What's Really Behind The December 23rd Protests In New York City

The graphic you see above was posted on a website of the organizers of the December 23rd protest march down New York City's 5th Avenue.  The organizers in this case were a group of individuals that call themselves the A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition.  The acronym A.N.S.W.E.R stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. 

Now, while ending wars and stopping racism sounds like truly noble endeavors, the real reason this group exists is to try and divide Americans over issues such as race and war; and, in doing so, attempt to destroy the country as we know it.  The people who founded this group did so right after 9/11 and before we had even talked of invading Afghanistan.  Their motives were less about us going to war over 9/11 and more about the fact that we deserved what we got; and, as such, the people responsible for the horror of that day should not be punished with war.  The "coalition" they represent is pretty much pro-socialism and anti-capitalism;  pro-Palestinian/Muslim/Arab and anti-Israel; and, they all support the destruction of this capitalist society.  That is exactly why they chose 5th Avenue to march in protest.  5th Avenue is arguably the most pricey and prestigious street in the United States with some of the most expensive store fronts and shops in the world.  It symbolizes everything these people think is wrong with our country.  Specifically, wealth and capitalism.

So, whether or not the people marching in that protest knew it or not, they were participating in an event that was designed to fracture and weaken this country.  An attempt to pit Americans against the police.  To divide blacks against whites and the police.  And, for those who participated in that protest not knowing what A.N.S.W.E.R is all about, there's one name for them: Useful Idiots.

One last thing.  For those who think capitalism is bad and socialism good, ask yourself why there are only 4 remaining socialist countries in the world: Vietnam, Laos, North Korean, and Cuba.  Even China, which at one time was a hardcore communist nation, has evolved into a more and more capitalistic society by the day.   Gone are all the former union of Soviet satellites that were once socialist/communist because the way of socialism is oppressive and it literally breaks the human spirit of free will.

References:

ANSWER Coalition: Tuesday, Dec. 23 March Proceeding As planned: http://www.answercoalition.org/

A.N.S.W.E.R.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.N.S.W.E.R.

A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism): Profile By Stand4Fact.org: http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/Articles/answerprofilestand.html

Fifth Avenue: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Avenue

Useful idiot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot

List of socialist states: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_socialist_states

Think Twice About Any Real Trade With Cuba

Shortly after President Obama announced a normalization of trade relations with Cuba, U.S. businesses began salivating over the fact that they now have a new market for their products. However, this assumes that we will be able to trade with Cuba as if it were a normal partner.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

First and most importantly, Cubans are poor as a result of Communism.

Because Cuba is a communist country, the government sets the wages; and because of this, the per capita income is less than $7,000 a year.  After buying necessities, there's probably not a lot of room left to spend on expensive imported goods from the U.S.  I really can't see the average Cuban buying even the cheapest GM car, the Spark, which sells for almost twice what the average Cuban gets paid in two years.  Also, understand that China is a major trading partner with Cuba and, as such, the prices of U.S. products will have to be lower than theirs in order to compete. 

Additionally, the Cuban government decides what will be sold to its citizens, and access to any approved goods is rationed. If the government says you can only buy 2 pencils a year, that's all you get. The government also sets the prices of any goods sold there.

For these reasons, Cubans will probably see very few imports from the U.S.  At best, the airlines, with flights to and from the island, stand to benefit the most.

On the other side of the coin, Cuba will most likely benefit the most from this deal.  They could experience increased exporting of products such as rum and cigars.  Although, I'm guessing they already export as much product as they now produce to their existing trading partners like China, Russia, Venezuela and other central and south American countries.  For sure, Americans visiting the island should help the tourism business; assuming that the current ban on tourism is lifted and accepted by Raul Castro.  Whether or not those visitors will be able to buy anything but a handful of Cuban products while visiting there is questionable since, again, all products are rationed.

Lastly, I don't think American companies will be able to set up businesses in Cuba.  Again, because of communism, most business are government owned; with some cooperatives and some self-employment allowed.  Not hardly a business model that would be compatible with any form of U.S. business.


References:

U.S. Companies Consider the Possibilities of Cuban Trade: http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-companies-consider-the-possibilities-of-cuban-trade-1418856872

UN Data: Cuba: https://data.un.org/CountryProfile.aspx?crName=CUBA

Economy of Cuba: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Cuba

How Now Chairman Mao?

When Chairman Mao instituted his form of communism in China, it became a country of pure socialism. It was literally: One for all and all for the state.

Now with China just having celebrated 60 years of Communist rule, China can hardly be seen as what Mao originally envisioned. It has turned into an economic powerhouse that is quickly becoming the manufacturer to, of, and for the world.

Yes, sir, good old capitalism has infiltrated this once-pure communist/socialist country. Western clothes have replaced the old uniform attire. Sure, the government still has a lot to say about what is done there. However, there are an increasing number of anti-Maoist, renegade capitalists who are being reborn as wealthy Chinese businessmen. I don't think that Mao envisioned that his vision of "everybody being the same" society would have gone so far in creating so many billionaires and millionaires in what was supposed to be his Utopian society. But, it has (Click to See this Story from Two Years Ago: "300,000 Chinese millionaires in China, Rolls Royce trying to get some of them").

China is what the U.S.S.R. was unable to become because, unlike the Soviets, it began embracing capitalism. The China of today would never be found in the words and philosophies expressed in Mao's blueprint for his country in what is now popularly known as his 'Little Red Book'.

It just seems like, with every new page of history, the precepts of socialism are found to be faulty and the benefits of capitalism are being extolled by the improvement of people's everyday lives. Yet, now, we look to be moving towards the futile direction of socialism. How dumb is that?