If you've never failed...you've never lived

This video is a great reminder that we should not measure ourselves or our aspirations by the limitations of others around us. The greatest challenge in life is to discover WHO you are, WHAT you want to do, and know WHY you are doing it. If we go through life accepting the limitations that our friends, families and institutions place on us... we will just continue living lives of "quiet desperation".

The greatest barrier to our personal success and happiness is the fear of failure. Our society does not treat "failures" very kindly, and everyone knows there is always someone better than us at just about anything we can think of doing. Its not about being BETTER than others. It is about being the best WE can be. That is all life demands of us...and life has a way of rewarding us for doing this.

In my mind, all the violence, addictions, senseless killings and general apathy of the human race can be traced to the inability or lack of support for pursuing our dreams. Many people never even get to the dream stage...let alone fulfilling them. They are too busy just SURVIVING...living up to the expectations of others or putting food in their mouths and roofs over their heads.

So far, I have been a lucky man...but have failed many times. What's your excuse?

Neoliberalism

In the last couple decades, we have often heard on USA media the term "neoliberal" or "neoliberalism" used to describe certain politicians or policies being promoted in our government. I'm not convinced too many people really understand the meaning of the term...but I do think the reality of the concept affects our lives to the extent that a few paragraphs of commentary seem justified.

I think Wikipedia does a good job on explaining the origins and concept of the term...so I won't repeat all that here. What I will summarize for you if you don't want to take the time for cross reference is the following:

• "To be "neoliberal" means that a modern economic policy with State intervention is required"
• "Neoliberalism ... isn't always ideologically neoliberal"
• Economic neoliberalism is the most common form of neoliberalism, and is what is usually meant when a system is described as neoliberal. The best known proponent of economic neoliberalism is Milton Friedman.
• Friedman was a "monetarist"...believing that an economy was best "controlled" through money SUPPLY. While initially opposed to the formation of the Federal Reserve, he eventually supported its use to prove some of his theories.

My focus for this topic are the real effects this approach to economics has caused in not only my country, but the world at large. I truly believe that the underlying causality of our global conflicts right now are based on conflicts caused by these economic policies and theories. Many of you will also be surprised when you hear my answer/opinion as to what changes should be made in reaction to the cause and effect of "neoliberalism".

The USA government is basically "bankrupt" and on a controlled "shut down" for lack of budget and funding this week. While this is serious and affects millions of lives in the USA and beyond, it should come as no surprise that this could happen. For me it is a direct "cause and effect" of neoliberal idealism that somehow a government or state cannot run out of money or be totally bankrupt.  Yet, this year we are seeing countries like Greece and Cyprus go upside down and their banking systems closed for long periods of time.  We see USA cities like Detroit and soon to be many others whose consumption has totally overwhelmed their resources.  The main problem is their voodoo economics and liberal theories on money supply are catching up to them.  There really is no such thing as "too big to fail" anymore.

The fundamental flaw of neo-liberalism for me is the idea that the role of government or "state" should be controlling economies and money supplies. It is a much purer concept to let individual people decide what forms of currency or exchange they prefer for services or goods...a "market" model if you will. During these days of irreversible "globalization", the state model of controlling or dictating currency and economic valuations is totally unrealistic. The USA is getting away with it FOR THE MOMENT because our currency is still accepted as the "de facto" currency of exchange in the world. Yet, I would argue those days are numbered based on our national debt and who holds the notes against our debt. When the day of a global or replacement currency comes...you will see the USA dollar fall significantly against many other currencies in the world. This will cause a major market restart and adjustments of global proportions...and yes, it will be the ruin of many programs and businesses built on the huge bubble of financial debt and corruption. I believe this day is coming in my lifetime or the next 15-20 years. The sooner it comes, the less devastation and time period required for rebuilding on a more solid economic foundation.

In this day of popular uprisings from the "Arab spring" to Brazil and other emerging market countries whose populations are up in arms...we are starting to see the FORCED adjustment of many states to respond to the demands of the masses. Neoliberal policies have for too long allowed governments to manipulate and milk their economies and money supplies to falsely hold up their fractured models of financial management to the demands of society. It has become quite apparent that these failed global leaders of state have no better clue than the pure markets themselves on how to regulate or manage their economies. Instead of sound policies and real world accounting...most government institutions have resorted to manipulation and legislation to control that which they cannot control...that being "supply and demand" that has historically controlled real world economics. Instead of a model of competition in the world where you have "winners and losers", these governments purport a model where if you just let them control all the money and economics...they will somehow guarantee that EVERYONE comes out a winner! Of course, we have seen the fallacy and results of these dangerous promises throughout history. Yet, voters world-wide have put their economic futures in the hands of rich politicos, lawyers and judges...most of whom have never produced anything financial in their lives outside of hourly billing fees. They have no ideas about building business; engineering, marketing, sales or true accounting. They only know how to tax and spend...for THEIR control primarily. This has to end if we want to stave off the global economic devastation that is coming as a result of these actions.

Many pundits from the conservative or Republican side in the USA are calling for a return to Reagan era economic policies...yet few realize this was a continuation of the landslide towards government controlled money supply and markets. That era was built on cronyism and the combined "corporate elite"/government partnerships that turned into voodoo economics. Sure, the markets went up wildly for a while...but there was nothing pure or "capitalist" about those economic times. Since then, when you add George H and George W Bush's handling of economics and national debt ratios...there can be no Republican bragging about balanced budgets or market driven economies. Democratic President Bill Clinton may well have been the only President since Eisenhower to balance a budget in office. And these are the types of people you want to put your financial future in the hands of?

So...what other choices do we have? What makes better sense? We definitely need to make some major changes and step back from the abyss of economic devastation our current leaders have us facing. For me it surprisingly comes back to some fundamental principles I learned in my "religious" upbringing. While I don't much believe in mysticism of the gods anymore...I do think there is significant value in core Judeo-Christian ethics when it comes to guiding human reasoning on money and business. There are reasons that Jews and other fundamentalists of Biblical persuasion have often been successful in building and sustaining wealth...at least until it is "plundered" by enemies of such sound ethical management. 

Here are a few Biblical principles that I believe the world should return to in order to establish sound fiscal policies and a rebuilding of global wealth and well-being:

• Maintain individual sovereignty over property and private domain:  Governmental rights to tax private property or to exercise "eminent domain" is a claim to deity over the people. (1 Samuel 8:10-18, 1 Kings 21, Ezekiel 46:18)
• The Biblical method of attaining dominion in this world is through diligent LABOR. Power flows to those who WORK and SERVE, not those who steal and thrive. (Proverbs 10:2-4, 12:1.24, and 13:4,11)
• The law of EXCHANGE is simple...no lies or deceit regarding your product or service. The golden rule of "do unto others as you would have them do to you" dictates fair trade and honest valuation of exchanges...whether that be in goods or in currencies. No "winners" and "losers". No coercion. Just fair play. (Leviticus 19:35-37)
• MONEY...is a commodity and is supposed to represent HARD ASSET values.  Otherwise, it is meaningless in the long run as a measurement of wealth. When governments are the sole suppliers and regulators of currencies, they act as counterfeiters of the money system. Inflation is against Biblical principles. Inflating currency is theft. (Proverbs 11:1,  Micah 6:10-12, Amos 8:4-6)
• Biblical charity never subsidizes irresponsibility. We are to take care of the truly needy in our societies...but we are not required to reward slothfulness. Even recipients of charity must perform some work or charity of their own. (1 Timothy 5:10, II Thessalonians 3:10)
• Charity is to be administered locally and personally...not through third party "brokers" or governmental agencies. This is another form of "corruption" where governments control the poor (and their votes) through distribution of handouts.  A major ethical flaw in governing. (The bulk of Old Testament tithing was administered by the giver...not a church or government "fund". Numbers 18:24-28, Deuteronomy 12:10-13)
• Debt and lending was never for more than a seven year period. Collateral of some kind was usually expected. Loans were never given to people who already had their own resources. After the loan expired, all debt was forgiven...but probably no new loans were forthcoming. We need to as much as possible eliminate debt in the system. (Deuteronomy 15, Exodus 22:26-27)

Slavery has always been part of religious systems, usually based on traditions and lineages of wealth or poverty. It was more of an economic based slavery than on race or skin color. Biblical laws provided motivation and ways in which poor slaves could drive themselves OUT of slavery. Unfortunately, one could argue that most of today's global population is now living under "slavery" to their nation/states and are paying the price for their "relative security" away from "risky" free market enterprise.

Absolute economic controls are an impossibility without totalitarianism. You cannot have constant wages, prices and employment without some form of totalitarian government in place. We are now seeing this neoliberal assault through our governments in an attempt to legislate morality and redistribution of wealth. The last government to come close to truly executing stable prices, wages and employment was...Hitler's rule over Germany. "You are trying to control people's wages and prices - peoples work. If you do that you must control people's lives. And no country can do that part way"...Herman Goering, Hitler's economic planner.

Unfortunately, only 70 years since that last great war over totalitarianism...the masses of today's world have forgotten the price and the pain of living free. The powers that be have successfully scared us into compliance of their legislated moralities and justification for their power. This last restart of statist power brokering began at the "Potsdam Conference" of the superpowers at the end of World War 2. Since then, most of us now live in "police states" where our every move and financial transaction can be monitored. measured and taxed. Most Western governments have talked us into income taxes and property taxes where our combined tax rates are anywhere from 50%-90% of our productive incomes. We are deemed to be "good citizens" if we comply and go along with this tyrannous practice of redistribution and paying our government leaders to "protect us".

Of course, these taxes are not enough to support the "demand" or "need"...so in addition our governments are printing inflated currency like there is no tomorrow to stave off the true accounting and avoid the "cause and effect" of these neoliberal policies on money and economics. They are also constantly propagating wars so as to justify their huge expenditures from the public "dole" on armaments and prisons. The "drug" wars we have often written about are a perfect way for governments to grab illicit gains from users and "drug runners" alike. Billions of dollars in cash, homes, cars and other goods are absconded each year worldwide based on these nefarious morality laws...while they continue to back the pharmaceutical production of "legal" barbiturates and narcotics that kill or attract more addicts year after year. All of this with the allure of providing a safety net for the common man to live peacefully and "freely".

It is going to be a very painful, long process to get back to traditional, ethical, realistic living. I do think in time technology will provide many answers to these issues. First...to distribute TRUE information and reason to the masses outside of the statist media controls on information all governments try to administer. From there I am betting technology will lead the way for revolutionizing our monetary systems. We HAVE to get these governments and "Federal Reserves" out of the business of money supplying and manipulation of economies. We must give sound business and accounting principles a chance to revive. We must return to small business, free enterprise and locally organized ways to help the truly needy. We must educate the masses that there is no true freedom without economic freedom. To enslave us all with income or property taxes of over half our lifetime production is insane and irrational. To tax or take away our estates from being passed on to our children and our children's children...just because you cannot balance a simple government budget and must insist on deficit spending...is not constitutional in the USA nor justifiable anywhere.

I don't think we need "God" to solve these problems...but I do think some traditional "godly" ethics are urgently required. Obviously "neoliberalism" in government is not providing a sustainable answer.

Conditional Democracy

We live in an era of public outcries against the majority rule of the people. We have the recent overthrow of the Egyptian President less than a year after his election by the majority of voters in that country...albeit a slim majority. We have a lot of negative pressure on the USA President in his first year of office after re-election. He can't seem to please anyone with his lack of consistency and leadership on the major issues of the day...from Syria to Egypt to domestic taxation and healthcare.

The globe is increasingly caught up in the turmoil of national versus individual sovereignty. Strong and free individuals want small government that works for THEM.  Unfortunately, the weaker masses fall prey to big government programs and promises where they are lead to believe their "nation" will take care of them if they work for/support the national government.  At the same time the world has few examples of objective governments who truly serve all the people. It doesn't take much education to realize that in the last 60 years...basically one lifetime, mine...governments worldwide consume more and more of their constituents GDP than ever before in the history of Western Civilization.

In order to stave off the truth and reality of big government mismanagement of the wealth they do not produce...governments like the USA develop various organizations and middle layers full of additional false hopes and promises that grow for decades until the ugly reality of their ineffectiveness hits the world (and markets) like a hardball to the groin. It is easy to see this in organizations like the "(non) United Nations", the SEC, the Federal Reserve...and many others who manipulate and cover-up the realities of our global problems. Using political, monetary and military force, most big governments of today are about controlling and consolidating power over its constituents/citizens. When you start connecting the dots of the money flow between and inside these "governmental agencies", you start smelling the stench of decades of governmental corruption, filth and the buried corpses of truth and righteousness. The costs of our "false democracy" are directly related to both the USA national debt and the average personal indebtedness of every American. We have built a democracy based on consumerism and false images.  We allow the major media companies to fill our minds with mundane or hyped jingoisms about what to think or believe instead of providing us true analysis and in-depth coverage of the real issues. Most of the people we listen to in our media are lying as fast as their lips can flap in the breeze. Some of these people, national and media leaders alike, are so delusional that they now sincerely believe their own false hype.

Of course, "we the people" are the ones primarily to blame. Those of us who live in "free" countries have continued voting in the people who sustain and continue the deceit. Most Americans now have no clue what their national constitution or "Declaration of Independence" says or means. We want the false medicine our government sends our way.  We want free money without earning it.  We want no risk but all the reward.  We don't want to face our own failures or irresponsible behaviors.  We believe our governments owe us a bailout...just like they gave their big money buddies on Wall Street and the failing industrial complexes. We believe the government should take care of us when we are old and decrepit. We have lost our soul and core values of taking care of our own within our families and communities and replaced it with "institutional-ism".  We have voted in support of the upside-down pyramid that will eventually crush our lives with the weight of the global turmoil and violence this false thinking has caused.

I'm sorry, this blog has turned very negative and painful...but thus is the status of our nation and world we live in. We have had so many decades of bad, misdirected leadership that I question there is any leader or group of leaders who can pull us back from the cliffs of self destruction. Who can bring reason and lead us to real CHANGE?  We don't need change of "beliefs"...we need change in ACTIONS.  The forces that be are pushing the masses with the momentum of contemporary thought and tradition that hasn't worked for decades and isn't about to start working now.  Our supposed constitutional rights are being stripped daily by courts and congresses who have obviously drank the big government "Koolaid" of absolute power and corruption. Who can stand up against this tide of majority thinking?

Unfortunately, I believe we are approaching the time when the only way to be truly free will be having the wherewithal to escape the countries and homelands we have loved that have been taken over by these evil systems of government. Just as has happened historically in places like Cuba, Russia, India, much of Arabia and more recently in Venezuela and Syria...many of the rich and educated tend to escape first before the doors of opportunity or freedom are closed, locking them in forever.  Unfortunately, it appears to me that America is on the same path as these other countries though on a bigger scale, and a majority of Americans are just too ingrown and placated to see it coming.

America's day of reckoning is coming...perhaps sooner than anyone realizes. The prisons are already being built. The domestic armaments are already being put in place.  The laws forbidding you to expatriate your money outside of the USA are already being put in place.  You will soon be a prisoner in your own country. When the dollar falls, you will not be able to afford to live elsewhere anyways...and you never have been very interested in what is going on outside your country and culture...so you just don't care. And maybe you will like your new program of "socialistic democracy". If the bubble of your existence allows you to eat and watch all the television, sports and "reality shows" you can during your waking hours without having to work or invest or worry about the future...hey, most of you will be very happy with this new life and form of democracy. As long as you don't rock the boat, you will be permitted to vote.  Of course you may not have too many options as far as candidates or parties are concerned...but no big deal.  You never liked the stress of trying to figure all that out anyways.

Democracy with conditions...its all coming your way.  Don't worry, be happy.

Racism and Justice

This blog starts with a recent email exchange with a friend regarding the recent Trayvon Martin murder case in Florida in which George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman, was found innocent...

Hola Ed
I have followed this case and trial as I feel strongly about the issues. I have not followed every minute of the trial but much of it and I followed the defense closing argument and the prosecution rebuttal.
Firstly I totally agree on your points concerning trial by media. It is utterly disgusting and totally contrary to justice. In the UK system trials are sub judice and there are very strict restrictions on the information that may be released. It is a far better system.
The trial was utterly amazing as it was both a travesty and a triumph of of US justice!
The travesty was that (1) Zimmerman was ever charged - this was a disgusting political prosecution nay persecution (2) the Prosecution presented their case effectively but seeking to cast (by innuendo and racial prejudice) Zimmerman as a vile, angry racist who set out to murder this kid , without a scrap of credible evidence, with some very questionable evidence and with little regard for the law.
The triumph was that (1) the defense team were utterly superb in conducting the defense professionally, skillfully and ethically in the face of Prosecution obstruction and a very unsympathetic / antipathetic judge focusing strictly on the law and the evidence (2) the jury of six women had the balls and brains to make their decision on the basis of the law, the evidence and the court's instructions. Frankly I was surprised but it was a triumph for US justice and the defense's presentation was totally worth watching - it should be a case study.
The prosecution were a disgrace as were the white liberal media not to mention that disgusting nigger Al Sharpton - sorry but he is exactly what that term represents, not by his color but by his behavior.
The jury found him not guilty which is what they were asked to do - the prosecution did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Z did not shoot Martin in self defense.
As far as I a concerned every shred of credible evidence supported Z's account which was definitely self defense.
More later.
Kindest regards
____.

Thanks ____. Without having studied or observed this process as much as we did the OJ trial almost 20 years ago, the Zimmerman trial seems like almost a reverse outcome at least from a distance. This trial, where the press has taken it, has been about race baiting and justifying racial stereotypes.  The liberals obviously wanted the "white man" hanged while the conservatives were hopeful of a justified action against this kid who apparently looked and acted like the stereotypical ghetto "nigger" who needs to be watched and corrected in the neighborhood. In this case, the liberals did not get what they sought. At the same time, I don't view it as a win for "conservatives" either. I think it was as close to balanced justice as our system can get. I don't think either side will ever know all the details or circumstances leading to that horrific incident and loss of life. It might be enlightening to consider what the case would have been like if Trayvon had won the fight and killed Zimmerman instead. Would it have been murder, or self defense?

In OJs case, it was very apparent to most of us that OJ was the perpetrator of his estranged wife's and her boyfriend's murders by an overwhelming combination of actions and behaviors on his part. Yet...the liberal system didn't want one of their black icons to be guilty of such a heinous crime and wanted to paint his prosecution as racist and bigoted. I really thought the prosecution in that case were terrible compared to the high priced, slick defense that OJ Simpson had. In that case the murderer got off because of bad "lawyering" and tainted evidence...and the liberals celebrated this result as "justice for the black man".  I was gratified that the civil suits filed against Simpson later brought a guilty verdict. Years later he was finally prosecuted and now in jail for his felonious actions with firearms in Las Vegas as the "thug" he became, or maybe always was. 

All of this has underscored to me how perilous the USA legal system has become.  If you are on the "wrong" side of today's political system, you can easily be convicted of a crime you did not commit.,,or vice versa...you can get away with murder. For this reason the past two decades I would have felt insecure about American justice...UNLESS I was a wealthy, connected person...which I never was.  At least in Latin America, it would cost me less to get my way with a court than it does in the USA.

These cases underline to me the travesty of racism from all sides of the equation. I have many black friends and I have listened up close and personal to many of their experiences with racism in the USA and elsewhere. I have always looked at all people equally as humans and deserving of respect and equal rights no matter what color, sex or age group.  At the same time...and probably as a price white culture continues to pay for sponsoring "slavery"... reverse racism is now taking place where "minorities" want to assume special rights and privileges...almost as a form of repatriation...for centuries of poor treatment. One can understand the resentment, but it is totally unrealistic to expect repatriation or remuneration for the sins of our fathers. It is time for a restart of everyone's attitudes and expectations. We must demand equal rights and justice for all going forward...and forgiveness and forgetting of those past racist mindsets. This reverse racism of Jesse Jackson, Al "not so sharp" Sharpton and others needs to be corrected and admonished.  Why the media even covers these hypocrites and hooligans is beyond me. I guess its just another example of liberalism and sensationalism run wild.

Now, today we have ANOTHER case in the Bronx of New York where two police officers, one white/one black, shot and killed a 14 year old "gang banger" who was running down the street shooting at a rival gang member. While this is another terrible tragedy for a poor black family, the situation is once again being trumped up as some sort of white conspiracy or police brutality. I'm sorry, but anyone of whatever race who is running down the street firing a gun at someone else SHOULD face equal treatment.  Guns are no respecters of persons whether by age, sex or race. I would hate to be a police officer in this day and age where you have pressure to treat people differently depending on race. I don't agree with poor treatment of "minorities", but I don't think "special" treatment is required either.

This is a tough subject to cover...especially as a "white person".  I hope I don't offend anyone with my viewpoints...but as you know from my previous blogs, I don't shy away from conflict or my own reasoning.  At the same time, I welcome all perspectives as long as they are rational and respectful. Racism and justice are still struggling to come to terms with each other. I truly hope justice continues to rule the day.

Tyranny and Currencies

This article today regarding Syria's under siege President Assad declaring all other currency illegal accept the Syrian "lira" newly underscores the need for global controls and a global currency as a defense against nationalistic despotism and tyranny over whole economies.

As I have been repeatedly discussing these past few years in this blog, the world's biggest problem from the governance side is the manipulation and controls of economies by shadow governments and organizations whose only business is trying to control or isolate their populations from free trade and traditional economic systems.  This is the first "trick" that historic dictators have used to "control" their people and countries.  If they can control the economy and flow of monies, they figure they have a better chance controlling their followers and of course buying the weapons they need to defend...their power.

Of course, the big elephant in the room is that simply "declaring" a fiat currency to be worth something doesn't necessarily make it so.  The only argument that explains the continued domination of the US dollar in its value and use as a global currency has been the historic strength of our economy and consumerism. With the decades of bad foreign policy, global conflicts and non-deterred levels of debt, our country is facing the fastest economic decline of any power in recent history apart from those who lost the last century's world wars. Until there is revolutionary change in the USA regarding governance of our economy, I am not bullish on the American dollar in the long run.  Sure, recent months have shown new highs in the stock exchanges and strengthening of the dollar against many other currencies, but unfortunately to me this has not been based on any significant long term changes or reasoning.  Emotions and media manipulations are more in control than true economic indicators.

There is a reason the USA government, IRS and FED are all clamping down and passing laws limiting foreign investment and flight of capital. If people are truly free to "vote" with their capital, the USA economy and dollar would be in much worse shape than it already is.  With Obama's new taxes and protectionist principles against foreign investment or repatriation of wealth...he has perpetuated at mega speed the American hypocrisy along with decades of previous politicians who have supported big government/big tax solutions to the never ending imbalance between the haves and have nots. The non government institution of the Federal Reserve continues its monopoly of power and influence over the money system. Someday, this house of cards will fall.  In my opinion, the sooner the better.  It will be painful whenever it happens, but even more so in the future when our philosophical "enemies" are stronger and can take more advantage of such a debacle.

Even small countries like Panama would be devastated by a real market correction of the US dollar. Since its currency called the "balboa" has been pegged to the dollar since 1904, a devaluation of the dollar would immediately almost halve the value of all real estate and other investments in the country against other global currencies.  In essence, this would make much of the rest of the world "off limits" economically to Panamanians, even within the Latin American region.  While some have claimed that Panama could and would immediately peg its currency to another one or float their own...I would have to question what the value of that would be?  You would still have to START at the point value of the US dollar or equivalent value.  Changing currency would not change the growing national debt of Panama. It would not change the adjusted value of any of the new real estate, hotels, airports or industry currently in development. It would only make it a GREAT deal for foreigners to come here for vacation or investment.  Everything would be "half off" against other stronger currencies.  I know my view is opposite what current developers and governments are suggesting for the future of Panama...but I would not count out my future projection.

How do we fight against this tyranny and currency manipulation?  The elites of most nations love being at the controls of these things, so don't count on them to support any change of the status quo.  The struggling masses are too busy surviving and poor to get an education or face these forces that are keeping them in place.  The masses continue to support any leader or government who gives them free survival...albeit at the expense of their liberty. This leaves it to the middle class.  Unfortunately this does not bode well for the USA with its shrinking middle class. I go along with USA Sociologists William Thompson and Joseph Hickey who estimate an income range of roughly $35,000 to $75,000 for the lower middle class and $100,000 or more for the upper middle class. If you go to China or other emerging countries...the middle class income would be about half of that amount but would buy a similar level of lifestyle in those countries.

Today's global revolution against tyranny is being driven by these middle class minorities who have sufficient education, access to technology and income to stand up against their elitist rulers and are more connected to the majorities who live in poverty. In progressive states, people have the chance to rise from poverty to the middle class.  In socialist/communist states this likelihood was historically reduced. It is a sad day to me when there is more upside for economic growth in countries like China and India which have a quickly rising middle class...while the USA middle class is being squeezed out of existence. If this continues, believe me, revolution is coming to the USA just like it has in Egypt, the current Brazil uprisings, India, Indonesia and elsewhere.  It is a sad day when American citizens are as manipulated and isolated as Chinese citizens have been for centuries.

The biggest fear these tyrannic nation-states have is a global currency. The "supposedly" legal reactions internationally to digital currencies like "BitCoin" is just one example of the panic and knee jerk reaction the Western nation states have when their controlled and empty fiat currencies are threatened. For now, these few control the coffers and currencies of the world, primarily only because the masses continue to accept these currencies as payment.  I predict the day is coming sooner than later when the masses will rebel against empty currency controls.  Technology will provide a way for "global patriots" to trade values outside of these false currencies being forced upon us.  Even if we have to go back to "barter", we are better off economically than allowing ourselves to be controlled by falsely valued "fiat currencies". Storing up empty paper in debt ridden banks will not secure ones future prosperity. Why do you think so much "smart money" is currently being converted to commodities or "buildings" by those who can afford to do so?

Government valuations of markets and currencies will always be hyped and with no basis outside of "mandated" valuation by the few in power.  The masses must someday realize this is totally dependent on THEIR cooperation in accepting it. In reaction, there have been more local or private "currencies" established in the last decade throughout the world. As the middle and working classes become more and more dissatisfied with the governance of their economies, we will see a move towards the "denationalization" of money and a move towards one global digital currency.  This is one of the reasons I have moved my personal career in a direction associated with digital payment systems.

Future vision?  Well, if I had my "druthers" and could rule the world, I would mandate a global governing body over currency and economic trade.  All economic conflicts, embargoes and imperialist actions would have to be taken before this body.  Obviously enough superpowers of the world would have to be behind it if only to support by force if necessary the agreements it mandates. There would have to be a very clear global constitution of rights and freedoms extended to ALL "gods children". Nation states could still exist somewhat for local governance issues, but when it comes to armed warfare and money values...these would all have to fall under control of the "global community".  As long as certain despots have nuclear buttons to fall back on, there can be very little security of constitutional enforcement or hope for world peace.  We can no longer count on nuclear "containment". This global body would have to take control and, better yet, methodically destroy and outlaw ALL nuclear weapons. (Of course this is another BIG subject to be taken up on another blog, but is part of what would be required to support global economic governance).

Money would all be "digital" and based on unified digit value throughout the world. If someone wanted to issue their own local currency for private reasons or "closed loop" trade...there should be no law against it, but on an international basis there would be one currency and one value for that currency. A glass of water might cost more in the desert than it does in the "Great Lakes", but the currency paying for it would be the same. Payment would not be with paper or plastic cards tied to dicey banks of a certain jurisdiction, but via digital mobile payments or "digital wallets" that could even be embedded in your watch or belt buckle. The new global banking system would guarantee these payments. This digital, global currency is the only way you can clean up the "dirty money" syndrome current governments love to hype.  Every transaction would have a traceable source tied to the identities of the individuals or corporations making the payment. At the same time, ideally the global system would support the individuals rights to sovereignty and privacy of his/her personal information and holdings. This would simplify the whole banking and "dirty money" wars much of the world is now fighting a losing battle on. This to me is the only viable solution to taking tyranny and controls out of our global economic systems and restoring balance and fairness in our international monetary exchange.

How would all this be paid for? Very simply, all financial transactions would be charged a .05% (one half of one percent) transaction fee.  This would be plenty of money to fund this global governance forever...and the nation-state hyped taxes and fees would disappear and be illegal within the global arena.  This would leave a LOT more money in the hands of those who made it to continue the evolution of growing economies and solving the many problems of mankind.  Currency should be one of the EASY fixes.

Of course, this will never happen while our current despot leaders are in place and accepted by we, the people.

Distant Neighbors

(This might be considered a continuation of a related blog from last year, "Is Panama Safe". Also, part 2. 3 and 4 of this series are "Is Panama an Illusion?"  and "Further Notes on Panama Living"  and "Pros and Cons of Living in Panama" )





This posting could be deemed a continuation of our series on "Living in Panama"...but this discussion I want to take to a higher, more generalized level in discussing cultural differences a "westerner" will encounter living most anywhere in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region.

The series on living in Panama has provoked the most emails and followup questions of any of my blog posts or subjects. Many of the questions come down to the curiosity (mostly by USA and Canadian readers) of what is it REALLY like to live in Latin America as an expat.  Having lived in 3 different LAC countries over 14 years and traveled to many others...there are some general similarities shared by every LAC country.

When I first moved to Mexico back in 1991, the most helpful book I read to help me understand what I was facing culturally was "Distant Neighbors, a Portrait of the Mexicans" which is the classic book that is still relevant in explaining the many cultural and political differences between North America and Mexico. While the book is Mexico-centric, I have found that most of the core observations hold true for all the LAC countries I have visited if in varying degrees. Panama's cultural idiosyncrasies line up similarly to the tenets of the book as a "distant neighbor" of Westernized countries like Canada and the USA.

While one would think that after 100+ years of sharing the Panama Canal zone and basically having the USA sponsor the existence of Panama as a separate state from Colombia in 1903 when the USA "paid off" the Colombia government to recognize Panama as a separate nation without revolution or bloodshed, the two countries and cultures would share more in common.  While there is perhaps more use and understanding of English in Panama than other Central and South American countries due to this past history, I don't see any more connectivity of the true Panama culture to our "western ways" than you will find in Mexico or elsewhere.  There are obviously many Panamanians who got Americanized by working for the Canal Zone in the many decades that the USA owned and controlled it, but many of those Panamanians now live in the USA or stay in the "zonian" community.  Many get so Americanized, they are no longer comfortable living in their home country.

For the sake of a short blog I will probably overgeneralize many things here. The culture in Panama, like most Latin cultures, is stratified by class distinctions.  This small country of less than 4 million citizens is controlled by a few rich families, commonly called the "oligarchy", who control a major portion of the country's politics, justice system, banks and economic systems overall.  Most of these families are of Spanish, Jewish or more "European" ethnicity, and if you don't have them as partners somehow in business here, you are not going to compete on a level playing field in domestic business. They say "if you want to make a million dollars in Panama, bring two".

Almost half the population lives at poverty or "extreme" poverty levels. The difference between haves and have nots is growing in extreme just in the past 8 years I have lived here.  Gas prices are up, food and liquor prices are almost double what they were when I moved here...and yet the wage base in Panama has not kept up for the average Panamanian at all. I sincerely don't understand how they live on their wages. The city and interior areas are heavily stratified by rich and poor neighborhoods. The poorer areas are typically going to be problematic and unsafe for tourists and wealthier citizens to travel in. (Of course this is true in most major USA cities as well). Based on the increased cost of living and continued trafficking of drugs and black market products, we are seeing significant increases in crime...especially in certain neighborhoods, and also at interior beach resort areas where the most tourists or seasonal residents reside.  Security is being beefed up in many areas and you need to be comfortable with "army looking" police running around with sub machine guns if you want to live here.

In addition to outright home invasions and petty crime, there are other forms of "subtle" thievery. Prices for products and services are often two tiered...one price for locals and another for tourists and non residents.  Many of the public golf courses are 25-30% cheaper for residents.  Taxis typically charge double for non-Spanish speaking tourists than they do the locals. For a decade there has been talk of going to a meter type system, but there has been much resistance to this "honest system" for obvious reasons.  They would either have to increase the costs to the average Panamanian, or reduce the price to the foreigners. These things just don't change quickly in these cultures.

Many regular Panamanians are resentful of the much heralded "pensionado residency" program that gives foreign retired residents significant discounts on food, entertainment, airline tickets and hotel rooms.  While this program has obviously been the reason many foreigners have retired here, I personally am not convinced it is a good thing long term for this culture.  Service is terrible overall...and when business owners and service personnel are forced to give huge discounts to often dis respectful foreigners compared to fellow citizens...there is no impetus to improve these service levels. They perceive North American visitors here to all be wealthy, yet cheap. They find it hard to understand why we argue about extra charges in a bar bill, an included 10% tip, or arguing between a $2 or $3 taxi ride while we stay in $200 per night hotel rooms. I have seen many instances of reverse discrimination against foreigners because of these cultural differences or perceptions.

When you enter the country at the international airport...there are often twice as many immigration people attending the shorter line of "Resident arrivals" than are handling the much longer "foreign" immigration line. Many local restaurants or bars will give preferred service to locals over foreigners...sometimes subconsciously I am convinced.  Many servers are afraid to attend foreigners because they are not able to communicate or understand tourists who don't speak Spanish.  I have often observed a server brighten up with me when I speak to them in decent Spanish, because when most look at my Caucasian countenance here, they assume I don't speak Spanish and will be difficult to deal with.  With good reason, since most North Americans come here with little or no Spanish...and often demonstrate an "attitude" when the locals cannot understand their orders or requests in English. This creates an aura of uneasiness between locals and foreigners in many instances. Don't believe some of the hype you will see from Panama tourism promoters who say there is little language barrier here.  Its just not true.

One of the positives that I like about the Latin culture is the importance of family and how they care for the elderly. Where in Western society we tend to isolate the elderly into homes or institutions, you will rarely see that here. The family cares directly for their elderly either in the home where they have always lived, or their children take them in to live with them. You see fewer barriers between generations here because of those traditions. You often see grandparents arm in arm with teenagers here...a site not often seen in the USA anymore. People hug and kiss with family and friends...and even upon first introductions, men and women greet with a light kiss to the cheek.  Cold, halfhearted handshakes here are deemed unfriendly or closed. People here are more physical than verbal about their affections. Sometimes when I go back to the USA now, I forget about this difference and people stiffen up if I hug them or kiss a lady on the cheek. Too bad really.

The most fundamental difference culturally is that Latins "work to live" versus "live to work". Compared to many of us Westerners in first world countries...these people do not live or define themselves by their jobs or careers.  Yes, positions and layers of management are formal and important in the workplace with stronger lines of delineation or respect shown between various management levels.  Yet, at almost all levels, these people are all about putting in their time so they can get home to family or meet up with friends. They are not as likely to "take their job home with them"...whether that means actual paperwork or carrying the stress of work into their home. It is refreshing that people don't define themselves so much by their jobs as much as we do in North America.  Sure, there are definite lines in society based on wealth and race...but it is not so much about what you do.

Finally, on the political front, there tend to be many more parties running for various offices in Latin America. Election cycles can be quite entertaining and very different than in North America. In Panama, the President is elected for a 5 year term.  They cannot run for consecutive terms by constitutional decree...though the current President made some attempts to change that without success. People change political parties like they change underwear it seems...and there is very little loyalty anywhere when it comes to politics.  While politics is corrupt worldwide right now...it is even more so in Latin America.  The party in power makes as much money for themselves off the public dole as they can during their 5 year stay.  The last few months of an administration, like we are coming into now, very little gets done because most people realize the next administration is likely to UNDO as many things as legally possible when they come into power. All of this means to me that it is hard to count on long term contracts or consistent economic management in most of these countries. So much is manipulated and if you do not have political connections or protection, your business can be totally torn asunder by local competitors.  Even though they claim the Justice system is independent of the Executive or Presidency...I just don't see that as true.  The judges are all appointed by the President...as are all the notaries and many other legal positions in the country. These appointments are not "lifetime" like they are in the USA. This gives the "politico" a lot more legal controls in Panama and can totally determine the outcome of justice in very subjective ways.

It makes a big difference in how you will get on in Panama depending on if you are retiring and wealthy, versus if you are trying to do business and make money as a foreigner.  It is much easier being retired and independently wealthy living in Latin America where your funds will go further and/or more easily influence the outcome of things.  If you are trying to MAKE your money here, it is a much bigger challenge. It is not for the faint of heart or misinformed.  If you think you can build your business for say $500,000, you had better bring double or triple that. Paying for access or covering the longer time to make relationships and accomplish your goals in this culture will require that extra funding.

Most simply put, Latin America and Panama are great places to spend your living...but not for MAKING it if you don't have the Latin language and culture within you.  If you come here with your eyes wide open, you have a chance.  If you come ignorant or closed minded...you will have NO chance of making it here.

Make no mistake, overall the Latinos are very friendly and warm people...including the Panamanians. Yet, in Panama it will be very unlikely that you will be invited any time soon to their home and shown that kind of hospitality. In some cases they may feel self conscious about having less or living differently than you do. People are generally more private and closed with their private lives than westerners are. I have learned not to be offended by that. It is just the price we pay for being "distant neighbors".

Martyrs, Pundits and Whistleblowers

This seems to be an era of a new kind of "patriot"...that being the individualist who questions or exposes the fascism and cover-ups of their own government.  Some people are calling these people traitors while others are calling them heroes.  I think it is hard to say which it is until we can know the true motivations and circumstances these individuals have acted upon.

There are basically two big cases currently...one being the ongoing incarceration and delayed trial of one Private Bradley Manning for his role in the Wikileaks "scandal", and the most recent case of the NSA whistle-blower, 29 year old Edward Snowden.  Unfortunately most of the general public's perspective on these events are going to be determined by media coverage...and it is very difficult to trust today's media with fair and balanced coverage from either perspective...the government's or the accused. Lets suffice it to say most of us will never have a complete picture of the issues from either side.  At the same time, I think we can think about and debate the general issues these circumstances bring to light.

Lets start with...one country's "traitor" is another country's "hero".  In modern nationalism, which we have been thinking and writing a lot about lately, it is obvious the worlds larger battlefield is primarily about ideologies of best forms of government and how much control a particular religion, race or political party should have over defined nations with borders. I have lived long enough to remember growing up with the most basic definition of the "free world"...meaning democratically controlled governments...versus the captive world of communists or socialist countries run by dictators or worse. In that era, most Western citizens were so proud to be "free" and able to vote their leaders in and out of their lives. Capitalism and democracy were THE cause of liberty and justice for all.  Just a few decades later, there are no black and white systems of capitalism or constitutional democracy.  Today's nation/states are quickly reverting to protectionist, individualistic countries who not only spy on each other, but spy on their own citizens en masse.

While globalism is about "pluralism" of nation states...much of the world's current conflicts are about sectarianism, racism and religious divides. For all our education and increased access via technology to communication and information...we remain very naive and uninformed about these differences of ideologies. Out of fear and ignorance, movements propagate the same inane and centuries old conflicts of false ideals and beliefs. Apparently the truths of science are too real or conflicting to be digested by the masses.  The contradictions to these fundamentalist factions are drowned out by simple chants and flag waving exercises which in many regimes is bringing out the guns and water canons...and causing new prisons to be built everywhere to house all "dissidents" and "traitors" found within their jurisdictions. It is my observation that the international institutions such as the United Nations and other blocks of countries united in ideology have been dismal failures at bringing about world unification or even distribution of goods and services. Individual freedom is still a misnomer in most countries of the world.  People are NOT free to come and go as they please...even in their own countries. And now in the USA you have  growing number of malcontents who are challenging big government and the corporate elite that supports them when it comes to our undeclared global wars and conflicts.  Patriots are starting to demand accountability for the economy and injustices within our own borders. In many areas the land of "immigrants" is becoming the land of "intolerance" of diversity.

Lets look at the agencies who are in charge of the USA's "homeland security".  The FBI was founded to be focused on protecting domestic territory from criminals and outsiders within our borders.  The CIA was put together to handle foreign covert activities to protect our country outside our borders.  Now we have FBI operators all over the world (that we pay for as citizens) and the CIA is spying on American citizens inside the USA.  The biggest "criminals" these organizations seem to be going after are not Al Qaeda operatives or Muslim extremists within our country...but young WASPish citizens in the military and government services who are "blowing the whistle" on so many in-clandestine and secretive government activities...most of which in my opinion deserve to be public knowledge. It seems these organizations have learned a lot of their operational approaches from the Gestapo and KGB of old.

A very sinister case has come to light in recent days...the mysterious death of a well known and highly respected journalist, Michael Hastings, who only hours after emailing friends and colleagues that he was on to a big story and would be "under the radar" for a while, was killed in a high speed car crash into a tree. His body was quickly cremated against the wishes of his family.  They have not been allowed to do an independent investigation of the Mercedes in which he crashed.  All of this intrigue was performed by our California LAPD.  There is enough public scrutiny on this that I think more will come out in the wash on this affair eventually...but it surely calls into question the rights and safety of Americans in their own country to know and report what is going on in within domestic governments.  Between this and the treatment of the Edward Snowden whistle-blowing affair, our USA government is making the Russians and Chinese look like the "good guys"  when it comes to human rights and due process of law.

Where will all this end? Will enough of the sleepy American masses wake up and force their government leaders to come clean and change their tyrannous activities and attitudes?  Will the "uprising for liberty" supposedly supported by the USA government in so many parts of the middle east and beyond come to the homeland of the "free and the brave"?  Will our huddled masses continue to be manipulated and herded into attitudes of complacency or blind support of runaway governmental powers...much like the Germans under the Hitler spell early in the last century?  In my opinion, the longer American citizens take to correct these things, the bloodier and more difficult restoring constitutional governance is going to be.

Fortunately for the lovers of freedom and independence, technology is still able to allow us access to truth and data that reveals the ugliness of clandestine government behaviors. For all the money and controls exercised by governments, there are enough smart people who protect our sovereign access to information and communications with each other.  How long this will be the case depends on how long we tolerate runaway governance to do what they like versus honoring OUR wishes.

I just had a childhood memory from when my grandfather was trying to teach me to type on his old IBM typewriter when I was probably 7 or 8 years old.  He had me type a then common line 100 or more times which said "now is the time for good men to come to the aid of the country".  This was used in typing classes because it filled exactly one line of 70 characters. It now has new meaning for me. I believe it is now or never for "good men" to take back control of their countries, the runaway economies, the inflationary practices of printing more empty currencies to cover their multitudes of sins and voodoo accounting over decades. This will be a time for martyrs, pundits and whistle-blowers to step forward, risking everything just like the forefathers of our country, to stand against tyranny, despotism and unchecked imbalances of power.