ConservativeINC

Oops, China isn’t as close to us in terms of economy size as we thought. Using the new and improved, yet still statistically not perfect, method of purchasing power parity, the World Bank has adjusted China’s economy down a couple notches.

China’s economy represented about 14% of the world’s total production under the old measurement system. Now it is 9%. That is a drop of over 35% (the story says 40% but my numbers show 35.7%, AFP can’t do math all that well I guess).

America, on the other hand, went from 29% to 23%; a drop of a little over 20%. So instead of our economy being about 107% the size of China’s economy it is actually over 150% the size of China’s economy.

This news only bolsters my belief that we should not be worried about the economic “juggernaut” of China. China is going through a period of transition from a command economy to a hybrid between socialism and capitalism. As long as it still embraces some of the tenets of socialism it will not be a serious threat to America. It just won’t happen.

Anyways, here’s the story:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The size of China’s economy is overestimated by some 40 percent based on most current measures, but is the world’s second largest, the World Bank said Monday.

In a report ranking the world’s economies, the World Bank said a more reliable method of estimation using “purchasing power parity” (PPP) shows a much smaller value than the traditional market value estimates which the Bank called “less reliable.”

The study carried out by the World Bank and other partners was “the most extensive and thorough effort” to measure the relative size of 146 economies using the PPP method which strips out the effect of exchange rates, a Bank statement said.

China participated in the survey for the first time and India for the first time since 1985.

“These results are more statistically reliable estimates of the size and price levels of both economies,” the Bank said.

“The previous, less reliable, methods led to estimates of their GDPs (gross domestic product) that were 40 percent larger than the results of the new, improved methods and benchmark.”

China still ranks as the world’s second largest economy with over nine percent of world production, but that compared with 14 percent under the old methodology.

India is the fifth largest with over four percent of the world total, up from two percent using market exchange rates.

In the study, the United States still has the world’s biggest economy with 23 percent of global output, but that is down from 29 percent using market rates.

Japan ranks third under the PPP method with seven percent of global output, lower than using market rates.

The study said the survey “should not be used as indicators of the under- or overvaluation of currencies.”

BigT

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In certain circles outside and within the United States there has been a major push for a multi-polar geo-political scene. By “multi-polar” they mean that there is more than one superpower, or, in our case, hyperpower. According to their thought process things were better during the Cold War because there was a balance of power between the Soviets and us. Now they live in fear because our power supposedly goes unchecked in the world.

Their wish is beginning to shape up. But instead of the old formula where it was one powerful nation balanced against another it is going to be us versus a confederacy of the world’s most corrupt and dangerous nations.

In the West we have Hugo Chavez’s tentacles spreading out all over the Americas. He spends tens of millions of dollars spreading his influence in the region and around the world. His main goal is to undermine the United States at every turn while aggrandizing himself as some kind of perverted Simon Bolivar.

The really dangerous nexus is in the East, though. Russia is falling down the rabbit hole of totalitarianism again. Vladimir Putin has found a job for himself during his term off as president. He’s going to be the prime minister if, sorry, when Medvedev is elected “president” of the Mother Land. This will ensure Putin’s continued dominance of Russian politics and will significantly increase his power throughout the region.

As the de facto ruler of Russia, one of Putin’s most ambitious gambits is to confound America with Iran. After reading the AP story that gives the details to this story I’ve come to realize that Russia knows it’s playing an extremely dangerous game. Their goal of undermining the United States remains but they know that if Iran uses the nuclear fuel to build a nuke or a dirty bomb and then fires it at Israel, Russia is going to be thrown into a World War.

If that happens their country would assuredly be devastated and they would probably lose any major engagement with America and its allies. Russia is trying to have it both ways now. By pushing the limit they are increasing their stature in the world but they are risking everything along the way. And, like it was during the Soviet Union, Russia’s future depends solely on the decisions of one man.

Venezuela, Iran, Russia, North Korea, et al all have one man in charge. One man making the decision without any opposition. Just take a look at Iran for a perfect example of this.

Ahmadinejad, who has been let off his leash by the king makers in the background for some time now, continues to escalate his rhetoric against the United States. In response to the latest intelligence report, which found Iran hasn’t been trying to build nukes since 2003, Ahmadinejad called it a “surrender” on our part.

Now that strikes me as odd. He doesn’t declare it a victory for his country or even for peace. Ahmadinejad paints it as a loss for America. Really? How could it be a loss for us? Well, it would be a loss for us if we have declared Iran clean when they haven’t stopped building nukes.

That’s the only way it would be a loss for us. Heck, if it were true that Iran isn’t trying to build nukes then that would be a huge victory for us because then we could let them run themselves into the ground all on their own. Their economy is crumbling and their people aren’t nearly as radical as the ruling class is. If it weren’t for the threat of a nuclear Iran we could just ignore them.

But that isn’t the case. A nation with a huge amount of oil underground and a penchant for declaring the end of the world should not be trusted when they say they want nuclear technology for “peaceful” reasons. A nuclear Iran would give them a significantly increased role in the Middle East and would limit our influence in the region (Iraq and Afghanistan for example).

Everything that is going on in the nations that oppose American power is aimed at weakening our stature. Russia gives nuclear fuel and technology to the Iranians as a slap in the face to us and a way to increase Russia’s influence as well. When Ahmadinejad spews nonsense he is puffing himself up while his house crumbles.

The same goes for every other nation that is arrayed against America. I don’t think that most of the nations (Russia) really want a showdown with us. They just want more power.

But when you’re dealing with nations that are basically ruled by one man, you can never be sure what is going to happen. BigT

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Not that coke.

San Francisco has decided that public enemy numero uno is none other than sugary soft drinks. Without the military being in town to beat up on San Francisco has trained its sights on our favorite sugary elixirs.

For years, the idea of taxing soda to beat back obesity has been tossed around in medical circles. But now, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is proposing a tax on beverages high in fructose corn syrup.

Newsom says obesity accounts for tens of millions of dollars in city health care costs. He cites a recent San Francisco Health Department survey that found nearly a quarter of the city’s 5th, 7th and 9th graders were overweight and that high sugar drinks make up a tenth of a kid’s daily calorie count.

Newsom reportedly wants all big box retailers and chain drug stores to pay into his new “Shape up San Francisco” program, which started this past summer with a walking regimen.

This comes as the state of California is considering slapping caffeine-infused sodas, and energy drinks with warning labels, saying consumption can contribute to diabetes.

Get ready everyone, now that cigarette tax revenues are beginning to wain because the government is strangling that golden goose they will have to find another source of revenue. Yeah, sure, they’ll tell you its all about the children and improving their citizens health but it is all about how they can wield more power.

The taxes that smokers paid didn’t all go to prevention programs and the like. It ended up going into the general budget and into funding pet projects.

These so-called “sin” taxes are ridiculous. It is nothing more than tyranny of the majority at play here. Most people don’t smoke, so lets tax them. Most people don’t drink a ton of soft drinks, so tax those that do.

What’s next?

Maybe we should tax meat eaters because eating meat sure does cause a lot of greenhouse gases with cow farts and the shipping of the meat. Or we could tax those who don’t buy locally grown vegetables because it adds to global warming (shipping again). Maybe we should tax people politicians who run for office more than one term, no, wait, that wouldn’t hurt the right people.

But who is hurt the most by this tax?

The poor! Yup, that’s right. The bleeding heart liberals in San Fran have leveled another un-progressive tax at those who are least able to pay for it. Poor people are statistically more likely to smoke and to drink sugary drinks. Instead of having a little compassion for these people who have been beaten down by those in power they continue to beat them down. Poor people can never get a break in leftist cities.

This is just what liberals always do. They want to control everything that you do because they just know better. Social engineering is a way for them to actualize their totalitarian fantasies. Enough people go along with their nanny state initiatives because it is healthier for your body not to drink a bunch of sugary drinks. But its not healthier for our Republic to have a citizenry that is told at every corner how to live their lives. BigT

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