Looking for a simple way to outperform the market on your international equity index portfolio? Here's how.

In early October, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) released a report entitled “Feel the Heat!” that details the economic status of black men in the United States. Author Linda Harris discusses this group’s high unemployment rates, which she attributes to high incarceration rates, low graduation rates, and a lack of support systems to help black men out of this low-income trap.

Don't believe these big lies - the following charts illustrate just what IS reality. Take a look and then get prepared for when the ---- hits the fan!

Leading up to the short term resolution of the debt ceiling crisis there were many articles about the extent of the national debt of the U.S.. the likelihood of default and, as such, the overall credit-worthiness of the once proud U.S. of A. The fact is, however, that while the U.S. does not rank in the top 10, it is far more financially sound than most other countries. Take a look at where it ranks compared to 47 other countries.

The manipulated raids in the gold market since last April may be hurting the Precious Metals game players, weakening their confidence and “disproving” gold’s worth against a fiat currency, but they serve a greater purpose, as in Federal Reserve payback time to China. Here's why.

If the debt ceiling deadline (approximately October 17th) passes without an agreement that would be extremely dangerous - and if the U.S. government is eventually forced to start delaying interest payments on U.S. debt (which could potentially happen as soon as November), that would be absolutely catastrophic.

All of the crap about the debt ceiling is really about plausible deniability, delivered as propaganda. Threaten deflation and austerity to make a big scene, and force the people to demand the debt ceiling be raised. This is all part of the “show deflation” at critical times when they want to print more aggressively with no blow back.

Despite all you hear coming from the government’s media megaphone, there is no economic recovery underway, nor can there be one. The policies in place ensure that one will not happen.

The price of gold, on a quarterly basis, is 86% correlated - yes, 86%! - to total government debt going back to 1975... and a shocking 98% over the past 15 years!. Despite the current rumblings, everyone is aware that the debt ceiling will be raised and will likely surpass $20 trillion by the end of President Obama’s term. That would put the price of gold at about $2,000 per ounce.

Is the debt issue phony? It sure sounds like a lot, doesn't it? $17 trillion in federal government debt. Wow. It's a big, scary number, no doubt about it, ...and it's a lot bigger than in years past, but is it really that bad? Could it be that our debt profile has been grossly exaggerated? I think so. Let me explain why I think that is the case.