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Title: Thoughts from Taiwan
Source:
Dissenting Opinions
URL Source: http://jwpegler.blogspot.com/2011/08/thoughts-from-taiwan.html
Published: Aug 19, 2011
Author: Eric Blankenburg
Post Date: 2011-08-19 08:36:27 by jwpegler
Keywords: None
Views: 86941
Comments: 163
I spent the last week in Taipei, Taiwan visiting a customer.
I've been all over Asia, but this was my first trip to Taiwan, other than catching a connecting flight at the airport.
I'm sitting here at Taiwan International Airport waiting for my 12 hour flight to Seattle, reflecting on my week.
I love Taiwan and its people. The city is on the move. People are hustling and working hard. Yet, they are extraordinarily friendly and caring.
Last night we went to Tower 101, which is one of the tallest buildings in the world. Until very recently, it also had the fastest elevator in the world. We climbed from the 5th floor to the observation deck on the 89th floor in a matter of seconds. The view was spectacular.
Taipei 101 is designed to withstand typhoon winds and earthquake tremors. Inside the building there is a 660 metric ton steel pendulum (my pic is on the left) which acts as a mass damper that sways to offset movements in the building caused by strong gusts of wind. It's the largest mass damper in the world and the building is an engineering marvel.
Afterwards, we had diner at a great restaurant that specializes in dumplings.
We were sitting at diner, looking at all of the energy in the city, the wonderful people, and everything that they've accomplished over the last 50 years. I couldn't help but think that if Chiang Kai Shek didn't lead 2 million people off of the mainland, all of these people and what they've accomplished wouldn't be here because the communists would have murdered their parents and grandparents for rebelling just as the communists murdered so many others.
Our thoughts quickly drifted to the problems we face in America. Although the American left haven't turned into mass murders (yet), they are killing the country nevertheless.
In Taiwan and the rest of Asia, you are expected to work and take care of yourself. If you can't, you rely on your family. In America (and Europe) the government's welfare system has destroyed the family by replacing it with a faceless, uncaring bureaucracy. They've also replaced our core values of hard work and responsibility with sloth and dependency. So, you've been on unemployment insurance for 2 years???!!! No problem, Obama and his minions will let you ride out the rest of your miserable life at the taxpayer's expense.
At one point last night I told my colleague that we should take every big mouth leftist in the U.S., and dump them off in Taiwan, the Philippines or elsewhere in Asia without a penny in their pocket. If they can manage to survive a year, both they and America would be better off when they come back. I seriously doubt that many of them could survive.
It's getting close to boarding time. I am so glad to becoming back to America with another shining example of how the American values of hardwork, thrift, and personal responsibility translate into success in every society. It is so sad that many Americans are losing those very values.
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Businesses created a remarkable improvement within industry at one time in America before government DE-REGULATION took the lead and allowed for exportation of jobs and the creation of shoddy Walmart priced goods as the norm.
Blame the two party system in America. I haven't voted for any charlatan in either of the two large political parties for about 30 years.
Assuming Ron Paul wins the Republican nomination, I shall vote for him in the general election; my mind is already made up, too. So, he shall be the first in decades of voting that garnish my vote from either of these two headed.
If RP doesn't win the GOP nomination, I shall vote for a Libertarian candidate which is typical for myself.
#52. To: buckeroo (#9)
If I were you, I would modify your preface statement and congratulate jwpegler for his hard work to land a contract while making a few bucks.
Pegleleg posted this thread but seems mysteriously absent from it's discussion. Hmmmmm, I wonder why? My bet... he has everyone but you on Bozo. Since he has me on Bozo I will not ping him.
He's another one like you who can't define or even cite an example of a 'free market'.
#53. To: buckeroo (#51)
blame the two party system in America. I haven't voted for any charlatan in either of the two large political parties for about 30 years.
Destro's call to action: **Standing in our way are most Republicans and some Democrats (that seems to be the ratio) who still carry water for the oligarchs that stole our fortunes away. How long will this go on before we correct their error?**
With the economy still in the dumper -- maybe permanently? -- and full-time jobs becoming as scarce as rain during a drought, huge percentages of Americans have had their (misplaced) faith in the American dream shaken, the upper-middle-class consumerist lifestyle is exposed as a mirage for anybody who plays by the rules. Capitalism and the America that embraced it as a way of life is now and forever more a failure. It does me good to know that the generation that voted in Reagan and his ideology will see their America die from that ideology before their very own eyes and knowing they had a hand in its destruction.
#54. To: mininggold, jwpegler (#52)
Pegleleg posted this thread but seems mysteriously absent from it's discussion. Hmmmmm, I wonder why? My bet... he has everyone but you on Bozo. Since he has me on Bozo I will not ping him.
You just manifested an issue that I can not understand. You are devolving the thread towards archaic name-calling while not giving the poster any benefit of the doubt. jwpegler has said he got back from his week long Taiwan trip. Do you know what a trip like that costs in terms of planning, organizing, dollar costs, the strain of meetings and negotiations to win a contract? And contrary to some viewpoints, the heads of some of these companies don't speak English; there is a significant amount of discussion in Taiwanese lingo which keeps an American in the dark.
It is a 12-14 hour trip from Taiwan and even IF he was in 1st class, he would be exhausted coming back to his home; and while he was gone for a week, he also had to deal with his company/personal matters WHILE away. It isn't a luxury vacation at all. It is draining and stressful event with no guarantee of an outcome.
Shame on you, mininggold; you don't understand business at all especially for an awesome entrepreneur such as jwpegler right here on our own forum. Why don't you ask him questions that are meaningful as opposed to being accusatory in nature and structure? You could learn something from him.
He's another one like you who can't define or even cite an example of a 'free market'.
How do you know what I define? Have you ever asked before?
#55. To: buckeroo, mininggold, jwpegler (#54)
jwpegler was called out on his Bull Shit (trying to BS us into thinking Taiwan as a limited govt paradise in contrast to regulation/welfare state America).
With the economy still in the dumper -- maybe permanently? -- and full-time jobs becoming as scarce as rain during a drought, huge percentages of Americans have had their (misplaced) faith in the American dream shaken, the upper-middle-class consumerist lifestyle is exposed as a mirage for anybody who plays by the rules. Capitalism and the America that embraced it as a way of life is now and forever more a failure. It does me good to know that the generation that voted in Reagan and his ideology will see their America die from that ideology before their very own eyes and knowing they had a hand in its destruction.
#56. To: buckeroo (#54)
You just manifested an issue that I can not understand. You are devolving the thread towards archaic name-calling while not giving the poster any benefit of the doubt. jwpegler has said he got back from his week long Taiwan trip. Do you know what a trip like that costs in terms of planning, organizing, dollar costs, the strain of meetings and negotiations to win a contract? And contrary to some viewpoints, the heads of some of these companies don't speak English; there is a significant amount of discussion in Taiwanese lingo which keeps an American in the dark.
Sounds like jwPegler is just another one of your 'monikers'.
#57. To: Godwinson (#53)
Because I can not and will not view your hotlink, I have no idea what you are talking about. Just post an ASCII HTML link. I can not see graphics either. It is the way it is and shall never change for myself until I decide to remove the filters blocking the same.
#58. To: buckeroo (#57)
http://libertysflame.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=23324
With the economy still in the dumper -- maybe permanently? -- and full-time jobs becoming as scarce as rain during a drought, huge percentages of Americans have had their (misplaced) faith in the American dream shaken, the upper-middle-class consumerist lifestyle is exposed as a mirage for anybody who plays by the rules. Capitalism and the America that embraced it as a way of life is now and forever more a failure. It does me good to know that the generation that voted in Reagan and his ideology will see their America die from that ideology before their very own eyes and knowing they had a hand in its destruction.
#59. To: mininggold (#56)
I doubt if anyone can use terms of my own meaningful speech capabilities/capacity other than myself. Still, you missed my parting quip based upon your quote and I shall recite it again for you:
He's another one like you who can't define or even cite an example of a 'free market'.
How do you know what I define? Have you ever asked before?
I am fairely steadfast in my opinions until proven otherwise. But, you can't answer a simple question.
#60. To: buckeroo (#59) (Edited)
I am fairely steadfast in my opinions until proven otherwise. But, you can't answer a simple question.
Yes I have asked you for an example.
Excuse me if I'm not johnny on the spot for one of those of those prompt replies. Try to keep this straight, I'm not one of your flunkies, and I'm doing this in between doing one of those long forgotten, old fashioned conservative behaviors ..canning my own preserves.
#61. To: mininggold, buckeroo (#60)
.canning my own preserves
Moonshine! Watch out for the revenuers.
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
Obama's watch stopped on 24 May 2008, but he's been too busy smoking crack to notice.
#62. To: mininggold (#60)
Yes I have asked you for an example.
WHOA Nellie! Here is your earlier claim:
He's another one like you who can't define or even cite an example of a 'free market'.
I asked later questions about your knowledge of my own considerations because you don't know them. Why? Because I infrequently share them and you never asked. Yet, you assumed that you know my perspectives.
Now you say you asked for an "example." Where is your own request ANYWHERE or at ANYTIME?
Excuse me if I'm not johnny on the spot for one of those of those prompt replies. Try to keep this straight, I'm not one of your flunkies, and I'm doing this in between doing one of those long forgotten, old fashioned conservative behaviors ..canning my own preserves.
Nope. Answer my questions in post#54; surly you can do this while canning your preserves. Don't play the game of dodge ball with me unless you want to win.
#63. To: buckeroo (#62)
Mininggold: There are no free markets nor have there ever been.Buckeroo: That is only a matter of relative degree. By the way, not all banks are federally chartered and did not have to comply with federal CRA rules. Then again, those same banks are often considered "shady" or "risky" to investors. They have their place though in an otherwise free market.
But we are discussing CRA requirements that are ludicrous and were the reason for the issues we see today for added federal stimulus or less into the economy.
In fact, that is the "tug-of-war" on this thread. More stimulus or less stimulus? Both John Keynes and Arthur Laffer are idiots and they are somewhat at opposites poles of thought.
buckeroo posted on 2011-06-04 12:51:16 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
Here's an example of a statement I made and your waffling around it.
#64. To: buckeroo (#62)
Nope. Answer my questions in post#54; surly you can do this while canning your preserves. Don't play the game of dodge ball with me unless you want to win.
I'm curious. Why aren't you upset with Jwpeglers obvious refusal to discuss the issues HE presents on his own thread.
Mr 'There's no such thing as Mail Order Brides" Pegler should be able to be all over this thread, instead of evidently needing you to speak for him. Is he always this dependent on others to do his work for him?
#65. To: mininggold (#63)
Thank you. Now, we have a basis for your perspective. I suppose I did not fully elucidate how the federal government "CRA" program has literally destroyed America.
What happened was the federal government maintained a method or continuing trend upon local banks to increase an arbitrary number of otherwise ineligible loan applicants for business and home loan for LOAN APPROVAL PURPOSES.
This same CRA program interfered with local bank FED reserve requirements which in turn created new markets to buy or purchase those same loans.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN AMERICA! The federal government boosted from 1973 a proportion of loans from 2% to almost 50% of approved loans.
That is how America went bankrupt. It was the federal government creating the false promise of home/business ownership.
#66. To: mininggold (#64)
I already explained the probable reason(s) in post#54. Feel free to read it again.
#67. To: hondo68 (#61) (Edited)
Moonshine! Watch out for the revenuers.
I just knew you could put that water from your pristine spring to good use.
#68. To: buckeroo (#66) (Edited)
I already explained the probable reason(s) in post#54. Feel free to read it again.
So, markets would be free if only everything and everyone in the world would not participate. Okay I get it now.
BTW what names did I call you or the Mail order bride denier.
#69. To: buckeroo (#65)
I suppose I did not fully elucidate how the federal government "CRA" program has literally destroyed America.What happened was the federal government maintained a method or continuing trend upon local banks to increase an arbitrary number of otherwise ineligible loan applicants for business and home loan for LOAN APPROVAL PURPOSES
The CRA loan program was created at the behest of the banking industry, so just put the blame where it belongs, on the greedy unethical behaviors of all the financial participants.
#70. To: buckeroo, miningold (#65)
That is how America went bankrupt. It was the federal government creating the false promise of home/business ownership.
this is complete bunk, the CRA didn't cause the financial crisis, what caused the financial crisis was an unfettered CDS market and banks that realized profit potential in selling mortgages for bundling into CDSs. You also had a weak SEC in the 2000's that allowed brokerage firms to borrow up to 30x their capital.
80% of subprime mortgages were made by mortgage brokers that weren't subject to federal oversight.
Tagline for sale - inquire within
#71. To: go65 buckeroo (#70)
this is complete bunk, the CRA didn't cause the financial crisis, what caused the financial crisis was an unfettered CDS market and banks that realized profit potential in selling mortgages for bundling into CDSs. You also had a weak SEC in the 2000's that allowed brokerage firms to borrow up to 30x their capital.80% of subprime mortgages were made by mortgage brokers that weren't subject to federal oversight
War has already hashed these facts out with Bucky, but Bucky seems stuck to his false premise like glue.
#72. To: buckeroo (#40)
lucysmom: You can't be serious.Bucky: Sur le conttrary mon ami je suis cadavérique sérieux. (Quite the contrary, I am deathly serious) No other nation has ever undertaken the task of WORLDCOP as the USA has performed EVER! The costs have been enormous, too. There isn't one significant advantage to this excessive empire building for America, either.
Your points are all correct, and well thought-out.
But... You might as well be speaking Greek to her. She's utterly impervious to reality.
When she gets spanked too bad, she flips over to mininggold, so she can have "conversations" with herself.
Sad, really.
The two sides in America are people who work for a living versus people who vote for their living.
#73. To: Capitalist Eric (#72) (Edited)
When she gets spanked too bad, she flips over to mininggold, so she can have "conversations" with herself.
It's funny to see how you Asperger's explain the world around you, most of which you obviously can't comprehend.
Does it please you to find out that your bestest buddy here on this forum is probably another Bucky figment?
#74. To: buckeroo (#8)
if someone wants to buy a car from the US ($20,000) that same vehicle will have a tax levied at over 100% of the sticker value
They do the same thing in Singapore -- a 100% tariff on cars. They do it because they are a small island nation with a mountainous terrain. Taipei hugs the coast between the mountain and the ocean.
Almost everyone in Taipei rides a scooter. Scooters are parked everywhere. The city would grid to a halt if they were all in cars.
This small group of terrorists [Tea Party members] have made it impossible to spend any money. -- Mike Doyle (D-PA)
#75. To: Biff Tannen (#19) (Edited)
Where did you go?
12 hour plane ride. 1 hour to get through U.S. customs. 1 hour drive home. Diner with my family. 10 hours of sleep. Shower. Took the cloths to the dry cleaners. Stopped at the store to get some beer.
That's where I went. Is there anything else you'd like to know about my schedule?
Answer Godwinson's points
Godwinson is on my bozo list. I see don't see his posts. He's not smart enough to engage in a constructive dialog. There is no point in responding to him.
This small group of terrorists [Tea Party members] have made it impossible to spend any money. -- Mike Doyle (D-PA)
#76. To: buckeroo (#54) (Edited)
even IF he was in 1st class
Premier Economy on Eva Airlines.
No one but government politicians, senior government bureaucrats, Wall Street crooks (who are in cahoots with the politicians), and Hollywood moguls can afford 1st Class any more.
This small group of terrorists [Tea Party members] have made it impossible to spend any money. -- Mike Doyle (D-PA)
#77. To: jwpegler (#76)
Just keep in mind that a lot of us wish you well on your potential contract with Taiwan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts contained in the article.
#78. To: buckeroo (#40)
No other nation has ever undertaken the task of WORLDCOP as the USA has performed EVER! The costs have been enormous, too. There isn't one significant advantage to this excessive empire building for America, either.
Yep. Vietnam, Lebanon, Kosovo, Mogadishu, Afghanistan, Iraq, and pretty soon Libya and Syria too... The amount of money spent, the lives lost, the lives ruined... for what? Nothing.
Fortunately, people are starting to get it. Thank Ron Paul and quite frankly over the last 20 years Pat Buchanan for that.
But we still have a long way to go.
This small group of terrorists [Tea Party members] have made it impossible to spend any money. -- Mike Doyle (D-PA)
#79. To: buckeroo (#77)
Just keep in mind that a lot of us wish you well on your potential contract with Taiwan.
Thank you.
This small group of terrorists [Tea Party members] have made it impossible to spend any money. -- Mike Doyle (D-PA)
#80. To: Gooberlosertion aka liar and libTURD whore (#2)
You do know the forces of dictator Chiang Kai Shek carried out a generations long "White Terror" on the population - which lasted longer and killed more people per capita than the Maoist purges.
You foul lying libTURD whore.
NOBODY beat your Chairman Mao's genocide on their own people during the 20th century whore.
NOBODY.
You LIE without pause, and obviously, you are a deeply stoopid person.
In fact you are "invincible" in your gibbering libTURD ignorance, you pitiful libTURD creep.
You libTURD SCUM are incapable of truth.
libTURD scum.
SCUM
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
#81. To: jwpegler (#76)
No one but government politicians, senior government bureaucrats, Wall Street crooks (who are in cahoots with the politicians), and Hollywood moguls can afford 1st Class any more.
TV game shows always used to announce that a contestant winning a vacation would be flying "first class" to whatever destination they had won a vacation to. For a number of years now, I have noticed that has been switched to coach.
I guess game shows can't afford first class accommodations anymore, even while giving away thousands and thousands of dollars otherwise.
Obama has played at being a president while enjoying the perks … golf, insanely expensive vacations at tax-payer expense. He has ignored the responsibilities of the job; no plans, no budgets, no alternatives … just finger pointing; making him a complete failure as a president
#82. To: go65 (#70)
what caused the financial crisis was an unfettered CDS market and banks that realized profit potential in selling mortgages for bundling into CDSs.
And the CRA was the very impetus for all of that.
It's like striking a match that burns down a forest and claiming the match striking had nothing to do with it; it was the fire.
Obama has played at being a president while enjoying the perks … golf, insanely expensive vacations at tax-payer expense. He has ignored the responsibilities of the job; no plans, no budgets, no alternatives … just finger pointing; making him a complete failure as a president
#83. To: jwpegler (#75)
I don't like anything over 4 hours anymore. If I can drive there in 10, I'll do that rather than fly.
:)
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Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here?
#84. To: jwpegler (#78)
Fortunately, people are starting to get it.
Hippies paved the way.
"...all of the equations in neoclassical economics are rubbish. The differential equations describe nothing. Economics is not about mathematics, it is about the human being." Sandeep Jaitly
#85. To: lucysmom (#84)
Hippies paved the way.
Wrong. Yesterday's hippies are today's establishment.
They (and you) are the problem.
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HA! The tea-party, INDEED! They're so . . . ah . . . common
#86. To: Get Outta Dodge! (#85)
Yesterday's hippies are today's establishment.
Hippies are todays older generation, not necessarily the establishment. George Bush types are more of the establishment ilk; I doubt he was ever a hippie.
"...all of the equations in neoclassical economics are rubbish. The differential equations describe nothing. Economics is not about mathematics, it is about the human being." Sandeep Jaitly
#87. To: lucysmom, Get Outta Dodge! (#86)
Hippies and hippie culture in academia produced today's computer world.
So called conservatives are narrow minded do nothings and know nothings.
With the economy still in the dumper -- maybe permanently? -- and full-time jobs becoming as scarce as rain during a drought, huge percentages of Americans have had their (misplaced) faith in the American dream shaken, the upper-middle-class consumerist lifestyle is exposed as a mirage for anybody who plays by the rules. Capitalism and the America that embraced it as a way of life is now and forever more a failure. It does me good to know that the generation that voted in Reagan and his ideology will see their America die from that ideology before their very own eyes and knowing they had a hand in its destruction.
#88. To: Godwinson (#87)
WE OWE IT ALL TO THE HIPPIES
Agreed.
We should have busted more heads in '68 Chicago.
#89. To: socalv8 (#88)
We should have busted more heads in '68 Chicago.
We? You mean Democrats? You are a Democrat?
Also, hippies were not involved in politics much - they advocated dropping out of the system.
In any case, the right wing is for losers - they still don't get science and believe in primitive superstitions.
With the economy still in the dumper -- maybe permanently? -- and full-time jobs becoming as scarce as rain during a drought, huge percentages of Americans have had their (misplaced) faith in the American dream shaken, the upper-middle-class consumerist lifestyle is exposed as a mirage for anybody who plays by the rules. Capitalism and the America that embraced it as a way of life is now and forever more a failure. It does me good to know that the generation that voted in Reagan and his ideology will see their America die from that ideology before their very own eyes and knowing they had a hand in its destruction.
#90. To: lucysmom (#86)
George Bush types are more of the establishment ilk; I doubt he was ever a hippie.
ROFLMAO!!!
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HA! The tea-party, INDEED! They're so . . . ah . . . common
#91. To: Godwinson (#89)
they still don't get science and believe in primitive superstitions.
Note the diversity.
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