Augustine2004's opinions on Lew Rockwell, Plato, and assorted other subjects

[Augustine2004]

This chart (Las Vegas house prices, adjusted for inflation) seems like a good picture of the economic history of the USA
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeqrguz/h...las_vegas.html

[Augustine2004]

Dereck is a villain, all right, according to this NPR story. Sorry, Merck http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=121609815
Steps that Dereck Merck took:
1. Develop a drug for which there is little demand.
2. Develop a low-cost diagnostic procedure that actually does not do much good--if driving up demand for the drug that doesn't do much good is not good.
3. Get Congress to approve Medicare coverage for the procedure and the drug.
4. Get FDA approval.

Wreck the Dereck Merck.

[Augustine2004]

Some of you may know the Oil Shock helped drive the economy into a tailspin around 1979. If the MENA unrest continues to worsen and spread, that could shock an already-ailing economy. The result might be much worse than 1979. The worst recession since the Great Depression and now this = Greater Depression? Google Gonzolo Lira Gaddafi British government

[seanD]

Some of you may know the Oil Shock helped drive the economy into a tailspin around 1979. If the MENA unrest continues to worsen and spread, that could shock an already-ailing economy. The result might be much worse than 1979. The worst recession since the Great Depression and now this = Greater Depression? Google Gonzolo Lira Gaddafi British government

When the government outright lies to the public over and over about a phantom recovery, fudging and distorting the UE and inflation numbers, yet they know the only thing keeping the illusionary recovery going is pumping trillions of printed USDs into the markets, the government needs a quick way out lest commodity inflation (the numbers they can't hide or distort) expose their fraud. What perfect escape out of this dilemma than to use the oil crisis as a result of turmoil and war in the Arab world to blame on the so-called "double dip" that is coming?

[Augustine2004]

ue? Oh, unemployment.

Your post led me to wonder how well the economy would do absent the USFG? That's a really hard question, partly because the economy would need time to adjust to suddenly changing circumstances such as a military coup that restored most of our lost liberties in days. Had that sort of coup occured much later, though, food prices might not have taken off like they have. Then all the MENA unrest might not have been so severe.

[Augustine2004]

Just saw an article saying that many laboratory studies confirm a particular vaccine may have been a factor in many cancers. I can't give a link because of a TWeb rule against advertising, but you can google '60 lab studies cancer vaccine child' and follow up the links on that webpage.

[Augustine2004]

China's GDP is about CNY38 trillion, yet real-estate loans by its banks is about CNY43 trillion. Someone check me, but that's not possible if money-substitutes are 100% backed and credit is limited to the real national saving pool. Sure the Chinese sock away 37% of their income or so, that's great, but no way a nation can go far beyond its savings pool, except with fractional-reserve banking.

[Augustine2004]

Just got that in my email inbox--note bolded words below

The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine:

Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant
Acutrim Plus Dietary Supplements
Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control
Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or ange)
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent
Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine
BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder
BC Sinus Cold Powder
Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief
Day & Night Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules
Contac 12 Hour Caplets
Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus
Dexatrim Caffeine Free
Dexatrim Extended Duration
Dexatrim Gelcaps
Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free
Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets
Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels
Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir
Dimetapp Elixir
Dimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels
Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets
Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets
Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops
Permathene Mega-16
Robitussin CF
Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal Congestion
Triaminic DM Cough Rel! ief
Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
Triaminic Syrup ! ! Cold & amp;am p; Allergy
Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Subject: Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)

I would like to thank those of you who expressed condolences on the recent passing of my mother. She suffered a hemorrhagic stroke while she was driving home from my house at 7:30 and passed away at 8:30. My mother's stroke and passing was an enormous shock to my family because she did not have any symptoms or risk factors for a stroke. Just the week before she had gone to her doctor for a check up and received a clean bill of health. She did, however, develop a cold while she was visiting me and had taken Alka Seltzer Cold Plus for 3 days. Since her passing, we have learned that Alka Seltzer is one of the many cold medicines that contains Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) which can cause hemorrhagic stokes or cerebral bleeding even with the first use. I am forwarding a list of other medications that currently use PPA. These medicines are supposedly being recalled but my mother just purchased this medication less than two weeks ago. Pharmaceutical companies
have known about this danger for years, we unfortunately, did not.

I urge you to review the list of medicines with PPA and avoid these medications. All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are dangerous. You may want to try calling the 800 number listed on most drug boxes and inquire about a REFUND. Please read this CAREFULLY. Also, please pass this on to everyone you know. STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient. It has been linked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of medication. Problems were not found in men, but the FDA recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternative medicine.

The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine:

Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant
Acutrim Plus Dietary Supplements
Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control
Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or ange)
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent
Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine
BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder
BC Sinus Cold Powder
Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief
Day & Night Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules
Contac 12 Hour Caplets
Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus
Dexatrim Caffeine Free
Dexatrim Extended Duration
Dexatrim Gelcaps
Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free
Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets
Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels
Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir
Dimetapp Elixir
Dimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels
Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets
Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets
Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops
Permathene Mega-16
Robitussin CF
Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal Congestion
Triaminic DM Cough Rel! ief
Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
Triaminic Syrup ! ! Cold & amp;am p; Allergy
Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough

I just found out and called the 800# on the container for Triaminic and
they informed me that they are voluntarily recalling the following medicines
because of a certain ingredient that is causing strokes and seizures in children:

Orange 3D Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink)
3D Cold & Cough Berry
3D Cough Relief Yellow 3D Expectorant

They are asking you to call them at 800-548-3708 with the lot number on
the box so they can send you postage for you to send it back to them, and
they will also issue you a refund. If you know of anyone else with small children,

PLEASE PASS THIS ON. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF!

DO PASS ALONG TO ALL ON YOUR MAILING LIST so people are informed. They can then pass it along to their families.

To confirm these findings please take time to check the following:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/.../ucm150738.htm

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/.../ucm150738.htm

[Augustine2004]

1974 experienced serious inflation, 12.2% up from 5.6% the year before. Conventional economists were shocked and dismayed. They'd made the argument that slacks in the economy would keep inflation low. Unemployment was rising, for one thing. Those who followed the dollar price of gold and other commodities were not surprised, though. In 1974 gold hit triple 1971 levels as did oil, roughly.

The period 2001-2010 hardly matches 1971-1974 in price volatility, but the price of crude materials have jumped 21% from six months ago already. The gold bull market is already breaking records for longevity.

I'm afraid this year will resemble 1974. The only important difference is that we are already in a recession.

[Augustine2004]

The dollar soared after these events: September 11, the Lehman collapse, and the European debt crises.

It fell during the MENA unrest. Gold and silver rose, though.

Ominous, ya?

[Augustine2004]

Am reading a report that I'd like to discuss with y'all. Help me check out its conclusions.

The global food crisis is upon us now. Arable land has been vanishing for years; we are adding more mouths every minute; diets are becoming more protein-rich (good but does require a shift in modern agricultural practice); the loony 'greening' of the earth (corn into ethanol); falling yield of crops; etc. And inflation. The poor can't cope with price inflation as well as better-off people can. The rich can make $$ off inflation, such as investing in gold mining stocks. They can buy stuff and store it for some disaster.

We do have riots especially in the MENA, but what will be hard for people to accept is that we can have them here in the USA also. Typically stores have only 3 days worth of food, so any major disruption can create sudden famine. Consider the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The tsunsami. The earthquake. Droughts.

You may have to consider that hungry people will ransack your home for food.

[Augustine2004]

O may every public sector union riot against its respective government! 'A battle to the death' is what Mordecai Lee, a politicial scientist, is quoted about the Wisconsin affair.

Realistically, I do think the unions will give way. If they kill off their respective governments, they will lose their power to mulct the public. Better to have half a loaf of bread than none.

[Augustine2004]

Do I understand recent news correctly? China is switching a lot of trades--cross-border in particular--from using the dollar to Yuan. The intent is to make the latter a reserve currency. Also, China is planning to rely less on export. Rather, Chinese customer business is to take a more prominent role in China's economy.

What does all those bode for the USA? Inflation, I think. A weaker USFG. The end of the empire is closer.

[Augustine2004]

Money neutrality is the pernicious doctrine that the number of dollars in the world does not matter at any time. If it were a fixed amount, or a fixed amount per person (second best), then that would be OK. However lately, the number of dollars world-wide have been growing insanely.

Too many people have fixed incomes, such as bond payments or inflexible pension payments. Also, some investors are not good enough to grow their investments to keep up with the inflation or better. Still others' income simply does not grow quickly enough.

Sure many people do benefit from inflation, such as getting to spend new dollars before the rest of the economy can benefit from them. As a rule, though, they do not produce enough to justify that privilege.

Overall, then, inflation is NOT money-neutral.
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com...-ron-paul.html

[Augustine2004]

The problem of conflict in the world needs a solution now. If a person (call her Abby) and another person (call him Bo) disagree about what use to which a particular physical object is to be put, that is a conflict. Rape, for example: Bo tries to use Abby's body, which is her property, to satisfy his lust despite her objection and disapproval.

Common evil-doing (armed robbery, vandalism, murder, fraud, etc., by ordinary people) is indeed a major part of the conflict problem, but State evil-doing could be a much bigger part. Far more people died in wars than were killed by people otherwise. People lose far more to the IRS than to ordinary thieves and often their choices are rather circumscribed.

State evil-doing is far more pervasive than most people realize. Taxes, for example, can be considered evil-doing, especially when one does not approve what the government is doing, such as making war. Making regulations or even laws that favor special interests . . . Construction projects that seem like money black holes. Gold-plated bombers and ships. People everywhere hate evil-doing, or what they consider to be evil-doing, yet nearly everyone is a statist! Why? Do people really think somehow, for all the evil that the State does, it nevertheless makes the world better than otherwise?

We need social norms that if perfectly followed would avoid conflict as discussed above. Professor Hans-Hermann Hoppe proposes a norm, explains in detail what that is, and shows why it is one we should follow. OF PRIVATE, COMMON, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY AND THE RATIONALE FOR TOTAL PRIVATIZATION
http://libertarianpapers.org/articles/2011/lp-3-1.pdf