Tuesday, February 25, 2014

MARTIN ARMSTRONG'S LATEST BLOG POSTS

Ukraine – The Spark for World War III?

Assassination_Franz_Ferdinand
On the 28th June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were shot dead in Sarajevo, by Gavrilo Princip, one of a group of six assassins. That was the spark that tore Europe apart. Olexander Turchynov in Ukrain is warning of the dangers of separatism following the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych. He is playing right into the hands of Russia and one must question his reasoning.
Russia is insisting against ALL THE EVIDENCE that absolutelyONLY Yanukovych is entitled to rule Ukraine most likely permanently. Russia isNOT going to let Ukraine go. Every statement that comes from Moscow confirms that. Belarus and Russia are now cutting off all trade and supplies to Ukraine under the pretense that there is no legitimate government.
Quite honestly, neither Europe nor the US are prepared to confront Russia on a conventional basis and Russia is well aware of that fact. Unless Ukraine is separated, there is not much hope for the future because as long as Yanukovych is alive, Russia has the excuse that they need to eliminate the revolutionary coup and reinstate the rightful leader Yanukovych.
This is not much different from the USA painting Saddam Hussein and as a tyrant who killed his own people to justify the USA invasion or the same tactic to excuse the invasion of Syria President Bashar al-Assad. It is irrelevant whether these statement were true, partially true, or totally false. They were NECESSARY to justify action. In both cases, the USA justified invasion by claiming these men were criminals and its invasion was to someone save the people of those lands. Hussein was certainly not responsible for 911. There was a totally different agenda behind the curtain.
Russia is now using the same political ploy out of the very same political-game book to justify whatever actions it will take to regain Ukraine. Russia’s statements are ALL easily predicted and anyone who thinks there can be a discussion or argument to prove they are wrong are barking up the wrong tree. The decision has been made when the first statement is released. It is a game of justification while preparations are made. This is simply how ALL governments respond and it is irrelevant if we are talking about Russia or the USA. There were no weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq any more than the grass-roots movement was an illegal coup in Ukraine. Once any words are spoken, the decision is in motion.
This reminds one of Thomas Jefferson’s famous saying: I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.
Jefferson-Sig
“Societies exist under three forms sufficiently distinguishable. 1. Without government, as among our Indians. 2. Under governments wherein the will of every one has a just influence, as is the case in England in a slight degree, and in our states in a great one. 3. Under governments of force: as is the case in all other monarchies and in most of the other republics. To have an idea of the curse of existence under these last, they must be seen. It is a government of wolves over sheep. It is a problem, not clear in my mind, that the 1st. condition is not the best. But I believe it to be inconsistent with any great degree of population. The second state has a great deal of good in it. The mass of mankind under that enjoys a precious degree of liberty and happiness. It has it’s evils too: the principal of which is the turbulence to which it is subject. But weigh this against the oppressions of monarchy, and it becomes nothing. Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem. Even this evil is productive of good. It prevents the degeneracy of government, and nourishes a general attention to the public affairs. I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccesful rebellions indeed generally establish the incroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions, as not to discourage them too much. It is a medecine necessary for the sound health of government.”
- Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, Paris, January 30, 1787

Taxing the Rich – Wait A Minute – Its You?

Taxes
Taxing the rich is always a vague term because the average person always assumes it is everyone who earns more than they do. The tax rate has been played with more than anything in government since especially the dawn of Marxism at the turn of the 20th century.
DEFINE

Defining the “rich” has been historically all over the place. In the UK, the current definition of the “rich” that throws you into the 45% top rate of tax kicks in at an income level of around $250,000 (£151,000) on par with the USA. However, one of the great tax avoidance countries has been Italy where the top rate of 43% applies at just $125,000. If we look at Denmark, the government defines the “rich” at just $60,000 and then taxes all workers at 60% on all earnings thereafter.
Beatles-Taxman
Back in 1966, the Beatles released their song “Taxman” as a protest against the 95% “supertax” rate introduced by Harold Wilson’s Labour government, which the band had to pay. The point is, taxes do not go to help the people as much as the socialists claim. Most go to government employees and now we face massive promises and unfunded pension plans. These people have paid themselves so well, it is no different from Yanukovych’s corruption, just not to such an extreme. Nonetheless, these government officials are lowering the standard of living for everyone else and driving the unemployment rate through the roof. They cannot see that a public servant is no different economically from having a maid at home who consumes your income and adds nothing to it. What is worse, the maid has access to your bank accounts and gives herself a raise whenever she spends too much and it is your problem if there is not enough left in the account for yourself.
Hadrian-TaxRevolt
Tax unrest has been a huge event historically that even the Roman Empire in 119AD issued a coin showing he was burning the tax records. The American Revolution with its hallmark “No taxation without representation” provides a classic example how taxes caused the overthrow of Monarchy. This is critical for all we get from Obama is more taxes and they always pretend they are after the rich, but somehow that line moves rapidly.
As the economy turns down in Russia and China, we are starting to see aggression. When it turns down in the USA following 2015.75, look out below because the US will be raising taxes even more.


Corrupt Politicians – The Mansion of a Tyrant

Viktor Yanukovych Boat
Viktor Yanukovych is the example of the worst of the worst in politicians. His mansion he built with stolen money from the state is breathtaking right down to buying exotic animals for a personal zoo to ships he had constructed to sail on a lake. Poland has now come forward and stated it will hand over to Ukraine massive accounts he had hidden there as well. It is hard to see how Russia can even claim that this man was illegally removed and is the rightful ruler of Ukraine. This is an insane self-interest that only makes Russia appear corrupt.
Russia should enter negotiations for a stable relationship with Ukraine and Ukraine should be prepared to hand back to Russia the eastern part of the country that was their’s up until 1954. Do this, and Ukraine may survive! Fail to grasp the seriousness of the situation and disaster will befall Ukraine and all of Europe in its wake.
The deeper question is what drives these sorts of people to just grab everything they can? Why does politics seem to draw to itself the worst of the worst? This is why there MUST be checks and balances and there simply cannot be any career politicians.

Ukrainian Disneyland – Why Any Former Politician is No Longer Respected

Ukrainian_disneyland
The most interesting aspect of the Ukrainian Revolution is the total rejection of anyone who was a former politician. They have told both former Prime Ministers – thanks but no thanks. After the decadent display of wealth hidden off in Viktor Yanukovych’s estate, nobody is welcome who was ever a politician given the number that have fled fearing the documents that have been recovered. Rewards are now out for Yanukovych’s two sons who ran a criminal organization extorting small business. This is a very WISE move for the old saying that once a politician – always a politician.
Cincinaticus
Cincinatius
Ukraine stands at the threshold of showing the world a new way of government –Real Democracy where the PEOPLE rule over the Bureaucracy. The political body MUST rotate and that includes the head of state once a year elected from the people and they will then be the check and balance againstREPRESENTATIVE government that masquerades as Democracy.  This is theONLY form of government our research has demonstrated could last at least for a few hundred years. Human nature is such that history warns there are so few people who are honorable and once they get a taste of such power, they do everything to hold on to it. There are so few Cincinatius who would rise and accept the office of Dictator for one year and hand it back to return to his farm.
Corruption can only be reduced by eliminating taxes that eliminates most lobbying. Eliminate career politicians and you eliminate the taking of bribes and you will eliminate the corruption of human nature that will consume those in power as Yanukovych has displayed. What drives a man to throw everything away for such wealth as if it can be hidden for life? The documents demonstrate that the elections were rigged so Russia’s claim that only Yanukovych has a right to rule is insane. He gathered such wealth figuring he would just always rig the elections and stay in power. His two sons began a criminal extortion ring. You simply cannot have career politicians who never leave office. This is absolutely critical and it appears we are headed into a vortex of war from which who knows what will survive. Representative forms of government with lifetime career politicians are no different than monarchy led by kings.
Louis-XIV-2
We are moving into a period of perpetual state of war. It was Loui XIV (1643-1715) who commissioned “war artists” to follow him on campaigns to document his military triumphs, finally admitted upon his deathbed as he advised his heir with these words of wisdom and confession.
“Do not follow the bad example which I have set you; I have often undertaken war too lightly and have sustained it for vanity. Do not imitate me, but be a peaceful prince, and may you apply yourself principally to the alleviation of the burdens of your subjects.” 


Gold All Lathered Up – But Are We Ready to Go?

GCNYNF-W 2-24-2014
The key resistance in gold on a nearest futures basis stands at the 1400 zone on a technical basis the weekly level. On our model, A Daily Bullish Reversal stands at 1344 nearby while on the weekly level the major barrier overhead remains at the 1420-1425 level. Of course, the gold promoters always proclaim a bull market and quickly forget every decline. Often they seem just like politicians always preaching their own self-interests with little regard for the financial survival of their victims. They act as if you will miss the ENTIRE bull market unless you buy immediately today.
ECM-Wave-2011-2020
Timing wise, it still looks like the major SUSTAINABLE rally comes AFTER the turn in the ECM 2015.75. From a broader perspective, we really want to see a low with the top of the ECM into early 2016 for that would set the stage for a serious rally thereafter that may at last really breakout above the 1980 high in real terms – not simply nominal terms.
However, the gold promoters never look at the long-term and how the market plays a role within the entire global perspective. The crisis in Ukraine and theLIKELIHOOD that we will see Russian intervention can cause a spike rally in gold. We are not going to be out of the woods on this crisis at least until the after the week of April 7th. That seems to be the real target in time.
GC-1982 Dollars
Gold will not look impressive unless we see it exceed the 1425 level on a Weekly Closing Basis. Remaining beneath that level into April only warns that we can still see new lows into next year before the whole thing goes nuts starting in 2016. Keep in mind that a crisis in Ukraine with a Russian invasion will send the dollar higher. Russia is already saying the overthrow of the Viktor Yanukovych was illegal despite the fact the people did so in great mass without ANY weapons from the West. The future rally we see for gold has NOTHING to do with hyperinflation, the Fed or other nonsense. This is now in the hands of geopolitical uncertainty and that is where gold comes in – it is as I have always stated – a hedge against governments not inflation as clearly demonstrated with the above chart.

Yanukovych Escaped to Russia – The New Great Pretender

yanukovich-house
Russia has come out and declared that the events in Ukraine were illegal and that Yanukovych is the legitimate ruler of the people. They portray this entire affair as a ploy for the gas pipeline, which is why I state bluntly the East must be handed over to Russia or war becomes inevitable.

Yanukovych_Viktor
Nevertheless, the evidence that has come forward from the documents demonstrate that the elections were rigged and that the amount of money that was stolen from the country is staggering. Yanukovych’ house is being viewed by many as a “museum of corruption” and the people will not leave Maidan until the snipers Yanukovych ordered to kill people are punished. In addition, the people are refusing to accept anyone who was in politics for there is no trust at all.
The events and attitude toward the pervasive corruption in government is admirable. However, they absolutely MUST divide the country and give to Russia the East or there will ALWAYS be an excuse to retake the country.
Charles_Edward_Stuart-Pretender
Yanukovych fled to Crimea and managed to escape most likely with the assistance of the Russians. He now presents a serious danger to the future of the country for as long as he is alive, there will always be a pretender to power. Pretenders are frequent throughout history and are serious threats to the stability of the nation. Charles Edward Stuart (1720–1788), commonly known in Britain during his lifetime as The Young Pretender, and often referred to in retrospective accounts as Bonnie Prince Charlie, was part of the whole Jacobite contest in England. As long as Yanukovych lives, Ukraine will never be safe. If he regains power, there will be a blood-bath for he will kill everyone he even suspects as being against him. The pattern of his personality warns of deep egotistical problems.
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