What is a proper disposition towards life? It is to accept God as a loving father, who is full of tenderness and forgiveness for us, despite our willful blunders and hardened hearts. He yearns for us, as a father and mother yearn for the return of their most beloved child. It is to accept that we are not lost, we are not abandoned. We are wandering like a wayward child, full of our own headstrong delusions. And our father waits expectantly, calling out for us through the darkness. Jesse, 2018
“Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie, comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect, he ceases to love.”
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov
Stocks tried to rally higher today, and tended to fall back a bit into the afternoon, finishing with modest increases.
It is too early to say with any certainty, but this is starting to look like a blow off top. No need to guess; we will know it, when it confirms. It would most likely experience a two step decline. There will be a drop, a big rebound on dip buying, and then a turn and a loss of confidence.
Is The Donald mouse-trapping himself? He keeps pointing to stocks as the evidence of his policy success. What if the markets turn lower, and there is another financial crisis? Do we have any confidence that the Trump Admin will know what to do, and will do it? Obama and Bush didn't. Unless you are a Banker.
Gold and silver giving us the expected pause now. Let's see how this works itself out. That will speak volumes.
The Comex Hong Kong gold warehouse tally has fallen to a very low level.
It was in the 40's today, and after the weeks of deep freeze we have been bearing up under, it felt like Spring.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:12
"A fire broke out backstage in a theatre. The clown came out to warn the public; they thought it was a joke and applauded. He repeated it; the acclaim was even greater. I think that's just how the world will come to an end: to general applause from those who believe it's just a joke.”
Søren Kierkegaard
Stocks drifted higher today, setting new records. Huzzah!
Gold and silver drifted largely sideways.
It was risk on, or at least timidly so, ahead of the start of the new earnings season which I believe begins this coming Friday.
Up to this point, the US has been employing 'loss leader' sales strategies, giving arms to al-Qaeda in Syria in the name of freedom, and one of their more radical offshoots which rebranded themselves as ISIS. This has been very good for business, but is not really maximizing sales and carnage despite some localized successes in Syria and Yemen.
The plan now is to engage a total effort of our presence overseas to sell much larger orders of arms to other countries, and let them fight each other. Then the US can come in the name of peace and humanitarian relief, wreck havoc on the country by destroying their arms and infrastructure. After the dust settles, our Banks can give them loans to buy our products to rebuild.
Wash, rinse, repeat. The fruits of instability. Business genius.
Of course this is just a retread and expansion of the infamous 'economic hit men' strategy that was well documented by others, including John Perkins. But its nice to see this approach become more open and institutionalized as policy, without hiding our evil works in the darkness.
If you do not wish to hear things as I may see them, that may disturb your view of the world, don't come to Le Cafe. Attendance here is voluntary. And there are more than enough sites on the internet that may cater to your particular tastes.
I will accept the loss of your patronage if that is what it takes for us to remain friends. I have accepted becoming persona non grata at several sites that I respect, just for believing as I do about some things even though we had a common cause in most others.
No matter what, you will remain in my prayers. But I cannot betray my own conscience to please you. I have been open with my assumptions and logic, and reasonably civil about it. Money is truly the root of all evil.
If I may be so bold to suggest, if you are so shaken that you cannot bear anyone to disagree with your views in the slightest, even when stated clearly and fairly politely, then perhaps you need to reconsider the foundations of your beliefs. But it is fair to say that our perspectives can honestly be different. And I accept that.
That is your choice to make, and it will be accepted here. But not so much that it will be imposed, as long as there is freedom of will and conscience, and enough people willing to stand up for it.
And if that seems unreasonable, well, it is a sign of the times as had been expected. It would be easy to give in to gloominess, almost eschatological, but there remains too much to be done.
Have a pleasant evening.
“Hegel remarks somewhere that all great, world-historical facts and personages occur, as it were, twice.
He has forgotten to add: the first time as tragedy, the second as farce.”
Karl Marx, The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte
"O Rose, thou art sick.
The invisible worm
That flies in the night
In the howling storm
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy,
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy."
William Blake
"Where does the truth lie? Should one go off and build a little house with flowers outside the windows and a garden outside the door and extol and thank God and turn one’s back on the world and its filth? Isn’t seclusion a form of treachery, of desertion? I am weak and small, but I want to do what is right."
Hans Scholl
"The wealth of another region excites their greed; and if it is weak, their lust for power as well. Nothing from the rising to the setting of the sun is enough for them. Among all others only they are compelled to attack the poor as well as the rich. Robbery, rape, and slaughter they falsely call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace."
Tacitus, Agricola
The Non-Farm Payrolls number came in quite a bit light this morning.
Stocks finished up the week with a surge higher on very light volumes.
The ruling class rejoices, and points to this of a clear sign of God's favor on our undertaking. Or whatever gods they happen to be following these days.
Abandonment of principle is a small price to pay, for an elite group of people determined to be every more powerful, and rich.
And for an exceptional people, exceptions must be made. The ordinary rules do not apply, to those who have risen above the law. For them, it is a heavy burden, but someone must rule the common people. Is this not always what is said, especially afterwards, when the proud and mighty have been crushed, and fallen?
"Children, do not allow anyone to deceive you about this: when people do what is good, it shows that they are righteous, even as our Lord is righteous. But when people repeatedly do what is sinful, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been evil since the beginning of time... Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love their neighbor does not serve Him, does not belong to God."
1John 3: 7-8,10
This is a useful prescription to apply to all those in power, not just the clumsier and more obvious ones, but especially the very clever, who are highly skilled at saying one thing, and doing another.
Stocks were on the move higher again today, with the Dow Jones 'Industrials' breaking through 25,000 for the first time.
The dollar was lower, giving back that little bounce rally it caught yesterday, and thereon gold and silver continued to rally higher.
The winds were howling today, blowing the newly fallen snow into drifts. The air is very crisp and cold, and will be getting much colder over the weekend.
Tomorrow we will have the December Non-Farm Payrolls Report.
Someone described the Trump Administration today as 'a Star Wars cantina full of odd creatures.' lol By all accounts, they are a fairly colorful bunch.
Let us pray for those whose hearts are hardened against His grace and loving kindness by greed, fear, and pride, and the seductive illusion and crushing isolation of evil.
We pray that we all may experience the three great gifts of our Lord's suffering and triumph: repentance, forgiveness, and thankfulness. And in so doing, may we obtain abundant life, and with it the peace that surpasses all understanding.
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