Thursday, April 9, 2009

Comrades, I have no good news for you today.

Our losses are mounting as I write, with no immediate end in sight. With a further 61,000 plus Comrades sidelined, or put out to pasture this past month, there is little light to be seen on the horizon. There has been a shift in which areas suffered the most, but that would be comfort to few.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090409/national/jobs

Yesterday I was bothered by the increasing focus of many who have the ability to speak out, choosing to use their voices for partisan sniping and focusing on issues that do nothing to bring forward constructive dialogue on matters relevant to these times.

Here in our little corner of Internet world, we have explored things such as the root causes of the failures of our economic system and likely have gotten as close as we could to determining who is in fact responsible. We now have some sense of these things, and are better prepared in our own personal circumstances and to speak to, and with others on these matters in order to share understanding.

For us, we can relate to summations of realities such as Comrade Herb's reference to Presidential Power and Hard Power. It certainly seems that Hard Power has triumphed in circumventing Presidential or Prime Ministerial power in many crucial areas, and these are the concerns best addressed openly by those who have the means.

Turning to the world of Canadian politics momentarily, I see the pundits discussing the seeming stagnant positions of the top two parties, and note that many seem somewhat surprised, perhaps even a little bewildered. Maybe this is because their noses are too close to the book of strategy to notice that to the rest of those who bother to pay attention, the two groups have become divided only by issues of lesser importance. I wonder if they consider that the reasons may well be that both entities appear pretty much the same, and employ the same strategies. Serve up hash, deliver some bash and chase after the money.

Which leads me to two of the most extraordinary statements from our political leaders this past week. One from Flaherty and the other from Iggnatieff.

Flaherty made reference to the fact that people are not facing challenges equal to those faced by our early pioneers. Ya think Jim? How long did it take him to come up with that assessment and how much did it cost?

Iggnatieff gave a statement voicing his admiration for Brian Mulroney. Imagine. Way to set yourself apart from the crowd Micheal.

Fella's, most know how interconnected we are with the US, and appreciate the significance, but it doesn't have to start and stop there does it? You guys need to put some fire in people's bellies, and swooning and crooning just doesn't cut it.

Have a chat with that Danny Williams guy why don't you? He has a knack for standing up at the right time and being heard on things that are really important to people. Danny's not afraid of the Big Bad Oil Companies, and he knows how to play a hand. Get out there and tell people you will help them to start small businesses. One person operations on up. Get your printing press behind the small entrepeneurs and don't worry about getting your take for CRA so much. It will all work out in the end.

In this wasteland of political moeofthesames, I tend to lean Green. Not so much as a party supporter, because they are in their infancy and I believe they need more input from older heads. But more because of their support for environmental concerns, alternative energy and that they understand that small is beautiful. One day those youngsters who make up the bulk of Greenies will grow up, and will draw together the foundations of all those good ideas they have, apply their learned experiences and the knowledge of politics they have gained along the way. Together with a new breed of Independents borne from the spirit of quiet political revolution, they will eat those two old dinosaurs alive.

19 comments:

  1. Fantastic post comrade. I too am wondering why the msm is concentrating on the 2 parties?? What province is doing pretty good considering they're in a flood right now?? Yup, NDP. They've managed their money well and didn't jump the privatization band wagon like so many other provinces. Manitobans have their problems for sure but they ain't like the rest of the West. Imagine paying $300 for a pair of shoes like the minister of finance in Alberta did last year? How far could that $300 go now?

    I don't mind the Greens. Although no one mentioned during the last election their fiscal plan the last few elections was more conservative than any other party. Go Greens!

    I am in a puzzle right now comrades. Remember the Baltic Dry Index I've mentioned in the past?? Well according to Bloomberg it isn't doing very well.

    http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=amapXbrj4430

    If China forces the shippers to buy more then there will be an excess supply. With me? Excess supply means prices will drop accordingly with demand.

    I just checked two shipper web sites and they've Raised their dry container prices to certain locations in Asia and Europe. Now, the only things I can figure on is Demand is higher for those locations or the U.S. dollar isn't going as far as it used to. If it's demand that's a good thing because it will eventually trickle to Canada.

    Did you notice the DOW and TSX numbers today? Dead cat bounce? Heh.

    Peace.

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  2. This is pretty good. An Argentine international analyst who has some experience about meltdown.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlDNMB6wYmI&feature=related

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  3. Glad you liked it Dee. The old Comrade dusted off his soapbox, donned his wide brimmed black hat and delivered up some fire and brimstone.

    I have been watching the markets Dee, and I find it's reactions truly odd. When the markets go up after the job loss figures are announced, as has happened the last two times, it baffles me. But no less than when large companies report extraordinary losses and the markets shrug that off in a day or so.

    Could it be the stimulus monies are now flowing into the hands of the gamblers and it is the gamblers who are driving this without regard for the current information, thinking that re-inflating the grand bubble will in the end only produce a myriad of profits for them from shorting everything they artificially drove up?

    One has to think like the Snake in order to understand the creature.

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  4. Could be comrade. Watch the vid I posted. It's excellent. Charles will love the second part because the fellow talks about replacing currency although not with gold. I think he called it 'pavement gold'.

    This is the second time, from 2 different continents, that I've heard 'experts' were talking replacing currency. I don't count the whispers on this continent.

    Watch the vid.

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  5. The Argentinian hit on one item that rang a bell with me. That being when the bubble was reaching the point of rupturing, there were many who knew for quite some time, and I expect had a plan already to go into action. That plan began being implemented with the initial panicked cries for immediate funds.

    If these people were devious enough to create this grossly leveraged system, I have no doubt they knew when they had passed the point of it being able to continue on it's own inertia.

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  6. Yup comrade. Did you watch the second part? I found it very telling.

    I think that's why the Russians have begun bartering oil for food and China is working to trade in Yuans with various countries.

    It's only a matter of time..............You can't create something out of nothing in science and you can't do it in finance. Both are forms of alchemy. How long do you think it will take people to realize that?

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  7. No I didn't look for a 2nd part. I found an article on CBC that I found interesting too. It talks about a university of waterloo math grad who created the model used for forecasting risk in derivatives etc.

    It's one of those articles that got me thinking big picture, and wondering about who was using who, and going way out into Tin Foil hat land. It's sure to get some kicking dirt around the backyard while pondering the implications.

    http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/04/08/f-mathwhiz.html

    What I wondered was, who was fooling Hu, or perhaps Hu was fooling who?

    You will get my meaning when you read the article.

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  8. Excellent post, C.One. Dee said . . .

    "If China forces the shippers to buy more then there will be an excess supply. With me? Excess supply means prices will drop accordingly with demand. (Deflation.)

    I just checked two shipper web sites and they've Raised their dry container prices to certain locations in Asia and Europe. . . ."

    Plus, I received an e-mail from John (brother) in China this morning . . .

    "Our end of the world has been strange, the www is slow and takes ages to connect, and we can't get to our usual sites, such as 'utube' or 'auntie beeb'...I am sure you know these sites.
    Haven't got a clue as to why they are being blocked..even the Guardian is unavailable. So we are restricted to playing solitaire and checking local sites. Enjoy your freedom! (but we still have an amazing life here!)"

    Something is happening very quickly now, which leads to part of C.One's post . . .

    ". . . the seeming stagnant positions of the top two parties, . . ."

    Keep in mind that, although the present economic downturn WAS foreseen by the few who have vision to see beyond the horizon, no one COULD have expected it to happen at warp speed, and be so brutal as it grows like a terminal illness.

    So no one at the head of govt., from the PM - Opposition Leader down has the slightest idea of what to expect next. What is happening, as with the cartoon from 1934 I posted a couple of days ago, and especially with the present BC Liberal govt., is spending in outlandish proportions.

    This is why govts. thruout the world are so polarized / stagnant -- because of increasing violence from citizens who have lost their jobs / income and don't know how to cope with that loss, they take out their frustrations on anything / anyone they can.

    Govts. are then left with kickstarting their economies and getting their people back to work as well as attempting to 'keep the peace', which they can't. From about summer '09 on, and especially after the Olympics have finished, things will get mighty ugly in cities / towns for a while.
    ------
    Deflation? Possibly. -- http://tinyurl.com/dcgfju

    Hyperinflation / Depression? Possibly. -- http://tinyurl.com/dnye33
    -------
    Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert has an uncanny knack for placing my favorite character, Wally, into roughly the same scenario as I find myself, and today's http://www.dilbert.com/ is no exception.

    Wally and I really ARE one and the same!

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  9. Pepsi / Water / Coke -- What's The Difference? Interesting facts . . .
    *****
    WATER

    #1) 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated (likely applies to half the world's population).

    #2) In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.

    #3) Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism by 3%.

    #4) One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

    #5) Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

    #6) Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

    #7) A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

    #8) Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and a person is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water you should drink every day?
    *****
    COKE (and / or PEPSI)

    #1) In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

    #2) You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days.

    #3) To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the 'real thing' sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

    #4) To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

    #5) To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

    #6) To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

    #7) To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

    #8) To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke into the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

    -- FYI --

    #1) The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major
    contributor to the rising increase of osteoporosis.

    #2) To carry Coca-Cola syrup! (the concentrate): The commercial trucks must use a hazardous Material place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.

    #3) The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean engines of the trucks for about 20 years!

    Now the question is: Would you prefer a glass of Water or Coke / Pepsi?

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  10. Dee, it's difficult to assess comments like what Salbuchi makes in that video, especially the second part. I mean anything is possible I suppose, as circumstances can change rather quickly.

    What we know at the moment is that the US under Obama has taken steps toward reconciling many of the difficulties that existed while Bush was the shiny face nodding and stammering. So if we accept that at face value, then the World is moving in a better and more peaceful direction. If not, and as I said things can change quickly then one has to ask where would the war Salbuchi talks about begin and with whom?

    I guess the most likely candidates would be Russia or China, but when a person examines that concept one has to take into account the entire considerations such as the level of wisdom within the leadership of those countries. Their abilities to sustain war and possible motivations. Probably the most significant is who would ever be foolish enough to bring nuclear armed countries to be involved in a state of war against each other?

    That is why we have wars in places like Vietnam, Iraq and Afghan. All those interests who make money from war do, and the suffering is controllable. Unlike nuclear holocaust.

    So actually I don't buy that theory. I would be more inclined to entertain more of what we have known since the Korean war if war was to be an increased factor in the equation.

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  11. I don't know comrade. I do understand why he was forecasting the way he has. We don't know what the Yanks will do 4 years from now. What if they vote in another twit? And who says the U.S. will be involved? Salbuchi did say it was a possibility that it could be prevented. I'm on the lookout for the stress tests. They should, if they publish the results accurately, be an indicator to how bad this thing really is.

    Water and hunger do strange things to people, especially people who feel they don't have anything to lose.

    Let's see what food prices are this summer. As the fellow said they've spread this debt all over the world. Mugabe didn't have that luxury.

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  12. Sorry should be 'Thirst' not Water.

    Guess who's at it again?

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/apr/09/hsbc-mortgages-deposits

    10% is a little better than 5%.

    This next one is an editorial. I loved his use of 'free-market snort'. ;)

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/apr/10/financial-crisis-capitalism-socialism-alternatives

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  13. Last one for tonight.

    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5d5aa24e-23a4-11de-996a-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

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  14. These are not politicians, and that probably explains why these killer whales work in harmony -- for the betterment of all . . .

    This is probably one of the most amazing videos you will see -- take the time to watch it.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3xmqbNsR
    ------
    Hah! April Fool's! Talk of bombing Yellowstone to stop climate change. -- http://tinyurl.com/d9qljy
    ------
    We're all in Loonie La La Land, 'coz no one knows what's happening anymore! -- http://tinyurl.com/db5rzk

    "How Global Warming alarmists use Threats, Fraud, and Deception to keep you Misinformed."
    ------
    Ice shelves up / down? -- http://tinyurl.com/dm6c5v

    "Sea ice at Antarctica is up over 43% since 1980 and we hear nothing in the news, yet Arctic ice is down less than 7% and they're all over it! We've been waiting for the main stream media to pick up on the increase of Antarctic ice but so far they're been totally absent. Guess its doesn't fit the plan."
    ------
    Gotta be fair to both sides! -- http://tinyurl.com/da7xha

    "New research from NASA suggests that the Arctic warming trend seen in recent decades has indeed resulted from human activities: but not, as is widely assumed at present, those leading to carbon dioxide emissions. Rather, Arctic warming has been caused in large part by laws introduced to improve air quality and fight acid rain."
    ------
    South Carolina and New York are bankrupt. More climate change!
    ------
    Finally, Maxine on Bailouts . . .

    "In 1990, the US govt., under George H.W. Bush seized The Mustang Ranch Brothel for tax evasion and, as required by law, tried to run it. They failed and it closed.

    "Now we are trusting the economy of our country and the banking system to the same nit-wits who couldn't make money running a whorehouse and selling whisky.

    "Something's wrong here!"

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  15. Dee,

    thanks for your 10:51 pm Guardian link. The most important bit for me is

    "Public decisions aimed at collective social improvement from which all human lives should gain. That is the basis of progressive policy - not maximising economic growth and personal incomes."

    The "maximisers" of economic growth and personal incomes are in firm control of finance, economy and government. That has been the problem all along. You cannot get them out of finance or the economy: it is their natural habitat, and you’d have to drain the swamp, i.e., bankrupt the whole system, to remove them. A radical change of government would just result in their sucking back, then start seducing and suborning political power to their ends all over again. The ideological purists in Communism soon were replaced by power brokers, and wealth and power were concentrated in the nomenclatura that served mainly itself.

    I guess I'm back to incrementalism and an aware, "mad as hell" and mature electorate forcing change on government one government at a time.

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  16. Herb, do you think you could procure a sufficient quantity of pitch forks and torches at a competitive cost?

    All Canadian content of course.

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  17. Herb? Did you read the ft link? He's got a lot of common sense.

    Charles? I'm a firm believer that climate change is happening. I am skeptical about the causes. I've read the denier books and they are just as adept at manipulation of stats as some of the green washers. I trust what my eyes tell me, especially in my garden. The UVs can get so bad sometimes that I have to protect my tomatoes with a blanket or newspaper so they don't get sun leached. It's okay to question causes or solutions but you can't deny what your eyes are telling you can you?

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  18. Dee,

    I'm a little late tonight, but yes, I read it.

    The problem is to disseminate such information to the millions of people necessary to make it real. I don't have a source of enough "Made in Canadar" pitchforks and torches to equip the Revolution, but I'm sure the comrades would equip themselves if they saw the light.

    If only they could be made to see the light, instead of settling for BS!

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  19. If only they could be made to see the light, instead of settling for BS!

    People want to believe what they want to believe until reality punches them in the face. They're spinning unbelievable webs and I don't think most Yanks will fall for it. Here in Canada? We shall see...........

    Peace Herb.

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