Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : Booms, Busts, and Recoveries -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TobagoJack who wrote (45394)	1/31/2004 1:06:09 PM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74559

<I adore democracy ! It is so predictable> Good thought Jay, but in fact, it's the opposite. Elections turn on a dime and one party is swapped for another, overnight with no warning; the polls are only a guide and are not much use when it's a close call, with the outcome hinging on whether it rains or not in the morning. Human life determined by the weather, even in the 21st century. Even if a party is clearly going to win, they might do the opposite of what's expected [in NZ elections anyway]. They say they'll do something, then do something quite different. See Labour after winning in 1984, again in 1987, then National when they lied to the elderly about pensions and so on. A dictatorship on the other hand is more predictable because the dictator's character is immutable. Idi Amin was going to do what he did and anyone could see that. Lee Kwan Yew for decades ran a tight ship and set a steady course 40 years ago, which could be depended on and especially as he kept winning elections. Fidel Castro is a steady as she goes guy and Cuba hasn't changed for half a century. Saddam maintained a consistent rule for decades and one could depend on being in significant trouble if telling him to take a hike over something or other. Heck, even and especially, the guys sitting around his government table all made sure their hands were resting on the table with eyes on the boss, wearing a matching moustache and generally adopting a demeanour of serious fear. Margaret Thatcher wasn't a dictator, but she'd belt you with her handbag if there was any insubordination. One knew where one stood and so the voters put her in, time after time [for a while]. People quite like a bit of a dictator [until they get sick of them]. Now we have Putin vs Kasparov. Will Russia stick with a "strong" man or go for Liberals? Mqurice