America Just Can’t Make It Anymore.

July 24, 2015July 6, 2015 fasab Business, Current Events, Factoids, Politics, Rants administrative jobs, all-American, America, America just can't make it anymore, American, American businesses, American Companies, American flags, apparel, apple, automotive industry, automotive products, automotive vehicles, Bangladesh, Barbie dolls, baseball, baseballs, bureaucrat, canada, cars, cell phones, chemicals, China, clothing, computer accessories, Computers, confused, consumer electronics, consumer goods, Converse All Stars, Current Events, curve ball, deck is stacked against them, defense, education, engines, Etch-a-Sketch, exports billions of dollars’ worth, factoid, facts, fast ball, financial services, fish, fridges, fruit, fuel oil, Germany, household furniture, Huffy bicycles, iconic symbols, imports, imports into the US, Indonesia, industrial machinery and equipment, industrial power house of the world, industrial supplies, industries, information, Japan, Levi’s, license fees, made in China, made overseas, math, Mexico, monopoly, moronic bureaucrats, oil, Opinion, parts, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, politics, private services, productive wealth creating jobs, Radio Flyer wagons, Rants, richest company in the world, royalties, shell-shocked, shoes, sports enthusiast, Stupidity And Bureaucracy, telecommunications equipment, televisions, Thoughts, trade deficit, transportation services, travel passenger services, U.S. Government service imports, United States, unprecedented wealth, US Government, vegetables, Vietnam, Wal-Mart, washers, white goods, world's first self-made billionaires, world's second biggest importer of goods

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

The statement in the title is not true, except that it is.

If you are a little confused stay with me and let me clarify.

The United States used to be the industrial power house of the world. Its industries generated unprecedented wealth for the country, creating the world’s first self-made billionaires and productive wealth creating jobs galore for everyone. The whole country prospered.

Today, however, the United States has become the world’s second biggest importer of goods. Worse than that, even though America still exports billions of dollars’ worth in oil, consumer goods and automotive products, it imports even more. This creates a trade deficit ($471 billion according to recent figures).

So what are all these imports into the US?

Well, they include industrial machinery and equipment ($681 billion), automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($309 billion), miscellaneous private services, primarily financial services ($201 billion), cell phones ($90 billion), travel passenger services ($86 billion), pharmaceuticals ($84 billion), computers ($65 billion), chemicals ($61 billion), other transportation services ($59 billion), computer accessories ($57 billion), telecommunications equipment ($54 billion), royalties and license fees services ($42 billion), apparel ($49 billion), petroleum products ($48 billion), fuel oil ($44 billion), industrial supplies ($29 billion), U.S. Government service imports primarily defense ($25 billion), fish ($18 billion), fruit ($13 billion), and vegetables ($11 billion).

If you are a bit shell-shocked by all those figures let me phrase it a bit differently using as examples the types of goods you would tend to buy.

100% (almost) of the shoes bought in the U.S. come from China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mexico;
90% of white goods (washers, fridges, etc.) and consumer electronics are imported;
85% of household furniture is imported;
80% of cars on U.S. roads come from Canada (31%), Japan (24%), Germany (16%) and Mexico (12%); and,
65% of U.S. clothing is imported from China (37%), Vietnam (9.4%), Indonesia (7.2%) and Bangladesh (6.7%).

Probably the saddest part is that even things you thought were “American” are now actually made overseas and imported.

I remember while on a business trip to the US many, many years ago I bought a gift for the young son of a friend of mine. He was a big sports enthusiast so I reckoned that one of the most iconic symbols of sport from America would be a baseball. I bought one in Wal-Mart. It was marked with all the different holding positions for the various ways to throw a baseball (fast ball, curve ball and all that). The perfect gift.

I gave it to him on my return feeling ever so pleased with myself. The kid opened it, showed momentary delight, then looked up at me accusingly. “It says ‘Made in China'” he told me.

But it’s not only baseballs. Similar types of product that you would think are all-American, like Converse All Stars, Levi’s, Huffy bicycles, televisions, Monopoly, Etch-a-Sketch, Radio Flyer wagons, Barbie dolls, and last but by no means least, most of those American flags just ain’t American no more.

It really doesn’t have to be this way. Apple, for example, doesn’t have to become the richest company in the world by manufacturing its products in China and storing its vast hoards of cash overseas.

Or does it?

Everything on the lists above could still be made in the US and surpluses exported to other countries. But the US government and its moronic bureaucrats are spending their time and our money thinking up new ways, not to help American businesses, but to add ever-increasing amounts of rules, regulations and bureaucracy on to American companies.

American businesses can no longer compete, because their own government has ensured that the deck is stacked against them.

In the mind of a bureaucrat losing a million productive wealth creating jobs, for example, in the automotive industry, and replacing them with a million more administrative jobs that cost the country money evens things out.

It doesn’t. Simple math will tell you that. Every time it happens things get worse and America gets poorer.

So America just can’t make it anymore, but not because China has stolen the jobs. It’s because the US government bureaucrats gave them away.

Put the blame where it should be.

============================

Should We Let The Tail Continue To Wag The Dog?

July 22, 2015July 22, 2015 fasab Current Events, Factoids, George Carlin, Politics, Rants, Religion Aaron and Melissa Klein, against their interests, all and sundry, all men are created equal, America, atheist, brightest people, Buddhist, can you sue yourself for damages, challenge authority, chaos, Christian, Christian lesbian, civil rights, color, compliance, constitution let the tail continue to wag the dog, constitutional protections, control, count, critical thinking, Current Events, damages, defended at all costs, Donald Trump, drive on the correct side of the road, dumb enough, dumbest, dumbing down of society, education, emotional suffering, eroding the individual citizen's right, facts, fought for, Freedom Act, freedom of religious beliefs, freedom to do what minority groups dictate, gayest cake shop in America, George Carlin, government, gun, gun shop, Hindu, hold up a bank, idiots, illegal for a business to refuse to serve someone because of their sexual orientation, information, instilling fear, judge, kill your family, legal system, Lesbian, lesbian couple, lesbians, lowering the level of education, machines, Macy's, majority, majority community, micro-manage, minority rights, mom and pop bakery, murder, Muslim, no equivalent law, nothing is free, obedient workers, Opinion, Oregon, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industry, pander to every minority, paperwork, passively accept it, politics, Presbyterian, protect the religious beliefs of business owners, protection of minority rights, race, Rants, read, refused to bake a wedding cake, religion, religious beliefs, rules, school, sexual orientation, sikh, sillier looking signs, Silly looking people, six figure fine, supporting your point of view, Sweet Cakes By Melissa, teaching, the state, Thoughts, upheld, weapon, well educated people, well informed, within my rights, wrecked the education system, write

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

They say that nothing is free and in America that is certainly true as regards freedom of religious beliefs.

If you are a Christian, that is.

If you are a Muslim, or a Hindu, or a Sikh, or a Buddhist, or even an atheist, the constitutional protections of your civil rights will be upheld and fought for by all and sundry. Silly looking people will hold up even sillier looking signs supporting your point of view.

If you are a Christian, however, you will find you only have the freedom to do what minority groups dictate, not what conforms to your religious beliefs.

Aaron and Melissa Klein, the owners of a mom and pop bakery they call ‘Sweet Cakes By Melissa’, found that out a while ago when they refused to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple in 2013. They have been ordered by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI-cks for short) to pay $135,000 in damages to the two lesbians for “emotional suffering.”

It makes me wonder if Donald Trump will launch a similar suit against Macy’s for the “emotional suffering” he has been caused by Macy’s refusing to sell his merchandise? I would imagine for a man with that kind of ego the “emotional suffering” would be substantial, at least a billion dollar’s worth, I reckon.

Apparently in Oregon, and probably in other states, it is now illegal for a business to refuse to serve someone because of their sexual orientation. Most probably the same applies if you are of a particular race, color, or religion. However, there is no equivalent law to protect the religious beliefs of business owners.

Now I could care less whether you are a lesbian or a Presbyterian, that’s not the issue here. The issue is that you can’t have a law that protects one sector of the community at the expense of another. More to the point you can’t have a ridiculous legal system that is both unfair and illogical.

But you do.

And it’s getting worse.

Just as the Freedom Act took away more freedoms than it gave, the government is stealthily and overtly eroding the individual citizen’s right to live their lives as they want to and as their beliefs dictate.

Sure you have to have rules, like don’t murder people, drive on the correct side of the road, and that kind of thing otherwise there would be chaos. But trying to control and micro-manage every thought and action of the people, which is what the government is now about, is both unnecessary and unwanted.

I’m now wondering what happens if you come into my gun shop and I don’t like the look of you and refuse to sell you a gun or other weapon. Am I within my rights? Or can you sue me for the “emotional suffering” of not being able to kill your family or hold up a bank?

Or can I sue you if you own the gayest cake shop in America but refuse to serve me because I am a Christian? That would be an interesting one in the light of the Oregon decision.

What happens if you are a Christian lesbian? What sort of “emotional suffering” does that cause? And can you sue yourself for damages? I’m sure there’s a judge somewhere stupid enough to grant you a big payout, but of course you would have to pay it to yourself, unless the state would step in because of your sexual orientation and cough up the cash for you.

You see where this is going?

Just as they wrecked the education system in many western countries by teaching the brightest people in the school at the same pace as the dumbest, thereby lowering the level of education of everyone and churning out a multitude of idiots who can barely read, or write, or count, now we have to pander to every minority no matter how few people they represent and no matter how much their minority beliefs offend our own.

Minority rights don’t really matter to the government because they don’t make up enough of the population. If and when the need arises minorities can be brought to heel. The majority is a different matter though and what has been discussed in this blog post is all part of the dumbing down of society and instilling fear in anyone from the majority community who dares to stand up and challenge authority. The threat of a six figure fine, or worse, ensures compliance in most people.

My old late lamented friend George Carlin summed it up so well when he said, “Governments don’t want well informed, well educated people capable of critical thinking. That is against their interests. They want obedient workers, people who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork. And just dumb enough to passively accept it.”

Protection of minority rights in a society is one thing – and a good thing – and should be defended at all costs. But it should be done for the right reasons AND it should be in addition to the rights of the majority, never at their expense.

Otherwise you might as well throw out the “all men are created equal” bit of the constitution and just let the tail continue to wag the dog.

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Forget The Cold War, The Summer Is Here

July 17, 2015July 5, 2015 fasab Current Events, Factoids, Politics, Rants ally, America, americans, another cold war, arrogance, assassinations, best option, Black Sea coast, breakup of the USSR, breathed a great sigh of relief, capture, civil war in the Ukraine, Cold War part two, composite entity, counter-sanctions, coup d'etats, coup d’etat, Cuba, culprit, Current Events, defeated country, duly elected, eastern regions, eastward expansion of NATO, education, EU, Europe, factoid, facts, foreign affairs, formidable nation, friendly economic terms, fully armed, idiot, independent, information, Mikhail Gorbachev, mistake, NATO, Nikita Khrushchev, no clue about foreign affairs, not taking sides, nuclear arsenal, Opinion, Orthodox, Ottoman, plan, Poland, politics, President Carter's administration, prevent Russia becoming a great power again, puzzle, Rants, redrew borders in the Middle East, remove Ukraine, Russia, Russian's doorstep, Russian-speaking, Russians, sanctions against Russia, separatist militias, Soviet Union, Soviet Union broke apart, sphere of influence, stupid bureaucrats, stupid English bureaucrats, subservient, Summer Is Here, tensions between the West and Russia, the chill continues, the Cold War, the Crimea, the Kurds, the Ukraine, third option, Thoughts, tsarist armies, Ukraine, Ukrainian army, Ukrainian President, Ukrainians, US National Security Advisor, volunteer battalions, west, western regions, world, WWI, WWII, Zbigniew Brzezinski

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

The world breathed a great sigh of relief when the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, but somehow we’re in the middle of another cold war that nobody wants or needs.

How did that happen?

As most things do, it all started with a huge mistake. That mistake was the West, particularly America, treating Russia like a defeated country after 1991, instead of the formidable nation that it still was despite the breakup of the USSR. Mikhail Gorbachev has acknowledged that fact.

Unfortunately Americans have no clue about foreign affairs and never have had. That, plus a ton of arrogance, led us to the Ukraine which America thought it could more or less capture as an ally to be slotted into NATO. They wanted a fully armed NATO nuclear arsenal on the Russian’s doorstep.

The Americans quite rightly didn’t like it when the Russians tried to do it to them in Cuba way back in the early 1960s, so what idiot thought that the Russians would like it when they did it to them?

Whoever formulated the plan, it was heavily influenced by Zbigniew Brzezinski, former US National Security Advisor during President Carter’s administration. His theory was that the only way to prevent Russia becoming a great power again was to remove the Ukraine from its sphere of influence.

Thus America initiated an eastward expansion of NATO, using the EU to present the Ukraine with a choice between Russia and Europe. Some Ukrainians, like those in the Crimea favored Russia and others in other parts wanted closer ties with the EU.

Like many other countries, the prospect of joining the EU is attractive to a significant proportion of Ukrainians. But the way America tried to bring it about was just a step too far. The Ukrainian President, who had been duly elected, was removed in what would have been called a “coup d’etat” had it happened elsewhere, or had Russia been the culprit.

That is why a lot of the tensions between the West and Russia is centered on the internal troubles within the Ukraine.

If one looks into the history of the Ukraine another significant part of the puzzle presents itself.

In much the same way as stupid English bureaucrats redrew borders in the Middle East without any consideration for the people who lived there, (for example, the Kurds), which resulted in wars and upheaval ever since, when the Soviet Union broke apart somewhere in the region of 25 million Russians were left outside the borders of Russia. A lot of them were in the Crimea in the Ukraine.

But the Ukraine had only been independent for three years in its history (1917-20), after the collapse of the tsarist armies.

The post-December 1991 Ukraine was thus a composite entity, its western regions had belonged to Poland between WWI and WWII; its eastern regions were Orthodox and Russian-speaking; and its Black Sea coast had been Ottoman.

The Crimea had never been Ukrainian until Nikita Khrushchev decreed it should be in 1954.

Thus, for anyone with any degree of understanding of foreign affairs, the troubles now being suffered by the various peoples in the Ukraine were both predictable and avoidable.

But the stupid bureaucrats in power were not able to predict it and thus the mess became inevitable.

Sadly the situation has now deteriorated into what amounts to a civil war in the Ukraine. On one side there is the Ukrainian army plus “volunteer battalions”, supported by the US and its allies, and on the other the “separatist” militias who draw their support mainly from Russian-speakers in the east, and who are supported by Russia.

Outside of what is happening in the Ukraine itself, the US and EU implemented severe sanctions against Russia which have hurt, but not nearly as much as they were supposed to. In turn Russia announced counter-sanctions on food and looked to emerging markets, particularly China, to diversify its foreign trade and industrial cooperation.

And so the Cold War part two has begun and shows little sign of ending just yet.

In fact it looks like the Ukraine will remain in a mess until it gets its act together and decides whether it wants to remain on friendly economic terms with its huge neighbor Russia, or whether it will settle for becoming subservient to the whims of the US, via some kind of economic agreement with the EU.

It has a third option, though, perhaps its best option, and that is not taking sides, but rather remaining on friendly terms with both East and West.

However, they may never get the chance to choose option three. In plain language, I don’t think that the people who arrange assassinations and coup d’etats will let them do that.

Meantime, summer or not, the chill continues.

=====================================

Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport, Its Quiz Day!

July 13, 2015July 13, 2015 fasab Questions, Tests actor, America, American Revolutionary War, Angkor Wat, Australia, Australian stockman, bathometer, battle, beverage, bird, Blithe Spirit, borough of Brooklyn, calypsos, cattle grid, cattle guard, China, citizens of Paris, Cobnuts, commemorated, convert alternating current to direct current, country, creature, deathbed, destination, Doctor Zhivago, education, Entertainment, filberts, flower, fruit juice, general knowledge, Geography, gives birth, Haber process, Hail to Thee blithe spirit, Harry Belafonte, history, Kzahkstan, Ladies Singles Championship, largest young, leisure, manufactured, movie, movies, National Park, nationality, nature, new york, novel, Old Man’s Beard, pealing of all the bells, peninsular, Percy Bysshe Shelley, planets in our solar system, play, questions, quiz, quizzes, rectifier, science, Shelley’s poem, silencing, soda water, songs, southwestern, species, sport, stock grid, suppressing, surrounded, Tajikistan, temple complex, test, tests, Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport, Traveller’s Joy, tree, turning point, UK/Ireland, Uzbekistan, vegetable, Wimbledon 2015, young kangaroo

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

For those of you who find the title a little obscure Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport is one of the best-known and most successful songs from Australia, inspired by Harry Belafonte’s calypsos, it is about an Australian stockman on his deathbed.

It also provides a handy link to question one.

As for this and the rest of the questions, if you get stuck you can find the answers waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down below, but please NO cheating.

Enjoy and good luck.

quiz 06

Q. 1. What is a young kangaroo called?

Q. 2. The temple complex of Angkor Wat is situated in which country?

Q. 3. What is commonly used in a rectifier to convert alternating current to direct current?

Q. 4. Which creature gives birth to the largest young?

Q. 5. What do you call the peninsular leisure/entertainment destination found in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn, New York?

Q. 6. What is a bathometer?

Q. 7. Cobnuts and filberts come from what species of tree?

Q. 8. What country is surrounded by Kzahkstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China?

Q. 9. About which bird did Percy Bysshe Shelley write ‘Hail to Thee, blithe spirit!’?

Q. 10. Who wrote the play ‘Blithe Spirit’ which took its title from Shelley’s poem?

Q. 11. What is a ‘cattle grid’ (UK/Ireland), a ‘stock grid’ (Australia), or a ‘cattle guard’ (America) used for?

Q. 12. What recently deceased actor was ‘Doctor Zhivago’ in the 1965 movie?

Q. 13. What nationality was ‘Doctor Zhivago’?

Q. 14. ‘Old Man’s Beard’ and ‘Traveller’s Joy’ are names for a variety of which flower?

Q. 15. What is manufactured by the Haber process?

Q. 16. Which novel opens: “It was 348 years, six months and 19 days ago today that the citizens of Paris were awakened by the pealing of all the bells in the triple precincts of the City, the University and the Town”; and who wrote it? (A point for each correct answer.)

Q. 17. What are the names of the first and the fifth planets in our solar system?

Q. 18. No battle was fought here, yet, it was the turning point of the American Revolutionary War and is now commemorated as a National Park. What is its name and in which state is it located? (A point for each correct answer.)

Q. 19. Who won the Ladies Singles Championship at Wimbledon 2015?

Q. 20. This word can mean the name of a beverage made from fruit juice and soda water, part of the name of a well-known vegetable, a sport, or the act of silencing or suppressing – what is it?

ANSWERS

Q. 1. What is a young kangaroo called?

A. 1. Joey.

Q. 2. The temple complex of Angkor Wat is situated in which country?

A. 2. Cambodia.

Q. 3. What is commonly used in a rectifier to convert alternating current to direct current?

A. 3. A ‘Diode’.

Q. 4. Which creature gives birth to the largest young?

A. 4. Blue Whale – 8 metres and 2,700 kg at birth. In the first 7 to 8 months they reach 16 metres and weigh about 21,000 kg.

Q. 5. What do you call the peninsular leisure/entertainment destination found in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn, New York?

A. 5. It is called ‘Coney Island’.

Q. 6. What is a bathometer?

A. 6. It is an instrument for indicating the depth of the sea beneath a moving vessel. You can have the point if you said depth gage or something to measure depth of water.

Q. 7. Cobnuts and filberts come from what species of tree?

A. 7. From the Hazel tree.

Q. 8. What country is surrounded by Kzahkstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China?

A. 8. Kyrgzstan.

Q. 9. About which bird did Percy Bysshe Shelley write ‘Hail to Thee, blithe spirit!’?

A. 9. A skylark (in To a Skylark).

Q. 10. Who wrote the play ‘Blithe Spirit’ which took its title from Shelley’s poem?

A. 10. Noël Coward.

Q. 11. What is a ‘cattle grid’ (UK/Ireland), a ‘stock grid’ (Australia), or a ‘cattle guard’ (America) used for?

A. 11. It is used as a barrier that allows vehicles to pass, but not cattle.

Q. 12. What recently deceased actor was ‘Doctor Zhivago’ in the 1965 movie?

A. 12. Omar Sharif.

Q. 13. What nationality was ‘Doctor Zhivago’?

A. 13. Russian.

Q. 14. ‘Old Man’s Beard’ and ‘Traveller’s Joy’ are names for a variety of which flower?

A. 14. The Clematis.

Q. 15. What is manufactured by the Haber process?

A. 15. Ammonia.

A. 16. Notre Dame de Paris (also known as The Hunchback of Notre Dame) by Victor Hugo

Q. 17. What are the names of the first and the fifth planets in our solar system?

A. 17. The first is Mercury (the smallest, now Pluto has been demoted) and the fifth is Jupiter (the largest).

A. 18. It is Valley Forge located approximately 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania.

Q. 19. Who won the Ladies Singles Championship at Wimbledon 2015?

A. 19. Serena Williams.

Q. 20. This word can mean the name of a beverage made from fruit juice and soda water, part of the name of a well-known vegetable, a sport, or the act of silencing or suppressing – what is it?

A. 20. Squash.

==================================

The Entertainer Continues

July 12, 2015July 10, 2015 fasab Current Events, Factoids, Politics a liar in the White House, above the parapet, afraid, America, American society, americans, avoiding taking stands on moral issues, brash, buy the same gadgets, Chairman Mao, China, conditioned to act the same, control, cranks, crime, Current Events, detractors, Donald Trump, dress the same, empty talking head on TV, English is becoming a second language, entertaining, ethnic diversity, factoid, facts, first hand experience, free thinking people, frightened, herd, Hillary, illegal immigrants, liberal political elites, live the dream, loud, lower that Confederate flag, luxury of sitting on the fence, massive influxes of immigrants, minority groups, mocking, nice, not smart at all, Opinion, ordinary Americans, political elites, politics, predictable pattern, presidential, pseudo-intellectuals, raise a white one, Rants, sad reflection, say the same things, secretly cheer, Sheeple, smart, Social problems, soft target for crime, style, surge in the polls, take advantage, The Entertainer, think the same, Thoughts, to tell the truth, Trump, Trump's critics, trying to get publicity, uncomfortable truths, watch the same TV shows

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

If Donald Trump has done nothing else, apart from entertaining us, he has raised some uncomfortable truths for Americans to face.

For too many years people in America have had the luxury of sitting on the fence, avoiding taking stands on moral issues, or issues affecting minority groups in their country.

They’re frightened.

Frightened of looking like cranks.

Frightened of pseudo-intellectuals (who really know very little) mocking them.

Frightened of not being part of the herd.

Frightened of not appearing ‘nice’.

Lower that Confederate flag and raise a white one, quick!

Dear help us.

Confederate battle flag flies in South Carolina — Confederate flag comes down at South Carolina Capitol after half century

People, and not only in America, have been conditioned to act the same, buy the same gadgets, watch the same TV shows and even dress the same. If it continues they’ll all be dressed in similar suits like China in the days of Chairman Mao, only with little red smartphones instead of little red books.

More importantly than all these, the people are being conditioned to ‘think’ the same. ‘Sheeple’ are easier to control than ‘free thinking people’ and as we know it is all about control.

When I said they’re ‘frightened’, I meant Americans have been conditioned into being afraid to stick their own heads above the parapet.

But when occasionally someone does it for them then they secretly cheer – but not too loud mind you in case someone hears.

That’s why Trump enjoyed a surge in the polls after his remarks about illegal immigrants and how they are not all perfect human beings. Everybody knew it but were afraid to say it.

The political elites, most of them anyway, would never be caught saying what they really think – in public. Admittedly Trump said it in his own brash and loud style, but at least he said it.

You don’t have to agree with him – far from it – but you do have to acknowledge that he said what many thousands of ordinary Americans were thinking yet were afraid to say.

Many of these ordinary Americans are probably living in areas where there have been massive influxes of immigrants. They know how it has affected them. In these areas English has become a second language. Social problems have increased and crime has gone up. And everyone is afraid to say why.

More to the point, they know from first-hand experience that this new ethnic diversity has failed to provide the benefits that the liberal political elites promised it would.

Facts are facts are facts.

Many people have come to America to live the ‘dream’ and better themselves. But many others have come to take advantage of what they regard as a soft target for crime.

Many of Trump’s critics are just as guilty of trying to get publicity for themselves as perhaps Trump is making the remarks in the first place.

But the critics exhibit a sadly familiar and predictable pattern. They see an empty talking head on TV, think it’s smart, and then say the same things or a slight variation thereof. That makes them think they look smart too, except of course it doesn’t, because the talking head on TV was empty, not smart at all.

Many of these detractors have gone so far as to say that Trump’s remarks are not “presidential”.

The big question, that unfortunately is not being asked in blazing headlines in the media, is why in America today is it not ‘presidential’ to tell the truth, or to give a true expression of what you believe?

If that is now really the case then it is a sad reflection of American society and not something to be proud of.

You have another choice though.

If you want a liar in the White House there’s always Hillary.

===========================================

At Last A Little Good News About The Banksters.

July 8, 2015June 23, 2015 fasab bankers, banking, Banks, Business, Crime, Current Events, Factoids, Investing, Politics, Rants accountable, accountable culture, America, annual salaries, another war, bailed-out banks, Bank of England, bankers' bonuses, banking, Banks, banksters, base salaries, bonuses, bonuses for executives, British, building societies, capped bonuses, City of London, confiscate, Current Events, dutch, Europe, European rules, fact, facts, far off God forsaken country, Financial Conduct Authority, financial institutions, financial penalties, financial upheavals, frauds, greedy, ill-gotten gains, immoral, information, investment firms, jail, keeping a step ahead, leader of the world, major banks, managers, new British rules, new regulations, nonexecutive directors, Opinion, politics, Prudential Regulation Authority, Rants, regulators, risk managers, senior managers, shareholders, thefts, thieves, Thoughts, top executives, United States, variable pay, you can take that to the bank

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

Don’t get too excited, it is only a little, but it is good news.

In a recent ruling by British regulators, the top executives and managers at banks operating there (which is practically all the major banks) could have their bonuses clawed back for up to ten years after any finding of misconduct. It will also prohibit bonuses for nonexecutive directors and for the managers of companies that are receiving financial support from the government.

The move, which is long, long overdue and still does not go far enough, extends a seven-year clawback period that one regulator, the Prudential Regulation Authority, (part of the Bank of England), introduced for so-called variable pay (read ‘bonuses’) last year as part of tougher accountability rules.

The new rules announced by the authority, which is part of the Bank of England, and by another regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, are the latest effort by financial regulators in Europe to hold the banksters accountable for improper actions that could play a role in precipitating future financial upheavals.

The regulators say they are trying to “embed an accountable culture” in the City of London, which actually means that the authorities realize that the banksters have learned nothing from their previous catastrophic frauds and thefts. They know when the chance arrives these greedy and immoral people will try to do it all again.

The new British rules, which apply to banks, building societies and investment firms regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority, including British units of United States banks and other financial firms based outside Europe, mean that senior managers, risk managers and others at banks will also be asked to defer more of their variable pay for a longer period, making it easier for regulators and financial institutions to recover bonuses if misconduct is uncovered.

Other countries in Europe are also enacting new regulations for their banksters. Dutch lawmakers, for example, capped bonuses this year for employees in the banking, insurance and other finance sectors that limits variable pay to 20 percent of their fixed salaries. The Dutch have also banned bonuses for executives at bailed-out banks.

European rules already limit bankers’ bonuses to the equivalent of their annual salaries, or to two times their base salaries if the company’s shareholders approve it. But they know they are so greedy that they will try to find ways round that.

Already some banks are making moves to get round the limits by introducing role-based remuneration and other payments, so the regulators have their work cut out for them keeping a step ahead of the thieves.

What they really need to do is confiscate ALL their ill-gotten gains, impose severe additional financial penalties AND throw these criminals in jail – for a long time.

America, which always likes to consider itself as the leader of the world, should lead in this regard too. It would be better than starting another war in some far off God forsaken country.

Unfortunately I think it will be an equally long time, and a lot more frauds, before they get to that much needed stage.

And you can take that to the bank!

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I Said He Would Be Entertaining.

July 5, 2015July 4, 2015 fasab Business, Current Events, Politics, Rants advantage, America, American public is ready for a leader with a proven track record of success, best candidate, BIG question mark, Boringtown, breach of contract, break off ties, Bush, Bush and Bush, business background, business world, cancellation, career politicians, children, connected, controversy, Current Events, Democrat competition, Democratic hopefuls, Democrats, dithering Obama administration, dodgy decision leads, Donald, drop Trump-related merchandise, Dubya Bush, dullest election campaigns in history, Dullsville, Dynasty, economy, egos on the grand scale, Eighty percent of Central American girls and women are raped crossing into the United States, election race, election races, entertaining, family history, Florida Governor, foreign affairs, foreign policy and national security expertise, fourth floor next to the white flags, front-runner, GOP Presidential candidate, Governor, hard act to follow, hasty decision, Hillary Clinton, horse, horse's ass, host, hypocrisy department, illegal immigration, In a democracy the voters sometimes get it wrong, Jeb, Jeb Bush, Jeb versus Hilary, Joe Biden, lackluster video message, legitimate or crazy, lift America's spirit, limelight, lose money, Macy's, Macy's decision, make a good President, Mark Cuban, Miss Universe, Miss USA, more wealth for Trump, Mr Wonderful, national security, NBC, new star, no high profile rival, nonsense, Opinion, other people paying for their mistakes, pageants, pander to every minority viewpoint, partiality, People, politician, politicians, politics, post-Trump era, practical terms, President, presidential bid, presidential candidate, presidential election, pun, Rants, reality show, Republican camp, Republican nomination, ride out the storm, run away from controversy, Senators, Shark Tank, skeleton, social issues, social media, sue NBC, super wealthy, sweat shops, tell it how it is, The Apprentice, the big seat in the White House, the Donald, Thoughts, top dollar, Trump, tumble from their closets, TV companies, Univision, unsuccessful bids for the Oval Office, Vice President, war-mongering Presidency, White House job, would-be's

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

Say what you like about him, but he is entertaining. Trump is already making what was looking like one of the dullest election campaigns in history into something worth looking at – just now and again though.

The latest nonsense comes from the business world, namely Macy’s, NBC and Univision.

Macy’s has decided to drop Trump-related merchandise, and the other two are going to break off ties (pun, tee-hee!) with the Donald.

The Macy’s decision is fairly clear, they’d rather run away from controversy and lose money than ride out the storm. I wonder do they sell goods manufactured in the sweat shops of the world, often by children? Maybe we should look in their hypocrisy department – fourth floor next to the white flags if I remember correctly?

However, no one knows exactly what the NBC and Univision decision means in practical terms. For example, will they sell their half of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants and if they do who will they sell it to? Or will they buy Trump’s half which will mean giving him top dollar for the shows because I don’t think he will let them away softly. In fact he would be within his rights to sue NBC for breach of contract relating to the pageants if this dodgy decision leads to a cancellation.

Either way it will be more wealth for Trump, which is probably what the move was designed NOT to do when they were thinking about it. That’s assuming they did think about it, which appears increasing unlikely.

Neither has NBC given great thought as to who is going to host “The Apprentice” in a post-Trump era. They’ve hinted that they are going to look for a new star to replace Trump on the long-running reality show, but he’ll be a hard act to follow. Maybe it’s a chance for another dose of the limelight for the Shark Tank’s Mr Wonderful or even Mark Cuban, both of whom seem to thrive on the small screen and both of whom seem to have egos on the grand scale.

This hasty decision also leaves a BIG question mark about the partiality of these TV companies during the election race. Will they – or perhaps better, can they – continue to cover Trump fairly as a presidential candidate?

Then there’s former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, part of the Bush, Bush and Bush super wealthy and well connected dynasty who want the big seat in the White House again. Jeb has said his decision to run for the Republican nomination will be based on two things: his family and whether he can lift America’s spirit.

After the great job his father and big brother did as President in lifting America’s spirits (a little sarcasm there) how could the voters do anything other than make him the GOP Presidential candidate? Oh dear me!

Despite the family history, Bush seems to be making good progress so far. But he had an easy start, because prior to the arrival of Trump on the scene he had no high profile rival. He still holds a significant lead over the second-place Trump.

Some think Jeb Bush would be the best candidate to handle illegal immigration and social issues. Just like his brother perhaps, see video.

On the economy Trump would probably be favorite, especially after the way Dubya Bush let spending go out of control during the latter stages of his war-mongering Presidency.

Apart from these two, although there are numerous others in the field,there does not seem to be any other close runners. Not yet anyway. But things in election races can always change suddenly as a skeleton or two tumble from their closets.

Trump is trying to capitalize on his business background. There is no doubt that that gives him an advantage over the career politicians. In business Trump lives or dies by his decisions. As for the Senators and Governor would-be’s, they are used to other people paying for their mistakes not them personally. It’s a significant difference in the mindsets of the two types of contender.

There is no doubt that Trump is correct when he says that the “American public is ready for a leader with a proven track record of success.” This is particular so after eight years of a dithering Obama administration.

Whether or not “Eighty percent of Central American girls and women are raped crossing into the United States,” one would have thought that America was ready for someone who wasn’t afraid to tell it how it is, instead of trying to pander to every minority viewpoint be it legitimate or crazy.

In politics a bit of controversy is always…

what’s the word….

“Entertaining?” That’s it.

As if to emphasize the fact, contrast what is going on in the Republican camp with the Democrats.

Hillary Clinton launched her presidential bid via a lackluster video message on social media way back in April and she continues to be the overwhelming front-runner among Democratic hopefuls for the White House job.

In fact the Democrat competition has turned into an amalgamation of Dullsville & Boringtown. There’s only one horse (make that horse’s ass) in the running. What she needs to blow all that cash for I don’t know. Build a hospital ward for the poor you dummy, you’re already selected.

Vice President Joe Biden, who has twice before made unsuccessful bids for the Oval Office – in 1988 and 2008 – might make another one, unsuccessful one that is. Recently he has said he thinks he’d “make a good President.” He is perhaps basing that on comments in the press that he is known for his foreign policy and national security expertise. He shouldn’t, because during the past eight years he has shown absolutely no grasp of either foreign affairs or national security.

Of course, it may well be that come the actual Presidential election next year, it will be Jeb versus Hillary and dull as they are the Democrats may win again. In a democracy the voters sometimes get it wrong.

In the meantime I’m still finding the Donald’s entry into the fray, what’s that word again….

“Entertaining!”

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The Greeks Can’t Afford To Bear Gifts These Days

July 4, 2015June 29, 2015 fasab bankers, banking, Banks, Business, Current Events, Factoids, Politics, Rants Alexis Tsipras, America, American visitors, Athens, ATMs, €300 billion debt, Beware Of Greeks Bearing Gifts, breakdown of talks, britain, can't afford to pay back, capital controls, Current Events, curtail their spending, dangerous, default, emergency meetings, enormous debt, enough cash, EU finance ministers, Euro currency, Euro zone, Europe, European Central Bank, European Union, facts, financial assistance program, financial crisis, financial institutions, follow suit, frantic discussions, George W. Bush, government blackmail, Grecians, greedy, Greek default, Greek government, Greek people, Greek Prime Minister, Greeks, Happy Independence Day, historic first, idiot, imposed, kicked out of the Euro zone, living beyond their means, monetary system, Opinion, out of the EU, politics, poor countries in the EU, print more money, Rants, referendum, rulers of the EU, Runs on banks, shut down all their banks, Thoughts, tight spot, tighten their belts, tough line, tough line on the Grecians, travel warnings for Greece, US, warning, western countries, your own money

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

Greek financial crisis

I used to love listening to George W Bush when he talked about the ‘Grecians’. He was an idiot, but unlike some holders of his post I think he secretly knew it.

But, enough of that, let’s concentrate on the Grecians.

Their financial crisis is deepening and they’ve shut down all their banks. They’ve also imposed what are called ‘capital controls’, in other words what you can and cannot do with your own money – assuming you could get to it in the first place.

Several Western countries, including the US and Britain, have issued travel warnings for Greece. Not a warning about the place being very dangerous, just a warning to have enough cash to be able to pay for things now that the banks are shut and presumably their ATMs as well.

This recent activity by the Greek government is because of the breakdown of talks between Athens and the European Union concerning the Grecians’ enormous debt that they clearly can’t afford to pay back. EU finance ministers rejected Athens’ request to prolong a financial assistance program.

It is also about a bit of timely government blackmail.

The Greek government has so far been unable to formulate any meaningful plans to curtail their spending significantly. The Greek people likewise have become used to living beyond their means and are reluctant to tighten their belts. The people are blaming the government and the government is blaming the people and nothing is really getting resolved.

So Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, shut the banks and said they would stay shut until July 6, conveniently the day after a nationwide referendum on whether to accept the bailout terms proposed to Greece by its creditors.

Some commentators also think that the banks may have been shut because they don’t have enough cash left. The Greek people think the same and are panicking to get their money out of the banks. Runs on banks inevitably lead to disaster.

As Greece is part of the Euro zone it does not have control of its own monetary system. In other words, unlike America which can simply print more money if and when it needs it, the Grecians have to rely on the European Central Bank giving them cash. and it has refused to give them any more Euros.

That decision could prompt Greece to default which would probably lead to it being kicked out of the Euro zone and possibly out of the EU itself, which would be an historic first and something that would be done very reluctantly.

The rulers of the EU are in what is known as a ‘tight spot’. If they don’t take a tough line on the Grecians they can be sure other poor countries in the EU will follow suit. If they do take a tough line, then the upheaval will undoubted have an impact on the Euro currency.

A Greek default would also be another kick in the greedy teeth of the big financial institutions who own a good part of the massive €300 billion debt – you see there are positives in every situation if you look hard enough.

So it looks like emergency meetings and frantic discussions all over the place in Europe.

Despite the fact that Dubya is long gone from the political scene, I don’t think we’ve heard the last about the Grecians just yet.

By the way, Happy Independence Day to all my American visitors, bet you’re glad you’re not part of Europe these days.

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No More Quizzes – Not This June Anyway. (Except For This One!)

June 29, 2015June 24, 2015 fasab Questions, Tests America, ballet dancer, Bewick, bird, Black, books literature, born, British prime minister, calfskin, Calvados, canada, chief lawyer, city, classics of American literature, Colombia, countries, dancer, died, discoveries, distilled, dracula, education, Entertainment, Euxine Sea, FIFA, France, French city, fruit, general knowledge, Geography, history, Hooper, Idaho, Illinois, invented, inventions, Joan of Arc, leader of the Soviet Union, modern ballet, movies, music, nature, Nobel Prize, non-fiction, novels, organization, People, places, popular sports, published, Pulitzer Prize, put to death, questions, quiz, quizzes, rabies vaccination, Radar, represent, Russian, Saruman, Scaramanga, science, Scooby, Scooby-Doo, sea, short story collections, South America, sport, test, tests, The City Of The Kings, U S government, United States, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, wrong reasons

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

Welcome to final fasab quiz for June 2015.

Half the year almost gone, but not before you get the chance to try out these questions.

As usual, if you get stuck, you can find the answers waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down below, but please NO cheating.

Enjoy and good luck.

Q. 1. What was bought by the United States from France in 1803?

Q. 2. ‘Black’, ‘Hooper’ and ‘Bewick’ are all types of what bird?

Q. 3. What city in South America is known as ‘The City Of The Kings’ ?

Q. 4. Very recently in the news for all the wrong reasons, what organization do the letters ‘FIFA’ represent?

Q. 5. Who was the leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953?

Q. 6. What did Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discover by accident on November 8 1895?

Q. 7. He was born in Illinois and died in Idaho and during his lifetime he published seven novels, six short story collections, and two non-fiction works, and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for Literature. Many of his works are considered classics of American literature. Who was he?

Q. 8. What name is given to calfskin, dressed and prepared for writing on?

Q. 9. Which sea is sometimes called the Euxine Sea?

Q. 10. What is the name given to the person who is appointed the chief lawyer of the U.S. government?

Q. 11. Name the famous Russian ballet dancer who changed the face of modern ballet?

Q. 12. Who invented the rabies vaccination?

Q. 13. Who is the current (2015) British Prime Minister?

Q. 14. Big points opportunity. How many countries lie between Canada and Colombia? (A point for the correct number and a bonus point for each one you can name correctly.)

Q. 15. What fruit is ‘Calvados’ distilled from?

Q. 16. What is ‘Scooby’ short for in the name ‘Scooby Doo’ ?

Q. 17. What does ‘RADAR’ stand for?

Q. 18. In which French city was Joan of Arc put to death?

Q. 19. What are the seven most popular sports in America? (A point for each correct answer and a bonus point if you can name them in the correct order.)

Q. 20. He was famous as ‘Dracula’, ‘Scaramanga’ and ‘Saruman’. Who was he?

ANWERS

Q. 1. What was bought by the United States from France in 1803?

A. 1. The Louisiana territory (828,000 square miles).

Q. 2. ‘Black’, ‘Hooper’ and ‘Bewick’ are all types of what bird?

A. 2. Swans.

Q. 3. What city in South America is known as ‘The City Of The Kings’ ?

A. 3. Lima, Peru. (Ciudad de los Reyes)

Q. 4. Very recently in the news for all the wrong reasons, what organization do the letters ‘FIFA’ represent?

A. 4. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the international governing body of association football, futsal and beach soccer.

Q. 5. Who was the leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953?

A. 5. Joseph Stalin.

Q. 6. What did Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discover by accident on November 8 1895?

A. 6. X-rays.

A. 7. Ernest Hemmingway.

Q. 8. What name is given to calfskin, dressed and prepared for writing on?

A. 8. It is known as ‘Vellum’.

Q. 9. Which sea is sometimes called the Euxine Sea?

A. 9. The Black Sea.

Q. 10. What is the name given to the person who is appointed the chief lawyer of the U.S. government?

A. 10. He/she is known as the ‘Attorney General’.

Q. 11. Name the famous Russian ballet dancer who changed the face of modern ballet?

A. 11. Rudolf Nureyev.

Q. 12. Who invented the rabies vaccination?

A. 12. Louis Pasteur.

Q. 13. Who is the current (2015) British Prime Minister?

A. 13. David Cameron.

Q. 14. Big points opportunity. How many countries lie between Canada and Colombia? (A point for the correct number and a bonus point for each one you can name correctly.)

A. 14. There are 9 countries that lie between Canada and Colombia – they are The United States, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

Q. 15. What fruit is ‘Calvados’ distilled from?

A. 15. Apples.

Q. 16. What is ‘Scooby’ short for in the name ‘Scooby Doo’ ?

A. 16. Scoobert.

Q. 17. What does ‘RADAR’ stand for?

A. 17. ‘RADAR’ stand for ‘Radio Detection and Ranging’.

Q. 18. In which French city was Joan of Arc put to death?

A. 18. Rouen.

Q. 19. What are the seven most popular sports in America? (A point for each correct answer and a bonus point if you can name them in the correct order.)

A. 19. 1. American Football 2. Baseball 3. Basketball 4. Ice Hockey 5. Soccer 6. Tennis and 7. Golf

Q. 20. He was famous as ‘Dracula’, ‘Scaramanga’ and ‘Saruman’. Who was he?

A. 20. He was the wonderful actor Sir Christopher Lee.

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Jobs, Jobs, And More Jobs

June 26, 2015June 23, 2015 fasab bankers, Banks, Business, Current Events, Factoids, Politics, Rants 000 jobs, 200, America, as if it's really real, banksters, calculate, cost the country money, crow about, Current Events, discouraged workers, double the official figure, Dublin, economic reasons, economy, education, employed part-time, facts, financial crisis, foreign exchange markets, fraud, full employment, government, government bureaucratic jobs, government figures, greed, growing, growing slowly, Humor, information, involuntary part-time workers, Ireland, jobs, labor force, marginally attached workers, no jobs, no one is questioning any of it, not considered unemployed, official figures, official unemployment figures, official unemployment rate, Opinion, part time, pinch of salt, politicians, politics, produce wealth for the country, propped up the USD, prove anything, Rants, real jobs, real unemployment rate, recession, replacing, settled for part-time jobs, statistics, Steve Jobs, successful pop group, Thoughts, U-6 number, U1, U2, U3, U3 number, U4, U5 number, U6 number, underlying strength of the economy, unemployment rate, very low base, what you do with the numbers, workers, workers laid off, worse than that

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

This post is about jobs.

You might have guessed that from the title.

Not the late Steve, the other kind.

During the past months America has been creating approximately 200,000 jobs. At least that’s what the official figures are saying. It has helped to indicate the underlying strength of the economy, led to official unemployment figures of 5.5% and propped up the USD on the foreign exchange markets.

And no one is questioning any of it.

It’s as if it’s really real.

Again it’s all a question of what you do with the numbers.

The May 2015 figure for the labor force is 157.5 million. That is the figure the government uses to calculate it’s unemployment rate of 5.5%.

That’s what they call the ‘U3’ number. U3 is the official unemployment rate.

But there is also a ‘U5’ number that includes discouraged workers and all other marginally attached workers; and a ‘U6’ number that adds on those workers who are part-time purely for economic reasons.

Don’t ask me what happened to ‘U1’ or ‘U4’ because I don’t know. However ‘U2’ is a very successful pop group from Dublin, Ireland.

The problem is that the “official” unemployment rate (U3) does not count discouraged workers who have settled for part-time jobs or have given up looking altogether because they believe there are no jobs out there for them.

There are about another 7.5 million or so people who were not considered ‘unemployed’ because they were employed part-time for economic reasons. Those people are also called involuntary part-time workers – working part-time because their hours were cut back or because they were unable to secure a full-time job.

If you include those individuals, (the U6 number), you get a very different figure for the nation’s unemployment rate. Unlike other jobs figures, the U6 rate actually got worse in June.

So the real unemployment rate is well in excess of 12%, more than double the official figure.

But it is even worse than that.

The economy is growing, BUT it is growing slowly, and it is growing from a very low base caused by the financial crisis that the banksters brought upon us with their fraud and greed.

In that light, an increase of 200,000 jobs or so each month is basically just replacing some of the millions of jobs lost during the bank-caused recession, not creating ‘new’ jobs as such. In other words we’re just slowly getting back to where we were.

The forecasts aren’t optimistic either. If and when the workers laid off during the recent recession find new jobs and we get to what the government calls full employment, the labor force is forecast to grow at a rate of only 0.5% for the rest of this decade. At 0.5%, we grow at a rate of about 66,000 a month — nowhere near 200,000. Next decade it’s even worse, at 0.2%.

Add to that the fact that a great number of the jobs being created are government bureaucratic jobs that cost the country money, not real jobs that produce wealth for the country and you can see that there is little for the politicians to crow about.

As I noted in my post on Wednesday, with statistics you can ‘prove’ anything. Take any government figures with a great big pinch of salt.

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