Mutti's Legacy Continues to Divide

European newspapers again debate Merkel's botched immigration policy. [The Rude Awakening] January 15, 2024 [WEBSITE]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Mutti's Legacy Continues to Divide [Sean Ring] SEAN RING As today is Martin Luther King Day in the States, Paradigm’s offices are closed. This article has been updated, but was originally published in November 2021, when I was living in the Philippines. Europeans are finally admitting their immigration policies are a failure, primarily pointing the finger at Angela Merkel. My wife, Pam, and I saw the failure firsthand nearly ten years ago… Back in 2015… I can see you Your brown skin shining in the sun You got your hair combed back and these Sunglasses on baby - Don Henley, The Boys of Summer The best thing about being married to a mocha-skinned beauty is getting her to the beach. As a Filipina, Pam shuns the sun for social reasons. After all, if you’ve got dark skin in Southeast Asia, your family must work in the fields. That also explains the enormous amount of skin whitening creams Western cosmetic companies supply but never get called “racist” for… But I’ll always say she’ll never look sexier than she does when she’s got her tan on. Anyway, Pam and I were on our way to Bodrum, Turkey, to see friends at the Property and Freedom Society conference. We decided to stop in Kos, Greece, just a short ferry ride away, for a few days for “us time.” We had a wonderful time eating Greek dishes, splashing around in the sea, and relaxing in the cool evenings. After hiring a car, we drove around the entirety of the island for a few days. Nothing crazy. We headed to Kos Town a few days early to make sure we knew where the ferry terminal was. And there, we saw what happens when a country is unprepared for mass migration. [Rude Awakening] [Rude Awakening] Credit: Sean Ring I took both pictures on September 8, 2015, and it says so on my iCloud account. 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Certainly not for the countries between the migrants’ home countries and Germany. [Rude Awakening] Credit: [( Greece was at the forefront of the onslaught. Along with Albania, Kosovo, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia. And they’re still getting hit. This time it’s from the East. “Hybrid Attack” It’s funny how Germans will say or do anything to protect Mutti’s legacy. By the way, “Mutti” means “mother.” To my mind, it’s never healthy to refer to politicians as such. And it reflects the current German state of mind, sadly. But here’s my question: if Merkel’s policy was the way to go, why is the EU outraged about migration suddenly? Here’s what’s going on. From August 2021 until November 2021 when this piece was originally written, about [30,000 people]( tried to cross the Polish border from Belarus. It’s not a substantial number, certainly not compared to the two million people that entered in 2015. But here’s what European Commission President Ursula [von der Leyden had to say about it]( [everything bolded is mine]: Belarus must stop putting people's lives at risk. The instrumentalization of migrants for political purposes by Belarus is unacceptable. The Belarusian authorities must understand that pressuring the European Union in this way through a cynical instrumentalization of migrants will not help them succeed in their purposes. I have spoken to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, and Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš to express the EU's solidarity and discuss with them the measures the EU can take to support them in their efforts to deal with this crisis. I am calling on Member States to finally approve the extended sanctions regime on the Belarusian authorities responsible for this hybrid attack. Vice-President Schinas, in coordination with High Representative/Vice-President Borrell, will travel in the coming days to the main countries of origin and of transit to ensure that they act to prevent their own nationals from falling into the trap set by the Belarusian authorities. The EU will in particular explore how to sanction, including through blacklisting, third-country airlines that are active in human trafficking. Finally, the Commission will explore with the UN and its specialized agencies how to prevent a humanitarian crisis from unfolding and to ensure that migrants can be safely returned to their country of origin, with the support of their national authorities. Instrumentalization of migrants? Hybrid attack? Falling into a trap? Human trafficking? Humanitarian crisis? Migrants safely returned to their country of origin? Why? Why such words now and not then? Donald Tusk, then the Polish opposition Civic Platform party leader but now Polish Prime Minister, added that Poland should get help from its NATO allies by invoking an article that calls for consultation if an alliance member’s territory is under threat. This is the same Donald Tusk, who, as European Council President, [once said at the UN]( The myth prevails that Europe is the only rich place on Earth. This is not true; there are other places comparable to us in terms of wealth. But for some reason, refugees and migrants are not flowing there. This is because wealth is not the only element that determines where people choose the future for their children; such values like tolerance, openness, respect for diversity, freedom, human rights, and the Geneva convention are also a magnet attracting them to us. No, Donnie, it’s because Europe has the most idiotically “generous” welfare state on the planet. That’s generous with other people’s money, to be sure. It’s also because the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations - United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain - are too smart to let in the tired, poor, and huddled masses. (And “masses” is the operative word in the previous sentence.) The question remains: if Mutti’s policies were so humanitarian and pristine then, why is the EU (Germany by another name) now siding with governments that don’t want migrants? It’s because Mutti’s policies weren’t the panacea the elites tried to make them out to be. And that’s the lesson the Biden Administration would do well learn concerning the Southern border. Have a wonderful day today! All the best, [Sean Ring] Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening X (formerly Twitter): [@seaniechaos]( In Case You Missed It… The Rude Guide to Spot Bitcoin ETFs [Sean Ring] SEAN RING What a week it’s been! First, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks part ways. Then, Nick Saban announces his retirement from Alabama. Next, Bill Belichick and the Patriots mutually agree to go their separate ways. After that, Mohammed al-Fayed, father of Dodi, would-be father-in-law of Diana, former owner of Harrod’s and Fulham Football Club, dies. My head is spinning! The world is changing before our eyes. And I mean fast. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most significant inventions to hit the mainstream since e-mail revolutionized how we worked in the 1990s. (Of course, AI has been around longer. But with today’s processors, it’s usable!) And AI is inextricably linked to crypto. From trading bots to blockchains, we’ll see many collaborations between the two over the coming years. But before we get there, The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) finally approved spot Bitcoin ETFs yesterday (after their X account was hacked). But first, some quick vocabulary. “Spot” simply means “traded immediately for cash.” So spot Bitcoin ETFs will hold actual Bitcoins, not futures contracts on Bitcoin. An ETF is an “exchange-traded fund.” An ETF is a pooled investment security that operates like a mutual fund. Typically, ETFs will track an index, sector, commodity, or other asset. But unlike mutual funds, ETFs are purchased or sold on a stock exchange just like stock. ETFs track anything from individual commodities to diverse securities or Bitcoins. If you hold cryptocurrencies in your portfolio - the Rude recommends 2%, especially if you’re inexperienced - you would’ve seen a jump in your net worth as the SEC said, “Yeah!” Let’s get into it. WTF Are Spot Bitcoin ETFs? A spot Bitcoin ETF is an investment vehicle that allows ordinary investors exposure to the price moves of Bitcoin in their regular brokerage accounts. Unlike Bitcoin futures ETFs, a spot Bitcoin ETF invests directly in Bitcoins as the underlying asset, not derivatives contracts based on their prices. The ETF securely holds Bitcoins in a secure digital vault, which registered custodians manage. The purpose of this kind of ETF is to mirror the price of Bitcoins in the crypto market. The ETF buys Bitcoins from other holders or through authorized cryptocurrency exchanges to get started. The tokens are then stored in a digital wallet, often using several layers of security, including cold or offline storage, to reduce risks like hacking. The ETF then issues shares corresponding to the number of Bitcoins it holds. The ETF share price should reflect the prevailing market price of the cryptocurrency, and the shares are available for public trading on traditional stock exchanges. Investors can invest in spot Bitcoin ETFs as a more accessible and regulated means of tapping into Bitcoin’s price moves. Enhanced liquidity, facilitated by spot Bitcoin ETFs, could lead to more stable prices and easier price discovery in the market for Bitcoins. [Nvidia's CEO Leaves Crowd Speechless…]( Behind closed doors… He took center stage… And left the crowd utterly speechless. What happened? This tech billionaire revealed a breakthrough technology [that will change everything you know about making money](. (Experts are predicting a $150 trillion megatrend!) [See for yourself right here]( Could this be “The Steve Jobs iPhone Moment” for Nvidia’s CEO? [See the full story for yourself here](. [Click Here To Learn More]( Why Might Bitcoin ETFs Make Sense For You? Investing in a spot Bitcoin ETF has several advantages over other investment options. Here are some of them: Accessibility: Spot Bitcoin ETFs allow ordinary investors to invest in Bitcoin through their regular brokerage accounts. This makes it easier for investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin’s price moves without the hassle of buying and storing them. Regulation: The SEC regulates Spot Bitcoin ETFs. This may provide investors with protection not available in the unregulated cryptocurrency market. Liquidity: Spot Bitcoin ETFs will be traded on traditional stock exchanges, which makes it easier for investors to buy and sell shares, increasing their liquidity. Transparency: Spot Bitcoin ETFs must disclose their holdings and provide regular reports to investors, which increases transparency and helps investors make informed decisions. Lower fees: Spot Bitcoin ETFs have lower fees than mutual funds or hedge funds. This makes them a cost-effective way to invest in Bitcoin. What Disadvantages Should You Consider? While investing in a spot Bitcoin ETF has several advantages, there are also some disadvantages to consider: Management fees: Many Bitcoin ETFs have high management fees that impact an investor’s overall returns over time and may be unfavorable to some investors. Market volatility: Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile. The price of Bitcoin fluctuates rapidly, which can lead to significant losses for investors. Regulatory risk: The flip side is that cryptocurrency regulators are still evolving. New regulations may sink the value of Bitcoin and Bitcoin ETFs. Let’s be honest: Gary Gensler and his crew at the SEC hardly inspire confidence in their ability to navigate this quickly evolving field. Security risks: While Bitcoin ETFs are designed to be secure, there is always a risk of hacking or other security breaches that may result in the loss of Bitcoins. Lack of control: When you invest in a Bitcoin ETF, you are entrusting the management of your investment to the ETF’s managers. This means that you have less control over your investment than if you were to buy and hold Bitcoins directly. Are These ETFs Right For You? Whether a spot Bitcoin ETF suits you depends on your investment goals, risk tolerance, and financial situation. Here are some factors to consider: Investment goals: If you are looking to invest in Bitcoin but want to avoid going through the hassle of buying and storing Bitcoins yourself, a spot Bitcoin ETF could be a good option for you. Risk tolerance: Bitcoin is a high-risk investment due to the volatility in the cryptocurrency. If you have a low risk tolerance, consider other investment options. Financial situation: Spot Bitcoin ETFs have lower fees than mutual funds and hedge funds. However, you should still consider the management fees and other costs of investing in a spot Bitcoin ETF. Minimum investment: Unlike some investment vehicles that require a substantial minimum investment, spot Bitcoin ETFs won’t have a high minimum investment. Wrap Up If you’ve been reading the Rude for a while, you know that the fourth pillar of the Rude’s Four Pillars of Financial Freedom is to hold a bit of crypto. If you followed that pillar, the cryptocurrency portion of your portfolio grew from 2% of your assets to 3%. Or even 4%. If you haven’t yet, there’s still time. And these spot Bitcoin ETFs may be just the ticket for you to enter a new asset class. Have a wonderful weekend! All the best, [Sean Ring] Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening Twitter: [@seaniechaos]( [Paradigm]( ☰ ⊗ [ARCHIVE]( [ABOUT]( [Contact Us]( © 2024 Paradigm Press, LLC. 1001 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. By submitting your email address, you consent to Paradigm Press, LLC. delivering daily email issues and advertisements. To end your Rude Awakening e-mail subscription and associated external offers sent from Rude Awakening, feel free to [click here.]( Please note: the mailbox associated with this email address is not monitored, so do not reply to this message. We welcome comments or suggestions at feedback@rudeawakening.info. This address is for feedback only. 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