Fed Chairwoman, Janet Yellen, has raised interest rates for the last time under her tenure.  This is the 5th time interest rates have been raised under Yellen. For that matter, this is the 5th time interest rates have been raised since the financial crisis began in 2008! So we’ve had near 0% interest rates for 10 years and the fed thinks it’s getting tight when interest rates are at 1.5%!? This is crazy! We still negative interest rates when you figure in the inflation rate!  We’re not in some miraculous recovery like most in the media believe.

The Bitcoin futures market is now open! What does this mean for Bitcoin now that people have the ability to short it? If you look at a chart of Bitcoin it literally goes straight up!  How long will this bitcoin bull market continue? In a two week period, Bitcoin went from $8,000 per coin to $16,000!  There’s definitely a lot of similarities between Bitcoin and the tulip bulb mania from the 1600s. People literally were trading their houses for a single tulip bulb!  What, you say this time is different? From what I have seen from history, this time is never different.

More sexual allegations have come out and the latest person to fall and be fired is the long time “Today” co-host, Matt Lauer. Every day it seems like there’s someone else! Also, Janet Yellen fears a boom and bust if we don’t stay ahead of inflation by keeping up with interest rates. This is more evidence that my theory on Janet Yellen is correct. And Bitcoin has recently went over $10,000 per coin and now even the FED is thinking about making its own cryptocurrency!  Lots to get to on today’s show!

The House has passed their version of tax reform and now the senate is working on their version of the bill. Will the republicans get a bill through by year end?  This bill has gotten a lot of criticism from the media now don’t get me wrong this bill has a lot to be desired to get a truly great bill but it does have some good things in it.  Most people are saying this bill only helps the rich, this is lie!  This bill helps every income bracket by reducing your taxes. But what’s more important than cutting taxes right now…it’s cutting government spending! All government spending is a tax so that should be the first thing addressed and I don’t hear anyone on Capitol Hill talking about it!

Most people think that China is largest holder of our debt and so everyone is very worried about China and if they decide to dump U.S. treasuries. But China isn’t the largest holder of U.S. Treasuries, it’s the Federal Reserve!  They own more than double what China owns!  Also, Trump has made his choice for the new fed Chairman, Jerome Powell.  Powell is not an economists but he really is more of the same and he seems like he fits right in the middle between a Bernanke and Yellen.  Protect yourself from the destructive Federal Reserve!

This Halloween the PC police are at it again so what you plan on dressing up as this Halloween make sure you don’t offend anyone!  If you are dressed up in the Donald Trump Wall costume that must mean you’re a racist that hates Mexicans! Or if you’re a man and dress up as a woman you are making fun of transgender!  I mean seriously what the hell don’t people have a life!?  Also, what really is the key to influencing people in your life and pulling them to your side?  There’s one factor and skill that if you master it, it can completely change your life and you will indeed change your life!  I just got back from the Contra Cruise and boy do I have a story for you guys… I literally almost missed the ship at the last stop. Imagine running down the pier to the ship as the horn is blaring and it’s about to take off and I’m running for my life… Yep, that really did happen. Let me explain.

I came across a piece and this lady is showing her “facts” that is supposed to lead the reader to the conclusion that free market capitalism doesn’t work. That it’s in fact, the countries with more government control that are seeing the most growth today and are experiencing the most prosperity.  This article is such a teachable moment and it shows how people with similar “facts” can see things in such different ways!  How can we become better at communicating our message?  The simple answer is… to become better at arguing for your point of view, you must first become a good listener. Thinking you can convert someone on the spot in all likelihood isn’t going to happen, we need to think long term. We all have our own, unique light bulb moment. The question is… How can bring someone to their light bulb moment of clarity?

Last week I visited Cuba and it was an enlightening experience.  Imagine going to a city where it hasn’t been improved or maintained for 60 years… Yep, that’s the feeling I got when roaming the streets of Cuba. Everything is just really old, musty and colorless. People that have the mindset that government can provide prosperity is very laughable indeed. The government only consumes resources and allocates them in a very inefficient way compared to the private sector. On the world index, comparing countries prosperity, Cuba is ranked 177 and closely followed by the basket case, Venezuela. The government only gets in the way of prosperity!  We need to get more people to understand this!

John Hunt and Doug Casey are back with the second installment of the High Ground Series, “Drug Lord.” John discusses how the war on drugs is a complete disaster and how the government has made matters worse!  Also, the problem with legal drugs and the revolving door of cronyism from the guys at the FDA! For many people out there, legalizing drugs still sounds bat crazy but looking at the system we have today…is it really that crazy?  Look at all the unintended consequences of government making drugs illegal.  Instead of things being above ground where it’s safer and you know what’s in the good you’re consuming, instead you’re trusting a drug dealer! What happens to people that are addicted to legal drugs like pain killers? They seek a cheaper alternative called heroine! This out of control drug war needs to stop! The war on drugs has made it less safe, not safer like the government wants you to believe!

The Federal Reserve has finally done what many have thought wouldn’t happen…The Fed will begin shrinking its bloated, $4.5 Trillion balance sheet in October. This is the right thing to do but the question is can our economy handle it?  No, our economy is addicted to this funny money so this move by the Federal Reserve is the pin inching closer and closer to the balloon. This tightening by the FED will lead to the exposure of this fake recovery. All of the malinvestment that has taken place in our economy for years now will be shown for what it is…unsustainable! The question is…why is Janet Yellen really doing this? Why does she seem so bold and fearless now? Let me connect a few dots for you and I believe I have the answer to this odd scenario we find ourselves in today.