Eleven countries are promoting sweeping changes to reduce tariffs and new trade rules called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The action is being taken as an attempt to ensure that the concepts of free trade and increased trade improve economies and lives. Some of this makes sense from a policy standpoint.
Free trade is great and improves economic development. Countries that have porous trade borders gain advantages in terms of technology, wealth, and new ideas. This occurs because as they move their products overseas they generated wealth, and as they buy products from overseas they improve the wealth of others.
Hypothetically, each country in a free trade area gains specialization advantages to focus on what they do best and this raises overall wealth. For example, if England produces better and cheaper sheep than Peru then they would focus more on sheep and purchase cheaper products from overseas raising wealth in both countries.
Yet there is risk in this for some countries because apples are not exchanged for apples. Resources and products move throughout many countries making actual tracking difficult. It is more like apples trading for bananas, pineapples, carrots, and peanuts. It is all jumbled up and some countries can lose.
There are also those who cheat the system and don't share the true cost of their manufacturing. They may damage the environment, violate rules of the agreements, and take advantage of their partners. In this case, the agreement would need to have a strong mechanism of enforcement, better supply chain tracking, and overall development of protections from abuse.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Everyone Should Have a Purpose in Life? Search for the "Holy Grail"
Each person should live a purposeful life based on something they find valuable and helpful not only to themselves but also to society. This purpose leads one to make choices and actions that give them daily direction. Every day I see people without purpose wandering from birth to death without a focus and this can be detrimental to your life satisfaction.
Aimless life isn't necessarily a bad thing but seems sort of bland. We see it all the time, go to work, come home, eat, sleep, and eventually grow old doing the same thing over and over. There is little attempt to improve yourself or those around you. A kind of hand and mouth existence without greater awareness.
Some have made money their only focus. They may accumulate a lot within a lifetime and there is nothing wrong with this. At some point they have enough for security and beyond that what they do with it is important to their life goals.
There are others who have deeper purposes. This can be something like setting an example, gaining knowledge, raising awareness of an issue, improving life or any number of important things. Such people are different as they have a deeper and wider understanding of life and try and contribute when they can.
It can be hard when you have a purpose and others seem to be focused on lower values. Money, social prestige, self-glorification, etc... are raised as high ideals and if you don't follow there is sure to be some criticism. However, as we age and when we are very old often we come to realize that all of it could be traded for a few more meaningful moments.
The quest for the "Holy Grail" is your personal quest based on what is important to you. It may be lofty or it can be selfish. The way you live your life reflects on your personal values.
Aimless life isn't necessarily a bad thing but seems sort of bland. We see it all the time, go to work, come home, eat, sleep, and eventually grow old doing the same thing over and over. There is little attempt to improve yourself or those around you. A kind of hand and mouth existence without greater awareness.
Some have made money their only focus. They may accumulate a lot within a lifetime and there is nothing wrong with this. At some point they have enough for security and beyond that what they do with it is important to their life goals.
There are others who have deeper purposes. This can be something like setting an example, gaining knowledge, raising awareness of an issue, improving life or any number of important things. Such people are different as they have a deeper and wider understanding of life and try and contribute when they can.
It can be hard when you have a purpose and others seem to be focused on lower values. Money, social prestige, self-glorification, etc... are raised as high ideals and if you don't follow there is sure to be some criticism. However, as we age and when we are very old often we come to realize that all of it could be traded for a few more meaningful moments.
The quest for the "Holy Grail" is your personal quest based on what is important to you. It may be lofty or it can be selfish. The way you live your life reflects on your personal values.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
The Population of Hunters is About to Drop
There is a large population of hunters that are about to move out of their prime hunting age. Many of them are Baby Boomers and getting too old go out into the woods. When they stop hunting the money they contributed to conservation will also decline.
Contrary to popular opinion hunting is good for the environment. People who hunt are often very concerned about the environment, donate to wildlife programs and protect their habitat. Enjoyment of the atmosphere comes with a concern over pollution and habitat destruction.
Hunting is very regulated today and requires people to buy licenses that are worth much more than the price of the meat. Yet they do it to get outdoors and engage in the sport. Loosing their money will mean we will need to fund conservation from other areas.
Some argue that the amount of hunters will drop 30% in the next few years.
Contrary to popular opinion hunting is good for the environment. People who hunt are often very concerned about the environment, donate to wildlife programs and protect their habitat. Enjoyment of the atmosphere comes with a concern over pollution and habitat destruction.
Hunting is very regulated today and requires people to buy licenses that are worth much more than the price of the meat. Yet they do it to get outdoors and engage in the sport. Loosing their money will mean we will need to fund conservation from other areas.
Some argue that the amount of hunters will drop 30% in the next few years.
Detroit State of the City Address and Areas of Continuous Improvement
The State of the City by Mike Duggan addresses a few key points. Below is what I like and what I think could be improved in the future. A few key points:
1. Better schools, bus routes to school programs and college tuition.
2. Infrastructure on roads, biking and parking.
3. Housing improvements in removing abandoned houses and remodeling older houses.
4. Better police and fire protection.
5. 2 Billion budget that may allow removal from state oversight.
6. Jobs and businesses.
These are good things. They are still in the arena of building the basics. Attracting more business is helpful in creating long-term viability of the city.
To be truly successful the city will need to also do a few more things for long-term development:
1. Partner with the region and state to attract back manufacturing into the area.
2. Create new and enhance existing export infrastructure.
3. Encourage new businesses and clusters to form in the area.
4. Continue to work on making business-government regulations easy to navigate.
5. Develop the social environment and attract entrepreneurs, artists, business people, and high skilled laborers into the area.
6. Improve data transition, financial transactions and network development.
7. Encourage high tech companies to resettle in the area.
8. Seek out international investors from different countries and improve international marketing of the city and its businesses.
1. Better schools, bus routes to school programs and college tuition.
2. Infrastructure on roads, biking and parking.
3. Housing improvements in removing abandoned houses and remodeling older houses.
4. Better police and fire protection.
5. 2 Billion budget that may allow removal from state oversight.
6. Jobs and businesses.
These are good things. They are still in the arena of building the basics. Attracting more business is helpful in creating long-term viability of the city.
To be truly successful the city will need to also do a few more things for long-term development:
1. Partner with the region and state to attract back manufacturing into the area.
2. Create new and enhance existing export infrastructure.
3. Encourage new businesses and clusters to form in the area.
4. Continue to work on making business-government regulations easy to navigate.
5. Develop the social environment and attract entrepreneurs, artists, business people, and high skilled laborers into the area.
6. Improve data transition, financial transactions and network development.
7. Encourage high tech companies to resettle in the area.
8. Seek out international investors from different countries and improve international marketing of the city and its businesses.
Spending on the Arts is Increasing and That is a Good Thing
Culture and human expression in arts is an important part of understanding the world around us. New statistics show that the arts and culture sector contributed $763.6 billion. That is somewhere around 4.2% of the economy and is much higher than many other sectors. The cultural views in the nation are changing with a new and emerging younger generation that values different things than previous generations.
Both outdoor recreation and the Arts have increased this year. People are more interested in engaging in a well rounded life. They provide an outlet for the deeper meaning of life beyond work and making money. It provides an appreciation for our culture and the culture of other people.
I have spend a lot of time with people from Europe and other places in the world and what I found is that believe Americans are not very "cultural". I don't believe this to be true. We have our own culture based in our history and need to be practical.
However, we are not always aware of the other cultural attributes that come from Europe and other places in the world. Engaging in cultural activities helps create a greater appreciation for human life and people in the world.
One can also make the argument that watching cultural events also provides a outlet for understanding the beauty and tragedy of life in general. We can get in touch with our emotions and the needs of society. It provides ideals and standards many of us should strive for.
Both outdoor recreation and the Arts have increased this year. People are more interested in engaging in a well rounded life. They provide an outlet for the deeper meaning of life beyond work and making money. It provides an appreciation for our culture and the culture of other people.
I have spend a lot of time with people from Europe and other places in the world and what I found is that believe Americans are not very "cultural". I don't believe this to be true. We have our own culture based in our history and need to be practical.
However, we are not always aware of the other cultural attributes that come from Europe and other places in the world. Engaging in cultural activities helps create a greater appreciation for human life and people in the world.
One can also make the argument that watching cultural events also provides a outlet for understanding the beauty and tragedy of life in general. We can get in touch with our emotions and the needs of society. It provides ideals and standards many of us should strive for.
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