Furl - The ibdeditorials Archive

China Signs Bilateral Trade Pact With Colombia (Bloomberg)

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:40:09 GMT

As Nancy Pelosi and friends continue to paint Colombia as a pariah state, our rivals in world trade - Japan, Canada, Europe and now China have no such hangups. They're moving in on America's self-inflicted void and signing off on free trade and investment pacts with this glorious new market, a market made that way because of our tax dollars spent cleaning up Colombia. Our self-chosen reward for this is to pay 35% tariffs while Canadian, Japanese, Chinese and European goods sail in to Colombia duty free. These countries didn't pay a penny to help fix Colombia when it was flat on its back and didn't have markets. But now they're at Colombia's feet, begging for duty free entry. While American companies pay 35% tariffs! What a self-inflicted wound.

Japan Starts Free-Trade Talks With Colombia (Kyodo/TMC Net)

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:14:18 GMT

The big huge markets with wealthy consumers are right there at Colombia's feet, pleading for free trade. Japan, China, Europe, Canada, they all want a piece of Colombia's vibrant, dynamic economy, its growing middle class, its fine free market reforms. With one little exception: Nancy Pelosi's Congress, which is blocking a free trade pact with the U.S.'s best ally in Latin America. For everyone else, free trade is there. But not American companies. They get the 35%-tariff ball and chain while Europe, and others, which haven't done jack to help Colombia win its war, get to sail in duty-free. This is a self-inflicted wound. And you wonder why companies outsource.

Franken-Coleman Ballots: The Challenge (Minn Pub Radio)

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:57:59 GMT

Here's a fascinating slideshow of several ballots being challenged by Al Franken and Norm Coleman in the increasingly contentious and close recount of the ballots in Nov. 4's election. The two of them are separated now by less than 100 votes, and arguing over beauties like these. The site allows you to vote on which ones you would accept or reject if you were doing the counting.

India To Send Bigger Ship To Hit Somali Pirates (The Hindu)

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:09:58 GMT

You'd think that after two motherships were sunk by the Indian navy in the last week that the Somali pirates would know to never mess with India. Well, obviously, they haven't learned, so India's got a little surprise for them - heading their way and with a huge whitecapped wake as it gets ready to blow their sorry hides right out of the water. Some pirates only learn the hard way.

Canada & Colombia Sign Off On Free Trade Pact (Bbg)

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:16:28 GMT

While Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and the United Auto Workers puff and posture about not permitting free trade to drop tariffs on American goods going into Colombia, Canada just ate our lunch. Thanks a lot, Nance.

Amazingly Good Russia Navy Blog (Russian Navy Blog)

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:29:39 GMT

What is the Russian navy doing in the Gulf of Aden to hunt Somali pirates? The whole narrative of Russian thinking can be found in a series of translated articles, apparently by someone who's a buff of the Russian navy. The translations are superb and the commentary is excellent. See the whole thought line of what's going through Russia's mind in this blog here - which in fact has a lot about Russia's navy, not just Somalia.

Petrotyrants Face Gotterdammerung (The Guardian)

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:11:26 GMT

The world's principle petrotyrants - Russia, Iran, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, face big trouble now that the price of oil has fallen. They've chased investment out so there won't be any of that. They've shot their wads without saving any of it. They've created big welfare populations dependent on the government instead of hard work. They are now headed to hell in a handbasket.

Russia At The Edge Of Economic Collapse (Guardian)

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:00:28 GMT

The collapse in the price of oil, from $147 a barrel not too long ago to under $50 today, has blown a gaping hole in Russia's budget and may herald its government's demise. Russia remembers all to well what happened to it when oil collapsed last time, in 1998 on the Asia crisis. Putin vows to protect people's savings from the current crisis. But it's doubtful he knows how to do it. This is a big incoming one for Putin's regime.

Argentina Pockets The Private Pensions (CNN)

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:35:20 GMT

You work. You save. You put your money in your pension. And what does the government do in Argentina? It 'nationalizes' your pension, telling you what you'll be getting from them in your old-age retirement. This is one massive ripoff, and they've actually gotten away with it. Savers will no longer have control over their own accounts and may well not get anything at all from them, given the government's current overspending. Savers also lose their life insurance policies that come with these accounts and can no longer leave them to their heirs should they die early. This is a massive theft of savings and Argentines should be out on the streets protesting.

Mexican Emigration Drops 42% On Year (AP)

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:33:19 GMT

Despite a war on, Mexico is shipping sharply fewer illegals to our borders, not only because of the financial crisis, but because incomes are rising in Mexico and demography argues against new waves of immigration.