tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102429195693595750.post3168212518376740608..comments2024-03-22T05:15:17.042+02:00Comments on Sudden Debt: The World's Banzai! MomentHellasioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03564511281240682625noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102429195693595750.post-62956122111046532292011-03-30T06:15:04.391+03:002011-03-30T06:15:04.391+03:00The whole catastrophe, and the handling of this, b...The whole catastrophe, and the handling of this, by an "advanced" country like Japan, is quite surprising, perhaps less so in the oily wake of British Petroleum's utter incompetence in the Gulf of Mexico. Now it seems, like the bank bailouts, the company that runs the Japanese power plant will be taken over by the government. These several examples cast doubt on the current Koolaid the right-wing is selling, i.e. privatize everything and all will be well. No, all will be several order of magnitudes worse, due to corruption and lack of regulation.<br /><br />Again, this is surprising, given the former technical and industrial prowess of Japan - contrast this with the recent mining disaster in Chile. Different story entirely, but no less complex, perhaps even more so, but a happy ending, because thankfully, the Chileans had proper safety systems in place, and executed the rescue flawlessly. Note this is a government-run main, the Chileans, having the smarts not to privatize everything and follow the disastrous Milton Friedman Shock Therapy model.<br /><br />Jared Diamond lauds Japan in his book "Collapse" for their careful forestry management among other forward thinking practices. I think he should take another look, perhaps in a future edition, because it now seems they are certainly in areas.<br /><br />Finally, it is interesting to look at Japan's debt situation, and compare their current state with the U.S. We have a similar aging population, similar former strong industrial base, educated workforce, innovative companies. Will the U.S. follow a similar path, it's infrastructure crumbling as it squanders hard earned taxpayer dollars in the quagmires of 2 or 3 wars, bailing out wall street, and then turning around and telling the people that uncle sam is broke, and can't pay the salaries and insurance for teachers? Sadly, I think we are headed in this direction. A giant rice field for China.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102429195693595750.post-24527714206215044442011-03-28T08:23:27.447+03:002011-03-28T08:23:27.447+03:00There is no reasonable way for Japan to exploit mo...There is no reasonable way for Japan to exploit most renewable energy sources. Wind/Solar require large land area's which is in very short supply in Japan. The population density means that there is very little "roof" area per person to pursue solar on a individual level. Bio Fuel, except a small amount that could be gained from vegetable waste is also a non-starter due to arable land limitations. Geo-thermal is possible but there is evidence that large-scale exploitation may increase the likelihood of earthquakes -- not something the Japanese are willing to risk I bet. It all comes down to land area per-capita in Japan which is a serious limitation to most renewable energy sources.<br /><br />Short of sending thier economy back to pre-1850 times, I don't see how they could have an energy mix much different than what they have -- with today's technology.Attitude_Checkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02805195736586812334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102429195693595750.post-54907816472496232712011-03-19T21:02:28.150+02:002011-03-19T21:02:28.150+02:00I'm sure you'll like this quote re: nuclea...I'm sure you'll like this quote re: nuclear energy Hells:<br /><br />"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." ~ Richard Feynmancamabronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10024146459457965038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102429195693595750.post-36117925385611767332011-03-19T04:21:41.137+02:002011-03-19T04:21:41.137+02:00The last chart is scary as hellThe last chart is scary as hellintrinsicvaluehttp://theintrinsicvalue.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102429195693595750.post-71931535683028825562011-03-18T16:53:11.162+02:002011-03-18T16:53:11.162+02:00Someone needs to invent Cold Fusion.Someone needs to invent Cold Fusion.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13734232620762960906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102429195693595750.post-48426458865830529662011-03-18T14:19:00.765+02:002011-03-18T14:19:00.765+02:00The yen strengthened on speculation that capital f...The yen strengthened on speculation that capital flows will go INTO Japan, as companies and individuals liquidate foreign holdings, exchange them for yen and use the money for reconstruction.<br /><br />I don't know if the "revolution" will, in fact, start in Japan. But if it does, it will be pursued relentlessly. Once the Japanese set a target they will stop at nothing until they achieve it. I know it's a tainted example, but think "kamikaze".Hellasioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03564511281240682625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4102429195693595750.post-23469814818787298492011-03-18T12:41:26.993+02:002011-03-18T12:41:26.993+02:00What's your take Hell on the movement of the Y...What's your take Hell on the movement of the Yen over the past few days, and the G7/BoJ responses to it? (I don't really understand this stuff, and wish i didn't feel the need to!)<br /><br />I don't have any personal knowledge of Japan, but I wonder how their demographics will impact upon the path of reconstruction? Will new ideas emerge from a demographic 'top heavy' society? Can revolutions (because that is what you're talking about) come about in an ageing society, where the desire to maintain the status quo may run stronger than the need for change, a need for change required for the benefit of the smaller,younger,less powerful generations? (see Egypt/Tunisia)FrontierPsychiatristhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12505960283771662546noreply@blogger.com