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Theme: Corruption Ain’t What It Used To Be

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154 Comments

  1. Something I’ve noticed here in California: 76, Shell and various large-named gas stations are now… completely closed. Anyone else notice this trend?

    1. I went to a local 76 station here in Nor Cal this week. My 76 credit card wouldn’t work at the pump. I went into the station to charge using staff and I was told I would be getting a new card shortly with a Tap payment option. My current card doesn’t have one. I was then informed I could load the new card on my cell phone and that would result in being able to pay using a QR code either with the card loaded or perhaps using the 76 Card APP, (the card is backed by Synchrony Bank). What a convenient and cheaper way to track all gas purchases and other purchases at these stations and know exactly how many miles a person is driving…easy math using the gallons of gas purchased and the average mileage of the vehicle being driven!!! Another piece of the digital prison puzzle falling in to place no doubt. Not sure if that accounts for any of the gas station closures you noticed though.

    2. some “news” articles
      https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-10-30/la-gas-stations-future#:~:text=How%20many%20mom-and-pop,stations%20would%20close%20by%202035.

      https://www.marketwatch.com/story/more-california-cities-pass-gas-station-bans-moratoriums-opis-c6dca599

      https://lamag.com/news/california-cities-are-now-banning-gas-stations-to-combat-climate-crisis

      https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-supervisors-approve-ban-on-new-gas-stations-extra-pumps/

      1. Loved the Sonoma County article. They will limit gas pumps near the airport so people renting cars have a harder time filling up before returning their rental cars, and hence will be charged a higher rate for gas at the airport. So brave of Sonoma County Supervisors to take a stand! A big yes to monopoly in name of saving the world!

    3. `Would love to know whether it was general economics or their insurance was pulled or new regulations coming. I have a diesel car in Europe. The tax in 2024 for my car is 2000 Europe special tax for driving a diesel car.

      1. In my area (NW Phila.), I’ve noticed gas stations that changed to ‘no name’ companies that look like they’re from a 3rd World shanty town.

  3. Costo is selling gold, and apparently selling out if it. If the old playbook of timing of news reports apply, seems to me that gold is about to go on sale.

      1. Gold & Silver brokers making money. No body will sell if they believe it will grow in value. Costco is one of the most profitable company in the US.

          1. People having to liquidate because they need money. Less people buying because they are stretched. They need dollars to pay debts and they are harder to get.

          2. Thank you for the explanation. Wow, that’s very sad. So much stolen money by those at the top. It’s financially decimating people. Might real estate be next? What if people start losing their homes?

  4. https://www.businessinsider.com/pubs-replaced-banks-in-ireland-in-1970-and-the-economy-was-fine-2016-1

    the entire banking system of Ireland went on strike after an industrial dispute in 1970. The strike lasted nearly six months, yet the economy escaped unscathed.

    People used cheques to manage large payments and, while the banks were closed, risk of default on the cheques was shouldered by neighbourhood pubs. 

    How did payees manage this risk for such a prolonged period? Notoriously, local publicans were well-placed to judge the creditworthiness of payers.

    For example, John Dempsey, a publican in Balbriggan, near Dublin, was “…holding cheques for thousands of pounds, but I’m not worried. The last bank strike went on for 12 weeks and I didn’t have a single ‘bouncer’. … I deal only with my regulars … I refuse strangers. I suppose I’ve been able to keep a few local factories going.”

    1. Amazing how the economy works when trust is present and well managed. 🙂

  5. Catherine,

    I thing the Netherlands will become a very important technological economic power with all the tech happening there. With their increase exports, and considering they have a very powerful port, how is this impacting and will impact the USA economy/investments? I was told the Netherlands will dominate the digitalization around the world; they started in the 90s.

    1. Catherine, it seems that Netherlands is deeper involved with the future digital world domination -chip manufacturing- that most do not understand. China cannot keep it up with their own economy in stress. NE have a well organize partnership with the UK & US gov. But, who is benefiting Catherine? Do you know about this and who is investing in this? Waiting for your reply…

  6. Forgive the random post, but this is so good I have to post it – a quote from the DT’s reader comments:

    “Each time you spend money, you vote for the kind of world you want to live in – it’s actually the most powerful vote you have.”

    1. Reminds me of how Catherine says- paraphrase- we don’t vote every 4 years, we vote every day with our dollars, our time and our attention.

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