The World Is Up to Its Eyeballs in Debt

The War On Savers And The 200 Rulers Of Global Finance

There has been an economic coup d’état in America and most of the world. We are now ruled by about 200 unelected central bankers, monetary apparatchiks and their minions and megaphones on Wall Street and other financial centers.

Unlike Senator Joseph McCarthy, I actually do have a list of their names. They need to be exposed, denounced, ridiculed, rebuked and removed.

The first 30 includes Janet Yellen, William Dudley, the other governors of the Fed and its senior staff. The next 10 includes Jan Hatzius, chief economist of Goldman Sachs, and his counterparts at the other major Wall Street banking houses.

Then there is the dreadful Draghi and the 25-member governing council of the ECB and still more senior staff. Ditto for the BOJ, BOE, Bank of Canada, Reserve Bank of Australia and even the People’s Printing Press of China. Also, throw in Christine Lagarde and the principals of the IMF and some scribblers at think tanks like Brookings. The names are all on Google!

Have you ever heard of Lael Brainard? She’s one of them at the Fed and very typical. That is, she’s never held an honest capitalist job in her life; she’s been a policy apparatchik at the Treasury, Brookings, and the Fed ever since moving out of her college dorm room.

Now she’s doing her bit to prosecute the war on savers. She wants to keep them lashed to the zero bound—-that is, in penury and humiliation—–because of the madness happening to the Red Ponzi in China. Its potential repercussions, apparently, don’t sit so well with her:

Brainard expressed concern that stresses in emerging markets including China and slow growth in developed economies could spill over to the U.S.

“This translates into weaker exports, business investment, and manufacturing in the United States, slower progress on hitting the inflation target, and financial tightening through the exchange rate and rising risk spreads on financial assets,” she said, according to the Journal, which said she made the comments on Monday.

In the name of a crude Keynesian economic model that is an insult to even the slow-witted, Brainard and her ilk are conducting a rogue regime of financial repression, manipulation and unspeakable injustice that will destroy both political democracy and capitalist prosperity as we have known it. They are driving the economic lot of the planet into a black hole of deflation, mal-distribution, and financial entropy.

The evil of it is vivified by an old man standing at any one of Starbucks’ 24,000 barista counters on any given morning. He can afford one cappuccino. He pays for it with the entire daily return from his savings account where he prudently stores his wealth.

After a working lifetime of thrift and frugality, his certificates of deposit now total $250,000. Yes, the interest at 30 bps on a quarter million dollar nest egg buys a daily double shot of espresso and cup of milk foam.

What kind of crank economics contends that brutally punishing two of the great, historically-proven economic virtues——-thrift and prudence—-is the key to economic growth and true wealth creation?

In this age of relentless consumption and 140 character tweets, what kind of insult to common sense argues that human nature is prone to save too much, defer gratification too long, shop too sparingly and consume too little?

Forget all of their mathematical economics and DSGE model regressions. Our 200 unelected rulers are enthralled to a dogma of debt that is so primitive that it’s just plain dumb.

By purchasing existing debt with digital credit conjured from the “send” key on central bank computers, they make room for more and more of it. And they do so without the inconvenience of deferred consumption or an upward climb of interest rates owing to an imbalance of borrowings versus savings.

Likewise, by pegging the money market rate at zero or negative, they enable even more debt creation via daisy chains of re-hypothecation. That is, the hocking of any and all financial assets that trade at virtually zero cost of carry in order to buy more of the same and then to hock more of them, still.

Continue reading…

From David Stockman, here.

Beis Din’s Ruling Against Eliezer Berland in Both English and Hebrew

WOE TO US THAT SUCH IS THE CASE TODAY!

A mighty protest and denunciation from the elders of Chassidei Breslov and the important mashpi’im in Eretz Yisrael and abroad.

After illustrious Talmidei Chachamim and important Rabbis, people of truth

collected witnesses and testimonies, and carefully investigated and examined

all the terrible rumors about

THE DEEDS OF ELIEZER BERLAND

who is well-known many years already as a Tzaddik, a miracle-worker, a Rav, and leader,

It was made clear to them without a doubt that his inside is not like his outside at all, and he committed these despicable deeds not just once or twice; the person breaks boundaries in Torah and Halacha, and sins and leads others to sin with the gravest sins.  He behaves like Zimri and demands reward as if he is Pinchas.

As is written at length in the letter ‘Psak Din and Grave Warning’, which is written and signed in their names,

we fully agree to what they say, and we support them completely

to continue to stand on guard for the completion of Torah and the upholding of Halacha, to set up boundaries without fear.

We are obligated to publicly announce that

THIS PERSON IS A TERRIBLE, AWFUL STUMBLING BLOCK FOR KLAL YISRAEL

And whoever guards his soul, purity and faith should distance themselves from him as if from fire, and he should distance his family, children, and all those under his influence from this man and from all those who justify his actions and drift after him, of whom most are not satisfied with their own misdeed, but they heap misdeed onto misdeed and use all tactics to trap innocent souls in the net of their false emuna which destroys the body and soul and of which who knows to what it will lead?

We turn with a warning from our holy Torah to all of those who consider themselves smart, small foxes sabotaging vineyards

who under the cover of false compassion dare to undermine the conclusions of the important Rabbanim mentioned above, and to weaken the impact of their ruling with idle explanations and false interpretations.  Directly or indirectly, they cause an uprooting and destruction of the foundations of Halacha and Yiddishkeit, and the introducing of poisonous heresy into the pure faith of Klal Yisrael.

Please, have mercy on your souls and let the terrifying words of one of the Rishonim stand before your eyes,

((טור חו”מ סי’ ב’ בבדק הבית בשם הריקאנטי in which he describes the awful punishment of a ‘Dayan who judges and justifies the sinner, and removes himself from punishing him, and looks to find an opening to save him from judgement.’  (See his exact sharp phrase inside, which we feared to put in writing, so as not to give an opening for the Satan chalilah, and we’ll make do with this warning.)  All the more so in this matter, where they call bad – good and good – bad.  They expound on the Torah falsely, upon which Shlomo Hamelech said: ‘He who justifies the wicked and convicts the Tzaddik, both are an abomination to Hashem.’

And the one who listens to our words will dwell in peace…

[Note: Not all signatures were translated; see the original Hebrew announcement below.]

The aforementioned words of the Rabbis are simple and clear, and we have already publicized our clear opinion on the obligation of keeping away from the above mentioned leader of Shuvu Banim, as we have seen for years the problems and wrong doings done by his leadership on common basis – things that oppose the basics of the jewish belief and law, and in particular lately which there have been consistently bad rumors of sins of the most severe kind – woe is to us that such things occurred in our times!

And now after great rabbis and scholars got together with witnesses, clarified the matter thoroughly and cross examined the witnesses and verified beyond the shadow of a doubt that the rumors are true as clearly stated in their letter, we publicize again our opinion and strengthen their words, to remove this terrible hurdle from the jewish nation.

Signed: Yaacov Meir Shechter

Signed: Shmuel Moshe Kramer

Signed: Nosson Leibermensch

Psak Din and Grave Warning

After a long period of terrible rumors being spread about the man referred to by his students as

 ‘Harav’ Eliezer Berland, the head of the institution Shuvu Banim

about the matter of him being a sinner who leads others to sin time after time with the gravest sins, both in private – with sins that require death by Beis Din, and in public – with sins that go under the title of ‘Yehareg v’al yaavor’, besides for being distorted and corrupt in the foundations of emuna, and breaking fences in Torah and in law in action and in teaching, and has already caused very much awful, terrible damage and desecration of Hashem’s name in the whole world.

And after many of the victims sent messengers to lots of important Batei Dinim in Eretz Yisrael, begging the Dayanim to convene on the matter and declare the true judgement, but they responded that due to various reasons, it is preferable that the matter should first be clarified by Talmidei Chachamim and Dayanim from between Breslov itself, and after that they’ll go into the matter properly – we, the undersigned, were asked to delve into the matter.

We convened a Beis Din, and received the witnesses according to Halacha.

We were convinced without the slightest of doubts that indeed, the rumors are true, and we also received many witnesses who testified that even though he said many times that he regrets his offensive deeds and does teshuva, he continued committing them shamelessly.

Therefore, we want to announce our opinion which is the Daas Torah, that this person is a terrible stumbling block for Klal Yisrael, and is surely not worthy of being called a ‘Rav and leader’.  We warn and caution every G-d-fearing person to distance themselves from having any connection to the man and to all those who believe in him.

The elders of Breslov have already written in their great cry on the seventh of Tammuz 5776, that this person ‘strays and leads astray in the foundations of faith and law, especially in matters of holiness, in speech and in action, and presents a grave danger.  Whoever protects himself should distance himself from him and his people.’

Woe unto those who attempt to validate the creep and deny the truth, which has been proven and verified.  They insist on interpreting the Torah falsely with speeches of folly, both written and orally, and they thereby provide a stumbling block before the blind with a shameful lack of responsibility which will surely be harshly punished.

We call out to all those standing at the side, hiding behind the excuse of not involving themselves in arguments.  Chazal have already taught us: (Shavuos 39)

‘Silence in the face of the deeds of a transgressor is reckoned as reinforcement and a cover for his actions, and one who remains silent is punished along with him.’

At such a time, there is an obligation for everyone who stood at Har Sinai, to whom our holy Torah is precious in his eyes, to raise a mighty strong protest to warn and be warned, to stay away from the dangers of this man and his believers.

We conclude with a loving call coming from a heart full of pain to all our brothers, the people of ‘Shuvu Banim’, who are trapped in this evil tyrant’s net:

Don’t be like a horse or mule that has no understanding, following with closed eyes and misplaced belief after this hypocrite wrapped in a tallis which doesn’t belong to him, taking advantage of your simplicity and destroying your bodies, souls, wealth, time and strength for stupidity and emptiness.  Open your eyes and remove yourselves from his tent, attach yourselves to Talmidei Chachamim and people of truth, who are meticulous with every slightest detail of Halacha and Yiras Hashem without any distortions.  Hashem should give you all grace in the eyes of all who see you, and you should merit to elevate yourselves higher and higher in Torah and Yirah, and to physical and spiritual success, and to raise your children to go in the Torah way, following the mesorah in purity, to keep, observe, do and fulfil in beauty.

May we all be zoiche together as one man with one heart to see in the return of Hashem to Tzion, and we will see the difference between a Tzaddik and a Rasha, and all the evil will be consumed like smoke, and the redeemer will come to Tzion, Amen.

Signed: Betzalel Galinsky

Signed: Reuven Nakker

Signed: Yitzchak Leznovski

I too add my signature, after having participated in all sessions of the Beis Din from the beginning until the very end, and I investigated all the terrible testimonies and witnesses fully together with my friends, the Dayanim mentioned above.

Nachman Zev Frank

Reprinted with permission.

Kedushas Tzion: Staying the Course

Kedushas Tzion recently decided to continue with their study and educational efforts for now, instead of seeking power:

אחרי אירוע כה מרומם, השאלה המתבקשת היא “מה הלאה?”, “מה למעשה?”, הדיבורים היו יפים ומרגשים, המאמרים בעלון מחכימים ומאירים, אבל מה אתה מציע לעשות? ואחר חשיבה מרובה ודיונים רבים בין החברים, המסקנה שעלתה היא, כי העשיה החשובה והמשמעותית ביותר שמוטלת עלינו כיום היא… לדבר! ללמוד את הדברים, ללמד אותם לאחרים, לשאול ולהשיב, להקשות ולתרץ, להפוך את ענין דרישת ציון על טהרת הקודש לנחלת כלל ציבור היראים! זו משימתנו, והתועלת אשר תצמח ממנה היא עצומה לאין ערוך ממה שנדמה לרבים ממבט ראשון. כח הדיבור, המבדיל את האדם מהבהמה, הוא הכח אשר עומד מאחורי כל מהלך רעיוני שרוצים להנחיל לציבור, ועצם העלאת הנושא לסדר היום הציבורי הן בבית המדרש והן חוצה לו – זוהי המשימה העומדת בפנינו כרגע, ומי שיעשה זאת, ולו בחוגו המצומצם, ללא ספק יראה נפלאות.

Good move. As the Munkatcher Rebbe, the Minchas Elazar, rightly said, political parties and truth don’t go together.

כיצד בעלי תשובה מדביקים את הפער הלימודי כ”כ מהר?

דברים ו’ ז’:

ושננתם לבניך ודברת בם בשבתך בביתך ובלכתך בדרך ובשכבך ובקומך.

פירוש גור אריה למהר”ל שם:

שיהא מחודדין בפיך שאם ישאלך אדם בהם אל תגמגם בהם…

ובדורות האלו ובארצות אלו הולכים נתיבות עקלקלות, חושבים ללכת לפנים להגיע למקום חפצם, והנה הם שבים אחור. אזכיר קצת מן הדברים, אף כי אין זה מקומם, כי קצרה רוחי מהכיל בראות לעינים קלקול דרכי התורה, שאם ישאלהו תורה – אין תשובה בפיו. לא די לנו כי נמשלנו כבהמות נדמו, ולא כמעולה שבבהמות רק כבני חמורים, ולא כחמורים רק נהפך לבנו לאבן דומם. אך דבר זה נוסף, כי הראשונים אשר היה בערך אלינו כערך גלגל העליון לגרגר החרדל, הם הלכו נתיבות יושר להדריך את תלמידיהם בנתיבות אמת, עד שיגיעו אל מה שראוי…

כאשר היה בדורות הראשנים נתנו גבולים ועתים לחנך נער על פי דרכו, בן חמש למקרא בן עשר למשנה בן ט”ו לתלמוד (אבות ה’ כ”א), והכל כדי לתת לנער משא כאשר יוכל שאת לפי טבעו. ומה שהוא לפי טבעו – מקבל הנער, כמו שסדר השם יתברך אוכל לילד חלב אמו, שהוא דבר מקובל אליו, ולא סדר לו מן המזונות אשר אינם לפי ערכו. והמזונות לפי שהם ערכו מקבל אותם, מגדל את גופו לפי טבעו. ואחר כך מקבל מזונות יותר לפי טבעו, עד אשר גדלו. וכך סדרו והגבילו חכמים את הנער לפי טבעו, בן ה’ למקרא. ודבר זה יקבל הנער לפי טבעו, ויגדל את שכלו גם כן. ומה שלמד קבל אותו קבל חזק עד שיגדל יותר. ואז יתחיל המשנה, דבר שהוא לפי ערכו… ואחר כך אם יקרב ידו לקרב לישא וליתן במלחמתה של תורה, אז ידיו רב לו, מלא מכל כלי מלחמתה של תורה, והם לו כחצים ביד הגבור, קולע אל השערה ולא יחטיא, לא יסורו ממנו בשכבו ובקומו…

אך הטפשים בארצות אלו, דרכיהם היפך זה, מלמדים עם הנער מקרא מעט מן הפרשה, ומפסיקין, ומתחילין בשבוע אחרת פרשה שניה קצת מן הפרשה, ובכלות השנה לא ידע הנער, כי נשכח ממנו הראשונים, ואז יחזור בשנה השניה. ומפני ששכל הנער יותר – מלמד עמו יותר ממה שלמד עמו אשתקד, וכן שלישית ורביעית וכמה שנים, וכאשר נעתק מן המקרא, מאומה לא ישא בידו, יציאתו כביאתו. ועוד יש דרכם כסל למו, מלמדו בפירוש רש”י על התורה, ומנהג זה נמשך ממלמדי תינוקות יושבי כפרים שלא היה להם ספרים, והנהיגו הדבר לבלות לכלות ימי הנער באין מועיל אל הנער. ויש שמעתיקין אותו אל הגמרא, מיד יצפצף הנער בקול דברים בלבד, ותמונת הפשט לא ידע להבין, אף דבר מה ממנו, ולא דמסיק ממנו כדמסיק תעלא מבי כרבא (יומא מג ע”ב), רק כדמסיק זבוב מאבן שיש. וכאשר יגדל הנער, ואז יתגבר קצת שכלו, מעתיק אותו אל למוד התוספות, ובסכלות דעתו כי למוד הגמרא וההלכה הוא הועיל לו. והאנשים האלו הוכו בסנורים, אין זה רק כי שכל הנער גדל מעצמו, אבל שיהיה מוסיף בשכלו מה שהלעיטו דבר שאין ראוי לו, ואינו לפי ערך שכלו – זה אי אפשר. ואין ספק שאם היה הולך בלא תורה, והתחיל ללמוד, בזמן מועט יגיע מה שעסק זה מהתחלתו.

… ועל הרועים לרעות עלות הצאן לרגל המלאכה, לא לדפוק אותם ביגיעה בדרך קצרה והיא ארוכה, לא שהיא ארוכה, אך ימותו ולא יבאו לכלל תורה. כי מה ידעו צעירי הצאן איכה ירעו ואיכה ירבצון, אם לא על הרועה להדריכם להנהיגם דרך ישרה, ולא יקוים בו כד רגיז רעיא על ענא (ב”ק נב.)… והוא יתברך ברחמיו ישיבנו אל תורתו, וידריכנו בנתיבות אמת ויושר.

Techeiles – Who Needs Whom?

Rabbi Avraham Rubin’s certification for the Petil Tekhelet’s product stresses his supervision only concerns the accuracy of the claim they are doing what they said they would, but not the validity of their Halachic view:

תעודת הכשר

הרינו לאשר כי… התכלת שבפתילים אלו הופקו מן החלזון הימי ארגמון קהה קוצים שכמה גדולי ישראל הסכימו על זה. הנני לאשר כי לצורך אלו האנשים המעונייינים והצורכים תכלת זו, שדם חלזון זה שהופק מהשבלול של החלזון הנ”ל הוא דם נקי ללא תערובת מדם חלזונות או צבע אחר…

Rabbi Rubin makes the same point in casual conversation, too.

The reality and Torah truth of this are overwhelming. When will these rabbis realize we don’t need their legitimacy at all?! They need ours!

You’re on record. Stop embarrassing yourselves with your blatant intellectual dishonesty.