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Showing posts from May, 2019

Free Market Economics: Problems and Solutions

Free Market Economics: Problems and Solutions Rick Olson September 13, 2018, revised June 29, 2019 The private enterprise/free market/capitalism model of economies has been highly successful. Not only is it perceived to be optimal in theory, but the performance of the U.S. and European countries vs. USSR and Communist China (before some loosening up) should be convincing. The surge in China began with some relaxing of private ownership/incentives in agriculture and allowing locally owned enterprises to flourish. Even President Obama has said, ". . .  it is important to remember that capitalism has been the greatest driver of prosperity and opportunity the world has ever known." "The Way Ahead", October 8, 2016,   https://www.economist.com/briefing/2016/10/08/the-way-ahead Free market economic theory, also known as capitalism is based on a set of assumptions: i.e.: ·   capital assets are owned ·   prices are the signals that a...

A Tanzania African Safari - Up Close and Personal

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My 10 day biking safari tour in Tanzania Immediately after my climbs of Mt. Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro, I dove into another adventure. Go here for that story. The plan was to bike for 5 days to get to the vehicular safari, be in the Toyota Land Cruiser for 3 days in the Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti, and then bike out the last two days. The afternoon we returned from Mt. Kilimanjaro, I was met at the Mvuli Hotel by my cycling guide, Raymond Julius . Our first task was to get me outfitted for the tour, as I had brought nothing for this part of my adventure. At the cycling shop, I bought cycling shorts, arm warmers (for sun protection), cycling gloves, cycling socks, and a tube head warmer (again, for sun protection as well as sweat control). I was able to get quality stuff much cheaper than they would have cost in the USA. We also bought 50 SPF sun blocker at another store - very expensive. I would use my running shoes and borrowed a helmet from Raymo...