On June 4, longtime market expert, analyst, Progressive Radio News Hour regular, International Forecaster owner and editor, and valued friend succumbed to pancreatic cancer.

He endured a protracted struggle to recover from what took him. He'll be sorely missed.

He's survived by his wife Judy, son Robert Michael, daughter Jeni, their spouses, and four grandchildren.

On June 6, committal services were held.

Twice weekly, Bob published the International Forecaster (IF). For over 50 years, he wrote on business, economics, finance and politics. He provided invaluable information for readers and investors. He covered what media scoundrels ignore and supress.

Born in Boston, he attended Northeastern University. He majored in business management. He served with US Army Counterintelligence in Europe and elsewhere. He spoke German, French and Spanish. He travelled the world.

From 1960 - 1988, he owned and ran his own brokerage firm. At retirement, he had over 6,000 clients. "He was probably the largest gold and silver stockbroker in the world...."

He lived in Europe, Africa, Canada, the Bahamas and America. In Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) and Johannesburg, South Africa, he specialized in South African gold shares from 1962 - 1976. He gained expert knowledge about South Africa's mining industry.

For 25 years, he belonged to The Traders Association. He did his own trading. Through the years, he gained valued contacts. They proved invaluable sources for Forecaster issues.

In 1967, Bob began writing on business, economics, finance, and politics. Material he produced has been published in over 200 print and online publications. He owned and wrote the Gary Allen Report. It had about 30,000 subscribers.

IF debuted in June 1991. It "reaches 10,000 investors and brokers monthly directly...." Material from it is published by dozens of web sites. Exposure reaches over 10 million readers weekly.

For decades, Bob often spoke publicly. He participated in over 200 business conferences globally. He gave numerous workshops. He appeared on radio and television hundreds of times. He was a Progressive Radio News Hour regular.

Loyal readers and listeners considered him one of their most valued sources. So did this writer/radio host. His analysis and commentaries were invaluable.

He gave followers information not available elsewhere. His forecasts were accurate. He understood issues and explained them.

At a time of fiat currency debasement, he strongly recommended gold and silver for safety and capital appreciation.

On June 3, Bob published his most recent IF issue. He called plans by China and Japan to trade yuan and yen bilaterally bad news for dollar hegemony.

It's in decline. For decades, America stayed economically dominant. Most other nations agreed to a Washington controlled WTO/IMF/World Bank/Bank for International Settlements system. Under it the dollar remained dominant as the world's reserve currency.

Other countries now balk. In June 2009, China, Russia and other Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) nations met in Yekaterinburg, Russia. They took the first step to end dollar supremacy. They discussed replacing it with a single global currency or basket of major ones.

In July 2009, then President Dmitri Medvedev advocated a supranational currency. In September, the UN Conference on Trade and Development proposed an artificial one to replace the dollar.

Other alliances include Latin American countries supporting a regional currency. China wants its yuan protected. Russia trades its ruble bilaterally with other currencies.

Washington depends on global dollar hegemony. Slippage harms its dominance. China and Russia exclude dollar transactions in numerous bilateral deals. So do other countries. They include Brazil, India, Argentina, Indonesia, Iran, UAE, South Korea, Malaysia, Syria, Cuba, Belarus, and Venezuela.

Swap arrangements are proliferating. In 2009, seven Latin American countries established the Bank of the South. They include Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Ecuador.

Plans are to include all regional countries. At issue is operating outside dollar/IMF/World Bank hegemony. Establishing a new SUCRE currency was proposed. So was a Union of South American Nations, independent of America.

Middle East countries considered their own monetary union and common currency. Gaddafi proposed pan-African unity. He also advocated a new gold standard. He supported replacing dollars with gold dinars.

Regional states backed the idea to provide real monetary wealth and value. They'd be free from predatory lending agencies and depreciating fiat currencies. Gaddifi's vision may have died with him.

Asia's Chiang Mai Initiative (CMI) promoted financial cooperation among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

ASEAN swap agreements expanded to the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM), regional bond markets, and bilateral swap deals.

China's arrangement with Japan is especially significant. They're the world's second and third largest economies. Before decade's end, China's likely to replace America as number one.

For years, Chapman predicted dollar decline. He advocated gold and silver for safe haven protection. In early June, he called precious metals "severely undervalued." He also explained how markets are manipulated to suppress their value.

For months he predicted QE III. More money printing means higher gold and silver prices.

America's in protracted terminal decline. Imperial wars are waged to delay it. Earlier Chapman said the nation is effectively bankrupt. He saw it in the early 1980s. Post-9/11, it's especially evident.

The illuminists went to far, he explained. They know it. They're waging a losing rear guard action. We've seen it before historically. It never worked. It won't now. Mindless money creation assures bad endings. Only buying time is possible.

Bob informed readers well. His advice always proved sound. Without him around to remind us, we're on our own to heed what he advised. Doing so means not going wrong.

A Final Comment

On June 2, Bob's daughter Jeni emailed about his health. She wanted friends who inquired to know.

In January, Bob underwent medical tests. He was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. It metastasized to his liver.

Surgery wasn't possible. He tried alternative treatments. He stopped getting medical attention. His condition worsened. Concern for his health affected his wife Judy. She developed a brain aneurism and required hospitalization. It was treated in time. She's all right.

New CT scans showed Bob deteriorated further. By late May he was hospitalized. He needed intensive care. His condition was grave. His cancer further metastasized. He developed a urinary tract infection, a blood clot in one leg, and multiple ones in the other.

His kidneys were failing. His liver shut down. He was dying. He called family and childhood friends to say goodbye.

On May 28, he came home to spend his remaining time with loved ones. He wants the IF to continue in his absence. Efforts will be made to do it. Others sharing Bob's views will contribute. Subscribers will be told when relaunch is ready.

Jeni thanked everyone expressing support in emails and other communications. She told Bob. She's so proud of him, she said. His wife, Judy, has been with him throughout it all over the years.

His shoes are big ones to fill. Jeni said "we are willing to try. I hope you will continue to support the IF and keep Bob's dream alive."

Hopefully it will continue being an invaluable resource. Contributors will try to keep it that way.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"

http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour   
Walker Wins, Wisconsinites Lose

By Stephen Lendman
6-7-12

Morning headlines read more like obituaries than reason for anyone to celebrate. Despite pre-election polls suggesting either candidate could win, odds greatly favored Republican Scott Walker.

He outspent Democrat Tom Barrett around 25 - 1. Corporate backing made the difference. The Democrat National Committee (DNC) gave no financial or campaign support. Neither did Obama. Effectively they conceded. Final results didn't surprise.

On June 6, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel headlined "Walker wins recall race over Barrett," saying:

He became "the first governor in (US) history to survive a recall election...."

In March 2011, Boise State University's Political Science Professor Gary Moncrief said:

<blockquote>"I don't think there's a precedent for what's going on in Wisconsin. I don't think there's ever been a case where pretty much everyone has been subject to a recall attempt at one time on both sides. That's really amazing."</blockquote>

He referred to legislative and gubernatorial recall campaigns ongoing at the time.

Only four previous times in US history were multiple state lawmakers recalled at the same time for the same issue:

90 years ago in North Dakota for governor and two other state officials;

two in Idaho in 1971 over a pay raise;

two in Michigan in 1983 over a tax vote; and

two California Republicans in 1995 for collaborating with Democrats.

Before 2012, only two governors faced recall elections.

In 2003, California Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger replaced Democrat Gray Davis. One anti-populist leader succeeded another. Voters lost out entirely.

In 1921, Republican/Nonpartisan League Governor Lynn Frazier was recalled. Republican Ragnvold Nestos replaced him. In 1923, Frazier won a US Senate seat. He served until January 1941.

"Recall is an extreme measure (under) extreme circumstances," noted University of Iowa Professor Caroline Tolbert.

Other analysts said everyone is watching Wisconsin. Before 2011, only two lawmakers in state history were recalled.

Last year, Democrats lost four of six recall races. Republicans kept legislative control. While popular sentiment wants change, Democrats and Republicans offer none. Both parties support wealth and power. Vitally needed social justice doesn't stand a chance.

Across America, earlier era progressivism is nowhere in sight. It began in the 19th century to end slavery, support women's rights, small farmers, and political populism. It advocated:

social reforms benefitting ordinary Americans;

citizen empowerment;

comprehensive education as a universal right;

curbing corporate power;

eliminating corruption and waste;

labor rights;

laws prohibiting child worker exploitation;

environmental conservation, and other issues stressing social values over financial gain.

In January 1944, Franklin Roosevelt proposed an economic bill of rights. The earlier one "proved inadequate to assure us equality and the pursuit of happiness," he said. He endorsed:

<blockquote>"Opportunity.

The right to a useful and remunerative job.

The right to a good education.

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies.

Security.

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment.

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health.

The right of every family to a decent home.

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation."</blockquote>

Roosevelt didn't live long enough to promote implementation. Today's neoliberal policies oppose what he proposed. Party boss agendas exclude social justice. Today's America reflects high unemployment, eroded labor rights, growing poverty, an unprecedented wealth gap, and mass deprivation.

Final vote totals showed Walker won 53.2 - 46.3%. He declared victory. Barrett conceded.

Republican Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch also held office. Four senate seats were contested. Republicans won three. Control of the evenly balanced Senate hung in the balance.

Democrat John Lehman defeated Republican incumbent Van Wanggaard. Winning gives Democrats Senate control.

However, the slim margin of victory may prompt recount calls, so it's too early to know for sure. If Lehman's win holds, Democrats will have a 17-16 majority.

Recall elections are now over. In 2011, Democrats gained two seats. Republicans kept majority control.

In November, 16 of 33 Senate seats will be contested. Since 1990, incumbent senators were reelected only twice.

Nation magazine contributors represent America's pseudo-left. They're Democrat party apologists. They support the worst of Obama. They ignore union bosses selling out rank and file interests for their own.

They believed replacing Walker meant change. After years of neoliberal Clinton/Obama politics, they portray them and other Democrats as pro-labor.

Editor Katrina vanden Heuvel claimed "win or lose," Wisconsin's recall campaign "gives progressives something to build on." She and Nation magazine prioritize reelecting Obama, keeping a Democrat controlled Senate, and gaining a House one.

Neither party distinguishes itself from the other. On issues mattering most, not a dime's worth of difference separates them. Obama governs to the right of George Bush. He and Romney endorse similar policies. Only their rhetoric differs.

Wisconsin's no different. Democrats govern like Republicans. Barrett or Walker makes no difference. Union bosses abandoned worker rights. Their concern focuses only on their own.

No matter which party won on Tuesday, Wisconsites lost. So will all Americans in November. Bipartisan complicity assures worse neoliberal harshness and more imperial wars. Only sustained popular rage can change things. It's simmering but needs to boil.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"

http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour