Fwd: How America becomes a police state

On Mar 27, 2019, at 7:51 PM, Bill Bonner's Diary <feedback@exct.bonnerandpartners.com> wrote:

Editor's Note: If history has taught us anything, it's that those in power will do anything to stay in power. The staying power of the "Deep State" – the loosely connected cabal of government insiders and entrenched special interests – has been a regular topic in the Diary for years. But where is this all headed? In tonight's special evening edition of the Diary, legendary speculator Doug Casey takes up the question. As you'll see, Doug believes a police state in America isn't just possible… it's quickly approaching. How America Becomes a Police State By Doug Casey, Founder, Casey Research Is a police state in the U.S. possible? Absolutely. That's because people are essentially the same the world over, regardless of their culture, religion, race, or what-have-you. A certain percentage of them are sociopaths. There is a standard distribution of sociopaths across time and space. It's a function of Pareto's Law, better known as the 80-20 rule. Recommended Link TONIGHT: WORLD PREMIERE EVENT – Doug Casey's Totally Incorrect: Live Get a Sneak Preview of Doug's 5 Predictions for 2019 and Beyond that could deliver 1,000%+ in the next year. The only way to attend this world premiere is to sign up right now. It's free to attend, you just need to reserve your spot. As soon as you reserve your spot, you'll gain access to Doug's "behind the scenes" video library where you can see the story behind his politically incorrect way of thinking… how it informs his approach to the markets… and how he's brought in once-in-a-lifetime gains of 86,900%, 63,000%, and 5,000%. Get free admission right here   20% of the people do 80% of the work. Another 20% are responsible for 80% of the crime. 20% of the population always winds up with 80% of the wealth. And so forth, through all areas of human endeavor. This observation can be represented by a bell-shaped curve – a "standard distribution" – with a small minority at each extreme, but the large majority in the middle. The people who will take us to a police state are sociopaths – criminal personalities who don't respect the liberty or property of others. And sociopaths gravitate towards government, and eventually come to control it. My view is that 80% of human beings are basically decent, get along, go along types. 20% are what you might call potential trouble sources, that can go either way. But then you take 20% of that 20% and you're dealing with the sociopaths. When social conditions reach a certain stage, these really bad guys come out from under their rocks and take advantage of the situation. We're seeing that right now in the U.S., across the political spectrum. Just as we've seen in the past in hundreds of places throughout history. A major tipping point occurred almost 18 years ago, on September 11, 2001, with the attacks in New York and Washington, DC. They were disastrous. But not nearly as disastrous as the government's reaction to them. Among them, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Anybody who speaks German knows that a reasonable translation of Homeland Security is Geheime Staatspolizei, which is usually abbreviated to Gestapo. Recommended Link RESERVE YOUR FREE SPOT: "Most Controversial American" and New York Times Best-Selling Author Doug Casey Goes LIVE March 27 In the world premiere of Totally Incorrect: LIVE, you'll see Doug Casey lay out these predictions: The coming demise of Donald Trump… Why we could see another Civil War in America… We're on the brink of a hot war with China… The Collapse of Western Civilization… Why the "Everything Bubble" is about to pop… PLUS: Get a Sneak Preview of Doug's 5 Predictions for 2019 and Beyond that could deliver 1,000%+ in the next year. Reserve your spot before time runs out   Anybody that goes through airline security these days should ask themselves, "Where the hell did they find these people? Didn't they have jobs before they went to work for this moronic agency?" The answer is that there are people out there who like wearing costumes, are willing to boss, herd, interrogate, and go through the dirty laundry of their fellow citizens. They take their jobs seriously and you better not even look at them sideways. There's no reason to believe it's going to get better as they groove into their jobs, and their employer cements itself into place. More likely the trend will accelerate. Is America currently a police state? Well, let's see. You can still get in your car and go anywhere, although you might be stopped by the police and you might be detained if your papers aren't in order. Or if the officer thinks you're not properly respectful. Or if you have "too much" cash. Was there any particular day that Germany became a police state in the 1930s? I'm not sure you can put your finger on any one particular day, even after Hitler was legally and democratically elected. It was a progression, with new laws, new regulations, new taxes every day, while more fear and hysteria were worked up among the populace. Kristallnacht didn't occur the day after the National Socialists took power. It's a case of the frog being put in a kettle of water where the temperature is gradually raised to a boil. That's what's occurring in the U.S. After 9/11, in addition to Homeland Security, we got the Patriot Act, with, among other things, its suspension of habeas corpus. Recommended Link [MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT] Doug Casey Discusses What Will End Western Civilization It's been almost 39 years since he appeared on Donahue's show for a heated debate about the dark secrets poisoning America. Now he's back for a rare, wide-ranging, and incisive interview… WARNING: Some folks will find this offensive… Admission to the world premiere is free. Get yours here   That means that the government can lock anybody up for any reason and not even have to tell them why. Accuse them of being an "enemy combatant" – a neologism that justifies anything and is robotically and thoughtlessly accepted by Boobus americanus – and anything is possible. Including a trip to a CIA black site in some Third World hellhole. This is something I thought was settled in Western Civilization with the Magna Carta and King John. But we're going backwards in most areas of personal freedom. And America, of all places, is leading the way – even while falling behind economically. I don't know if I can put my finger on exactly when we're going to go over the edge, but if I was going to guess I would think the real catalyst is going to be the next 9/11-type event. And I don't doubt it's going to happen. How are we any different than the Germans in the 1930s? This was one of the most civilized, best educated countries in Europe and they fell into the abyss. I suppose we're a bit different. Americans are addicted to welfare, anti-depressant drugs, food, and electronic devices. That should certainly give us a better outcome… There's a joke I like to tell. Let me ask you this: Which is the gravest danger? Is it the ignorance, or is it the apathy of the average American today? Stumped? Here's the answer: I don't know and I don't care. Regards, Doug Casey Founder, Casey Research Editor's Note: If you don't know Doug Casey, he's made multimillion-dollar fortunes as a globetrotting speculator. He's written three best-selling books. He's traveled to 155 countries and lived in 10 of them. And he shocked millions of Americans on national TV when he appeared on Phil Donahue's show in 1980… But it's been almost 39 years since he's sat down in front of a camera for a wide-ranging, incisive interview… Until now… We're excited to announce the world premiere of Totally Incorrect: LIVE, starring Doug Casey… Tonight at 8 p.m. ET, during this landmark event, Doug will reveal five controversial predictions for 2019 and beyond… You don't want to miss out on learning what's in store for the United States… Doug goes live in just three hours. Go here before you miss it. © Bonner & Partners 455 NE 5th Ave, Suite D384, Delray Beach, FL 33483 www.bonnerandpartners.com This editorial email containing advertisements was sent to stevescott@techacq.com because you subscribed to this service. To stop receiving these emails, click here. Bonner & Partners welcomes your feedback and questions. But please note: The law prohibits us from giving personalized advice. To contact Customer Service, call toll free Domestic/International: 1-800-681-1765, Mon–Fri, 9am–7pm ET, or email us here. © 2019 Bonner & Partners. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, copying, or redistribution of our content, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission from Bonner & Partners. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Fwd: Where's My Cash? Dispelling A Common Misconception About PE-Backed Acquisitions

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Vaughne M Glennie <admin@vertess.com>
Date: Tue, Mar 26, 2019 at 5:50 AM
Subject: Where's My Cash? Dispelling A Common Misconception About PE-Backed Acquisitions
To: <stevescott@techacq.com>

Physician practice owners are often surprised to learn how private equity (PE)-backed companies structure their acquisitions and the relativ

Volume 6 Issue 6, March 26, 2019

Where's My Cash? Dispelling A Common Misconception About PE-Backed Acquisitions

by Dave Turgeon, Managing Director

Physician practice owners are often surprised to learn how private equity (PE)-backed companies structure their acquisitions and the relatively small amount of cash paid at closing. It's significantly less than owners (sellers) expected. Below is a simple breakdown of how the proceeds from a typical PE acquisition works. The selling price is generally paid in three parts. Understanding the timing of these payouts may influence when owners choose to sell their practices.

Cash at Closing: 40%

Less than half of the sale price may be paid upon closing. Practice owners should keep in mind that they will pay their transaction costs from this amount. These costs will include the fees for services provided by an accountant, lawyer, and advisor and may also include taxes.

Deferred Payments: 40%

Most states have strict laws prohibiting non-compete contracts for physicians. The justification is that prohibiting the practice of medicine in any form is considered to be against the public's interest. The challenge for buyers is that they do not want to acquire a practice only to see its physicians walk away a short time after the sale and become competition. PE-backed companies work around this by paying some of the acquisition price over time, i.e., deferring a portion of the payment. This amount — typically 40% of the acquisition price — is usually spread over three or four years. The payment is also predicated on the practice continuing to generate the revenue and cash flow (EBITDA) upon which the sales price was determined. This approach serves as motivation for practice owners to keep their team in place to sustain the practice's financial performance. During the deferred payments period, physician-owners continue to be paid on a formula based upon collections from services provided (e.g., 50% less certain expenses). They do not, however, share in the profits of the business post sale. Note: Keep in mind that, in general, such deferred payments are treated as capital gains for tax purposes.

Rollover Equity: 20%

The concept here is that physician-owners are swapping stock in their company for an equal value of stock in the company acquiring their practice. The physicians are not paid cash for this portion of the sale. The stock can usually be monetized upon the sale of the buyer's company. The incentive for buyers is they want their new physician partners to be aligned with the parent company's interests. By accepting stock in a buyer's company, physicians become financially invested in that company's success. A seller may find this offering very attractive for a couple reasons. First, accepting stock rather than cash defers any taxes on the gain from the transaction. Second, the buyer is likely to sell the company at a significant gain. As a shareholder, the seller will participate in that gain. It's not unreasonable to expect a gain of 300-400% over a period of just 2-4 years. To better ensure such an optimal outcome, it is imperative to work with the right buyer and PE group. An advisor can provide the best direction on this matter.

Key Takeaway

I often get calls from business owners considering retirement who believe it may take just 3-6 months to sell their business. They're surprised to learn that buyers expect owners to remain with the business for the time periods discussed above. This misconception — and others as well — can create significant challenges that have the potential to derail an owner's plans and expectations for selling a business. Such a scenario is avoidable. Surrounding oneself with experienced people is critical for a successful sale. If you envision possibly selling your business within the next few years, begin researching and identifying the team members who will support you now. They will help dispel any misconceptions you may have about the sale process and better ensure that the exit you envision is the one you actually experience.

If you would like to discuss this article personally, the value of your healthcare company/practice, or how to get the best price when you sell it, you can reach Dave Turgeon at dturgeon@vertess.com / 617.640.7239.

Up Next in SalientValue... In the next issue, we'll offer some advice for dermatology practices considering an exit.

Unsubscribe VERTESS 3849 E. Broadway Blvd. #232 Tucson, Arizona 85716 United States

Sender notified by Mailtrack 03/26/19, 10:10:06 AM

Fwd: How to Ramp Up Curiosity (Even When Using a Controversial Topic)

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Psychotactics <sean@psychotactics.com>
Date: Tue, Mar 19, 2019 at 1:01 PM
Subject: How to Ramp Up Curiosity (Even When Using a Controversial Topic)
To: Steve Scott <stevescott@techacq.com>

However, the very nature of the controversy is what jolts your audience to life.

                                                                                                                                                            

How to Ramp Up Curiosity (Even When Using a Controversial Topic)   (This email contains the complete article. However, you can also read or listen to it at these links: Read | iTunes | Android | Spotify |Look for episode 205).   Do you know the exact date the Earth was created?   If you lived in the 18th century, you learned that the world was created on Saturday, the 22nd of October, 4004 BC. And not just any moment on 22nd October, but "on the beginning of the night". This idea of the Earth being just 6000 years old is preposterous to us living in an age of science, but back in those times, the only geology textbook was the word of an Irish bishop and theologian called James Ussher.   It was in this world that James Hutton came up with his theory of the Earth   While observing the side of a hill, he noticed bands in the cliff face. Over time, he realised there were possibly hundreds of bands of sediment laid one on top of the other, compacting itself into rock. Hutton's great insight was that the creation and destruction of land wasn't one day in October, 4000 BC, but instead a remarkably slow build up over time.   In 1785, he presented his radical idea to the Royal Society of Edinburgh   The Society rejected his theory almost immediately. And as if that were not enough, the members of the society branded him an atheist. Hutton was God-fearing, and he must have felt the sheer weight of how his ideas were being rejected out of hand.   History is full of instances where ideas were too controversial to be accepted.   And we too are faced with scepticism when we present an idea.   While our ideas might not be as earth-shattering, they're still very important to us. The only problem we have is that our concepts are controversial.   They're ideas that are very hard for clients to digest, and therefore we tend to stay on the safer, more boring side of life.   But what if there were a way to present your controversial idea?   And what if you could do it in various media. Would it be possible to create an info-product that went against the grain? What about a webinar or seminar that was a bit different from what clients expect?   In this article let's look at: Why you should not discard a controversial idea   What caused the slow decline of newspapers?   If you were to ask this question to most people today, the answer would likely be quite prompt. Most people are likely to say: It's the Internet.   The news online is free and can be accessed at will. It can be tweaked to your taste, has video and other interactive content—plus, it's searchable. It's not hard to see that the Internet was the most dominant factor in the decline of the newspaper industry.   Except there's a neat little graph that tells a different story   If you started the graph back in 1945, you'd notice how the trend heads south. 1955 has fewer readers per household but is better than 1965, which in turn is better than 1975. As you hurtle through the years, the readership drops precipitously as we get to 1995—and the Internet as we know it today didn't even exist back then.   In his book called "The Content Trap", professor Bharat Anand, brings up a concept that we'd consider to be quite odd, if not outright controversial.   However, the very nature of the controversy is what jolts your audience to life   If you were to read an article on "how to increase prices", you'd be likely to be interested, but something that talks about "how to decrease your prices" might seem controversial and ignite a much higher level of curiosity. But is this controversy really necessary? Can't we get our ideas across without having to raise hackles all the time?   It really depends on the situation   Take for instance the formula that most marketers tended to follow. Marketing strategies comprised of finding an audience, a target audience. Once you knew who you were targeting, you needed to state the features and benefits of that product or service. This sequence of events would get you your desired result, or so it seemed.   Which is why we ran into instant pushback the moment we started speaking at small events in Auckland and parts of New Zealand. The earliest version of The Brain Audit did have the concept of Target Audience and Benefit, but it suggested that the most important element was the Problem. Not only was the Problem the most important, but it needed to show up before the Solution or any kind of benefit.   Controversial ideas don't always land on fertile ground   With The Brain Audit, we did get people saying that they loved the idea of the Problem. However, by and large, people felt the entire concept was negative. Why bother leading with the problem? they asked, especially when the solution has worked so well for so long? What if clients respond badly to the problem? They liked the other parts of The Brain Audit, but the concept of the problem needed to go, or so it seemed.   The reality is that controversial concepts need to stay   When your audience is saying, "this won't work", they're simply objecting. They're saying, "we can't see how this will work for me, and could you possibly be so kind as to give us some proof?" Which is exactly what Bharat Anand does in his book—and he does so at many levels.   First, he pulls out a graph of newspaper circulation per household over the past 70 years. Then, to bolster his point, he talks about a Norwegian media group called Schibsted. Schibsted published newspapers too, and their costs had spiralled upwards while the returns were horrific.   They had a loss of over 200 million kroner. By 2011, Schibsted had turned the ship around. Its operating profits were up to about $220 million—nearly 60% of the entire group.   Bharat Anand realised that controversy can be a friend   When you introduce a controversial idea, there's instant pushback, but also instant attention. The pushback is merely the objection that needs to be tackled. Once he was able to furnish the proof, that attention level morphs into intense curiosity. The reader, or the audience, want to know more because their worldview has not only been changed, but there's proof to back up the sudden change.   When presenting The Brain Audit to a sceptical audience, I had the same aha moment   I could start off by being like everyone else or could choose to advance the idea of the Problem being the most critical element of all. Which is why I'd go through a demonstration of picking up a piece of paper and crumpling it into a ball.   That would get the audience's attention, but then I'd suddenly throw the ball towards the audience. Instantly people would duck or swing their heads away from the oncoming missile.   Without too much fuss, I was able to demonstrate that a ball of paper might get their attention, but when thrown at them, that very paper got far more people to react.   It's more than likely that you do things that aren't run of the mill   They may well be controversial, and it's easy to believe that it's safer to stick to the well-trodden path. However, all that's missing is the understanding of the objection. When James Hutton came up with his theory of sedimentation, sure he was ridiculed, but part of the problem was merely that he couldn't explain several facets of his theory.   Granite was considered to be the Lord's foundation stone—the first part of the Earth to be created. Hutton, on the other hand, claimed that granite was an example of a recent development. And, he suggested, that rock had not so long ago, been almost liquid.   See the controversy at hand?   Sure you do, but you also are hooked into the excitement that would follow if there were proof. And that's why the controversy concept is so very powerful. You push it towards your audience, and they, in turn, push back. They come up with every reason why your idea is nonsense. As you get more objections, you are quickly able to figure out which one of those objections recur with the most frequency.   That's gold for you   Now you've got controversy, but you also know what's getting the most attention. And then, you also have proof.   _______________________ Announcing: The Article Writing Self Study Course The biggest frustration with article writing is the sheer amount of time. You struggle to write quickly.  Yet writing is a "language" like everything else. Learn the structure and you can learn to write without the frustration and faster than ever before. Find out how the "tiny increments" system gets results for everyone.   Click here for free goodies: How to create drama in your article Click here to read about: The Article Writing Self Study Course   Do share this article: Product Offers: Links you should visit What I like about 5000bc: Psychotactics Membership Community "The "safe" zone of 5000bc is an unbelievable "find" in this world."  "So rare, and so valuable. With every other group I've been a part of, whether it's a mentor or a writing group, there is also a stressful environment of pressure to be a certain kind of person or do things I'm not comfortable with, or measure up somehow. I've made more personal headway in the few months I've been following you than I ever did in other groups. It's the combination of truly understanding the psychology behind marketing and the safe zone for personal growth that is an amazingly powerful combination." To join 5000bc you have to get on the waiting list.  We like to make sure that all new members are comfortable. And you can believe it's well worth the wait! Join us in 5000bc  Product Every Small Business Needs Black Belt Presentation Series How to completely control the room-without turning anyone off? Online Membership Website How To Build A Powerful, Community-Driven Membership Website About this eZine and your subscription Remember to share this article All links must remain in the article. No textual amendments permitted. Psychotactics Ltd. All rights reserved.   Fun Stuff Fun Friday Cartoon: Join us for a good laugh every Friday Free Goodies:  How to structure your article without frustration Crazy Philosophy Of Psychotactics:  Why It May Help You In Your Business   Important: You are subscribed to the Free Psychotactics Newsletter. If you un-subscribe from this letter, you won't receive any goodies, offers, or newsletters in future. If you're getting duplicate newsletters, email us and we'll make sure you get just one copy. Email renuka@psychotactics.com

Privacy and Spam Policy I don't rent, trade or sell my email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll not get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.

Psychotactics, PO Box 36461, Auckland, Auckland 1330, NEW ZEALAND

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

Sender notified by Mailtrack 03/19/19, 1:47:50 PM