Silver

Financial advisors and promoters have been pushing investors and even normal people to buy lots of gold. Now they are pushing them to buy silver as well. Silver is cheaper and more affordable. You can't eat it or drink it or build homes with it or sew it into a garment or use it as a towel but it has value because people want it (for some strange reason.) Figure that one out.

Cuban freedom

NPR ran a story about Cuban economic reforms. Although it provides many basic services for its citizens free of charge, Cuba actually has trouble feeding itself. A Cuban farmer made a statement that went something like this, he said: "If we all become intellectuals, we will soon have nothing to eat." True enough. I have long believed that the economic future of most nations lies in agriculture. It is such a simple solution to so many problems. If only Mexico would try it. Of course, there are people who would like to keep production low so as to keep prices high. What a shame!!!!

Right wingers

They say that Chile could not decide (in recent elections) on whether it wants a new right wing or an old left wing party to govern. They will have to schedule a runoff election for January, 2010. I was surprised to learn that Chile is the most prosperous country in South America - thanks to copper. The Middle East has its oil and Chile has its copper. The poverty rate there is only 13%. It used to be 40%. Other countries should learn from it. How did they do it? Who did they learn from? Nobody is born knowing anything so they had to learn it from somewhere. I want to know. This topless woman might be from Chile - if I find her, maybe I can ask her.

Communism

A wise analysis: "You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it." by Adrian Rogers, 1931. I think this more or less describes Communism. Even this model works hard, no?

Cuba and China

From a Yahoo News story: “PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – The head of the Organization of American States said Friday that he will ask its members to readmit Cuba 47 years after they ousted the communist nation. And in another step toward improving relations, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Cuban President Raul Castro's latest comments a "very welcome gesture." After a series of overtures by U.S. President Barack Obama, Castro said Thursday that he is ready to talk with the U.S. and put "everything" on the table, even questions of human rights and political prisoners. That prompted a warm response from Clinton: "We welcome his comments, the overture they represent and we are taking a very serious look at how we intend to respond."

I knew this had to happen sooner or later. The U.S. cannot remain estranged forever from such a close neighbor. When China has been afforded recognition for so long now, why not little Cuba? It will benefit everyone I’m sure. What do I know? Nothing.