American Women

[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. 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?

[Rock Dog]

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

[Leeuwen]

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

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 cutting carbon emissions. 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.

[Rock Dog]

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 [CodeWord140] 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

[George90]

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.

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!

[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.

[George90]

As I mentioned US wealth is tied to the petrodollar monopoly which is going to end soon, within the next decade.

I read the site on link that you gave citing this petrodollar stuff. That guy mixes half-truths with utter nonsense to come up with off-the-wall theories that are not supported by any data or any other recognized economic theories.

I am not going to debunk it here; inappropriate and would take too long. I strongly suggest to members that they learn about the crude oil market, how OPEC functions, international financial markets, the role of a reserve currency, international trade, and then read that link and come up with your own opinion.

DO NOT BELIEVE 'US WEALTH COMES FROM THE PETRODOLLAR MONOPOLY' OR SIMILAR STATEMENTS ON THEIR FACE!!!!!!

The US dollar is weak, the US economy faces threats, 'petrodollar' theories do not explain the reasons why.

[CBGBConnisur]

What's the Philadelphia Trumpet?? Back to the topic a dollar run is a real prospect, so if you are looking to travel abroad its going to become extremely expensive to do so. I never said Europe was invincible, a couple of years ago, the media was talking about the everasting American Empire, what happened to that? I guess that was washed down the Gulf Coast after Katrina. Stratfor or another bulletin was talking about the US being hit by three major disasters, a terrorist attack in NYC, a flood in New Orleans, and the Big Earthqauke that is overdue in California.

The dollar has fallen nearly 40 percent in value over the past five years that is a major red flag. As I mentioned US wealth is tied to the petrodollar monopoly which is going to end soon, within the next decade.

[Rock Dog]

CB, you been reading the Philadelphia Trumpet, or what? I like Strafor's reports myself.

Yeah, the Germans have been making a lot of moves lately. It's inevitable that they'd get over their WWII blues after a generation or two. They have a large population, a big economy, and they are just plain dynamic as far as people go. Except maybe for France, Germany is the natural cultural and economic center for europe as a whole.

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.

Now, if there was some kind of major external threat to europe as a whole ..... AND if they were able to perceive that threat quite clearly, then you might see some kind of unified europe.

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

[CBGBConnisur]

The Germans are getting chummy with the Russians, Russia like Iran wants world oil trade to be dominated by the Euro, the writing is on the wall for the US Dollar. The ECB, the organization that introduced the Euro is based in Frankfurt. The Germans are buying the continent left right and center.

[Rock Dog]

I've good some pretty good info that Germany imported large numbers of Turks as "gastarbeiten" or foreign workers. They did this because it was an easy way to get cheap labor to do jobs that average Germans didn't want to do. Sound familiar?

An the Krauts are getting a lot of their energy from Russia, so they aren't in any position to push anyone around that way.

Rock

[Philippe]

Hey fellas,

I haven't enjoyed Pattaya since the end of Aug, last year. Looks like a lot might have changed starting with the exchange rate. I have read some of your reports, so I am a bit discouraged. I plan on being there between 3/31 and 4/15. I'll be coming from the US. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like my normal traveling buddies will be able to join me on this one. If any of you will be around during that time, would love to meet up.

[CBGBConnisur]

Everyone talks of India China this and India China that, India and China might become major players...if they continue to grow the way they do for at least another 20 to 30 years. I have actually visited India, its highly unstable, I don't think you could call a country where nearly 85 percent of the population nearly starve a major world power. China also has a lot of poverty not as severe as India but still its living standards is not comparable to a Western country. You can't control a population if their stomachs are empty. The next major power over the next couple of decades is one that seems unknown to most Americans, its Europe, and Europe is being largely dominated by Germany. The Germans who tried to unite the continent by two world wars and failed have created a united Europe that stretches from the North Atlantic to the Black Sea(with the recent inclusion of Bulgaria). This the Europe that Hitler imagined, Europe may look peaceful and innocuous now but a set of events are occurring that will bring Europe back to its imperialistic roots.

Britain an example of resilience against Continental Europe is soon becoming an energy importer instead of an exporter, Germany will be the nation providing the UK's energy needs in the coming decades.

There really is no major Muslim problem in Europe, of course there are problems in Britain and France, Italy is having problems with the Muslim Albanian Mafia that even the Italian gangsters fear. Germany and Austria are two countries where the Muslims fear their Germanic neighbors.

[Rock Dog]

CBGB has some good points again.

The petrodollar scheme, as he puts it, is an important symbol of the US's economic power. Guess what used to be the "petro-currency"? The British Pound! When that went to the US dollar, it was the final notice that economic supremacy had passed away from the former "Great Britain".

The perception right now is that the US is some kind of invincible superpower. That it is, in fact, the world's ONLY true superpower. This just isn't true. There aren't any superpowers in the world at all. The slightest little problem and any country can fall apart.

For example, homeland security..... a true superpower should be impregnable right? No army, no matter how mighty, should be able to cross it's borders. Yet every day the US is apparently powerless to stop armies of mexicans from swarming across. Maybe "armies" is the wrong word to use since they are unarmed, uneducated and apparently welcomed as a cheap labor source. What's more, nobody even knows for sure how many of them are living inside the US border. If you really wanted to know for sure, you better ask the Mexican Gov't, they probably have some idea!

Finicially a superpower? Wrong again, the US is the worlds largest debtor nation and it only gets worse every single day. Imports outweigh exports in every single category except weapons sales. They can't afford to rebuild New Orleans, but somehow have an extra hundred billion to spare for the mess in Iraq.

Technological leader? Sure, until the Chinese and Indians copy the ideas and start selling their own versions for 10% of the cost.

Right now we are living in an illusion of comfort, prosperity and security. But there's a disaster coming, that's for sure. I live in Canada it's true, but we're so closely linked to you guys that we'll get sucked into the downfall too... so there's no escape for anybody. I just pray it doesn't happen for another 10 or 15 years so I can make my third world escape before it hits.

Rock

ps. when it all happens, the women can look after their OWN asses..... equality right?

[CBGBConnisur]

Women from outside of North America are considerably better than those found in Canada and the US. Even if Australian women aren't perfect, they are a level above what I found in the US. European women, especially those from Eastern and Central Europe are a world above anything found in the USA. The only thing, from an economic point of view America is not as secure as it was in the past, outsourcing and globalization is starting to take its toll, as is uncontrolled unskilled immigration which lowers the average wage. Even if American women sucked in the past it least we were able to live in reasonable comfort but that is being threatened due to stupid corporations sending their operations overseas. The loss of the petrodollar scheme is another big pillar that is about to fall. Political Correctness in America is out of control, a state governer tried to shoot down a bill that required government workers to speak English, what is the crime in this?