Understanding the Deep State and Shadow Government

In the 1990’s and early 2000’s there were numerous conspiracy theorists who were writing about a secret government, “the cabal”, “the Khazarian Mafia” that was covertly taking control of governments, banks, and corporations worldwide. They were labeled as paranoid nut jobs by mainstream pundits and the MSM. This being the case, even though several world leaders were warning of the very same reality since the early 1950’s. Dwight Eisenhower’s famous farewell speech in which he said,” In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together”.

President Kennedy also warned of this growing covert control. He spoke clearly of it when he said, “For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily on covert means for expanding its sphere of influence — on infiltration instead of invasion, on subversion instead of elections, on intimidation instead of free choice, on guerrillas by night instead of armies by day. It is a system which has conscripted vast human and material resources into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific and political operations. Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed. It conducts the Cold War, in short, with a war-time discipline no democracy would ever hope or wish to match.”

Now in 2017, we see this secret oligarchic society openly opposing the will of the people worldwide. We see how 0.1% now controls 96% of the global wealth and we understand how money and power are enslaving the world’s population to the point that education is now considered unnecessary for the masses. Health care is a privilege, and war is for profit, not honor or security. We have been forced to relinquish our rights for so-called “national security”. The Nut Jobs were right all along.

Still, however, many refuse to face this reality so let’s try again and more clearly state exactly what reality is. It is unmistakably clear that our federal government’s national security apparatus faces opposition from an ever-expanding and ever-ramifying network of individuals and groups that are prepared to subvert the Constitution, the rule of law and our national security interests in order to advance their own ideological pre-commitments.

One way to think of this network is a shadow government, a metaphor that has attained a progressively larger public profile over the past several months. This network denotes individuals and groups bound together by a common ideological worldview that takes precedence over norms of democratic governance. To understand this issue more intelligibly, it is useful to define the term shadow government. Several related ideas and concepts undergird this term.

First, the term shadow government issues forth from the notion of a shadow cabinet. The term shadow cabinet originated out of parliamentary forms of government wherein the losing party in an election campaign appoints members of its party to “shadow” officials appointed by the ruling party. Members of the shadow cabinet are selected by party leaders to represent the party’s own political interests, a process that is advanced by publicly critiquing the policy agenda of the party in power.

Second, in our non-parliamentary system, the idea of a shadow government, secret government, or invisible government signifies that real and actual political power resides or ought to reside, not with elected representatives, but with private individuals, government bureaucrats, judges and elites, who exercise power and influence behind the scenes in order to bend the so-called arc of justice to favor their preferences. Power, in this view, is to be wielded by individuals who are linked by an overarching ideological agenda committed to an expansion of the administrative state, grounded in the proclivity of progressives to delegate power to unaccountable experts outside of the scrutiny of democratic institutions. That is, experts exercise power beyond the reach of the Constitution and democratically elected representatives including the President and Congress.

Third, properly appreciated, shadow government supporters maintain that the official elected government is, and ought to be, subservient to its shadow, which holds or ought to hold, true executive power. Shadow government proponents include members of the administrative bureaucracy. They believe that the government, or at least certain levers of government, ought to be secretly controlled by elites who wish to remain secretive about their desire to manipulate policy, that is, until one of their chosen representatives assumes presidential power.

On a global basis, this power elite have been proven to manipulate elections, control monetary systems, launder drug monies for their own drug peddling operations that secretly finance their power and influence over duly elected officials, wage wars and create chaos for financial benefit, and control the MSM to insure all goes without inflaming the victims (us) of their theft of our labor and our blood.

It is vitally important that we all come to grips with this reality. It is not a conspiracy. More importantly, unlike what this oligarchic group would now have us believe, we ARE NOT POWERLESS. Knowledge of the facts and the resolve to act in a socially responsible manner, we can stand up, speak up, and act up. Literally the very freedom of our families and children are at stake here. We act now or we may never again know freedom and prosperity. We may never again have the ability to control our own destinies. Sound over dramatic? Think about it. The facts are staring us right in the face.

De-Dollarization and the Collapse of the US Economy

For several months we have been writing about how the world’s financial landscape is changing and the complete failure of the FED’s monetary policies and how their policies are creating an utter disaster for the US economy. Since 2008, when the FED decided for us (the US taxpayer) that we would bailout and continue to fund the totally insane bankers and their never ending casino games, our economy is flat, poverty is increasing, our infrastructure is collapsing, our trade deficits are exploding, and we are beginning to look like a third world country.

All the while, the rest of the world (excluding the US. Canada, the EU, and Japan), are starting to wake up and say “No More Insanity”. Quietly, but surly, the BRICS and in particular China began to build consensus that a new approach was needed to address the world’s economic situation. When China formed the AIIB, the FED, the World Bank, and the IMF snickered arrogantly at their efforts. After all, the US, Japan, and the EU were giants in the financial world.

Now, just a few years later, there is quiet panic within this same group and for very good reason. Not only has the BRICS and particularly China been successful in their efforts, they are about to crush the EU and US economies. The dollar is essential DOA as the international trading currency. It is truly criminally negligent how the FED and the ECB have handled this situation. Further, instead of waking up to the new economic reality, the western banking cartel continues to play their insane game.

These bankers have created a $278 TRILLION dollar derivatives time bomb SINCE 2008 that could go off at any moment.  The ECB has doubled down on Greece and this will absolutely insure a Greek default which will, without question, create a total collapse of the Euro. Instead of curbing the gambling excesses of these bankers, breaking up the too big to fail banks, stopping the blatant market manipulations, the FED and the ECB continue to ignore their fiduciary duties to regulate and police the very bankers that have created this disaster.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here is the big picture.

 

 

What is most important to note is that in just under a year, the AIIB has created a membership of participating countries that is quickly isolating the ECB, Japan, and the US. Secondly, you can see the AIIB already has more paid in capital than the World Bank, the IMF, and the ADB combined.

What is also interesting to note is how far behind the US has fallen in infrastructure. Infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth and the US is beginning to look like a third world country. Our CONgress continues to ignore these needs and by all measures could be seen as criminally negligent in addressing these issues.

It is really time that the American people begin to wake up and understand that these issues are at the very core of our standard of living issues and if we don’t make these issues the focus of the next election, we are in for one helluva dismal future. This isn’t a theory or opinion. It is FACT.

What can we do? Here are just a few suggestions that need to be addressed immediately.

1). Can the FED and return the responsibility of determining fiscal policy back to the Treasury Department.

2). Break up the big six “too big to fail” banks and instead of fining them, start the criminal charges and send some of these idiots to jail. Congress and our Department of Justice should be doing their jobs honestly and not as dupes to these cronys.

3). Starting working with the BRICS and the AIIB, instead of being like recalcitrant children. This means working on sound global fiscal policies, developing real backing to international trading currencies, and addressing the world’s infrastructure needs, instead of trying to fast track TPP, which is just another failed effort to exert a strength we no long have in the world. Our trade agreements, based on this unrealistic premise, has been a disaster for the US economy and US workers, has killed our manufacturing capabilities, and skyrocketed our trade deficits. These are facts, not opinions or theories.

4). Make rebuilding the US infrastructure a priority in the federal budget. It is the fastest way to create jobs and economic demand. Our critical immediate needs would generate nearly $5 trillion in spending. That is money that would go directly into the economy and not in some bankers accounts.

Get informed as a voter, speak up, demand these actions from our representatives. We are literally only months away from a total economic meltdown from which there is no immediate recovery. It would take decades to recover. Action is needed right now.

The World is Reordering and What It Means for the US

For years literally, we have been chronicling the demise of the US’ power in the world as it has been wrought by the FED. We have witnessed the systemic theft of the wealth of the US by the bankers. Most think that is not a reality. They are all consumers of the “blue pill”. Trillions of dollars have been siphoned from our economy, our infrastructure is crumbling, our CONgress is a joke run by paid clowns, and we have been saddled with the debt of conflict after conflict.

Now, as they say, the final shoe is dropping, and here are a few examples of why is not being covered in our so-called media, which is also a sham. For many months we have been following the actions of the BRICS as they methodically are re-organizing the way the world’s financial markets operate, and the associated trade that will be conducted. Many scoffed at these efforts with the rationale even if the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) were to be successful, they still wouldn’t be large enough to effect any change.

The FED continued to print money with no asset backing and shipped it to the EU banks to continue the façade that all is well, and the economies of the US and the EU were great, when in fact they were collapsing. Literally the US taxpayers have been indentured to the tune of several trillions of dollars. Here we are seven years later, and even with the draconian measures meted out by the IMF and World Bank on it’s member nation governments in the form of austerity programs, the economies of those nations continues to collapse.

It is not a surprise that these same elite in the US are banging the war drums once again and this time the Russians are once again the bad guys. However, you must put everything in its true context and look at what has happened in Iceland, who now says joining the EU is out of the question or watch what is going on in Greece as they begin to “buck” their bondage.

Panos Kammenos, Greece’s defense minister, spoke to German newspaper “Bild” on Saturday, saying his country’s leaving the euro could precede an exit by Italy and Spain, followed by Germany in the future. “If Greece explodes, Spain and Italy will be next and then at some point, Germany. We therefore need to find a way within the eurozone, but this way cannot be that the Greeks keep on having to pay,” Kammenos told Bild.

Instead of a bailout, Greece needed a debt “haircut” like the one Germany’s creditors had to accept in 1953, Kammenos proposed. He also argued that Berlin should pay World War II reparations to Athens. “All European countries have been compensated for crimes committed by Nazis, except for Greece,” Kammenos said, referring to the gold Nazi soldiers brought back from Athens during the war.

The defense minister also accused Germany of “interfering” in its domestic affairs. His criticism was aimed at German Finance Minister Schäuble, who earlier warned of a “Grexident” which could push Athens out of the euro. “I don’t understand why he turns against Greece every day in new statements. It’s like a psychological war and Schäuble is poisoning the relationship between the two countries through that,” he said.

Meanwhile Germany and France are on a sinking ship, and for all intent and purpose are looking to bail as well. The head of the private intelligence agency Stratfor has for the first time publicly said that the US government considers it to be its overriding strategic objective to work on the prevention of a German-Russian alliance. Blocking that alliance is the only way to prevent an alternative world power capable of challenging extension of the American position of being the world’s lone superpower. He says that the U.S. will fail in that overriding objective; German technology and capital will combine with Russian natural resources and “land-power,” to produce a truly bipolar world: U.S. v. Eurasia. So: he sees the U.S. strategy as being to block that, by weakening both Germany and Russia. That strategy would explain what Obama is doing in Ukraine, and the sanctions that are hurting both Russia and Germany, but Friedman thinks that nothing can work.

On the Asian front, consolidation is also occurring, again without US involvement. Although the US is desperately trying to “fast track” a trade program (TPP), it is not happening. This program is a desperate move executed way too late and would have a devastatingly negative effect on the US economy. In the meantime, Russia and China announced this week that as of today, 17 March, the Moscow Exchange has started trading in a futures contract on the currency pair Chinese Renminbi — Russian Rouble.

The launch has been driven by a substantially increasing Renminbi turnover on the Exchange, growing volume of settlement in the currency between Russia and China as well as newly arising demand for hedging of such transactions. Andrey Shemetov, First Deputy CEO of Moscow Exchange, said: “The launch of the CNY/RUB futures is the next step made by the Moscow Exchange to offer a full range of Renminbi instruments and hedging tools to participants. We expect that the new contract will be liquid and in-demand as other Exchange’s derivatives, and facilitate the trade turnover between China and Russia”.

The contract is cash-settled against the Moscow Exchange CNY/RUB fixing. The contract’s expiry dates are every 15th day of March, June, September and December. IM size is 12%. Metallinvestbank will act as the market maker for the contract. Moscow Exchange’s turnover in the Chinese Renminbi grew 700% in 2014 to RUB 395 bln (CNY 48 bln). The record average daily trading volume of CNY 541 mln was seen in October. Currently, the Moscow Exchange’s derivatives market offerings include nine FX futures: USD/RUB, EUR/RUB, EUR/USD, AUD/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, USD/CHF, USD/UAH, USD/CAD, and USD/TRY, as well as three options: USD/RUB, EUR/USD, and EUR/RUB.

The dominoes are falling fast now. UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and India All Sign On … South Korea Next? The Financial Times now reports that France, Germany and Italy have all agreed to join the China-led international development bank as well, “delivering a blow to US efforts to keep leading western countries out of the new institution.”

This week, 2 major U.S. allies – 2 of the “Five Eyes” – have disregarded American pleas and joined China’s new development bank … alternative to the US-dominated IMF and World Bank lending order. (A third member of the Five Eyes – New Zealand – previously signed onto the Chinese bank.). Specifically, the UK and Australia signed on this week.

The Financial Times reports, quoting a senior US Official: The decision of the UK to join the Chinese development bank was made with virtually no consultation with the US. We are wary about a trend toward constant accommodation of China, which is not the best way to engage a rising power.

The New York Times reported last week: Fundamentally, Washington views the Chinese venture as a deliberate challenge to those postwar institutions, which are led by the United States and, to a lesser extent, Japan, and the Obama administration has put pressure on allies not to participate.

Zero Hedge predicted last week: In short order Australia and South Korea will likely be on board and at that point, the stigma the US has created around membership will have completely disappeared (if it hasn’t already), opening the door for other US “allies” to join ….

An Op-Ed in The Australian argues: The decision by the Abbott government to sign on for negotiations to join China’s regional bank … represents another defeat for Barack Obama’s diplomacy in Asia. Canberra’s move follows similar decisions by Britain, Singapore, India and New Zealand.

If there is anyone out there who still honestly believes we are not in for a huge devaluation of the dollar and the devastating blows to our world economic position, they are delusional. All we can say at this point is two things. 1). Why do we still continue to allow the FED to establish our monetary policy? And 2). Brace for impact, this is going to be real ugly.

The World Financial Markets are Changing..Are You Ready?

By creating their own multilateral financial institutions, the BRICS emerging-market powers are shaking up global economic governance but remain far from dismantling the post-war system dominated by the West.

Why these moves should concern each one of us is related to the fact the FED has put us, the US Government in a position of insolvency. If the current world capital systems collapse (The EU is in as bad a situation as the US) the ramifications are very stark and all inclusive. First let’s look at what has happened in the last few months with the BRICS movements and then we will examine the impacts they could force related to the solvency of the US and EU governments.

Related Stories

• Can BRICS development bank become a rival to the World Bank? Christian Science Monitor
• China’s clout on show with BRICS bank formation Associated Press
• [$$] Brazil Hosts Talks On New Bank For Developing World The Wall Street Journal
• BRICS meet South American leaders after bank deal AFP
• BRICS bank will reduce Western dominance: Chinese media AFP

For the past 70 years, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have been the pillars of the world’s economic system, coming to the rescue of countries in trouble and supporting development projects, respectively. But the Bretton Woods institutions are regularly criticized for their inability to reflect the growing and important contributions of the major emerging economies to the global economy.

China, the world’s second-largest economy, continues to have just slightly more voting power in the IMF than Italy, about five times smaller. And, since their creation in 1944, the IMF and the World Bank have only been led by Americans and Europeans.

“Broader global governance reforms have become stalled, despite the many commitments made by advanced economies to emerging markets to give them a more prominent role in international financial institutions and other international forums,” said Eswar Prasad, a trade policy professor at Cornell University and a former IMF expert.

In this context, the launch Tuesday of a development bank and an emergency reserve fund by the BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — appears to be a concrete attempt to address those inequities. “If the existing institutions were doing their jobs perfectly, there would be no need to go to the trouble of creating a new bank, a new fund,” said Paulo Nogueira Batista, who represents Brazil and 10 other countries at the IMF, in an interview.

The mere creation of the two BRICS institutions sends a strong signal to Western powers, where some doubt the ability of the five powerhouses to surmount their individual needs and ambitions. The launches “are significant actions that represent a game changer as they turn statements and rhetoric about cooperation among these countries into reality,” Prasad said. Still, many areas of uncertainty cloud the new BRICS structures, giving the IMF and the World Bank a long lead on their fledgling rivals.

– Battles for influence –

For now, only the BRICS countries will be able to draw from the $50 billion in the New Development Bank and $100 billion in the Contingent Reserve Arrangement. However, proof of the new institutions’ effectiveness will come when other countries knock at their door for money. “Will the BRICS take the financial risk to lend to other countries? And what conditions will they impose?” said an IMF official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Accustomed to bailing out a country, and being reimbursed, in exchange for austerity conditions, the IMF has the kind of expertise that “doesn’t happen overnight,” the official said. Some also have concerns that the BRICS institutions — dominated by China — will be less careful about safeguarding the environment or fighting corruption when they make their financing deals.

Aware of their current limitations, the BRICS made a point to say they were working closely with the IMF. Some of their financing would be available only to countries already receiving Fund assistance. Dilma Rousseff, the president of Brazil, said the creation of the BRICS institutions did not mean her country was moving away from the IMF. “We have not the least interest in distancing ourselves from the IMF,” she said. “On the contrary, we wish to democratize it and make it as representative as possible.”

Unsurprisingly, the Bretton Woods institutions responded with offers of cooperation. The IMF managing director, Christine Lagarde, said in a statement Wednesday that her staff would be “delighted” to work with the BRICS team on the reserve fund. The World Bank, facing other new development rivals and undergoing a major internal restructuring, welcomed the arrival of an “invaluable partner” in the battle against poverty, a bank spokesman told AFP.

This display of friendliness, however, could in time give way to rivalries and battles for influence in the corridors of the 188-nation institutions, based in Washington. “The new institutions aren’t created against anyone,” said Nogueira Batista, the IMF representative. “But they are a first step toward a multilateral world.”

1. The meeting started the second cycle of BRICS summits. This time it focused on sustainable solutions for inclusive growth. It confirmed common interests in broadening multidimensional cooperation, including mutual trade and investment. With combined GDP around 21% of global volume, 20% of global trade and 11% of accumulated investments, the five countries represent one of the largest markets in the world.

2. The summit highlighted once again that the BRICS countries play an increasingly significant role in international affairs, an example of which was the prevention of an outright military invasion of Syria, as well as the elimination of chemical weapons in that country.

3. The countries are united in their willingness to coordinate their positions and actions on issues of global development and the reform of the global financial and economic architecture, including the IMF. The G20 format offers the five countries a good framework for such cooperation.

4. Decision to create the New Development Bank (NDB) based in Shanghai will contribute to the efforts to eliminate infrastructure gaps and meet sustainable development needs of the BRICS countries and other emerging markets. With initial authorized capital of $100 billion, including $50 billion of equally shared initial subscribed capital, it will become one of the largest multilateral financial development institutions. Importantly, it will be open for other countries to join.

5. Creation of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, or currency reserve pool, initially sized at $100 billion, will help protect the BRICS countries against short-term liquidity pressures and international financial shocks. Together with the NDB these new instruments will contribute to further co-operation on macroeconomic policies.

6. Other documents, including the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation among BRICS Export Credit and Guarantees Agencies, as well as the Cooperation Agreement on Innovation within the BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism, will offer new channels of support for trade and financial ties between the five countries.

7. The BRICS framework now includes more than 20 equally important cooperation formats, including the BRICS Business Council, the BRICS Banking Forum, the BRICS Exchanges Alliance and others, embracing such areas as information security, healthcare, agriculture, science and technology, and others.

8. Russia is actively engaged in the strengthening of the BRICS framework. Among its proposals are the draft Strategy for Multilateral Economic Cooperation and the Roadmap for Investment Cooperation. We are also proposing to establish the BRICS Energy Association, the Fuel Reserve Bank, the BRICS Energy Policy Institute and a training center for experts in metals industries, as well as to widen cooperation in areas of culture and education.

9. Another important topic is the BRICS “outreach” format. Meetings with leaders of different regions add to the Summits’ agenda and make the work more relevant globally.

10. As Russia is taking over the position of the BRICS Chair, the next summit will be held in the city of Ufa in the Republic of Bashkortostan, in July 2015. We are looking forward to working ever more closely with our international partners.

This all sounds really cozy, except for the fact that the BRICS structure represents MORE assets than currently exists within the World Bank and IMF infrastructure. Secondly, the BRICS is going to be much more inclusive in relationship to their country partners and much less demanding in relation to austerity measures required by participating countries and much less intrusive in relationship to how deals for expanding economies is concerned. This will mean the BRICS will expand their membership and participation rapidly and as that happens countries will abandon the World Bank and IMF and will STOP buying the bonds and treasury bills that fund those organizations.

This is where the Western “house of cards” could collapse very quickly. The impacts could be rapid and very profound. In the US, for example, the FED relies on the sale of treasury bonds to keep afloat. Already they are buying the own TBills at a 40% rate because of a lack of interest by countries like China in acquiring debt instruments that are less and less attractive long term. This combined with the fact that the US dollar is becoming less and less important as the Petrodollar could cause an absolute collapse of the dollar on a global basis.

As early as this fall, the US government might go the very same way as Detroit and end up filing for chapter-11 help. In other words, it will end up asking itself to bail itself out. Now, isn’t that a neat little trick, a piece of magic we would all like to be able to do? Bailing myself out? Heck, I’d do it even if I weren’t in debt. Wouldn’t you? So, is it possible for the US to go bankrupt?

Countries go bankrupt every day around the world, legally declared financially insolvent, totally depleted and destitute. Ruined! A ruined state! I wonder who will step in and break the counters of the Federal Reserve (‘bankrupt’ comes from the Italian ‘banca rotta’ (derived from the practice of breaking up the counters of bankrupt bankers so that they would no longer be able to do business because they had no money left)).

Bankrupt USA?

Countries that go bankrupt are not just the poor ones, the developing ones, the ones that are in the southern hemisphere, the ones we like to point the finger at. The UK was bankrupt right after World War II. The US lent the British $4.34 billion in 1945 to help them get back on their feet (which works out today to $140 billion). That loan back then was just about twice as much as the entire British economy at the end of the war. It took the country until 2006, when the last installment of $84 million was made to pay that money back!

Can the USA go bankrupt?

The US Congress is not scaremongering just yet, but there looks as if this fall there is going to be a shootout between Obama and the Republicans over two fiscal deadlines that are looming fast and in quick succession. October 1st will see the need for the Obama administration getting a measure to tide the country over and to keep it from going bankrupt. Then, in November the Obama administration will need to get agreement to raise the limit that is legally authorized on the borrowing authority. If it doesn’t, then it will face bankruptcy once again since it will default on payments. That will harm the US economy and also bring the markets into disarray. The Republicans, who now control the House of Representatives, will have the possibility of stopping that going through on both dates and thus demand severe cutbacks from Obama if he wants to get these two deadlines out of the way. Republicans will have enough leverage to be able to demand what they want from Obama. That means that there are two choices. Either the country defaults and there is no more money and the country goes bankrupt, or Obama gets what he needs and the country gets austerity as a result. Either way, the future looks far from rosy.

The last time there was a shootout in 2012 over the budget of the Obama administration, the country got an increase in taxes on the wealthy and that has been a bitter pill to swallow for the Republicans. The 2011 fight over the debt limit of the US resulted in the country getting downgraded by credit rating agencies. Secondly, October will see the start of Obamacare at the same time that Obama will be asking for more money to tide the country over. It looks as if that will be hard to get if Obamacare goes through and begins in October.

Any preliminary fancy footwork between Obama and the Republicans looks as if it won’t happen just yet since Congress will be taking recess on August 2nd. That means that Obama will be left out in the cold for a five-week period. Obama has spoken openly about the Republicans’ ‘manufacturing another crises’ this week also, adding fuel to the fire. On the Republican side people are talking of using this possibility of default on payment as a means to seize an opportunity and gain political ground. This is a dangerous and very ill-advised move and such talk simply doesn’t reflect an understanding of the global impacts and the resultant backlash on the US economy.

For years now many have warned that the debt crisis in Greece, Spain and Portugal in the EU are just a small glimpse of the tip of the iceberg that is ready to crash into other countries. If you believe that the US won’t and can’t go bankrupt, because it is too big to fail, then you should just think again a little. This fall, the US needs to get ready for unrest. Obama’s administration has its work cut out to get the budget approved and it won’t be easy. If it doesn’t, win the showdown between Republicans and Obama’s government then shutdowns will be the order of the day and defaults on payments. Just like in Detroit, there will be basic services that close down or restrict even more. Police forces will stop policing, people will withdraw their savings and hide the stash of cash under the mattress as it becomes worthless, postal workers will stop working as they go on strike demanding pay rises.

Folks, you should at least do some small things to prepare for the worse. How, you ask? There are no specific recommendations, but think about waking up one morning and the money you thought you had is worth only half of what you thought it was worth. You wake up one morning and gas is $12/Gal. and a loaf of bread costs $10. Further the services like mail, food delivery, healthcare, and social security has been suspended, how would you cope? These realities are not out of the realm of possibility as early as this fall. Wake up and get ready.

The Purpose of the Modern Monopolized Press is not to Inform but to Generate and Maintain the Consent of the Governed.

When we look at the events of the last month especially, it should have become more apparent, even to the casual and unawakened people that this is our reality.  Here are just a few examples of major events that have been grossly unreported in MSM.

Fireballs, meteor, and meteorites are raining down like a spring shower, at more than twice the normal rate, and are associated with more and more intense sonic booms (meaning they are low in the atmosphere) and many witnessed fragmentation and explosions occurring.  Yet MSM may report some of the individual events that they couldn’t ignore, but they are going out of their way to not have us link these events as something more specific.  An interesting side note to this is a few alternative news reporters sought information from the Air Force Space Command as to whether or not they “detected” any of the incoming salvo.  Their response was that was “classified information”.  What? After these reports were published yesterday, some attempts have been made to explain that this response was made because the AFSC and more importantly the NRO does not want to reveal the nature of their technology now operating. Interesting, huh?

The true reasons for the Pope’s resignation are not even being mentioned, even though there was specific acknowledgement by the Vatican.  The fact that the Pope would be arrested by Italian authorities for money laundering has not been mentioned.  Check it out for yourself, the arrest warrant is a matter of public record. This also accounts for the fact that the Pope will be cloistered within the walls of the sovereign Vatican nation. If he were to leave, he would be subject to immediate arrest.  There are also the issues of sex crimes against children, and maintaining secret accounts for various politicians and corporate moguls, but that is a whole other story.

There is a major magma pool rising under the Solomon Island, and is being heralded by huge swarms of 5+ earthquakes over the past three weeks.  This is similar in size to the “Jellystone” caldera, being nearly 600 square kilometers in size and sitting on a major Pacific plate conjunction zone. If this were to erupt, the tsunamis generated could have global effects as these would literally travel around the world and affect all oceans.  The steam volume sent into the atmosphere by such an eruption could literally create giant rivers of atmospheric water that would create massive rainfalls inland on all continents.  Not a word said in MSM.

Currency wars are beginning to erupt as central banks and nations try to stave off the coming financial collapse.  The concern of course is that historically when currency wars do erupt (and they have officially begun), global war is not far behind.  Yet MSM is talking about “the fiscal cliff” approaching in the US. Speaking of CONgress, we did have one humorous insight this week. Did you know that the correct term for a large group of baboons is a congress of baboons. Hmmm, that explains a lot.

Then, of course, we have this developing debate concerning gun control. The monopoly media is reporting these stories from within the confines of the false Left/Right paradigm and is ignoring the written purpose of the 2nd Amendment by attempting to frame the debate as one of crime and an irrational fear of violence. We see endless discussions from collectivists insisting that citizens do not “need” military type weapons for hunting or self defense – the System’s accepted purpose for your irrational desire to own firearms. So called assault weapons are evil and unnecessary, therefore only the police should be thus armed. The so called Right counters that gun bans do nothing but make crime worse and that citizens must be able to defend themselves, with these weapons if need be.

Both are false premises because the 2nd Amendment was clearly written as an individual right so that citizen’s militias would be independent of the State. A counter balance the founders left us to prevent what has arisen: a State monopoly in the legitimate use of force. A doomsday provision that would never be needed until the State tried to take it. Even though this element does not seem to be the debate in MSM, the people seem to have understood clearly what’s up as the latest monthly volumes of gun and ammunition sales has skyrocketed, setting records.

These events and others affecting all of us directly and globally are simply not being reported or to find the kind way of saying it, grossly under-reported by MSM.  If there is any good news in this, people have been migrating to alternative news sources that are doing their best to report these issues in the light of what is really going on.  However, these venues are also loaded with disinformation specialists and shills, so it does take effort to sort the rat poop from the pepper. We do have one question that may be relevant. Are there any journalists out there in MSM with the courage or ability to do the right thing.  I know from many sources you are out there and frustrated, find a way to collectively “do the right thing”.

So here is the lesson. If it does resonate with you, don’t accept it.  If you don’t accept it, make an effort to find the “truth” of the issues on your own as best you can. You won’t always be successful given the fact this is very time consuming, but make the effort.  Share what you find with as many people as possible. Finally, as we are seeing in the Arab Spring, Anonymous, and Occupy efforts, withhold your consent to be governed and managed in this manner.  This only continues if we consent to let it continue. The oldest law of civilized communal living is that those who govern only really can do so by the consent of the people.

Do You Really Understand What the FED Has Committed on Your Behalf?

When you look at the breakdown of the bailouts and QE programs as below, it becomes quite apparent how really insane this monetary policy really is.  What’s more frightening is that the EU’s policies are WORSE! The FED is printing money willy-nilly and the ECB is slowly sucking the economic viability out of the EU economy with nihilistic austerity programs, and even in the light of real evidence of the damage, they continue to enact these insane policies.

To put in perspective the size of just the US money printing operation, consider that the “net” figure of $863 billion represents the total face value of Federal Reserve Notes in circulation, or, it represents nearly 50% of the GDP. To put it another way, you via congressional monetary policy delegated to the FED’s monetary policy has taken actions that put every man, woman, and child in this country in debt to the tune of $237,500! Translated to a family of four that’s a cool 950 LARGE!

While the FED speeds down the road to a hyperinflationary crash, and the EU is looking at a third round of recession and might even be looking at the “D” word, deflation, China is creating gold backed ETFs and is entering market places globally, the rise of the Red Dragon. The monetary policies of Russia, China, and most of the so called BRIC nations seem to be adapting more correctly to world markets and demands.

I don’t remember us being asked to comment or god-forbid assent to such policies. But hey, according to Jamie Dimon in Davos Switzerland  explaining why people don’t need to know what’s going on in the banking world. It’s too “complex.” Just know that their fee comes from managing this ball of financial confusion. And that’s all you need to know. Really? How about what I understand, that this is a house of cards game being played in an unregulated casino and that it will collapse without any question and therefore by definition is insane.  I know that’s complex but I’m just an ordinary guy.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated Mary Jo White, a former U.S. attorney who built a reputation prosecuting white-collar criminals, terrorists and mobsters, to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The agency has a lead role in implementing changes on Wall Street.

White spent nearly a decade as the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, handling an array of white-collar crimes and complex securities and financial fraud cases. She brought down mobster John Gotti and won convictions in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa.

Obama said that experience makes White well-suited to implement legislation he championed to change the behavior on Wall Street. “I’d say that’s a pretty good run. You don’t want to mess with Mary Jo,” Obama said at the White House. “As one former SEC chairman said, Mary Jo does not intimidate easily, and that’s important because she has a big job ahead of her.

That’s the positive “spin”. The negative side of this is that White also represented JPMC, and others as defense attorney in SEC inquiries. So in a sense, White knows where the bones are buried.  The Wall Street Pit bulls aren’t barking so it is hard to read what is next.  Certainly, in spite of the magnitude of evidence of felonies being committed by the Wall Street Boys, no one has gone to jail. Is that about to change? Only time will tell.  Oh yeah and one other thing, you writing the new head of the SEC and after you have congratulated her on her significant appoint, urge her to begin immediately to vigorously prosecute those where the evidence is certain.

You know we do not need to understand what an ETF is or what a credit default swap is, because in the end it is just this simple.  These ego-maniacs have bet the farm and put up the family as collateral. It really is that real. So do you have anything to say about that?

//

Why There is A Strangle Hold on the Global Economy?

As we move into the fifth year of this most recent global economic crisis, much has been written about the criminality of the banking community, sovereign debt, and the impacts of austerity measures, but that is just part of the story.  To really understand the “whole of it” you also have to look at food prices, the escalating health care system delivery costs, and finally and most disturbing the cost of higher education.  All of these sectors have been usurped by a “corporate’ for profit mindset and are totally out of control.

Since the collapse of 2008, speculators have moved into the commodities sector and food prices have escalated out of control, essentially because there is NO control. The prices of all key staples increased, except for rice.Maize prices increased by 9%, soybean oil by 7%, wheat (U.S. HRW) by 6%, and sugar (world) by 5% just this last year. These price variations were the largest increases observed since June and July of 2011. The price of rice (Thai, 5%) declined in the same period by 6%, adding to the price decline of 2% observed in the fourth quarter of 2011. Both abundant supply and strong competition among exporters have caused the international price of rice to decline.  Although food production outlooks remain strong for 2012/13, there is a global food crisis. Why? Profiteers plain and simple.

Twenty years ago U.S. healthcare cost $2800, on average, per person. Ten years ago, that figure had risen to $4700 per person. And four years ago, in 2008, it was $7500 per person. The cost to cover the typical family of four under an employer plan is expected to top $20,000 on health care this year, up more than 7% from last year. These health care cost increases have increased the number of people dying because of a lack of access to health care and has resulted in a substantial increase in personal bankruptcies, especially among retired people. Not only is there no controls over these costs, the government has essentially prohibited competition by restricting large governmental providers from even negotiating more competitive costs.

But nowhere is the lack of control more apparent that in the cost of higher education. This month information was released regarding consumer credit growth.  Most of the headlines took this as positive economic news but digging deeper into the data we realize that the bulk of the growth came courtesy of exploding student debt.  Even with the encyclopedia amount of data showing how horribly run many for-profit colleges are run, the government continues to back these risky endeavors while saddling young Americans with unrelenting levels of debt.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the predatory nature of these operations just like it was easy to see subprime loans were going to end badly.  So why continue to allow this to go on?  Why is the system so adamant on continuing to pour layer upon layer of student debt syrup onto the younger segment of our nation that is already struggling in the employment market?

A recent University of Georgia study is sobering in its findings.  When comparing the UG tuition escalations to other higher institutions here are their findings:

Undergraduate

Residents

The average 10-year increase in tuition and fees for residents was 111%. The University of Georgia’s increase was 156%, 3rd highest out of 13 institutions.

The largest increase occurred at University of Arizona (231%), University of California-Davis (185%), and University of Georgia (156%).

The lowest increases were at University of Maryland (58%), Louisiana State University (65%), and University of Missouri (85%).

Over the past 5 years the University of Georgia has had the highest increase (89%), followed by University of Arizona (83%), and University of California-Davis (75%).

Over the past 5 years University of Maryland has had the lowest increase (8%), followed by Ohio State University (17%), and University of Missouri (22%).

Non-Residents

The average 10-year increase in tuition and fees for non-residents was 94%. The University of Georgia’s increase was 138%, 2nd highest out of 13 institutions.

The largest increases occurred at University of Florida (163%), University of Georgia (138%), and University of Arizona (138%).

The lowest increases were at North Carolina State University (43%), University of Missouri (58%), and University of Kentucky and Iowa State University with an increase of 72% each.

Over the past 5 years University of Arizona has had the highest increase (80%), followed by University of Georgia (60%) and University of Florida (59%).

Over the past 5 years North Carolina State University has had the lowest increase (15%), followed by Iowa State University (18%) and Ohio State University (22%).

How much debt have we loaded onto the backs of our youth and young developing professionals who are the essential elements to stimulating our economy?  It’s this big:

How out of whack is this really? Consider this fact, the total combined GDP growth in the US from 2008 until 2011 was a mere 2.7% TOTAL!

When you wonder why the global economy is imploding, that there is 25% percent unemployment of the educated technically capable young productive people, and why there are riots bursting forth in every developed country on the planet, remember these facts.  A global oligarchy has usurped and trumped government and now believes they can complete a global economic enslavement plan. If you don’t see this you are blind and in denial. If we do not unite soon, this is a fait accompli and you will have to explain to your grandchildren why we didn’t do anything to prevent their bondage.  You up for that?

Financial Sector Resignations Continue.. This Phenomena Really Has Legs.

In a continuation of our previous article, we continue with the assistance of those previously acknowledged to follow this seemingly mass migration of senior financial experts globally.  This now far exceeds “normal attrition”.  If we are to believe Benjamin Fulford and others, this is the “taking down” of the cabal that has been responsible for the biggest theft of wealth in history. As we also said, the nature of these resignations is most telling.  Fifty-one percent resigned or stepped down, 26 percent retired, and only 9 percent left to take other jobs….

I would welcome anyone in “the know” to comment.  I know a lot of financial industry folks read this blog.  Maybe it is time and it may be the only time to contribute positively to this discussion and the events unfolding.

Certainly, the evidence is supporting that events are unfolding as Fulford and others are contending.  If that is so, then we should be seeing some sort of major media announcement within the next week.  We will continue to follow this closely.  It does seem important enough to pay close attention.

Also, if this is what is happening (a complete do-over of the global financial system), it is the most important event of our lifetimes.  Anyone who can help us understand this correctly is welcome to join the discussion.

3/07/12 (AUSTRALIA) Customers Ltd, Tim Wildash has cashed himself out as chief executive of Australia’s largest ATM operator
http://goo.gl/eZJMb

3/07/12 (USA CA) CALSTRS, Pascal Villiger, senior private equity portfolio manager at the $145 billion California State Teachers’ Retirement System resigns
http://goo.gl/ub0ke

3/07/12 (USA) Astaire quits Bank of America Merrill to dance to Barclays Capital’s tune
http://goo.gl/Zv6Ny

3/08/12 (UK)  Schroders, Chairman  Michael Miles  depart as fees, inflows drop. UK’s biggest fund management firm.
goo.gl/TgURM

3/08/12 (USA NY) Schroders, CIO Alan Brown is steps down
http://goo.gl/ZTtYo

3/08/12 (USA IL) CBOE Executive Patrick Fay Put on Leave Amid SEC Probe
http://goo.gl/x5snO

3/08/12 (USA NH & RI) Bristol County Savings Bank president E. Dennis Kelly retires after 35 years
http://goo.gl/8KVKn

3/08/12 (GERMANY) Clearstream Banking AG – Katja Rosenkranz To Leave Deutsche Börse Group [stockmarket]
http://goo.gl/RiVNi

3/08/12 (UK) B&CE CEO Brian Griffiths is to retire later this year
http://goo.gl/AV7Sk

3/08/12 (UK) Invesco Trimark Ltd, portfolio manager Dana Love has resigned.
http://goo.gl/MyQ90

3/08/12 (ISRAEL) Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer will hand in his shock resignation in the coming days and take up a new position as head of the Bank of Zambia. Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz is believed to be furious with Fischer’s decision. Treasury officials said he even canceled his participation in the office’s annual Purim party in order to convince Fischer to reverse his decision.
http://goo.gl/0DlSA

3/08/12 (SOUTH AFRICA) Standard Bank Group Limited (SBK), board member Sir Paul Judge retires.
http://goo.gl/SjSPg

3/08/12 (SOUTH AFRICA) Standard Bank Groupl Limited (SBK), board member Sir Sam Jonah retires.
http://goo.gl/SjSPg

3/09/12 (MONGOLIA) Mongol Bank President Alag Batsukh submitted his resignation letter to Speaker of Parliament D. Demberel at the end of last month. He described his reason for resigning as a lack of support by Parliament.
http://goo.gl/RDmNx

3/09/12 (MONGOLIA) Asia Pacific Securities, General Manager Narantuguldur Saijrakh recently resigned, to focus on his role as Director of Khan Investment Management, investment advisor to the Khan Mongolia Equity Fund – the first open-ended investment vehicle with monthly dealing that invests in Mongolia related equities listed both domestically and internationally.
http://goo.gl/2T4R6

3/09/12 (Côte d’Ivoire) Banque Central des Etats d’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO) The Ivorian governor of the multi-billion dollar West Africa Francophone bank, Philippe-Henry Dacoury-Tabley, resigned his post.
http://goo.gl/CevLn

3/09/12 (UK) Lazard , co-head of investment banking Alexis de Rosnay quits. De Rosnay specialises in the healthcare sector, he has advised Teva Pharmaceutical and Novartis.
http://goo.gl/3gzbi

3/09/12 (UK) Deutsche Bank PWM, UK head of portfolio management Martyn Surguy resigned.
http://goo.gl/5Ti2p

3/09/12 (UK) Deutsche Bank PWM, head of discretionary management, Kypros Charalambous, having also stepped down.
http://goo.gl/5Ti2p

3/09/12 (HONG KONG) Bank of America Merrill Lynch, K.J. Kim, responsible for Southeast Asia, resigned
http://goo.gl/sE7xh

3/09/12 (HONG KONG) Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Jimmy Choi, who was in charge of high-yield debt, resigned.
http://goo.gl/sE7xh

3/09/12 (HONG KONG) Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Leonard Ng, a vice-president in Hong Kong resigned.
http://goo.gl/sE7xh

3/09/12 (AUSTRALIA) Bank of Queensland CFO Ram Kangatharan plans to leave the bank.
http://goo.gl/ieNea

3/09/12 (USA) Cerberus Capital Management LP, CEO Robert Nardelli resigns.
http://goo.gl/9uKVx

3/10/12 (AUSTRALIA) WESTPAC, Rob Chapman opted to quit running its regional subsidiary St George Bank.
http://goo.gl/G6MD

3/10/12 (TURKEY) Garanti Bank, The deputy CEO of Turkish lender Tolga Egemen, has decided to quit.
http://goo.gl/vAMzV

3/10/12 (CHINA) Korea Development Bank, Shanghai unit senior manager Stella Wen resigned.
http://goo.gl/55CqZ

3/10/12 (HONG KONG) Deutsche Bank, Johan Sudiman resigns as director.
http://goo.gl/6CYGP

3/12/12 (USA) John Lewis Partnership Pension Trust, head of investments Andrew Chapman, resigns
http://goo.gl/hevqh

3/12/12 (USA CA) California’s Department of Financial Institutions, commissioner William Haraf resigned. The DFI did not say why he is leaving.
http://goo.gl/zquTc

3/12/12 (KUWAIT) Gulf Bank, Chairman Ali Rashaid Al Bader quits
http://goo.gl/LDz9b

3/12/12 (UK and IRELAND) Allfunds Bank, head of UK and Ireland Alan Gadd is stepping down from his role at the end of April.
http://goo.gl/4DF6i

3/12/12 (USA) ICAP, CEO of the electronic broking business David Rutter step down following a restructuring of the business.
http://goo.gl/SUHqW

3/12/12 (UK) SVG Capital, chairman Nicholas Ferguson resigns. His departure left him well placed to succeed James Murdoch as chairman of BSkyB should the latter bow to investor pressure and step down. Other investors in the satellite broadcaster suggested Ferguson might be seen as too close to Murdoch to win the support of institutional shareholders.
http://goo.gl/z19wH

3/12/12 (UK) Park Hill Group – Blackstone Group’s fundraising advisory arm, Managing Partner of private equity and hedge fund distribution Chris Leach resigns
http://goo.gl/jnHax

3/12/12 (UK) Park Hill Group – Blackstone Group’s fundraising advisory arm, Managing Partner Justin Bower resigns
http://goo.gl/jnHax

3/12/12 (UK)  The chief executive David Rutter of the electronic broking business at interdealer broker Icap stepping down.
http://goo.gl/sxk4y

3/12/12 (SOUTH AFRICA) The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), CEO Paul Baloyi resigns.
http://goo.gl/yX4xo

3/12/12 (USA) Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc, CEO Bryan Marsal Resigns Title, Remains on as Adviser
http://goo.gl/1K9zV

3/12/12 (USA IL) CME Group Inc, CEO Craig Donohues will step down at year end.
http://goo.gl/lvzgC

3/13/12 (USA) Eaton Vance Corp, Treasurer and CFO Robert J. Whelan has stepped down.
http://goo.gl/oxmbL

3/12/12 (USA IL) CBOE Holdings Inc. (CBOE), senior compliance executive Patrick Fay has resigned. The options exchange being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Fay had been placed on leave after the SEC began investigating the options-market operator’s oversight of traders.
http://goo.gl/gj4W6

3/13/12 (USA) Mithras Investment Trust, chairman Mike Wooderson will step down
http://goo.gl/UjO2e

3/13/12 (USA) PHH Mortgage, President Luke Hayden resigned from to pursue what the company calls “other interests.” http://goo.gl/iaqQf

3/13/12 (USA) PHH Mortgage, Treasurer Mark Johnson.resigned
http://goo.gl/iaqQf

3/13/12 (AUSTRALIA) WESTPAC, head of corporate affairs after David Bell decided to step down from the role. Bell is the latest top executive to leave the bank.
http://goo.gl/FntUz

3/13/12 (UK) Capula’s Systemic Trading Head Qiang Dai to Leave Fund
http://goo.gl/zkrN2

3/13/12 (UAE) National Bank of Abu Dhabi, CEO Michael Tomalin, will retire from the post in a few months.
http://goo.gl/dzBW8

3/13/12 (ISRAEL) Osem Investments Ltd, CEO Gazi Kaplan has tendered his resignation, effective April 2, citing heath reasons. Nestlé SA owns 58.8% of Osem.
http://goo.gl/t032l

3/13/12 (USA) Paulson & Co.’s, partner and head of the global bank team Robert Lacoursiere has quit to form his own hedge fund
http://goo.gl/I8UNd

3/13/12 (AUSTRALIA) ASX Ltd, Chairman David Gonski will step down from his role at Australia’s main stock market operator after being appointed to oversee almost A$90 billion ($95 billion) in the nation’s sovereign-wealth funds.
http://goo.gl/gJN33

3/13/12 (UK) JP Morgan, Asset Management European chief Jamie Broderick is to step down more than 20 years at the firm.
http://goo.gl/MV65V

3/13/12 (UK) SVG Chairman Nicholas Ferguson retires.
http://goo.gl/hTDDY

3/13/12 (UK) SVG Director Edgar Koning retires.
http://goo.gl/hTDDY

3/13/12 (UK) SVG Director Denis Raeburn retires.
http://goo.gl/hTDDY

3/13/12 (UK) SVG Director Francis Finlay retires.
http://goo.gl/hTDDY

3/14/12 (UK) Goldman Sachs, executive director and head of the firm’s United States equity derivatives business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Greg Smith, is resigning today.
http://americankabuki.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-i-am-leaving-goldman-sachs.html

3/14/12 (SOUTH AFRICA) ABSA chairman Garth Griffin to retire
http://goo.gl/Mhjb5

3/14/12 (UK)  WorldSpreads, CEO Conor Foley  resigns
http://goo.gl/GgT4z

3/15/12 (US WA) HomeStreet Bank, EVP and CFO  David Hooston  resigns
goo.gl/UUlc0

3/15/12 (DENMARK)  Sparekassen Faaborg board member  Steen Grønved Nielsen  resigns
http://tinyurl.com/6rd3m74

3/15/12 (UK)  RBC Capital Markets head of SSA syndicate desk Noel Williams  resigns
http://tinyurl.com/7zcf4z8

3/15/12 (UK)  Novia London sales manager Dave Chassell  quits
http://tinyurl.com/7gx6sn2

3/15/12 (US CA)  Prosper Finance (online venture captial services) CEO  Chris Larsen  steps down
http://tinyurl.com/6lhu8xx

3/15/12 (UK)  The Royal British Legion’s (fund) director of corp. communications  Stuart Gendall  resigns
http://tinyurl.com/7bhtysl

3/15/12 (IRELAND)  President of Sinn Fein USA (fund)  Larry Downes  steps down
http://tinyurl.com/7uqnwcg

3/16/12 (AUSTRALIA)  Investorfirst CFO and company secretary  Ariel Sivikofsky resigns
http://tinyurl.com/7jdshty

3/16/12 (MALAYSIA)  Amanah Raya Bhd (trust) managing director  Datuk Ahmad Rodzi Pawanteh  steps down
http://tinyurl.com/7wbujpm

3/16/12 (UK) Towry (investment & fin. advice)  Non-exec chairman Glyn Jones steps down
http://tinyurl.com/83g3y8b

3/16/12 (GERMANY)  Deutsche Bank Chief risk officer (CRO)of  Hugo Bänziger  steps down
http://tinyurl.com/7pmal9k

3/16/12 (US IL)  Henderson Global Investors Inc. head of the International Opportunities Fund  Iain Clark  steps down
http://tinyurl.com/7kfxz3j

3/16/12 (US CA)  Executive VP and Chief Compliance Officer of Heritage Bank of Commerce  Margaret Incandela  resigns
http://tinyurl.com/6wcaqaz

3/16/12 (US VA)  Genworth Financial board member  J. Robert Kerrey  resigns to campaign for senate seat
http://tinyurl.com/7566f74

3/16/12 (UK)  CEO of the FSA (Financial Services Authority)  Hector Sants  to leave
http://tinyurl.com/7av7v5n>

3/19/12 (US IA)  ISU Foundation (fund), President and CEO of the  Dan Saftig  to step down
http://tinyurl.com/7jvb24x

3/19/12 (BRAZIL)  HSBC Brazil CEO Conrado Engel  steps down
http://tinyurl.com/89uayoo

3/19/12 (UAE)  Finance head at SNR Denton Islamic  Sheikh Muddassir Siddiqui  resignsto pursue advisory role
http://tinyurl.com/84avxch

3/19/12 (SWITZERLAND)  Julius Baer bank’s chairman  Raymond Baer  steps down in a “surprise departure”
http://tinyurl.com/84gcl3z

3/19/12 (GERMANY) Deutsche Bank, asset management chief  Kevin Parker  to leave executive committee
http://goo.gl/ahZlJ

3/19/12 (GERMANY) Deutsche Bank, head of private wealth management Pierre de Weck resigns from executive committee
http://goo.gl/wRZkU

3/19/12 (HONG KONG)  China Development Bank HK branch CEO  Di Weiping  retires
http://tinyurl.com/7xcskmp

3/19/12 (US ID)  SunTrust Bank president and CEO  Thomas Rueger  to retire
http://tinyurl.com/7n2l6sr

3/19/12 (SWEDEN)  AP6 (private equity) CEO  Marianne Dicander Alexandersson steps down
http://tinyurl.com/7bnvygp

3/19/12 (SWITZERLAND)  FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority)  Vice-chair Monica Mächler  to step down
http://tinyurl.com/7r9akho

3/20/12 (KUWAIT)  National Investments Co. chairman  Yousef Al Majid  resigns
http://tinyurl.com/7maw3xx

3/20/12 (UK)  Bank of America, Co-head of distressed debt at  Michael Guy  resigns
http://tinyurl.com/75eml6v

3/20/12 (US PA)  Penseco Financial Services Corp, Former state senator Robert J. Mellow resigns from board
http://tinyurl.com/6rxqeo9

3/20/12 (US TX)  Acquisition chief Dan Magder  quits Lone Star Investments
http://tinyurl.com/6qm2rj4

3/20/12 (NIGERIA)  Chairman of House Committee on Capital Markets  Hon. Herman Hembe  resigns due to allegations of bribery
http://tinyurl.com/7r6dk54

3/20/12 (Hong Kong)  Head of Deutsche Bank Asia-Pac  Loh Boon Chye quits
http://tinyurl.com/6muckmq

3/20/12 (US NY)  Deutsche Bank, head of asset management  Kevin Parker  steps down from executive committee
goo.gl/4NO66

3/20/12 (GERMANY) Deutsche Bank, Chairman and CEO  Josef Ackermann exits with pension of €18.7 million
http://goo.gl/eiF39

3/20/12 (UK) Coller Capital, CEO Charles Hippsley has left to help lead a Christian organisation in London.
http://goo.gl/rVFz0

3/21/12 (GERMANY)  Deutsche Bank AG, Co-head Wolfgang Hammes  leaves
http://tinyurl.com/74ks8jk

3/21/12 (UK)  Aviva Investor’s European equity head  John Botham  exits
http://tinyurl.com/7qwlc26

3/21/12 (CANADA)  National Bank’s Ontaria, Atlantic region manager  Mike Miller leaves
http://tinyurl.com/7kq4bdp

3/21/12 (UK)  Royal Bank of Scotland Group’s global head of equity prime services  Gregory Wagner  resigns
http://tinyurl.com/6vz8f8k

3/21/12 (US DC)  Liquidity Services Inc, Chief information officer Eric Dean  resigns
http://tinyurl.com/7v2c4ku

3/22/12 (UK)  Global equity head Neil Rogan  resigns from Henderson Global Investors
http://tinyurl.com/7v2c4ku

3/22/12 (NETHERLANDS) CIO at Nedlloyd Pension Fund  Bert Tibben  step down
http://goo.gl/NHE94

3/22/12 (UK) Bank of America Corp, chairman of global banking and markets, Andrea Orcel steps down, goes to UBS
http://goo.gl/AVXL2

3/22/12 (UK) Bank of America Corp, Jonathan Moulds steps down, helped build the bank’s over-the-counter derivatives trading business and held positions including global head of rate derivatives trading, head of global derivatives and head of global rates and commodities.
http://goo.gl/AVXL2

3/25/12 (EGYPT) National Bank of Egypt, CEO Tarek Amer said that he will step down from his position at the end of 2012.
http://goo.gl/tC7Ma

It is not however just the number of resignations, but more interesting is the nature of how a lot of these players are exiting.  Consider this very revealing OP-ED piece from the New Times Opinion Page, which appeared on 14 March.  It is like the saying, when it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and now THE DUCK himself says it’s a duck.  Well, you be the judge.

Op-Ed Contributor – New York Times Opinion Section

Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs By GREG SMITH, Published: March 14, 2012

TODAY is my last day at Goldman Sachs. After almost 12 years at the firm — first as a summer intern while at Stanford, then in New York for 10 years, and now in London — I believe I have worked here long enough to understand the trajectory of its culture, its people and its identity. And I can honestly say that the environment now is as toxic and destructive as I have ever seen it.

To put the problem in the simplest terms, the interests of the client continue to be sidelined in the way the firm operates and thinks about making money. Goldman Sachs is one of the world’s largest and most important investment banks and it is too integral to global finance to continue to act this way. The firm has veered so far from the place I joined right out of college that I can no longer in good conscience say that I identify with what it stands for.

It might sound surprising to a skeptical public, but culture was always a vital part of Goldman Sachs’s success. It revolved around teamwork, integrity, a spirit of humility, and always doing right by our clients. The culture was the secret sauce that made this place great and allowed us to earn our clients’ trust for 143 years. It wasn’t just about making money; this alone will not sustain a firm for so long. It had something to do with pride and belief in the organization. I am sad to say that I look around today and see virtually no trace of the culture that made me love working for this firm for many years. I no longer have the pride, or the belief.

But this was not always the case. For more than a decade I recruited and mentored candidates through our grueling interview process. I was selected as one of 10 people (out of a firm of more than 30,000) to appear on our recruiting video, which is played on every college campus we visit around the world. In 2006 I managed the summer intern program in sales and trading in New York for the 80 college students who made the cut, out of the thousands who applied.

I knew it was time to leave when I realized I could no longer look students in the eye and tell them what a great place this was to work.

When the history books are written about Goldman Sachs, they may reflect that the current chief executive officer, Lloyd C. Blankfein, and the president, Gary D. Cohn, lost hold of the firm’s culture on their watch. I truly believe that this decline in the firm’s moral fiber represents the single most serious threat to its long-run survival.

Over the course of my career I have had the privilege of advising two of the largest hedge funds on the planet, five of the largest asset managers in the United States, and three of the most prominent sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East and Asia. My clients have a total asset base of more than a trillion dollars. I have always taken a lot of pride in advising my clients to do what I believe is right for them, even if it means less money for the firm. This view is becoming increasingly unpopular at Goldman Sachs. Another sign that it was time to leave.

How did we get here? The firm changed the way it thought about leadership. Leadership used to be about ideas, setting an example and doing the right thing. Today, if you make enough money for the firm (and are not currently an ax murderer) you will be promoted into a position of influence.

What are three quick ways to become a leader? a) Execute on the firm’s “axes,” which is Goldman-speak for persuading your clients to invest in the stocks or other products that we are trying to get rid of because they are not seen as having a lot of potential profit. b) “Hunt Elephants.” In English: get your clients — some of whom are sophisticated, and some of whom aren’t — to trade whatever will bring the biggest profit to Goldman. Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t like selling my clients a product that is wrong for them. c) Find yourself sitting in a seat where your job is to trade any illiquid, opaque product with a three-letter acronym.

Today, many of these leaders display a Goldman Sachs culture quotient of exactly zero percent. I attend derivatives sales meetings where not one single minute is spent asking questions about how we can help clients. It’s purely about how we can make the most possible money off of them. If you were an alien from Mars and sat in on one of these meetings, you would believe that a client’s success or progress was not part of the thought process at all.

It makes me ill how callously people talk about ripping their clients off. Over the last 12 months I have seen five different managing directors refer to their own clients as “muppets,” sometimes over internal e-mail. Even after the S.E.C., Fabulous Fab, Abacus, God’s work, Carl Levin, Vampire Squids? No humility? I mean, come on. Integrity? It is eroding. I don’t know of any illegal behavior, but will people push the envelope and pitch lucrative and complicated products to clients even if they are not the simplest investments or the ones most directly aligned with the client’s goals? Absolutely. Every day, in fact.

It astounds me how little senior management gets a basic truth: If clients don’t trust you they will eventually stop doing business with you. It doesn’t matter how smart you are.

These days, the most common question I get from junior analysts about derivatives is, “How much money did we make off the client?” It bothers me every time I hear it, because it is a clear reflection of what they are observing from their leaders about the way they should behave. Now project 10 years into the future: You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the junior analyst sitting quietly in the corner of the room hearing about “muppets,” “ripping eyeballs out” and “getting paid” doesn’t exactly turn into a model citizen.

When I was a first-year analyst I didn’t know where the bathroom was, or how to tie my shoelaces. I was taught to be concerned with learning the ropes, finding out what a derivative was, understanding finance, getting to know our clients and what motivated them, learning how they defined success and what we could do to help them get there.

My proudest moments in life — getting a full scholarship to go from South Africa to Stanford University, being selected as a Rhodes Scholar national finalist, winning a bronze medal for table tennis at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, known as the Jewish Olympics — have all come through hard work, with no shortcuts. Goldman Sachs today has become too much about shortcuts and not enough about achievement. It just doesn’t feel right to me anymore.

I hope this can be a wake-up call to the board of directors. Make the client the focal point of your business again. Without clients you will not make money. In fact, you will not exist. Weed out the morally bankrupt people, no matter how much money they make for the firm. And get the culture right again, so people want to work here for the right reasons. People who care only about making money will not sustain this firm — or the trust of its clients — for very much longer.

Greg Smith is resigning today as a Goldman Sachs executive director and head of the firm’s United States equity derivatives business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

All I can say is I expect an exciting next few months.  I also think it needs to be said here that it also appears that there is a major effort by some very courageous people (like Greg Smith), who are taking great personal risk, to assist in this “cleansing”.  We owe them a large debt of gratitude.

Why the Collapse of the EU is Important to You

U.S. bank exposure to the European debt crisis is estimated at $640 billion, nearly 5% of total U.S. banking assets, according to recent research papers written for Congress. Need we say more than that?  Yet, U.S. banks increased sales of insurance against credit losses to holders of Greek, Portuguese, Irish, Spanish and Italian debt in the first half of 2011, boosting the risk of payouts in the event of defaults.

Guarantees provided by U.S. lenders on government, bank and corporate debt in those countries rose by $80.7 billion to $518 billion, according to the Bank for International Settlements. Almost all of those are credit-default swaps, accounting for two-thirds of the total related to the five nations, BIS data show.

The payout risks are higher than what JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), the leading CDS underwriters in the U.S., report. The banks say their net positions are smaller because they purchase swaps to offset ones they’re selling to other companies. With banks on both sides of the Atlantic using derivatives to hedge, potential losses aren’t being reduced, said Frederick Cannon, director of research at New York-based investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc.

Similar hedging strategies almost failed in 2008 when American International Group Inc. couldn’t pay insurance on mortgage debt. While banks that sold protection on European sovereign debt have so far bet the right way, a plan announced by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou to hold a referendum on the latest bailout package sent markets reeling and cast doubt on the ability of his country to avert default.  In addition, the real axis of financial power, the emergence of a new “political-economic lobby” was hatched in a chance meeting at the Frankfurt Opera House on 19 October, where all of its members attended a ceremony to mark the end of Jean-Claude Trichet’s tenure as President of the ECB. This group, consisting of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy – increasingly dubbed ‘Merkozy’ in the European press – but also Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, ECB President Mario Draghi, and Olli Rehn, the EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs have emerged as a new power bloc.

Their discussions concerning redrawing the European Union have already leaked in the press and have sent quivers through the international financial markets.  In order to “ditch” the bad assets, those 29 banks with the greatest exposure would need to take severe “haircuts, and they are NOT as hedged with swaps as they are pretending they are at the moment.

The CDS holdings of U.S. banks are almost three times as much as their $181 billion in direct lending to the five countries at the end of June, according to the most recent data available from BIS. Adding CDS raises the total risk to $767 billion, a 20 percent increase over six months, the data show. BIS doesn’t report which firms sold how much, or to whom. A credit-default swap is a contract that requires one party to pay another for the face value of a bond if the issuer defaults.

Five banks — JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Corp. (BAC) and Citigroup Inc. (C) — write 97 percent of all credit-default swaps in the U.S., according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The five firms had total net exposure of $45 billion to the debt of Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy, according to disclosures the companies made at the end of the third quarter (don’t laugh here).  So if you believe the BIS here, these same banks have at risk $767 billion, but only a net exposure of $45 billion. What’s that smell?

Last Friday at the meeting of the G20 in Cannes, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) revealed a list of 29 global systemically important financial institutions (known as the G-Sifis). These institutions are deemed to be so important to the interconnected global financial system that the unexpected and disorderly failure of any one of them could seriously threaten the world’s financial markets. Of the batch, seven US banks made the list: Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS), JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), State Street Corp. (NYSE: STT), and Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC). Now things start to get interesting.

These 29 banks have been awarded an implicit guarantee that they are, indeed, ‘too big to fail.’ That’s the good news. The not-so-good news — at least from the institutional point of view — is that capital requirements for the banks will increase and each bank must create a plan by the end of 2012 describing how they would wind themselves down if necessary.  Read more: 29 Global Banks ‘Too Big To Fail’, But Not Too Big to Tell the Truth (BAC, BK, C, GS, JPM, STT, WFC, MS) – 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2011/11/08/29-global-banks-%e2%80%98too-big-to-fail%e2%80%99-but-not-too-big-to-tell-the-truth-bac-bk-c-gs-jpm-stt-wfc-ms/#ixzz1dNbkihCX

It doesn’t take genius to figure out the gig is up.  The real question now is how hard does the EU fall down and who does it knock down with it?  Does it deliver the knock-out blow to the US economy?  The short answer is probably not, but it absolutely assures a period of hyperinflation that the government will not be able to deny as it is now denying related to the current impacts already being felt.  Just two words for you, food and fuel, enough said, huh?

Given this current situation, bank transfer day isn’t all a lefty progressive thing, is it?  Remember, when banks need money, they always take ours, isn’t that right Jon?

The European Union Has Entered Final Meltdown Phase

As we have outlined in previous articles, The EU will collapse, it was a matter of time.  Well, that time has arrived.  The falsely placed hope was that Greece would go silently into the night and then the politicos in Germany and France then could consolidate any impacts from the rest of the PIIGS and somehow manage the overwhelming debt over time. It was a fool’s dream from the onset.

It was so because first there is no way the German and French People would settle with being saddled with the cost of that bailout. The big secret is that both Germany and France are not in that good a shape themselves.  France’s external debt to GDP is 208% and Germany’s external debt to GDP is 163%.  Here is what the house of cards really looks like:

 

It is deceptive, at least, to use the Public Debt to GDP to honestly evaluate the situation, given the enormous exposure of the German and French banks are facing in the derivatives market float that currently exists. Keep it in your mind always that is the banks behind all of this and the ECB would have to bail them out when the final wheel falls off the joy wagon.

There is no way that German and French banks can cover their exposure and the ECB cannot possibly print that much money without setting off massive hyperinflation that would follow any effort to try and print that many Euros. The hope was that Greece would accept the draconian austerity demanded by the bankers to cover the 220% external debt (ED) to GDP.

Where it gets really crazy is that IF Greece went silently into what can only be described as a deep depression, somehow the EU could then manage the Italian ED (135%), the Irish ED 1098%, the Portuguese ED 239%, and the Spanish ED of 173%, basically on the backs of the French and Germans.  See how crazy it gets.

Well it just got a whole lot crazier in the last 72 hours.  The country that invented drama and democracy is not disappointing the world on either front. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Monday called for two high- stakes votes.  The first asks parliament to say by the end of this week whether it has confidence in his leadership. The second is a referendum in which Greek voters would approve or reject, possibly by year’s end, Europe’s latest debt-crisis workout. The move blindsided European leaders on the eve of a global summit and rocked lawmakers in Papandreou’s party, some of whom are now calling for him to step down. The next day, stocks tumbled worldwide, the euro declined and Italian bonds plunged.

French banks and other lenders exposed to Greece and other weak euro zone countries slumped on Tuesday after Greece’s leader said he would put a bailout plan to a referendum, raising the risk of a disorderly default.  Papandreou knew all along he could not force the Greek people to accept the austerity plan proposed by the ECB and IMF.  Europe’s latest bailout proposal falls far short of what’s needed. Under the deal, private banks holding Greek debt would voluntarily accept a 50 percent write-off on their returns; the European Financial Stability Facility, the EU’s bailout fund, would be leveraged to 1 trillion euros ($1.37 trillion) from 400 billion euros; and European banks would raise 106 billion euros ($145 billion) in new capital by June 2012. As for Greece, it is due to receive 130 billion euros ($180 billion) in public funds on top of 110 billion euros pledged in 2010.

Writedowns of Greece’s sovereign debt should be much steeper. Greek bonds held by the European Central Bank would not be covered, so the writedown is really less than 50 percent. It needs to be closer to 70 percent to make Greece’s debt burden bearable. In addition, the EFSF needs a war chest of at least 3 trillion euros to make sure Europe’s banks are recapitalized and to guarantee the financing needs of Italy and other struggling governments.

Greeks know that this latest bailout proposal will also come with many unpopular strings attached, including further austerity measures. In an Oct. 27 poll for the Greek weekly To Vima, the majority said the deal should be put to a national vote, with 58 percent calling it “negative” or “probably negative.” Deep budget cuts, broken pension promises and heavy government job losses have already led to strikes, street protests and violence.

Then Monday’s surprise was, as Greek politics grew ever more chaotic, strong political protests erupted as the government moved to replace military chiefs with officers seen as more supportive of George Papandreou, the prime minister.  In a surprise development, Panos Beglitis, Defence Minister, a close confidante of Mr. Papandreou, summoned the chiefs of the army, navy and air-force and announced that they were being replaced by other senior officers.

Neither the minister nor any government spokesman offered an explanation for the sudden, sweeping changes, which were scheduled to be considered on November 7 as part of a regular annual review of military leadership retirements and promotions. Usually the annual changes do not affect the entire leadership. “Under no circumstances will these changes be accepted, at a time when the government is collapsing and has not even secured a vote of confidence,” said an official announcement by the opposition conservative New Democracy party.

Add to this Greece’s government looked on the verge of implosion on Tuesday ahead of a Friday confidence vote as a socialist deputy defected and another cadre called for early elections after the prime minister called a referendum on his EU debt rescue. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou called the referendum late Monday in a bid to secure approval of his disputed economic policies without early elections. But the gambit backfired when a former deputy minister defected, reducing the ruling party’s majority in the 300-seat parliament to 152 deputies. Moments later, the head of parliament’s economic affairs committee Vasso Papandreou called for an early ballot and a temporary unity government to “safeguard” the EU deal agreed last week to slash Greece’s huge debt by nearly a third.

This “popular revolutionary” move is going to spread rapidly to the rest of the PIIGS. The unraveling will be rapid.  The exposure of the American banks is significant and they have already been slammed this week with MF Global filing for bankruptcy on Monday, investors pummeled many financial stocks, fearful that problems were lurking on the books of other Wall Street firms. It was a crisis of confidence, not unlike in 2008 when the markets punished stocks on mere speculation of trouble.  An interesting note is that Jon Corazine, the ex-head of Goldman Sachs, was at the helm at MF Global.  Imagine that! A leopard doesn’t change its spots!

We are going to witness the largest transfer of wealth in the history of the world within the next few weeks and the citizens of Germany, France, US, and Britain are NOT the winners, and neither is the 1%.  The winners are the 1/4%.  Are we catching on yet?