“We Are Here To Guide Public Opinion, Not To Discuss It.”
.“We Are Here To Guide Public Opinion, Not To Discuss It.”
Notes From the Field By Simon Black November 15, 2021
In the year 1804, only a few months before he proclaimed himself Emperor of France, 35-year old Napoleon Bonaparte stood before the State Council to discuss war with Great Britain. By then Napoleon had already become the most powerful person in France; he had led the Coup d’etat against the previous government in 1799, rigged the approval of the new French Constitution, and fixed his own election to become ‘First Consul’.
And as First Consul of France, Napoleon was essentially a dictator… and one who lusted for conflict.
“We Are Here To Guide Public Opinion, Not To Discuss It.”
Notes From the Field By Simon Black November 15, 2021
In the year 1804, only a few months before he proclaimed himself Emperor of France, 35-year old Napoleon Bonaparte stood before the State Council to discuss war with Great Britain. By then Napoleon had already become the most powerful person in France; he had led the Coup d’etat against the previous government in 1799, rigged the approval of the new French Constitution, and fixed his own election to become ‘First Consul’.
And as First Consul of France, Napoleon was essentially a dictator… and one who lusted for conflict.
Napoleon had actually threatened to invade Britain when he first came to power in 1799; plus he had spent the last several years deliberately provoking the British by diminishing their influence on the European continent.
Britain finally took the bait and declared war on France in 1803 as a way to preemptively safeguard their own security; they weren’t willing to sit by and wait for Napoleon to invade.
Napoleon was ready. But he was smart enough to know that he couldn’t do it alone-- he would need support. And that meant having the people on his side.
Napoleon had famously little regard for politicians, bureaucrats, clergy, and merchants. But he understood very well that it was the peasants who had risen up against the monarchy in 1789, plunging France into a decade of chaos and revolution.
So, standing in front of the State Council in 1804, Napoleon made his case for war… and selling it to the public. As he told the members of the council quite bluntly, “We are here to guide public opinion, not to discuss it.”
Napoleon was a master of censorship and propaganda. And throughout his career he meticulously oversaw every detail of what was communicated to the people.
He commissioned music, theater, and artwork that portrayed him exactly as he wanted to be seen-- powerful, heroic, victorious, and unstoppable.
He tightly controlled the press and dictated what they were allowed and not allowed to say.
(The number of newspapers in France actually fell from several dozen in 1799 when he became First Consul, to just four by 1814.)
And he completely made up whatever facts he saw fit, especially as they related to his military campaigns.
For example, Napoleon routinely issued ‘military bulletins’ which grossly exaggerated the number of enemies killed and captured, and downplayed France’s own casualties.
It is from these dispatches that the phrase, “lie like a bulletin” entered the French lexicon.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
Using an LLC for Estate Planning
.Using an LLC for Estate Planning
By Michelle Ullman Updated November 14, 2021
It can help you pass assets down to your heirs while avoiding taxes
Somewhere between a corporation and a partnership lies the limited liability company (LLC). This hybrid legal entity is beneficial for small-business owners and is also a powerful tool for estate planning.
If you want to transfer assets to your children, grandchildren, or other family members—but you are concerned about gift taxes or the burden of estate taxes your beneficiaries will owe upon your passing—an LLC can help you control and protect assets during your lifetime, keep assets in the family, and reduce taxes owed by you or your family members.
Using an LLC for Estate Planning
By Michelle Ullman Updated November 14, 2021
Reviewed By Anthony Battle Fact Checked By Amanda Jackson
It can help you pass assets down to your heirs while avoiding taxes
Somewhere between a corporation and a partnership lies the limited liability company (LLC). This hybrid legal entity is beneficial for small-business owners and is also a powerful tool for estate planning.
If you want to transfer assets to your children, grandchildren, or other family members—but you are concerned about gift taxes or the burden of estate taxes your beneficiaries will owe upon your passing—an LLC can help you control and protect assets during your lifetime, keep assets in the family, and reduce taxes owed by you or your family members.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
A limited liability company (LLC) can be a useful legal structure through which to pass assets down to your loved ones while avoiding or minimizing estate and gift taxes.
A family LLC allows your heirs to become shareholders who can then benefit from the assets held by the LLC, while you retain management control.
The tax benefit of the LLC lies in the fact that the value of the shares transferred to heirs can be discounted quite steeply, often up to 40% of their market value.
Just about any asset can be put into an LLC.
What Is an LLC?
An LLC is a legal entity recognized in all 50 states, although each state has its own regulations governing the formation, running, and taxation of these companies. Like a corporation, LLC owners (called members) are protected from personal liability in case of debt, lawsuit, or other claims, thus protecting personal property such as a home, automobile, personal bank account, or investment.
Unlike a corporation, LLC members can manage the LLC in whatever fashion they like and are subject to fewer state regulations and formalities than a corporation. As a partnership, members of an LLC report the business's profits and losses on their personal tax returns, instead of the LLC itself being taxed as a business entity.1
Benefits of Using an LLC for Estate Planning
You’ve worked hard to earn and grow your wealth, and you probably want as much of it as possible to stay in your family once you’re gone. Establishing a family LLC with your children allows you to:
Effectively reduce the estate taxes your children would be required to pay on their inheritance
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
12 Realistic Ways to Make Your First $1 Million
.12 Realistic Ways to Make Your First $1 Million
Barbara Friedberg Sun, November 14, 2021,
At first glance, building a net worth of $1 million might seem unattainable, but it's more realistic than you think. In fact, you don't even need a winning lottery ticket or a trust fund to join this exclusive club.
Your annual income certainly plays a role, but the way you allocate your funds actually matters more than your salary. When properly planned, a solid work ethic, responsible spending habits and savvy investing can grow your fortune to $1 million -- and far beyond.
12 Realistic Ways to Make Your First $1 Million
Barbara Friedberg Sun, November 14, 2021,
At first glance, building a net worth of $1 million might seem unattainable, but it's more realistic than you think. In fact, you don't even need a winning lottery ticket or a trust fund to join this exclusive club.
Your annual income certainly plays a role, but the way you allocate your funds actually matters more than your salary. When properly planned, a solid work ethic, responsible spending habits and savvy investing can grow your fortune to $1 million -- and far beyond.
Achieving this goal will require you to make some sacrifices, but the feeling of financial security is priceless. If you're serious about becoming a millionaire, it's time to start making some major moves. Craft a solid game plan by incorporating some -- or all -- of these 12 tips into your lifestyle and get on your way to making your first $1 million.
Boost Your Profit Margin
A profit margin isn't strictly reserved for businesses; it also applies to you. "By increasing the gap between what you earn and what you spend, you end up with a profit in exactly the same way a business earns a profit," said J.D. Roth, founder of Get Rich Slowly. "This profit can then be used to pursue your long-term financial goals."
To specifically reach a million bucks, you'll need to boost your savings rate substantially more than the normal 5 percent to 15 percent, said Roth. He suggested saving half of your income, and noted that you'll have to make hard choices of deferring present spending in exchange for future financial success. For two-income families, he suggested choosing to live on one income, and saving and investing the other salary.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/12-realistic-ways-first-1-110003107.html
4 Ways To Protect Your Account From Bank Fraud
Bank Fraud Is On The Rise — Here Are 4 Ways To Protect Your Account
Korin Miller June 3, 2021
One of the scariest things about internet fraud is knowing that someone could hack your bank account if they happen to get a hold of certain personal information. It's only natural, then, to wonder about how to protect your bank account from fraud.
Bank account fraud happens, and it can mean the difference between you keeping your hard-earned money and seeing it vanish. Bank fraud attacks increased 159 percent over the past year, according to an analysis of 12 billion global transactions over the past year by risk management platform Feedzai, making this a very real risk.
Bank Fraud Is On The Rise — Here Are 4 Ways To Protect Your Account
Korin Miller June 3, 2021
One of the scariest things about internet fraud is knowing that someone could hack your bank account if they happen to get a hold of certain personal information. It's only natural, then, to wonder about how to protect your bank account from fraud.
Bank account fraud happens, and it can mean the difference between you keeping your hard-earned money and seeing it vanish. Bank fraud attacks increased 159 percent over the past year, according to an analysis of 12 billion global transactions over the past year by risk management platform Feedzai, making this a very real risk.
Luckily, you don't have to just hope you'll avoid getting scammed. Signing up for a password manager like LastPass Premium can help ensure that you create a strong enough password — and remember it — so that bank account fraud won't be an issue (but more on that later). Here's what you need to know about bank account scams and how to protect your account.
What Is Bank Account Fraud?
At a basic level, banking scams involve someone attempting to access your account, according to USA.gov. That's generally broken into four categories:
Overpayment scams. This is when a scam artist sends you a counterfeit check. They then tell you to deposit it in your bank account and then wire part of the money back to them. The check is fake, and you'll have to pay your bank the amount — and you'll lose any money you wired.
Unsolicited check fraud. If you cash a check from a scammer that you received for no reason, you could be accidentally authorizing the purchase of goods or signing up for a loan you didn't ask for.
Automatic withdrawals. A scammer can create automatic debits from your account to qualify you for a free trial or to collect a prize.
Phishing. This is when a scam artist sends an email asking you to verify your bank account or debit card number.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
Practicing Gratitude Can Lead To A Greater Appreciation For People And Experiences
.Life Can Be Hard. Practicing Gratitude Can Lead To A Greater Appreciation For People And Experiences.
Maureen Ruh Fri, November 12, 2021
What is gratitude? Is it an attitude, a feeling or an expression? How do you best describe gratitude and its effect in your life? Broken down to a very simple level, gratitude is really about a three-step process of noticing what is happening in our daily lives, focusing on the good things and appreciating our lives.
It is important every day to notice even the small things that we experience (like sunshine, a drink of water) that we may have been taking for granted. Focusing on the positive aspects of our daily lives despite many opportunities to think negatively is important.
Life Can Be Hard. Practicing Gratitude Can Lead To A Greater Appreciation For People And Experiences.
Maureen Ruh Fri, November 12, 2021
What is gratitude? Is it an attitude, a feeling or an expression? How do you best describe gratitude and its effect in your life? Broken down to a very simple level, gratitude is really about a three-step process of noticing what is happening in our daily lives, focusing on the good things and appreciating our lives.
It is important every day to notice even the small things that we experience (like sunshine, a drink of water) that we may have been taking for granted. Focusing on the positive aspects of our daily lives despite many opportunities to think negatively is important.
Changing our awareness and focus will then lead to a greater appreciation for the people, events and experiences that happen in our lives.
Gratitude brings us a multitude of gifts. It benefits us mentally, physically and emotionally. Several studies over time have shown the benefits that result from a consistent and active practice of gratitude. People who are grateful tend to feel happier, sleep better, experience more energy and have greater mental clarity.
Gratefulness causes our brain to release more positive neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin which can improve our mood. Gratefulness can lower the presence of the stress hormone, cortisol. Increasing positive brain chemicals while reducing stress brain chemicals can help to assist with certain mental health disorders, such as anxiety or depression.
Stress often disrupts sleep patterns. Research has shown that gratitude journaling for five minutes before bed (writing about or listing the positive events of the day) increases our mental well-being which can contribute to an improved quality of our sleep.
People who journal daily have reported better coping skills when life challenges arise. They have noticed increased mental strength and emotional resilience. These skills help them create positive solutions, stay grounded and regulate their emotions more easily in uncomfortable situations.
Gratitude can also help with personal self-esteem and in our relationships with others. When we are grateful for what we have and who we are, we are much less likely to compare ourselves to others. Practicing gratitude helps us to release toxic and negative emotions, such as envy and resentment, while strengthening our positive emotions and feelings, such as happiness and empathy.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/life-hard-practicing-gratitude-lead-141913021.html
22 Utterly Clueless And Borderline Offensive Things Rich People Have Actually Said
.22 Utterly Clueless And Borderline Offensive Things Rich People Have Actually Said That Rival "Let Them Eat Cake" Please Do Not Be Like These Rich People !!
Sat, November 6, 2021,
Recently, we asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us the most clueless thing they've heard a rich person say or ask about money. Combined with some horror stories from rich bosses, we've rounded up some of the most out-of-touch comments rich people have made.
1."If you really care about helping elephants, you’d buy some and put them in a sanctuary." —sexyfart
TV Land
2."The owner of my former company said, when alerted to the fact that payroll had not gone through, that it was 'fine, because none of my employees are living paycheck to paycheck.' " —riggplustwo
22 Utterly Clueless And Borderline Offensive Things Rich People Have Actually Said That Rival "Let Them Eat Cake" Please Do Not Be Like These Rich People !!
Sat, November 6, 2021,
Recently, we asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us the most clueless thing they've heard a rich person say or ask about money. Combined with some horror stories from rich bosses, we've rounded up some of the most out-of-touch comments rich people have made.
1."If you really care about helping elephants, you’d buy some and put them in a sanctuary." —sexyfart
TV Land
2."The owner of my former company said, when alerted to the fact that payroll had not gone through, that it was 'fine, because none of my employees are living paycheck to paycheck.' " —riggplustwo
3."When I was pregnant, I was talking to a friend of mine about how I was worried I was going to have postpartum depression after my baby was born. She told me, 'Oh, don’t worry about that; only poor people get PPD.'” —zeeroworeez
Universal Pictures
4."In a class, we were talking about abusive work environments, and one girl was like, 'Well, I would just quit.' Several of us had to explain that just quitting your job is not an option for everyone. Sometimes you have to tolerate a horrible job while you look for a better one because you have bills to pay." —dellarock
5."I work in a bank so I have heard it all, but the worst was definitely a customer of ours that came in frequently. She once said, 'I wish I was poor like you guys. It’s too much work having all this money.'” —hillaryd45fdef058
Bravo
6.“'I imagine my childhood was much the same as yours.' Said to me by a man in his family castle, as we admired his collection of classic cars." —nikkinapalm
7."I was talking about how the washer and dryer in our rental busted as soon as we moved in. I was worried about how we would get another one. My boss gave me a look and said, 'You can get one at Best Buy for not that much, like $600 each? That's only $1,200.'"
"I responded, 'That's a lot of money.' She looked extremely confused. That was more than she paid me in two weeks; how in the world did she think I could afford that?" —Anonymous
ABC
8."I was having lunch with a former friend, and we were having a discussion about dental care. I mentioned that I had a tiny little discoloration on an otherwise healthy tooth. She told me I should just get it pulled and replaced with a veneer like it wasn't going to cost me an arm and a leg." —fluffyblackcloud
9.*The CEO of my previous company asked for a mandatory donation of $150 to Toys For Tots in order to attend our Christmas party. The donation had to be from your own personal money — mind you, at the time I was making $12/hour."
"Here's the kicker...the Christmas party was hosted at a fancy hotel and a 'cheap' drink at the bar cost $12–$15. We asked if he would cover at least one drink for employees, and he said, 'I refuse to pay for my employees' drinks when there are children without toys on Christmas.' One year I spent $200 between the donation, two drinks, and an Uber home." —Anonymous
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/22-rich-people-were-just-234602346.html
Be Ready For Anything in 2022
.Be Ready For Anything in 2022
November 12, 2021 Information Briefing #171 by whitehatauxiliaries
This will be a very brief article, our last for 2021. First, let us take but a moment to review a few things. In past articles and discussions, we predicted that:
Joe Biden could beat Donald Trump in 2020. He did.
Cryptographic Blockchain technology would continue to expand and positively affect the value of key ideas which would attract institutional interest and their capital resources. This is happening now.
Be Ready For Anything in 2022
November 12, 2021 Information Briefing #171 by whitehatauxiliaries
This will be a very brief article, our last for 2021. First, let us take but a moment to review a few things. In past articles and discussions, we predicted that:
Joe Biden could beat Donald Trump in 2020. He did.
Cryptographic Blockchain technology would continue to expand and positively affect the value of key ideas which would attract institutional interest and their capital resources. This is happening now.
The “revaluation” of certain war-torn currencies, and the expected instant wealth many expected from such, would continue to fail to materialize. It has.
Bolshevism would take root and grow in influence in both public and private sectors within Western and Western European nations, at the covert urging of the very same ethnocentric ideologs who were responsible for the creation of Bolshevism in the early 20th Century. It has.
Secluded dynastic Asiatic wealth would be prepared for release for responsible, non-usury purposes, and to, in part, assist nations with key infrastructure rebuilding. This continues to progress.
We could expand on and outline each above point with pictures and articles. But to do so would not allow brevity. So, we will not do so here. We will leave such a task to be performed in the comments section as a group effort. This is your site to experience, and, in large part, your written contributions make it what it is.
We will, instead, simply issue the very same warning to all of you which we have often times repeated in the past: BE READY FOR ANYTHING.
Anything, you say? Yes. Anything.
Disruption of utilities, food, power, police protection, transportation. The sudden shock of natural disasters as well. Always be prepared to access emergency rations, water, fuel, arms, shelter and power.
Your personal means of survival should be the foundation of your existence.
Next year we will be looking for continued digital asset gains. We also anticipate the successful commencement of key Asiatic elders’ wealth transfers.
From there, if these two activities proceed along the lines we anticipate, the combination of both continued traditional institutional cash inflows, along with newly liberated Asiatic wealth participation (via key London Trust guidance), we could see valuations of an unimaginable magnitude follow as a result.
Because we enjoy a rare, direct connection with the key London principal who works with and guides the dynastic elders as they marshal their resources for release, we are in the best possible position to hear of, and potentially act on, any significant moves that may stem from the impact of their success.
Thank you for your continued readership, and have a safe and prosperous New Year.
Strength And Honor WHA S*P*Q*R
https://whitehatauxiliaries.com/2021/11/12/information-briefing-171/
Helping Kids To Be Good With Money
.Helping Kids To Be Good With Money
15 Things A Personal Finance Expert Suggests Parents Do To Help Their Kids Be Good With Money
Thu, October 28, 2021,
I like to imagine I was raised to be financially intelligent (thanks ma and pa) but now that I have a kid of my own, I was curious what an expert had to say about raising kids to be good with money.
I write about personal finance and money, so you'd hope I have it together — and for the most part, I think I do. I owe my love of saving money and my abhorrence of debt to my parents who set me up with a bank account at birth, had me get a job as soon as it was legal, and made me save up for the dumb plastic toys I thought I just had to have.
Helping Kids To Be Good With Money
15 Things A Personal Finance Expert Suggests Parents Do To Help Their Kids Be Good With Money
Thu, October 28, 2021,
I like to imagine I was raised to be financially intelligent (thanks ma and pa) but now that I have a kid of my own, I was curious what an expert had to say about raising kids to be good with money.
I write about personal finance and money, so you'd hope I have it together — and for the most part, I think I do. I owe my love of saving money and my abhorrence of debt to my parents who set me up with a bank account at birth, had me get a job as soon as it was legal, and made me save up for the dumb plastic toys I thought I just had to have.
So I chatted with Beth Kobliner, the New York Times bestselling author of Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You're Not). Sometimes you've gotta pull out the big guns.
Here are her tips:
1. Start talking about money early on.
There's a lot of shame, stress, and worry surrounding money, so it makes sense that many parents shy away from the topic. But Kobliner says that to raise financially intelligent kids, you'll want to start talking about money early on.
"And not only should it be early, but financial education also needs to be ongoing. Here’s why: A study out of the University of Wisconsin showed that by age 3, children can grasp basic economic concepts such as value and exchange. And a University of Cambridge survey found that by age 7, many of the habits that help kids manage their money are already set."
There's a lot of shame, stress, and worry surrounding money, so it makes sense that many parents shy away from the topic. But Kobliner says that to raise financially intelligent kids, you'll want to start talking about money early on.
"And not only should it be early, but financial education also needs to be ongoing. Here’s why: A study out of the University of Wisconsin showed that by age 3, children can grasp basic economic concepts such as value and exchange. And a University of Cambridge survey found that by age 7, many of the habits that help kids manage their money are already set."
2. Show them how money works and teach them the difference between wants and needs.
The act of trading money for goods and services will be completely foreign to them. They may literally think money, and the things it buys, grows on trees.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/15-ways-parents-help-kids-194602014.html
16 Money Rules That Millionaires Swear By
.16 Money Rules That Millionaires Swear By
Gabrielle Olya Tue, November 9, 2021
Being a millionaire or billionaire -- especially a self-made one -- usually requires being disciplined about saving and spending, as well as investing wisely. Although the super rich can splurge on lavish vacations and fancy cars, some eschew a luxurious lifestyle for one that allows them to maintain their wealth over the long-term. So, if you want to live like a millionaire yourself, you'll have to follow the money rules of the wealthy.
Kristen Bell: Take Advantage of Coupons When Shopping Net worth: $40 million
"Frozen" star Kristen Bell still clips coupons despite her multi-million-dollar wealth.
16 Money Rules That Millionaires Swear By
Gabrielle Olya Tue, November 9, 2021
Being a millionaire or billionaire -- especially a self-made one -- usually requires being disciplined about saving and spending, as well as investing wisely. Although the super rich can splurge on lavish vacations and fancy cars, some eschew a luxurious lifestyle for one that allows them to maintain their wealth over the long-term. So, if you want to live like a millionaire yourself, you'll have to follow the money rules of the wealthy.
Kristen Bell: Take Advantage of Coupons When Shopping Net worth: $40 million
"Frozen" star Kristen Bell still clips coupons despite her multi-million-dollar wealth.
"I almost exclusively shop with coupons," she said on "Conan," sharing that her personal favorite place to shop with coupons is Bed Bath & Beyond. "It's the best one because they've got 20% off, and if you go and buy a duvet or an air conditioner or whatever, you could be saving upwards of $80."
Sara Blakely: Create and Maintain a Nest Egg Net worth: $1.2 billion
Spanx founder Sara Blakely kept her day job while starting her shapewear company to make sure she'd be able to maintain a healthy nest egg.
"It's really important to save money and create a nest egg, become comfortable for yourself with what the nest egg is, and don't touch it," she told Business Insider. "Leave it there. I always had a portion of my paycheck put into savings, and that was an easy automatic way ... I didn't quit my job until I'd already landed Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. I was so careful, I [worked on Spanx] at night and on the weekends because I didn't not want to have income coming in."
Warren Buffett: Think of Investing as a Long-Term Strategy Net worth: $104.6 billion
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett isn't a proponent of active stock trading.
"When we own portions of outstanding businesses with outstanding managements, our favorite holding period is forever," he wrote in his 1988 Berkshire Hathaway shareholders letter. "We are just the opposite of those who hurry to sell and book profits when companies perform well."
Grant Cardone: Save $100K and Invest the Rest Net worth: $300 million
Grant Cardone is a self-made millionaire, author and sales training expert. He recommends hitting a lofty savings goal -- $100,000 -- and then investing any money earned after you hit that amount.
"You need to prove to yourself that you can go out and get money," he wrote in a 2018 post for CNBC. "Saving $100,000 shows that you have an ability to make money and then to keep it. Most people can't do either of those things. Once you can earn and save, then you can start building wealth."
Mark Cuban: Don't Live Beyond Your Means, Even If That Means Living Like a Student Net worth: $4.5 billion
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/16-money-rules-millionaires-swear-011253670.html
What Not To Do While Trying To Get Out of Debt
.What Not To Do While Trying To Get Out of Debt
By Jaime Catmull Oct 7, 2021 Debt 101
Know how to pay off debt so you don't make costly mistakes.
If worrying about how to pay off debt keeps you awake some nights, late-night television abounds with alleged solutions. Some ads even promise to get rid of your debt for “pennies on the dollar.”
Fall victim to these “deals” and you might be left with worse financial troubles than before. But these aren’t the only foolish ways of paying off debt. Financial experts shared some common mistakes people make while trying to get out of debt — avoid making these same missteps.
1. Not Having a Reasonable Debt Repayment Strategy
What Not To Do While Trying To Get Out of Debt
By Jaime Catmull Oct 7, 2021 Debt 101
Know how to pay off debt so you don't make costly mistakes.
If worrying about how to pay off debt keeps you awake some nights, late-night television abounds with alleged solutions. Some ads even promise to get rid of your debt for “pennies on the dollar.”
Fall victim to these “deals” and you might be left with worse financial troubles than before. But these aren’t the only foolish ways of paying off debt. Financial experts shared some common mistakes people make while trying to get out of debt — avoid making these same missteps.
1. Not Having a Reasonable Debt Repayment Strategy
When sitting down to tackle your debt, the first step should be to see how much total debt you actually have. Add up any debt you have accrued from student loans, car loans, credit cards, medical debt, home equity loans, payday loans, personal loans and IRS and government debt. If you’ve been dealing with debt for a while, this might add up to a scary number that could leave you feeling overwhelmed, and you might feel like you don’t know how to even begin paying it back.
Why This May Be a Mistake
When you don’t have a clear debt repayment plan, your instinct might be to try to cut back on spending, save more and earn extra money until you’ve saved enough to pay back your debt all at once. However, if you are just making the minimum payments throughout this time, you’ll be accruing more interest all along.
Aim to consistently pay down your debt every month. Whether you want to tackle the highest-interest debt first or the smallest bill, know what your plan is and how you can achieve your goals.
Does It Ever Make Sense To Pay Down All Your Debt at Once?
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
Without Rule Of Law You’re Just A Banana Republic
.Without Rule Of Law You’re Just A Banana Republic
November 10, 2021 Notes From the Field By Simon Black
In the year 552 BC in the province of Persis in modern day Iran, a local sheepherder started a revolt against his ruler, King Astyages of the Median Empire. The sheepherder’s name was Cyrus, though he would become known to history as Cyrus the Great. Cyrus led the rebellion against Astyages for three years, winning the decisive battle in 549 BC; and with Astyages defeated, Cyrus went on to found his own kingdom that would quickly become one of the largest empires in the history of the world.
Without Rule Of Law You’re Just A Banana Republic
November 10, 2021 Notes From the Field By Simon Black
In the year 552 BC in the province of Persis in modern day Iran, a local sheepherder started a revolt against his ruler, King Astyages of the Median Empire. The sheepherder’s name was Cyrus, though he would become known to history as Cyrus the Great. Cyrus led the rebellion against Astyages for three years, winning the decisive battle in 549 BC; and with Astyages defeated, Cyrus went on to found his own kingdom that would quickly become one of the largest empires in the history of the world.
Cyrus’s new Persian Empire became vast and powerful. And Cyrus himself was revered by his subjects who believed he had been ordained by the god Ahura Mazda to rule over them.
But despite Cyrus’s autocratic power, the Persian Empire still had a very strong ‘rule of law’.
Whatever Cyrus decreed became supreme law of the land. Yet his rules were straightforward, fair, and stable.
He was not whimsical or petty. He did not change the rules at a moment’s notice, and he was very respectful of people’s individual freedoms.
Corruption was a capital offense. Any of Cyrus’s government officials who were found accepting bribes were put to death.
Lying also became a capital offense, which compelled politicians and bureaucrats to always tell the truth.
The court system was also highly revered; the king established the law, but judges settled disputes to ensure fairness across the board. Anyone who refused to accept the decision of a judge was put to death.
And dishonest judges were flayed alive, with their skin used to upholster courtroom furniture as a warning to the next judge who filled the bench.
His punishments may have been harsh. But Cyrus’s goal was to establish a strong rule of law where everyone could have trust and confidence in the system, and everyone had to follow the rules.
Rule of Law is incredibly important; throughout history, societies with a strong rule of law flourished.
When laws are fair, predictable, and evenly applied, businesses can plan and prosper. People can confidently invest in the future. Economies grow and everyone wins.
Where the Rule of Law is weak and corrupt, the opposite happens. Businesses can’t plan anything because the rules are constantly changing. No one wants to invest because they feel like everything is going to be taken from them. This is the sort of thing we’re seeing now in the Land of the Free.
Several weeks ago when Hunter Biden’s dad issued his royal OSHA decree, it was almost immediately met with a number of lawsuits.
Now, even beyond the obvious Constitutional and human rights issues, the nationwide mandate is extremely anti-democratic.
In a well-functioning representative democracy, there should have been a national conversation about a mandate. It should have been an election issue and essentially appear on the ballot. Voters should have had their say.
Yet that never happened. There was no national conversation. And any hint of discussion was shut down by the media and big tech companies. Any opposition was censored.
This is seriously supposed to be the world’s most advanced democracy?
Well it certainly took a while. But a US federal appeals court finally ruled a few days ago to temporarily block this nationwide mandate.
In a society where the Rule of Law is strong, the court order would be respected by all, including the federal government.
But that’s no longer the world we live in.
In fact, despite the clear and obvious judicial ruling which cites “grave statutory and constitutional issues”, the administration is still telling business to proceed with the mandate.
They’re flat out ignoring the court ruling. It’s extraordinary.
Sadly this is not an isolated event.
Recently a number of federal authorities raided the homes of journalists for supposedly being implicated in the ‘theft’ of the Ashley Biden’s diary.
If someone wants to report the theft of their personal property, this would ordinarily be a matter handled by the local police.
Only in a country without any rule of law would something so trivial involve federal authorities and the Justice Department. This is political persecution, plain and simple.
The list goes on and on. Several weeks ago, for example, the head of the CDC simply invented special authority for herself to take control of the entire $10+ trillion US national housing market.
This is all the stuff of banana republics. And it’s amazing how the people in charge cannot understand why no one trusts the system.
The bottom line here is that a weak rule of law is just another indicator of serious rot. History is very clear on this point. And when you see that even the government refuses to respect its own system, it’s really time to get your Plan B in order.
To your freedom, Simon Black, Founder, SovereignMan.com
Without Rule of Law you’re just a banana republic | Sovereign Man