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Regardless, the sudden drop in value of the greenback is making travel or migration overseas are difficult prospect. I suggest reading The Hidden Hand of American Hegemony: Petrodollar Recycling and International Markets by David E Spiro book petrodollar, its published by the Cornell University Press. I don't think a university like Cornell would publish rubbish. Another one is Petrodollar Warfare: Oil, Iraq and the Future of the Dollar by William R Clark, who is a researcher at Johns Hopkins University which is another top academic institution.
Ask yourself, why are so many right wingers rattling about Venezuela and Hugo Chavez? It has a lot to do with the business of world oil trade. Venezeula is a major oil producer with a leader that is hostile to the US.
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[QUOTE=CBGBConnisur]Regardless, the sudden drop in value of the greenback is making travel or migration overseas are difficult prospect. I suggest reading The Hidden Hand of American Hegemony: Petrodollar Recycling and International Markets by David E Spiro book petrodollar, its published by the Cornell University Press. I don't think a university like Cornell would publish rubbish. Another one is Petrodollar Warfare: Oil, Iraq and the Future of the Dollar by William R Clark, who is a researcher at Johns Hopkins University which is another top academic institution.
Ask yourself, why are so many right wingers rattling about Venezuela and Hugo Chavez? It has a lot to do with the business of world oil trade. Venezeula is a major oil producer with a leader that is hostile to the US.[/QUOTE]
One, a university and its press are two different entities. University presses can and do publish rubbish from time to time.
Two, the 'petrodollar' that academics refer to is not what you or the site you linked are talking about. The academic 'petrodollar' refers to the revenues from oil exports to the US. These revenues are in dollars. They are important because those countries, including Venezuela, then have purchasing power for goods produced in the US or assets located in the US. Since we are not exporting much beyond weapons, we face the option of selling weapons to potential enemies or have them buy up the country. China tried to buy an oil company in 2006, and a Dubai firm did buy 6 port facilities in the US.
It does not refer to the oil revenues from Europe, which are in euros, NOT dollars. The same issues face Europe, but they are in a better position because they are more effcient is in their use of energy than is the US. More sales are made to the US than to Europe so the dollar revenues are more important. It does not refer to the oil revenues from China which are in yuan, NOT dollars.
The problems with the dollar are due to our bad economic policies that have resulted in huge budget and trade deficits. There are not due to the oil market.
However, the low vallue of the dollar makes it cheaper for foreigners to visit the US. Maybe some foreign women would want to monger with us men here, instead if us going there? LOL!
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There's another seemingly obvious point that's being overlooked here with regards to the "weak" dollar. It's not all bad news!
Sure, you go on a trip somewhere and everything costs more because your money isn't as valuable as it used to be. But for US companies and manufacturers (the ones that are still left), their products....priced in US$.... become a lot more competitive.
That helps out with the trade imbalance. At the very least, it keeps it from getting worse even faster. In Canada, we used to [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] and moan about how our dollar was only worth 60 or 70 cents US. Then, when our dollar shot up to over 90 cents US, all the exporters started pissing and moaning about how they were losing their competitive edge.
It cuts both ways.
Rock
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[QUOTE=Rock Dog]Personally, I don't ever see a strongly unified europe coming into being. Too many languages, too many different countries spread across the map..... and wayyy too much history. Think of a herd of cats, they might all be running in the same direction at one time, but it doesn't last for long.
Even then, they aren't invincible..... just look at Airbus and the mess they have with that stupid A380 superjumbo. They'll be lucky if it doesn't sink them.
Rock[/QUOTE]
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
Euro currency was laughed at among Manhattan banking elite, or at least everything was done to play down its future role on international markets. Nobody is laughing today.
EU has achieved a lot, and Airbus is just a little example, not a "stupid A380". Ask gents at Boeing's board of directors. I'm sure they have their hands full. Keep also in mind that main source of Airbus profit comes from smaller models like the A320, not from the superjumbo.
"Too many languages" is a laughable argument. Perhaps you aren't aware but people in Brussels speak either English, French, German or combination of several languages, and as of today they agreed on [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6432829.stm]cutting carbon emissions[/url]. Global warming, hello?
"Wayyy too much history" didn't stop Germany and France from being best mates in EU. Dude, you live in the past, and keep wishthinking.
Finally regarding "petrodollars". Ever asked yourself why Arabs are forced to charge for oil in US dollars? Ever asked yourself what neverending demand for US dollars ment to Federal Reserve and finally the USA as whole?
Now, ask yourself if you would feel comfortable watching Russia and Iran charging in euro currency, and maybe others like Venezuela. Needless to say, demand for US dollars drops, and China having huge trade surplus with the USA perhaps decides to cash in its stockpile of dollars. What then? US dollar has already fallen 40% against the euro. The answer is to be find in desperate wars, like the one in Iraq, and perhaps an upcoming in Iran.
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still barking!
Wow, they agreed on cutting carbon emissions. Now I'm impressed.
People in Brussels speak English German AND Francais? That's pretty good I guess. Maybe when they can include Polish, Czech, Spanish, Romanian, Italian, Bulgarian, Swedish and whatever other of the languages you guys have over there, then I'll start believing in real european unity.
By the way, Germany and France are definitely NOT best mates in the EU. They both have their own ideas of what the union is all about and where it should be heading and WHO should be at the helm. About the only thing that even came close to uniting them was their opposition to the war in Iraq.
Upcoming war in Iran? You must be smoking some pretty cheap drugs over there..... youare hallucinating. There isn't going to be any war with Iran anytime soon. The US can't afford it after the half $$$Trillion they spent already in Iraq. What's more, there isn't much appetite for even continuing the current war, never mind starting another one.... and that's even if the republicans win in '08. It's true that there has been a lot of effort to engineer public consent towards such a conflict. However, my bet is that the US will continue it's conflict with Iran through proxies such as Israel or, perhaps, some of the Sunni arab states in the region.
Anyways, my position has never been that the US was invincible. If you read some of my recent posts, you'll see that I think that the US+Canada is headed for an eventual economic setback. Trade imbalances and unsustainable deficit spending will do as much damage as anything else. It's just a matter of when it will happen and how bad it will be.
Farther off into the future? That's mostly up to the greater, supra-national effects of demographic and environmental trends. You guys in Europe could go to zero carbon emissions next year and it won't make much difference when the Chinese are burning umpteen gazillion tons of hi-sulphur coal every year to keep their overheated economy going.
Rock
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just can't help myself
Actually, according to the BBC, they havn't all exactly agreed on cutting carbon emissions. Countries like Poland have the same excuses ... er, problems, as China and India. There won't be much compliance by anyone until everyone agrees to suffer simultaneously.
I just can't help myself, but I'll promise not to post about international politics here anymore if everyone else will. How about an ip forum?
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Agreed!
This discussion, while stimulating and enjoyable, has gotten way too political! Gentlemen, it appears we are off topic. Someone needs to come up with a new one.
Ideas anyone?
Rock
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[QUOTE=hardbarg]Actually, according to the BBC, they havn't all exactly agreed on cutting carbon emissions. Countries like Poland have the same excuses ... er, problems, as China and India.[/QUOTE]
Looks like [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6433503.stm]they have[/url], after all.
[i]"European Union leaders have agreed to adopt a binding target on the use of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, officials say."[/i]
Not every state was in favour of a deal, but majority decides. This deal is not about saving the world from global warming, but an initiative in right direction since world needs someone to set an example. Looks like Bush also figured out that something needs to be done:
[i]"The US and Brazil sign a deal to develop alternative fuel sources, in an attempt to reduce dependence on oil."[/i]
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[QUOTE=Rock Dog]By the way, Germany and France are definitely NOT best mates in the EU. They both have their own ideas of what the union is all about and where it should be heading and WHO should be at the helm. About the only thing that even came close to uniting them was their opposition to the war in Iraq.
Rock[/QUOTE]
Don't sweat it. EU existed long before the made up WMD in Iraq. Already told you live in the past. France and Germany basically run EU, and it was them together with the Benelux countries who founded EU. Get your facts right, or don't start such discussions and then complain they get too "political".
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Peace out guys...Even if you bomb this universe a million times and you Co2 this universe 10 trillion times..you and me still gonna be here.
There is no easy way out..karma has to work its way in and through this world and all the bad deeds and good deeds combine will keep this universe alive for each one of us..untill we all get liberated.
Im not sure..Why we try hard to make this world a better place...can;t we just live with what we got..No gods incarnation or Humans can change this world period..This is what we call "Maya".
Have we not learned any lesson from history, the more you try to sort out the problem the more you get into the mess..just live it alone and work out your karma and everything will be fine.
Not even one inch, we can help this world. This world will remain AS IT IS.
When you had less CO2 emmisions and global warming, were we in the better world..common..more people died..when we had less CO2 and global warming than now :) remember WW1 WW2
Have a spiritual perspective on life and things will calm down.
Just relax, have a beer and chill out..we are in this world for only 30 sec and we take re-birth else where :)
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A war in Iran has a very slim chance of happening at this stage, the entire catastrophe in Iraq has pretty much demolished Bush's credibility and support by the general public as well as those in the government, as a result the Republicans have lost a lot of power. Theoretically, if Gore was President had the Florida recount went his way, I think history would be a lot different, the US would definitely be in much better standing in the world. I am sure that Gore would have confronted Iraq because his VP, Joe Lieberman has connections with the Neocons.
The European stance against Iran is much stronger than the US yet Europe is would still only use diplomacy. Angela Merkel I recall had some strong words for M. Ahmadenijad. So there is no chance of a military confrontation with Iran, I read somewhere the state department might open up diplomatic relations with the country. Within the next 15 to 20 years, the US will look more like a regional power than a world power, especially with China's growth and Europe becoming increasingly more integrated. Europe and China are making connections with Latin America as well.
With the loss of the debt machine, consumers in the US will be tightening their belts, maybe American females might not be as demanding as they are now, sure it sounds like pigs flying, but anything is possible.
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[QUOTE=CBGBConnisur]A war in Iran has a very slim chance of happening at this stage, the entire catastrophe in Iraq has pretty much demolished Bush's credibility and support by the general public as well as those in the government, as a result the Republicans have lost a lot of power. The European stance against Iran is much stronger than the US yet Europe is would still only use diplomacy. Angela Merkel I recall had some strong words for M. Ahmadenijad. So there is no chance of a military confrontation with Iran, I read somewhere the state department might open up diplomatic relations with the country.
Within the next 15 to 20 years, the US will look more like a regional power than a world power, especially with China's growth and Europe becoming increasingly more integrated. Europe and China are making connections with Latin America as well.
With the loss of the debt machine, consumers in the US will be tightening their belts, maybe American females might not be as demanding as they are now, sure it sounds like pigs flying, but anything is possible.[/QUOTE]
Which is exactly what I've been saying all along.
As for the US/Brazil ethanol deal, that has a whole lot more to do with securing energy supplies than any concern for the environment on Bush's part. You can also imagine how welcome US dollars will be to the ethanol producing countries in the region. That's a plus for the US and may even help limit the influence Hugo Chavez has been having.
So France and Germany RUN the EU? Whoopy-do! Maybe I run the local grocery store, that's about as impressive. Let's face it, european countries don't have all that much influence. They always compromise, never taking a strong stand on anything for long. They like to play temselves off the US as being the reasonable folks while making the US look like the bad guys. Usually this is so that non-competitive, state-subsidized european businesses can make deal$ in the countries that are run by these a-holes.
Rock Dog
ps. Let's see if anyone still thinks that the rock-dog is barking up the wrong tree
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A peace Offering!
OK, for all the european forum members here....you know who you are :)
Europe has some really good things about it that I like.
Better cars.
Better food.
Better women.
Perhaps we can agree on these points?
Rock
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Rock Dog, for the record I am an American, yes under the current system Europe is weaker than the US, but I am beginning to notice shift to right wing politics and a new mindset in Europe. For the record the Euro has been thrashing the US dollar and is likely to replace the greenback as the world currency, this will definitely result in a major scaleback of the US economy. We are also living in a globalized world, where transnational governments are quickly becoming the norm, there are EU like organizations in Asia. America is doing the same but with Mexico and Latin America, still I think forming transnational alliances with mostly corrupt and poor third world nations is going to be a major failure for the US. Thats why millions of Mexicans come to the US unchallenged by US immigration, big business and the wealthy want cheap labor. The rise of China and India as low cost production centers are threatening the middle class of the US. I know if I stayed at my job in America, my job would have been sent to India. Right now America looks invincible and is definitely the top power on the planet, but within the next couple of decades that dominance is being challenged, the world is going to become a multipolar one. As far the Brazil-US deal, Brazil actually has much warmer relations with the European Union than the US, in fact, many South American countries particularly the Brazilians feel that the US seems to just ignore them or right them off as inferior.
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[QUOTE=Rock Dog]OK, for all the european forum members here....you know who you are :)
Europe has some really good things about it that I like.
Better cars.
Better food.
Better women.
Perhaps we can agree on these points?
Rock[/QUOTE]
Instead of better cars, lets just say fast cars since the European vehicles aren't very reliable anymore. IMHO Germans still build the best engines, suspensions etc, but the electronics in their cars aren't worth a hill of beans.