The National Council for Problem Gambling is coming out to help the big time gamblers. The Singapore govt is offering Indonesia help to put out fires by fire starters. And today we have a front page news that a trader of UBS lost $2.48b for betting and hedging on behalf of the bank.
The world is getting to be a stranger and stranger place by the days. What is the point of trying to help fire starters to put up fires? The problem is not with the fire but the fire starters.
The other question is, who are the big time gamblers? The guy who blown away his life savings of $200k or the guy who betted and lost $2.48b? Or is it the guy who sits at the top of a huge bank worth trillions of dollars and authorizing the bank and its army of gamblers to gamble on behalf of the bank? Or is it the politician that put out his soldiers to wars hoping to reap financial rewards at the end of the game? Or is it the politicians that spend and spend without a care of when they are going to pay back, or be able to pay back the money they have spent?
We have just seen how America nearly toppled over. We are seeing Europe on the brink of a financial disaster. Who are the gamblers that are gambling with the nation’s wealth?
Definitely not the politicians? Neither were the bankers and fund managers gamblers. They are legitimate investors, fund managers, taking calculated risks with other people’s money. There is no reason to call them gamblers, while they gamble away other people’s money, the bank’s assets, the nation’s reserves.
The world today is really run by gamblers of all kinds. Everyone is putting his bets for a quick profit for his own pockets but declaring that they are investing for other people’s benefits. Some even claimed to be investing for the long term. When bankers and politicians are looking for quick profits instead of making steady profits and returns by taking small and measured steps, the world can be easily toppled without the need to have casinos. Every stock exchange is now a casino. Every country is also a casino.
9/16/2011
9/15/2011
Malaysian Govt considering limiting home purchases
‘The Malaysian government may impose a one-house-per-individual restriction, according to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Minister of Domestic Trade Cooperatives and Consumerism.
He said that any individual who wants to acquire a second home must sell his /her first house and that the government is studying the possibility of approving only 10 percent rental increases for houses once a contract expires.’
Ahh, the immediate reaction from the smart sinkies is that this must be the stupidest thing to do. They have so much land and the only thing that needs to be done is to build and build and build, like what Singapore is doing. Just increase the supply and there will be no problem at all. Oops, I think to build and increase supply to prevent a housing bubble is only discovered by the smart sinkies recently.
Now, what is the issue? Malaysia has plenty of land, more than adequate to build a house for every citizen. And they are worried of the housing problem. In our little piece of rock when we are not careful and slipped, we may fall into the sea, and we are building and building and selling and selling as if land is unlimited. I think the Malaysians should come over and learn from our geniuses here. They can keep pulling out houses from a small hat like rabbits. It is simply magical.
Personally I am not sneering at the Malaysians. There is some wisdom to the crazy city folks thinking of selling everything when there is profit to be made. The housing game is going out of control, particularly when land is so limited. Everyone needs a home in the first place. And to turn homes into casino chips to be gambled on the casino table is reckless and irresponsible beyond words.
Not only Malaysia is worried about the housing gambling game. Australia and many other bigger countries are concerned about the wanton selling of land and properties to foreigners for speculation, which some called affectionately as investment.
There is a Chinese saying, die also dunno how to write. Housing and property investment are taking on a new shape and no longer the same any more. We may have something to learn from the Malaysians after all.
He said that any individual who wants to acquire a second home must sell his /her first house and that the government is studying the possibility of approving only 10 percent rental increases for houses once a contract expires.’
Ahh, the immediate reaction from the smart sinkies is that this must be the stupidest thing to do. They have so much land and the only thing that needs to be done is to build and build and build, like what Singapore is doing. Just increase the supply and there will be no problem at all. Oops, I think to build and increase supply to prevent a housing bubble is only discovered by the smart sinkies recently.
Now, what is the issue? Malaysia has plenty of land, more than adequate to build a house for every citizen. And they are worried of the housing problem. In our little piece of rock when we are not careful and slipped, we may fall into the sea, and we are building and building and selling and selling as if land is unlimited. I think the Malaysians should come over and learn from our geniuses here. They can keep pulling out houses from a small hat like rabbits. It is simply magical.
Personally I am not sneering at the Malaysians. There is some wisdom to the crazy city folks thinking of selling everything when there is profit to be made. The housing game is going out of control, particularly when land is so limited. Everyone needs a home in the first place. And to turn homes into casino chips to be gambled on the casino table is reckless and irresponsible beyond words.
Not only Malaysia is worried about the housing gambling game. Australia and many other bigger countries are concerned about the wanton selling of land and properties to foreigners for speculation, which some called affectionately as investment.
There is a Chinese saying, die also dunno how to write. Housing and property investment are taking on a new shape and no longer the same any more. We may have something to learn from the Malaysians after all.
Two legs good, one leg best – Redbean
We have the best political system in the world. We are not bragging, the results are out there for all to see. In a short span of 46 years, we have created a first world city state with affluence as a way of life. Everyone is rich in his own way. Poverty is an exception. Practically every child is well fed, housed and in school.
All these we have to thank our one party political system. We can get it so far because of a one party dominant political system. If we have a two party system or multi party political system, we will be in a quagmire like many third world countries. But we persevered in a non communist, non dictatorial, non autocratic one party democratic system. And it works.
And this one party system must go on. Anyone talking about a two party or multi party system is talking about ruining the good things and the good life here. The alternative parties have made advances in the last GE. And it is likely to gain more seats in future GEs. But can they really help and make our country better? Will they be competitive and yet cooperative with the ruling party? Will they be asking embarrassing questions that they should not be asking to make the ruling party look bad in the eyes of the people?
Definitely not. There are too many things that happened over the last few decades that need answers. The people are fed up and wanted to know what is happening, the truths that have yet to be told. Just by asking these questions would put the opposition MPs in a bad light, that they are destructive, trying to score political points. And when the questions get to a stage of being more than just an irritation, would the ruling party say that it is part of the political process, that all the questions were belated and should have been asked long ago and the answers given? Or would the ruling party ride the high horse of rough shod over the opposition party MPs and harden its position?
The latter is likely to be the case. A two party system just cannot work, at least until the carpet is lifted, the cupboard of skeletons aired before things can settle down to a new normal. Only then can a multi party system go ahead in a truly democratic way.
This looks unlikely and a one party system is still the only way, the best way to go forward. But a one party system must not be of another political hue. It must be the same ruling party. A one party system that can work is a one party belonging to the same ruling party, not just any one party. Two parties are good, one party best.
All these we have to thank our one party political system. We can get it so far because of a one party dominant political system. If we have a two party system or multi party political system, we will be in a quagmire like many third world countries. But we persevered in a non communist, non dictatorial, non autocratic one party democratic system. And it works.
And this one party system must go on. Anyone talking about a two party or multi party system is talking about ruining the good things and the good life here. The alternative parties have made advances in the last GE. And it is likely to gain more seats in future GEs. But can they really help and make our country better? Will they be competitive and yet cooperative with the ruling party? Will they be asking embarrassing questions that they should not be asking to make the ruling party look bad in the eyes of the people?
Definitely not. There are too many things that happened over the last few decades that need answers. The people are fed up and wanted to know what is happening, the truths that have yet to be told. Just by asking these questions would put the opposition MPs in a bad light, that they are destructive, trying to score political points. And when the questions get to a stage of being more than just an irritation, would the ruling party say that it is part of the political process, that all the questions were belated and should have been asked long ago and the answers given? Or would the ruling party ride the high horse of rough shod over the opposition party MPs and harden its position?
The latter is likely to be the case. A two party system just cannot work, at least until the carpet is lifted, the cupboard of skeletons aired before things can settle down to a new normal. Only then can a multi party system go ahead in a truly democratic way.
This looks unlikely and a one party system is still the only way, the best way to go forward. But a one party system must not be of another political hue. It must be the same ruling party. A one party system that can work is a one party belonging to the same ruling party, not just any one party. Two parties are good, one party best.
9/14/2011
China helping the ingrates!
The US and its European partners have been challenging and questioning China's sincerity as a responsible superpower. Bloomberg has just reported that China will be extending a helping hand to Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal and also investment bank Morgan Stanley to overcome their financial crises. China was also instrumental in helping the US tied over their own financial crisis in 2008. And who caused all the crises?
The question is whether these ingrates would turnaround to bite China after they have been nursed to health by China's financial assistance. While the US is running around farting, and only offer words, the Chinese are going to unload its cash hoards to these crippled nations.
So, who is really the irresponsible one?
The question is whether these ingrates would turnaround to bite China after they have been nursed to health by China's financial assistance. While the US is running around farting, and only offer words, the Chinese are going to unload its cash hoards to these crippled nations.
So, who is really the irresponsible one?
Notable Quotes by Zaqy Mohamad
‘Mr Zaqy Mohamad, MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC and member of the PAP New Media Sub-Committee, said he's also seeing more Singaporeans "frustrated" by what they deem as "misinformation" online.’
I think the safest place for readers who want to read only the truth instead of misinformation will be the main media. These are official and professional news media whose articles are written by professionals who took great pride and integrity in their work and would double and triple check their work for accuracy and truth before publishing them.
All thinking people who are hungry for the truth and cannot figure out what is truth, untruth, misinformation, propaganda, half truths etc should just read the main media for their own safety. And for the unthinking, where else is the safest place to read the truth without having to think?
PS. Now that I am telling the official truth, I hope my blog will be classified as safe for reading and those who want to read only the truth and not misinformation will come visiting: )
I think the safest place for readers who want to read only the truth instead of misinformation will be the main media. These are official and professional news media whose articles are written by professionals who took great pride and integrity in their work and would double and triple check their work for accuracy and truth before publishing them.
All thinking people who are hungry for the truth and cannot figure out what is truth, untruth, misinformation, propaganda, half truths etc should just read the main media for their own safety. And for the unthinking, where else is the safest place to read the truth without having to think?
PS. Now that I am telling the official truth, I hope my blog will be classified as safe for reading and those who want to read only the truth and not misinformation will come visiting: )
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