For now there seems to be a brisk trade going in smuggling Chinese immigrants across Europe, across Mexico and into the US. So the tides haven't turned yet. But it's interesting to ponder.
What has led us to this? And few Chinese who try to make it to the U.S., or other countries, seeking a better life, will concern themselves with... The former of these represents long-term effects, the later of these is with us, already. People argue about the causes, but a public sector impoverished by years of underfunding, raiding of the public purse by corporate interests, and an economy decimated by avarice run amuk in the financial sector has led us to this pass.
Stats show that more Mexicans are immigrating to countries other than the U.S.. Canada started the visa requirement and Europe is also receiving many more than previously.
Mexicans are returning from the US as well. I'm hearing stories regularly of whole families returning from the US because things are just too hard there. But you can buy a house in Detroit for $1 USD!! Detroit homes sell for $1 amid mortgage and car industry crisis | Business | The Guardian
A case study Colorado Springs is not a city particularly hard hit by the great recession. Home prices have not dropped like they have many places, and unemployment is not at the levels of other cities. Furthermore, the city is full of active duty and retired military personnel who've experienced no loss of employment, or buying power, as a result of the recession; yet, the city budget is in crisis, and services are being cut, quickly and deeply. These kind of changes can make you start to feel the generalized loss of wealth- masked in recent years, in part, by massive amounts of money that could be borrowed on the international market and was, until the great recession hit and lenders (China, for one, on which the U.S. leaned heavily for its borrowings in the last decade) began pulling back, just a little. Facing Budget Gap, Colorado City Shuts Off Lights : NPR Meanwhile, the Chinese economy continues to expand at a rate which allows it to double, every seven years, and has maintained this rate of growth through these early years of the great recession. BBC news repeated, today, what's been said often, that China will surpass Japan as the second largest economy in the world, this year.
Last year, more "giros" went out from Cancun that came into Cancun. The money from the U.S. to Mexico in general Money Sent Home to Mexico from Abroad Decreases
V - That's payback for the fact that the Springs is full of Devil Worshipers. Actually the Springs is full of right-wing religious nuts and I would not be surprised if people are moving away because of it. Each time I've been there I've been impressed with how the city is rotting from the inside out. The downtown was half boarded up 15 years ago, when the rest of Colorado's economy was booming. The Springs has absolutely beautiful views, it's a gorgeous location for a city, but it fails the thrive, regardless of the greater economy.
Yeah, a "societal diagnostician" could start there in trying to determine what's gone wrong in the U.S., occupied as the city is by our military, religious extremists, and political ideologues. The article alludes to those who refuse to pay for government, and the city has apparently decided to "liquidate", rather than borrow to make up for the shortfall. The fruit of indifference to the common good now hang heavy on the trees.
China, having loaned over $1,000,000,000,000.00 USD to the U.S. Government has, in recent months begun to show an unwillingness to extend further credit; and, has apparently embarked on a policy to reduce the amount of U.S. debt it is willing to hold, as well. The data on this runs behind, but in both November and December, they redeemed more U.S. Treasury debt than they purchased, and at the end of December had reduced their holdings to $898,000,000,000.00. __________________ In late 2008, the U.S. Government, finding itself unable to raise sufficient funds to cover expenditures, began to print money to make up for budget shortfalls resulting directly, and indirectly, from the great recession. This, it seems to me, is becoming an increasingly risky policy to pursue, as it may soon result in a downgrade by the rating agencies on U.S. Government debt, which would additionally complicate the budget picture by further impairing the ability to raise money through borrowing. Explaining now, to citizens unwilling to pay more in taxes, that there is insufficient money in the national purse- and that to continue to print money to make up for budget shortfalls risks a currency collapse similar to what has occurred in other countries- would allow the government to then ask for their support, urging those who could afford to do so to buy U.S. Bonds/Treasury Bills and Notes, as a first step toward healing the national budget. It just might also constitute a good first step in healing the national psyche, as well, by introducing some realism into the discussion of where the national government now finds itself, financially.
When money dies This is an interesting read about what happens when governments follow a policy of printing money without any real financial support for the paper. "When Money Dies: The Nightmare of the Weimar Collapse" When Money Dies: The Nightmare of the Weimar Collapse On this point, does anyone have ideas on what to invest in while our dollars are still worth something. Gold and land comes to mind...
