Feedback Friday - January 25, 2013

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Well, it's Friday again. We all made it. The President had his re-coronation this week, and all for the low low price of $170 million of your hard-earned tax dollars. God bless the USSA! So happy you put in a 50-hour work week so that O'Bomber can have 42 inauguration balls—despite already having had an inauguration in 2009! And look at Michelle's fabulous bangs!

On to the feedback...

TIJUANA?

Hello Jeff and everyone else at TDV,

I wanted to ask you about the option of moving to a border city in Mexico. I know in the past Jeff has mentioned going to Tijuana when in San Diego to experience freedom. Since there are many of us here in the USSA who, for whatever reason, cannot pack up and move to Chile, how feasible do you think it is for Americans to move to a border town such as Tijuana, but still have a job or business stateside? Are there any TDVers that are currently in this situation and can give some advice on this?

Thanks for your help. Hopefully I will be able to make it to Acapulco sometime this year to check out your condos!

Evan

Jeff’s Response:

Hola Evan,

Your idea might sound like a good idea at first, but believe me, you do not want to do this!

The main reason is the border crossing. Going from the US into Mexico is glorious. You can walk through a building with a few guys playing cards and eating tacos who won't even ask you for a passport or even talk to you and within seconds you are on the streets of Tijuana where every bar is open, every drugstore and alcohol vender is open and anything you want is freely available.

Going from Mexico into the "land of the free" in the US, on the other hand, is one of the worst things I've ever had to endure. I've driven through and walked through. I'm not sure which one is worse. On the time I walked through I was in a line-up of approximately 5,000 people that stretched for miles. It was about 90°F out and a blazing sun and what looked like easily a 4-5 hour wait surrounded by armed men, drug sniffing dogs and barbed wire fence. I was surprised anyone would do it but I needed to get back to San Diego to pick up my stuff after a wild night out in Tijuana.

Then a man came along and said he can put me in a van that is on the 'fast track' lane for something like $20. I envisioned a nice panel van with tinted windows, reclining seats and air conditioning and jumped at the chance. He then led me down a back street where me and about 20 other people squeezed into an aging van without air conditioning. We then got into a line that had no one in it, so I was happy about that, thinking it would just be a few minutes. Two hours and about 10 pounds of water weight later a US border criminal came up with his dog, peered at us, then waved us to enter. Again, I was relieved, thinking that would be the end of this nightmare.

Wrong again. We then were let out of the van and into a large room with no air conditioning and about 500 people waiting in line in front of me. I really would have killed myself at that point if I had an easy way to do it. Then, I finally reached the front and began my standard harrassment. "What are you doing here?" "Where are you going?" "Why?"

I normally am quite beligerent with them but at that point I just wanted out so I tried to half-smile and act like he wasn't human garbage. He then went on to type into the computer for about twenty minutes... about what, I have no idea, considering I had said three words. Maybe he was writing, "He's half smiling but I can see in his eyes that he thinks I am human garbage." Who knows. Finally he growled and flopped my passport on the table and did that flippant wave like he just did you a big favor allowing you to pass.

So, suffice it to say, I don't recommend you go through that process every day!

by car

by foot

Now, there are fast track type programs like the "Border Fast Track Pass". But do you really want to get into yet another government database? And spend time going through something that looks like the Korean DMZ every day?

As a sidenote, in the October issue of TDV Homegrown we showed you how you can travel between the US, Canada and Mexico without a passport and without the US Government even knowing your home address.

But, that aside, I suggest you and other TDV readers get outside of the mindset that you "need" the US. There may have been something to that 20 years ago but places like Mexico have had massive economic improvements over the last few decades (the Mexican stock market is up about 1,000% in the last 10 years versus the US stock market which is down and going to get much worse). There are now more Mexican's leaving the US and going to Mexico than vice-versa. That should tell you something.

Plus, plenty of expats have made a very nice living in Mexico. We write about it regularly in the TDV newsletter... often with weekly interviews or articles from expats from around the world who have expatriated and made a very nice living for themselves in a much freer foreign country. If you think about it, $15/month really isn't a bad price for all that information!

Not to mention, there are numerous expat groups popping up all the time who have seen the same thing as you and have decided to get out... and often these expats have money and need services that perhaps you could provide. Certainly, at our new expat community in Chile, "Galt's Gulch Chile" there will be thousands of people gravitating there and creating an entire economy of their own... not to mention the Chilean economy is one of the soundest and best in the world.

Things are only going to get worse in the US from here so start attuning yourself to a foreign lifestyle now and be ahead of the crowd... because it is going to get so bad that, at some point, that wall on the US/Mexico border will be to keep US subjects in.

If you absolutely cannot leave for some reason, then you should at least subscribe to our newest newsletter: TDV Homegrown. Not only is it chock full of information to help you both live freer and wealthier in the collapsing USSA police state...but it's priced with the consideration that some of our readers don't (yet) have the bankroll to pick up and explore the world.

Hi Gary,

[I am] INFP,

Hehe... according to the author's statements...that would make me a sniveling, bleeding heart, commie.

Not so.

Among other things, I believe in free enterprise, gun ownership, and minimal state interference with the citizenry.

I would however, prefer a Jeffersonian model of state organization over the Hamiltonian one that has prevailed since the conclusion of the War for Southern Independence. (Also known as the "Civil War" by Establishment forces that wish to re-write history).

The gist of this article seems to infer that there is a superior class of people that are genetically programmed for success.

These "rationals", as they are referred to, miscreants, like Mitt Romney, use a pseudo form of rational sounding rhetoric to further their cause, but in reality, they don't want freedom or free enterprise at all.

Real free enterprise would spoil the comfortable, government-sponsored monopolies that keep them at the top and the majority of our population bound to the chains of wage slavery. These people want to force us all into an Ayn Randian style jungle of the 'fittest".

I would wager that people like Ford, Rockefeller, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Getty and now, those like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet (the so called "job creators") were and are "Rationals".

The reality is that they were not and never were rational at all. How is it rational to want to keep acquiring assets and power once one has already provided for a passive income that is massively over and above their yearly lifestyle expenses?

The first tycoons of the gilded age especially, were mentally ill, hyperagressive superbullies that should have been placed in an institution for the criminally insane. Our modern day tycoons are about the same.

They were no more interested in free enterprise than is someone like Mitt Romney. All of them used trickery, fraud and bribery of government officials to secure their dominant place on the dung heap. And to this day, some of their ancestors still exercise tremendous influence over our society through control of the media, business, education and government. This is done by using private foundations, superpacs and other forms of clever chicanery.

Just look at who contributes to National Public Radio. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trust, The Ford Foundation and others.

Big Money. All of them, Establishment champions of the status quo. They control the message and the national conversation.

It seems to me that progressive ideas came about as a reaction to the injustices of self-righteous oligarchs who now refer to themselves as "job creators". If we wish to live in a civilized society, it seems as though empathy, common sense and cooperation should trump this "Economic and physical reality" that the author mentions.

Does it make one a "bleeding heart" because he would like to see a level playing field?

The evolutionary theories mentioned about "survival" are similar to those expressed by Darwin. These theories were consistent with the imperialistic aims of Victorian England and it would seem, an obvious reason why Darwin was embraced by the Establishment of his time, rather than Wallace.

I disagree with many of the inferences expressed in the authors essay. They seem to be the same ideas and attitudes so vehemently expressed by middle-class people that watch Fox News. People that have managed to scrape a few million bucks together, through hard work, inheritance and plain old good luck. And because of their pluck and good fortune, tend to have an inflated sense of their own self worth and entitlement. They fall prey to the false rhetoric of the Mitt Romneys, just as the working class fall for the Barack Obamas of the world.

Both groups consistently vote against their own self interests.

We should instead, focus our attention on people like the Heinz family, the Rockefellers, the Du Ponts, the Mellons and other members of the old-money, super-rich, landed gentry.

Not because there is anything wrong with making or inheriting money, but because these people, who sit at the very pinnacle of our society...maybe 200 families in all, are the ones most opposed to any change in the status quo. The leaders of this "elite" class use their tremendous wealth and leverage to manufacture public opinion, sponsor legislation and dictate government policy in order to maintain their privileged place in our society, while the rest of us foot the bill.

It's time we start scrutinizing the provenance and legitimacy of their wealth, because if anyone was able to dig deep enough, they would find that all of these great fortunes were not made by honest hard work and that people like Mitt Romney are not at all genetically programmed for success. They would find that these individuals made their money the same way all oligarchs make their fortunes: through the use of well-planned and managed criminal enterprises that are protected by government co-conspirators. (i.e: the modern public corporation)

Our country has become the very thing our ancestors wanted to escape in Europe. An oligarchy made up of a tiny group of unknown aristocrats.

Gary's Response:

Your feedback took up a lot of space so I'll try to keep my response short...

The problem isn't that there are miscreants who want to game the political system to hold onto their wealth unfairly...

The problem is that is that there is a political system to game at all.

You identified the problem in several places already. First, you want a minarchy. You want "some acceptable level of goverment"...but that's why we lean toward anarchy (or autarky or voluntaryism or whatever) around here. We recognize that as long as there is some group with a monopoly on violence, then there must necessarily be someone looking to buy their services. 

"Among other things, I believe in free enterprise, gun ownership, and minimal state interference with the citizenry."

See? Right there! There it is! "Minimal state interference". ANY state interference...any state at all...will lead to woe. This is the lesson of America, may she rest in peace. It's why so many younger libertarians are abandoning politics, calling themselves "anarchists" and looking to build a voluntary society. 

"If we wish to live in a civilized society, it seems as though empathy, common sense and cooperation should trump this 'Economic and physical reality' that the author mentions."

Empathy, common sense and cooperation are natural human conditions and they don't have to entail pointing guns at people to make them pay someone else's idea of a "fair share". The state is the opposite of empathy and common sense and cooperation. The state is violence, fitting one size over all and coercion. 

Personally, I like living in a society of air conditioning, cars, laptops and eventually space travel, longer and healthier lifespans and whatever the future will bring. The lesson of history is that this kind of progress can only come when there is liberty and the ability to amass capital for enormous investment. Slaves (citizens) can never be as productive as free men and women. So instead of tearing everything down to satisfy some redistributionista masturbation fantasy, I would rather we get rid of the "minimal" monopoly on violence so that no one could blame "greedy, wealthy bullies" for the world's problems when they do the natural thing and seek the favor of those with all the guns and power.

You really want a level playing field? Then get rid of the state. Then the power is truly in the hands of the masses. Becuase "the market" really is just "the people" spending their money and deciding who gets rich based on who best serves them by bringing them commodities and comforts.

You seem to have a mad on for people who have "too much money"...but trust me, all the money in the world can't do much harm unless there is a centralized political system where money can be leveraged into disinformation and outright control.  

I said I'd keep this short, but I'm far from done with this topic. I encourage all our readers to send me their thoughts at gary@dollarvigilante.com so we can keep this conversation going. 

A SIMPLE QUESTION

Sir, 

I'd like to ask a simple question. My first Navy Chief told me the only stupid question is an unasked one. So here it goes.

How much does the government owe itself? We know that the government has already spent the money that comes out of our paychecks for Social Insecurity. Will one day the government say "Sorry, the money's gone. Too bad if you think you will be getting  a check in 15 years. Good luck." I think the government will honor my bonds that are in my TSP when they come due. I doubt that I will see a Social Security check. Will Washington DC one day tell us, "All the money we owe you, too bad it's gone."?

Respectfully,

Michael M.

Jeff's Response:

I always love that "we owe it to ourselves" line of thinking. As for the US government, it is just as ridiculous of a notion. How much money does the US government have? $0. Plus, it spends, currently, more than $1 trillion per year more than it steals from its subjects in the form of taxes. Plus it has, currently, over $16 trillion that has already been borrowed and spent. But, that's okay, approximately $5 trillion of that $16 trillion it "owes to itself", from other areas where the money has long been stolen. So, everything should be fine, right?

While it's easy to fall into the "we owe it to ourselves" line of thinking, it's downright idiotic to think this translates to not having to worry over government debt. Governments own no resources and need to tax the people to pay for their violent operations. If you do own a government bond and cash it in, the proceeds to pay you off will either be taxed from someone else, borrowed, or printed into existence. Either way, there is a net loss on society.

The "we owe it to ourselves” mindset is based on the extremely dim notion that governments can keep borrowing and printing money forever. But of course if that were the case, the Weimar Republic would be an astounding success. True, the US government is still seen as a safe investment (though I disagree with this assessment) but for every dollar Chairman Bernanke prints, distortions are caused and the currency weakens. For every dollar spent and borrowed by the thieves and goons in Washington, there is more consumption instead of real capital investment to grow the economy.

As for your prediction that you might not get a Socialist Insecurity check in "15 years", that number could be as soon as next year. But, even if in five years you still receive a check, it will likely not buy you much more than a few tins of cat food. The fiscal, debt and inflation situations going on are already at extreme levels... you know that is the case when, Zimbabwe-style, the latest plan to pay off debt is in the form of a "$1 trillion" denominated platinum coin.

I won't go into the years of research we have done on this topic but suggest you subscribe to the TDV newsletter to get weekly info, research, analysis, new and information on the coming dollar collapse. It will be the biggest event in human history, why not get ahead of the curve!

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