I just finished Confessions of an Economic Hit man and I'd like to highlight a few items.
He noted that the US currency is not linked to Gold it is liked to their ability to create more. The US treasury has the ability to print as much as they wish. Robert Kiyosaki Has touched on this issue in his past articles as well.
He asked the question what will happen to the US if the world starts to adopt the Euro as their currency of choice? I believe Americans will find it very difficult to repay their loans. I like the fact that the Canadian currency is on a rebound maybe the world can adopt the Canadian Dollar as their favorite currency? Yah right :) keep on dreaming.
The importance of Iraq to the Americans is not just oil, it's political. If they build infrastructure that can influence that part of the world then they can control oil and politics. Hence Iraq supplies natural resources to other countries like fresh water. Who's down stream that will be affected when (notice I didn't say if) the Americans start damming up the water, build hydro-electric plant? Who is with-in striking distance when the Americans build military bases in the region? With that kind of control you can get governments to do almost anything at your whim.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Financial Pillaging
A topic that has been quite close to me lately and seems to be coming up more and more, maybe its just my conciseness being awakened. Any ways here are some excerpts from a recent article by Robert Kiyosaki.
"in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Financed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, Columbus not only discovered the new world, he helped Spain become one of the richest empires of its time.
Soon after Columbus' voyage, Spanish galleons traveled the world to loot and plunder. It wasn't long before Spain's vaults were filled with gold stolen from the New World. While the Spanish conquistadors did spread their religion and civilization to much of the new world, they did so with a potent mix of greed, cruelty, and violence.
Apparently, it was contagious. In 1557, Spain became the first sovereign nation in history to declare bankruptcy. Phillip II, Spain's ruler, had such a hunger for warfare and conquest that he continually borrowed money from Genoese lenders so that Spain could continue to fight and steal. His greed bankrupted the country a second, third, and fourth time. "
"...The big difference is that nowadays countries don't have to travel to other countries and steal their gold. Instead, they just print money.
That is, instead of needing expensive military forces to attack weaker nations, they just buy another country's wealth with debt, or funny money. It's the same as a bank robber giving up armed thievery as a way of earning money and turning to counterfeiting. America may be the biggest counterfeiter in the world today.
One of the ways rich countries like the United States gain an economic advantage over weaker countries is by lending them money on the condition that the weaker country buy the rich country's products. Hot money, as it is sometimes called, enters the poorer economy and the economy booms, but then it later collapses when the country can't repay its debt."
"The problem I see is that the businesses aren't being acquired with money or equity -- they're being acquired with debt. And as far as I know, somebody will have to pay that money back someday.
The Spanish Empire eventually collapsed because of its expensive taste for warfare and conquest. I'm concerned that the modern world will itself be conquered because it's developed an expensive taste for debt. So what do I recommend? For now, enjoy the party, don't drink too much, and stay close to the exits."
See the whole article here http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/richricher/11429
"in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Financed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, Columbus not only discovered the new world, he helped Spain become one of the richest empires of its time.
Soon after Columbus' voyage, Spanish galleons traveled the world to loot and plunder. It wasn't long before Spain's vaults were filled with gold stolen from the New World. While the Spanish conquistadors did spread their religion and civilization to much of the new world, they did so with a potent mix of greed, cruelty, and violence.
Apparently, it was contagious. In 1557, Spain became the first sovereign nation in history to declare bankruptcy. Phillip II, Spain's ruler, had such a hunger for warfare and conquest that he continually borrowed money from Genoese lenders so that Spain could continue to fight and steal. His greed bankrupted the country a second, third, and fourth time. "
"...The big difference is that nowadays countries don't have to travel to other countries and steal their gold. Instead, they just print money.
That is, instead of needing expensive military forces to attack weaker nations, they just buy another country's wealth with debt, or funny money. It's the same as a bank robber giving up armed thievery as a way of earning money and turning to counterfeiting. America may be the biggest counterfeiter in the world today.
One of the ways rich countries like the United States gain an economic advantage over weaker countries is by lending them money on the condition that the weaker country buy the rich country's products. Hot money, as it is sometimes called, enters the poorer economy and the economy booms, but then it later collapses when the country can't repay its debt."
"The problem I see is that the businesses aren't being acquired with money or equity -- they're being acquired with debt. And as far as I know, somebody will have to pay that money back someday.
The Spanish Empire eventually collapsed because of its expensive taste for warfare and conquest. I'm concerned that the modern world will itself be conquered because it's developed an expensive taste for debt. So what do I recommend? For now, enjoy the party, don't drink too much, and stay close to the exits."
See the whole article here http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/richricher/11429
My PVR
Oh how I love my PVR.
Let me count the ways.
No this is not a poem. I'm anything but a poet. But it is true, I LOVE MY PVR. Since getting my PVR as a birthday gift I have been able to spend more time with my family, less time watching commercials, repairing our house, or working in the garage. Heck this might even constitute exercise, Yuck. Time shifting your favorite programs to a more convenient time is liberating.
I highly recommend it for anyone like myself that was a couch potato.
Let me count the ways.
No this is not a poem. I'm anything but a poet. But it is true, I LOVE MY PVR. Since getting my PVR as a birthday gift I have been able to spend more time with my family, less time watching commercials, repairing our house, or working in the garage. Heck this might even constitute exercise, Yuck. Time shifting your favorite programs to a more convenient time is liberating.
I highly recommend it for anyone like myself that was a couch potato.
The Evils of Debt
I've been reading this book by John Perkins called Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. Its made me think about a lot of things mostly the self destruction of debt. In my religion we've been warned to stay out of debt. Mind you there are good debts (education, home, business). And, that we should pay those debts back as quickly as possible. Anyways back to the book, he points out that since the 1950's the American Government has been trying to cripple nations by burdening them with debt that they can't pay back, so that they can coerce them into selling them their oil. Most countries would prefer to use their oil for themselves but can no longer do so as they can't meet their obligations. The hook is that American engineering firms can make there lives better through building infrastructure. that their country GDP will grow to afford it. Many will become wealthy, and everyone will be better for it just like them, the Americans. Yah like there doing so well.
How many of us can say that we are constantly bombarded daily with the promises that this or that will make us happier, or this will make your life easier, better, more popular... I see it every night I sit down to watch TV. Oh how I love my PVR, but that's another story. As a nation we are spending more, consuming more, saving less and in more debt then ever before. The real question is what are the underline motives for this, who are we going to owe and at what cost?
How many of us can say that we are constantly bombarded daily with the promises that this or that will make us happier, or this will make your life easier, better, more popular... I see it every night I sit down to watch TV. Oh how I love my PVR, but that's another story. As a nation we are spending more, consuming more, saving less and in more debt then ever before. The real question is what are the underline motives for this, who are we going to owe and at what cost?
Perfectionism
Perfectionism is really a manifestation of the belief that one's efforts
are never good enough.
Imagine: How many of the obstacles standing in your way are the product of
your own imagination? What have you convinced yourself that you can't do?
What limitations have you come to believe in? Your mind is very powerful
and effective. Is it working for you, or against you? - Ralph Marston
are never good enough.
Imagine: How many of the obstacles standing in your way are the product of
your own imagination? What have you convinced yourself that you can't do?
What limitations have you come to believe in? Your mind is very powerful
and effective. Is it working for you, or against you? - Ralph Marston
First Attempt
I saw this on a Dilbert cartoon and thought how true
"Success is the happy feeling you get between the time you do something and the time you tell a woman what you did."
"Success is the happy feeling you get between the time you do something and the time you tell a woman what you did."
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