> Gel wrote: > Why not use the folks in Cuba, or Venezuela as an example of countries > being demonised because they dare to tread a different path?
Cuba is a dictatorship. That means Castro has chosen their "path", not the people. And Castro is a man who executed 1000 school teachers in a soccer field. So if by "tread a different path" you mean "create a military dictatorship and execute anyone who disagrees with you" then, yes, Cuba should most definitely be demonised. The leader of Venezuela has looked to Castro for support and friendship. Any leader that is looking to align himself with a mass murderer should obviously be demonised. > And the US is best buddies with China. You're right - in this area the US is a complete hypocrite. The US and China are economically co-dependent: The US needs China to finance its spending and China needs the US to buy it's goods (with Chinese money) to expand its economy. That is, China lends the US money to buy it's goods and the US happily borrows the money (billions per day). Interest rates in the US continue to increase (quadrupled in past 18 months), yet inflation remains in check. Why?? Because China continues to lend us piles of money to absorb to rate increase. The business world calls it a vendor-finance relationship. For example, you lend somebody money at below market rates to buy your products. It's a good deal for you because you sell more products PLUS get interest. It's a good deal for them because they get the money for a lower rate. The danger is that the risk profile of your company increases if this game is overplayed. Think ENRON. (Thus one of my reasons for feeling the US economy is risky right now. Sam, by contrast, feels there is no increase risk due to this co-dependence) So, yes, the US is a hypocrite, but so is the world. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Protect your mail server with built in anti-virus protection. It's not only good for you, it's good for everybody. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=39 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:187271 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
