Sunday, November 28, 2010

他姐夫的姐夫的姐夫

“…哪怕他姐夫的姐夫的姐夫是李刚那么他都觉得自己不再和老百姓一词沾边了…”

Saturday, November 27, 2010

nz wealth distribution

There is an obvious link between income and asset acquisition. Unsurprisingly, people with higher incomes tend to have more assets.

But the relationship seems to begin at about $50,000 per annum. Below that level, households struggle and live hand-to-mouth.

As the median level of income for individuals is about $30,000, and the median for households is $50,000, half of the population are on incomes that make it difficult to save.

Some incomes advance with age, but many New Zealanders will never exceed the median income.

http://www.interest.co.nz/opinion/opinion-inequality-nz-why-wealth-accumulated-dangerous-way

Evolution: Darwin

very enlightening

Evolution: Darwin

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

县委书记怒吼:哪个当官的是干净的,有种你站出来 zt

一个纪委书记与河南作家郭一平一席谈,原话摘录:
物资局一个副局长,秘密派人到北京告状。无疑,别说跑到北京,就是跑到联合国,最后还得由当地解决。
    这就是中国目前信访体制的天然祸害——你告哪个单位,最后落到哪个单位为你解决;你告谁,最后落到谁为你解决;原发地在哪儿,解决也在哪儿。这就是中国“冤案累累”却解决不了的真正根源,也是层层举报腐败不仅没有结果反而遭遇打击报复的根子。
    上边不直接解决,推给下边,下边本身就是腐败的源头,也是冤案的制造者,解决个球!你敢重复上访,就该挨打,甚至被关了。
    闲话不说了,单说这县委书记得知副局长告状的事,发了大脾气。是不是副局长告了这个县委书记?不是,他告的是这个县里县委副书记。
现在的官场上都是“狗练蛋”,肮脏事都扯在一块儿的。真告倒了一个人,得牵扯到100个人,一个县里官场几乎无人不小心,因此,大家都一个劲吹牛逼,没有人真正反腐败。若有一个人真心反腐败,就会遭遇到集体围攻,“被自杀”、“抑郁死”也是平常事儿。
    因为现在的腐败,都是集体腐败。如果官场上大家都干净,就只有你郭一平一个人腐败,那你根本就腐败不成,只有大家都腐败,你腐败起来才有安全感。官场上混的,大家都懂这个理儿。
    于是,现在的常态是,大家都腐败,互相包庇,互相支持,死保对方等于死保自己。在这方面,官场上都很讲“义气”,够哥们儿。县委书记要是在某个工程项目上,收钱1000万,在收钱之前,他会主动对开发商说:“这事儿,我一个人说了不算,得集体研究。还有张某某、王某某……你跟他们去说和说和,这样我的工作也好做。”聪明人不用多说,开发商就会把县委书记提到的这些人等一网打尽。反过来说,如果你县委书记“被窝子放屁——独吞”,好处一个人全占了,大家都盯着你,你还真没那个胆量!这些年落马的官员,都是一掂一串子,原因也在于此。
    话还得说回来。那天,县委召集各单位正副职,在县委小礼堂开会。讲到中间,谈到了维稳问题,县委书记忽然大发雷霆:“一个家庭吵吵闹闹,日子过不好;一个县里,大家互相捣鼓,工作也开展不好。最近,有人还到了北京去告状。我知道是谁,不点名了,你自己明白就是了。胡捣个啥?还不赶快写个辞职报告,还等着我们撵你下台吗?”(这个副局长当时正在台下坐着,满头大汗,战战兢兢,大家的目光聚焦在他的脸上。)县委书记依然怒气不息:“装个什么B,谁不知道谁呀?麻拉个一,谁说自己是干净的,有种就站出来!”会场寂静得能听见心跳声,没有一个人大声出气。
    县委书记说这话当然是有根据的。2005年,前任县委书记,还有一个副书记落马,被判刑。检察机关得知,全县80多个科级干部都给他们送钱买官。
    现在有人说,既然卖官者抓起来了,买官者为啥不往下查?问这话的就是外行了。
    举个例子吧,你郭一平卖官下台了,几十个人从你手里买了官帽。你一下台,来了郭二平、郭三平当县委书记也不会去查。为什么?我来问几个问题,你就明白了。
    其一,你郭二平、郭三平是如何当上的,你难道真的是干净的?
其二,你郭二平、郭三平当县委书记真的没有花钱?你花了钱,靠什么收回投资?也就是说,你不准备利用腐败收回投资?
其三,那郭一平当初为什么出事了?难道是因为买官卖官?
不是,那是他的官场关系链出现了断裂或松动之故也。
    什么是官场关系链呢?A当了大官,就会把B一帮子上提上去;B上去又把C一帮子提上去;C上去了,又把D一帮子提上去了……也就是说,一朝天子一朝臣,整个官场就是一个由人际关系织成的大网。这张网不是由“正义的追求、共同的理想”凝结成的,也不是在法律法规制约下组成的。这样,问题就出来了,他们之间为了利益,这个利益主要是钱、权、女人等,就会互相斗争。但他们对付百姓,却表现出惊人的一致性,团结起来“共同对民”,坑民害民忽悠民。其实,他们之间并没有一丝的平静。
    这你明白了吧,那郭一平当初被抓,不是因为买官卖官,也不是因为腐败,而是他的上游官场博弈的结果。说这话,一般人也许不信。我举个最简单的例子吧。
    原江苏徐州市委组织部长陆正方卖官,上百美女官员为了得到升迁同他上过床。只要是个人,不是个禽兽,脑子没问题,就会想:那组织部长只有对官员的举荐考察权,但没有决定权,2009年陆正方落马了,可那些掌握官员生杀予夺大权的幕后人是谁,有几个,为什么没有事儿?再说,陆正方任组织部长期间,都提拔了谁?提拔了多少?这些人,是不是像中组部部长李源潮说的那样“赔了夫人又折兵”?
    为此,矿业大学教授王培荣,列举了几十个明显的买官者,还是现任,都正干着。也点出了陆正方的上级,并且拿出了证据。可怜的是,王教授为了实名举报,丢了工作,时时处于危险之境,随时有生命之危。正当他准备绝食反腐败时(网上公开声明,若不查他所举报的腐败分子,于2010年10月绝食至死),江苏省才稍有些动静,安抚一下王教授。至于最后会不会查,查不查彻底,天知道!
    全国是不是只有徐州一地官场是这样呢?全国其它地方都是干净的吗?你自己想吧。
    官场上的肮脏事儿,八天八夜也讲不完,比黑社会还黑,比黑社会还神妙诡秘。外表看上去,一派升平景象。
    讲到这里,你该明白了,那郭二平、郭三平若上台了,决不会去查当初向郭一平买过官的人。因为他郭二平、郭三平们不是干净的,何不利用别人的把柄威慑众人?反过来说,他要是真一个劲查下去,也没他的好处。关系纵横,指不定会触动哪根官场神经,让他身败名裂。他何苦呢?经济上对县委书记有GDP考核指标,反腐败也没下任务,多一事不如少一事,他果真是吃饱撑的了?就说那省委书记们吧,薄书记打黑反腐败,全国那么多的省委书记咋不干?难道说,他们省里没有腐败,没有文强?
    反腐败,不重要,重要的是砸碎生产腐败官员的“流水生产线”。要砸碎这个生产线,就得象当年共产党打天下时用的一用即灵的“核武器”——发动群众,依靠群众,组织群众,让他们去选官,评官,决定官员的升降和去留。否则,说其它的,句句都是忽悠。贪官的“流水生产线”不除,你把中国官场的官员换完也不行,你把官杀完也不行。贪官固然可恨,但腐败的根子不在他们身上,而在于贪官生产线。
    当今官场腐败的程度,一般人不可想象——腐败到几乎无人不腐败,无官不腐败;腐败到已经没有人主持正义了,腐败到“李刚”这样的人,官场集体为他开脱而没人说句公道话的地步。除了百姓呐喊,还有什么?网民的呐喊,已经没人理了。网民的呐喊要真管用,那徐州市两年前就该官场地震了。
    现在,官场上容忍腐败分子,但容不下执政为民的好官,更容不下反腐败的官员。大家都是腐败分子,谁反腐败谁就是另类。陕西神木县委书记郭宝成搞12年免费教育以及全民免费医疗,已经成功了,全国人民正等着神木模式推向全国。没想,那些陕西官场上,禽兽官员动议拿掉了郭宝成,没有一句解释,没有一个理由。这是最明显的对中国人民民意的公然强奸。至到如今,中国人民议论纷纷,到底是哪个禽兽拿掉了郭宝成,什么理由?连一个字的交代也没有。你说如今官民对立,老百姓骂官,到底怪谁?
     官场上可以让一个个因不作为乱作为酿成重大社会事件的官员复出一百回,但不容许你反腐败的正义之士,也容不得真心执政为民的好官员!这就是眼下的中国!

http://club3.kdnet.net/dispbbs.asp?boardid=1&star=3265&replyid=19809093&id=6441923&skin=0&page=1

Monday, November 22, 2010

shanghai after the fire

"同学聚会..." zt

[转贴]同学聚会其实就是... 

u26789 加帖在http://club3.kdnet.net/dispbbs.asp?boardid=1&id=6579724

    有钱有势,混得很得意的同学巴不得天天开同学会,在精神上压倒男同学,在肉体上征服女同学,将同学时期的意淫变成现实。而比较落魄的同学则害怕同学会上见面,精神上受到摧残不说,还要作为得意同学炫耀财势的一个比较道具,心里也许还有个小小的奢望,那就是那些混得好的同学能不能帮上自己一把,其实这是幻想,那些混得好的同学之所以乐衷于开同学会,就是来看你的落魄和女同学们的艳羡呢。同学会是又一次的表演罢了。

1、同学聚会的首义者以外地归来者居多,往往已经混得有几分人样。多年衣锦夜行,憋屈得厉害,这回当然在同窗前显摆显摆。他希望来的人越多越好,聚会前夜说不定还要精读《毛主席回韶山》。确实如此,通常同城市的同学聚会的兴致并不高,或者仅限于小小圈子定时聚会,每每大聚会定是有什么人从外面回来了。但并不是什么人都会有很强的号召力的,这个很难说。

2、当年有些姿色的女生这回一定会脸上精描细抹,衣柜里千挑万选。如果是提前知道消息的,铁定还要饿上几天,争取能穿进那件卡腰的高级套裙。女人如此,男人也难免。

3、抢着买单的那位多半当年穷得叮当响,或者成绩不佳。他要告诉大家,象我这样的也是可以混出来的,你们不要老眼光看人。他一定是开车来的。好车。并且他一定很愿意送每一位同学回家,一副情深义重不忘旧谊的样子。宿怨啊,宿怨啊,足见小时候的精神阴影影响到底有多大。

4、话少的同学并不是老成持重,而是因为经历平淡且混得不好。大家谈论的新潮名词或根本不懂,或掌握不熟练。怕说错了出丑,便索性不开牙。这个倒是不一定,不能一概而论。

5、有富不显,有车不开,有单不抢。这种人多半当年就很风光,经过了也就不在乎了。当然也有当年就很糗,现在还能不动声色的。这类人比较可怕,要么城府很深,能成大事。要么虚伪狡诈,品质可疑。至少对于我来说,同学聚会,是不会开车的,没有这个必要,想喝酒,哪那里还能开车。

6、带老婆出席的有两种情况:一是老婆长得比较争气,带出来有面子。二是老婆担心他跟旧相好的擦出什么火花,一同出席能起警卫和监督之效。出门之前,必要叮嘱老婆几句:“ 平时怎么糟践我都没关系,但这次一定要给我留面子,我说话别插,不许瞪眼,记得要给我盛饭,递杯子……”

7、去了趟美国的一定会找机会说出来,谈资本,谈纽约,最后来一句:“其实也就那样。”这边赶紧接茬谈起欧洲八国游,谈人文,谈艺术。那边去过澳洲的插不上话,急得抓耳挠腮。这时你要是能淡淡地来一句:“不才在伦敦呆了八年。”保管当场鸦雀无声。我只好说不才被逼爱丁堡流放一年。。。

8、当了官的接手机绝不肯离席,拿着电话指挥秘书或部属开展工作,声音不大但足以保证在座的都能听到。语气较平时蛮横且坚决,表情略显威严且带一丝厌倦,一副运筹帷幄很懂管理的样子。

9、官当得太大的人不会轻易参加同学聚会。这个确实,可能怕给自己添麻烦。

10、同学聚会,心眼多的钻被窝,心眼少的在唠嗑,不多不少在乱摸,一个心眼在唱歌,缺心眼的往死喝。

文章提交者:xia001 加帖在 猫眼看人 【凯迪网络】 http://www.kdnet.net

钱钟书的《围城》中说同学聚会是三头聚会:有权有钱的大出风头,没权没权的当冤大头,老情人重新聚头。

Sunday, November 21, 2010

an iranian girl vs its president

按此在新窗口浏览图片

"有一天,小蜗牛问妈妈..." zt

知我是谁 加帖在http://club3.kdnet.net/dispbbs.asp?boardid=1&star=3187&replyid=19721653&id=6441923&skin=0&page=1


 有一天,小蜗牛问妈妈:为什么我们一生下来就要背着这个又硬又重的壳呢?
    妈妈:因为我们身上没有骨骼,只能爬,又爬不快,所以要靠这个壳来保护我
们。
    小蜗牛:毛毛虫姐姐没有骨骼,也爬不快,为什么她不用背这个又硬又重的壳
呢?
    妈妈:因为毛毛虫姐姐能变成蝴蝶,天空会保护她。
    小蜗牛:可是蚯蚓弟弟也没有骨头也爬不快,还不会变成蝴蝶,他为什么不用
    背这个又硬又重的壳呢?
    妈妈:因为蚯蚓弟弟会钻土,大地会保护他。
    小蜗牛哭了起来:我们好可怜啊,天空不保护我们,大地也不保护我们!
    蜗牛妈妈安慰小蜗牛说:所以我们有壳啊!我们不靠天,也不靠地,我们靠自
己。
    我们中国这么大,人口这么多,我们靠不了天,也不靠了地,更靠不了什么盟
友,什么伙伴,我们最终能靠的只有我们自己。而我们靠的是那些的还有良知的国人。
这些人可能不是什么大贵,他们虽也没尽全力,但他们并没有沉默,没有麻木,为了心中
理想的国度,他们多少努力过,时间会积累他们的努力,终有一天会变成改变一切的力量。

Friday, November 19, 2010

"使一个国家变成地狱的东西..." zt

哈耶克名言:1,使一个国家变成地狱的东西,恰恰是人们试图将其变成天堂的努力。2,如果一个人不需要服从任何人,只服从法律,那么,他就是自由的。3,金钱是人类发明的最伟大的自由工具之一。只有金钱才会向穷人开放,而权力永远不会。4,愿意放弃自由来换得保障的人,既得不到自由,也得不到保障

《罗织经》 by 来俊臣

《罗织经》
作者来俊臣,唐武则天时代的酷吏。少时凶险,不事生产,他因告密得武则天信任。他和羽党共撰《罗织经》,作为告密的典范,罗织人罪,陷害无辜。他们实行广泛的秘密侦查,集整人之大成,是请君入瓮的发明者。
————————————
下面节选一部分,言文对照:

【阅人卷第一】

为害常因不察,致祸归於不忍。桓公溺臣,身死实哀;夫差存越,终丧其吴。亲无过父子,然广逆恒有;恩莫逾君臣,则莽奸弗绝。是以人心多诈,不可视其表;世事寡情,善者终无功。信人莫若信己,防人毋存幸念。此道不修,夫庸为智者乎?

【译文】人们受害常常是因为对人没有仔细的察验,人们遭受祸患往往是由於对人心慈手软。齐桓公过份相信他的臣子,以致死亡实在让人哀痛。吴王夫差没有吞并越国,最后却导致吴国的灭亡。关系亲密没有超过父子的,可是像杨广那样的逆子却总是存在;施以恩德没有超过君对臣的,但是像王莽那样的奸臣起却从未断绝。因此说人的内心隐含著太多的欺骗,不能光看他的外表。世上的事缺少情爱,做好事的人最后却得不到功劳。相信别人不如相信自己,防范别人不要心存侥幸。这种技艺学习,难道还能成为一个有智慧的人吗?

【事上卷第二】

上者骄,安其心以顺。上者懮,去其患以忠。顺不避媚,忠不忌曲,虽为人诟亦不可少为也。上所予,自可取,生死於人,安能逆乎?是以智者善窥上意,愚者固持己见,福祸相异,咸於此耳。

【译文】高高在上的人骄傲,顺从他可使其心安。高高在上的人懮虑,忠於他可使其免除懮患。顺从不要回避献媚,忠心不要忌讳无理,虽然遭人诋毁也不能少做。上司能给你什麼,自然能拿回什麼,生死都控於人手,怎麼能违背他们呢?因此有智慧的人擅长暗中猜度上司的心意,愚蠢的人只坚持自己的见解,他们福祸不同,都是源於这个原因。

上无不智,臣无至贤。功归上,罪归己。戒惕弗弃,智勇弗显。虽至亲亦忍绝,纵为恶亦不让。诚如是也,非徒上宠,而又宠无衰矣。

【译文】上司没有不聪明的,下属绝无最有德行的。功劳让给上司,罪过留给自己。戒备警惕之心不要丢失,智慧勇力不要显露。虽然是最亲近的人也要忍心断绝,纵然是乾邪恶的事也不躲避。如果真的做到这样,不但上司会宠爱有加,而且宠信不会衰减。

【治下卷第三】
人有所好,以好诱之无不取,人有所惧,以惧迫之无不纳。才可用者,非大害而隐忍。其不可制,果大材而亦诛。赏勿吝,以坠其志。罚适时,以警其心。恩威同施,才德相较,苟无功,得无天耶?

【译文】人有喜好的东西,用喜好的东西引诱他没有收伏不了的。人有惧怕的东西,用惧怕的东西逼迫他没有不接受的。有才能可以使用的人,没有大的害处要暗中容忍。其人不能驯服,确实是才能出众的也要诛杀。赏赐不要吝惜,用此消磨他们的意志。惩罚要适合时宜,以此让他的心得到告诫。恩惠和威力一起施行,才能和品德互相比较,如果这样做还没有成效,莫非这就是天意吧?

    【控权卷第四 】

乱世用能,平则去患。盛事惟忠,庸则自从。名可易,实必争;名实悖之,权之丧矣。嗜权逾命者,莫敢不为;权之弗让也,其求乃极。机为要,无机自毁;事可绝,人伦亦灭。利禄为羁,去其实害;赏以虚名,收其本心。若此为之,权无不得,亦无失也。

【译文】混乱动荡的时代要使用有能力的人,天下平定了要铲除他们以绝后患。大治时期只使用忠於自己的人,平庸无才的人最易掌握和归顺。名称可以改变,实权必须力争;名称和实权完全相反,权力就丧失了。酷好权力超过他性命的人,是没有什麼不敢做;权力没有主动让给别人的,所以争夺它的方法无所不用。时机十分重要,时机不当就会自取灭亡;事情可以做绝,尊卑长幼也能狠心灭杀。用钱财爵禄来拘束他们,以消除他们可能造成的实际危害;用虚假的名位来赏赐他们,以收买他们的人心。如果这样行事,什麼权力都可以获得,也不会失去。

    【察奸卷第八 】
智不逾奸,伐之莫胜;知不至大,奸者难拒。忠奸堪易也。上所用者,奸亦为忠;上所弃者,忠亦为奸。

【译文】智谋不超过奸臣,讨伐他就不能获胜;良知不深远广大,对奸臣就难以抗拒。忠臣和奸臣是可以变换的。君主任用信任的人,虽然是奸臣也被看做忠臣;君主抛弃不用的人,即使是忠臣也被视为奸臣。

    【问罪卷十 】

人皆可罪,罪人须定其人。罪不自招,密而举之则显。上不容罪,无谕则待,有谕则逮。人辩乃常,审之勿悯,刑之非轻,无不招也。或以拒死,畏罪释耳。人无不党,罪一人可举其众;供必无缺,善修之毋违其真。事至此也,罪可成矣。

【译文】人都是可以定罪的,加罪於人必须先确定对象。罪行不会自动暴露,密告并检举他就会让罪行显现。君主不会容忍犯罪,没有谕旨就耐心等待,有谕旨就马上逮捕。人们自辨无罪是正常的,审讯他们不要心存怜悯,刑罚他们不能出手轻微,这样做他们就没有不招认的。有的人因为拒不认罪被责打致死,这种情况可用畏罪自杀来解释说明。人没有不结党营私的,给一人定罪便可揭发出他的同伙;供状必须没有破绽,把被告供状编撰修补使之不违反真实。事情做到这样,罪案就可以成立了。

    【刑罚卷第十一】

死之能受,痛之难忍,刑人取其不堪。士不耐辱,人患株亲,罚人伐其不甘。人不言罪,加其罪逾彼;证不可得,伪其证率真。刑有不及,陷无不至;不患罪无名,患上不疑也。

【译文】死亡可以接受,痛苦难以忍耐,给人动刑选取他们不能忍受的。读书人忍耐不了屈辱,人们都担心株连自己的亲人,惩罚人要攻取他们不情愿处。人们不承认有罪,就此加害他的罪名比原来的罪名还大;证据不能得到,伪造证据大概像真的一样。刑罚有做不到的地方,诬陷却什么都可以做到;不要担心给人加罪没有名义,只担心君主没有猜疑之心。

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http://wenku.baidu.com/view/adab2929647d27284b735124.html

帮我买个单 zt

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帮我买个单
               

     同学聚会,自从毕业后,好多同学都混得有模有样,我却默默无闻,在一家工厂当制图员,每月和丈夫一起靠着不多的收入共同撑着这个家。我本不打算去,可禁不起同学们的一片盛情,只好答应。


    丈夫正在帮儿子复习功课,儿子就要上初中了,为了上一所好中学,这段时间丈夫没少操心,东奔西走,至今还没着落呢。看了儿子一眼,我走出了家门。


    天安酒店是高级酒店,我走进包房的时候,同学们都已到齐。还没坐稳,一张张名片就飞了过来,一看一个个不是总经理就是带长的,就连以前成绩总是甩尾的阿辉也当上了派出所所长。望着服务小姐端上眼花缭乱的菜肴,我真感叹自己孤陋寡闻,光这一桌就足以抵我三个月的收入了。


    阿辉像宴席的主人一样不停地招呼大家吃,不时地为这个斟酒、为那个夹菜,嘴里还说:"只管吃,算我的。"大伙也没任何拘束,一 轮接一轮地交杯把盏、海阔天空地闲聊。酒足饭饱之后,天色已不早,此次聚会该结束了。可究竟谁埋单,我看大伙好像都没有要慷慨解囊的意思。


    这时候阿辉掏出手机,按了一串号码,然后说:"小李,今晚所里扫黄抓到人没有?哦!刚抓到———好!好! 随便送一个到天安酒店来给我埋单。"说完,他得意地把手机放进了口袋,一旁的同学跟着哄笑起来。


    十五分钟不到,一个中年人就进来了,他看了账单,不禁皱了皱眉头,看来他身上的现钞也不足。他随即也拿出手机,拨了一串号码,说:"廖工吗?我是马校长呀!你儿子要转学读我们学校的事,我今天就给你拍板定下来了……不过我今晚请朋友吃饭,你过来埋单好吗?在天安酒店203包厢……"


    二十分钟后,有人敲了敲包厢的门,门被打开了。当我见到戴着副高度近视眼镜的丈夫站在门口时,我晕倒了……

“没有‘特供基地’这回事”

Xinjiang Population Makeup

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Thursday, November 18, 2010

北京人心中的中国地图








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年度单词

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年度单词
eggache蛋疼
Smilence笑而不语
Togayther终成眷属
shitizen屁民
Halfyuan五毛
vegeteal偷菜
animale男人天性
niubility牛逼
antizen蚁民
stupig笨猪
Z-turn 折腾
Foulsball中国足球
Freedamn自由
geliable给力
eggcalm蛋定
spitslot 吐槽

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

兰德公司...

我由此领悟到兰德公司对中国人深刻洞见的正确性:“中国人最缺乏的不是智慧,而是勇气和正直的纯正品性”;“他们中的大多数只不过是一群仅仅通晓考试却从不关心真理和道德的食客”;“他们的思想还停留在专注于动物本能对性和食物那点贪婪可怜的欲望上”;“中国人缺乏诚信和社会责任感”;“这种自私和冷酷已经成为阻碍中国社会向前发展的最关键因素”;“到2020年,以我们的标准来看,它会是一个非常穷的国家”;“使中国变为全世界最不适宜人类居住的国家”。

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美国兰德公司对中国人的评价 ——大陆中国人像迷失的狗
2008-6
美国兰德公司是一家著名的非盈利的研究机构,为美国官方提供”客观的分析和有效的解决方案”。最近,他们公布了一份对中国现状分析报告,即有肯定,也有严厉批评,值得国人反省。本文观点来自兰德公司亚太政策中心。
如果20世纪的中国是一个富裕和统一的国家,我们会有一个完全不同的第一次世界大战,我们就不会有第二次世界大战而是第二次欧洲大战。中国能够阻止日本 侵略或者打败日本。美国在这些冲突上的花费从根本意义上会减少很多,因为珍珠港事件不会发生。我们和整个世界,更不用说10亿中国人,一个多世纪以来,已 经为中国的弱小付出了惨重的代价。世界需要一个健康的中国。
中国的需求对日本走出衰退起到了促进作用。日本状况给世界经济带来了 风险。关于这一点,怎么说都不夸张。日本巨额的债务会产生多米诺骨牌效应,逐渐波及到全世界。在中国有力的帮助下,危险似乎已经过去。中国全球化给美国带 来了很多影响。最明显的是,中国成为美国商品最大的市场。
可口可乐早就完成了那个看上去像是神话的目标:卖10亿瓶可口可乐;曾 经嘲笑中国梦的通用在中国卖了很多的别克汽车,在困难时期,中国带来的利润占通用利润的很大一部分;中国联想购买IBM个人电脑业务,挽救了这个垂死部门 的工作岗位。中国提供更低价的生活必需品给美国人的生活水平做出了很大的贡献,尤其是对我们不是那么富裕的居民而言。有迹象表明由于能够购买中国低价的出 口货物,低收入美国人的生活水平可能提高了5%到10%。
中国金融体系的不合理意味著中国建造了垂死企业,导致巨大的生产力过 剩。近些年来,中国财政政策上的反复无常导致过度建造,对铁、铝、水泥和其他原材料产生了巨大的需求。日本人和现在的中国人看上去似乎会买下世界上所有的 东西,但是当你看到他们的财政状况的潜在问题时,你会发现一个黑洞。日本人在90年代陷入了这样一个黑洞,至今还在努力地爬出来。中国人很多年后仍将会为 目前这种无节制的狂热的购买行为感到心痛。
目前,中国面临著巨大的挑战。中国的银行是我们所知道的世界上最糟糕的银行。中国每一 代,都有相当于美国规模的人口从农村涌入城市。每年,都有1200-1300万新工人加入就业大军。在制造业,生产力对就业的影响比我们国家要严重得多。 到2020年,中国人口老龄化会使工作人口与不工作人口的比率成为世界上最糟糕的,比日本更甚。如果没有特效的新政策的话,中国的经济在那个时期就会狠狠 地撞墙。到2020年,以我们的标准来看,它会是一个非常穷的国家。
中国人缺乏诚信和社会责任感。中国人不了解他们作为社会个体 应该对国家和社会所承担的责任和义务。普通中国人通常只关心他们的家庭和亲属,中国的文化是建立在家族血缘关系上而不是建立在一个理性的社会基础之上。中 国人只在乎他们直系亲属的福址,对与自己毫不相关的人所遭受的苦难则视而不见。毫无疑问,这种以血缘关系为基础的道德观势必导致自私、冷酷,这种自私和冷 酷已经成为阻碍中国社会向前发展的最关键因素。
中国从来就没有成为一个法制社会,因为中国人的思维方式与守法行为格格不入。中国 人老想走捷径。他们不明白这样一个事实:即成就来自于与努力工作和牺牲。中国人倾向于索取而不给予。他们需要明白一个道理:生活的真蒂不在于你索取多少而 在于你能给予社会和你的人类同胞多少。
大多数中国人从来就没有学到过什么是体面和尊敬的生活意义。中国人普遍不懂得如何为了个人 和社会的福址去进行富有成效的生活。潜意识里,中国人视他们的生活目的就是抬高自己从而获得别人的认知。这样一来,一个人就会对”保有面子”这样微不足道 欲望感到满足。”面子”是中国人心理最基本的组成部分,它已经成为了中国人难以克服的障碍,阻碍中国人接受真理并尝试富有意义的生活。这个应受谴责的习性 使得中国人生来就具有无情和自私的特点,它已成为中国落后的主要原因。
中国人没有勇气追求他们认为正确的事情。首先,他们没有从错误中筛选正确事物的能力,因为他们的思想被贪婪所占据。再有,就算他们有能力筛选出正确的事情,他们也缺乏勇气把真理化为实践。
中国人习惯接受廉价和免费的事物,他们总是梦想奇迹或者好运,因为他们不愿意付出努力,他们总想不劳而获。很少有中国人明白一个事实,就是威望和成就是 通过一步步努力的工作和牺牲实现的,不付出就没有所得。简单来说,如果是为了谋生,那一个人只有去索取;但如果是为了生活,一个人必须要去奉献。
由于在贫穷的环境下生长并且缺少应有的教育,大多数中国人不懂得优雅的举止和基本的礼貌。他们中的大多数人着装笨拙粗鄙却不感到害羞。他们在青少年时所受的教育就是如何说谎并从别人那里索取,而不是去与别人去分享自己的所有。
中国是一个物产丰富的国家。但无限制生育政策所带来恶果使得中国成为了无限廉价劳动力的输出国。这些输出也包括那些受过教育的劳力输出,除了他们的教育水平,实则和其他一般苦力没有本质上的区别。
中国大规模生产的便宜产品降低了输入这些产品的地区的商业信用度。由于技术落后,管理失败,中国制造的单位能耗要比发达国家如日本,美国高出很多。因 此,随着出口额的增加,中国在扩大生产的同时丧失着宝贵的资源。同时,这种行为也严重地污染了环境,使中国变为全世界最不适宜人类居住的国家。
目前中国正在遭受着资本主义社会两大邪恶的折磨,即环境的破坏与人性的丧失。由于中国人天生的贪婪的本性,它们可以毫无保留的接受资本主义的阴暗面即无 止境的追求利润,忽视人的尊严。中国人对西方的技术与产品狂热地追求,却对西方管理文化所强调的坦率、直接、诚实这些品质漠不关心。
由于中国文化不鼓励敢于冒险这种优良品质,所以中国人极力避免冒险,他们也不想寻求机会来改善自己的生活。中国人对于生活的平衡性和意义性并不感兴趣, 相反他们更执迷于对物质的索取,这点上要远远胜于西方人。大多数中国人发现他们不懂得”精神灵性”,”自由信仰”以及”心智健康”这样的概念,因为他们的 思想尚不能达到一个生命(补:即肉体和灵性的并存)存在的更高层次。他们的思想还停留在专注于动物本能对性和食物那点贪婪可怜的欲望上。
在中国人的眼中,受教育不是为了寻求真理或者改善生活质量,而只是身份和显赫地位的象征和标志。中国的知识分子从别人那里得到尊敬并不是因为他们为了别 人的幸福做过什么,而只是因为他们获得占有了相当的知识。事实上,他们中的大多数只不过是一群仅仅通晓考试却从不关心真理和道德的食客。
中国的教育体系很大程度上已经成为一种失败和耻辱。它已经不能够服务于教育本应所服务的对象:社会。这个教育体系不能提供给社会许多有用的个体。它只是制造出一群投机分子,他们渴望能够受益于社会所提供的好处却毫不关心回报。
中国可以培养出大批的高级人才,但却很少可以培养出合格的可以独立主持的管理级专家。服务于一个公司或者社会,光有技术是不够的;还需要有勇气、胆量、 正直和诚实的领导才能,这恰恰是大多数中国人所缺少的品性。正如亚瑟.史密斯,一位著名的西方传教士一个世纪前所指出的,中国人最缺乏的不是智慧,而是勇 气和正直的纯正品性。这个评价,虽然历经百年,如今依旧准确诊断出中国综合症的病因。
大多数中国毕业生对选择出国并为外国工作不会感到内疚,事实上他们首先欠下了中国人民在教育上为他们所做出的牺牲。随着传统文化价值观的破坏和逐步衰弱,大多数的中国人,包括受过教育的人都徘徊在精神和内心世界的十字路口,像迷失的狗一样不知何去何从。
http://www.redrace.info/2010/04/chinese-like-lostdogs/

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

“大学生找工作就是拚爹”,

“大学生找工作就是拚爹”

3 days into the Asian Games, the number of gold medals won by USA is nil



















 
http://club3.kdnet.net/dispbbs.asp?boardid=1&id=6565815

who are defending the indefensible?

you don't have to read the whole thing to feel the chills of what is happening there.

i m not so much resentful of the evil acts of Tan and his buddies as the regime generating such wickedness and those who are defending the indefensible.

damn.

http://baoliao.haixiachina.com/article/2010/1116/mzmzbb2oox7imp32puwevrcw.html?p=25

Sunday, November 14, 2010

regression to what?

There's a mathematical term called "regression to the mean". If you look at any investment type, they have always regressed to the mean rate of inflation over time. It's a mathematical certainty. Thus, if gold regresses to the mean over time, it will likely regress to US$338 per ounce, being the average price of gold, in 2010 dollars, since 1968.
Asking people to buy gold as an investment because, in 1980, it peaked at US$2235 in 2010 dollars - and using that as evidence that it will soon go back to that level - would be calling on an unknown statistical phenomenon called "regression to the peak".
It would be the dream of every commodity salesman that "regression to the peak" be believed by investors. Nothing in history has regressed to the peak - it's a nonsense. If you buy gold today, and its price falls over the coming years, you have lost money, and the gold has generated zero income. Gold never generates income. It just sits there and you pay to have it stored and insured - madness.
Who invested in gold 10 years ago and is selling their holding today? Not many. They're too busy telling everyone about the "profit" they're making. Yeah, right. Could somebody remind them there's no profit generated until you sell the damn stuff!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/personal-finance/news/article.cfm?c_id=12&objectid=10687184

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Herd behavior

Herd behavior describes how individuals in a group can act together without planned direction. The term pertains to the behavior of animals in herds, flocks and schools, and to human conduct during activities such as stock market bubbles and crashes, street demonstrations, sporting events, religious gatherings, episodes of mob violence and even everyday decision making, judgment and opinion forming.
Recently an integrated approach to herding has been proposed, describing two key issues, the mechanisms of transmission of thoughts or behaviour between individuals and the patterns of connections between them. It has been suggested that bringing together diverse theoretical approaches of herding behaviour illuminates the applicability of the concept to many domains,[1] ranging from cognitive neuroscience[2] to economics.

The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was the first to critique what he referred to as "herd morality" and the "herd instinct" in human society. Modern psychological and economic research has identified herd behavior in humans to explain the phenomena of large numbers of people acting in the same way at the same time. The British surgeon Wilfred Trotter popularized the "herd behavior" phrase in his book, Instincts of the Herd in Peace and War (1914). In The Theory of the Leisure Class, Thorstein Veblen explained economic behavior in terms of social influences such as "emulation," where some members of a group mimic other members of higher status. In "The Metropolis and Mental Life" (1903), early sociologist George Simmel referred to the "impulse to sociability in man", and sought to describe "the forms of association by which a mere sum of separate individuals are made into a 'society' ". Other social scientists explored behaviors related to herding, such as Freud (crowd psychology), Carl Jung (collective unconscious), and Gustave Le Bon (the popular mind). Swarm theory observed in non-human societies is a related concept and is being explored as it occurs in human society.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_behavior

伦敦之行不得行 by 贺卫方

伦敦之行不得行

贺卫方

本来只是一个研讨会在伦敦举行,
由国际律师协会(IBA)主办。
会议主题讨论的是律师职业的独立性。

本来我准备在会议检讨妨害律师独立的历史和文化原因,
虽然体制困难也十分严重,但支撑体制的因素更复杂,
要改造,要时间,要有足够的耐心。

本来双程票已经订好,
十一月十五日就要离开伦敦返回北京。
况且英国又不是申根国,到欧陆还要把申根签证预先完成。

本来我很乐观,
以为若不许出境,总会提前表示,
不至于让那么多人做无用功。

本来还有点相信依法行政,
常想起电视上那些信誓旦旦,豪言壮语。
何曾想言只是言,行只是行。

本来我还寄希望有司足够明智,
注重国际形象同时又注重民心。
哪里预料到居然如此悍然与法律与良知对抗。

一个人在医院不治身亡。
医生开出了死因诊断书——
笨死的。

http://www.bullogger.com/blogs/heweifang/archives/368767.aspx

李子暘: QQ和360之争的几点辨析 zt

QQ和360之争的几点辨析
 
李子暘 @ 2010-11-5 

目前,网络应用最时髦的,其实不是QQ或者360,而是微博。但是,如果你到微博上看看,会发现大家好像都在谈论QQ和360之争这件事。


微博活跃分子其实并不一定能代表广大网络应用者。他们是网络用户中比较特殊的一群人——比较闲适和饶舌的人。而更多的忙碌和寡言的人,他们将怎样应对腾讯,将会做出何种选择,还有待观察。

本文的重点,不在于分析这次争端谁更有理,或者预测谁将取得最后的胜利。本文的重点在于借这件事,分析几个社会和经济关系的概念。

一、腾讯的做法是否侵犯了用户的合法权利。

回答是很难说,甚至可以说没有侵犯。

腾讯在QQ安装协议中早有这方面的规定:不可以对该软件或者该软件运行过程中释放到任何计算机终端内存中的数据及该软件运行过程中客户端与服务器端 的交互数据进行复制、更改、修改、挂接运行或创作任何衍生作品,形式包括但不限于使用插件、外挂或非经授权的第三方工具/服务接入本“软件”和相关系统。

腾讯只不过是在按照事先的约定行事而已,从法律上,用户应该没什么可说的。

确实,在安装软件时,绝大多数人从来不看那些冗长的安装协议,都是直接同意或者接受。要求每个软件用户都仔细研究这个协议后再安装软件,是不可能的,但如此一来,软件用户就难逃“自愿”两个字了。既然是自愿的,那就没什么可抱怨的了。

从道理上来说,腾讯并没有派人动手,或者设置软件删除你计算机中的任何东西。任何删除都是你自己决定和实施的。腾讯只不过威胁说,如果你继续使用360,那就不要使用他的QQ了。这种威胁让人很不舒服,但不舒服不等于你的权利被侵犯了。

腾讯从来没有保证过QQ将和任何软件兼容。即使这种不兼容是人为制造出来的,也不能说腾讯违反了事先的约定。

或曰,你这一套说辞,对QQ的免费用户是没问题的。他们既然不花钱,当然也就没有什么权利。可QQ还有众多收费用户呢?腾讯对他们是不是违约了呢?

回答仍然是没有。收费的交换条件只是腾讯提供相应的服务。如果腾讯中止提供约定的服务,那属于违约,但收费条款同样没有保证QQ和任何其他软件都要兼容。

因此,试图用法律武器制裁腾讯,多半会落空。这个事实也向人们揭示出一个道理:坚持权利并不总会带来令人愉快的结果。人们之间的利益有时确实会直接 冲突。依据权利原则进行的裁决,有可能让某一方感到不快甚至非常难受。但如果只有对结果满意时,我们才会尊重权利,那权利也就没有存在的必要了。

而且事实上,如果腾讯的做法被判定违法和侵权,那说句实话,其他人不要太高兴。同样原则织就的法网将罩住许多人,其中很可能就有你我。

二、腾讯的做法是否属于滥用垄断地位?

对于垄断,我们已经进行过多次讨论,核心观点就是:只要没有政府或者其他暴力阻止竞争者进入市场参与竞争,就不构成任何垄断。

市场中其他即时通讯软件很多,MSN、Gtalk、飞信,等等,腾讯或许占据了最大的市场份额,但这当然不是什么垄断。用户随时可以卸载QQ,选择其他类似软件。

但腾讯太成功了,用户太多了,数量达到了惊人的几亿!面对这么大的数量,继续坚持原有的垄断判断标准,是不是太迂腐了?事实上,腾讯利用巨大的用户数量打压竞争对手的消息不时传来。这时,还应该坚持原则吗?

当然要坚持原则。用户再多也不构成企业的垄断。正是因为人们把垄断理解为市场份额过大,才会有反垄断法,但这个法律事实上是政府打击成功者的工具。 各个行业的成功者,几乎都可以被扣上垄断者的罪名。标准完全是随意的。反垄断法根本不是什么市场经济的宪法,而是在市场经济中到处乱窜的病毒,不知道下一 个倒霉蛋是谁。

经济学之所以如此界定垄断,是因为,除非有来自政府或者其他方面的暴力阻止竞争者进入市场,那些貌似强大而不可战胜的“垄断者”的地位其实远非那么牢固。曾经的庞然大物在竞争中轰然倒地,甚至转瞬间化为齑粉,这一点儿也不新鲜,以后也一定会不断发生。

微软曾经被认为是不可撼动的。是的,面对一家几乎控制了所有用户底层操作系统的公司,其他公司怎么还会有机会呢?但雅虎出现了,互联网时代,微软就一下子落后了,到现在还在苦苦追赶。

雅虎的搜索引擎,迅速赢得了无数互联网用户的青睐。一个年轻人创办的公司,很短时间就变成庞然大物。看上去,其他人无法追赶了。但Google横空出世。如果没有Google,很多人会不相信,人们居然会那么快地就放弃使用多时的搜索工具,转而接受一家新公司。

然后,Google在互联网的各个领域到处出击,几乎所向无敌。可惜,仅有的一点疏漏被人抓住了,Facebook来了。好像现在已经成了市值最大的公司了。真是计划没有变化快!

这个故事以后还将继续演下去。从来只见新人笑,不见旧人哭。当然,旧人也没有必要哭。市场竞争用公司倒闭代替了暴力竞争中的人的肉体伤亡。那些旧人往往都摇身一变,加入新公司,继续高歌猛进去了。

同样道理,腾讯在中国的优势,也绝不是不可撼动的。所有靠讨用户欢心才能盈利的企业,时刻都面临着更好的企业出现,然后他被用户无情抛弃的危险。腾 讯当然也不例外。实际上,这次QQ和360之争,腾讯的应对之策就很欠考虑。他并不是在滥用垄断地位,而是在滥用用户对QQ的信任。这种信任是否经得住滥 用,是很可怀疑的。

三、关于窥视用户隐私。

差不多十年以前,互联网还不那么兴旺时,我拜访一位计算机专家,他就对我谈到了隐私保护的问题。当时,这个问题在欧美国家正在热烈讨论。我和那位专家的一致意见是,这个问题要想让中国人足够重视,还得好几年。

现在十年过去了,隐私问题似乎仍然没有引起国人足够的重视。在大家看来,商业公司侵犯公民个人隐私,似乎并不是什么大不了的罪过。当然,这和政治背景有某种联系,不多说了。

像QQ这样被指为窥视用户隐私的行为,在某些国家,完全是致命的,一旦被证实,企业可以一下子就完蛋了。但在中国,却远非如此。也算是不光彩的行为,但真正在乎的人,其实不多。

在计算机世界以外,公民隐私权被侵犯也是家常便饭。孕妇生育出院以后,就会接到众多婴儿用品商的推销电话。医院泄露了孕妇的电话号码。刚把一笔钱存到银行,就接到介绍理财产品的短信,显然银行不但是银行,还充当了信息媒体。种种类似情况,实在为数甚多。

市场经济的功能,在于最大限度地满足消费者的需要。因此,在某个社会中,何种企业能取得成功,完全取决于消费者有什么样的需要和偏好。

如果这个社会中的人们非常重视隐私权,企业稍有侵犯就引起轩然大波,强有力保护隐私权的企业自然会胜出。如果这个社会中的人们对隐私权不太在乎,宁 愿为了免费或者其他小利而放任自己的隐私被人侵犯,那些在保护隐私方面投入巨大的公司就没什么优势,而那些通过搜集用户隐私来盈利的公司却能得到利好良 机。

中国社会看来属于后者。实际上,在中国,隐私这个词都算是新词,刚刚开始传播。让人们愿意为了保护隐私而付费,确实不容易。在这种市场背景下,腾讯这样的公司一路做大,是完全可以理解的。

不过,我也不赞同政府推出保护公民隐私权的法律。这种事情,市场完全可以解决。解决办法就是,愿意保护隐私的,承担相应的成本,拒绝那些免费的服务。不在乎的,尽可以继续使用时刻窥视你隐私的免费服务。

但是可以预计,人们会越来越重视自己的隐私的。这个趋势是无可动摇的,区别只在于进展的快慢。这就又可以看出腾讯此次举动的风险所在。

在众目睽睽之下,QQ和360大打出手,势不两立,短期内腾讯几乎会完胜。但这次轰动一时的争斗,只会让腾讯一直在窥视用户隐私这件事广而告之。不在乎的人当然可以继续用,但在乎的人就会另有想法,甚至从现在就开始准备对策。

由于未来的趋势必定是人们越来越重视隐私,因此,腾讯就此开始走下坡路,并非没有可能。有劣迹的人,想要博得人们的信任,即使不是不可能的,也需要很长很长的时间。我不知道腾讯在未来需要花费多少资源才能去除用户头脑中对他的固有印象。

至于我个人来说,从360大肆揭底以后,就立刻卸载了QQ,所以,后来的势不两立,也就不再能影响到我了。

http://www.bullogger.com/blogs/liziyang/archives/368877.aspx

Thursday, November 11, 2010

who is who

胡海峰—-中国清华同方威视股份有限公司总裁,清华大学经济管理学院第一届EMBA(胡锦涛儿子)

胡海清—-清华大学本科,上海中国欧洲国际商业学院MBA,与中国最大门户网站新浪网前执行长茅道临结婚(1970,胡锦涛的女儿)。

李小鹏——华能国际集团董事长、总经理兼中国国家电力公司副总经理,亚洲电王(1959,李鹏之子)

李小琳——中国电力国际有限公司执行董事兼总经理(李,鹏之女)

李小勇---现居新加坡(李,鹏之子)

朱云来——中国国际金融公司总裁、董事(朱,镕,基之子)

朱燕来——中国银行(香港)发展规划部总经理(朱,镕,基之女)

温云松——北京Unihub公司总裁(温,家,宝之子)

徐 明——大连实德集团总裁,2003中国百富榜第15名,福布斯第12名(据传其妻为温如春,温,家,宝女婿)   王 军—中国中信集团董事长(1941.04,湖南浏阳人,原国家副主席王,震之子)

王 之——长城计算机总公司总经理(1942,王,震二子)

王 兵——南海石油集团直升飞机公司董事长(王,震幼子)

毛,新,宇——军事科学院军史部研究员,全国青联常委、北京西城区政协委员,中校(1971.01,毛,主席的嫡孙)

邵, 华*——原名张少华,军事科学院百科部副部长兼任军事科学学会副秘书长、少将(1938.10,湖南石门人;毛,岸,青之妻,刘思齐同母异父的妹妹)

毛远新——原辽宁省委副书记(1971-1976),沈阳军区政委(1941,毛,泽,东侄子,毛,泽,民之子)

刘 源——解放军总后勤部副政委,2000年晋升中将,36岁任河南省副省长(1951,湖南宁乡人;刘,少,奇幼子)

刘平平*——又名王晴,原北京食品研究所所长、国内贸易部科技司司长;1999.11.25,国际星座局将蛇夫星座编号为RA17H37M17S— D5’39’的星注上了“王晴”的名字,以表彰她在食品学领域做出的贡献。(1949.05,哥伦比亚大学营养教育博士,刘少,奇三女)

刘亭亭*——联亚集团和中贸圣佳国际拍卖公司董事长(1952,哈佛大学商学院硕士,刘,少,奇四女)

刘维明——原广东省委常委、副省长、省政协副主席(1938,宁乡人,刘少,奇侄子)

邓朴,方——中国残疾人联合会主席(邓,小,平之子)

邓质,方——四方集团总裁(邓,小,平次子)

邓 林*——中国美协会员,中国画研究院画家,东方美术交流会会长(1941,四川广安人,邓..小.平.长女) 邓 楠*——原科技部副部长,现中科协党组书记(邓.小.平之女)

邓 榕*——中国国际友好联络会副会长、中俄友好、和平与发展委员会副主席(邓.小.平之女)

吴建常——中国钢铁工业协会副会长、党委书记、金辉集团(香港)名誉主席(邓.小.平女婿、邓.林之夫)

张 宏——中国科学院科技开发局局长(邓.小.平女婿、邓.楠之夫)

贺 平——中国保利集团公司副董事长、总经理,总参装备部少将(少将贺.彪之子,邓.小.平女婿,邓榕之夫)

邓先群——原总政治部群工部部长、少将(邓.小.平同父异母的妹妹)

栗前明——解放军二炮副司令员、中将(邓.小.平妹夫,邓先群丈夫)

曾.庆.红——国家副主席(1938.09,江西吉安人,原内政部长曾.山之子)

曾庆洋——军事科学院军事历史部部长、少将(曾山之子)

曾庆源——解放军空军后勤部副部长、少将(曾山之子)

曾海生*——总参办公厅副主任、少将(曾山之女)

俞.正.声——湖北省委书记、中央政治局委员(1945.04,浙江绍兴;曾国藩的五世外孙;原天津市委书记、一机部长黄敬之子;母亲范瑾是原北京市副市长;妻子张志凯是原副总理、国防部长张爱萍大将之女

俞强声——原北京市国安局处长,1986年逃美国(黄敬之子

习.近平——浙江省委书记(1953.06,陕西富平人,前副总理习.仲勋之子)

薄熙.来——商务部部长(1949,山西定蘘人,前副总理薄.一波之子)

谷开来——薄.熙来之妻(山东荣成人,前副总理谷.牧之女)

薄.熙成——北京六合安消防科技有限公司董事长(前副总理薄.一波之子

郑耀.文——原驻丹麦大使(1991.11-1997.01)(薄一.波女婿

刘会远——深圳大学区域经济研究所所长(1948,山东荣成人,原国务院副总理谷.牧之子)

李 桁*——刘会远前妻(原国务院副秘书长、深圳市委书记、市长李灏之女)

王岐山——北京市市长(1948.07生于青岛,山西天镇人,原副总理姚.依林女婿)

廖 晖——全国政协副主席(1942.05,广东惠阳人,国务院侨办主任,全国人大副委员长廖.承志之子)

刘.延东——全国政协副主席、中央统战部部长(1945.11,江苏南通人,前农业部常务副部长刘.瑞龙之女) 戴秉国——外交部常务副部长(1941.03,贵州人,原外交部副部长、文化部部长黄.镇女婿)

李源潮——江苏省委书记(1950.11,江苏涟水人,李干.成之子)

田成平——山西省委书记(田英之子)

白克明——河北省委书记(1943.10,陕西靖边人,白坚之子)

孔 丹——中国中信集团副董事长、总经理(江西萍乡人,原中央调查部部长孔原之子)

王维延——深圳盐田港股份有限公司监事会主席(1944,湖南浏阳人,原全国政协副主席王首道之子)

王维滨——武警部队第一任计生办主任,大校(1947.11,王首道之女)

王洛林——中国社会科学院副院长(中共早期理论家王亚南之子)

李小林——中国对外友好协会副会长(原国家主席李先念之女)

刘亚洲——北京军区空军政治部主任,空军少将,作家(1952.10,安徽宿县,李先念女婿,李小林之夫)

何光炜——国家旅游局局长(1944,湖南华容人,原全国政协副主席何长工之子)

汪光焘——建设部部长(1943,原上海市市长、海协会会长汪道涵之子)

汪静香*——港新兴公司总裁(汪道涵之女)

周小川——中国人民银行行长(1948.01,江苏宜兴人,原机械工业部、建设部部长周建南之子)

林炎志——中共吉林省委副书记(1948.04,黑龙江望奎人,原全国人大副委员长林枫之子)

胡德平——全国工商联副主席、统战部党组书记兼副部长(1942.11,湖南浏阳人,原中央总书记◆长子)

刘 湖——华润集团常务董事、副总经理(1945,◆次子)

安 黎——原厦门市副市长(胡德平之妻,原中组部长安子文之女)

安 民——商务部副部长(1945.04,陕西绥德人,原中组部长安子文之子)

楼继伟——财政部副部长(1950.12,浙江义乌人,国务院发展研究中心党组书记、副主任陈清泰妻弟)  李铁映——全国人大副委员长(1936.09,湖南长沙人,原全国人大副委员长李维汉之长子)

李铁林——中组部常务副部长兼中央机构编委办主任、十六届中央委员(1943.05,李维汉之幼子)

洪 虎——吉林省省长(1940.06,安徽金寨人,原全国政协副主席洪学智之子)<BR><BR>

洪 豹——天津警备区副司令员、少将(洪学智之子)<BR><BR>  

刘锡荣——中纪委副书记(1942.05,江西瑞金人,中共烈士刘英之子)<BR><BR> 

滕久明——重庆市委副书记、纪委书记(前全国政协副主席滕代远之子)<BR><BR> 

粟戎生——北京军区副司令员、中将(粟裕之子)<BR><BR> 

乔宗淮——中国外交部副部长、领导成员(1944.07,江苏建湖人,乔冠华之子)<BR><BR> 

陈伟兰*——国家行政学院副院长(陈云长女)<BR><BR> 

陈伟力——中国国际技术智力合作公司总经理(陈云之女)<BR><BR>  

陈 元——国家开发银行行长(1945.01,上海青浦人,陈云长子)<BR><BR> 

陈 方——广东中山实业公司经理(陈云幼子)<BR><BR> 

陈知非——航天部高级工程师(湖南湘乡人,陈赓长子)<BR><BR>  

陈知健——重庆警备区副司令员、少将(湖南湘乡人,陈赓之次子)<BR><BR> 

陈知庶——解放军驻香港部队副司令员、少将(湖南湘乡人,陈赓之三子)<BR><BR> 

陈知涯——中国国际战略基金会秘书长、军事科学院外军研部研究员、少将(1949,湖南湘乡人,陈赓之子)<BR><BR> 

陈昊苏——中国人民对外友好协会会长(元帅陈毅之子)<BR><BR> 

陈丹淮——总装备部科技部部长、少将(陈毅之子)<BR><BR> 

陈晓鲁——北京标准国际投资管理公司董事长(妻粟惠宁,粟裕女婿,陈毅之子)<BR><BR>  

王光亚——外交部副部长、驻联合国全权大使(1950.03,江苏人,陈毅女婿)<BR><BR> 

陈同海——中石化董事长兼总经理(1949,江苏灌云人,原中共天津市委书记陈伟达之子)<BR><BR>  

陶斯亮*——中国市长协会副会长兼秘书长(1941,湖南人,前政治局常委、副总理陶铸之女)<BR><BR> 

贺捷生*——军事科学院军事百科部部长、少将(1935.11,湖南桑植人,贺龙之长女)<BR><BR>  

聂 力*——中国发明协会常务副理事长,中将(1939.09,重庆人,世界上第一位女中将,聂荣臻之女)<BR><BR> 

丁衡高——中国惯性技术学会理事长、院士、上将、原国防科工委主任(1931.02,南京人,聂荣臻女婿)

谭冬生——广州军区副司令员、中将(谭震林之子)<BR><BR>  

张 翔——解放军二炮副司令员、中将(四川人,大将、原副总理张爱萍之子)<BR><BR> 

罗东进——解放军二炮副政委、中将(1939.02,湖南衡山人,元帅罗荣桓之子)<BR><BR>  

李 伦——总后勤部副部长、中将(安徽巢湖人,原外交部副部长、调查部部长李克农之子)<BR><BR> 

丁一平——济南军区副司令兼北海舰队司令员、中将(1955,湖南湘乡,开国中将原北海舰队政委丁秋生之子)<BR><BR>  

何道泉——国防大学副校长、中将(湖南华容人,全国政协副主席何长工之子)<BR><BR>

周尔钧——国防大学政治部主任、少将(周恩来之侄)<BR><BR> 

罗 箭——国防科工委后勤部政治委员、少将(罗瑞卿之子)<BR><BR> 

秦 涛——北京卫戍区副司令员、少将(原国务委员兼国防部长开国上将秦基伟之子)<BR><BR>

杨冀平——天津警备区副司令员、少将(杨勇之子)<BR><BR> 

张小洋——解放军外国语学院院长、少将(湖南平江人,原军委副主席、上将张震之子)<BR><BR> 

张海阳——陆军第27集团军政治委员、少将(张震之子)<BR><BR> 

张振乾——总参谋部测绘局局长、少将(张震之侄)<BR><BR> 

徐小岩——总参谋部通信部部长、少将(徐向前之子)<BR><BR>  

马国超——海军航空兵部副政治委员少将(马本斋之子)<BR><BR> 

冯洪达——海军北海舰队副司令员、少将(冯玉祥之子)<BR><BR>  

刘太行——解放军空军指挥学院学术研究部部长、少将(刘伯承之子)<BR><BR> 

刘太迟——空军装备部副部长、少将(刘伯承之子)<BR><BR> 

刘弥群*——解放军空军指挥学院副院长、少将(刘伯承之女)<BR><BR>  

杨俊生——武警部队装备部部长兼科技开发部主任、少将(杨成武之女)<BR><BR> 

杨东胜——解放军第二炮兵装备部副部长、少将(杨成武之子)<BR><BR> 

杨东明——解放军总后勤部物资油料部部长、少将(杨成武之子)<BR><BR> 

伍绍祖——中直工委常务副书记、原国家体育总局局长(1939.04,湖南耒阳人,原中央军委秘书长伍云甫之子)<BR><BR> 

李南征——石家庄陆军指挥学院副院长、少将(原中共中央副主席、上将李德生之子)<BR><BR> 

刘卓明——解放军海军装备论证中心主任、少将(湖北大悟人,前国家副主席刘华清之子)<BR><BR> 

潘 岳——国家环保总局副局长(刘华清女婿)<BR><BR> 

许援朝——南京军区装备部副部长、少将(许世友之子)<BR><BR> 

许延滨——装甲兵学院副院长(大将许光达之子)<BR><BR>  

万伯翱——国家体育总局宣传司处长、《中国体育》杂志社社长兼总编辑(前全国人大委员长万里之子)

万季飞——中国国际贸易促进委员会、中国国际商会会长(1948.10,山东东平人,万里之子)<BR><BR> 

叶选平——原全国政协常务副主席(1924.11,广东梅县人,元帅叶剑英之子)<BR><BR>

吴小兰——原深圳市副市长、市人大常委会副主任(叶选平之妻,中共元老吴玉章外孙女)<BR><BR> 

叶新福——香港万信公司总裁(叶选平之子)<BR><BR>  

叶选宁——岳枫,原总政联络部长,中将,凯利公司董事长兼总裁(曾国荃的五世外孙,叶剑英之子)<BR><BR> 

叶选廉——解放军总参保利公司负责人之一同上<BR><BR>  

叶向真——凌子,导演,现居香港(叶剑英女儿)<BR><BR> 

邹家华——国务院副总理(叶剑英女婿,邹韬奋之子)<BR><BR>  

叶选基——武警部队高级军官(叶剑英侄子)<BR><BR> 

叶静子——星际文化集团公司总裁(1975,叶选宁之女)<BR><BR> 

傅 锐——原中国核工业公司副总经理(前全国人大委员长彭真之子)<BR><BR> 

傅 洋——中华全国律师协会副会长、北京康达律师事务所所长(彭真之子)<BR><BR>  

傅 彦——北京富利公司董事长(彭真之女)<BR><BR> 

蒋小明——深圳赛博控股公司董事长(乔石之子)<BR><BR> 

王小朝——中国保利集团公司董事、副总经理(杨尚昆女婿,杨李丈夫)<BR><BR> 

荣智健——中信泰富集团主席,中国内地首富(1942,江苏人,原国家副主席荣毅仁之子<BR><BR> 

邓英淘——中国社科院经济文化研究中心主任(1952.09,湖南桂东人,前中宣部长邓力群之子)<BR><BR> 

谢 飞——中国电影家协会副主席 中国电影导演协会常务副会长(1942,前全国政协副主席谢觉哉之子)

详细出处参考:http://www.navi  bbs.com/?action-blogdetail-uid-665-id-1701

怎么办与说明书 by 许知远

 怎么办与说明书
                                                                   
                    许知远                                              @ 2010-10-31
                
                
                    总是感到失语。我不是自语之人,难以仅仅为内在的渴求写作。我希望成为那样的人,做不到。

或许我也经常怀疑那种作家是否存在。写作,从第一个字开始,就不可避免的通往虚荣与炫耀。

我感觉得到某种异化,它们让我充满了表达欲,却不知道该怎么表达,尤其是对着一群青年人,他们问你“该怎么办”。最近两个月 里,去过好几次大学,还在不同的地方和人交流,他们大多是20岁左右的年轻人。他们满脸茫然、无辜又急躁。他们说“我们90后”,“我们年轻人”,从来不 说“我的问题是什么”。 但事实上,他们每个人又都是极度自我之人,除去个人的生活与前程,其实什么也不关心。他们觉得自己过得不自由、觉得前程的幻灭,但这一切都是教育的问题、 社会的问题,他们是受害的群体,与他个人无关。

自从“少年中国说”以来,没人敢指责年轻人。他们是古老的中国再生的希望,年龄天然代表着进步的力量。 当然青年崇拜仅仅是一种政治正确,另一个假造的偶像崇拜,没人真的在乎青年人。他们是意识形态争夺的对象,是商业公司的未来消费者,是廉价的劳动力。

但没人仅仅是社会环境的产物;是那不可言说的“自由意志”令人生意义非凡。即使再晦暗的时刻,也总有独特的心灵脱颖而出,是他们让历史不那么暗淡无光。

在最近的两个月里,很多青年人让我失语。当然这与我的知识缺陷相关,我对很多事情不了了之,缺乏深入的思考。但这必定也与他 们的兴趣有关,他们像是读说明手册长大的一代人。说明手册应对是一个有边界的世界,一个具体的事物,有着简单、明了的答案。他们似乎没兴趣知道那个广阔的 世界,没兴趣了解暧昧不 清的力量。他们中最聪明的,都是优秀的总结者,一个好的答题者。但几乎没有人愿意跳出盒子外思考。他们无奈、受伤、却又自满。

或许用加塞特的“大众的反叛”来形容我们的时代,太过冷酷。毕竟还有一个冷漠、残酷的统治机器高高在上,它限制了种种可能性。但误以为推翻了这个机 器,就可能带来改变,也太过一厢情愿。我已经听到过很多青年,充满语言快感的指责制度、控诉社会环境,他们的大言炎炎,就像更多的漠然、早衰的面孔,同样 令人不安。似乎他们年轻的心, 那些该装满少年维特的烦恼、红与黑式的雄心、波德莱尔式的叛逆、梁启超式的少年意气、还有披头士式单纯的心,之是一被一大堆 作业、乱七八糟的娱乐节目、还有层出不穷的社会新闻,给塞满了。他们的生活,既没有宽度,也没有深度,像是一群生活在玻璃板上的蚂蚁,忙忙碌碌,充满了虚 假的可能。由于没有内在的丰富和自由,他们要么甘愿放弃,要么把所有的希望都寄往于那个抽象制度的改变。

他们当然是不幸者,要承接整个教育与社会失败的后果,要承接之前的很多代人的坏思想与坏行为的结果。但别告诉我,你仅仅是这些失败的社会环境的产 物。如果你只焦虑,却不真正的挣扎,只想听到别人的同情,不想追问自己的过错,只强调制度的问题,不愿承担个人责任,那么你就该当如此。

http://www.bullogger.com/blogs/xuzhiyuan/archives/368339.aspx

电脑每个键的用处zt

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丁力:崩溃是没有预警的

丁力:崩溃是没有预警的

2010年10月22日10:37 来源:经济观察网 作者:丁力 浏览: 838
  宇宙在大爆炸中产生,此后一直在扩张;宇宙也是有生命的,某时可能开始收缩、坍塌。国家和文明也都是有机体,如生物一样。这是一个世纪以来盛行的理论。在这100年中,西方关于国家、文明崩溃的研究绵延不断。现在,中国正热衷于国家崛起论,我们也必须了解崩溃理论。在刻意营造的乐观情绪中,系统收缩与崩溃的教训尤为重要,因为大多数理想都在中途破灭。
有必要指出的是,在后殖民时代,扩张与收缩指国家与文明的生命力、影响力的增加与减少,不再是边界的扩张与收缩。因此,一国的扩张未必是军事扩张,可以是和平的、多国共赢的。
 国家或社会的崩溃
像其他复杂系统一样,复杂社会的崩溃可能突然到来,而且是在其生命力、影响力似乎仍在增长的时候,没有明显衰落作为预警。现代国家是复杂社会的一种。在今年3-4月刊的《外交》杂志上,尼尔·弗格森发表了《复杂性与崩溃》,指出国家可能突然崩溃,暗示美国的未来。
弗格森批判那些历史学家,尤其是研究 “长时段”的法国年鉴学派。这有点像中国佛教中的渐悟、顿悟之争。禅宗相信顿悟,可是,许多大德花费了十多年的时间参禅,然后才在某一时刻顿悟。有一个过 程导向顿悟,禅师们似乎认为这个探索过程没有所得。其实,很少有人能像六祖慧能那样,听到别人念经就有所悟。国家、文明的崩溃过程也同此理,衰落经常比顿 悟之前的时间还要长,可能需要数十年、数百年。很少有人能注意到衰落的迹象,注意到也会被禁言。
复杂社会崩溃的原因有很多,其中必有不可持续的道德、环境、发展模式,以及统治阶层过分侵占资源,把个人利益和集团利益放在国家利益之上,为控 制社会而投入过高的成本。弗格森说:“大多数帝国的灭亡都与财政危机有关。”约瑟夫·泰恩特在 《复杂社会的崩溃》中总结说,崩溃是由于对复杂社会的投资边际回报在降低。例如维护稳定的成本,在一段时间之后,极高的投入不能带来相应的稳定,同时,财 富不能满足权贵们增长的欲望,而平民却不愿意再承受那么沉重的剥削,他们想保留属于自己的财富。这时统治者需要更多的投入,征收更多的税赋。于是,表面稳 定的社会在走向崩溃的临界点。某一天,崩溃将突然出现。
在《崩溃》这本书中,泰恩特强调政治复杂性投资的 “边际回报递减”,递减的拐点即崩溃。即使官府有极高收入,财政危机仍有可能,因为需要的投入也非常高,而边际回报必然减少。
崩溃可能是国家、文明的彻底结束,更多时候是下一个周期的开始。在后一种情况下,复杂社会在崩溃之后仍是社会,只是不再那么复杂,因此,对社会的各种投资回报又开始增加了。
在18世纪,蒋巴蒂斯塔·维科在《新科学》中提出三个循环的政治形态:神的(意识形态的)、贵族的、人道的(民主的)。民主制度必然取代贵族政 权,但民主不是历史的终结,民主会崩溃,一切从头开始。在古希腊之后,维科是西方哲学史上早期的历史循环论者,清理了直线的“进步”观,回到古希腊。在他 之后,奥斯瓦尔德·斯宾格勒等人持循环论,但他们不是哲学家或严格意义上的历史学家,他们更像是西方文明的守望者,发出崩溃的预警。
在1980年代中期,许多人认定苏联已经在两强相争中占据了上风。保罗·肯尼迪在《大国的兴衰》中警告美国不要过度扩张。这本书出版3年之后,苏联突然解体,不辞而别。因为苏联先走一步,美国才没有崩溃,反而因为冷战胜利而享受到“和平红利”,于是顾盼自雄。
但肯尼迪的警告仍然有效。冷战之后,美国没有停止扩张。2008年开始的金融危机进一步暴露了美国精英阶层的贪婪。2009年,美国出现了茶 党,反对政府的高税收、高支出,声势浩大。他们也许能够挽救美国。茶党的出现是偶然的,无组织、无预谋的。这个事实说明,自由的社会、民主的国家潜在着纠 错机制。既得利益者不会欢迎这种机制,即使他们已经预见到崩溃,也不可能主动纠错,因为这样做不能给他们带来利益,也与他们的人生哲学冲突。

清朝的兴衰
越复杂的社会,其崩溃的可能性越大。老子的“小国寡民”的设想,是预先回到复杂系统崩溃之后的状态,从而避免崩溃。他的设想没有实现。从秦朝开 始,中国的政治系统是刚性的,缺乏弹性,因此不免崩溃。中国人持历史循环观,把崩溃与再生视为当然,豪杰们还有项羽取而代之的雄心。但在专制的重压下、崩溃的苦难中,中国人在许多方面一代不如一代了。
在一个王朝之内也有崩溃与重建。清朝历史可以简单地分为两大段:康乾盛世、同治中兴。两个时期之间是延缓了萎缩。盛世之中蕴藏衰退,盛世之后就 是衰世。在1860年前的10年中,清朝频受打击:太平天国、捻军在大片国土上纵横驱驰;英法联军攻入北京,皇帝出逃;俄国割走外东北,窥伺西北;西北、 西南等地回民多次起兵。1861年咸丰皇帝驾崩的时候,大清已经到了崩溃的边缘。这时出现了曾国藩、左宗棠、李鸿章等人,才有了 “同治中兴”(1862-1874),清朝又维持了40多年。曾国藩是儒家的守护者,他起兵对抗太平天国是为了反击从西方传入的邪教。他不知道,他挽救的 文明在100年之后仍被摧毁。
清廷在崩溃的边缘上开始了改革开放。士大夫经常引用《易》:“法穷则变,变则通,通则久。”但是,当时的西方观察家(如赫德、威妥玛)指出,中 国的改革与西方人理解的不一样。中国的改革不是寻找一条向前的新路,而是要回到臆想中的、过去的“美好”时代。这或许是历史循环观的结果。清朝有对外开 放,却从来没有真正的改革。在甲午战争、庚子之乱之后,官府似乎稳定了局面。1911年,在武昌偶然发生了士兵暴动,辛亥革命终于不可阻挡。
清朝在极其危险的时候没有灭亡,却在好像安全的时候突然崩溃了。其实,在太平天国兴起之后,大清一直在向崩溃的临界点摆动。同治中兴成功的原因 在于清廷的两个至关重要的优势:在旧的政治框架内,皇室不可取代,因此少了许多豪杰之士的刻意破坏;在旧的思想系统中,儒家不可取代,因此有曾国藩等杰出 士大夫的刻意扶持。而这两个“不可”早已不复存在。
  历史周期中的理性
中国历史上的扩张与西方的扩张不同,主要是对内扩张。在腐败扩散之后,官府的工作是搜刮,而不是激励创造财富。所以,中国社会的崩溃往往是内爆。在镇压民众的技术发达的时候,系统崩溃的原因必然是腐朽,不可能是反抗。腐败和镇压的成本日益高昂,至不可承担。
认识复杂系统需要理性。在思维方式较为原始的社会,本能占上风,理性受轻视;如果这个社会又是复杂社会,那么,崩溃的到来可能更突然。在那样的 社会里,社会精英是掌握大权的人以及通过权力获取利益的人,他们凭着本能聚敛财产,并凭着本能嗅到危险,把财产转移到安全的地方。为了维护这样一个过程, 他们压制理性提出的警告,拒绝改革,把危险的现实描绘成美好的画卷,由此锁定了崩溃的必然。但崩溃的时机有偶然性,不是人的智力所能预见的。
地缘大战略是国家的扩张路线图。合理的地缘大战略必须从国内开始设计,否则,对外政策将缺少国内各种力量的支持。更糟糕的是,如果国家“出师未 捷身先死”,对外设想就会变成一个国际笑话。弗格森说:“为预测和推迟复杂系统的失败,任何战略的最关键部分是理解它们如何运作。”他是对的。更关键的是,提出警告的观察者不会被杀掉。当然,弗格森用不着担心这一点。
  作为一个潜在世界大国,中国要为国际秩序的可能崩溃做好准备,同时更须远离国内临界点。




http://rmlt.com.cn/News/201010/201010221037204548.html

You must be the change you wish to see in the world

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
--  Mahatma Gandhi                

"human beings tend to be too confident of their own abilities" zt

Behavioural economics, which applies the insights of psychology to finance, has boomed in the past decade. In particular, behavioural economists have argued that human beings tend to be too confident of their own abilities and tend to extrapolate recent trends into the future, a combination that may contribute to bubbles. There is also evidence that losses can make investors extremely, irrationally risk-averse—exaggerating price falls when a bubble bursts.

-------"Economist"

雨夜 by 北岛

雨夜

北岛  
        当水洼里破碎的夜晚
摇着一片新叶
象摇着自己的孩子睡去
当灯光串起雨滴
缀饰在你肩头
闪着光,又滚落在地
你说,不
口气如此坚决
可微笑却泄露了内心的秘密

低低的乌云用潮湿的手掌
揉着你的头发
揉进花的芳香和我滚烫的呼吸
路灯拉长的身影
连接着每个路口,连接着每个梦
用网捕捉着我们的欢乐之谜
以往的辛酸凝成泪水
沾湿了你的手绢
被遗忘在一个黑漆漆的门洞里

即使明天早上
枪口和血淋淋的太阳
让我交出青春、自由和笔
我也决不会交出这个夜晚
我决不会交出你
让墙壁堵住我的嘴唇吧
让铁条分割我的天空吧
只要心在跳动,就有血的潮汐
而你的微笑将印在红色的月亮上
每夜升起在我的小窗前
唤醒记忆

郑念,一个很少人知道,并且会被很快忘记的名字

时代周刊(09年11月份)登载了郑念(Nien Cheng)去世的消息,配有一个她的简单介绍,特别是她的那本出版于1986年的回忆录《生死在上海》(Life and Death in Shanghai, 也有人译作《上海生死劫》)。这本书的中译本曾经在88年内部出版,印数为5万册。对于有兴趣了解文革的朋友来说,这是一本不可错过的读物。

民 国时期的郑是个外交官的妻子,49年前一直过着优裕的生活。66年被捕之后,她被单独关押了6年之久,在此期间,拒绝承认为英帝国主义的走狗充当间谍。 “一定要不惜代价地斗争”是她的信条。指控她的证据包括她当年在英国求学、收集古典唱片、喜欢吃果酱。在她坐牢的时候,她的独生女在外边被红卫兵打死。她 最终没有屈服,并且奇迹般地活着走出了牢门。后来(1973年)辗转去了美国,定居在华盛 顿。她一直居住在这里,直到于2009年11月2日以94岁高龄去世。“郑再也没有回到国中国。那个她爱过的国家久已不复存在。”

作者对 于当时事件发生的细节多有描述,读者可以生动地体会到美好的东西(物、人性)是如何遭到毁灭的。当局给右派分子摘帽后,呼吁他们把被抄走的文物“自愿”捐 给国家,那些侥幸生存下来的前右派分子,那些对当局感激涕零、千恩万谢、诚惶诚恐的前“人渣”们,还能有什么其他的选择呢?失去信义的并不仅仅是单独的个 体,还有那个体制;而且历史也不存在一个明确的时间点,在这个时间点之后,正义和光明降临,邪恶和黑暗退隐。历史是延续的,而且少有突变。

事 情的发生并不久远,当年残酷迫害过她的那些人很多还应当健在,还好好地生活在我们的社会里。他们内心可有悔过?还是把罪责推给他人的蛊惑或者当时的政治压 力?他们的内心世界到底怎样?文革40周年的时候,本该做些反思,但是不成,因为那个话题成了禁忌。在公园里,在马路边,我们看到那些上了年岁的人,他们 步态悠闲,面色红润,衣着得体,受人尊敬。但是,他们当年怎么过来的? 他们的双手干净吗?有血吗(顾准问过的那个问题)? 除了巴金,我们不见谁有过痛切的悔过;文革结束后的初期,大家津津乐道的是受迫害的“光荣”...

在这个大国崛起的时代,重提这种旧事,似乎不合时宜。但是,历史可以被刻意隐瞒,它的影响是不能割断的。那些落定了的尘埃,沉淀在我们的血液里,已经成为我们的一部分,影响到我们的行为和思想。

郑念,一个很少人知道,并且会被很快忘记的名字。

洗脑

一群强盗奸污了你的母亲,暴打你的父亲,抢走了你财物,并且拆毁了你的居屋,什么东西可以让你对强盗头子顶礼膜拜?

洗脑。

很多人 以各种方式 不断地告诉你:
这个人是你的救星
他曾经给了你幸福
这个人的再度降临
是你摆脱眼前一切苦难的唯一希望
...
你于是膝盖一软 跪拜下来

"Buffett Rules" plus zt

The pressure goes on - why property investments will rise in value

Posted in Opinion


By Olly Newland

It's October, and the property market has not fallen 30% as was predicted by some - nor even by the 15% as those doom merchants, in a vain attempt to remain credible, hastily corrected themselves. Instead the median price bobs up and down within the margin of error and the market remains essentially flat - as was predicted by me long ago as February last year.
The economy, along with the housing market also remains flat under the weight of increased GST and costs, and the hopelessly ill-timed move by the Reserve Bank to increase interest rates some months ago.
Interest rates will remain low and possibly go even lower in the time ahead because we are not out of the woods just yet.
Massive problems in the USA and Europe, combined with bubble economies in China and Australia could rock the world's economies in the next 12-18 months and this, to my mind, will be the forerunner of a tidal wave of hyper-inflation as countries print their way out of recession.
Indeed investors should be putting a little aside into other hard assets such as gold (as I predicted in "The Day the Bubble, Bursts"), silver, platinum, copper, antiques and art, or if you like whiskey, perfumes and jewellery.

When inflation hits it will already too late. Why hyperinflation is coming to America and how to prepare now
Check the Gold chart:


What happens in Aussie happens here. Australia is suffering heartburn already from an overheated property market and, as I have seen many times before with the mad Aussies, there will be tears as their property market suffers an acute attack of indigestion. "Housing stress test spooks market"
In Sydney, anything within 10 kilometres of the city centre is now $1million plus for the most miserable shack -- Melbourne and other main centres aren't far behind.
I have seen all this before. I will bet dollars to doughnuts that soon we will be flooded with Aussie investors looking here for cheaper property in which to invest.
Already Asians are trying to buy up huge tracts of farm land in NZ, and some are now throwing themselves at investment property - spending up large from the money they have made from flooding the West with cheap exports. Consider their impact on these recent sales:
Commercial property
Many of the commercial properties sold recently in Auckland were hotly contested by Asian buyers and as a result yields dropped dramatically (i.e. prices rose).
Two Broadway Rialto retail units -- sold at yields of 5.2% & 5.3%. The next was stolen at 6.1%, and the cheapest of the units was sold on a 7.6% yield.
The Rialto shops sold for a total $10.15 million at an average yield of 6.2%. The Cue yield was higher than the rest, at 7.6%, because it will be vacated in February. A market rental has been assessed at $160,000. At that rent, the yield on the $2.4 million sale price would be 6.6%.
Next door on Broadway, the National Bank building sold for $13.5 million at a 7.8% yield.
At Westgate the Kiwibank & NZ Post shop sold prior to auction at a 6.35% yield and two more units sold recently at 6.7%, and another at 7.3% and a third that went unconditional at 7% yield.
In Parnell, 155A Parnell Rd, a retail shop leased to Movenpick on a 6x6-year lease for $54,700 p.a. sold for $922,500 at a 5.9% yield.
The most spectacular sale was in Ponsonby where a retail outlet housing Resene Paints sold for a jaw-dropping $1,110,500 representing a return of 2.7% on the income of $30,000 p.a. (the CV was only $800,000).
So much for a declining market and a shortage of cash.
This sales evidence indicates commercial property is coming under pressure and will likely increase in value by 20% to 30% as overseas and local buyers vie with each other to pay more and more to secure a steady income stream at better than current bank deposit rates.
Earthquake in Christchurch
This was a significant event of that there is no doubt and will, I believe, turn out to be the "recession buster" that the property market so sorely needs.
Current estimates put the cost at $4 billion and it wouldn't surprise me if that figure doubles in the end. Anyone who knows about renovation and repairs knows that these are far more costly than a straight new-build.
An estimated 50,000 homes will be need to be repaired or rebuilt. That, together with the infrastructure of roading, drainage and power to be made good, means this work alone will keep tradesmen employed for years. 50,000 properties may need quake repairs
I expect a mini recession in the region at first as business stalls, but by the middle of next year it will be all full steam ahead (providing the aftershocks trail away). On top of this, we will see house prices and rents rise throughout Canterbury under the pressure of this event plus the pressure from the new rate of 15% GST on every new blade of grass, nail, and door handle.
In a previous article I warned that rents were sure to rise and if there was any doubt, this event plus the GST effect will only accelerate those rises.
As if to hammer home the fact, Barfoots, the biggest real estate agents in Auckland, said in their latest press release: "The average weekly rental recorded by Barfoot and Thompson in September was NZ$407, up NZ$1/week on that for August and NZ$23 a week more than in September last year."
It is also interesting to note that house prices rose yet again according to Barfoots same article: "The average sales price of NZ$523,861 was up 2.5% from NZ$510,879 in August, but was up 1.7% from September a year earlier".
If these figures are the much touted 'crash' then I can't wait for the boom.
On a more amusing note I saw a TV item where some dopey real estate agent was asked if rents would rise in Christchurch because of the earthquake. The answer given was that that firm of real estate agents would not deal with landlords who took advantage of the situation by raising rents.
Well, hello! Just remind me not to deal with that agency should the need arise.
Landlords and investors have been mercilessly screwed down over the past few years with static rents and steadily rising prices and now, at long last, it's time for an adjustment in their favour.
Investors should get every dollar they can get and keep in mind that 'Profit' is the name of the game.
Think about it. If you were a Christchurch landlord and two people of equal quality wanted to rent your property, one offering $300 per week and one offering $400 per week which one would you choose?
The lesser? Yeah right.
In the same vein, I noted that a large number of Christchurch residents complained that they did not get all the help that they should have got and I must say I agree with them.
There was much gawking and sightseeing and a few students who did heroic work but after that, bugger all. Just TV crews. It has always struck me as ridiculous that 500 people will rush to some god-forsaken beach somewhere to save a bunch of moronic pilot whales who threw themselves on the sand, but those same 500 people will hardly stifle a yawn when asked to help their fellow countrymen who really could do with some help when the need arises.
Housing drought to get worse
If there wasn't enough pressure building up already there is better to come (from the investor's point of view).
New housing consents (or as the American say 'housing starts') are at an all-time-low - which is excellent news indeed for investors and existing landlords. Housing consents slump 12 percent
Anyone with enough brains to put a spoon in their mouth knows that shortage = price rises ... and that's exactly what this slowdown in building means.
With NZ's population growing by around 1% pa we need at least 20,000 houses to be built every year just to stand still - let alone replace the houses that are lost each year from fire, floods, demolition and natural events.
The day is not far-off when the next 'housing crisis' will erupt as rising rents collide with a shortage of supply. The inevitable 'shock-horror' stories will emerge of overcrowding, bad conditions and rack-renting. (If you're curious to know where some say the expression "rack-renting" came from, read the fascinating story of Peter Rachman.)
From a public relations point of view, property investors can NEVER win as members of the whining, whinging mob always get the headlines.
The baying for blood was encouraged and strengthened by the Minister of Finance Bill English, who in his last budget positively squeaked with pleasure as he removed legitimate tax deductions from investors through the removal of depreciation deductions.
When the **&&##@@ hits the fan, remember the part he played in the housing crisis that will come as sure as night follows day.
Buffett Rules
It is rare indeed when I take any notice of the self-proclaimed 'experts' who grow like mushrooms and then disappear just as quickly when their prognostications prove to be as useless as a pair of nail scissors to cut the lawn.
However I must say I watched an documentary on TV the other day about Warren Buffett and I have never heard more sense from anyone else in many a long year.
Those of you who have respect for your elders should read some of Warren Buffet's rules for successful investing:
1: Be frugal
Avoid waste, excessive pay or perks. Frugal people don't need fast returns to support extravagant lifestyles.

2: Wait for the 'fat pitch'
Resist constantly buying or selling. "Lethargy bordering on sloth remains the cornerstone of our investment style," (Buffett in his 1990 annual report to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders.) Wait a long time until market turbulence brings the "fat pitch", i.e. really cheap valuations.

3: Be a contrarian
Go against the crowd. "We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful," (Buffett in a 1986 letter to shareholders.) Be skeptical of the conventional wisdom, not because the crowd is always wrong but because the crowd's wisdom is probably already reflected in market prices.

4: Stick with what you know
If you don't understand a product or how it makes money, avoid it. "Stay within your circle of confidence."

5: Hold for life
Buffett's favourite holding period is "forever."

I recommend these rules to you. Write them on your bedpost to remind you daily of the truth of them.
An Investor's Story
A somewhat strange story came across my desk the other day. In this case I was on the side of the investor who was the target of a diabolical plot.
My client, a retired engineer had saved up over a lifetime well over $1.5 million and was dead keen to buy a commercial property to fund his retirement. Without taking advice (I only learnt of his story when it was too late) he was introduced to a commercial property which appeared to suit his needs by a firm of well-known real agents.
This particular property was relatively new, in a good industrial area, and was offered at a price of $1.5 million returning a yield of 9% per annum (i.e. $135,000 net) with a new 6 x 6 year lease in place. The tenant was a IT firm who had owned the building initially and then had written a lease to themselves before putting the property up for sale with them as tenants -- what's known as a 'lease-back'.
My client, relying on his hopelessly incompetent lawyer, purchased the property for cash with no borrowings only to find that within a month of settlement, the tenants closed down their business and vacated the property.
The rent stopped the same day leaving a gaping hole in my clients bank account. Horror-struck, he came to me for help.
On investigation, I soon found that the lease had no personal guarantees from the directors, and the tenant was a $100 shelf company with no assets, having been stripped out by the shareholders immediately the proceeds of sale had been lodged. Worse was to follow.
On re-valuing the property, the maximum fair market rent it could achieve on a good day with a following breeze, was $70,000 per annum -- virtually half the supposed lease amount - and no more.
It was an old story.
The vendor/tenants/ had hydraulicked the rents to a level that even a one-eyed, biased, friendly valuer could not justify and my client had simply divided the rent by 9% and paid the asking price. The property was revalued at $700,000 maximum so my client lost more than half his life savings at one fell swoop.
I recommended he sue (a) his incompetent lawyer (b) the shareholders and (c) the real estates agents - jointly or severally for misrepresentation etc. But faced with lengthy litigation and monumental costs with no guarantee of success, he chose to do nothing. With thoughts of murder, he accepted his massive loss as a gross injustice and plain dumb bad luck. Encouragement, ranting and raving on my part could not change his mind, so I left him to get on with his life - distraught, poorer ... and much wiser.
So the lesson for you, dear reader, is to always get independent advice before committing yourself to a major purchase or take the consequences.
Buy in haste - then regret at leisure.

Olly Newland
October 2010
www.ollynewland.co.nz
© 2010 Olly Newland. Used with permission.
 

Lectures by Lord Nicholas Stern

Lord Nicholas Stern of Brentford - Sir Douglas Robb lectures 2010
http://www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/home/alumni/photo-galleries-and-video/public-lectures/lord-nicholas-stern-of-brentford-sir-douglas-robb-lectures-2010#s2c1
Not sure how long they will be there; but they do deserve to be watched.

他的生活、他的环境只能产生那样的政治想象力zt

...有一个笑话是讲蒋委员长的:说在古都西安的城墙根下,有两个老汉在展望未来。一个说,我如果当上蒋委员长的话,每天油把辣子泼得红红的,粘在面里, 顿顿都咥饱;另一个说,你看你个没出息的!我如果当上蒋委员长的话,全村的粪,我一个人全包了,谁也不让拾!现在我们推想一下:假如前一个老汉上台,问题 不大,顶多是个贪图享乐的土皇上;可假如让后一个老汉上台,那还是要搞独裁,比蒋委员长好不到哪里去。因为他的生活、他的环境只能产生那样的政治想象力, 而那样的政治想象力又是由封闭的环境和单一的生活决定的,因而胡适和鲁迅的工作并行不悖,不存在谁第一,谁第二的问题。

http://www.bullogger.com/blogs/dima/archives/366894.aspx

Bernard Hicky on economic othordoxy

Bernard Hicky on economic othordoxy

http://www.interest.co.nz/opinion/opinion-why-we-must-abandon-economic-orthodoxy-and-embrace-capital-trade-and-exchange-rate-controls

"They created a long term mess for short term gain. They privatised profits for themselves and socialised the losses for us all."

Opinion: Why we must abandon the economic orthodoxy and embrace capital, trade and exchange rate controls

Posted in Opinion
By Bernard Hickey
I feel like a priest who has been wrestling with his belief in god and has now decided god does not exist.
It's time for me to recant and to say what I've been thinking for months: the economic god of completely free markets and capital flows is not worth believing in anymore and we must look for other things to believe in and do.
I think New Zealand needs to have a debate about capital controls, about foreign ownership of assets, about measures to control our currency and about being openly nationalistic rather than internationalistic about our economic policy.
I think the Global Financial Crisis and the preceding decade of debt-driven instability in global capital markets and trade flows have demonstrated the failure of the economic model most New Zealand policymakers have adhered to for nearly 3 decades.
I think we need to rethink the way we run monetary policy, the way we allow foreign ownership of assets, the way we encourage savings, the way our financial institutions are regulated and change the things we are aiming for.
We should debate more specific controls on who owns what assets, whether monetary policy should still use the Official Cash Rate to focus on inflation alone, and whether banks should still be free to lend however much they want to whomever they want.
But first some background because this is not something that has come out of the blue. I've been thinking about this for a while.
'Mea culpa'
I used to believe in the primacy of markets and economic freedom.
I used to believe that New Zealand's interests, and the world's, were best served by completely free movement of capital and trade.
I railed against the tariffs and the exchange rate controls of the mercantilests and protectionists.
I argued in favour of unfettered free trade with China.
I despised the 'Think Big' policies of the Muldoon era and all the import licenses and exchange rate controls that went with them.
I believed the reforms of the late 1980s were ultimately good for New Zealand and if only we had gone a little bit further and a little bit faster we would have been OK.
I believed a free-floating exchange rate and the removal of tariffs and other trade barriers was a good idea. I believed in the law of comparative advantage and how encouraging companies to specialise the means of production in different countries ultimately made everyone wealthier.
I pointed to the amazing reduction in the number of people living in poverty in China as proof of what free trade can do.
I thought the 'Great Moderation' between 2002 and 2007, where interest rates and inflation was low while growth was high, was real.
But I think many of those beliefs are now wrong.
The Great Moderation was a Great Fraud
It's clear now that the explosion of global capital flows and low interest rate debt over the last decade was a direct result of those unfettered capital flows.
The 'Great Moderation' was actually a Great Fraud perpetuated by financial engineers in Manhattan and London who targetted massive short term bonuses by creating financial instruments that gave the appearance of reducing risk, but actually massively increased risk.
These investment bankers exploited all sorts of holes in financial regulations and in the way pension funds are allocated to enrich themselves at the expenses of middle and under classes in developed countries. The created a long term mess for short term gain. They privatised profits for themselves and socialised the losses for us all.
They worked in tandem with the managers of often publicly listed multinational corporates who specialised their operations in different countries, often moving manufacturing and services to lower wage economies in an endless hunt to lower costs and increase profits (often for their own personal benefit).
This seemed like a good idea at the time and even seemed noble, spreading the wealth around. But all it did was reduce real wages for the middle and under classes in developed economies, who then promptly borrowed more to keep spending as if they were richer. It was a recipe for instability.
All this debt-fueled consumption growth in the developed world that was funded and supplied by savings and production surpluses in the developing world.
It could not last. Like any Ponzi scheme, eventually the debt keeps rising until the interest bill overwhelms the ability of the borrower to pay.
Once asset values start falling then we find out who has been swimming naked.
This exposure and collapse of a giant fraud is what we have seen in the last two years. It has expressed itself in the usual way.
Now the fallout
Financial crisis has followed financial crisis. Banks have gone bust. Savings have been wiped out. Economies have gone into deep recession. Ponzi schemers have been put in prison.
Currencies have swung wildly. Unemployment rates have risen. Asset prices (both property and share prices) have plunged.
Governments have tried to put their fingers in the dyke to stop their economies being wiped out after the collapse of the levee walls. They are trying and failing.
Firstly, governments rescued those same banks that had engineered the explosion of debt. Private debt was transferred into public hands to try to save the system. The bankers were allowed to keep going, generating bonuses for themselves. Now the publics in those countries where this happened in the biggest way are waking up, albeit in a messy way.
However, this didn't stop the inevitable implosion. It just delayed and extended it.
Now investors are rightly worried that governments may not be able to afford the extra debt taken on to keep their economies pumped up after September 2008 and the toxic debt they took on that the banks couldn't handle.
The financial systems in many of these economies remain broken, but more importantly, households know they have too much debt already and won't borrow more to spend like they were. The great de-leveraging has begun and nothing can stop it.
So the tide really is going out and now we're discovering the underlying structure of the global economy is flawed.
Black Swans
Emerging economies such as China want to industrialise in a mercantilist way, holding down their currencies to subsidise producers at the expense of consumers.
The global economy is now dependent on production and saving in one or two parts of the world, China and Germany, offset by consuming and borrowing in other parts of the world, America, Britain, Southern Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
This is fine as long as the savers have somewhere safe to put their capital surpluses and the borrowers can keep borrowing. But it all ends when borrowers run out of borrowing capacity and the savers lose faith in the paper they're exchanging for the product they're producing.
There are some short term fixes. One is to cut interest rates to zero and hold them there forever. America is trying that right now.  The other is to try and win a race to the bottom in a game of competitive devaluations. In a way they are the same thing. America, Japan and Europe are all trying that right now.
All this specialistion and separation of production, saving, borrowing and consumption in different parts of the globe has done is make it more unstable.
The most convincing argument I've seen on this is from Nassim Taleb, the author of the Black Swan, who says that financial and capital systems need to have redundancies and inefficiencies built in to cope with shocks, just as Mother Nature does. Here's his argument in a must read piece in the New Statesmen.
We need some redundancy
Essentially, I'm saying we need to build some redundancy into the systems for global trading and capital flows.
We need to realise that sometimes the system doesn't work. We need to have something in reserve.
We need to accept that a completely free and unfettered system of global muilti-national capitalism driven by an elite of CEOs and investment bankers will inevitably blow itself up in a frenzy of borrowing, bonuses, short term thinking and self interest.
If we're not careful there will be the sorts of revolts, political unrest and global tensions that sparks wars and revolutions. It's happened before. To think it won't happen again is naive.
So what?
So what has this got to do with New Zealand?
Surely this is all going to happen independently of us and we just have to open ourselves up and hope for the best.
We tried that and it failed. We increased our foreign debt by NZ$97.5 billion inside the last six years, but all that happened is our per capita GDP actually fell over that period.
We borrowed from the free and easy and low interest rate global capital flows to pump up asset prices and go on a spending spree. All we have left for it now is some leaky homes, a big debt and a hollowed out workforce.
We need to recognise that in a world of competitive devaluations, growing trade tensions and nakedly selfish vested interests (governments, multinationals and global investment banks) that we have to defend ourselves and be just as nakedly nationalistic.
We have to assume, just as Marx pointed out, that free markets will eventually overheat and blow up if we allow them free rein.
Income needs to be redistributed to offset the concentration of wealth that naturally occurs in such a globalised, free flowing world of capital. Ownership of assets needs to be monitored and controlled. The growth of foreign debt needs to be restricted.
Consumers and bankers need to be saved from themselves.
That is what I think we're starting to see filter through to our politicians from the grass roots upwards.
Stop the fudging and have a debate
The government's fudgey decision this week to give ministers discretion to reject foreign bids for large tracts of farmland is the first sign.
I'd much prefer we had a debate about this.
John Key is as aware as anyone that the inevitable result of these dislocations of capital and the means of production, along with competitive devaluations, is a global land grab for hard assets such as arable land, mines and technology. Bits of paper don't cut it anymore. No wonder the price of gold hit a record US$1,300/oz overnight.
No wonder the Chinese want to buy our dairy producing land and factories. Or the mines in Australia. (Interestingly the Australians wouldn't let the Chinese buy the mines).
China likes free trade because it wants to build factories and sell stuff to the rest of the world. It wants to own assets in other countries that can provide it with the raw materials and food it needs to keep that export machine going and employing workers from the countryside.
But China will not allow others to buy those assets in its country. It is point blank refusing to allow its yuan to appreciate quickly versus the US dollar.
US politicians, under pressure from voters, are revolting against the multi-national free trading system in a messy way, looking to impose tariffs. The Tea Party movement, however flawed, is a reaction to the failure of this global system and the way it has been distorted by vested interests to transfer wealth from the middle classes to the richest Manhattanites.
This is not going to stop and we can't ignore it.
America is trying to devalue and print its way out from under its debt. Europe will eventually have to do the same, if only to stop its single currency from exploding from within. China will not stop and Japan is about to announce a massive new stimulus in the wake of its second currency intervention inside a week.
Brazil has declared it is engaged in a currency war to try to stop its currency from rising.
Brazil, like Australia and New Zealand, has a freeish floating currency that is rising as others try to devalue and buy into countries with hard rather than paper assets.
So what do we do?
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has already taken a baby step down this route to intervention to save ourselves. Its Core Funding Ratio (CFR) essentially directs our big four banks to stop dipping into these global capital flows and to fund much more of their lending from local sourxes.
That has stopped the mad dash into property and higher debt, although households have also worked out for themselves that the game is up.
The Reserve Bank could do a lot more. It could direct banks to have maximum loan to value ratios. It looked at this in 2006. It could require banks to put aside more capital for the 'wrong' types of lending into housing and consumption.
Remember, that in the last two years of the crisis our banks have lent more to households and to farmers against the value of property, but lent less to businesses, Reserve Bank statistics show. Farm lending is up NZ$7 billion to NZ$47 billion and household lending is up NZ$8 billion to NZ$181 billion, while business lending is down NZ$4 billion to NZ$72 billion.
The government could consider limits on foreign ownership of major assets and restrictions on profit repatriation.
Savings into New Zealand KiwiSaver funds and the New Zealand Superannuation funds could be directed into New Zealand investments.
Much more could be done to protect ourselves and reduce the possible damage from future booms and busts.
I don't have all the answers./I'm not saying we should throw out the baby with the bathwater and return to Muldoon-era currency controls. But other open trading countries, such as Singapore, have ways to control their capital flows and exchange rates. Why shouldn't we?
I'd just like to have a debate and start looking for a new way to run our economy.
Because the current way isn't working.
Your view?
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Beware those Black Swans

Published 05 July 2010

http://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2010/07/debt-system-mother-black

The bestselling economist Nassim Nicholas Taleb argues that we can’t make the world financial system immune to shocks –– but we can make sure it’s much more robust by building randomness into our planning.
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