The Rise of the Rest – Newsweek

[SD Transplant]

bsrsharma,

You bring up a couple of good points, but I disagree with you about your last point ” Who cares about the tallest building, largest mall/casino/….?”

I’d say WE ( the US) did care for many years (except the last few – since we’re falling behind on infrastracture projects due to local governments deep in debt). In other words – there is nothing to brag about. In fact, that’s what we were known for around the world (everything big – “a la Trump style”)…that’s fading big time… In my mind we are neither perceived as “what power we used to be” or “what the US stood for”…..). This was part of the big marketing/PR campaign that won wars….and buying into capitalism, democracy, freedom of any kind…. “The land of the free”…….now we’re more like “The land of the debters”.

[Aecetia]

Me too, Brutus. Charitable giving begins at home.

[Aecetia]

Me too, Brutus. Charitable giving begins at home.

[Aecetia]

Me too, Brutus. Charitable giving begins at home.

[Aecetia]

Me too, Brutus. Charitable giving begins at home.

[Aecetia]

Me too, Brutus. Charitable giving begins at home.

[Arraya]

. The (misguided) Iraq war has caused skyrocketing oil prices, in turn causing commodity inflation. This makes Americans particularly poorer and commodity producers richer. The war induced oil price increase from probably around $40 to $120 is the largest transfer of wealth from US to the rest of the world. May be more than the cost of the war itself. As a secondary effect, this devalues US $ that makes Americans feel poorer due to inflation.

Your thesis regarding higher oil prices caused by the Iraq war is lacking numbers. How much production was taken off the market from the war and where would production be if there was no war? The advent of global world oil production peaking much more likely the cause. Supply and demand is not that difficult a concept.

You are correct the the skyrocketing oil prices are the primary cause of the commodity inflation. This is a permanent affair. Though the complete collapse of china or the US economy would mitigate this for some time.

Either way, if China and the US continue on the path with no scaleable alternatives to oil. Their will be mass starvation like the world has never seen, which apparently has already started. Connect the dots…

As misguided as the Iraq war is. It needs to be recognized for what it is. The greatest resource grab in history. It’s easy to see if you calculate the cost of the war verse the oil booty gained. It was a very good score at $100 oil. That puts the value of the heist between 15 and 30 trillion. That can be recirculated through defense contractors and oil companies till it runs out. Besides the control factor of cutting oil off to non-friendly states. Great scam when you think about it. Keep a police state in perpetual war while extracting ever increasing in value resources while at the same time knocking down and rebuilding infrastructure. Predatory disaster capitalism at it’s best. Welcome to the new world.

[Arraya]

. The (misguided) Iraq war has caused skyrocketing oil prices, in turn causing commodity inflation. This makes Americans particularly poorer and commodity producers richer. The war induced oil price increase from probably around $40 to $120 is the largest transfer of wealth from US to the rest of the world. May be more than the cost of the war itself. As a secondary effect, this devalues US $ that makes Americans feel poorer due to inflation.

Your thesis regarding higher oil prices caused by the Iraq war is lacking numbers. How much production was taken off the market from the war and where would production be if there was no war? The advent of global world oil production peaking much more likely the cause. Supply and demand is not that difficult a concept.

You are correct the the skyrocketing oil prices are the primary cause of the commodity inflation. This is a permanent affair. Though the complete collapse of china or the US economy would mitigate this for some time.

Either way, if China and the US continue on the path with no scaleable alternatives to oil. Their will be mass starvation like the world has never seen, which apparently has already started. Connect the dots…

As misguided as the Iraq war is. It needs to be recognized for what it is. The greatest resource grab in history. It’s easy to see if you calculate the cost of the war verse the oil booty gained. It was a very good score at $100 oil. That puts the value of the heist between 15 and 30 trillion. That can be recirculated through defense contractors and oil companies till it runs out. Besides the control factor of cutting oil off to non-friendly states. Great scam when you think about it. Keep a police state in perpetual war while extracting ever increasing in value resources while at the same time knocking down and rebuilding infrastructure. Predatory disaster capitalism at it’s best. Welcome to the new world.

[Arraya]

. The (misguided) Iraq war has caused skyrocketing oil prices, in turn causing commodity inflation. This makes Americans particularly poorer and commodity producers richer. The war induced oil price increase from probably around $40 to $120 is the largest transfer of wealth from US to the rest of the world. May be more than the cost of the war itself. As a secondary effect, this devalues US $ that makes Americans feel poorer due to inflation.

Your thesis regarding higher oil prices caused by the Iraq war is lacking numbers. How much production was taken off the market from the war and where would production be if there was no war? The advent of global world oil production peaking much more likely the cause. Supply and demand is not that difficult a concept.

You are correct the the skyrocketing oil prices are the primary cause of the commodity inflation. This is a permanent affair. Though the complete collapse of china or the US economy would mitigate this for some time.

Either way, if China and the US continue on the path with no scaleable alternatives to oil. Their will be mass starvation like the world has never seen, which apparently has already started. Connect the dots…

As misguided as the Iraq war is. It needs to be recognized for what it is. The greatest resource grab in history. It’s easy to see if you calculate the cost of the war verse the oil booty gained. It was a very good score at $100 oil. That puts the value of the heist between 15 and 30 trillion. That can be recirculated through defense contractors and oil companies till it runs out. Besides the control factor of cutting oil off to non-friendly states. Great scam when you think about it. Keep a police state in perpetual war while extracting ever increasing in value resources while at the same time knocking down and rebuilding infrastructure. Predatory disaster capitalism at it’s best. Welcome to the new world.

[Arraya]

. The (misguided) Iraq war has caused skyrocketing oil prices, in turn causing commodity inflation. This makes Americans particularly poorer and commodity producers richer. The war induced oil price increase from probably around $40 to $120 is the largest transfer of wealth from US to the rest of the world. May be more than the cost of the war itself. As a secondary effect, this devalues US $ that makes Americans feel poorer due to inflation.

Your thesis regarding higher oil prices caused by the Iraq war is lacking numbers. How much production was taken off the market from the war and where would production be if there was no war? The advent of global world oil production peaking much more likely the cause. Supply and demand is not that difficult a concept.

You are correct the the skyrocketing oil prices are the primary cause of the commodity inflation. This is a permanent affair. Though the complete collapse of china or the US economy would mitigate this for some time.

Either way, if China and the US continue on the path with no scaleable alternatives to oil. Their will be mass starvation like the world has never seen, which apparently has already started. Connect the dots…

As misguided as the Iraq war is. It needs to be recognized for what it is. The greatest resource grab in history. It’s easy to see if you calculate the cost of the war verse the oil booty gained. It was a very good score at $100 oil. That puts the value of the heist between 15 and 30 trillion. That can be recirculated through defense contractors and oil companies till it runs out. Besides the control factor of cutting oil off to non-friendly states. Great scam when you think about it. Keep a police state in perpetual war while extracting ever increasing in value resources while at the same time knocking down and rebuilding infrastructure. Predatory disaster capitalism at it’s best. Welcome to the new world.

[Arraya]

. The (misguided) Iraq war has caused skyrocketing oil prices, in turn causing commodity inflation. This makes Americans particularly poorer and commodity producers richer. The war induced oil price increase from probably around $40 to $120 is the largest transfer of wealth from US to the rest of the world. May be more than the cost of the war itself. As a secondary effect, this devalues US $ that makes Americans feel poorer due to inflation.

Your thesis regarding higher oil prices caused by the Iraq war is lacking numbers. How much production was taken off the market from the war and where would production be if there was no war? The advent of global world oil production peaking much more likely the cause. Supply and demand is not that difficult a concept.

You are correct the the skyrocketing oil prices are the primary cause of the commodity inflation. This is a permanent affair. Though the complete collapse of china or the US economy would mitigate this for some time.

Either way, if China and the US continue on the path with no scaleable alternatives to oil. Their will be mass starvation like the world has never seen, which apparently has already started. Connect the dots…

As misguided as the Iraq war is. It needs to be recognized for what it is. The greatest resource grab in history. It’s easy to see if you calculate the cost of the war verse the oil booty gained. It was a very good score at $100 oil. That puts the value of the heist between 15 and 30 trillion. That can be recirculated through defense contractors and oil companies till it runs out. Besides the control factor of cutting oil off to non-friendly states. Great scam when you think about it. Keep a police state in perpetual war while extracting ever increasing in value resources while at the same time knocking down and rebuilding infrastructure. Predatory disaster capitalism at it’s best. Welcome to the new world.

[bsrsharma]

Gas prices increase when measured in dollars. If you measure in euros, pounds, swiss francs, yen, etc… they haven't

Oil was below $40 per bbl in 2003; $120 in 2008

Euro was between USD 1.1 to 1.2 in 2003; $1.6 in 2008

Obviously, US $ depreciation is only part of the story.

More interestingly, I think, at least part of $ devaluation is DUE to increase in trade deficits due to rise in oil prices. These two have been mutually reinforcing each other's instability – leading to a vicious cycle.

[bsrsharma]

Gas prices increase when measured in dollars. If you measure in euros, pounds, swiss francs, yen, etc… they haven't

Oil was below $40 per bbl in 2003; $120 in 2008

Euro was between USD 1.1 to 1.2 in 2003; $1.6 in 2008

Obviously, US $ depreciation is only part of the story.

More interestingly, I think, at least part of $ devaluation is DUE to increase in trade deficits due to rise in oil prices. These two have been mutually reinforcing each other's instability – leading to a vicious cycle.

[bsrsharma]

Gas prices increase when measured in dollars. If you measure in euros, pounds, swiss francs, yen, etc… they haven't

Oil was below $40 per bbl in 2003; $120 in 2008

Euro was between USD 1.1 to 1.2 in 2003; $1.6 in 2008

Obviously, US $ depreciation is only part of the story.

More interestingly, I think, at least part of $ devaluation is DUE to increase in trade deficits due to rise in oil prices. These two have been mutually reinforcing each other's instability – leading to a vicious cycle.

[bsrsharma]

Gas prices increase when measured in dollars. If you measure in euros, pounds, swiss francs, yen, etc… they haven't

Oil was below $40 per bbl in 2003; $120 in 2008

Euro was between USD 1.1 to 1.2 in 2003; $1.6 in 2008

Obviously, US $ depreciation is only part of the story.

More interestingly, I think, at least part of $ devaluation is DUE to increase in trade deficits due to rise in oil prices. These two have been mutually reinforcing each other's instability – leading to a vicious cycle.

[Author]

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