the Centrist

Wedding Update

The wedding was fantastic! I had hoped to show you a plethora of photos, but in true technology impaired fashion, my disc was filled, my spare was in my suitcase (rather in my suit pocket), and while attempting to delete a single file … I deleted the entire disk. But ya shoulda seen my grandkids! Scott made the most handsome groom, and his bride was nothing short of gorgeous. Dan and Betsy out did themselves with hospitality and attention to detail. The younger boys (Chris, John, and ‘my Jamsey’) were a joy, as they always are, and we got to see Rand and Erin as a bonus. Johnny even learned a new way to make the bride and groom kiss (rather than that tired old clinging the glasses thing). Since the wedding was in Dayton (Ohio) we were able to renew our friendship with Betsy’s family, Dan’s old church family, and meet Chelsea’s (bride) family. Add to that reminiscing with Scottie’s Mom (Jennifer) and Aunt (Rebecca) and meting their families made for a great weekend … if only I had some pictures … wait, I found one!

Two of the groom’s men are Scott’s brothers (Ryan, best man and Devin), the other Marine is Scott’s friend Josh.

It was a joyous occasion and well worth the effort.

Tough Times Ahead …

As for my article this week, I had promised my sister I would review and comment the NYS budget, but simply haven’t had time. But, fear not, that will not stop me from making an observation. As far as New York State is concerned they are not cutting the budget, they are increasing it by 5.2% (Fox News). They simply do not or refuse to understand basic sound economics. There is an old rule of capitalism that is appropriate to quote: in tough times (recessions) ALWAYS lower taxes and cut budgets. This is the only tried and true way to stimulate the economy, and a good economy is good for everybody. By placing increased tax burdens on the people, you increase unemployment and misery. If you only tax the rich (employers) they will merely lay off workers or pass the increase onto the public by increasing the price of their products. That is one root cause of inflation. The other is to simply print more money. When Reagan inherited the Carter recession, he decreased taxes and gave employers tax incentives in order to stimulate the economy. It resulted in the longest peace time economy in modern history. Captiatlism favors production, socialism favors government control. The problem with socialism, which both parties have apparently embraced, is that there is nothing but the government and its ‘good will’ to support it. While Capitalism is the most efficient method of production (although it needs regulations), Socialism is the least. What is more, socialism has never worked … never. Without the American engine there is not one socialistic economy which would have survived the past twenty years. It is fraught with bureaucracy and when it fails its only answere is to print more money. When any government prints too much money, inflation MUST ensue. And, in my opinion, that is what is about to happen to this economy (see enclosed). The major problem with our politicians is that nobody (at any level of government) seems willing to cut budgets and lower taxes; they wish to appease their constituency so that they can get re-elected. Therefore, they simply make up new ways to expand budgets and tax the people, and the liberal states lead the way (New York, Mass., and Cailf.). These politicians even think we are so dumb that merely changing the names of these taxes, to names like “user fees”, will make us grateful to pay them.

So what are the gurus telling us about our future? Here is a ‘must read’ submitted by blogger Bud about one such expert. Gerald Celente has been very accurate in his past predictions and almost universally revered by the media: “If Nostradamus were alive today, he’d have a hard time keeping up with Gerald Celente.”- New York Post

Gerald Celente Predicts Food Revolution in US
Paul Joseph Watson (Fox Business)

The man who predicted the 1987 stock market crash and the fall of the Soviet Union is now forecasting revolution in America, food riots and tax rebellions – all within four years, while cautioning that putting food on the table will be a more pressing concern than buying Christmas gifts by 2012.
Gerald Celente (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Celente), the CEO of Trends Research Institute, is renowned for his accuracy in predicting future world and economic events, which will send a chill down your spine considering what he told Fox News this week.
Celente says that by 2012 America will become an undeveloped nation, that there will be a revolution marked by food riots, squatter rebellions, tax revolts and job marches, and that holidays will be more about obtaining food, not gifts.
“We’re going to see the end of the retail Christmas….we’re going to see a fundamental shift take place….putting food on the table is going to be more important that putting gifts under the Christmas tree,” said Celente, adding that the situation would be “worse than the great depression”.

” America ‘s going to go through a transition the likes of which no one is prepared for,” said Celente, noting that people’s refusal to acknowledge that America was even in a recession highlights how big a problem denial is in being ready for the true scale of the crisis.
Celente, who successfully predicted the 1997 Asian Currency Crisis, the subprime mortgage collapse and the massive devaluation of the U.S. dollar, told UPI in November last year that the following year would be known as “The Panic of 2008,” adding that “giants (would) tumble to their deaths,” which is exactly what we have witnessed with the collapse of Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns and others. He also said that the dollar would eventually be devalued by as much as 90 percent.
The consequence of what we have seen unfold this year would lead to a lowering in living standards, Celente predicted a year ago, which is also being borne out by plummeting retail sales figures.
The prospect of revolution was a concept echoed by a British Ministry of Defense report last year, which predicted that within 30 years, the growing gap between the super rich and the middle class, along with an urban underclass threatening social order would mean, “The world’s middle classes might unite, using access to knowledge, resources and skills to shape transnational processes in their own class interest,” and that, “The middle classes could become a revolutionary class.”
In a separate recent interview, Celente went further on the subject of revolution in America .
“There will be a revolution in this country,” he said. “It’s not going to come yet, but it’s going to come down the line and we’re going to see a third party and this was the catalyst for it: the takeover of Washington, D.C., in broad daylight by Wall Street in this bloodless coup. And it will happen as conditions continue to worsen.”
“The first thing to do is organize with tax revolts. That’s going to be the big one because people can’t afford to pay more school tax, property tax, any kind of tax. You’re going to start seeing those kinds of protests start to develop.”
“It’s going to be very bleak, very sad. And there is going to be a lot of homeless, the likes of which we have never seen before. Tent cities are already sprouting up around the country and we’re going to see many more.”
“We’re going to start seeing huge areas of vacant real estate and squatters living in them as well. It’s going to be a picture the likes of which Americans are not going to be used to. It’s going to come as a shock and with it, there’s going to be a lot of crime. And the crime is going to be a lot worse than it was before because in the last 1929 Depression, people’s minds weren’t wrecked on all these modern drugs – over-the-counter drugs, or crystal meth or whatever it might be. So, you have a huge underclass of very desperate people with their minds chemically blown beyond anybody’s comprehension.”
The George Washington blog has compiled a list of quotes attesting to Celente’s accuracy as a trend forecaster.
“When CNN wants to know about the Top Trends, we ask Gerald Celente.”
– CNN Headline News
“A network of 25 experts whose range of specialties would rival many university faculties.”
– The Economist
“Gerald Celente has a knack for getting the zeitgeist right.”
– USA Today
“There’s not a better trend forecaster than Gerald Celente. The man knows what he’s talking about.”
– CNBC
“Those who take their predictions seriously … consider the Trends
Research Institute.”
– The Wall Street Journal
“Gerald Celente is always ahead of the curve on trends and uncannily on the mark … he’s one of the most accurate forecasters around.”
– The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Mr. Celente tracks the world’s social, economic and business trends for corporate clients.”
– The New York Times
“Mr. Celente is a very intelligent guy. We are able to learn about trends from an authority.”
– 48 Hours, CBS News
“Gerald Celente has a solid track record. He has predicted everything from the 1987 stock market crash and the demise of the Soviet Union to green marketing and corporate downsizing.”
– The Detroit News
“Gerald Celente forecast the 1987 stock market crash, ‘green marketing,’ and the boom in gourmet coffees.”
- Chicago Tribune
“The Trends Research Institute is the Standard and Poors of Popular Culture.”
– The Los Angeles Times
So there you have it – hardly a nut-job conspiracy theorist blowhard now is he? The price of not heeding his warnings will be far greater than the cost of preparing for the future now. Storable food and gold are two good places to make a start.

IDIOT SIGHTINGS from Fredonia Jimmy :

My daughter went to a local fast food outlet and ordered a taco. She asked the person behind the counter for ‘minimal lettuce.’ He said he was sorry, but they only had iceberg lettuce.
I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked, ‘Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge?’ To which I replied, ‘If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?’ He smiled knowingly and nodded, “That’s why we ask.”
The stoplight on the corner buzzes when it’s safe to cross the street. I was crossing with an intellectually challenged coworker of mine. She asked if I knew what the buzzer was for. I explained that it signals blind people when the light is red. Appalled, she responded, ‘What on earth are blind people doing driving?!’
At a good-bye luncheon for an old and dear coworker who was leaving the company due to ‘downsizing’ our manager commented cheerfully, ‘This is fun. We should do this more often.’ Not another word was spoken. We all just looked at each other with that deer-in-the-headlights stare.
I work with an individual who plugged her power strip back into itself and for the sake of her life, couldn’t understand why her system would not turn on.