July_2011

July 11, 2011
The below was emailed directly to Subscriber Participants this morning at 9:30 AM

Heads-up Rough Planetary Weather Today & Tomorrow

     The July 4 In-depth Forecast, Tipping Point, explained the U.S. economy has reversed direction and is heading downward again. It did not address the Federal debt limit issue, as that is a singular political one, not economic.

     However, increasing the debt limit is a real and serious issue, and if agreement is not reached, then the worst of the economic planetary karmas suggested in Tipping Point beginning July 28 will actualize.

      Below is a screen shot from the March 7 Vedicleaks. As you can see, the issues remain the same now three months later, and the stalemate has hardened, like mortar in a brick wall.

     That brick wall has hardened with Republicans fixated on not raising more revenue, even from closing unnecessary and truly unfair tax loopholes for the rich. On the Democratic side, there's been an outcry against President Obama cutting the retirement and health care safety net, especially Social Security, and this article explains the issue, Change To Inflation Measurement On Table As Part Of Budget Talks, the proposal would shift how the Consumer Price Index is calculated to reflect how people tend to change spending patterns when prices increase. For example, consumers tend to drive less when gas prices increase dramatically. They call it Chained Consumer Price Index. It's actually just the old economic theory substitution, and it results in lowering quality.

     I sent this on Friday to Pipe-smoking Yoda, the Celestial Wheel editor, This idea of measuring inflation for Social Security COLA by using product substitution is wrong and unfair. It lowers the quality of life. It means we substitute chicken for steak, then hot dogs for chicken. We substitute canned veggies for fresh veggies and then mac and cheese for the canned veggies. It means we substitute motor scooters for cars and then bicycles for scooters and finally end up walking. Lots of examples can be used. Social Security is an insurance program we all paid into, which is fully funded until at least 2035, and it is unfair to change the rules and cut back benefits, and thereby the quality of life -- just because the government screwed up taxes and spending in other areas -- like the military! This is like Marie Antoinette's famous quote about French revolutionaries, "Let them eat cake," it's cheap. And like a chronic disease, it doesn't happen right away but rather slowly eats away at the quality of life. The result is the Democrats are now just as adamant as the Republicans.

     And, chained consumer price index is not just happening in Washington. It's a national movement. See, COLA Wars: Deficit Cutting Takes Aim at Cost of Living Adjustments. Meanwhile, income and wealth keep shifting up to the rich, and Obama's proposal continues that trend. We're gonna need a better word for the rich. I personally like aristocracy, like Marie Antoinette said, Let them eat cake! (it's cheap)

     Obama's proposed cuts on Medicare have even more onerous impacts, but just understanding Obama's proposed Social Security cut is enough to sound the fire alarm.

     This article explains well the situation, Obama’s failed debt ceiling gamble.

     I haven't written much about Obama's Vedic chart, but some salient karmas are: Accommodating Venus in the sixth house of enemies makes him a diplomat, but also a compromiser. His fallen Jupiter robs him of wisdom and luck, and he's running that planetary cycle (Dasa) -- 1996 to 2012. His minor Dasa planet is currently Rahu -- February 2010 to July 2012.   His Rahu (the head-of-the-dragon eclipse point) is with Mars in the eighth house of life and turmoil. This combination makes him the energizer bunny, but it also gives Obama a shell of outer bravery and inner fear. Finally, it brings disaster. So, the question is like the bad joke about the Sedona sweat lodge murders, "How would you like to be cooked -- rare, medium or well done?" Obama's proposal will not result in accord but rather makes the Democrats as unwilling to compromise as the Republicans. He's built a brick wall too high to scale.

     Later this morning President Obama will hold a press conference, this promises to be a pivot point, for the planetary karmas today and tomorrow are really rough. The all-important Moon is in its fallen sign of Scorpio, conjunct Rahu and aspected by both Mars and Saturn. Further, Monday is the Moon's day or the week, and tomorrow, Tuesday, belongs to Mars. Yet, it's true that only through turmoil comes change.

     I don't know how this drama will unfold, but it will be messy. Let's just hope for a balanced approach, Senate Democrats draft debt-reduction plan.

     The Minnesota government shutdown is the fire alarm sounding as to the dire consequences of failing to raise the debt limit, In Minnesota shutdown, workers who calculate the cost are laid off. Let's hope both sides in Washington are not so tone deaf they don't hear and heed that warning.