December 2010 Letters

From Vancouver:

Dear Editor, what in the world is happening in the American economy? I recall you writing an article in March, 2008 and while I didn’t agree with you then, it now appears that we are on the verge of a catastrophic collapse. Any views?

Thanks Vancouver:

Gerald Celente Remarkably accurate in his predictions

It’s hard to believe the scene has changed so much since 2008 and certainly, not for the better. If you recall I quoted an article in which Gerald Celente, director of the Trends Research Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, who said, “The United States of America,” Celente pronounced, “has gone from first class to third rate.” It’s a “nation on the skids and heading down.” Celente is someone to whom you definitely have to listen because he predicted the 1987 stock market crash, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the Asian economic implosion of ’97, the decline of the dollar beginning in 2005, the meteoric rise in gold prices in an age of currency volatility, and the subprime mortgage crisis. Just this past month in a Max Slavo article, he predicts America is now about to enter the worst economic times in modern history. Yet, they are not alone, he points out that as a result European governments implementing austerity measures across much of the region, mass protests are beginning to spread. Riot police have been deployed in Greece and in France, where groups are protesting  and this may spill over and affect some of the largest industries. Celente says that “just like Europe’s overbloated social systems, the United States will have to start cutting costs – it will be a matter of financial survival for the nation.” He adds. “Unfortunately, we’re so indebted at this point, that austerity measures will likely fall short of anything meaningful and the eventual outcome – the only way for us to cover our debts – is going to be either total default or total destruction of the U.S. dollar. Add to that the increased taxes that working Americans will be paying, and higher costs for essential goods like food and energy combined with a depreciating dollar, and many of our countrymen will be left with no choice but to hit the streets in protest.

“This is a defining moment–AMERICA IS BANKRUPT and the rest of the world is no longer willing to go along with Quantitative Easing,…”

The Steve Quayle website is rife with frightening articles. One claims, “Monetizing the debt is a desperate act.  It is a signal that we are rapidly reaching the end of the game.  Slamming interest rates all the way to the floor did not revive the U.S. economy.  Hundreds of billions of dollars in extra government spending did not do the trick either.  The U.S. economy is still dying and the U.S. government is now beginning to find it very difficult to locate buyers for all the debt that it is constantly issuing.”

Another out of Sweden states, “The big news this week in terms of enormous government transfer payments is, as usual, out of the Fed, as it embarks on an equally ambitious and ill-fated mission to buy $600 billion of US Treasury debt. Unsurprisingly, it’s not the only immense transfer of wealth taking place between governmental bodies. As spotlighted by Meredith Whitney, CEO of the Meredith Whitney Advisory Group, the feds are continuing to subtly bailout state governments at record levels and in an ongoing and unsustainable fashion which she describes in a recent WSJ opinion piece.”

The article also pointed out that “the largest 15 states by GDP spent on average over 220% of their tax receipts. Clearly, states have been spending at unsustainable levels without facing immediate consequences due to federal transfer payments and other temporary factors.”

Then, another article casts an even bleaker scenario as it records, “This is a defining moment–AMERICA IS BANKRUPT and the rest of the world is no longer willing to go along with Quantitative Easing, which means printing money out of thin air with nothing to back it up but global war! Every nation that has tried to print its way out of an insurmountable debt situation ends up embroiled in internal war and usually under the leadership of a dictator who is as willing to spill the blood of his countrymen, as fast as he prints more worthless currency! The reason you all have a sense of SOMETHING BIG getting ready to happen is the FACT that it is HAPPENING NOW. When all commerce ceases, no goods are on the store shelves and all transportation comes to a silent stop. Then will it be clear, even to those who finally get it, that the only ones who will be eating, other than those who have prepared, are the zombies, and none of us want to end up on their evening menu!”

We are obviously at a most challenging time in our history. Still, if God’s Plan is to unfold as we would like, then we almost have to have a scenario when all Israelites are faced with great turmoil so as Hosea prophesied, “… in their affliction they will seek me early.” It can’t be discounted that this coming collapse could well be a plank in the plan of those seeking one world domination and if they are to achieve this, then they must tear down the western Israelite nations. They, of course, are not taking into consideration the mood of the people if they all find themselves in the same boat, nor are they taking into consideration that what they are doing is being permitted by the Lord God Almighty, who will act once His People go to their knees in true repentance. The coming weeks, months and year will tell the tale of the conspirators.

From Michigan:

Dear Brooks: In reading Ecclesiastes 3 there seems to be a purpose for all that is going on in our world. How can we make sense of what is happening in America or the action of our leaders? I for one am fearful of things right now.

Editor’s Note:

Thanks Michigan. I replied to a similar question years ago and fortunately I can amend it slightly for a reply to you. I am certain, though, that all that is going on is a part of God’s Plan, even to the point of choosing your leaders and permitting the agenda they amend from day to day to achieve their ends. Most have shown that money and power have been their prime goals and in achieving this, they have brought in legislation that has not been in the best interests of Americans. As the above reply to a Vancouver reader suggests, there is certainly more confusion in our western nations that at any time in  history, primarily, I think, because Christian values have been so shunted aside.  I suspect the ups and downs, which incidentally are being felt by greater numbers all the time, will intensify as we approach the final end of the age, which most of us agree is not too far away.

Advice from Solomon “Look, we live by the Laws of God and all life, including all that we as God’s children do, are part of a cycle that is established by God.

Nevertheless, the chapter you touched upon should be viewed in both a personal and national sense. It is an exceptionally important chapter of the Bible and with the aid of the Wycliffe Bible Commentary, the Knox Bible Version and other commentaries; maybe we can throw a bit of light on its message. Actually, it is a somewhat melancholy message because Solomon points out that God has ordered all of life’s occurrences according to His Will and while He has given man a mind to look beyond daily occurrences to the total sweep of life, this power is limited, so we can never solve all the paradoxes of life. God has given us reasoning power but not enough to unravel all mysteries.  

So, the wise King Solomon offers advice. He is basically saying, “Look, we live by the Laws of God and all life, including all that we as God’s children do, are part of a cycle that is established by God. We might want something more out of life than we have but we can really do nothing about it. Therefore, it is of vital importance that we take what happiness we can from life while going through our days facing a series of events. We almost have to look at preceding and succeeding chapters to get the full impact of Solomon’s message but let’s at least examine Chapter 2 from verse 20. I suppose all of us reach a certain age and we reflect backward and try to take stock of where we have been and what we have accomplished. It can cause much frustration if we feel the road we have travelled was not been worth the effort and discomfort, particularly if the wealth for which we laboured falls into the hands of others, who never worked for it. Only a blind man could miss seeing examples of this in our nations today.

Solomon asks, “Is there any way out of this folly” and he answers his own question by saying, “Only by a new wisdom.” And Psalm 111:10 clearly tells us that the beginning of our wisdom is fear of the Lord. And “fear of the Lord” is an emotion that seems to elude corporate and political leaders as they so casually make decisions against the best interests of our nations. Anyway, Solomon begins Chapter 3 by stating that everything must be done by turns; every activity has been allotted time for its beginning and its end. Then, to emphasize, he uses examples, “men are born only to die, plant trees only to displant them, weep/laugh, mourn/dance, today’s gain tomorrow’s loss, what once we treasured soon throw away, and so on.

Solomon counsels us that the best thing for a man to do is to enjoy his work while he can.

He comments how wrong is done instead of right, injustice instead of justice and how the places of judgment are wicked. Yet, without immortality, we can go to the grave and not see justice. That is sad! Still, Solomon tells us that God will someday judge both the righteous and wicked; for there is a time appointed for every matter and purpose and for every work. Of course, we know that this will take place when the Lord Jesus Christ returns, evil and the unscrupulous will be fully compensated. In the meantime, Solomon counsels us that the best thing for a man to do is to enjoy his work while he can.