189 The Real Game of Missing Money Closing & Credits “We have to pierce the tunnels of loneliness with the conviction that there are other people, and one has to trust that one is led to them.” ~Thomas Meyer I n the 1st Quarter of 2018, Robert Dupper and I decided to take a road trip from the Netherlands to Basel to film a discussion with Thomas Meyer on The Future of Europe. This discussion was one of the first throughout the year that explored the importance of culture. After discussing Chartres and the great cathedrals of France, I asked Thomas how people who are intent on preserving our culture and a human civilization can find each other. He then said something that inspired numerous subscribers to reach beyond their normal networks and connect with one another throughout the year: “We have to pierce the tunnels of loneliness with the conviction that there are other people, and one has to trust that one is led to them.” This was a year of breakthroughs—of finding each other, of new doors opening, and of worlds emerging as we connected. The year 2018 began with me writing The State of Our Pension Funds for the 2017 Annual Wrap Up with the very capable assistance of Jason Worth. If trillions of dollars are going missing through the federal credit mechanism, it is important to understand where that money has been coming from—the primary source is U.S. pension funds. As the funding ratios on U.S. pension funds continue to fall—as they have done since 9/11—the day of reckoning moves closer. I want- ed to make sure that when that day comes, citizens and retirees see the big picture of how their assets relate to the financial coup—sufficient to assert both legal and political rights. It’s hard to be opposed to things you are actually financing. The 2017 Annual Wrap Up included my News Trends & Stories discussion with Dr. Joseph Far- rell, organized with the formidable preparation of our News Trends & Stories editor, Brad Eddins. This process of tracking the deeper trends and analyzing the news on a quarterly basis is an essen- tial source of ongoing insight about what is happening and where we are going.