Who’s Making A Killing From the Paris Terror Attacks?

By Daniel McAdams

Terrorism is great for business if you’re in the business of growing the government leviathan. The bodies in Paris are not yet buried, while the vultures with dollar signs (and pounds and Euros, etc) in their eyes have already swooped down for a feast.

Terrorism, what is it good for?

1) The military-industrial-Congressional complex: Thanks to Glenn Greenwald for bringing to light the enormous profits that are already rolling in for the merchants of death as Paris still smolders. As Greenwald points out, the markets could hardly wait to start buying from these military suppliers:

Why The Govt, Media and Academia Hate It When You Don't Vote

Voting is the holy sacrament of politics and it is greatly frowned upon by the state, media, academia etc if you decide not to participate.  

It disturbs politicians and the politically connected that some people do not subscribe to the notion that politicians should be supreme rulers -this weakens the powers at be and undermines and demystifies politicians and their authority. 

These are the ideas politicians and their friends fear and work hard at dismissing. Imagine what a scare for the politician if no one showed up election day. Politicians would lose the affirmation of somehow being superior along with the authority to tell us what to do and spend our money!

The PNM / UNC / COP / ILP Political Manifesto Cheat Sheet

Because we should not expect much in terms of policy proposals and manifestors during the current Trinidad and Tobago election cycle, here are some proposed ideas either the People's National Movement (PNM), United National Congress (UNC) or any of the political parties can consider for presentation on their political platforms ahead of the general election in 2015.

• Increase the Personal Tax Allowance Immediately to $120,000

Under T&T's tax system implemented in 2006 all individual taxpayers are granted a Personal Allowance of $60,000 per year. This means that you do not pay income tax on your first $60,000 of income and 25% on amounts above $60,000. 

Since 2006 however inflation which has averaged a minimum of 9% has stolen purchasing power away from salaried workers and persons on fixed incomes. At the same time food prices have averaged annual increases of 17%. 

To mitigate this patently unfair reality the personal tax allowance should be expanded equivalent to the rate of inflation which means tax allowances in 2014 should be at least $117,000. Any intellectually and morally honest Ministry of Finance should embrace this principle so as to offer relief to an already over taxed population. 

Trinidad and Tobago's Foreign Exchange Shortage Not Just Bad for Business - It's Worse For Individuals

Everyone agrees the shortage of foreign exchange is bad for business. It limits the ability of the business community to purchase imports which are in turn offered for sale locally. 

While the Central Bank of T&T issues regular press releases of how much $US it has pumped into the system; individuals not connected politically or to the commercial banks don't have access to these injections.

Its obvious, that given the severe declines in energy production and consequent declines in exports ($US earnings) there will be increasing scarcity of US dollars locally. This, coupled with the fact that the T&T government continues to flood the economy with newly minted $TT to fund social programmes means the $TT is losing value rapidly. 

These 19 passports (T&T's included) will be a lot more valuable on July 1st

by Simon Black

That last one is a major issue, because travel is a huge opportunity.

It seems strange that a complete accident of birth has such a massive impact on someone’s life.

We don’t get to control where we’re born. It’s a fluke really. Yet as soon as we come into this world a particular nationality is thrust upon us like a birthmark that stays with us for life.

Our nationality dictates so many things throughout our life.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Politician?

Why would any private citizen want to become a politician? Many current and aspiring politicians are qualified professionals, with at least average ability to earn a living in the marketplace; often higher than a ministerial salary. 

Their names and families are / will be frequently slandered in the news media and they endure microscopic scrutiny by the public. Yet many voluntarily and eagerly put their feet towards the fire. Are these politicians or potential candidates so altruistic and sacrificial in nature? Do they somehow possess an innate insatiable desire to seek the public interest? 

The Art of Bribing

By Jayant Bhandari

Many years back, a relative in India was trying to transfer a property that he had bought. He had failed to offer a bribe, had rubbed the fragile ego of a bureaucrat the wrong way, and now an inked-note on the file was pre-empting the transfer.

The bureaucrat was enjoying a certain kind of pleasure from making my relative run around in desperation.

To hurry things up, my relative decided to take help of a Minister in the government. To my utter surprise, the three of us went to the bureaucrat—I had thought the bureaucrat would come to the Minister’s office. After much pleading, we were told the property could not be transferred.

A note had been made in ink and now it was not possible to undo the damage.

The property, we were told, would not be transferred.

A cash contribution to the Minister for “electoral campaigning,” despite that there were no elections in sight, had been wasted.

A few months later, we again ended up in the same bureaucrat’s office, but without the Minister. On this occasion, a bribe had been pre-arranged. The transfer was quick.

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Acquiring A Home in T&T - 35 Tips, Tools and Tricks

Acquiring a personal residence in Trinidad and Tobago especially for the young and middle aged working class is not easy -but not impossible. 

As I've outlined before the state is the primary culprit making home ownership cost prohibitive by indiscriminately expanding the money supply (money printing) thereby causing inflation. The state also limits the supply of new homes via a burdensome regulatory bureaucracy (Town & Country etc) . 

That being said you can refuse to be a victim of state oppression by adopting lifestyle habits that will offer you a better opportunity at financial independence and success. So called leaders will tout a government "solution", but be forewarned this is an oxymoron. On the contrary a politician does not offer independence and autonomy; rather he seeks to create dependency and reliance to secure political control. 

At the risk of being politically incorrect and offending people in society who are believed to have a disadvantage here are some quick tips that will help you on your journey to home ownership and/or financial success.

1. Don't do drugs
2. Don't engage in high risk sexual activity 
3. Avoid becoming a single mother / father
4. Don't chase women / men (they deplete your resources)
5. Get married, settle down - two incomes can achieve more than just one
6. Avoid gambling even on a small level - play whe, casinos etc
7. Cut out alcoholic consumption
8. Don't smoke

The Minimum Wage In Trinidad & Tobago

On January 1st 2015 Trinidad and Tobago's minimum wage was increased from $12.50 to $15.00 per hour. Ironically most workers in T&T earn more than the mandated $15.00/ hr anyway, because of inflation and economic crowding out (i.e. wages being bid up because of excessive government demand in the labour market). Therefore the negative effects of the minimum wage in T&T will be contained.

Trinidad & Tobago's Distraction of the Week: Bullying in Schools

Trinidad and Tobago's most recent distraction of the week is the "bullying epidemic" in schools. There should be no surprise that violence and indiscipline in schools are on the rise as a result of decades of failed government education / social policy including but not limited to:

• The removal of corporal punishment in schools for political reasons.  
• Political pandering to the Trinidad & Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) that ensures there is no accountability or repercussions for teacher non performance.
• The dwindling number of male teachers and administrators -who because they are primary breadwinners will not consider teacher as a financially viable occupation due to the rising cost of living caused by bureaucracy, taxes and government created inflation via the Central Bank expansion of the money supply.
• The rendering of fathers in some homes redundant as a result of extensive public assistance options geared towards single mothers and women in general. 

How the T&T Central Bank Expands The Money Supply and Devalues The $TT

In order to obscure the role of the Trinidad & Tobago Central Bank (TTCB) in stealing wealth via legalized counterfeiting the TTCB like other central banks engage in a scheme called "Open Market Operations." 

The term itself is a euphemism as it is neither open nor a market phenomenon; rather its a technique that furthers increased government spending at the expense of the unsuspecting working class.

On one hand, to directly fund government spending the TTCB sells government bonds. On the other hand, the TTCB subsequently buys back government bonds by increasing Commercial Bank balances electronically held at the Central Bank as payment. The money supply therefore expands and causes inflation.

Wondering Why Trinidad Fete Prices Are So High?

Thank your Government (Working For You) and the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago. 

Data source: Central Bank Trinidad & Tobago

When the Central Bank increases the money supply (prints money or electronically puts it into circulation) prices of everything go up; since each individual dollar becomes less valuable. 

On "RICH BASTARDS"

By Thomas J. Sowell

Some time ago, burglars in England scrawled a message on the wall of a home they had looted: "RICH BASTARDS."

Those two words captured the spirit of the politicized vision of equality — that it was a grievance when someone was better off than themselves.

That, of course, is not the only meaning of equality, but it is the predominant political meaning in practice, where economic "disparities" and "gaps" are automatically treated as "inequities." If one racial or ethnic group has a lower income than another, that is automatically called "discrimination" by many people in politics, the media and academia.