Update from the Heartland
No.598
27.5.13 – 2.6.13
Blog version: http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/
To all,
News from the economic front:
-- The Wall Street
Journal reported home prices in March rose by 10.9% compared to one year
earlier, the largest such gain in nearly seven years, as the Standard &
Poor’s Case-Shiller index showed that all 20 cities represented in the index had
posted year-over-year growth for the third straight month. Home prices are still down by 28% from
their 2006 peak and have returned to levels last seen in late 2003. One year
ago, home prices were 35% below the 2006 peak. This is the latest sign that existing home inventories are
tightening and increasing demand have led to a sharp surge in home prices after
several years of devastating declines.
-- Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have accused Liberty
Reserve, a digital currency company, of running a US$6B money laundering
operation that became a "bank of choice for the criminal underworld."
The prosecutors described the
operation as one of the biggest money-laundering schemes ever uncovered. The charges come just months after
regulators warned that digital currency exchanges should follow traditional
anti-money laundering rules.
-- The PRC’s official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) came
in at 50.8 in May, up slightly from 50.6 in April, indicating China’s
manufacturing sector rebounded slightly in May, and providing some comfort to
investors worried about deteriorating growth in the world’s second-largest
economy.
Comments
and contributions from Update no.597:
“Hear Hear, but you know that won't happen. Too many Phobics
out there.
“Anyone have a comment, write to: UPDATE FROM THE HEARTLAND.”
My reply:
Thank
you for spreading the word and for your comment.
We
never know unless we try. What is
happening to Kaitlyn is wrong. The
other girl’s parents need to have a bright light shown on them for what they
have done . . . or not done, as the case may be.
. . . with this follow-up comment:
“But as you know, the law protects the underaged and the so
called victim, whether they are victims or not. And that includes the parents.”
. . . and my follow-up reply:
Yes,
I understand the law. The law is a
hundred years out of date and must change. Parents must take responsibility for their children and not
expect the State to do their task for them.
Another contribution:
“You are correct when you say that many people fear the
power of the Federal government and especially the power of the ExO.
“One of the newest orders is about voting-see how the
military has fared!, and the other is about virtually everything else we do whether
in time of war or peace.
They certainly can take away our guns and are already
positioned to do so – if they could only find them (oh, sorry, there're not all
registered yet).”
URL:
My response:
I
do not have the capacity to rebut each element of the “New American”
article. Let it suffice to say, I
believe William F. Jasper is choosing to see the negative in the executive
orders cited, i.e., a bogey-man behind every bush.
Certainly,
there is reason to pay attention of the President’s executive orders. I think many of us do. Presidents since George Washington have
used executive orders to take action, often when Congress is unable or fails to
do so, or is unclear regarding their intentions. We, the People, can interpret whether any executive order
has a nefarious purpose. Case in
point, as I read Executive Order 13639 of 28.March.2013, titled: Establishment
of the Presidential Commission of Election Administration, I see an effort by
the President to understand the threats to the election process as both sides
have claimed fraud in various elections.
I cannot see how EO 13639 can be interpreted as subverting the election
process.
Yes,
I do agree, the USG already has sufficient information with which to seize
private firearms. To date, I am
not aware of any effort at any level of government to execute such a plan, or
even whether such plans exist.
Nonetheless, we must remain attentive and suspicious. Semper
Vigilans!
My very best wishes to all. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap :-)
2 comments:
Housing prices have rebounded to what I suspect is their appropriate level. Let us remember that the reason the prices collapsed was a “bubble” caused by speculation and fraud in derivatives markets. Under those conditions, the prices should not return to their pre-collapse levels until some future time when inflation or other “natural” factors take them there independently.
In whose imagination would an unregulated digital currency exchange not become a tool for criminals? All together now: “Duuuuhhhh.”
Yes, prosecuting Kaitlyn is clearly wrong, even more so because there is no risk of pregnancy by means of sex between two girls. Unless some hint of coercion exists (not alleged in this case), Kaitlyn’s love life is not anyone’s business. However, the puritanical forces in this country insist on sticking their noses into everyone’s bedroom.
If/when the government seizes firearms, it will be a formality. Study the histories of Germany and Italy during the preface to World War II or any number of dictatorships since. Those who are so hysterical about supposedly rising up against a tyrannical government have already missed their chance. Bush 43 and Obama both clearly claim a “right” to kill anyone of their choice in the name of the “war on terror.” If you’re a danger to them, you’re next.
Calvin,
Re: causes of banking collapse. Housing speculation has apparently picked up where it left off in 2007. The gambling by major banks has also restarted. Apparently, there are few checks in place to prevent the unsustainable debt increase that got us into this mess in the first place. This is where banking supervision is necessary.
Re: unregulated digital currency exchange. Spot on. It’s about time the USG asserted its authority.
Re: Kaitlyn. Agreed. The State’s intrusion into private matters must stop. Freedom is too important. The law must mature. I would hope that we could evolve as a society to have a more realistic attitude toward sex and respect for privacy. Kaitlyn is not a criminal.
Re: firearms. The choice is not ours, but rather each individual citizen. Some of us trust the government; some of us don’t; the rest of us are undecided or skeptical.
Re: right to kill. Taken in isolation, yes, a danger and threat to us all. However, placed in the greater context, it is not without constraints and it is consistent with the Constitution and the expectation that the Executive wage war successfully. I do not see the president’s war powers as dictatorial as apparently you do.
“That’s just my opinion, but I could be wrong.”
Cheers,
Cap
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