The Nasty Habits of Reality

People never intend to bring disasters upon themselves. But they sometimes put themselves in situations in which disaster is the only way out.

The War Between the States was supposed to be quick and decisive. The glorious histories of the war were already written – at least in the minds of the combatants – by the time of the First Battle of Bull Run.

General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson inspects the action at the First Battle of Bull Run. Confederate observers were suitably impressed. We've got this in the bag, they said to themselves. Let's start writing the history books!

There would be a few heroic charges; Napoleon's Marshal Ney would have nothing on the dashing Confederate generals in their gray and red tunics.

Mounted on their fine Tennessee horses, waving their swords and shouting encouragement to their cavalry, they would sweep the enemy from the field…send him fleeing back across the Potomac… and the war would be over.

But even authors often don't know how their stories will turn out. Events and personalities take over. Between the first chapter and the final one, there are twists and turns that few expect.

The hero turns out to have a fatal flaw. Circumstances weren't what they thought. The enemy had surprises. And then, at the end, the great victory turns into a nightmare defeat.

Surrender Isn't For Us – Only Full Frontal Assault Will Do

Once war is underway, the warriors stop thinking about peace. Instead, they focus on winning the war. Then they can't stop.

The coming disaster is financial and economic. The authorities are determined to win a war: a war against markets. With $35 trillion in excess debt in the u.s. alone, they figure they can't afford to lose. They're right. But they can't win, either.

The big monetary guns blast away. Janet Yellen threatens to make peace with the credit markets. But it is just an idle war rumor. She can't make peace; she can only surrender. Unconditionally