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Something big is happening - by US Congressman Ron Paul

Zyxius

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Salaam Everyone,

I have posted this in this section because I believe the greatest threat to our national security to come from our flawed monetary system, the effects of which we are all feeling today.

The below is by Congressman Ron Paul of the US who reaffirms the widespread belief that something big is about to happen in the world financial markets. Something that is going to have profound affects for everyone in the world.

We already know that prices for everything are jumping virtually every day and that poor people are gradually being reduced to dust. The main reasons for these out of control prices have been articulated by none other than a US politician. He reaffirms the view of many economists that the US dollar and the fiat money system is the main cause of this global inflation.

The solution to this problem, I believe, is for Pakistan to move away from the fiat money system and take away the bankers' right to create credit and bring it back to the people (i.e. Congress, Parliament, Senate, etc). Our money should be backed by something real such as gold which has internationally accepted intrinsic value, and therefore it would make no difference how much we imported vs exported.

This is the concept of honest and true money which most governments of the world have ignored at the peril of their people, and our Pakistani government accepted this same system with the kind of dogmatic belief that it doesn't even afford to our faith, Islam. I would urge thinking people to evaluate this system and to raise this issue at the appropriate forums for discussion and hopefully some action by our government.

the below article is from the 'Campaign For Liberty' website run by Congressman Ron Paul's staff.

I have, for the past 35 years, expressed my grave concern for the future of America. The course we have taken over the past century has threatened our liberties, security and prosperity. In spite of these long-held concerns, I have days—growing more frequent all the time—when I’m convinced the time is now upon us that some Big Events are about to occur. These fast-approaching events will not go unnoticed. They will affect all of us. They will not be limited to just some areas of our country. The world economy and political system will share in the chaos about to be unleashed.

Though the world has long suffered from the senselessness of wars that should have been avoided, my greatest fear is that the course on which we find ourselves will bring even greater conflict and economic suffering to the innocent people of the world—unless we quickly change our ways.

America, with her traditions of free markets and property rights, led the way toward great wealth and progress throughout the world as well as at home. Since we have lost our confidence in the principles of liberty, self reliance, hard work and frugality, and instead took on empire building, financed through inflation and debt, all this has changed. This is indeed frightening and an historic event.

The problem we face is not new in history. Authoritarianism has been around a long time. For centuries, inflation and debt have been used by tyrants to hold power, promote aggression, and provide “bread and circuses” for the people. The notion that a country can afford “guns and butter” with no significant penalty existed even before the 1960s when it became a popular slogan. It was then, though, we were told the Vietnam War and a massive expansion of the welfare state were not problems. The seventies proved that assumption wrong.

Today things are different from even ancient times or the 1970s. There is something to the argument that we are now a global economy. The world has more people and is more integrated due to modern technology, communications, and travel. If modern technology had been used to promote the ideas of liberty, free markets, sound money and trade, it would have ushered in a new golden age—a globalism we could accept.

Instead, the wealth and freedom we now enjoy are shrinking and rest upon a fragile philosophic infrastructure. It is not unlike the levies and bridges in our own country that our system of war and welfare has caused us to ignore.

I’m fearful that my concerns have been legitimate and may even be worse than I first thought. They are now at our doorstep. Time is short for making a course correction before this grand experiment in liberty goes into deep hibernation.

There are reasons to believe this coming crisis is different and bigger than the world has ever experienced. Instead of using globalism in a positive fashion, it’s been used to globalize all of the mistakes of the politicians, bureaucrats and central bankers.

Being an unchallenged sole superpower was never accepted by us with a sense of humility and respect. Our arrogance and aggressiveness have been used to promote a world empire backed by the most powerful army of history. This type of globalist intervention creates problems for all citizens of the world and fails to contribute to the well-being of the world’s populations. Just think how our personal liberties have been trashed here at home in the last decade.

The financial crisis, still in its early stages, is apparent to everyone: gasoline prices over $4 a gallon; skyrocketing education and medical-care costs; the collapse of the housing bubble; the bursting of the NASDAQ bubble; stockmarkets plunging; unemployment rising;, massive underemployment; excessive government debt; and unmanageable personal debt. Little doubt exists as to whether we’ll get stagflation. The question that will soon be asked is: When will the stagflation become an inflationary depression?

There are various reasons that the world economy has been globalized and the problems we face are worldwide. We cannot understand what we’re facing without understanding fiat money and the long-developing dollar bubble.

There were several stages. From the inception of the Federal Reserve System in 1913 to 1933, the Central Bank established itself as the official dollar manager. By 1933, Americans could no longer own gold, thus removing restraint on the Federal Reserve to inflate for war and welfare.

By 1945, further restraints were removed by creating the Bretton-Woods Monetary System making the dollar the reserve currency of the world. This system lasted up until 1971. During the period between 1945 and 1971, some restraints on the Fed remained in place. Foreigners, but not Americans, could convert dollars to gold at $35 an ounce. Due to the excessive dollars being created, that system came to an end in 1971.

It’s the post Bretton-Woods system that was responsible for globalizing inflation and markets and for generating a gigantic worldwide dollar bubble. That bubble is now bursting, and we’re seeing what it’s like to suffer the consequences of the many previous economic errors.

Ironically in these past 35 years, we have benefited from this very flawed system. Because the world accepted dollars as if they were gold, we only had to counterfeit more dollars, spend them overseas (indirectly encouraging our jobs to go overseas as well) and enjoy unearned prosperity. Those who took our dollars and gave us goods and services were only too anxious to loan those dollars back to us. This allowed us to export our inflation and delay the consequences we now are starting to see.

But it was never destined to last, and now we have to pay the piper. Our huge foreign debt must be paid or liquidated. Our entitlements are coming due just as the world has become more reluctant to hold dollars. The consequence of that decision is price inflation in this country—and that’s what we are witnessing today. Already price inflation overseas is even higher than here at home as a consequence of foreign central bank’s willingness to monetize our debt.

Printing dollars over long periods of time may not immediately push prices up–yet in time it always does. Now we’re seeing catch-up for past inflating of the monetary supply. As bad as it is today with $4 a gallon gasoline, this is just the beginning. It’s a gross distraction to hound away at “drill, drill, drill” as a solution to the dollar crisis and high gasoline prices. Its okay to let the market increase supplies and drill, but that issue is a gross distraction from the sins of deficits and Federal Reserve monetary shenanigans.

This bubble is different and bigger for another reason. The central banks of the world secretly collude to centrally plan the world economy. I’m convinced that agreements among central banks to “monetize” U.S. debt these past 15 years have existed, although secretly and out of the reach of any oversight of anyone—especially the U.S. Congress that doesn’t care, or just flat doesn’t understand. As this “gift” to us comes to an end, our problems worsen. The central banks and the various governments are very powerful, but eventually the markets overwhelm when the people who get stuck holding the bag (of bad dollars) catch on and spend the dollars into the economy with emotional zeal, thus igniting inflationary fever.

This time—since there are so many dollars and so many countries involved—the Fed has been able to “paper” over every approaching crisis for the past 15 years, especially with Alan Greenspan as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, which has allowed the bubble to become history’s greatest.

The mistakes made with excessive credit at artificially low rates are huge, and the market is demanding a correction. This involves excessive debt, misdirected investments, over-investments, and all the other problems caused by the government when spending the money they should never have had. Foreign militarism, welfare handouts and $80 trillion entitlement promises are all coming to an end. We don’t have the money or the wealth-creating capacity to catch up and care for all the needs that now exist because we rejected the market economy, sound money, self reliance and the principles of liberty.

Since the correction of all this misallocation of resources is necessary and must come, one can look for some good that may come as this “Big Even” unfolds.

There are two choices that people can make. The one choice that is unavailable to us is to limp along with the status quo and prop up the system with more debt, inflation and lies. That won’t happen.

One of the two choices, and the one chosen so often by government in the past is that of rejecting the principles of liberty and resorting to even bigger and more authoritarian government. Some argue that giving dictatorial powers to the President, just as we have allowed him to run the American empire, is what we should do. That’s the great danger, and in this post-911 atmosphere, too many Americans are seeking safety over freedom. We have already lost too many of our personal liberties already. Real fear of economic collapse could prompt central planners to act to such a degree that the New Deal of the 30’s might look like Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence.

The more the government is allowed to do in taking over and running the economy, the deeper the depression gets and the longer it lasts. That was the story of the 30ss and the early 40s, and the same mistakes are likely to be made again if we do not wake up.

But the good news is that it need not be so bad if we do the right thing. I saw “Something Big” happening in the past 18 months on the campaign trail. I was encouraged that we are capable of waking up and doing the right thing. I have literally met thousands of high school and college kids who are quite willing to accept the challenge and responsibility of a free society and reject the cradle-to-grave welfare that is promised them by so many do-good politicians.

If more hear the message of liberty, more will join in this effort. The failure of our foreign policy, welfare system, and monetary policies and virtually all government solutions are so readily apparent, it doesn’t take that much convincing. But the positive message of how freedom works and why it’s possible is what is urgently needed.

One of the best parts of accepting self reliance in a free society is that true personal satisfaction with one’s own life can be achieved. This doesn’t happen when the government assumes the role of guardian, parent or provider, because it eliminates a sense of pride. But the real problem is the government can’t provide the safety and economic security that it claims. The so-called good that government claims it can deliver is always achieved at the expense of someone else’s freedom. It’s a failed system and the young people know it.

Restoring a free society doesn’t eliminate the need to get our house in order and to pay for the extravagant spending. But the pain would not be long-lasting if we did the right things, and best of all the empire would have to end for financial reasons. Our wars would stop, the attack on civil liberties would cease, and prosperity would return. The choices are clear: it shouldn’t be difficult, but the big event now unfolding gives us a great opportunity to reverse the tide and resume the truly great American Revolution started in 1776. Opportunity knocks in spite of the urgency and the dangers we face.

Let’s make “Something Big is Happening” be the discovery that freedom works and is popular and the big economic and political event we’re witnessing is a blessing in disguise.
 
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Prices of essential commodities are going thru the roof. What is the price of things like Petrol, diesel, Sugar , Atta etc in Pak ?

I hope this is not confidential info I am seeking .
 
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Cactuslilly,

An Indian business colleague will be visiting us in Pakistan next week, and I'm reasonably confident that Pakistan has no plans in place to hide the prices of Petrol and Diesel at our pumps as the visiting Indians drive by. Nor do I think we have a system by which we could hide prices in stores and other places where an Indian may visit, so I doubt very much that any of this would be considered sensitive information.

The point being made was that prices of commodities have risen globally and this is hitting developing nations particularly hard. Developing nations mostly have to import fuel for energy, which is usually the single largest ticket item on their trade balance. Since developing nations typically import more than they export, there was already a delicate balance in maintaining their currencies in this free-floating fiat money system. Now that prices of fuel and other basic commodities have risen so much, there is virtually no chance that many developing nations will be able to escape disastrous devaluation of their local currencies that may possibly even lead to a collapse of the local monetary system. The social implications are also huge since the poor people of our world already can barely afford to feed themselves and I fear that these out of control price rises will cause riots and possibly other strife.

When the poor feel that they have no hope left and that they will die of starvation any way, they will take very desperate actions which will unfortunately become more commonplace as this trend marches on and our leaders fail to recognize, or plainly ignore, the causes.
 
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Cactuslilly,

An Indian business colleague will be visiting us in Pakistan next week, and I'm reasonably confident that Pakistan has no plans in place to hide the prices of Petrol and Diesel at our pumps as the visiting Indians drive by. Nor do I think we have a system by which we could hide prices in stores and other places where an Indian may visit, so I doubt very much that any of this would be considered sensitive information.

The point being made was that prices of commodities have risen globally and this is hitting developing nations particularly hard. Developing nations mostly have to import fuel for energy, which is usually the single largest ticket item on their trade balance. Since developing nations typically import more than they export, there was already a delicate balance in maintaining their currencies in this free-floating fiat money system. Now that prices of fuel and other basic commodities have risen so much, there is virtually no chance that many developing nations will be able to escape disastrous devaluation of their local currencies that may possibly even lead to a collapse of the local monetary system. The social implications are also huge since the poor people of our world already can barely afford to feed themselves and I fear that these out of control price rises will cause riots and possibly other strife.

When the poor feel that they have no hope left and that they will die of starvation any way, they will take very desperate actions which will unfortunately become more commonplace as this trend marches on and our leaders fail to recognize, or plainly ignore, the causes.

Thanks for all the ' gyan' you have given me.

You have told me everything except what I wanted to know.All I wanted to know was the prices pls.
 
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Sorry for the delayed reply...the prices that I know of are as follows:

1. Petrol PKR 75/ltr
2. Diesel Pkr 55/ltr

The above are the prices now which were achieved after a rapid incline from roughly 35-40% less than they are now. These prices are actually "subsidized" and would be higher still if it were not for that fact.

Since I don't buy the actual household commodities like wheat myself, I dont know the exact price but do know that the people in my home who do buy it have been complaining to me that everything has become more expensive by a factor of 2-3 over the last 1-2 years. This coincides with everything that I have been seeing on our media about rising prices. And then of course you have the complaint of the common man, which anyone living in Pakistan would hear today.

Again, not sure of the exact price..but meat is pretty much out of the question for poor now;

1. Mutton - Pkr 300/kg
2. Beef - Pkr 230/kg
3. Chicken Pkr 200/kg

Salary for your common man is anywhere between Pkr 2,500-4000 per month. Most of that will go to rent and transportation to get to their place of employment every day. God forbid they need to send their children to school, or treat anyone that may happen to fall ill.....that is a death sentence to these people. Obviously eating meat is a luxury these people can no longer afford. This is in an agricultural country like Pakistan! Clearly the monetary system has failed.
 
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Thank you for your input.

Rs 75 & 55 / lit for petrol & diesel respectively is steep. Guys are going thru the roof here at Rs 50 & 32 respectively which also are subsidised.

I think mutton is Rs 180/kg & Chicken is abt 100/kg

Wonder if we'll have to live with this ? Will fuel prices ever come down ?
 
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Thank you for your input.

Rs 75 & 55 / lit for petrol & diesel respectively is steep. Guys are going thru the roof here at Rs 49 & 32 respectively which also are subsidised.

Wonder if we'll have to live with this ? Will fuel prices ever come down ?

Indian Rupee has greater value vis-a-vis Pakistani Rupee. I dont know the exact rate but comparing INR/petrol vs PKR/petrol litre directly is not right. Do the conversion then compare if you wish.
 
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Indian Rupee has greater value vis-a-vis Pakistani Rupee. I dont know the exact rate but comparing INR/petrol vs PKR/petrol litre directly is not right. Do the conversion then compare if you wish.
My knowledge of economics is limited at best, but this is what I figured. I wonder what the equitable rates are for basic commodities are in both countries.

This is what I got off some random internet currency exchange calculation site. For those more knowledgeable, if this data is false please let me know so that I may erase it. As per this site, 1 INR = 1.7 PKR

1. Petrol PKR 75/ltr = 48.9 INR/L
2. Diesel Pkr 55/ltr = 32.9 INR/L

1. Mutton - Pkr 300/kg = 179.5 INR/Kg
2. Beef - Pkr 230/kg = 137.6 INR/Kg
3. Chicken Pkr 200/kg = 119.6 INR/Kg

For those who live in India, what are the comparable rates of the same goods there? Also, is there a big difference between rural and metropolitan centers?
 
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The point is irrespective what the equation between the value of both the Rupees is, it is back breaking for the people. If the values of whatyou've written is correct, it pretty much translates to what it is on the ground in both countries.

As regards prices in rural / urban areas, the prices in rural areas is lower than urban areas for obvious reasons. Fuel prices vary from state to state due to local taxes & surcharges. Delhi possibly being the cheapest. These prices have a cascading effect on everything.

Think we'll have to live with this ?
 
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