The Big Picture Archives - Page 26 of 33

April 4, 2013

One Soviet Leader China Could Emulate…and it’s not Gorbachev | The Diplomat

Professor Minxin Pei analyzes the options facing the Chinese Communist Party:

…it appears that what informs the political thinking of China’s new leadership is the experience of the late-Soviet regime. In particular, three different leaders and their policies apparently weigh heavily on the minds of the new occupants of Zhongnanhai. Having endured a decade of political stagnation amid rapid economic growth, China’s new leaders are obviously not in a mood to try another version of the Brezhnev model, the essence of which is pretending to govern while doing nothing in reality. Yet, aware of the enormous risks of introducing democratic reforms into a sclerotic political system, they abhor the radical Gorbachev model even more.

Their problem is that the other roads lead to nowhere and eventually they will be forced to embrace democratic reform. Rather than rejecting the Gorbachev option, the CCP should analyze the process and look for ways to minimize the disruption. Gradual transition to a central governing council of 7 to 9 elected officials representing all major political parties, with the CCP initially holding the majority of seats, seems the lowest risk alternative.

March 31, 2013

The Freedom to Diminish Other Peoples’ Freedom | Angry Bear – Financial and Economic Commentary

Mike Kimel at Angry Bear takes a dim view of how some studies define “freedom”:

This Mercatus study, like so much else that comes from that institution, seems to be promoting a specific kind of freedom, namely the freedom of some parties to diminish other people’s freedom and the ability of one group of people to make decisions about what goes onto someone else’s property. And this, to me, is not really a measure freedom, but rather a measure of the right to oppress.

March 30, 2013

Reminiscences of a German World War II Veteran | SPIEGEL ONLINE

Jürgen Dahlkamp reports on an interview with a 92 year-old WW II veteran who lost his leg on the Russian front.

“I was a good soldier,” says Heinz Otto Fausten, which seems like the beginning of a sentence that can’t possibly turn out well. But then he says: “I see today that because of that, I was merely a good tool for an unbelievably criminal regime.”

The interview raises questions about individual culpability for collective crimes and when should a “good soldier” disobey orders.

March 24, 2013

For America, Decline is a Choice | The Diplomat

William C. Martel concludes his series, highlighting the lack of a cohesive US grand strategy, with this summary:

A strategic weakness with American foreign policy is the deep and enduring political polarization in Washington that complicates, and often paralyzes, U.S. policymaking. While the United States once conducted its foreign policy on a bipartisan basis, we now see divisions on virtually all issues. Washington’s failure to move beyond this polarized environment puts at risk its ability to act with one voice on foreign policy. Essentially, it puts at risk the entire enterprise of grand strategy because a deeply divided nation cannot implement its resources and interests effectively.

By definition, American grand strategy demands that policymakers and politicians take the long view. While it is an enduring challenge for policymakers in Washington to look beyond the next election, the nation has no choice. It must build a grand strategy that addresses how the United States deals with the future that extends beyond the coming months or years. Abroad, the nation must work with other states and institutions to shape the secure international order that all states desperately need. The alternative is a world marked by uncertainty, fear, and strife.

March 17, 2013

Drug-resistant bacteria and lack of new antibiotics pose ‘catastrophic threat’ | Nature News

Daniel Cressey writes:

The danger of antibiotic-resistant bacteria should be placed alongside pandemic influenza and terrorism on the UK government’s list of threats to national security, the country’s most senior medic has advised. Sally Davies, the UK chief medical officer, warned that antimicrobial resistance “poses a catastrophic threat” and that international action to combat this problem is needed now. Davies, speaking as she launched a report on the problem compiled by some of the country’s leading doctors and academics, called for more research into new antibiotics and better surveillance of the these bugs, incorporating more genomic testing to increase scientists’ understanding of emerging resistance.

Colin Twiggs

Colin Twiggs is a former investment banker with almost 40 years of experience in financial markets. He co-founded Incredible Charts and writes the popular Trading Diary and Patient Investor newsletters.

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

Focusing on interest rates and financial market liquidity as primary drivers of the economic cycle, he warned of the 2008/2009 and 2020 bear markets well ahead of actual events.
He founded PVT Capital (AFSL No. 546090) in May 2023, which offers investment strategy and advice to wholesale clients.

March 14, 2013

Milton Friedman: The closest thing to a free lunch [video]

Milton Friedman, recipient of the 1976 Nobel Prize for Economic Science, leader of the Chicago School of economics, gave this prescient address at the Cato Institute in 1993. While lengthy [49:93] this superb performance shows one of the great minds of the 20th century at his best.

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

March 14, 2013

Jeremy Grantham: Why we are all toast if we don't change [video]

Charlie Rose interviews Jeremy Grantham

This lengthy [53:39] video is a must watch. Click on the image and video will open in a new window.

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

March 8, 2013

Milton Friedman – The Free Lunch myth [video]

Milton Friedman, recipient of the 1976 Nobel Prize for Economic Science, was one of the most recognizable and influential proponents of liberty and markets in the 20th century, and the leader of the Chicago School of economics. Here he gives his views on the myth of the free lunch.

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

March 8, 2013

Milton Friedman: The foundations of freedom [video]

Nobel Laureate Dr. Milton Friedman gives his thoughts on the importance of maintaining the foundations of freedom, in 2009.

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

March 1, 2013

Australia: Interview with Hawke & Howard

Ray Martin’s interview with former PM’s Bob Hawke and John Howard, November 2012

Colin Twiggs

Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies key macro trends in the global economy before evaluating selected opportunities using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.