'Russia, Russia' Is Not of High Interest or Priority to Most Americans

It plays well in the Beltway, and in the deep wells of subjectivity occupied by the establishment and their enablers.

But most Americans seem to think that the Russia scare is just that— a cynical distraction from the real issues that are of their greatest concern.  And those tend to be domestic issues.

The liberal elite keep talking past the public and its concerns, while suppressing progressive and grass roots movements in their own base.

They may keep losing elections.   But the spice of big donor contributions will flow because of the nature of our corrupt political system. 

And that is what they care about the most.

Stocks and Precious Metals Charts - Stocks Lack GDP Enthusiasm - Non-Farm Payrolls and FOMC Next Week

"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. "

Franklin D. Roosevelt


“Can we actually suppose that we are wasting, polluting, and making ugly this beautiful land for the sake of patriotism and the love of God?   Perhaps some of us would like to think so, but in fact this destruction is taking place because we have allowed ourselves to believe, and to live, a mated pair of economic lies: that nothing has a value that is not assigned to it by the market; and that the economic life of our communities can safely be handed over to the great corporations."

Wendell Berry

GDP came in slightly below expectations but still much higher than we have seen recently.

Inflation remains around 2% at the core and 3% overall.

I suspect that this GDP number is not sustainable, and that continued wage stagnation will continue to provide a damper on aggregate demand, despite the sugar high being provided by tax cuts, mostly to corporations and the wealthiest few.

Stocks shook off the rosy GDP number, albeit in line and short of inflated whisper numbers, preferring to act off real world news coming out in the earnings reports.

Gold and silver marked time within this long trading range.

The dollar was slightly lower.

There will be an FOMC meeting next week.

We will also be seeing the Non-Farm Payrolls Report for July at the end of the week. I have included an economic calendar for next week below.

Need little, want less, love more. For those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them.

Have a pleasant weekend.

Priorities and Proportions: The Universe Is Bigger Than You Think

"Who is this that obscures my plans
with words lacking depth of knowledge?
Brace yourself bravely as an adult,
and I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know.
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set?
Who laid its cornerstone –
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?"

Job 38


"The heavens declare the glory of God,
the sky displays what His hands have made."

Psalm 19:1


"What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You dwell with him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
But have crowned him with glory and honor."

Psalm 8


“In the Incarnation the whole human race recovers the dignity of the image of God. Thereafter, any attack, even on the least of men, is an attack on Christ, who took on the form of man, and in His own Person restored the image of God in all."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

How vast the universe, and yet the soul of the least of these will still endure, and be loved by God beyond all else of His creation, as stars wink out, and galaxies crumble into dust.

Stocks and Precious Metals Charts - Quiet Expiration Today, Advance GDP Number for 2Q Tomorrow

"And afterwards he went there daily, and gained an increasing number of followers.  It seemed that from every tear of a martyr new confessors were born, and every groan in the arena found an echo in thousands of hearts. 

Caesar was swimming in blood; Rome and the whole pagan world were mad. But those who had had enough of transgression and madness, those who were trampled upon, those whose lives were misery and oppression, all the weighed down, all the sad, all the unfortunate, came to hear the wonderful tidings of God, who out of love for men had given Himself to be crucified and redeem their sins.

When they found a God whom they could love, they had found that which the society of the time could not give any one— happiness and love."

Quo Vadis, by Henryk Sienkiewicz


"And don't let anybody make you think that God chose America as his divine, messianic force to be, a sort of policeman of the whole world.  God has a way of standing before the nations with judgment, and it seems that I can hear God saying to America, 'You're too arrogant!  And if you don't change your ways, I will rise up and break the backbone of your power, and I'll place it in the hands of a nation that doesn't even know my name.  Be still and know that I'm God.'"

Martin Luther King

Stocks moved sideways today in the aftermath of the Facebook miss.

The Street is chomping at the bit, expecting a strong GDP Advance print for 2Q tomorrow morning.

Silver and gold were quiet for expiration with a small loss easily attributable to a rally in the US Dollar.

Thank you Lord, for your presence and faithful providence towards us all.

Spare us, Lord, from your chastisement.  Forgive our blindness, our foolish pride and stubborn selfishness, in failing to see your many consolations, gentle corrections, and tender mercies.

Need little, want less, love more. For those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them.

Have a pleasant evening.