“The U.S. credit markets, the giant growth engine that powers the American economy, are collapsing … with few credit sectors spared from damage, few investors escaping losses, and little hope of federal action that’s quick or strong enough to make a major difference.”

Here’s what’s happening …

If America is destroyed, it may be by Americans who salute the flag, sing the national anthem, march in patriotic parades, cheer Fourth of July speakers - normally good Americans who fail to comprehend what is required to keep our country strong and free - Americans who have been lulled into a false security (April 1968).-—Ezra Taft Benson, US Secretary of Agriculture 1953-1961 under Eisenhower

“Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
- Ben Franklin

We need ONE day in America free of:

Wiretapping

Internet Surveillance

Waterboarding

Bogus airport searches

Threat Levels

Osama Bin Laden mania

Fear Mongers

Police State Politics

Note: I duplicated this post from my other blog AmericaHugs because I like it so much.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”

This is my favorite quote that I think of in times of trouble. It really helps clear my mind and put life in perspective. When I first heard the quote it clicked instantly with me , but I had no idea of the origination. I was surprised to find out it was a woman, and I was again surprised to find that all the great America women have said something similar. It must reflect the mindset great American women adopt to be able to accomplish what they do.

”

Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively, unless you can choose a challenge instead of a competence.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt

“There can be no doubt that the last three years have certainly been an adventure for me and for all of you. Though it was stressful — very stressful — I can say that I don’t regret everything. ” -Martha Stewart

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams. — Oprah Winfrey.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing” -Helen Keller

More than 23,000 heads of private industry are working with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. They are members of a growing group, called InfraGard, and they receive secret warnings of terrorist threats before the public does in return for providing “homeland security” information to the government. If  martial law is declared they will receive a special communications card that will let their calls go through while all other calls will be blocked. They are literally fellow Americans that, in return for information, have been given “special rights” the average American is denied. One InfraGard member has even claimed they have been given the right to shoot to kill in the advent of martial law.

“There is evidence that InfraGard may be closer to a corporate TIPS program, turning private-sector corporations—some of which may be in a position to observe the activities of millions of individual customers—into surrogate eyes and ears for the FBI,” the ACLU warned in its August 2004 report The Surveillance-Industrial Complex: How the American Government Is Conscripting Businesses and Individuals in the Construction of a Surveillance Society.”

“InfraGard is not readily accessible to the general public. Its communications with the FBI and Homeland Security are beyond the reach of the Freedom of Information Act under the “trade secrets” exemption, its website says. And any conversation with the public or the media is supposed to be carefully rehearsed.”- The Progressive

It seems to me that something like this could get completely out of control as time goes by. This “club” has been growing constantly and assuming more powers. In 2003 there were only 1000 members, now there are 23,000 members. They are encouraged to only talk among themselves so an authoritarian group mindset could easily develop. While I don’t think this is some vast conspiracy, I do know from the study of history seemingly little innocent seeds for security of “the homeland” quickly grow into vast forests of facism.

Man, I hate writing about another negative meme developing out there on the net, but this new meme is strong and growing rapidly. Awful lot of stuff out on the net seems to be gearing up for quite a large war happening. There is a bunker mentality that is growing rapidly across the net and I have to admit if you link some of the facts out there together it sure looks like somethings about to happen.

I’ll be adding to this post as I compile the evidence of a bunker meme developing, and let me start with the first scary pieces of news:

1)There have been NINE undersea communication cable breaks that have virtually shut off all internet communication to and from IRAN.

2)Israel officials have told their people to begin to prepare their bomb shelter preparations, and to be ready at any moment.

3)The Gaza situation is getting out of control.

4)Both Russia and the USA have officially voiced concern over Iran’s recent nuclear capable missile launch.

5)Do a search on “nuclear bunker-busters”. Lots of results lately.

“Faith in the system is slowly but surely eroding, brick by brick. Failing banks will add to the worry. Investors have every right to be wondering “What’s Next?”

I am expecting many more bank failures coming up. This is a warning call to anyone over the FDIC limit at any bank anywhere.”-MISH 2008

“You knew where this was going, didn’t you? Yes, the upcoming Depression. How will today’s youth (let’s call them Kylie and Josh) handle life when Mom or Dad can no longer afford cell phones for every member of the family? What if the DishTV or cable gets cut off due to lack of payment? What if there’s no longer a case of soda purchased every week? What if their allowance drops from $20 per week to zero? “-Charles Hugh Smith

“ignore all of that and only deposit less than $100,000 to keep your principal and interest safe. There is a relatively new $250,000 FDIC insurance rule (see FDIC’s site and do not trust the bank for accurate information) for certain types of retirement deposits. If you have more than $100,000 to deposit then open accounts at another bank that is not affliated by ownership with your other bank(s). Monitor ownership of your bank(s) because if they merge or otherwise become affiliated your FDIC insurance coverage may be reduced. This blog has posted a wealth of information about FDIC insurance in the past and always go to FDIC’s web site or call its 800 number for assistance. Again, do not trust what a bank tells you about your FDIC coverage. I have seen much pain and heartache during bank closings because customers “trusted” their banker’s word.
FFDIC | 01.28.08 - 1:23 am | #  “-comment on Calculated Risk

Here on Cape Cod I’m beginning to hear the dreaded “D” word. More and more people I’m talking to are starting to worry America is headed into it’s next great depression, so I decided to put my ear to the web rail and see if I could hear the depression meme barreling down the tracks. Unfortunately I could hear the rumbles load and clear, and the lead engine is the American consumer:

“And so the consumer balance sheet repair meme continues to grow. As those who have read Five Things over the past couple of years know, this is not a behavior that began in August or September as the credit crunch began to manifest, it’s something that has been building for years. ” -It’s about consumer leverage

“Commercial real estate overexpansion in the face of a consumer led recession is monumental….The wildcard is whether or not we have a depression. We are already in a recession.”-Commercial Real Estate Crash Underway

“This is a small bank, and by itself this closing is inconsequential. However this might become a trend, with a number of small FDIC-insured banks going under because of bad loans. I suspect the over-under line for bank failures this year has to be much higher this year than in 2007.”-First Bank Closure of 2008

Take a look at this chart, it will scare your socks off.

I’m posting more rumbles as the day goes by….

“I became the first Director to be responsible for the direction of the CIA, without Community responsibilities attached”-Remarks by Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Porter J. Goss to CIA Employees-
September 22, 2005

I was stunned this morning to learn America is no longer a free country. I have just finished reading the January 15,2008 post on the Of Two Minds blog . It seems, by a large majority of Congress, a new law will be passed that establishes a McCarthy-like commission to compile a list of American citizens that hold extremist positions or beliefs.

“ Harman’s bill is called the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act. When HR 1955 becomes law, it will create a commission tasked with identifying extremist people, groups, and ideas. The commission will hold hearings around the country, taking testimony and compiling a list of dangerous people and beliefs. The bill will, in short, create massive terrorism in the United States. But the perpetrators of terrorism will not be Muslim terrorists; they will be government agents and fellow citizens. “

It’s amazing how fast our politicians are selling out our liberty for their security. It is also amazing how fast I went from an average American citizen to a potential extremist, for if this commission shows up on Cape Cod I’ll show up to spit in their faces. Anyone sitting on that commission should be tarred, feathered, and run out of town on a rail.

Related Big Brother Memes:

Is Homeland Security connected to your laptop?-*** This article has been proven false, but it is interesting that today in America articles like this can be considered believable.