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any country that practices market fundamentalism while others practice market manipulation will see their industry and wealth transferred to the manipulators?

the yuan should be the strongest currency in the world yet it is weaker than the pound. So china is practising a wealth transference policy from the uk [and other countries] to china.

so the uk needs to tax chinese goods to the value where the currency should be. yet gordon doesn't do that and merely is managing decline.

the market fundamentalists will say taxing is protectionist but seem to think currency manipulation isn't?

currency manipulation not only protectionist its aggressive imperialist. For the chinese policy to work it needs a uk with policies that will brake it with debt. which is what we have got. it can now buy uk assets at bargain prices.

they say china isn't communist but capitalist yet its polices have nothing to do with free markets but market manipulation. Why and how have people deluded themselves over the chinese foreign and economic policy?

We are [or willo be] all tibetans now?

Can't wait but hope you do not disappoint me. I'll let you know if you have or you have not straight away i.e. virtually simultaneously, if you know what I mean! wink wink

mim

An interesting piece on Gil Scott-Heron last night. Although I whinge about some issues - like Mexico's drug war - being apparently underreported coverage of unexpected pieces does add interest.

On resources there as a report in the Guardian the other day that the oil companies had been encouraged to boost their reserves and finds to limit panic buying. Thus the 2020 carbon shortfall is looming closer and nuclear energy is the wrong kind of energy to replace oil and is probably not going to be built on time, won't have viable commercial guarantees and will be far more expensive than projected.

On other fronts John Simpson reported the other month about China buying whole mountains of copper (I seem to recall) in South America.

Is there the possibility that contracts and so will become more extensive and longer term in a protectionist sort of way that all but locks out some economies and further disrupts an existing fragility and creates dependencies?

just to put some figures on that currency manipulation

GBP/CNY is 1 gbp = yuan 11.45

so do the currency markets really think the uk economy is 11 times better than the chinese economy? Isn't like to be the reverse? 11 pounds for 1 yuan?

so it makes uk goods 11 times more expensive than chinese goods. this isn't market forces finding 'the best price'. its not capitalism is it?

[ USD/CNY is 6.83.]

so for the chinese to keep the uk buying its 'cheap' goods it must fund its increasing debt. it must further smash british industry with state sponsored undercutting.

is the future china wants for the uk mass unemployment in a country racked with unpayable debt? that will be the effect of its economic foreign policy?

Financial genius Gordon seems happy to let that be the outcome?

On the Griffin decision to reward the voters of the North West by trying to bunk out to get a more personally rewarding position in Westminster via Barking within months of becoming an MEP how have the voters responded?

I am still not clear whether some who voted for them know they are a National Socialist party that tries to pretend not to be, don't care what they are as it was a protest or now do have many regrets about helping put them on the electoral map for now.

On the mystery car front I can only hope it is electric and that the debate will be about why the government has not backed up its words with a viable network of charging points.

In an age where we have recognised the threat of climate change acting pro-actively rather than the traditional small 'c' conservative and reactive way must be key to preventing future problems.

it used to be 'nip down the chinese and get us a curry', now it is ask the nice man from Beijing to bale our sorry western economic arses out of the s....e and can you throw a few spare ribs in as well....

Given the heated debate on Afghanistan - that seems to avoid one party identifying what they think would happen to AfPak if we all do pull out - how effective is the Pakistani offensive in Waziristan right now? That must have a profound influence in what happens next.

If al Qaeda are dislodged I assume they skidaddle off to their pals in Somalia and a new front opens potentially.

If they are cornered and sold out by a Taliban who must also be very tired of war then perhaps al Qaeda is effectively finished.

Is there realistically going to be any arrests in relation to Mumbai and how do India view that?

If drugs are fueling the Taliban and the conflict and Karzais brother is associated to that arena is there to be a genuine initiative - or do we have the right or capacity to interfere?

...By holding the yuan to 6.83 to the dollar to boost exports, Beijing is dumping its unemployment abroad – "stealing American jobs", says Nobel laureate Paul Krugman....

Obama is in Asia for three things: to get away and recover from the recent health care reform madness, Islamic terrorism on his home turf - he is in denial about that, and most importantly, the Chinese are the only country propping up the phoney US economy, so he'll be sweet talking them into keep buying the dollar/Govt treasuries. The Chinese are not happy as they find themselves stuck with a bad debitor but have invested very deeply in the dollar and their own growth has in large part been due to the sale of goods to the western market, a market which has dipped badly. The only upside for them is they are a nation of savers and Obama wants that spare cash, otherwise the US economy is gonna go into free fall with a dumped dollar and hyper-inflation the only outcome...you can use your imagination for what follows that.

POLITICS PEN - COBBLER'S AWL

The camels back is looking seriously saggy.

ICH BIN EIN TIBETENER (#1)

NOW CHINA - YOU'VE GOT YOUR TIBET - THAT'S SAFE! (#11)

Bull's-eye! Those poor Tibetans! Raped, castrated, sterilized, beaten imprisoned. The country's gone, forget it - Magic Obama says so. But I spose they can hang on for an apology some time... Mustn't grumble. As for that Dalai Lama - bringing peace to the world is America's job, so what's he on about?

A POINTLESS PEN?

I've read and re read the above and followed all the links, but I don't understand it.

How can they have a panel to assess other peoples ideas. Surely if the panel knew what they were doing they would have advised the Government and sorted the situation out.

As they haven't done this, this means they don't know what to do. Therefore they aren't qualified to assess anybody else.

Is it just an futile exercise in schedule filling and time killing?

Celtic Lion

#12 BS
Politics Pen.... Play Pen more like

‘... three intrepid members of the audience went up against the political animals pitching their ideas for easing the public finances - but all to no avail, as all of their suggestions were roundly rejected.'

MY my, that outcome was SUCH a surprise.............

3 talentless Xfactor rejects more like. Wannabee’s after their 15 minutes of fame. WHAT a sell out. And what a waste of time for those who choose to stay up to try and get a handle on serious news events and comment.


Think I'll put the cat out when that comes on.

Anyone got a cat? (der)

#16

That's just about how I felt last time but as I do not have a cat, I sat a bit higher on my armchair and waved my feet around instead of my arms.

mim

#16byt "Think I'll put the cat out when that (politics pen) comes on"

I've prepared myself by taking a short course in Utter Boredom today - watching(on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Parliament channel) a cross party committee grilling Trevor Phillips and his Group Legal Director on the work of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.

An hour and several black coffees later, I concluded that this is where we really need some counter-insurgency measures. This monster is hell-bent on regulating every aspect of our lives and is a costly waste of time and taxpayers funds. Having convinced the unequal and undeserving that we are all equal, this has manufactured a huge following and workload from the 'I know my rights' brigade, and we seem now to have abandoned any consideration for human RESPONSIBILITIES e.g now compensating criminals to protect their human rights rather than awarding PUNISHMENT (now another pejorative word, like discretion).

BYT

Have out your poem from last Wednesday on Ruskin's page.

car

might be a Hyundi which benefitted from the scrappage scheme

#20 Ah I happen to know which are the top three cars in the scrappage scheme! But I can't remember their names, sorry, one was Kia. But the top three were all from Korea, so the Koreans must be blessing us!

#19 Celtic
Sorry. Not sure what or where that is.

I got the rhythm (of sorts) in Stevie's straight away. I am inclined to think it was a deliberate dig.

#18 Indignantindegene

Sure seems like the scales of justice are pretty rights heavy/responsibilities light.

Everyone wants the one, but sees no need for a payback or balance. Bit like our credit card merchant banker led society.

Think I shared the caffeine loading - but doing battle with a couple of 'wart's on the a**e of progress' closer to home today.

I assume the car is


Either that or chitty.....

I have three cars suitable for the scappage scheme but would rather part with the boring newer models.

Still waiting for the 1964 E Type.

"THE UK WINNING EXPORT ORDERS (TO RELIABLE COUNTRIES) FOR CUSTOMIZED VERSIONS- OF ITS PLANNED NEW AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, ASTUTE SUBMARINES & TYPE-45 DESTROYERS WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO FIXING THE PUBLIC FINANCES CRISIS AND COULD ENABLE HEADING OFF DEFENCE BUDGET 'CUTS'"

This would also contribute substantially to:

1) maintaining- and enhancing- the UK's defence/high-technology industrial base over the long-term; and,

2) maintaining and increasing the country's capabilities to produce capable, world-beating surface combatants and submarines for both indigenous and export purposes...

-----------------
Defense News Media Group

"Australia Begins Search for Submarine Designers"

August 07-2009:

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

Towards this end, concerned politicians, bureaucrats, MoD and industry officials and interest groups ought to be urgently deliberating how an end run can be carried out around safely predictable Labour govt inaction and incompetence on this issue...

Prominent, ambitious developed and developing-world countries such as South Korea, India, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Brazil are all looking to substantially upgrade their navies' capabilities... All are reported as wanting to add pocket-sized and/or 'big-deck' aircraft carriers to their respective fleets...

Several, such as Saudi Arabia, India and Greece are shopping for up-to-date Destroyers/Frigates, while Australia is beginning a multi-year programme to acquire 1 dozen modern technology attack submarines to patrol its vast coast lines and sea lanes....

INDIA:

India has been trying for over 14 years to obtain a functioning aircraft carrier from Russia but has been unable to due to Russia's inability to refurbish one of its cold-war era models for India...

So, why couldn't the UK step into the breach, and sell India aircraft carrier(s)- before a country like France or Italy does??

-

"... The (Indian) navy has been waiting some time for the refurbished Russian carrier Admiral Gorshkov, now due for delivery in 2012, and is working with Fincantieri of Italy on two carriers.

Will the UK be able to get between Italy and India?? :

"Royal Navy aircraft carrier may be sold to India"-





If, say, BAE/VT were successful- with UK govt export-funding loans- in obtaining export order(s) for duplicates/customized versions of the aircraft carrier model presently planned for the RN, to a country like India... this could obviate any problems caused by the RN obtaining Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) F-35C fighters for its new carriers instead of the currently planned Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35B version.

How?

F-35-B's could still be purchased/manufactured in the UK, but these, or the bulk of them could be sold or leased on to India for its new, UK-built carrier(s)...

India already has a comparatively long history of operating STOVL Harriers, so switching over to the STOVL F-35B would not present any difficulties-and likely would be welcomed by India's politicians- as well as U.S. officials:

The United States has, over the last several years, been bending over backwards to get between India and Russia and the previously (for over 1.5 decades) rather extensive sales by Russia of its military and nuclear technology to India... This would imply that sales by the UK of aircraft carrier(s) to India would face very little or no technology transfer hurdles raised by the US...









SOUTH KOREA:

A very, very close US ally in Asia that has long sought 'blue water' capabilities for its navy- if only to 'stay one ahead of highly resented Japan's navy capabilities' (due to still very raw WW II sensitivities)...

Over the last decade, S. Korean officials have been reported repeatedly as saying the country wants at least one proper aircraft carrier to go with its under construction/recently commissioned new surface combatant Destroyers (which are based on the U.S.'s Burke class Destroyer), LHD's, and submarines:



If the UK was successful in generating a South korean export order for copies (or customized versions) of the aircraft carriers planned for the RN, then the currently planned F-35-B's could still be- purchased/manufactured in the UK, but these, or the bulk of them could be sold on to S Korea for deploying on its new, UK-built carrier(s).

For nearly 6 decades, the U.S. has made a routine practice of licensing much of its most secret and high technology weapons, hardware and aircraft to S Korea ... so technology transfer issues that could be factors in a UK sale of aircraft carrier(s) & F-35B’s to S Korea ought to be negligible or at least not insurmountable...

AUSTRALIA:

Possibly America's closest ally in Asia, Australia also has extensive and deep positive ties to the U.K.. Australia is about 1/3 of the way through a 15-year plan to redevelop and significantly upgrade its navy's capabilities…

Throughout the preceding 5-years, there has been an acrimonious debate within the country's defence community and its political parties regarding Australia possibly purchasing the F-35 versus other fighter aircraft...If the UK was successful at marketing highly capable UK-made aircraft carriers to Australia, and if the sale included CTOL F-35 C's and/or STOVL F-35 B's, this could constructively end Australia's F-35 controversy...

If Australia was convinced of the enormous tactical and functional advantages for by it acquiring nuclear powered submarines as opposed to conventionally powered ones- the UK's Astute attack submarine model has unique positive advantages over other countries' potential offerings:

Astutes are the world's only recently designed & under production model of this category of submarine, and are acknowledged internationally as the best submarine of their type...

France is just commencing a 10-year process to design a replacement for its presently in-service, several decade-old technology attack submarines, and the UK’s only other possible competitor, the U.S., does not export its nuclear powered submarines...

Technology transfer issues (and US objections) would be minimal or non-existent due to Australia's decades-long reliance on and liberal use of the U.S.'s most advanced military technology and hardware...

BRAZIL:

Not as likely to be an export market for UK-built aircraft carriers or Destroyers- without US technology transfer objections- as South Korea or India, but, as France is presently angling for contracts for the 'complete rebuild of Brazil's navy and its infrastructure'- what would be a more capable and 'world responsible' nation to do this- the UK or France??

CONTINUED

Roderick V. Louis,
Vancouver, BC, Canada

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

#24

Brightyangthing

I can't imagine having a ride in soomething like this with a loved one
and don't particularly like itts design anyway

mim

tonight looks complicated.....think I'll have an early night

#22 BYT

Google:

Ruskin Celtic Lion

Simple

I believe that the best solution to raise tax is to have a financial transaction tax. All funds leaving a bank account or equivalent cash source should be taxed at for instance 0.25%. To make this a low cost collection the banks who have brought the nightmare financial situations to our doors would have to collect and remit the tax on a daily or weekly basis. Bank statements would simply have to deduct a transaction tax on all outward funds.
I do not know the exact sums that would be raised but money makes the world go round and it will not stop moving so invoiced or not, clean or dirty all money moving will pay. With the almost total disappearance of cash and the advent of plastic this would be a simple and all encompassing tax collected by the culprits! Conservative think tanks please take note.

#29 Celtic
Got it. Sad times.
May post something else on the site later.
Had to concede defeat yesterday but will pick up your themes of pitch invasion. Like the analogy.

#7 Go1

Where does the electricity come from for all your recharging points? Perhaps the oil saved by getting rid of petrol/diesel cars could be used in power stations?