Gold Fever 

Bundesbank Hauls its Gold back from New York & Paris Faster than Planned

“In 2016, we brought back again substantially more gold to Germany than initially planned; by now, nearly half of the gold reserves are in Germany,” Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann told the German tabloid Bild in what has become an annual Christmas interview about gold – to soothe the nerves of his compatriots. 

So now Weidmann tells the Bild, that there are 1,600 tons of gold in the vaults in Frankfurt at the end of 2016, out of Germany’s total hoard of 3,381 tons. Originally it was planned to have 1,700 tons back in Germany by 2020, he said, but the Bundesbank will “have finished the planned move sooner.” 

Perhaps someone else will end up with the missing gold. But Germans breathed a sigh of relief. The message that 1,600 tons of their gold was safely back in Germany came just in time for Christmas.

Get off the Lazy Boy Chair and Go for a Walk!

How Physical Inactivity Increases Risk for Chronic Diseases

By Dr. Mercola

Evidence shows that inactivity or lack of movement that is best exemplified by prolonged sitting, actively promotes dozens of chronic diseases, and these risks apply even if you're very fit.1,2 In fact, sitting for too long, too often, is an independent risk factor for ill health and reduced longevity.

Christmas Madness!

Unmerry Christmas: Mass Brawls Break Out Across America's Malls

During this season of joy and celebration, it appears not everyone is full of Christmas spirit. Last minute holiday shoppers have been filmed brawling with each other in New Jersey, Alabama, and Georgia shopping malls ahead of the holidays. 

As The Daily Mail captures on video, a fight broke out at Jersey City's Newport Center Mall on Friday night when two people started punching each other in the middle of a huge crowd. As onlookers gathered around while several people hit each other, a separate fight broke out off to the side. Multiple security guards tried to intervene and were punched in the process.  Video shot by a witness captured the ordeal, which happened right near where a line of children were waiting to meet the mall's Santa.

 DYI

Obama Signs International & Domestic Propaganda Act

The Ministry of Truth is Now Born – Lies are Now Legal

The Possibilities for Abuse are Endless!

Main Stream Press - through the Power of Government - will have the Ability to Eliminate their Competition

War against Citizen Journalists & the New Media has Begun!  

 Late on Friday, with the US population embracing the upcoming holidays and oblivious of most news emerging from the administration, Obama quietly signed into law the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which authorizes $611 billion for the military in 2017. 

 Recall that as we reported in early June, "a bill to implement the U.S.’ very own de facto Ministry of Truth had been quietly introduced in Congress. As with any legislation attempting to dodge the public spotlight the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016 marks a further curtailment of press freedom and another avenue to stultify avenues of accurate information. Introduced by Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Ted Lieu, H.R. 5181 seeks a “whole-government approach without the bureaucratic restrictions” to counter “foreign disinformation and manipulation,” which they believe threaten the world’s “security and stability.” 

Also called the Countering Information Warfare Act of 2016 (S. 2692), when introduced in March by Sen. Rob Portman, the legislation represents a dramatic return to Cold War-era government propaganda battles. “These countries spend vast sums of money on advanced broadcast and digital media capabilities, targeted campaigns, funding of foreign political movements, and other efforts to influence key audiences and populations,” Portman explained, adding that while the U.S. spends a relatively small amount on its Voice of America, the Kremlin provides enormous funding for its news organization, RT. 

DYI:  Here we go again - bashing Russia with a population 143 million as compared to the U.S. with 325 million.  Russia has the GDP equivalent to Spain or Australia; the bottom line Russia has its hands full maintaining her borders than any real possibility for power projection.  As with "palace intrigue" there are always multiple agendas and the U.S. is no exception.  Since the end of WWII the U.S. State Department ultimate goal is the break up of Russia.  The Laplands to the north and northeast of St. Petersburg, the Caucasus' south of Volvograd and the grand prize Russia's political subdivision east of the Ural Mountains.  All forming new countries "friendly" to the Alliance [U.S. U.K. NATO EU] and their global natural resource corporations especially but not exclusive oil and gas.      

“Surprisingly,” Portman continued, “there is currently no single U.S. governmental agency or department charged with the national level development, integration and synchronization of whole-of-government strategies to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation.” 

Here is the full statement issued by the generously funded Senator Rob Portman (R- Ohio) on the singing into law of a bill that further chips away at press liberties in the US, and which sets the stage for future which hunts and website shutdowns, purely as a result of an accusation that any one media outlet or site is considered as a source of "disinformation and propaganda" and is shut down by the government. 

And so, with the likes of WaPo having already primed the general public to equate "Russian Propaganda" with "fake news" (despite admitting after the fact their own report was essentially "fake"), while the US media has indoctrinated the public to assume that any information which is not in compliance with the official government narrative, or dares to criticize the establishment, is also "fake news" and thus falls under the "Russian propaganda" umbrella, the scene is now set for the US government to legally crack down on every media outlet that the government deems to be "foreign propaganda." 

DYI:  The other agenda any citizen journalist or new media reaching a large audience that deviates from the political elites narrative such as ginning up a new cold war with Russia will be seen as propaganda or fake news.  The government's first attempt will be to overwhelm independent news sites with government propaganda if that fails, then the heavy hand of government we be brought to bear. Main stream press will cheer lead this government action that will suppress competition.

In a nutshell the main Stream press is in bed with big government to protect what waning profits they have left and to grow their business' through the reduction and/or elimination of competition.  The main stream press has long ago has shown a disdain and abandonment for the 1st amendment.  As for Robert Portman(R-Ohio) he's nothing more than a whore for the corporate elites and traitor to the constitution along with his comrade in arms Obama! 

United States 

 Ministry of Truth 

 is 

officially born.

 DYI

Is California splitting away? Group believes California should form its own nation

“Yes California,” a pro-secession group, filed paperwork with the state attorney general in November for a proposed 2018 ballot measure to strike language in the state constitution binding California to the United States. 

This month, the group announced the opening of a “cultural center” in Moscow — “the first of many planned California culture centers which will serve to build a bridge between the nation of California and the nations of the world,” read a statement on Yes California’s website. 

Even if a ballot measure qualifies — 585,407 signatures are needed — and a majority of Californians want to secede, an independent republic of California faces very steep odds. The question of whether states can split was answered in blood by the Civil War and in law by an 1869 U.S. Supreme Court decision that found no right to secession in the U.S. Constitution.

DYI:  I was surprised an excellent article from the Los Angeles Daily News.  Of course not a new concept for Californians whether it is forming a new country or splitting into two States.  What this is really all about is AUTONOMY.  Californians would be better served if they became very aggressive in NOT complying with the Federal governments unfunded liabilities AND battling in the courts 10th Amendment issues.  The Fed's in order to force compliance hold over the heads of Californians revenue sharing monies.  Yep good old case of BRIBERY and if you don't do as we demand the Fed's will stop sending Federal dollars - EXTORTION!

If California, Texas, and Florida were to become aggressive in reviving States rights this out of control Federal beast would quickly be chopped down in size.  Removing federal regulations that stifle job creation and hinder freedom.  Once these three States became successful many of the other States would quickly follow pushing back the Fed's back to their constitutional mandates.

For the first time in my life - I'm 63 years young - there are forces pushing in this direction.  The election of Trump is more about States rights than Trump himself.  This is a continuation of Alvin Toffler's demassification concept as technology is in the process of individualizing almost everything.  Especially in the area of communication. Just ask the main stream press as internet citizen journalist and new media outlets are crushing old media.  Now the war is against the Fed's themselves as everyday citizens are "Fed Up with the Fed's" and their crony capitalism and their ineffective spending.  

I would expect to see the very real possibility of "Trust Busting" such as the top 5 banks having around 85% of the U.S. deposits.  This would go double for the medical industrial complex that I've written about many times.

Let's hope we see more of this mentality as the States fight back against Federal tyranny.

DYI               

DYI:  Returns since March 31, 2000 secular high for the U.S. stock market  - comparison to gold and 30 year T-bonds.  Gold has had one heck of a run; however since 2011 is currently in a bear market. 

The Dow Gold Ratio is currently at 17.56 to 1.  DYI's mean is at 16 to 1 Dow/Gold Ratio has gold a bit less expensive in terms of value than the stock market.  Below is a chart for the Dow/Gold Ratio however they place the mean value slightly higher.

Gold is increasing in value not for a recent fall in price it is due to the recent rise in the U.S. stock market.  When I calculate DYI's averaging formula [1st of the month] there will be an increase in allocation to precious metals mining companies.

Bonds as measured by 10 year T-bonds have just recently left yields not seen since the great depression and WWII.  Has the bond rally of a lifetime[Silent, Boomers, Genxer's] ended?  Obviously there is far more upside for increasing rates than for rates to fall.

Stocks have been flying as of late.  However on a valuation basis they are massively overvalued.

As with stocks, bonds, or gold in the short term DYI has no idea which direction markets will go.  What we do know and is far more important to your financial well being is value.  1st world central banks including our own Federal Reserve[it's a private bank and they have no reserves] has committed the economy to a policy of sub atomic low interest rates that has distorted financial markets and the general economy.  

Stocks are flying and only as of late bonds as well.  It appears that Mr. Market is now having his way with the bond despite our central bank.  Eventually Mr. Market will have his way with the U.S. stock market with DYI's estimated collapse of 45% to 60%! That is not a short term call just simply based upon value; bringing the market back to its mean.  That's right just back to its average.  Stock market collapse of 50% would be a run of the mill - nothing to write home about - DECLINE!  WHY??  VALUATIONS are INSANE!

My model portfolio remains defensive due to "jacked up" markets that have driven down dividend and bond yields along with a subdued Dow/Gold Ratio.  DYI are NOT speculators I'll leave that to others.  I'm a hard nosed historically driven value player. Only when valuations improve will I put money at risk - when the compounding is in our favor.  Currently there is little to compound.  Hence I call this time period - THE GREAT WAIT.

 Updated Monthly

AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO - ACTIVE ALLOCATION - 12/1/16

Active Allocation Bands (excluding cash) 0% to 60%

84% - Cash -Short Term Bond Index - VBIRX

15% -Gold- Precious Metals & Mining - VGPMX

 4% -Lt. Bonds- Long Term Bond Index - VBLTX

 0% -Stocks- Total Stock Market Index - VTSAX

[See Disclaimer]

 This blog site is not a registered financial advisor, broker or securities dealer and The Dividend Yield Investor is not responsible for what you do with your money.

This site strives for the highest standards of accuracy; however ERRORS AND OMISSIONS ARE ACCEPTED!

The Dividend Yield Investor is a blog site for entertainment and educational purposes ONLY.

The Dividend Yield Investor shall not be held liable for any loss and/or damages from the information herein.

Use this site at your own risk.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

DYI 

DYI

Excellent 5 Minute Video Show Casing the Main Stream Press Fake News...

#FakeNews Is The New “Weapons Of Mass Destruction”

The corporate owned media and their partners in government are working overtime to spread the fake news meme. This meme is designed to limit, and ultimately destroy, the independent and alternative media by censoring anti-establishment viewpoints.

President Davis Obama, in choosing to use the phrase "domestic propaganda," has just endorsed a witch hunt against our Constitutionally mandated free press. This is not a mere "shot across the bow" of alternative news sources,

 this is an act of war.

DYI

Are you a Deplorable? The answer might surprise you. 

Take this short quiz to find out.

Hillary Clinton Lost. Get Over It And Stop Blaming Russia, WikiLeaks And ‘Fake’ News

TRUMP'S PICK FOR BUDGET DIRECTOR HAS URGED BIG SPENDING CUTS

DYI:  wE CAN ONLY HOPE - THE u.s. fEDERAL gOVERNMENT SPENDING IS OUT OF CONTROL.  TIME WILL TELL.

dyi

Want to Stay out of Poverty? - Don't buy a House - Don't go to College - And Never Get Sick! Of course this is Sarcasm and Gallows Humor Laced with TRUTH!

Americans are now in more debt than they were before the financial crisis

Americans may soon exceed the amount of credit-card debt they racked up during the Great Recession. 

The average household with credit card debt owes $16,061, up 10% from $14,546 10 years ago and $15,762 last year, according to a new analysis of Federal Reserve Bank of New York and U.S. Census Bureau data by the personal finance company NerdWallet. The amount of household credit card debt is still down from a recent high of $16,912 in 2008 at the height of the recession. The U.S. won’t hit pre-recession credit card debt levels until the end of 2019, NerdWallet’s analysis projects.

Why the growth in debt, given that many consumers should be skittish about living beyond their needs after the credit bubble of the Great Recession? The reason concerns a problem that has long dogged Americans. Median household income has grown 28% over the last 13 years, said Sean McQuay, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet, but expenses have outpaced it significantly. Case in point: Medical costs increased by 57% and food and beverage prices by 36% in that period.

It’s Not Too Soon to Start Overhauling Obamacare

Hospital Monopolies: The Biggest Driver of Health Costs That Nobody Talks About

For all the crap that insurers get for raising premiums, attacking insurers is the health-economics equivalent of shooting the messenger. Insurers are in the business of distributing to policyholders the cost of health care; that is, the prices that are charged by hospitals, doctors, and manufacturers for their services and products.Insurers can, and do, play a constructive role in preventing doctors from overcharging for their services. By requiring their beneficiaries to use doctors that charge less, such as what’s done in a preferred provider network, they can help keep costs down. But insurers have much less leverage with the most predatory force in our health-care system: hospital monopolies.

Why Do We Have Medical Monopolies?

Because of crony deals. . 

Tim Carney, a great critic of crony capitalism, recommends this short video by Matt Yglesias on Vox.com about how regulation drives up the cost of healthcare by preventing competition. The specific focus is on why doctors are protected from competition by nurse practitioners. The excuse is patient safety, but that is all it is, an excuse. 

What it is really about is the American Medical Association’s political clout. And why is the AMA so rich? You guessed it:  it enriches itself from monopolistic fees handed over by the government in exchange for its support. The fees are for a medical treatment coding system and the US Department of Health and Human Services blocks any competition against it.

Click here for the video.

Sorry, Not Sorry:  Neither the Media nor their Owners are Going to Change

Don’t expect this to change in the wake of the navel-gazing mainstream’s historic whiff on the election–despite the occasional mea culpa and promise to overhaul its approach. Mostly because 90 percent of the MSM is owned and operated by six conglomerates that have little interest in changing the system that profits them, or in changing the editorial narratives that support the system. And most probably, like Barack Obama and Madame Secretary, because the media believes Trump voters are “a basket of deplorables” that are too unfixably ignorant to understand why Hillary was the right choice.

DYI:  The Sherman antitrust act of 1890!  That right all the way back to the gay 90's the time for trust busting is NOW!  Not just the Media, the New York Mega Banks, and the Health Care Industrial Complex would be a great place to start.  

All of these corporation have way too much power and have very little competition expect for the media. Internet media outlets such as Drudge, Infowars, Daily Caller and others are slicing through the main stream competitive advantage.  Never the less it is my humble opinion they all need to be trust busted just as President Theodore Roosevelt did in his time.

DYI  

December 19, 2016

Red Flags Waving

John P. Hussman, Ph.D.

We presently observe the third most overvalued extreme in history based on the most reliable valuation measures we identify, in the presence of 1) the most extreme “overvalued, overbought, overbullish” syndrome we identify, and 2) explicitly deteriorating market internals. Based on a composite of measures best correlated with actual subsequent market returns across history, other two competing extremes were 1929 and 2000.

After more than three decades as a professional investor, it’s become clear that when investors are euphoric, they are incapable of recognizing euphoria itself.

Presently, we hear inexplicable assertions that somehow euphoria hasn’t taken hold. Yet in addition to the third greatest valuation extreme in history for the market, the single greatest valuation extreme for the median stock, and expectations for economic growth that are inconsistent with basic arithmetic, both the 4-week average of advisory bullishness and the bull-bear spread are higher today than at either the 2000 or 2007 market peaks. In the recent half-cycle, extreme bullish sentiment and deteriorating market internals also preceded the near-20% decline in 2011, yet extreme bullish sentiment was also uneventful on a few occasions when interest rates were in the single digits and market internals were intact. That distinction is critical. The zero-rate “solvent” that allowed overvalued, overbought, overbullish extremes to detach from deteriorating market internals and downside risk is now gone, and investors should understand that subtlety.

Over a century ago, Charles Dow wrote “To know values is to comprehend the meaning of movements in the market.” To offer a long-term and full-cycle perspective of current market conditions, I published a chart last week of the ratio of nonfinancial market capitalization to corporate gross value added, including estimated foreign revenues (what I’ve called MarketCap/GVA), and a second chart relating that measure to the actual 12-year S&P 500 total returns that have followed.

From present valuation extremes, we expect 12-year S&P 500 total returns averaging just 0.8% annually,

with a likely interim market collapse over the completion of this cycle on the order of 50-60%.

Valuations are poor tools to gauge near-term market outcomes, but they are both invaluable and brutally honest about potential consequences over the complete market cycle. 

They also offer a consistent framework to understand market fluctuations. Recall for example, my April 2007 estimate of a 40% loss to fair-value, and then following that 40% loss, my late-October 2008 comment observing that stocks had become undervalued. Over the complete market cycle, valuation is quite a strong suit for us.

DYI 

R.I.P. Bond Bull Market as Charts Say Last Gasps Have Been Taken

One of the biggest questions being pondered by investors now is whether the record rally in U.S. bonds that began in 1981 has reached its end. 

For Louise Yamada, who has been advising clients on how to invest based on what she sees in historical price patterns for almost four decades, the answer is crystal clear. 

“The bull run is definitely over” after 10-year yields pierced 2.5 percent, said Yamada, who heads her namesake technical research firm in New York and is a chartered market technician. “There will be a very slow multi-year incremental increase in interest rates.”

DYI:  DYI has no idea whether the bull market for bonds since 1981 is on going or not.  What DYI does know based upon value and history bond yields are at sub atomic low levels leaving an investor with the obvious problem of far less downside[rates failing] as compared to rates raising.  DYI's averaging formula for long term bonds increases or decreases your allocation depending upon how far percentage wise yields are from their mean. Currently rates are so far from the mean our exposure for long term bonds is at a minuscule 4%.  If rates continue to move upward so will our long term bond allocation; the compounding effect will be enhanced due to higher rates.

12-1-16

BONDS
Updated Monthly

100 - [100 x ( Curr. PI - Avg. PI / 2 ) ]

________________________________

(Avg. PI x 2 - Avg. PI/2)

Avg. Price to Interest PI   22

Current Price to Interest  42

% Allocation  6%  

6% x 60 (max. allocation) = 4%

AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO - ACTIVE ALLOCATION

Active Allocation Bands (excluding cash) 0% to 60%

81% - Cash -Short Term Bond Index - VBIRX

 15% -Gold- Precious Metals & Mining - VGPMX

  4% -Lt. Bonds- Long Term Bond Index - VBLTX

  0% -Stocks- Total Stock Market Index - VTSAX

[See Disclaimer]

**************

Harnessing market hubris and timidity (greed and fear).

The value player’s most important weapon in achieving superior long term returns is tactical asset allocation.  This is true during secular bear markets when fixed asset allocation, especially those with high percentage of stocks, returns are dismal at best and losses at worst. 

History and math show that when asset prices are below intrinsic value future returns are superior conversely when asset prices are above intrinsic value returns are tepid.

Simply put tactical asset allocation strategy is being more aggressive in undervalued assets and be less invested in over valued assets.

DYI’s formula is an averaging formula answering the question what percentage without emotion.

This blog site is not a registered financial advisor, broker or securities dealer and The Dividend Yield Investor is not responsible for what you do with your money.

This site strives for the highest standards of accuracy; however ERRORS AND OMISSIONS ARE ACCEPTED!

The Dividend Yield Investor is a blog site for entertainment and educational purposes ONLY.

The Dividend Yield Investor shall not be held liable for any loss and/or damages from the information herein.

Use this site at your own risk.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

DYI owes a large amount of gratitude to John Kingham for his averaging formula. 

  

CNN Host’s Attempt to Explain the U.S. Economy Was So Bad I Started Yelling at the TV

Honestly, I don’t usually talk back to the TV. But I couldn’t contain myself during Poppy Harlow’s December 10 interview with John Feltner, the United Steelworkers vice president of the Rexnord local union where 300 jobs are moving from Indianapolis to Mexico. 

In discussing the move, Harlow twice resorted to the much repeated trope that the loss of American manufacturing jobs is really about automation and technology. 

HARLOW: What is the number-one thing you would like to see the incoming administration do that you think will help people in your situation? Because, you know, Donald Trump points to global trade as being the reason that your jobs are going away. That’s not all of it. A lot of it is, as you know well, automation and technology. 

FELTNER: These companies are leaving to exploit cheap labor. That’s plain and simple. If he can change those trade policies to keep those jobs here in America, that’s what we need. We need American jobs, not just union jobs.HARLOW: But you agree it won’t save all of them, because of automation, because of technology. 

Please Poppy, come off it! Feltner is right. Offshoring is about the rush to cheap labor, not about automation and new technology. The move to cheaper labor in Mexico, in fact, allows corporations to avoid investing in new technologies. Rexnord and Carrier are moving the same old technologies to Mexico, piece by piece.

DYI:  Actually it is both.  Let's be clear moving offshore beginning in the 1990's was and remains to this day to drop labor costs.  At the same time automation is sweeping across vast industries.  As an example when I first entered into the work force in the early 1970's many young women would become secretaries.  Today only upper level managers have secretaries the rest do all of the work on a word processing program.  I work at a major hotel/resort with 400 rooms - 3 golf courses - 8 tennis courts - 9 restaurants - including a winery.  The only manager that has a secretary is the owner/CEO. None of the other managers have a secretary all [around 400 employees total] use word perfect.

In high income countries corporations are willing to invest in cutting edge automation as compared to the low wage countries will only do so when the technology becomes so mundane it is less than their low labor cost.

We do need to drop our corporate income tax to the 15% level as Trump has suggested.  Production will come back to our shores.  But make no mistake automation will become job number 1 as those manufacturing companies return to America.

DYI       

"Honey did you pay the Global Warming Tax? No?? Where my hockey stick?? Al Gore borrowed it? He needed it for a presentation?? Oh well I'll just go ice skating!"

U.S average temperature 16°F – colder than any time last winter, and winter hasn’t started yet!

If you think it is colder than you remember last year, your’e right. Winter hasn’t officially started yet, it begins on Wednesday, December 21st. But the numbers tell a cold hard fact: as of 7 a.m. EST this morning, Sunday, Dec. 18, the average temperature across the Lower 48 states of the U.S. is colder than any time all last winter.As this plot of hourly temperatures shows, the average temperature is 16 degrees. F, which is 4 degrees colder than any time last winter. What’s worse, the coldest part of winter is still six weeks away.

DYI

The Washington Post

In last-shot bid, thousands urge electoral college to block Trump at Monday vote

Pressure on members of the electoral college to select someone other than Donald Trump has grown dramatically — and noisily — in recent weeks, causing some to waver but yielding little evidence that Trump will fall short when electors convene in most state capitals Monday to cast their votes. 

Carole Joyce of Arizona expected her role as a GOP elector to be pretty simple: She would meet the others in Phoenix and carry out a vote for Trump, who won the most votes in her state and whom she personally supported. 

But then came the mail and the emails and the phone calls — first hundreds, then thousands of voters worrying that Trump’s impulsive nature would lead the country into another war.

DYI:  Ok Washington Post you asked for it....Donald Trump as impulsive?  You don't build a multi-billion dollar real estate/entertainment company from a one million dollar seed money from his father all based on impulsive decision making.  Hillary Clinton was so much better?  Libya and Syria - you have to be kidding - a total debacle.

The role of elector has intensified this year, in the wake of a bitter election in which Trump lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton by a margin of nearly 3 million votes and the revelation of a secret CIA assessment that Russia interfered to help Trump get elected.

DYI:  Robert Samuels - the author - you just had to throw in the popular vote with no understanding why our founding fathers created the electoral college system. Simple here is a map by Business Insider that tells the story where 50% of our population lives.    

Ditch the electoral college system and go to direct democracy you can easily see where the predominate campaign stops would focus.  States such as Montana, North and South Dakota, Alaska, Arizona or Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire etc. would have either no representation or very little from a new president since they have such marginal populations.  

If you were to think like a politician running for president your campaign strategy would change dramatically.  Here is how the campaign would unfold.  Once you secured your party's nomination immediately campaign in the States with the least amount of population.  Why?  Your the president for all the people would be your campaign slogan but what you are doing is getting those rallies over with early.  The middle part of the campaign would be the secondary population based cities[not shown on map] - near the end of the election cycle the big money would be spent along with campaign stops where fifty percent of the population lives.  The reality those large population centers would predominately elect the president.  Live outside of those areas especially with states that don't even have secondary cities your vote would not count for squat!  At least with the electoral college even the most rural States have some representation.

The Russians are coming - the Russians are coming!  Amazing every time the top brass of our intelligence agencies testify before Congress - under oath - they all dance around never stating categorically that the Russians are doing the hacking.  Of course the author Robert Samuels doesn't even mention how damning the contents are to the Democratic party no matter who hacked or leaked the contents to Wikileaks.

 Norman Eisen, a former ambassador to the Czech Republic who has served as legal counsel to the Obama administration, began calling electors to explain that their job is not necessarily to certify the results but to have a reasonable discussion over whether the public made the right decision.

DYI:  Trying to pull out all of the stops in an attempt to sway the electors.  I doubt this will be successful; its real intention is an attempt to marginalize the Trump Administration.  Today is the day for the electors to vote - we will know soon enough.

He looked to see Federalist No. 68, written by Hamilton to describe the need for the electoral college.

“We have been getting a civic lesson we weren’t prepared to get,” Koller said. “They gave us the fail-safe emergency brake, in case the people got it wrong. And here we are, 200 years later. It’s the last shot we have.”

DYI:  Got it wrong??  I've followed the Clinton's escapes and out right criminal behavior for over 30 years Trump is a breath of fresh air.  I'm not saying Trump is perfect and he will not be - but compared to Hillary, unless you have been living under a rock - is the deplorable.  Thank God she didn't win.

What we have here is nothing more than a hit piece.  Any wonder why the Washington Post along with all of the other mainstream press are in a death spiral for readers and viewers?  The question is who will be the first to go out of business?  New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, CNN, NBC, MSNBC your guess is as good as mine; but make no mistake one of these will go under within the next 3 to 5 years as internet based news takes their readers and viewers away.

DYI 

      

  

25 Cities On the Brink of Disaster: “Don’t Be Here When Things Get Violent, Unsafe and Fragile”

But some of the most unstable cities on the planet rank among those in the United States. 

Places like Baltimore, Detroit, Washington D.C., New York, Philadelphiaand other cities across the map are still deeply divided often police and race issues. Many have seen serious riots, looting and unrest. These social wedge issues are still being pushed from moneyed political interests, while political divide after the direction of the country has become sharp. 

Dallas, Texas just suspended pension payments for some of its civil servants, a sign that financial insolvency could create an epidemic during the next crisis. Several states, like California, have over promised benefits to state employees in the pension programs, without ever planning to pay for them. If people lose it, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and the whole of the surrounding areas could simply erupt. Similar problems have left Detroit, Michigan and Puerto Rico, the commonwealth island, extremely vulnerable to bankruptcy and economic apocalypse that could contaminate the nation and global within hours.

DYI