The Sports Cycle and Western Society

 

In May 2015, U.S. federal prosecutors filed criminal indictments against fourteen FIFA employees and associates in connection with an investigation by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) into wire fraud, racketeering, and money laundering which was all centered around bribery. Then 16 more officials were indicted in December 2015. We also see that Super Bowl viewership peaked in 2015 at 115 million and has begun to decline from a major 26-year high. Last year, Super Bowl viewership fell to 111 million, which is actually the Bearish Reversal. So if 2017 comes in under 111 million, this will confirm sports have begun a bear market. This is yet another parallel with the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.

China, Russia eye closer friendship amid tensions with West

Putin and Xi shake hands at the end of a joint press briefing in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on June 25, 2016.PHOTO: EPA

 

BEIJING (AFP) – Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin promised ever-closer cooperation and oversaw a series of deals on Saturday, as the two countries deepen ties in the face of growing tensions with the West.

In what was Putin’s fourth trip to China since Xi became president in 2013, the two men stressed their shared outlook which mirrors the countries’ converging trade, investment and geopolitical interests.

“Russia and China stick to points of view which are very close to each other or are almost the same in the international arena,” Putin said.

Taxes and Economic Breakdown

Unfortunately, America is a country that increasingly believes that robbing from the rich is an acceptable expedient in financial hard times. Even if the country elects a new president this year, it will only prove to be a temporary reprieve. After all, both political parties are committed to the welfare state; and already that commitment is a prosperity-killer. Look at the national debt. Look at the number of businesses going under. There can be no economic recovery while the state continues to plunder the so-called “rich.” These same rich people invest their money, and that investment causes economic growth and creates jobs.

Our political system’s growing contempt for property rights must lead to the further breakdown of our economy. As with the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, the day will arrive when we can no longer afford to defend ourselves. In that event, a final act of assault and pillage could easily destroy our civilization altogether. If we are to avoid such a catastrophe, freedom must be our principle. A political policy of freedom must be upheld. As the Declaration of Independence says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Full article: Taxes and Economic Breakdown (JR Nyquist)

Detroit Isn’t Back, It’s Broken

The Tigers and Lions may be serious playoff contenders and Eminem may still be making hit records, but the city of Detroit is still on the brink of disaster. The Detroit Free Press reports:

On the same day Detroit officials delivered to the state a new proposal aimed at saving the city from fiscal collapse, Detroit’s financial review team declared that a severe financial emergency exists in the city.

The report may lead Republican governor Rick Snyder to appoint an emergency commission to once again bail out the desperate city. Detroit officials and residents are fuming at the prospect of the austerity measures needed to save the city from bankruptcy.

Residents cried racism and warned of mass unrest if the state intervenes. Of the 100 public comments, only one person delivered a reality check to the audience. His job title may have saved him from the hostile crowd.

“Detroit is nothing but pollution, crime, garbage and murder,” said Michael McMahon, a resident and cage fighter, eliciting boos and insults from the audience. “I believe in cuts, layoffs and firings. If they can’t get the job done downtown … I say fire them, send someone else from Lansing and clean up this mess.”

Full article: Detroit Isn’t Back, It’s Broken (Washington Free Beacon)