Toby Jones say the Saudi see the Arab awakening as an existential threat while the US sees it as something to be manipulated
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Survivalism -- A Model for Profitable Micro-Farming - Jean-Martin Fortier
As we awaken to the realities in store for us in a future defined by declining net energy, concerns about food security, adequate nutrition, community resilience, and reliable income commonly arise.
Small-scale farming usually quickly surfaces as a pursuit that could help address all of these. Yet most dismiss the idea of becoming farmers themselves; mainly because of lack of prior experience, coupled with lack of capital. It simply feels too risky.
The refrain we most frequently hear is: I think I'd love doing it, but I don't know how I'd make a living.
Enter Jean-Martin Fortier and his wife, Maude-Helene. They are a thirtysomething couple who have been farming successfully for the past decade. In fact, they've been micro-farming: their entire growing operations happen on just an acre and half of land.
And with this small plot, they feed over 200 families. And do so profitably.
The Fortiers are pioneers of the type of new models we're in such need of for the coming future. Fortunately, they realize this, and are being as transparent about their operations as they can -- in order to educate, encourage and inspire people to join the emerging new generation of small-scale farmers.
Bill Still - Gold Backed Cryptos?
Are gold-backed cryptos the answer? G. Edward Griffin thinks so.
Imagine a world in which you can buy anything in secret. No banks. No fees. No worries inflation will make today's money worth less tomorrow.
The digital currency Bitcoin promises all these things. And while it's far from achieving any of them -- its value is unstable and it's rarely used -- some have high hopes.
"There will be alternatives to the dollar, and this might be one of them," said former U.S. congressman Ron Paul. If people start using bitcoins en masse, "it'll go down in history as the destroyer of the dollar," Paul added.
It's unlikely that Bitcoin would replace the dollar or other government-controlled currencies. But it could serve as a kind of universal alternative currency that is accepted everywhere around the globe. Concerned about the dollar's inflation? Just move your cash to bitcoins and use them to pay your bills instead. Tired of hefty credit card fees? Bitcoin allows transactions that bypass banks.
Related: What is Bitcoin?
Even economists who embrace the power of central banks, like University of Michigan professor Miles Kimball, recognize the currency's potential.
"Bitcoin really shows governments are behind the curve," Kimball said. "It demonstrates there's a demand for an electronic equivalent of cash."
Digital payments make buying items internationally a smoother process, because exchange rates are gone and there are no cumbersome bank regulations or fees. It also enables people to make payments in areas without bank access or where carrying cash can be dangerous.
How I make money mining bitcoins
Related: Bitcoin worth $9M buried in garbage dump
But don't expect governments and banks to let Bitcoin take over so easily. Financial institutions will lose business if people stop using their payment systems, and central banks like the U.S. Federal Reserve would lose their ability to help slow and speed up economic activity. Paul expects banks to lobby and authorities to crack down
"I suppose they could just try to crush Bitcoin, but that's the wrong way to do it," Kimball said. "Governments should be creating their own version of Bitcoin. They should be ashamed they haven't."
"In order for currencies to be 'exchangeable' they have to be backed by something," is the remarkably ironic initial comment from none other than debaser-of-the-entirely-fiat-dollar Alan Greenspan when asked about the "bubble in bitcoin," by Bloomberg TV's Trish Regan.
Unable to "identify the intrinsic" backing of Bitcoin (or see bubbles in equity, credit, real estate, or greater fools) Greenspan is, apparently, capable of identifying Bitcoin "as a bubble," because "there is no fundamental means of "repaying' it by any means that is universally accepted." The farcical double-speak continues as the Maestro does a great job of making Bitcoin (which Ron Paul earlier noted could be the "destroyer of the dollar") look even better than the readily-printed fiat we meddle with every day. "when we were on the gold standard, [currencies] had intrinisc value which made people willing to exchange their goods and services with no question." "Alternatively, when we went into "currencies", it was the "backing" of the issuer of the currencies... whose "great credit-standing meant his checks could circulate as money.""
So either its backed by real physical metal with intrinsic value -- or the promise of someone...(increasingly politicians of course) with good credit (or a big army)?" fiat currency
So coming soon the BuffettCoin or MuskCoin (oh wait reputation), or the GatesCoin?
Imagine a world in which you can buy anything in secret. No banks. No fees. No worries inflation will make today's money worth less tomorrow.
The digital currency Bitcoin promises all these things. And while it's far from achieving any of them -- its value is unstable and it's rarely used -- some have high hopes.
"There will be alternatives to the dollar, and this might be one of them," said former U.S. congressman Ron Paul. If people start using bitcoins en masse, "it'll go down in history as the destroyer of the dollar," Paul added.
It's unlikely that Bitcoin would replace the dollar or other government-controlled currencies. But it could serve as a kind of universal alternative currency that is accepted everywhere around the globe. Concerned about the dollar's inflation? Just move your cash to bitcoins and use them to pay your bills instead. Tired of hefty credit card fees? Bitcoin allows transactions that bypass banks.
Related: What is Bitcoin?
Even economists who embrace the power of central banks, like University of Michigan professor Miles Kimball, recognize the currency's potential.
"Bitcoin really shows governments are behind the curve," Kimball said. "It demonstrates there's a demand for an electronic equivalent of cash."
Digital payments make buying items internationally a smoother process, because exchange rates are gone and there are no cumbersome bank regulations or fees. It also enables people to make payments in areas without bank access or where carrying cash can be dangerous.
How I make money mining bitcoins
Related: Bitcoin worth $9M buried in garbage dump
But don't expect governments and banks to let Bitcoin take over so easily. Financial institutions will lose business if people stop using their payment systems, and central banks like the U.S. Federal Reserve would lose their ability to help slow and speed up economic activity. Paul expects banks to lobby and authorities to crack down
"I suppose they could just try to crush Bitcoin, but that's the wrong way to do it," Kimball said. "Governments should be creating their own version of Bitcoin. They should be ashamed they haven't."
"In order for currencies to be 'exchangeable' they have to be backed by something," is the remarkably ironic initial comment from none other than debaser-of-the-entirely-fiat-dollar Alan Greenspan when asked about the "bubble in bitcoin," by Bloomberg TV's Trish Regan.
Unable to "identify the intrinsic" backing of Bitcoin (or see bubbles in equity, credit, real estate, or greater fools) Greenspan is, apparently, capable of identifying Bitcoin "as a bubble," because "there is no fundamental means of "repaying' it by any means that is universally accepted." The farcical double-speak continues as the Maestro does a great job of making Bitcoin (which Ron Paul earlier noted could be the "destroyer of the dollar") look even better than the readily-printed fiat we meddle with every day. "when we were on the gold standard, [currencies] had intrinisc value which made people willing to exchange their goods and services with no question." "Alternatively, when we went into "currencies", it was the "backing" of the issuer of the currencies... whose "great credit-standing meant his checks could circulate as money.""
So either its backed by real physical metal with intrinsic value -- or the promise of someone...(increasingly politicians of course) with good credit (or a big army)?" fiat currency
So coming soon the BuffettCoin or MuskCoin (oh wait reputation), or the GatesCoin?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)