Posted on 11/18/2006 12:19:09 PM PST by Osage Orange
Money talks, but American dollars shout
November 12, 2006
Dear Mr. Berko: I recently returned from my first foreign posting in Turkey and I was amazed at the anti-U.S. mood of the people. But in May 2005, just before I left, you advised me to buy 125 shares of the closed-end Turkish Investment Fund, which I did at $14.75, and sold it when I returned this March at $28. It's now $17.05 . Should I buy it back?>p?
I know this second question isn't a stock question, but why do so many people in the world hate the U.S.? Sometimes I was afraid to step outside my workplace because I could feel the hate. I thought we were helping these people. What do we do wrong? If they hate us, why do they all covet the U.S. dollar?
T.E., Aurora
Dear T.E.: At least two or three readers ask me that question each month, so I reckon it's about time I respond. Meanwhile, don't buy back that Turkish Investment fund. The Turkish economy is beginning to founder and some observers think the radical Islamists in Turkey will suffocate the country in the next few years.
Money is the universal language, which is understood by every culture in every society. Because people share this column on the Internet, I've communicated with educated readers all over the world. These folks have investments in our market and while some suggest that "love makes the world go round," I can tell you from experience it's money that makes the world go round. It's the U.S. dollar, not the riyal, yen or peso that people use to measure their wealth. Heck, even the value of a barrel of oil is measured in U.S. dollars, as is an ounce of gold.
However, many of the folks with whom I talk believe this may not last much longer. They think our government believes its manifest destiny is to convince the world that the "Anglo-Saxon race," its form of democracy, ideas and policies are naturally superior. Around the time of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Congress began to keep report cards on other nations. If those countries fail to earn a passing grade, Congress will use sanctions to make them kneel.
Most educated people from South America, Europe or the Middle East know this is true. Some suspect this is our way of atoning for several hundred years of black slavery.
Congress keeps a detailed score of human rights, political, social and economic abuses of every country on the globe. We judge whether other countries allow their citizens the same freedoms and opportunities we do. If not, we threaten them with economic or political sanctions. How would you feel if France told the U.S. it must abolish the death penalty or it would forbid imports of American steel?
We grade other countries on their respect for religious freedom and insist they emulate our labor laws. We demand they limit their export of cheaper commodities like sugar, meat, oranges, wool, steel, ethanol, lumber, leather, etc. If not, Congress imposes political or economic sanctions. Congress withholds assistance from countries whose legal systems don't match our standards and limits trade with countries whose definitions of "free speech" are not as liberal as ours. Congress will use political sanctions against those countries that fail to promote our definition of democracy, that won't allow equal rights to women or accept our concept of a free press.
How would you feel if Japan insisted that we ban gun ownership in America or they would expel the American ambassador? Congress bans imports from countries using child labor, whose fishing nets do not use turtle extenders or that allow cock fighting. Congress tells other countries how to float their currencies, manage their health systems and their schools and insists on special investigations of airports and harbors. Gee whiz, can you imagine the uproar if Germany demanded to inspect our airports, railroad yards and harbors? Congress self-righteously sets itself as enforcer, judge and jury of other nations.
While some of these goals may be legitimate, we do not have the right to demand them of other nations. We don't have the right to force our form of democracy on Iraq, to insist that China ban child labor, to demand South American farmers stop growing poppies, to police the harbors in South Africa, to demand religious freedom in Russia, to influence elections in Venezuela or require Vietnam to limit the hours of its workday.
Congress, Republicans, Democrats, our religious organizations and corporate America do not understand the seething resentment this has nurtured aboard. We are so convinced of our superiority that we cannot see the clouds for the rain. And the tolerance of other cultures is being strained.
Please address your financial questions to Malcolm Berko, P.O. Box 1416, Boca Raton, FL 33429 or e-mail him at malber(at)adelphia.net.
FRegards,
"recently returned from my first foreign posting in Turkey and I was amazed at the anti-U.S. mood of the people. "
I was shocked at how anti-US New Zealand was when I was there last year. Always thought of them as a lot more friendly to us but a lot of the people I met over there were quick to blame America for everything wrong in the world and were not shy about telling me about it. I expect that in places like France and the Middle East but didn't expect it over there. That said the people, while they had a real dislike for our country, were polite on a personal level and i've never been to a prettier country. I'd go back again in a heartbeat.
Things have changed.....no doubt.
I think they do...about 4 times a week, don't they?
France...the land of the cheese-eating surrender monkey's.
The heck with France.....
Malcolm: Is it true your property taxes are going to increase 100% this year? Is this equitable? Is it just? Do you think it's right?And just how much responsiblity for this fiasco should be attributed to the former Insurance Commissioner of FL, Bill Nelson? Thank you in advance for your reply.
People are right to hate us. We beat the good guys in World War I, World War II and the Cold War. And now we are at it again, beating good guys like Hussein, bin Laden and Zarqawi.
Congress withholds assistance from countries whose legal systems don't match our standards and limits trade with countries whose definitions of "free speech" are not as liberal as ours.
Here is how it actual is:
Congress withholds money taken from Ameican citizens at the point of a gun and used to entice other countries to emulate our system from countries whose legal systems don't match our standards and limits trade with countries whose definitions of "free speech" are not as liberal as ours.
Yeah...pretty much.
I've posted to some turkeys. They usually demonstrate their appreciation for my witty, insightful comments by insulting me.
Consider yourself lucky they didn't peck you to death.....
If they believe that we think our race is superior, it is because they have been brainwashed by the leftist media and academia into a cartoonish view of Americans.
Around the time of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Congress began to keep report cards on other nations. If those countries fail to earn a passing grade, Congress will use sanctions to make them kneel.
The very same leftist media and academia is behind that sort of international activism.
How would you feel if France told the U.S. it must abolish the death penalty or it would forbid imports of American steel?
Who cares?
Congress withholds assistance from countries whose legal systems don't match our standards and limits trade with countries whose definitions of "free speech" are not as liberal as ours.
Doncha just love the quotes around "free speech"?
Congress, Republicans, Democrats, our religious organizations and corporate America do not understand the seething resentment this has nurtured aboard. We are so convinced of our superiority that we cannot see the clouds for the rain. And the tolerance of other cultures is being strained.
Baloney! They hate us because they have been programmed to hate us. Moron.
What this maroon fails to grasp is that if we didn't do everything they hate us for, they would hate us for not doing it.
Berserko Berko's...been around a long time. Never realized what a fool he was...
You and me both. I have come to avoid international political discussions... oh, how I loathe them...
APf
Yeah, all of our "friends" (and enemies) would have been MUCH happier under the Nazis and the Japanese. Or the Soviet Union. They would have given them SO much more freedom than they have today under the ruthless USA rule. Well, if they get their way, they will be have the Muzzles in charge. They will provide even MORE freedom to these folks than they have today.
Some suspect this is our way of atoning for several hundred years of black slavery.
for an accountant this guy can't add worth diddley...
say 1700 to 1865....how is that several hundred years
So I take it you don't want the money then?
Fine by me.
Regards,
GtG
Gobble, Gobble!
(Happy Thanksgiving!)
;^D
I was always taught that the Civil War served as our country's atonement for slavery. I guess that teaching went out with new math.
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