America’s U-Turn!

Another Populist move by Obama.

U.S. Adds Tariffs on Chinese Tires.

“President Barack Obama slapped punitive tariffs on all car and light truck tyres entering the US from China. Beijing decried the decision, saying the move sent a dangerous protectionist signal before a G20 summit and could stoke reactions impeding global recovery.”

Below excerpt from WSJ

“The decision is a major victory for the United Steelworkers, the union that represents American tire workers. And Mr. Obama cannot afford to jeopardize his relationship with major unions as he pushes Congress to overhaul the nation’s health care system.”

Let me tell you that since taking office, President Obama has frequently declared himself a free trader. In several appearances over the last few months, he has driven home the message that protectionism is dangerous to economic health.

Now - do you guys get a feeling that he’s just a populist – but lacks true wisdom?Ever since he was elected – I always got a gut feeling that he’s just a populist, and a good orator ofcourse – but someone who lacks conviction and wisdom.He’s someone who tries to take everyone on the same boat, take his policy in middle east for example, but this is not going to work in long term.

Anyway, this move is definitely protectionism! Now – I am not an expert on this – but isn’t it already a proven fact that it does more harm in the longer term.Who knows it better that we Indians, right?Look what we made till we were living under protectionism – a scooter!

Considering that Americans have been preaching against protectionism to the whole world, this would be a hypocritical move.What right would America have after this to ever talk against protectionism?

This might not only back-fire America, but could slowly lead to something which the world is not ready for.This is a wrong approach to a right problem.

1930 great ‘depression’ was after all a just a ‘recession’ which was badly handled

“There is nearly universal agreement among economists of all ideological persuasions that trade protectionism (i.e., the Smoot-Hawley tariff) was a primary catalyst for the Great Depression. Tariffs in the 1930s originally were intended to protect agriculture, but by the time other special interest groups had climbed on board, an average tariff of close to 60% was imposed on more than 25,000 items. Retaliation by America's trading partners was swift and fierce; the entire system of world trade then was dysfunctional for a decade.”

One of the reactions :-

“The effect of new U.S. tariffs on Chinese tires is as clear as day: U.S. consumers will pay more for tires.The point is to reduce our standard of living by denying us the products of overseas trade in order to benefit a few U.S. tire manufacturers and their union members.”

Similar issues had come during Bush era but he chose a different, clearly the better route.

Below excerpt from WSJ

“President George W. Bush received four similar recommendations from the trade commission, the most recent one involving steel pipe in December 2005, but he rejected all of those recommendations.”

An interesting and welcome development is giving China some hope on their export dependent economy :-

“China welcomed the decision of the United States Court of International Trade to rule the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) as "unreasonable" for its imposition of anti-dumping duties (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on tires from a Chinese maker”

However the below news is depressing

“Three paper companies and the United Steelworkers filed an antidumping case Wednesday against China and Indonesia, making good on the union's threat to protect other U.S. industries after winning a recent trade decision against China.”

What remains to be seen is how would Obama react?If he goes for tariffs on imported paper – he will almost create a panicking situation.He might want to refrain from doing this, and be seen as protectionist but how would he then justify tariffs on Tires alone? Now this is what happens when you lack conviction!!

Exploiting Dumbness!

This is disgusting

Now, a search engine for Muslims only.

Has the Muslim religion become synonymous to conservatism..Er, or not even that, because this sounds plain dumb and not conservative.

“A Dutch company has launched a new search engine that aims to protect Muslims from accidentally bumping into explicit material while surfing the Web. Called ImHalal.com, or "I am Halal," is the world's first Muslim search engine.”

Really?Accidentally bumping?When does that happen?I use google whole day, I never ‘accidentally’ bump into porn. I am sorry – does anyone else reading this post ‘accidentally’ bumps into explicit material??

Even if you do – why do you think has the Microsoft,Google,Firefox given the ‘Back’ button in their web browsers?Makes no sense, right?

I mean, I understand if they were developing this search engine for Kids, but What the hell does this mean : “world's first Muslim search engine.”..?? Are there gonna be more? Do we really have Christian search engines, or Hindu search engines, or Jew search engine?I have never heard of them, please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

“Reza Sardeha, founder of AZS Media Group, which runs the search engine, told The Daily Star that the idea grew after his friends complained of bumping into sexually explicit content when using search engines such as Yahoo or Google.”

HA?What an idiotic excuse to exploit and capitalize on someone’s beliefs, rather stupid beliefs!!

“According to The Daily Star, the site's filter examines the user's search terms and the websites that are returned, trawling for a 'non-halal list' of words that may indicate forbidden fruit. On the site, sex-related terms such as 'gay,' 'lesbian' or simply 'sexy' merit a haram level of three; the highest score on the list.”

The word ‘sexy’ too???

Whose problem is it anyway?

Everytime – Pakistan BEGS for more resources to fight taliban in their own courtyard, why do they do it as if they are doing a favour to the world? I mean – wouldn’t they like to take on Taliban and save their own ass if other countries don’t chase them to do so???

Below excerpt from TOI report quotes Zardari :-

“"If the world's armies and the world's budgets cannot look after (the Afghan) side of the border, give me more time and give me the resources that I need and we will deliver," he said.”

Why doesn’t someone tell them FO??huh..

Note : I know Taliban is a global problem ofcourse, but I only want to prove one point here why the hell does pakis behave as if its not their problem at all???

Rules and Free market!

Paul Romer talks about RULES - free market, capitalism , market driven economy, globalisation, special zones, though he doesn’t use all of these words explicitly in his talk.

He starts by analysing how almost everyone seems to have a mobile phone but people don't have access to electricity - a comparison which fits in India's scenario too.

Regulation is important, but years and years of over regulation have left us with no electricity, no drinking water etc. Telecom sector was de-regulated in late 90s and the sector flourished, I believe its high time water,insurance, electricity,retail, rail , infra like airports should be de-regulated too.Government has really stifled sectors like electricity, rail by not allowing private participation at all.

Then he talks about ‘one nation partnering other nation’ . India will not do this, probably because of the colonial hangover that we are still carrying. I do get shivers where he gives example of Cuba going and asking Canada to administer a part of their land.I ask myself - How much is too much?Should Globalisation have a limit?These are unanswered questions.

He proceeds to propose "Charter cities" which sounds good though I don’t agree with the Naive belief that cities are safe from crime.I also like the fact that the example of HongKong and China was used.Now, China did get some of its motivation from HongKong. India can copy the western model too – but the right wing dudes won’t let that happen – why? Just because its “western” apparently. I hate these guys, enough is enough, Indians deserve basic amenities if not luxury – even if it comes from a “western” idea. I don’t see the west shunning the idea of YOGA and CURRY saying its “Indian”. Why are so many of us still so xenophobic?Arghhhh

The power of Google

Google is amazing and most of us know it. One of the new things that I have learned to ‘Google’ is my symptoms when I am sick or when I have any kind of medical problem. I leave doctors baffled , when I guess the problem they are about to tell me.

Recently I had a skin problem, and I ‘Googled’ my symptoms. When my doctor started asking me questions like ‘do you have it on your knees and elbows’ and blah blah, I knew where it was heading. I told her if she was suspecting XYZ, and she looked at me and started smiling, and confronted me as to how did I know. I replied ‘My job involves computers, I read it on the Internet’. Not just that, once you know where it is heading, you also precisely know the biological cause and the treatment.I am serious, doctor had nothing new to offer me, I knew more than she told me (I am not saying 'I knew more than she knew' ).

This is not the first time I have done this, last time I left a doctor baffled was in Bangalore.The doctor there did not even tell me the ‘side effects’ of the medicine which were pretty serious in nature. I had to confront him as to what if I have the side effect XYZ.

I am sure we software engineers can make these doctors feel really insecure, with the knack that we have for googling any damn information.

Google has become synonymous with Internet for so many of us.I don’t know about you, but I have no clue what will I do without Google or what will the Internet do without Google for that matter.

Alright - Time to cook. Ah! Wish google knew how to cook and serve food..:)!!

Why do we do this?

This is really cute :-