Stealth Super Slowdown of Fossil-Fuelled Economy

Coronovirus has implications as a control of the economic ebb and flow we can expect from 2020 onwards. From global government efforts to mitigate climate change. A "Super Slowdown" of the "Fossil-Fuelled Economy" is the necessity.

Coronavirus started in December 2019 is now reportedly expected to become a pandemic virus, at least according to some "cheap" expert (as in paid-for) who was rolled-out by BBC News. The globalisation of the virus was the headline-news story of the day. As we will observe, the re-named virus, officially "covid-19" is causing business and economic disruptions.

Coronavirus Distraction More Than "Disruption"

Never mind that being the headline news, but on the same day of 24th February 2020, on which journalist Julian Assange is facing a sham hearing on whether he should be extradited to America. His alleged crime is exposing war-crimes of America via WikiLeaks. Journalistic press-freedom should be paramount concern for the world. This hearing in Woolwich Crown Courts (see below about this Court) is in remote South East London, where he is being held in H.M.P Belmarsh Prison.  (Update here: "Your Man in the Public Gallery – Assange Hearing Day 1" and another from Consortium News with Live Updates From The Hearing Here.)

"Woolwich Crown Court is nothing but the physical negation of the presumption of innocence, the very incarnation of injustice in unyielding steel, concrete and armoured glass. It has precisely the same relationship to the administration of justice as Guantanamo Bay or the Lubyanka. It is in truth just the sentencing wing of Belmarsh prison." Craig Murray 25/02//2020

Yet "Disruption" Evidenced By Stock Markets Tumble

 Also that same day saw US$ 1.7 trillion wiped-off global stock markets due to participants seemingly pricing-in coronavirus becoming "pandemic" category. Allegedly from shareholders selling stocks affected by coronavirus global disruptions. FPM's sister enterprise LineBall Tennis who agitated on Twitter, shown below; had an understanding of what has greater impact on wider population - loss of freedom of press or variant of common flu:

Fake Tweet! Source:Twitter @LineBallTennis, CNN

The crux of the matter as a coronavirus distraction. Our understanding is that Covid-19 is virulent variant of influenza also known as "flu". They both have similarities that both are deadly especially to vulnerable categories, as it is do do with breathing and respiratory systems of our body. Despite the media frenzy and hysteria (as they have to propagandise 24-hour news cycle), the less media-minded people understand that a much greater proportion of people die annually from the flu, than have globally died from Covid-19.

The Importance of Business-Cycles In Forecasting

We at Financial Portfolio Management understand business cycles since the fledgeling organisation's founder initiated a dissertation when at Middlesex Unversity in his youth about business-cycle boom-and-bust, specicially studying the "Kondratieff Cycle" economic cycle factors.

 Professional investor greed and fear means share price valuations are currently trending ever higher at near record levels (see proxy FTSE100 chart below). These dizzy heights justified or otherwise WILL cause speculator trader and real-money investors to expereince wild uncertainties / swings, especially before settling into a secular reversal or possible up-trend. This is a precept about technical chart analysis and mean reversion in market behavioural analysis. Which is more short-term orientated cycles of stocks and stock markets.

Proxy FTSE-100 Near Record Levels. Source: Yahoo, FPM

So what is the fundamental long-term catalyst for putting the brakes on global economic activity? Which is undoubtedly causing catastrophic human-added climate change. The evidence of climate-changing is before our eyes via high definition mainstream television news. We've seen flooding in wetter climates, droughts with forest fires and bush fires in drier climates, and so on. The evidence is numerous. Mainstream news source nowadays bang-on about it' but not as prominently featured 10-20 years back sadly; or even further back when the science and extrapolation of trends first suggested "global warming from anthropic activities".

Slowdown Or Disruption Of Economic Activity

 

Every NATO or UN country will manifest a particular "shock" catalyst which results in effective slowdown of the real and financial-market economies. 'Brexit' as global known enduring phenomenon in United Kingon, as a political movement is designed to curtail economic activities, especially through short-term disruption to free movement of people and goods. Since Brexit is 'not done' despite Tory rhetoric and shock democracy of 2016 referendum, reverberating as "Brexit In Name Only", it is business as usual. FPM as firm Brexit-supporters say sham European Union is continuance of neoliberalism (see FPM's meaning of 'neoliberalism'), but rolled out to the newcomers from former U.S.S.R eastern European countries. When eventually Brexit gets done intra-European Union short-haul flights will be controlled. As necessary to meet 2030-50 set emissions targets for countries. Also as a footnote, UN climate-change summit will hosted by Glasgow, Scotland UK dubbed "COP26".

FPM's Understanding of Neoliberalism in Manifestation - Source: Naomi Klein "The Shock Doctrine" 2007

FPM is expecting further geopolitical fall-out from de-globalisation of the socio-economic political process. As well as Brexit, "America First" and POTUS Trump's border-wall war-cries are all part of stealth-super-slowdown in neoliberal globalisation, but dressed-up as populist nationalism or quarantined cornoavirus. FPM further believe there is global backlash to the liberal democracies of the West, which has prosperously benefited the few at the cost of austerity for the many. Not a political slogan but a fact. Austerity or poverty also rationlise the wider population from affording holidays and travel. Therby reducing economic activity.

Of course referring to the wealth-inequality issue, and circumstances of 2007-09 global financial-crisis. Especially how the ridiculed taxpayer via its government saved banks and other financial institutions from insolvency. After banks' self-regulating profligacy of virtually gambling. And of course regime-change agenda followed by western democracies in the Middle East / Gulf region. To keep the war-machine in these old-power countries chugging along. Again, who is paying for waging wars in the Gulf? Yep, the #stupidelectorate taxpayer! (Stupid Electorate hashtag was coined for some of the UK voters after the December 2019 General Election defeat in UK of Jeremy Corbyn and Labour Party)

"Stealth Super Slowdown" has to happen in the name of saving the planet and environment as we know it. We all acknowledge China's emergence to eminent economic super-power is the future driving-engine of global economic growth in the 21st Century. So by China peddling its soft-power of business-wealth potential, it can perhaps direct a new sustainable way of achieving economic life other than from fossil-fuels based industries. But the shock-impetus towards stealth slowdown of China's powerhouse economy is underway, see below excerpt from Reuters. Reminder that generally China's economy has been growing at double-digit rate or averaging 7% economic growth.

Economic data for January had been fairly upbeat, but analysts have since sharply cut their forecasts for economic growth in China. J.P. Morgan now expects Chinese GDP to shrink 3.9% this quarter, while Capital Economics sees it outright contracting. Reuters 27-Feb-20

Brexit:Winner DOESN'T Take It All

What is unfathomably UNUSUAL at least in my mind, is the perversion and corruption of the “Leave” result of the 2016 European Union referendum.

In our first-past-the-post system of voting or even a simple majority in referendum, I find it astonishing that the “remain” campaign has been emboldened and active three-and-half years after the decision of the mentioned referendum. If there is to be no finality of decision where 17.4 million people of the electorate participated, and in the passage of time the losing campaign want to overturn that decision, then certain past election results retrospectively can also be made null-and-void. This critique is also extended to parallels of the Scottish Independent referendum.

Why don’t we the people / “demos” have different referendums on variety of issues all the time – and the Brexit impasse has highlighted the less than noble integrity of the representative democracy in the House of Commons? Jeremy Corbyn has pledged referendums if Labour Party is elected in this vital General Election 2019. As a staunch “leaver” I can just about stomach that (and if “remain” wins we’ll campaign in time to reverse that decision – haha!). I believe that’s why the EU referendum leaflet we ALL received mentioned akin to “once in a generational vote” - remainers don’t geddit!

The Anti-Hero: Corbyn (Source: Twitter)

A local case in point of how Parliamentary representative democracy deceives the British people: the previous Tory Battersea MP was an “IN” voter but decided to respect the “national” majority of Euref 2016 and campaigned “OUT” of EU. And indeed in fairness to sitting MP Marsha De Cordova, her “Remain” stance is representative of her constituency vote, which was pro-Brexit by some 62%, I believe. In contrast to Marsha, another local Labour Party MP for Vauxhall Kate Hoey, in her constituency voted to remain in EU, but she has vociferously supported “leave” result. And here’s the rub of the double-speak dissemble we don’t know how the respective MPs actually voted at the secret ballot in EUREF’16.

Brexit Results Conundrum (Source: Twitter - pending validity check)

From the unverified graphisc above we have a remainer Parliament with 486 Remain MPs, at odds with 406 Leave voting constituencies. Democracy in the UK is alive and kicking - Bah!

And here we are, Wednesday's dissolution of the House of Commons for the General Election 2019 on December 12th. There is only one clear vote for the Britons eligible to vote, that can gain a majority and pass through a Brexit deal of any kind and an even unlikely Remain referendum choice.
All other options are distraction and likely to split House of Commons and back at the same standstill / impasse. Britons were here in 1979 with country at standstill from Union strikes but this time its Parliament bringing the country to standstill - who was ushered in as PM then?!

Of All The Worlds... Hardly Brexit!

The Background To Today
  
A step towards "The best of all possible worlds" will be determined in the House of Parliament in Westminster, England on Tuesday 11th of December 2018 . The Members of Parliament (MPs), or the entire elected representative MPs of United Kingdom, vote on the 'Withdrawl Agreement' to date. Its importance is the direction of Europe; or at least as far it concerns Britain's membership within the construct of the cganging European Union - EU. 

The above quote in bold parenthese is by German Gottfried Leibniz about "the claim that the actual world is the best of all possible worlds is the central argument in Leibniz's theodicy, (or his attempt to solve the problem of evil)".

The people's referendum vote in 2016 was prounced by the media as significant and given a blended name "Brexit" (known as a portmanteau word) for "Britain Exit(s)".

Since that referendum and subsequent triggering of the formal Article 50 notification to leave the EU in March 2017, Parliament are now at a stage to vote on a framework for the transition period called the "Withdrawl Agreement". As negotiated by the incumbent Government: The Conservative Party lead by Prime Minister Theresa May. 

[STOP PRESS: Tomorrow's Parliamentary Vote Is Off]

The House of Commons Parliamentary vote on the draft Withdrawal Agreement was called off the day before. The reason cited was that the draft terms would have been rejected by the House, and thus delivering a humiliating defeat for the under-siege Goverment led by Mrs May. 

The formal notification via triggering Article 50 started the two-years countdown. In which to define UK's relationship with EU going forward as an non-member. Implying that Britain is supposed to leave the 28 member country union at the end of March 2019. Whatever version of Britain exiting the EU is delivered by the Government and the Parliament is still emphatically up-in-the-air!

Democracy Is Only An Illusion

The prescient message of this article is that democracy is only an illusion. The EU Referendum is the litmus-test case study for that assertion, as concerns the principals at Fund Portfolio Management - FPM. The principals actually collectively suggest "...Hardly Brexit!", as Britain's unresolved exit from the EU persists. FPM surmise that stalling and delay via Brexit process has two important ideological reasons:

Firstly, that the original 2016 people's referendum on the issue was a deliberate political mistake. Handing over a political decision on nationhood to its island-mentality citizens should could and would only have one outcome. Therefore, the entire political class know this unwitting act of democracy decided by former Conservative PM David Cameron, will probably lead to copy-cat requests in future political decisions. If it is not utterly quoshed and debased now as the historic example of democratic and Parliamentary failure. Thus potentially setting the scene for elimination of the political class entirely, as no longer fit for purpose. Which it CLEARLY IS by evidence of delivering Brexit.

So the British government and Parliament are complicit with all political classes in evidencing or showing #BrexitShambles or #BrexitChaos to demonstrate failure of democracy in complex decisions. 

Secondly, and more intuitively the EU is also party to this sham convoluted Brexit process. More often resulting in a "Punch and Judy" show on mainstrean media globally. The theatrics, more than likely intended to demonstrate the futility of other potential EU-member countries looking for the exit-doors again. A decoupling process with any political will on both sides, which could have been achieved quicker.

The Saga of Brexit

In June 2016 the British electorate were offered a referendum to vote on whether they wanted to be "IN" or "OUT" of the EU. After an acrimonious battle by campaigns representing both sides of the bi-option vote, the people (and therefore the country) voted to be "OUT" of the relatively new Union of countries, by a divisively narrow margin of the brave courageous and discontented fool-hardy 52% of voters. 

The United Kingdom nation that pioneered many innovations and wickedness through its British Empire and Industrial Revolution is agains the protagonist of the "Divide-And-Conquer" strategic policies. Not unlike the "Commonwealth countries gaining independence from being a Colony of the British Empire", Britain will NOT be a sub-state of the EU!

Another Powerful Iconic Image From "Leave" Propagandist (Source FPM and Bounce Agency)

Very Graphically Powerful Symbol of The Blended Word  (Source: Twitter)

 
The referendum vote was prounced by the media as significant and given a blended name "Brexit" (known as a portmanteau word) for Britain Exit(s).

Since that EU referendum and subsequent triggering of the formal Article 50 notification to leave the EU in March 2017, Parliament are now at a stage to vote on a framework for the transition period called the "Withdrawl Agreement", as negotiated by the incumbent Government of the Conservative Party. The House of Commons Parliamentary vote which was called off in the eleventh hour, or the day before. The formal notification via Article 50 started the two-years countdown to define UK's relationship with EU. Implying that Britain is supposed to leave from the now 28-member states union at the end of March 2019. 

Whatever version of Britain exiting the European Union is eventually and actually delivered by the Government and the Parliament it will be the best of all worlds. Only by evil conspiritorial design rather than by some probable chance act of public democracy in action. The repeated evidence of the narrative and discourse of a nation, as portrayed in media and the new social media, is very woefully narrow and limited, see below:

The Circus of Brexit: The Ringmaster	The Circus of Brexit: The 'Remoaner' Freak
The Circus of Brexit: The 'Remoaner' Nationalist	The Circus of Brexit:The 'Remoaner' Clowns

Powerful lobbyist forces are at war in the tug-of-nations between the eternal conflicts waged with propaganda to manipulate perceptions and manufacturing concensus of populations. As evidenced by the constant media hysteria and circus surrounding Brexit (only second to Donald Trump's distraction antics in the U.S.A).  Just incidentally and coincidently and most-probably relevantly, there was a B.B.C review / show about the circus-life and its characters featuring amazing acrobats to absurd freaks. Don't forget the cast of clowns peddled out for the circus show. All celebrating the first circus's 250th anniversary in 2018.



Decoupling of Britain from the EU
 
The larger grouping of nations via globalisation would in the main be subject to a singular vision of world policy via its repeated messages forming propagandist framed-narrative and disinformation for the subjected dazed and confused population to witness and discuss. Public house or 'pub' conversations have been contextually broader about the Brexit process and ideology than the tabloid and broad-sheet analysis of so-called 'newspapers' and mainstream political news commentary. The go-between of media and politics are influential lobby groups.
 
FPM wrote earlier that "the narrative and discourse of a nation, as portrayed in media and the new social media, is very woefully narrow and limited"; well here some new additional elements toward the voting behaviour not widely mentioned:

An FPM principal and Brexiteer voted to 'Leave' so as not to be "marginalised in wider-whiter Europe". Krishna of FPM, feels he has just made his way among the British citizenry through the ages, with recent introduction to new influx Europeans. Especially as a former Commonwealth country's citizen living in London, England for 40 years. 

Another perspective of "Remain" believer resident with family in UK pre-freemovement, had the opposite feeling, of wanting to be part of her ancestral continental Europe. She was part of the remain crowd not being legally British to vote in domestic national elections but of European birth. Many like her but British-born were able to vote. So which of these people were the emphatic-voting citizen to vote on 23 June 2016? Duh!

As alluded earlier about the 'singularity of vision', globalisation in its current manifestation is the greatest fear of any expansion of territorial alliances. Admittedly, globalisation in another manifestation can also bring hope. We would be fool-hardy and quixotic to believe establishment figures have anything in mind other than entitlement from the servititude of the much and many. In the economic-wisdom of contemporary Michael Hudson, this was and is known as "rentier capitalism" from the classical idea of economic rent. 

"Economic rent – the excess of price over this “real cost” – is unearned income. It is an overhead charge for access to land, minerals or other natural resources, bank credit or other basic needs that are monopolized." https://twitter.com/Kristian_FPM/status/10706622

FPM advice everyone, including so-called journalists politicians and economists to read his work via his website www.michael-hudson.com.


In this debate and contest about the future of British peoples, in relation to a regionalised grouping of nation states in the EU. Remember the latest incarnation of the EU - forever progressing towards federal Europe - until Brexit is completed, is 28-countries as of last member country Croatia joining on 1-July-2014. A construct originated from just six equally weighted countries in terms of  wealth and population in 1950s. Read the history of the EU and its spurious advocates here.

In this 'colonialism' by any other word like 'federalism', heading towards European regionalisation with ultimate globalisation in mind, the Balkans countries and such former Soviet-sphere satelite states will be culturally over-run with McDonalds, Lidl, "Friends" TV-show lifestyle, poor command of the English language as a second langauge or non-native tongue,

 Tomorrow sees.. prescient piece_Brexit and final version by design and less by accident. May had poisoned chalice taking over - 3 defeats only comparable to James Callaghan heralding Thatcher.
Propagandists at the behest of powerful globalists at work
Mainstream representation narratives (via headlines at least) have been poor viz Twitter; greater debates in pubs somewhat but framed by media so limited
Globalisation and marginalisation pro-Out unspoken reason
Just as the remainershave two good inclu. a lot of the Brits 2nd gen originate from Europe (while 1st gen brits with long residence unable to vote .i n national elections); and Labour ideals of solidarity among workers etc is nonsense or at least double-think as there are certainly Oligopolies and less competition (quote book by The Myth of Capitalism by hfdmgr name)
"michael hudson another world" in search engine resulted in a fictional characher ("Michael Hudson was a fictional character on the NBC daytime soap opera Another World"); using language to muddy the waters eg Ingmar Bergman was muddied by Ingrid Bergman to the non-film enthusiast.

Why Its Plain To See The Geopolitical Writing On The Wall

Not only does China have state-run newspaper called the "Global Times" but their phenomenal surge economically to the position of second economic power in the world threatens the status quo of the current hegemonic power. Note "power" said not in the plural but singular.

Hence why trade-war onslaught started this month of March 2018 with steel and aluminium tariffs imposed under order of demagogue leader  of the so called "free world"  President Donald; and yesterday he further announced tariffs on $60 billion value of Chinese imports - its official its war! China retaliated with tit-for-tat action of imposing tariffs on only $3 billion on American imports, as reported by CNBC in the link provided above.


While officially an economic war, at the same said President of the United States of America  or USA, announced the biggest ever increase to its military spending. Up US$80 billion to approximately US$700 billion on military spending; or expressed as a proportion of the total spending approved in the Senate in the early hours of Friday, 54% of the total US$1,300 billion expenditure in 2018/19 will be on the industrial military complex.

Of the US$1.3 trillion spending bill passed exigently early Friday, there are some reading between the lines, other than the obvious. 

First of all this bill is also the raising of the "budget ceiling" i.e. how much spending the USA government fiscal deficit will sustain in a given year. As things stand the budget ceiling has today been raised 4 times int total in recent years (as WolfStreet.Com explains here), to avert what has been dramatically described as "government shutdown". So this current raising of the deficit "legislation would fund the government through the end of September". As for thereafter in this unique American legislation designed to ensure fiscal-budget prudence, anyones guess, or great uncertainty.

Remember that earlier this year the national debt of the USA passed the US$21 trillion mark (also described in the WolfStreet article referenced above, and shown in the chart below). This is less significant as a absolute number, with the Dollar as the reserve token currency allowing unprecedented increase in "money printing" (to make historical Weimar Republic period of hyperinflation look restrained),  but reflected as percent of GDP or what America produces, the debt is very unsustainable.
Also as a  consequence of the unsustainable ballooning debt-bubble of government, Trump is perhaps leading us to that one major dire and disastrous outcome - debt default. The caveat is, only if his "America First" protectionism does not lead to sustained growth. But as we have seen over the last 10 years of kicking the debt-calamity into the long-grass, since the credit bubble in financial services, there are other remedies than debt default and debt-destroying inflation; namely near-zero or zero interest rate policy - Z.I.R.P and debt restructuring (the bad debts racked-up by financial services are now American taxpayers debt burden through T.A.R.P and Q.E etc). Who should continue to revolt or cause civil disorder with rage, after sucessive US administrations and policies delivered austerity instead of prosperity for the masses.

 
 This is why China is THE concerning crucial factor in the economic globalisation that we have seen accelerated since the 1980s or last 40 years. Trend of globalisation stopping now is evident, for fear that China grabs the economic growth that is needed in the current G7 countries, to pay-off their debt.

Yet the economic growth solution is hampered in the face climate change concerns. Yes climate change is only too REAL and beginning to be evident as an imminent threat to humanity and the planet. As are economic-growth threat from disruptive technologies that are burgeoning through to destroy traditional trading activities (e.g. shop-front buying and selling versus Internet online markets). Another example of the titans at
 trade war: China's scale of production has massively reduced the price of solar panels as an alternative to expensive fossil-fuel based oil and gas. 

What of the disruption (which is a euphemistic term) to traditional oil and gas exploration extracting refining and distribution industries, from climate-change concerns? The write-down or destruction of these industries' assets, whose stock market values reflect status quo international free-trade policies, will not be merely disruptive! We have seen this month the stock market valuations impact on global steel and aluminium companies.
See the latest research from the CarbonTracker.Org initiative (which investment bank research will not show!): Mind The Gap: $1.6 trillion energy transition risk.

Finally, in the context of what we have discussed above there will begin as covert of subterfuge psychological operations towards a cultural revolution. "America First", mentioned earlier is only the same socio-economic political stance as once great empire hegemony of United Kingdom, who exited the regional union of group known as European Union (which had as it early phase / guise the E.E.C - the European Economic Cooperation), on June 23rd 2016. Now this great tear-away from globalisation via regionalisation, project is named simply "Brexit". Abbreviation for for Britain Exits the European Union.

The cultural revolution in countries will also be "twitching" by the masses of people away from traditional government by politicians, viz. billionaire Trump as President of the USA and Andrej Babis in Czech Republic. Political machinery, which after 40 years of liberal capitalism, a period better known as "neoliberalism", has produced the rise and decline of the middle class, while creating and enriching plutocrats and oligarchs. As represented by billionaire wealth status of the top 1% of global population. Those politicians are dubbed by Fund Portfolio Management's own reputation thesis, NoSmokeWithoutFire, hastag #politiciansRcriminals.

The cultural revolution will also take the form of behavioural changes, as led from not only disruptive industries (whether people like or accept the phenomena that we are put-through for corporations, who define and rule via Pavalov's dogs impulses, most of our lifestyles behaviours), but from controls about freedom of movement of people, and indeed movement of goods. Which in context of free-trade developments THIS month, is supportive of Fund Portfolio management's geopolitical-tension scenario in the near- to medium-term. 

In short any activities which all add to greater carbon emission, and destruction of the planet will be curtailed. As evidence look at the slow economic growth of the last 10 years imposing mass austerity on the many under neoliberalism. That was not by accident, it was by design, in the face of the most important chart to mankind (by kind permission of Nasa below citing all the evidence. Don't take FPM's word for it.





 

Plutocracy Plots With Trump

 
President of the USA Donald Trump: Examplification of Wealth in Politics (Source FPM, Twitter)

[This is an exqusite excerpt and edited narrative used by FundPortfolioManagement to understand explain and interpret the paramount risk of today #Geopolitics other than #climatechange - q.v. footnotes] 

Masterful and arrogant wealth, known as “Plutocracy”, created largely by Government protection of its profits, not content with its domination and influence within a single party of Republicans, had sought to corrupt them both. And to that end had insinuated itself into the primaries, in order that no candidates might be nominated whose views were not in accord with theirs. Such was the political socio-economic system of American democracy that manifested in turns the “Capital Crook” Clintons and “Black Lives Matter” Obama.

By the use of all the money that could be spent, by a complete and compact organization and by the most infamous sort of deception regarding their real opinions and intentions, Plutocracy had succeeded in electing its “Apprentice Trump” creature to the Presidency. There was no longer a need for the middle-men “politiciansRcriminals” at the White House. Plutocracy had a “corruption fund” of millions of dollars with which to mislead those that could be misled, and to debauch the weak and uncertain.

Plutocracy had a marvelous aptitude for political manipulation and organisation, and with President Trump’s malversation they forged a subtle chain with which to hold in subjection the natural impulses of the people. Sometimes the public had been mistaken as to the true character of their Presidential office. “Wealth” or “the interests” was openly for or against certain men and measures.
 
Trump’s first move was to confer with Plutocracy, the high priests of finance, and unfold his plan to them, explaining how essential was secrecy. Plutocracy’s influence throughout commercial America was absolute. Their wealth, their ability and even more the sum of the capital they could control through the banks, trust companies and industrial organisations, which they dominated, made their word as potent as that of a monarch.
 
Trump then transferred these corruption-fund amounts to the private bank of his son-in-law perhaps, who would then become final paymaster. The result was that the public had no chance of obtaining any knowledge of the corruption fund or how it was spent. The plan was simple, the result effective. He had no one to interfere with him. It was a one man power which in the hands of one possessing ability of the first class, is always potent for good or evil.
 
Not only did Trump win the Presidency, but he also planned to bring under his control both the Senate and the Supreme Court. He counted upon having a good majority of the Senate, because there were already fifty-one Republican Senators upon whom he could rely in any serious attack upon corporate wealth. As to the Supreme Court, of the nine justices there were three that were what he termed "safe and sane," and another two that could be counted upon in a serious crisis. Then there would be an easy working majority.
 
Trump’s plan contemplated nothing further than this. His intention was to block all legislation adverse to the interests. He would have no new laws to fear, and of the old, the Supreme Court would properly interpret them. The President was the centre, and from him radiated everything appertaining to measures affecting "the interests".

Footnotes:
Get Ready for the First Shocks of Trump’s Disaster Capitalism -Naomi Klein - January 24 2017

The Curse Of The Zeitgist: Globalisation Trending

You are NOT about to read a script for a B-movie sci-fi of social dystopia!

Instead a joined-up considered exposition  of the present state of our times and "the human condition"; which many many great persons of the past deliberated on in timely fashion (in mind we have George Orwell's epochal "1984" novel, or before that John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) a British philosopher, socio-political economist and civil servant). This text is neither intended as government or corporate propaganda. Whose worker-ants' end-goal is towards changing our mind-sets. Yet for the purpose of intelligent cogitation and reflection of our socio-economic life governed ultimately by politicians - or so we are foolishly led to believe!

As propaganda IS subversive: as defined by its key proponent Edward Bernays below in the opening chapter "Organizing Chaos" from his 1928 treatise "Propaganda"; and if one marries Ivan Pavlov's (1849-1936) behaviour experiments, better known as Pavlov's Dogs; we begin to understand the certitude of mass manipulation through the recent centuries, when we falsely believed we were free of slavery, barononial-tyranny and fiefdoms. However, the forms of "master-servant relationship" has changed, what should not be in doubt is 'plutocracy' still exists today: many today describe it as slavery through indebtedness. Throughout the ages, similar human-conditions of servitude yet different mechanisms and methods of subservience to the few wealthy and powerful strata of society existed.

Edward Bernays 1928 treatise "Propaganda"

To this understanding of propaganda and human-conditioning, there is inductive-information from indirect experience or hear-so-say. That is, how we know what we know and consequently do what we do as behaviour. For this subject one needs to present the mid-18th century British philosopher David Hume's "Problem of Induction".

"Hume identifies two ways understanding (reason) exerts itself: demonstrative and probabilistic. Demonstrative reasoning is deductive; it allows us to draw specific claims from general ideas. Probabilistic (or causal) reasoning is inductive; it allows us to make general claims from specific ones". [Hume, David (1888) ‘Reason and Passion’...]

Deceitful propaganda uses the latter "probablistic" reasoning in facetious ways.  We are indoctrinated as a society rather than as a smaller community by its members, if the globalisation process is accepted; and induction of understanding i.e. what we we know and how we know it, is the basis of the opinion and values a society receives from media in all its various guises, including nowadays as technological social-media. For example, if we take George Lucas's "Star Wars" franchise as being a global phenomena, e.g. as represented by many species of humans and aliens characterised in the films, books etc; then there is widespread potential for mind-control of masses if not billions of the planet's population through subtle but sub-conciously influencing masses (more later on Oliver Stone films). English does translate more often; more so than the most spoken language of China!

Actual Examples Of Globalisation (and why it 'sucks'!)

Language Through Entertainment

Thats was the introduction, now allowing for the examples of globalisation which I find unnerving as it is expressed in todays' crude terms; instead of the 21st century terms some have dreamed of and been told about by scientists and extrapolative-fiction, classically in novels ands books.

Information and language are indelibly linked. If a customer of a hotel asks me "Press this please", as different from "Iron that please", as she hands me her dress to me, as if I am concierge at the hotel. I might understand or not, as the case maybe, but I will at least notice the oddity of how someone has requested the service, compared to how the royal "one" might have requested to have less folds / creases in my clothes/ garment. On many levels the sentence is or would be curious to a mind educated and organised to understand the interplay of  the three-word sentence in numerous interpreted contexts! The obvious similarity in the two-forms is that 'please' has been oddly inserted / stated, when we know politeness has various expressions in varied cultures. Burping is good in some class-circles foreign-cultures, while a grand "faux-paux" in others. Secondly, 'this' was used in one sentence and 'that' used in the opposed 3-word sentence. And finally, I have never used "press this", only "iron that"! Please write to me as to if "social-class" or "dated" usage of "press" usage or if predominantly American used word? I really do not know English language grammar to know, yet I allegedly speak and write it. Also I know as a thumb-rule, and understand that usage make the final definition of acceptability of grammar. If i start saying "press this" for an "ironing" request, I would change from my social-class and age or use American vocabulary. I like how I am perhaps, and not through globalisation.

Then I would identify Hollywood as a source of mass-media and communication for the masses of English-speaking and pseudo-English spoken audience. Already has been mentioned how "Star Wars" is a globally recognised phenomenon. Oliver Stone seem to make epic films of historical events; as if re-telling history in some alternatively interpreted way of the facts - called "artistic license". Mr Stone's selected movie portfolio include Platoon ('86), Born on the Fourth of July ('89), JFK ('91), Alexander (2004) etc. All the films mentioned revealed degrees of political and idealogical controversy, hence the FPM assertion of "alternatively interpreted way of the facts". The Oliver Stone film that ALL financiers will remember is his Wall Street ('87) series of films. As well as Wall Street bankers and bankers globally, the liberals and intellects find pertinent, is the 2010 film "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps".

Filmed in the aftermath of the 2008 started financial crash and the consequent Great Recession, FPM uses this to show how a global larceny running into trillions of dollars was committed without rousing the angst of the viewing public. In the formulaic happy-ending story-telling of a Hollywood block-buster with its distortions, there is an empyrean truth: that the financial crisis allowed 17 or so "too big to fail" banks and similar financial players benefitted from the greatest transference of wealth in history from the taxpayer-funded the public purse to the so-called free-market private sector financial institutions. Why do you think the "National Debt" of the USA / America and other key countries have ballooned to the tune of trillions of Dollars? This truth paragon could be said to be the crux of the film to rouse the public taxpayer's ire; but instead the director air-brushes over with fantasy about Gordon Gekko's reformation and how he saved his family and donated £100 million to the "Green economy". Happy ending, neatly wrapped was up the story of greatest robbery by todays' robber-barrons.
Mere story telling which ultimately distorts global perspectives of history in the viewers eye is still a lie. The ancient civilisation used to believe that a picture taken of them steals their souls; similarly a "picture steals your soul and time", is also true.       

Vive La Fance or Vive La Republic on May 7th, 2017

The French Presidential Election of Marine LePen threatens the European Union project as much as Brexit already has done. We here at Fund Portfolio Management – FPM vehemently believe that this western phenomena of populist activism will garner a victory for the anti-EU candidate of Marine LePen.

Without going into how the historic 2^nd round run-off between two political outsiders came about, or even understanding French politics nuance it is fair to say France is in desperate need of “change”.

Economically, and in other respects like eradication of its historic socialist values is at stake. Its national debt to gross domestic product is a staggering 96%. What does that mean? This all-time high figure of debt to GDP reached in 2016 means France's taxpayers i.e. the average citizen of that country will struggle to pay “national” debt for years to come with “austerity”. The chart below shows how the debt of the country has ballooned beyond incredulity since the US-led financial crisis of 2007-08.

The change that we believe the country needs is to adopt its own currency, and take control back of its sovereignty. So getting out of EU is essential! Being in the EU allowed France to exceed the regional union's own prescribed debt management levels; while hampering it's ability to devalue it currency and export itself out of debt, in the recent past since the financial crisis. That is, growth in its economy has been anemic to non-existent due to its hands being tied by being in the EU. 

Controlling its economic levers of power, like currency alone will not fix the economic despair that the nation faces; other factors like being able to set it's own interest rates with conditions for limiting  migration should help contain the outflow of currency. This strict border-control aspect IS NOT possible under the EU rules of freedom of movement of people and  Shengen agreement; and which every student of economics would understands as a closed-economy i.e. being able to prevent money flowing out of a system. Unwinding an association of 40 years or so is not difficult, as UK proved in recently triggering Article 50.  

We strongly believe the phenomena of “globalisation”, as defined below, is singly and solely the reason for France's woes. Remember that the world globalisation did not even enter the lexicon before the 1980's. As the dictionary of those times describe what it ORIGINALLY meant, and how it entered the business then popular language vocabulary, as a good and positive phenomena.

Nationalism and protectionism as prescribed by the National Front candidate Le Pen is a MUST solution NOW. Unless of course collectively the EU can have the power to default on debts or destroy debt by allowing inflation, it is a slow road to third world country status. The strong nations in the EU bloc like Germany and Switzerland, which was originally started as an European Economic Co-operation treaty, will NOT BACKSTOP France if it collapses (fails to repay debts) under the strain of its national burdens. The Nation's debts are with countries that have large foreign currency surpluses, like its close neighbour Germany in the EU; and broader countries like China, and the oil states. This link here will take you to a France and other indebted nations' woeful economic statistics.

Like its other close neighbour across the Channel, United Kingdom who exited the EU on epochal day 23-June-2016, even though they controlled their own economic levers to a large extent, France has little other options than to leave the Union. Maybe France is happy to part of larger union like Scotland with Britain and others forming the UK. That union is 300 years old and visibly at least a healthy marriage, despite occasional public remonstrances! Or perhaps, if France exits, the EU will reform or be rolled-back to be once more an European economic cooperation area, without the the binds of a currency union, and its "Euro Zone". 

The speculations are limitless though one thing is certain, come May 7^th, the day of the French Elections we may herald “Vive La France” but not “Vive La Republic” as well! Why? Because France would affirm itself as State of Europe in federalist plans, if it elects Emmanuel Macron instead of the nationalist candidate. For fear of over-simplification a republic is independent of a monarchy. And as "Brexiteers" know, being answerable to an unelected European Commission is tantamount to reign under an absolute ruler or de facto monarchy (of bureaucrats and capitalists).

Winds Of Change: American Geopolitics 2017

A Seduction and Flirtation With America.

FundPortfolioManagement-FPM have analysed Donald J. Trump's Inauguration speech as the 45th President of the United States on Jan. 20, 2017. Speech was short and sweet,  to the point (one of the shortest speeches), which we have filtered into three themes below. We feel President Trump's brand has been consistently conveyed at least in rhetoric, and even apparently in policy. Soon after the Presidential swearing-in speech, the President's team put out a press release that they are withdrawing from the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP - trade deal with Asia), and keenness to re-negotiate the existing "NAFTA" trade agreement.

If we believe that the 45^th President of United States wrote his own speech, and optimistically consider the pledges given with his high conviction attitude, then indeed our organisation's effort will be to hold him to the moral rectitude / uprightness he presented as a business man, and now as the most powerful man in the World. 

Our mechanism to enforce the President's veracity between rhetoric and reality is under our thesis of conveying his reputation. His past reputation is dubious not to say the least, but the stalwartness of his impressions and deeds in the Oval office is our time-line of watchfulness, under "NosmokeWithOutFire:OfReputation".

After internal dialogue, FPM have filtered the speech into three policy agenda, from the sworn-in administration:  

1) Against the Status Quo Political-Corporate Agenda:

“We are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the people.”

“Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.”

“January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again.”

“This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.

“So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words: You will never be ignored again.”

2) Anti-Globalization of Trade, Migration, Etc:

“For many decades we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry... We’ve defended other nations’ borders while refusing to defend our own.”

“We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon.”

“We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our product, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.”

“Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.””

“We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and Hire American.”

3) Less Foreign Policy Intervention:

“We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.”

“At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.”

“We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again. We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow.”

In Brashness - So What?

FPM will be interpreting and tracking these broad scope Presidential pledges as they become specific policy commitment over the coming months. For example, TPP, which was already struggling to get passed in Washington under outgoing President Obama, is already shelved by incoming Trump administration under anti-globalisation theme. We believe we have identified an overriding principle that underpins some of the key themes.

For example, under the "Less Foreign Policy Intervention" mission, we expect the new administration to get congress and Senate to begin reducing its commitment to finance and support wars and regime-change in the Middle East. The war  is not merely for oil! This would be due to  America's reserves of oil being the largest already; but yet possibility of those energy reserves  being a "redundant asset" under fossil fuel bans due to climate change concerns.

Like most of the Americans who voted for President Trump, FPM believe he represents maverick hope for a foundering economy and country, weighed down by US$ 20 trillion of National Debt and 40 years of neoliberal Friedman monetary policy economics.

Yet the newly inaugurated President of the United States said in his realty salesman pitch style:

"From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land."

And the  morning after?