The Facade of America

[Outsider Club] The Facade of America By Nick Hodge Debt, Freedom and Facebook On my drive in to the office a while back, I heard a commercial that unwittingly encapsulated some of what's wrong with America's current mentality. The commercial was for a new Nokia phone that boasted an incredible camera. The gist was that instead of paying for a front-row seat to the summer's hottest concert, you could buy the cheap seats and take zoomed-in pictures. Why would you want to pay the bare minimum for concert tickets, but still take amazing pictures? To fool your Facebook friends, of course. And the commercial made that crystal clear. It didn't matter if you were able to afford and enjoy the concert from close proximity... as long as your friends think you did. I've been talking about the Facebook facade for years now. But why does it exist? Why do we need to create an online aura of ourselves that's only marginally based in reality? Is it because the majority of us simply can't afford tickets in a closer row than M? Or is it because Americans are so accustomed to living beyond their means, that they'll strive to keep up the ruse of keeping up at all costs? Has the American middle class entirely morphed into what John Steinbeck called "temporarily embarrassed millionaires"? That Nokia phone retails for $759. Debt Facade The same day I heard the phone commercial, I stepped onto an elevator that contained two men talking. "I just don't know how they afford it," I heard one of them say. I assumed it was business talk, but then he continued, "All my neighbors have all this stuff. Cars, toys, vacations. How do they pay for it?" The other one shook his head. "Well, that's a nice area, Bob," he said. We reached the lobby and the doors opened. I turned to them both and simply said, "Debt," before continuing to my destination. "You got that right," I heard one of them say behind me. The same debt one of my sister's friends uses to pay for all her shoes, handbags, and an annual trip to somewhere with a palm tree. Privately she's bankrupt, and about to declare it, but you should see the pictures of that stuff on Facebook. Or take my fiancé's newly married friends who "own" a $300,000 home and five cars, one of which approaches six figures... There are plenty of pictures of the cars on Facebook, but there are no photos of their back tax statements from the IRS. Freedom Facade Maybe our penchant for fakeness stems from our government, which has been feeding us all fraud for years. The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution reads: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated." Yet somehow New York is stopping and frisking — without warrant or cause — thousands of people per year. Millions of dollars of property are being seized from citrizens through civil forfeiture laws. All a cop needs to say is that he suspects the money, car, even house, may have been, or will be, used in a crime. They seize it, and you have to fight for it back, even if you were never charged with anything. An elderly couple was evicted from their home of decades in Philadelphia a couple years ago because the city seized it. Why? Their grandson sold a small amount of pot from the porch, unbeknownst to them. Is that not violating? The Second Amendment goes like this: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Multiple states have passed or are pursuing laws that limit the types of weapons citizens can own. Is that not infringing? The IRS has been caught targeting people and groups for their political beliefs. The NSA has been caught intimidating journalists. The government, from the very mouth of its elected leaders, is still claiming it doesn't spy on citizens — when one of the very men they paid to do the spying has provided data to the contrary. You live in a facade of freedom.The White House has a Facebook page. Democracy Facade What does all this mean for retail investors like me and you? I should probably also mention, while I'm on this soapbox, that we have a democracy facade as well... Every two or four years, we're allowed to pull the lever, usually for the same man or woman, but occasionally for someone new who will simply carry the torch of the status quo. How about that guy that siad he'd bring change, right? He continued the appointment of Bernanke and Gates. He continued the drone policy. He continued the domestic drug policy. Guantanamo is still open, Habeas Corpus still suspended. The wars are still going and have produced even deadlier threats than what we faced before he took office. Banks still aren't being prosecuted. Numerous former banking executives and lobbyists have been appointed to administration and diplomatic positions. I could go on... but the fact of the matter — and my point — is that seemingly, the entirety of America has turned into a hollowed shell of its former self. Some of us have snapped out of it. Others are slowly adjusting to the light. Let's call them the 128 million Americans who spend an average of 32 minutes per day consuming nothing but the facades of Facebook. Ready to break the facade? You're in good company. Call it like you see it, [Nick Hodge Signature] Nick Hodge Publisher, Outsider Club --------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to {EMAIL}. You can manage your subscription and get our privacy policy [here]. Outsider Club, Copyright © 2015, Outsider Club LLC, 111 Market Place #720, Baltimore, MD 21202. No statement or expression of opinion, or any other matter herein, directly or indirectly, is an offer or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or financial instruments mentioned. While we believe the sources of information to be reliable, we in no way represent or guarantee the accuracy of the statements made herein. The Outsider Club does not provide individual investment counseling, act as an investment advisor, or individually advocate the purchase or sale of any security or investment. Neither the publisher nor the editors are registered investment advisors. Subscribers should not view this publication as offering personalized legal or investment counseling. Investments recommended in this publication should be made only after consulting with your investment advisor and only after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company in question. Unauthorized reproduction of this newsletter or its contents by Xerography, facsimile, or any other means is illegal and punishable by law. Please note: It is not our intention to send email to anyone who doesn't want it. If you're not sure why you're getting this e-letter, or no longer wish to receive it, get more info [here], including our privacy policy and information on how to manage your subscription. Publisher of Outsider Club– Nick Hodge [Brian Hicks]Founder and President ofOutsider Club, and Investment Director of Early Advantage, Nick Hodge is well-known for a “call it like you see it” approach to money and policy. Co-author of two best-selling books on investing, his insights have led to numerous appearances on television and in various outlets on the Web, including the Business News Networkand Yahoo!'s Daily Ticker. He shares his views and strategies across the country, speaking at numerous conferences and investment shows every year. In [Like Minded People], Nick shows readers how to make money as well as protect and spend it, offering his musings on productivity, taxes, food, the outdoors, and other strategies he uses to get ahead in his own life. In [Early Advantage], he gives thousands of investors an early-in to stocks on the verge of something big. When he's not writing, investing, or flying around the world to meet with company executives, Nick can usually be found in a boat on the Eastern Seaboard or on a Maryland farm pursuing the outdoor activities he grew up with and continues to love. You can follow him on Twitter [@NickCHodge] Outsider Club Editors Jimmy Mengel, Managing Editor [Christian DeHaemer]Formerly the managing editor of Wealth Wire, Jimmy's been bringing readers the story behind the mainstream financial news each and every day for years. With passions including in government malfeasance, civil liberties, natural health and the area where politics and finance collide... He's been a true outsider ever since working on a research project for the Patriot Act forced him to rethink everything he knew about personal liberties and freedom. Jimmy's been asked to share his expertise on CNBC and was featured in the Christian Science Monitor for his work on congressional food safety law. In [The Crow's Nest], Jimmy will show you how to completely take control of your finances – from buying stocks to plotting your retirement, taking advantage of tax breaks, and simply plugging the money leaks that threaten to sink you. When he is not avidly scouring the country for the best underground financial opportunities, he's discovering unique news ways to save money and grow his investments to plan a prosperous future for his two young children. You can also catch him playing his prized Fender Jaguar in clubs up and down the East Coast. You can follow him on Twitter [@Mengeled]. Jason Simpkins, Assistant Managing Editor [Greg McCoach]Blunt, factual, and above all, fearless, Jason Simpkins has worked as a financial reporter and analyst for the past seven years, earning a well-deserved reputation for honesty and candor. After graduating from Loyola University (MD) in 2006, he remained in Baltimore where he cut his teeth as an entry-level financial reporter before being tapped to manage a major financial publication at the age of 25. In that time, Simpkins wrote more than 1,000 articles pertaining to personal finance and macroeconomics. Ever ambitious, Simpkins set out to launch his own energy-based investment newsletter, serving as editor-in-chief. His insights on oil, natural gas, coal and other forms of energy were widely read, culminating the launch of a high-end trading service that specialized in delivering triple-digit gains to its members. Simpkins joined the Outsider Club in 2013, where he serves as Assistant Managing Editor. You can follow him on Twitter [@OCSimpkins]. Brittany Stepniak, Editor As a contributing editor for Wealth Wire, Wealth Daily, and Health Wire... Brittany Stepniak brings fresh perspective as the Product Manager for Outsider Club. While learning, working, and researching with a diverse group of scholars, professors, doctors, and a poet laureate at Roanoke College, the intrinsic connections of humanity began to unravel themselves. Brittany became intrigued with the evolution of our modern economy and how financial trends revolve around global socioeconomic issues, politics, and legislation. After graduating and then working with and encountering influential individuals like the late entrepreneur and philanthropist John Kluge – once the richest person in America and founder of Metromedia – she began thinking seriously about wealth-building as a foundation for long-term security. Yearning to help other outsiders enrich their lives in a similar fashion, Brittany moved to Baltimore to work at a financial publishing firm. Here she uses her related experiences to help others understand “the big picture” and realize their own potential to accumulate wealth and achieve the American Dream. Her goal is to educate readers on ways to achieve and maintain personal and financial liberties while pursuing their individual dreams, despite the long muddled road ahead. You can follow her on Twitter [@AngelPubGirl]. Adam English, Editor Born, raised, and educated in Angel Publishing's hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, Adam followed an interest in history to financial topics and market trends. He broke onto the scene at the world's largest financial newsletter publisher, where his talents drew the attention of senior editors, and he moved into editorial work and analysis. While acquiring years of hands-on experience in the editorial room by working with ex-brokers, options floor traders, and financial advisors, he became acutely aware of the challenges faced by our readers... Whether you're trying to start investing to build a nest egg, or are an experienced trader looking to maximize profits, Adam has directly worked with many people in similar situations to provide guidance and develop skills they need to meet their financial goals. Follow Adam on Twitter through [@AdamEnglishOC]. -- Now that you have some background on our editors, I hope you enjoy their daily commentary in forthcoming issues. In the meantime, be sure to check out our [website] and read some of our previous issues in our [archives] section. Sincerely, Nick Hodge Publisher, Outsider Club