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Japan and the Japanese People - Page 5

post #161 of 249
7/9/11 at 6:32am
"A survey in 5 European countries shows that less than one third of French and British people support nuclear power generation.

On Saturday, the French newspaper Le Monde reported on the results of the survey.

Support for nuclear power was the highest in France and Britain --each at 32 percent. The figure was still below one third of the total despite the countries' policies to promote the use of nuclear energy.

The lowest support was seen in Germany and Italy, whose governments have decided to break with nuclear energy. 17 percent of Germans and 20 percent of Italians approved of nuclear energy."
~ http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/09_14.html

"If your enemies cannot find a flaw in your reasoning, they will find it in your reputation".

~ William Hazlitt

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~ William Hazlitt

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post #162 of 249
7/9/11 at 7:02am
A "small" scandal here might turn many people against nuclear power. A power company that operates two nuclear plants was found trying to rig a write-in show with positive letters from staff. They were then found to have done the same thing a couple of years ago about building a third reactor at one plant.

Public trust in power companies dropped overnight. This is still developing, so we'll see.

The government is also very lacking in direction and that is adding to fears and concerns. The PM is acting like an alcoholic (he had a problem in the past) and popping out new positions seemingly daily, often opposite of his position (or that of the government) just days before. One minister quit (after being a complete idiot) and another has announced he will step down "when the time is right". Meanwhile, companies are moving manufacturing lines out of the country...

It's messy, and the current government is doing a great job of screwing everything up. If they were more intelligent, I'd wonder if it was intentional. However, they make the likes of GW and Palin and Bachmann look like PhD's, so we are going to be in for a rough ride.

 

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post #163 of 249
7/9/11 at 8:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bergermeister View Post

A "small" scandal here might turn many people against nuclear power. A power company that operates two nuclear plants was found trying to rig a write-in show with positive letters from staff. They were then found to have done the same thing a couple of years ago about building a third reactor at one plant.

Public trust in power companies dropped overnight. This is still developing, so we'll see.

The government is also very lacking in direction and that is adding to fears and concerns. The PM is acting like an alcoholic (he had a problem in the past) and popping out new positions seemingly daily, often opposite of his position (or that of the government) just days before. One minister quit (after being a complete idiot) and another has announced he will step down "when the time is right". Meanwhile, companies are moving manufacturing lines out of the country...

It's messy, and the current government is doing a great job of screwing everything up. If they were more intelligent, I'd wonder if it was intentional. However, they make the likes of GW and Palin and Bachmann look like PhD's, so we are going to be in for a rough ride.

It's all been very strange in Japan these past few years... After so many of us having an image of them being wealthy, developed, organised and so on. Looks like things are more complex than I thought.
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post #164 of 249
7/11/11 at 12:59pm
France is going to have a review of it's "energy mix", including potentially abandoning nuclear-

"Energy Minister Eric Besson announced on radio Europe 1 the launch of a study on Friday on the country’s energy mix by 2050, with options including a complete exit from nuclear production, a cut in the share of nuclear to 50 percent and a progressive reduction of total electricity production in France.
“We will study all possible scenarios for what we call the energy mix,” he said. “It will be done with total objectivity, in full transparency, without avoiding any scenario (…) including the scenarios of a nuclear exit.”

This is welcome too-

"Earlier this month, the French Parliament voted to ban fracking, a controversial drilling method that has enabled a global boom in natural gas. Now, the country is turning its attention to offshore wind – opening up a bidding program for five marine zones that could host up to 3 GW of projects. The first round of bidding is part of an effort to build 6 GW of projects from 2015 through 2020."
~ http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/0...ut-sacre-bleu/

"If your enemies cannot find a flaw in your reasoning, they will find it in your reputation".

~ William Hazlitt

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~ William Hazlitt

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post #165 of 249
7/11/11 at 1:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post

It's all been very strange in Japan these past few years... After so many of us having an image of them being wealthy, developed, organised and so on. Looks like things are more complex than I thought.

As Steve would say:

Yep.


And I would add:

Unfortunately.

 

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post #166 of 249
7/15/11 at 6:37pm
Serious discussion is taking place now to build a wall down to bedrock around the plant to prevent leakage.

Cost will be over $1 billion.

Tepco has resisted the need since the beginning.

 

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post #167 of 249
7/26/11 at 4:44am
TV in Japan went completely digital on Sunday, with analog transmitters being turned off at midnight. The tsunami-hit region will go digital early next year.

A recent poll shows that 70+% agree with the PM that Japan should move away from nuclear power. He used this in the diet session last week to bolster his position; it is the will of many. What he failed to state was that the same poll found that the same number of people want him to resign as soon as possible. The will of many is only important when it aligns with his position, which changes daily.

The water-cleaning efforts, among other efforts, at the nuclear plant are still not going according to plan, yet the IAEA commended Japan on its efforts. Go figure.

Relief efforts by Japan's Ground Self Defense Forces are largely winding down. They did a terrific job, yet are very under-reported here.

 

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Your = the possessive of you, as in, "Your name is Tom, right?" or "What is your name?"

 

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post #168 of 249
7/26/11 at 6:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bergermeister View Post

TV in Japan went completely digital on Sunday, with analog transmitters being turned off at midnight. The tsunami-hit region will go digital early next year.

A recent poll shows that 70+% agree with the PM that Japan should move away from nuclear power. He used this in the diet session last week to bolster his position; it is the will of many. What he failed to state was that the same poll found that the same number of people want him to resign as soon as possible. The will of many is only important when it aligns with his position, which changes daily.

The water-cleaning efforts, among other efforts, at the nuclear plant are still not going according to plan, yet the IAEA commended Japan on its efforts. Go figure.

Relief efforts by Japan's Ground Self Defense Forces are largely winding down. They did a terrific job, yet are very under-reported here.

I'm glad to hear about the terrific job.

What is your view on the governing situation in Japan and how it will play out BM? It seems like Japan has a new PM every time I look. It feels like about every 18 months or so. Their economy hasn't had true growth for almost two decades now and they have a massive demographic timebomb brewing and no history of desire for immigration or a multicultural society. How is it going to go in your view?

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." -George Orwell

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"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." -George Orwell

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post #169 of 249
7/26/11 at 7:18am
"Monbiot has been unsighted on the costs of PV for a long time. I hope he has now had a chance to read the Ernst & Young Outlook on the UK solar PV industry which points to grid parity for PV here in the UK without any subsidy by 2020. It will happen well before that in Germany as a direct consequence of the far-sighted decisions they took many years ago.

Germany plans to generate 50% of its daytime electricity from solar by 2020 – with installed capacity of 52 gigawatts (GW). Despite the fact that solar PV has the potential to meet more than 30% of the UK's day-time electricity by 2040, our target for 2020 is just 2.7GW – not much more than the 2GW that Germany installed in June 2010 alone."
~ http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...ewable-nuclear

"If your enemies cannot find a flaw in your reasoning, they will find it in your reputation".

~ William Hazlitt

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post #170 of 249
7/27/11 at 4:25am
The yen keeps getting stronger, which is not going to be good. It's at 77~78 yen to the dollar. Foreign tourism, which is vital to many local communities, will get hit hard, on top of the number of tourists staying away due to radiation fears. The flip side is it's easier for people to purchase from overseas, thus again not supporting th elocal economy.There is also growing concern here over the US debt crisis; many are worried that the Republicans, in their childish fever to oust Obama at all costs, will bring disastrous effects to the world economy, further impacting Japan at a very difficult time. Many had hoped the US congress would act a little more maturely than the diet does here, and are dismayed and worried over the continuing political games being played with ordinary people's lives.

Contaminated cattle feed has now been found throughout most of the country.

Kids from the area around the nuclear plant are unable to play outside during the summer holidays, so they are being sent on vacations to various places around the country... just to return in the fall. They have all been given dosimeters and schools are instructing them on how to keep records of their potential exposure... to help later in case they get sick.

Planned emergency evacuation zones around nuclear plants around the country are being expanded, dramatically increasing the number of towns and people who would be immediately impacted by an accident.

Cars stolen from the areas impacted by the tsunami are being shipped over seas. Though this happens here anyways, the number has dramatically increased and some cars form the area have been found in ports around the country.

An interesting tidbit about nuclear plants here is they are more often than not situated in poor areas. The government tosses money at these communities and they can therefore build grand public buildings, stadiums and such... which go largely unused. The towns need the money and therefore have agreed to host the plants. The Daichi plant doesn't supply electricity to the areas around it; it supplied Tokyo, which is quite a distance away. In total, it supplied about the same current as needed to operate the pachinko parlors in Tokyo (pachinko is a kind of pin-ball game that is a form of gambling).

And the prime minister continues to twittle his thumbs...

 

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Your = the possessive of you, as in, "Your name is Tom, right?" or "What is your name?"

 

You're = a contraction of YOU + ARE as in, "You are right" --> "You're right."

 

 

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post #171 of 249
8/3/11 at 11:47am
Rice is now being checked for radiation contamination; beef from another prefecture is now banned.

Torrential rain in many parts of the country is destroying crops and homes.

The government agency overseeing nuclear safety has been caught up, again, in a scandal about rigging discussions in favor of nuclear power.

The strengthening yen , which the debt debate farce in the US was adding to, is really hurting the economy and more importantly recovery from the March disasters. Companies are beginning to move production overseas.

Power shortages or potential shortages are also having a negative effect on businesses and people's lives. Businesses, uncertain that there will be enough power in the the next couple of years, are moving manufacturing overseas. Some have considered installing their own power plants (gas turbine), but at least one determined that the shortages would hit before the plant could come online., and has started moving.

Flies have been a serious problem in the disaster area; there is lots of rotting seafood and the stench is reported to be horrible. Many people remain in evac centers, sometimes right next to rubble dumps. The centers were not designed to house people for long periods and have no airconditioning. Temps have hit 34°C (about 93°F) in some areas, and the humidity has been high.

And still the PM is sitting on his thumbs...

 

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post #172 of 249
8/3/11 at 11:48am
The government must SAVE us!

Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem.

(I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.)

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Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem.

(I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.)

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post #173 of 249
8/3/11 at 6:04pm
There is evidence the PM has direct connections to a group that provides donations to North Korea. We'll see what the media chooses to do with this.

A major law passed yesterday; the minister in charge of that division looks like he may resign at any moment. He suggested several weeks ago that he would resign "at the right time".

 

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post #174 of 249
8/3/11 at 6:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jazzguru View Post

The government must SAVE us!

Do you value human life and well-being at all?

(I admit jazzguru is on my ignore list, but I saw this from another computer and it rattled me no end; back to ignoring him completely)

 

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post #175 of 249
8/3/11 at 6:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bergermeister View Post

Do you value human life and well-being at all?

Of course. That's why I oppose the State.

Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem.

(I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.)

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Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem.

(I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.)

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post #176 of 249
8/3/11 at 6:26pm
The Bank of Japan intervened with the yen today and the yen dropped to 79 to the dollar. Still weak, but better.







BTW. I will not let this thread, too, get derailed.

 

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post #177 of 249
8/3/11 at 6:53pm
Some estimates put the total people murdered due to democide at over 260,000,000 since 1900.

A government - not a private company - dropped a couple of atomic bombs on Japan at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The most conservative estimates put the death toll at 150,000. Men, women, and children. And that's only from the acute affects within the first few months after the bombing. The actual death toll is likely much higher.

The State IS force.

The State IS violence.

The State IS aggression.

This is why I oppose it.

Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem.

(I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.)

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Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem.

(I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.)

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post #178 of 249
8/4/11 at 1:35am
Three officials in charge of nuclear issues are to be dismissed it was announced by the government today. The minister under whom they all work did not tender his resignation, and many are calling for it.

 

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post #179 of 249
8/4/11 at 2:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bergermeister View Post

BTW. I will not let this thread, too, get derailed.

Keep at it and keep us updated! This is some shocking stuff happening in Japan. Everything we knew (assumed) about Japan could be wrong. 2 nuclear disasters in less than 70 years. Not good.
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post #180 of 249
8/4/11 at 8:08am
Japan's intervention on the yen has pushed it down to 80 to the dollar. Hope it stays there or goes down further. A lot depends on the US dollar, and the dysfunction in congress is not helping.

 

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post #181 of 249
8/4/11 at 8:47am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bergermeister View Post

Japan's intervention on the yen has pushed it down to 80 to the dollar. Hope it stays there or goes down further. A lot depends on the US dollar, and the dysfunction in congress is not helping.

They have an unpayable national debt, plus deflation - I don't understand why they don't just start printing yen and monitising the debt. It seems like it would solve both of their problems in one go.
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post #182 of 249
8/4/11 at 8:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

They have an unpayable national debt, plus deflation - I don't understand why they don't just start printing yen and monitising the debt. It seems like it would solve both of their problems in one go.

And create others that would likely be worse.

This is why fiat currencies are bad ideas and ultimately fail.

The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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post #183 of 249
8/4/11 at 8:51am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jazzguru View Post

The State IS force.

A state is an entity with a monopoly on the use of legal violence in a geographic area - it is true. But just because the foundation of our (and every) society is violence, does not mean that states are bad. Without states there would be even more violence, if you want to minimize violence you need states to hire police to beat people up.

And the nuclear bombs on Japan had a lower death toll than the firebombing of Tokyo - and a lower death toll than a land invasion would have had. So they also lowered the death toll.
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post #184 of 249
8/4/11 at 8:52am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ1970 View Post

And create others that would likely be worse.

for example? I don't see any end game for Japan that does not involve a currency collapse and a new currency even without monitisation. How would monitisation make that more likely? I think that it might prevent a fiat collapse. Right now, even with low interest rates, they can't even pay the interest on their debt - and that was before the current troubles.
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post #185 of 249
8/4/11 at 8:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

But just because the foundation of our (and every) society is violence

Be careful there. You're begging the question.

Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

Without states there would be even more violence, if you want to minimize violence you need states to hire police to beat people up.

And a non sequitur.

The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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post #186 of 249
8/4/11 at 8:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

for example? I don't see any end game for Japan that does not involve a currency collapse and a new currency even without monitisation. How would monitisation make that more likely?

Hyperinflation for one.


Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

I think that it might prevent a fiat collapse.

Not at all.

The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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post #187 of 249
8/4/11 at 8:56am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ1970 View Post

Be careful there. You're begging the question.
And a non sequitur.

I disagree - what I said was true. Without a state to set rules and punishments you would have terrible violence - and you can't enforce rules without the ability to use violence. What do you think would happen if the US federal, state and municipal governments all decided to shut down police forces and the military? There would be chaos until warlords arose to make new states.

Japan is heading for a debt default on their current course, I don't think that hyperinflation is any worse - plus they could stop (like we are doing) once they start to see inflation. We have been monitising our debt with no apparent consequences for two years now.
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post #188 of 249
8/4/11 at 9:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

A state is an entity with a monopoly on the use of legal violence in a geographic area - it is true. But just because the foundation of our (and every) society is violence, does not mean that states are bad. Without states there would be even more violence, if you want to minimize violence you need states to hire police to beat people up.

And the nuclear bombs on Japan had a lower death toll than the firebombing of Tokyo - and a lower death toll than a land invasion would have had. So they also lowered the death toll.

You really need to read this book.

Quote:
There is a final nightmare which most people who have contemplated private protection agencies consider to be decisive in rejecting such a concept. Wouldn't the agencies always be clashing? Wouldn't "anarchy" break out, with perpetual conflicts between police forces as one person calls in "his" police while a rival calls in "his"?

There are several levels of answers to this crucial question. In the first place, since there would be no overall State, no central or even single local government, we would at least be spared the horror of inter-State wars, with their plethora of massive, superdestructive, and now nuclear, weapons. As we look back through history, isn't it painfully clear that the number of people killed in isolated neighborhood "rumbles" or conflicts is as nothing to the total mass devastation of inter-State wars? There are good reasons for this. To avoid emotionalism, let us take two hypothetical countries: "Rumania" and "Walldavia." If both Ruritania and Walldavia were dissolved into a libertarian society, with no government and innumerable private individuals, firms, and police agencies, the only clashes that could break out would be local, and the weaponry would necessarily be strictly limited in scope and devastation. Suppose that in a Ruritanian city two police agencies clash and start shooting it out. At worst, they could not use mass bombing or nuclear destruction or germ warfare, since they themselves would be blown up in the holocaust. It is the slicing off of territorial areas into single, governmental monopolies that leads to mass destruction for then if the single monopoly government of Walldavia confronts its ancient rival, the government of Ruritania, each can wield weapons of mass destruction and even nuclear warfare because it will be the "other guy" and the "other country" they will hurt. Furthermore, now that every person is a subject of a monopoly government, in the eyes of every other government he becomes irretrievably identified with "his" government. The citizen of France is identified with "his" government, and therefore if another government attacks France, it will attack the citizenry as well as the government of France. But if Company A battles with Company B, the most that can happen is that the respective customers of each company may be dragged into the battle but no one else. It should be evident, then, that even if the worst happened, and a libertarian world would indeed become a world of "anarchy," we would still be much better off than we are now, at the mercy of rampant, "anarchic" nation-states, each possessing a fearsome monopoly of weapons of mass destruction. We must never forget that we are all living, and always have lived, in a world of "international anarchy," in a world of coercive nation-states unchecked by any overall world government, and there is no prospect of this situation changing.

A libertarian world, then, even if anarchic, would still not suffer the brutal wars, the mass devastation, the A-bombing, that our State-ridden world has suffered for centuries. Even if local police clash continually, there would be no more Dresdens, no more Hiroshimas.

Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem.

(I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.)

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Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem.

(I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.)

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post #189 of 249
8/4/11 at 10:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

I disagree - what I said was true. Without a state to set rules and punishments you would have terrible violence - and you can't enforce rules without the ability to use violence.

I disagree with your premise that "without a state to set rules and punishments you would have terrible violence." With the state we have terrible violence happening under the cover of "legitimacy."


Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

What do you think would happen if the US federal, state and municipal governments all decided to shut down police forces and the military? There would be chaos until warlords arose to make new states.

That's one possible outcome, but not a certain one, which is what you're claiming. Yes there would be some who may attempt to become warlords and warring factions. Their depredations would almost certainly be more limited than most states these days. There would also be areas that adjust to the new situation and work voluntarily and peacefully to handle the necessary defense services required. What you fail to see in all of this is that most states are simply larger warlords, with larger budgets, with bigger and more numerous weapons, with the "legitimacy" to steal and commit violence.

You basic premise is that we're all simply violence-prone children incapable of peaceful co-existence without our parent State to keep things under control. I disagree with this premise. I disagree that complete and utter chaos with widespread violence is a forgone conclusion here. In some places, perhaps. In other areas not at all. I root question here would what the incentive for (initiatory) violence would be? But even if I agreed with your premise, I'd then need to consider whether giving "legitimate" power of violence to people pulled from a population of people who are basically violence-prone children incapable of peaceful co-existence would be a very wise idea at all.


Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

We have been monitising our debt with no apparent consequences for two years now.

Well, if you exclude the price inflation (not hyper yet) in food and energy...then yes...no apparent consequences.

The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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post #190 of 249
8/4/11 at 10:46am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ1970 View Post

Well, if you exclude the price inflation (not hyper yet) in food and energy...then yes...no apparent consequences.

Your libertarian utopia sounds like Somolia to me, we will just have to disagree there. I am never going to agree with you, actually I think we need to eliminate all small countries and have only superpowers (see my "invade Africa" thread from a couple years ago).

The reason that energy prices are not counted in core inflation is that they are volatile. Food prices are not seeing much inflation, and what inflation they saw earlier in the year was due to input energy costs.

But last I checked, oil has dropped from $110 a barrel down to $87... We are having energy deflation for the last few months, and IMHO it will continue.

And anyway, the effect of hyperinflation on Japan would be almost identical to the effect of a debt default. Most of Japan's debt is held domestically, their only hope is to walk between the whirlpool and the cliffs by monitisation.
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post #191 of 249
8/4/11 at 11:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

Your libertarian utopia sounds like Somolia to me.

Ahhh the old Libertarianism = Somalia "argument." There should be a corollary to Godwin's Law for this one.


Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

we will just have to disagree there.

Fair enough.


Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

I am never going to agree with you, actually I think we need to eliminate all small countries and have only superpowers (see my "invade Africa" thread from a couple years ago).

Yes, I recall that...and again we disagree.


Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

Food prices are not seeing much inflation, and what inflation they saw earlier in the year was due to input energy costs.

Then you're not paying attention. We're definitely seeing it.

The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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post #192 of 249
8/4/11 at 11:06am
  • e1618978
  • will burn in the Fiery Pit of Hell.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ1970 View Post

Then you're not paying attention. We're definitely seeing it.

no, we aren't.

http://www.indexmundi.com/commoditie...od-price-index
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post #193 of 249
8/4/11 at 11:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

no, we aren't.

Yes we are. I'm seeing it monthly in our food spending. Less for more. Almost all categories of food too. It's been happening for a year or two.

The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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post #194 of 249
8/4/11 at 11:10am
Didn't you know, MJ1970?

Prices are going up because the rich are getting more greedy.

Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem.

(I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.)

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Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem.

(I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.)

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post #195 of 249
8/4/11 at 11:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jazzguru View Post

Didn't you know, MJ1970?

Prices are going up because the rich are getting more greedy.

Apparently they're not going up at all...it's only my imagination.

The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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post #196 of 249
8/4/11 at 11:17am
  • e1618978
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ1970 View Post

Apparently they're not going up at all...it's only my imagination.

Go look at the graph - they started going down in April, along with (and because of) dropping oil prices.
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post #197 of 249
8/4/11 at 11:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

Go look at the graph - they started going down in April, along with (and because of) dropping oil prices.

You're right...it's my imagination.

The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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post #198 of 249
8/4/11 at 11:21am
  • e1618978
  • will burn in the Fiery Pit of Hell.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ1970 View Post

You're right...it's my imagination.

correct, you didn't notice the trend change direction.
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post #199 of 249
8/4/11 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post

correct, you didn't notice the trend change direction.

You're right, it's just my imagination that our food budget is about 15% more for less food than 1-2 years ago.

The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.

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post #200 of 249
8/4/11 at 11:24am
  • e1618978
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ1970 View Post

You're right, it's just my imagination that our food budget is about 15% more for less food than 1-2 years ago.

But how much is it compared to April? Food prices dropped in price pretty dramatically in 2008, then came back up with oil prices, and have been dropping again since April.

If you pick 2008 as your starting point, of course you will see inflation, if you pick 2007 you won't.
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