05/15/17

Weekly Featured Profile – Tom Michalak

Tom Michalak

Tom Michalak is a Detroit Michigan activist and a member of the Workers World Party.

Circa 2011, Michalak was active in the Communist Party USA youth wing, the Young Communist League and in Occupy Detroit.

Tom Michalak went to Moscow in February of 2015, as part of a small delegation of “peace activists” from the United States.

Our goal was to demonstrate that among working people of all countries, cooperation is possible and in our best interests. The other delegates were Oscar Hernandez Santoyo of Milwaukee, an immigrant rights activist with “Youth Empowered in the Struggle” and Joe Iosbaker, of the Rasmea Defense Committee and the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

The host during our stay in Moscow was Alexander Ionov, president of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia. This is not a homogenous organization representing one ideological current. Some of its members subscribe to Korean socialism and some are “Putinists,” that is, champions of the Russian president, among other tendencies. The underlying current among the membership is staunch opposition to Western imperialism and the belief that all nations have the right to self-determination.

On the wall in the group’s office are framed photographs of Hafez and Bashar Al-Assad of Syria, Kim Il Sung of socialist Korea, Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara of Cuba, Moammar Gadhafi of Libya and Omar Torrijos of Panama — all political leaders that U.S. imperialism has demonized.

The Anti-Globalization Movement held weekly demonstrations in solidarity with the Cuban 5 political prisoners as well as a demonstration in solidarity with the “Black Lives Matter” movement outside the U.S. Embassy.

Michalak addressed the conference:

Brothers and Sisters,

It is truly an honor and a privilege to come from my home in Detroit, USA, to speak to you all today. This year as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of military and political defeat of German Nazism at the hands of the various brave peoples of what was then the USSR.

The trip was paid for by the Russian government funded Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia.

In 2016, Tom Michalak was involved in anti-Trump rallies in Detroit and New York.

(Tom Michalak|more…)

05/15/17

Fighting Anti-America/Anti-Trump Resistance in Montana

By: Lloyd Marcus

Hi Folks. I’ve been kind of out of the loop because Mary and I are in the process of moving from Florida to a tiny town in West Virginia to be closer to our parents and family. We’re taking a break from packing to fly to Montana to join the Conservative Campaign Committee team in their quest to defeat extreme liberal Democrat Rob Quist running for congress.

This guy is yet another vitriolic operative of the Left’s treasonous anti-America and anti-Trump Resistance. Quist’s agenda is the polar opposite of Trump’s agenda to make America great again. Quist wants to severely cut funding of our military. He wants government controlled healthcare. He wants new gun control laws. Quist was a fan of the lawless, disgusting and obscene Occupy Wall Street movement. http://bit.ly/2qjOd2h

Quist contributed monthly to Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign who boldly proclaimed his mission to transform America into a socialist nation. The last thing America and Trump needs is Quist in DC; there solely to be a thorn in Trump’s side, blocking him from doing what We the People sent him to Washington to do.

These people on the Left are obsessed with taking out Trump and they have no problem taking down America in the process. Our country be damned as long as they can get Trump out of the Oval Office.

I’m a black American. The more I think about it, the more I conclude that I could never lower myself to become a Democrat. My goodness, look at what they stand for. Everything coming out of that bunch is about lowering cultural, moral and behavioral standards and redistributing peoples’ hard earned money to give to the lazy to create more loyal Democrat voters. It’s disgusting.

Democrats say Trump is a hate-filled demon for vowing to raise every American higher. Trump is dismantling Obama’s obstacles blocking Americans from experiencing the dignity and pride of earning their own way. http://bit.ly/2pLoKgY

Democrats love to promote the lie that Republicans are against a safety net. Nonsense. We are a compassionate nation and will always have a safety net. Trump is simply transitioning from 8 years of Obama’s Leftest ideology which encouraged Americans to use our safety net as a hammock.

Trump’s philosophy is much more upbeat, positive and in sync with the human spirit; to strive, achieve and be the best one can be. That’s the kind of people I want to hang out with rather than you-owe-me-your-stuff losers.

Democrats insidiously divide Americans into voting blocs. They tell each voting bloc that they are victims of straight white American males. Democrats convince their so-called victimized groups that voting democrat is protection insurance against the racist, sexist, wealthy and homophobic whites who are out to get them. Democrats promote their lie 24/7 that the millions who elected Trump hate everyone who is not a straight white male. Can any good possibly come out of promoting such a dark, negative and depressing view of ones own country? So, no thanks. I could never lower myself to become a Democrat.

Clearly, Democrats have no intention of lessening their efforts to destroy Trump. Quite, the opposite. They are doubling and tripling down, grasping at straws to brand Trump a monster to separate him from his supporters. To promote Democrat’s lie that Trump is mean, an absurd news story said Trump gets two scoops of ice cream while his WH dinner guests only get one. http://cnn.it/2qxs5Vl Democrat’s anything-to-destroy-Trump fake news reporting will continue to intensify for the remainder of his presidency.

This is why we who love America must stay engaged. This is why Mary and I are interrupting our relocation to fly to Montana; leaving our pet-sitter with a house filled with boxes. Mary seems to want to take everything from our Florida home to our new home in West Virginia. But that’s another story.

Democrats are dumping tons of money into their Montana Rob Quist for congress (anti-Trump initiative), out fund-raising Republican Greg Gianforte. http://bit.ly/2rfTZlQ

Democrats are masters of deception, bait and switch. For example, while campaigning in Georgia to defeat Jon Ossoff, I heard Ossoff say in TV ads he wants less government and lowered taxes. Ossoff lied to deceive voters in the mostly conservative district. In reality, Ossoff is an extreme leftist who wants government controlling every aspect of our lives and redistributing wealth to achieve the Left’s mythical “social justice”. Pelosi and the Democrats have high hopes for Ossoff to play a major role in their anti-make America great again treason. http://bit.ly/2qhz17n

Upon seeing Rob Quist, country singer, cowboy hat and guitar, I thought, “Wow, this guy is one of us; loves his country and values that have made America great.” Man was I wrong. The guy is a radical America hating extreme liberal; more Democrat deception, bait and switch. Rob Quist must be defeated.

Montana, here we come! http://bit.ly/2rfTZlQ

Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American
Author: “Confessions of a Black Conservative: How the Left has shattered the dreams of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black America.”
Singer/Songwriter and Conservative Activist

05/15/17

Will Political Considerations Continue To Dominate The Headlines?

By: Kent Engelke | Capitol Securities

The rally in mega cap tech sticks is poised to close a final chapter in the history of the dot-com bubble.

According to Bloomberg, after a 17-year hiatus, the S & P 500 Technology Index is close to rising above its March 2000 peak. This index, led by its five biggest companies which are up an average of 24% in 2017, has soared about 17% for the year. The five companies are Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook.

According to Bloomberg, the combined capitalization of the above 5 is just under $3 trillion and is 17% of GDP — the greatest share ever. These issues also comprise 33% of the NASDAQ’s value. Wow!!

Further referencing Bloomberg, these five companies’ capitalization would be ranked as the world’s fifth biggest economy.

In my view, the above data is incredible, directly supporting my assertions that the advance has been myopic. I believe the massive proliferation of capitalization driven ETFs and electronic based trading is a major reason for this incredible advance.

Historically, such a buying stampede ends ugly. In some regards, today is perhaps analogous to the railroad mania of the late 1800s. Will today’s era end in a similar manner?

Many times I have opined the economy is on the verge of greater than expected growth. What is required is tax and regulatory reform and increased monetary velocity. As evidenced by virtually every sentiment indicator, confidence is at the highest level in at least 10 years.

However, because of regulatory/tax strangling, monetary velocity or the turnover of money is virtually nonexistent. In fact, according to Bloomberg, monetary velocity is at the lowest level since 1959.

Wow! This data point is also incredible. What happens if monetary velocity accelerates and a portion of excess bank reserves are utilized in a more productive manner? As noted last week, there is a record amount of Treasury yields that have a negative real yield. If history is of any guide, it is not if a transition will occur, but rather as to when.

What will happen this week? Will political considerations continue to dominate the headlines? The economic calendar is comprised of manufacturing and housing statistics.

Last night the foreign markets were mixed. London was up 0.10%, Paris was down 0.11% and Frankfurt was down 0.11%. China was up 0.22%, Japan was down 0.07% and Hang Sang was up 0.86%.

The Dow should open nominally higher as oil is up about 3% on prospects that Saudi Arabia and Russia will continue production for another 9 months, 50% longer than expected. The 10-year is off 2/32 to yield 2.34%.