The mortgage fraud scandal: a complete capitulation. No prosecutions, no personal fines – just the usual slaps on the wrist. What a travesty! And, as always, the mainstream media throws its entire weight behind the ‘settlement’. The current situation in Greece and the bailout which never comes. Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Italy: it’s their turn next. The crisis accelerates. A word about Hong Kong, living with budget surpluses and low taxes, rebating excess money to the taxpayer! The new Department of Homeland Security report describes the new-and-improved definition of ‘terrorism’ along with the terrifyingly mundane profiles of those deemed ‘potential terrorists’. This should alarm each and every one of you. The consequences of all this are too awful to describe… but the goons are waiting for you in the wings The false comparison of consumption to growth (and GDP). There is no growth. Consumption today equals survival. Buying power shrinks, necessities cost ever more… and the consumer is squeezed in the middle, desperately trying to keep up.