International Commerce

European Tax Evaders Punished Vary As Much As Countries’ Tax Rates

News Analysis: Italy has a lesser percentage of Tax Evaders in Prison than most other European Countries according to the latest statistics. This country “… has six times fewer white-collar criminals than Holland, ten times fewer than Sweden, the UK or Norway, eleven times fewer than Finland, fifteen times fewer than Spain and twenty-two times fewer than Turkey.”

If one considers the Financial Debacle occurring in Greece many wonder if it has ANY imprisoned Tax Evaders?

Many Penologists think that there has to be an Ideology of Rapid Apprehension and Swift Incarceration (for Tax Evaders to choose other activities to pursue). The Pain has to Exceed the possible Financial Gain of Tax Evasion for proper behavior modification.

Until Countries collectively assess Economic Crimes for what they are and promulgate Rules and Punishments for Offenders they can expect Deviant Financial Behavior to occur by some of their Citizens.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.corriere.it/english/14_gennaio_27/italian-tax-dodgers-also-dodge-prison-ab672398-8756-11e3-b7c5-5c15c6838f80.shtml

☆ ‘Fools’ Who Choose To Cruise, November Through April, Can Be “Rewarded” With Norovirus

News Analysis: The U.S. Center For Disease Control states  that 80% of Norovirus Voyage Cases occur on Cruises from November through April. This temporary Debilitating Disorder evidences itself by causing Cramps, Diarrhea. Muscle Aches, Nausea, and possible Vertigo in Passengers. It is spread by Infected Crew and/or Passengers on everything they touch. Some Physicians are of the opinion that Coughing and the breaths of the ill may also spread the virus.

There is a very interesting aspect of being in Close Proximity to Others on Voyages, and contracting this disorder, during the SAME November through April Time Frame. People Flying in Aircraft FOR HOURS and SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO OTHERS, typically DO NOT have reports of Mass Illnesses like Cruise Ship Voyages;  which have now become Common Events!

“Semi-Belligerent” Passengers on Aircraft (as stated in Newspaper Reports)  are ready to report their Slightest of Grievances readily to Airlines and Governments about their flights; so one would expect Illness Reports during November through April to be prodigious if these were the cases (which it is not). Instead, “Happy Cruise Passengers” become less so with the onset of Cramps and Diarrhea they experience while at sea.

If one thinks about it, National Bus Riders and Railway Passengers should also be afflicted with Norovirus; it appears they are not.

Perhaps something else is at work causing this Obvious Factual Disparity.  It may be that the various Cruise Lines  are doing a dismal job of  their Crews’ Health Screenings to save  money in a very competitive Industry, as some people think.

Travel Planners need to put their “Thinking Caps On” as to the Healthiest Way to take a Vacation. Obviously Cruise Ships, from November through April, are not it.

An Ounce of ‘Selection’ is worth a Pound of Cure.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.ibtimes.com/what-norovirus-faq-about-common-cruise-ship-illness-1549066

106 Swiss Banks Have Decided Not To Be “Banksters” (Who Assist American Tax Evaders)

News Analysis: The U.S. Government has been engaging in ‘Unraveling’ the Swiss Bank/Client Cover-Ups of Undeclared Incomes of American Citizens. One might think that the U.S. National Security Agency revelations about monitoring ALL Electronic Communications in the World would give the Tax Evaders reason to ‘Come Clean”; perhaps their arrogance gets the better of them.

The reporting of Swiss Bank Employees taking Clients’ Bank Account Information from their Employers and turning them over to Countries’ Tax Authorities would impact on the psyches of the Tax Evaders, also.

Now, approaches the time to “Pay The Piper” by Swiss Banks who will be punished by U.S. Tax Authorities for the Willful Deceit they benefited from, for decades, in many cases.

Wanting to be “Bankers” rather than “Banksters”, these Administrators of Money Entrepots will have to “Cease and Desist” their Collusion and Identify the naïve Tax Evaders.

The Ill-Gotten Gains of the Banksters will hopefully not equal the Punishment Costs and Loss of Good Reputations they will receive by these American Penal Actions.

“‘Anything For A Buck’ (AFAB) is just not worth it” Wise Men would say; but some Banksters may disagree (until after they are caught and punished).

Reality.

Reference: http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1414556/over-100-swiss-banks-seek-amnesty-helping-americans-evade

Australia’s Military Buys American “Pigs In A Poke” For Up To $16.4 Billion Dollars; What A Bargain?

News Analysis: Australia’s Military is spending Up To $16.4 Billion Dollars for Two Aircraft Systems: Fighter and Anti-Submarine. The United States Pentagon Head of these Programs admits to Serious Flaws in both Systems. The flaws have been known, but Unsolved for Several Years.

The Fighter Aircraft has numerous Software Problems. Beyond that it is allegedly  less reliable, more difficult to maintain, and is subject to propellant fires from missile hits.

The Anti-Submarine Aircraft, merely a ‘converted’ Commercial 737, is reportedly ineffective for surveillance of the oceans, and detecting and destroying enemy submarines. This reportedly  is due to flaws in the aircraft’s radar ability, sensor integration, and data transfer.

The fact that these problems have not been solved this late in the Development Cycle is Ominous. To say that the problems are “Manageable” is Laughable. Is that “Manageable” but ‘Unsolvable”?

It is presumed by many, Australia will continue on with this Questionable Set of Purchases. Rather than demanding that IT GET WHAT IT INITIALLY BARGAINED FOR, it will acquire much less quality so as to NOT OFFEND its ‘American Military-Industrial Partners’. Apparently, to Possibly Risk the Lives of Australian Military Members, by having accepted “Less Than The Best” will be acceptable, however.

Reality.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/mc2w9la

China Led The World In Gold Consumption In 2013

News Analysis: Purchases of Gold by Chinese in 2013 amounted to a total of 366 Tons. The Country mined 437.3 Tons last year. Since Chinese like gold for long-term economic purposes, 24 karat is preferred by citizens there.

In Gold Coinage, Turkey was the only country who minted more than Beijing last year.

Investors who want Historically Valuable Assets should consider Gold for their Inventory. The easily printed ‘Paper with Ink on It” (which is of questionable long term worth) called ‘National Currency’ largely has a major flaw in it; there are few ‘Real Assets’ to back it up. 

Reality.

Reference: http://rt.com/business/china-biggest-gold-consumer-153/

$5.3 Trillion Dollars A Day Foreign Exchange Market Get Governments’ Examination for Fraud

News Analysis: The Switzerland-based Financial Stability Board, which synthesizes the Group of 20 World’s Leading Economies, is attempting to create new regulations in a sparsely regulated area of Finance. The $5.3 Trillion Dollars a Day in Foreign Exchange is of obvious interest to plotters of Rate Fixing.  Much like the London Inter-Bank Rate Scandal, this may even be larger in size.

Investors must realize that the “Morality of the Foreign Exchange Marketplace” is as developed as is a Hologram; pleasant to look at but of little substance.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/24/us-markets-forex-benchmarks-idUSBREA0N1H920140124

South African Captains Of Industry View 2014 Cautiously

News Analysis: 2014 may be a more troubling period for Businesses in South Africa according to recent Poll Data of Captains of Industry in the Nation. Rather than displaying a great deal of optimism, which is evident in Asia for example, they are more circumspect (to their credit).

While the Mineral Resources of South Africa are legendary, it appears that Regulatory Agencies are curtailing economic growth. Also, since 2008’s World Economic Collapse, some say Taxes in South Africa have become Debilitating for Businessmen. These Leaders think Lesser Taxes benefit Businesses which can help lead to Full Employment.

As some South African Captains of Industry look around the Globe, they see rampant World Unemployment, prolific Fiat Currencies abounding in Countries, and suspicious Collusive Trading in World Commodities and Stock Markets. South African Businessmen are using good judgement in assessing 2014 based on their own logic of many years of watching “World Economic Roller-Coaster Rides”.

The Captains of Industry in South Africa know: “When in the rugged ‘Savannah’, if one keeps his ‘Ear to the Ground’ he can Detect an Approaching Herd Long Before it is Visible to Others”. 

Reality.

Reference: http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/2014/01/23/sas-captains-of-industry-fear-troubled-waters-as-global-peers-cruise

Chinese Banks Increase Interest In Luxembourg

News Analysis: Since Luxembourg is very adept at running its affairs properly, Chinese Banks have expressed interest in locating some Operations there. To date, the Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China have located in Luxembourg. Apparently, other Chinese Banks are considering enjoying the benefits of operating in a Well-run European Country.

Luxembourg is of 2,586 km2 (998 mi2) and a financially stable Country of 515,000+/- People. It enjoys its closeness to Belgium, France, and Germany. This country’s Gross Domestic Product amounts to $42+ Billion Dollars. Luxembourg reportedly has $1+ Trillion Dollars of Foreign Reserves and Gold Reserves.

The Wisdom of the 10,000 Year Old Culture of China helps its people see the benefit of seeking Long-Term Amiable Relationships with others. Who is  better to fit this Categorization for Association with the Chinese than Luxembourg? Few, if Any.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.wort.lu/en/view/chinese-arms-company-invests-in-luxembourg-52e23332e4b0d04608bfb22f

What Is In A Name That Stirs Emotions: “East Sea” Or “Sea Of Japan”

News Analysis: The State of Virginia in America has taken ‘Bi-Lingualism’ and morphed it into ‘Bi-Identification’ of “East Sea” (Korean Preference) and “Sea of Japan” (Japanese Preference) for the body of water separating the two countries.

Elsewhere:

In Vietnam, “Saigon” became “Ho Chi Minh City” after America’s failed attempt to ‘Deliver the Country’ to the U.S. President’s Businessman Father for his Fiefdom. 

In “Myanmar”, its name change came from the former moniker “Burma”.

Name identification of Geographic areas can be usurped by Hegemonic Nations such as: “Hellas” becoming “Greece” for example (as was the preference of  countries to the West of this Nation).

After the break-up of Yugoslavia, the name “Republic of Macedonia” was usurped by Yugoslavian residents (to the great chagrin of “Macedonian Greeks” whose History in this area goes back many  centuries).

In Africa, “Harare, Zimbabwe” (1982) morphed from “Salisbury, Rhodesia” (1890) as the former name was deemed “Too White” by the new Regime which took power.

In Canada, “Nunavut” Territory came from a portion of Northwest Territory in 1999. Again, Cultural Sensitivities of the Indigenous Tribes acted as a catalyst for change. 

The list is endless (going back in time) but is important for International Businessmen ‘to get the names correct’. If they do not, it could be costly; the persons ‘sitting across the table from them’ may be profoundly attached to their present Geographic Name(s).

Reality.

Reference: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140124000474

Russia Joins “Bloomberg’s” ‘Best Business Countries List’

News Analysis: Russia has joined the “Bloomberg” List in 50th position for the first time. It is making ‘In-Roads’ into greater Country Business Efficiencies. Although is has a distance to go until it reaches the top of the list, it has Two Leaders in its Government who can help facilitate its travel. Additionally, the Russian Far East, as it is being developed, will help accelerate efficiencies for Business; this being a necessity which MUST occur.

The Hard Working, Intrepid, and Intelligent Russian People are the Country’s Greatest Asset. In combination with the Great Resources of Siberia, an unstoppable combination Exists.

Reality.

Reference: http://rt.com/business/russia-breaks-bloomberg-50-085/