Burmese thaw. Japan loans 500 billion to Burma and writes off old debts, as the country continues to - Polidicks

[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/67822000/jpg/_67822583_67822577.jpg[/img] [i]Mr Abe and Burmese President Thein Sein drank to the warm ties between their countries[/i] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22673107[/url] [quote]Japan has announced fresh loans to Burma and cancelled the remainder of its debt with the country, as Tokyo seeks to boost economic ties. The announcement came during a visit by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to Burma, where he had talks with President Thein Sein. Mt Abe pledged about $500m (£330m) in new loans and wrote off $1.74bn of Burma's debt to Japan, officials said. Japan, a key donor to Burma, maintained trade ties with the country during its years of military rule. Correspondents say Mr Abe's visit - the first visit by a Japanese prime minister since 1977 - marks a further improvement in already warm relations. Last year Tokyo cancelled $3.4bn of Burma's debt. Saturday's announcement means the outstanding debt has been written off as well. The new loans will cover infrastructure development projects and power station maintenance.[/quote] Looks like everything is warming up, although warming of their champagne would be bad.

Hurrah capitalism. Nothing bad ever came of it.

[QUOTE=Zenreon117;40797962]Hurrah capitalism. Nothing bad ever came of it.[/QUOTE] All communist countries I know of either backwards dictatorships or parasites on other countries.

Trust but verify. Obama's got the right idea when it comes to Burma. Encourage reforms, but be mindful it may just be all for show.

[QUOTE=Zenreon117;40797962]Hurrah capitalism. Nothing bad ever came of it.[/QUOTE] compare south korea to north korea and then read your post again

[QUOTE=Aspen;40798025]compare south korea to north korea and then read your post again[/QUOTE] I'm not supporting communism, I was addressing how this entire article seems to have been posted to show how Capitalism has good parts to it, to which I agree. I posted that in an effort of Socratic irony to remind that the opposite is true as well. I disagree with the polar approach, and as such I was making sure it didn't stand un-attacked.

[QUOTE=Aspen;40798025]compare south korea to north korea and then read your post again[/QUOTE] Cuba turned out nicely. But honestly you're just being ignorant if you think that North Korea is the only form of communism.

OP check title. Pretty sure its million, not billion.

[QUOTE=laserguided;40798187]Cuba turned out nicely.[/QUOTE] Only because it's one of the less crazy ones. Also it lived off subsidies from the USSR and has been implementing democratic and free market reforms slowly. [editline]27th May 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Gammashack;40798191]OP check title. Pretty sure its million, not billion.[/QUOTE] fuck

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;40798210]Only because it's one of the less crazy ones. Also it lived off subsidies from the USSR and has been implementing democratic and free market reforms slowly. [editline]27th May 2013[/editline] fuck[/QUOTE] You know why? Because the US is a country that bullies other countries. Lately they (Cuba) have been doing quite fine, and would do much better if the US lifted their internationally rejected trade embargo that is based on false pretences. 188 countries are FOR the U.S. ceasing their embargo on Cuba, 2 abstained and 2 opposed. Those two happen to be Israel and Palau.

[QUOTE=laserguided;40798187]Cuba turned out nicely. But honestly you're just being ignorant if you think that North Korea is the only form of communism.[/QUOTE] it was an example. and no, cuba did not turn out nicely.

[QUOTE=Aspen;40798233]it was an example. and no, cuba did not turn out nicely.[/QUOTE] Yes it did. And your example is pretty stupid. I'd like to refer you here. [url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1238730[/url]

Is it really a good idea for Japan to be extending more loans and purposely losing assets when itself has a massive looming debt crisis?

my example's not stupid. two countries on the same peninsula. one a communist state, the other a capitalist nation.

[QUOTE=Aspen;40798251]my example's not stupid. two countries on the same peninsula. one a communist state, the other a capitalist nation.[/QUOTE] Your example is stupid because Juche isn't the only form of communism. AND you act as if North Korea and South Korea aren't at war, and have equal resources and population. North Korea has incompetent leadership and is extremely isolated, it is NOT a good comparison. Go here and read it, [url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1238730[/url]

[QUOTE=laserguided;40798263]Your example is stupid because Juche isn't the only form of communism. Go here and read it, [url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1238730[/url][/QUOTE] that's not the point.. i didn't say juche was the only form of communism now did i????

[QUOTE=scout1;40798245]Is it really a good idea for Japan to be extending more loans and purposely losing assets when itself has a massive looming debt crisis?[/QUOTE] With a debt ratio of 230% to GDP, I would say that Japan might have problems later if they don't grow their way out of debt or utilize austerity. [editline]27th May 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=laserguided;40798219]You know why? Because the US is a country that bullies other countries and lately they have been doing quite fine.[/QUOTE] Well it's not like the Soviet Union has been bullying countries in Africa and Asia and South America along with the USA. The two big bullies of the world.

[QUOTE=Aspen;40798267]that's not the point.. i didn't say juche was the only form of communism now did i????[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]compare south korea to north korea and then read your post again[/QUOTE] Its almost as if you're trying to make your case off a extremely isolated country, in comparison to a non-isolated country. As a communist I reject North Korea.

[QUOTE=laserguided;40798275]Its almost as if you're trying to make your case off a extremely isolated country, in comparison to a non-isolated country. As a communist I reject North Korea.[/QUOTE] you're a communist, huh?

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;40798268] Well it's not like the Soviet Union has been bullying countries in Africa and Asia and South America along with the USA. The two big bullies of the world.[/QUOTE] Did I say the Soviet Union didn't bully countries? The fact is, the United States is full of conservatives who are still scarred by the red scare. Every other country except for Palau and israel think the US' dumb embargo should be lifted.

[QUOTE=laserguided;40798275]Its almost as if you're trying to make your case off a extremely isolated country, in comparison to a non-isolated country. As a communist I reject North Korea.[/QUOTE] Good thing the revolution will never happen. :3c

[QUOTE=Aspen;40798279]you're a communist, huh?[/QUOTE] Yes.

[QUOTE=laserguided;40798288]Yes.[/QUOTE] wanna tell me why?

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;40798284]Good thing the revolution will never happen. :3c[/QUOTE] Wow you're really trying to be relevant. [editline]26th May 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Aspen;40798290]wanna tell me why?[/QUOTE] "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;40798268]With a debt ratio of 230% to GDP, I would say that Japan might have problems later if they don't grow their way out of debt or utilize austerity.[/QUOTE] Their debt is different from the public debt of say the U.S. They essentially owe the money to themselves, unlike the U.S. where China owns nearly all of the the U.S. debt. Japan is far better off than they look (besides Fukushima, tsunamis and earthquakes.)

It's Myanmar dammit

What's the point of arguing about capitalism vs. communism when no country in the world have ever been truly communist? And how is it related to Burma when Burma haven't been "communist" since 1988?

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;40797976]All communist countries I know of either backwards dictatorships or parasites on other countries.[/QUOTE] I think you mean countries that call themselves communist.

[QUOTE=bohb;40798898]Their debt is different from the public debt of say the U.S. They essentially owe the money to themselves, unlike the U.S. where China owns nearly all of the the U.S. debt. Japan is far better off than they look (besides Fukushima, tsunamis and earthquakes.)[/QUOTE] China doesnt own that much money. [img]http://www.mygovcost.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Revised-FY2011-who-owns-us-national-debt-652x472.png[/img] 60% of it is in US hands either through the public or retirement funds.

part of the key to an effective government-economy relationship is to prevent power from being to concentrated in one place. this is generally why democracy is good, because it spreads power out among the people of a nation, who will all have a say on how the market is managed and regulated. the problem with a purely communist society is that it's far too easy for someone to cease power. the problem with a purely free-market capitalist society is that corporations have free-will to do whatever they want. a very irrational person can become a CEO and can cause some serious damage. an issue with democracy (albeit small compared to autocratic ones) is that the public has to be correctly informed to make the right decisions. this is generally balanced out with public education, which should be free to everyone, because limiting a person's access to basic education is limiting their ability to participate in democracy. there is also the danger of a rule of the majority against the interests of a minority. this is generally best solved with proportional voting systems. unfortunately, this is not used in a variety of democratic societies, because the first-past-the-post voting system is very convenient for politicians, and trying to reform it would be potential political suicide.