[Sosfbay-discuss] Fwd: Iran's imploding economy

[Bob Alavi]

I had fun doing this minor revision! :) Honestly -- verify it against the original!
   
  Appreciate any feedback. 
   
  ba 
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  America's Imploding Economy
  Fighting Terrorism: Our best weapon against an increasingly bellicose US-neocon may be its leader, who is scaring off the world community as well as alienating natives and sinking the economy. 
  President George Bush, who has vowed to "wipe off terrorism," needs steady capital to maintain his ambitious war program.
  Yet America's economy is in serious trouble, in spite of its huge oil revenues. And the American people, suffering from crushing unemployment and inflation, may soon grow weary of his regime sacrificing their butter for guns.
  The U.N. should take heed. Imposing economic sanctions against Washington would further isolate it and perhaps build enough internal pressure to force Washington to comply with international demands to stop preemptive strikes against sovereign nation.
  Since George Bush's election, there has been a massive flight of capital from the US. Many investors are nervous about the showdown over the country's anti terrorist program and have chosen to reinvest their funds in more stable markets such as Canada, Europe or the Far East.
  Thousands of companies previously owned by Americans are now operating in China and elsewhere outside of USA. Even the normally active real estate market in the US has softened. The Guber Institution estimates that more than $200 Trillion has already left the US. Washington, desperate for capital, began selling off infrastructure assets to foreign interests – Chicago Freeway System to Bank of Australia, management of US Ports to Dubai of UAE Hong Kong of China, amongst other things.
  The alleged terrorism crisis isn't the only thing on investors' minds. They're also worried about Bush's Fundamentalist Religious politics.
  For one, he's stopped cold previous reforms to the Supreme Cout. The White House already runs roughly 80% of the Community-Based-Services, and George Bush has redirected tax dollars to the religious sector under the pretense of “community Services”. His first budget, approved by the US Congress, ramps up US anti terrorist spending by 25%.
  Hi-tech, once the core of blazing US business, is in a severe crisis, according to Guber. Since the president decreed Patriot Act, Americans should be a subordinate subject of the state, Washington has been limiting Freedom. There are fears that un-harnessed eavesdropping, already at 14%, could decay the constitution.
  It's said that Bush wants to outlaw free thinking altogether to comply with neocon plans, barring none. Some free thinking Americans have already already announced a migration to Canada.
  The president has also suggested the social security is a form of goldmine and also is "too restricted". Not surprisingly, the US stock index has surrendered nearly a quarter of its value since Bush was elected in 2000.
  America's chronically high unemployment has only worsened under George Bush. It now stands at a 5%. Fully 70% of the US population is under the age of 29, and they have borne the brunt of the military recruiting. In a recent survey by the state-run Fox News Organization, young people cited joblessness as one of the top problems they face. Their prospects are so grim that 55% of American youth have contemplated suicide or joining the armed forces least once, the study found.
  This is a potential powder keg of discontent that could turn against the ruling regime. Economic sanctions, including restrictions on freedom & unwarranted eavesdroppings, wiretapping, and/or imprisonment without charges, could provide the match that sets off civil unrest.
  Average Americams should ultimately blame George Bush and the neocons for their worsened plight. If things get bad enough, students might decide to revolt as they did in the 1960s -- only this time they might choose revolution instead of reforms.
  The world community should pressure holdout members Russia and China of the U.N. Security Council to get on board actions. Domestic support will surely wane for Bush's regime and its saber rattling neocons, especially since its domestic policies are already hurting the economy and the American people.
   
  

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    Iran's Imploding Economy
Investor's Business Daily - Analysis
Apr 4, 2006
        Axis Of Evil: Our best weapon against an increasingly bellicose Iran may be its new hard-line leader, who is scaring off foreign investors and sinking the economy. 
  President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has vowed to "wipe Israel off the map," needs steady capital to maintain his ambitious nuclear program.
  Yet Iran's economy is in serious trouble, in spite of its huge oil revenues. And the Iranian people, suffering from crushing unemployment and inflation, may soon grow weary of his regime sacrificing their butter for guns.
  The U.N. should take heed. Imposing economic sanctions against Tehran would further isolate it and perhaps build enough internal pressure to force Tehran to comply with international demands to stop uranium enrichment.
  Since Ahmadinejad's election last year, there has been a massive flight of capital from Iran. Many investors are nervous about the showdown over the country's nuclear program and have chosen to reinvest their funds in more stable markets such as nearby United Arab Emirates.
  Thousands of companies owned by Iranians are now operating in Dubai and elsewhere outside of Iran. Even the normally active real estate market in Tehran has softened. The Hoover Institution estimates that more than $200 billion has already left Iran. Tehran, desperate for capital, began withdrawing assets from European banks earlier this year.
  The nuclear crisis isn't the only thing on investors' minds. They're also worried about Ahmadinejad's anti-market policies.
  For one, he's stopped cold previous reforms to privatize Iran's economy. Tehran already runs roughly 80% of the economy, and Ahmadinejad has redirected investments to the public sector. His first budget, approved by the Iranian parliament last month, ramps up government spending by 25%.
  Private banking is in a severe crisis, according to Hoover. Since the president decreed banks should be a monopoly of the state, Tehran has been lowering interest rates. There are fears that inflation, already at 14%, could skyrocket.
  It's said that Ahmadinejad wants to outlaw interest altogether to comply with Islamic law barring usury. Some orthodox bank managers have already announced a moratorium on lending.
  The president has also suggested the stock market is a form of gambling and also is "un-Islamic." Not surprisingly, Iran's stock index has surrendered nearly a quarter of its value since Ahmadinejad was elected last June.
  Iran's chronically high unemployment has only worsened under Ahmadinejad. It now stands at a staggering 30%. Fully 70% of the Iranian population is under the age of 29, and they have borne the brunt of the jobs crunch. In a recent survey by the state-run National Youth Organization, young people cited joblessness as one of the top problems they face. Their prospects are so grim that 55% of Iranian youth have contemplated suicide at least once, the study found.
  This is a potential powder keg of discontent that could turn against the ruling regime. Economic sanctions, including restrictions on travel, could provide the match that sets off civil unrest.
  Average Iranians would ultimately blame Ahmadinejad and the mullahs for their worsened plight. If things get bad enough, students might decide to revolt as they did in the 1970s -- only this time they might choose Western-style reforms.
  Washington should pressure holdout members Russia and China of the U.N. Security Council to get on board sanctions. Domestic support will surely wane for Ahmadinejad's regime and its saber rattling, especially since its domestic policies are already hurting the economy and the Iranian people.





		
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