This is Chapter Ten of my book, How to Dismantle an Empire. It concludes the third section on global economics called World on FIRE, which is the Michael Hudson acronym for the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate sector that’s replaced goods and services with merely making money from money.
>> You missed an important detail… Nafissatu Diallo ended up with about $1 million. Now she has her own restaurant, “Chez Amina”, in the Southern part of the Bronx. It has a six-page menu that features more than 100 items in total, most of which are a hit amongst the local clientele, allowing Nafi to move on to the next chapter of her life as swiftly as possible 😉
Quote: oil-rich caliphates will own pieces of other countries’ economies that are exporting more than they’re importing—and will make sure they stay that way
>> oil-rich caliphates are colonies, and the “caliphs” are merely security guards. An example:
ExxonMobil extracts the gas in the Qatar colony, it is paid handsomely for extraction, furthermore ExxonMobil gets to keep all the byproducts such as methane gas and these byproducts are worth more than the gas itself. Of the wages the Qataris get they have to finance destabilization of other nations on orders of the Empire, they have to build and finance operation of a major US military base. What little is left they have to invest in the Wall Street casino. Should a security guard go out of line, he is replaced by another. A good analogy for the “caliphs” would be houseslaves.
Quote: nations in glass houses shouldn’t throw brics 😊
Quote: China’s domestic credit creation has allowed it to fund 10-year ecosystem regeneration projects, but also to be the export dragon guarding a mountain of dollars, at the expense of rural populations forced into factories.
>> Not accurate. China has elevated over 800 million out of poverty. Infrastructure development is extending to the remotest villages to improve socioeconomic opportunities. Workers in Chinese factories have good REAL wages, i.e. good wages compared to cost of living, so their lot is improving and especially that of their children who can get a quality education for a better life.
In my work I have visited several factories in China, I was always impressed by the modern equipment used and the working conditions. Relations between workers and management were healthy.
As a student I had visited factories in the UK and the US and I worked in a factory in the US.
I recall the report for the first factory visit in the UK, a hot dip galvanizing factory, in 1977. Report started: “The visit to the factory was a trip in time to the 19th century”. Horrendous working conditions, archaic equipment, dirty factory.
It is impossible to compare the work conditions of Chinese workers with those in the UK and the US. Chinese workers are way better off.
Quote: The TPP [TransPacific Partnership] is seen world-wide as the U.S.’s thinly-veiled attempt to carve out China, Brazil, India, and other emerging economies from global trade talks.
>> Actually TPP and it’s North Atlantic equivalent Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are mostly about eliminating what is left of state sovereignty to the benefit of corporations.
Quote: When the oil-producers get the petrodactyls, they send them back out to patrol for things of value. They snap up agricultural land in third-world countries
>> the security guards on the oil wells get some toys and what is left in their central banks after financing the Empire’s wars, a delegate of the Empire comes and collects. In 2017 Trump took $450 billion from the Saudi guards, and for 2021 he is targeting $1 trillion, which represents their income over 10 years from oil exports.
I appreciate that thorough reply, Fadi. I'm replying here again because I remembered what I wanted to point out to you and Julius. When reading this chapter again, I was struck by the similarity between the technique of the Heka Khasut and Habiru, and what's being done today. The Habiru put the Egyptian cities under siege, preventing trade and inducing starvation, under the demand that they turn on their own leaders and send them out, dead or alive. Then, they promised, peace would return but instead they put them under economic slavery with tribute--which included sending their women.
The concept of economic sanctions is the same. It inflicts hardship on the whole population of a country to induce them to turn on their own leaders. It puts a plausible deniability between the false flag terrorists within, who work covertly for the Usurpers, and the Heka Khasut. And when the color revolution succeeds, instead of peace they become a slave colony.
On your last note, I think it's where you and I have always diverged, but correct me if I'm wrong. You see a socialist economic model as the solution, in which distribution is need-based. I'm a small scale sovereigntist and my caret distribution is equal, so that it's anarchist--pushing decision-making to the smallest level of community, whether that's the individual or the family. You favor a centralized model while mine is federal, lower-case, with the function of the larger units to protect the sovereignty of their members. Does that describe our difference in approach, do you think?
Quote: "The concept of economic sanctions is the same."
>> I agree fully! When they couldn't destroy Syria using NATO terrorists they imposed draconic sanctions, took over Syria's energy resources and it's agricultural regions. After 14 years it became untenable. Some individuals did there bit to break sanctions, but this was definitely not enough. The vassal states of the Levants were too cowardly to support Syria. Once again importance of big centralized nations for sovereignty.
Quote: "You see a socialist economic model as the solution, in which distribution is need-based"
>> Socialist has a very elastic meaning, I will try to clarify.
I have a company that builds machinery, I have apartments I rent, my friends have their own small factories and farms.. we are all small scale entrepreneurs, nothing wrong with that. However basic services should be government owned:
Banks, stock exchanges, insurance companies, public transport including, rail, buses, highways, airports etc. (Not taxis and small busses etc.)
Education and healthcare should be made available for all for free.
Not everyone to his needs, this doesn't work
But every kid should have a fair chance for success in life irrespective of his family's wealth.
Quote: "You favor a centralized model while mine is federal, lower-case, with the function of the larger units to protect the sovereignty of their members."
>> Yes I favor a strong centralized model for 2 reasons:
1. Because it can pool big resources needed for development as in China, Russia, Japan, Germany, Italy etc.
2. Essential for sovereignty. When colonialists broke up the levant into mini states, none of them was able to develop sufficiently to become sovereign, that's why they have remained colonies for over 100 years now.
Happy for all of this additional research, Fadi, and glad that Julius expanded the conversation so I can respond to you both.
Very interesting on Nafissatu. I was just responding to my friend Ernest on the 7M Awakening Wonders post. His wife thought the allegations against Russell Brand were just women who decide there's money in pressing charges 26 yrs later (the age of my youngest daughter, just as a gauge of how much life has happened since then). I think these high-profile sex allegations are always coordinated by the parasites.
Interesting article on Trump having MBS 'round up' his $600B investment to $1T. An investment is money put in for the purpose of taking more out, yes? Who would this 'investment' go to and who would get the return on it? When the wealth of nations gets siphoned into these sovereign wealth funds held in tax havens, I think it ends up individually owned, whether that's by the Sauds or the Trumps. But yes, I take your point that these are well paid security guards, not independent actors.
I thought about whether I still feel the same way about China. At that time, I was deep into research on Nike sweatshops, Apple, even Mardi Gras coins and fireworks. It seemed that much of the rural population was being pushed into Guangdong, is it? to work in the factories, from which they would only return to their families a couple times a year. That seemed very unnatural.
My core premise is that whenever the scale of an economy reaches a certain size, they develop internal or external colonies that make the rich richer. Does a trade deficit benefit the producing class of a nation? I made this point on my interview with Jeff Brown. If each province of China, or a subset, consumed what they produced, their production would raise the standard of living. But if they produce for export but don't get the benefit of imports, then their production would seem to be a net loss. Does that make sense?
I don't think one country or its residents should be able to own land, properties, companies or labor of another country. Trade and purchasing power should only be in the products of a country's labor, and priced in their own currency at whatever exchange rate they decide.
China's reserve of dollars and Treasury bills is a real problem for communities in the US. It's why I think Santa Cruz has been sold to China. Right now a row of downtown 6 story buildings is nearing completion. But there are 26 downtown-to-beach acres of 12-15 story highrises in the works. I can't imagine anyone but wealthy Asians living there, with no parking at almost $100/ sq ft monthly rent.
We are already surrounded by Chinese university students, whose parents pay the rent in cash for the year. They've priced out other students and most of the people who work here, especially the Latinos.
I think China's policy of subsidizing production in their own currency, and reserving other currencies for trade, is an excellent one that commonwealths should emulate. But the cost of the trade deficit--for things that have only undermined us in the US--is going to be perpetual debt servitude to Chinese and Saudi and, not least, Rothschild bankers. But I'd be happy for you to show me where I'm wrong, both Fadi and Julius.
Quote: "Who would this 'investment' go to and who would get the return on it?"
>> The money goes as contracts to US companies. Mostly defense companies.
Quote: "It seemed that much of the rural population was being pushed into Guangdong, is it? to work in the factories, from which they would only return to their families a couple times a year. That seemed very unnatural."
>> Nobody was "pushed" lol... it was a choice..
Most educated Levantines go to work in the oil Sheikhdoms because no opportunities in their vassal "countries", millions of Indians, Pakistanis, Bengalis, Nepalese, Filipinos etc. go there for jobs also. Similarly in the US, for high level jobs you go wherever there is a better opportunity, usually not in your home city.
Industrial development in China was mostly in the Eastern part of the country where there was a ready infrastructure, so labor migrated there for jobs. As China grew richer, infrastructure developed into inner and western regions and employment opportunities became more readily available in these regions.
Quote: "whenever the scale of an economy reaches a certain size, they develop internal or external colonies that make the rich richer."
Nope. This is about the economic model not the size of an economy. In the US, until about 1975 average household income was increasing in line with increase in national productivity (GDP), the divergence started i.e. stagnation of household income while GDP increased ==> wealth concentration, when the economy was financialized aka neoliberalism took over.
In China the economy is not financialized, focus is on the real economy, i.e. manufacturing, mining and agriculture, so it is like the US pre-1975
Quote: "Does a trade deficit benefit the producing class of a nation?"
>> I think you mean trade surplus:
>>1. Trade surplus in China is less than 3% of GDP. They are the biggest exporters, and also the second biggest importer. That's why China is leading trade partner for most of the world.
>>2. Of course it benefits the producing class, since the extra wealth goes into building better infrastructure, alleviating poverty, building more schools, universities, and research centers. Trust me you will be SHOCKED if you visit China. You will feel it is a century ahead of the US.
Quote: "I don't think one country or its residents should be able to own land, properties, companies or labor of another country."
>>1. Blame this on mass psychology. Until a few years ago, Chinese really believed that US was richest, most developed and country, so wealthy Chinese would want to invest in the US. It was a mistake, I guess they are learning this now.
>>2. Neoliberalism and globalization promoted siphoning wealth of nations, by attracting wealthy people from global south to invest in hyper inflated real estate. London, Paris, NY, California, Canada etc. This money would have been much better in invest in their home countries.
Quote: "We are already surrounded by Chinese university students, whose parents pay the rent in cash for the year. They've priced out other students and most of the people who work here, especially the Latinos."
>>1. lol lol my daughter sent me a photo of her MS class at Berkeley and asked me to guess where she was. As I searched, I noted: Indian, Chinese, Chinese, Chinese, Indian, Indian, Chinese, American, Indian, Chinese Chinese, Indian lol lol
>>2. yeah I was ripped off too. Total cost of BS and MS was exactly $500K. The money had to be ready upfront.
Quote: "China's reserve of dollars and Treasury bills is a real problem for communities in the US."
>> 1. Treasury bills are more of a problem for the home nation, because they are loaning the US instead of developing at home. The BIS had Treasury bills as "Tier 1 reserves" valued at double the equivalent in gold. So all nations had to get Treasury bills. This changed with Basle Accord III where gold now is also Tier 1 reserve. This will reduce demand for Treasuries, which will increase interest rates in the US.
>> 2. US was exporting its inflation and maintaining high levels of consumption because of the Treasury bills. This is changing now.
Quote: "the cost of the trade deficit--for things that have only undermined us in the US--is going to be perpetual debt servitude to Chinese and Saudi and, not least, Rothschild bankers."
>> The huge US trade deficits were possible because nations had to buy treasuries as explained above. Nations had to subsidize US consumption. The only debt servitude is to the bankers. China has effectively stopped buying treasuries, and are actually selling, which is creating havoc in the USD Ponzi scheme.
>> Oil sheikhdoms are forced to buy treasuries, check John Perkins fantastic book "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man". Can download pdf.
Quote: "It's why I think Santa Cruz has been sold to China. Right now a row of downtown 6 story buildings is nearing completion. But there are 26 downtown-to-beach acres of 12-15 story highrises in the works. I can't imagine anyone but wealthy Asians living there, with no parking at almost $100/ sq ft monthly rent."
>> Rather than "wealthy" I would describe them as "retards" lol lol or fools to be more politically correct lol
I did watch this also but my response was different. It felt very staged, very propagandistic. I have a lot of concerns about compulsory education in the US. And the scenes of alleviating poverty are putting people to work. For me, living in uniform block housing sounds horrible. All healthcare is provided by the state--isn't that what we're objecting to with mandatory vaccines?
It felt chilling when it talked about 'alleviating poverty requires a firm hand.' Against whom? And when I think about what rebels you both are, wouldn't you be as miserable as I'd be if born into such a regimented system? Shantaram's description of the Bombay slum sounded more appealing, although I hope that karma isn't listening while deciding my next life ...
For me, though, my only concern is whether China will control my life and the lives of my daughters, and their potential to live in the town where they were born. I have no opinions on what's right for anyone else.
Quote: "it felt very staged, very propagandistic."
>> Sure, while watching the it occurred to me that it was staged. But not too much. Once I asked a guy I work with, take me to a poor place in China. He took me to his village. Roads were narrow, a bit dusty, his village house was tidy, it had a big garden so they can grow some of their own food. The home and garden were surrounded by a wall for privacy.
In the video we saw, they could have shown us a fancier house, nicer beds and bed covers, nicer clothing... but they didn't it was very realistic and did show actual conditions.
The video was probably aired on national TV, which is good for wealthy people in the cities to be constantly reminded of the importance of caring for the less wealthy people.
Quote: "It felt chilling when it talked about 'alleviating poverty requires a firm hand.' Against whom?"
>> Ho... this you should have guessed. Corrupt officials, party members and BANKERS. China and Iran are the only two countries I am aware of who have executed bankers who stole millions.
Quote: "For me, living in uniform block housing sounds horrible."
>> I didn't notice uniform block housing in the village or my friends home village.
Where I did notice uniform block housing was in London. Had it not been for house number and door colors you wouldn't be able to differentiate one house from another.
Quote: "my only concern is whether China will control my life and the lives of my daughters"
>> lol lol gave me a hearty laugh! China was never an imperialist expansionist country, despite its demographics and wealth. Actually the Great Wall was to protect China from invaders.
Imperialism is the fruit of Money Powers, in China they put them to death when they get out of line :-)
Thank you Tereza and Fadi. I haven't had time to peruse and process all of the comments made here, but in the meantime, here is a sensational panel discussion on China. I feel compelled to post my own humble compendium
• Interviewing Americans in China hosted by Truth Teller /// X Space - 4.8.2025 - R3dPill3d
Still listening to the video, laughed at the Baijiu test. Yeah I went through it several times.
First time on New Year's eve 2014. Owner of the factory where I was subcontracting, his wife and upper management, and my partner in China and his assistant. They would take turns saying cheers to me, and we both gulped our glass of Baijiu, so I essentially drank nearly as much as all of them together.
Didn't get drunk.. or lose my composure... just more cheerful... they were impressed.
Actually I used to do this same test when I was in the US. Before developing a friendship, we'd go drinking... guys who become obnoxious after drinking.. I know they are messed up..
Superb video! Gives a very accurate report on China.
I am just 40 minutes in it, but everything stated matches my experience in China.
A specially lovely observation: 35:50
"It is really a nation of laws, and these laws do work. However, I want to add that another reason why there's so much harmony here, like social etc., is because Confucian ethics are baked into all of their constitution, all of their laws that and their culture Confucian ethics. So this is like filial piety, and that extends to family.. and these Confucian ethics, one of the biggest ones. that I like is the air button, essentially what it means is it's like you can maintain your own identity, but you can live in harmoniously with all of those around you, and we can all learn from each other. That's a huge part of their foreign policy and their domestic policy, and you can see it."
This connects with what I refer to as "multi-civilizational" world, as opposed to "multi-polar" world. Specifically that any system of governance has to be based on civilizational heritage of the community.
Similarly in Russia and Iran, they are connecting governance system to historical heritage.
Tereza: I think it would be worth spending a month or more in China to see and experience firsthand the reality of a civilizational state, and how it unleashes human potential. Consider it as research for the second edition.
And at 11:00: Fernando: “China is not a capitalist country because capital does not mandate what government does. But other countries – namely America – is indeed a capitalist country because capital dictates what the government does ... "
From Sir Oswald Mosley in “FASCISM: 100 Questions Asked and Answered”
Q35. What is the difference between Fascism and Capitalism, since both admit the system of private enterprise ?
Mosley: In brief definition, Capitalism is the system by which capital uses the Nation for its own purposes. Fascism is the system by which the Nation uses capital for its own purposes.
Daniel still has a huge blind spot regarding WWII and National Socialism (very much in tune with 'Socialism with Chinese characteristics'), but he is in my top few when it comes to commentary on China.
1:35:00 In China the people own the land, that's the main thing. Every family has a household registration and that is connected to a place, to a land to terrain, so if somebody has a village for example, well the village is divided unto the people who are originally from that village, so there is a certain amount of land that belongs to them, and they decide how want to exploit it.
I've been thinking about my reply here for awhile. I feel like we're answering different questions. Yours is 'Is China's system of socialism good for the Chinese people?' I don't actually have an opinion on that. There are some who critique what other countries do, but that's never been my style. I study their policies to see where they work or don't work to protect the sovereignty of families and communities. But that's to see if ideas have been tried, with real world results, not to critique.
The primary means of imperialism for the last century has been economic, not military invasion. When you show that chart on your recent article, Fadi, of the vast swathes of the world where China is the lead trading partner, isn't that a form of empire? If China owns agricultural land, infrastructure, buildings and property in other countries, that's taken away from the people who live there.
In my county, land has been cleared by fire, same as LA. I don't think there's any doubt that people are dying in unprecedented numbers at younger ages. So who's going to live in these 4000+ highrise apt units we're being forced to build, that will rent for up to $6K? I don't know anyone in Santa Cruz who wants that, nor in California, nor in the US.
For Julius, I know the topic of immigration and racial mixing have been major topics. An influx of thousands of wealthy Chinese into my town will change its character and culture. How do you say no once the buildings are constructed and the people move in? That's what I mean by controlling my life and that of my daughters. I don't care what China does in China. I think the plan is to take over my town. What is your alternative scenario for who will live in these monstrocities? You may say, Fadi, that they're fools but it's my daughters who'll pay the price for their foolishness when their hometown is sold out from under them to another culture. And that seems much like the Zionist form of expansion to me.
Quote: "The primary means of imperialism for the last century has been economic, not military invasion. When you show that chart on your recent article, Fadi, of the vast swathes of the world where China is the lead trading partner, isn't that a form of empire? If China owns agricultural land, infrastructure, buildings and property in other countries, that's taken away from the people who live there.""
>>Economic imperialism is when wealth of nations is siphoned by the Empire (owners of the Empire - Money Powers). In Africa the Empire sucked the wealth and put them in debt slavery and socioeconomic conditions were miserable and deteriorating. As an example Niger, France has the most nuclear energy in Europe and is an exproter of electricity to all its neighbors. The uranium ore was from Niger, where over 60% of the population is without electricity!
Wherever China invested, critical infrastructure built and socioeconomic conditions improved.
Quote: "So who's going to live in these 4000+ highrise apt units we're being forced to build, that will rent for up to $6K? I don't know anyone in Santa Cruz who wants that, nor in California, nor in the US.
An influx of thousands of wealthy Chinese into my town will change its character and culture."
>Tereza, whatever fixed assets you buy in a foreign country are NOT YOURS, it can be confiscated anytime, like the Russian diplomatic buildings or some Chinese owned agricultural land in the US, where they have been ordered to sell.
Only rich fools invest in the US, London, Paris, Monaco etc.
1. After Trump tariffs the Chinese government ordered Chinese not to invest in the US
2. The deterioration in relations will inhibit Chinese citizens to invest in the US.
3. Development in China vs. deterioration of infrastructure in the US will discourage foreigners from considering living in the US
The exception are in the vicinity of high reputation universities, such as Cal Tech, Stanford, Berkeley... for the students as you mentioned. This also will be scaled down as Chinese universities are becoming world leaders
I was just reading Pepe's article on Why China won't call a Tariff-Wielding Barbarian. One of the very likely possibilities is that China will sell off its US Treasuries, crashing the dollar. Again, I think that could be positive for my caret plan. There's a lot in flux.
I'm still trying to imagine who has the money to pay this kind of rent, the desire to live in blocks of highrises, and no need for a car. What's your answer to this? The students I know are living 11 to a house and working on farms or planting gardens. None of them have the money or the desire to live like this.
And no matter who it is, I don't want thousands more people to be crammed into Santa Cruz. I think it will be like Israel razing Palestinian houses and building their beachfront condos--possession is 9/10ths of the law. Once they're built, it will be impossible to go back and tear them down.
Give me a more plausible scenario for these 4000 units than an Asian invasion.
WOW!!!! I watched the video: "President Xi inspects poverty alleviation achievements in SW China"
How touching.
Also a fascinating nature that is very well preserved
Note the homes of the "poor", tidy and clean, the village is also clean, no open sewers or garbage. For me... if I have friends there, it is livable.
Very important is the "compulsory education" and that 90% of medical expenses are covered by the government owned insurance. The man's medical treatment was 100,000 yuan, he paid only 10,000 or $1,400.
I recall a comment by Sayyed Nasrallah about economic policies:
"Economic policies are presented with a lot of numbers, what I find missing, is impact of policies on human wellbeing."
"In a 2017 article entitled 'Persia at the Pump,' the lifting of sanctions was credited with enabling the import of materials to build the gas condensate refinery"
This confused me, because the paragraphs before that talk about the sanctions as if they were still ongoing, and that they spurred Iran to develop new technologies.
"Translated, this means that oil-rich caliphates will own pieces of other countries’ economies that are exporting more than they’re importing—and will make sure they stay that way."
I would like some more detail about how owning other countries' currencies will ensure that those countries will export more than they import
"a military invasion 'justified' by Maduro’s rejection of humanitarian aid, a ruse that didn’t fool some international aid organizations"
I don't remember these events. What was the ruse? Did Maduro not actually reject aid, and Trump lied about it?
"In 2016 they issued their first 'green financial bond' to fund climate change solutions or adaptations. It should be noted that, unless each country creates its own sovereign credit to put in the bank, these are still repaid with interest[...]"
So these bonds are interest-free if the country "creates its own sovereign credit to put in the bank"?
"But the vast size of petrodollar holdings makes only the biggest targets worth the trouble."
It took me a while to figure out what "target" meant here, but I think it's referring to things like "land and real estate in the US" as mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Haha, you're making more work for yourself, Mark ;-) I just read your note that you were finished with the pdf version of my book, so I could post it on OceanofPDF, and I wondered how to tell you that I'd made more changes to this chapter than I had kept track of, which started with your latest pdf version. If you had been my editor/ proofreader in 2015, rather than the Mark Armstrong I keep confusing you with, this might have saved a step.
I was also confused by the relationship between sanctions and Iran's refinery, and had to read it twice to realize it was the 'lifting' of them that was credited/ blamed--depending on that author's viewpoint, which I don't remember. At some point, there was an agreement to lift sanctions based on nuclear inspections under Obama. Trump scuttled that, which had been the work of many years. I know the surrounding countries would like Iran to have a nuclear deterrent to Israel, so that may have changed too.
A phrase that should be in the lexicon is 'developing countries,' which really means producer countries that export more than they import. 'Developed countries' is a euphemism for consumer nations, who import more than they export. For the Global Usurpers, keeping producer nations from consuming and consumer nations from producing is the goal, because they control the 'middleman' function that adds no value.
I forget whether I've talked about 'currency colonialism' by this chapter, but I think it's in the chapter on Libya and how 14 African nations are kept subservient to France through the CFA franc. IMF loans are denominated in one of the imperial currencies. All the IMF needs to do is change the exchange rate for the national currency and it will make sure the loan can never be repaid. That's what Michael Hudson says should never happen.
The international aid ruse is one that's much clearer today, thanks to Trump defunding USAID (credit where credit's due). 'Philanthropy' has become the #1 funding for propaganda, media, color revolutions, paramilitaries and 'soft' influence. It's far, far cheaper than military intervention. Madura wasn't having it. So the gloves came off and replaced the soft power infiltration with economic coercion and military force.
On 'green financial bonds,' let's set aside whether climate change is a psyop and look at the mechanism for 'solving' it. What does a nation or even a commonwealth need in order to maintain their forests, restore their rivers, and rotate their pastures? They need control over their own resources and labor. Why do they need to borrow internationally to do this? There's no imports needed that would require an int'l currency. If communities decided to devote 5% of their caret distribution to restoring the ecosystem, it would enable local entrepreneurs and animal husbandry to thrive, along with forestry and wildfire skills. Each person would be 'voting' with their carets for the type of solution they want to support with the maximum income level making sure that couldn't be monopolized.
Yes, 'target' can be interpreted as 'prey.' Thanks for reading deeply and critically, Mark!
I'll grab the text from this post and do a word-difference (wdiff) against my copy of the chapter to see what changed. Thank goodness for powerful text processing tools on Linux.
Oh that's a much more elegant solution than a cut-and-paste section by section up to the footnotes, which I'd removed. You really are the techno-djinni, with my problem-making being your solution-finding (much better than my wish being your command!)
The totalitarians have moved on to greener, more lucrative pastures to build their multipolar world ruling from the East. The City of London is quiet.... too quiet.... like a graveyard.
So interesting, Frances. I started with your Predator City on the Move, which really corresponds with the reply I just wrote Fadi on the Good vs. Evil article: "If Zion is seen as the ruling class of the 'Noahide Covenant', it's one dynasty with one chosen heir as patri-archon over the whole world. This has been done, I think, by making bands of itinerant men into a diaspora nation, with loyalty to it that supersedes any moral code. Zion coming from the word scion makes sense, because they take the strong stock root of integral cultures and graft the 'nation' of Zion onto them, so that it feeds parasitically, replacing that culture with their own. It's an 'infiltration nation.'"
I read this very interesting article by Morgan Jones and thought of you: https://www.unz.com/article/heirs-of-the-displaced/. The description: "In this essay I examine the effects of Jewish immigration on the native English in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, focusing mainly on the East End of London and drawing entirely on the work of Jewish historians."
I think it's being replicated in miniature too. On my own 'Shangaied City,' I just read that they want to create a separate financial jurisdiction for the 27-acres of downtown to beachfront, so they can take a larger share of property taxes since they're 'generating revenue.' For who? For our own City of London.
The chief propagandist for this MonstroCity just wrote an op-ed looking at the wall of high-rise luxury shoeboxes that's replaced the mismatched and quirky downtown. He gushed, "Santa Cruz is all grown-up!" Asshole.
"Hence a large part of home life was lived out of doors by older folk seated at their doorways, by adolescents in search of fascination and adventure, and by children at play in the courts and alleys." - that is the East End I remember. Yes, I suppose it was squalid, dirty and cramped, but my memories are of happy days, eating gorgeous home made cheesecake with my bare feet in the gutter. I was given a gift of lice by a friend and thought it was wonderful of her! The Nit-Nurse appeared at school, soaked our heads in something nasty and dragged a steel comb through our hair. I did not know I was poor.
Tellingly, our keys were rusted into the locks because nobody ever locked their doors. I remember raucous pubs and the rag & bone man with his old horse and cart. Fights, laughs and lots of singing and dancing. Petticoat Lane on a Sunday was jam-packed with people and noise. I loved it.
Quote: petrosex scandal
>> You missed an important detail… Nafissatu Diallo ended up with about $1 million. Now she has her own restaurant, “Chez Amina”, in the Southern part of the Bronx. It has a six-page menu that features more than 100 items in total, most of which are a hit amongst the local clientele, allowing Nafi to move on to the next chapter of her life as swiftly as possible 😉
https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-nafissatou-diallo-now/
Quote: oil-rich caliphates will own pieces of other countries’ economies that are exporting more than they’re importing—and will make sure they stay that way
>> oil-rich caliphates are colonies, and the “caliphs” are merely security guards. An example:
ExxonMobil extracts the gas in the Qatar colony, it is paid handsomely for extraction, furthermore ExxonMobil gets to keep all the byproducts such as methane gas and these byproducts are worth more than the gas itself. Of the wages the Qataris get they have to finance destabilization of other nations on orders of the Empire, they have to build and finance operation of a major US military base. What little is left they have to invest in the Wall Street casino. Should a security guard go out of line, he is replaced by another. A good analogy for the “caliphs” would be houseslaves.
Quote: nations in glass houses shouldn’t throw brics 😊
Quote: China’s domestic credit creation has allowed it to fund 10-year ecosystem regeneration projects, but also to be the export dragon guarding a mountain of dollars, at the expense of rural populations forced into factories.
>> Not accurate. China has elevated over 800 million out of poverty. Infrastructure development is extending to the remotest villages to improve socioeconomic opportunities. Workers in Chinese factories have good REAL wages, i.e. good wages compared to cost of living, so their lot is improving and especially that of their children who can get a quality education for a better life.
In my work I have visited several factories in China, I was always impressed by the modern equipment used and the working conditions. Relations between workers and management were healthy.
As a student I had visited factories in the UK and the US and I worked in a factory in the US.
I recall the report for the first factory visit in the UK, a hot dip galvanizing factory, in 1977. Report started: “The visit to the factory was a trip in time to the 19th century”. Horrendous working conditions, archaic equipment, dirty factory.
It is impossible to compare the work conditions of Chinese workers with those in the UK and the US. Chinese workers are way better off.
Quote: The TPP [TransPacific Partnership] is seen world-wide as the U.S.’s thinly-veiled attempt to carve out China, Brazil, India, and other emerging economies from global trade talks.
>> Actually TPP and it’s North Atlantic equivalent Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are mostly about eliminating what is left of state sovereignty to the benefit of corporations.
Quote: When the oil-producers get the petrodactyls, they send them back out to patrol for things of value. They snap up agricultural land in third-world countries
>> the security guards on the oil wells get some toys and what is left in their central banks after financing the Empire’s wars, a delegate of the Empire comes and collects. In 2017 Trump took $450 billion from the Saudi guards, and for 2021 he is targeting $1 trillion, which represents their income over 10 years from oil exports.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14318347/Trump-demands-1-trillion-investment-reduction-oil-prices-Saudi-Arabia-fantastic-guy-MBS.html
Quote: Petrodactyls are the shock behind the awe, the bullying power of the world
>> Yep
I appreciate that thorough reply, Fadi. I'm replying here again because I remembered what I wanted to point out to you and Julius. When reading this chapter again, I was struck by the similarity between the technique of the Heka Khasut and Habiru, and what's being done today. The Habiru put the Egyptian cities under siege, preventing trade and inducing starvation, under the demand that they turn on their own leaders and send them out, dead or alive. Then, they promised, peace would return but instead they put them under economic slavery with tribute--which included sending their women.
The concept of economic sanctions is the same. It inflicts hardship on the whole population of a country to induce them to turn on their own leaders. It puts a plausible deniability between the false flag terrorists within, who work covertly for the Usurpers, and the Heka Khasut. And when the color revolution succeeds, instead of peace they become a slave colony.
On your last note, I think it's where you and I have always diverged, but correct me if I'm wrong. You see a socialist economic model as the solution, in which distribution is need-based. I'm a small scale sovereigntist and my caret distribution is equal, so that it's anarchist--pushing decision-making to the smallest level of community, whether that's the individual or the family. You favor a centralized model while mine is federal, lower-case, with the function of the larger units to protect the sovereignty of their members. Does that describe our difference in approach, do you think?
Quote: "The concept of economic sanctions is the same."
>> I agree fully! When they couldn't destroy Syria using NATO terrorists they imposed draconic sanctions, took over Syria's energy resources and it's agricultural regions. After 14 years it became untenable. Some individuals did there bit to break sanctions, but this was definitely not enough. The vassal states of the Levants were too cowardly to support Syria. Once again importance of big centralized nations for sovereignty.
Quote: "You see a socialist economic model as the solution, in which distribution is need-based"
>> Socialist has a very elastic meaning, I will try to clarify.
I have a company that builds machinery, I have apartments I rent, my friends have their own small factories and farms.. we are all small scale entrepreneurs, nothing wrong with that. However basic services should be government owned:
Banks, stock exchanges, insurance companies, public transport including, rail, buses, highways, airports etc. (Not taxis and small busses etc.)
Education and healthcare should be made available for all for free.
Not everyone to his needs, this doesn't work
But every kid should have a fair chance for success in life irrespective of his family's wealth.
Quote: "You favor a centralized model while mine is federal, lower-case, with the function of the larger units to protect the sovereignty of their members."
>> Yes I favor a strong centralized model for 2 reasons:
1. Because it can pool big resources needed for development as in China, Russia, Japan, Germany, Italy etc.
2. Essential for sovereignty. When colonialists broke up the levant into mini states, none of them was able to develop sufficiently to become sovereign, that's why they have remained colonies for over 100 years now.
Happy for all of this additional research, Fadi, and glad that Julius expanded the conversation so I can respond to you both.
Very interesting on Nafissatu. I was just responding to my friend Ernest on the 7M Awakening Wonders post. His wife thought the allegations against Russell Brand were just women who decide there's money in pressing charges 26 yrs later (the age of my youngest daughter, just as a gauge of how much life has happened since then). I think these high-profile sex allegations are always coordinated by the parasites.
Interesting article on Trump having MBS 'round up' his $600B investment to $1T. An investment is money put in for the purpose of taking more out, yes? Who would this 'investment' go to and who would get the return on it? When the wealth of nations gets siphoned into these sovereign wealth funds held in tax havens, I think it ends up individually owned, whether that's by the Sauds or the Trumps. But yes, I take your point that these are well paid security guards, not independent actors.
I thought about whether I still feel the same way about China. At that time, I was deep into research on Nike sweatshops, Apple, even Mardi Gras coins and fireworks. It seemed that much of the rural population was being pushed into Guangdong, is it? to work in the factories, from which they would only return to their families a couple times a year. That seemed very unnatural.
My core premise is that whenever the scale of an economy reaches a certain size, they develop internal or external colonies that make the rich richer. Does a trade deficit benefit the producing class of a nation? I made this point on my interview with Jeff Brown. If each province of China, or a subset, consumed what they produced, their production would raise the standard of living. But if they produce for export but don't get the benefit of imports, then their production would seem to be a net loss. Does that make sense?
I don't think one country or its residents should be able to own land, properties, companies or labor of another country. Trade and purchasing power should only be in the products of a country's labor, and priced in their own currency at whatever exchange rate they decide.
China's reserve of dollars and Treasury bills is a real problem for communities in the US. It's why I think Santa Cruz has been sold to China. Right now a row of downtown 6 story buildings is nearing completion. But there are 26 downtown-to-beach acres of 12-15 story highrises in the works. I can't imagine anyone but wealthy Asians living there, with no parking at almost $100/ sq ft monthly rent.
We are already surrounded by Chinese university students, whose parents pay the rent in cash for the year. They've priced out other students and most of the people who work here, especially the Latinos.
I think China's policy of subsidizing production in their own currency, and reserving other currencies for trade, is an excellent one that commonwealths should emulate. But the cost of the trade deficit--for things that have only undermined us in the US--is going to be perpetual debt servitude to Chinese and Saudi and, not least, Rothschild bankers. But I'd be happy for you to show me where I'm wrong, both Fadi and Julius.
A lot to unpack, I will address some:
Quote: "Who would this 'investment' go to and who would get the return on it?"
>> The money goes as contracts to US companies. Mostly defense companies.
Quote: "It seemed that much of the rural population was being pushed into Guangdong, is it? to work in the factories, from which they would only return to their families a couple times a year. That seemed very unnatural."
>> Nobody was "pushed" lol... it was a choice..
Most educated Levantines go to work in the oil Sheikhdoms because no opportunities in their vassal "countries", millions of Indians, Pakistanis, Bengalis, Nepalese, Filipinos etc. go there for jobs also. Similarly in the US, for high level jobs you go wherever there is a better opportunity, usually not in your home city.
Industrial development in China was mostly in the Eastern part of the country where there was a ready infrastructure, so labor migrated there for jobs. As China grew richer, infrastructure developed into inner and western regions and employment opportunities became more readily available in these regions.
Quote: "whenever the scale of an economy reaches a certain size, they develop internal or external colonies that make the rich richer."
Nope. This is about the economic model not the size of an economy. In the US, until about 1975 average household income was increasing in line with increase in national productivity (GDP), the divergence started i.e. stagnation of household income while GDP increased ==> wealth concentration, when the economy was financialized aka neoliberalism took over.
In China the economy is not financialized, focus is on the real economy, i.e. manufacturing, mining and agriculture, so it is like the US pre-1975
Quote: "Does a trade deficit benefit the producing class of a nation?"
>> I think you mean trade surplus:
>>1. Trade surplus in China is less than 3% of GDP. They are the biggest exporters, and also the second biggest importer. That's why China is leading trade partner for most of the world.
>>2. Of course it benefits the producing class, since the extra wealth goes into building better infrastructure, alleviating poverty, building more schools, universities, and research centers. Trust me you will be SHOCKED if you visit China. You will feel it is a century ahead of the US.
Quote: "I don't think one country or its residents should be able to own land, properties, companies or labor of another country."
>>1. Blame this on mass psychology. Until a few years ago, Chinese really believed that US was richest, most developed and country, so wealthy Chinese would want to invest in the US. It was a mistake, I guess they are learning this now.
>>2. Neoliberalism and globalization promoted siphoning wealth of nations, by attracting wealthy people from global south to invest in hyper inflated real estate. London, Paris, NY, California, Canada etc. This money would have been much better in invest in their home countries.
Quote: "We are already surrounded by Chinese university students, whose parents pay the rent in cash for the year. They've priced out other students and most of the people who work here, especially the Latinos."
>>1. lol lol my daughter sent me a photo of her MS class at Berkeley and asked me to guess where she was. As I searched, I noted: Indian, Chinese, Chinese, Chinese, Indian, Indian, Chinese, American, Indian, Chinese Chinese, Indian lol lol
>>2. yeah I was ripped off too. Total cost of BS and MS was exactly $500K. The money had to be ready upfront.
Quote: "China's reserve of dollars and Treasury bills is a real problem for communities in the US."
>> 1. Treasury bills are more of a problem for the home nation, because they are loaning the US instead of developing at home. The BIS had Treasury bills as "Tier 1 reserves" valued at double the equivalent in gold. So all nations had to get Treasury bills. This changed with Basle Accord III where gold now is also Tier 1 reserve. This will reduce demand for Treasuries, which will increase interest rates in the US.
>> 2. US was exporting its inflation and maintaining high levels of consumption because of the Treasury bills. This is changing now.
Quote: "the cost of the trade deficit--for things that have only undermined us in the US--is going to be perpetual debt servitude to Chinese and Saudi and, not least, Rothschild bankers."
>> The huge US trade deficits were possible because nations had to buy treasuries as explained above. Nations had to subsidize US consumption. The only debt servitude is to the bankers. China has effectively stopped buying treasuries, and are actually selling, which is creating havoc in the USD Ponzi scheme.
>> Oil sheikhdoms are forced to buy treasuries, check John Perkins fantastic book "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man". Can download pdf.
Quote: "It's why I think Santa Cruz has been sold to China. Right now a row of downtown 6 story buildings is nearing completion. But there are 26 downtown-to-beach acres of 12-15 story highrises in the works. I can't imagine anyone but wealthy Asians living there, with no parking at almost $100/ sq ft monthly rent."
>> Rather than "wealthy" I would describe them as "retards" lol lol or fools to be more politically correct lol
“China has elevated over 800 million out of poverty”
This in no way detracts from Tereza’s amazing Chapter, but I am just going to second your clarifying comment here, Fadi …
For example …
• President Xi inspects poverty alleviation achievements in SW China - CGTN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d5CriKhRVA
• Up and Out of Poverty by Xi Jinping
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8R-uen6FfFyCGheJF_Nr4_Zl_hN29k6I
I did watch this also but my response was different. It felt very staged, very propagandistic. I have a lot of concerns about compulsory education in the US. And the scenes of alleviating poverty are putting people to work. For me, living in uniform block housing sounds horrible. All healthcare is provided by the state--isn't that what we're objecting to with mandatory vaccines?
It felt chilling when it talked about 'alleviating poverty requires a firm hand.' Against whom? And when I think about what rebels you both are, wouldn't you be as miserable as I'd be if born into such a regimented system? Shantaram's description of the Bombay slum sounded more appealing, although I hope that karma isn't listening while deciding my next life ...
For me, though, my only concern is whether China will control my life and the lives of my daughters, and their potential to live in the town where they were born. I have no opinions on what's right for anyone else.
Quote: "it felt very staged, very propagandistic."
>> Sure, while watching the it occurred to me that it was staged. But not too much. Once I asked a guy I work with, take me to a poor place in China. He took me to his village. Roads were narrow, a bit dusty, his village house was tidy, it had a big garden so they can grow some of their own food. The home and garden were surrounded by a wall for privacy.
In the video we saw, they could have shown us a fancier house, nicer beds and bed covers, nicer clothing... but they didn't it was very realistic and did show actual conditions.
The video was probably aired on national TV, which is good for wealthy people in the cities to be constantly reminded of the importance of caring for the less wealthy people.
Quote: "It felt chilling when it talked about 'alleviating poverty requires a firm hand.' Against whom?"
>> Ho... this you should have guessed. Corrupt officials, party members and BANKERS. China and Iran are the only two countries I am aware of who have executed bankers who stole millions.
Quote: "For me, living in uniform block housing sounds horrible."
>> I didn't notice uniform block housing in the village or my friends home village.
Where I did notice uniform block housing was in London. Had it not been for house number and door colors you wouldn't be able to differentiate one house from another.
Quote: "my only concern is whether China will control my life and the lives of my daughters"
>> lol lol gave me a hearty laugh! China was never an imperialist expansionist country, despite its demographics and wealth. Actually the Great Wall was to protect China from invaders.
Imperialism is the fruit of Money Powers, in China they put them to death when they get out of line :-)
Thank you Tereza and Fadi. I haven't had time to peruse and process all of the comments made here, but in the meantime, here is a sensational panel discussion on China. I feel compelled to post my own humble compendium
• Interviewing Americans in China hosted by Truth Teller /// X Space - 4.8.2025 - R3dPill3d
https://rumble.com/v6s0u1f-interviewing-americans-in-china-hosted-by-truth-teller-x-space-4.8.2025.html
Still listening to the video, laughed at the Baijiu test. Yeah I went through it several times.
First time on New Year's eve 2014. Owner of the factory where I was subcontracting, his wife and upper management, and my partner in China and his assistant. They would take turns saying cheers to me, and we both gulped our glass of Baijiu, so I essentially drank nearly as much as all of them together.
Didn't get drunk.. or lose my composure... just more cheerful... they were impressed.
Actually I used to do this same test when I was in the US. Before developing a friendship, we'd go drinking... guys who become obnoxious after drinking.. I know they are messed up..
Delightful anecdote :-)
Superb video! Gives a very accurate report on China.
I am just 40 minutes in it, but everything stated matches my experience in China.
A specially lovely observation: 35:50
"It is really a nation of laws, and these laws do work. However, I want to add that another reason why there's so much harmony here, like social etc., is because Confucian ethics are baked into all of their constitution, all of their laws that and their culture Confucian ethics. So this is like filial piety, and that extends to family.. and these Confucian ethics, one of the biggest ones. that I like is the air button, essentially what it means is it's like you can maintain your own identity, but you can live in harmoniously with all of those around you, and we can all learn from each other. That's a huge part of their foreign policy and their domestic policy, and you can see it."
This connects with what I refer to as "multi-civilizational" world, as opposed to "multi-polar" world. Specifically that any system of governance has to be based on civilizational heritage of the community.
Similarly in Russia and Iran, they are connecting governance system to historical heritage.
Tereza: I think it would be worth spending a month or more in China to see and experience firsthand the reality of a civilizational state, and how it unleashes human potential. Consider it as research for the second edition.
And at 11:00: Fernando: “China is not a capitalist country because capital does not mandate what government does. But other countries – namely America – is indeed a capitalist country because capital dictates what the government does ... "
From Sir Oswald Mosley in “FASCISM: 100 Questions Asked and Answered”
Q35. What is the difference between Fascism and Capitalism, since both admit the system of private enterprise ?
Mosley: In brief definition, Capitalism is the system by which capital uses the Nation for its own purposes. Fascism is the system by which the Nation uses capital for its own purposes.
Another little gem from my archives ...
• What Is The Communist Party of China? - Its Foundation Discussed - Daniel Dumbrill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKxQDezR7Bg
Daniel still has a huge blind spot regarding WWII and National Socialism (very much in tune with 'Socialism with Chinese characteristics'), but he is in my top few when it comes to commentary on China.
Special for Tereza:
1:35:00 In China the people own the land, that's the main thing. Every family has a household registration and that is connected to a place, to a land to terrain, so if somebody has a village for example, well the village is divided unto the people who are originally from that village, so there is a certain amount of land that belongs to them, and they decide how want to exploit it.
I've been thinking about my reply here for awhile. I feel like we're answering different questions. Yours is 'Is China's system of socialism good for the Chinese people?' I don't actually have an opinion on that. There are some who critique what other countries do, but that's never been my style. I study their policies to see where they work or don't work to protect the sovereignty of families and communities. But that's to see if ideas have been tried, with real world results, not to critique.
The primary means of imperialism for the last century has been economic, not military invasion. When you show that chart on your recent article, Fadi, of the vast swathes of the world where China is the lead trading partner, isn't that a form of empire? If China owns agricultural land, infrastructure, buildings and property in other countries, that's taken away from the people who live there.
In my county, land has been cleared by fire, same as LA. I don't think there's any doubt that people are dying in unprecedented numbers at younger ages. So who's going to live in these 4000+ highrise apt units we're being forced to build, that will rent for up to $6K? I don't know anyone in Santa Cruz who wants that, nor in California, nor in the US.
For Julius, I know the topic of immigration and racial mixing have been major topics. An influx of thousands of wealthy Chinese into my town will change its character and culture. How do you say no once the buildings are constructed and the people move in? That's what I mean by controlling my life and that of my daughters. I don't care what China does in China. I think the plan is to take over my town. What is your alternative scenario for who will live in these monstrocities? You may say, Fadi, that they're fools but it's my daughters who'll pay the price for their foolishness when their hometown is sold out from under them to another culture. And that seems much like the Zionist form of expansion to me.
Quote: "The primary means of imperialism for the last century has been economic, not military invasion. When you show that chart on your recent article, Fadi, of the vast swathes of the world where China is the lead trading partner, isn't that a form of empire? If China owns agricultural land, infrastructure, buildings and property in other countries, that's taken away from the people who live there.""
>>Economic imperialism is when wealth of nations is siphoned by the Empire (owners of the Empire - Money Powers). In Africa the Empire sucked the wealth and put them in debt slavery and socioeconomic conditions were miserable and deteriorating. As an example Niger, France has the most nuclear energy in Europe and is an exproter of electricity to all its neighbors. The uranium ore was from Niger, where over 60% of the population is without electricity!
Wherever China invested, critical infrastructure built and socioeconomic conditions improved.
Quote: "So who's going to live in these 4000+ highrise apt units we're being forced to build, that will rent for up to $6K? I don't know anyone in Santa Cruz who wants that, nor in California, nor in the US.
An influx of thousands of wealthy Chinese into my town will change its character and culture."
>Tereza, whatever fixed assets you buy in a foreign country are NOT YOURS, it can be confiscated anytime, like the Russian diplomatic buildings or some Chinese owned agricultural land in the US, where they have been ordered to sell.
Only rich fools invest in the US, London, Paris, Monaco etc.
1. After Trump tariffs the Chinese government ordered Chinese not to invest in the US
2. The deterioration in relations will inhibit Chinese citizens to invest in the US.
3. Development in China vs. deterioration of infrastructure in the US will discourage foreigners from considering living in the US
The exception are in the vicinity of high reputation universities, such as Cal Tech, Stanford, Berkeley... for the students as you mentioned. This also will be scaled down as Chinese universities are becoming world leaders
https://www.aspi.org.au/index.php/report/aspis-two-decade-critical-technology-tracker#
I was just reading Pepe's article on Why China won't call a Tariff-Wielding Barbarian. One of the very likely possibilities is that China will sell off its US Treasuries, crashing the dollar. Again, I think that could be positive for my caret plan. There's a lot in flux.
I'm still trying to imagine who has the money to pay this kind of rent, the desire to live in blocks of highrises, and no need for a car. What's your answer to this? The students I know are living 11 to a house and working on farms or planting gardens. None of them have the money or the desire to live like this.
And no matter who it is, I don't want thousands more people to be crammed into Santa Cruz. I think it will be like Israel razing Palestinian houses and building their beachfront condos--possession is 9/10ths of the law. Once they're built, it will be impossible to go back and tear them down.
Give me a more plausible scenario for these 4000 units than an Asian invasion.
WOW!!!! I watched the video: "President Xi inspects poverty alleviation achievements in SW China"
How touching.
Also a fascinating nature that is very well preserved
Note the homes of the "poor", tidy and clean, the village is also clean, no open sewers or garbage. For me... if I have friends there, it is livable.
Very important is the "compulsory education" and that 90% of medical expenses are covered by the government owned insurance. The man's medical treatment was 100,000 yuan, he paid only 10,000 or $1,400.
I recall a comment by Sayyed Nasrallah about economic policies:
"Economic policies are presented with a lot of numbers, what I find missing, is impact of policies on human wellbeing."
"In a 2017 article entitled 'Persia at the Pump,' the lifting of sanctions was credited with enabling the import of materials to build the gas condensate refinery"
This confused me, because the paragraphs before that talk about the sanctions as if they were still ongoing, and that they spurred Iran to develop new technologies.
"Translated, this means that oil-rich caliphates will own pieces of other countries’ economies that are exporting more than they’re importing—and will make sure they stay that way."
I would like some more detail about how owning other countries' currencies will ensure that those countries will export more than they import
"a military invasion 'justified' by Maduro’s rejection of humanitarian aid, a ruse that didn’t fool some international aid organizations"
I don't remember these events. What was the ruse? Did Maduro not actually reject aid, and Trump lied about it?
"In 2016 they issued their first 'green financial bond' to fund climate change solutions or adaptations. It should be noted that, unless each country creates its own sovereign credit to put in the bank, these are still repaid with interest[...]"
So these bonds are interest-free if the country "creates its own sovereign credit to put in the bank"?
"But the vast size of petrodollar holdings makes only the biggest targets worth the trouble."
It took me a while to figure out what "target" meant here, but I think it's referring to things like "land and real estate in the US" as mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Haha, you're making more work for yourself, Mark ;-) I just read your note that you were finished with the pdf version of my book, so I could post it on OceanofPDF, and I wondered how to tell you that I'd made more changes to this chapter than I had kept track of, which started with your latest pdf version. If you had been my editor/ proofreader in 2015, rather than the Mark Armstrong I keep confusing you with, this might have saved a step.
I was also confused by the relationship between sanctions and Iran's refinery, and had to read it twice to realize it was the 'lifting' of them that was credited/ blamed--depending on that author's viewpoint, which I don't remember. At some point, there was an agreement to lift sanctions based on nuclear inspections under Obama. Trump scuttled that, which had been the work of many years. I know the surrounding countries would like Iran to have a nuclear deterrent to Israel, so that may have changed too.
A phrase that should be in the lexicon is 'developing countries,' which really means producer countries that export more than they import. 'Developed countries' is a euphemism for consumer nations, who import more than they export. For the Global Usurpers, keeping producer nations from consuming and consumer nations from producing is the goal, because they control the 'middleman' function that adds no value.
I forget whether I've talked about 'currency colonialism' by this chapter, but I think it's in the chapter on Libya and how 14 African nations are kept subservient to France through the CFA franc. IMF loans are denominated in one of the imperial currencies. All the IMF needs to do is change the exchange rate for the national currency and it will make sure the loan can never be repaid. That's what Michael Hudson says should never happen.
The international aid ruse is one that's much clearer today, thanks to Trump defunding USAID (credit where credit's due). 'Philanthropy' has become the #1 funding for propaganda, media, color revolutions, paramilitaries and 'soft' influence. It's far, far cheaper than military intervention. Madura wasn't having it. So the gloves came off and replaced the soft power infiltration with economic coercion and military force.
On 'green financial bonds,' let's set aside whether climate change is a psyop and look at the mechanism for 'solving' it. What does a nation or even a commonwealth need in order to maintain their forests, restore their rivers, and rotate their pastures? They need control over their own resources and labor. Why do they need to borrow internationally to do this? There's no imports needed that would require an int'l currency. If communities decided to devote 5% of their caret distribution to restoring the ecosystem, it would enable local entrepreneurs and animal husbandry to thrive, along with forestry and wildfire skills. Each person would be 'voting' with their carets for the type of solution they want to support with the maximum income level making sure that couldn't be monopolized.
Yes, 'target' can be interpreted as 'prey.' Thanks for reading deeply and critically, Mark!
I'll grab the text from this post and do a word-difference (wdiff) against my copy of the chapter to see what changed. Thank goodness for powerful text processing tools on Linux.
Oh that's a much more elegant solution than a cut-and-paste section by section up to the footnotes, which I'd removed. You really are the techno-djinni, with my problem-making being your solution-finding (much better than my wish being your command!)
The totalitarians have moved on to greener, more lucrative pastures to build their multipolar world ruling from the East. The City of London is quiet.... too quiet.... like a graveyard.
https://francesleader.substack.com/p/united-kingdoms-death-spiral
So interesting, Frances. I started with your Predator City on the Move, which really corresponds with the reply I just wrote Fadi on the Good vs. Evil article: "If Zion is seen as the ruling class of the 'Noahide Covenant', it's one dynasty with one chosen heir as patri-archon over the whole world. This has been done, I think, by making bands of itinerant men into a diaspora nation, with loyalty to it that supersedes any moral code. Zion coming from the word scion makes sense, because they take the strong stock root of integral cultures and graft the 'nation' of Zion onto them, so that it feeds parasitically, replacing that culture with their own. It's an 'infiltration nation.'"
I read this very interesting article by Morgan Jones and thought of you: https://www.unz.com/article/heirs-of-the-displaced/. The description: "In this essay I examine the effects of Jewish immigration on the native English in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, focusing mainly on the East End of London and drawing entirely on the work of Jewish historians."
I think it's being replicated in miniature too. On my own 'Shangaied City,' I just read that they want to create a separate financial jurisdiction for the 27-acres of downtown to beachfront, so they can take a larger share of property taxes since they're 'generating revenue.' For who? For our own City of London.
The chief propagandist for this MonstroCity just wrote an op-ed looking at the wall of high-rise luxury shoeboxes that's replaced the mismatched and quirky downtown. He gushed, "Santa Cruz is all grown-up!" Asshole.
Thanks for the Unz article link, Tereza!
"Hence a large part of home life was lived out of doors by older folk seated at their doorways, by adolescents in search of fascination and adventure, and by children at play in the courts and alleys." - that is the East End I remember. Yes, I suppose it was squalid, dirty and cramped, but my memories are of happy days, eating gorgeous home made cheesecake with my bare feet in the gutter. I was given a gift of lice by a friend and thought it was wonderful of her! The Nit-Nurse appeared at school, soaked our heads in something nasty and dragged a steel comb through our hair. I did not know I was poor.
Tellingly, our keys were rusted into the locks because nobody ever locked their doors. I remember raucous pubs and the rag & bone man with his old horse and cart. Fights, laughs and lots of singing and dancing. Petticoat Lane on a Sunday was jam-packed with people and noise. I loved it.