China

Paul Summerville • February 25, 2013

Commentary on Google Glass, 33 for 52, Jimmy and the Shah, don’t fear capitalism is safe, the next revolution will start in Shanghai, fewer is better, and falling love with Stephen.

The next thing you gotta have.

Google Glass

Argo puts a spotlight on what life was like for the 52 freed hostages 33 years later.

Paul Summerville • February 20, 2013

Commentary on continued risk in Europe, ethical banker, Bangladesh’s religious quarrels spill into London, the fight for America’s stomach, de-bunking the middle income trap, showcasing Roy Lichtenstein,  why China turns a blind eye to North Korea’s nuclear follies, and the Harper government’s focus on religious freedom.

No miracle yet.

Paul Summerville • February 15, 2013

Commentary on China’s port expansion in the Indian Ocean, America’s Middle East retreat, the weak sterling, the case for drones, the bullet that missed FDR, silly Jack and Canada's vulnerable housing market.

Pearl-like ports.

Paul Summerville • February 11, 2013

Commentary on why China’s political system works (and liberal-democracy is failing), US trading short term politically motived cuts for smarter long term entitlement cuts, Nordic entrepreneurial energy, parts of the world are getting better for animals and bad diet.

This really is the other side of the debate.

 

Paul Summerville • February 9, 2013

Commentary on Britain’s breakdown, China-Japan tensions, evil king fascination, how understanding politics makes good policy harder, makin sents, and the death of Keystone.

In-sourcing leaders.

Telegraph -- It’s Britain that is in need of overseas aid
Don’t stop at the Bank of England – most of our institutions could do with a foreign touch.

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 • January 29, 2013

Commentary on the 0D30 controversy, European amnesia, the liberal Obama, why Joe and Hillary won’t run, hungry dragon, lazy mob, Europe’s deadly demographics, and the future battle over 3D manufacturing.

When hiding behind fiction is wrong. (ed’s note – spoiler alert, the last part of the movie depicting bin Laden’s assassination was just as fascinating as the pursuit and decision to launch the mission).

Paul Summerville • January 18, 2013

Commentary on irrational economics, austerity is class warfare, no future, adjusting is hard, what questions does Unchained ask, why DC may still win out over AC, and Paul Martin on Idle No More.

(ed's note -- travelling for a week, Smart Links on holiday until January 27)

 

Silly economists think consumers are rational.

Paul Summerville • January 10, 2013

Commentary on re-inventing liberalism, the trillion dollar coin debate, feeling the heat yet, silly Chinese censorship, great chart showing different outcomes of profits and wages, and is Chief Spence helping or hurting.

Get liberalism back on track. Thanks to Harry of Victoria.

American Interest -- The Once and Future Liberalism
We need to get beyond the dysfunctional and outdated ideas of 20th-century liberalism.

Paul Summerville • January 8, 2013

Commentary on being hard wired for tribalism, mistaking the spread of English fluency with the same values, Ireland’s immigrant driven transformation, Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, the skinny on patents, and Idle No More commentary.

E.O. Wilson on our species' penchant for birds of the same feather.

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Twin Virtues: Inequality of Outcomes & Equality of Opportunity©

LimeSpot: Own the Experience.

Leveraging Social Networks for Profit.
 
Marrying the product portfolio of brand name firms with the personal profile information on Facebook.
 
The LimeSpot enabled revolutionary new sales channel.
 
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.