Zimbabwe Inflation (update)

The latest official inflation figure for February is reportedly
165,000%.

Should the inflationary pressure maintain its recent momentum till
year end,
then Zimbabwe’s official inflation will be 2,017,000 % by mid year
further
worsening to 24,672,000% by year end.

Once inflation reaches such high levels as Zimbabwe's, it tends to
move at
an accelerated pace. This is based on current trends -- price
controls,
shortages, money supply and exchange rate disequilibrium. It should be
noted
that only three months ago, inflation was around 20,000, now it’s 10
times
higher.

- New Zimbabwe - 14 April 2008

Blair

On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:50:55 -0700 (PDT), "Blair (TC)"
wrote:


The latest official inflation figure for February is reportedly
165,000%.

Should the inflationary pressure maintain its recent momentum till
year end,
then Zimbabwe’s official inflation will be 2,017,000 % by mid year
further
worsening to 24,672,000% by year end.

Once inflation reaches such high levels as Zimbabwe's, it tends to
move at
an accelerated pace. This is based on current trends -- price
controls,
shortages, money supply and exchange rate disequilibrium. It should be
noted
that only three months ago, inflation was around 20,000, now it’s 10
times
higher.

- New Zimbabwe - 14 April 2008

And... will probably stay as higher or higher until the election gets
sorted out. Had a funny feeling about that last time we discussed
this topic. After having read a few articles to catch up, yup - what
a mess.

On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:27:15 -0700, Sir F. A. Rien
wrote:

found these unused words:

On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:50:55 -0700 (PDT), "Blair (TC)"
wrote:


The latest official inflation figure for February is reportedly
165,000%.

Should the inflationary pressure maintain its recent momentum till
year end,
then Zimbabwe’s official inflation will be 2,017,000 % by mid year
further
worsening to 24,672,000% by year end.

Once inflation reaches such high levels as Zimbabwe's, it tends to
move at
an accelerated pace. This is based on current trends -- price
controls,
shortages, money supply and exchange rate disequilibrium. It should be
noted
that only three months ago, inflation was around 20,000, now it’s 10
times
higher.

- New Zimbabwe - 14 April 2008

And... will probably stay as higher or higher until the election gets
sorted out. Had a funny feeling about that last time we discussed
this topic. After having read a few articles to catch up, yup - what
a mess.

The barter system knows no inflation ...

Marx commented on that as well. Religion being the opium of the
masses and the unequivocal pay rates for work performed. Few really
talk about his financial revelations but rather to discuss the "s" and
"c" -ism words.

wrote in message
...

Marx commented on that as well. Religion being the opium of the
masses and the unequivocal pay rates for work performed. Few really
talk about his financial revelations but rather to discuss the "s" and
"c" -ism words.

I have the impression that I'm missing something. Weren't his economic
fantasies a part of its general "c" -ist theory?

Just to note that: "In Brave New World Revisited, Aldous Huxley states that
opium is the religion of the people " :-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_of_the_people

--
Victor Manta

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Communism on Stamps: http://reds-on.postalstamps.biz/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:41:47 +0200, "Victor Manta"
wrote:

wrote in message
.. .

Marx commented on that as well. Religion being the opium of the
masses and the unequivocal pay rates for work performed. Few really
talk about his financial revelations but rather to discuss the "s" and
"c" -ism words.

I have the impression that I'm missing something. Weren't his economic
fantasies a part of its general "c" -ist theory?

I believe that his "c" theories were the end result of the financial
discussions. I wouldn't call them fantasies, especially about human
value and productivity. Those seem to be right on the mark, ooops,
Marx. I need to read ALL of Das Kapital before becoming a Marx
"scholar in training", but certain points he has made ring quite true,
especially about the industrial revolution and how the inequalities of
pay scales at the time were truly brutal - moving from peasantry to
factory.

The "s" and "c" came about as the result of that thinking that the
bourgeoisie ruled the roost and that the workers "should" revolt in an
attempt at fairness for all. The extremists after that have twisted
the "S" and "dc" -isms into something far worse that Marx had in mind.
We see that with some fundamentalist Muslims who use their stance as a
redemption of terror tactics. Religion against politics. Hitler used
politics to subvert religion. I guess there's no difference in the
grand scheme of things.

Just to note that: "In Brave New World Revisited, Aldous Huxley states that
opium is the religion of the people " :-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_of_the_people

Aha! Between them, they certainly are a paradox - or is that a pair
of ducks?

In Marx's case it was about $. In Huxley's case, it was about soma.
Both are commodities, except soma was given to the Brave New World
where $ was not in Marx's. Huxley's "sheeple" were mellowed to a
point where the TOP thought there was no need for rebellion. Marx's
sheeple were on the BOTTOM and needed to rise up.

Then, in the reader's digest version of religion vs. opium, one can
make a comment that both are external substitutes for internal
well-being. We've had our religious wars, our opium wars and many
documented on stamps.

Sheesh... this could be an all-out open range war, even with
philatelic content! :^)

On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:15:33 +0000, Tracy_Barber wrote:
Then, in the reader's digest version of religion vs. opium, one can make
a comment that both are external substitutes for internal well-being.
We've had our religious wars, our opium wars and many documented on
stamps.

Not to mention that one of the reasons I retire to my stamps, especially
my tricky stamps, is the release of pleasant serotonin, dopamine, and
endorphins I undergo (also, I'm not convinced that Ronsonal is not an
addictive inhalant....) Philately as self-medication: how well has this
been covered? :-)

Now please excuse me while I go take an Oxycontin and open up a bag of
kiloware....

--
Joshua McGee ‹(•¿•)›
APS, ATA, ISWSC, AFDCS, MBPC, MCC, BPS
Pasadena, California, USA
http://www.mcgees.org/stamp-offers/

wrote in message
...
On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:41:47 +0200, "Victor Manta"
wrote:

wrote in message
. ..

Marx commented on that as well. Religion being the opium of the
masses and the unequivocal pay rates for work performed. Few really
talk about his financial revelations but rather to discuss the "s" and
"c" -ism words.

I have the impression that I'm missing something. Weren't his economic
fantasies a part of its general "c" -ist theory?

I believe that his "c" theories were the end result of the financial
discussions. I wouldn't call them fantasies, especially about human
value and productivity. Those seem to be right on the mark, ooops,
Marx. I need to read ALL of Das Kapital before becoming a Marx
"scholar in training", but certain points he has made ring quite true,
especially about the industrial revolution and how the inequalities of
pay scales at the time were truly brutal - moving from peasantry to
factory.

The "s" and "c" came about as the result of that thinking that the
bourgeoisie ruled the roost and that the workers "should" revolt in an
attempt at fairness for all. The extremists after that have twisted
the "S" and "dc" -isms into something far worse that Marx had in mind.
snip

On one hand, Tracy, I'm shortly reacting, for moral reasons. On the other
hand, such short discussions will hopefully help me improving my philatelic
site (link below; just to mention that "reds" will include later also the
Nazis).

Marx communism, as imagined by him, was more brutal then for example what
Stalin implemented in USSR (which was horrible enough though). No need to
read the whole Kapital to find out what Marx projected for the wellness of
the mankind. It is maybe enough to find out that he is the ideological
father of the forced working (read concentration) camps in Germany, USSR,
etc. and of the collectivization of the social life (the life in communes -
read collectivization of women - in the free West, as result of the 1968
youngsters' "revolutions", 40th birth anniversary being commemorated this
year). BTW, is anyone aware of a stamp related to the 1968 movement?

Please note that Marx hasn't included the newer economic statistics of his
time in the revised version of Kapital, because the new data contradicted
his findings, based on earlier statistics...

The movement from peasantry to factories was a big improvement, when one
takes in consideration how was the life of the peasantry before the
industrial revolution. The name of Dark Ages is actually fully deserved.

--
Victor Manta

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Communism on Stamps: http://reds-on.postalstamps.biz/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:35:58 GMT, Joshua McGee
wrote:

On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:15:33 +0000, Tracy_Barber wrote:
Then, in the reader's digest version of religion vs. opium, one can make
a comment that both are external substitutes for internal well-being.
We've had our religious wars, our opium wars and many documented on
stamps.

Not to mention that one of the reasons I retire to my stamps, especially
my tricky stamps, is the release of pleasant serotonin, dopamine, and
endorphins I undergo (also, I'm not convinced that Ronsonal is not an
addictive inhalant....) Philately as self-medication: how well has this
been covered? :-)

Now please excuse me while I go take an Oxycontin and open up a bag of
kiloware....

Not that's what I would call painless sorting.

On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:05:17 +0200, "Victor Manta"
wrote:

wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:41:47 +0200, "Victor Manta"
wrote:

wrote in message
...

Marx commented on that as well. Religion being the opium of the
masses and the unequivocal pay rates for work performed. Few really
talk about his financial revelations but rather to discuss the "s" and
"c" -ism words.

I have the impression that I'm missing something. Weren't his economic
fantasies a part of its general "c" -ist theory?

I believe that his "c" theories were the end result of the financial
discussions. I wouldn't call them fantasies, especially about human
value and productivity. Those seem to be right on the mark, ooops,
Marx. I need to read ALL of Das Kapital before becoming a Marx
"scholar in training", but certain points he has made ring quite true,
especially about the industrial revolution and how the inequalities of
pay scales at the time were truly brutal - moving from peasantry to
factory.

The "s" and "c" came about as the result of that thinking that the
bourgeoisie ruled the roost and that the workers "should" revolt in an
attempt at fairness for all. The extremists after that have twisted
the "S" and "dc" -isms into something far worse that Marx had in mind.
snip

On one hand, Tracy, I'm shortly reacting, for moral reasons. On the other
hand, such short discussions will hopefully help me improving my philatelic
site (link below; just to mention that "reds" will include later also the
Nazis).

Marx communism, as imagined by him, was more brutal then for example what
Stalin implemented in USSR (which was horrible enough though). No need to
read the whole Kapital to find out what Marx projected for the wellness of
the mankind.

Hmmm... Considering your life in Romania, I have nothing to compare
it with. I guess that's not how I read this part, but then again,
Marx has a peculiar way of writing which does take some getting used
to, as my class instructor cautioned me. The class was a residency
called "Is Freedom At Risk". He, of course, was right. One may have
to double or triple read something and may still not get it.

It is maybe enough to find out that he is the ideological
father of the forced working (read concentration) camps in Germany, USSR,
etc. and of the collectivization of the social life (the life in communes -
read collectivization of women - in the free West, as result of the 1968
youngsters' "revolutions", 40th birth anniversary being commemorated this
year). BTW, is anyone aware of a stamp related to the 1968 movement?

Dunno about that, but I didn't read about the concentration camp
ideals in his writings. I did, however, read about revolution for
change and about attempting equality of the people for the people
instead of bourgeois control. Naivety on my part, of course, but I
don't have this impression he was trying to upstart the British during
the Boer War. It's rather sad, but we think that Germany had an
original hand in most of the atrocities perpetrated on the people.
Eugenics started in the U.S.A., not Germany. Read the book "Mad in
America". CC were started during the Boer War. They simply put them
together.

Please note that Marx hasn't included the newer economic statistics of his
time in the revised version of Kapital, because the new data contradicted
his findings, based on earlier statistics...

But one thing he hinted at was global marketing, from what I read.
That was rather forward thinking. I think this has led to NVI stamps!
--- :^)

The movement from peasantry to factories was a big improvement, when one
takes in consideration how was the life of the peasantry before the
industrial revolution. The name of Dark Ages is actually fully deserved.

Well, the Dark Ages actually happened a bit before 1840 or so, but
who's to argue, eh? The baron land-owners were being trumped by the
baron factory-owners with the promise (premise?) of increased wages.
In the wake of said "revolution", other exploitation has occurred. It
seems an never-ending cycle, like the Flag Over The ________ stamps of
the USA. :^)

Our current rate of events has been pretty much driven by the
"computer revolution" and to have everything yesterday. I've posed
the question somewhere, but I wonder what Marx would have thought
about that? Alienation twice removed!

I do have a tendency to appreciate what Marx was writing about human
value (not values) in a spiritual sense, not a revolutionary sense, in
which many people view him. Further, I wonder how many of the great
masses know that he is not Russian, but German and Jewish? Not that
they would care, because they would lump him in with the distorters
that followed him.

A footnote also - quite a bit of Marx's writing was edited / completed
by Friedrich Engels, a committed communist.

I do try to separate his economical writings from his manifestos
(which I haven't read yet) because they were the first on such issues,
such as commodity fetishism and alienation. Those topics should be
discussed in economics classes, if for nothing else, a history lesson.
Compared to other writers of his time, Marx didn't gloss over this
area, according to some critics. He wasn't entirely anti-capitalism,
but he wasn't pro for sure.

So, in closing on this, I have tended to stick with the economic Marx
instead of the communist, political Marx. In a sense, the Marx stamps
issued have served him up on a pedestal of all things communism and
have done him an injustice about his other writings. I am neither
socialist nor communist...

wrote in message
...
On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:05:17 +0200, "Victor Manta"
wrote:

wrote in message
. ..

Dunno about that, but I didn't read about the concentration camp
ideals in his writings.

Many others did read, like in this example:
Even the efforts to fight Marxism with its own weapons have inevitably taken
a Marxist turn. Both Naziism and Fascism, Biographer Schwarzschild points
out, are Marxist mutations whose predestined political form is therefore the
police state. In Nazi concentration camps, as in Russian forced-labor camps,
Karl Marx was the presiding genius. In the name of human progress, Marx has
probably caused more death, misery, degradation and despair than any man who
ever lived.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...3698-1,00.html


snip
Further, I wonder how many of the great
masses know that he is not Russian, but German and Jewish?

It is difficult to imagine that somebody named Karl Marx can be taken for a
Russian :-) As for his Jewishness, eventually take a look at the article: A
Comprehensive Look at Marx the Antisemite, in http://marxwords.blogspot.com/
or at many other sources.

So, in closing on this, I have tended to stick with the economic Marx
instead of the communist, political Marx.

There is only one Marx, the communist one, in all his writings.

In a sense, the Marx stamps
issued have served him up on a pedestal of all things communism and
have done him an injustice about his other writings. I am neither
socialist nor communist...

No stamps on Marx anymore, which is a good sign of the evolution of the
mankind. I'm neither an antisocialist nor an anticommunist but a man of
freedom. BTW, the Zimbabwe inflation (this thread's subject) is also a
consequence of Marx ideas.

--
Victor Manta

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Communism on Stamps: http://reds-on.postalstamps.biz/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------