Cheers! To really appreciate the image, you have to know durian. The outside is covered with serious thorns, the inside looks like big fleshy yellow worms, and the smell is akin to rotten onions stuffed in unwashed month-old gym socks. But it sure tastes good! There's a reason it's banned in many public places around Asia, though.
Just when I think U.S. politicians are dumbest and most corrupt, I see a story like yours about even worse government actors. I wish your new administration all the best but when you look at history and so many countries around the world who've indulged their socialist and totalitarian impulses, like Cuba, for example, the damage is insinuated long term and even if it is cured, it might be decades before things change.
Glad you have a client that pays you $'s even though those are going downhill, fast. Maybe you can get them to pay in BTC. In any event, good luck!
I'm waiting for the BTC offer. I'm sure that will be forthcoming in the next couple of years, if not sooner.
Socialism combined with an insatiable desire to force relgion down everyone's throat is probably the worst expression of the ideology. It all sounds peachy in theory -- everyone owns all the land and riches, but the end result is always a tiny few getting all the benefits while everyone else scratches the dirt for slugs and grubs.
The administration before last was very corrupt, but laissez-faire, and as a consiquence the economy bloomed. Ah, the irony.
Your previous administration is an example of the concept of "honest graft", which both U.S. parties adhered to for 150 years or so. Yes, government contracts were full of a certain amount of graft and the politicians were all in on the theft. But it was held to a minimum, as all knew that roads and bridges had to be built and built well, schools had to be safe and actually educate their attendees, the police had to be well-trained and they and the courts had to maintain order and protect the average citizen in his person and property, and there could not be tolerated any public disorder and lawlessness. It's also called "civilization". Socialism throws all that out the window and, as you point out, you end up with gangsters who are both corrupt and incompetent, leavened with stupidity.
The way it works here, is there are four major parties and a couple dozen minor parties. After an election, the ministries are divvied up between the parties in the winning coalition. If you want something from a ministry, you go to the party head in the ministry (not the minister) and pay the gratuity at that level. The party head then distributes the goodies accordingly. If you pay gratuities at the aparatchik level, they just keep passing your case back and forth, with each new handler asking for more to keep your file at the top of the pile.
If all governments everywhere at all times are corrupt, I would rather have one where the rules are at least clear. The US has lawyered all over the corruption in order to have the sheen of legitimacy, and the people have allowed themselves to be snowed into thinking it's all legitimate and not just a gangland protection racket.
Your words are right for Drumpf to annex the carcass, as USA 53rd state! We can relocate the "EV" green auto company Nissen after the merger with Honda to create a new surge of economic activity with the USD rule of thumb!
You may not be far off, though it is more likely Toyota or Mitsubishi. In any case, they'll have to import all the lithium from Chile or Australia, so it makes more sense to relocate to those countries.
Now if you want gold, silver, copper, or tin, we have metric f*** tonnes of it, but no one has the capital or know-how to get it out, and in any case, there are no smelters here to purify the ore to meet legal restrictions. Heck, even Musk and Disney took a look at the place and wandered off to greener pastures. Even King Midas couldn't figure out how to work the system.
"I have no problem with nationalism and protectionism, when it’s applied with wisdom and foresight,..."
Nationalism and protectionism are never and can never be applied with "wisdom and foresight".
"When used to the benefit of the people, these concepts can lead to higher standards of living, better career opportunities, and lower prices for everyone."
No, they can't. Protectionism works precisely by raising prices on imported goods (or outright prohibiting their import), and therefore raising the prices people have to pay for the things they buy. It's frustrating to read you correctly identify a catalog of problems caused by government meddling, only then to turn around and fantasize that government meddling could be a good thing, if only done right.
I think your frustration is predicated on seeing the issue from a single perspective. Governments use nationalism/protectionism to create artificial scarcity, thus swelling their revenue streams and increasing their power over the people. They wrap it all in artificial nationalism, with lots of flag waving and anthem singing to make people feel good about being robbed.
Organic protectionism is when I buy my vegetables at the farmers' market and my meat from the local butcher, where I know the source and quality of the food and there is minimal interference from "authority".
Organic nationalism is when I arm myself and my family, do routine training at the range or camping, and prepare myself mentally and physically to kill any intruders that threaten my family or my property.
Individual wisdom and foresight are valuable tools in protecting one's nation from threats, both foreign and domestic.
Wow! Indonesian government officials hit every "Stupid Key" on the government typewriter. Amazing! I'll send the link to my good friend who lived in Jakarta for many years. Thanks for the article.
I still think about "Grapes of Wrath." As the farmer said, "Well, who do I shoot?"
My wife and I watched "The Holdovers" last night. It's a great movie set at a rich boy's boarding school in New England during the Christmas and New Year's holidays of 1970-71. It brought back good memories. We loved the old cars and costumes.
To be fair, the NGOs roll in handing out money to run their social engineering projects, but the politicians are only too happy to stuff their pockets, and they figure as long as folks are busy at the make-work jobs, no one will show up with pitchforks and torches. so far, it's worked pretty well, unless your metric is a nationally unified and integrated system with long-term sustainability.
I haven't seen "The Holdovers" yet, but Alex Payne is an upcoming director, and Paul Giamatti is great in everything he does. I'll give it a watch on your say-so. Thanks!
Here's the real gold rush-CO2 recapture units in ever commode in the world-sensors, data collection device and recapture system. You could do a real Rube Golberg device and hook into the global collection pipeline that is rolling out in Canada. You don't smelters or bomb shelters!
Actually, Malaysia is cornering that market. In fact, I just finished a report on topic. They at least saw the global swindle that had legs, and they're running with it. Getting paid to take everyone's CO2 and shove it in a hole in the ground, where it can leak out and be called a natural source is a great scam, until folks realize what a truck-load of cow dropping it is.
Your top image is hilarious! Durian is some nasty stuff, but a great weapon.
Cheers! To really appreciate the image, you have to know durian. The outside is covered with serious thorns, the inside looks like big fleshy yellow worms, and the smell is akin to rotten onions stuffed in unwashed month-old gym socks. But it sure tastes good! There's a reason it's banned in many public places around Asia, though.
Just when I think U.S. politicians are dumbest and most corrupt, I see a story like yours about even worse government actors. I wish your new administration all the best but when you look at history and so many countries around the world who've indulged their socialist and totalitarian impulses, like Cuba, for example, the damage is insinuated long term and even if it is cured, it might be decades before things change.
Glad you have a client that pays you $'s even though those are going downhill, fast. Maybe you can get them to pay in BTC. In any event, good luck!
Danny Huckabee
I'm waiting for the BTC offer. I'm sure that will be forthcoming in the next couple of years, if not sooner.
Socialism combined with an insatiable desire to force relgion down everyone's throat is probably the worst expression of the ideology. It all sounds peachy in theory -- everyone owns all the land and riches, but the end result is always a tiny few getting all the benefits while everyone else scratches the dirt for slugs and grubs.
The administration before last was very corrupt, but laissez-faire, and as a consiquence the economy bloomed. Ah, the irony.
Your previous administration is an example of the concept of "honest graft", which both U.S. parties adhered to for 150 years or so. Yes, government contracts were full of a certain amount of graft and the politicians were all in on the theft. But it was held to a minimum, as all knew that roads and bridges had to be built and built well, schools had to be safe and actually educate their attendees, the police had to be well-trained and they and the courts had to maintain order and protect the average citizen in his person and property, and there could not be tolerated any public disorder and lawlessness. It's also called "civilization". Socialism throws all that out the window and, as you point out, you end up with gangsters who are both corrupt and incompetent, leavened with stupidity.
Danny
The way it works here, is there are four major parties and a couple dozen minor parties. After an election, the ministries are divvied up between the parties in the winning coalition. If you want something from a ministry, you go to the party head in the ministry (not the minister) and pay the gratuity at that level. The party head then distributes the goodies accordingly. If you pay gratuities at the aparatchik level, they just keep passing your case back and forth, with each new handler asking for more to keep your file at the top of the pile.
If all governments everywhere at all times are corrupt, I would rather have one where the rules are at least clear. The US has lawyered all over the corruption in order to have the sheen of legitimacy, and the people have allowed themselves to be snowed into thinking it's all legitimate and not just a gangland protection racket.
I've heard Singapore is very honest, as was Hong Kong, before the communists took over. Never did any business in either, so I don't know for certain.
Your words are right for Drumpf to annex the carcass, as USA 53rd state! We can relocate the "EV" green auto company Nissen after the merger with Honda to create a new surge of economic activity with the USD rule of thumb!
You may not be far off, though it is more likely Toyota or Mitsubishi. In any case, they'll have to import all the lithium from Chile or Australia, so it makes more sense to relocate to those countries.
Now if you want gold, silver, copper, or tin, we have metric f*** tonnes of it, but no one has the capital or know-how to get it out, and in any case, there are no smelters here to purify the ore to meet legal restrictions. Heck, even Musk and Disney took a look at the place and wandered off to greener pastures. Even King Midas couldn't figure out how to work the system.
"I have no problem with nationalism and protectionism, when it’s applied with wisdom and foresight,..."
Nationalism and protectionism are never and can never be applied with "wisdom and foresight".
"When used to the benefit of the people, these concepts can lead to higher standards of living, better career opportunities, and lower prices for everyone."
No, they can't. Protectionism works precisely by raising prices on imported goods (or outright prohibiting their import), and therefore raising the prices people have to pay for the things they buy. It's frustrating to read you correctly identify a catalog of problems caused by government meddling, only then to turn around and fantasize that government meddling could be a good thing, if only done right.
I think your frustration is predicated on seeing the issue from a single perspective. Governments use nationalism/protectionism to create artificial scarcity, thus swelling their revenue streams and increasing their power over the people. They wrap it all in artificial nationalism, with lots of flag waving and anthem singing to make people feel good about being robbed.
Organic protectionism is when I buy my vegetables at the farmers' market and my meat from the local butcher, where I know the source and quality of the food and there is minimal interference from "authority".
Organic nationalism is when I arm myself and my family, do routine training at the range or camping, and prepare myself mentally and physically to kill any intruders that threaten my family or my property.
Individual wisdom and foresight are valuable tools in protecting one's nation from threats, both foreign and domestic.
Wow! Indonesian government officials hit every "Stupid Key" on the government typewriter. Amazing! I'll send the link to my good friend who lived in Jakarta for many years. Thanks for the article.
I still think about "Grapes of Wrath." As the farmer said, "Well, who do I shoot?"
My wife and I watched "The Holdovers" last night. It's a great movie set at a rich boy's boarding school in New England during the Christmas and New Year's holidays of 1970-71. It brought back good memories. We loved the old cars and costumes.
I hope Indonesia can turn things around.
To be fair, the NGOs roll in handing out money to run their social engineering projects, but the politicians are only too happy to stuff their pockets, and they figure as long as folks are busy at the make-work jobs, no one will show up with pitchforks and torches. so far, it's worked pretty well, unless your metric is a nationally unified and integrated system with long-term sustainability.
I haven't seen "The Holdovers" yet, but Alex Payne is an upcoming director, and Paul Giamatti is great in everything he does. I'll give it a watch on your say-so. Thanks!
PS: I think the car Paul Giamatti drives in the movie is an AMC Ambassador.
Rufus, Thanks for telling me of the NGOs in Indonesia. NGOs are pet projects of billionaires playing god.
"The Holdovers" will put you in the Christmas spirit. Hahaha! Every scene is a gem.
Here's the real gold rush-CO2 recapture units in ever commode in the world-sensors, data collection device and recapture system. You could do a real Rube Golberg device and hook into the global collection pipeline that is rolling out in Canada. You don't smelters or bomb shelters!
Actually, Malaysia is cornering that market. In fact, I just finished a report on topic. They at least saw the global swindle that had legs, and they're running with it. Getting paid to take everyone's CO2 and shove it in a hole in the ground, where it can leak out and be called a natural source is a great scam, until folks realize what a truck-load of cow dropping it is.
I love whats happening in Canada-Freelandv resigns , Trudeau being exposed and one foot out the door-hopefully this happens world wide.