Category Archives: Economics

The Price of Virtue: Bailing out Slave-owners 1833

Posted on July 24, 2015 by odeboyz

Slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1833. Key to abolition was the willingness of the British government to compensate slave-owners for their property. The government budgeted £20 million, supervised by the Slavery Compensation Commission. This huge amount of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, History, Politics, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Credit Card Competition: British Style

Posted on July 21, 2015 by odeboyz

Barclays             18.9%           Interest charged HSBC                 18.9%                     ditto Lloyds                18.9%                     ditto NatWest            18.9%                     ditto Santander         18.9%                     ditto (Correct 24th June 2015) British Inflation, June 2015 was 0% (Chris)

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Winston Churchill’s ‘Gestapo’ speech (4th June 1945)

Posted on July 10, 2015 by odeboyz

In June 1945, Britain resumed competitive politics for the first time since 1931. Churchill, who had spent five years surrounded by sycophants, reverted to toxic reactionary Victorian conservatism. His wartime rhetoric had been inspirational but his first peacetime broadcast demonstrated … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Modern Economic Realities

Posted on July 7, 2015 by odeboyz

Incentives  The rich need high wages, bonuses and stock options: the poor need low wages and cuts in benefits. Outcomes The Haves, the Have Nots and the Have Lots Dedicated to George Osborne, British Chancellor of the Exchequer and social … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Philosophy, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Three Investment Strategies

Posted on June 30, 2015 by odeboyz

“Successful investing is anticipating the anticipation of others.” John Maynard Keynes (economist) “If you want to get rich start a religion. Ron Hubbard (Scientology Founder) “The time to buy is when there’s blood in the streets.” Nathan Rothschild (19th Century … Continue reading →

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Stuart Gulliver, HSBC and Don Corleone

Posted on June 26, 2015 by odeboyz

“Well, I say yes. There is more money potential in narcotics than anything else we’re looking at now. If we don’t get into it, somebody else will, maybe one of the Five Families, maybe all of them. And with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Literature, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

George Osborne: Shirker

Posted on June 12, 2015 by odeboyz

Oxford educated cabinet members (10 out of 23) have developed a philosophy of poverty which George Osborne outlined in his ‘Shirkers and Strivers’ speech*. The claim is that poor people are poor because they lack aspirations and worse, are addicted … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Philosophy, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Micro-Brewing

Posted on June 9, 2015 by odeboyz

“We were trying to come up with a new beer,” Brett Joyce of the Rogues Ales craft brewery told reporters in Newport Oregon, “using a different type of yeast. We tried to harvest new yeast strains from the hops in … Continue reading →

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Racked by Indecision

Posted on June 2, 2015 by odeboyz

Along with the rest of our gang, Dave Rosewarne and I had idled away most of our Saturday afternoon in Hilldene* Café opposite the pet shop. I had smoked a joint or two out the back but Dave, the most … Continue reading →

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The 1908 Old-Age Pension Act

Posted on May 15, 2015 by odeboyz

The 1908 Old-Age Pension Act was revolutionary legislation embodying the very best of British politics. For the first time there was to be state intervention in the living standards of the people. Assistance was given through non-contributory pensions recognising that … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, History, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments