Nicole Foss, World Financial Instability (and much more) March 31st 2012

  By emma | July 12, 2012 - 02:38 |

Written by: emma on July 12, 2012.
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  • Lyle

    Thanks emma – super! Passing it on.

    • Emmazedbend

      Absolutely the more people that know about Nicole Foss the better. Her website is 
      http://theautomaticearth.com/
      though I prefer to hear her speak.

  • lgrinaker

    Definitely on my “to do” list – thank you, Emma!

    Linda

    • Emmazedbend

      Yes I had to attack it in 3 sessions as its a lot to take in in one go. How are you?

      • lgrinaker

        I’m doing really well, Emma.  Thank you.  It’s sure great to see you posting… 

        Emma, I thought at some point you lived in the U.S.  I didn’t realize you are in Britain at this time (which I saw in a comment above).  Did you ever live in the U.S.? 

        I wanted to let you know that a recent video of yours, although it was difficult for me to hear at first, helped me to gain some perspective about various views on Obama Care (I had only been hearing from the far right, which is no fun at all, ;-)).  Of course, Obama Care affected me directly – I am now, literally alive and fully recovered, rather than facing a sure death in a couple of years – but I know there are all sorts of challenges with it.  It was good to hear from Randall too (in another thread), who lives in Massachussetts and experiences the direct, and apparently very problematic, effects of Romney Care.

        I think what I fear most is that it will take effect as it is now and some of the worst of what people fear will come about (for one thing among many, we’re so ill prepared for it as far as infrastructure – and it’s been so stalled along the way that there will be almost no time for any ramping up at all by the time it’s supposed to take full effect, so that it might be worse than would otherwise even be the case, and I understand that there are several other significant potential problems as well; and now that the Medicaid part of it has been made so uncertain…), and, I fear, it will, in some profound way, fail. 

        And because of that, we may never see anything else for a very long time to come, if at all, due to an outcry about what a failure trying to institute something on the road to universal healthcare may indeed be with this. 

        In a way, I almost hope for Romney to win, to be effective at dismantling it, as he hopes to; so that it never has the chance to come out as is; and then, perhaps, giving us another shot at something better sooner, rather than later.  (But Romney in office brings up so many other fears for me, that I might want to be careful about what I wish for, ;-)… for example, the prospects for the Supreme Court, with Ginsberg likely to retire soon, scares the daylights out of  me, ;-); and the idea that Romney has anything to contribute as far as job creation will, I think, be way too much of an eye-opener to the downside; etc..)

        I’d like to see something like an extension of Medicare, if we’re going to go for this at all, but with several years to slowly, but surely ramp up services (so that the infrastructure, especially the greatly expanded personnel needed, could be better built along the way).  I think that’s something of a pipe dream in this country though.  (Well, with how things are going, with more and more people losing out on affordable health care, maybe it will be less of a pipe in a few years than it might have been a short while ago.)  I think it’s very, very difficult, most especially in these times (and the times we’re going to be facing more and more) to have healthcare so directly tied to employers (which is also more and more difficult for employers).

        ~~~~

        My goodness.  At the moment, health care in the U.S., and less and less people having affordable access to it, seems like just one small part of the challenges on the horizon, I’m afraid.  As you might have gathered, I’m not quite with Nicole Foss on some of her economic assessment regarding the debt of sovereign countries.  But I so very appreciate her fierce intellect, which she applies to so many things, her calm, but also somehow urgent tone, and so many things about her.

        ~~~~

        Well, take care, Emma, and I do hope you keep on posting…

        Linda

        • Emmazedbend

          Hi there Linda,

          I live in Britain but I may have talked
          about my cousin who lives in St Louis, Ill. (I vainly tried to tell
          her about the up-coming troubles but she wasn’t interested).

          I can’t recall the Obama care video but
          it sounds like you have had a tough time with health care and now all
          is OK I hope I read that right?. The American health care system is
          very scary for those who can’t pay (I read somewhere major illness is
          the cause of half of the bankruptcies in the States).

          Although Nicole has some hard things to
          say I find I always come away feeling buoyed up because she is calm
          and positive and it transmits itself to me!

          At least we all here know what’s coming
          down the pike, I feel that is a privilege because we have had time to
          prepare mentally; most of my friends STILL have no clue and nor do
          they want one, I am alone in that respect.

          It’s taken me some years to absorb all
          the data on this and I can’t see people ‘getting’ it suddenly when
          things really start to go pear shaped.

          Anyway take care Linda glad you are
          well.

          • lgrinaker

            My apologies, Emma.  I think I’ve mistaken a video “vlogger” for you, possibly because the woman who vlogs (a woman who currently lives in the U.S., although she is originally European) has also commented on some of Nick’s youtube videos (back in the old days). 

            It’s so good to finally clear that up in this rickity mind of mine – I certainly don’t want to think of you as someone whom you clearly are not, ;-).

            Linda

            • Emmazedbend

              It seems a long time ago that Nick was on You Tube, I miss some of those old videos I had them bookmarked but then the whole lot disappeared. I don’t know much about Obamacare other than its an insurance scheme and some people like it and some people hate it! 
              We have a National Health Service, which has been good but is under great strain as all big systems are at the moment, on the news yesterday a young man of 22 died for lack of water after an operation, his observations weren’t taken for 24 hours, he actually called the police in to save him but it was too late; this shows a serious breakdown in the system.

  • Jasp

    Hi Emma, Thanks for posting this. Got through it in 3 bits. Good to see most of the interconnected issues being addressed, instead of just single aspects. hope you don’t mind if I pass it on. I do wonder whether this is preaching to the converted and how many people are not just feeling a general concern, but actually homing in on the issues. When speaking to others I sometimes get the impression there are a lot of them out there, but then there is a shocking number of people who have never even heard of any of these topics. Perhaps we all gravitate to what naturally interests us.
    I’ll be giving more people more regular nudges (unless sledge hammers are needed.

    • Emmazedbend

      Thanks, I have to watch 20 minutes myself, but she’s always worth it; I think I may go over it again as there was a lot to absorb.

  • Mystic

    ….

    • lgrinaker

      Hi, Stevo…

      • http://overthepeak.com/wordpress/ Mystic

         Ahoy Linda ….. Re saying hello to Stevo and the comment I have made to Emma below.
        You are now a Disqus moderator here.
        No obligations. No rules.
        You have the power …. if and when you feel moved to use it.

    • Emmazedbend

      Yes hello and goodbye Stevo.

  • Neal

    Thank you Emma.  Not heard Nicole Foss before but that was a breath of fresh air.  Balanced and cool on the workings and evolution of capital, pragmatic and realistic on our ability to face down the challenges ahead.  No posturing BS.

    Would be particularly interested to see these ideas develop concerning how sub-national scale communities interact on a global level – as both a political and economic counterweight to the divisive effects of nationalism in times of transition and stress.  Unfortunately, I agree with her entirely that europe in particular is headed for more dark times unless people generally start to seriously get to grips with ideas like this. 

    All that was missing was for Owen Wilson to walk on at the end and pick up that guitar!
     

    • Emmazedbend

      This is a link to an article which outlines her specialisms at the top:
      http://www.financialsense.com/contributors/nicole-m-foss
      She trots all around the globe giving talks to whoever will listen out of sheer goodwill, I don’t know where she finds the energy.
      The thing I found interesting was her description of the EU (I live in Britain) as an Empire, with Germany as the core, for the core to survive it must suck energy/money from the periphery. I suppose Britain may become one of those peripheries soon.

      • Neal

        Thanks for that. I like her approach and measured tone and will certainly dive in this weekend.  What I have been looking for is something that combines analytical rigour with an informed morality.  She fits the bill – as does imo (the REAL) Mr. Mystic!  Of course the real point to to get engaged constructively ourselves and that takes some working at.

        For sure Britain generally is undergoing relative decline, but to accept Germany as the core in anything but a bare bones balance sheet way would be to discount all of the shady power-broking of the City, foreign office, and their ‘associations’ that I have come across.  Seems that behind closed doors ‘Britain’ certainly does continue to punch above its weight.  …will probably never know exactly why or how that is.  All a question of what the alternatives are I suppose.

        If you missed the guitar throughtout a 2 hour presentation then you have probably outgrown the wannabee guitar hero stage I am perpetually stuck in!  My leitmotif for the current recession has been Owen Wilson’s “…hows your portfolio?” sketch.  Short and sweet black (market) humour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rTLZujmHXY

        Have a great weekend.

    • Emmazedbend

      I didn’t notice that guitar before you said!

  • Islanduniquest

    Informative, educational, thought proking, inspirational, and Hopeful. It is never too late to take responsibility, and make a new choice, make an informed change. Here’s hoping to make a difference! Thankyou Mystic for posting this video. I hear you want feedback ~ this is just to let you know I am surfing your waveform most mornings from Nanaimo, on the middle of Vancouver Island, Canada. I have watched and listened and learned a lot from Modern Mystic for a couple of years now, each morning while I get ready for work. I’m just checking in, so I don’t get booted out, lest you think I not participating. I actually feel your site informs and affects my day as I go out in the world, I am made more mindful of my choices in all areas of my life

    • Emmazedbend

      I’m sure that won’t happen Nick has a shadow on here posting under title Modernmystic and Mystic but it’s not him just a disgruntled former user.

  • axionication1

    Thanks Emma,

    Superb mind she has. Scan viewed the vid (not possible to devote the time). Have read much of her stuff though.

    She is definitely in the “collapse now, avoid the rush/ embrace the suck” camp (“” John Michael Greer). No namby pamby mmt for this girl.

    I like your links, please keep their posting up.

    • Emmazedbend

      Many thanks axion, I like to keep my eye on Nicole for the ‘finer’ developments (she called the capital destruction as a driver on the way down) I also like her humble approach; she is the Columbo of the Peak Oil world!

  • http://overthepeak.com/wordpress/ Mystic

    That was an all round good interview.   Thanks Emma~!

    • Emmazedbend

      Hi Nick,
      I’ve tried deleting ‘the shadows’ comments but it seems once a comment is on a thread its engraved in stone, and I can’t find him as a member to delete so I presume is is parachuting in from outside, do you know how to delete things from a thread or is it impossible?

      • http://overthepeak.com/wordpress/ Mystic

        Hello Emma,
        I thought Disqus would only allow one moderator, but check, I think you are one now as well.

        The plan with Stevo is to blacklist his IP addresses, as these are a bit of a nuisance to use (and where you get them from is a bit dodgy and easy to pick up viruses).

        I am leaving him to post as anything he wants (except as `Mystic`, which will get blacklisted as well as the IP).
        I leave the posts up, because they are just an exhibition of the silliness of the people of the world (I may delete if it is one of his really drunken rude rants).

        Give it a go.  Bottom left of comments now should be `moderate` and you can play along tootoot.

        • Emmazedbend

          Well I admire your patience, thanks for the moderator ability I will have a go at expunging him if thats OK.