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.

Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ed Newman who wrote (18554)	6/5/1998 11:44:00 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

On Russia and South Asia- A region where 1/2 of the world population lives. You have raised some very important issues, the one I will like to dwell on is 'political suspicions' and 'lack of will to integrate' or take bold decisions. Thousands of messages are posted on SI every day which relates to markets but sometime our board does have this speciality to indulge in broader thinking so as to enlighten our broad base of readership the very big picture of strategy. Markets in my opinion are like 'holograms' stocks and indexes are small part of a huge picture, beyond trivial stock movements the panorama of this picture changes with a ever underlying unstoppable dynamic process.It is understanding of the underlying process which distiguishes a top strategist to distinguish between a false rumor or a false break. This is very much part of our trade discipline. I cannot agree with you more. Breed of good Politicians is rarity. Minnows have been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the world. As I have explained earlier future historians will certainly look back at our age with awe and would write 'what a lost opportunity'. Leadership and people of the world should read what looks like new challenges as we move into 21st century. We all live in a world which is so coherently and cohesively inter-related. Who would have even imagined just 10 years ago that 'distances' will die in such a cost effective manner. As distance dies the new world emerges from the ashes of war and misery. We have two choices to accelerate the change and help relieve misery of milions or continue to overlook which shall result in collective failure of our great planet. I am sure that former and not the later is our collective destiny. I was collecting some data on South Asia, I thought may be this will interest you, just imagine what is the future of our countries in this region who are hell bent to prove which one of them owns the most exotic cocktail of weapons of mass destruction. 1-60 million children have not seen inside of a school. 2-400 million adults are illiterate- over half of the total world population 3-273 million women are unable to read or write. 4-75 million children drop out before completing primary school. 5-A shortage of 2 million school Teachers in primary schools. 6-Public expenditure during 1990-96 of only 12 billion $'s whereas defense took 80 billion $'s. Only a couple of billions/annum representing less than .5% of combine GNP of these South Asian countries can result into a 'educational revolution' in our region. What a sad thing to see that instead of that we are dying to prove who has the bigger and deadlier arsenal. Poverty and illiteracy are the worst weapons of mass destruction; they help nations become Afghanistan, Somalia and Sudan. Like indicators on our charts lack of enrollment in 'primary education' means troubles ahead. First early warning signals like rising wages in case of markets, all these countries which fragmented and fizzled out to become examples of failed states had one common trait they overlooked the education of their future generation. Like wise 'arsenal building' in case of Russia. And over emphasis on 'cosmetic development' by compromising and undermining 'human incentive and free will' results in disintegration and destruction of states. It all boils down to 'good governance' this is the bottom line. We in this region including China are host to nearly 50% of world population. If you include Central Asia, which is only an hour flight from where I sit, this is the region on which the future prosperity of West and prospects of 'global peace' would depend. The share weights of population increase significantly importance of this region. Here are the markets that can provide the Cokes and Mac's the unlimited growth potential. These regions have potential to grow beyond 5% per annum. Recent events have opened our eyes to the perils of a new integrated world. We may live far and away but in time of crisis our bank accounts and pension funds do get affected even if the epi- center is in Indonesia or Malaysia. In this 'cyber world' boundary less world the events are far beyond the control of present politicians. Instead of 'coercive diplomacy and punitive sanctions, which any way muddle choices left for the west, the nations of the region need to be entangled with 'chains of economic development'. Markets are becoming mature in OECD countries, as we move forward a compassionate multinational effort is the only hope. This huge region needs to be integrated and fused with the rest of the world. With education comes prosperity that leads to burial of decades old hatreds and result into a virtuous cycle of understanding and development. I hope one day (we all can have our dreams) we will beat this vicious cycle and establish virtuous cycle to develop and flourish. Insular instincts are now breaking apart as every fine morning world rises to realities in Nikkei Singapore or China. In such a transformed world naturally it will be new forward-looking leadership, which will succeed, someone with the capacity to see beyond their nose. This is a tall order but as I say I am a dreamer. IQBAL LATIF