Wednesday, December 21, 2011

What is behind the Hollywood sign and the Merkozy plan?

20 months ago Angela Merkel visited Hollywood and the area behind the famous Hollywood sign.

Read the reportage by Der Spiegel (in English, 15/4/10), especially the exchange between her and Simon Baker, the Aussie star of the US TV series The Mentalist,  and also consider the Merkozy plan 20 months later.

Do you see any correlation, positive or negative correlation, between what Merkel realised behind the Hollywoos sign that day and the Merkozy plan?

Sunday, December 18, 2011

What did Alexander the Great and Diogenis of Sinope have in common?

Philosophise on this (re ways of life, life missions, quests, etc):

Why did Alexander the Great, when he met Diogenis of Sinope (see Wikipedia), say that if he wasn't Alexander he would wish to be Diogenis of Sinope?

In other words, what did Alexander the Great and Diogenis (or their missions in life or quests) have in common? Or what is not a common element but an alter element?

In any case, why did he say it?

The right places for uniformity and diversity: The EU case

For a system like eg the EU to function it needs uniform laws, diversity in rules, uniform language, pluralism in ideas. Not the reverse!

For now, the EU27 has non-uniformity in laws, uniformity in rules (eg Merkozy), linguistic Babel and non-pluralism in ideas! How can it function as a system?

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Dynamics: Nothing to fear

A friend sent me a "Merry Crisis and a Happy New Fear!" season's greeting!

The more we believe that a crisis exists the bigger the crisis becomes. That's the nature of social systemics & economics and finance are social sciences!

We do indeed have nothing to fear but fear itself in these crisis dynamics and aura. They are counting on our fear, they are promoting it, they are amplifying it, to benefit their goals.

Monday, December 12, 2011

European Single Market needs federal income tax

EU policy makers please remember: Creating a single space for firms, workers, free lancers, job seekers, et al to live & work is No1 goal

An EU or Europlus federal income tax to replace national ones is one of the ways towards a real Internal Market for people & firms.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Can Europlus become Germany times 5 in the global economic arena?

On the post Dec 8 Europlius:

1) A much more spendthrift Europlus would mean less consumer spending too, ie a much stronger exports orientation for the Europlus

2) In other words, turning the Europlus into a lean and mean global exports "machine".

3) That could mean a much more aggressive trade policy for the Europlus with its trade partners (USA China, other BRICs etc).

4) Including less tolerance for hidden and other protectionist barriers by others esp in the G20.

5) So the US admin which already "accuses" Germany of exporting too much & consuming (& thus importing) too little, is probably having a fit!

Friday, December 2, 2011

The Achilles Heel of Western Civilisation?

The Ancient Chinese used the motto "may you live in interesting times" as a curse (not a wish).

Modern "Western civlisation" puts and pays a premium for certainty, especially the middle class.

It's its "Achilles Heel".

Capitalism is in trouble because ...

Capitalism is in trouble because it relies on 2 unnatural (thus inherently flawed) premises: a) Trust b) certainty or the quantification of risk