Scary Stories
Two scary stories in the news this morning. The first is that Russia may ratify Kyoto. Putin's government has blessed it, but it still must be ratified by their parliament. The Kyoto treaty becomes binding when it has been ratified by countries representing 55% of the world's emissions. Without Russia, emissions of ratifiying nations total 44%. Russia accounts for 17% of the world's emissions. You do the math.
As if Europe weren't struggling enough with the financial demands of cradle-to-grave socialism, Industry, which pays the bills, will be taxed (literally and metaphorically) like never before.
The irony, of course, is that Kyoto came into being ostensibly to prevent a global-warming apocalypse. In fact, Kyoto may spark an economic apocalypse to give Ayn Rand posthumous nightmares. And if the world's economy collapses, you can bet your last ruble that the environment won't be improving anytime soon.
What could the Russians be thinking? This can't possibly help their struggling market economy. Is that the point? Could it be that Putin wants the Russian economy to fail, so that a return to communism seems the only natural choice?
The other possible explanation is that Russia is preying on European anti-Americanism. For over 50 years the United States and Europe benefitted economically from their alliance. In a new world order, the Russians may see an opportunity to wedge themselves between America and Europe. If the U.S becomes the lone holdout from Kyoto, it is not hard to imagine a system of tariffs implemented to make U.S. goods next to impossible to buy in Kyoto-ratifying nations. It's also not hard to imagine Russia positioning itself to take advantage of such a situation.
The second scary story of the day is that China is renewing its annex-Taiwan rhetoric. Particularly chilling is this bit:
As if Europe weren't struggling enough with the financial demands of cradle-to-grave socialism, Industry, which pays the bills, will be taxed (literally and metaphorically) like never before.
The irony, of course, is that Kyoto came into being ostensibly to prevent a global-warming apocalypse. In fact, Kyoto may spark an economic apocalypse to give Ayn Rand posthumous nightmares. And if the world's economy collapses, you can bet your last ruble that the environment won't be improving anytime soon.
What could the Russians be thinking? This can't possibly help their struggling market economy. Is that the point? Could it be that Putin wants the Russian economy to fail, so that a return to communism seems the only natural choice?
The other possible explanation is that Russia is preying on European anti-Americanism. For over 50 years the United States and Europe benefitted economically from their alliance. In a new world order, the Russians may see an opportunity to wedge themselves between America and Europe. If the U.S becomes the lone holdout from Kyoto, it is not hard to imagine a system of tariffs implemented to make U.S. goods next to impossible to buy in Kyoto-ratifying nations. It's also not hard to imagine Russia positioning itself to take advantage of such a situation.
The second scary story of the day is that China is renewing its annex-Taiwan rhetoric. Particularly chilling is this bit:
President Hu Jintao urged the People's Liberation Army on Wednesday to prepare for a military struggle, though he did not make specific reference to Taiwan as the target.
I don't think he's talking about a war on terror. Though I would not be surprised to hear of Taiwanese "terrorists" attacking the mainland, in much the same way as those Polish sabateurs "attacked" Germany in 1939.
I think that's enough wild speculation for one day.
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