Trade Embargo’s

[j.sabourn]

Today we read all the time about trade embargo’s and duties paid on any foreign imports to trying
to punish or deter other countries into towing the line to others satisfaction. What would be the outcome
If a country was total self supporting and had no need to import any goods whatsoever. There are many countries and Australia
being one of them that has plentiful supplies of most minerals , and should be there already for agriculturist requirements.
Manufacturing seems to be the only requirement of most countries rich in all the resources , seems to me is that
The manufacturing is the hold up. Maybe come the day sometime in the future some may realize they don’t have to
rely on others to survive. Maybe it is only the brains that are lacking ? JS

[James Curry]

Japan did that in 1603 and isolated itself for 265 years. It is not that long really since Japanese nationals were allowed to travel abroad for leisure/holidays.
Perhaps Canada is one that could do it as they are self sufficient in minerals /food etc less than 40 million population. Probably the reason USA would like it to become the 51st state. I am sure there are others as well. Think the UK is ducked

[vic mcclymont]

Trouble with most UK politicians they attended uni and studied politics and some other obscure subject, none have an experience of real life.
In the old politicians had more than working knowledge and a grasp of the real world.
Vic

[James Curry]

Remember the days when the PM was usually the older member of the cabinet!!! Not sure who coined the phrase. With age comes wisdom.

Over Christmas spent in Scotland, we had a wonderful meal with my nephew and family. His son has just left Saint Andrews Uni. Lovely lad but worldly wise !!! at 22 he has a lot to learn about life and how things actually work.
But I suppose when we were 22 most of us were green around the ears, but being at sea at least were were all members of the University of Life. He had never had a job but has decided he did the wrong degree.
He was telling me he was going back to Uni again to study History & Politics & Economics. His father pipes up!!! here is a lesson in Economics, pay for this one yourself.
He does come from a wealthy family.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Well talking of countries well able to look after itself, I watched a program on TV the other night showing a bloke of land that had been given back to the Aboriginals, they where running big herds of cattle, I suppose enough to feed our 26million or so people, then the woman doing the program asked the Boss man running the show how many acres there where, he said , 300 thousand acres, and that dissapears in the map of Aus.
Des

[j.sabourn]

Would imagine there are enough camels rabbits and kangaroos to feed the best part of the world Des. Remember passing through Darwin Airport years ago , they also had for sale for those passing through crocodile and various other delicacies. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

Oz is rich in many tings the rest of the world requires so we trade with them.
That is the natural way of business in most parts of the world.

It goes back to early times when trading and bartering were a natural way of life.

But sadly as well equipped as we are here in Oz we still import up to 60% of our food!!!!!!

Go to the supermarket shelf and take a good look at where the goods originate, look in the freezer!!

Then when it comes to electric good, white goods, cars, and so many other day to day goods, look on the label, 'Made in China'.

Like many others we sell them the raw materials and buy the made up goods from them.

In NZ on our cruise I wanted to buy a souvenir of NZ.
In every shop that sold such good, even woolen items made from NZ finest wool, 'Made in China'.

[j.sabourn]

#5 Des I remember talking to people who,sailed with Zim lines , and they reckoned Israel in its earlier years in the 1900s was like an Oasis in the middle of the desert. I never saw it myself but wished I had. The Israeli people by all accounts nurtured that land and made it what it is today, or chances are it would still be the barren place it was.JS.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Joon.
I well remember when thy started there in 47, growing grass then trees etc, they did a good job all round but then those leaders where far superior to the present ones.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Going through Suez back in the 60's it was obvious some one cared for the land.
On one side brown and barren, the other lush green.
Isreal had to survive after WW2, so care of the land and growing all they required was extremely important to them.