The Asia + the Antipodes Thread

[Tinker]

[Demon of Undoing]

[Endovelico]

The capitalist system seems to work to everybody's advantage (in the capitalist societies), only as long as it succeeds in siphoning in substantial resources from other countries. When that becomes difficult or impossible, the system starts to break down. There is then the very real danger that capitalist countries will try to impose their will by the threat of the use of force, which may lead to shooting wars. The US may be getting close to the bullying stage but may be faced down by countries like China. There are very dangerous times ahead...

[AzariLoveIran]

[Mr. Perfect]

I think you gents are quite confused about the difference between "buying" and "siphoning".

[Endovelico]

[Mr. Perfect]

Nah. The US imports oil in the most quantity from Canada, Mexico, and Norway. None of whom did we "Colonize". You have a fact free argument.

[Colonel Sun]

US oil imports: 2008



What this pie chart does make me wonder about is the disproportionate US support for the Saudi Arabian regime, given it's ongoing financial support for enemies of the US.

[noddy]

[Endovelico]

PPP's are the latest scam which allow for the private sector to pocket the profits and the tax payer to pay the losses. We have them in Portugal too and they are a hotbed of corruption.

[Colonel Sun]

PPP's also exist in Japan.

As other posters have noted, they are a wonderful mechanism for private insiders to enrich themselves at public expense.

[Mr. Perfect]

Who would want it any other way?

[YMix]

The Foreign Investors Council is pushing for a far-reaching PPP law in Romania. Go figure.

[AzariLoveIran]

.

PPP and similar schools, are designed to make rich richer, poor stay as is, and the middle class, become ..

.

[Colonel Sun]

[Azrael]

[Colonel Sun]

[Captain Murphy]

There's a thread about Japan's decline that rapidly went nowhere and I thought I'd turn the discussion toward that topic here, since it interests me. Lately, there have been a series of articles in the US media lamenting Japan's decline. In the New York Times, I believe, a counterargument was made by a Japanese professor implying that Japan is merely returning to its natural isolationist tendencies and that the shift away from consumerism toward peaceful, humble lifestyles should be applauded as a model for others.

If you all would like, I can try to track down some of these recent articles and commentaries. Perhaps Colonel Sun, as a worldly Japanese himself, can fill us in on his perspective on all this?

[Endovelico]

[AzariLoveIran]

[Captain Murphy]

[Endovelico]

[Captain Murphy]

[Endovelico]

[Colonel Sun]