Originally Posted by Hugo Chavez

They have criticised me, especially in the US, for nationalising a great (telecom) company, CANTV, that didn’t even cost $1.5bn

Originally Posted by Hugo Chavez

The US has spent $900bn, four times what the Venezuela produces in a year, to try to boost the troubled finance system and housing market

Originally Posted by Vladimir Putin

The entire economic growth system, where one regional centre prints money without respite and consumes material wealth, while another regional centre manufactures inexpensive goods and saves money printed by other governments, has suffered a major setback.

Originally Posted by Vladimir Putin

Excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state's omnipotence is another possible mistake.

True, the state's increased role in times of crisis is a natural reaction to market setbacks. Instead of streamlining market mechanisms, some are tempted to expand state economic intervention to the greatest possible extent.

The concentration of surplus assets in the hands of the state is a negative aspect of anti-crisis measures in virtually every nation.

In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state's role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated.

And one more point: anti-crisis measures should not escalate into financial populism and a refusal to implement responsible macroeconomic policies. The unjustified swelling of the budgetary deficit and the accumulation of public debts are just as destructive as adventurous stock-jobbing."

Nor should we turn a blind eye to the fact that the spirit of free enterprise, including the principle of personal responsibility of businesspeople, investors, and shareholders for their decisions, is being eroded in the last few months. There is no reason to believe that we can achieve better results by shifting responsibility onto the state.

In our opinion, we must first atone for the past and open our cards, so to speak.

This means we must assess the real situation and write off all hopeless debts and "bad" assets.

True, this will be an extremely painful and unpleasant process. Far from everyone can accept such measures, fearing for their capitalisation, bonuses or reputation. However, we would "conserve" and prolong the crisis, unless we clean up our balance sheets. I believe financial authorities must work out the required mechanism for writing off debts that corresponds to today's needs.

Second. Apart from cleaning up our balance sheets, it is high time we got rid of virtual money, exaggerated reports and dubious ratings. We must not harbour any illusions while assessing the state of the global economy and the real corporate standing, even if such assessments are made by major auditors and analysts.

In effect, our proposal implies that the audit, accounting and ratings system reform must be based on a reversion to the fundamental asset value concept. In other words, assessments of each individual business must be based on its ability to generate added value, rather than on subjective concepts. In our opinion, the economy of the future must become an economy of real values. How to achieve this is not so clear-cut. Let us think about it together.

Third. Excessive dependence on a single reserve currency is dangerous for the global economy. Consequently, it would be sensible to encourage the objective process of creating several strong reserve currencies in the future. It is high time we launched a detailed discussion of methods to facilitate a smooth and irreversible switchover to the new model.

Fourth. Most nations convert their international reserves into foreign currencies and must therefore be convinced that they are reliable. Those issuing reserve and accounting currencies are objectively interested in their use by other states..

Originally Posted by Jim Rogers

America is more communist than China is right now. You can see that this is welfare of the rich, it is socialism for the rich… it's just bailing out financial institutions

Originally Posted by Retrolives

Wow, within seconds the insults abound. Maybe you should read what I wrote......

Originally Posted by toxic avenger

You wrote, and I quote:


That deserves ridicule.

Originally Posted by JCSkinner

There's a fair point being made here, not that I'd consider any of the above communist (and Putin and the septic aren't even socialists either).

Originally Posted by Retrolives

The world has gone mad. Up is down, right is left and black is white. Reason has left the human race and if man has lost his powers of reason he is no longer human.

A good friend of liberty wrote recently of how even world socialists, presented to us by the US media, are aghast at the communist policies currently being implemented by the United States government. I have decided to expand upon what he wrote to me. This is a compilation of previous posts on Chavez and Rogers that now includes Putin.


Here are three world figures, two from governments and one entrepreneur, who decry the Communism of Obama.
- Socialist President Hugo Chavez
- Former Russian President and KGB Chief Director Vladimir Putin
- Jim Rogers, co-founder with George Soros of the Quantum Fund and CEO of James Beeland Rogers Holdings

Chavez



Chavez said at a ceremony that included representatives of US oil company Chevron.



Chavez said.

US takeovers dwarf my nationalisations: Venezuela’s Chavez

Putin
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, the former Russian President was advising the U.S. on the dangers of the state and the importance of non-intervention. We are living in strange times. Putin says amazingly:





Putin's Davos Speech

Such a speech sounds more like Ron Paul than any other politician I've ever heard! Putin has shot up my favourite politicians list for the simple fact he said those words, whether he believes them or not is another question. I can't believe he mentioned competing currencies for the 'world reserve currency'!!!!

Rogers
The nationalization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shows that the U.S. is "more communist than China right now" but its brand of socialism is meant only for the rich, investor Jim Rogers, CEO of Rogers Holdings, told CNBC Europe.




Rogers said.

US Is "More Communist than China": Jim Rogers

In summary, the US is:

- dwarfing the socialism of Venezuala,
- too interventionist for the taste of Russia's PM,
- more communist than China (Jim Rogers).

Cross-posted at Irish Liberty Forum:
Communist USA Irish Liberty Forum