I Have Something to Say

@Claudianovotny sorry to hear that......but this is one topic (American aggression) that doesn't seem to fall in the category of division.

@gol979 Really? I think it does. There are the Hawks and the Doves amongst the people just as amongst the politicians on the Hill. There are those who are tolerant and worldly and those who are intolerant and parochial; those who are welcoming and open-minded and those who are Islamophobic/xenophobic/anti-Semitic/anti LGTBQ all of which feeds into the potent mix of division. Add in the imperative of looming presidential elections and the divisions fuel the aggression. One might think, for political posturing . . .

@Claudianovotny I agree the peaceful narrative is out there but it's vastly outweighed by the hawkish narrative

@gol979 For the moment, yes. I worry that in the short term, this country (Qatar) is going to get caught in the middle of someone else's war before the voice of reason is heard

@Claudianovotny seems that way.....but I suppose flying in the face of my argument, it hasn't worked in Venezuela yet

@gol979 That's another crazy situation. The thing is, I believe the government of Iran actually cares about developing their country and its resources for the benefit of the people. In Venezuela, a corrupt government has been skimming oil wealth for personal gain

@Claudianovotny no doubt there is corruption but you should look at the Venezuelan government overall and especially since Chavez......they have addressed inequality on a mass scale and their international efforts have done the same

@gol979 Yet their income from oil is what; the fourth largest in the world? They have the largest proven oil reserves yet the economy is shrinking at about 14% per year and inflation is greater than 1000%!!!

@Claudianovotny they should have diversified their economy from mainly oil......but when you have severe economic sanctions imposed (that mainly effects the civillians), the US and English banks with holding over $8 billion of Venezuela's own money and the US are appropriating Venezuelan companies on US soil that imperative to production of oil.....what do you expect?

@gol979 So what we're really talking about is a virtual-neocolonialism

@Claudianovotny yeah, to a degree. Also they were trading in other currencies than the dollar and that is an arch sin

@gol979 LOL! the USD reigns supreme!

@Claudianovotny for the time being 😉

@gol979 Yes; for the foreseeable future, I think. Many people here invest in gold rather than keeping currency

@Claudianovotny mmmmm. I have my doubts about the gold standard too

@gol979 It's the only easily exchangeable investment that has intrinsic value, though

@Claudianovotny it's not intrinsic. It's a man made concept......basing it on a metal is still wide open for corruption. Thing is, I couldn't give you a different way......there are many others but my knowledge is garbage

I would argue that currency is a concept; one that can come and go and may be in the virtual world too. Bitcoin is just a blockchain, for example. Currencies have to be underpinned by a commodity that has value and gold is such a commodity. I accept your premise that it's not fundamental but \i would argue that its universal and long-standing (since antiquity) desirability gives it intrinsic value that a currency doesn't have

@Claudianovotny well said and thank you 👍

@gol979 ;-)