-----Original Message----- From: OPC International <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Opsecrets <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Monday, 30 August 1999 3:38 PM Subject: "Offshore & Privacy Secrets, August 30, 1999" >================================================================ > >> "Offshore & Privacy Secrets, August 30, 1999" << > Published by OPC International > http://offshoreprofit.com >================================================================ > >CONTENTS > >[1] Welcome! >[2] Feedback >[3] The New Millennium - Gloom & Doom or Boom? >[4] Top 10 Offshore Funds >[5] NewsBriefs > >================================================================ >[1] Welcome! >================================================================ > >Welcome to the last edition for August - now only four months to >the new millennium! And certainly, such an event holds both >promise and foreboding (depending upon your point of view). For >more on this - see article in this newsletter. > >For those of you who like a little bit of "conspiracy", I received >an interesting email subscription request during the week. As you >can see by the domain, I took the precaution of NOT adding it to >the list! > >The email address was: (name removed)@fincen.treas.gov > >The domain is that of FinCEN - the Financial Crimes Enforcement >Network - in their own words, "The Financial Crimes Enforcement >Network (FinCEN) is one of the U.S. Department of Treasury's lead >agencies in the fight against money laundering." > >See: http://www.ustreas.gov/fincen/ > >So, in the light of comments last week about money laundering, it >appears that Big Brother is keeping a fatherly eye on us! As you >know, we are not promoting drug running, or any "crime". However, >we are promoting the idea that you should be able to keep your >own money - and retain your financial privacy. And that explains >BB's "interest". > >But don't feel paranoid - enjoy this weeks edition!! > >Kind regards > >Robert Smith >OPC International >http://offshoreprofit.com > >================================================================ >[2] Feedback >================================================================ > >On the matter of the tax burden, a reader had this question: > >"I have often wondered if anyone has sat down and figured out just >how much tax we really pay to all the different governing bodies. >We all know what is obvious, Income Tax, SSI, Unemployment Ins., >Sales Tax, Excise Tax, Property Taxes, etc. But what we don't >see or it doesn't register on us is all the value added taxes on >products, plus other unknown fees and taxes. It seems to me that >the real taxation figure must be upwards of ninety percent. > >If you could please enlighten us as to our real burden that the >government places on us." > >A point well-made. All value-added taxes (like GST in Canada, >New Zealand and now Australia, and VAT in the UK) add tax at every >stage of commerce. Everyone pays GST/VAT on everything purchased. >And if you are in business, you charge your own clients the same >tax on goods and services you provide. For example, the GST in >New Zealand is 12.5%. So you add this percentage on to the accounts >you send out. At the end of each tax period, you total the GST/VAT >you have collected from your clients - and subtract the tax you >have paid. You then pay the difference to the tax man. The result >is you pay tax on the value "added" by yourself. If you buy >wholesale and sell retail - you end up paying the tax on your >mark-up. > >However, there is yet another important hidden tax. All businesses >pay three taxes in these countries - provisional tax (or tax on >profits) payroll tax (tax on employees) and GST/VAT. What's often >ignored is the effect of the company's tax liability on profits. > >Every good and service provided on the market carries a price >that is made up of all sorts of costs - one of them being the >"cost" of tax. A company can only make money by charging enough >to cover all costs - including the tax it will have to pay. So >the price of everything on sale is loaded with tax costs - even >before any GST/VAT is added! > >Add to that the other hidden tax of inflation (even if it is only >2%) and the total tax take is staggering. I don't have any figures >for what it would be, taking all this into account - but I'd bet >it was in the region of 75% or more. > >The end result is tax charged on tax upon tax - a sort of tax >pyramid. And that's what you call being a "75% tax slave"! > >Another reader made this thoughtful comment: > >"In your introduction (last week), you talk of 'trouble brewing'. >Yes, indeed. But it may not be trouble for us! If you look at >the actions of government in general, you will realise that >Government is shooting in all directions, with no real target in >sight. They try to encompass all our liberties with general >rulings that leave plenty of loopholes. > >These hasty law changes, to me, are the symptoms of a very ill >Ruling Power. They are the tremors of their own failure. We are >coming to the end of the well known 500 year cycle, where society >has to undergo a fundamental change. I see these illogical >decisions as the first cracks in a dying dynasty. > >The Government, as we know it, has to go. > >As the Net rises, so does individual knowledge and individual self- >awareness! By means of your e-news and the Net, millions of >individuals acquire that awareness, hidden from us within our >Government based education system. 'They' even gave us the means! >'Their' laziness in understanding the way the World is going leads >'them' to give computers to primary schools, THUS, allowing their >prey to probe into the reality of the World that surrounds us, >and discover what web of lies we have been entangled in by our >own Rulers..." > >I couldn't say it better myself! I have commented before that >in matters of advanced strategies and technology - the power is >shifting to individuals. Bureaucrats do not have the same incentive >to get off their butts and do something as those within the private >sector (driven by the profit, rather than power motive). > >The 500 year cycle mentioned is also elaborated on in the book >"The Sovereign Individual" by James Dale Davidson and William >Rees-Mogg". Well worth reading, if you haven't already. > >Another reader had this helpful, practical advice: > >"Thought the readers might enjoy this site. Check it out: >http://www.lpwa.com It's a free, private proxy and anonymity web >surfing service!! I really like it. It makes your browser >automatically invisible to sites you surf and gives a fictitious >ID to suspecting snoopers." > >Thanks for that! We always welcome any tips from readers that we >can share with everyone on the list. > >================================================================ >[3] The New Millennium - Gloom & Doom or Boom? >================================================================ > >Y2K - View #1 > >CONFIDENCE = Suspicion Asleep >by Jack Weber > >http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_99/weber073099.html >Permission granted to reproduce this article. > >Webster defines the word confidence as: "full trust, belief in >the trustworthiness of a person or thing." > >About 30 years ago, as a result of being a gold mining stock >specialist, I was invited to a seminar at a gold mine in Southern >California. The keynote speaker was John Exter. > >Mr. Exter had recently retired as VP of City Corp., the large >banking conglomerate. Previously he had been in charge of the >transfers of gold in Fort Knox, was the person who founded the >Central Bank of the Philippines, also the founder and first >Governor of the Central Bank of Ceylon. In addition to these >prestigious positions, he was a member of the Council on Foreign >Relations. Mr. Exter was obviously well connected in banking, >gold and international relations. > >One of the most important comments he made in his address was >that the key to stability in the banking system was embodied in >one word - confidence. He went on to say that when, not if, >confidence in the banking system evaporated, the banking scheme >would be over, because "confidence is suspicion asleep." He had >no doubt that we would live to see the day when suspicion would >awaken. > >Mr Exter is now in his nineties, and I predict that if he lives >another six months, circumstances will prove him to have been a >prophet, because the "belief (of the citizens of the world) in >the trustworthiness of" the banking game is about to vaporize. > >To support my prediction, the following items are submitted. > >On 1/13/99, CNN published the results of their poll, which showed >that 53% of Americans plan to withdraw extra cash by year-end. >On 2/4/99, ZD Net ran a survey that showed 48% of those polled, >plan to pull 40% or more of their money out of the banks by year >end. On 2/17/99, Koskinen said, "We can print more money than >Americans can withdraw." On 2/24/99 Greenspan said not to worry >- "Don't withdraw currency." If Koskinen is right, why did Greenspan >need to tell you not withdraw your money? If Koskinen is right, >why did the bankers go ballistic when GTE recommended its customers >pull cash out of banks (on 2/6/99)? > >If, in fact, the banks will have $200 billion in currency on hand >for those who are suspicious about their bank savings, and will >"print more money than Americans can withdraw," why are bankers >sponsoring such a high-powered propaganda campaign to "educate" >the public as to how safe the banking system is? Could it possibly >be that they suspect that CONFIDENCE in their banking game is >shrinking and suspicion is awakening? > >In an effort to stifle such, the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) >notified the US citizens in 1998, that they would print up another >$50 billion (in addition to the $150 billion allegedly on hand) >to meet any unusual demand for cash in late 1999. Also in 1998, >the Central Banks of England (33% increase in currency), New >Zealand and Canada made similar announcements. > >So far this year the following countries' Central Banks have made >these announcements - > >2/16 -- South Africa's Central Bank will stockpile currency > >4/8 -- the Bank of Japan will stockpile $331 Billion worth of Yen > >6/26 -- New Zealand's Central Bank will DOUBLE their currency > >7/17 - Malaysia prepares for bank runs by printing more money and >will close their banks from Dec. 31 through Jan. 3 > >7/23 - Hong Kong Central Bank announces they will increase their >currency by 100% to 160% by year end > >Prediction -- other such announcements will be forthcoming. > >Meanwhile, the president of the Canadian Bankers Association has >announced that "Customer's money will be safe in their Canadian >bank accounts." Isn't that the definition of a bank in the first >place - a safe place for our money? Don't you wonder why they feel >the necessity to make such an announcement? > >Incidentally, most people assume that they have the right to demand >currency when they make a withdrawal from their bank accounts. No, >no, tain't necessarily so, according to Don Childears, President >of the Colorado Bankers Association. As quoted in the Denver >Business Journal, he stated; "banks have a legal right to offer >other forms of payment (such as) cashier's checks or wire transfers." >He also stated, "What the public needs from the banking sector on >Y2K is courage. Courage to tackle the problem, first of all, >whatever the cost, and courage to stand by that effort. It must >communicate the unequivocal message that it is ready and offer >the proof. CONFIDENCE will follow." Sure. When the banks cannot >offer proof that they are ready, what little confidence is left >will turn to suspicion and then evaporate. When that occurs, >watch the lines start to form - around the world. [snipped] > >Because of space constraints - you can read the rest of this >article at: http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_99/weber073099.html > >---------------------------------------------------------------- > >Y2K View #2 > >I'm going to be a bit of a "contrarian" on this subject and provide >an alternative view for you, the reader, to consider. > >First of all, the Y2K "bug" is an issue which the layman cannot >properly fathom. It is a technical issue - one which must be >addressed by experts. I am a layman in this regard (as I imagine >are most of you). I have to form my own opinion based on what I >read. And I have read both sides of the story. > >Initially, I was very concerned. I read Gary North's opinions - >http://www.garynorth.com - and found my heart sinking when I >realised that if what he is saying is true, then Armageddon is >just around the corner. This concern lead me to probe further >and try to look a little deeper. > >I agree with the first article - the banking system does depend >upon confidence - but it's a confidence which has been maintained >against all odds for a very long time now. Most people are "sheep" >when it comes to having an opinion - following whatever the masses >think. However, the masses have a vested interest in this matter >of "confidence". Why? Because all their money is at stake. Deep >inside, they may feel that if THEY panic, then so will everyone >else, hence proving the reality of the self-fulfilling prophecy. > >When one looks on the "other side of the fence" regarding opinions >on this Y2K issue - one finds that there are those who openly >declare the whole thing to be a big CON - a clever ploy to create >employment for hundreds of thousands of computer companies and >consultants! > >Then you have the "middle ground" opinion, which says that there >will be disruptions of varying degrees - but nothing to indicate >the "end of the world as we know it". > >After weighing up all such opinions, I have come to the following >opinion. (Notice I say "opinion" - as I have no proof that what I >think is the absolute truth of the matter.) > >There is a greater danger in the public's reaction than there is >in the actual Y2K threat as a technical issue. I believe that the >possibility of people acting as if the world IS going to end poses >a greater danger than any real outcome of Y2K. > >For example: If people really believe that the banking system will >fail on January 1, 2000, then they WILL take out all their cash. >This act will trigger bank closures and public panic. The money >will not be there - and the panic will spread worldwide, including >into the stock market and every nook and cranny of the financial >system. > >All this could happen - even though Y2K turns out to be a non- >event! It is because the banking system is based on confidence >that loss of confidence is all that is needed to collapse it. >This loss of confidence can happen without any real technical >threat to the banking system. It can happen because people may >BELIEVE it will happen. > >I have heard, from various sources, of the building of "processing >centers" in the USA (also being called detention camps) and I have >received some purportedly "inside" information that indicates such >places are for holding those arrested of firearms violations - in >the wake of a major police/army swoop of US cities. And what are >these swoops? It is being said that such swoops are planned as a >response to public panic - as a result of Y2K. It is also being >said that even if such panic doesn't happen - it will be engineered! > >Now, this is really "conspiracy" stuff I know. But I also know >there is a fair amount of opinion that believes the mass shootings >that have been happening in the USA, in recent times, have been >"arranged" to soften up the population to the need for such an >armaments swoop. > >I should also say, from the perspective of someone living outside >the USA, that the most vocal Y2K "gloom" views originate from >within that same country. In other parts of the world - including >New Zealand and Australia - there is nowhere near the overall >public "concern". > >So what's the bottom line? Personally, I think the whole technical >issue is overblown. The "doom" scenarios make me think of the >"end of the world" prophetic utterances of various "end-timers" - >those with a vested interest in seeing the modern "evil" world >come to an untimely end. > >The real issue is whether people believe the "end time" views - >and panic as a consequence. And in this regard I have to say that >the USA must be the most religious country on earth, and therefore >very prone to believing such things. Whereas, those of us living >in the UK, Australia and New Zealand (and much of Europe), are >not even half as religious - and much more skeptical. > >Keep in mind that any public panic will play right into the hands >of the politicians - who will just love to put in place new laws >to control the situation. Governments love emergencies - like >wars etc, and always use such opportunities to increase their >stranglehold on the people. So be warned. > >Come December 31 this year - I will not be living in a bunker, or >stashing all my cash under the mattress. Instead I will be hoping >that people don't panic - and I will not want to encourage it by >panicking myself. > >We've had warnings of the "end of the world as we know it" for >decades now - and you know what? The world keeps going. > >================================================================ >[4] Top 10 Offshore Funds >================================================================ > >For the year ending July, 1999, the following funds posted these >percentage changes - gross income reinvested. (source Micropal) > > 1. RSAIFS/Lippo Indonesian Growth - 505.1% > 2. Lippo Indonesian Growth - 449.2% > 3. Korea Open Fund - 309.8% > 4. Malacca Fund (Cayman) Ltd - 276.8% > 5. Nicholas-Applegate US Growth Equity - 273.8% > 6. BBL (L) Invest Indonesia C - 262.4% > 7. BBL (L) Invest Indonesia D - 262.2% > 8. Fidelity Funds Indonesia - 252.7% > 9. The Yellow Sea Inv Co - 249.1% >10. Paribas EM Indonesia Ptfl - 248.9% > >================================================================ >[5] NewsBriefs >================================================================ > >http://www.lp.org/ > >Libertarians say "bravo!" to brave anti-Drug War Republican >governor > >WASHINGTON, DC -- The Republican governor of New Mexico deserves >praise for committing a "brave act of political heresy" -- urging >the federal government to end its ill-fated War on Drugs, the >Libertarian Party said today. > >"Governor Gary Johnson is like the little boy who says the >emperor has no clothes," said the party's national director, Steve >Dasbach. "While most Republicans and Democrats pretend we're >winning the War on Drugs, Johnson has the courage to say we can't >jail our way to a drug-free America, and we ought to stop trying." > >COMMENT >The "war on drugs" is insane. And it's insane the way the US is >trying to "export" its fanaticism to other countries. The whole >issue is about control. Making drugs illegal is as stupid as >the original prohibition on alcohol - and for the same reasons. >Making drugs illegal simply drives them into the black market - >where criminals take over supply. (Criminals by definition - as >trading in drugs is an illegal act.) > >One bad action (drug prohibition) leads to all sorts of bad >consequences - including the mass incarceration of millions of >Americans and the "new" crime of money-laundering (trying to keep >the money you make from selling drugs - drugs wanted by people >in the first place). > >All I can say is WHEN is the US going to wake up and end this >evil prohibition? > >---------------------------------------------------------------- > >http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?/adeska/adt0823ba/3770:845066 > >Forget the conspiracy movies. It's happening in real life now. >The Clinton Administration wants the right to break into your >home and install a "listening device" on your computer. Of course, >they promise not to abuse the privilege. (Right. Sure. Uh-huh.) >Forget the Melissa virus. Forget Y2K. This may be the scariest >computer threat of the year... > >---------------------------------------------------------------- > >By Hans H. Chen - APBNEWS.COM > >Law enforcement officials are calling for every suspect placed >under arrest to have a DNA sample taken. > >NEW YORK, Aug. 18 A plan by New York City police commissioner >Howard Safir to take DNA samples from everyone arrested has >received the backing of an influential police organization. > >Meeting at the New York Police Department headquarters, the >executive committee of the International Association of Chiefs of >Police (IACP) on Saturday voted unanimously to approve Safir's >resolution calling for states and the federal government to fund >the DNA sampling of criminal suspects upon their arrest. > >COMMENT >What is it with governments and criminals. I guess, having created >them (mostly) in the first place - they think they have to do >something about it! And I guess the other reason is that crims >and governments have something in common - they're both trying >to fleece us. The government hates competition! > >---------------------------------------------------------------- > >Who Pays The Most In Taxes? > >According to the Treasury Department 85% of all federal taxes >are paid by the top 40% of taxpayers, which is anyone who earns >more than $49,800. That means that the remaining 60% of taxpayers >contribute just 15% to the total of income taxes collected. >(source - Harris Publishing) > >COMMENT >This is what is known as "income redistribution" - perhaps the >most insidious idea/action ever perpetrated on productive people. > >---------------------------------------------------------------- > >Australian Crime Increases After Guns Are Confiscated >Orange County Register - Letters to the Editor Section 8/4/99 > >It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were >forced to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed, a >program costing the government more than $500 million dollars. > >And now the results are in: Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 >percent; Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent; Australia- >wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent). In the >state of Victoria, homicides with firearms are up 300 percent. >Figures over the previous 25 years show a steady decrease in >armed robbery with firearms (changed drastically in the past 12 >months). There has been a dramatic increase in break-ins and >assaults of the elderly. > >COMMENT >No surprises here! When you disarm people you turn them into >potential victims. I know that if I was intent on committing some >crime - I would feel a lot more comfortable knowing there weren't >going to be any guns waiting for me! > >It's not just that. The state has one legitimate function - to >protect our individual right to our lives and property. But we >all know they cannot protect us. If someone turns up in your home >intent on robbing and assaulting you, then the police will only >turn up AFTER the event. In other words, the state's current >function is limited to bringing felons to justice - not preventing >crimes from being committed. And in this environment it is criminal >to prevent people from protecting themselves. > >Just to give you some idea of how silly it gets. In New Zealand >the police have consistently opposed the importation of "pepper" >spray - particularly useful for carrying in one's handbag - on >the grounds that the criminals will also use it! > >---------------------------------------------------------------- > >One in 34 Americans in jail, on parole or probation > >WASHINGTON -- The number of American adults behind bars or under >police supervision last year reached a record 5.9 million offenders, >almost 3 per cent of the adult population, the United States >Justice Department has reported. > >It means that one out of every 34 adults was in jail or on >probation or parole for criminal acts last year. (source: AFP) > >COMMENT >What did I say last week, about making citizens into criminals? >Enough said. > >================================================================ > >"Life, faculties, production - in other words, individuality, >liberty, property - this is man. And in spite of the cunning of >artful political leaders, these three gifts from God precede all >human legislation, and are superior to it. Life, liberty, and >property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, >it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed >beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place." > >Frederic Bastiat > >================================================================ >See you next week! Please spread the message and forward this >newsletter in its entirety to related mailing lists, friends, >associates, and Webmasters. !! THANK YOU !! >================================================================ > To subscribe, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the following subject: subscribe opsecrets > - - - - - > To unsubscribe, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the following subject: unsubscribe opsecrets >================================================================ > True Freedom CAN be yours at http://offshoreprofit.com > Copyright 1999, OPC International, Inc. >================================================================ >
