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Introduction
Theme “Alibaba Says ‘Open Sesame'”
Money & Markets This week in Money & Markets, Catherine discusses the upcoming Alibaba IPO, she also discusses possible signs of deflation. Catherine also covers the Russia/Ukraine situation and War vs Q.E.
Hero Our hero this week is Phil Laboon, a groom who after his wedding fell through turned it into a charity event.
Ask Catherine Catherine answers questions submitted by subscribers.
Question #1 –
Hi Catherine,
I am a young male who has just graduated college. I’ve read a lot about the prevalence of BPAs and synthetic estrogens that seem to have a presence everywhere in modern life, from various plastics to meat products and other foods. I have observed other males my age appear to be acting ‘feminine’, and their physical appearance to me would suggest that these types of synthetic estrogens appear to be impacting them. For example a lot of young guys have very skinny arms and ‘soft faces’. Do you believe that these types of estrogens may be deliberately designed to influence behavior and appearance in males? There are historical statements made by people like Charles Galton Darwin that would suggest that these methods were speculated about long ago:
http://www.oldthinkernews.com/2011/01/02/epigenetic-engineering
I speculate that the application of technotronic weaponry like HAARP may work in tandem with what I’ve mentioned to influence both the physiology and physicality of males. This may also be a factor that explains the sub replacement fertility levels in the West.
Question #2 –
Hi Catherine,
I’m a new subscriber from Canada. I found you via Jean Haines’ blog. I enjoy your interviews — and your sense of humour!
I have an interview suggestion for you:
Thanks for doing what you do.
Question #3 –
Dear Catherine,
It seems to me that with their control over what gets reported in the media, the powers that be could have made the problem of Watergate go away for Richard Nixon if they had wanted to. With this in mind, do you think they decided that they wanted to get him out of office?
Let’s Go to the Movies! Our movie this week for Let’s Go to the Movies is Mayor Cupcake.
Interview Discussion Catherine discusses her interview with author and Municipal Market editor for Bloomber, Joe Mysak.
Closing
September 18: How to Live a Free and Inspired Life with Rappoport and Farrell
September 25: Managing End-of-Life with Jo Kline Cebuhar
October 2: 3rd Quarter Wrap Up
“What I put in the stock market, I don’t have to touch in my lifetime. I want to live off my bonds. I want to be that safe.” ~Monica Seles
By Catherine Austin Fitts
For many years, municipal bonds have been a mainstay of American retirement portfolios. However, as the mortgage markets melted down from serious, systemic fraud, some analysts predicted that we would see a similar meltdown in the municipal market.
Of course, mortgage fraud depended on the MERS system creating a way for federal agencies and Wall Street to circumvent local government controls. That circumvention did not happen in the municipal market. Despite the budget struggles that state and local government are managing as they and we adjust to a changing economy and federal fiscal and monetary debasement, the municipal market has managed to avoid most of the pitfalls experienced in the asset backed markets.
It was Joe Mysak, Municipal Market editor for Bloomberg and author of the Encyclopedia of Municipal Bonds: A Reference Guide to Market Events, Structures, Dynamics, and Investment Knowledge who challenged the dire warnings, insisting that significant financial defaults would be more limited and that municipalities would manage through. He was right.
Joe and his team have just published their Municipal Market First Half 2014 Stat Book. Joe joins me this week for a Municipal Market Overview. We cover all the issues – from market performance, to the big defaults – Detroit and Puerto Rico – to the latest developments in federal tax and bond regulation, the condition of state and local pension funds, more budget challenges and the outlook for increased infrastructure investment. Even if low yields have kept many of us out of tax-exempt bonds, this market is an important window on what is happening on the ground in North America. Talking with Joe is always fascinating – his insight is rich with history and network.
In Money & Markets this week I will discuss the latest in financial and geopolitical news.
In Let’s Go to the Movies, I will review Mayor Cupcake, a family comedy about a local baker whose kids nominate her to serve as Mayor of her small town. She proceeds to restore the town budget to a lawful basis. On one hand, you might think it is silly. On the other hand, if we could turn loose a similar process across the country, we could return integrity to a meaningful portion of the economy. Mayor Cupcake implies that local guys are skimming. I believe they only get a small cut – that a major portion is going to the folks at the top. Whatever the allocations, Mayor Cupcake is a reminder that rejuvenating the economy on Main Street requires integrity in the dimes and dollars of local finances. I live in a town with a Mayor and city council members I trust to watch every penny. It is a good feeling – like the one you get watching Mayor Cupcake – and a feeling I wish for all of us.
