Tag Archives: wall street

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Russia finally an official member of the WTO. Is that Why Russia suddenly reversed course on Syria, bailing out Europe?

“Russia is the world’s 12th largest trading nation and until we have this important country among our members, we cannot truly be the World Trade Organization.”-Pascal Lamy, World Trade Organization

After 18 years of trying to join the WTO, Russia was finally allowed in on December 16.  Just the day before Russia surprised many people in Europe and the United States, by announcing they would help bailout Europe, and, they would work with the United States to present a resolution to the UN Security Council concerning Syria.

Up until December 15 Russia had kept mum about bailing out Europe, and had opposed any UNSC resolution on Syria.

Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich, did admit there were conditions for Russia’s joining the WTO, and conditions for maintaining  membership: “Russia is joining the WTO on conditions answering its national interests. There are preconditions for further improvement of our business climate, for attraction of foreign investmens, for expanding of Russia’s export with simultaneous keeping of key industries of the national economy.”

WTO officials put another condition on Russia’s joining the global organization; they have to be well behaved for at least six more months, then, in the summer of 2021 they will be considered a full member of the World Trade Organization.  Even then there will be a “transition period” up to seven years.

The WTO members, including the United States, voted unanimously to let Russia finally join.  There are now 154 WTO members, which control 98% of global trade.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? One step closer to One World Government, IMF proposes international co-op, hints at Global Great Depression

“It’s not a crisis that will be resolved by one group of countries taking action. It’s going to be hopefully resolved by all countries, all regions, all categories of countries actually taking action.”-Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director

The director of the International Monetary Fund made that comment in a U.S. State Department conference on December 15.  Christine Lagarde also used the word “retraction” which is another way of saying economic depression.

Lagarde said she is greatly concerned because recent efforts to ‘save’ Europe have failed, and there is growing economic protectionism, and political isolationism, which will only make the global economy worse.  These are all things that helped cause the Great Depression of the 1920s-1930s.

She is calling for a new global financial co-operative system to prevent the coming Global Great Depression.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Russia says it will bailout Europe, through the IMF

“41% of foreign exchange reserves in Russia are euro-denominated, so EU member states and Russia all are interested in the security of it.”–Dmitry Medvedev, President of Russia

Turns out that Russia has a big stake in European countries getting back on the economic track.

On December 15, Russia’s current President said his country will work to help bailout struggling European countries, but only through the International Monetary Fund: “…we will keep backing the EU in terms of our quota in IMF membership and we will abide by all the commitments, being the participant of the IMF and ready to invest financial means to back the European economy and the euro zone.”

Medvedev did say that it was still up to European Union members to come up with a doable plan: “Only Europe will be able to help Europe but other countries should provide conditions for Europe to liberate itself from the crisis burden as soon as possible and recover from this downturn as soon as possible.”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Food Crisis: Where’s the beef? Texas drought killing the cattle industry

“Consumers are going to pay more because we’re going to have less beef. Fewer cows, calves, less beef production and increasing [demand for] exports.”-David Anderson, Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Texas is officially suffering its worst drought ever!  The decline in cows just more proof.

Texas is now seeing the biggest drop in cattle since the U.S. Great Depression in 1930s.  This year they lost more than 600,000 cattle.  Not all to death directly caused by drought, or early slaughter, some were moved out of state to, literally, greener pastures.

It’s not just Texas, but Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana and Arkansas also saw an increase in loss of cattle due to drought.

This past year beef prices for U.S. consumers went up 9%. The USDA predicts another 5.5% increase for 2012.

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Russia makes surprise move by proposing UN Security Council resolution concerning Syria!

“Hopefully, we can work with the Russians who, for the first time, at least are recognizing that this is a matter that needs to go to the Security Council.  It is just that we have differences in how they are approaching it, but we hope to be able to work with them.”-Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State

“We made no secret of the fact and it is reflected in the text that we call on violence to be stopped from all sides. We are concerned about weapons smuggling, the armed groups operating in Syria. As you know from the outset our assessment of the situation is that various violent groups there are taking advantage of peaceful demonstrators in order to pursue their agenda.”-Vitaly Churkin, Russian envoy to the UN

In a surprise move Russia announced they will propose Security Council resolution concerning Syria.  Russian officials refuse to reveal the details until they make the official presentation.

Back in October, Russia and China vetoed a resolution presented by western European countries.

Syria’s Vice-President Farouk al-Sharaa, is in Moscow right now discussing the issue with Russian leaders.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

More proof the Occupy movement is right: When cost of living is included almost 50% of Americans are poor, yet the top 10% got big pay raises in 2010 and their employers lied about it

According to corporate research firm Global Market Insight (GMI), Corporate America’s CEOs got big raises in 2010, even though many companies did not perform well!

The CEOs of the top 500 companies got as much as a 36.5% increase in pay. The next 3,000 U.S. corporations gave their CEOs a pay raise averaging 27%!  Researchers with GMI said they were surprised, and considered the pay increases way out of line with the poor performance of many of the companies.

This news comes at the same time the U.S. Census Bureau is unofficially calling almost half of the population of the United States poor!

“SPM rates were higher than official poverty rates in 2010, overall and for most groups”-Brookings/Census Bureau Meeting on Improved Poverty Measurment, November 7, 2011

The new poverty statistics take into account “nondiscretionary” cost of living expenses such as income taxes, child care, health care, commuting to work, etc.  When cost of living is factored in it raises the official number of poor people in the U.S.

The “official” poverty surveys consider before tax income only!  This means the “official” poverty numbers have been way off for decades.  However, the Census Bureau says the new SPM poverty numbers “Will not replace the official poverty measure” and “Will not be used for resource allocation or program eligibility”!

The new SPM numbers also include some types of welfare benefits a family might be getting, plus child support, and yet even with that data the number of poor people still went higher than the “official” poverty numbers.  This is more evidence of how inaccurate the “official” count is, and how rampant poverty is in the U.S.!

The new data was released on November 7, 2011, yet I don’t recall any mainstream U.S. media reporting it. The data covers the year 2010 only, it’s called Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2010 (SPM).

When using the SPM (aka Improved Poverty Measure) a big jump in the number of poor people were found in the age group of 18 to 64 year olds.  But the biggest jump in poverty was found in the age group of people 65 years or older.

If I read the Census Bureau graphs correctly (and if I understood the Bureaus’ explanations of how they figured it), when you add the “official” poverty numbers to the new SPM numbers you get 146.4 million people who are poor  (49.1 million “officially” poor + 97.3 million SPM poor).  Even if you go by just the new SPM data that’s nearly 100 million poor people in the U.S.

Officially there are 312 million people in the United States.

Back to Corporate America’s big pay raises for their CEOs.

The top earning CEO in 2010 was John Hammergen of McKesson Corporation, getting $145 million, not counting his stock options or retirement benefits!  According to GMI, McKesson has essentially lied about how much they paid Hammergen.  They reported they paid Hammergen only (hmph, ‘only’) $46.1 million.

GMI researchers said McKesson refused to explain the difference.  GMI says Hammergen not only got $145 million in pay, he got $112 million in stock options, a retirement plan worth $13.5 million, and, if he ever got fired his severance package is worth $469 million! For getting fired!!! And the right wing neo-conservative ass holes complain about the average unemployed worker being on unemployment pittance (it certainly is not a “benefit”)!!!

Just like it says in HR 1905, we are slaves!

 

International, U.S.

NAZI-land & United Police States of America: U.S. Senate approves their final version of NDAA 2012, less than one day after the House approved their final version

“I hope you believe America is part of the battlefield.”-Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator from South Carolina

In a confusing back and forth between the House and Senate, on December 15 the Senate passed the latest version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, allowing the indefinite detention and torture of U.S. citizens.  It passed 83 to 13!

“What this legislation does…says from the Congress’ point-of-view, that we expressly authorize the indefinite detention…”-Carl Levin, U.S. Senator from Michigan

“We think al Qaeda operatives, citizens or not, are not common criminals. We think they are crazy people. If you’re an American citizen and you want to help…destroy your own country, here is what’s coming your way.”- Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator from South Carolina

“If we start labeling our citizens as enemies of the United States without any due process, I think we will have done serious damage.”-Mark Udall, U.S. Senator from Colorado, who hypocritically voted for the bill while voicing objection to the bill

Yesterday the House passed their final version of NDAA 2012, HR 1905.

According to the CSPAN website: “It will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Talk against possible nuclear weapons program in Iran is just rhetoric. U.S. officials actually want to destroy Iran’s nuclear power program. War with Iran, Syria and North Korea almost guaranteed. Russia also targeted

“It is not possible to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons program without targeting its nuclear program as a whole, because there is no safe dividing line between those activities and facilities that are purely peaceful and those which are military related.”-Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, U.S. Representative for Florida

By using that argument then any country can justify destroying the nuclear power industry in the United States, especially since the U.S. has thousands of nuclear weapons.

The statement by U.S. Representative Ros-Lehtinen was used to justify the passage of HR 2105; the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Reform and Modernization Act of 2011.  It passed the House almost unanimously on December 14 (418 for, 2 against and 13 abstaining).

HR 2105 was passed the same day that HR 1905 and HR 1540 was passed.

HR 2105 supports sanctions against Iran, Syria and North Korea using Executive Order 12938 , by repealing the old Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation act.

This new Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Reform and Modernization Act of 2011 also targets Russia, by cancelling all previously agreed upon U.S. payments made to support the International Space Station, the Russian Aviation & Space Agency and any other Russian agency.

The bill states that Russia must come over to the dark side and join the U.S. in sanctioning Iran, Syria and North Korea.

The U.S. Senate will now debate their own version of HR 2105.

 

Business/Economics

Too Big to Fail/Jail: New bank sanctions against Iran or against You? HR 1905 passes House & Senate! Bill reveals U.S. citizens are slaves owned by Banks!!!

On December 14, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011.  It passed with an overwhelming majority; 410 for, 11 against and 12 abstaining.

The U.S. Senate is now debating their version.

Basically HR 1905 continues the same old sanctions, but with some interesting exemptions and additions:

(1)   the procurement of certain defense articles or services; [this implies that the U.S. Defense Department, or U.S. military industrial complex is doing business with Iran?]

(2)   eligible products to designated countries or instrumentalities;  [“instrumentalities” must mean ‘tools’, or patsies of the United States]

(3)   products, technology, or services under contracts entered into before the date on which the President publishes in the Federal Register the name of the person on which the sanctions are to be imposed;  [in other words some individuals and organizations will be ‘grandfathered’, and not subject to sanctions]

(4)   spare or component parts, or information and technology that are essential to U.S. products or production, and related servicing and maintenance; or  [again more evidence that the U.S. is doing business with Iran]

(5)   medicines, medical supplies, or other humanitarian items.

Here’s some more interesting statements from the HR 1905:

“The bill would state that a determination to impose sanctions under this Act shall not be reviewable in any court.” [so much for the ‘rule of law’]

“The bill would also authorize the President to provide financial and political assistance to certain foreign and domestic type individuals, organizations, and entities that support democracy in Iran.” [code for creating a situation like Libya, or Syria, and of course that’s your taxpayer dollars at work]

“The bill would also impose specified sanctions on a person that knowingly assisted in the exportation of petroleum, oil, or natural gas produced by the IRGC or its affiliates.” [notice this specifically mentions Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), it does not ban all oil from Iran as the mainstream media leads us to believe. Also, the IRGC is not heavily involved with oil production in Iran, they are a military organization first and foremost, so how effective is this sanction?]

“The bill would block the U.S. property interests of foreign persons or their affiliates that have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of violence threatening the peace or economic stability of Iraq or Afghanistan.” [notice this statement is not directed against Iranians, but any “foreign persons” and concerns Iraq and Afghanistan]

“The bill would direct the President to develop a National Strategy to Counter Iran.” [code for war!!!]

“The bill would amend the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to require any person owned [!?] or controlled [!?] by a domestic financial institution to certify that such person is not engaged in corresponding relations or business activity with the IRGC.” [notice this statement admits that U.S. citizens are not free but are slaves to any U.S. bank, credit union or lending institution that they owe money to, or do business through!!!]

“The bill would require a report on the Central Bank of Iran’s activities to facilitate Iran’s efforts to acquire nuclear missile capacities and promote terrorism.” [really, and how is that information going to be acquired? Is the Bank of Iran going to present their financial transactions to the President of the United States? this statement also presumes guilt without evidence or conviction]

HR 1905 ends with a huge presumption of guilt, which guarantees war with Iran.

Lastly, the bill would terminate the provisions of the Act when Iran:

(1)   has dismantled its efforts to develop or acquire nuclear, chemical and biological weapons;

(2)   no longer provides support for acts of international terrorism; and

(3)   poses no threat to U.S. national security, interests, or allies.

There is no way the Iranian government can disprove the final 3 requirements of HR 1905. It’s the same situation as when Bush Jr made his claims against Iraq, which turned out to be complete lies!!!

Update:

The U.S. Senate passed HR 1905 at the end of May 2012.

Link to PDF of Senate amendments to HR 1905.

May 2012: JAPAN & CHINA DROP THE U.S. DOLLAR, WILL USE THEIR OWN MONEY FOR INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS! BRITAIN WANTS IN ON THE DEAL!

MONEY FOR TALIBAN COMES FROM UNITED STATES? 

JAPAN SUES U.S. OVER IRAN SANCTIONS! U.S./U.K. NEWS MEDIA LIE ABOUT JAPANESE BANKS FREEZING IRANIAN ACCOUNTS!

March 2012: YET AGAIN, RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE RENOUNCE U.S. CITIZENSHIP. I-R-S BLAMES ELECTED OFFICIALS. 

EVIDENCE THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND IS A DRUG DEALER; U.K. BANK REGULATOR SAYS SO! 

MORE U.S. CITIZENS RENOUNCE THEIR CITIZENSHIP, IF YOU LEAVE YOU ARE NOW CONSIDERED A TERRORIST

CORPORATE FUEDALISM, YOU ARE A SLAVE, BIG MONEY INVESTMENTS NOT GOING TO CREATE JOBS BUT TO FINANCE MORE BIG MONEY INVESTMENTS! PRISON INDUSTRY FASTEST GROWING IN THE U.S.

February 2012: MORTGAGE SETTLEMENT MONEY TO BE USED TO DESTROY HOMES, NOT KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES!

IRAN SHUTS DOWN GLOBAL STEEL INDUSTRIES, BLAMES THE UNITED STATES

4,000 PEOPLE STRANDED WHEN AUSTRALIAN AIRLINE IS SUDDENLY DELEVERAGED BY TOO BIG TOO FAIL/JAIL BANKS

U.S. IMPOSES SANCTION AFTER SANCTION AGAINST IRAN, WHICH ARE ACTS OF WAR

January 2012: DE-LEVERAGING WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE ECONOMY IMPROVES, AND THAT MEANS YOU!

IRAN WILL STOP BUYING PRODUCTS FROM EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES! WORKING WITH CHINA AND INDIA TO TRADE OIL FOR GOLD!

MORGAN STANLEY SAYS IF YOU’RE NOT A SHAREHOLDER, YOU ARE NOBODY!!!

September 2011: BANK OF AMERICA INCREASES HOME FORECLOSURES BY 200%

ARTIST BEING HARRASED BY Police BECAUSE OF HIS ANTI-BANK PAINTINGS

CORPORATIONS THAT USE PRISON LABOR, AND THE STATES THAT ARE INVOLVED

December 2011: U.K. PREPARES FOR COLLAPSE OF THE EURO, BELIEVES BRITAIN WILL BE FLOODED WITH ECONOMIC REFUGEES, SWIZTERLAND TAKING ACTION

AS MANY AS 28 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S. REFUSE TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT

PROTESTORS SHUT DOWN WELLS FARGO, BECAUSE OF DIRECT LINKS TO CORPORATE PRISONS, IDAHO POLITICIANS IN THE POCKETS OF CORPORATE PRISONS

IRAN SHOOTS DOWN U.S. UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE, CHINA SAYS IT WILL SUPPORT IRAN EVEN IF IT MEANS THE THIRD WORLD WAR

THE BIG JUMPS IN STOCK MARKETS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ECONOMIC RECOVERY. IT’S ALL PART OF THE NEW WAY THE ELITE 1% MAKE MONEY.

November 2011: NEW GREEK & ITALIAN PRIME MINISTERS PART OF ROCKEFELLER’S TRILATERAL COMMISSION’S PUSH FOR ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT

August 2011: AVERAGE CONSUMERS ARE BLAMED FOR NOT SPENDING, BUT IT’S THE ELITES THAT ARE HOARDING THE CASH, MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS ARE LOSING MONEY BY WORKING

GROUP OF 7 DECIDE TO ANSWER THE U.S. DEBT PROBLEM BY FLOODING MARKETS WITH LIQUIDITY, WON’T THAT CREATE HYPERINFLATION?

THE BIG THREE COUNTRIES U.S. TAXPAYERS ARE BEHOLDED TO

July 2011: IF YOU WANT A GOOD CREDIT RATING, DON’T LIVE IN IDAHO. WHERE YOU LIVE NOW AFFECTS YOUR CREDIT SCORE

May 2011: GERMAN BANK CONTINUES VIOLATING SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN

CORPORATE AMERICA IS BROKE, LYING ABOUT PROFITS

April 2011: JAPANESE BANK PRESIDENT RESIGNS, BECAUSE THEY WEREN’T PREPARED FOR 9.0 QUAKE/TSUNAMI

NEW YORK CITY DESPERATE TO SELL LAND TO CHINA

Idaho, International, U.S.

NAZI-land & United Police States of America: NDAA 2012 failed first House vote, it took two tries to pass. Republicans love the bill. Do you know who voted for it? Idahoans be proud!

The final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012, known in the House as HR 1540, was voted on twice. The first time it failed to pass!

According to CSPAN records the act was first voted on at 18:33 hours, local Washington DC time, then again at 18:50 hours.

The first time it failed by 234 Representatives voting against and 183 for, with 16 abstaining.  The second vote was called for “On Motion to Recommit with Instructions”.

Less than 20 minutes later the House passed the act with 283 for, 136 against and 14 abstaining.

According to Roll no. 932, 190 Republicans voted for what I call the NAZIfication act. Only 43 Republicans voted against it, eight abstained.

In true Democrat style, the Donkey club split down the middle; 93 for, 93 against and six abstaining.

The Roll no. 932 also lists the name of those who voted.  Idahoans can be proud to know that Representative Raul Labrador, and Representative Mike Simpson voted against the NAZIfication bill!