S. & European leaders trying to accomplish with their impotent oil sanctions against Iran?

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Japan government to insure ships carrying Iraninan oil!

On 1 July 2012, the European Union’s sanctions against Iran kick in.  This includes European shipping insurers (who dominate the market) ending insurance on ships carrying Iranian oil.

20 June 2012, the Japanese Diet has passed a law that allows the government to cover Japanese tanker ships transporting oil from Iran.

The law was unanimously passed by the Upper house, and will provide up to $7.6 billion USD in coverage.  Many Japanese insurance companies expressed concern for providing enough insurance due to the warmongering by the U.S. and EU against Iran.

The government insurance policy goes into effect several days before the EU sanctions on 1 July.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? IMF demands Japan raise taxes. It’s all about making investors happy, call it Global Vulture Capitalism!

12 June 2012, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants the Japanese federal government to raise sales taxes by a minimum of 15%.

The IMF issued a report to Japan, saying it was critical that “reforms” were made to social programs, and taxes.

Currently Japan has a 5% national sales tax, and the Diet (parliament) is considering raising it to 10%.  The IMF wants it to be 15% or more!

The IMF report reads very much like what is being imposed on people in several European countries, like Greece and Spain.

An IMF official admitted that it had nothing to do with saving governments, or helping citizens of affected countries, it was all about “investors”: “Japan must tackle its deep rooted fiscal problems. Passage of the current tax and social security reforms is thus crucial to demonstrate commitment to fiscal reform and thus to sustain investor confidence.”-David Lipton, First Deputy Managing Director IMF

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Sign the West is going down: Huge jump in suicides, even the U.S. military sees 154 suicides in 155 days! Blame the War, blame the economy!

8 June 2012, numerous reports proving that things are not well in the Western world.  The biggest sign is the increase in suicides.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suicides by U.S. teenagers hit 7.8% in 2011. An increase from 2009’s 6.3%.

The info is found in the CDC’s 2011 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.  That survey also found the percentage of teenagers who seriously considered suicide up as well; 15.8% in 2011. 

In Japan (considered part of the Western world, it is part of the Trilateral Commission), the National Police Agency reported on 8 June 2012, that 622 people aged 19 or younger committed suicide, up 70 from 2011. The number of suicides of people in their 20s rose by 64 to 3,304.

The Japanese government says suicide by people younger than 30 years has increased every year since 2009, they blame the bad economy and the increasing lack of jobs!

Reuters reporting that suicides in the economic crisis stricken country of Greece are up; a 40% increase between 2010 & 2011!

In the United Kingdom, the latest data shows a 10% increase in suicides between 2007 & 2009.

At the end of May 2012, France saw a wave of suicide by railway: “We’ve never seen so many suicides in such a short period of time.”-Michel Pronost, Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français/National Corporation of French Railways

  In four days 12 people killed themselves by jumping in front of a train, including one man who took his 19 month old baby with him.  The causes were blamed on everything from bad relationships to the bad economy.

In India (a Western country due to it being a former British colony, and still under some influence by the British & U.S. Empire, and operating a Western style economy), a too big to fail bank (Central Bank of India) is downplaying suicides, saying “Farmers’ suicide numbers is just media hype.”  The statement was made after hundreds of farmers killed themselves when their credit was cut off by the bank (they were de-leveraged, a policy that has been pushed by the U.S. controlled World Bank and IMF)!

The amazing thing is that India’s economy is booming (they are part of the BRICS)!

South Africa (a Western country as it was established by the British Empire, and uses Western style economy) reports a “shocking” increase in suicide, especially among people who were about to lose their jobs.

Another surprise was that the sudden increase in suicides is among white males: “A lot of them have wives who have been raising kids. She has no skills, he has no job and is freaking out. People feel retrenchment [job loss] is a black mark against them, and they worry that they will be perceived as having done something wrong.”-Janine Shamos, South African Depression and Anxiety Group

About one in ten deaths in South Africa are due to suicide. The amazing thing is that South Africa’s economy is supposed to be good (they are part of the BRICS)!

For every person who killed themselves, there were 20 people who tried to do the same thing. A British sociologist says government cuts to social programs only makes things worse: “Austerity can turn a crisis into an epidemic. Job loss can lead to an accumulation of risks that can tip people into depression and severe mental illness which can be difficult to reverse, especially if people are not getting appropriate care.”-David Stuckler, Cambridge University

A psychologist says such bad economic conditions actually speeds up the process of depression that leads to suicide: “Instead of seeing a slow increase in the epidemiology of mental illness, what we’re seeing is what we predicted, that these economic impacts have rapid significance for our way of thinking about the world.”-Peter Kinderman, University of Liverpool

Back in the United States, Time.com and the Associated Press are reporting that suicides among active duty military personnel have hit almost one per day!

Pentagon data shows 154 suicides during the first 155 days of 2012, 50% more than those U.S. personnel killed in Afghanistan!

In 2008 suicide among U.S. military personnel exceeded the civilian cases: “…historically, the suicide rate has been significantly lower in the military than among the U.S. civilian population.”-U.S. Army statement, 2010

Military mental health officials blame the repeated deployments in the never ending War on Terror!