More and more loneliness in North America.

 As Im sure most readers know, there is more and more loneliness in North America and Europe even in the developed parts of Asia like Singapore. 

I think its now a consensus view that what people call screen time/phone time is changing our neurology and causing us to be alone on our screens, at work, at home and even in the night life when we are relaxing or on dates, or having dinner with friends.

I notice more people talking about this on social media and getting to the point of leaving social media or hiring people to run there social media so as not to rewire there brains in negative ways.

I think we are becoming atomized as people which separates us from family, friends, neighbors our communities too.

I believe corporate America and government wants this for banal reasons like selling more crap, or more sinister reasons like control us politically.

Id say corporations and governments want to farm us for monitory reasons to get as much loot out of us before we rebel or drop out of society. 

Speaking of dropping out, you are seeing more wealthy people and middle income people, "retiring" from the rat race and living off of dividend income, covered call income and capital gains.

I have seen more videos of Singapore women and Japanese women make videos of themselves doing that in the Philippines or Cambodia instead of continuing there careers. 

I find that interesting.

For decades now ive come across Aussies living on 300 to 500 Aussie dollars a month in the province in the Philippines and now they make videos about it. 

One gentleman I knew started a garden and sold vegetables and plans to local restaurants, he hired a few workers and made more than a grand, lived frugally then saved and got on quite well. That was years ago though. Probably hes now on pension. 

Another example is all the videos of young and older people showing videos of apartments in Cambodia, Thailand for 50 bucks to 150 and up and the swimming pools that go with then.

In Manila in the less famous areas you can get condos for 300 to 400 and spend 1k or less for food utilities ect, if your single and be around people you like and beat loneliness.

My point is the loneliness epidemic is so bad and the cost of living so high which has lead to people living in cars, vans ect. And still spending 1k a month.

As people learn about the low cost of living in Asia, Latin America and other places people will abandon ship.

Which means governments will lose tax which means governments will have to readjust to all this hopefully in good ways and not exchange controls and other tricks to keep the tax cows in.

Now that there are so many ways to consult online and so many countries to live in it will be difficult for governments to stop this.

I have noticed more countries are lowering there barriers to entry to get in. I mean the income requirements are either low to none and getting a legal residency will be easier to get.

Its also getting easier to get around these rules, if your flexible and or get in the right places.

Eastern Europe is one place and a place Im not familiar with. I have seen some videos on it and they seem to be getting Western European people to pull up stakes and leave, especially with the rising wealth tax and income tax and sales tax.

I dont blame them for leaving and going to Russia and the Eastern European countries. 

Then I see it in Thailand and Cambodia. Despite the problem s their people are going there more.

Same in Philippines. 

Thats it for now.

Slowly, then fast, bankruptcy

 

How I went bankrupt, not me but someone famous once said, slowly then fast 

Anyway, I think it was Mark Twain.

Anyway markets seem to be leaning towards getting expensive and overvalued by some analysts.  

Here in the US markets are trending up and have been for awhile. Same in Korea, almost 200% and in Japan too.

The war in Iran hasnt not knocked share markets down if any.

In Indonesia they have been trending down for awhile now, and in India too.

Europe maybe next. 

Treasury bonds in North America and the UK have been trending down and Europe too, I think. So inflation has drivin up interest rates quite a bit but hasnt knocked shore markets over much except Indonesia, Philippines and India. 

I do believe in time some markets and sectors could get knocked down 20%or 30%,  some maybe lower. 

This could cause a deflation scare, and if I had to guess most governments will lower interest rates quite a bit, especially if joblessness shoots up quite a bit.

This will suck if the world economy slows down and government pensions get cut or frozen and inflation is stubbornly high.

As always I dont know the future but will prefer to be open to anything. And a willingness to start an online business and put partial capital into trend following ETFs and or managed future ETFs. 

If gold pulls back I would add some gold, I assume with or without inflation uncertaintcy will go up and more people buy gold coins/bars.

I also assume with all this new technology more people will continue to work online and start online business to keep productive and prosperous and to pass on this knowledge to the younger generation.

Anyways it will be interesting to see how markets react to a peace deal in Iran if that happens. 

I think markets correct then the real damage from the war gets recognized and dealt with and then markets stabilize and then start back up.

Its my belief Governments want us speculating and gambling and paying tax on out gains to keep this rodeo going, thats why I lean to an inflationary ourcome.

Ive come to the conclusion market participants want this to, the average man doesnt want government to cut pensions and benefits so they prefer rising inflation and wages to deflation and thats why both parties vote for it, at least in North America. 

Rather than fight these trends I accept them and plan to start an online business and live wherever I want, probably Philippines, maybe Cambodia and never rule out Mexico. 

The cost of living is low, governments and people their leave you alone, not to mention taxes are low.

I think more people will do this in North America and Europe too.

Good Luck, Happy Hunting. 

Where is the world going?

 

I get asked about where the world is going as far as our economy and culture. 

As the culture declines people as where is this all going. 

If you study history and recent history you can see it gets pretty dark fast.

We have heard about the Epstein files and all the issues with that, and its pretty dark.

Recently I heard a podcast about something that I had forgotten. 

It was about Sarajevo. The war their happened I believe during the second Bill Clinton administration. 

Well now there is a documentary, where novels meet real life.

There are current criminal court cases in Italy I believe about this whole affair.

The documentary is called Sarajevo Safari.  You can google it and watch it, and its pretty dark. 

I remember reading this in the European press but mainly the British press.

What is alleged is wealthy men  I believe were brought in to "hunt" civilians. 

You paid a bounty to the Serbs, to kill children, infants and pretty women. 

It alleged the prettiest girls were hunted and killed for the most money, I heard 20k.

Its pretty depraved that wealthy people paid for these safaris. I suppose when you have that much power and money thats the only way you can get off.

Im not surprised it happened but am surprised its being prosecuted in Italy, thats my understanding. 

People as with women using only fans and how thats spreading to women all over the world, how much worse it can get.

My answer is the wealthy elites will pay to do these things legal or not, and soon it maybe legal and supported by most citizens and voters.

Its all the reason to enjoy life now and not to put off contentment. 

This is also happening in South Africa. Wealthy people like royal family members are being accused of, going to South Africa and going on South African hunts to hunt and kill poachers. 

I had not heard about that but would not be surprised if the rumors of Royal families in Europe doing that. It maybe the only way they can get there rocks off, or maybe they are socio paths. 

I mention all this because as the world gets wealthier and as corruption continues I can see a world where it decentralizes to this and in other areas its sugar and spice and everything nice.

With whats happening with technology in China, North Korea, Russia and now the US you will not even be aware this is even happening because the press is so controlled and propagandist. 

Thats why when people ask how to live I suggest, live well.

If you don't like where things are going retire to a atate or country you enjoy, live off your pensions, dividends, and capital gains.

If you dont have those start a consulting service done online or the phone and live somewhere affordable. 

Things are changing so fast you may not need as much savings as before, and if your curious about the world and like to learn it will be easier to start a business or consulting service and get paid to live anywhere. 

With USD stable coins, or BTC its easier than ever to send money wealth anywhere and pay your bills, especially Russia or the Philippines. 

Same with stable coins, exchange controls will not stop this just slow things down, just look at China.

Anyway good luck.

The Iran war continues, at least for now.

 

The war in Iran, seems to be continuing despite what President Trump says, or even oil futures contracts say.

The Holiday weekend is over, traders are back to their desks and oil futures traders seem to believe peace will bloom in the Middle East and most especially Iran.

I dont know. If I had to guess the war will continue until there is a crisis then someone will have to back down. 

If the Trump White House has to back down they will continue to lose legitimacy among voters and the citizens of the world and the US Empire will continue its perceived decline.

I already see people talking in the media, former intelligence people, talk of how China and Iran maybe gaing legitimately in the world and how that will hurt the interests of the US and our allies. 

The world is changing fast and I still woulnt bet against the US but can see how people will hedge there bets just to make sure they win in the long run.

I dont think Iran can really win at least with there people. More and more will immigrate, come what may.

You see that with North Americans, if they have wealth and skills they are going offshore and earning offshore and its not just for saving taxes.

More and more are leaving for safety reasons, mainly for there kids, and to make sure there kids grow up around people who have a more optimistic view of the future. 

You see the same thing in the UK, and now Germany, among other places too.

I believe eventually the war will be over and more countries will decide if they will aline with the US, China, the EU or Russia, only time will tell.

It would not surprise me if China takes the lead and the US aligns with China and Russia more and more and the EU continues its decline, but I have been wrong before.

I think we may get another opportunity to buy oil shares much cheaper than they are now, and if that happens I will take it. 

Something will get cheaper and then start to trend so get ready.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting. 

2033, THE Social Security cliff.

 

There has been more news articles and YouTube posts on the Social Security cliff thats coming in ten years or less,2033 is the projection year I see.

Thats when only 80% or less of Social Security benefits can be paid out of projected tax revenues. 

The idea is over time the population will decline or the working age population will decline and without immigration there will be fewer tax payors to pay tax for current and future benefits. 

Even if you had immigration it wouldn't really fix this problem because your just poaching workers from other countries and those countries lose workers and tax revenues. 

Having said that there is no incentive for politicians to cut benefits unless there is a crisis and so far there isnt a crisis.  Even Covid didnt appear to create a crisis voters would repond too.

So I would say benefits will be paid, lowered in small amounts until the crisis hits.

That might create a rising price level or inflation that governments wont know how to respond too, but they wont cut benefits until the crisis hits, that maybe a bond crisis, or funding crisis or it maybe a USD crisis Im not sure.

Looking at Japan for what may happen, so far its a Yen crisis just not yet.

The USDJPY rate is at 155 or so, I haven't looked recently. 

So far interest rates in Japan are still under 3% but are inching up, and so far no crisis. 

Interest rates in the US are getting close to 5% but still no crisis.

I dont think the US economy or world economy can sustain double digit interest rates like in the seventies and eighties. 

While I think Social Security will survive, what it pays out will be much less over time and the social contract will be changed, probably by the younger voters.

Even with AI raising the standard of living for most people we will not know till much latter if western countries can not be forced to cut these programs. 

We are starting to see the cracks in Europe so if I had to go by what I see there, there will be cuts and higher inflation and more of a break down in society. 

Japan looks to be different. There seems to be more social cohesion there so maybe there will be less of a breakdown and theres more of an understanding of technology and how it can be used for everyone s benefit too.

China might be another place to look for clues too.

In the US I expect more of a colonial comback, where people work for themselves into retirement and they will work with new technology like the Chinese do.

Im not as pessimistic as some so expect the market will readjust to this new reality with some bumps in the process but dont expect the dystopian nightmare many do.

I think it is possible for a dystopian nightmare but there will be opportunities for people to check out and live in countries where things will be less interesting as the Chinese like to say.

Thanks for reading. 

Markets are closed today,,listening to inflation/deflation debates.

 

Sense markets are closed today, except futures prices, I have been thinking more and more about the inflation/deflation debates, that have been going on in the market places of ideas lately. 

I fall somewhere in the middle, where I think we will have a deflation scare and bonds could go up quite a bit. So far I have been wrong but havent lost much because the credits I own haven't gone down much.

I have been shorting treasury securitys so have made money there, but thats about it.

Ultimately I believe we will see rising inflation to pay for the healthcare needs of retiring Americans and the same for pensions,  both private and public. 

Most pensions are underfunded in the US and most of the Western World. 

Governments will have to compete for saving and capital of the world driving up intrest rates and I believe inflation from these policies. 

Only time will tell.

It seems most market participants believe this will result in deflation or at least disinflation over time and thus inflation wont happen. 

I believe its possible this is an outcome but am starting to lean the other way where most Governments will inflate money supplies to pay for these programs and most voters will support this.

I believe one way to beat this inflation will be to invest in volatility and there will be more ways to do this over time.

I think another way maybe leveraged bonds, or using leverage to buy assets and letting inflation pay the debt or bankruptcy, maybe both.

It would surprise me if there is more fraud and theft involved in this inflationary outcome and maybe tolerated because of politics and no one really wants to raise tax or cut benefits to retirees or anyone else.

Because the rules are changing or not enforced it will be tough to be a successful investor in these times.

I think one way people survive is owning gold, going offshore both with capital and with body. Being in another jurisdiction will be helpful for lower cost of living and protection of assets and body too. Even healthcare will be done more and more offshore. 

I dont have much more to say on this  subject.

Good luck, happy hunting. 

Latest episode with Matt Smith/Dave Callom, Coffee and a mike.

 

The latest episode on Coffee and a mike. 

I enjoy Dave Collum and Matt Smith was really good and has a lot of how I see the world.

They even talked about Chase Hughes, and his comments on whats going on in the world. 

Here it is https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bpZ9Rr5WvL87K1S4ddZUQ?si=UF29_bW3R4q5meL_q9T7hA

I like Spotify,  but its also on YouTube. 

It has many out there views on where this is all going and explains why more men and women are dropping out of society, and leaving the Western World.  Or people are leaving to live on the edges of the Empire. 

Interesting conversation. 

Good luck.

End of the week, thought of the day.

 

End of the week and thought of the day, as the Brit in the Philippines likes to say, a nice chap to say the least.

It seems many people are despondent or the recent elections in the US. It looks like voters are making sure liberty takes a back seat now and for awhile. 

It seems all over the Western World, we have a loss of liberty, safety and much more inflation than what many can accept. 

Theres even a giving up I see in the younger generation, although I see people of all ages migrating to Latin America,  Eastern Europe, even Russia now. 

You also see more migration to the Middle East, and Asia and possibly even China. 

You still see the great unwashed trying to get into America if they can, and its still tolerated by many.

Although I say that there are now many Europeans coming to North America from Europe and the UK.

In other news,  the US share markets continue to make new highs, including the Dow Jones Industrial Averages.

Most people dont talk about the Dow, much less the Dogs of the Dow. 

Now with the forever wars we will need more Industrial bases here in the US which isnt bad but will be different from the past.

I continue to see many expats make dumb decisions in the East, mainly North Americans, which is unfortunate, because its so easy to succeed their, much like our ancestors did in the past.

I also see more YouTube influencers doing well and showing ways to succeed there and how simple it can be and how more young people are figuring this out.

Im not sure what to make of this but governments in the West will have to change and adapt or they will lose there older retirees and the younger generation that needs to take over and make things better.

Im not sure how it will turn out but some countries will will adapt and advance liberty and prosperity others wont and will continue to decline. 

Thats the thought of the day, 

Good Luck,  Happy Hunting. 

AI, UBI, SWFs and the industrial revolution.

 The industrial revolution really shook up the then current society.

The elites of the time, the Counts, Lords, and other Royalty elites of those times would not seen what was coming into the future.

The landed gentry, would not have expected the end of slavery, serfdom, and total changes of how wealth and status would change.

Its similiar with the AI revolution, there maybe great unemployment with AI that could lead to resentment and then high wealth taxes and then UBI.

Which could lead withe wealthy elites moving there capital and themselves offshore, it already has.

Most US tech companies are domiciled in Ireland where they pay little if any tax. If you has tax, they will tax there wealth and leave and give political donations to politicians to be left alone.

You may be able to fund UBI through SWF, or Sovereign Wealth Funds, like what is in Norway, UAE, and other countries. It may make sense for governments to treat information like the way oil is and taxed and put in a SWF and be used for the benefit of society, like education, possibly UBI or other things.

AI will probably change how we are governed. 

If elites can buy there way out of problems like they did pre industrial society we may have to change how we see and practice government.

If elites have first mover status and can suck up wealth before people understand how wealth creation has changed with this new technology, then can buy there way out and bribe politicians to give us UBI where we just spend the income at tech companies then its just a wealth transfer like during covid and could make inflation a bigger problem. 

I think we cant stop AI but could find a better way to tax tech companies for the free to low cost way they capture our data and use it against us and get first mover advantage.

Maybe thats through citizens owning our data and we get paid for it, maybe through UBI. Or other ways.

I want to transition to a society with more liberty and less dependence on UBI or and government hand outs that creates dependency. 

I dont know how it all unfolds but the cat is out of the bag especially in the US, China, probably Russia too.

Id guess the EU will be one of the first big losers but not all Europe. 

Not Switzerland, or Norway and a few other places where tax is low and culture still binds the citizens to continue to cooperate, IE high trust society, maybe Sweden but im not sure and Denmark too, it seems to me to becoming unglued their.

Im even thinking places in the South Pacific will be ok because no one cares about those places except maybe China and the US and to a limited extent Russia. 

In the end I expect this will be a huge wealth transfer to any who understand whats going on and plans for it and takes advantage of it, which unfortunately wony be everyone, especially in the Western middle class.

Good Luck.

Financial fraud is on the rise.

 

Financial fraud seems to be rising at an accelerating pace.

I just had an charge on one of my ATM cards that I rarely use, and the account balance is under 100 bucks.

I have multiple accounts for this vary reason. I can transfer money from my various accounts and use othet ATM accounts to spend or withdraw money if I need to cancel a card and have a new one sent out.

This seems to be happening more. This account is rarely used so I was surprised someone got access to it.

When I called the bank and talked to the fraud department, they told me the charge was made online and an address that wasnt mine was used. So the fraud department canceled the card and allowed me to dispute the charge and wait a few weeks to have the money refunded. 

Im just curious how my account was accessed.  Its not really important though, even if I rarely use it. I just canceled the card and be more aware of how I use all my cards and keep track of charges that dont make sense.

I cant add much accept to say the US Treasury Department has said with AI technology, there is and will be more fraud, and they invited all the high street banks into a discussion on what they plan to do to combat all this.

Im starting to think it may make sense to only buy with credit cards as its easier to dispute charges and get refunds and you seem to get more protection from fraud compared to ATM accounts, although thats changing. 

My other idea is to store some wealth offline in the form of gold and silver coins, and get some anonymous protection from criminals and other enemies. 

It maybe worth while to have and use USD dollar coins, and BTC stored on cold wallets, just to have some privacy and something to fall back on if you need to leave your legal jurisdiction and your banks, brokerages are frozen or just cant access to them for legal reasons.

These things like fraud, getting debanked are happening more and more in the Western World, and some other countries are copying Western World laws and customs,  which is sad.

The loss of liberty in the Western World is sad to see and explains why more and more people are leaving the West to be in lower cost of living places and to store money in banks like Singapore or even Switzerland if you can get an account there, or even the Caribbean. 

Even countries like Georgia are becoming fashionable to access places like Russia if your in the West or your Russian and need to transfer wealth from the West, or your stuck using BTC or USD dollar coins which works too.

Good luck our there.

I found a bike path in Alamogordo, NM.

 

I found a bike path just off Senic Dr. 

Its just off this green water tower, if thats what it is.

This bike path is in Alamogordo, New Mexico. 

It reminds me of the many bike paths in Phoenix, AZ. Mainly im thinking of Peoria, Sun City, AZ and the other county I cant remember. 

Anyways on these bike paths you can ride for miles, go bike camping in many places, and shop at Walmart, the Dollar store and many other places then go wild camping in the desert where few people bother you.

In AZ during covid they even put up bathrooms on the bike paths.

They look the same as this one I found on the bike path here in Alamogordo, NM.

Near this one is a place your car or park if you have one and a few picnic tables to either rest at, cook your food or just rest 

You could camp out there before or after the sun went down or just in the desert where no one could see you.

You could hide your bivvy sack and backpack then ride into town and hang out in the library and charge your phone, use the bathroom and if your disposed ask for help getting food stamps, a shower and place to have ID sent to if it is an issue.

My friend in Guatemala told me thats what he did in California when he was homeless, then just lived in the desert until he left for Guatemala.

This place place, bike path even has a bridge into the local neighborhoods,  its pretty cool.

The whole area is cool and quiet and you can hear the insects at night. 

I bet it would be an interesting way to live for a few months if you had too.

I bring it up because like in Sun City, AZ you see so many homeless people just camping in the desert nowdays,  its sad to see anyone live like this especially older women,  which I saw when I was their riding my bike all over the place including the gold dealer.

Here in Alamogordo I dont think theres any gold dealer to sell you coins to for cash.

Anyhow I thought it was a nice discovery to write about and talk about.

Theres even people in Quartzsite, AZ who camp in the desert ride there bike or electric bike into the local fast food joint and work for three or four months and save up money for there next adventure. 

You could do that here even Sun City, or here and then save money get on a plane use your passport and start again in Cambodia or Philippines. 

Good Luck, Happy Hunting. 

More strategies to protect your wealth.

 

Asset protection is talked about a lot nowadays.

Its usually aimed at wealthy people and usually the strategies are borderline illegal to not practical when it comes to taxes, but it makes the lawyer's wealthy and the clients have a false sense of security.

Usually the lawyer's will suggest LLCs offshore or domestic with trusts thrown in for good measure. 

  Often the trusts dont help and the offshore corporations dont really offer any privacy for North Americans.

Many times clients are surprised theres no privacy and governments can reach out and touch them.

They often pay tens of thousands of dollars if not more and find out they are not complient with reporting requirements and taxes.

Sometimes when they return to the US they are greeted with Treasury officials to IRS officials and detained for hours while they learn of there lawyer's mistakes and how they the client has little recourse. 

Anyhow the easiest of solutions is to just get the assets out of jurisdiction into either a bank account in your name or a gold storage facility where the account may not even be a reportable event. 

Owning real estate isnt a reportable event for most people and at least you can live in it, possibly rent it out for income.

Usually youd want residency so you can easily open bank account manage real estate expenses and taxes through the account.

Not to mention you can live work or play with most residencys, which can come in handy if your home country is suing you or its just unpleasant to live in and do business in.

If you still have a US LLC you can still do business and get credit cards and banking through it and the account would be in a corporate name if thats needed.

If the clients are all Americans easy to comply, if clients are offshore maybe another entity maybe called for. As always get legal help and stay compliant with all tax laws of your home country and residency. 

These are just a few ideas for average North Americans and getting residency isnt as costly as in the past so can be cheaper than offshore trusts and corporations ect.

Its also simplier and easier to manage time wise and money wise. With the exception of lawyer's for residency although not always needed if in Europe or parts of Asia like Japan. 

Theres more to these things and just a few ideas to get out of the trap of North America. 

Happy Hunting. 

How older people protect their bank accounts from medical debts, bank garnishments and other creditors.

 

Nowdays with high hospital bills and no insurance, people end up with massive bills they cant pay. Its now similar with credit card debt 

Many older folks now use debt to there benefit knowing its different for creditors to freeze a bank account or sieze the check.

How they protect themselves isnt really difficult or hard. They use the law to there benefit.

For one thing assets in a 401K are protected by ERISA laws. Even in bankruptcy they cant be taken. Its similiar for ROTH accounts, the money cant be taken in bankruptcy either.

So older folks use those benefits to there benefit by going through bankruptcy or having the creditor writing off the debt. 

In some States the statute of limitations is two years, like Iowa. If after two years a creditor comes after you, you can just take them to court and get damages for whatever injury you endured. 

Of course all States are different and theres exceptions sometimes so you need to do your research.

Another way the creditors can get money is by putting a lien on your bank account. The thing is social security is protected by law and banks know this.

The federal law says you can have up to two months of a government pension check, social security check, and other pension checks like rail rode pensions and State pensions. 

So if you have 1k check you can have 2k protected from seizure. 

Most creditors know this but if they dont the banks do, if there still is a seizure or mistake you can file documents at the court and get your money back, but it takes time.

So its useful to have cash, folding currency hidden away somewhere or an offshore bank properly set up and reported to uncle sam. If its over10k it needs to be reported.

Wealthy people have bank accounts set up abroad to protect themselves from creditors and other bad actors.

Nowdays most offshore banks dont want North Americans as clients because of compliance with uncle sam and if they do the deposits need to be substantial usually 250K or more.

Obviously theres exceptions to this rule if you have a second passport or residency set up somewhere, then its usually a few hundred dollars to set up a local USD account or USD account. 

More and more expats/ retirees are doing this and using credit to there advantage. 

If you need to hide cash from creditors you can always withdraw cash to be under the limit,  or buy gold coins stored onshore or offshore or just in your shoe box. 

Off course if you get into a lawsuit youll have to disclose these things, or lie under court, which I dont recommend or suggest.

What many do if it comes to it is get out of jurisdiction and have a friend or lawyer handle it.

There are law firms who handle debt negotiation for low prices and NGOs to.

They usually specialize in helping elderly clients but also help with medical debts no matter the age.

A lawyer can help you disguise your assets without breaking the law, or get caught up in fraudulent conveyances. 

As always theres more to this but I just wanted to offer a few ideas to help people survive and prosper as the empire declines or maybe its just the beginning. 

We still have a lot of liberties in North America so we are better off than most to survive and prosper come what may.

Good Luck, Happy Hunting.