Tor Forde wrote, >> I would call it a part of the "Norwegian credo". We believe in >> investments, and are only comfortable when a large part of GNP is >> being invested. >> And to put a larger part of GNP into education will fit very well in >> with our Credo. This brings to mind an odd quirk in the North American mythology of investment. According to that mythology, the _ideal_ investment would be a one time only proposition -- a single outlay of funds would perpetually return dividends. Then, if one chooses to "re-invest" the dividends, one would be entitled forever after to compound interest on this ever-expanding "investment". Of course, few "investments" meet such a rigourous standard. Nevermind. The mythology takes care of that through the fantasy of portfolio management. Portfolio management is a fancy name for shopping. The promise of portfolio management is that the perpetual dividends on one's investment will be "earned" by careful shopping. What we end up with, of course, is an inversion of investment. The "investor" demands tribute as the price for not taking the accumulated -- and ever accumulating -- capital elsewhere. Maybe we could distinguish between the kind of real *investment* that Tor talks about and the North American, neo-liberal ideal of *inverstment*. Regards, Tom Walker ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Vancouver, B.C. [EMAIL PROTECTED] (604) 669-3286 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The TimeWork Web: http://www.vcn.bc.ca/timework/
