Tuesday, June 30, 2015

VOTE NO!




As the referendum approaches, the call to vote NO becomes more pressing, more urgent, and more crucial to the Future of Greece and to the Greek people.

No is the only weapon in the arsenal of Alexis Tsipras. However, if it is deployed properly, it is the only weapon Greece will need.

That the creditors want to be payed is understandable. However, there is a more important issue beneath it all. The issue that is sustaining the European Economic Crisis.  

Here is the metaphor.  Mr. Greek is shopping in Merkel’s Department store.  Merkel will everything she can to keep Mr. Greek’s credit card functioning.  

Here is the literal:


  • Chancellor Merkel does not want to lose her grip on the EuroCrats.

  • Chancellor Merkel does not want to lose control of Paradigm.
  • Chancellor Merkel wants to keep the Euro weak.
  • A weak Euro benefits Germany.


When I hear the announcement that Merkel “urges Greece to accept this generous offer”, red flags of danger spring up.  There is only just so many times one can here this over the course of half a century before it becomes a danger sign.

Creditors want Greece to stay in the Euro.  That is crucial to maintaining control not only over Greece, but also control over some, if not all, of the other nations.

Austerity has kept the Greek people shackled to poverty by keeping the Greek people shackled to poverty programmes.

The debt we keep hearing about is Sovereign Debt.  The issue the EuroCrats keep raising is contagion.  The real problem is deeper than that.   

If Greece defaults on its loans, the lenders who do not receive their money will go to the ECB for “bailout” money.   

The metaphor?  The ECB can put out a small fire in Greece or put out many fires throughout the EuroUnion; But more important [and NOT more importantly] Greece needs capital investment, economic development, and growth.
 
Solving the debt crisis does not solve the economic crisis.  That deception is the linguistic legerdemain that has fueled the fires of the economic crisis for the purpose of keeping the Euro weak for the purpose of aiding Chancellor Merkel’s economy.   

If Greece says NO, Chancellor Merkel will lose her grip over the EuroCrats.

In 2013 I wrote Merkel’s Big Lies. The list of 10 is a list of propaganda tactics used in political manipulation.  The most telling, however, is Big Lie # 10.  In this I said:

“I have long since projected that China will spearhead a group of "Pledge Nations" that will create a Global Sovereign Investment Fund that will infuse money into the Economy of Europe, into the hands of People, not into the hands of bankers to improve the financial position of big lenders and their big investors.”

In my PowerPoint Programme, “The Multiplier Effect” I demonstrated the importance of capital investment, economic development, and growth to the merchants whose shops line the streets in any city. Whether in America, Greece, England, or anywhere else, this is the self-sustaining paradigm of SMEs.

If the EuroCrats won’t do it, if the EuroCrats don’t do it, China can and China will. 

This I wrote over 2 years ago.

It is important to the future well-being of Greece and the future well-being of the Greek people that the ground rules of capital investment be established before the bargain hunters arrive to benefit from investing in the Greek economy for their benefit, not yours.









Sincerely,

Slim.


Copyright © 2015 Bob Asken writing as Slim Fairview
All rights reserved.

Monday, June 22, 2015

EuroTheatre



EuroTheatre

What we are witnessing is pure theatre.  The statements are nothing but posturing. And it is happening because it is so blatant and so transparent.

“You cannot cut wages, fire people, raise taxes, and call it a solution.” ~ Slim Fairview Europe, and Greece, need capital investment, economic development, and growth.
“A one pronged approach is not a solution. It is a weapon.”  I created a metaphor to explain why austerity won’t work.  I entitled it, Merkel and the Salesman. This explains why austerity does not work, will not work, cannot work.

It was on 2 May 2013 that I wrote this:

*******
“I have long since projected that China will spearhead a group of "Pledge Nations" that will create a Global Sovereign Investment Fund that will infuse money into the Economy of Europe, into the hands of People, not into the hands of bankers to improve the financial position of big lenders and their big investors.”

This is not about politics.  This is not about economics.  This is about process management. That and the 10 Big Lies that have perpetuated the destruction of lives through the destruction of the European Economy.

Now, now, is the time to Stop Digging!  With each passing day, European Leaders are digging a deeper and deeper hole.”

*****


2 May 2013:  Merkel’s Big Lies. This article listed the 10 propaganda tricks to validate the strict adherence to Austerity. 


At the same time, people have begun discussing whether or not China will play a role in the Greek Economic Crisis.  Well, as I stated 2 years ago, yes!

This plays out against the back drop of US-China talks in Washington, D.C.

As far as the markets go, I used to say, “When the numbers out of China are bad, the Wall Street Experts gloat.  When the numbers out of China are good, the Wall Street Experts doubt the numbers.  Now, they call it a bubble. (Perhaps I am an influencer.)
I also pointed out: “China will succeed because China will do as we did and not as we say.”

Case in Point: We raise concerns about China’s activities in the South China Sea.  China, however, has been given the opportunity to say, “Manifest Destiny”.

China has invested in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and is doing business in Europe and the US.  Anyone who possesses a nodding acquaintance with portfolio management will see this as a diversified investment portfolio.







A bailout is not the solution.  The solution is Capital Investment, Economic Development, and Growth.

The EuroCrats have a narrow window of opportunity.  If they don’t do it, China will.  By way of metaphor: China will ship Saudi Arabian oil on Greek Ships, through the Nicaragua Canal to China and the rest of Asia.


“But don’t bother listening to me. Everyone always doesn’t listen to me.” ~ Slim Fairview.  From The Quotations of Slim Fairview.


Warmest regards,

Slim



Copyright © 2015 Bob Asken (writing as Slim Fairview)
All rights reserved.


Monday, June 8, 2015

GreekEnomics



Today, President Obama, addressing the press at the G-7 meeting, invoked the mantra I’ve propounded for almost five years. Capital Investment.

How long have the EuroCrats been attempting to solve the Greek Economic Crisis?
Too Long.  The same applies to the EuroCrisis.

By now we should be able to invoke Slim Fairview’s Empirical Method of Analysis.

Have we tried austerity?
Yes.
Have things gotten better?
No.
Have things gotten worse?
Yes.
Conclusion?
Don’t do that.

The first rule of holes: When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

Reform is the smallest part of the solution to the Greek Economic Crisis.  We need, as I’ve said repeatedly, Capital Investment + Economic Development + Growth.

ONE PROPOSAL:

What is one thing Greece has been known for?  Shipping. Did anyone say Onassis?
If the EuroCrats don’t embrace this idea, the Chinese will.  Case in point.  When I heard that Air Travel will double in the next 20 years, I posed the question, does that mean we will need to double the number of airports, or double the number of planes?  What happened?  Boeing increased the size of the planes.

China is building a Canal in Nicaragua. Why? To accommodate the Super Ships. Why? To ship from Western Africa, through the Nicaragua canal to China and the rest of Asia.

Remember what I said in my article “Energy Independence? (Then What?)”  I said, when we no longer need oil from Saudi Arabia, then Saudi Arabia will need to find a new customer. (China) If China is the new customer, China is also the new friend.  And oil can move on supertankers through the Nicaragua canal to China and the rest of Asia.

It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of shipping and, by extension, the importance of ships.  Ship building in Greece, with Chinese Capital Investment, can meet that demand.  This is not strategic planning.  This is marketing.

Marketing: Find a need and fill it.

The EuroUnion has a narrow window of opportunity.  The EuroCrats must embrace Capital Investment and Economic Development as crucial to solving the Greek economic crisis.  In addition, the rest of the world must work with China to complete the building of the Nicaragua Canal.  This is to benefit the Global Economy.

Warmest regards,

Slim


slimfairview@yahoo.com


Copyright (c) 2015 Bob Asken 

All rights reserved.

Additional reading:


Merkel's Big Lies 

Merkel and the Salesman

Merkel's Last Stand
 
EuroCracy, with Apologies to Swift