Jordy Blog

Federal Reserve: Financial Overlords

Check Baldwin was the Constitution Party’s 2008 presidential nominee. I voted for him because he is so dead right on so many issues. Here’s one of them:

President And Congress Grovel Before The Fed
By Chuck Baldwin
February 10, 2009

This column is archived at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20090210.html

According to Bloomberg News (Monday, February 9, 2009), “The stimulus package the U.S. Congress is completing would raise the government’s commitment to solving the financial crisis to $9.7 trillion, enough to pay off more than 90 percent of the nation’s home mortgages.

“The Federal Reserve, Treasury Department and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have lent or spent almost $3 trillion over the past two years and pledged up to $5.7 trillion more. The Senate is to vote this week on an economic-stimulus measure of at least $780 billion. It would need to be reconciled with an $819 billion plan the House approved last month.

“Only the stimulus bill to be approved this week, the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program passed four months ago and $168 billion in tax cuts and rebates enacted in 2008 have been voted on by lawmakers. The remaining $8 trillion is in lending programs and guarantees, almost all under the Fed and FDIC. RECIPIENTS’ NAMES HAVE NOT BEEN DISCLOSED. [Emphasis added]

“‘We’ve seen money go out the back door of this government unlike any time in the history of our country,’ Senator Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, said on the Senate floor Feb. 3. ‘Nobody knows what went out of the Federal Reserve Board, to whom and for what purpose. How much from the FDIC? How much from TARP? When? Why?’”

Senator Dorgan is exactly right. No one oversees the Fed. The Fed is held accountable to absolutely nobody. But Senator Dorgan (as with everyone else in Congress) has no one to blame but himself. Ever since the Marxist, E. Mandell House, convinced President Woodrow Wilson to create the Federal Reserve in 1913, the Congress of the United States has had virtually nothing to do with the way our fiscal policies are managed. The Fed (which is not even a government agency, but rather a private corporation consisting of mostly foreign bankers) dictates America’s financial policies.

The reality of just how our civil magistrates have come to grovel before the Fed was revealed in a column written recently by Cal Thomas. Mind you, Cal was not trying to castigate President Bush in his column. Just the opposite: his column was full of praise and adulation for the former President. In recounting his last interview with President George W. Bush, however, Cal unwittingly revealed the almost limitless power that the Fed wields over even the President of the United States.

Here is what Cal wrote: “Bush defends himself against a charge by a member of the Republican National Committee that he has behaved like a ’socialist’ because of his massive bailout spending. He [Bush] says he still believes in less government spending, but when Henry Paulson, secretary of the U.S. Treasury, and Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, tell him that if he doesn’t act, the result will be worse that the Great Depression, ‘you can sit there and say to yourself, “well, I’m going to stick to principle and hope for the best, or I’m going to take the actions necessary to prevent the worst.”‘”

In other words, when the Fed says, “Jump!” the President asks, “How high?” And, with the exception of Congressman Ron Paul of Texas (and maybe one or two others), the same is true for members of the House and Senate.

In other words, ladies and gentlemen, America is being run by a private banking cartel, the majority of whom are not even citizens of these United States.

Ever since the Fed was created in 1913, America has been subjected to recession after recession, not to mention one Great Depression. Some are even predicting that the United States is now actually entering a second Great Depression. Please understand this: the Federal Reserve has manipulated every bit of this financial crisis for the express purpose of enriching the international bankers on the backs (and bankruptcies) of the American taxpayers. And what does our illustrious Congress do? They continue to give billions and even trillions of taxpayer dollars to the very same group of gangsters who created and perpetuate this financial fraud. And, as with Congress, Presidents from both major parties likewise promote and defend this chicanery.

Yet, the U.S. Constitution, in Article. I. Section. 8. Paragraph. 5., clearly gives Congress the authority “To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures.”

This constitutional requirement makes two obvious demands: 1) only the elected Congress, not some private foreign (or even domestic) banking interest, has the power to make monetary policy, 2) U.S. currency must be hard currency, i.e. gold and silver. Paper money–known as the Federal Reserve Notes–is not even legal tender under the U.S. Constitution.

In truth, the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 is itself unconstitutional. In simple terms, the Act did not amend or expunge Article. I. Section. 8. Paragraph. 5. of the Constitution; it merely ignored it. (And Congresses and Presidents have been ignoring the Constitution ever since.)

In fact, Article. I. Section. 10. Paragraph 1. of the U.S. Constitution specifically states, “No State shall . . . coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts.”

Can anyone not see that the Federal Reserve is an illegitimate system? I will even go so far as to say that the Federal Reserve should be regarded as a corrupt, criminal system! If I were President, not only would I do everything in my power to oppose any and all financial bailouts to these international banksters, I would instruct the Justice Department to pursue criminal charges of fraud, corruption, manipulation, and outright thievery against the Fed. Instead of padding their fat assets in a million-dollar penthouse, they should be serving most of the rest of their lives in the Big House.

In the meantime, Congressman Ron Paul has again introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to terminate the Federal Reserve. It is H.R. 833: To abolish the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal reserve banks. The Bill was introduced on February 3 and, to date, has no cosponsors. That’s right. No cosponsors.

Until the American people demand that their elected members of Congress live up to their duties and responsibilities under the Constitution, they will continue to have their pockets picked clean by these corrupt banksters in New York City (and London) and their contemptible facilitators in Washington, D.C. Passing Dr. Paul’s bill would be a great place to start.

*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:

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(c) Chuck Baldwin

If you don’t understand the history and the motives of the Federal Reserve System, you need to get informed. I believe that your very freedom depends on it.

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Debauching the Currency

I really like Glenn Beck when it comes to the economy:

This uncontrolled spending (and it’s underlying debasement of the currency) may well destroy us.

Inflation, as a means of overthrowing the free market:

Lenin is said to have declared that the best way to destroy the Capitalist System was to debauch the currency. By a continuing process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens … Lenin was certainly right. There is no subtler, no surer means of over-turning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose. – John Maynard Keynes (via quoty)

Inflation, as a means of overthrowing our nation and our liberties:

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. – Thomas Jefferson (via quoty)

Sadly the “change” mantra was nothing more than a seductive lie, because when it comes to the policies of spending and inflation, Comrades Obama and Bush (not mention McCain) are exactly the same.

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. :(

Republican Party Bones Up?

Now we’re talking:

EXCLUSIVE: RNC draft rips Bush’s bailouts
Ralph Z. Hallow (Contact)

Republican Party officials say they will try next month to pass a resolution accusing President Bush and congressional Republican leaders of embracing “socialism,” underscoring deep dissension within the party at the end of Mr. Bush’s administration.

Those pushing the resolution, which will come before the Republican National Committee at its January meeting, say elected leaders need to be reminded of core principles. They said the RNC must take the dramatic step of wading into policy debates, which traditionally have been left to lawmakers.

“We can’t be a party of small government, free markets and low taxes while supporting bailouts and nationalizing industries, which lead to big government, socialism and high taxes at the expense of individual liberty and freedoms,” said Solomon Yue, an Oregon member and co-sponsor of a resolution that criticizes the U.S. government bailouts of the financial and auto industries. Republican National Committee Vice Chairman James Bopp Jr. wrote the resolution and asked the rest of the 168 voting members to sign it.

I hope this resolution passes. It would be a clear sign (to me) that the Republican party is worth saving.

Peter Schiff on the Collapse of the Dollar

It’s End-the-Fed day today. I thought I’d commemorate it by posting a video featuring Peter Schiff (Ron Paul’s campaign finance advisor), who accurately predicted the sub-prime meltdown and the ensuing recession.

Some great quotes (emphasis added):

Our markets are going lower. This is not just a financial crisis; this is an economic collapse. Our entire phony economy is collapsing around us. There’s nothing the government can do to stop it; they should get out of the way and let it happen.

—-

Look, you have to understand: for the past several years everybody thought we had a real economy. We didn’t. We had a bubble. All we did was borrow trillions of dollars from the rest of the world, and we blew all the money on consumption. We can’t pay the bills. The asset bubbles that were inflated by reckless monetary policy are deflating around us, and we’re going to have to rebuild a viable economy; and it’s not going to be easy. A lot of companies are going to go bankrupt during the process. A lot of people are going to lose their jobs, but this has to happen: we have to go back to a sane economy where we save our money and actually make stuff.

—-

I’d be … getting out of the dollar because it’s a bottomless pit. When this dollar stops rallying, it’s going to fall like a stone. That is the next major economic crisis we are a setting up, a major major run on the dollar, and that’s going to have tremendous repercussions for our economy and our markets.

—-

We manufactured our way into becoming the wealthiest economy country in the world, and now we’ve consumed our way into bankruptcy.

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It’s time Americans take a long, hard look at the flawed monetary policy that’s behind all of this funny business; and that means understanding the history, operations, and goals of the Federal Reserve. If we don’t figure this out and get back to system of sound money, we may well “wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered“.

It’s frustrating that the only major party presidential candidate that was talking about these issues in any substantial way was written off from the very beginning. But you wanted empty platitudes? Well, you got ‘em.

The Current Economic Crisis: A Case Against the Fed

I missed another Liberty Book Club meeting this week, but I have been reading the books. This month’s book was Murray Rothbard’s The Case Against the Fed, which you can buy from Amazon, The Ludwig von Mises Institute, or download for free (MP3s).

Anyone who wants to really understand the underlying causes of our dangerous boom and bust cycles really needs to read the The Case Against the Fed to understand how the Federal Reserve (and other similar central banks) manipulate our money supply. The Case Against the Fed does an excellent job of explaining how fractional reserve banking, “legalized counterfeiting”, and other other inflationary policies really do rob the poor to feed the rich. The book explains how our monetary policy, controlled exclusively by the Federal Reserve with almost no congressional oversight, is a direct cause of economic bubbles and ensuing recessions (or depressions). It even addresses how and why credit crunches occur.

I wish this book weren’t so painfully relevant, but it is. The Federal Reserve’s manipulation of our money supply has been an underlying cause of so much evil in our time –so much so that most of us have never known anything different. It’s like America suffers from battered-wife syndrome, and we’ve lived with it so long that we really don’t know anything else. The problem is hard to identify (our schools teach almost nothing about economics, let alone monetary policy), and possibly harder to admit. It’s like the whole world groans and doesn’t know why.

The current recession was caused by Federal Reserve. Sure, there were lots of other factors, but the Fed was the great enabler of them all. And now they come on their white horses to save us all. How? By consolidating even more wealth into even fewer hands, meanwhile continuing to destroy our currency.

And what do we get out of it? All we get is more debts and more taxes, “known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few…” This whole thing bailout thing is a complete farce.

How much has it cost America to be “rich”? It may well cost us everything.

We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth… Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not…? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth. —Patrick Henry

Please read The Case Against the Fed so you can begin to understand the real truth, and what to do about it. (Yes, the book actually recommends a sane remedy that doesn’t involve guns and pitchforks.) And if you’re interested in joining the Liberty Book Club, contact me and I can put you in touch with the folks that run it.

Also of note, Tomorrow (November 22nd) is End the Fed day. There will be rallies outside 39 Federal Reserve banks around the country, including Salt Lake City. What a great way to raise awareness about a terrible evil! Too long have private bankers manipulated and abused America!

Sign up for Campaign For Liberty

Now is probably a good time to remind you to sign up for Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty if you haven’t already. Here’s the message showing on the site:

If you want to make a significant difference, it’s time get rolling for 2010. Sign up today.

Pork Conqueres All

Well, the $700 billion (pre-pork) bailout bill passed 263 to 171, and our “conservative” president GWB has already signed it into law. Here’s the House vote and the Senate vote so you know who to hate.

Here in Utah, Senators Bennett and Hatch broke their oaths to defend the constitution, with Bennett being one of the major proponents of the bill.

Congressman Cannon also voted for the bill, so I couldn’t be more pleased that he’s on his way out. Hatch and Bennett are next, in my opinion; I hope you’ll join me in making sure of it.

Both major party presidential candidates were tripping over themselves to show who supported the bailout more. Can anyone seriously call that options? I’ll be crossing the ticket to vote for Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution party candidate. You should check him out on this issue.

In other news, the Federal Reserve created $630 billion of new money earlier this week (effectively devaluing ever dollar that you have or will ever get), and nobody really noticed. Inflation is true monster. It’s an easy way for politicians to get money for pet projects without the political risk of taking it directly from the people. Sure, you get to keep your money, but eventually it become next to worthless.

These quotes seem fitting for the week:

Thomas Jefferson -

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. (via Quoty)

Henry Ford -

It is well that the people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning. (via Quoty)

Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty

I’ve blogged before about why I think America is in trouble.  A Ron Paul presidency would have gone along way toward fixing some of those problem (or at least prevent them from worsening), so I was sad to see that he clearly wasn’t going to win.  I’m amazed, however, how his candidacy brought these important issues to the forefront, and I was pleased to see loads of passionate people mobilize around his message of liberty.

As Ron Paul’s 2008 presidential campaign officially came to a close, I was enthused to see his longer-term Campaign for Liberty initiative replace it.  It had upwards of 50,000 people sign up over the weekend, but membership growth has slowed somewhat since then.  Regardless, I’m glad to see a this more permanent fixture of liberty come into place; and I hope that it will be effective in promoting the principles of liberty, sound money, limited government, free markets, and non-interventionalism for years to come.

I think we have a long way to go, but I’m relieved to see people still rallying around this excellent cause.  I hope you’ll join us to help make America a safer place for liberty, prosperity, and peace.