Living in The Gambia

SUMMARY

I enjoy traveling around West Africa, especially around culturally rich regions blending nature with modern infrastructural developments. Both my air and road travels around this ECOWAS subregion in the last 15 years has been both instructive and enriching for me. I have been culturally immersed with diversity in languages, religion, culture, food, architecture, climate, economic life, flora and fauna.

The knowledge acquired, cannot be quantified in monetary terms, and i will recommend this educational tours to our youths to enable them appreciate and tolerate other cultures, thus reducing conflicts and disputes among neighboring countries. Somewhere else, i have written and held several seminars on working and living in Ghana about 11 years ago.

Today, the success story of Ghana is evident to all and this country Ghana, has emerged as one of the best economies in the subregion. Again, i am introducing another emerging great economy to you, The Gambia.

Before the whole world flood here, and you'll be left out, why not take my advise seriously and invest, work, live or holiday in this beautiful country to experience what I'm talking about? I love this peaceful country blessed with hospitable people. Gambians welcome you with natural inspiring smiles. The Gambia is bounded round by an historical river, rich in natural resources of sea foods, animals and healing powers. Welcome to The Gambia, the smiling coast of West Africa.

From the natural beauty of Makasutu Village, historical sites of Kunta Kinteh village, James Island, Kachikally Crocodile pool, Kanilai Farm, and so many other sites to the beaches and people, you will hardly want to leave. Little wonder, there are so many repeat tourists coming to The Gambia for the past 10-15 years that I've met. They come from all over Europe, Americas, Asia and Africa. At the beach, the beauty of the Sea, the sand and sun will remind you of Mother Africa.

How about the investment climate, very favorable and investor friendly.With a stable economy with a single digit inflation rate and currency exchange of US$1.0= GMD26 (As at 9th April, 2010). The Gambia is a multicultural country with a lot of immigrants from West Africa, Europe, America, Middle East and Asia permanently living as investors, working with several NGOs, some retired investors while many others are engaged in importation businesses and owned several shopping malls.The Gambia is home to investors, volunteers, professionals pursuing their career, and holiday makers who has made this peaceful country their destination. Welcome to The Gambia, where there is no discrimination based on religion, creed, color, race, gender, social status, disability and with zero tolerance to corruption. Read on! Alsamadeh!

MARKET

The major markets are in Banjul, Serrekunda and Brikama. Here, you can shop for staple foods like fish, meat, vegetables, clothings, jeweleries and fashion accessories. The locals welcome people with natural smiles after exchanging the religious greetings: "Asalamalekun", meaning, peace be unto you. Traditionally, Gambian women go to market daily to buy what to cook.They can be seen with the plastic baskets with holders thronging to the busy markets to shop for fresh fish, meat, vegetables and take time to greet each other asking after each others' families, relations and get updated about current social events and other women gossips. Some of the elites, however, prefer to shop in shopping malls around Kairaba Avenue, and buy foods in large quantities to store at home.

Mini-markets, or what some call supermarkets are all over the Greater Banjul area competing with the traditional markets. There are also the neighborhood shops, called "Fulah Shops", owned mostly by Mauritanian citizens and in some cases by Guineans. This is the place to get the locally made bread called, "Tapalapa". This is usually a long banana shaped clay oven baked bread that is usually transported on bicycles by the suppliers early in the morning, mid-day and sunset time. I prefer buying this, when fresh, it's soft and more appealing than the stale hardened and uninviting ones. A full one goes for D5 and the half is D2.50. The bread is usually sold with a nice spread of butter, mayonnaises, egg, potato and spiced with jumbo or Maggi sauce depending on the buyer's preferences.

There is also "Senfu", which has a crumb nature and much cheaper, being sold for D3 for a full roll. However, i noticed the "Senfu" is not as filling as the "Tapalapa" that can keep me going for the whole day, like a bowl of "Fufu", which is the energiser for most Nigerians, Ghanaians and Sierra- Leoneans in The Gambia. The local "Fufu" unlike the ones found in Ghana and Nigeria are made from "Saddam Rice", as it is called locally, by milling it into powder and cooked into a solid paste in a pot. The most popular lunch meal, among Gambians, is the jollof rice, locally referred to as " Benechin". Different types of stew are prepared to eat the rice meal like"Plasas", "Super ganja", "Damoda",etc. I enjoy the Gambia breakfast meal of "Thura Girthe", which is very rich in protein. This is a mixture of well pounded rice cooked with milled groundnut and eaten with a spread of yogurt "Sour Milk".

Gambians eat together. Small groups of between 5-8 people are usually seen eating from the same bowl, and yet, when a visitor appears, he or she is beakoned to still join them and share out of it. This is the true love, i'm yet to see anywhere. If you think there is no free meal anywhere, you're wrong; come to The Gambia! This explain the reason for very low or non-existent crime rate. At least, a lunch meal is guaranteed for anyone living in The Gambia. Food is shared, no one goes home hungry. The women also waste a lot of food by always preparing a lot expecting visitors to join them when serving their meals. They package the rice meals in large wide bowls with a cover and wrap it in a traditional manner with cloth, that will secure the food from spilling and carry to their husbands at their respective working places for them to eat with colleagues. Sometimes, they go travel long distances, to deliver the foods, like a family living in Lamin and the husband working in Serrekunda.

WORK HOURS

The official working hours is 8am- 4pm from Monday to Thursday. Friday is half day. Most of Gambians are Muslims, and they go for the Friday Special prayers in the afternoon. Although, the "African time" concept is still prevalent among the people, this is common with the government workers, the private sector is better. Most serious business appointments start from 9am, even though, they are scheduled for 8am.

The major reason sometimes for arriving at work late, can be as a result of unavailability of commercial vehicles to transport workers to their respective places of work. Even, at places of work, Gambians do not forget to take their Chinese herbal tea called " Atire".

GAME OF FOOTBALL

A first time visitor, to The Gambia will think the game of football has it's origin from here, because of the love and passion attached to this game. There are quite a number of playgrounds that are never kept idle because of the teeming youths that religiously train and play daily matches, especially in the evenings after work or school. Similarly, on weekends, first thing in the morning, you will notice everyone exercising or playing the game they love most; football.

The discussions of most of these youths that constitute half of the country's population is centered on the European matches. Teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan and other big teams have passionate fans in The Gambia.

There are many Football Viewing centers that are making a fortune showing the live matches to most Gambian. Although, some of these youths might not know the capital of Nigeria, they often tell me it's Lagos, but they certainly know all the European Club Managers, first line ups and transfers of these key players, not to talk about the latest scores in the premiership or championship.

The Gambia's national team, called the "Scorpion" is adored and you dare not say anything bad against this team in order not to incur the wrath of my football lovers. A loss in game when "Scorpions" play, will turn the entire country into a grave yard, "a mourning period". But with a win; the Brazilian samba dancers will envy the dance steps of both the young boys and girls singing: "ho, ho ho ho, ha,ha,ha,ha..haleyomii". Therefore, to make friends with Gambians is so easy, just pick up a football topic!

BEACHES

The climatic conditions of The Gambia is slightly different from other ECOWAS countries. There is only one cycle of rainfall which starts around June and ends around October. It is usually hot during the raining periods, unlike other countries that experience cold periods.

The Hamattan period starts from November to February. However, the weather experiences erratic changes sometimes. The beaches are clean and provide succor to visiting tourists that want to experience the beauty of the sun, the sea and the sand of The Gambia.

There are several beaches to visit. From Banjul beach to Palma Rima, Senegambia and up to Sanyang. There are so many private beaches along this line. Most white tourists called "Toubabs" are usually welcome at these beaches that have attractive traditional bars with natural juice, canned drinks, barbecue and special packages for visitors.

The menace of "bumsters" have been curtailed and there are tourist police patrolling most of the busy beaches to deter the "unsolicited friends". The beaches are besieged by almost all Gambians during festive periods or during major musical concerts or shows.

FESTIVE PERIODS

A visitor arriving The Gambia around Easter or Christmas will think all Gambians are Christians, with the celebration and partying. Similarly, around the Muslim festivals of "Koriteh or Tobaski" will give one the impression that there is no single Christian in town.

This is the beauty and diversity of the Gambian hospitality and tolerance of other religions in The Gambia. The people enjoy good music. The local artists are adored, some of whom are Jalibah Kuyateh, Titi Kololi, Freakie Joe, Asan Njie, Olugander and Sambou to mention a few.

The women, both young and old, enjoy dancing. The very physical dances of jumping and kicking the air is common and i often wonder where the women get the extra energy and strength from. Some young men that are not used to these dances, dare not challenge these women in a dancing competition, if they do not want to be hospitalized.

The entertainment industry is therefore very vibrant. Most people relax by watching Nigerian, Senegalese and Ghanaian home videos. There are several video rental shops to pick the latest Nigerian films from. Most of the banks and hotels show foreign channels like DSTV, CNN, AlJAZEERA, EUROSPORT etc.

PAID WORK IN THE GAMBIA

Except for ECOWAS nationals, that are allowed to work freely in some key government sectors like Education and Judiciary, other nationals are only allowed to work as expatriate and have to go through a scrutiny and get approval from the immigration department, before they can be permitted to work with the government.

However, investors are allowed to bring in their work force, provided they abide by the immigration laws of obtaining a work/residential permit. Openings exist all year round for qualified teachers in Senior secondary schools all over the country.

Most of the vacancies are usually filled by Nigerians, Ghanaians, Senegalese, Sierra-Leoneans, Liberians and a handful of other ECOWAS nationals. Openings also exist for lecturers in University of The Gambia, several professional training institutes and other tertiary institutes like Management Development Institute (MDI), Gambia College and Gambia Technical Training Institute (G.T.T.I).

Although, the private institutes remuneration is higher than the government pay scale. Most of the secondary schools in the provinces are in need of teachers, most teachers rather prefer to transfer to the urban cities leaving the rural villages without qualified teaching force.

Government subsidized schools remuneration package for non-Gambian teachers are between D3,500-D4,000 per shift (Morning or afternoon) depending on the entry level experience and qualification. The private schools pay between D4,500-D10,000, depending on the school and experience of the teacher.

Most schools prefer teachers that have gathered "Gambian experience", meaning, they must have taught in The Gambia for some years to understand the system. Combining both shifts means more income. Most government schools prefer to pay full salary for the morning shift and half salary for the afternoon shift. There are other several opportunities of income earning, by organizing study classes for the students after close of school by some teachers. Most teachers often change school to those paying more, and every term witnesses a mass drift of teachers around.

The coveted schools are: Marina International, SBEC, Zenith, SOS, Scanaid and West African International. Linguistics and sciences are the preferred subjects often in high demand. English language, English Literature, Mathematics, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agric Science, Applied Electricity etc, are "hot cake" subjects for most schools.

ECOWAS qualified teachers (M.Sc, B.Sc & HND holders in the subjects listed above) are usually being employed in secondary schools in The Gambia.

Other professionals needed to work in the private sectors are:

1. Lawyers with LL.b degree that have successfully completed Law school and called to Bar to work as

Magistrates/Judges with the Ministry of Justice.

2. Professional Graphic & Website Designers.

3. Professional Advertisers.

4. Desktop & Laptop Repair Technicians.

5. Automobile Technicians.

6. Theater Arts & Dramatic artists.

7. Film Directors & Producers.

8. Professional Actors & Actresses.

9. Radio & T.V Programme Presenters.

10. Fish Breeding & Farming

11. Aquarium Making & Gold Fish Rearing.

12. Leadership Development Trainers.

13. Trainers in unique skills & vocations.

14. Cottage Industry set-up trainers ( Body creams, soaps, cartons, shoe polish etc.)

The financial industry has witnessed a phenomenal growth with addition of more banks joining the league recently, bringing the total number of banks to fourteen in The Gambia. Most of these Nigerian banks are opening up branches and will need more staff.

Although, it is far cheaper to hire the locals than expatriate by the banks, because of the special tax paid for not hiring Gambians. The same rule applies to the Hotel and Tourism industry. The Non Governmental Organizations, NGOs are allowed to bring in their personnel.

Volunteers are also welcome in The Gambia. Volunteers can have a cultural immersion and gain international experience in this peaceful country. For holiday makers, i will recommend visiting this small but unique country for those in search of a Peaceful, Affordable and Memorable African Retreat (PAMAR!)

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

1. ECOWAS CITIZENS

The government welcome investment in all sectors, special attention is, however, given to Agriculture because of the importance of food security to any nation. Other sectors like Real Estate & Properties, Mining Industry, Hotel & Tourism, Health, Education, Manufacturing and Agro- allied Sectors are key areas to go into and get government incentive, in tax relief and total support.

ECOWAS citizens enjoy free movement of persons and goods within the 16 countries block, the required capital needed to re-locate to the Gambia to work, live, invest or holiday is far less than what is required to settle down in other ECOWAS countries. With the electricity tariffs coming down (thanks to the government initiative), NAWEC, the electricity company is doing her best to guarantee stable supply of electricity and many businesses solely rely on this stable electricity supply.

Incidences of armed robbery attack are very rare. I have not noticed or witness or hear about armed robbery attacks in the last six years. I only read in one of the newspapers, one or two times, about such attacks in the provinces some few years ago. People move about without fear of molestation or attack. Petty mobile phone theft are usually common.

The residential houses are affordable, and rents of one to three months advance payments, are demanded. The people are warm and hospitable. For as little as D500 per month, a room can be rented around the busy areas like Brikama, Latrikunda, Lamin,Tabokoto, Wellingara and Coastal road areas.

The 2-bed room apartments with all the conveniences goes for between D1,500-D2,500 per month in these areas depending on the finished taste and proximity to the busy highways. ECOWAS citizens can enter and settle in the country with opportunities to start small businesses.

For these wise residents in the country, there are several businesses to choose from and do effortlessly in this investment friendly country. Anyone coming to The Gambia for the first time, must first of all plan and prepare, knowing what to do and where to stay and having adequate information about the culture and business climate.

2. WORLDWIDE INVESTORS ( MEDIUM/ LARGE SCALE BUSINESSES)

The specific areas, wise investors, can rush into to invest presently, from our detailed research findings are:

A) Setting up a private University with residential campus to attract all ECOWAS citizens.

B) Eateries like MacDonald's, Chicken George, Mr. Briggs, Sweet Sensation, Tantalizers, TFC, etc

C) Botanical Garden/ Love Garden around the Tourist areas.

D) Building low Cost Homes to be sold or rented out to people.

E) Ground nut processing factory.

F) Feed Mill for Poultry, Rabbitry and Turkey Production.

G) Cashew Processing Factory (CNS Oil, brake oil, glue, rubber,electrical wires etc).

H) Natural Juice canning factory ( Fruits like mangoes, orange, lime etc abound).

I) Fresh Flower production and export.

J) Fish Canning/ Food packaging for export.

There are other 90 businesses we have surveyed to be potential instant money earners for wise investors to take on. Kindly request for a detailed project profile on this. The Gambia Investment Promotion and Free Zones Agency, (GIPFZA) welcome investors with unique offers of tax relief, government support and non-bureaucratic processing of necessary documents to allow for quick set-up and investment in The Gambia.

To have a fair idea of the business climate, i recommend that all potential investors read the latest business directory (The Gambia Business Directory).

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT & BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

The Gambia, though small, but has a robust economy with fourteen commercial banks, four GSM companies, a good number of airlines plying the subregion and the outside world. There are more than five daily newspapers, around eight radio stations and many hotels of international standards including the 5-star Sheraton Hotel.

The major roads from the airport to most busy commercial centers like Kairaba, Brufut, West Field, Senegambia, Brikama, Latrikunda and Banjul are all tarred with well lighted street lights. Clean, fresh and treated pipe borne water is available to most homes 24hrs uninterrupted.

Communication and internet services are quite cheaper than most other countries. The cost of starting a business in The Gambia is far cheaper both in the short term and long term. The real estate business is enjoying a great boom with 30% return yearly on investments, and the Meltdown phenomenon is not easily noticeable in The Gambia.

The Gambia is a tourist destination and repeated visitors are common in this wonderful and peace loving smiling coast of The Gambia. Although, The Gambia is a tax based economy, the government makes substantial earnings from Tourism and exportation of agricultural commodities like Groundnut, Fishes, Cotton and solid minerals.

It is mandatory for every resident to have a TIN number(Tax Identification Number) before a bank account can be opened. New buildings are coming up daily and it is common sight,to see most of the property owners advertising their phone contacts for those interested in renting or leasing these properties from high rise buildings in Senegambia axis, Kairaba, Fajara, West Field, Tallinding, Tabokoto, Abuko, Lamin, Yundum etc.

Gambians in diaspora are rushing home to invest in this high yielding property sector. A visitor that last visited the country a year ago, will notice a remarkable difference in this infrastructural developments. The Gambia is a clean country, especially with the introduction of the monthly cleaning exercises, called "SETSETAL", which is a special cleaning day for everybody on the last Saturday of the month between the hours of 8-1pm and thereafter there is free movement.

Municipal officials go around to ensure the wastes are properly disposed and ensure compliance to the law, that all shops and businesses most be closed and no movement of commercial vehicles, until the end of the cleaning exercise.

Health wise, it is safe to live in The Gambia, because the health delivery system is very efficient and well equipped with the best medical personnel in The world. There are various health centers, well spread around the country with ambulances standing by to quickly evacuate emergencies to Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital, RVTH, Banjul where complicated cases are usually taken.

Visitors coming for the first time, therefore, are advised to take the appropriate vaccinations recommended. ECOWAS citizens must take vaccinations against yellow fever, meningitis, Polio etc and ensure these are stamped on their Yellow Card, this is even taken more seriously, when traveling by road through Benin, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal to The Gambia. Not having a valid Yellow Card could cost you a fortune in fines you'll be asked to Pay!

Medical services is free to Gambians, except the registration card which is D5 only. ECOWAS citizens are, however, required to pay for cost of treatment and hospitalization, depending on the treatment. Tourist visiting The Gambia are advised to have a Travel Insurance when visiting

Transportation within the country is affordable. Moving from one location to another is quite easy. There are three categories of commercial road transportation. One, is the commercial Bus, that only allow maximum of three passengers on a row which is convenient, unlike four on a row in several other countries. This type of buses go around the major destinations like Banjul to Serrekunda (D6), Banjul to Tabokoto (D10), Banjul to Brikama (D15), Serrekunda to Senegambia (D5) etc.

The second category is the yellow and green painted taxis that take people for D5 a drop or chartered services for most tourists and locals, called "Town Trip". The last category, are the green painted and branded "Tourist Taxis" for tourists from and to the airport, hotel areas, most beaches and historical sites for new visitors. They are more expensive than the yellow painted ones.

Except when it is very important, first time visitors are, however, encouraged to avoid going out around the rush hours, like 7-8am and 4-6pm, especially when commuters are going to or returning from work. From Tabokoto, Lamin, West field, Serrekunda and Brikama in the morning to Banjul and returning back home in the evening is always very hectic and expensive to take a taxi. The bus-stops are usually congested and the traffic chaotic around these periods.

There are many well organized tour operators with luxurious air conditioned buses to pick from and to the airport all visitors and tourist that arrange their visits through them. They also partner with most hotels on tours to historical sites and around the cities.

There area ferry services available to transport people across the River Gambia. From Barra to Banjul is D25 only. Visitors can come in to the country either by land through The Gambian border with Senegal at Hamdallah, or from Guinea and Cassamace, Senegal through Basse. By air is through the only airport at Yundum. The Banjul International Airport, one of the best in the subregion with the longest run-way and modern radial facilities installed.

The airport is not always busy and travelers should always inform someone to pick them at the airport, especially during the weekends when commercial activities are low. However, tourist taxis are available at any time for between D500-D800 depending on the distance, usually between 15-30km from the airport.

There is a Bureau de Change at the airport to change money from other currencies like Euro, dollars, pounds and CFA to Dalaisi. For Visa Card carriers, there is ECO Bank ATM at the airport. Bank PHB and Trust bank also have their ATMs at the airport.

On arrival in the country, when you hear "Nagadef?", meaning how are you, just answer "Jamarek", meaning i'm fine. After a hand shake, say "Jerejef", meaning thank you.

Jerejef, Jarama, Baraka (meaning thank you in 3 different local languages).

Mr.Adetunji Aderonmu is a business consultant and author of the book:Multiple Streams of Income in The Gambia and welcome inquires on investment,residence or holiday information about The Gambia. He can be contacted by email (cmfgam@gmail.com) or +2206611884
About the author, visit this blog: http://www.cmfgam.wordpress.com

The High Cost Of Living In New York: Part 1 Of A 2 Part Series

New York City is The Big Apple, America's melting pot, perhaps the world's melting pot, but wow, is it one expensive apple. It's no wonder the city is a melting pot. You have to make stew with what you can scrape up just to eat. At least it seems that way to most New York denizens and its many visitors. In this article, part 1 of a 2 part series, we'll examine the high cost of living in New York City and its causes. In part 2, we'll examine how the high cost of living in NYC affects its many citizens today.

Back in the late 1990's, Chef Marc Lombardini was an Executive Chef at the famed Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, the 4 star resort that is home to a Presidential bunker which has housed and elaborately fed the rich and famous for many, many years. Chef Lombardini was at a crossroad in his culinary career. The choice was presented to him to either go back home and run the family restaurant in Catonsville, Maryland, or to get a position as an Executive Chef at the famed Tavern On The Green in Manhattan.

He could either take a job thousands would kill for, a once in a lifetime opportunity to show his skill in one of the premier restaurants on the planet, or go home and run The Candlelight in a suburb of Baltimore. Feed the Derek Jeter's and Donald Trump's of the world on a fairly regular basis, or the citizens of Catonsville, population of 41, 457. Take the best position that he would only get offered once or take over a family business he would eventually embrace any way. The choice was obvious, right?

Of course, Chef Lombardini chose Catonsville. But why? Why turn down such an incredible, potentially career changing offer?

Because the job, that was offered to him had a salary range of $75,000 a year. Sounds like a lot, but in New York City, it's not. When you check out the cost of housing, utilities, fuel, food, taxes, parking, insurance, and everything else that you get hit with in New York, that same income will amount to about $40,000 a year in Baltimore. The buildings aren't the only thing that are sky-high in New York. An ice cream cone costs $4.50. It certainly didn't make economic sense to move to New York to make the same excellent food that he could produce in his home kitchen. Chef Lombardini didn't miss out on a huge opportunity, The Big Apple lost out on a great Chef another flavor to add to its melting pot, because the cost of living is just too high and has been for many, many years. Manhattan, by far, is the absolute worst.

More and more, people are leaving New York or are simply not moving to the city of dreams because the cost of living is simply ridiculous. For years, New York has been the hallmark of freedom, the bastion of hope, and the landing spot for many immigrants coming to find their version of the American Dream. Now the expenses have come home to roost, as well.

After years of taking in such a large number and of developing its remarkable history, sights, sounds and smells, New York has clearly out priced itself trying to manage to accommodate and entertain so many. The cost of housing is, to put a construction phrase in play, literally through the roof. It costs $400 to a ridiculous $5000 a month just to park in a parking garage 5 days a week to go to work.

Why is the great metropolis so expensive? Because it's such a wondrous city, it attracts too many wealthy companies that pay a lot of sky-high salaries. Because it is the banking center of the country, and Wall Street is the principal trading market in the nation. It is also because New York City is the publishing and media hub of the world. A large number of super rich people occupy the upper class of the city, even though most New Yorkers don't make the big money. However, since the cost of living is high, incomes are normally higher, and this means that Uncle Sam takes more in taxes than anywhere else in the nation.

"...a typical registered nurse in metropolitan New York earns $82,712 versus a national average of $65,464. In the case of an accountant, they calculate a figure of $74,388 versus a national average of $58,712." The median difference in average income is a little more than $10,000 a year per vocation higher in New York City when compared to the national average. The IRS doesn't mind that you have to pay more in New York City for food and necessities; they just care how much you make over the course of the year. So even though not all New Yorkers are rich or super rich, many are quite poor, there is a higher tax rate across the board which fuels the cost of living. The irony is that, in many cases, though the cost of living in New York is much higher, the standard of living is arguably worse because everything is so expensive. New York subsidizes many other states and municipalities because so many federal tax dollars come from The Big Apple.

Fair or not, everything is bigger, better and faster in New York, including the speed at which dollars leaves your wallet or pocketbook. There's no other place like it in the world. That comes at a cost to its many residents. The city has been packed with wall to wall people throughout its history, hitting a high point in regards to immigration in the early 20th century. It's been paying the bill for all this immigration for the past 100 years just about and there's no end in sight to the outrageously expanding tab. In part 2 of this 2 part series, we'll examine the cost of living in New York today and how it's affecting its many citizens.

With 13 years of research experience, History in all its manifestations is Miriam B. Medina's passion, and she loves nothing more than sharing what she learns with everyone. So be sure to check it out at http://thehistorybox.com/ny_city_directories.html, a one-stop resource center for writers, journalists, historians, teachers and students.

Off The Grid Living

Off the grid living is getting to be a necessary aspect of the way we think, as increasingly the consumption of the fossil based fuels coal, gas and oil accelerates. Global demand for these limited resources is growing and as a result we are seeing power outages across the globe, as power utilities are unable to meet the energy requirements of modern day society. No country is immune for even the United States by way off the State Of California has experienced energy shortage blackouts. It's therefore essential that we begin to focus our attention on alternative energy options that will helps us live of the grid.

As soon as you understand how to live off the grid you are no longer linked to the demands of the non renewable energy resources energy markets of coal, gas and oil and the unstable price fluctuations which are partly a result of world demand for such energy commodities. The resulting energy independence you can saves you money, reduces your carbon footprint and helps the environment which is a check in the plus column for you and future generations.

The benefits of off grid living to you!

Living off the grid as previously explained reduces your dependence on the finite sources of polluting carbon based fossil fuels used by power utilities to generate power. By going off grid you reduce the amount of money that the nation pays as a whole to oil supplying countries, which increases the nations internal investment in other important areas. The amount of savings can be quite significant especially for countries that are big consumers of energy like the United States which is estimated to consumes 25% off all the energy produced in the world.

As developing country's needs for energy increase the pressure for supplying energy will only grow further putting additional stresses on an already burden system. China for example is the worlds second largest consumer of energy and is expected to overtake the United States as the worlds number one consumer of energy in just a few years. In addition you have India making major advances in it's development efforts as well, bring another major energy consumer into the mix.

You must also consider that the regions of the world which are the suppliers of most of the oil and gas we consume are in areas where there is constant on going conflict, this forces you recognize that the cost of fossil fuels is also a function of protecting those vital resources and how energy markets react when those supplies are jeopardized.

If you remember the first Gulf War and the destruction of the oil fields in Kuwait and the massive environmental damage that resulted, you can understand that the price of energy is more than what it cost to extract, process and deliver this vital commodity.

Utilizing alternative energy options to live off grid means implementing technologies that can harness green energy sources like solar power and wind power. We can accomplish this by using readily available solar panels and wind turbines.

There are many sources of these technologies and large variety of solar panel kits, wind turbine kits and do-it-yourself training guides that teach homeowners and do-it-yourself enthusiast how to building their own renewable energy collection, storage and distribution systems. Eliminating a homeowners dependence on obtaining energy from a local power utility, reducing their energy cost and helping the environment because you're generating a much smaller carbon footprint. When homeowners invest in renewable energy systems they can expect the solar panels and wind turbines they purchase or build to keep on providing power for 20 or 30 years.

This means that after the system pays for itself in about 5 to 7 years depending on the size and complexity of the system that's been installed, your energy is essentially free for the life of the system. Also factor in that price for fossil fuels will only go up with crude oil for example estimated to reach 200 dollars per barrel; and a renewable energy system looks like a very wise investment.

Every renewable energy investment you make today for utilizing solar energy or wind energy insures that your protected from future energy price fluctuations, it also insures that future generations will be independent of fossil fuels that damage the environment and have a negative effect on our health.

Today living off the gird is not only possible but people have been doing it for years; with countries like Germany reportedly supplying 20% of their energy needs with renewable energy sources like solar and wind. The technology is available, cost effective and easy to implement by almost anyone; and every homeowner should at least learn what's involved so that they can make an educated assessment start saving money.

To learn more about renewable energy resources like solar power, wind power and low cost ways you can conserve energy, visit my blog at [http://alternative-energy-resources.propom.com]. Sooner or later due to the economics of energy we're all going to have to adopt green energy.

Healthier Living and Organic Farming

A large part of organic agriculture involves the health of the soil and the ecosystems in which crops and livestock are raised. Foods certified as organic must be produced using growing methods that minimize soil erosion and that maintain or enhance the fertility of the soil. All the chemicals in the world can't nourish a garden as well as healthy organic compost.

Look for natural and organic alternatives to chemical fertilizers, such as the use of compost. Natural fertilizers, compost and organic materials encourage native earthworms. The soil's organic matter contributes to good soil structure, and water-holding capacity. Improve the soil with organic matter and fertilizers to develop the best soil for growing seeds and plants.

The availability of nutrients from organic fertilizers depends on their breakdown by soil organisms, which in turn depends on weather and soil conditions. Their nutrients are not available to plants until the organic matter has decomposed. In reality, you can't have a good organic garden without a good composter.

The use of disease resistance must be emphasized within an organic program. In current organic production systems, growers are not permitted to use conventional synthetic organic fungicides in their disease management program. The national organic program rules prohibit the use of conventional pesticides, petroleum, or sewage-sludge-based fertilizers, bioengineering or ionizing radiation and synthetic substances. But, there are several general things any organic gardener can do to beat those pests naturally.

Many believe that organic foods contain a higher level of nutrient minerals and much lower levels of heavy metals. As a result, the industry has understandably grown from experimental garden plots to large farms with surplus products sold under special organic labels.

Today, organic foods are available at supermarkets and farmer's markets, in restaurants and through mail-order suppliers, even here on the web.

Example - http://www.organic-items.com

Buying organic will insure that the food products you consume contain no genetically modified organisms, and are free from irradiation.

Purchasing locally grown, organically produced fruits, vegetables and meat assures you of having the very best food available for your family's table. Buying hemp, organic cotton and recycled products like home furnishings, baby clothes, and natural beauty products aid conservation of natural resources. Growing organically takes more time, requires more knowledge and skill, and, for now, costs more.

Francesca Black works in marketing at Organic Items http://www.organic-items.com and Aromatherapy Blends http://www.aromatherapy-blends.net leading portals for organic products and natural excercise.

Living With Back Pain and Obesity

Back pain is a common phenomenon among the general population. Its prevalence is greatly increased in the obese. Obesity, or the condition of being dangerously overweight, greatly increases the stress placed on the spine and the muscles of the back. The spine is a series of joints. Vertebrae, the bones of the spine, are separated from each other by cushions calls discs. The discs serve as shock absorbers for the forces exerted on and by the body. The spine is designed to be durable enough to support the body's weight.

The spines of people with obesity must try to absorb much greater shock than those of people with less body mass. Another component of obesity that affects the back is a lack of muscle tone. When the muscles of the back, abdomen and pelvis are not strong, they fail to provide structural support to the spine. This combined with excess weight can result in a number of painful conditions, including:

-Subluxation and Spondylolisthesis (the displacement of a vertebra)

-Degenerative Disc Disease

(the wearing down of spinal discs resulting in friction and limited shock absorption)

-Herniated or Bulging Disc

(when the outer ring of the disc wears and the gel in the center is pushed to one side, either bulging the disc or causing the gel to leak out)

-Posture Distortion

(caused by the spine's inability to hold itself upright, leading to pain in the back, pelvis, neck and shoulders. Distorted posture can eventually result in the above conditions.)

Financial Obstacles

Dealing with obesity and its complications can be a difficult mission to embark upon. Frequent visits to the doctor cost enough to bankrupt most of us without health insurance. Even the insured may struggle to make co-pays and afford medications. A million diet plans exist to help people lose weight, but tailoring a budget to a diet is difficult for many of us. Alternative treatments like chiropractic care and exercise therapy to repair damage to the spine may be too expensive or nonexistent in your area.

With these obstacles, finding a solution to obesity and its consequences may seem impossible, or at least too overwhelming to pursue. However, there is always something you can do on your own to improve your health. With a little creativity and a lot of motivation, you can work around obstacles. This work is for your health and your life. You're worth it.

New Habits, New Life

Most instances of obesity stem from the ready availability and affordability of unhealthy foods. The American government subsidizes crops that are used to produce fats and sugars at a very low cost. These products are frighteningly pervasive; their low cost and versatility makes them perfect for use as stretchers and sweeteners in any product. The easiest and most affordable foods to obtain are those with the most calories and least nutritional value.

It may have made sense to eat the foods that are easiest to come by, but now that you see their toxic effects on your body, it is time to change dietary habits. You can cut down and eventually eliminate foods from your repertoire that are pre-made and heavily processed. A good test for the wholesomeness of a food product is to look at its ingredients. If there are any you cannot pronounce or whose source you cannot identify, it is best to pass on it.

For inspiration on cheap and easy meals without a bunch of processed junk in them, see http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2008/11/city-kitchen-chronicles-long-beans-and.html.

A study of people who wanted to establish a behavior showed that it takes, on average, 66 days for the behavior to become automatic. (More details on this study can be found at http://www.spring.org.uk/2009/09/how-long-to-form-a-habit.php.)

If you've practiced poor dietary hygiene your whole life, you cannot expect to revamp your eating habits completely overnight. Changing a long-standing habit is a process, and the attempt is most successful when conducted methodically.

Since the habit you are trying to establish is healthy eating, you will be replacing a bad habit with a good one. You may wish to plan ahead before beginning your movement toward health; get rid of all the tempting junk foods in your kitchen and reroute your drive to work if fast food chains may tempt you along the way, for example. Get yourself mentally prepared for the transition.

For some people, hunger is not the only trigger for food cravings. Many see food as an emotional comfort and seek solace in it when stressed or sad. Identifying what makes you want to eat too much or the wrong thing is a crucial step toward overcoming the habit.

By addressing obesity on your own when possible, you can reserve finances or insurance benefits for corrective treatments. Getting your weight in check may not be enough to heal the back pain that was caused by obesity. Your spine may be out of alignment, or your muscles may be weakened. A combination of weight loss and physical repair is likely necessary to restore back health.

Habitual and economic obstacles will not destroy your health unless they outweigh your motivation. A free source of power and healing is education. Research ways to lose weight safely, identify the possible sources of your back pain and work to resolve the issue. If possible, seek help from a physical therapist, chiropractor or doctor. There is always something you can do to help yourself.

Life is a matter of choice. And believe it or not so is back pain. However, obesity and back pain may not be. Questions, comments or stories related to this article can be submitted here Contact Us

10 RV Tips - Save Money While Enjoying RV Living

Great American humorist, Kin Hubbard once said, "The safest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it in your pocket."  But when RV living is your way of life, saving every penny may not be as easy as you might expect. The following RV tips are sure to help you save, and even earn, money while enjoying the RV way of life.

Ways to save money

1. Get more bank for your tank. Enjoy better gas mileage by practicing these simple driving tips:

Slow down - The faster you drive, the lower your fuel economy will be
Inflate - Proper tire inflation is a sure way to improve your gas mileage
Lighten your load - Eliminating excess RV weight increases your fuel efficiency

2. Stop and shop. Forget about stocking up on everything you need for your entire trip by buying in bulk beforehand. Instead, shop often and locally. You'll not only reduce the weight of your RV and get better fuel economy, but also save money by skipping the national chains and shopping for produce, meat, dairy and other items at local discount and dollar stores.

3. Eating in is in. Skip the restaurants and eat in. Your meals not only will be more affordable, but also they will be healthier than those bought at the fast food restaurants and old-fashioned diners along the highway.

4. Go green. Use plastic, not paper. Although paper products are easy to use, and even easier to throw away, why not go green while on the road? While the initial investment of purchasing a set of washable and reusable dishes may cost more upfront, not having to continually purchase paper plates, cups and utensils will save in the long run.

5. Try "boondocking." According to Jack and Julee Meltzer, authors of The Smart RVers Guide to Saving Money: Have More Fun RVing For Less Money, boondocking, or "dry-camping," usually entails staying somewhere that offers no hook-ups (water and sewer) at little or no cost. Whether it's a parking lot or in the desert on public land, some RVers only boondock. Most RVers, however, stay at a campground every few days in order to empty their tanks, do laundry and fill up on fresh water.

6. Make house calls. If boondocking isn't your style, why not turn your RV road trip into an opportunity to visit with family and friends? Be sure to be respectful and always ask before showing up; however, most close friends and family would be delighted for an impromptu visit that doesn't involve clean sheets and extra towels. Parking your RV in the driveway shouldn't be a problem; just make sure to ask if there are any city ordinances requiring parking permits in the neighborhood.

7. Join the club. RV membership clubs like The Good Sam Club, KOA, Passport America, Camp Club USA, Happy Camper and Escapees offer a wide range of benefits to their members, including substantial discounts on campground fees. Do your research before embarking on your journey to see what deals and discounts you can find for the road.

8. Get online. RV forums can be found on numerous websites. And while you're surfing, try finding online coupons, codes and discounts for all of your other necessary RV purchases.

9. Save money on storage by selling your stuff. Save that monthly storage unit fee and make some money at the same time. Before embarking on your road trip, hold a sale and eliminate all of your unused belongings, then donate whatever is left to the local Goodwill or Salvation Army. In addition to a little extra income, you'll receive a deduction on your taxes.

10. Investigate your policies. Research your insurance policies to ensure you are getting what you need at a price you can afford. Whether you're looking at your RV insurance options or trying to find discount RV insurance coverage for your vehicle, sometimes changing your provider or premiums can save you money.

The RV lifestyle is one of the most affordable ways to travel and experience all that the country has to offer. Utilize these helpful tips for RVing on a budget, and make every dollar stretch for miles.

Melanie Broemsen is a professional writer and content specialist at Rosetta, one of the top 10 interactive agencies in the U.S. Broemsen has a degree in Public Relations from Kent State University and more than 10 years of experience in Web marketing.

WWF's Living Planet Report 2006

In October 2006, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released its annual 'Living Planet Report' - detailing the global impact on natural resources and the declining numbers of animal species that are dependent upon them. It also offered solutions on how to reverse the downward trends in these areas. This year's report also explores the impact of human activity on the planet and concludes that the world's natural ecosystems are being run down at a rate never seen before in human history.

The 'Living Planet Report' makes the terrifying inference that the world's population of vertebrate species have declined by a third since 1970, thus confirming the worst of human fears: that humanity is using up the planet's resources at a much faster rate than which they can be produced. Carter S. Roberts, President and CEO of the WWF, commented:

"The bottom line of this report could not be more clear - for twenty years we've lived our lives in a way that far exceeds the carrying capacity of the Earth. The choices we make today will shape the possibilities for the generations which follow us. The fact that we live beyond our means in our use of natural resources will surely limit opportunities for future generations to follow."

In fact, the USA, as the world's foremost consumer society, is seen to be at the forefront of what the WWF report calls 'resource overshoot' - the use of more resources than is sustainable by the planet. This makes it all the more important for institutions in the USA - including the government, parents and teachers - to teach our children (the "future generations" that Roberts talks about) with such concern of exactly how harmful human behaviour can be to the planet.

In an attempt to try to educate children, there has, to date been a variety of efforts made by different sources on how best to preserve the environment for future life. For example, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) runs a children's educational resource called TUNZA, which aims to work in partnership with children across the world in order to equip them with the tools needed to maintain the environment for their own children in turn.

With environmental and wildlife awareness having become so much more prevalent in popular culture during the last ten years - through sources as wide ranging as The Body Shop's 1990s product packaging, through to Al Gore's recent movie 'An Inconvenient Truth' - many larger organisations that are not traditionally associated with education have jumped on board. For instance, Doubletree hotels runs a program called 'Teaching Kids to CARE®' - a special educational initiative that aims to bring wildlife and environmental awareness to the forefront of the classroom.

With the continued initiation of this and other, similar programs both in America and across the world, there is the possibility that such programs will enable a reversal of the downward trend of environmental damage; perhaps allowing for the WWF's Living Planet Report to predict a much more promising future for the world in future years.

Martin McAllister is a freelance online journalist. He lives in Scotland.

Coming - Lower Living Standards and Lower Wages - Leading to a Modest and Equitable Way of Life

There is no doubt that globalization will benefit more people than it will hurt in the United States and abroad. It is certain that it will also create new challenges, oftentimes quite painful though temporary. Today's harsh economic situation seems to be an example. It has caused a deep economic slowdown already affecting tens of millions Americans with no recovery in sight. Capitalistic globalization has a lot to do with this situation.

Consider the housing bubble which was fueled by extraordinarily cheap money provided by lenders. It caused the prices paid free of any connection to real value of the property in relation to rent or market supply and demand. The abundance of cheap money didn't come from Americans since they haven't been saving for years. It came from other countries known as the "global saving glut," amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars made available in the U.S. market. With money available to borrow, people bought overpriced houses far beyond their financial capability to pay monthly mortgage payments or sell for the price paid for. It is quite clear that without the global saving glut, America couldn't have a housing bubble or the resulting housing collapse.

Employment and jobs have taken also a very important global dimension. The most significant effect seems to be the opening of a huge global labor market. Along with thousands of Americans looking for work, millions of job seekers around the world are able now to compete for tens of thousand jobs offered by the American firms within the country as well as abroad. What is devastating for American workers is the presence of millions of substantially lower-priced foreign workers with the same skills. Even if they are not hired, they hold down the wages of high-priced American workers. Yet worse, instead of creating jobs at home, this immense pool of cheap labor relentlessly induces employers to create new jobs wherever workers with required skills are available for substantially lower wages. In reality, the main problem is not so much the outsourcing of jobs, which is relatively small, but creating them abroad rather than at home.[1]

Under the global free trade agreements, globalization has been causing an enormous societal upheaval- economic, political and social- approaching an inevitable global peaceful revolution tending to substantially upset the status quo in both developed and developing countries. It is causing downward slide in living standards in the advanced countries and upward moves of the same in developing ones. No one country or group of states can control or stop this phenomenal transformation which is taking shape and strength. At the most, any contrary effort by a state may only cause some minor delays in progress which would actually be detrimental to its economy rather than beneficial. The reality is that the world market needs cheap and abundant goods and services and to provide these, producers need cheap labor and favorable environment to maximize profits under a keen and unavoidable competition in global environment.

How is this transformation affecting the United States? Let's see first how much of America is owned by foreigners. The following few examples well illustrates the situation: Mining, 27%; information, 24%; manufacturing, 20%; professional, scientific, and technical services, 20%; and finance, 11%. But these statistics include all production firms large and small, if we look at the major and key firms, the foreign ownership picture is quite alarming. For example, foreign capital controls sound recording industries by 97%; commodity contracts dealing and brokerage by 79%; motion picture and sound recording industries by 75%; metal ore mining by 65%; database directory, and other publications by 63%; cement, concrete, lime, and gypsum products by 62%; engine turbine and power transmission equipment by 57%; rubber product by 53%; nonmetallic mineral products manufacturing by 53%, plastic and rubber products manufacturing by 52%; boiler, tank, and shipping container by 50%; coal mining by 48%, nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying by 47%.

Now, let's look at the percentage of Americans annual consumption of foreign imports. These are goods that come from abroad instead of being produced at home. Here is just a few examples from 2005 showing the percentage and value in billions of dollars: Footwear, 92% [$17.590]; audio and video equipment, 90% [$40.967]; computer equipment, 70% [$78.404]; Apparel, 75% [$68.576]; miscellaneous manufactured commodities, 57% [$63.467]; communication equipment, 53% [$47.137]; semiconductors and other electronic components, 51% [$68,349]; motor vehicles, 39% [$142,842]; pharmaceuticals and medicines, 32% [$5.613]; motor vehicle parts, 32% [$71.066]; iron and steel and ferro alloy, 29% [$27.443]; basic chemicals, 24% [$35.011]; medical equipment and supplies, 23% [$16.290], a total of $733.8 billion.[2]

Then there is no wonder that according to a senior administration official, the federal budget deficit for 2008 will set a record high close to $490 billion [3] which the government has to borrow from certain sources abroad more likely from the so called "global saving glut." by issuing government treasury bonds. Considering the past behavior of the lending countries, a good part of this huge amount will be spent to buy more of the American production and communication means, increasing foreign influence over extraction of the natural resources, production of goods and services. According to Fortune Magazine ( February 18, 2008, p. 58) foreign buyers set a record in 2007 by purchasing $414 billion of American assets. Many of the biggest deals were made by Asian or Middle Eastern buyers. Our annual trade deficit remains massive amounting to hundreds of billion dollars each year. It is this enormous amount of money spent abroad that comes back to acquire our means of production, transportation and communication. This trend is troublesome more so now than ever before. 'According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the rest of the world currently owns way more of America (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.) than America owns of the rest of the world, by margin of $2.6 trillion.... Where it leads is grim: As a nation we eventually cease to be capitalists and become simply wage earners.... a country that goes too far down this road can be 'colonized by purchase rather than conquest.'"[4]

One would expect "Americans, in a period of falling home prices, a wobbly stock market and an ongoing war, to be less than satisfied with the direction of the country. It's natural. But Americans are not simply dissatisfied. They are very unhappy. O.K., deeply, pessimistically unhappy. Un-American Dreamy: 85% of respondents in an exclusive TIME/Rockefeller Foundation poll believe that the country is on the wrong truck." [5]

Americans are increasingly feeling that they have become the losers. A majority of 68% of the respondents in a Fortune Magazine survey indicate that free trade benefits the most the U.S. partners rather than the Americans. They fear about jobs lost overseas and wages reduced by global competition and now worsened by the failure of giant financial institutions, housing crisis and credit crunch. It is felt that globalization so far is undermining the middle class and enriching only the economic elite. As opinion polls demonstrate, this disparity seems to be a reason for unprecedented concerns about inequality in income distribution as well as upward economic mobility. According to a Gallup poll nearly 70% of Americans think that there should be a more even distribution of wealth. The earning gap between the highly skilled workers and the rest of the labor force has been widening since 1980s. Particularly, in the last few years the top few percent has seen an accelerating gain while the rest have stood still or fallen back. A huge number of Americans, 80% of them, think it is harder to maintain a middle-class lifestyle now compared to five years ago.[6]

Putting aside the housing crisis, let's see why is this happening to the working class in the United States? The basic reason is globalization of capital, production as well as marketing during the last decade. Availability of cheaper labor abroad, and far favorable production environment such as minimum or no requirements for health care or retirement benefits, minimum or no regulation regarding the work environment, and harshly competitive global market, all together have been causes for strong inducement for American firms to move their production of goods and services abroad. This process is still going on with an increasing pressure to be enlarged further. The first effect of this surge is imposing a cap or reducing wages. This is being seen all over the country from the airline pilots all the way down in nearly all firms involved in global trade. As demonstrated by the studies mentioned above, wages as well as middle class family income has remained nearly the same during the last five years.

Based on the character of the globalized trade and keen competition it creates in global market, the production firms have been pushed to resort to any means which would bring down the cost of production. Unavoidably, when the cost of production at home, despite of all possible reductions, cannot compete in international market, the firms are obliged to move their operation where the cost of labor, health care, retirement benefits put all together leaves some ground for competition and expectation of profits. The outcome has been an accelerating outsourcing the production.

Consequently, based on all the facts presented above, This process of stagnation in domestic production, reduced wages, health care and retirement benefits with increased unemployment, will impose unavoidable pressures on the middle and lower income families to cut down in their spending. As the process continues, these families will end up spending only in basic necessities, trying at the same time to save some for their health care and old age, if at all possible. Purchasing luxury or multiple items such as cars, television sets, cameras, many shirts, pants, shoes and dresses will be gradually reduced to basic needs. As the domestic production of goods and services along with consumer spending declines, so do the government revenues while its expenditures particularly in welfare programs, such as unemployment compensation, food stamp, antipoverty, medicaid etc., increases. There will be no other way but substantial tax increase to balance the budget. Because, we won't be able to borrow money to do so, as we have been doing for years, since presently we are borrowing $2 billion a day to balance our budget and paying over $700 million interest daily on the accumulated national debt of nearly $10 trillion. Since our projection of lover living standards as presented above is about a decade or two away, and if the level of budget deficit stays around $3 to $5 hundred billions per year, the nation will approach to the brink of bankruptcy by then and the United States will lose credibility to borrow particularly that our creditors will be foreign financial institutions as they are now. The imposition of any tax increase, specially a substantial one, would be a great but inevitable burden on the impoverished taxpayers.

The huge unemployment in addition to the new young workers entering the tied job market, will push the nation for substantial transformation in the workplace. One possible and democratic way would be to guaranty equality of opportunity at work place. The concept would require the production firms to hire anyone looking for job in their area of competence. If there is no open positions then those who are employed must let go an hour or two per week of their weekly work to the extent that it will provide employment for everyone. It will cut a little from the weekly or monthly pay of those already employed but will provide work and income for those who were unemployed. This process will guarantee full employment all the time.This concept is not easy to implement but well possible. For details of the process see Technodemocratic Economic Theory: From Capitalism and Socialism to Democracy by the author

Under this system, more likely, most people will work some hours less per week. Accordingly, they will have more time for leisure, enjoyment of life and self-fulfilment. Individual attention to exercise, art, music, poetry and literature will flourish, and necessarily results in creation of thousands of new and meaningful positions.

While this process of lower living standards taking place in advanced countries, developing countries also go through a quite different transformation. This process has already started in many developing countries where wages are extremely low and requirement for a healthy work environment, health care and retirement benefits are minimal. It has already caused outsourcing the production and marketing from the advanced societies and an urge from the part of the global corporations to establish production firms in these countries rather than in their own. China and India are two major examples. Such development of production of goods and services in these countries will gradually cause increase in wages and workers demand for a better working environment, health care and retirement benefits. It will eventually result in a higher living standards in these societies. Ultimately, the income level will be modified in both developed and developing societies and the living standards reach a comparable level under a global standards tending toward an equitable living ways. I estimate this end to be attained within five decades.

References:

1. Geoff Calvin, "A Recession of Global Dimension?" Fortune, February 4, 2008, p18. 2. http://www.economyincrisis.org, July 28, 2008. 3. Andrew Taylor, "Budget Deficit Nearing $490 Billion," Time, JULY 28, 2008. 4. Geoff Calvin, "America for Sale," Fortune, February 18, 200 8, p.58. 5. Bill Sporito, "85% of US Unhappy With Economy," http://www.time.com/ 6. "Workman's Blues," The Economist, July 26, 2008, pp.33-36.

Dr. Reza Rezazadeh
Professor Emeritus
1080 Eastman Street
Platteville, WI 53818

Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin System,and a Fulbright scholar, a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual scholar with background in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.), Continental and Islamic Law (Licenciate), J.D. in American Jurisprudenxce, LL.M. in International Law and International Economics, Ph.D. in Political Science, Economics and Administration, and Doctor of the Science of Law (S.J.D.) the highest law degree offered in U.S. Fluent in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Persian, Azeri-Turkish. Elementary knowledge of Arabic, Urdu, Russian and Italian. Patented inventions; an artist, a poet (oil and pastel), a musician (violin), with over 35 years of academic background in teaching, reseasrch and administration, research and cultural studies in many countries in Europe including USSR, Middle East, Central Asia, Northe africa, Central and South America. Author of 8 books and many scholarly articles listed in his website http://www.democracywhere.com