2011年1月30日 星期日

社會正義在那裡

馬不知臉長玩臉書不要臉
coapman2011/01/31
江國慶被刑求逼供是在1996年,他被槍斃是在1997年,那時候台灣早已經解嚴多年,警備總部已經撤銷,白色恐怖也被認為已經過 去。然而國民黨的官僚,中華民國的軍人,還在以電擊棒和在生殖器官放冰塊的手法向他們認定的嫌犯刑求逼他們認罪,將無辜的江國慶屈打成招,並抓去槍斃。

這跟國民黨的戒嚴時期有何不同?跟東廠、錦衣衛有何不同?

當時的單位主管陳肇敏還因破案有功被記功嘉獎。在馬英九上台以後他還因為在真調會鬼扯蛋有功,被請出來當國防部長。後來因為民調老是吊車尾而黯然下台。

這樣的國民黨,這樣的中華民國,這樣的愚蠢殘暴官僚,此時此刻,真是丟臉可恥到極點。身為國民黨主席兼中華民國總統的馬英九卻在大玩臉書,為人氣火旺而沾沾自喜。

不要臉的馬英九居然還有臉玩臉書,真他馬的不要臉,馬不知臉長。

以下是摘錄自一個目擊者的描述,真是悽慘、血腥、恐怖。

雖然事隔多年,該名不願曝光身分的目擊者在還原江被槍斃的過程時,仍聲音顫抖、語氣激動,他向記者說:「這樁大冤案,行刑過程到現在我有時想起,還會做噩夢。」「自己當年奉命參與行刑過程,也覺得雙手染滿鮮血。」

目 擊者回憶說,1997年8月13日午夜12點鐘響剛過,關在空軍桃園八德監獄裡的江國慶就被押到監獄旁的軍事法庭上,審判長告知江兩小時後執行槍決,並作 最後驗明正身筆錄,江國慶面對死亡並沒有哭泣,從容回答庭上的詢問,庭上問有無遺言時,江國慶仍斬釘截鐵說:「人不是我殺的。」

目擊者 描述,法庭一旁已準備好送江國慶上路的最後一餐,有豆干、滷蛋、雞腿和一小瓶參茸酒,審判長問他要不要吃一點,江說不用,說要寫遺書給父親,審判長遞給他 一張公文紙和原子筆,江用銬著手銬的手握著筆,很鎮定地把握時間振筆疾書,仍一再強調案子不是他幹的,他是被刑求誣賴,並列出冤枉他的長官名字,說死後要 化為厲鬼,向他們討債。

據了解,江國慶留下的名單,就是江父貼在家中牆上多年、恨之入骨的「狗官」; 江父用毛筆在十行紙上寫了18個名字,包括當時的空軍作戰司令部司令陳肇敏、上校反情報參謀官柯仲慶、反情報隊少校保防官鄧震環,以及松山指揮部上尉保防官何祖耀等。

目擊者說,江國慶匆匆寫完遺書,隨即就有醫官幫他打麻醉針,江稍微掙扎了一下,此時才面露驚恐、眼神絕望卻不甘心,他咬牙切齒說:「我一定要化為厲鬼,向害我的人索命。」不一會兒麻醉藥發作,江癱軟地上,由獄卒抬起送上車,帶往附近桃園空軍懷生機場旁的山頭刑場。

目 擊者說,他永遠忘不了江國慶被帶到刑場時,負責行刑的防砲部隊如臨大敵、包圍刑場警戒的肅殺氣氛,凌晨二時整,江國慶被拖到刑場中央一處由沙包堆成的行刑 台上俯趴著,三名負責執行槍決的阿兵哥持長槍同時對準江背後心臟部位各開一槍,但可能射偏了,江國慶身體扭曲地從沙包堆上滾落,法醫上前檢視他並沒氣絕, 眾人於是趕緊將他再拖上沙包堆,一名阿兵哥立即再補1槍,江國慶21歲的青春生命就此終止。
目擊者說:「那一幕真是恐怖到極點,即使到現在有時候想起,還會做噩夢。」而更讓他倒抽一口冷氣的是,江國慶氣絕後,執行槍決的軍人和收屍人員等,一窩蜂趨前急著敲下銬在江腳踝上的腳鐐,說要送給長官鎮煞,那副冷血和拍馬屁的模樣讓他心寒不已。

江冤死那天,是監獄固定探監日,江父一早就到八德監獄,一如往常申請面會,沒想到管理員要江父去領遺體,江父在毫無心理準備下,差點昏厥,父子連見最後一面話別都落空。


比行求更可怕的還在下面 ...

目擊者表示,當時許榮洲已承認犯案,軍方應知江是冤枉的,但怕翻案造成刑求逼供的軍官與將領被連累,為了保「星星」仍將錯就錯,昧著良心讓一條無辜生命冤死,讓人痛心難過。

國防部昨發布新聞稿,仍強調當初認定是江國慶而非許榮洲為兇手的原因,遭綠委蔡煌瑯痛批執迷不悟,「只想推諉卸責,麻木不仁。」藍委吳育昇也指摘:「國防部還停留在過去威權時代,不自省,完全沒有人權概念。」
詳全文

這不是「沒有人權概念」,這是「沒有人性」。

江國慶冤案得平,歸功於有個老爸鍥而不捨。其他沒人追訴的冤案還有多少?要不要把這批人經手的案子統統翻出來重新審查?

馬英九大概沒空,他正忙著玩臉書哩,不要臉就是不要臉。

END

2011年1月29日 星期六

悲慘世界

暴虐酒店 毒打女逼賣淫
警方查扣竹聯幫熊堂「性感賺蝕」公司要求少女、女子簽下的契約。(記者吳仁捷攝)
新北市警察局昨動員100餘人,至「SEXY DIAMOND性感賺蝕」酒店及集團藏身處攻堅,累計救出19名遭毒打、軟禁的失蹤、中輟少女、女子,最年輕的僅有14歲。 (記者吳仁捷攝)
3名成年女公關小姐被毒打後、軟禁集中管理,警方救出後,驚魂甫定。。(記者吳仁捷攝)
新北市警察局少年隊昨破獲竹聯幫熊堂酒店經紀犯罪集團,查扣大批證物;圖為保險套、名片等證物。(記者吳仁捷攝)
偵破竹聯幫熊堂酒店經紀犯罪集團,逮捕首惡熊堂殺手童軍文(右1)、副首腦王壽昌(藍衣者)等10嫌。(記者吳仁捷攝)
性奴少女 逼簽本票
〔記 者吳仁捷/新北報導〕簡直把少女當成性奴隸!台北市「SEXY DIAMOND性感賺蝕」酒店,餵毒控制中輟、失蹤少女,再逼簽本票,強逼脫衣陪酒、賣淫,若逃跑被追回,就毆打、關禁閉,警方前晚搗破「竹聯幫熊堂」把 持的酒店,現場救出6名火坑少女,連同前次行動共救出19名。
迎接尾牙 警方突襲
前天深夜,台北市錦州街酒店區正忙著迎接「尾牙週」,「凱幄」、「香格里拉」等酒店小姐在包廂內,「秀舞」脫得精光以取悅男客,哪知上百名警力已團團包圍,警探踹開包廂時,小姐驚慌地遮掩一絲不掛的肉體。
警方陸續救出6名遭毒打、軟禁的少女和女公關,並逮捕首惡35歲童軍文、副首腦27歲王壽昌等10嫌,訊後依違反組織犯罪條例等罪嫌送辦。
警方說,去年底於新北市頭前國中前,尋獲4名失蹤少女,發現她們輟學期間涉賣淫,從而偵悉「熊堂」集團利用報紙求職、同儕介紹管道,收留中輟、失蹤少女,涉餵毒讓少女上癮,逼簽數十萬本票,到酒店脫衣陪酒、賣淫,若不堪被逼而逃,一旦被保鑣追回,即遭痛打、拘禁、恐嚇。
少女若因賣淫而懷孕,就被帶去墮胎,還逼繼續接客;而賣淫一次收5000元,少女只能分1800元,其餘都遭幫派、酒店、車伕層層剝削,少女處境宛如性奴隸。
只要加價 全都能玩
警方說,該集團為迎合男客,還在「員工調查表」詢問少女可否接受口爆、內射、顏射、走後門、不穿雨衣、多P,每願配合一項要求,性交易就加價1000元。

政府實際負債累計近二十兆

主權評等降級所凸顯的國家危機
自由時報社論2011/01/29
就在馬英九政府吹噓整體經濟情況大好之際,國際信用評等機構惠譽(Fitch Ratings)本週三宣布降低台灣主權評等。國家的債信評等被降級,不但是我國接受惠譽信用評等十年以來第一次,也凸顯政府財政惡化已經不容忽視,在希 臘等歐洲國家因債信問題而引發金融危機之後,這實在是對我國所發出的嚴重警訊。
惠譽信評調降我國主權評等,其實只是反映國內外財經學者對台 灣財政惡化的普遍憂慮。有如惠譽信評所指出,台灣不但公共債務結構惡化,當年財政赤字及政府整體債務占國內生產毛額(GDP)比率上升,政府雖有所謂中長 程債務健全方案,對增進財政盈餘並不能產生實質效果,因為其所增加的稅收都被減稅措施抵銷;展望未來,政府收支短差難以彌平,財政繼續惡化的可能性很高。
對 於惠譽信評這一評估,財政部的反應令人不敢恭維。由於惠譽信評在把我國債信降級的同時,也指出台海兩岸關係緩和,評等展望由負向調整為穩定,財政部便因此 強調,「可見我國改善財政的努力,已受到肯定」。當大官的也許慣常從光明面看待公共事務,像財政部如此自我臉上貼金,有如它屢次宣稱「中華民國財政是全世 界最好的」,卻已幾近睜眼說瞎話的地步。尤有甚者,對於已經惡化的財政,財政部不但未見實質改進及改革作為,猶辯稱面對金融危機及莫拉克風災重建,「適度 舉債」是政府必要作為;對於馬政府上任以來政府財政顯著惡化的情況,毫無愧色。
我國財政惡化到這種地步,原因不只一端。從政府收入面來說, 由於馬政府大力推動減稅,導致我國稅收占GDP比重或租稅負擔率三年來明顯下降,去年的租稅負擔率十一.四%,不但較一九九○年代的二十%高峰下降八個百 分點,不如主要國家的二十%水準,也是惠譽信評所有A級評等國家中最低的,這正是這次被調降評等的主因。按道理說,減稅主要應在促進投資,以發展經濟,並 厚植未來稅收潛力。但是,馬政府的減稅,不但年年為之,未必有效經由促進投資以助經濟成長,卻造成稅率只降難升,實質降低了政府稅收;且遺贈稅等減降反而 為有錢人提供炒作房地產的資金來源,相對讓薪資階級繼續承擔沉重稅負,擴大財富差距。
在政府支出方面,馬政府支出毫無節制,讓政府債台不斷 高築。有如最近引發爭議的公務員退休養老利息十八趴優惠,政府每年必須支付七、八百億元利息補貼,未來還要增加到一千四百億元的高峰。同樣地,全台灣一個 跨年夜煙火,政府部門要花去納稅人上億元開支。在財政明顯惡化的今天,國人看不到馬政府針對政府支出有負責任的改善作法,有如美國歐巴馬總統日前在國情咨 文中宣布,今後五年將凍結政府內政支出,務使未來十年減少財政赤字四千億美元。相反地,馬政府似乎認為,即使政府舉債瀕臨公共債務法上限,只要到時候再提 高上限,問題即可迎刃而解。從而,它對基本的稅制改革與財政重建,都未認真從事。即使最近通過的軍教課稅案,也因採取「課多少、補多少」原則,對改善財政 及租稅公平助益有限。
我國財政惡化的狀況,事實上還不僅是馬政府粉飾太平所宣稱的數字。以政府未償還債務餘額而言,財政部設立的「國債鐘」 所列,也許不到五兆元,但如把地方政府、非營業基金自償性債務、勞健保及軍公教退休金等各種政府潛藏性債務一併計算,政府實際負債累計近二十兆元,約 GDP的一百四十七%,台灣的國家債信難有回升機會。儘管如此,馬政府對於監察院去年十月糾正行政院及財政部,指政府債務餘額持續攀升,潛藏性負債龐大, 將對國家發展與國家安全形成潛藏的威脅,顯然視若無睹。
主權評等遭調降,只是馬政府所導致國家退步的最新一例。將近三年來,台灣的新聞自由 國際評比失去「亞洲第一」寶座,失業率高居「四小龍」第一,國家陷入中國「口袋戰術」漸難自拔。無能的執政者,如果只是把一部分國政短期間搞壞,國家於再 一次政黨輪替之後或仍有扭轉乾坤的機會,但馬政府所造成的國家退步,有如財政惡化,卻無改革的決心及負責任做法,勢必造成難以挽回的災難。

2011年1月28日 星期五

台灣處處充滿謊言與掩飾 大危機

核四廠光纖 竟遭鼠輩咬毀
龍門電廠一號機主控室高架地板下的光纖纜線,發生多處被老鼠咬損情形。 (圖:原能會提供)
〔記者湯佳玲/台北報導〕核四龍門電廠一號機主控室的光纖竟發生多處被老鼠咬損情形,核能安全監督委員直呼離譜,立委田秋堇要求台電絕對不能再發生這種狀況。
原能會昨天舉辦「第四屆核能安全監督委員會第三次會議」。原能會科長莊長富指出,在一號機主控室高架地板下的光纖發現囓齒類的痕跡,大約分布在不到10條光纖、約10公分的範圍內,初判應該是老鼠的咬痕,引起立委與核安監督委員的高度關注。
立委諷:多養貓
核安監督委員崔愫欣質疑這是意外還是常態?田秋堇則追問台電有無防範之道,「是要加裝捕鼠器,還是多養貓?」原能會副主委謝得志表示,老鼠咬損光纖的情事在正式運轉後「絕對不能發生」。
核安監督委員林宗堯表示,主控室會發生光纖被老鼠咬損的情況,有其結構性問題。他說,系統施工完畢要移交給電廠,有些系統試運轉一年多都還沒完成,無法交給電廠的值班人員看管,安全空檔是誰在管?「就是因為太早移交,才會發生老鼠咬、主控室起火、又無通風設備等情況。」
莊長富說,咬痕初判是一、兩年前老鼠留下來的痕跡,台電已經在主控室擺放捕鼠器,並透過控制飲食及加裝空調後,近來都沒再發現老鼠的蹤跡。由於光纖負責訊號傳輸,如果被老鼠咬斷,訊號就不通了;目前已將破損處剪斷,重新熔接處理,也要求台電須確保不再發生。
龍門電廠專業總工程師徐永華回應表示,會從源頭處、施工管制方面重新檢討、並禁止飲食。

香港房價 全世界最貴 台灣趨勢如果不變 可能走向香港化

香港房價 全世界最貴 〔編譯劉千郁/綜合報導〕房地產調查機構Savills Plc.的調查顯示,香港房價居世界之冠,比倫敦高了五十五%,房地產供給不足造成香港房價居高不下。
Savills Plc.調查香港、倫敦、紐約、莫斯科四個城市房價,其中香港房價最高,莫斯科房價比倫敦高七.四%,紐約房價比倫敦低十五%。受到貸款利率創新低、房市 供給不足與中國投資客湧入等多重因素影響,香港房價不斷飆升,根據香港最大房產仲介中原地產資料顯示,自二○○九年初香港房價已經上漲五十五%。
Savills Plc.指出,在接下來的一年到一年半,房價還會繼續上升,港府宣佈的一連串打房措施成效不彰,香港特首曾蔭權矢言釋出更多土地、增加住宅供給,同時調升 房產稅打擊投機行為。追蹤香港七大土地開發商股價表現的恆生房產指數自二○○九年初上漲七十六%,顯示房市已經走出金融危機陰霾。
另一美國 研究機構Demographia日前一份報告指出,香港是全球三百二十五個城市中房價最難負擔的城市,去年第三季香港住宅中位數為二百五十八萬港元,是一 般家庭收入中位數二十二萬五千四百港元的十一.四倍,位居全球最高。美國密西根州Saginaw房價為家庭收入的一.六倍,是全球房價最容易負擔的城市。

2011年1月27日 星期四

景氣回升?勞團:薪資降勞工窮忙

【記者耿豫仙/台北報導】主計處近日公布,台灣去年12月失業率已降至4.67%,經濟學者、學術單位不約而同發布景氣復 甦報告,但經勞團拆解,復甦的數據是一回事,失業週數增長、臨時或派遣工大增、平均薪資衰退到12年前的水準等現象,正逐漸使就業環境惡化,台灣勞工將窮 忙而得不到穩定的工作。
勞工陣線祕書長孫友聯、台灣勞動與社會政策研究協會執行長張烽益與立委黃淑英等人27日在立法院召開記者會,說明台灣勞動市場並未因失業率下降而有所改變。
孫友聯指出,部分工時與派遣勞工大增。每週工作35小時以下者,從2004年的7.98萬人,到去年12月攀升到53萬人,2008年更上升到130萬人。勞動市場惡化、微薄或低薪工作大增,造成工作貧窮的問題。
勞動市場如此,政府釋放的訊息卻不一樣,黃淑英說,政府帶頭僱用派遣、自然人勞工,低薪聘用,為節省行政成本,不顧勞工工作條件與環境,勞委會卻未能善盡把關之責。景氣回升只是肥財團,瘦勞工。
孫友聯也提到,政府大量僱用人數增加。2009年5月至今約為105萬人,這些依賴政府補貼的勞工,一旦政府收手退場,隨之面臨的即是裁減失業,而在公部門的就業機會零碎,無法累積工作資歷與成就。
根據主計處公布的資料,台灣勞工的薪資下降到12年前的水準,而如果扣掉消費者物價指數的上揚,2010年薪資與1995年相比,反而負成長9.7%。而目前就業市場每月薪資在2萬元以下者約為103.8萬人。
張烽益表示,勞委會在25日公布2011年十大施政要點,完全沒有針對目前就業市場的問題核心提出對策。他說,過年後,行政院要改組,相關單位是否看到勞動市場惡化,勞工窮忙而賺不到錢的問題,希望改組能回應社會的需求,讓勞工安心。

中國黃金產量 蟬聯世界第一 2010年黃金產量逾340噸

中國黃金產量 蟬聯世界第一 【22:35】


〔中央社〕中國黃金協會今天表示,2010年中國大陸黃金產量逾340噸,比2009年增加近27噸,成長8.57%,再創歷史新高,並連續4年保持世界第一。

中新社報導,中國黃金協會表示,1949年中國黃金產量僅4.07噸,從1970年代起,為解決外匯緊缺問題,中國對黃金生產採取扶持政策,改善技術裝備,逐步擺脫落後生產方式,黃金工業快速發展。

1995年中國黃金產量突破100噸,2003年達到200噸。在持續走高的價格刺激下,中國黃金產量在2009年曾罕見地成長11.34%。

中國黃金協會表示,目前大陸產金縣500多個,黃金工業是100多個縣的支柱產業和重要財政收入來源。2010年中國黃金產量前5名省分依序是山東、河南、江西、雲南、福建,5省分總產量占大陸總產量59.82% 。

據統計,2010年中國黃金市場需求活躍,首飾、工業、投資用金超過510噸。上海黃金交易所各類黃金產品成交逾6000噸,比2009年成長28.48%,成交額人民幣逾1兆6000億元,比2009年成長57.07%。

林忠正︰要活著出來看到司改

被控收賄判14年 林忠正︰要活著出來看到司改 〔記者邱燕玲/台北報導〕被控收賄判刑十四年定讞的前金管會委員林忠正將在二月十一日入監服刑,林的好友施明德、林向愷、姚立明等昨為他舉行入監告別記者會。聽到朋友的力挺與祝福,林忠正淚流滿面,強調「我絕不是判決書上說的林忠正!」「我會活著出來看到司法改革!」
記者會由名嘴楊憲宏主持,現場海報上寫著「我不是判決書中說的林忠正,但我不再掙扎了,我絕望了。」一向輕鬆面對人生的林忠正在記者會上淚流不止,數度哽咽到說不出話來。
林忠正指出,過去這段時間他曾想自殺,但後來決定要活下來看到司法改革,希望他是藍綠惡鬥下的最後一個犧牲者;此案件也讓他的家庭更團結,「我兒子因此放棄華爾街的工作,決定擔任公設辯護人,為社會做事。」談到兒子的轉變,林更泣不成聲。
林忠正強調,他絕對沒有對不起這個社會,他很絕望,仍要去服刑,要在獄中做一個修行者,沈默不代表認罪,但法院甚至連更審的機會都不給。
施明德說,三十幾年前他提出台灣有黨禁、報禁、戒嚴、萬年國會、司法不公五大害,如今前四害已除,唯獨司法不公仍「壽比南山」,好比無敵鐵金剛。
林向愷則以自己為例表示,他擔任高雄市財政局長時曾被起訴,一審被判無罪,之後聽說高分院某些法官因政治傾向對判決有不同意見,他因此南北到處燒香拜佛,只為了祈求案子不要被特定政治立場的法官抽到,「面對司法的不確定性,我唯一做的就是去燒香!」20110127自由電子報

2011年1月26日 星期三

理想與妥協

曹長青誰在肢解民進黨?


昨天22結束的民進黨全國臨代會令人矚目,因為其決定民進黨總統候選人和立委的產生方式。最後備受爭議的「全民調」方式得到通過。這個方式將對民進黨的未來產生嚴重影響,甚至可能導致民進黨的變質化、泡沫化。

民進黨的總統和區域立委全部用民調方式產生,至少產生兩個嚴重後果:

第 一,基層黨員將難再有積極性,因為黨員最重要的權利(黨內初選投票權)被剝奪;其結果,將可能從基層瓦解民進黨。在美國等西方民主國家,選民之所以會註冊 加入某個政黨,不僅是因為認同其理念,更重要的是,可以在黨內初選(總統候選人、州長、議員等等)時,具有投票權,選擇那些體現該黨價值,更符合自己理念 的候選人。如果沒有了這個黨內「投票」選擇權,那這個「黨員」當不當已不具實質意義。因為沒有了權利,也就沒有了義務,更沒有了熱情。

本來民進黨的黨員人數就相當少,甚至少到可憐。上次總統大選後民進黨改選黨主席,報導說投票率五成一,共十三萬人投票,說明全部民進黨黨員是二十六萬左右;這在上次綠營總統候選人獲得的五百四十四萬選票中,比例占不到百分之五;更不要說在全台灣人口中,才是百分之一多一點。

民進黨政治自殺

在比較成熟的民主國家,主要政黨都注重發展基層黨員,在總統和議員等選舉中,也主要靠本黨的黨員票,即基本盤。例如上次美國總統大選,奧巴馬拿到六千六百萬票,但民主黨註冊黨員有八千七百萬(占全國人口百分之二十九),等於百分之百拿的是本黨黨員票(還流失了兩千萬票)。對手麥肯拿到五千八百萬票,共和黨註冊黨員是五千五百萬,等於百分之九十五拿的是本黨註冊黨員票。

美國的兩大政黨,在過去的主要選舉中,基本都是這個格局,主要靠各自的基本盤。但台灣民進黨的註冊黨員,才是全部支持者(投票給綠營候選人)的百分之五,這實在是個非常嚴重的問題。但對這個問題,民進黨高層不去全力解決,不去更努力耕耘基層,發展黨員,重視黨員的權益,激發基本盤的熱情,反而用「全民調」完全甩開黨員,等於是「廢棄」黨員,那以後誰還會加入這個黨?這不是一個政黨的「自殺」行為嗎?

民 進黨選擇「全民調」的一個理由是,如果黨內初選,因為有「人頭黨員」問題,可能會造成司法問題,影響將來當選人的合法性。但是,一個成立了二十多年、追求 民主的政黨,還存在「人頭黨員」(實質是作弊)問題,這實在是個恥辱!這是個必須嚴肅面對、積極解決的問題。投票,是黨員最重要的一個職責。而人投票的問 題不解決,等於什麼票都不能投了。換句話說,什麼問題都不能用投票解決了。那民主用什麼方式實踐?這麼重大的問題,怎麼能用「全民調」來回避?而不顧「全 民調」將使民進黨基層被掏空,最後頭重腳輕,甚至變成「稻草人」、泡沫化?

妥協派打敗原則派

第 二,「全民調」將導致民進黨的立委、縣市長、總統人選等,統統偏離綠營的原則理念。因為堅持基本盤理念的候選人,難以在「全民調」中勝出。原因很明顯,因 為這個「全民調」不是在全體綠營支持者中民調,而是在有藍有綠的所有民眾中民調。在台灣藍綠對半的政情下,等於有一半藍營的人(在有些地方比例更高)參加 民進黨的總統和立委人選決定。可想而知,那些堅定推動台灣成為一個正常國家的綠營候選人,絕對無法被藍營認同和選擇,一定會在這種「民調」中被藍營的參與 者「淘汰」。而勝出的,一定是因妥協綠營理念而被藍營喜歡的,或起碼是被藍營視為「溫和」的。而被泛藍認定的所謂「溫和派」,必定是不強有力挑戰國民黨的 大中國意識形態、甚至是看藍營的標準和眼色行事的政客。

也就是說,如果經由本黨黨員投票,一個堅定基本盤理念的綠營候選人,以六比四的比例擊敗那個「妥協理念」的黨內對手的話;但在「全民調」中,因有一半藍營的人參加,那個「妥協理念者」卻可以反過來拿到七成選票(加上藍營的五成)而大勝「堅定理念的候選人」。

如果美國也按這種方式做,茶黨候選人一個都不會勝出。而各自政黨的理念堅定者,無論是雷根,還是歐巴馬,都絕對不會當選。世界七大工業國(主要民主國家)的政治參選人,都是靠黨內選舉產生,不可想像用全國民調方式。

偏離建黨初衷和理想

全 民調方式在全民普選中的結果往往是,那個「妥協者」在最後跟國民黨候選人對決時被擊敗,這在民進黨的歷史上屢見不鮮,因為不堅持綠營的原則理念,跟國民黨 自然就沒有明顯區隔,結果綠營不感動,藍營不買賬,只能失敗。曾強調「憲法一中」的謝長廷在總統大選中大輸二百多萬票,就是慘痛的教訓。

除此之外,這樣做的另一個嚴重後果是,民進黨內堅持原則理念的人會逐漸都被淘汰。民進黨就「變質」了,偏離甚至背叛追求台灣成為正常國家的建黨初衷和理想,而變得面目皆非。其結局就是變相肢解了這個黨。(作者曹長青為獨立評論員)

作者注:本文是應《自由時報》邀寫的“星期專論”,但因這個內容卻無法在該報發表出來,令人深感遺憾。

2011年1月23日

2011年1月25日 星期二

「斯佩發動機之父」歸國後的悲劇

☉林輝
對飛機構造有所了解的人,一定都知道斯佩(Spey)發動機,它是英國勞斯萊斯公司針對中、近程客機的需要於上個世紀1950年代末期生產的一種低旁通比 渦輪風扇發動機。1960年代中期起大量投入使用,分噴水的民用型和加力的軍用型。1964年民用型「斯佩」裝於「三叉戟」、BAC-111等民用客機。 軍用型「斯佩」裝於F-4K、F-4M、法國的幻象IV和西德的F-104G等軍用戰鬥機。可以說,斯佩發動機是世界聞名的,其特點是推力大、耗油低、可 維護性好、使用壽命長等。
在上個世紀的中國大陸,中共迫切需要加強自己的軍事力量,當然也包括空軍在內,而提高軍用飛機性能的關鍵恰恰是發動機。雖然中共組織人力在自主研發軍用發動機,但由於這樣那樣的原因,諸多技術仍落後世界十幾年。
於是,1970年代初,中共高層先後下令從英國購進民用和軍用斯佩發動機。在引進斯佩發動機時,英國人的要價十分高昂,僅某些計算手稿就要80萬英鎊,談判幾度停頓。
後來,不知中共哪位官員提到了吳仲華曾在英國勞斯萊斯發動機公司工作過。仔細一找,吳仲華正被關在牛棚中,負責打掃廁所。中共高層立即下令讓吳仲華參加中方談判組。
吳仲華,1917年7月出生在上海,1940年畢業於西南聯大後留校任教,1947年在美國麻省理工學院獲博士學位,並先後任美國NACA研究科學家、 PIB教授。後來他去英國勞斯萊斯發動機公司工作,並於1950年代初發表了《軸流、徑流和混流式亞聲速與超聲速葉輪機械中三元流動的普遍理論》論文,其 所提出的理論在國際上被稱為「吳氏通用理論」,其主要方程被稱為「吳氏方程」。吳氏通用理論在國際上已廣泛地應用於先進的航空發動機的設計中。
在英國工作期間,吳仲華根據「三元」原理發明了斯佩發動機,因此被譽為「斯佩發動機之父」。事實上,現代噴氣發動機仍然是根據這個原理設計的。
1954年,吳仲華不顧英國的挽留,選擇了回國。但是令他沒想到的是,在1958年反右中,他受到了重點批判,被認為思想右傾;1964年「四清運動」中,吳仲華再次被打倒;1966年文革爆發後,則被關進牛棚接受改造。
當中共高層特許吳仲華參與和英方的談判後,英方代表發現這個新來的代表很不一般,對斯佩發動機的原理十分熟悉,很不好對付。於是忍不住請問他的姓名,吳仲 華回答道:「我叫吳仲華!」英方代表聞聽驚訝極了,眼睛也睜大了。突然,首席代表起立,並叫全體代表也站起來,向吳仲華敬禮說:「你是我老師的老師。」談 判由此順利進行。
然而,一個如此富有才華、讓英國人如此尊敬的科學家卻在回國後屢遭批判,而且再無建樹,於1992年9月悄然去世。這樣的悲劇是誰造成的自然是不言而喻。

世界變得陌生而可怕

反詐騙刑警 涉詐億元豪宅 〔記者劉榮、黃敦硯、劉慶侯/綜合報導〕承辦預防犯罪宣導業務、曾主講反詐騙主題的刑警,卻被老婦指控誆騙她的上億元豪宅!
老婦控警抵押其房產還賣個資
七十六歲的老婦莊麗珠指控,兩年前她想為台北市大安區透天豪宅辦理借名登記,以便向銀行借款時,透過北市大安警分局已婚管區警員范鈺森,過戶到其女友曾玉惠名下,她後來要求返還產權,才發現房產已被抵押;莊婦又說,范員為了還卡債,還高價賣個資給她。
對於莊婦的指控,目前任職大安分局偵查隊的范鈺森,昨表示將聘律師提出誹謗告訴,他喊冤指當初是莊婦主動請他幫忙找人頭過戶,他才找曾姓友人的女兒協助,且約定只過戶三個月,但時間一到,莊婦卻推託過戶要花增值稅等費用,她手頭沒錢不願過戶,而事後自己也未再介入。
范員喊冤將聘律師提誹謗告訴
莊婦的獨棟透天厝位於大安森林公園旁,屋齡約十年,五層樓建坪共一百廿坪,有房仲業初估市價逾一億兩千萬元(經查,台北地院法拍此屋的底價是八千七百萬),莊婦檢具借名登記切結書、豪宅房屋所有權狀,近日向民進黨北市議員莊瑞雄陳情。
莊瑞雄痛批,警方把預防犯罪列為宣導重點,但涉嫌詐欺、誆騙老婦的范鈺森,正是大安分局負責預防犯罪宣導業務的偵查員,「抓賊的變做賊,實在太離譜!」據了解,范員列名「教育部防制詐騙專業宣導師資人才庫」。
大安分局昨表示,范員之前被扣薪,被列為風紀狀況的評估對象,經內部調查,認為范員涉嫌洩漏個資、與女子不當交往,嚴重違反警紀,除移送司法機關,也召開考績會,將他改調制服警察。
莊姓老婦昨泣訴,自己從事土地買賣,兩年多前,原本只是想抵押房子來借一筆錢,因兩個兒子都是銀行拒絕往來戶,當時警界好友介紹認識范員,范員自告奮勇說女友曾玉惠名字可以出借,為了取信,還影印自己的服務證、女友身分證給她保管。
莊 婦說,她擔心口說無憑,找代書簽切結書保證,過戶後印鑑、所有權狀也由她保管,約定期限內就要歸還;但兩年來范員藉各種理由向她要錢,宣稱「不拿錢,怕女 友會跑掉」,她擔心房子收不回來,幾乎成為范員的提款機。莊婦出示一疊單據、匯款證明表示,范員在外租屋、與女友同居的房子押金、小孩註冊費,都向她伸手 要,她陸續交付一百多萬元;范員為了應付卡債,甚至違法查詢警用電腦,交出一名與她有土地糾紛的關係人刑案紀錄,開價五萬元。
莊婦泣訴,她 目前還住在這棟房子,不料最近幾個月,出現許多宣稱是債權人的黑衣人要求她搬家,房屋外牆也被不明人士潑漆,至於曾女自去年四月已不知去向,她日前要求范 員把曾女找來,將房子還她,范員竟宣稱:「我跟女友已經分手,跟我沒關係了。」她一查之下,赫然發現房子已被曾女抵押。
莊婦不堪三天兩頭被 騷擾,日前到大安分局控告曾女詐欺,還找范員談判,要求把房子過戶回來,范員惱羞成怒,竟然還嗆:「妳是老查某,妳沒我的辦法!」、「找議員也沒有用 啦!」讓她難過得想要一死了之,直呼:「警察不是應該是人民保母嗎?怎麼會變得跟凶神惡霸一樣,這還有天理嗎?」
但范員昨說,他未曾從老婦取得任何好處,也沒有幫她查個資,至於曾女和他也不是男女朋友關係。

廿一世紀e化網路世界

【李鈞震評論】閱讀 不必只有一種選項
李鈞震2011/01/24

〔郭石城/中國時報2011.01.24摘要〕人難免偏執,尤其是用自己的想法,主觀的詮釋別人眼中事物。李家同教授勸年輕學子少看網路文章,免得變笨,顯然有所誤解,因網路文章不見得都是簡單、低俗的文句堆砌,也有感人肺腑的文章。

閱讀,不必只有一種選項,李教授用心良苦,卻少了互相欣賞美感。    廿一世紀e化網路世界無遠弗屆,與實體書本最大不同處,是網路文章透過分享、互動,知識可以在最短時間快速傳播。
    網路虛擬特性,成就了許多笑罵戲謔文章,這種網路文章,是李家同教授口中,憂心看多了會變笨的文章,但這只是網路平台的一部分,如同實體書也有不少淫穢不羈的色情小說
    李家同另推薦年輕學子多看判決文。法官不能違法裁判,論證用法都必須有所本,年輕學子如果想學邏輯推理,多看判決必有助益;如果想練文筆,判決盡是詰屈聱牙文字,恐怕還沒學會寫文章,已先沾一身匠氣。
    好的網路文章,其實也是延伸學習深度與廣度的最佳媒介。   李家同教授如果認為讀網路文章就會變笨,一定會錯過許多精彩網路文章;相對地年輕學子如果只看網路文章,不願多花時間讀李家同推薦的《白鯨記》等四十本書,一定少了汲取其他智慧的機會。
李鈞震:
1.      網路世界不是只有網路文學或部落客,在Google上面還可以找到許多國際學術期刊、各大學的學術論文與研究成果、以及各種大眾化的科學知識……。
2.      透過網路也可以看紐約時報、時代雜誌、經濟學人的文章,以及許多大學教授的教科書,還有各種學術評論……。
3.      網路世界還有許多愛鳥協會、愛浮潛協會、運動資訊、昆蟲世界、植物世界、古典愛樂發燒友……等等有價值的珍貴照片與資訊。
4.      網路上還有古典文學的各種翻譯版本以及評論,也可以找到各種語言版本的柏拉圖全集……,網路世界是認識古典文化最好的管道。
5.      台灣的網路族是真正推動「白話文運動」的實踐者,其精神思想跟胡適同等級,超越了許多精神錯亂的國文老師與古文派。「白話文運動」讓知識傳播的速度更加地快速,並且提升了語言表達的清晰度
6.      在過去網路不發達的時代,各種出版品必須經過出版商的篩選,社會大眾所閱讀的書本,其實是經過出版商的思想控制,所以社會大眾並沒有辦法自由地看到各種不同類型的書籍,以刺激思考能力,容易變成一言堂。
7.      在網路不發達的時代,社會大眾的發言管道受限於被政黨控制的媒體,許多大眾的委屈無處申冤;在這個時代可不同了,每一個人都有充分的發言自由與機會,當然也受法律所約束,但是「自由地發言」可以讓人的思想解放
8.      李家同建議可以看判決書,如果要看,最好看英美國家的判例,因為那才有真正高貴的邏輯思考。
9.      台灣的司法判決經常標準不一引用錯誤的法條,解釋錯誤的思想觀念。台灣絕大多數的法官都沒有資格在美國的普通大學當法律教授,因為邏輯思考與知識水準太差。看了蘇建和案的判決或連勝文的起訴書,腦筋會錯亂。
10.  書本、教授、網路……,都只是一種傳播工具,品質有好有壞。但是在言論自由的世界,所有的「意見」都必須接受自由競爭,真理成分比較多的言論,會流傳久遠,真理成分比較少的言論,很快就會被淘汰、消失。
11.  言論自由的結果,讓所有的人的言論都被迫參加一場言論的自由競賽。所以每個人都比較容易感覺到別人的意見或輿論壓力,這會刺激一個人的思想與觀念,有助於培養獨立思考能力。
12.  自己一個人讀書,往往是帶著個人的偏見或慣性與書本交流;在網路上所發表的言論,則必須接受全民的監督與公審,壓力更大,挑戰更大,智慧與眼界也會因此比較容易增長。
13.  當人們感覺到社會上多數的人都有言論自由,自己的思想品質被迫接受考驗與競爭,所以人不容易停留在閱讀某一類的書籍當中;網路世界的人們,很容易跟別人有互動或交流,因此被迫多元地學習,人就不容易偏執。
14.  網路的世界還可以創造一種新的學習模式與可能,主動學習的人可以透過網路接收全世界最精緻的文化與思想,他很可能在短時間之內智慧與能力就超越世界一流大學的教授,避免浪費了許多被愚蠢教授折磨的時間。
15.  但是對於擺爛成習、不好學的人而言,網路的發展會使得這些人跟好學的人之間,知識落差的差距加速拉開,「知溝」擴大
16.  李家同教授算是知識水準很高的人,在網路不發達的時代,這一種「高知識階級」一般人很難挑戰;但是在網路發達的時代,只要有人思考的深度與廣度比李家同更厲害,李家同的言論就會迅速被淘汰。
17.  二十年前台灣的政客都可以算社會菁英,現在政客雖然會開部落格或Facebook,但是他們到底花多少時間認真地吸收有深度的知識?
18.  對多數的網路族而言,目前台灣的政客知識水準並沒有比張菲、胡瓜、小S高明;政客不過就是這一個時代新的演藝人員類型

2011年1月24日 星期一

吳念真看18%:平平攏是人

吳念真看18%:平平攏是人
吳念真2011/01/20
長久以來「軍公教」總是有意無意地被描繪、被強調成是「為國為民犧牲、奉獻,而待遇卻菲薄」的一群;相形之下,其他行業好像都只是為了獲取一己的生活所需、為圖一己之利而已。
就像這段時日一樣,多年前的一個冬天也是寒流一波接著一波,始終潮溼、低溫、陰霾不開的天氣。罹患礦工職業病矽肺多年的父親已經在台北青島東路一家肺病專科醫院住了將近三個月,病情起伏不定,這樣的季節一到,原本呼吸困難的症狀,不但沒有緩解,甚至還有惡化的現象。
他一直想轉到基隆的海軍醫院,理由是「門診的時候,那邊的藥吃起來就是比較有效!」
其實我們都知道,真正的原因是那邊至少有「同病」因此可以「相憐」的鄰居、朋友,因為處方我們都看過,兩邊的藥基本上差異並不大。
平平攏退休
為什麼做工人兩手空空

有一天,他似乎壓抑到一個極點了,就在我才剛踏進病房的時候,竟然把氧氣管拉掉,以我從未見過的凶狠表情朝我大吼說:你是要我死在這裡就對啦
於是我只好簽下自動出院申請書,將父親轉到海軍醫院。
也許是心情關係,加上天氣逐漸好轉,轉院後父親的病況還真的有明顯的改善,有時候甚至還可以暫時拔下氧氣管到外頭曬太陽,甚至避著護士偷偷吸幾口菸;我遞給他的香菸。
因 為是軍方醫院,所以病患中退伍的軍人不少,有一天,當父親聽到幾個輪椅上的老人談起每個人退伍之後每個月可以領多少錢,存了多少錢,甚至還有一個說想把那 筆錢拿去大陸故鄉蓋一間房子,然後用月退俸當生活開支,「就這樣過以後的日子吧!」之後,父親忽然感慨地說:「做兵退伍還有錢可領,做工的吃老,若不是有 你們,我們不就兩手空空等死!」
也許我們都必須先站在他們的角度上去理解那樣的怨懟:一輩子在那麼陰暗、危險的環境中工作,隨時都有死亡的危險(和軍人差不多吧?),早死的人除了一筆勞保的死亡給付之外,別無撫卹,兒女不管大小從此都得自力更生,想讀書……,沒任何優待或補助。
因工作受傷並且因而殘廢而無法入礦工作的人更慘,傷殘給付領來剛好拿來還債,還什麼債?還沒薪水收入的住院期間向鄰居暫借的生活費用,而此後,除非另找工作,否則毫無收入,不像軍公教之後都還可以按月領錢。
也因此父親他們都曾講過一句令人心痛的話,他們說:「這輩子寧願領死亡給付,也不願領傷殘給付,因為前者至少還可以留給小孩一點錢當作『遺產』,而後者卻只剩一副破敗的身命一輩子拖累子女。」
所以,有一天一堆躺在床上的老礦工忽然感嘆說:「人家軍人退伍,還有退伍軍人輔導委員會,啊礦工退休怎麼沒有人來輔導我們?」
父親和他的朋友們後來都死於呼吸衰竭,甚至忍受不了那種痛苦之下寧願選擇自殘。
幾 年後,當有一天在報紙上看到政府的預算,發現退輔會的預算竟然多於勞委會和農委會的加總時,也許腦袋裡單純地閃出「勞工和農人的人數應該比退伍軍人多吧? 為什麼比較少數的人卻反而有比較高額的預算?」這樣的疑惑,於是隨口說出當年父親的怨懟和老礦工們在病床上的感嘆,沒想到卻激怒了一個出身自軍人家庭的朋 友。
他認為軍人在退伍之後本就應該得到比較好的福利和照顧,理由是,為了國家他們一輩子只學一件事,就是「如何殺人?」一旦離開軍隊之後, 他們沒有其他專長,所以當然要得到必要的輔導照顧;至於其他行業的人在人生過程中都有隨時轉換的機會和自由,意思是,這些人一旦老去之後,所有可能的遭遇 都必須自己負責。
平平攏是人
為什麼我比別人卡細漢?

我沒有跟著激動,因為我知道我們似乎也必須站在他的角度上去理解他的理直氣壯,一如理解父親當年的感嘆。
或許是過往的年代裡某些特殊情勢的關係,長久以來「軍公教」總是有意無意地被描繪、被強調成是「為國為民犧牲、奉獻,而待遇卻菲薄」的一群;相形之下,其他行業好像都只是為了獲取一己的生活所需、為圖一己之利而已。
然 而「軍公教為國為民犧牲、奉獻、而待遇卻菲薄」這樣的說法,別說現在,即使在過去的年代裡,也不是所有人都認同的,以民國四、五十年代的礦村和農村來說, 比較起來,公教人員的收入和生活水平都比礦工和農人高,否則也不會有那麼多人把考上師專或考上公務人員當成人生重要的目標(也許當時戰爭的陰影始終存在, 選擇當職業軍人,基本上不容易被父母親接受)。
至於「犧牲、奉獻」,任誰都知道那只是一個神聖的抽象名詞罷了,「收入穩定、不怕失業」才是多數走向這些行業的人無法否認的最實際的選項。
一 旦行業神聖的光環消失(或不被相信),一旦他們的收入和福利與其他行業相較之下並不菲薄,一旦這些人在工作上的危險性和壓力並不比其他行業高,而在退休之 後卻要得到看似特別的照顧,我想無論當年聽著老兵的談話時父親所發出的感慨,或者今天許多人對十八趴直接反彈的原因,至少都可以稍稍理解吧?
以先人的說法是「不患寡(無),而患不均」,換成現在民間的說法則是「平平攏是人,為什麼我們就比人卡細漢?」
‧財訊 2011/01/20

2011年1月23日 星期日

網路黑暗期

民國100年網路黑暗期
黃國華2011/01/23
民國一百年,到底會不會發生大泡沫?我不知道。但我可以知道一點,就是網路世界已經進入黑暗期。大家都知道,在上一世紀末之前,還沒 有任何一條台北捷運通車的時候,台北市有所謂的「交通黑暗期」,大概現在六年級的年輕人都還有印象。到了今年2010年的最後一個月,網路界發生一件又新 鮮又奇怪又讓人震驚又令人哭笑不得的一件「醜聞」。沒錯,我就是把它定義成為一件醜聞。
2010年末,某公關公司,透過留言機器人,尋找美 食部落格或是尋找有人氣的部落客,散佈併徵求這些網路作家,共同參加一件餐飲店的行銷企劃案。那企劃案的行銷標的是新北市一家麻辣鍋店。當然就一般來說, 介紹與推薦本來就是一個願打一個願挨。餐廳招待一些有人氣或有公信力的部落客來試吃,若吃得皆大歡喜,寫寫文章美言幾句,這本來就是無可厚非。但最妙的 事,這家公關公司突發奇想,居然在邀請信件中,直接寫明「不需要去店裡」試吃,若格主沒有時間去該餐廳試吃,公關公司可以直接提供照片,甚至還有範本文章 與制式文字可以拷貝貼上。只要轉發範本文章就可以賺「公關費」,若這件事情到此為止就算了。剛開始我心裡還納悶,有部落客會自欺欺人到明著幹這種「假推薦 真廣告」的行為嗎?
沒想到,由於公關機器人大量留言,加上超級簡單的複製就可以推薦併獲得佣金,讓各式各樣部落客都轉貼相同文章,幾天後這 些相同內容的推薦試吃文章如雨後春筍般的在網路上流傳氾濫,更讓人啼笑皆非的就是,制式文章裡面寫到說那家麻辣鍋店是我朋友開的,搞得滿城風雨,我內心真 的是OS到極點,沒想到人人的朋友都開同一家麻辣鍋店。
很明顯的這是一件置入性行銷,說得更學院術語一點就是所謂的「病毒行銷」或「部落格行銷」,但這種人人朋友都開麻辣火鍋店這種方式卻是惡性的置入性行銷,已經到了完全造假說謊不打草稿的地步。所以我定位,民國一百年是網路的黑暗期。
在網路界我也算是較為資深的先驅,超過三千多萬的瀏覽人次,在台灣沒有前五名也至少有前十名的流量,我呼籲所有部落格的格主千萬要自重,雖然網路上誰也不認識誰,也不要為了一點蠅頭小利,連親自體驗都沒有就造假體驗經驗去推薦。
傳 統的報紙或電視媒體之所以會被網路取代與淘汰,就是傳統媒體充滿太多的「業配」內容,現在的餐飲店與傳統媒體的業配充斥,搞得大家都是美鳳有約、食尚玩家 或是非凡探索的介紹。網路的初試啼聲就是從自主、無償、分享的基準點崛起,因為是獨立自主的文章,所以不需要業務配合,這點跟傳統媒體的立足點是完全不同 的。就跟維基解密運作的原始概念相同,透過網路運作,還給一般人能夠知道事件真實面貌的基本權利。
網路本來是要顛覆傳統媒體的,但現在網路卻自己破解自己。所以在網路還沒有建立全面公信力之前,網路先進入黑暗期,我多麼希望我的預言是出槌的!

□ 〔 資料來源: 黃國華耕讀筆記 | 引用網址

2011年1月18日 星期二

要在論述與辯論中獲勝,竅門是把對方引導至你所設定的議題

別進國共議題設定的陷阱
黃天麟2011/01/19
如果要在論述與辯論中獲勝,竅門是把對方引導至你所設定的議題,讓對方的思維在你所設定的框框內打滾。民進黨最近爭吵不休的「憲法各表」、「憲法一中」就是因為掉入了此一圈套。
五 都選舉後,國共統戰目標就轉移到二○一二年。他們先利用統媒向民進黨殷勤獻計,希望「民進黨能超越民進黨」爭取選民認同進軍總統府,一面即大力推銷 ECFA這一他們自以為是的經濟「萬靈丹」,同時提醒國人及民進黨員,中國之崛起是現實必須面對,兩岸政策是民進黨不能迴避的問題,甚至是影響勝負的關鍵 因素。而「九二共識、一中各表」即是當今與中國互動的一切前提;民進黨若要否認九二共識,也要找出兩岸政策解套的論述,提出替代方案,不然二○一二年要贏 回政權難矣。
「憲法各表」就是民進黨在上述國共所設定的議題與前提下,拚命打滾、絞盡腦汁思考出來的所謂的「替代方案」。結果當然是,如孫 悟空走不出五指山,萬變不離其「中」,仍是「一個中國」。相信中共正在竊喜說,「正合我意」。因為只要民進黨將「憲法一中」作為與中國交流互動的前提,一 中憲法就被「固化」,以後再也不能動憲法中任何一條「一中條文」,中國的「反獨」策略,就大功告成。
綠營必須了解,藍營所常提的「那你的替代方案是什麼」本身,就是圈套!不跳脫它,就會掉入泥沼。請問,「反侵略」、「反吸毒」也要替代方案嗎?何況「九二共識」根本就是不存在的東西。
「一 中各表是兩岸關係的基石」這一命題,其實也是國共精心設計的邏輯陷阱。馬總統依此命題,要求民進黨主席說明立場。隨後,海協會會長陳雲林就以「沒九二共識 一切重新考慮」來加以威脅。問題是,李登輝時代全無九二共識,但兩岸交流可不是早已活絡?陳水扁的一邊一國時代,兩岸經貿交流更是加倍蓬勃,為什麼馬政府 上台後兩岸關係就變成要有「前提」呢?持續就其設定之假議題與之周旋,吃虧的絕對是自己。
其實,我們的方案、我們對兩岸關係的論述,本就已 非常清楚;即要和平,要作為世界的公民,要和世界的任何國家互惠交流,我們也祈求兩岸關係透過細水長流的交往建立兄弟關係,中國市場是我國所重視的,但我 們也要以全球為腹地,尋求全民的福祉。過去(二○○八年以前)我們都做了,為什麼現在要什麼共識呢?
跳出國共所設定的圈套吧,這樣才能海闊天空!
(作者曾任總統府國策顧問)

玩政治

王金平:金溥聰新職仍續操盤 【12:25】


〔中央社〕立法院長王金平今天說,總統大選很重要,相信中國國民黨秘書長金溥聰離開黨後,到新的職位上,還是為國民黨執政之路繼續努力操盤,「重要性不亞於黨的秘書長」。

國民黨中央人事將改組,總統府秘書長廖了以將接任國民黨秘書長,考試院副院長伍錦霖接任總統府秘書長。

對這一波人事調整,王金平上午在立法院受訪時說,這應該是總統馬英九新的布局,一方面讓人事更為穩定,各司其職,每個人都能夠好好發揮,未來不論是府、院、黨都能有最好安排;人事穩當,所有政事就會穩當。

媒體詢問,廖了以與金溥聰最大的差別在哪?王金平認為,一個是地方出身,一個都在中央,當然各有所長;金溥聰有其長處,廖了以歷練地方並為黨貢獻,接任秘書長有另一方式的人和。

王金平指出,天時不如地利、地利不如人和,人和可以萬事興,相信廖了以此時接任秘書長,可以有相當穩定作用。

對新人事布局,是否代表對本土勢力的重視?王金平表示,跟誰的淵源都不是總統的考量,總統考量的是,這個人來了,怎樣能發揮秘書長的功能跟角色,這才是重點。

有媒體詢問,金溥聰在秘書長任內似乎得罪很多人?王金平說,「這是他理念的執行」,難免有一些人會不滿意,但這也是為黨的改革理念,大家應多所體諒。

他說,未來最重要還是整個黨上下團結,並體認到未來2項選舉,都要大家團結一致,共同發揮群體力量,讓基層感受到府、行政立法2院、黨,未來在政策協調與人事處理應該會更順暢,相信會大幅提升黨的戰鬥力。

媒體追問,王金平未來會否「更上層樓」?還是續留現職?哪一個是最佳選項?王金平說,目前不考慮未來動向,因為緊接而來的美國行,有太多需要了解與吸收的資料,「未來的事,春節再做考量」。

2011年1月17日 星期一

共產主義的宗師馬克斯說過,歷史會重覆,第一次出現是悲劇,第二次則是鬧劇 (History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.) 。

喬治歐威爾 . 貪婪無知部落客
昆蟲2011/01/16
上個世紀,對人類文明影響最深遠的文學作者,應該就是喬治.歐威爾 (George Orwell)。

他在二次大戰尚未結束前,完成了「動物農莊」。在這本小說的對話中,「同志」(Comrade) 來「同志」去的,明眼人一看就知道是在描寫﹝現在已經不存在的﹞蘇聯 (Soviet Union)。
結果呢,沒有出版商願意出版這本書。
理由很簡單,因為那時的蘇聯是二次大戰時重要的同盟國。這本小說只有在二次大戰結束後才發行。
二次大戰剛結束時,蘇聯並不是完全隔絕於西方世界的。當時,西方的政治人和文化人,跑去訪問共產蘇聯的,絡繹不絕,卻少有人看到問題而對共產蘇聯強烈批判的。
真正看穿蘇聯的,卻是一生從未踏上蘇聯土地的喬治.歐威爾。他深刻地體驗到極權共產蘇聯下,人民真正的生活。然後,再以文學的想像,去編織出共產制度未來的「美麗新世界」– 1984。那個殘酷的高壓嚴密體制,不要說是看到,根本是自由世界的人民所無法想像的。也因此,西方民主國家的人民即使有一次又一次的參觀,絕大多數的人依然受騙。
那麼,喬治.歐威爾究竟為什麼能夠寫這部小說呢?
因為他親身經歷過 — 在不同的時空,卻在同樣的人性下。
他曾經當過壓迫緬甸人民的英國皇家警察,也曾經充滿理想地跑去參加西班牙內戰(差點送命)。他的經歷,讓他對人性走向黑暗的可能性有了最根本的體會。也因此,他能從表面直接透視極權政府的本質,寫下撼動人心的「一九八四」。
和喬治.歐威爾相比,那些在當年訪問蘇聯的人,根本就是瞎子。回到自由世界仍然誇讚共產社會的,更是不折不扣、史達林政府的幫凶。
可是,這些人是故意的嗎?
我相信不是。
在精心安排之下,這些訪問蘇聯的人,所能看到、聽到、和接觸到的人事物,都是經過精心安排的。再加上有很多人對於共產主義烏托邦所存在的人道幻想,使他們很自然地變成史達林極權政府的宣傳工具。換句話說,就是善良的人做愚蠢的壞事。
在不同的時空下,台灣這幾天也發生類似的事件。
馬政府為了國光石化的推動,找了一些部拉格的作者去參觀高雄的石化工業區。而這些部拉客在精心安排的遊玩之後,也不負使命地為石化工廠說好話。
這些人和當年被史達林所欺騙的人,看起來似乎相同。不過,他們還是有非常顯著的差異性。
當年被史達林所欺騙的人是接觸不到真正蘇聯人民的﹔今天的台灣石化工業污染資料是網路一點即有的。
當年去蘇聯訪問的人是真心想瞭解蘇聯,甚至於很多人對共產主義及蘇聯都很有研究﹔而那些台灣部拉格遊客,則是馬政府精挑細選的吃喝玩樂專家,也是化工產業及環保問題的白痴。
還有,這些部拉格主人都拿了錢,卻沒有人把拿了錢的事實寫出來。
相較於當年的悲劇是善良的人做蠢事,今天的鬧劇則是貪婪無知的人做邪惡的壞事。
共 產主義的宗師馬克斯說過,歷史會重覆,第一次出現是悲劇,第二次則是鬧劇 (History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.) 。這句話其實不正確,相類似的歷史事件在不同的規模、不同的時空下,重覆再重覆,悲劇鬧劇穿插,一再地出現。
不過,假如我們只看這兩件事,這句話還真是適用。

2011年1月15日 星期六

維基解密越來越複雜有趣

「維基解密」是天上掉下來的禮物嗎?         廖東慶 /北美政治評論家 2010-12-13

美國機密檔案在不經意的情況之下,被「維基解密」了,這次洩密的範圍有軍事及外交兩部份,日後還會涉及到財經部份,在20101130日有251287份,全球駐美大使館與美國國務院的通聯記錄,即將「維基解密」,其中有34百多份是來自(AIT) 美國在臺協會和美國國務院之間的通聯記錄,被洩露機密的數目之多,是排名在前10名之內,在往後3個月會陸續再公佈,希望愛臺灣的人士,能密切注意,因為這些「維基解密」可以完全證明一件事,那就是臺灣的主權是單一屬於美國政府所有,而不是屬於「中華民國」流亡政府的!更不可能是屬於「中國」的!臺灣是美國政府的「心肝寶貝」!不但駐守有(CIA) 美國中央情報局臺北分站,也包括(FBI) 美國聯邦調查局駐臺北分站。
筆者就只對美國和臺灣這一部份的「維基解密」,作一個分析評論,其中有一則密件指出,臺灣地區的流亡政府馬英九總統在其總統府內的辨公室裡,和中國共產黨總書記胡錦濤,兩個人一週一次的使用電腦Skype視 訊,並相互見面交談,商討日後臺灣將如何來配合中國,並以「統一」為最主要的目標而進行各項計劃,不過也難怪在前不久,陳長文先生公開表示,希望馬英九總 統能和胡錦濤兩人見面,商討兩岸的政治議題,不過馬英九的回應和一般男人完全不一樣,他竟然會說出:「時機未到,相見不如不見?」這句話的回應方式和時下 一般女人所回答的模式,簡直是如出一轍,一般正常的男人是絕對不會說出「相見不如不見」這一句話出來,因為筆者在以前也被幾位女孩子說過:「相見不如不 見」。
馬英九軟性式的拒絕,當時也讓筆者一時困惑不己,原來真正的真相是馬英九早就和胡錦濤在電腦Skype視訊上,己經見過面談過話了!也說了許多外人「不為人知」的同性之間的「悄悄話」!美國是從頭到尾故意裝作不知道有這麼一回事。這一份情資是(CIA) 美國中央情報局臺北分站所提供的,交給(AIT) 美國在臺協會,並由(AIT) 轉交給美國國務院,分析整理之後,再呈交給白宮國家安全首席顧問的辨公桌上,再由國安首席顧問,在隔天早晨,親手交給美國總統歐巴馬,現場還有副總統、國防部長,國務卿及(CIA) 中央情報局長,一共6個人,這是每天早上在白宮總統辦公室所舉行的例行決策會議!
美國政府從來就沒有准許兩岸高層見面會談,從1949年以來至今,這個政策一直都沒有任何改變過,如今馬英九明知故犯,並越過「紅色」底線,20101130日「維基解密」向全球公開這個訊息之後,馬英九和胡錦濤兩人至今,仍然不敢否認也更不敢承認!但是唯一敢肯定的是,這兩人以後不敢再用Skype視訊來直接「見面交談」了,不過對(CIA) 美國中央情報局臺北分站來說,馬胡兩人用電腦Skype視訊「見面交談」的劃面及交談內容,全部都被(CIA) 用最新精密儀器所攔截接收載錄下來,無論是監聽電話或者是傳真文件,還有電郵(E-MAIL) 內容等等,全部都是由(CIA) 負責監聽翻譯及分析研判,然後再作成一份書面報告,再派專人送到(AIT) 美國在臺協會。
(CIA) 美國中央情報局臺北分站,不只監聽或監視「中華民國」流亡政府的總統府,另外還包括其國防部和外交部及國安局,另外還有陸委會,外有精密儀器監聽截錄,內有(CIA) 線民,幾乎「中華民國」所有的中央政府機關,都安排有(CIA) 線人在監視著,再說明白一點,那就是美國政府根本就不相信這個「中華民國」的流亡政府!現在「維基解密」把馬胡私底下用Skype見面通話的「機密」全部公諸於世,美國政府可是從來也沒去問馬英九,可有這回事嗎?還有兩人都談些什麼內容呀?根本一點也不需要去問馬英九,美國政府也定好計劃,也知道如何去對付「中華民國」這個流亡政府,就請各位等著看好戲,看看美國政府將會如何來收拾馬英九和國民黨!
在「維基解密」還沒洩露機密之前,美國總統歐巴馬和國務卿喜萊莉.柯林頓女士,四處打電話向其它各國總統及元首,先行滅火的動作,把外交糾紛減到最低點,因為美國分佈在全球193個 國家的大使館或領事館,都對所在國家的政府機關,都佈署監聽或線人,所以才會得到「確實性」的情報訊息,由此可見「維基解密」所流出來的訊息,可以說全部 都是正確無誤!馬英九一向自視甚高,他也是從來不把美國放在眼裡,這一點美國政府也知道,不過這也是所有中國人最大的通病,到底「維基解密」對美國是利大 於弊?還是弊大於利呢?這也許還要過好幾年才會知道,但是可以肯定一點的是,以目前來說,對「中國」還有國民黨,還有那些極權獨裁國家及政權來說,絕對是 「弊大於利」!(全文完)(歡迎轉貼/轉寄/下載)

一籃子貨幣組合

避匯損 精宏︰一籃子貨幣組合最安全 【17:18】

〔本報訊〕貨幣的選擇決定跨國投資的獲利程度,精宏投顧執行長鄭琮寰表示,去年以美元做為全球交易來看,選對市場卻造成匯率侵蝕的投資標的主要集中在新興 市場,不要讓匯率吃掉你的投資獲利,提醒投資人應該要建立自己的小央行,不要只選擇單一貨幣的投資標的,改採一籃子貨幣組合,降低匯損的風險。

許多投資人在選擇投資標的時,都只注意到投資市場的基本面,卻忽略了投資所選擇的貨幣,鄭琮寰舉例,2010年買境外基金的投資人很「悶」,全球股市在第 4季後雖陸續創下新高,但因美元為全球市場交易貨幣,投資人的獲利後換回當地貨幣時,結果可能大相逕庭。雖選對標的投資報酬率可觀,但換回自己的貨幣後獲 利卻少得可憐,因為所有獲利都被匯損「吃掉」。

但鄭琮寰表示,匯差吃掉的不一定只有獲利,有時候匯差也會讓投資損失減少,歐債風暴就是最好的例子,許多投資南歐的虧損的投資人,因為歐元貶值的關係,換回台幣時,反而因匯差,彌補了投資的虧損。

不僅是市場區位的不同,投資項目也與貨幣選擇有關,例如弱勢美元提供了債券到期還債的優勢,鄭琮寰提醒投資人,在資產配置上一定要多元化貨幣,為了避免美元波動,歐元絕對也是必備的一環。除此之外,利基型的貨幣以及市場,都須列入投資主軸。


以美元計算  2010年各國股市實質漲跌幅
股市 指數(99/12/31) 指數(98/12/31) 2010年漲(跌)幅 美元與當地貨幣計價 當利貨幣升/貶 2010年當地貨幣波幅 扣除匯率之報酬
澳洲股市 4846.9 4882.7 -0.73% 澳幣/美元 14.01% -14.74%
紐西蘭 3309.03 3230.14 2.44% 紐幣/美元 7.85% -5.41%
巴西股市 69304.8 68588.41 1.04% 美元/巴西幣 -4.77% -3.72%
台灣加權 8972.5 8188.11 9.58% 美元/台幣 -8.40% 1.18%
新加坡 3190.04 2897.62 10.09% 美元/新元 -8.66% 1.44%
南非股市 28639.4 24996.97 14.57% 美元/南非幣 -10.44% 4.13%
馬來西亞 1518.91 1272.78 19.34% 美元/馬來幣 -10.59% 8.74%
加拿大 13443.2 11746.11 14.45% 美元/加幣 -5.24% 9.21%
印度股市 20509.1 17464.81 17.43% 美元/印度盧比 -3.91% 13.52%
墨西哥 38550.8 32120.47 20.02% 美元/墨披索 -5.73% 14.29%
韓國股市 2051 1682.77 21.88% 美元/韓圜 -3.26% 18.62%
泰國股市 1032.76 734.54 40.60% 美元/泰銖 -10.03% 30.57%
菲律賓 4201.14 3052.68 37.62% 美元/菲披索 -5.11% 32.51%
印尼股市 3703.51 2534.36 46.13% 美元/印尼盾 -4.33% 41.80%
香港恆生 23035.4 21872.5 5.32% 美元/港幣 0.23% 5.55%
荷蘭股市 354.57 335.33 5.74% 歐元/美元 -6.56% 12.29%
英國股市 5899.94 5412.88 9.00% 英鎊/美元 -3.34% 12.34%
捷克股市 1224.8 1117.3 9.62% 歐元/美元 -6.56% 16.18%
德國股市 6914.19 5957.43 16.06% 歐元/美元 -6.56% 22.62%
俄羅斯 1770.28 1444.61 22.54% 美元/俄盧布 1.67% 24.22%
芬蘭股市 7661.9 6456.13 18.68% 歐元/美元 -6.56% 25.23%
波蘭股市 47489.9 39985.99 18.77% 歐元/美元 -6.56% 25.32%
瑞典股市 1155.57 951.72 21.42% 歐元/美元 -6.56% 27.97%
阿根廷 3523.59 2320.73 51.83% 美元/阿根廷 4.73% 56.56%
資料整理︰精宏投顧

2011年1月13日 星期四

蔡英文宣佈放棄十八趴優利存款

蔡英文宣佈放棄十八趴優利存款
自由時報2011/01/13
為體現社會的公平正義,曾服務公職多年也具有領取十八趴資格的民進黨主席蔡英文,今天上午透過黨中央發表聲明,表示即日起將放棄優利存款,直到公務員退休制度改革完成。
國民黨立委昨晚透過政論節目指出,曾擔任政治大學副教授、教授、公平會委員、陸委會主委以及行政院副院長等公職的蔡英文,公保年資有18.5年,具有領取410萬8600元的十八趴優惠存款利率的額度。
對此,蔡英文今天上午回應表示即日起將放棄,等於間接承認確有領取。但蔡也反擊說,執政者只想透過不正當的方法,選擇性的公布部分資料,造成社會輿論的混淆,這不是制度改革的作法。
蔡英文並表示,公務員退休優利存款的政策爭議,在制度是否公平合理,而不是個人。在十八趴的政策討論中,主張以社會的共識,進行合理化的改革,是希望不要引起社會對立情緒,或者讓公教人員背負不必要的指責。
蔡英文認為,現在的執政者不思推動改革,回應民意的要求。卻在立法院會期結束的前一天,才提出下個會期修法的主張,迴避了可以立即修改行政命令降低利率的選項,這是缺乏改革誠意的表現。
對於放棄領取的主張,蔡英文也解釋,民進黨一向主張十八趴改革的必要性,為讓改革的動力繼續,避免「被刻意進行政治操作,轉移焦點」,決定即日起放棄。直到公務員退休制度改革完成、符合社會公平正義原則為止。
〔記者蘇永耀/台北報導〕
自由時報焦點新聞2011-1-13蔡英文促馬政府 即刻調整18趴
對於十八%優惠存款爭議,民進黨主席蔡英文昨天要求馬政府即刻推動十八%的改革,以減輕國家財政的沉重負擔。 (記者廖振輝攝)

〔記者李欣芳/台北報導〕
馬總統前天指示準備修法改革公務人員十八%優惠存款爭議,民進黨主席蔡英文昨要求馬政府即刻推動十八%的改革,以減輕國家財政的沉重負擔,馬政府如果有誠意改革,現在就可以調整,根本不需要等到立法院下會期再檢討修法。
不需等到立院下會期 再檢討修法
至於部分國民黨高官過去的黨職年資也合併公職年資納入退休金計算引發爭議,蔡英文說,民進黨認為,曾經擔任黨職的年資不能計入公務人員的退休年資。
蔡英文昨在中執會表示,十八%改革應考量社會公平正義,也應負責穩健地推動,而不該像馬政府這樣讓公務人員陷入與一般人民對立,並使多數人產生相對剝奪的感受。
蔡英文認為,當初十八%利率的訂定,有其歷史背景,現在的社會環境已大幅變遷,本來就該適度調降,使其朝向合理化,馬總統要拖到立院下會期再檢討修法,顯然是沒有搞清楚狀況。
所得替代率 國民黨方案仍然偏高
她 指出,希望將來的改革,繼續讓所得替代率合理化,國民黨的計算方案,造成公務人員的所得替代率仍然偏高。事實上,民進黨執政期間也盡力去改革,但當時在立 法院沒有多數席次,因此,考試院長關中日前的發言並不正確,事實上民進黨執政時就在做,也提出過降低利率的方案,但都遭到國民黨用立院的席次多數阻撓。
蔡英文強調,目前公務人員退休所得替代率高達九十五%,因此民進黨希望進行改革,但也不希望在改革的過程中,造成社會對立,或導致退休教師、公務員被污名化。
□ 〔 資料來源: 自由時報【即時新聞】 | 引用網址
蔡英文主席對於退休優利存款問題的聲明
民進黨新聞稿  / 2011-01-13
我們一向認為,公務員退休優利存款(俗稱十八趴)的政策爭議,在於制度是否公平合理,而不是在於個人。在十八趴的政策討論中,我們主張以社會的共識,進行合理化的改革,是希望不要引起社會的對立情緒,或者讓公教人員背負了不必要的指責。
但 是,現在的執政者不思推動改革,回應民意的要求。在立法院會期結束的前一天,才提出下個會期修法的主張,迴避了可以立即修改行政命令降低利率的選項,這是 缺乏改革誠意的表現。現在,執政者只想透過不正當的方法,選擇性的公布部分資料,造成社會輿論的混淆,這不是制度改革的作法。
我們長期一向主張十八趴改革的必要性,為了讓改革的動力繼續,避免被刻意進行政治操作,轉移焦點,我決定即日起放棄優利存款,直到公務員退休制度改革完成、符合社會公平正義原則為止。
我們希望朝野一起努力,完成進步的改革!

精彩精彩 這些吃人不吐骨頭的紅頂商人

貧富都難逃「引中救台」毒手 都是馬僚幫的祭品犧牲品
煙火大秀後兩岸機會的新觀念/2
陳彬2011/01/13
前有彩晶、華映、奇美電等面板廠賠付巨額和解金,企業高層不管是否具有美國籍還要坐「美國監」——只要被美國司法、財稅部門「盯上」,輕者傷筋動骨脫層皮!重者傾家蕩產還要服刑坐牢!已是「台灣國不能靠!」必須承受「任人欺侮」的常識下,元月7日,台北駐美代表處例行記者會透露:「美方已正式提出台美雙方『政府』都希望急簽『引渡協定』(或稱解送協定)」的更求…(見元/8,自由時報A2版)
這則充份表示:有美國籍的台灣上市櫃公司老闆,與高層,含投資中國的盈利與收入的全球所得向美國政府申報時,要更用心不能僥倖外(如中國媒體曾報導,美政府對郭台銘元配過逝徵收的遺產稅 ﹢罰款近百億美元),連非美籍的上市櫃公司老闆與高層的「好野人」,都將更受「引渡協定」的制約!更存在「引渡美國受審、坐牢」的巨大風險外台灣股民更要承受股價、市値暴跌的痛苦!上市櫃公司如因此倒閉,上千、上萬員工與眷屬的生計受到威脅的引渡協定,我認為:馬自己,與馬僚幫上下官員如綠卡的「很多把柄」,被美國政府逮住!必需「吞下去」!也只好犧牲「台灣好野人」以小解美國公部門財政赤字,及馬僚幫官員個個好大喜功的現實下,這個協定2011的短期內就會簽署!台灣的好野人唑咧等吧!

依據,對中國體制、法令、官場規矩、高幹行事潛規則,實戰經驗比我更瞭解中國的張姓教授,看了「中國好野人與政府對幹  馬政府是聯手好野人與百姓對幹」blog貼文後說:各項數據,都比你我更先知道!更瞭解的馬總統,故意「裝儍」!故意「放任」官員!故意「製造」話題的背後目的,是想「引中救台」啦…」的一語點破,我提醒大家:
7月下旬,立法院即通過18%回存議案,民進黨立委在五都選戰時,為了怕得罪公教人員!為了選票一個屁也不敢放!表示民進黨為了政治利益的算計,也無能失職!也被國民黨看破手脚!大家需重新評估在野黨悍衛台灣的能力、實力,是否也止於口號、嘴泡以外,面對執政的馬,與馬僚幫政府官員:
不鳥台灣非軍公教的上班族,月入不到2萬元130.8萬人,3萬元360萬人,190萬人繳不起國民年金,90萬人無奈辦就學貸款…,絕對多數台灣人,還要面對狂飆難止的高房價、不穩定的高物價、健保費國民年金費率的提高,日子真的難過的當下,一星期內,還「敢」拋出恢復18趴、公務員加薪、3%公務員非一般人…等朝野媒體、名嘴都炒得「臉紅脖子粗,也不亦樂乎」的熱門話題,我認為,都是為了轉移如金融業登陸以加速掏空台灣!ECFA以改變台灣產業結構!如成立兩岸經合會以試驗公部門「對接、融合」功能!如離島中生不受限制以培養終統來臨日的「接收人員」!……,默默實施中,一手故意「打亂、擾亂」一般百姓的思維,一手故意搞垮台灣財政,讓台灣負債加劇加大,最好快速如「歐豬四國」財政破產!以有助終統實際行動的進行!以避免成為台灣社會的箭靶而拋出的!

因此,我提醒大家:
無路可退!可逃!只能靠政府明暗負債已至2兆新台弊,還要遭受馬僚幫官員的大嘴巴蹧蹋、恐嚇!只能依靠台灣「淺碟經貿」生存的台灣小民!
在中國要面臨如滙率、薪升、料漲、缺工、福增、減碳等「十二五」規劃元年新變數,行走國際亦要面臨「台灣國不可靠」,美國、歐盟,甚至東南亞小國都當是肥羊的台灣有錢好野人!
2011年,兩者都會是馬僚幫集團——「引中救台」算計的祭品!及奢言接軌國際的犧牲品!

2011年1月12日 星期三

最后一课

都德的《最后一课》相信大家都在课本上读过,故事借亚尔萨斯省一个小孩小弗朗士的自述,具体地描写一所小学所上的最后一堂法文课。作家回避了普法战 争的正面战场,而把笔墨转向一幅极为平常的生活画面:小学生迟到,老师讲课、提问,习字,拼音练习,下课……描写极为冷静、客观、朴素,却极具感染力。我 们就用这部名篇的英文译本来体会一下:
I WAS very late for school that morning, and I was terribly afraid of being scolded[责骂], especially as Monsieur[法语:先生] Hamel had told us that he should examine us on participles[分词], and I did not know the first thing about them. For a moment I thought of staying away from school and wandering about the fields. It was such a warm, lovely day. I could hear the blackbirds whistling on the edge of the wood, and in the Rippert field, behind the sawmill[锯木厂], the Prussians going through their drill. All that was much more tempting to me than the rules concerning participles; but I had the strength to resist, and I ran as fast as I could to school.
那天早晨,我去上学,去得非常晚,我好 害怕被责骂,特别是,阿麦尔先生跟我们说过,他要考一考分词规则,而我连头一个字都不会。这时,在我的头脑里冒出了逃学、去田野跑一跑的念头。天气是那么 暖和,那么晴朗!我听见乌鸦在小树林边鸣叫,普鲁士人正在锯木厂后面的里贝尔草地上操练。所有这一切都比分词规则更吸引我,但我还是顶住了诱惑,加快脚步 向学校方向跑去。
As I passed the mayor’s office, I saw that there were people gathered about the little board on which notices were posted. For two years all our bad news had come from that board—battles lost, conscriptions[征兵], orders from headquarters; and I thought without stopping:
“What can it be now?”
从村政府门前经过的时候,我看见许多人站在小布告栏前。这两年来,所有的坏消息,诸如吃败仗啦,征兵征物啦,还有普鲁士占领军司令部发布的命令啦,都是从那里来的。我边跑边想:“又有什么事吗?”
Then, as I ran across the square, Wachter the blacksmith, who stood there with his apprentice[学徒], reading the placard[布告], called out to me:
“Don’t hurry so, my boy; you’ll get to your school soon enough!”
I thought that he was making fun of me, and I ran into Monsieur Hamel’s little yard all out of breath.
当我跑着穿过广场的时候,正在布告栏前和徒弟一起看布告的瓦克特尔铁匠朝我高喊:“小家伙,不用赶得那么急;你去得再晚也不会迟到的!”我以为他在跟我开玩笑,便上气不接下气地跑进阿麦尔先生的小教室。
Usually, at the beginning of school, there was a great uproar[喧嚣] which could be heard in the street, desks opening and closing, lessons repeated aloud in unison[一致], with our ears stuffed in order to learn quicker, and the teacher’s stout ruler beating on the desk:
“A little more quiet!”
往常,开始上课的时候,总是一片乱哄哄的嘈杂声,斜面课桌的开关声,同学们一起捂住耳朵高声背诵课文的声音,街上都听得见。先生的大戒尺敲打着课桌:“安静一点!”
I counted on all this noise to reach my bench unnoticed; but as it happened, that day everything was quiet, like a Sunday morning. Through the open window I saw my comrades already in their places, and Monsieur Hamel walking back and forth[向前] with the terrible iron ruler under his arm. I had no open the door and enter, in the midst of that perfect silence. You can imagine whether I blushed[羞愧] and whether I was afraid!
我 打算趁这片嘈杂声,偷偷地溜到我的座位上去。可是,这一天不同于往常,一切都很安静,就像是星期天的早晨。透过敞开的窗户,我看见同学们已经整整齐齐地坐 在他们的座上,阿麦尔先生腋下夹着那把可怕的铁戒尺,来回地踱着步子。必须推开教室门,在这一片静谧中走进教室。你们想一想,当时我是多么尴尬,多么害 怕!
But no! Monsieur Hamel looked at me with no sign of anger and said very gently:
“Go at once to your seat, my little Frantz; we were going to begin without you.”
可是,没有。阿麦尔先生看着我,没有生气,而是非常温和地对我说:“快点回到座位上,我的小弗朗茨;我们就要开始上课了。”
I stepped over the bench and sat down at once at my desk. Not until then, when I had partly recovered from my fright, did I notice that our teacher had on his handsome blue coat, his plaited ruff, and the black silk embroidered breeches, which he wore only on days of inspection or of distribution of prizes. Moreover, there was something extraordinary, something solemn about the whole class. But what surprised me most was to see at the back of the room, on the benches which were usually empty, some people from the village sitting, as silent as we were: old Hauser with his three-cornered hat, the ex-mayor, the ex-postman, and others besides. They all seemed depressed; and Hauser had brought an old spelling-book with gnawed edges, which he held wide-open on his knee, with his great spectacles askew.
我跨过凳子,马上坐到座位上。我从惊慌中稍稍定下神来,这才注意到,我 们的老师穿着他那件漂亮的绿色常礼服,领口系着折迭得很精致的领结,头上戴着那顶刺绣的黑绸小圆帽,这套装束,只有在上头派人来学校视察或学校发奖时他才 穿戴的。此外,整个教室也有一种不同寻常的庄严的气氛。但是,最使我吃惊的是,看到教室面,那些平常空着的凳子上,坐着一些跟我们一样默不作声的村里的 人,有头戴三角帽的奥泽尔老人,有前任镇长,有以前的邮递员,另外还有其他人。所有这些人都显得很忧伤;奥泽尔老人还带了一本边角都已破损的旧识字课本, 摊放在膝头上,课本上横放着他那副大眼镜。
While I was wondering at all this, Monsieur Hamel had mounted his platform, and in the same gentle and serious voice with which he had welcomed me, he said to us:
“My children, this is the last time that I shall teach you. Orders have come from Berlin to teach nothing but German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher arrives to-morrow. This is the last class in French, so I beg you to be very attentive.”
正当我对这一切感到惊诧莫名时,阿麦尔先生在椅子上坐下,用刚才对我说话的那种既温 和又庄重的声音,对我们说道:“孩子们,我这是最后一次给你们上课了。柏林来了命令,阿尔萨斯和洛林两省的学校只准教德语……新的老师明天就到。今天是你 们最后一堂法语课,所以我请你们一定专心听讲。”
Those few words overwhelmed me. Ah! the villains! that was what they had posted at the mayor’s office.
这几句话使我惊呆了。啊!这些坏蛋,他们贴在村政府布告栏上的就是这个消息。
My last class in French!
And I barely knew how to write! So I should never learn! I must stop short where I was! How angry I was with myself because of the time I had wasted, the lessons I had missed, running about after nests, or sliding on the Saar! My books, which only a moment before I thought so tiresome, so heavy to carry—my grammar, my sacred history—seemed to me now like old friends, from whom I should be terribly grieved to part. And it was the same about Monsieur Hamel. The thought that he was going away, that I should never see him again, made me forget the punishments, the blows with the ruler.
我的最后一堂法语课!……我只是刚刚学会写字!今后永远也学不到法语!法语就到此为止了!我现在是多么悔恨 自己蹉跎光阴啊!悔恨自己从前逃课去掏鸟窝,去萨尔河溜冰!我的那些书,我的语法课本,我的神圣的历史书,刚才背在身上还觉得那么讨厌,那么沉重,现在却 像老朋友一样,让我难舍难分。还有阿麦尔先生。一想到他就要走了,再也见不到了,我就忘记了以前的处惩和挨打。
Poor man! It was in honour of that last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes; and I understood now why those old fellows from the village were sitting at the end of the room. It seemed to mean that they regretted not having come oftener to the school. It was also a way of thanking our teacher for his forty years of faithful service, and of paying their respects to the fatherland which was vanishing.
可怜的人!他身着漂亮的节日盛装,为的是庆贺这最后的一堂课。现在,我明白了为什么村里的老人都坐在教室后面。这好像在说,他们后悔从前不常来学校。这也像是对我们的老师四十年的优秀教学,对今后不属于他们的国土表示他们的敬意的一种方式……”
I was at that point in my reflections, when I heard my name called. It was my turn to recite. What would I not have given to be able to say from beginning to end that famous rule about participles, in a loud, distinct voice, without a slip! But I got mixed up at the first words, and I stood there swaying against my bench, with a full heart, afraid to raise my head. I heard Monsieur Hamel speaking to me:
我正限于沉思之中,突然我听见叫我的名字。轮到我背分词规则了。要是我能把这条重要的分词规则大声、清晰、准确无误地从头背到尾,有什么代价我不愿付出呢?但是,我连开始的那些词都搞不清楚。我站在凳子前面,左摇右晃,心里难受极了,不敢抬头。我听见阿麦尔先生说话:
“I will not scold you, my little Frantz; you must be punished enough; that is the way it goes; every day we say to ourselves: ‘Pshaw! I have time enough. I will learn to-morrow.’ And then you see what happens. Ah! it has been the great misfortune of our Alsace always to postpone its lessons until to-morrow. Now those people are entitled to say to us: ‘What! you claim to be French, and you can neither speak nor write your language!’ In all this, my poor Frantz, you are not the guiltiest one. We all have our fair share of reproaches to address to ourselves.
“我 不责备你,我的小弗朗茨,你可能受够了惩罚……事情就是如此。每天,我们都对自己说:算了吧!我有的是时间。我明天再学。现在,你知道出了什么事……唉! 我们阿尔萨斯人的最大不幸就是把教育拖延到明天。现在,那些人有权利对我们说:‘怎么!你们声称自己是法国人,可你们即不会说也不会写你们的语言!’…… 我可怜的弗朗茨,造成所有这一切,责任最大的并不是你。我们每个人都有许多应该责备自己的地方。
“Your parents have not been careful enough to see that you were educated. They preferred to send you to work in the fields or in the factories, in order to have a few more sous. And have I nothing to reproach myself for? Have I not often made you water my garden instead of studying? And when I wanted to go fishing for trout, have I ever hesitated to dismiss you?”
“你们的父母没有尽心让你们好好读书。他们宁愿把你们打发到田里或纱厂里去干活,为的是多挣几个钱。我自己呢,难道我一点也没有应该责备自己的地方吗?我不也是经常让你们到我的花园浇水以此代替学习吗?当我想钓鳟鱼的时候,我不是随随便便就给你们放假吗?”
Then, passing from one thing to another, Monsieur Hamel began to talk to us about the French language, saying that it was the most beautiful language in the world, the most clear, the most substantial; that we must always retain it among ourselves, and never forget it, because when a people falls into servitude, “so long as it clings to its language, it is as if it held the key to its prison.” Then he took the grammer and read us our lesson. I was amazed to see how readily I understood. Everything that he said seemed so easy to me, so easy. I believed, too, that I had never listened so closely, and that he, for his part, had never been so patient with his explanations. One would have said that, before going away, the poor man desired to give us all his knowledge, to force it all into our heads at a single blow.
阿麦尔先生从一件事谈到另一件事,然后开 始给我们讲法语,他说,法语是世界上最优美的语言,是最清晰的语言,最严谨的语言,我们应该掌握它,永远也不要忘记,因为,当一个民族沦为奴隶时,只要它 好好地保存自己的语言,就好像掌握了打开监牢的钥匙……然后,他拿了一本语法书,我们开始朗诵课文。令我吃惊的是,我竟理解得这么透彻。他所讲的一切对我 都显得很容易,很容易。我同样觉得,我还从来没有这么认真听讲过,他也从来没有这样耐心讲解过。这个可怜的人,仿佛想在离开这里以前,把他全部的知识都灌 输给我们,让我们一下子掌握这些知识。
When the lesson was at an end, we passed to writing. For that day Monsieur Hamel had prepared some entirely new examples, on which was written in a fine, round hand: “France, Alsace, France, Alsace.” They were like little flags, waving all about the class, hanging from the rods of our desks. You should have seen how hard we all worked and how silent it was! Nothing could be heard save the grinding of the pens over the paper. At one time some cock-chafers flew in; but no one paid any attention to them, not even the little fellows who were struggling with their straight lines, with a will and conscientious application, as if even the lines were French. On the roof of the schoolhouse, pigeons cooed in low tones, and I said to myself as I listened to them:
“I wonder if they are going to compel them to sing in German too!”
课 文讲解完了,我们开始练习写字。这一天,阿麦尔先生为我们准备了许多崭新的字卡样,上面用美丽的圆体字写着:法兰西,阿尔萨斯,法兰西,阿尔萨斯。这些字 帖卡片悬挂在我们课桌的金属杆上,就像许多小旗在教室里飘扬。该知道每个人都是那样聚精会神,教室里是那样寂静无声!只听得见笔尖在纸上的沙沙声。有一 回,几只金龟子跑进了教室,但是谁也不去注意它们,连年龄最小的也不例外,他们正专心致志地练直杠笔划,仿佛这些笔划也是法语……学校的屋顶上,鸽子低声 地咕咕地叫着,我一边听,一边寻思:“他们该不会强迫这些鸽子用德语唱歌吧?”
From time to time, when I raised my eyes from my paper. I saw Monsieur Hamel sitting motionless in his chair and staring at the objects about him as if he wished to carry away in his glance the whole of his little schoolhouse. Think of it! For forty years he had been there in the same place, with his yard in front of him and his class just as it was! But the benches and desks were polished and rubbed by use; the walnuts in the yard had grown, and the hop-vine which he himself had planted now festooned the windows even to the roof. What a heart-rending thing it must have been for that poor man to leave all those things, and to hear his sister walking back and forth in the room overhead, packing their trunks! For they were to go away the next day—to leave the province forever.
我时不时地从书本上抬起眼睛,看见阿 麦尔先生一动不动地坐在椅子上,注视着周围的一切东西,仿佛要把这个小小教室里的一切都装进目光里带走……可想而知!四十年来,他一直呆在这个地方,守着 对面的院子和一直没有变样的教室。唯独教室里的凳子、课桌被学生磨光滑了;院子里的胡桃树长高了,他自己亲手种下的那棵啤酒花如今爬满了窗户,爬上了屋 顶。这个可怜的人听到他妹妹在楼上的卧室里来来回回地收拾行李,想到自己就要告别眼前的一切,这对他来说是多么伤心难过的事啊!因为,他们明天就要动身 了,永远离开自己的家乡。
However, he had the courage to keep the class to the end. After the writing, we had the lesson in history; then the little ones sang all together the ba, be, bi, bo, bu. Yonder, at the back of the room, old Hauser had put on his spectacles, and, holding his spelling-book in both hands, he spelled out the letters with them. I could see that he too was applying himself. His voice shook with emotion, and it was so funny to hear him, that we all longed to laugh and to cry. Ah! I shall remember that last class.
他 竟然还有勇气把我们的课上完。习字过后,我们上了历史课;接着小家伙们一起唱起了Ba Be Bi Bo Bu。教室后头,奥泽尔老人戴上了眼镜,两手捧 着识字课本,跟我们一起拼读。我发现他也一样专心,他的声音由于激动而颤抖,听起来很滑稽,叫我们又想笑又想哭。噢!我将永远也不会忘记这最后的一课……
Suddenly the church clock struck twelve, then the Angelus rang. At the same moment, the bugles of the Prussians returning from drill blared under our windows. Monsieur Hamel rose, pale as death, from his chair. Never had he seemed to me so tall.
突然,教堂的钟声敲了十二下,而后是祈祷的钟声。与此同时,普鲁士士兵的操练完回营的号声在我们的窗户下回响……阿麦尔先生从椅子上站了起来,面色十分苍白。他在我的心目中,从来也没有显得这么高大。
“My friends,” he said, “my friends, I—I—”
“我的朋友们,”他说道,“我的朋友们,我……我……”
But something suffocated him. He could not finish the sentence.
Thereupon he turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk, and, bearing on with all his might, he wrote in the largest letters he could:
但是,有什么东西堵住了他的喉咙。他没能说完这句话。这时,他转过身子,拿起一截粉笔,使尽了全身力气,在黑板上尽可能大地写下几个字:
“VIVE LA FRANCE!”
Then he stood there, with his head resting against the wall, and without speaking, he motioned to us with his hand:
“That is all; go.”
“法兰西万岁!”
然后,他呆在那里,头靠着墙壁,一句话也不说,只是用手向我们示意:
“课完了……你们走吧”

2011年1月9日 星期日

原來如此

滿清瓜爾佳關中對18趴的說三道四!
Spieler2011/01/10

[滿 清瓜爾佳家族曾出了個屠殺漢人的名將鰲拜,三百年後卻出了個擔任ROC考試院長的關中,關中的背後可是拼了命要推翻滿清政權的中山樵遺照,這個畫面看起來 還真詭異!關中可是對「18趴(18%)」極力辯護,先是說『不該有社會對立、藉此醜化公務人員』,後來又說『是照顧弱勢』,還嗆『不是每一個人都能當公 務人員,公務人員的錄取率是3%吔!』原來馬騜用的兩個八旗子弟鑲黃旗的金小刀和正白旗的關中,就是要來消滅孫大砲的ROC?]
馬騜身邊可是有兩個上三旗的八旗子弟,一個是鑲黃旗的金小刀,還有一個是正白旗的關中,有時想想這還真是開歷史的玩笑?或許年矢志要推翻滿清政權的中國革命志士所建立的ROC政權,最後會毀在滿人的手中?

關中原姓瓜爾佳,雖說這個姓氏沒像愛新覺羅那麼顯赫,但這個家族可是出過
鰲拜
,鰲拜被冊封勇士「巴圖魯」,後來在征服中國的戰役中,還曾把殘暴不仁的張獻忠斬於陣,對於「揚州十日、嘉定三屠」的大規模屠殺漢人,鰲拜可是也脫不了干係!甚至其圈地惡行,還被騜國師南方朔拿來跟「大埔圈地事件」兩相比較!Photobucket
而關中也不簡單,他長期是KMT的輔選大將,戰功彪炳!在台北市黨部主委任內曾創造台北市7-UP的佳績,七席立委提名全上的紀錄。甚至在令人非議「權貴終南捷徑」甲種特考中『民國54年外交行政高考、外交特考連中兩元,還是雙料冠軍』!要知道馬騜、蕭副、可都是甲種特考及格的,而取得公務員資格的!這樣就有領18趴的資格,成為被『照顧的弱勢』?更別說還有軍職轉任公務員的!後來這個黑官漂白的工具被廢止,可是前考選部長王作榮與盧修一等立委協力推動所致!在1994年才走入歷史!然而馬系立委吳育昇卻又開始倡議恢復

要知道當年,在李登輝時代前期,公務員的考試可還是照中國省籍比例分配的,就如同萬年國大、萬年立委的情形一樣,而台灣籍當公務員的比例,最初可是只有全部公務員的1/168,對於台灣人而言錄取率可是遠低於現在的3%的!像是
「中指蕭」母親當年也是公務員,應該就是以「山東省」的名額
考上?!不信的請看下列李震洲之「廢除分區定額錄取與取消列考三民主義的歷史省思-從轉型正義角度加以觀察」圖表!

如果天龍人如願「恢復」他們的特權,台灣社會會成為什麼模樣呢?滿清瓜爾佳關中對18趴的說三道四,不正是為著他們利益著想嗎?除此之外,別忘了關中在2008年所說的最令人印象深刻的一段話:『國民黨得以長期執政,兩岸水到渠成地和平統一是該黨的「衷心希望」』!

黃金5000美元 Peter Schiff

Peter Schiff on Why the American Economy Is Broken – and What to Do About It

Sunday, January 09, 2011 – with  Anthony Wile

Peter Schiff is certainly a success story. An intensely idiosyncratic individual – someone who prefers to think for himself just as his father does – Peter Schiff has succeeded on the business side and doubtless will succeed politically as well sooner or later. This interview touches on a wide variety of bases and shows how he built his enterprise piece by piece. Nobody helped Peter. He took the risks on his own and was not worried about making high profile predictions throughout the 2000s regarding the economy.
Several things are clear from his background and current situation. Peter Schiff had a vision of the world and stuck to it. He didn't conform to someone else's vision of How the World Works. He stuck to his vision because he believed in it; and gradually others have seen the rightness of what he perceived long ago. One of our elves once asked him if the "best" way to analyze investments was through a free-market economic approach. Somewhat baffled, he replied "What other kind of economics is there?"
It is this ability to cut through to the heart of the issue that has served him well in our view. He is not a complicated man in this regard, but he has the same quality as Congressman Ron Paul; he is someone who has a hard time fooling himself and seems to have a hard time lying to himself on fundamental issues, generally. Of course, this may not serve him well when it comes to politics, which is generally the art of lying for votes.
However, having observed Mr. Schiff for years, we would make the prediction that he may even turn politics upside down eventually, much as Ron Paul has. There is a great thirst for truth in the United States, indeed in the Western world, and courageous people like Mr. Schiff help fill that need – through business and investing in his case; and perhaps through running for office and offering people real solutions in the future. (Though it is true that change may actually come OUTSIDE of politics and beyond the system ...)
Peter Schiff was right about collapsing Western economies through the 2000s, even when he was mocked and pilloried by the mainstream media. When his predictions proved true, the media – controlled by the power elite in our view – simply ignored his correct calls and went in search of mainstream economists who had come around to his views much later.
Of course now, with his investment firm blossoming and money available for other projects, he has the opportunity to prove on his own what the mainstream media denies him. It is the truth-telling of the Internet in our view that has allowed people like Peter Schiff to propagate their courageous and non-mainstream visions. There is no going back now. There is little hope that the powers-that-be can control people such as Schiff – anymore than they could control his father. He is in the vanguard of a new consensus about free-markets and freedom generally. There are more every day who think like him and look up to him. We are admirers too.
The Daily Bell is pleased to present an exclusive interview by Peter Schiff (left).
Introduction: Peter Schiff is CEO of Euro Pacific Capital, a full-service registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, which specializes in foreign securities. He is recognized for his knowledge of the foreign securities markets as well as the currency and gold markets. Mr. Schiff delivers lectures at major economic and investment conferences, and is quoted often in the print media, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, L.A. Times, Barron's, BusinessWeek, Time, and Fortune. His broadcast credits include regular guest appearances on CNBC, Fox Business, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News Channel, as well as hosting the daily Peter Schiff Show on radio. As an author, he has written five bestselling books, including the recent: "Crash Proof 2.0: How to Profit from the Economic Collapse" and "How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes."
Daily Bell: Peter, we thank you for sitting down with us today. Tell us how you came to your libertarian, free-market convictions.
Peter Schiff: I had a father who was well versed in economics; he believed in free markets and the Constitution and was a free-market, "Austrian" economic thinker. He educated us in this light. I can remember back to elementary school and junior high school, arguing with some of my peers – whether it was in social studies, history, economics, or government. I have had these views as far back as I can remember, but they certainly evolved as I got older and learned more.
Daily Bell: Tells us a little more about your father, Irwin – who is now in jail as a tax protestor.
Peter Schiff: I think my dad had a big impact on me. He introduced me to economics and taught me from a free-market perspective. He educated me on understanding law and the role of the Constitution and the role of government. He supplied me with a great foundation and ideology in economics. I can look at an idea and assess it very quickly based on my education. When the government says it's going to do something, I know all the ways that measure will hurt the economy. I can see all the intended consequences very quickly and clearly in my mind.
For example, the US Postal Service today announced they are only going to sell forever stamps, which don't have a value printed on them. Immediately I know this is a scam – the post office is going to lose a fortune because they are selling all these stamps, collecting all this revenue, and spending it now on current expenditures like salaries and rent and their gasoline costs.
But their costs are going up because of inflation, and they are going to have to deliver all this mail and collect no money. Which means the post office is going to be bankrupt. Which means the post office is going to need a huge government bailout. And even if they get approval to raise postage prices, it won't matter because they have already sold the stamps. No one is going to buy the higher priced stamps because they have already bought them! So, I can see right away that here's a future disaster in the making. Many people won't think about it like that; they will think, "Oh, here's the post office selling these forever stamps. Isn't that convenient." They won't see the real problem down the road. So this is a free-market way of thinking.
Daily Bell: When did you found Euro Pacific Capital Inc. [a broker/dealer based in Westport, Connecticut], and why has it been so successful?
Peter Schiff: I bought it in 1996. It was a shell when I bought it: it had no customers and no assets. I transferred my book of business into it, which might have been about $10 or 20 million, not very much, and now we have about $3 billion worth of customer assets. It's still small compared to, say, Merrill Lynch, but it's competitive.
Daily Bell: What are The Peter Schiff Show and Wall Street Unspun?
Peter Schiff: Wall Street Unspun was a weekly show that I did on the Internet and on shortwave radio once a week. I have a lot of clients, so this was a way to speak to all of my clients once a week. I would speak about the markets and the economy, and then clients could call in and ask questions. What happened, though, was that the show started to get very popular and many people were listening who were not my clients. Then, I thought I should have a daily show and become syndicated. So I stopped Wall Street Unspun and started the Peter Schiff Show, which broadcasts on AM radio in my home state of Connecticut and online at schiffradio.com.
I'm now on five days a week for two hours, instead of one day a week for an hour. It's still a call in show, and it's still a way for me to share my thoughts with clients. Unfortunately, with all the government regulations, we are limited as to the types of things that I can say. I don't really have the First Amendment rights a normal person would have because I work in financial services. It's not as good for the clients, but I can still talk about economics and the market in broad generalities; I just can't give any specific investment advice. There are some people who have investment shows where people call in and they give advice, but they are not stockbrokers. Since I am a licensed stockbroker, I am not allowed to give advice on the radio. I think it is terrible and a violation of the constitution. Unfortunately, we now live in a country with very little individual liberties because we have a very powerful federal government.
Daily Bell: Are you still bearish on the dollar and bullish on investment in tangible assets and well as foreign stocks and currencies?
Peter Schiff: Yes, very bearish on the dollar. Based on what the government is doing, there's no way to be bullish on the dollar. I still like hard assets and certain foreign markets as alternatives.
Daily Bell: How big is Euro Pacific Capital now?
Peter Schiff: Well, I have six regional offices and over a 100 employees. We offer retail brokerage services as well as investment banking. We have done a couple hundred million dollars in deals in the last year, so that's been very good. I also have Euro Pacific Asset Management, which started a little over a year ago and is now managing $400 million. I have a mutual fund family that's growing. We have four funds now and more funds that are going to be launched this year.
I also have a separate business called Euro Pacific Precious Metals, which we started last year and is very exciting. That company just sells gold and silver bullion coins at low markups. I have been selling precious metals through Euro Pacific Capital since 2001 through the Perth Mint program, but I decided the time was right to launch a separate company just for selling physical metals.
I opened a brokerage firm in Canada last month, called Euro Pacific Canada. It's a separate company, partially owned by me, which provides my philosophy and investment strategies to my followers in Canada. Because of the securities regulations, the only way to work with Canadian clients is at a Canadian firm. Before, we had to turn them away. Euro Pacific Canada is structured like a franchise, which finally gives them access to my investment approach.
Daily Bell: Tell us about your new book, Crash Proof 2.0. What is the thesis?
Peter Schiff: Crash Proof 2.0 is basically an updated version of the original book, Crash Proof. I decided to update it based on the events that followed the crash of 2008, which I accurately predicted in the original book. When I predicted it, I laid exactly what was going to happen and why. I described how the government created this huge problem, it was all described in detail and turned out to be 100% right.
The people who didn't see the crisis coming have blamed it on capitalism. This book was meant to clear up some of the misconceptions that were circulating around the media in the aftermath. Since then I have written another book called, How the Economy Grows and How it Crashes. An expanded version of a book my father wrote called, How an Economy Grows and Why It Doesn't. That came out in February. It's an illustrated form, like an allegory and it explains our problems in a fictional tale but the characters are modeled after America.
Daily Bell: How did your father know about Austrian Economics?
Peter Schiff: He just learned himself and came about it on his own. He grew up a Democrat, his father was a Roosevelt Democrat, so he started out as a liberal when he was in high school and a young kid. Eventually he saw the light.
Daily Bell: Can anything help the US economy at this point?
Peter Schiff: Of course, increased savings and production would help, but unfortunately we're not getting that. We aren't going to get that until we have less government spending and higher interest rates and until we have fewer regulations. Just like if you are obese and you want to get healthy, there is a way to do it – through exercise and diet. We have to stop buying things that we can't afford. We can't keep promising benefits to government workers that expect lucrative retirement and pay for health care. We can't provide all these goodies because we don't have the money.
There are a lot of government workers who are really being paid two or three times what they should and so if we have to cut the salary of government workers, that's an immediate loss to those government workers but it's an immediate gain to all the taxpayers who are footing the bill. But the politicians are afraid of doing that because the people who are going to lose are very organized and will express their displeasure at the ballot box.
Daily Bell: Is the US turning into an authoritarian state?
Peter Schiff: Well, certainly, the US government is gaining more and more power. Individuals are surrendering more and more of their freedoms and their liberties. You know, in my business my boss is the government. The government hasn't let me hire any brokers in two years. I say the government but it's the regulators acting with government authority. They haven't let me open any new offices in two years. They tell me how I have to monitor my customers; because of the government I have to impose minimum account sizes, all sorts of things I have to do.
The regulations cost me a fortune. I have maybe eight people that I employ, just to help me comply with rules and regulations. The number of regulations has increased so much in my industry I never could have started my business back in 1996 if we had the regulations we have today. I could not have started my own firm because I would not been able to afford the cost of the regulations.
Daily Bell: You predicted in a 2002 interview with Southland Today, an economic downturn triggered by the bursting of the stock market bubble that would lead to a bear market likely to last another 5 to 10 years. How did you know?
Peter Schiff: When the stock market bubble burst, at the time when I did that interview, I did not know the government was going to act so recklessly. I later modified my forecast because I saw we were going to have a worse collapse. The Fed began inflating a larger bubble than the one that had just burst, thus sowing seeds for a much greater economic collapse. I really started warning about that collapse in 2004/2005 when it appeared obvious to me that the Fed had created a monster and it was going to turn on us, which ultimately it did. And then we saw a bigger collapse in 2008 and once again the Fed did the wrong thing and postponed the pain yet again until maybe 2011 or 2012. Now a far greater collapse is coming because of the continual reflation and quantitative easing.
Daily Bell: Why are you so critical of the Fed?
Peter Schiff: I am critical because there is much to criticize; they are doing a lot of bad things. They blew up the stock market bubble; they blew up the housing bubble, which brought the US economy to its knees. It has enabled the government to grow like a cancer. Instead of taking away the punch bowl, the Fed has been spiking it. The Fed has betrayed American citizens and those that run it should be put on trial. They have damaged the country more than any WikiLeaks cable. This is serious stuff what they are doing.
Daily Bell: Will there be hyperinflation?
Peter Schiff: I hope not, but there is going to be high inflation because of what the Fed has done. Hyperinflation will depend on whether the Fed continues to do what it is doing – pumping more paper money into the economy – or whether it ultimately admits it's errors and changes policy. The longer it takes, the worse it will be.
Daily Bell: Should the US get rid of the Fed? How would it be possible?
Peter Schiff: Well depends on what replaces it. We can go back to the pre-Fed monetary system, and that would be best. But if we replace it with something worse – then no.
Daily Bell: Should the world go back on a gold standard?
Peter Schiff: Absolutely. It will anyway. The question is whether the governments adopt the gold standard voluntarily or whether the public forces them into it. It definitely would be better if the government would do it on their own rather than waiting for crisis but you know how it goes.
Daily Bell: Do you believe in free-banking and private fractional reserve – letting the market itself decide on the kind and style of banking available?
Peter Schiff: Sure.
Daily Bell: Should the Fed's functions be taken over by the Treasury? Would that work better?
Peter Schiff: No. I would like to strip the Fed of their powers but not transfer them to the Treasury.
Daily Bell: You received criticism due to the performance of some of client's accounts in 2008, as well as controversies over the predictions themselves. Was this fair?
Peter Schiff: In most cases, no. I don't think the people criticizing were being fair at all. They were taking one portion of my investment strategy and examining it for a brief period of time. (Q4, 2008). My strategy and investment recommendations have been in the works for a decade, and you can't selectively pull out one quarter and then only look at part of my portfolio.
I recommended that investors do three things: keep some money in foreign dividend-paying stocks, keep some money in physical precious metals, and keep some money in cash, which would be in dollars and foreign currencies. And one of the reasons that I specifically suggest cash is so you can take advantage of any declines that you might get in stocks or precious metals – and you certainly had that opportunity in 2008. We had substantial declines in foreign stocks and those of my clients who didn't sell during those declines had the opportunity to benefit from those declines.
Daily Bell: How have your clients fared in the 2009 and 2010?
Peter Schiff: Well again, I can't really say because of the regulations, I can't even talk about averages, but I can tell you that 2009 was the best year that we had in the history of the brokerage firm. So 2009 was our best year and 2008 was our worst year.
I didn't get credit for a hedge fund we put together in 2007 that shorted sub-prime mortgages. The Wall Street Journal did a story about clients of mine who lost money. They deliberately skewed the sample. So at the end of 2009 I called them and said 2009 was our best year ever – do you want to do an article on how fantastic 2009 was and what a difference a year makes? Back came the answer, "No, we don't want to write that story." The WSJ never wants to write a story giving me credit, because I have had many, many good years but they only wanted to write about me in Q4:08.
The regulators don't make it any easier to talk about your business either. They don't want you comparing your results to, say, Merrill Lynch's – because if you know what you are doing and respect the free-market, you are probably doing better. They make it illegal to advertise that your clients are doing well, so no one realizes the alternatives to Wall Street. All the rules are written to protect the large firms from competition from the small firms. Every other industry can have testimonials, you can go to the website and have clients taking about this is a great firm, I made a lot of money, you can't do that in this business. No one can say ‘I like this firm' because it's illegal to do that.
Daily Bell: Is gold going to US $5,000?
Peter Schiff: I think it's going to $5,000 before the bull market ends but I don't know when exactly that will be. Timing is a very difficult thing.
Daily Bell: Is China's inflation out of control?
Peter Schiff: Well, it's not out of control, but it's getting worse. All the leadership has to do is stop printing money. But they don't want to do that because they want to keep their currency even more debased than the dollar in order to make exports cheaper – so they print money. They have to decide what they want. Do they want a debased currency and price-inflation or do they want lower price-inflation and less debased currency? You can't have both.
Daily Bell: Jumping over to Europe, Is the EU going to split? What will happen to the euro?
Peter Schiff: I don't know. I don't think it will survive in its current form, but I don't know how many years will pass before there's a major change with the euro. I don't think the euro is viable given the politics, but I do think the European politicians will be able to placate the markets for a while longer and convince people that the euro is viable.
Daily Bell: Are you still a supporter of Ron Paul?
Peter Schiff: Yes, I support him as a Congressman, and I supported his son in his election to the US Senate. If Ron Paul decides to run for President, I would likely support him, although there are some other candidates that are potentially running I would like to support as well. I don't know whether he will run in 2012.
Daily Bell: Ron Paul of course is anti-regulation and pro free-market. Is the US financial industry overregulated? Is it overbanked? Does regulation work?
Peter Schiff: Of course it's over regulated, dramatically so. If the government wasn't in there regulating, we would have a much healthier, more competitive market. I think the financial services sector overall would be a smaller part of our economy. The resources that used to grow manufacturing are now being diverted to grow the financial business.
Daily Bell: You say that the current economic crisis provides an opportunity to transition from borrowing and spending to saving and producing. Can you explain more?
Peter Schiff: Well, that is what ultimately has to happen in America but is not happening now, nor will it happen as long as the current monetary fiscal policies are maintained. Right now you have to be an idiot to save money in US dollars, so nobody is going to do it. Therefore, we're not going to get the capital that we need to rebuild our economy. Production will continue to lag and jobs will continue to disappear.
Daily Bell: Compelling points. In fact, you received over 10,000 donations and much e-mail from around the world during your run for Senate. Were you unhappy with the way your candidacy turned out?
Peter Schiff: I think I got donations from 20,000 people, which was great, but I wasn't happy the way it turned out. I lost, and the whole idea is to win. I was disappointed that I didn't get more media coverage for my campaign, I didn't get more donations from any kind of conservative organizations; I didn't get any other support in the news. I had hoped FOX News would have covered my campaign, but they completely ignored me. I couldn't get on O'Reilly or Hannity or any of these shows, and couldn't get them to even discuss my campaign with me even though they talked about the Tea Party and the Tea Party endorsed me. I had no press coverage; I think that really undermined my campaign because people decided I wasn't a viable candidate. When the press decides not to cover you, it's really hard to overcome.
Daily Bell: OK, you lost the Republican primary. Should you have run as a libertarian?
Peter Schiff: I definitely would not have run as a libertarian, I would have had no press coverage there either. I don't think I choose the wrong party. I just didn't have the money to run a successful campaign. In the primary Linda McMahon spent $30M; we only spent about $3M. She outspent me 10-1 but she only got twice as many votes as me, it's not like she got 10-times as many votes as me. My votes were a lot less expensive than hers.
Daily Bell: Will you run again?
Peter Schiff: I will probably run again for something in the future. Will I run in 2012? Probably not.
Daily Bell: You've raised your profile tremendously by using the Internet to spread your views. Is the Internet generally an important force in spreading the word about free-market thinking?
Peter Schiff: I think without the Internet I would not have as large an audience. People can easily search for me or any other subject. Social media is huge and it's so easy to get the word out through these platforms.
Daily Bell: Is there a small group of banking families behind a lot of the growing authoritarianism in the world? Is the Internet exposing them?
Peter Schiff: I doubt that. I don't think there's any kind of banking conspiracy but bankers certainly act in their own self-interest. They make a lot of money based on the status quo and they donate a lot of money to politicians who help them make money – but I don't think there is a conspiracy. I think it's corruption in government and the way politics work and that is the problem.
Daily Bell: Where do you go from here?
Peter Schiff: Right now, I'm going to continue with my business and expand overseas. I'm working on a new book. I will try to spread the word and encourage more people to protect their wealth through the proper, free-market oriented investments.
Daily Bell: Would you like to recommend any books and articles that are especially valuable?
Peter Schiff: My books, Crash Proof and How the Economy Grows. I have a recommended reading list on my website. I have also been doing my radio show everyday, Monday through Friday, Peter Schiff Show. Every Monday to Friday, 6-8pm, Schiffradio.com
Daily Bell: Thank you for your time. Good luck with your firm and your political career.

Peter Schiff is certainly a success story. An intensely idiosyncratic individual – someone who prefers to think for himself just as his father does – Peter Schiff has succeeded on the business side and doubtless will succeed politically as well sooner or later. This interview touches on a wide variety of bases and shows how he built his enterprise piece by piece. Nobody helped Peter. He took the risks on his own and was not worried about making high profile predictions throughout the 2000s regarding the economy.
Several things are clear from his background and current situation. Peter Schiff had a vision of the world and stuck to it. He didn't conform to someone else's vision of How the World Works. He stuck to his vision because he believed in it; and gradually others have seen the rightness of what he perceived long ago. One of our elves once asked him if the "best" way to analyze investments was through a free-market economic approach. Somewhat baffled, he replied "What other kind of economics is there?"
It is this ability to cut through to the heart of the issue that has served him well in our view. He is not a complicated man in this regard, but he has the same quality as Congressman Ron Paul; he is someone who has a hard time fooling himself and seems to have a hard time lying to himself on fundamental issues, generally. Of course, this may not serve him well when it comes to politics, which is generally the art of lying for votes.
However, having observed Mr. Schiff for years, we would make the prediction that he may even turn politics upside down eventually, much as Ron Paul has. There is a great thirst for truth in the United States, indeed in the Western world, and courageous people like Mr. Schiff help fill that need – through business and investing in his case; and perhaps through running for office and offering people real solutions in the future. (Though it is true that change may actually come OUTSIDE of politics and beyond the system ...)
Peter Schiff was right about collapsing Western economies through the 2000s, even when he was mocked and pilloried by the mainstream media. When his predictions proved true, the media – controlled by the power elite in our view – simply ignored his correct calls and went in search of mainstream economists who had come around to his views much later.
Of course now, with his investment firm blossoming and money available for other projects, he has the opportunity to prove on his own what the mainstream media denies him. It is the truth-telling of the Internet in our view that has allowed people like Peter Schiff to propagate their courageous and non-mainstream visions. There is no going back now. There is little hope that the powers-that-be can control people such as Schiff – anymore than they could control his father. He is in the vanguard of a new consensus about free-markets and freedom generally. There are more every day who think like him and look up to him. We are admirers too.