April 24, 2013
By: Kevin Kerr, Contributor
Desperate Acts: Final Days of the Empire
In recent days and weeks we have seen more and more evidence of the endgame of power taking foot in America. The Empire is certainly scrambling to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Meanwhile, in so doing, the Empire is eroding layer upon layer of rights and security for the individual, seemingly without objection. Very sad!
We are seeing more and more police activity without due process, such as what occurred in Boston last week. Storm troopers and National Guard busting in doors, ripping people from their homes, all in the name of justice. Hardly.
Sure, we all wanted to see the individuals responsible for the Marathon bombings caught, but at what expense? There’s a bigger issue here though, and certain inalienable rights if I recall.
Meanwhile we are also watching how certain countries are simply dipping into people’s bank accounts and helping themselves. Do we really think this is far off in the United States? Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Market Mayhem: Antics of the Overlords
On top of everything else the markets continue to gyrate wildly as we depart from any sensible basis for trading and instead see markets that have gotten so far from their primary purpose, it’s insane. Goldman Sachs coughs and gold falls $250 in 2 days, based on what? Nothing.
At one time in history the commodity markets actually provided a price discovery method that enabled farmers to offset risk and pass that speculative opportunity onto parties willing to take it. Today we see markets run by robots and quant analysis more than any fundamental reality.
It wasn’t always like this.
So how did the markets get to the place they are now perverted, having morphed into some big adult playground, with regulators who may as well be handing out instructions on how to steal?
Let’s face it, the bullies on this playground are the banks and the government, while the rest of us are simply waiting to get picked last for dodge ball.
The market action has become like some Nintendo game with robots and Twitter making market decisions for people, it’s just pathetic. Just recently as the other day we saw a hacked tweet on AP saying the White House was under attack and President Obama was hurt, that was good for a sizable drop in the S&P.
People have begun to lose the ability to think for themselves and this is above all the biggest factor in the collapse of every empire. Create a disarmed army of mindless sheeple, willing to do what they’re told, without question. The banking industry is the biggest culprit of all.
Sleeping Comfortably on a Lumpy Mattress
Most of us seek out the most comfortable place to sleep we can find, usually a bed with lots of pillows. If we’re lucky enough to be able to afford it, we can choose just about any level of luxury. A person can lavish themselves with Egyptian Cotton Sheets, Silk Pillowcases…the whole 9 yards. Who wouldn’t have sweet dreams and a good night’s sleep if they can. Even so, plenty of wealthy people in Cypress, and more so Russian investors who kept their money there, are not sleeping that great right now. They probably would much have preferred to stuff their mattress with their money rather than have it in a Cypriot bank.
I for one, have a mattress stuffed with gold bars, silver coins, and transportable wealth. It may sound uncomfortable, but I sleep like a baby.
Denial Aisle: Americans Lost in the Shuffle
In the coming months and years the rate of erosion of rights and the seizure of personal property, not to mention the decimation of fiat currency, will rapidly occur. Now is the time to do what many of us have done: acquire a second citizenship, create portable and physical wealth, make your own exit strategy, and don’t have it made for you.
Key commodities are becoming scarcer.
The facts are fairly grim if we look at them closely. There is going to be less of everything. Yet there will be more people who want those things. Let’s face it – wars have been fought over far less.
In her famous book, On Death and Dying , Elisabeth Kubler-Ross describes the stages of grief:
Denial: “It can’t be happening”
Anger: “Why me? It’s not fair”
Bargaining: “Just let me live to see my children graduate”
Depression: “I’m so sad, why bother with anything?”
Acceptance: “It’s going to be OK.”
In my opinion, the American public is going through the stages of grief right now. Rising prices are just a market-based signal that we are losing our economic and resource abundance. As the American dream fades away, it’s like a death in the family.
Right now, I think we are between the stages of denial and anger. Ask yourself these questions: What do you think when you pull up to the fuel pump and have to pay $4 for a gallon of regular gas, or nearly $5 for a gallon of diesel?
Or how about when you go to the supermarket and have to pay $4 for a gallon of “store brand” milk, or the same price for a loaf of “store brand” bread? Are your emotions between disbelief and anger? Are you saying to yourself, “Hey, what the heck is going on?”
The age of the Empire, is coming to a close. The only constant is that change is absolute; make sure to be out front ahead of it.
Kevin Kerr, is a TV and radio investment advisor, his unparalleled expertise in futures and commodities has made him a regular contributor to news outlets like CNBC,CNN, FOX News, CBS Evening News, Nightly Business Report and many others. Recently, he was even featured on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show. What’s more, Kevin has traded commodities professionally for the last 20+ years. www.kerrtrade.com
