WEEKLY BLOG COMMENTS – No.51
DATES: 2013/02/10– 2013/02/17
ANALYST: Domingo Trassens
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Dear Friends:
Hello! Today I would like to share with you a series of comments posted
by myself in the WSJ Journal Community during the last seven days about news
related to politics, economy and business in United
States
The special themes of this week are:
- President Obama: “The State of the Union ”
- Pope Benedict: A Shepherd Who Didn’t Protect His Herd
- Our Schools: Gap between Poor and Rich Students
- Police case: Is The Double
Amputee Olympic Runner, A Murderer?
- Nature against Man: Big Stone Over Our Heads
Next, you will find the other comments organized in the following
sections: United States Europe , The
World (Asia , Africa , Middle
East …), Latin America and
Economy, Business and Technology.
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THEME: President
Obama: “The State of the Union ” or “The State of the Disunion”?
Subject: President Barak Obama
addressed the 2013 State of the Union in front Congress and other members of
the government.
My Comment: Last Tuesday February 12, President
Obama addressed his 2013 State of the Union in front Congress and other members of the government.
Always the
State of the Union speech is important independently of the ideology of the
president in charge of our federal government. It marks the direction of the
White House administration for a period of time.
What about
the 2013 State of the Union ?
Last
Tuesday, President Obama spoke for more than hour about a long series of
subjects: the end of the Afghanistan’s war, al Qaeda, the North Korean and Iran
nuclear threats, our economy, medical research, Medicare, the current gaps of
the school systems, gun controls, climate change, immigration, taxes, a new
federal minimum wage of $ 9 and the importance to strengthen our middle class.
His speech
was interesting in different parts of the complete State of the Union address.
We learned
more about the President’s plans for his second term and his efforts to “move”
the country out of the economic crisis with initiatives like the training of
the 65-year old workers who lost their jobs due to the advance of the
technology in companies and work positions.
He also
marked the importance to reduce the education “gap” between children from poor
and rich families with some initiatives that look wise and constructive. He
always put education higher, of course in his way of thinking.
But like in
a lot of his speeches in front Congress, President Obama showed a hard line
against members of the government who represent the philosophy and practices of
the Republican Party.
This
observation was marked by different political observers who don’t follow the
direction of the Democrat Party. And also it was easy to perceive for anybody
with a free mind to hear his words and samples of the speech.
We cannot
understand why President Obama has difficulties with speaking with whose don’t
think like him in a more friendly way.
This is a
serious problem because the State of the Union is an address for the “union”, not
the “disunion”, of all the Americans.
And
President Barack Obama is our president, the leader of the nation,at the “helm”
of the ship since 2009 and he will be at the top of the federal government for
four more years. (2013/02/17)
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THEME: Pope
Benedict: A Shepherd Who Didn’t Protect His Herd
Subject: Pope Benedict XVI
announced he is will resign as the Pope of the Catholic Church due to “his
deteriorating physical strength”.
My Comment: On Monday February 11, Pope
Benedict XVI announced he is planning to step down at the end of this month
because of “his deteriorating physical strength”.
The news shook the world due to this “move that hasn’t happened in the Catholic Church in centuries”.
But nobody till now explained what kind of disease Pope Benedict is suffering from and if this sickness really obstructs his mission of leader of the Church.
Personally, I think there is something more behind his decision to leave the leadership of the Catholic community.
Since the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzubger took the leadership of the Church, theVatican
As reaction of this “bad wave”, Pope Benedict XVI only condemned with some statements the horrible “sin” of a lot of Catholic priests across the world, but he didn’t push the guilty priests out of the Church.
Benedict preferred to protect the “bad” priests over the victims of their abuses. And he didn’t put the “criminals” in the hands of Justice.
This action together with a series of other pending issues related to the human sexuality – divorce, contraception, marriage of priest and nuns… - show us that during his mandate of the top of authority of the Church, the current Pope didn’t assume a responsible attitude to change anachronistic rules of the Catholic Church and modernize the institutions through the right path.
Certainly, Cardinal Joseph Ratzubger who is a brilliant theologian knows that he didn’t do the “job” that all the Catholics of the world were waiting from him.
Probably, his roots with the past and his theological background were crucial “barriers” for his action. Perhaps, he tried to take action, but he didn’t.
When I say that in the current decision of the Pope, there is something more that his “deteriorating physical strength”, it is because I believe his step down is a way to open the doors to another Pope to do the work he didn’t do.
If this “factor” was on the table in the current decision of Pope Benedict, but we have to applaud him.
But the sad end of Pope Benedict XVI is that our Shepherd didn’t protect our children, our women and also the students of priest against the sexual abuse of his bad ministers.
At this point, I would like to make an additional comment. The sexual abuse was not only against the children who studied in Catholic schools inEurope or US. The sexual abuse was a
“common practice” during decades and presumably centuries through all the
aisles of the Church and Catholic institutions.
Till now I remember the dramatic explanation that one member of my family gave me long time ago after he left suddenly his studies of priest in a Catholic institution ofLatin America . This victim whose I am talking commented me that the same
theology professor who during all the mornings was teaching the students of
that institution in the classroom, during the nights in the dormitory abused
his students. This is not a “fairy tale”. This is a true story.
Pope Benedict XVI knew about these cases. Pope Benedict knew about all these experiences, but he didn’t have the resolute attitude of Jesus to throw out of the “Temple
For this reason, with a lot of sadness I have to conclude that Pope Benedict was a shepherd who didn’t protect the good members of his herd because he preferred to protect his ministers against the action of Justice…. (2013/02/16) 1 Recommendation
The news shook the world due to this “move that hasn’t happened in the Catholic Church in centuries”.
But nobody till now explained what kind of disease Pope Benedict is suffering from and if this sickness really obstructs his mission of leader of the Church.
Personally, I think there is something more behind his decision to leave the leadership of the Catholic community.
Since the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzubger took the leadership of the Church, the
As reaction of this “bad wave”, Pope Benedict XVI only condemned with some statements the horrible “sin” of a lot of Catholic priests across the world, but he didn’t push the guilty priests out of the Church.
Benedict preferred to protect the “bad” priests over the victims of their abuses. And he didn’t put the “criminals” in the hands of Justice.
This action together with a series of other pending issues related to the human sexuality – divorce, contraception, marriage of priest and nuns… - show us that during his mandate of the top of authority of the Church, the current Pope didn’t assume a responsible attitude to change anachronistic rules of the Catholic Church and modernize the institutions through the right path.
Certainly, Cardinal Joseph Ratzubger who is a brilliant theologian knows that he didn’t do the “job” that all the Catholics of the world were waiting from him.
Probably, his roots with the past and his theological background were crucial “barriers” for his action. Perhaps, he tried to take action, but he didn’t.
When I say that in the current decision of the Pope, there is something more that his “deteriorating physical strength”, it is because I believe his step down is a way to open the doors to another Pope to do the work he didn’t do.
If this “factor” was on the table in the current decision of Pope Benedict, but we have to applaud him.
But the sad end of Pope Benedict XVI is that our Shepherd didn’t protect our children, our women and also the students of priest against the sexual abuse of his bad ministers.
At this point, I would like to make an additional comment. The sexual abuse was not only against the children who studied in Catholic schools in
Till now I remember the dramatic explanation that one member of my family gave me long time ago after he left suddenly his studies of priest in a Catholic institution of
Pope Benedict XVI knew about these cases. Pope Benedict knew about all these experiences, but he didn’t have the resolute attitude of Jesus to throw out of the “
For this reason, with a lot of sadness I have to conclude that Pope Benedict was a shepherd who didn’t protect the good members of his herd because he preferred to protect his ministers against the action of Justice…. (2013/02/16) 1 Recommendation
Story: Pope Benedict to Resign – Part 1
Subject: First “news” about the
decision of the Cardinal
Joseph Ratzubger to resign as Pope of the Catholic
Church.
My Comment: I agree with the decision of Pope
Benedict to resign if “he is no longer physically, psychologically, and
spiritually capable of handling” his duties of Pope.
From my point of view, it is more than a right of a top leader of any religious or political institution when he realizes that he cannot handle his duties. It is an obligation and a sign of responsibility in front all the members of the community.
From the other side, it is great opportunity for the Church to change its direction according the current demands of the world in times of big social, political and economic changes.
During the last seven years, due to the conservative ideas and behaviors of Pope Benedict, the Catholic Church lost part of its protagonist role as world center of faith and religious institution.
We need a new leader with the capacity and the decision to change the Church probably more than 360 degrees.
The Catholics need a leader with the capacity to give the right answer to all the social changes of the last decades, plus crucial issues that require new definitions and levels of “tolerance’ like: divorce, contraceptives, abortion, homosexuality, marriage of nuns and priests and more.
We have to pray God that he gives to the new leader of the Catholic Church, the capacity to put down the term “sin” and up the concept of the “love” in its most comprehensive meaning.
From now, the Catholic Church has to be an institution of feasible and realistic answer and not an organ of spiritual, intellectual or physical punishment or religious oppression. (2013/02/11)
From my point of view, it is more than a right of a top leader of any religious or political institution when he realizes that he cannot handle his duties. It is an obligation and a sign of responsibility in front all the members of the community.
From the other side, it is great opportunity for the Church to change its direction according the current demands of the world in times of big social, political and economic changes.
During the last seven years, due to the conservative ideas and behaviors of Pope Benedict, the Catholic Church lost part of its protagonist role as world center of faith and religious institution.
We need a new leader with the capacity and the decision to change the Church probably more than 360 degrees.
The Catholics need a leader with the capacity to give the right answer to all the social changes of the last decades, plus crucial issues that require new definitions and levels of “tolerance’ like: divorce, contraceptives, abortion, homosexuality, marriage of nuns and priests and more.
We have to pray God that he gives to the new leader of the Catholic Church, the capacity to put down the term “sin” and up the concept of the “love” in its most comprehensive meaning.
From now, the Catholic Church has to be an institution of feasible and realistic answer and not an organ of spiritual, intellectual or physical punishment or religious oppression. (2013/02/11)
5
Recommendations
Story: Pope Benedict to Resign – Part 2
My Comment answering to another
member of the Journal Community who pointed out my opinion in a positive way: David: I appreciate a lot your
approach. Thank you for extending the ideas that I drew through my comment with
your own perspective. We agree!
(2013/02/11) 2 Recommendations
Story: Pope Benedict to Resign – Part 3
My Comment answering to another
member of the Journal Community who pointed out my opinion in a positive way: Hanna: Thank you! I understand your
comment, but today the Catholic Church cannot continue with the ideas of the
“fear of God” because it will lose all the believers and it convert itself in
an anachronistic mechanism with only one label: “out of order”. (2013/02/11) 1
Recommendation
Story: Pope Benedict to Resign – Part 4
My Comment answering to another
member of the Journal Community who didn’t understand my expression of “360
degrees”: Jim:
Thank you for your comment. When I said more than “360 degrees” I would like to
remark that the changes the new Pope has to make are very radical and
fundamental changes. I didn’t use the concept of “360 degrees” in a
mathematical way.
First at all the new Pope has to end with the classical ideas of “sin” and “punishment”. This is a huge change.
Second he has to accept the “divorce” as a normal break of a marriage that doesn’t work properly and at least rethink other matters of the human beings like abortion, homosexuality and more.
In other case, very soon the Church will be labeled by all of society with this label: “out of order”. (2013/02/11)
First at all the new Pope has to end with the classical ideas of “sin” and “punishment”. This is a huge change.
Second he has to accept the “divorce” as a normal break of a marriage that doesn’t work properly and at least rethink other matters of the human beings like abortion, homosexuality and more.
In other case, very soon the Church will be labeled by all of society with this label: “out of order”. (2013/02/11)
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THEME: Our
Schools: Gap between Poor and Rich Students
Subject: The State of Michigan
My Comment: The story about the new school
initiative in the state of Michigan
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder launched the Education Achievement Authority with the intention to make the big change across the poor schools ofDetroit
The initiative of changing the standard grade-level coursework for a new system where the students learn at their own pace using individualized education looks crazy only for the people who always think in the classic “tests” to evaluate performance only through the filling of a sheet with small boxes of “Yes or No”, or “A, B, C, or D”.
But we don’t have to push our children to run faster than they can through the educational process. They have to walk at their pace without frustration, pressure and punishment.
We have to end with the school of punishment and rigid authority, and lacking of human sensitivity.
From my point of view, in the educational system, the “tests” are important to measure the advance of the learning process but they don’t have to intimidate the students.
I believe more in the “creativity” as a learning tool that gives the possibility of the integration of the whole class, creating responsibility and diverse skills in all the students.
If everybody is engaged, everybody learns more and together all the students can achieve greater knowledge and experiences. They internalize the stories and experiences sharing their points of view with their friends and teachers.
Definitively, if the children are engaged in creative projects, they will not think about “guns” to kill their own friends and teachers.
For the previous considerations, I would like to applaud Gov. Rick Snyder and the team who is implementing this new initiative inMichigan
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder launched the Education Achievement Authority with the intention to make the big change across the poor schools of
The initiative of changing the standard grade-level coursework for a new system where the students learn at their own pace using individualized education looks crazy only for the people who always think in the classic “tests” to evaluate performance only through the filling of a sheet with small boxes of “Yes or No”, or “A, B, C, or D”.
But we don’t have to push our children to run faster than they can through the educational process. They have to walk at their pace without frustration, pressure and punishment.
We have to end with the school of punishment and rigid authority, and lacking of human sensitivity.
From my point of view, in the educational system, the “tests” are important to measure the advance of the learning process but they don’t have to intimidate the students.
I believe more in the “creativity” as a learning tool that gives the possibility of the integration of the whole class, creating responsibility and diverse skills in all the students.
If everybody is engaged, everybody learns more and together all the students can achieve greater knowledge and experiences. They internalize the stories and experiences sharing their points of view with their friends and teachers.
Definitively, if the children are engaged in creative projects, they will not think about “guns” to kill their own friends and teachers.
For the previous considerations, I would like to applaud Gov. Rick Snyder and the team who is implementing this new initiative in
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THEME: Police Case: Is The Double Amputee Olympic
Runner, A Murderer?
Story: South African Track Star Disputes Murder Charge
– Part 1
Subject: South African police
accused Oscar Pistorius of the murder of his girlfriend after she has found
death in a very confuse case.
My Comment: Myself, when I learn about cases
like this, an Olympian runner and double-amputee charged by the South African
police with the murder of his girlfriend, I don’t feel angry, I feel sad.
Till now we don’t know about all the motivations that Oscar Pistorius had to commit this terrible crime.
But the point is that a hero of sports with a lot of merit due to being a double-amputee now is painted like a murderer and probably nobody will believe anymore in his efforts and values to go ahead with his physical problems (disability).
It is very sad that sometimes a minute of anger can destroy a complete life of hard work to be the best. (2013/02/15) 2 Recommendations
Till now we don’t know about all the motivations that Oscar Pistorius had to commit this terrible crime.
But the point is that a hero of sports with a lot of merit due to being a double-amputee now is painted like a murderer and probably nobody will believe anymore in his efforts and values to go ahead with his physical problems (disability).
It is very sad that sometimes a minute of anger can destroy a complete life of hard work to be the best. (2013/02/15) 2 Recommendations
Story: South African Olympian Denies Murder – Part 2
My Comment: A minute of anger is enough to
commit a crime… About the police’s suspicion, we cannot make conclusions till
now. We have to follow all of the trial. Also we have to know about his
motivations, we are not inside the psyche of this guy. (2013/02/16)
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THEME: Nature
against Man: Big Stone Over Our Heads
Subject: The fall of meteorite of
the side of football field produced panic in Russia
My Comment: The news says a “meteorite plunged
to earth” over the Russian Ural Mountains generating panic and injuring
hundreds of people.
How we can label “this event”? “Nature against Man?”, “Nature against Human Beings?”, “The Power of the Universe hits our Planet?”…
We – the human beings – always are strong to fight against others. But how weak we are every time Nature acts against us! (2013/02/15) 2 Recommendations
How we can label “this event”? “Nature against Man?”, “Nature against Human Beings?”, “The Power of the Universe hits our Planet?”…
We – the human beings – always are strong to fight against others. But how weak we are every time Nature acts against us! (2013/02/15) 2 Recommendations
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THEME: Europe
Subject: Horse meat sold as cow
meat and mixed with lasagna shows the corruption of the food industry across Europe .
My Comment: The scandal of horse meat across
different European countries is another sample of the bad times that Europe is living in right now.
The poverty of consumers pushes the chains of big supermarkets to find cheap products to sell to customers with their pockets near empty. But frequently the cheap meat is a “bomb” that can create serious health problems.
Now, we see that also when we buy food in prestigious supermarkets and/or restaurants, we have to be very careful in the selection of packages of cheap meat together with other ingredients.
Personally, when I buy stuff for eating I try to avoid the purchase of food ready to eat wrapped in boxes or packages that I don’t know who is the manufacturer and what formula was used in its preparation, for example in this case horse meat with lasagna. (2013/02/13) 3 Recommendations
The poverty of consumers pushes the chains of big supermarkets to find cheap products to sell to customers with their pockets near empty. But frequently the cheap meat is a “bomb” that can create serious health problems.
Now, we see that also when we buy food in prestigious supermarkets and/or restaurants, we have to be very careful in the selection of packages of cheap meat together with other ingredients.
Personally, when I buy stuff for eating I try to avoid the purchase of food ready to eat wrapped in boxes or packages that I don’t know who is the manufacturer and what formula was used in its preparation, for example in this case horse meat with lasagna. (2013/02/13) 3 Recommendations
Subject: Russian President Putin
banned overseas banking accounts for officials and members of the Russian
government with the intention to cut the corruption of the bureaucracy of his
country.
My Comment: It looks like President Vladimir
Putin has better initiatives to stop the corruption of members of the Russian
government and official institutions than a lot of European countries.
(2013/02/12) 2 Recommendations
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THEME:
The World: Asia , Middle East , Africa …
Story: Pyongyang Defies U.S., Neighbors With Nuclear Test
– Part 1
Subject: The third nuclear
explosion of North Korea
My Comment: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is
like one of the “devils” of the James Bond movies.
If everybody is waiting for Kim Jong-un’s experiments, he will make more noise and propaganda.
I believe we have to learn – media, governments and people – that when a political leader has “crazy” behaviors, we have to isolate him in a psychological way.
If nobody from the rest of the world publishes dramatic stories and articles about the North Korean experiments, he will not have more publicity and he will realize than nobody has fears from his threats.
The journalists from the North Korean TV and radio only will repeat the news from Mr. Kim Jong-un: “Today our venerable leader led the nation's third experimental detonation. Kim Jong-un pushed the “button” while all the nations of world were waiting for their new achievement to be a nuclear power. Blab! Blab! Blab.”
In that moment, Mr. Kim Jong-un will say to himself: “I really was stupid because nobody cares about my threats. I have to stop these nasty actions and try to go outsidePyongyang Washington DC Paris , Berlin Moscow London
Personally, I don’t understand why the western press spends more pages and times on “devils” and bad news than talking about constructive issues of our planet named Earth. (2013/02/12) 1 Recommendation
If everybody is waiting for Kim Jong-un’s experiments, he will make more noise and propaganda.
I believe we have to learn – media, governments and people – that when a political leader has “crazy” behaviors, we have to isolate him in a psychological way.
If nobody from the rest of the world publishes dramatic stories and articles about the North Korean experiments, he will not have more publicity and he will realize than nobody has fears from his threats.
The journalists from the North Korean TV and radio only will repeat the news from Mr. Kim Jong-un: “Today our venerable leader led the nation's third experimental detonation. Kim Jong-un pushed the “button” while all the nations of world were waiting for their new achievement to be a nuclear power. Blab! Blab! Blab.”
In that moment, Mr. Kim Jong-un will say to himself: “I really was stupid because nobody cares about my threats. I have to stop these nasty actions and try to go outside
Personally, I don’t understand why the western press spends more pages and times on “devils” and bad news than talking about constructive issues of our planet named Earth. (2013/02/12) 1 Recommendation
Story: Pyongyang Defies U.S., Neighbors With Nuclear Test
– Part 2
My Comment: I know that Mr. Kim Jong-un is a
villain but if we don’t answer his attacks, we are put down his “propaganda”.
This doesn’t imply that government monitors his movements. But the press has to
stop helping him spread the panic that he wants to spread.
If nobody in the press and international media talk about him, he will see that nobody has fears about him and in the end he will stop the propaganda because nobody will care anymore for the messages that come from North Korean TV.
As I said before, Mr. Kim Jong-un is a “character” from the old movie series of James Bond 007. (2013/02/12)
If nobody in the press and international media talk about him, he will see that nobody has fears about him and in the end he will stop the propaganda because nobody will care anymore for the messages that come from North Korean TV.
As I said before, Mr. Kim Jong-un is a “character” from the old movie series of James Bond 007. (2013/02/12)
Subject: The Algerian terrorist
who planned the attack to the Saharan gas camp some weeks ago, has disappeared
from the eyes of the hunters of terrorists.
My Comment: For a native of the Saharan lands,
it is easy to “emerge” and “vanish” among the sand mountains and a geography
that frequently is impenetrable to the assault of the best troops of the world.
For this reason, I believe that the hunting of Mokhtar Belmokhtar will be very difficult.
This kind of person can survive in the middle of nothing and in conditions more rigorous than we know forAfghanistan Pakistan
For this reason, I believe that the hunting of Mokhtar Belmokhtar will be very difficult.
This kind of person can survive in the middle of nothing and in conditions more rigorous than we know for
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THEME: Latin America
Story: Ecuador's Correa Poised to Broaden His Sway –
Part 1
Subject: Rafael Correa, current
President of Ecuador, is going to extend his mandate through a new presidential
election.
My Comment: The Ecuador Latin America during the current days.
Nobody has doubts that President Rafael Correa will be re-elected for a new term after the “amendment” of theEcuador
Why this election is important? Securely, now that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is very sick, Rafael Correa will take the lead of the Latin-American politics anti-Washington.
We have to remember that the Ecuadorean President last year gave asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange accused of sexual-assault inSweden
Rafael Correa also declaredEcuador
President Correa was educated inBelgium Ecuador United States
Due to the poor American foreign politics related to Latin American issues, the growth of Rafael Correa as a leader of the anti-Washington politics could become a serious problem for theUnited States US United States
Nobody has doubts that President Rafael Correa will be re-elected for a new term after the “amendment” of the
Why this election is important? Securely, now that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is very sick, Rafael Correa will take the lead of the Latin-American politics anti-Washington.
We have to remember that the Ecuadorean President last year gave asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange accused of sexual-assault in
Rafael Correa also declared
President Correa was educated in
Due to the poor American foreign politics related to Latin American issues, the growth of Rafael Correa as a leader of the anti-Washington politics could become a serious problem for the
Story: Ecuador's Correa Poised to Broaden His Sway –
Part 2
My Comment: Till now, the Latin America foreign politics is a pending subject
of our foreign office.
We – the
United States as a member of this beautiful continent named America – cannot
ignore common political, economic, social, geographic and historic points that
we have with our brothers who live on the south of the Rio Grande – river that
forms part of the Mexico–United States border – to Tierra del Fuego (the last
important territory of South America that belongs to Argentina and Chile).
If all the countries of the American continent learn to live together in an environment of respect and cooperation with the others, we will be stronger than in our association withEurope or Asian
If all the countries of the American continent learn to live together in an environment of respect and cooperation with the others, we will be stronger than in our association with
nations.
(2013/02/17)
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THEME:
Economy, Business and Technology
Story: AMR, US Airways Boards Separately Approve Merger Deal
– Part 1
Subject: The new mega-merger of
two airline companies received the approval of the boards of these carriers.
My Comment: This is the new step to
destroy our airline industry with mega-marriages that never work properly and
after that end in a series of “outsourcing processes”…
Because top management of these big corporations are not able to solve their real problems through the way of “automation” and using technology to transform anachronistic systems into an efficient system, they go to “church” and they say to the “priest”, we want you to “marry” us as the richest and biggest world airline company of the planet.
This is one more sample of the same stupidity that we saw during the last two decades in the same and other industries. (2013/02/15)
Because top management of these big corporations are not able to solve their real problems through the way of “automation” and using technology to transform anachronistic systems into an efficient system, they go to “church” and they say to the “priest”, we want you to “marry” us as the richest and biggest world airline company of the planet.
This is one more sample of the same stupidity that we saw during the last two decades in the same and other industries. (2013/02/15)
Story: AMR, US Airways Boards Separately Approve Merger Deal
– Part 2
My Comment: The news says the boards of American
Airlines parent AMR Corp and US Airways Group separately voted to approve the
merger of the two airline companies.
Is this news good news?
Okay, it all appears from the corner that we are seeing the new scenery: the world’s largest airline!!!
When I studied economics at the university I grew up with the idea that mergers help to consolidate business operations, grow in profitability and improve services for the customers.
Across my experience in the field – as analyst, journalist and university professor in the department of economic sciences of one university - I changed my mind. Why?
Because I learned that a lot of the mega-mergers are only good for the concentration of the “power” of a small group of companies, but they don’t solve the crucial problems of the industry: they don’t improve customer services, they don’t put the prices of their services at a more reasonable level for their customers and in the end cut employment, cut their own services and outsourcing all they can to reduce their costs but nothing more.
Now, we have to observe what really will happen with the new marriage after the honeymoon finishes. (2013/02/15)
Is this news good news?
Okay, it all appears from the corner that we are seeing the new scenery: the world’s largest airline!!!
When I studied economics at the university I grew up with the idea that mergers help to consolidate business operations, grow in profitability and improve services for the customers.
Across my experience in the field – as analyst, journalist and university professor in the department of economic sciences of one university - I changed my mind. Why?
Because I learned that a lot of the mega-mergers are only good for the concentration of the “power” of a small group of companies, but they don’t solve the crucial problems of the industry: they don’t improve customer services, they don’t put the prices of their services at a more reasonable level for their customers and in the end cut employment, cut their own services and outsourcing all they can to reduce their costs but nothing more.
Now, we have to observe what really will happen with the new marriage after the honeymoon finishes. (2013/02/15)
Story: Peugeot Citroën Reports Record Loss – Part 1
Subject: A loss of US$ 6.74
billion hit the financial results of the second European car maker, the French
Peugeot Citroën.
My Comment: Heavy losses! The French car maker
Peugeot Citroën posted US$ 6.74 billion loss in 2012.
Any surprise? No! During all the past year we received a lot of bad news from the French company with the icon of the lion, while the majority of the German makers showing good results and in particular VW (No. 1 of the European Market) gave us one the best samples of a strong position in the middle of ()the European crisis.
But the problems of Peugeot are not new. Also we read a lot criticism about technical problems of its cars and bad customer service attitude acrossEurope and other markets.
In particular, the fall of Peugeot in 2012 was abrupt from a Euro 588 million profit in 2011 to a net loss of Euro 5.01 billion (US$ 6.74 billion).
Solutions? The top management of the Peugeot Citroën announced restructuring measures with goals for 2014 and 2015. We have to observe and follow the initiatives. Meanwhile we agree with the writer of this story that the French maker is in a vulnerable situation due to its commercial links with three weak markets:Spain Italy France
Any surprise? No! During all the past year we received a lot of bad news from the French company with the icon of the lion, while the majority of the German makers showing good results and in particular VW (No. 1 of the European Market) gave us one the best samples of a strong position in the middle of ()the European crisis.
But the problems of Peugeot are not new. Also we read a lot criticism about technical problems of its cars and bad customer service attitude across
In particular, the fall of Peugeot in 2012 was abrupt from a Euro 588 million profit in 2011 to a net loss of Euro 5.01 billion (US$ 6.74 billion).
Solutions? The top management of the Peugeot Citroën announced restructuring measures with goals for 2014 and 2015. We have to observe and follow the initiatives. Meanwhile we agree with the writer of this story that the French maker is in a vulnerable situation due to its commercial links with three weak markets:
Story: Peugeot Citroën Reports Record Loss – Part 2
My Comment answering to
another member of the Journal Community from Croatia
Two years ago, a friend of mine bought inMunich , Germany
Two years ago, a friend of mine bought in
Subject: T. Rowe is the second investing
firm from Wall Street that complains for the way the privatization of Dell Inc
is managing.
My Comment: Once more through the reaction of
T. Row Price Group against the Michael Dell’s plan to go private, we see that
Mr. Dell only thought about his own “pocket” when decided to change the
financial status of Dell Inc. from “public company in Nasdaq to a private
company.
I have
repeated in a series of previous comments, that the value of US 24.4 billion is
lower than the real value of the Dell Inc, if Michael Dell makes serious
efforts to redefine his company like a provider of technology solutions and
services for corporate and small and medium businesses.
Definitively,
the solution of the Dell Inc. will not come through the privatization. It will
come through a smart plan going ahead over “corpses” of the hardware sector of
PCs. (2013/02/12)
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