Communist China Buying US Businesses: General Electric, Smithfield Foods, IBM, Tesla & More!

General Electric

Headquarters: Boston, Mass.

Bought By: Haier

Headquarters: Qingdao, China

General Electric may have started out as a relatively small brand when it was founded in 1892, but the company has grown exponentially since then. Now, GE has its fingers in a lot of pies, from aviation and healthcare to power and venture capital. It’s a titan.

Many Americans find the brand appealing because it has a “Made in America” stamp on its products, however, the company has been owned by Chinese company Haier since 2016. Haier bought GE for $5.4 billion, a recording breaking sum at that time. The products are still made in the USA, but the decisions are made in China.

It might come as a surprise to many considering just how long the company has been around. However, it just goes to show that when it comes to making money, it really doesn’t matter where the money comes from – as long as it’s coming.

Now that we have your attention, we have to show a few more Communist Chinese buys that should raise your eyebrows. Some of these are really bad to allow our number one enemy in the world to own even a small part. Let us take a quick look at a major food supplier, one that many see on the shelves of Walmart, but Walmart is a huge supporter of Communist Chinese products, including food and tools. Yep, Communist China has bought this food giant and is running the operation, but they know that our nation depends on processed food; and what better way to “attack” a nation than through its food chain. Maybe Communist China has hopes to shut down this food when we need it most? You have to wonder what other brands are silently part owned by the Communist Chinese.

Smithfield Foods

Headquarters: Smithfield, Virginia

Bought By: WH Group

Headquarters: Hong Kong

When it comes to producing pork-based products, Smithfield Foods reigns supreme. The company has been going since 1936 when it was created by Joseph W. Luter and his son. The business grew steadily over the years to become one of the largest in the industry, with over 500 farms in America alone.

Back in 2013, WH Group bought Smithfield foods for the astronomical sum of $4.72 billion. At that time, it was the most expensive acquisition made by a Chinese company in America. So, while Smithfield’s HQ might be in Smithfield, Virginia, the company is actually run from Luohe in Henan province.

Smithfield Foods can be found all over the country in stores like Walmart, so WH Group knew they were making a wise investment. After all, clothes and other wares might go out of fashion, but Americans will always need to be fed.

We cannot go on without mentioning what the Communist Chinese own and that is one of the largest markets in the United States, the personal computer. Something that can have a backdoor installed so the Communist Chinese can easily spy on any computer they wish just by punching in the code to look into which computer is being used by who. But if the military, Congress, and all the other government entities buy this type of personal computer, what sort of national security risk is this? That may seem like something out of a spy novel but we have seen what Communist China does with their spies. They even had one spy working in a congressional office and become a girlfriend of the congressman! Can you imagine what they could do if the military used the personal computer for their work? How about what the White House does with their personal computers? It would not be hard to get an uplink going that only the Communist Chinese can see. It sounds kind of far out, but it is a very good question, why does Communist China want to own a personal computer company?

IBM: Personal Computer Divison

Headquarters: Armonk, New York

Bought By: Lenovo

Headquarters: Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

As far as technology companies go, IBM has gone from strength to strength to dominate the market. Since its conception in 1911, the business has gone on to work on computer hardware, software, consulting services, invent the floppy disc, and more. The advancements the company has made are undeniable.

Back in 2005, announced that its Personal Computer Division had been acquired by Lenovo, who paid $1.25 billion for the pleasure. The Chinese business poured a lot of money besides that into IBM too. According to the statement, “Additionally, Lenovo will assume approximately $500 million of net balance sheet liabilities for IBM.”

That kind of money is almost impossible for any business to refuse, even one as famous as IBM. Japan and China are known as technology meccas, so perhaps it makes sense that Lenovo would want to expand its reach even further.

https://thewashingtonstandard.com/communist-china-buying-us-businesses/

Money Does Matter: The End of the Gold Standard Led to a Lower Standard of Living

On August 15, 1971, Richard Nixon announced that the US dollar (USD) would no longer be redeemable in gold. This was supposed to be temporary. And yet, fifty-one years later, here we are. The gold standard was gradually destroyed in the twentieth century. Now people are experiencing the consequences: less purchasing power, more economic cycles, and a weaker economy.

In the chapter 4 of his book What Has Government Done to Our Money?, Murray Rothbard goes over the steps the government took to end the gold standard over the twentieth century, from the end of the classical gold standard to the closing of the gold window in 1971.

The Classical Gold Standard (1815–1914)

The classical gold standard tended to prevent the government from running budget deficits and going into debt, as it could not easily create inflation. In 1913, the Federal Reserve (Fed) was born. When the US entered the World War I, US dollars were printed at an excess of the gold reserves. At this point, the US got off the classical gold standard and this money printing contributed to the depression of 1920–21.

The Gold Exchange Standard (1926–31)

In this regime, the USD and the pound sterling (GBP) were the two currencies of reference (“key currencies”). The US went back to the classical gold standard (converting USD into gold). GBP and other currencies were not convertible into gold (except for large bars). The Great Britain converted GBP to USD and the other European countries converted their currencies to GBP. So, the Great Britain inflated GBP and the other European countries did the same with their respective currencies (a “pyramiding” of GBP on USD and of other European currencies on GBP). Consequently, as Rothbard stated:

Britain and Europe were permitted to inflate unchecked, and British deficits could pile up unrestrained by the market discipline of the gold standard…. Britain was able to induce the United States to inflate dollars so as not to lose many dollar reserves or gold to the United States. As sterling balances piled up in France, the United States, and elsewhere, the slightest loss of confidence in the … inflationary structure was bound to lead to general collapse. This is precisely what happened in 1931; the failure of inflated banks throughout Europe, and the attempt of “hard money” France to cash in its sterling balances for gold, led Britain to go off the gold standard completely. Britain was soon followed by the other countries of Europe.

Fluctuating Fiat Currencies (1931–45)

In 1933–34 the US abandoned the classical gold standard once again. The USD was defined as 1/35 of an ounce of gold and only foreign governments and central banks could convert it into gold. So, there was a certain link to gold, but the US was in a floating exchange rate regime. As Rothbard stated, by cutting the ties to gold, this regime

leave[s] the absolute control of each national currency in the hands of its … government [which can] allow its currency to fluctuate freely with respect to all other fiat currencies … [The flaw] is to hand total control of the money supply to [the government], and then to … expect that it will refrain from using that power.

the disastrous experience of … the 1930s world of fiat paper and economic warfare, led the United States authorities to [aim] the restoration of a viable international monetary order

Bretton Woods and the New Gold Exchange Standard (1945–68)

https://mises.org/wire/money-does-matter-end-gold-standard-led-lower-standard-living

More than 90 pastors have declared they will 'never again' shut down their churches. Is your pastor one of them?

A coalition of more than 90 American pastors from different denominations have boldly declared they will "never again" comply with government orders to close their churches.

Taking up a biblical rallying cry from Acts 5:29, these clergyman say, "We must obey God rather than men," and have signed on to a statement declaring that the government violated the U.S. Constitution by ordering churches to cease meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The purpose of the document is to provide a muster point for clergy," said Pastor Stephen Mannion of Faith United Methodist Church in Lancaster, New York. "The 'Acts 5:29 Statement' declares to the government: 'Don't try to close the Church again. It won't go so well next time.'"

Churches and other houses of worship were forced to shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic when government-issued "stay at home" orders required "non-essential" public places to close. While some religious organizations objected at the time, citing First Amendment concerns, the U.S. Supreme Court in May 2020 declined to take up their cases and permitted lockdown orders to remain in effect.

As a result of government restrictions, many church leaders had to innovate and embraced technology to deliver live-streamed worship services over the internet. But in-person Bible studies, small groups, counseling services, Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and a multitude of other Christian ministries suspended their activities. Many Christians contend that suspending these services came at a great cost. Deaths associated with alcohol, drugs, and suicide spiked 20% in 2020, claiming the lives of more than 186,000 Americans.

Mannion told TheBlaze in an interview that the government overstepped its authority during the pandemic.

"Bodily autonomy and parental rights [were] often stripped away, livelihoods were lost, dedicated service men and women where forced to retire or be cut from our armed forces, students were robbed of an education, and all for an [infection fatality ratio] of much less than 1%," Mannion said.

He explained that the idea to draft the Acts 5:29 Statement and invite other ministers to sign it came to him after reading "God vs. Government" by authors Nathan Busenitz and James Coates. The book recounts the efforts of pastors John MacArthur and James Coats to defy lockdown orders in Canada and the United States.

"The Church should have spoke up more on these issues. As for overreach more specific to the Church: It is beyond the God given authority, and Constitutional authority, of the Government to restrict numbers or attendance at worship," Mannion said.

He drafted the statement along with Rev. Bill Cook, founder and CEO of America's Black Robe Regiment, an organization of politically active Christian pastors dedicated to preserving "the Blessings of Liberty." It is based on Hebrews 10:25 and Acts 5:29, Bible verses that instruct Christians not to neglect to gather together for worship and forbade obeying laws that violate God's commandments.

So far, 93 ministers from 29 states have signed the statement, which declares that government officials "clearly transgressed their lawful authority in executive action that prohibited public meetings or mandated the wearing of masks and 'social distancing.'"

"As a national coalition of pastors and churches, we reject any Presidential or gubernatorial decree requiring us to disobey the word of God. We will resist any attempt by a Federal, state or local official to restrict or prohibit the free exercise of our Religion or place restrictions thereon," the statement reads.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/more-than-90-pastors-have-declared-they-will-never-again-shut-down-their-churches-is-your-pastor-one-of-them

DeSantis Suspends 4 Broward County School Board Members

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended four Broward County School Board members on Aug. 26, following a grand jury recommendation citing “incompetence, neglect of duty, and misuse of authority.”

A Statewide Grand Jury released a 122-page report accusing the four of a range of “inexcusable actions… and unacceptable behavior” relating to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on Feb. 14, 2018, when 17 students and staff lost their lives.

The governor said he took the report’s recommendations and decided to act on his constitutional authority as governor.

“It is my duty to suspend people from office when there is clear evidence of incompetence, neglect of duty, misfeasance or malfeasance,” DeSantis said in a written statement. “We hope this suspension brings the Parkland community another step towards justice. This action is in the best interest of the residents and students of Broward County and all citizens of Florida.”

In announcing the suspensions, DeSantis said, “These are inexcusable actions by school board members who have shown a pattern of emboldening unacceptable behavior, including fraud and mismanagement, across the district.”

In 2019. the governor asked the Supreme Court to convene the grand jury to look into safety and security issues statewide in the aftermath of the Parkland tragedy.

The grand jury’s report, which was completed in April 2021, but was not released until Aug. 19, 2022, details accounts of mismanagement within Broward schools after the shooting.

Former Broward Superintendent Robert Runcie was indicted on perjury charges by the grand jury in April 2021. He stepped down in August 2021. Much of the report was highly critical of Runcie’s leadership, but the four now-suspended board members continued to support him.

After the grand jury report was released, the board’s chairwoman Laurie Rich Levinson told news outlets it was a “political hatchet job.”

The report’s release resulted from appeals by school board members who fought to have it redacted or expunged. A county judge rejected the requests; the members appealed to the 4th District Court of Appeals which twice denied their appeals over the summer. They appealed to the state Supreme court which declined to hear the case.

https://www.ntd.com/desantis-suspends-4-broward-county-school-board-members_831091.html

School bus driver among 6 arrested in Kalamazoo County child sex stings

A Portage Public Schools bus driver was one of six people arrested in a law enforcement operation targeting people seeking sex with children, according to Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller.

The sheriff held a news conference Friday, Aug. 26, to talk about the recent arrests by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office Human Oppression Strike Team (KHOST).

He referred to the six people as predators and read their names and charges to a room of reporters Friday morning.

“There are six individuals we will be introducing to you, predators of children going online seeking sex,” Fuller said.

Investigators have found that there are thousands of apps and sites where children can be contacted and groomed, he said.

“While performing our work, an adult poses as a child,” Fuller said. Once they connect, the innocent conversations can turn into explicit proposition, and that’s what investigators see on a regular basis, Fuller said.

The school bus driver, a Kalamazoo resident, had not been arraigned as of Friday morning and is expected to be later in the day, Fuller said. MLive is not naming the bus driver at this time because he has not been arraigned.

The prosecutor’s office has authorized charges of accosting a child for immoral purpose and using a computer to commit a felony against the bus driver, Fuller said.

Portage Public Schools was been alerted and has taken appropriate action, Fuller said. The district did not immediately respond to a MLive request for comment.

The sheriff’s office said on Friday that five other people were arrested recently and have been arraigned on the following charges:

Brian Malone - Arrested in May 20 and charged with possession of child sexually abusive material; child - accosting for immoral purposes; and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime.

Joshua Knapp - Arrested on May 25 and charged with child - accosting for immoral purposes; using a computer to commit a crime.

Alexander Bogdan - Arrested June 21 and charged with child - accosting for immoral purposes; using a computer to commit a crime; and indecent exposure - aggravated.

Brandon Moore - Arrested on Aug. 17 and charged with child - accosting for immoral purposes; using a computer to commit a crime.

John Morrill - Arrested on Aug. 17 and charged with child - accosting for immoral purposes; using a computer to commit a crime.

“Our investigators find dangerous, scary people seeking sex with children here in Kalamazoo County,” Fuller said “It is too easy for an adult to use a cell phone and computers and groom children.”

In April, a Western Michigan University police officer was among those arrested in a sex sting operation carried out by sheriff’s deputies. The sheriff’s office announced those arrests on April 15, as the first in the task force’s operations.

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2022/08/school-bus-driver-among-6-arrested-in-kalamazoo-county-child-sex-stings.html

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Arrests 176 People For Sex Trafficking

This comes after Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Human Trafficking Squad spent three months investigating sex trafficking crimes.

Through their investigations, they learned some concerning new information.

Sheriff Chad Chronister says more groups are getting involved in sex trafficking this year, like members of violent gangs.

“Please, I’m going to beg you one more time, if you want to traffic someone for sex, if you want to purchase another individual for sex, or you want to prey on the children of our community, go to another county, because the odds are against you. You photo is going to be on one of these boards,” said sheriff Chronister.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister says his human trafficking squad is working around the clock to find human traffickers and their victims.

“It is disturbing the number of individuals who wanted to purchase sex from our undercover female detectives,” said Chronister.

Over the last year, the squad arrested 360 people, 176 of those being in the last three months. They went undercover online where Sheriff Chronister says conversations were shocking.

“The individual was asking ‘Can you reaffirm the age of your daughter?’ ‘Yes, she’s 14 years old.’ ‘Thank you. She’s too told for me,'” said Chronister.

Over the course of the last year, investigators have rescued eight victims, many of whom are minors.

“What we are seeing are more criminal organizations getting involved. It’s not just step fathers, it’s not just dads, it’s not just ex-boyfriends. Now we are seeing some gang members,” said Sheriff Chronister.

“Over the last year we have seen a great increase in the requests that come to us to care for the little girls that have been recovered from child sex trafficking,” said Laura Hamilton with an organization that helps child victims called Bridging Freedom.

Hamilton says the issue is getting worse.

“It really is a challenge to provide beds and services for the kids who really need it,” said Hamilton.

She says adults should keep an eye out for unusual behavior.

https://tampa.cbslocal.com/2022/08/26/hillsborough-county-sheriffs-office-arrests-176-people-for-sex-trafficking-1/