People often ask whether I am concerned about inflation, deflation, peak oil, or a global financial meltdown. My answer is as follows.
The future is something to be created, rather than feared. Allocating our time, networks, and resources to deal with a variety of high-risk scenarios frees us to become proactive and to build positive futures instead of negative ones. I like to understand what these scenarios mean in terms of managing risk and to know how we can succeed within all possible futures.
But my business is investment, not prophecy.
The risk scenario I weight most heavily is not listed above. I call it the “Slow Burn.”
The “slow burn” is a political culture and economy managed through principles of economic warfare in which insiders systematically protect themselves and centralize control and ownership of resources by using:
- Central banks
- Currency and lending systems
- Taxation
- Regulatory and enforcement policies
- Controlled media and entertainment
Insiders use these means to drain the time, resources, and life of people on the outside. Although insider cartels compete and jockey for power, they are able to settle their squabbles by increasing control and draining everyone and everything else. This is why the bubble economy continues to deplete the real economy. It is likely the reason why Dick Cheney said, “Deficits don’t matter.”
In a slow burn scenario, it is possible to prop up trillions of dollars in financial asset values by systematically arranging subsidies that ultimately liquidate life. This is what “managing” markets really means: de-populating people and places to maintain phony values created and necessitated by derivative bets.
The reason why it is difficult for sophisticated financial people to discern that a slow burn is taking place is because we have not yet collectively mastered the operational detail of how it is implemented. This is an extremely important subject.
One of the most important aspects of the Paulson Plan to re-engineer US financial regulation is the assertion of complete control of payment systems by the Federal Reserve and gaining access to the data of essentially any financial institution. Combined with 1) the ability to print money and 2) digital communication payment and surveillance technology (satellite), this will consolidate greater power into fewer hands than at any time in recorded history.
As Nicholas Negroponte said, “In a digital age, data about money is worth more than money.”
I think the biggest hurdle is the populace’s general ignorance of the financial system. We live in a sound bite world with most people’s eyes glazing over after 3 seconds. I too appreciate all of Catherine’s teaching and wisdom. I have come to realize that your suggestion of learning solutions daily Robert has more power than it may seem on the surface. I have been following Catherine for years and only now am I being asked for information and or solutions (even though I was talking about our coming financial woes ad nauseum). I’m glad I have been plugging away at it for a while so I can simplify and make things concise. I also must say hanging around Ron Paul supporters has been the most refreshing for financial literacy conversations, you don’t even have to be supporting Ron to enjoy their company. I’m going to continue with my daily homework, thanks for the suggestion
The Slow Burn is what I call the capitalism-derived system of systems in which we live winding itself tighter and tighter. It’s your Tapeworm Economy eating everything of the body of its host, and looking for its soul.
Otherwise, what Tom White said.
The Slow Burn is what I call the capitalism-derived system of systems in which we live winding itself tighter and tighter. It’s your Tapeworm Economy eating everything of the body of its host, and looking for its soul.
Otherwise, what Tom White said.
If people thought The Matrix was only a movie, Catherine has described The Matrix. Note that The Matrix saps the life of the people while they believe all is normal.
“Humans are complex beings that can die in more than one way” –Karl Polanyi, from “Our Obsolete Market Mentality”.
If people thought The Matrix was only a movie, Catherine has described The Matrix. Note that The Matrix saps the life of the people while they believe all is normal.
“Humans are complex beings that can die in more than one way” –Karl Polanyi, from “Our Obsolete Market Mentality”.
It amazes me to no end the pundits and simple folk alike are intently watching to Dow for an entry point back in the market. A recent piece on NPR had an author explaining how the Stock Market transformed its 1920’s reputation as a “bawdy Las Vegas” of its time to the present “respectability” it enjoys as the undisputed repository of financial sensibility and long term financial planning.
I think the key problem for average/unconnected folks is their inability to understand and appreciate the strategic value of time. I laughed out loud from Catherines graphic of the frog and the boiling water and trust many got the reference. If one accepts the theory that history is not just a series of random events but rather a well planned and steady progression of events, it is not hard to see that the real challenge is in applying long term planning to impeccable execution and realizing that change is accomplished only by an infinite progression of miniscule change units repeated ad infinitum. This leads me to the conclusion that there may, indeed, be different types of humans, or beings occupying the same space on this planet. The intelligence and execution of these recent events, with seeds planted years and decades ago, stuns me. Although these groups may not have interests which parallel mine, it is impossible for me not to watch in amazement as this life intelligence continues to manifest and absorb everything around it.
It amazes me to no end the pundits and simple folk alike are intently watching to Dow for an entry point back in the market. A recent piece on NPR had an author explaining how the Stock Market transformed its 1920’s reputation as a “bawdy Las Vegas” of its time to the present “respectability” it enjoys as the undisputed repository of financial sensibility and long term financial planning.
I think the key problem for average/unconnected folks is their inability to understand and appreciate the strategic value of time. I laughed out loud from Catherines graphic of the frog and the boiling water and trust many got the reference. If one accepts the theory that history is not just a series of random events but rather a well planned and steady progression of events, it is not hard to see that the real challenge is in applying long term planning to impeccable execution and realizing that change is accomplished only by an infinite progression of miniscule change units repeated ad infinitum. This leads me to the conclusion that there may, indeed, be different types of humans, or beings occupying the same space on this planet. The intelligence and execution of these recent events, with seeds planted years and decades ago, stuns me. Although these groups may not have interests which parallel mine, it is impossible for me not to watch in amazement as this life intelligence continues to manifest and absorb everything around it.