[This essay, which exposes the big-government policies of the Hoover administration, was first published in the Saturday Evening Post, June 25, 1932.] In the minutes of the Chicago City Council, May 12th last, is the perfect example of how commonly we regard public credit. From bad taxation, reckless borrowing and reckless spending, the city of Chicago had so far prejudiced its own credit that for months it had been unable to meet its municipal payrolls either out...
Read More »The many perils of “Stockholm syndrome” politics
It’s been a tumultuous couple of months in UK politics. After a troubled time in office, plagued by scandal, internal party frictions and much public embarrassment, Boris Johnson exited the stage leaving behind a big old mess for his successor to clean up. An economy in tatters, inflation at record highs and an energy crisis the likes of which this generation hasn’t seen before. It’s a miracle that anyone in the kingdom could be found that would be...
Read More »Switzerland braces for winter energy crunch
Despite being one of the world’s richest countries, Switzerland also faces the threat of an energy shortage in the coming months. The authorities are scrambling to prepare. SWI swissinfo.ch has gathered answers to some of the most pressing questions on electricity supply, Switzerland’s dependence on Russian gas, and measures being taken to get the country through the winter. Is Switzerland self-sufficient in meeting its energy needs? No. Domestic electricity...
Read More »Swiss parliament okays purchase of F-35 jets from US
Switzerland’s House of Representatives has approved the purchase of new F-35 fighter jets from the United States. The decision clears the path for Bern to sign the purchase contract, even though an initiative to prevent the deal has not been voted on by Swiss voters. Keystone-SDA news agency reported on Thursday that the majority was convinced the contract should be signed by the bid closing date: March 30, 2023. The jet purchase is part of the Army’s 2022 budget,...
Read More »August’s Price Inflation Soared, and That Means Earnings Fell Yet Again
The federal government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics released new price inflation data today, and the news wasn’t good. According to the BLS, Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rose 8.3 percent year over year during August, before seasonal adjustment. That’s the seventeenth month in a row of inflation above the Fed’s arbitrary 2 percent inflation target, and it’s six months in a row of price inflation above 8 percent. Month-over-month inflation rose as well, with...
Read More »Silver Fever, or Silver Fading?
We finally had a resolution, of sorts, in silver. Since April 13, we have had a falling price of silver (indicated as a rising price of the dollar, as measured in silver). And along with this price trend, a growing scarcity of the metal to the market (i.e. the cobasis, the red line). Indeed, the price (of the dollar) and silver scarcity move with uncanny coordination. Almost as if they are linked. 😉 Silver Basis and the Dollar This graph goes back one year, through...
Read More »Military Self-Delusion on the Constitution
Several former U.S. defense secretaries and retired generals recently published an open letter about the current political environment in America. The letter stated, among other things: “Military officers swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution, not an oath of fealty to an individual or to an office.” That’s just pure nonsense and self-delusion. Oh, sure, technically it’s true that military officers swear such an oath, but they don’t follow it. Instead,...
Read More »Bitcoin Hashrate auf Allzeithoch trotz Energiekrise
Die Energiekrise hat auch den Cryptomarkt erreicht. Gerade das Crypto Mining verschlingt viel Energie, die in der aktuellen politischen Lage teuer geworden ist. Doch trotz steigender Kosten hat die Bitcoin-Hashrate nun ein neues Allzeithoch erreicht. Bitcoin News: Bitcoin Hashrate auf Allzeithoch trotz EnergiekriseMit 6,28 Blocks pro Stunde ist die Hashrate in den vergangenen 7 Tagen auf einen Wert gestiegen, der bisher unerreicht war. Die Belohnungen für die Miner...
Read More »Calmer Capital Markets…for the Moment
Overview: The capital markets are quiet today. Equity markets and bond yields have a slight upside bias, while the dollar is little changed. Despite reports that the lockdown in Chengdu is easing, Chinese equities underperformed in the Asia Pacific region. Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Australia eked out modest gains. After sliding around 2.4% over the past two sessions, the Stoxx 600 is up fractionally. US futures have edged slightly higher. The US 10-year yield is...
Read More »Support drops for pension reform and factory farming ban
A reform of the Swiss old age pension system has lost ground but is still likely to win a majority in a nationwide vote later this month, pollsters say. Worked in radio and newspaper journalism, as well as teaching and tourism before joining swissinfo.ch’s predecessor Swiss Radio International in the 1980s. He reports from parliament, and focuses on direct democracy issues. More from this author | English DepartmentUrs Geiser Support for a proposed ban on...
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