LMAO
for those who can't read Farsi, Our former king was just a little bit anti-commies. He used to let the bears rape commies :)))
#grownostr #iran #history
#grownostr #iran #history
#grownostr #iran #history
John Law is one of history’s most notorious financial manipulators—a man whose bold ideas and reckless ambition left a trail of destruction. Known as the architect of the first major economic bubble, the Mississippi Bubble, Law’s obsession with turning paper money into a tool of unchecked wealth creation plunged France into chaos. His schemes not only collapsed the economy but also deepened the mistrust between the people and the monarchy, laying the groundwork for the French Revolution. Law wasn’t a visionary but a gambler who leveraged his charm and influence to gain power, leaving behind one of history’s greatest cautionary tales of greed and overreach.
#grownostr #fiathistory #bitcoin #economics
Japan was the first major global power to develop a comprehensive social security system, expanding its principles and achieving remarkable success.
The country became a global leader in life expectancy and was also at the forefront of education. By the mid-1970s, about 90% of its population had completed high school—a stark contrast to the UK, where the figure was only 32%. In terms of social equality, Japan outpaced all Western nations except Sweden. It also managed the largest pension fund in the world, allowing its retirees to enjoy generous benefits and a steady income throughout long years of retirement. Notably, Japan accomplished this while allocating just 9% of its national income to social insurance in 1975, compared to Sweden’s 31%. In the UK, the burden of taxes and social security was roughly half that amount. Japan had successfully made welfare accessible to all, all while its economy grew rapidly enough to become the second-largest globally by 1968. A year earlier, Herman Kahn had predicted that by 2000, Japan’s per capita income would surpass that of the United States. Indeed, Yakagawa Natsuhiro stated that when accounting for additional benefits, "the real income of a Japanese worker is now at least three times that of an American worker."
The extraordinary success of Japan’s social security system was so profound that by the 1970s, the Japanese enjoyed the highest life expectancy in the world. However, this longevity, coupled with a declining birthrate, resulted in the world’s oldest population, with 21% of its citizens aged 65 or older. According to international economic research by Nakame, by 2044, the elderly population is projected to equal the working population. Consequently, Japan is now facing a deep structural crisis in its social security system, which was not designed to handle such demographic challenges. Despite raising the retirement age, the government has yet to resolve the issues within the public pension system. The situation has been exacerbated by many self-employed individuals and students being unable to afford their social security contributions. Furthermore, the universal health insurance program has been running a budget deficit since the 1990s. Today, Japan’s social security budget consumes three-quarters of its tax revenue, and its national debt has surpassed one quadrillion yen, or approximately 170% of its gross domestic product.
Note: The statistics cited are from 2008, making them 17 years old.
Source: The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World
#grownostr #japan #welfarestate
According to the 2018 trustees’ report, Medicare faces a $37 trillion unfunded liability over the next 75 years, and Social Security $13 trillion. None of this is part of the $34 trillion U.S. debt as of 2024.
"But why worry? Taxpayers pay in now, then get paid later when they're old. Problem solved!" Now let’s look at reality:
1- Aging Population: In case anyone missed it, populations in most developed countries are aging fast. Fewer workers supporting more retirees. So the math here is simple: fewer people paying into the system, more people taking out. What could go wrong?
2- Rising Costs: Medical technology keeps advancing (good for health, bad for budgets), and people live longer than ever. Healthcare and pension costs grow faster than inflation or GDP. But hey, I’m sure "the rich" can foot the bill, right?
3- Economic Shocks: Tax revenue isn’t a guaranteed stream. A recession hits, revenue drops, and obligations like pensions and Medicare don’t magically shrink. So where does the money come from? Print it? Borrow more? Oh wait, we already maxed that strategy.
But sure, keep telling us that unfunded liabilities aren’t a problem. What’s another few trillion, anyway? It’s not like future taxpayers will mind footing the bill for today’s promises.
#grownostr #fiatstandard #debtcrisis #bitcoin #liberty
I’ve never been deeply drawn to mythology, but I’ve noticed the recurring theme of scarcity. In myths and ancient beliefs, there’s always a limited number of divine beings or supernatural forces shaping existence. From the singular, all-powerful gods of monotheistic traditions to the pantheons of ancient Greece or Norse mythology, these figures are always finite.
This scarcity is what made myths so captivating. Imagine if there were thousands of Zeuses or Thors—what would happen to the sense of wonder? The uniqueness would fade, and with it, the awe that draws people to these stories.
For the first time in human history, though, we have something in the material world that’s provably scarce—and yet, some people still fail to appreciate its beauty!
#grownostr #bitcoin #scarcity