What’s China Up To?

Geo-Politics – What’s China Up To?  > Food – Home Grown > Conversations-To-Be

Economics With Geo-Politics – What’s China Up To?: We mean besides the buying up and leasing of farmland as well as oil and oil output, stockpiling critical resources of all kinds, advocating a switch from the U.S. dollar as world reserve currency (and quietly, quietly divesting from the dollar within its reserves), and buying gold. We mean this (from The Archdruid Report of 9/02/09 - thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com):

“ … the Chinese government is planning to ban the export of rare earth elements…these have become crucial to many cutting edge technologies. Lanthanum, for example, is used in high-tech batteries, and neodymium goes into the permanent magnets used in electric motors and wind turbines. The innards of the Prius and other hybrids, to say nothing of the as-yet-imaginary electric cars being hyped by what’s left of the American auto industry, depend on rare earth elements, and CHINA CURRENTLY PRODUCES WELL OVER 90% OF THE WORLD’S SUPPLY OF MOST OF THEM. (caps/PH).

PH Note: Maybe the Chinese, who don’t manage their nation from moment-to-moment, quarter-to-quarter, etc., have some insight into the possible future of the U.S. dollar, farmland, oil, and other critical resources. Maybe it’s because they’re responsible for about 20% of the worlds population. Maybe … ?

Food – Home Grown: Charles Hugh Smith at his “Of Two Minds” blog (oftwominds.com) demonstrates, again, his grasp of many of life’s most important verities in his 9/4/09 post entitled “Why We Should All Grow Some of Our Own Food”:

“There can be no real understanding of what food is without growing fruits or vegetables or raising livestock/fish and then preparing and eating the results. Even if it is a single tomato harvested from a single vine in a single pot on the deck of an apartment, then the experience is necessary to transform one’s understanding of food, nutrition and health.”

PH Note; Amen.

Conversations-To-Be: We’ve been talking with a couple of friends in our area over the last few years, concerning what’s been happening around our country and in the world in general. Their insights have proven to be valuable to us, to their families and to many of their other friends.

It’s with this in mind that we asked these two in particular for comments concerning local, national, and world/international affairs from the perspective of the individual family. Both men are “seniors”, fathers and grandfathers who’ve served in the military, are committed to their families and to their respective religious persuasions, and have demonstrated an independent spirit and mind while observing all of their essential responsibilities.  Neither will permit their names to be used nor quotes.

It is with these limitations in mind that we at PrudentHome are going to present their views as a work of fiction, in a single voice, under the title “Conversations With Pop Smith” [We got “Pop” from “Owen” ( not his real name) as that’s what his grand-kids call him and “Smith” from “Dave” (not his real name) as in “any John Smith”.]

While their world views have many similarities (surprisingly) their personalities are miles apart.

“Owen” is a neo-Luddite (in my view, as he prefers to hunt with a long bow, will if pressed shoot a re-curve but will not shoot a ‘compound’- which he describes as a machine. He’s also been known to note that knives don’t jam – whatever that means.) with a surprising grasp of history and the environment.

“Dave” is a common-sense philosopher (as in noting that regardless of reason or common-sense, people and countries do what they do because of what they feel they need to do at the time) and economist (as in: no jobs = no economy and nobody – person, family, country or world – can live beyond their means for an extended period of time) who believes simplicity + proper maintenance = reliability.

There’s no “Harvard” here but there will be some real-world, and hopefully valuable, views expressed at the end of every week in “ Conversations With Pop Smith.”

Until next time; keep your eyes on the horizon as the weathers changing fast.