The Daily Bell's narrative postulating an 'Anglo-American' elite running the show is precisely and resoundingly correct. Bravo!!! I would add only that it is important in this context to understand that one does not have to be White, or Anglo-Saxon, or Protestant to BE a white, anglo-saxon protestant (just as one does not have to be Caucasian to be white; just ask Condi, Colin, or Barack). The matter at hand is purely one of ethics, and never one of ethnicity - the jejeune assertion of the Poster Known Only as TheBigWedding notwithstanding!

And as regards Mr. Bovard's vapid analytics vis-a-vis the French having 'dragged' NATO into the conflict - puh-leeze! The France of Sarkozy (unlike the Gaul of DeGaulle) is an American marionette in good standing and, as such, is just another constituent cluster of photons emanating from the American DeathStar! America used the French as a stalking horse for tactical and strategic purposes; these being, respectively: 1) to convey and/or reinforce the diaphanous deceit that American global hegemony isn't the raison d'etre underwriting NATO's very existence; and 2) to evict the enterprising Chinese - who would rather build than bomb - so as to bring to a close their involvement in some 80-odd energy related projects within the Libyan borders.

Mr. Brovard goes on to regurgitate the Official Mythology that 19 Very Very Angry Arabs managed to outfox NORAD and pulverize two 110 story skyscrapers.

Here too, his take on things is wanting. Perhaps he should devote a little more of his time to reading and a tad less to writing.

Thank you, Paul P. Wiggins II

Reply from The Daily Bell

You write very well.

Yes, I agree. The Anglo-Saxon elite are responsible for the global banking cartel, the heart of the NWO conspiracy to enslave us to debt. I have it on good authority: Ben Bernanke, Timmy Geithner, Hank Paulson, Dimon, Lloyd Blankfein, Alan Greenspan, Larry Summers, and Robert Rubins that it was the Anglo-Saxons that were responsible for the banking fraud that has reduced us all to poverty!

Reply from The Daily Bell

O, the irony! Here follow the bread crumbs. We wrote this just for you ...

Click to view link

"James Bovard: I enjoyed throwing rocks at the government. It was fun to find the facts that would debunk some political or bureaucratic salvation scheme."

It is funny to watch how kings without clothes acts. Some people say: You can not change the world. Actually. Not long after invasion of Afghanistan Afgh became number 1 producer of opium. Not much was told from oficials about it until I started short campain. My campains goes like avalanche. Short but mass. I post breaking news information in short time on sa many pages as I can. And what happened? Few weeks latter there was news that officials seized opium in Afgh. Not seen before.My campain was succesfull and target was hit.

If there is a thing which deserve Nobel Price it is beer. Not just for gr8 taste, firefighting thirst and as gr8 source of protein and vitamins, but it's contribution to open free market as well:

Wisconsin microbreweries and their loyal fans are furious over a budget provision approved on May 31 by that state's Joint Finance Committee.

The measure is intended to limit the ability of brewers to own wholesale distributorships and restaurants. As explained by Open Market, its primary backer is MillerCoors, which claims to be trying to ward off an attempt by their main competitor, AB/InBev (Anheuser-Busch), to buy up beer distributors and squeeze out other companies' products. But the state's microbreweries may be the real victims of the provision.

'Wisconsin's craft brewers are getting caught in some cross fire between MillerCoors and Anheuser Busch,' the Blue Cheddar Blog explains. If this thing goes forward, it will be much more difficult to start a new small beer brewing business with room to grow in one of the states that loves beer the most.'

'This motion was sold to the legislators by Miller/Coors and the Wisconsin Beer Distributors Association on the premise that it would protect Wisconsin from a hostile AB/InBev take over of many current Wisconsin wholesalers,' the blog continues. 'This is simply a farce. Since InBev took over AB, they have had 16 opportunities to buy wholesalers and have passed 16 times. Here is the real truth….Miller/Coors and the WBDA are threatened by the growth that is happening in the craft beer industry.

Craft is the only segment of beer that is growing, and it is growing by double digits.'

Freemarket analysis: As soon as customers excercise their free market drinking program, evil of corrupted democracy immediately attack this excercise and try to return to corporate monopolism.

Free Trade' agreements contribute to financial and other crises

While the financial crisis and its consequences are spreading around the world and even the most erstwhile 'free market' governments are discussing how to re-regulate the financial sector, bilateral and regional 'free trade' agreements continue extreme deregulation of the financial industry. The terms of these agreements prohibit countries from reforming their financial sector so as to remedy the financial, economic, environmental, food and social crises now growing, and from ensuring that finance is directed towards the transformation to sustainable societies.

We are constantly told that we live in a 'Capitalist' society. But what does 'Capitalism' mean? The word comes from the Latin 'capitalis', meaning 'of the head', and the relation of this concept to the later financial connotation of the word 'capital' is unclear. Its first use in that sense was actually the word 'capitale', meaning 'stock or property.' The basic building unit of capitalism is the corporation, and these first started in the 1600s.

So there is not much space left for free market, human rights, liberty and justice for all...
Click to view link

To be honest with author, corporate beer tastes like RUDIS urina. Life is really short to drink it.

Some beer is better source of internal creatures than yogurt. Widmer Haffeweisen healed my months old troubles with stomach.
I had troubles with stomach and acid for months. Nothing helped. Acidophilus, antiacid pils. One day I went cycling with my friend. We ended in bar with Haffeweizen on tap. We had about 10 beers. Few days latter I realized that there is no more troubles with stomach at all.

... is a complementary liedeology to Machiavaillian manipulations:

... falsely framed, incomplete "arguments" positing "necessity" (no other option, assertion of "proof of a negative", logical fallacy) or, broadly false simplification of problems to present "solutions" that achieve what can be claimed to be "unintended consequences"

Gee, thanks,John!

I had neighbors drop in before I had a chance to read. Now I know not to waste my time!!!

Glad you got a good laugh out of it!

This is why there is the principle of comparative advantage. While $2 per day labor in China is scary on the surface, there is actually much more to it than the pure labor cost.

I work in the publishing field. Book printers in the U.S. have invested capital to make more highly automated systems and eliminate labor cost (by investing capital). The result is that for black ink jobs, the U.S. is highly competitive with Chinese and other Asian printers. For color work, the Asians tend to cost somewhat less, especially when the press run is shorter. On a 3000 copy run, an Asian printer can print a full color book for about 1/2 the U.S. cost. (This includes shipping), but on a 20,000 copy press run, the difference is hardly noticeable. There is more labor in the set up of a full color job and the Asians have a cost advantage there.

However, don't think that Chinese (or other Asian) print employees are getting just $2 per day -- and they are highly skilled workers who receive pay toward the top tier of their labor market -- just as printers in the U.S. tend to receive pay in line with other skilled workers.

When you look at the other cost factors: Printing presses are an international market -- therefore, no one has any particular advantage in acquiring that equipment (and the related bindery and other equipment) -- Paper, the other primary cost in printing -- is also an international market -- and there is no advantage to a Chinese, Italian, or U.S. printer, because paper of the same quality is competitive throughout the world. SInce the U.S. is able to substitute capital for labor (an automated book binding system runs 24/7 without breaks, etc.) then the labor component is lower in the U.S. -- while the Chinese printer may use more mid-level (lower cost) employees instead of spending the capital by using semi-automated machinery that requires more labor. In the end competition continues.

For other jobs -- such as those in the fabric and sewing industries, these require relatively low skilled workers, and are often the first jobs used to create wealth in poor economies. These jobs have almost entirely disappeared from the U.S. economy because they are simply able to be done at lower cost elsewhere. But that frees our workers to do MORE VALUABLE work... (This presumes that our workers are willing and will make the personal effort to be educated and trained to do jobs beyond "unskilled" work.)

Not all jobs are equal... and by moving low-paid, low-value work to places where it is cheap to perform, it (1) gives those overseas economies a chance to move up and become more productive (example: China is losing textile industry jobs to Sri Lanka.) and earn higher incomes. (2) international trade generates many very good, high-pay jobs in the U.S. in the transport industry. (I once worked for a railroad -- and railroad workers earn VERY good livings hauling all that "stuff" from China around the U.S. -- as do trucking companies and all the other transportation-related companies.

When a factory closes -- and the "work is moved overseas" -- you see the very visible "losers" who lost their jobs. What you don't see are the widely dispersed jobs that are created to handle the merchandise coming into the US. And our economy benefits from being able to buy "cheap stuff" so that we have more money left over to buy more stuff made here (or elsewhere) that creates many other jobs.

You won't find "slaves" producing much of any value. So that is a false argument. Your comments simply show a rather poor understanding of economics. I can suggest Thomas Sowell's Basic Economics as a good beginning text.

Reply from The Daily Bell

Thanks for a cogent analysis.

The very first question out of the box when you click on 'choose your colors' reads to me sort of like, "Which one of your children should be saved and which one goes to the gas chamber?".

You get to choose what areas you want government to focus on running your life. And that's all you get to choose.

It's a snare for the unwary. And will be used to 'prove' that people want government to control their lives in whichever category they choose.

LMAO.

"To equalize the wage differential of different economies... "

Wage differentials are only meaningful if everything else is the same. I charge ten times what a mud hut dweller can charge because I can produce more than ten times what he can in a day. A large part of that productivity difference comes from the nature of the economy around me (capital-intensive industry and highly specialized experts available to make just about anything quickly, plus unlimited power, parts, quick shipping, water, etc.). A government that uses tariffs or any other taxing power along with regulation to effect social or economic goals destroys that productivity, every single time. When enough of this is done, the capital that used to finance our productivity tools and eventually the tools themselves move to where there is less predation and more freedom. Once the mud hut dweller can take advantage of the capital that is driven offshore, THEN the wage disparity matters. After the horse has fled the barn. More of the same will only make the situation worse. The bottom line is that the tax is wealth taken from producers and consumers alike. WE are the ones who get impoverished by it.

It's government picking winners and losers, especially if the goal is to counteract some subsidy we thing the mud hut dweller is getting. If our own government weren't cutting us off at the knees, they could never be a concern to us, because a government that subsidizes an industry will be killing the rest of their economy to do it.

The only way the case for funding government from tariffs can be made is if the tariffs are low and evenly applied. Our civil war shows that the temptation to do social engineering with tariffs is stronger than political will.

Just came across this website:

Click to view link

Thought some may find it interesting.

Disclosure: I haven't read there yet.

"intellectual mixing of independent problems to make the sum appear intractable"

Brilliant!

The pith of the discussion is,,, do they or do they not work?

Let's compare Tariffs to Central Banking.

Tariffs do NOT set prices as often advertised but rather they ADJUST prices primarily for the following reasons:

To equalize the wage differential of different economies... works

Generate revenue for the government... works,,, Plus:

It's a tax you pay only when purchasing. If you choose not to purchase you pay no tax. Fair Tax proponents conveniently fail to mention this tidbit.

To protect an economy from another governments unfair subsidies... works

Tariffs are still widely used. Difference being the WTO has to give it's blessing which infers the sovereign are no longer sovereign.

Central Banking: Actually sets the price of money.

Overtly sets the price of money... works short term, then fails
Causes booms/busts/bubbles

Used by governments to generate revenue... works short term, then fails
Debases the currency by whatever amount is wanted.

Used by governments to create a borrowing scheme to propagate its ambitions, wars and social meddling... works for rogue governments initially.
Iraq,Afghanistan,Pakistan,Libya,Somalia,Iran,Egypt, ad infinitum... then fails.

IMHO putting tariffs and central banking in the same basket does not compute. They have completely different purposes.

The Tariff Act of 1930 is often used as an argument for no tariffs. This AFTER the central bank had already crashed the economy by printing excessive money paying for WWI and supporting Britain. This is like blaming the flu for the death of an aids patient.

Tariffs, Militias and other 'bad, bad' ideas are in the constitution,,, central banks are not. And even though some advocated their use they waited until after the signing to sneak it in.

Where central banks are concerned DB,,, we are on the same page.

enjoyed the discourse...

"I believe they meant that what matters more than anything else is the ugly possibility that our own government, or rogue factions within it, might have planned and executed the whole thing."

Yes, and I fully concur and, have never disagreed. The perps must be brought to account and, the "collateral damage" to civilization as they blame shift and chase imaginary foes all over the planet as a pretext for predatory imperialism and planetary servitude MUST END. And, to give credit where credit is due, Islam and Muslims have stepped up to the plate, at great honor (and cost) to themselves in dealing with what is, in essence OUR PROBLEM.

... but, the fact is that the attack was enabled by "us, over there". Had we not been, no 9/11 either by pretext or "ignorant wogs in caves" - real howler.

I was attempting to separate the independent variables, to point out that "us over there" is an independent problem that can be solved by "leaving - being driven out, declaring victory" WITHOUT and independent of getting to the real facts of 9/11.

I am highly sensitive to the intellectual mixing of independent problems to make the sum appear intractable.

I have similar issues with equating "natural selection", evolution and the real meaning thereof, especially in the areas of social / economic organization (civilization) as having any bearing or pertinence to the god / origin of life question.

And who places the tariffs on foreign goods? Ozma of Oz? Dorothy? Toto? How about government "civil servants" and "representatives?" ... Your faith in government and its efficacy is touching. DB

Hmmmmmm...

Perhaps DB could elaborate more the issue of tariffs than my 'faith' in government?

As an aside,

I do believe the 'constitutional government' did (for the most part) what was good for the people and the nation before transitioning to the dark side. I do "proudly" believe the constitution and the especially declaration to be (to this American) the most profound and enlightened effort in history to provide a fair and just government of the people, by the people and for the people.

In this light,,, I admit you are correct. If this is bad... I accept that.

I contend:

The constitution hasn't failed the people ... the people have failed the constitution.

Reply from The Daily Bell

Ha, sorry Kenn. All epigrams are not created equal. And you usually make good, free-market comments, we recall, but not on this subject.

Tariffs are nothing more than a price fix, and price fixes always redistribute costs and wealth. Why do you approve of politicians and lobbying groups deciding whom to steal from?

See Danforth below ...

I can't presume to speak for the Elves, but I believe they meant that what matters more than anything else is the ugly possibility that our own government, or rogue factions within it, might have planned and executed the whole thing.

It was used as an excuse to invade and occupy a country that wasn't even accused of being involved in it! (With lies to justify it, followed by "So what, they needed killing anyway.") A race/religious war, if there ever was one.

Thanks DB, these are the best one-liners I've seen for a long time.

It's no surprise that yet another of the old guard hasn't noticed the blatant contradictions in the official story on 9/11. One can only hope that it is because insufficient attention was paid to the details.

On tariffs, a few things are noteworthy;

1) Government collects them. They enrich government at the expense of the consumer, and the government uses the money to consolidate power over the serfs.

2) They typically cause more problems than they fix. As with almost every government goal, the outcome is almost always the exact opposite of the (pretended) intended effect. A tax like this can only impoverish the people, not make them richer. Perhaps a favored few, for awhile, but only at the expense of everyone else, exactly like any other wealth transfer program. Protectionist tariffs against Japanese auto manufacturers for instance resulted in decades of crap cars, solidified union benefits, and ultimately the bankruptcy and government takeover. Protected corporate management displays all the delicious features of unaccountable bureaucrats.

3) The (pretended) unintended consequences can overwhelm everything else. Look at the U.S. civil war for an example of this.

DB: "Unfortunately, it does matter. It matters more than anything else."

guess I was being unclear. I was speaking solely to the absolute veracity of the statement:

"they attacked us because we are over there"

which is TRUE, regardless of "whodunit" (they)

... but, I did make an error with: "fire, aim, ready"

people, US citizens included will never be ready because as they (reality based constituency) are "studying matters", before and as a direct consequence of "approaching consensus", "history's actors" will "act again", providing them with a "new game" to study by some other instance of "crap happens". Thus, by being reactive, those who attempt to be "ready" will always be undone by the sociopathic pro-active, who, by holding control of the apparatus of state and law, can never be held to account:

Click to view link

Why, exactly, would those who opine "never let a good crisis go to waste", do other than create crisis and problems to "pretend to solve", to rationalize their sorry existences?

Slave: [One who is abjectly subservient to a specified person or influence]

Example: "We are slaves to manufactured group thought", comes to mind... ... .

Tariffs are much a reality like guns. Most everyone says they're not needed but most everyone wants one when attacked. Free trade in the land of OZ might work BUT

In REALITY free trade is a euphemism for wage arbitrage which itself is a euphemism for slave which only compensates business and its enablers to the detriment of those (Put on your I care look) "we are trying to help by providing employment".

Tariffs work by making it unprofitable exploiting those less capable of defending themselves. Contrary to popular belief, tariffs worked... a fact our our great leaders have toiled so hard to hide. Proof?

99% of politicians agree tariffs are bad. Soooo... you have to wonder when all the politicians agree with you. Yes? See definition of "Slave" in beginning.

Finally, I have to agree with TimorTheLame's summation. WTC 7 is the elephant in the room that most ignore... See definition of "Slave" in beginning.

Reply from The Daily Bell

Tariffs work by making it unprofitable exploiting those less capable of defending themselves.

And who places the tariffs on foreign goods? Ozma of Oz? Dorothy? Toto? How about government "civil servants" and "representatives?" ... Your faith in government and its efficacy is touching.

"they attacked us because we are over there" syndrome."

whether "they" were or are Muslims is irrelevant to the veracity of this statement.

Fact: Muslims ARE (and rightly so) incensed by western predations, interference in their affairs (ideally, tyranny is a matter to be discussed between tyrants and THEIR people), but, what are they to do when their "tyrants" are, in actual fact "our agents". And, in actual fact, our "tyrants" are somebody else's agents.

So, whether, righteous Muslim anger was used as a scapegoat for 9/11 by treasonous statist insiders, consolidating a MIC coup, or actual Muslims IS IRRELEVANT.

The FACT is: US, over there is what enabled and caused 9/11.

"Do not participate in international entanglements. Trade fairly with ALL, mind your own business." was the founder's vision, encoded in the Constitution (war power to Congress, accountable to the people), and, majority US public opinion UNTIL:

The Lustinia was secretly loaded with munitions for Britian, making it a legitimate target of war for Germany, who legitimately sunk it. Media did the tired old "poor, innocent, peaceful us, attacked without provocation" whine, and "righteous" US public bought it, hook, line and sinker: Entered WW1.

The historical FACTS also prove that Pearl Harbor was provoked by trade hegemony against Japan and, the fact of the impending attack was known for at least a week prior and, it was no warning, "stand down".

Exactly like the circumstantial evidence of 9/11, rapidly closing to irrefutable: "Stand Down", allow, cause, help and perhaps make it to happen.

The Yanks are so predictable and gullible. Pavlov's citizens. Push a hot button and, as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow: "fire, aim, ready".

Reply from The Daily Bell

"So, whether, righteous Muslim anger was used as a scapegoat for 9/11 by treasonous statist insiders, consolidating a MIC coup, or actual Muslims IS IRRELEVANT. The FACT is: US, over there is what enabled and caused 9/11."

Unfortunately, it does matter. It matters more than anything else.

Sad to see yet another interview spoiled by the interviewee going through the "they attacked us because we are over there" syndrome. This indicates a lack of substance for, as you well know, the evidence is overwhelmingly that Muslims had nothing to do with it.