Courtesy of Gary Christenson aka The Deviant Investor:
When Will They Ever Learn?
In the 1960s Peter, Paul and Mary popularized a song written by Pete Seeger – “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”
The short version is:
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them.
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone to husbands.
Where have all the husbands gone?
Gone for soldiers.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards.
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers.
And repeat.
When will they ever learn?
Another version of this “cycle of life” might be:
Where has all the money gone?
Gone to taxes.
Where have all the taxes gone?
Gone to governments.
Where have all the governments gone?
Gone to bankers for more money.
Where have all the bankers gone?
Gone to buy politicians.
Where have all the politicians gone?
Gone to buy voters.
Where have all the voters gone?
Gone to work for money.
Where has all the money gone?
Gone to taxes.
And repeat.
When will they ever learn?
Fifty years ago we were bombing North Vietnam “back into the stone age.” That worked out well for the military contractors but accomplished little for the US people.
Twenty years ago we were fighting Iraq and Saddam Hussein. That worked out well for the military contractors but accomplished little for the US people.
Ten years ago we were fighting in Iraq. That worked out well for the military contractors but accomplished little for the US people.
Today we are still bombing Iraq. Who will benefit and what will this accomplish?
When will they ever learn?
For perspective, here are some approximate prices that show the consequences of warfare and welfare:
Item 1964 1994 2004 2014
National Debt in $Trillions 0.31 4.70 7.30 17.80
Gallon of gasoline 0.25 1.20 2.00 3.60
Pack of cigarettes 0.25 1.76 3.50 5.50
Barrel of crude oil 1.50 16.00 42.00 90.00
Pound of hamburger 0.40 1.00 2.00 3.88
When will they ever learn?
Looking ahead:
- Wars will continue but may not be decisively won or lost.
- Debt and currency in circulation will rise exponentially.
- Consumer prices will continue increasing.
- Gold, silver, crude oil, gasoline and food will become much more expensive.
- Voters will continue voting for politicians and wars even though both cause prices to rise.
- The number of Americans on food stamps (SNAP) will continue rising.
- Unemployment statistics will fall in election years but the actual number of Americans working full-time jobs will decline.
When will they ever learn?
Additional Reading:
James Quinn Bread and Circuses
SRSRocco Rpt. Bankers Manipulation of Gold
Gary Christenson My new book on gold prices
Denali Guide Buy Signal
Gary Christenson
The Deviant Investor