The Freedom Factory

The shackles of serfdom are being silently fastened to America. Every dollar Congress spends beyond its budget, every Federal Reserve Note printed, every tax, regulation, and government intrusion into our lives renders us less free. Ever wonder why it feels like it’s increasingly difficult to make ends meet? Remember the days when one spouse could work, the other raise the kids, and still save for a comfortable retirement? Those days are gone, but why? What’s next? The 5 Steps to Freedom: How To Cut Your Dependence On Institutions And Escape Financial Slavery, by Jeff Nabers explains what happened to our once prosperous society and how we can all take definite steps to escape what is to come. Continue Reading

HUD program turns out to benefit contractors and not the poor…go figure! China cranks up its printing presses-expect global inflation, Peter Schiff (“Dr. Doom”) discusses his book “Crash Proof”, Goldman Sachs plans to sell billions in stock to pay off government aid ASAP, gas prices up 5% in 3 weeks…inflation? Top U.S. general says we’ll be out of Iraq by 2011, and 75% of Americans want to lift Cuba embargo… Continue Reading

Bankers compelled to cooperate with government, Obama narrows goals in Afghanistan-ends “nation building” activities, expect more taxpayer handouts to automakers, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits Mexico to pledge U.S. support for War on Drugs…just the latest in your Freedom Under Fire Report! Continue Reading

Government says government owns AIG, U.S. weighs invasion of Pakistan to fight Taliban, cocaine trade funds Peruvian rebellion, consumer prices jump more than expected-what happened to deflation? Obama wants more control of financial institutions to ‘protect taxpayers,’ White House readying to join war against Mexican drug cartels, Czechs end U.S. missile treaties amidst ‘large-scale’ Russian rearming…just the latest in your Freedom Under Fire Report! Continue Reading

Obama plans massive federal incursion into education, banks want to return bailout money, U.S. naval ship repelled from Chinese waters, potential change to the Constitution, yet more violence in Iraq-dozens killed by suicide bombers-are Al Quada and Baath Party uniting? Citigroup on track for best quarter since ’07-lifts markets, traffic ticket destroys woman’s life, Ron Paul says we need more earmarks, and Fed chief calls for new financial regulations-Ron Paul says to regulate the Fed…just the latest in your Freedom Under Fire Report! Continue Reading

Adam Smith, who lived in the eighteenth century, provided the philosophical and most systematic arguments for the underpinnings of a laissez-faire economic system in his book “The Wealth of Nations.” Smith makes the argument that it was only the interference of government which disrupted the natural working of economic society and created poverty and decay rather than abundance and harmony. As Smith explained:

The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition, when suffered to exert itself with freedom and security, is so powerful a principle, that it is alone, and without any assistance, not only capable of carrying on the society to wealth and prosperity, but of surmounting a hundred obstructions with which the folly of human laws too often encumbers its operations.

The drive for greater government regulation is the drive toward increased poverty, unemployment and the loss of liberty. With the Obama administration pushing an ever expanding federal government plan to take control of our financial institutions, health care system, the auto industry, and its attack on free speech, the time is now to clearly articulate the differences between free markets and free people, and government administered markets and government control of our lives.

For Freedom’s Sake

Will stocks skyrocket after this week’s mark-to-market House meeting? Federal stimulus raises concerns over state sovereignty, Obama targets defense contractors, IMF marching towards Global New Deal, feds hold auto meeting to determine government involvement, and the U.S. dollar reaches highest level since 2006…just the latest in your Freedom Under Fire Report! Continue Reading

Level 1, 2, or 3 Assets? What’s the difference? These are terms used in finance to classify assets, and their definitions can have a huge impact on your portfolio!  As the recent sub-prime crisis and credit crunch illustrate, banks, brokerages, and other financial institutions have significant flexibility when it comes to pricing different asset classes. For instance, changing the classification of assets from Level 2 to Level 3 can magically change their value! Continue Reading