Lead one to fall flat on one’s face.
See http://finance.yahoo.com/news/trumps-fed-bashing-is-ridiculous-181419495.html
The problem is the usual one of ascribing more power to a person or an organization than if available i reality or law.
The generalization that frosts me the most is calling the President of the United States the “Leader of the free world”. One, who elected him or her to such a position. Certainly not people in England, France, Germany,…
The world is a complex place. The President of the United States cannot even get his or her allies to agree to each and every U.S. position. if POTUS cannot get allies to jump through hoops, how can anybody assume that POTUS can get adversaries to agree even to a small portion of a U.S. position?
I keep thinking the best course for all the governments that want peace and prosperity for all should be working through the U.N. a lot more.
Showing posts with label Communism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Communism. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Capitalism and socialism - let's get our definitions straight
A survey polled people on how they felt about capitalism and socialism - positive or negative. But did the pollsters give a definition of these two terms or ask respondents to give their own definitions? I think not.
See "Is Rush Limbaugh's Country Gone?", Thomas B. Edsall, New York Times, 2012-11-19.
Capitalism is gathering resources to do something, whether it's to start a neighborhood grocery or to start an airline. Capitalism is not the buying and selling of stocks and schemes based on the stock; that is finance. Finance can raise capital, but the secondary markets of that capital are not capitalism.
Socialism is the government providing all the resources to do something and controlling how those resources are used. I don't think there is a country in the world where that happens for all projects. Even China has private capital ventures. Social welfare is the government providing various safety nets or investments that help people with needs that "capitalism" doesn't provide to everyone. Most developed countries have capitalist economies supported by social welfare programs.
Think of LM Ericsson in Sweden, Nokia in Finland, Siemens in Germany, and FIAT in Italy. These large capitalist companies aren't going away. Well, maybe Nokia will go away but that's because of technology, not government interference.
And many of these social welfare programs depend on a large number of private organizations, large and small. Germany has hundreds of insurance companies underpinning its health care. England has thousands of physicians in private practice who provide government listed services.
What I find ironic is that proponents of "capitalism" don't understand how "socialism" makes "capitalism" work better. If there weren't government-provided roads, sewers, schools, and yes, regulation there would be chaos. Chaos is something capitalists do not need or want. If there wasn't government-sponsored research, many new ideas would never even reached the capitalists who would implement them into products. If there is a good public health care system, then corporations don't have to fund them directly at great inefficiency. Wasn't it G. Richard Wagoner of General Motors who said that he wasn't an auto executive but a health care executive? See "U.S. Firms Losing Health Care Battle, GM Chairman Says", Ceci Connolly, Washington Post, 2005-02-11.
Be careful how you define things. If you define things incorrectly or too narrowly, you may miss out on many opportunities for a better society.
See "Is Rush Limbaugh's Country Gone?", Thomas B. Edsall, New York Times, 2012-11-19.
Capitalism is gathering resources to do something, whether it's to start a neighborhood grocery or to start an airline. Capitalism is not the buying and selling of stocks and schemes based on the stock; that is finance. Finance can raise capital, but the secondary markets of that capital are not capitalism.
Socialism is the government providing all the resources to do something and controlling how those resources are used. I don't think there is a country in the world where that happens for all projects. Even China has private capital ventures. Social welfare is the government providing various safety nets or investments that help people with needs that "capitalism" doesn't provide to everyone. Most developed countries have capitalist economies supported by social welfare programs.
Think of LM Ericsson in Sweden, Nokia in Finland, Siemens in Germany, and FIAT in Italy. These large capitalist companies aren't going away. Well, maybe Nokia will go away but that's because of technology, not government interference.
And many of these social welfare programs depend on a large number of private organizations, large and small. Germany has hundreds of insurance companies underpinning its health care. England has thousands of physicians in private practice who provide government listed services.
What I find ironic is that proponents of "capitalism" don't understand how "socialism" makes "capitalism" work better. If there weren't government-provided roads, sewers, schools, and yes, regulation there would be chaos. Chaos is something capitalists do not need or want. If there wasn't government-sponsored research, many new ideas would never even reached the capitalists who would implement them into products. If there is a good public health care system, then corporations don't have to fund them directly at great inefficiency. Wasn't it G. Richard Wagoner of General Motors who said that he wasn't an auto executive but a health care executive? See "U.S. Firms Losing Health Care Battle, GM Chairman Says", Ceci Connolly, Washington Post, 2005-02-11.
Be careful how you define things. If you define things incorrectly or too narrowly, you may miss out on many opportunities for a better society.
Friday, October 12, 2012
More on more appropriate party names
Given the number of misleading and untrue statements that Mitt Romney made in the first debate, given the Republicans claim of voter fraud, denial of climate change, and mischaracterizations of free markets, maybe the best name for their party is the Republicons.
Given how often the Democrats give in to many of the Republican charges against them, like soft on communism, soft on crime, and soft on terrorism, maybe the best name for their party is the Fraidycrats.
Given how often the Democrats give in to many of the Republican charges against them, like soft on communism, soft on crime, and soft on terrorism, maybe the best name for their party is the Fraidycrats.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
An open day to catch up, but I'd rather do nothing
Here I sit, in our house in Duluth during a blizzard. I had planned to go skiing today, but even before the snow started, I decided that Spirit Mt. wouldn't be open because of the wind. I thought of doing some shopping, but driving is not recommended.
I did go out for the papers this morning and that was a bit of a struggle – bare sidewalk and then shin-high drifts. There was only one car at the restaurant where the paper boxes are, and I had breakfast there to give them a bit of business. I had planned to go tomorrow. A few more people came in, but the restaurant was short-staffed because of the blizzard and it closed at nine.
When I came back home it was into the wind. To keep my hat on, I had to look at the ground in front of me. To get up the steps from the sidewalk I had to pull myself up with the handrail because of the drifts. And I had to struggle to get the front door open because of another drift.
I thought of going to the fitness center because the buses were running, but did I really want to battle my way to the corner again?
Some of the heroes today are those who put the papers in the boxes, the bus drivers, the restaurant staff, and our mail carrier. She or her sub came by far earlier than I expected, and our box let in a lot of snow. At least there were no soaking checks or blurred ink. Another hero is the person who went down the block struggling with a snowblower. Unless he has somewhere to go, I don't see the point; the continuing snow and the gusting wind will soon fill the path up again.
It was fortunate that my wife had chosen yesterday to go to Tokyo to visit our son and his family. The same flight out of Duluth today was cancelled. Even then, her flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Tokyo was delayed because of snow.
My lunch was rather makeshift because I was going to buy some of the stuff I had planned to eat. So I had to pick and choose stuff out of the refrigerator that I wouldn't normally eat for lunch, like yogurt and peanut butter.
So, here I sit with a pile of stuff on my left to file or throw out and a similar pile on my right. I could download Turbo Tax and get started on taxes. I could clear up my backlog of email. I could practice singing. I could read any of the five, six, or seven books I've started. I could even start a fire in the fireplace and sit all afternoon reading. But I just flit from one little thing to another. I read a bit of one newspaper or other online. I play a bit of SuDoKu.
Instead I stare at the screen or I try to look out the snow-covered window to see if the storm has abated. I really can't see if it is still snowing without going right up to a window and looking out through a "clearer" spot. I do know the wind is still blowing.
I do get in some of my physical therapy exercises for my sore shoulder, but that only takes five minutes or so.
I could drink our last bottle of wine, but I would only get woozy and sick.
Maybe I will light a fire and then finish "Il Compagno Don Camillo" and then reread "Comrade Don Camillo" to see how much of the Italian I understood. I do get the larger picture, but I know I'm missing lots of nuance. Well, maybe not lots. I do know that compagno Don Camillo doesn't miss any chance to use Communist doctrine to point up inconsistencies in Soviet practice.
That's what I need. A good chuckle! Ciao!
I did go out for the papers this morning and that was a bit of a struggle – bare sidewalk and then shin-high drifts. There was only one car at the restaurant where the paper boxes are, and I had breakfast there to give them a bit of business. I had planned to go tomorrow. A few more people came in, but the restaurant was short-staffed because of the blizzard and it closed at nine.
When I came back home it was into the wind. To keep my hat on, I had to look at the ground in front of me. To get up the steps from the sidewalk I had to pull myself up with the handrail because of the drifts. And I had to struggle to get the front door open because of another drift.
I thought of going to the fitness center because the buses were running, but did I really want to battle my way to the corner again?
Some of the heroes today are those who put the papers in the boxes, the bus drivers, the restaurant staff, and our mail carrier. She or her sub came by far earlier than I expected, and our box let in a lot of snow. At least there were no soaking checks or blurred ink. Another hero is the person who went down the block struggling with a snowblower. Unless he has somewhere to go, I don't see the point; the continuing snow and the gusting wind will soon fill the path up again.
It was fortunate that my wife had chosen yesterday to go to Tokyo to visit our son and his family. The same flight out of Duluth today was cancelled. Even then, her flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Tokyo was delayed because of snow.
My lunch was rather makeshift because I was going to buy some of the stuff I had planned to eat. So I had to pick and choose stuff out of the refrigerator that I wouldn't normally eat for lunch, like yogurt and peanut butter.
So, here I sit with a pile of stuff on my left to file or throw out and a similar pile on my right. I could download Turbo Tax and get started on taxes. I could clear up my backlog of email. I could practice singing. I could read any of the five, six, or seven books I've started. I could even start a fire in the fireplace and sit all afternoon reading. But I just flit from one little thing to another. I read a bit of one newspaper or other online. I play a bit of SuDoKu.
Instead I stare at the screen or I try to look out the snow-covered window to see if the storm has abated. I really can't see if it is still snowing without going right up to a window and looking out through a "clearer" spot. I do know the wind is still blowing.
I do get in some of my physical therapy exercises for my sore shoulder, but that only takes five minutes or so.
I could drink our last bottle of wine, but I would only get woozy and sick.
Maybe I will light a fire and then finish "Il Compagno Don Camillo" and then reread "Comrade Don Camillo" to see how much of the Italian I understood. I do get the larger picture, but I know I'm missing lots of nuance. Well, maybe not lots. I do know that compagno Don Camillo doesn't miss any chance to use Communist doctrine to point up inconsistencies in Soviet practice.
That's what I need. A good chuckle! Ciao!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Important ally in the fight against terrorism?
The above phrase is used over and over again in many stories about the popular uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East. But how important were these so-called allies?
The U.S. and other countries aligned themselves with dictators in the fight against Communism. For many people in these countries the result was often worse than a Communist takeover. "When will they ever learn" is still a valid question in the "fight against terrorism". Instead of squelching terrorism, the fight increases terrorism, often state terrorism against the people of the countries who are "important allies in the fight against terrorism."
See "It's Arab and it's personal", Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera English, 2011-04-12.
The U.S. and other countries aligned themselves with dictators in the fight against Communism. For many people in these countries the result was often worse than a Communist takeover. "When will they ever learn" is still a valid question in the "fight against terrorism". Instead of squelching terrorism, the fight increases terrorism, often state terrorism against the people of the countries who are "important allies in the fight against terrorism."
See "It's Arab and it's personal", Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera English, 2011-04-12.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Peace brings more change than war?
Roger Cohen wrote an interesting piece on the change that is coming to China and Vietnam, despite being officially one-party states and Communist to boot: "Peaceful Evolution Angst", New York Times, 2009-05-24.
Now that neither has any real threat of war with the West and has been incorporated into the community of nations, these governments have put more energy into the prosperity of their people and used less ideology to govern. For these states, "Communism is little more than the brand name given to power retention."
Power retention has become a bit more difficult because "Technology has taken the 'total' out of totalitarian." The governments may draw red lines around certain activities, but those red lines are very porous.
I've been wondering about the problem of North Korea. If China and Vietnam have become more open and less paranoid, what can we do to reduce the paranoia in North Korea? I hope we don't have to wait for a Moderate Party president to visit North Korea.
Now that neither has any real threat of war with the West and has been incorporated into the community of nations, these governments have put more energy into the prosperity of their people and used less ideology to govern. For these states, "Communism is little more than the brand name given to power retention."
Power retention has become a bit more difficult because "Technology has taken the 'total' out of totalitarian." The governments may draw red lines around certain activities, but those red lines are very porous.
I've been wondering about the problem of North Korea. If China and Vietnam have become more open and less paranoid, what can we do to reduce the paranoia in North Korea? I hope we don't have to wait for a Moderate Party president to visit North Korea.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Cold War Revisited
Today was the first day of the University for Seniors class "Cold War Revisited" led by Neil Storch, a UMD Professor Emeritus. It was supposed to be the second day, but the "Cold War" was cancelled because of the cold (a blizzard).
I'm not a great note taker, but I do get some highlights.
What we know of history today may not be true tomorrow. New evidence seems to become available frequently, especially about recent history. Archives may be opened or other sources may be discovered. For example, the Soviet archives showed that Julius Rosenberg really was a spy.
Much of the Cold War was an attempt to contain the Soviet Union, especially in Europe. There was great concern in the West that Stalin would overrun Europe to expand the Soviet Empire. Stalin didn't want to invade Western Europe because it would reunite Germany, and even under Soviet control, Germany would be a threat to the Soviet Union.
I'm not a great note taker, but I do get some highlights.
What we know of history today may not be true tomorrow. New evidence seems to become available frequently, especially about recent history. Archives may be opened or other sources may be discovered. For example, the Soviet archives showed that Julius Rosenberg really was a spy.
Much of the Cold War was an attempt to contain the Soviet Union, especially in Europe. There was great concern in the West that Stalin would overrun Europe to expand the Soviet Empire. Stalin didn't want to invade Western Europe because it would reunite Germany, and even under Soviet control, Germany would be a threat to the Soviet Union.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Choose your gospel wisely; times change
Adam Smith wrote about prosperity in his time, and now some have taken his writings as gospel for all times. Karl Marx wrote about poverty in his time, and some took his writings as gospel for all times.
Adam Smith wrote about many small businesses competing for customers, and then came conglomerates that were near monopolies. Karl Mark wrote about the conglomerates exploiting workers, and then came unions to bring prosperity to many workers in the conglomerates.
Adam Smith wrote about many small businesses competing for customers, and then came conglomerates that were near monopolies. Karl Mark wrote about the conglomerates exploiting workers, and then came unions to bring prosperity to many workers in the conglomerates.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
The Dictatorship of Talent
Op-ed by David Brooks
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/opinion/04brooks.html?hp
According to Brooks, China is no longer a Communist society but a corpocracy ruled by an elite based on merit. The merit is based more on passing tests heavy on memorization than on creativity. Will it be able to move to an information society?
If CTRIP and others are an indication, probably. CTRIP is a successful Chinese online travel complany.
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/opinion/04brooks.html?hp
According to Brooks, China is no longer a Communist society but a corpocracy ruled by an elite based on merit. The merit is based more on passing tests heavy on memorization than on creativity. Will it be able to move to an information society?
If CTRIP and others are an indication, probably. CTRIP is a successful Chinese online travel complany.
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