Science Fiction Becomes Reality
For those that read the quaint science fiction book “1984”, the scenario painted was an all-knowing invasive government that tracked every citizen’s movement, and forced all persons to adhere to a strict code of conduct that perpetuated the government.
At the time the book was published, it was considered scary, but improbable.
Now, more through social media such as Facebook, Twitter and the like, we consider our private information and our movements to be public knowledge and rightfully accessible by any interested party.
Track and Store Information on Your Movements
There was an announcement in the newspaper that researchers had discovered that the iPad had a function to track and store quite accurate information as to your whereabouts, and remarkably accurate historical information as to where you had been.
The article went on to speculate on the uses of this information, including marital issues of suspicious spouses, industrial espionage, employee attendance issues and so on.
The effects of this available information, are only limited by your imagination.
Caution About Availability of Personal Information
As we have commented previously, younger readers should be cautious about revealing personal information that in the years to come, can come back and “bite” you.
Oil – The Relentless March Higher
In our last blog, we discussed the price of oil and how it was inevitable to rise. During the last decade, there has been a worry about “Peak Oil” when major oil fields will start declining in production capability.
The contrary argument has always been that there is lots of oil, and it is only a price issue – “the higher the price of a barrel of oil, the more that will be found”.
Now a “supply” issue has been added to the speculation. as both China and India are consistently demanding more oil imports for their expanding economies, and thereby forcing the price of oil higher.
All of this is delighting the major oil companies, although their share prices do not reflect this bonanza. Perhaps there is a Trust Issue that is affecting these share prices.
(Note our constant refrain that you should avoid the blue chip stocks and concentrate on high value juniors.)
Democracy Works in Odd Ways
I have stated that democracy is flawed. Democracy gives the undisputed right to try and influence elected politicians. This is done by campaign or political contributions, favors, understandings, and lobbyists.
Lobbyists
Under Freedom of Information, what is spent on DECLARED lobbyists is easily found. Just Google the subject!
There is a very long list of amounts spent on lobbyists with $10 million dollars annually being only a paltry sum. Many lobbyists are paid far more. In the last decade, (Sold Out 99) reports that the Financial Sector alone spent over $5 BILLION on lobbyists.
Does this give you some pause as to why the regulations are so flawed as to allow the financial meltdown of 2008? In effect, this money is a cost of enriching the big and stealing from the poor.
What is More Horrifying is the Oil Lobby
We are facing the unrelenting fall of the US dollar and US influence. This is an issue that affects everyone. Admire the USA or hate the USA, the period of economic stability following WW II until now, has been as a result of the economic power of the USA.
This economic power is being drained daily by the continued exports of US dollars for imported oil, exacerbated by the greens who decry spoiling the environment by developing Canadian oil Sands, or producing power from solar at many times the cost of other alternatives. Sometimes people become so entrenched in their beliefs that they care not who they hurt or how much damage their good intentions cause.
Lobbying by the Oil Companies
Oil giant BP spent $2 million on federal lobbying efforts during the first three months of this year. Granted these were exceptional circumstances for them given the Gulf oil spill.
Still, when the USA could stop this hemorrhaging by using natural gas, or alternatives and doesn’t, isn’t that something that American patriots should start paying attention to.
It is truly an idiotic policy of the American government that allows one to watch the power of an economic empire slowly ebb away, because a few are being enriched, while the majority are having their living standards decimated.
Where to Invest
As I said in my previous blog, to know that the US dollar is sinking, and that shares of companies listed in US dollars are in trouble, and to watch the simplicity of what is going on around us, is disturbing. I made mention recently of a quote “The biggest change is the one that is all around us, but that we cannot see.” So it is with oil and the ever increasing outflow of American dollars.
Junior energy companies with excellent resources, in stable political environments, with experienced management are a very logical place to invest.
Point #7 in What Needs to be Done to Save Capitalism comes soon. It is a remarkably similar subject to the subject discussed today.
