People love the sentimentality of their beliefs, the traditions and tribalism and forms of a self-conception, the good feeling that they get from believing that they are better than and different from the great body of mankind.Religions do thisEven atheists and political parties do this, since theirs is a form of religious belief as well.

But when it comes to applying those higher principles of belief in their daily lives, most people are highly selective, and in general want nothing to do with them, except as it is convenient, and serves their purposes without sacrifice. Faith is at most a moderate restraint on their willfulness. And so they become spiritually dead, dried husks of souls that have slowly starved the love from their hearts.

These are among the most difficult to persuade, because everything that comes to them is turned into a justification of their own wicked, lifeless souls. They view themselves as superior, and therefore victims of their inferiors.They cling to their hypocrisy like a drowning man might cling to an anchor, down to the depths of the abyss.

And in these days of increasing wickedness, this is most of us.Misery loves company, even if it is only to have someone else to despise, someone lower on the ladder to kick in the face.

Stocks were plunging again today, with the Dow Industrials finishing down over 1,000 points (4.15%), and the SP 500 down over 100 (3.75%). Index futures went out on the lows, but are rebounding a bit after hours.I will sort out any discrepancies and later action tomorrow.

The Dollar was largely unchanged, with gold and silver up a bit. Gold and silver are interesting to say the least.They seem to be coiling.The gold registered for delivery has fallen quite a bit again on the Comex.Silver remains an almost cornered supply with one large bank dominating identified physical supply.As to the character and quality of that supply, who really knows but them?

Most of the pundits continue to urge the public to stay fully invested, This is just some passing phase, a ‘healthy correction’ in a still vibrant bull market.

How are the mighty fallen, and broken their instruments of oppression.