http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/new-silk-road/2008/02/14/ An independent perspective on the Australian and global investment markets Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:37:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/new-silk-road/2008/02/14/comment-page-1/#comment-8797 Don Roamer Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:54:55 +0000 http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/new-silk-road/2008/02/14/#comment-8797 Good story, but will it work as you suggest? There have been silk roads in history before and they all perished for about the same reasons you have cited for the strengths of this version of continential trade systems. To work over time there must be a stable political-economic systems. China is not economically stable, Iran is not politically stable and Europe has difficulty with Hamlet's question of whether to be or not to be. Balanced trade comes only when the parties agree to recognize the basic requirements for political-economic stability: freedom. Nice try, but no cigar. Good story, but will it work as you suggest? There have been silk roads in history before and they all perished for about the same reasons you have cited for the strengths of this version of continential trade systems. To work over time there must be a stable political-economic systems. China is not economically stable, Iran is not politically stable and Europe has difficulty with Hamlet's question of whether to be or not to be. Balanced trade comes only when the parties agree to recognize the basic requirements for political-economic stability: freedom. Nice try, but no cigar.

]]> http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/new-silk-road/2008/02/14/comment-page-1/#comment-8796 jack carter Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:48:28 +0000 http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/new-silk-road/2008/02/14/#comment-8796 It is a grand story, and just a little too idealistic. The notion that gains from commerce alone will hold the "silk road" open to unfeddered travel and development seems poorly connected to history. What happened to the first silk road? It has a history. It fell (from time to time) to economic nationalism and religious intolerance, and not a little envy between the trader partners. True, today China wants to consume a great deal, and it will trade a great deal of consumer goods to its partners, but this is not unvarnished benefit. The value of doing business with China comes from the "balance" of trade. Today mercantilism is China's trade policy. In the stable Free trade implies free political-economic systems. Your road has not got staying power in its present manifestation. But I like your insights to trends. An American It is a grand story, and just a little too idealistic. The notion that gains from commerce alone will hold the "silk road" open to unfeddered travel and development seems poorly connected to history. What happened to the first silk road? It has a history. It fell (from time to time) to economic nationalism and religious intolerance, and not a little envy between the trader partners. True, today China wants to consume a great deal, and it will trade a great deal of consumer goods to its partners, but this is not unvarnished benefit. The value of doing business with China comes from the "balance" of trade. Today mercantilism is China's trade policy. In the stable Free trade implies free political-economic systems. Your road has not got staying power in its present manifestation. But I like your insights to trends. An American

]]> http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/new-silk-road/2008/02/14/comment-page-1/#comment-7648 Syd Heal Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:18:06 +0000 http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/new-silk-road/2008/02/14/#comment-7648 I am a publisher, author and journalist located in Vancouver, B.C. I have touched on the opening of the Canadian Arctic in my columns and articles so your piece on the new silk road resonated with me. It truly is a shrinking world but it is also one with great opportunity for the younger generation capable of seizing their opportunities. I am at the wrong end of life being a still highly active 82 year old retired shipping, marine insurance and real estate executive. Best wishes Syd Heal I am a publisher, author and journalist located in Vancouver, B.C.
I have touched on the opening of the Canadian Arctic in my columns and articles so your piece on the new silk road resonated with me. It truly is a shrinking world but it is also one with great opportunity for the younger generation capable of seizing their opportunities.
I am at the wrong end of life being a still highly active 82 year old retired shipping, marine insurance and real estate executive.
Best wishes
Syd Heal

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