China Makes Its Way into Oil Futures with Petro-Yuan
China and its petro-yuan are positioning themselves to give the United States a run for its petrodollar. April 16, 2018 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP The United States has not been doing itself any favors in terms of foreign relations. We have covered quite a few instances where China and Russia have collaborated with one another to work around the United States. And can you blame them? The US has been quite hostile between its sanctions and tariffs. For a country that is supposed to embrace free markets, the US has been a … [Read More...]
New Assault Weapons Ban Bill Is Not About Safety
The new Assault Weapons Ban bill seems more concerned with banning scary looking things than it is with safety or reducing mass shootings. April 9, 2018 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP In a matter of a couple weeks after the Parkland, Florida shootings, an Assault Weapons Ban bill – introduced by David Cicilline (D-RI) and Tech Deutch (D-FL) – is waiting on the House floor for congressional consideration. Just don't expect it to make anyone safer. Those who already have any of the recently banned weapons, and obtained them … [Read More...]
Trump’s Economic Plan Makes No Sense
Trying to makes sense of Trump’s budget and spending strategies is a fool’s errand. With military malfeasance and over spending, the US is not moving closer to economic solvency. April 2, 2018 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP The more I read about Trump’s budget and spending policies, the less any of it makes sense. The aggressive nature of each of his economic policies, however, has me thinking this might all just come to a head. Three major promises he made while on the campaign trail that had people losing their minds with … [Read More...]
Trump’s Tariffs: The Sequel
The aftermath of the Trump Tariffs is being both felt and seen in various industries, and it’s only been a couple weeks. March 26, 2018 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP No sooner do I publish an article warning of the potential economic disasters associated with Trump’s Tariffs, do I see a week’s worth of various accounts pointing out the toll they’ve already taken. It’s like telling a kid to slow down on the sweets because they might get sick… and 10 minutes later they’re complaining about a stomach ache. The claim was that … [Read More...]
First Tax Cuts, But Then Tariffs?
From tax cuts to tariff hikes, what is Trump’s economic endgame? March 19, 2018 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP The United States is being pulled in several economic directions under Trump’s administration. I won’t call it “leadership” as that would be overstating things quite a bit. However, while fans of Trump rightly lauded his aggressive corporate tax cuts as being profoundly pro-business, dissidents rightly criticized the lack in spending cuts to accompany that move. The running theme in Trump’s rhetoric is filled with … [Read More...]
States Buck Federal Government When it Comes to Civil Asset Forfeiture
With so many unwitting and innocent people getting ensnared in the asset forfeiture dragnet it remains a hot topic; but it also has many states pitted against the federal government. March 12,2018 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP As they say even the word hopeless has hope in it. To that end, I am eagerly watching as states take on the issue of asset forfeiture. Jeff Sessions has no intention of relenting on that practice; in fact, he’s issuing directives to RAMP UP on asset forfeitures. His presumption, as is anyone’s who … [Read More...]
Property Is Your Ticket To Freedom
From getting out of your parents’ house to getting out of the nanny state: Property Is Freedom. March 5, 2018 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP Property is the lynchpin of freedom. I’ve said it before in defense of the right to own property, and I’ll say it again. What I’m finding is, people don’t understand HOW to own property, so they take it for granted. That’s how you get hoarders, and poor people living beyond their means. It’s not for lack of access, but for lack of retention. When you acquire something based on need, it is … [Read More...]
Borderless Interview: Escaping the Politically Obsessed Culture
February 28, 2018 With Bobby Casey, Managing Director at GWP and James Guzman of BorderlessBlog.com Expat, James Guzman, interviews Bobby Casey to discuss how they make sense of and remain sane in a hyper politicized climate. Show notes: 4:30 The Trump administration’s effect on the economy 8:20 How to make sense of the debt based economy 10:30 The infrastructure bill 13:11 The obsession with politics in the US 20:30 How Trump red-pilled America 27:30 The erosion of privacy 41:15 The trend for remote work 47:00 … [Read More...]
Expanding the Surveillance State to ICE and CBP?
The United States’ expanding surveillance state might extend to ICE and the CBP, making it eighteen government agencies with access to NSA capabilities. February 26, 2018 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP The ever-expanding surveillance state is something we have been covering for several years. With every “crisis” and election year, it takes on new form… but oddly never shrinks. As discussed, a few weeks ago, Section 702 of the FISA was reauthorized, with a few minor tweaks to records keeping and reporting, it left “about” … [Read More...]
Trump: Giving Credit and Blame Where Due
Whether you agree or disagree with Trump, it’s important to keep the record straight and give credit and blame where due. February 19, 2018 By: Bobby Casey Managing Director GWP There are die hard Trump supporters and equally staunch Trump detractors, but both sides are blinded by their deep seated sentiments and are giving him credit or blaming him for things he hasn’t done. It’s amazing how many political hacks have no concept of a timeline; as if each president gets to start over rather than inherit the conditions laid out by their … [Read More...]
Bipartisan Congressional Budget Deal is an Act of Political Cowardice
What headlines call bipartisan compromise, is really just political cowardice. February 12, 2018 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP I’m looking at this two year budget deal Trump just signed, and what is being hailed as some heroic and collaborative compromise is really just plain cowardice. As many of you know, I’m an expat living in Eastern Europe. I go back to the US from time to time to visit, and there are absolutely things I miss. A few folks… a few places… a few establishments. But US politics is precisely why I stay … [Read More...]
What’s In the Reauthorization of Section 702 of the FISA?
What Trump calls an improvement is really just Section 702 of the FISA being reauthorized with a few tweaks to transparency and accountability. February 5, 2018 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP Section 702 of the FISA was signed into law by Donald Trump on January 19, 2018. There’s really no point in talking about what could’ve or should’ve been. What matters most is what IS for the next six years. The reauthorization flew through the Senate with nearly two-thirds voting in the affirmative. There was a near miss on a filibuster … [Read More...]
US Slipping in Innovation, Education, and Economic Freedom
The US is slipping in more ways than one: innovation, education, and economic freedom. January 29, 2018 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP The US has been steadily slipping in key areas that made it a once great place: innovation, education, and economic freedom. When I see the slogan “MAGA” I basically associate it with a Republican version of “Hope and Change”. It’s whatever you want it to be. It’s nothing and everything all at once. There’s some talk about the economy and jobs, and while those things are indicators, they don’t … [Read More...]
It’s 2018: Have Your Personal Tax Strategies Evolved?
Many long-standing deductions and exemptions will be no more, which might require all new tax strategies. January 26, 2018 By: Diane Kennedy, CPA USTaxAid.com I normally write about tax strategies for business owners and real estate investors. There’s been plenty to write about with the 2018 Tax Cuts and Job Act. Today and tomorrow, though, I want to talk about the new strategies for your personal tax return. #1. Plan for exemptions. Or rather, starting in 2018, there is no need to plan because exemptions are practically gone. … [Read More...]
The “Real” Truth About U.S. Savings Accounts
U.S. savings accounts are running at negative interest rates, so in an effort to save money, you could be losing value and spending power. January 24, 2018 From a young age, you were taught by your parents to save money. In the U.S. the first place you went to do that was your local bank. There you would open a savings account. Back when you were young that might have been a good idea. But times have certainly changed. Once you discover the “Real” truth about your U.S. savings account, you might start to think you’re being scammed by … [Read More...]
