Forums > Living in Kunming > Jimmy Carter - U.S. Is No Longer a Democracy @laotou:
1. USA IS A REPUBLIC. The guys that wrote the Constitution intended it be so. Words have definitions regardless of one's perspective. Read the 'Federalist Papers.' Free kindle version on amazon.com. You can, if interested also get the 'Anti-Federalist Papers if your reading tastes are as weird as mine.
The multi-party system is a legacy of US roots in the English system. In California, there usually a choice of a dozen or more candidates for president each a member of separate party.
Yes the US electoral system is 'rather chaotic' and this is by design. From my perspective this is more desirable than a system that demands harmony and total subservience. Checks and balances tend to prevent tyranny and splits the nexus of power.
2. ILLEGAL FOREIGN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is a US law, signed by Jimmy Carter in 1977. Has two main provisions; 1) addresses the bribery of foreign officials and 2) addresses transparency in accounting as related to requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a Corporate Controller, I have sat through several tedious day long seminars on the FCPA. I am unaware of how the FCPA relates to political campaign contributions.
The FCPA attempts to control the actions of US citizens in foreign counties by making violations of foreign laws punishable under US law. As to the accountancy provisions, the FCPA removed intent as a requirement for conviction resulting in a simple addition error or typo being punishable. This was amended out of the law.
The rest of your post on this item is just noise. What you characterize as illegal is not. This is the way politics in the US is financed, like it or not. I don't like it but I have no alternative suggestions.
@laotou: Please try to discern what a law is about and what is legal or illegal and rant intelligently.
3. RETIREMENT: I strongly you take some time to get information as to how US Social Security works. The only way your "retirement benefits will be reduced between 10-28% from" what I get is if the law is dramatically changed in a way not even being considered today. All conversations about reducing benefits, means testing, would apply any changes to persons in their 40's and younger. You are safe.
The rest of your post on this item is babble. Your claim of being deceived has merit if the law has been changed. As this is not the case, as you now admit, it is your ignorance of the law and your desire to be a victim that drives you to babble nonsense.
As for my living in the US, I was living independently in my own apartment and getting along fine on my Social Security. Granted I am disabled and have limited mobility and therefore have less need to spend. Truth is, I can get along fine with no government money at all but I legally take every penny I can. With all you eminent experience, knowledge and skills, I hope you prepared for your retirement.
I will out you for your non-truths as they are, from my perspective silly and uninformed. You repeat them in your rants as fact and sir, they are not.
Report: Yunnan bonds shaky
发布者I understand CMB also offered a 6.0% rate for 90 days.
I have trouble with the "protected" claim. The wealth management facility would have an underlying borrower who would need to repay the loan. Should that borrower belly up, the depositors would be screwed.
With the current legal maximum of 3.3% interest on deposits, the 5.5 or 6% is mighty attractive. What bothers me is the Chinese tendency to create and fund projects that are not economically viable. When bank funded projects go south, the government banks can roll the loans over to remove the NPL aspect and not affect the balance sheet. When non government owned banks use wealth management products they would entail higher risk. Hence the higher interest paid to depositors. Wealth management products are off the bank's balance sheet. If the underlying borrower defaults, the banks is isolated but the money is gone. I would think 90 days would be safe, but, I wouldn't touch a 12 month deal.
Report: Yunnan bonds shaky
发布者Tiger, from a New York Times article:
One message read: "China Merchants Bank will issue a high interest financing product starting from June 28th to 30th. The product will be 90 days with a 5.5% interest rate. Please call us now."
Hani terraces garner UNESCO status
发布者The Hani rice terraces are about 1,300 years old. In Yuanyang, much is made of the Hani inventing this method of agriculture. But the Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines are supposed to be 2,000 years old. Terraced farming can be found in Peru as well which is supposed to be 3,000 years old. Sadly, I have come to believe China did not invent every thing.
Hani terraces garner UNESCO status
发布者There is a season to get the usual terrace photos. In early Spring, before the rice is planted is when you can get great reflections. The wonderful colors escaped me until I found out the colors are photoshoped.
Sunsets are great but problematic. The burning of old rice plants produces a haze which is impenetrable to your camera lens. You can make some improvements with contrast and light adjustments later but you will start with a poor image. Hope for a strong wind.
I had more luck with sun rise but less luck with the driver. First morning the driver insisted on breakfast so there were no sunrise shots. Leave the hotel at least one hour before sun rise. Photos at sunrise from Dou Yi Cun were pretty good. You need to get there and set up in the dark. Use a tripod due to low light. As the light constantly changes you need to take the same shot over and over (I have a 64GB card and just click away). Unfortunately, there will at least one guy who will decide you have picked the right spot and will kick your tripod many times.
At Dou Yi Cun, they have set up multiple positions for taking photos. This is quite good as it does get crowded in spite of having plenty of room. I would expect the tourists to increase now. Look for the local tourist map.
Fulintang: Yunnan's oldest apothecary
发布者This is an extremely interesting building. I took quite a few photos of it in 2004. When the Bird and Flower market was being renovated I got past the barricades to take photos. I was really surprised to see this was one of the preserved buildings as the corner location would be great for a McD's, not!
Took several photos in April 2009 with the streets torn up around this grand building. I am glad to see it still standing. In Beijing, everything is laid to waste in the interest of money. At least Kunming is saving a bit of the past.
不拆！