Brahmason's Blog

There are occasionally readers that pose different kind of questions through comments on a certain post through interlinks .

While I appreciate their interest I wish to clarify that for reasons of organisation I am only in a position to give an answer to people using my e-mail address that I am always including at the bottom of each post .

Thanks very much for your understanding

Brahmason

Brahmason@gmail.com

There is a tremendous excess of liquidity in the hands of very few people who in fact do not know anything about real economy .

Political groups in the main areas of this planet must understand that unless we promote a real wide and vigorous middle class , the existing enormous manufacturing ventures of goods and services will collapse because there is no enough purchase power to consume all that is being offered .

Stock exchange , real estate , currency and raw materials speculation are absorbing the majority of money issued and are acting as huge cemeteries of liquidity that generate costs and inflation that canot be matched neither by industry nor consumers .

The unbalance in the economic situation at any time is promoted by speculation , whereas factories and consumers are at the end those who pay for it .

It is real sad that the world is as it is because the governments of the main countries of this planet work to win elections with the favor of the most powerful , instead of setting the right economic policies that may help the creation of a healthy middle class that will guarantee the necessary consumption capacity to allow for a competitive offer to grow .
Real competitiveness has very little to do with labor costs in manufacturing and high added value services . If you are concerned with durable goods manufacture you should know that competitiveness is a result of the type of investment that helps a bigger production per unit of time and lower costs in raw materials , components and transforming processes and logistics . Bigger production figures will help minimise costs further .

Technology services with higher level staff and continuous recycling education will provide much higher added value to the company .

Those ventures canot receive fiscal and credit treatment equal to speculators . Generation of a well paid middle class needs be rewarded because a bigger number of healthy people will pay estate expenses with lower individual effort that will promote durable consumption .

Brahmason

Brahmason@gmail.com

Fanatismo es la obsesión con examinar todos los eventos que presenciamos o nos relatan , según las tradiciones en que nos han educado .

No existe mayor enemigo de la evolución que la convicción de que la verdad es aquello que nos han enseñado o hemos aprendido en un cierto entorno familiar o social.

Sólo un porcentaje muy pequeño de los seres humanos es capaz de percibir el universo , el comportamiento global , la economía etc…desde una perspectiva ecuánime .

No se trata de ponerse de acuerdo para alcanzar una mayoría . Eso es útil y necesario para evitar conflictos y contentar a una mayoría .Pero la ecuanimidad en la observación , la elaboración y la transmisión de las ideas suele ser una práctica minoritaria que no coincide con el sentir ni la actitud de la mayoría atrapada por sus tradiciones y conveniencias personales o partidistas .

Los más simples piensan que ocupar el centro para llegar a un consenso o tener muchos apoyos es ser ecuánime .

Pero sólo los que sin dejar de comprender al resto son capaces de abstraerse de todo tipo de preferencias y condicionamientos en el ejercicio de la observación , serán capaces de percibir la realidad tal como es y evolucionar en sintonía con la totalidad que incluye . lo pequeño y lo grande , lo local y lo cósmico…

Brahmason

Brahmason@gmail.com

The inflation at 2 % with slow economy growth shows stagnation whether we like it or not . The petrol price at retail level is raising to confirm this as american citizens are highly sensible to petrol price because petrol is in the roots of their consumption needs .

Used capacity remains below 80 % and although budget deficit is closing the gap probably because of recent tax moves which impact need yet be fully perceived , the external current account continues to show the need to improve competitiveness .

No surprise that the dolar is gaining ground in a move to keep hold of petrol prices and to compensate for the ailing current account deficit ( external trade ) it is good to see that in the TICs ( capital flows ) the inflows are substantially dominating and growing to quench fiscal disagreement effects between democrats and conservatives

But at the end of the day the same question is on the table . For how long can the US economy be based on external financing ?

Remember that the private and corporate debt is much higher than the economy may bear, specially as unemployment shows a tremendous loss of jobs in the selective manufacturing sectors responsable for the creation of richness which is having a strong influence in the loss of purchase capacity as well as in the income tax revenue .

The US probably needs to review traditional tax structure to favor development of added value ventures and companies and the recovery of a middle class earning salaries between 70.000 and 120.000 $ while GINI indicator is reduced from the current figure of 0.46 .

It does not mean reducing or increasing taxes but establishing a more selective distribution of taxes in sales, income and corporate profit . ( Making money through speculation is not as healthy to real economy than making money through long term added value investments )

Brahmason

Brahmason@gmail.com

The materialisation of quantum computer should not be far from now .

Research leading into quantum computer should be based in my opinion on the remote twin particle behavior ( entanglement ) which allows to have a complete visualisation of the theory of sets on a four dimension basis .

As the quantum computer will become a reality , obviously there should be an unique essential algorithm that would shape as a function of the specific coordenate of the space time continue being observed at any time .

In my opinion as quantum computer will be a reality , we will know it better from the geopolitic consequences than from the announcement in the in the paper you are used to read .

Brahmason

Brahmason@gmail.com

Basically we can all agree in that an economy GDP is the sigma of consumption , investment and external trade .

External trade should include goods , services , labor and money flows , but we can simplify it into goods and services for our arguments , while keeping in mind that current status of global economy can be considered as globally open .

What you can spend without generating an out of control indebtment should be in line with the added value or richness generated by the economy .

Essentially there are two points you should consider . Too big an impact of consumption in the GDP will make it difficult to compensate with the added value generated by investments which should make up for consumption as well as for enough competitiveness to balance adequately external trade of goods and services . Besides excessive consumption will favor inflation wich has a negative effect in purchase power and accelerates indebtment while further deteriorating competitiveness .
If consumption is too low and economy relies mainly on exports with very high added value and competitiveness the risk in a global economy is that you will depend too much on international demand .

So wether consumption is too high or too low , the deviation from the optimum percentage of the GDP , will force the economy sooner or later into unemployment and deflation . Al though the path in each case would be of course different .

Perhaps we should recall here once again that the equilibrium between offer and demand is in fact what we have to care for and that competitiveness ( type of investment ) and purchase power are paramount in that contest .
Also for the sake of rationalisation it helps to clarify that added value is not just profit . Added value is the consequence of a type of investment that will generate an output strongly demanded at world level with such technology and competitiveness that the labor needed is sufficiently qualified to enjoy incomes high enough to guarantee a healthy and durable consumption ( demand ) , while allowing for healthy corporate profits .

In conclusion the choice of the right value of consumption as a percentage of the GDP is paramount in the future health of the economy .

The instruments for achieving that , are obviously tax and credit policies that will stimulate the economy in a convenient direction as a function of global economic situation at any time .

In my opinion the right percentage of consumption should be 65 % of the GDP for a healthy developed economy .

Brahmason

Brahmason@gmail.com

Mrs Merkel , «Grandola Vila Morena» is a song that Gandhi could have signed . It was heard in the Portuguese Parliament last 15 of February and the portuguese prime minister in grand style , interrupted his speech to hear respectfully the song that no so long ago started the peaceful revolution that ended with two of the longest dictatorships in Europe .

The bubble in what we are immersed was caused by irresponsable governments administration with the complicity of banks included your own .

Austerity is of course needed now , but it has to start with the excesses of those banks as well as the administrations involved . I do not see much of your critics on this .

In fact an intelligent political leader will realise that the more you reduce middle class income , the more you will increase the rupture of the balance between demand and offer .

It is on the state spenditure and corporative excesses allowed by a backwards fiscal policy , that you have to act first . Then in general comfort . But in majority of countries affected by the bubble , consumption is over 75 % of the GDP and with the cuts that you are sponsoring growth will be more difficult and will have to need more indebtment .

You only have to ask any US politician no matter whether republican or democrat . Or better ask the real good economists provided they have no lent any money to the banks mostly affected by the bubble .

Attention Mrs. Merkel , a lot of sensitiveness is needed beyond legitimate polling targets .

Today ..we are all joining the portuguese in their updated version of ..» Grandola Vila Morena »

Brahmason

Brahmason@gmail.com

Brahmason has shared a video with you on YouTube Grândola Vila Morena by caodesquina O POVO É QUEM MAIS ORDENA Help center • Email options • Report spam ©2013 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

Lo que el ser humano considera un drama , a nivel cosmico no es sino parte de la rutina global .

Hay muy pocos seres capaces de encontrar la verdadera pureza porque hay muchos seres empeñados en definirla . La pureza no se busca , simplemente surge cuando la mente descubre que no mora en ningún sitio . Cuando las ataduras del yo cesan de obsesionarnos y de mantenernos prisioneros de nuestras obsesiones descubrimos la esencia de la pureza .

La mente pura no mora en ninguna idea . Es atemporal y ajena a cualquier idea específica .

Hasta los más fanáticos deben ser capaces de percibir que si las ataduras de la enfermedad , la vejez , la obsesión con el triunfo en el debate , los éxitos y las decepciones y la propia muerte , nos mantienen prisioneros , estamos lejos de entender la realidad .

Pobres de los presuntos maestros que plantean un plan para obtener el premio del despertar . Incluso las ataduras a la consecución del nirvana nos dejarán fuera de eso que algunos llaman el camino .

Sabreís que estais en la mente pura cuando las intenciones son substituídas por la espontaneidad y lo que hacemos , pensamos o decimos , sea reflejo de la globalidad y no está inspirado en ningún apego o antagonismo .

La obsesión con la meditación sentada apartada de las experiencias de cada día no nos llevará a ningún sitio . Vimalakirti lo dejaba bien claro en su reprimenda a Sharaputra » Tu obsesión con mantenerte erguido y forzado horas y horas evitando la experiencia del día a día sin ser prisionero de ella , sólo te proporcionará confusión »

Brahmason

Brahmason@gmail.com

The US has a mounting private and sovereign debt problem which in short is the result of a strong loss of competitiveness and consequently added value and purchase power substantial losses , deriving from the shift of investment to Wall St from long investment technological ventures since about twenty years ago .

The purchase power loss has come through inevitable unemployment increase specially in areas of great added value because of relocation of long term investments in faster growing economies with better returns .

Under the circumstances US can do better with a relatively lower quoted dollar , while tax policy is changed to stimulate investments back in highly added value areas using well paid workforce . The higher petrol costs should be largely compensated by bigger external trade competitiveness and bigger consumption of american made goods and products while stimulating foreign investments in US .

Europe and Japan economies highly relying in high added value exports are very sensitive to US demand and replacing that demand by China’s is rather complicate .

The clearest beneficiary of China’s growing demand should be Germany and eventually also the US . Japan’s exports to China are very much conditioned by politics .

Currently the yen is exceedingly undervalued far from the currency balance needed for US and Europe to cope with the overall reduction of demand and that will show in an extraordinary currency volatility during 2013 and …?

Investors and governments across the planet should understand that the stock exchange is not the real economy and that as long as steps to recover a wide and healthy middle class are not taken , the world economy will continue to slide down the hill . Because demand and consequently consumption necessary levels canot be maintained by a minority .

An added problem is that both Japan and Europe are very sensitive to petrol price which should inevitably mount up to 1.30 $  as China returns to 8.5 % GDP growth( the BRENT ) and with a low yen and a low euro stagflation will be promoted in both economies and if the problem is confronted with continuous injections of liquidity without parallel tax and rates measures we will see a strong outburst of inflation .

And if this were not enough Japan’s sovereign debt spread among local institutions ,companies and private investors , plus the euro mediterranean partners epidemic deficits , condition not only future growth but also the possibility of introducing higher interest rates because of the domino effect that it might have on debt holders .

The political pressure is so strong and investors seem so much distracted of global economy risks that I do not see any possibilities of avoiding a tremendous collapse of economy .

Brahmason

Brahmason@gmail.com

Los tour operators diseñan itinerarios standard con bastante acierto , pero cuando se ha visitado lo que todos visitan , queda algo realmente importante .

Quien por ejemplo piensa en visitar en un sólo viaje Pushkar , Rishikesh , Haridwar , Amritsar y Dharamshala …?

Pushkar suele entrar en algún tour y también Amritsar pero no es fácil que se incluyan en los más vendidos .

En Pushkar está el único templo a Brahma en el mundo . En realidad no puede haber más que un templo a Brahma porque Brahma es el «soplo » o » latido » que genera todo .
Además del templo , hay bastantes palacios y otros templos , con unos hoteles propios del lugar que le transportan a uno a paraísos de las mil y una noches .
Los precios son muy buenos para su gran calidad . Habitación delux doble por unos 34 € ,. Desayuno por 4 € y cada comida por unos 10 a 12 € si no sales del hotel .

En Noviembre a primeros , los precios se multiplican por tres debido a la celebración de la mayor feria de camellos del mundo .

Amritsar es la capital de los sikhs y allí se encuentra el fabuloso palacio de oro sobre el agua . Mientras que Pushkar probablemente invita a alargar la estancia sobre todo si el hotel tiene piscina , Amritsar es probablemente un lugar para ver y partir .

Risihkesh es un encanto . La capital mundial del yoga . Allí estuvieron los Beattles en un retiro que dió lugar a uno de sus albumes .
Pocas cosas tan plenas de encanto he experimentado como el Ganga Aarti que se celebra todos los días desde que apunta el crepúsculo hasta que se instala la noche . El Ganga Arti que más me conmueve es el que celebra el swami del ashram Parmath Nikatan con sus niños discípulos que provienen de cualquier casta o de los intocables . Gran número de extranjeros sobre todo muchachas de distintas procedencias que suelen vestir de blanco . Se nos reparten al final guirnaldas encendidas que uno a uno depositamos en la Madre Ganga .

El Ganges que a esa altura cercano su nacimiento , está muy limpio y apto para nadar por parte del más exigente , con las estribaciones más bajas de los Himalayas adornando sus riveras .

Hoteles desde 5 € a 30 € y la comida siempre vegetariana de una calidad exquisita . Los ashrams son «free of charge» aunque se supone que hay que dar la voluntad dentro de las posibilidades de cada uno . Los ashrams desde luego no son para quienes esperan un mínimo de confort occidental. No busque ni cerveza ni siquiera colas de las que usted conoce . Zumos y seudo colas locales .

La meditación yoga está aquí a la orden del día . Europeos , australianos y otros asiáticos , muchos norteamericanos y sudamericanos de distintas creencias o agnósticos , se juntan para descubrir mediante el yoga en los distintos ashrams ,ese mundo al que dificilmente se accede desde la rutina de la vida diaria occidental .

Equilibrio ,paz ,amor y serenidad inmutable que dotan a los asiduos de energías y capacidad de percepción singulares .

Desde Rishikesh se accede en menos de una hora a Haridwar que es una repetición de Rishikess menos cómoda y más local . Dos noches en Rishikesh dan para el turista sin pretensiones . Si quiere usted hacer yoga esa es otra historia . Aquí y ahora estamos hablando de viajes .

A Rishikesh se accede desde Delhi por carretera en unas cuatro horas .

Para Pushkar mejor que las 6 horas por carretera desde Delhi , conviene ir a Jaipur en avión desde Delhi y desde allí hora y media por carretera a Pushkar . Conviene pasar una noche en Jaipur sobre todo si no la ha conocida antes . Su muralla rosa de los vientos desde la que las antiguas damas presenciaban de incógnito los desfiles y el observatorio milenario y rústico de Jaipur además del palacio que se construyó en tiempo record para la visita del príncipe Carlos de Inglaterra , justifican de sobre la parada .

Amritsar que está bastante lejos exige vuelo desde Delhi y desde Amritsar a Dharamshala dos horas y media por carretera camino arriba de los Himalayas . En Dharamshala alojamiento austero y limitado . Mejor hospedarse en McLeod algo más abajo .

En Delhi el alojamiento como sabe quien ha viajado a La India , puede ser desde maravilloso a poco recomendable para los menos «adaptables» .
Quien puede y se hospeda en hoteles como el «Imperial Palace » , «Intercontinental» , «Raj Palace » etc …no puede pedir más pero su precio oscila entre 150 y 300 € .

En el «Taj Palace » tienen un restaurant «El Orient Express» que han habilitado con uno de los vagones del antiguo tren de ese nombre . Se come bien pero caro si no te vigilas .El Taj Palace que conozco bien porque he pasado allí unos días con mi mujer , tiene otros dos restaurantes realmente buenos «The House of the Rising Sun » es una pasada . Lo menos bueno del Taj es la ubicación algo alejada del centro . Para lujo y ubicación el «Imperial Palace » ( 230 € )

Luego hay unos cuatro estrellas que están bastante acceptables entre 75 y 120 € en función de calidad y ubicación .

En Delhi además de lo que le dicen que visite las agencias , hay que visitar Karol Bag que es un distrito no lejos de la mezquita , donde cada noche se pone en marcha el mayor mercado de Asia para telas y artesanías ….Le dirán que mejor es no ir a esos sitios pero yo me he hospedado en un tres estrellas ( Hotel Clark International ) sito en el corazón de Karol bag junto al mercado pagando 43 $ ( mis acompañantes en esa ocasión eran un par de jóvenes estudiantes ) durante cuatro noches .

He cenado magnificamente por dos euros en sl corazón de Karol Bag aunque entiendo que al español medio sobre todo si ha cumplido 50 años le cueste comer en estos sitios .

A algunos amigos les recomendé el » Centro Budista Internacional » a 14 kms al sur de Delhi , que cobra cerca de treinta y dos euros con pensión vegetariana incluída para una habitación doble y quedaron muy satisfechos . Limpio . comodo y muy visitado por estudiantes canadienses y europeas , está regido por un monje budista japonés y otro indio que ofrecen meditación budista a quien lo desea . Cerca del centro budista está una filial del ashram Shivananda de Rishikesh , donde un sadhu muy popular entre los locales imparte yoga .

Desde el centro te organizan en plan ajustado de precios o más exigente si lo deseas , viajes a cualquier parte de la India .

Brahmason

Brahmason@gmail.com