Afghanistan

Paul Summerville • February 19, 2013

Commentary on Japan’s equity market bounce, dressing down, Ireland’s child benefit controversy, hold up Hitch, checking out of Kabul, and the conservative view of Justin.

Prime Minister ABE as in ‘Awesomely Bullish Equities’.

Financial Times -- Abe needs to show he can walk the talk
There are many reasons to be optimistic about Japan’s equity run.

Related.

Paul Summerville • February 3, 2013

Commentary on America’s baby bust, China’s worry, tipping, history lessons, times are tough, the awful legacy of Nazi treasure, and being idle no more.

America’s falling fertility rate and what it means.

Paul Summerville • September 21, 2012

Commentary on China`s lousy demographics, worrying markets, sex and the brain, China and Japan butt heads, Afghan dead end, the problem with politics, and a victory for sex workers.

Aging China.

soberlook.com -- China's shifting demographics and their impact
China's changing demographics now pose risks to global economic output for the simple reason that the nation is currently responsible for about 40% of world's GDP growth.

Paul Summerville • April 30, 2012

Commentary on the dangers of being a female poet (in Afghanistan), a Nixon aid dies, Europe’s centre starts to fall away, why RORO rules and rescuing Canada’s railways.

Death sentence.

New York Times -- Why Afghan Women Risk Death to Write Poetry
In a private house in a quiet university neighborhood of Kabul, Ogai Amail waited for the phone to ring.

 

Paul Summerville • April 23, 2012

Commentary on generational greed, the unnecessary war, getting smarter, inequality, Chinese cracks, and Michael Ignatieff on Quebec and Scottish nationalism.

Are we too selfish to take care of our parents? Thanks to David of London.

Spectator -- Thankless children
Rod Liddle says that the real problem with our aging population is that we are too selfish and greedy to look after them.

Paul Summerville • March 12, 2012

Commentary on Goldie’s happy life, slowing money indicators, bye-bye Kabul, learning away, wrong age school system, and putting seat belts on robocalls.

From movie star to happi gugu.

Paul Summerville • February 5, 2012

Commentary on the end of NATO involvement in Afghanistan, on the ground in Taliban country, Canada’s need to diversify its trading partners, a call to make angel investing more democratic, the Prudent Bear bemoans the reflation of the risk bubble, and bears getting bullish.

Thankfully the United States comes to its senses and is leaving Afghanistan. (ed’s note – recalibrating the need to spend the defence dollars in Asia no doubt).  Thanks to Ken of Tokyo/Hong Kong.

Paul Summerville • November 14, 2011

Commentary on Italy’s difficult road ahead, the contagion spreads to Spain, the political fallout of economic chaos, books on the Soviet Union’s war with Afghanistan, Russia joins the WTO, the importance of financial literacy, our complicated lives, and Margaret Somerville on appled ethics in post-Charter Canada.

A word of warning, Italy’s terrible economy.

Paul Summerville • July 22, 2011

Articles on the US dollar’s birthday, Europe’s latest bailout plan and the impact on the UK, China's fake Apple Stores, what ails the American economy, and the National Post’s excellent archive of articles about Canada in Afghanistan.

Happy birthday.

Financial Times – Greenback’s Birthday
The US dollar, which turned 150 this week, is finally starting to act its age.

Paul Summerville • July 16, 2011

Articles about going to war, the Rundown, sovereign debt bubble, how the high cost of university is scaring away students, the 200th anniversary celebrations are starting, why Pakistan hates India, Peter Singer on animal welfare, and Tiger’s money woes takes him back to Japan.

LBJ and the Vietnam decision. Thanks to Ken of Tokyo/Hong Kong.

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Twin Virtues: Inequality of Outcomes & Equality of Opportunity©

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Ultimately, the most successful societies find the balance between the twin virtues of inequality of outcomes and equality of opportunity.
 
The new politics must marry the twin virtues of unequal outcomes and equality of opportunity.
 
When too few get too much everybody ends up with less.
 
Can it be that striving for equality of opportunity however imperfect the process not only benefits the individual but also creates benefits for the society as a whole that are unintended but wonderful?
 
Economics must be a 'moral enterprise' as much as politics claims to be. Economic outcomes need to be framed in terms of right and wrong not just efficiency if only because these often align in surprising ways.
 
My vision of Canada is that any Canadian child from a family of limited circumstance can expect to have a chance at lifetime of unlimited opportunities.
 
Tax policy should be founded on the principle of generating steady tax revenues sufficient to maximise environmentally sustainable economic growth in order to fund fair government.
 
Public policy should be designed to decrease inequality before the law and increase equality of opportunity.
 
Capitalism is not the problem; the problem is what we do with capitalism.
 
Content is always more difficult to argue than conspiracy.
 
Let the state regulate and the market operate (most things).
 
Welfare strategies are best designed as a hand up not as a hand out.
 
Political debate should not be fact free fighting.
 
Explanation lasts longer than eloquence.
 
Always favour empowerment over dependency.
 
The most enduring public figures are embraced for the causes they fought for and not the concept of themselves they hoped others would remember them by.
 
Find your voice and don't be the echo of somebody else.