How will it affect People?

Kia Ora,

Whilst news continues to come in in regards to the massive earthquake off the coast of Japan with the following Tsaunami it is the effect on people especially here in Christchurch that is my focus. Unlike the Japanese, New Zealanders are still not used to dealing with reality. Unless you were directly involved in the worst part of the February 22nd earthquake many even within Christchurch still think it is been overplayed.

Here in New Zealand people are still worried about the prediction for a possible very large earthquake around the Christchurch area about the 20th March 2011.

That has been the focus but the actual prediciton for February by the 'Moon man' as Ken Ring is known was for the 'Ring of fire'. The proviso was that if it hit New Zealand then the orientation of the moon means it would hit Canterbury or Marlborough & that is the same for March.

As the Perigee of the Moon approached a quake of about 6.3 happened off Chile in the same area of the previous one that resulted in a Tsaunami & deaths. Of course after Perigee Christchurch got hit by our own destructive 6.3.

Someone mentioned to me the other day that another person who uses similar information to Ken Ring had said that the Christchurch Quakes would trigger a large quake in Japan.

A few days ago a 7.1 earthquake happened off Japan resulting in a 60cm Tsaunami. This was followed by a 5 in China where at least 22 people died. Then this big one hit & whilst Hawaii was readying itself for the Tsaunami it was rocked by a 4.5 & reports of lava geysering up to 50 metres in one of the volcanoes.

Now despite the 'experts' saying there is no connection between each shake I think most people will view them as interconnected. The earthquakes in Japan may take the pressure off in this part of the world for now as the moon coming closer will impact on those areas under most stress or weakest.

As it says the predicitons are of possible earthquakes/sesmic activity. Much of it never felt. Still pays to be ready & just maybe the 'experts' can now start to combine their measurements of pressure. Of course that would be helped by proper mapping of the earth surface to find all the faults. They say it is expensive but like the poor modern building practices(as they are cheaper) in the long run it has proved more expensive in lives & economically.

Of course the 'experts' will say this is all bumkum. But that doesn't stop human emotions & reactions kicking in.

If say over the next two months as predicted for this area at least we get some more substantial earthquakes crime increases along with violence as stress gets to people. At some stage though people really start to embrace religions(end of times) or law & order starts to break down as the rules aren't seen as important with the end of the world idea gets into some peoples heads.

Others are still in denial that there might be any threat. Having seen the power of a large earthquake twice up close I would rather be ready & aware but without fretting about it.

Personally I think it is just a whole lot of cycles (financially & within the earth)coming together at the same time so find it interesting. It also brings opportunities to make the world a better place.

As back on security task tonight in the CBD red zone here in Christchurch expect there could be more trying to enter the area to commit crime. You would have to say that is no surprise that some of the looters caught(those seen) so far in Christchurch appear to be basically people who follow anarchist teachings. It fits right in with the way they think the world should be.

A bit of common sense though would tell them that it is just too dangerous. It is good to see some people at Civil Defence are finally thinking & have cancelled the planned walk through the red zone next Friday. Why? Because it is too dangerous. No s..t Sherlock! Taken them that long to decide that!

Meantime I am still expecting that the 10,000 homes to be not able to be rebuilt is light on the numbers. That is going to impact on people emotionally as well & their reactions will vary. Personally I think it is time to return those eastern suburbs that are badly hit to the farm land I am told they were in the 60's & start building to the west on harder ground. Even I remember much of Bromley was just sand dunes in the 70's where we as kids used to play when visiting friends on Linwood Avenue.

How will all this affect people? Already a lot are nervous. The fact that major earthquakes & Tsaunami's are happening around the 'Ring of fire' will not make people any more comfortable. In fact it is likely to morph into a law & order issue in particular if as predicted a large earthquake hits near Christchurch in the next week or so.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Working Smarter not harder!

Kia Ora,

There was a piece on TV one's Close up the other night about New Zealands version of Criminal Minds with an intelligience analyst.

It was good & all they were doing was an apprectiation much as we did in the army when planning patrols or tasks.

The comment was made about working smarter & of course the second part of that is not harder. It was also said you might not see police out there in public as much.

Now doing an appreciation or analyizing the information available is definitely a help. Problem is to get to the stage where some of that works in the current system, unlike the military situation, means you have to allow a few crimes to happen.

That is where the system has gone wrong. Not that it doesn't need the analysts but it needs to be used in conjunction with old fashioned patrolling impacting the crime before it happens. There still needs to be a lot more police out on the street. Not a 100 specialists for every police officer on the beat. Not only do they impact on crime they provide the information that can be used to either stop crime from happening or catch up with the criminals quickly.

It would also question where they get the information or enough to work on. Especially when business burglaries discovered in the morning get a form faxed through but no visit or householders don't get a visit for four days then asked why they cleaned up.
Crime Science: Methods of Forensic Detection
Effective combating of crime is a combination of the old, add in new techniques & prompt gaining of the information.

They also made the comment that burglaries are carried out within 5 km of where the burglar lives.

Funny one person arrested for murder resulted in a drop of 51% of burglaries in a commercial area I was one of the security patrols covering. He lived 40 km away.

On another occassion a group of us carrying out security noticed suspicious activity called police. The person was a burglar & car thief from about 400km away.
Intelligence Analysis: A Target-Centric Approach
Now I hear of a police district forming a crime prevention unit which goes in after a crime & looks at what else they can gleam from it. From the information provided it didn't prevent crime but just discovered evidence of more past crime.

Wait a minute isn't that what detectives did in the past? Isn't crime prevention what the officer on the beat did by patrolling?

All these fancy names & sectioning off areas of specialty are really the reason crime is now out of control. Not enough officers on the ground doing the actual policing & having a presence really acted as crime prevention.
Intelligence Analysis: How to Think in Complex Environments (Praeger Security International)
We have more people in the police but it seems less doing the actual policing. Starting to sound like the US army with so many specialists there were very few actual grunts. Boots on the ground in the end is what wins wars of all types & impacts on crime. It is also where you win the hearts & minds. Not just throwing cash at things.

The police officer in tune with his community can more often than not deal with a situation without the need to resort to the law. But with the emphasis on arrests & tickets & now building all these special units it would seem the art of policing is slowly been lost. That is what I am also hearing from experienced & former police officers.

Again definitely use these new techniques or technology but in conjunction with what really works!
Structured Analytic Techniques for Intelligence Analysis
Sometimes doing things that seem to be the hard way work out better in the long run. In the army we had a saying "Train Hard fight easy" & through walking the beat, getting to know your community might be hard work at first for a police officer I think it would have rewards in the long run.

It did in the past from anecdotal evidence.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Is there hope for the world after all this?

Kia Ora,

With all the unrest, increasing crime, poverty & revolution across the world you would have to ask is there hope for the world?

Well yes there is & it goes surprisingly to many by the name of Justin Bieber!

Before people think I am mad this is the situation.

Anyone who has read a few of my blogs will know I follow Robert Kiyosaki. Though I would have a slightly different view of government versus privatization. That is based on the fact that in countries like the US it has failed to keep up the infrastructure it has taken over. Here in New Zealand because we did have, compared to what we have now, an efficient civil service. Now we have a poor civil service & even worse areas that were privatized or made into SOE's(state owned enterprizes).

There must be a better way to combine both or at least have private means also deliver social outcomes. Working on it & it is the knowledge that has come from the financial education path that makes me see it is possible.

One thing that the likes of Robert Kiyosaki teach is real financial education not the crap governments dish out. Sorry but that is the only word that can describe the 'accepted financial education/advice'. They so much don't want people to know there is another way of looking at things that recently here in New Zealand they made it illegal to give an opinion or advice unless a licensed financial advisors. Of course they all trot out the party line which is effectively stealing peoples currency from under them.

Compare that to the real financial education that allows people to come up with plans to achieve their dreams & make the world a better place. If the young take this up then real change will be achieved.

So what has this to do with Justin Bieber?

Getting there.

Robert Kiyosakis book Rich Dad Poor Dad really took off after appearing on Oprah in the US. More recently Will(thats right the movie star)& Jada Smith were also on Oprah & said how they were getting their children in the Rich Dad swing of things.

In the last few days Robert has posted where he was reading 'Vanity Fair' to see Justin Bieber quoted as saying he is reading Rich Dad Poor Dad after been told to by Will Smith.

So What?
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not! (Miniature Edition)
The comment also mentions that Justin struggled in the school(slavery) system & doesn't read much. From reading Roberts books I would say that applied to him too.

Myself I was good in the school system until I lost interest. It wasn't until I joined the army that I realized that not everyone shines in the school system but will shine elsewhere.

Wouldn't we all like to shine like Justin at present?

Like many in his situation he could be easily parted from his cash if he doesn't have the right mindset & learn how to use it. But you don't have to be rich from been a superstar to use this knowledge. It all takes is a brain.

You don't have to be an 'A' class student either.
Rich Dad's Rich Kid, Smart Kid: Giving Your Children a Financial Headstart
Sometime back I took my game of cashflow 101 to a friends who had other friends over. One of the kids wanted to play but as the game progressed it was evident he could not read. But what he did work out real quick was what was a good deal & what wasn't. The issue was his parent. They just kept saying he was dumb & would be no good at the game. Yes he needed some help reading the words & figures but no way was he dumb.

If Justin can pass that message on it would help millions to see their is hope despite where things are heading at present. It could divert many from a life of crime when they realize they can achieve as much as anybody as long as they have the knowledge & the ability to see opportunities(the knowledge will give them that).
Rich Dad Cashflow for Kids
So what has this to do with unrest, crime & revolution?

Well it is youth that are leading this new world & the change that is going on. It is the young that are at the heart & soul of the protests & revolutions starting to sweep the world.

Right now is said to be the biggest transfer of wealth & power in the history of the world. But if more of the world were aware of the formulae like Robert shows through his games & books then maybe there would be a more equal balance after all this has settled down.

Sometimes what you think you are getting is not what you are getting at all. So to make it worth while people need to start thinking differently. Thinking for the future. Recognizing the old ways do not work anymore or if they do in a totally altered form.
Rich Dad Cashflow 101 board game (with CD's)
If someone as influential as Justin Bieber can learn from this, it is set up for all learning styles based on the cone of learning & how most people learn, then pass on or encourage millions of his fans to learn then there is real hope for the world after the current 'leaders'(if you can call them that) have been manipulated to destroy everything as it currently stands.

Already there are new ways to earn billions not thought of 20 years ago. What in the next 20 years?

There really is hope after all & it goes by the name of Justin Bieber!

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Efficiency doesn't necessarily mean downsizing!

Kia Ora,

Well in line with the world trend the New Zealand government has signalled austerity measures in particular in line with the cutting of public service jobs.

Now I have been very critical of the inefficient & corrupt manner of our government departments & entities. But in the first instance whilst getting the departments & entities efficient the extra staff are required.

Then if they have too let the numbers drop through natural attrition. Problem the government has with this & with trying to take people off benefits there are not the jobs out there for them.

Those coming off the benefits will actually cope better mentally because they have always had to struggle or will just increase their crime.

It is those government bureaucrats like anyone else coming off a high paying job that will struggle with the mental side unless they have ben their before.

Here is where the violence will increase. The mental stress of going from a high paying job to maybe been on the street will be hard for people to take. Suddenly some of them will be subjected to the same inefficient corrupt & arrogant behaviour they have been dishing out.

Many of them will be in large debt usually in mortgage on their houses & that will cause major issues within any relationships. More stress, more likely violence.
The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time
Though the opposition is playing politics with its comments as it completely got things wrong when it was government, it is right in its statement there just aren't the jobs available & there aren't any been created.

There is a myth that government is always more inefficient that private enterprise. New Zealand government departments were at one time extremely efficient if a little bloated in numbers. Privatization hasn't made things any better here, like the US & Australia infrastructure has suffered from lack of investment. It is now coming back to haunt each country.

What all that means is it will be harder for businesses or the economies to recover. Less jobs more unemployed more crime.
The Zen of Social Media Marketing: An Easier Way to Build Credibility, Generate Buzz, and Increase Revenue
But there has been another twist noticed in Europe & the Arab world with the riots & protests. It is the amount of young people out of work with little incentive to work. Potentially in the West it could be a lot worse.

We have spent years telling people they can be anything they want but forgot to tell them sometimes they have to fail. Many of them have the attitude is they have the right to do or take anything & you have no right to stop them.

When they look at the wages offered & what they can get either on the unemployment benefit or just by taking things is it no wonder they forgo a job.

Social Media has meant that parties & revolutions can be organized very quickly with governments not able to have control(unless they try like Egypt to just cut all access, but once it started it was too late).
The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use Social Media, Blogs, News Releases, Online Video, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly, 2nd Edition
So now we are going to have more people out of work, less jobs been created more people using social media who think they have the rights to anything & see the 'fun' people their age are having around the world.

As conditions get worse sounds like great ingredients for more civil unrest.

Is this another manipulation for greater transfer of wealth & power?

Or that was the intention but this thing, thanks to Social media, has gotten bigger than anyone was prepared for in the manner of a Tsaunami?

One way to mitigate that is make the public services more efficient so people can actually see a future. Because if they can't then what is to stop them making a new one of their design?

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

"Don't teach Pigs to sing. It annoys the pig & wastes your time!"

Kia Ora,

It is human nature to want to share what you have learnt even through your mistakes. Of course as every parent I have ever talked too has said their children think parents know nothing & have to make the same mistakes. Since they are their parents children part of their make up will mean they make exactly the same mistakes & become that which they hated the most about their parents.

People actually learn most by their mistakes. Not everyone can recognize that they are making the same mistakes or are have some of the traits of their parents.

But we can also learn from the mistakes of others & that is where real education which is self education comes in. We can also change & miss the mistakes our parents made.

Now one quote that Robert Kiyosaki likes to throw about is "Don't teach pigs to sing. It annoys the pigs & wastes your time". He came across that one day whilst struggling to work out why 80% of those he taught failed to be able to make the most of what he was teaching. He found he was spending more time & energy with those that would likely never succeed than those who wanted to learn. So he changed the way he taught.

He also is of the same mind of a sergeant of mine when they were first thinking of promoting me(I know there are a lot of people that are still puzzling over why they ever did promote me & what a monster they created) where you learn more by teaching others. Problem is especially in New Zealand is finding enough people who really want to learn how to get ahead. It is too much like hard work.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad for Teens: The Secrets About Money--that You Don't Learn in School! (Miniature Edition)
As Henry Ford said "thinking is the hardest work there is & that is why so few people do it."

Everyone says they would like to be rich, but most are not prepared to risk everything to get there. That is why they never make it or never make it for long.

Many resort to criminal activity such as drug dealing, theft or the more subtle form of theft known better as fraud.

The thing is if you offer people the information you have learnt from others & more importantly your own mistakes they react by trying to belittle what you are offering. The reason for that is they are lazy, scared & it is outside their comfort zone.
Cashflow Quadrant: Rich Dad's Guide to Financial Freedom
Now another thing that people like Robert Kiyosaki promote is never just believe what they are saying. Do your own homework. When you do that homework & talk to people who are following the same path you find from a myriad of successful sources it builds a base of knowledge from which you can see if it is true or not.

Most people ignore history but as Winston Churchill said "The further back you look the further forward you can see" & that is not the history about dates etc but what has happened when similar actions have been taken to those happening now.

That is why some have been for years been predicting the financial crisis we now have even to the extent of overthrow of governments. That particular course is now gathering pace which the powers that be hide by claiming it is people upset with the dictators & wanting democracy. Most people don't give a damn about democracy as long as they don't rock the boat. So called democracy gives the illusion of free speech & control.
Rich Dad's Guide to Investing: What the Rich Invest in, That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not!
When in fact the trigger for the overthrows have been rising food prices. When most if not all your weekly take home pay goes to buy food to feed your family something has to give. Those rising food prices have been created by in particular the US Federal reserve creating currency.

Probably the biggest reason people don't like to know about how to get ahead is when you present it to their thinking it all looks negative. But what is negative to most is actually an opportunity to those who succeed or those on that path.

Like everyone I have dreams which in my case have morphed as I have learnt more or experienced more of life. Now many people think that security is my whole focus. That is the initial focus & the situations I see building around me making conditions worse are an opportunity in an industry where I actually have quite a bit of knowledge & experience to build on. It is just a case of building a better mouse trap(old idea presented in a better different way).
Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money
Not only is the security idea scaleable(in other words it can build to a very large organization) but it is a stepping stone to the next idea which also combines with the security concept. These are both scaleable world wide.

Whats more whilst the financial crisis getting worse all the time gives an opportunity to allow it to happen. Whats more for a place to start the Canterbury earthquake means the conditions are right to launch both, the security in particular here in Christchurch.

But all that means you have to research the financial crisis where it is expected to go(not by the trusted 'economists' or government either) but earthquakes, how they work, what is expected & how to use that to achieve your dreams. That includes listening to people like Ken Ring the astrologer, as science as much as I like it is these days not leading but tending to prove what is already known based on sometimes thousands of years of observations, but not accepted until science 'proves' it.
Rich Dad's Before You Quit Your Job: 10 Real-Life Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Building a Multimillion-Dollar Business
Dreams can come true but it is hard not to get side tracked by good people but with a totally different mindset than you. It has actually been shown that this difference in mindset can also mean relationships are doomed, because when things get difficult those with a different core mindset will have a different direction they want to go.

I get that right now with people wanting me to get a 'job' but apart from tempoary work that comes along, my focus is still my business & how to get that moving.

Another thing people do not understand is the time spent on the internet. Yes when work comes up it is important to do the task, but one thing the internet has given is so many ways to create cash flow with little or no cash injection. Requires a totally different mindset than that which has prevailed in the past.
Rich Dad's Increase Your Financial IQ: Get Smarter with Your Money
Increased crime is an opportunity. Poor security allowing the possibility of a terrorist attack on a major event is an opportunity, the attack happening is an opportunity. The event itself is an opportunity but not where people think. The event of course been the Rugby World Cup.

The on going & worsening financial crisis is presenting thousands of opportunities everyday. The Canterbury earthquake is an opportunity to make a difference & a better community which the government & Christchurch city are so far making a right hash off(therefore another opportunity).

It is just being or getting yourself in position to take adavantage of those opportunities without the monkey chatter from those who don't want to understand or are too lazy to do the homework.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Nano Nano; The Great Orkan speaks!

Kia Ora,

The Orkan greeting from the TV series Mork & Mindy might not seem appropriate but I feel it is as it fits the response from the Minister of Earthquake recovery & his out of touch unrealistic responses to the frustrated & angry people of Canterbury.

He definitely is on another planet. From his flippant responses to the angry meeting shown on TV news in Kaiapoi. "We can't just wave a magic wand". No but you can pull your finger out & start getting things done. Australia have a lot sooner & with more imput to not one but two major disasters. Meanwhile authorities here are sitting with finger up rear using any excuse not to do anything.

Then in the 'Press' he is quoted as saying that the government will do nothing for those that were uninsured as it is personal responsibility. Yes it is, but in most cases people are not insured because they can not actually aford it. A governments job is not to give out currency willy nilly as they have here in the past but they are there to be the safety net when all else fails.

Now the person highlighted in the 'Press' is mid 60's so has little in way of job prospects & is on a sickness beneficiary due to "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease & prostrate cancer". Where is the lack of personal responsibility? I would say he has lived his life paid taxes confined by the way the government wants so they can steal his currency & now they just discard him.

He is going to get his mates to help him refurbish his house. But it would probably be illegal or unsafe but what else is he to do? At present he shouldn't even be living in it.

This is the sort of thinking that will led to greater frustration & anger. Hope the government is prepared for the back lash.

As is reported in Kaiapoi & I have pointed out before there is a lot of uncertainty lack of information & any rumour(especially about the Ministers own house) just is taken up as truth like wildfire.
Disaster Recovery
Then there was another Minister saying that businesses that have gone under or about too were poor at business. Funny some real thriving businesses have already gone under due to the slow response & in how customers could not get to them even if they were open.

Politicians really do live in their own little world just delivering for their real masters the banks(whom it is noted have made a great profit this year, though basing it on how the US banks are doing it it is likely to be a book profit only aided by tax refunds).

President Mubarak has gone because like all leaders he has underestimated the power of social media. The current New Zealand government has already lost the Canterbury vote for the poor response unless it pulls finger & gets off the drugs they are using or return to planet earth.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning for IT Professionals
Police raided gang properties across the North Island over the last few days to impact on the drug scene. Maybe they need to raid parliament. Because they are on some heavy shit up there.

Even the police raids showed how out of touch the policticians really are. The Police Minister has been quite good in supporting the police but her statement yesterday showed she had no idea what she is talking about.

Basically she claimed that drug raids would result in a drop in crime. Actually they will do the opposite. In particular violent crime will go up as people need more cash to buy their drug of choice. In the Netherlands when I visited a local said they always dread when the drug squad hit outlets as they knew from low crime it would quickly esculate until the drug supply was sufficient enough again to lower the price. Of course if people weren't on drugs to start there would be less crime but that is unrealistic in todays world.
High Availability and Disaster Recovery: Concepts, Design, Implementation
Of course the stress caused by the earthquakes is showing in Canterbury with visits for stress related issues way up particularly in some areas but funding for that has stopped. The stress hasn't so here we go again, more crime, more violence & more use of illegal drugs. More problems for police & security.

The Government are in cloud cuckoo land!

Nano Nano!

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Financial Terrorism!

Kia Ora,

Had to chuckle at headlines recently getting reported around the world as the US warns of the threat of Financial Terrorism!

Really it looks like another false flag operation.

Yes it could happen but why would it want too when the financial crisis goes from one emergency to the next. Also the fact that it is the US Federal REserve that is actually causing most of the damage.

There is a suggestion in the document commissioned by the US Department of Defence that the 2008 meltdown may not of been due to poor regulation & bad risk assessment.

Pull the other one.

In the book 'Rich Dad Prophecy' Robert Kiyosaki points out his 'Rich Dad' basically forecast what was going to happen.

How?

Unlike a fomer New Zealand Minister of Finance with a doctorate in history he looked at financial history, he then looked at Nixon taking the US(therefore the world)off the Bretton Woods standard(semi gold standard) in 1971 & a flaw in the 1974 US act in relation to retirement funds that created the 401K. That last part hasn't even hit yet.

Other reports have indicated that the large drops on the share market have been the result of possible financial terrorism not a mistake by a trader. Actually at the time many financial commentators who had been predicting a possible drop put the blip down to another reason. There is an overwatch group that is there to manipulate the markets so that things like this don't happen. For a moment in time they are overwhelmed before they can correct.

It is expected in the not too distant future there will come a time when they are overwhelmed to such an extent they will not be able to control the markets. Commodities will sky rocket & the market is likely to crash(although with inflation/hyper inflation there is the possibilty the market will go up in price but not in value, which of course will be presented as sign of a recovery whilst people starve in the streets).

Most people will say "the government will sort it or will look after us" & if you believe that then you believe in flying pigs. S..t I just saw one so you might be alright!

One quote I like is the scariest thing to hear is "we are from the government we are here to help" but I can't remember right now who said it.

As the people here in Canterbury & in particular Christchurch are finding post the earthquake government help is the Clayton's help. The help you get when you are not really getting help.
Rich Dad's Advisors: Guide to Investing In Gold and Silver: Protect Your Financial Future
Whilst they play these games of words to convince people they know what they are doing it is the people who are suffering & as a result crime is rising. People need to live! They need to feed their families!

One recent interview I saw via the internet showed that the US is in much worse position than Tunisia or Egypt but the difference was for now the percentage of weekly pay required for food is much less in the US. Once it rises then the US will almost certainly follow the rest of the world in at least food riots.

New Zealand needs to be weary as our food prices are now starting to take a large part of take home pay. I know as a single person having to buy my own groceries, the amount I used to buy five bags of groceries with a year ago now only gets me two bags. But there is no inflation we are told. Yeah Right!
The Dollar Crisis: Causes, Consequences, Cures , Revised and Updated
In Egypt since the crisis there began banks have been closed meaning as they re opened there has almost been a run on banks as people que to get their cash out.

I undertand after 9/11 the same happened in the US & only those with gold or silver were able to purchase goods as cash held ran out.

There is another interesting part of the report on Financial Terrorism. It says "forces could mount a 'focused effort to collapse the dollar by dumping Treasury bonds'".

Now that would of been written at the time China held the most US bonds in the world just ahead of Japan. A Chinese General instead of wanting to go to war over Taiwan had wanted, in response to US support for Taiwan, to dump the bonds on the markets to destroy the US economy.
The Day After the Dollar Crashes: A Survival Guide for the Rise of the New World Order
But the Chinese have taken a more pragmatic view. Slowly lessening their exposure to US debt(whilst also using it to buy guarranteed access to or the actual commodities), raising the Yuan slowly so as not to impact on their own people in a devasting fashion. Right now they are taking action to cool inflation which could seriously impact on countries such as Australia.

Recently the Federal Reserve has become the biggest holder of US government bonds as it buys them to give the impression all is OK.

So who are these forces?

Good excuse to go to war with China! But the Chinese would not see it in their interests yet to just dump the bonds they do possess as it would harm its own people.
The Corruption of Capitalism: A strategy to rebalance the global economy and restore sustainable growth
So as China & Japan I would expect lessen their exposure to US debt that just leaves the Federal Reserve. The private central bank formed in the interests of the bankers. Now it would be in their interest at some stage to collect on these debts transferring more wealth & power to their principals which do not include the US government.

Meanwhile they just create more currency to buy more bonds meaning not only now do they continue to export inflation but by monetizing the debt cause inflation in the US. It also increases the interest bill the US government owes Federal Reserve which is or about to be greater than the whole tax take in the US.

Seems to me the only Financial Terrorists likely to hit the US or anywhere else are the Central banks that 'are working to help us'. Yeah Right!

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

They are back so how do we deal with them?

Kia Ora,

It has been evident for the last few weeks here in Christchurch the boy racers(street racers) are back though they now appear to have new tactics.

You can again hear the noise of the cars across the city as large numbers drive around. But they as yet anyway seem to not be in large cruise's(large number of vehicles) but you are seeing up to 10 vehicles in a line with a quick stop at an intersection for one doghnut then move onto to next one.

The area of Wigram, Middleton business areas & the back roads around Halswell seem to be a favourite haunt lately. Again we are seeing them short cut through business premises often with their lights off.

It has been noticeably building over the last couple of weeks & of course probably to a show down with the police at the vehicle show 4's & Rotary over the weekend of the 18th, 19th & 20th of February 2011.

The bleeding hearts will be out saying we have to leave these poor people alone. OK they can get the bottles thrown at them as security for carrying out a legal action or someone threaten to drive over you on private land(until it was pointed out the police car behind them might have somethng to say about it).

A good event gets ruined by these morons. The exhibitors & organizers(including some serving police officers) are really nice people & really want nothing to do with the boy racer crowd who use it as an excuse to assemble in Christchurch city each year.
Puma Men's PU100021004 Motor Sport Collection Forcer Chronograph Watch
Bulding a skid pad is not really a viable option. It will take many off the road initially but the hard core trouble makers will remain as they don't want to be part of any organized set up. So the majority will follow like sheep away from the organized focus after the first few weeks.

It will be interesting to see what happens next week. I suspect as stated earlier the boy racer community are setting up to take on the police or at least challenge them especially after the charges for unlawful assembly from an incident last year were thrown out or withdrawn.

These are not the petrol heads of yesteryear but anarchists bent on destroying anything they can with the view you have no right to stop them.

How to deal with them?

There needs to be a concerted effort to re introduce the rule of law with backing from the courts & the politicians. Not a lot of hot air.

At present the police are hamstrung, the courts are soft & the politicians are weak. If we let it go too far then try to clamp down the backlash will be even greater.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

If we are so great how come Child abuse & Poverty are a problem?

Kia Ora,

So where am I talking about?

The US where poverty is far greater than the government would like people to think?

Some third world country where child abuse is a cultural tradition?

Well the last one is sort of right, we are third world. Yep right here in New Zealand according to a UN report.

Child abuse is as the UN put it 'staggering', but we already knew that we just don't actually do a lot about it. It is the worst in Maori communities or appears to be from the amount of deaths from child abuse we see each year.

But do the Maori in positions of influence do anything? Not really they have become just another part of the bureaucracy & bureaucrats get nothing done.

Funny thing is people have taken steps to change it including Maori. If those steps are successful then it is either taken over by the bureaucrats ensuring its failure or is stopped especially if there is funding.

We can't have anything succeeding!

Don't dare speak up about it as Michael Laws did though he might of got it wrong in presentation & at times seems to be coming from a racist point of view you would have to believe his heart was in the right place on this issue watching the interview.

So we will just leave the system to create more criminals prone to violence.
Child Abuse and Neglect: Attachment, Development and Intervention
The other 'staggering' point in the UN report was the amount of poverty in New Zealand. Like crime people just do not want to see it or pretend it does not exist in New Zealand.

One thing about the military in particular the army you got to see not the best parts of the world as you travelled around including in our own country. So I was always well aware that there were many living on subsistance areas.

But it was leaving the army & working in security in what is supposed to be & always looked a well off city like Christchurch that I really got to see the poverty that we try to gloss over.

Again many turn to crime just to live. If the system turns against you as it does then many cannot handle it & find themselves living in poverty & resorting to crime.
The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time
There is one comment quoted from the report I don't agree with & that is the comment about how New Zealand has taken backward steps in childrens rights in particular in regards to lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12. it should be down to 10 at least.

This shows how out of touch people writing reports can be. Whilst the first two subjects are actually there this part is way out of touch.

It is a fact that these days kids know at what age they can be charged or think they do & it is not common for them to confront even police officers with the words "you can't touch me".

Children are not sweet & innocent at 10 any more. Some have even been threatening to kill at 4 in the last year. Whilst a 4 year old might not understand fully the implications todays 10 year old does.
When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor. . .and Yourself
I think first of all you need to deal with the top two issues before you can ever look at raising the age of responsibility.

Just like the issues of Treaty of Waitangi settlements the majority in New Zealand think that if they ignore child abuse & poverty they either don't exist or will go away.

Afraid that won't happen. People need to start getting off their butt's & start doing things. If they fail at least they tried.

Lets create jobs, lets create a safer environment for people to live in but lets just do something.
Out of Poverty: What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail (BK Currents (Paperback))
Leaving it to the politicians will never achieve anything.

Once thought about politics until I found out about the golden rule. "He who has the gold makes the rules" not the politicians.

But many who have the gold abuse the privilege. By doing that they create conditions for more to comit crime & therefore pass more control ot those with the gold.

It is not been rich that is the problem it is what you do with it!

How you make it work for you & your community!

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Just how well do we know the community we live in?

Kia Ora,

Been a busy couple of days but back to it again.

Had a call from a mate who said they sighted one of my adverts for the 0900 Suspicious service in the local 'Coffee News' free community news letter.They had pointed it out to their boss.

The boss though showed how little New Zealanders actually either know their community or just don't want to know.

"If we see something suspicious then we call the police. Why would we pay $15 plus GST to get someone around?"

Fair enough question but it doesn't fit with the facts.

A recent government study here in New Zealand showed at least 66% of crime is not reported. But as government statistics are the ones you should least trust you then go back a few years to a media outlet reporting that up to 95% of crime & 96% of violent crime are unreported in New Zealand.

I don't go on statistics, but on what I see, feel & hear around my community. Even where I live now I can still stun the people who live here & say there is no crime by relating incidents right in our complex. They just have no idea or no wish to see it.
Net Crimes & Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering the Spammers, Swindlers and Stalkers Who Are Targeting You Online
So I know that crime is well up in our communities, but the people around me will say it is not happening or not in their area even after they have told me about a recent cirme a few minutes before.

As was related after a recent armed robbery within 24 hours staff at a site were seen to be letting people in with a full faced motorbike helmet been worn. The person telling me said "wouldn't happen overseas. two steps in & the place would be surrounded by police but not in New Zealand. It is like the incident within the last 24 hours never happened & it won't happen in New Zealand. Yeah right. It just did!"

Then there is the issue of calling the police. Until people have too they never know what the reality it like. Whilst the officers on the ground might understand why you have rung & especially the exprienced officers know it will impact on crime most of those taking the calls have no idea these days. They have a little check list & they stick to it.
Low Crimes and Misdemeanors: Confessions of a Tulsa Boy
Also as has been pointed out in the past the new police officer is now judged on arrests & tickets so that judgement goes up the chain of command. Not much likelyhood of an arrest then less likely to get a patrol.

Then there are those in the community that are aware & have been asking for a service like this. Without investment it just takes time to build it to where it can cover all those areas that would benefit most from such a service.

Most crime is actually committed in low income areas. Most burglaries are committed during the day not night as most people presume.

Overseas everybody is aware of crime & take appropriate precautions. Again this is where the comment about the likes of Christchurch been more dangerous than Baghdad come from. Because New Zealanders are in denial,our cities & towns are so spread out nice looking, everybody assumes it is virtually crime free. So it is a big shock when it isn't. Up until now there has been no reason, often there isn't & it is all so random.
Widger's Quotations of Dumas' Celebrated Crimes
Only place I know that could be said to be near crime free(even then there is more going on that people realize) & that is Singapore but there any crime is dealt with harshly & swiftly.

Just today on the morning news there was a comparison between the US 'Superbowl' with three arrests around the game, one for alcohol, & the sevens rugby in Wellington where 103 were arrested for mainly alcohol related crime. It was said the Wellington crowd was well behaved. That didn't include the numbers for those evicted for drunkeness.

We are in denial & we have real issues in our communities but nothing will happen until people start taking notice of what is actually going on around them demanding action or taking action.
High Crimes & Misdemeanors: The Impeachment Process (Crime, Justice and Punishment)
That is where the service offered comes in as to start the process you need people committed to putting their neck out there. Just the simple act of showing up recording suspicious activity will have an impact on the crime in a persons area. It also means in particular in the early stages any reaction will be at those prepared for it, not the general public.

In the long run though it will make communities safer. The Suspicious activity leds to the small crime which leds to the larger more violent crime.

First people just have to take notice of what is really going on.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

How Racist are we?

Kia Ora,

About 30 years ago there was an international prediction that New Zealand could be one of four countries where internal strife or civil war could break out in the South Pacific region. From memory it was Fiji, New Zealand & PNG with strife likely in Western Samoa.

Comment though was that in New Zealand it would not be a racial split, more on ideological grounds. For anyone that has been in the military in particular the NZ army(though I hear it is changing) we were all green. We used to (& still do when we meet) call each other by racist slang in particular around the US military who always had a problem with it. At least until they realized we never actually meant it.

Though as my faux pas in the Presidentail Palace car park in Baghdad shows you just have to be mindful of where you are. On exiting vehicle I was in, spied a large muscular Maori Gentleman(sure that is first time he has been called that) or a mate & yelled "So & so you bl..k c..t" when I was suddenly aware the whole place was frozen as everyone looked then waited for his reaction. He looked up seen me then just reacted like he would of any other time. "Bro ...".

One person is well known for showing up to meetings with a pillow case over their head with eyes cut out & a cross on his shoulder when he was the only pakeha(of European descent) in that unit. As far as I know no one ever took offence at it. It was just our sense of humour that something like that was accepted.

Why talk about this now?

Well it is Waitangi Day again(6th February) to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi & Professor Margaret Mutu has come out saying New Zealand has had racism since Pakeha arrived & that New Zealand will not move forward until that is addressed.

Now racism in Australia is quite open. So much so that Australians don't even realize they are doing it. But in some ways that is healthier.

It is quite openly racist both ways in the US too but it tends to be of the unhealthy kind. Australia though, as many of my mates have pointed out, is racist but if you do your job they just accept you for you & get on with things.
Pacific Migrant Labour, Class and Racism in New Zealand: Fresh Off the Boat (Research in Ethnic Relations)
In New Zealand it is very understated & not talked about or denied. If it is raised it is how racist all things are slanted towards Maori. Some of which can be quite amusing to hear as obviously the people involved have no idea what they are talking about.

Amusing in regards to the likes of the Maori seats in parliament. People often refer to these as been racist. They are & were formed on that basis so Maori could not be in control of the country as they would of been at the time been the majority land holders & in population.

So for now to have control beyond their populaton through entrenched Maori seats been called racist is quite ironic.
The Politics of Nostalgia: Racism and the Extreme Right in New Zealand
Now the Professors comments show an example of the different attitudes. The Australian channel Prime which shows here, had it as its first item. TV One news, the main news in New Zealand never even mentioned it. I am not sure what TV 3 thought of it.

But then it is not that simple either as there is these days obviously racism on both sides. Being of Maori descent but pale I get it from both sides. On the pakeha side because they only regard you as Maori if you are brown not by whakapapa which is the true identifier & so make comments(even after you point out you are Maori) that they would not make if my cousins were there.
Tauiwi: Racism and ethnicity in New Zealand
On the Maori side the comments directed at me because of my skin colour for which they are quickly pulled up & put right. The other area I see which some Maori play on is the perceived slight such as more arrests in the Christchurch CBD a few years back of Maori & Pacific Islanders.

Although I have it realiably from within police ranks about that time it was quite racist in thought(just reflecting the society they work in) in fact that issue had little to do with racism but more to do with wealth & costs.

Those figures changed once the police were ordered to arrest everyone causing issues. Suddenly 82% of those causing the mayhem were rich & white young males. Up to that stage(& I have both been told this by offenders as a security officer & heard the police told this)these same young males would state "I will get off, get dad's lawyer & ask for a jury trial" officers were just told to forget it by superiors as cost was too high. In the end police just stopped doing it as waste of time & paper work. So they just prosecuted the lower income group which tends to be high in proportion of Maori & Pacific Islanders.
Nga take: Ethnic relations and racism in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Not to mention there used to be an attitude amongst the low income groups of "do the crime do the time" & "the crime is getting caught". As any police officer is likely to tell you & it is the same with security you get more trouble with a person in a suit than a gang member in most situations. Many well dressed, well off people think they have the right to commit a crime or the rules don't apply to them & no one can touch them.

Where as a gang member will often once caught just think 'got caught not worth the hassle'.
Racism and Ethnicity (Critical Issues in New Zealand Society)
Racism in New Zealand though is another of those subjects like crime or our 'clean & green image' that are fallacies in this country & that need to be talked about.

But the New Zealand attitude is "this is a great country we don't have any of those problems & we will never have real bad crime or terrorism like overseas" yeah right they are already here.

Some will not like the use of the word Pakeha here as they find it offensive. That is because they are told it means 'white pig'. Actually it doesn't. No one is actually sure what it means anymore but it was once a term of great esteem.

At best it appears to have been a corruption of some Maori words such as those for Pa(fort) of white ghosts, or to do with the smell of the ship & its crew(you actually smell like the food you eat or its combination in the natural state) or the best I have heard is Maori at the time trying to get their tongue around the common expression they would of heard of bugger ya(you) which if you run together & say fast comes out like Pakeha.
Nga Patai : Racism and Ethnic Relations in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Of course on the other side there was the mistunderstanding that Maori was what people referred to themselves as. Maori means ordinary & no one would of identified as Maori but as Ngapuhi, Ngati Porou, Ngai Tahu, Waitaha or what ever Iwi(tribe) you came from. There was no such thing as Maori as a people.

Therein lies another issue the British thought they were signing with the Maori people, but Maori were only signing on behalf of their Iwi or more likely Hapu or whanau. Not all signed & some Iwi never signed at all, but the British attitude was once one person signed it was on behalf of all Maori people.

But then that is no different than the British identifying the language used in the court of the Emperor of China as Mandarin. There was no such dialect back then. What did happen was the officials across China for ease of communication used whatever the dialect of the Emperor at the time was.

The British termed these officials Mandarins so the language they spoke must be Mandarin or the official language. I think it was Jesuits tried to inform them other wise but being Catholics were dismissed as meddlers. From memory same group tried to assist in putting together of treaty here.
Disciplining the Savages
Like anything else the more we suppress them then at somestage they will come up & bite us on the rear. Both sides have to start talking & start listening. I think they will find in many instances they are actually on the same page just not listening or understanding. On others such as the Foreshore & Seabed as stated in a previous blog it might be very well the best option to ensure that area is in Maori hands with a caveat for all New Zealand citizes to use as the best way of protecting it for all.

But the politicians & those in power behind todays financial instituitions don't want us to understand each other. They would rather we are divided & arguing than trying to actually work together.

If a politician is giving you what you want look closely as they are probably doing quite the opposite & trouble will ensue.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Which Experts to listen too?

Kia Ora,

These days all we hear is 'they have the advice of the experts', but which experts do we listen too.

For example the experts over the earthquakes here can't even agree what has happened, what is going to happen & if there is a faultline under Christchurch (depsite one report talking about the Addington fault rupturing in the mid 1800's after this quake struck).

What prompted this post though was the front page article in the Christchurch 'Press' about the security hole in internet explorer.

Now this was one of the first things we received a warning about on arrival to work in Iraq from the US military. There are security issues with internet explorer, yahoo messenger & msn messenger we recommend you do not use them. This was in 2004.

Now for years there had been a rumour that there were holes so the US military could access your computer so thought it might be a good idea to listen.

Since then I find if you go onto European security sites they detect if you have internet explorer or not & you get a well done if say using Firefox.

Then there has been the odd clipping about European countries such as Denmark issuing a warning.
National security on the Web.(online material): An article from: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Meanwhile back here in New Zealand almost every issue I have had with some software has been put down to not having internet explorer. Often been told I need to have it to which the reply has gone along the lines "you can't actually tell me that as has been proven in court cases in Europe & the US. Anyway it is poor security."

Until today, when internet security experts have being seen quoted on TV, I am always told that they or their internet security expert have no knowledge of this & there is no issue. All of a sudden they are experts on it!

So it has taken nearly seven years for New Zealand internet security experts to catch up with what we found out in 2004.

Others have blamed the anti virus I use & said I need to turn it off! What person involved in the internet security tells someone to turn off their anti virus?
The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It
This has resulted in a very good personal phone call from the CEO of the providers of the anti virus Chillisoft where their exasperation at been held to blame for others short comings was quite evident.

When it comes to internet security I do what I can but it is not my field of experience but it appears a lot of 'experts' have less knowledge than I do which is a real worry & try to baffle people with bullshit.

Personally I have a lot of knowledge of security & many different experiences but would never like to call myself an expert. As much as I will give my opinion there will always be someone else with more or different experiences that can be brought to bear.

The problem with a lot of them they have never actually been at the coal face so their views are not in line with what is reality.
Electronic Commerce: Technical, Business, and Legal Issues
Like many would not be aware that in the local area there have been two armed robberies not generally known about or a series of burglaries also not widely known about. Burglaries well that is normal until(if) they get to court, but at least until recently it seems if the police know about serious crime the media are informed shortly after in this country. That appears to be changing.

With the lack of coal face experience they wouldn't of picked up the two appearing to be casing the banks or the person that appears to be homeless hanging around.

How can someone be an expert when they have never experienced the situation or the issues that arise?

So who do you trust?

The 'expert' with the graphs & statistics to back them up or the person with the experience & anecdotes to back it up? Personally the person with experience will get my vote.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Pushing the legalized Theft!

Kia Ora,

Well at present there is a huge push here in New Zealand on the legalized theft road. You have all sorts of financial 'experts' & the government pushing Kiwisaver or our superannuation scheme.

The reason it is legalized theft is the world has changed, these people did well during the boom times but have not realized it & anyone partaking in the scheme will lose out.

Straight away any US readers will be starting to understand this as their 401K's are sinking in value in the main & I understand there is debate over whether the government will stop people taking from these plans to prop up the economy. Thing is that decision was made some time back by the oversight body for those funds 401K's trade in.

The funds have the power to stop paying out in order to bail out the banks was how it was presented by a financial commentator sometime back.

So first you have inflation making the value of any currency you have in your retirement savings worth less each day as the world continues to 'print' fiat currency(currency backed by nothing more than a promise & promises of governments are worth exactly that-nothing) & now they are stealing it legally to prop up those that have ruined the economy.

Australians tell me they were starting to see the same issue of their Superannuation funds falling in value & making lossess. The Australian government got crafty after the complaints & allowed people to control their own funds. I would say they will still be paying fees to the fund managers for allowing them to hold their currency for them. Also how many of those who take up that option actually know how to invest?

I would bet most will have their currency in property because of the view that property always goes up. It doesn't. They need to understand the cycles & trade them to get ahead.
Self Managed Superannuation Funds
Even here in New Zealand after only a few short years Kiwisaver is now making losses.

Yet the big push is on to get as many people signed up as possible.

A mate tells me that in the US right now you can drive into cities & see virtually on every street homeless people including whole families. Recently 60 minutes had a clip on 401K's been near worthless & executives out of work looking for any type of work going.

So crime will be on the rise but will the police respond? Their cars are getting repossessed & gas stations are refusing to refill police cars as local or state governments are not paying the fuel bills.
Superannuation Funds Management in Australia - Industry Market Research Report
There are reported to be 100 cities in the US on the verge of bankruptcy with the state of California(worlds eigth largest economy) about to go the same way as Greece, Ireland & Portugal.

The US then is heading towards the same road as Tunisia, Eygpt, Yemen, Jordan, Bangladesh, India with protests over the likes of rising food prices, corruption & people have just had enough.

Never happen in New Zealand though. Yeah right.

One thing that hit me on leaving the army & moving into the security industry was just how many 'unseen' people there were in this country. In particular those living on the streets many who had mental ilnesses.
Superannuation in the Civil Service: Report of a Special Committee of the National Civil-Service Reform League
In the last week though I have noticed a disturbing trend here in New Zealand. Now I always maintain that most crime is actually not reported. But usually it is not reported to the police. How about the police not reporting it to the media?

I am aware of an armed robbery that took place approximately a week a go that has still not been reported in the media here. More often than not they are though I had noticed a delay in reporting starting to creep in.

Then on driving in to my local mall got this feeling about someone sitting in a vehicle. After a while in security, like the police you get feelings about certain people which are usually right.

After entering the mall I suddenly notice a guy looking similar walk in. Had what appeared to be a walkman/MP3 earphones in but then noticed one side was clipped to his lapel & he was talking into it.
Rewarding Service: A History of the Government Superannuation Fund
Quick check other person was still in vehicle taking a keen interest in area of the banks. Went of to see if I could find mall security, suddenly find second person walking through mall & obviously scanning for something he went straight through & out.

This was all passed onto Mall management.

Few days later see another person scanning the car park & area where shortly after an armoured cash vehicle parked up. Saw this person again yesterday hanging around whilst talking to mall security.

As we were talking realized this person wasn't probably looking to commit a crime though it may come to that. They were homeless or at best on a benefit with no prospects & no cash.
The Birth of a Pension Scheme: A History of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (E. Allison Peers Lectures)
At this time the only people who have noticed this person are those of us in security or the cleaners(great eyes & ears) but as the legalized theft continues you are going to see more & more people living on the streets with no prospects.

People will get desperate as government cuts will mean they have access to less & less help & therefore crime will rise or eventually we get the situation of an Eygpt.

Notice the last couple of books I have put in here are about government or university pension schemes. It now appears that at least in the US if you were a civil servant your pension is paid before the state, city or even government pays its bills.

Which is particularly worrying for the US because all the cash put into social security was 'borrowed' by as I understand it the Clinton administration so is an off book expense that they have to keep paying. That is why some commentators are saying the real debt in the US is US$200 Trillion not US$14.5 Trillion as the official amount is quoted.

So you combine this legalized theft with incompetent corrupt bureaucrats & politicians manipulating the people all you need is a trigger.

In Tunisia it was a black market food seller trying to make ends meet to feed his family. Here is might just be the idiot at NZ Post saying they never lose information when they quite obviously do. The trigger will usually be something minor though but some when people have just had enough. Right now in New Zealand that could be easily on the West Coast over the Pike River Mine disater or here in Christchurch over the extremely poor government response to the earthquake.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

What is Democracy?

Kia Ora,

Over the last week or so you have heard the governments of the west, in particular the US & Britain speaking out over the protests & riots in the Middle East saying let them have democratically elected governments.

But what is democracy?

It seems to be different things to different people.

I have raised this before about how an Iraqi team member when asked why he hadn't been to vote said he did. His Father did it for him & his mother did it for all the females in the family.

When we pointed out that is not democracy, that it is one person one vote & a government elected by the people, his answer was "you do not understand democracy.

When other Iraqis who worked at our villa were asked about their vote as they had been very pro one candidate did they vote for him. "oh no our Iman or our elders told us to vote for this or that person.

That is their idea of democracy. Though I see their preferred candidate technically won the last Iraqi election as he is a 'good strong man'.

In the dictionary it refers to as a government elected by the people, but the more I deleve into the world of financial education(real education not the education systems idea but self education looking to see what is really happening)that is all a myth where it is designed to divide & conquor then manipulate the masses.

It is also funny on how what is a democratic version of election in one country can be ruled undemocratic in another.

For example the US electoral system gives very little power to the voter(as seen in the election in 2000 of George W. Bush) but all power to the electoral college, but most people would regard the US as a very demoractic government.

Well my Iwi(tribe) uses the similar system to elect our representatives on TRONT(for want of a better definition ruling council) of which I was for a short time one(alternate representative). Everyone votes as too who is going to be on the electoral committee(in the US each state is different but it determines who sits on their electoral college)who then determine who of the candidates is to be elected(not the people). In my case it was pretty easy as I was the only one with my name in for that position.
Struggle for Democracy, The (8th Edition)
But then came the fisheries settlement between the New Zealand government & the Iwi of New Zealand. Our Iwi was initially left out as it required an Iwi to be represented by those democratically elected. Our system was said to be undemocratic even though it was quite obviously based on the US system.

You can see their point though as no one actually votes for the candidate. In the US votes determine how many votes go towards that candidate in the electoral college then we learn of the Super candidates in the electoral college who are not elected by any voters but have a huge say in who becomes the President of the USA.

So technically the people of the US can indicate they want one candidate but the electoral college can vote in another candidate.
Democracy in What State? (New Directions in Critical Theory)
Then the real manipulations begin once someone is in power. Governments always claim by been in power they have the mandate of the people to do certain things in their interest.

Actually they often don't. Here in New Zealand the governments can not have claimed that since about 1975 as under the first past the post system most governments often had less votes than the opposition just mroe electorates.

So we changed to MMP(a very dangerous system but if you tried to tell people at the time you were told you were wrong, I mean it is how Hitler got to power)& since then no government has been able to govern alone. Often the small parties have been able to exercise power well beyond their support base.

Just in this last week both major political parties here in New Zealand have shown how they are prepared to manipulate information to get those that do vote(which is getting less & less as people get disillusioned) to vote in their direction at the coming election.

The government claimed that New Zealand is in great debt, but only one financial commentator I have seen in the media has picked up on the figures used. They are right New Zealand is in a lot of debt but very little of it is government debt, it is the banks or personal debt so selling the governments assets to would be only to pay for the banks debt.

Meanwhile the opposition are jumping on the we will not tax the first $5000 & drop GST on food bandwagon. As has been pointed out this was similar to that tried by President of Tunisia & once the inflation caused by the US Federal reserve 'printing' currency hit is just made no difference.
Democracy, Inc.: The Press and Law in the Corporate Rationalization of the Public Sphere (History of Communication)
What is going to replace democracy as change sweeps the world & even these 'liberal' western forms of government are expected to fall?

The Singapore system of the benevolent dictatorship(lived there for two years & we came to the conclusion that is exactly what it is) or the Chinese capitalism in a controlled environment? At least the Chinese are more up front & honest about how their system works. This is the way it is! Much less manipulation through layers of bureaucracy. Less Crime too.

As one commentator said "do you go for the US or Chinese when you ask for a quote & whilst waiting for the first reply from the US supplier the Chinese have given not only their quote but have built a prototype."
Death of the Liberal Class
So what really is democracy & is it going to survive the upheaval the world is about to go through?

Can it survive in any form?

At the end of the day people only really care about looking after their families when it comes to the crunch.

The Chinese appear to be trying to learn from their history to stop it affecting them whilst the West seem to either forgotten or don't care.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz