As former managing director and member of the board of directors of the Wall Street investment bank Dillon, Read & Company, and Assistant Secretary of Housing under George H.W. Bush, Catherine Austin Fitts has impeccable blue chip establishment credentials and pedigree. This makes her courageous whistle blowing on these corporatist saboteurs all the more credible.

She is also an MBA graduate of Wharton. In spite of this, the attacks on her have only focused on the fact that she signed a 9/11 truth petition.

To give a short and zippy summary, when Fitz visited with her medical practitioner, it was described to her how a tapeworm attacks its host, the human body, and how it survives. Hence she calls our economy a ‘tapeworm economy’ because we’re the host and we’re feeding the tapeworm. The more we feed the tapeworm, the more powerful it gets. The majority are ruled by the minority, and the small number of insiders constantly drain subsidy from the outsiders in a way that preserves their wealth while they suck all of wealth from the shackled middle class. Essentially, she notes how Wall Street finagled money from Washington (taxpayers) to finance a leveraged buyout of the country. This sits very nicely with my long-held notion that Wall Street Banksterism exists for the purpose of separating you from your money. As Catherine notes, the government has created, via force (Central Banking), the ability to print the paper while the military makes sure everyone takes it. Meanwhile, the US extracts natural resources on the cheap.

She also discusses the government move to centrally plan the food supply, agriculture, nutrition, and health, with national health care being a massive coup for the people who own us. She talks about how societies have moved from eating healthy food on a self-sufficient basis to a dependent role where people have become entirely dependent on corporations for food that is not healthy – she calls this “planetary slavery” of the most evil sort. Government policy, as she notes, is enabling corporations to have patents on life by creating terminator seed and controlling seed and food supply, as that supply is being genetically manipulated.

On that same topic, she discusses how the pharmaceutical companies have a negative economic return. By this she means that the health of Americans continues to deteriorate while they continue to make more money. Big Pharma goes to Washington to liquidate the wealth of the people and prop up the corporations. They force profits into the pharmaceutical cartel of the tapeworm. And government steers the profits their way. This is a non-alignment between the interests of the people and the interests of the corporate state.

She also talks about a lawsuit against RJR Nabisco for money laundering all over the world when the company was owned by KKR, one of the most prestigious private equity and leveraged buyout firms in the world. And while Henry Kravis was on the cover of magazines being held up as the next Warren Buffett by the American media, Catherine notes, “No he’s not; he’s the next mafioso.” But those people are honored because there is no transparency in the economy.

I like her take on how the “official story,” as passed off by the government and its minions, has nothing to do with the real story. The real deal eventually starts to sneak into the public mind, and when that happens the “attack poodles,” as she calls them, come out and try to kill any story that is told outside of the official story. And thanks to the Internet, those attack poodles are losing power and being killed off. After all, the numbers (and countless media bankruptcies and closed media outlets) are showing that big media is dying while people are gravitating to the real stories.

Catherine’s story is the real story.

Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency issued another one of those announcements read exclusively by government bureaucrats and green policy wonks. The EPA decided to delay a decision to increase the concentration of ethanol legal in gasoline from 10% to 15%. So-called E15 fuel would have to wait for approval until November.

It was a little-read regulatory decision that barely made a splash in the media. But it was also a rock thrown at Washington’s hornets’ nest of food and agricultural lobbyists. “We are disappointed,” warned food giant Archer Daniels Midland. “We find this further delay unacceptable” and a “dereliction of duty,” harrumphed ethanol lobbying group Growth Energy.

…The history of ethanol is a sad torrid affair of crony capitalism and green fantasies. By jumping in bed with the agriculture industry and blindly slapping on new regulations, the government artificially propped up an industry and put itself in a bind from which there may be no return.

Most certainly, the EPA decision is only a delay, not a reprieve. The delay occurred because even the central planning bureaucrats at the EPA know that cornahol is extremely inefficient (it leaves a sasquatchian carbon footprint), it reduces fuel economy, and it destroys automobile engines. We already pay for the vast sum of agricultural subsidies to prop up powerful corn interests. Meanwhile, Archer Daniels Midland and the rest of the massively subsidized corn industry will harvest huge profits due to favorable corporate state policymaking.

Mr. Purple has written an extraordinary article, laying out an abbreviated timeline describing how Jimmy Carter and Archer Daniels Midland CEO Dwayne Andreas struck a deal to create the subsidized ethanol boon and slapped a tariff (currently over 50 cents/gallon) on foreign producers of ethanol to eliminate the (more efficient) competition. Then came tax credits for producers and the Clean Air Act that conveniently attempted to exempt ethanol under Bush Sr., along with an attempt at a de facto ethanol mandate under Clinton. Purple remarks,

…nobody was crossing Andreas, whose ethanol empire seemed unstoppable. “There is an agricultural mafia in this town, and Dwayne Andreas is its kingpin,” wrote Frederick Potter, a Washington consultant. A few years later, Potter was singing a different tune. Andreas had become his client. By 1995, ADM was producing about 60% of America’s ethanol.

Along with Carter, Bob Dole and Tip O’Neill were regular policy contributors to the kingdom of Archer Daniels Midland. According to a commentary on the Fraser Institute website from 2009, the list of powerful presidential allies is predictable:

- President Jimmy Carter hailed his “gasohol program” as a way to “spur the investments that we, together, must make for a more secure energy future.”

- President Ronald Reagan boasted about how his first-term policies boosted ethanol production from 75 million gallons to more than 450 million gallons.

- President George H.W. Bush called ethanol “a homegrown energy alternative.”

- President Bill Clinton argued that “Ethanol production increases farm income, decreases deficiency payments, creates jobs in rural America, and reduces America’s reliance on foreign oil.” (See CFDC for Carter to Clinton quotes.)

- President George W. Bush trumpeted his administration’s role in boosting ethanol production to the point that “in 2005, the United States became the world’s leading ethanol producer.”

- And President Barack Obama argues ethanol “ultimately helps our national security, because right now we’re sending billions of dollars to some of the most hostile nations on earth” (Rother).

For more on the ethanol money trail, see Tim Carney’s “Obama EPA’s ‘science’ pleases powerful ethanol lobby.“ Also see Jim Bovard’s revealing 1995 paper, “Archer Daniels Midland: A Case Study in Corporate Welfare.”

I’ve been covering the topic of government-mandated 401Ks since the fall of 2008, and I even noted that I detected the unmistakable whiff of confiscation in the air. Writers and bloggers all ’round the ‘Net denied that point. To revisit this issue, let’s take a look at a post from last month by Karl Denninger at Market Ticker titled, “401k/IRA Screw Job Coming?” Karl notes a bit that appeared on CNBC where Rick Santelli was discussing the potential to “effectively force money into the Treasury market.” He links to this quote from Businessweek:

The U.S. Treasury and Labor Departments will ask for public comment as soon as next week on ways to promote the conversion of 401(k) savings and Individual Retirement Accounts into annuities or other steady payment streams, according to Assistant Labor Secretary Phyllis C. Borzi and Deputy Assistant Treasury Secretary Mark Iwry, who are spearheading the effort.

Karl comments further:

Let me tell you what this is – it is an attempt to prevent the collapse of the Treasury market!

Forcing people into Treasuries as an “annuity” is exactly what Social Security allegedly is.  Except that Treasury stole the money that was collected in FICA taxes and spent it!

Guess what?  They’ll do that here too – you’re going to “invest” in Treasuries which of course are effectively a CALL option on the future taxing ability of the government.

He also notes that the conversation on CNBC was omitted from its archives. Since then, the link has also disappeared from Businessweek. The link has also disappeared from MSN Money. Use your best judgment as to why they disappeared. However, in an article from the Buffalo News titled, “U.S. Wants Workers to Invest in Annuities,” there is some interesting information to be found. This article hasn’t been pulled – yet.

Keep in mind that any confiscation or forced (“mandatory”) plan will benefit the banking hucksters on Wall Street. As mentioned in the Buffalo News article, companies like AIG, Prudential, and ING Groep NV stand to inherit a windfall of profits upon any move to “invest” in annuities. Always, always follow the money. From the article:

Government success in getting workers to move retirement assets into annuities may prove profitable for insurers that sell annuities, Anne Mathias, policy research director for Washington Research Group, a policy analysis unit of Concept Capital, said in an interview.

Now that’s putting things lightly. This effort to prop up the collapsing Treasuries market with your money is being spearheaded by Assistant Labor Secretary Phyllis C. Borzi and Deputy Assistant Treasury Secretary Mark Iwry. Iwry is Timmy Geithner’s flunky. Says Iwry (bold is my emphasis): “There’s been a fair amount of discussion in the literature taking the view that perhaps there ought to be more lifetime income. The question is how to encourage it, and whether the government can and should be helpful in that regard.”

Per the usual, the government’s personal snipers devise schemes, behind the scenes, to get your money to pay for their massive welfare programs, corporatist rackets, and special interest pay-offs. Also per the usual, the corrupt and demonic AARP is working hard to push this along with their usurping Democratic friends in Washington D.C.

See my previous coverage on this topic:

- More on the Government Strengthening and Protecting Confiscating Your 401k.

- Saving Your Retirement by Spreading Your Wealth.

- More 401k Concerns.

- The 401k Usurpers Are Back.

Ask yourself if it is time to provide a little voluntary stimulus to the safe industry. See more on this topic. Follow my updates on Twitter at “karendecoster.”

Well, you know how I love words and how people use them. The story states that Dr. Ned Calonge, chief medical officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health in Denver, says that changing behaviors in obese children, when they are still very young, is an “investment” that will pay off in the future.  He notes that early intervention is “an investment that can pay off lifelong.” Hey, I’m off to TD Ameritrade to get me some of those shares! In fact, do I have to pay a capital gains tax on that? Or better yet, can I short ‘em?

As usual, just follow the money. From the article:

Calonge said that at least for now, there may be a shortage of programs. But, he said, as more children are referred, and more insurers start reimbursing for the treatment, more programs should become available. He pointed out that when mammograms were first recommended, few centers were available to address this need, but that hospitals and private companies quickly filled the gap.

Imagine all the treatment providers (health interventionists!) lobbying for this one?

On the other hand, a computer simulation may be the basis for a federal program to beat the salt out of people. Salt is the new target of the lifestyle control community – I suppose soda, sugar, and trans fat got boring after a while. Here’s a tip for the salt police (from the article):

Many food manufacturers have long sold “low sodium” versions of products, but generally they haven’t been popular with consumers.

These products are all processed foods, made by a half-dozen or so mega companies that make up the bulk of the toilet food industry, and they all get special favors, patents, and unique powers from their friends in government – the same government that is demonizing the products that it subsidizes and puts at the top of the food pyramid. Imagine trying to sort out that conundrum: someone will have to figure out who all gets wealthy (and not just Big Pharma), whose products have to go away, and what those companies will get in return for having their processed, disease-bearing (non-food) food berated and banned. Can you imagine a chain of Monsanto walk-in disease intervention clinics? Surely, major insurance companies will cover all costs and pay handsome rates. Or how about ConAgra alternative, fast food restaurants that use only the finest whole and natural foods such as Wesson Oil, Crunch ‘n Munch, Snack Pack pudding, High-fructose corn ketchup, and Orville Redenbacher’s super-healthy microwave greasecorn? (See ConAgra’s lung-killing popcorn here.) The government could subsidize adult meals just like they do those healthy taco-and-pizza school lunches (with a can of healthy-healthy fruit soaked in high-fructose corn syrup on the side).

We can call the new federal program, “No Corporate Interest Left Behind.”

The program contains two parts: money for homeowners for efficiency projects, and money for companies in the renewable energy and efficiency space.

A spokesman for Dow says this:

“The president’s proposals on weatherization and industrial energy efficiency will have the triple benefit of creating jobs quickly, saving consumers money and reducing our nation’s carbon footprint,” Plishka said in a statement.

Lowe’s also released a statement that voiced approval for a national incentive program. This is more political redistribution and corporate welfare gone wild – disguised as a benefit to the average Joe homeowner.

This latest redistribution scam will likely cover the purchase of air conditioners, heating systems, washing machines, refrigerators, windows, etc. According to a story on Bloomberg, someone in the government believes that “The rebates would put 600,000 to 850,000 Americans to work retrofitting 5 million homes and saving $3.3 billion in energy costs.” Haven’t we heard that before?

Two undercover investigators with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department allegedly caught two of the couple’s daughters on two occasions selling a gallon of milk each from a Springfield parking lot.

Ohhhh, god forbid the violence! Horrors!The shocking crimes being committed nowadays!

This is just another score in the government’s campaign against raw milk, or unprocessed foods of any sort. You see, selling unprocessed foods means that you remove giganta-corporate interests from the picture, and sellers and buyers willingly transact with one another outside of the statist framework that binds us all to over-processed, undernourished foods that make billions for the largest companies in America and the world.

The state will never allow a bunch of overalls-clad “hicks” – who sincerely cater to their customers with the products they want – to take away from the racket of the huge agricultural interests whose businesses are subsidized and propped up by the state so they can reap huge profits from selling you processed garbage that is a detriment to your health.

Make sure you see Glenn Greenwald’s sterling article on this coup, especially his updates at the bottom. Here’s an interesting timeline based on Greenwald’s article.

Bloomberg runs a “breaking news” headline at the top of its page this morning: “Geithner Aides Reaped Millions Working for Banks, Hedge Funds.” It summarizes what we already knew – Timothy Geithner’s aides/advisors/kingpins are reaping huge salaries from Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street megalomania brokers at they same time that they influence policy that affects the entire economy and financial system. However, the details of the story are startling.

The advisers include Gene Sperling, who last year took in $887,727 from Goldman Sachs and $158,000 for speeches mostly to financial companies, including the firm run by accused Ponzi scheme mastermind R. Allen Stanford. Another top aide, Lee Sachs, reported more than $3 million in salary and partnership income from Mariner Investment Group, a New York hedge fund.

Sperling and Sachs are each paid $162,900 at the Treasury. Along with four others, they hold the title of counselor to Geithner.

The justification for this cozy arrangement never wavers - we need these “top people” (brilliant people that cannot be found anywhere else) who have knowledge of the markets and financial system. Lynn Turner, a former chief accountant at the SEC, asks, “You just wonder, who is representing middle Americans?” No one, Miss Turner. The socialist-corporate oligarchy has become institutionalized within the American System, and all Main Street can do is elect presidents who further enrich the evil institution and call it “security” (Bush) or “change” (Obama). And the Federal Reserve overlords call it a path to “prosperity” for the middle class.