"Call me dark, but what I see here is a toxic relationship between deregulation, underpriced risk, and exorbitant, inefficient pay scales that contribute to the growth of inequality, not to mention the shampoo economy (bubble, bust, repeat)."
Jared Bernstein, Pay and Deregulation in Finance, April 2014
"People are not truly free when they can’t afford to go to the doctor when they are sick. They are not truly free when they cannot afford to buy the prescription drugs they so desperately need. People are not truly free when they are exhausted because they are working longer and longer hours for lower wages. People are not truly free when they cannot afford a decent place in which to live. People certainly are not free when they cannot afford to feed their families.
The reason that Congress isn’t doing what the overwhelming majority of Americans wants has everything to do with the power of the monied interests. Our government belongs to each and every one of us, not just the few.”
Bernie Sanders, February 2019
"The system of corruption depends on another factor beyond secrecy, one that is perhaps even more important: impunity. Impunity means that the rich and powerful escape from punishment even when their malfeasance is in full view. Impunity is epidemic in America. The rich and powerful get away with their heists in broad daylight. When a politician like Bernie Sanders calls out the corruption, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal double down with their mockery over such a foolish 'dreamer.'”
Jeffrey Sachs, The Age of Impunity, May 13, 2016
"The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.”
Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism
Stocks slumped hard today, and went out near the lows.
The VIX continued to climb out of its recent complacency.
Wax on, wax off.
Gold and silver were hit rather hard, the day before the Comex Precious Metals futures option expiration.
Proxy wars in a macabre offering to greed and a lust for power grind on.
The debt limit charade continues.
With high sounding words, the unfortunate are victimized for the powerful few.
Truth has been led down a blind alley, and strangled.
It's a tradition.
May the Lord pierce our hardened hearts, enlighten our minds, heal our blindness, and break our chains of pride and self-deception.
Not for any of our own material profit, or admiration, or even gratitude of others in this fallen world, but because it is His will, and we are His— in repentance, forgiveness, and thankfulness.
Have a pleasant evening.
