World Affairs

[krbe 193]

On 27/05/2016 at 10:19 PM, Skimbo said:

My main problem with Republicans is their grudgy way of argueing for guns and against any measure which would help U.S.A. to keep up with Europe and Canada when it comes to the quality of life for it's citizens.

Quality of life differs according to who you ask. Yes, a great many Europeans have been told that this is the best there is; and ditto for Americans.

It is not a given that the prevalence of guns is uniquely detrimental to quality of life in America. America is an enormous continent; you can go from London to Moscow in less than four hours, while New York to Los Angeles takes more than six. It should come as no surprise that it is more diverse than say the UK, Germany or Russia alone.

And why is quality of life better in Europe than America? Unless your income is in the lowest tenth percentile you'd probably do better in America anyway. Difference is you'd have to work out kindergarten, school and college for your kids, and the hospital and the old folks home. But there is no guarantee that the European equivalence is actually good. 

[Dreadnought 8,231]

Having lived in both the US and Europe -- I would rather take my chances in Europe -- if I was born there.  It is difficult to speak a second language like a "native" -- so you always stand out a bit.

But in the US -- you will need a good deal of money to live as comfortably as Europeans (in general).  And if you wish to provide for those "cradle to grave"  programs most Europeans enjoy -- you'd better be positively filthy with money!

As I've said before, a "pinch" of socialism could do wonders in this country.  I'm not sure "Bernie" is "THE MAN" -- but I'll take him over Trump every time !!!

[Skimbo 304]

5 hours ago, krbe said:

Quality of life differs according to who you ask. Yes, a great many Europeans have been told that this is the best there is; and ditto for Americans.

@krbe: I call it quality of life if:

> The educational system is open for everyone and university education isn't a privilege of the ritch.
> If I don't have to worry about being robbed when walking my citie's streets after dark
> Basic healthcare is available for everyone
> I don't have to worry about loosing my job that much because there's a state that cares for me until I find a new one
> I can be sure that my kids won't fall victim to another crazy idiot unloading his M4 in a school's front yard.
> If I'm black, I don't have to worry about cops just shooting at me because of the color of my skin
> I also got some rights as an employee and simply can't be fired without reason

...

Continue that list

Quote

It is not a given that the prevalence of guns is uniquely detrimental to quality of life in America. America is an enormous continent; you can go from London to Moscow in less than four hours, while New York to Los Angeles takes more than six. It should come as no surprise that it is more diverse than say the UK, Germany or Russia alone.

Guns&Crime:

in 2012 USA had 4.7 homocides per 100.000 people. The average west european country lists below 1.0 homocides per 100.000 people. (my country for example at 0,42/100.000)
So eventhrough USA might have become saver compared to the 1980's where the rating was somewhere between 9.0 and 10.0 it's still at four to ten times the amount of murder-crime compared to mid europ.

Guns where involved in 11.208 homocides in 2013, 84.258 more people have been shot but survived. So basically 26,65 out of 100.000 us americans got shot at during one single year!

Please tell me again that guns, which are involved in 67% of all us american homocides aren't dangerous at all and don't need restrictions.

Quote

And why is quality of life better in Europe than America? Unless your income is in the lowest tenth percentile you'd probably do better in America anyway.

 

I don't think so. Look at  a typical US american city. Everywhere you will find ten throusands of people living in run down houses, estates or mobile homes who basically are poor, got nealry no chanche to get out of this mess and who's children got little chanche to do any better. 2 or 3 part time jobs because they can't find one single job that could feed them through. Super high crime, drugs, low education. Perfect mix for a very poor quality of life.

If you search neighbourhoods like theese in european cities you will earn a hard time finding thoose. They also exist but the percentage of europeans living under such conditions is much lower.

Quote

Difference is you'd have to work out kindergarten, school and college for your kids, and the hospital and the old folks home. But there is no guarantee that the European equivalence is actually good. 

Eurpoeans also work for theese, they might not pay them directly but indirectly via taxes. This system ensures a quality education and healthcare for everyone and doesn't mean that you can't pay your kid's school just because you lost your job. Ensuring a high level of education for every poor kid also pays off for the state on a later date as thoose kids - better educated as they would be without this social system providing free education - pay more taxes in the end because they earn more money.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dreadnought 8,231]

Like I said --

I'll take my chances in Europe !!

[Ocram's Razr 964]

The USA has a pinch of socialism already. Our problem is that we have corporations at least equivalently powerful as those in Fascist Italy and the Empire of Japan (Axis powers).

 

If socialism truly worked, Venezuela would be thriving. It obviously is not.

http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/daniel-mitchell/venezuela-collapsing-and-left-afraid-admit-why

http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/31/news/economy/venezuela-shortage/index.html

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2016/06/01/us-companies-fleeing-venezuela-to-escape-country-collapsing-economy/

http://fortune.com/2016/06/02/venezuela-crisis-key-statistics/

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-brazil-idUSKCN0YO27J

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36433535

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2015/04/07/venezuelas-not-suffering-from-socialism-but-from-anti-marketism/#47e8acf62b53

http://www.cato.org/blog/venezuela-reaches-final-stage-socialism-no-toilet-paper

 

The best economy is a free market. However, captive audiences are not free so basic preventative medicine and emergency procedures should be covered under a single payer system. Even though hygiene products are considered essential, there is enough competition among the big brands and enough options for generics that there are no captive audiences there. Food is the most essential and the USA has the most choices and options in its major cities than anywhere else in the world.

[Skimbo 304]

2 hours ago, OcramsRzr said:

The USA has a pinch of socialism already. Our problem is that we have corporations at least equivalently powerful as those in Fascist Italy and the Empire of Japan (Axis powers).

If socialism truly worked, Venezuela would be thriving. It obviously is not.

The best economy is a free market. However, captive audiences are not free so basic preventative medicine and emergency procedures should be covered under a single payer system. Even though hygiene products are considered essential, there is enough competition among the big brands and enough options for generics that there are no captive audiences there. Food is the most essential and the USA has the most choices and options in its major cities than anywhere else in the world.

 

Socialism: Why do most americans always put Communism, Socialism and Socialist into one single pot? IT'S NOT THE SAME!

Further on, the free market ain't good for nothing as it would easily fail.

Why? Simple: Free market only works as long as there are:

>Multiple producers of the same goods, which are sold to multiple customers - prices are set by the willingness to pay.
>A price can be set on each good. Sounds simple but isn't. What's the price of fresh air? Nobody knows but everybody consumes it.  What's the price of a national park? Or a working healthcare system? Nobody truly knows.

What to do with "allmende goods" (things that belong to everyone)? A free market would destroy theese.
 

A monopoly or a good that's got no price cause a market fail resulting in overpriced products or no supply at all.
A this point one needs to interact with the no longer free market and regulate it.

So basically, not even the U.S.A. got a true free market:
Thousands of monopolys (good example would be Monsanto) actually cause a market fail.
Thousands of goods which can't be monetarized need to be taken care of. By the state.

Further on, a unregulated free market tends to overheat and crash on a regular basis.
> Even USA got a fed bank which regulates the money in the system to control the economical development.

 

Last but not least USA got lots of corruption and big companies that try to defeat every possible start-up - another fail in the system.

 

 

------------

 

 

What's the difference to a socialist-market-economy?

This type - which is best in my opinion - got the core economy in a state controlled hand. There are several big state-owned companies which still have to be more or less profitable but got their main focus on supplying the basic needs of the state's society. Every other product is sold by the rules of a free market except for the fact that there are more regulations to be found than in a US-Style "free market". One basic example are regulations which allow a cartell only up to a specific size or market power in order to keep the "free market" stable.

Big advantages on here is that the market doesn't tend to overheat in ease and state-owned core companies don't have to fire hald of their employees just because they got bad times. That basically means less jobless people during a crisis and faster regeneration afterwards. Typical models for this kind of economy are the 70s to 90s western reuopean markets (except GB).

 

Today's european markets are somewhere in the middle between theese tow systems - a middle that in my opinion found a good balance between free market and a safe and stable economy whch covers all goods that can't be monetarized.

 

 

-----------------

 

 

What the hell did Venezuela do?

1st misstake: Start a state - system that relies on one single good, in this case: oil.

2nd misstake: destroy your market by setting maximum prices at everything
3rd misstake: raise minimum wages
4th misstake: Don't react on your failing economy caused by 1-3
5th misstake: raise minimum wages even further and lower prices below the minimum of existence for the product's producers
6th misstake: Watch your economy fial and the oil price fall
7th misstake: Regulate even further instead of pulling the emergency break

 

So basically, what venezuela did isn't socialist, isn't communist, isn't liberal what they did was simply plain stupid.

 

 

[Ocram's Razr 964]

23 hours ago, OcramsRzr said:

(1) Our problem is that we have powerful corporations like those in Fascist Italy and the Empire of Japan (Axis powers).

The best economy is a free market. However, (2) captive audiences are not free so basic preventative medicine and emergency procedures should be covered under a single payer system. Even though hygiene products are considered essential, there is enough competition among the big brands and enough options for generics that there are no captive audiences there. Food is the most essential and the USA has the most choices and options in its major cities than anywhere else in the world.

 

20 hours ago, Skimbo said:

Further on, the free market ain't good for nothing as it would easily fail.

Why? Simple: Free market only works as long as there are:

>Multiple producers of the same goods, which are sold to multiple customers - prices are set by the willingness to pay.
>A price can be set on each good. Sounds simple but isn't. What's the price of fresh air? Nobody knows but everybody consumes it.  What's the price of a national park? Or a working healthcare system? Nobody truly knows. [missing or ignoring Point 2]

What to do with "allmende goods" [These are called Common Resources in English, which are depleted without regulations] (things that belong to everyone)? A free market would destroy these.
 

A monopoly or a good that's got no price cause a market fail resulting in overpriced products or no supply at all. [Public Goods would usually be under-provided by markets]
At this point one needs to interact with the no longer free market and regulate it.

So basically, not even the U.S.A. got a true free market: 
Thousands of monopolies (good example would be Monsanto) actually cause a market fail. [These are akin to Zaibatsu and other Conglomerates in a Corporativist system, which the USA helped create within its borders and the borders of its trade partners]
Thousands of goods which can't be monetized need to be taken care of. By the state. [Goods that cannot be monetized need to be provided by the state and resources that cannot easily exclude nonpaying consumers need to have limits]

Further on, a unregulated free market tends to overheat and crash on a regular basis.
> Even USA got a fed bank which regulates the money in the system to control the economical development.

 

Last but not least USA got lots of corruption and big companies that try to defeat every possible start-up - another fail in the system. [ignoring or missing Point 1]

------------

What's the difference to a socialist-market-economy?

This type - which is best in my opinion - got the core economy in a state controlled hand. There are several big state-owned companies which still have to be more or less profitable but got their main focus on supplying the basic needs of the state's society. Every other product is sold by the rules of a free market except for the fact that there are more regulations to be found than in a US-Style "free market". One basic example are regulations which allow a cartel [a cartel is an oligopoly acting like a monopoly] only up to a specific size or market power in order to keep the "free market" stable.

Big advantages on here is that the market doesn't tend to overheat in ease and state-owned core companies don't have to fire half of their employees just because they got bad times. That basically means less jobless people during a crisis and faster regeneration afterwards. Typical models for this kind of economy are the 70s to 90s western European markets (except GB).

 

Today's European markets are somewhere in the middle between these two systems - a middle that in my opinion found a good balance between free market and a safe and stable economy which covers all goods that can't be monetized.

 

What Venezuela did isn't socialist, isn't communist, isn't liberal what they did was simply plain stupid.

YOU MISSED MY POINT! Certain middle grounds are optimal though certain goods and services that are nationalized in parts of Europe are competitive in the USA.

  Edited June 3, 2016 by OcramsRzr  
attempt to fix formatting after some text was italicized without my input

[LexusInfernus 908]

16 hours ago, OcramsRzr said:

 

YOU MISSED MY POINT! Certain middle grounds are optimal though certain goods and services that are nationalized in parts of Europe are competitive in the USA.

Name three. 

[Ocram's Razr 964]

2 hours ago, LexusInfernus said:

Name three. 

Coal, Steel, and Petroleum are oligopolies in the USA which trade in the international market and compete domestically and abroad. The five biggest banks in the USA controlled 45% of the industry in 2015 (a high point) but did not form a cartel and the USA temporarily became majority stockholders. Countries without any health insurance have better health among the middle class than North America and countries with single payer health care for essentials only have some of the best health in the world (Canada has supplemental insurance and long lines and the USA is a cluster- of problems because of mandated health insurance).

Monopolies by private corporations are not bad if they produce commodities that are subject to free trade by the countries and their biggest trade partners.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

https://gfs.eiu.com/Archive.aspx?archiveType=globalrisk

 

Now would be a good time to take violin lessons. Fiddle the flaming night away like the great Nero.

 

Top risks for collapsing the global economy:

1. China growth lower than expected

2. Weak money and speculation hurting emergent markets

3. The Donald 2016

4. EU fractures

5. Eurozone fractures

6. Terrorism

[Dreadnought 8,231]

1 hour ago, OcramsRzr said:

 

Now would be a good time to take violin lessons. Fiddle the flaming night away like the great Nero.

Or --

You could stand on a street corner and play "Buddy Have You Got A Dime?" --

After "Donald" gets through with the US economy -- the rest of the world will die from the complications.

[Dreadnought 8,231]

With "Donald's Great Depression" on the way -- leave it to the Brits to throw Europe under the bus first !!

[Dreadnought 8,231]

OMG !!

I didn't think it could get much worse --

Now that the UK is leaving the EU -- Northern Ireland and Scotland want out of the UK !!!  I'm wondering if the Welsh are in a rebellious mood.

Vera Lyn used to sing "There'll Always Be An England".  That may be all that's left of the poor old UK.

[igotthis 12]

Let's hope it is a friendly break-up. Scotland should certainly leave the UK and remain in the EU. Northern Ireland is a topic I won't get into - it is too heated by its history. If Wales left, I would love it. Let's see. So much turmoil right now. I thinkn things need to settle down a bit. There shouldn't be any rash decisions.

IGT

[Ocram's Razr 964]

On 6/29/2016 at 8:45 AM, igotthis said:

Let's hope it is a friendly break-up. Scotland should certainly leave the UK and remain in the EU. Northern Ireland is a topic I won't get into - it is too heated by its history. If Wales left, I would love it. Let's see. So much turmoil right now. I thinkn things need to settle down a bit. There shouldn't be any rash decisions.

IGT

Wales has been close with England since, like, forever. The UK could easily tell Scotland it has to take Northern Ireland with it and a chunk of the debt proportionate to their land mass. Between the specter of the religious civil war (Catholics vs Anglicans) and worse financial problems, that might dissuade them. However, they should be allowed to vote to see if they want out. Democracy is always right and one of the few things that bother me is when politicians go against the will of the (majority of) people to do the exact opposite of the result of a referendum (such as changing laws to say the exact opposite of the proposed changes voted by the majority instead of maintaining the Status Quo).

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Come on, China, give us some bad economic reports!

Come on, Venezuela, take the region with you!

Come on, EU, become a big enough tyrant to make Grexit a reality!

Come on, Donald, ruin politics!

Come on, mass media, keep fanning the flames!

Come on, Olympics, become the spectacle/fiasco and health crisis I know you will be!

Come on, greedy traders/investors, continue undermining the economy to try and make a quick buck!

Presidential impeachment seems likely.

I wonder when the loss of The Drug War becomes more "obvious" here in the States? 

I wonder when the mass protests will become mass riots? Natural disasters such as Sandy sure caused looting and violence.

I cannot think of a single period in time when current events are more intersting than fiction!

 

I sort of wish I had enough talent to pick up the fiddle.

[jmsepe 2,039]

Philippines wins arbitration case vs. China over South China Sea

KEY POINTS

The three year trial in Hague finally ended in favor of the Philippines, now the big question comes: Who will enforce the decision?


 

[Sabretooth78 808]

^ Yeah, I don't see China rolling over so easily on that one, even if what they're doing is to most observers (outside China, anyway) as obvious "cheating".

 

6 hours ago, OcramsRzr said:

I wonder when the loss of The Drug War becomes more "obvious" here in the States?

Perhaps when people make a connection between it and police departments using robots to kill citizens without due process.  Oops, was I not to mention that?  Suddenly, the all but ignored killing of US citizen(s) abroad by drone strikes over in the Mideast is starting to have local ramifications.  Wait until the victims "become" white.

[Fantozzi 4,068]

A serious research from march 2015 arrives at the conclusion that until this time the war on terror had so far 1,3 million victims.

 

It is estimated that ISIS has roundabout 22.000 members.

Taliban have around 50.000 members.

Al Qaeda has about 19.000 members.

Boko Haram has about 9.000 members.

 

Not very effective, isn't it?

[Ocram's Razr 964]

China was hinting at a slowed down improvement to the economy (3rd derivative type of stuff) before it posted numbers I find unrealistically rosy. The Chinese government could very well destroy the market if it orders the complete halting of construction (besides important utilities) after being hit with Trump's tariffs. I don't think that tariffs on Mexico are possible with NAFTA but if the administration somehow breaks NAFTA, Mexico could expand trade with Canada, Canada could decrease trade with the USA, and both could expand trade with Europe. Seeing as Brexit and President Trump both happened, traders and investors are probably more willing to mess with developing markets to make their money, combine that with China binding its feet (not exactly shooting itself in the foot) for a few years to spite America, the American Economy might effectively die. I urge all Americans to sell all their stocks in US companies and emigrate ASAP!

 

Venezuela's ongoing collapse has caused many of its diseases into their worst forms (stop and go treatment turns HIV into medicine-resistant AIDS) and has contributed to the spread of Zika.

[Fantozzi 4,068]

In the last months there has been reported 30 air raids against hospitals in Aleppo. Russia says this happens accidentally.

And me, I even don't know how many hospitals there are in Aleppo and from the pictures I see I think there is nothing much left to call this city a city.

Or maybe this is all true - and russian pilots are really that unable to hit a target right.

 

What do I know.

[Dreadnought 8,231]

3 hours ago, Fantozzi said:

In the last months there has been reported 30 air raids against hospitals in Aleppo. Russia says this happens accidentally.

And me, I even don't know how many hospitals there are in Aleppo and from the pictures I see I think there is nothing much left to call this city a city.

Or maybe this is all true - and russian pilots are really that unable to hit a target right.

 

What do I know.

Sounds to me like you know a lot.

If you can't avoid bombing 30 hospitals -- you're a really bad pilot.

Incompetent is a possibility -- but it's more likely they just follow the Commissar's orders !!

If they actually managed to drop a bomb on Isis -- THAT would be accidental !

[Fantozzi 4,068]

Today the murderer of Jo Cox was given whole-life sentence by british court.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Over 4,000 Bolivar "Fuertes" per dollar

Venezuela kicked out of Mercosur

Maduro violently resisting opposition movements

 

Venezuela will be a failed state by year's end. Propaganda has brainwashed the poor citizens who cross the Columbian border singing national anthems and coming right back after shopping.

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2016/12/venezuela-suspended-mercosur-violations-161203035501462.html

[Odainsaker 2,136]

Even if Maduro and his cronies were removed swiftly and painlessly today and the Chavistas peacefully and calmly accepted the inglorious end of their ruinous regime, it seems likely given the utter tatters they have long made of their nation's social, political, institutional, and economic systems that Venezuela would still messily capsize with lots of unpredictable blowback.  Of course, Maduro and Chavism are not going quietly, and so the implosion is going to be far more ugly and traumatic, sucking into the quagmire Colombia, Brazil, Cuba, and inevitably the United States.

So, I wonder what is the realistic contingency or rescue plan and who is going to come up with it...

 

[Ocram's Razr 964]

This helps to explain why some countries are rich and some are poor.

It all boils down to effectiveness of governmental institutions, corruption, and culture, with geography playing roughly 20% of the role. Natural resources benefit effective, uncorrupt nations but worsen already corrupt nations. Congo DR has the most coltan and Venezuela has the most petroleum.

 

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Wow! This sounds like a melodramatic soap opera!

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38259068

A former fencer with a clothing line whistleblowing after a fight over a puppy

The daughter of a cult leader pulling strings to corruption

Former 1st lady turned president impeached

[jmsepe 2,039]

Seems to me that Mr. Ko is trying to save face. At any rate, what's done is done. I think she will most likely be removed from office lest they want to see more rallies in the coming months.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39064657

 

Turkey should be kicked out of NATO and the EU. Edrogan is worse than Putin and Trump combined.

[Dreadnought 8,231]

1 hour ago, OcramsRzr said:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39064657

 

Turkey should be kicked out of NATO and the EU. Edrogan is worse than Putin and Trump combined.

The sooner the better.

He will never be ANY use to NATO and represents only liabilities.  Just another Fascist Dictator.

(Though I have to say -- it must be a lot of work to be more evil than Putin -- and impossible to be dumber than Trump.)