Comments on: The bazaar of violence, open for business in Mexico http://polizeros.com/2008/01/15/the-bazaar-of-violence-open-for-business-in-mexico/ Musings on politics: anti-war, global warming, peak oil and otherwise Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:47:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: DJ http://polizeros.com/2008/01/15/the-bazaar-of-violence-open-for-business-in-mexico/#comment-147599 DJ Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:40:40 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2008/01/15/the-bazaar-of-violence-open-for-business-in-mexico/#comment-147599 In other countries, cash is often the ONLY medoum of exchange. Only recently did payroll in Sri Lanka switch from cash to check-- before that, everyone lined up at the cashier's office on payday. As to where you keep $1 billion in cash-- anywhere you want! You buy your own private army to guard it. Especially in poor regions of underdeveloped countries, cash buys loyalty-- and therefore relative safety. (Killing your enemies and their families doesn't hurt loyalty either.) And why invest when your primary product is far more profitable than real estate or stocks? There are undoubtedly cartels involved in legitimate businesses, but they don't need to be from the standpoint of profit. Investment also requires laundering, with its attendant costs. The cash economy, OTOH, requires no laundering at all. Of course, these days, $1 billion in cash is worth 40% less than it was just a few months ago, so that perspective may change. If it was me, I'd switch to Euros and/or gold. In other countries, cash is often the ONLY medoum of exchange. Only recently did payroll in Sri Lanka switch from cash to check– before that, everyone lined up at the cashier’s office on payday.

As to where you keep $1 billion in cash– anywhere you want! You buy your own private army to guard it. Especially in poor regions of underdeveloped countries, cash buys loyalty– and therefore relative safety. (Killing your enemies and their families doesn’t hurt loyalty either.)

And why invest when your primary product is far more profitable than real estate or stocks? There are undoubtedly cartels involved in legitimate businesses, but they don’t need to be from the standpoint of profit. Investment also requires laundering, with its attendant costs. The cash economy, OTOH, requires no laundering at all.

Of course, these days, $1 billion in cash is worth 40% less than it was just a few months ago, so that perspective may change. If it was me, I’d switch to Euros and/or gold.

]]> By: Dean Becker http://polizeros.com/2008/01/15/the-bazaar-of-violence-open-for-business-in-mexico/#comment-147565 Dean Becker Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:23:59 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2008/01/15/the-bazaar-of-violence-open-for-business-in-mexico/#comment-147565 The drug war is a scam, a horrendous fraud perpetrated on the peoples of Earth. Those who support the drug war in any fashion are the best friends the drug barons, opium growing terrorists and violent drug gangs could ever hope for. Without the policy of drug prohibition in place these drug gangsters would lose approximately $400 billion per year, (according the UN office on drugs and crime.) The drug war is a scam, a horrendous fraud perpetrated on the peoples of Earth. Those who support the drug war in any fashion are the best friends the drug barons, opium growing terrorists and violent drug gangs could ever hope for. Without the policy of drug prohibition in place these drug gangsters would lose approximately $400 billion per year, (according the UN office on drugs and crime.)

]]> By: Bob Morris http://polizeros.com/2008/01/15/the-bazaar-of-violence-open-for-business-in-mexico/#comment-147563 Bob Morris Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:37:04 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2008/01/15/the-bazaar-of-violence-open-for-business-in-mexico/#comment-147563 But where do you store $1 billion in cash? Or spend it without attracting attention? In US banks, any cash transaction larger than $10,000 is reported to the government. But where do you store $1 billion in cash? Or spend it without attracting attention? In US banks, any cash transaction larger than $10,000 is reported to the government.

]]> By: DJ http://polizeros.com/2008/01/15/the-bazaar-of-violence-open-for-business-in-mexico/#comment-147561 DJ Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:18:29 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2008/01/15/the-bazaar-of-violence-open-for-business-in-mexico/#comment-147561 Some years ago, a Columbian drug cartel attempted to buy amnesty by offering to pay off Columbia's $11 billion national debt-- IN CASH! That's a staggering amount of cash for any organization, much less a criminal one. I'm sure the cartels own stuff, but cash is still king. Some years ago, a Columbian drug cartel attempted to buy amnesty by offering to pay off Columbia’s $11 billion national debt– IN CASH! That’s a staggering amount of cash for any organization, much less a criminal one. I’m sure the cartels own stuff, but cash is still king.

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