Equality above all else.

It was observed by Aristotle in his Politics, that democratically organised states practised ostracism on a regular basis. To what end you might enquire? Apparently the principle of equality was so paramount within the state that they ostracized and removed out of state for fixed periods anyone whose power was deemed to be too excessive. Indeed many democratically organised states according to Aristotle quite often elected the most incapable of the candidates to ensure political equality in all respects.

One does wonder if the US, based on this information, is the most democratic of countries?

ATC Solutions.

Tripura and how one injustice can have lasting repercussions.

I was reading an article on the BBC News website today that caught my eye. The reservoir of the 10 MW Gumti Hydroelectric (Hydel) Project in India's north-eastern state of Tripura has been the source of heated debate since it was commissioned in 1974. It was built despite fierce opposition from 40,000 indigenous tribesmen whose sole livelihood, their land, was submerged under the reservoir. Furthermore less than a fifth of the inhabitants received compensation due in part to the failure of these tribesmen to evidence ownership of the land. Having no land and no compensation many of the dispossessed have sought refuge in shanty towns along the parameter of the reservoir. Needless to say, the disenfranchised have provided a steady flow of angry young men and women that have swelled the ranks of the the state’s two large rebel groups, who have played a major part in the prolonged civil unrest.

In recent weeks a sharp drop in the water level at the reservoir, which has left it uneconomical, has seen the near-by indigenous people flock to reclaim the emerging lands. The reason for the sharp drop? Principally, the deforestation in the surrounding hills by the primitive agricultural practices by the very same tribesmen who lost their land to the Hydel Project. Classic!

At which gate are you located?

The city of Karakorum was surrounded by a mud wall, which had four gates. Each gate was married to a certain type of market. At the western gate sheep and goats were sold; at the eastern, millet and other types of grain; at the northern, horses; and at the southern oxen and carts (Rockhill. W. W., The Journeys of William of Rubruck to the eastern parts of the World 1253-1255, New Delhi 1998, p221) The centralisation of the sale of certain products and crafts is not unique to any one culture or generation. A quick look at London would evidence this; Hatton Garden diamonds, Bond Street boutiques, Saville Row suits and Tottenham Court Road electronics to name but an appropriate few. It seems the 13 century cosmopolitan city of Karakorum and the 21 century city of London share many features, none more so clearer than the self-imposition of economies of scale.

For the sector we are in, we beleive we offer a close to ideal firm size which ensures a one-to-one private client service. If you would like to know more about how we can help you, from our centrally and fittingly located gate in Piccadilly, please see a list of Our Services.

Are you a Marxist? You should be!

Hegel has borne witness to one of Marx’s core criticisms, which has dominated much of his work. Marx introduces us early on in his Economic & Philosophical Manuscripts to his dislike of ‘fortuitous circumstances’ a pet-hate he was to elucidate on later in the text; ‘The whole movement of history, therefore, both as regards the real engendering of this communism, the birth of its empirical existence, and also as regards its consciousness and thought, is the consciously comprehended process of its becoming.’ (McLellan, D. Karl Marx: Selected Writings, Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, Oxford 2000, p.99) Marx argues that there is no such thing as an ‘invisible hand’ (Smith, A. The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Cambridge 2002, p.215) dominating man’s relationship to man and his relationship to his production. According to Marx ‘A being only counts itself as independent when it stands on its own feet and it stands on its own feet as long as it owes its existence to itself.’ (McLellan, Karl Marx: Selected Writings, Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, p.103) Marx has continually sought to ground his empirical exercise within the reality of man, not some ‘fixed abstraction’. Marx continues, that ‘if you wish to stick to you abstraction then be consistent, and if you think of man and the world as non-existent then think of yourself as non-existent’ (Ibid.) A fact of society is that it is ‘consciously comprehended process of its becoming’. Smith’s attempt to suggest otherwise is not only unempirical but also extremely dangerous. Indeed Marx and Smith may both agree that the passivity of man is undesirable, as opposed to the active principles in man which are according to Smith ‘often so generous and so noble’ (Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, p.129) but fundamental to Marx.

If, like Marx, you have distaste for fortuitous circumstances and you are far more interested in running your business with your own skilled hand, you may want to consider our Strategic Business Planning Services and Financial Management Services. Of course we could leave it to an invisible hand, but if successful, who will take the credit?

BBQ or Trust? How you want to be revered.

Friar William of Rubruck's 13 Century official mission to the Mongol Khan; Mangu Khan, at the court in Karakorum, made reference to the people of Tebet or Tibet who were in ‘the habit of eating their dead parents so that for piety’s sake they should not give their parents any sepulchre than their bowels’ (Rockhill, W.W. Translation of ‘The Journey of William of Rubruck to Eastern Parts of the World 1253-1255, Delhi 1998, p151). It was noted by Friar William that they had given up this ‘abomination’ on account of pressure from their neighbours. However they still made cups from the heads of their parents, ‘so that when drinking out of them they may have them in mind in the midst of their merry-making’ (Ibid, p152). Although somewhat distasteful today it was common practise amoungst a multitude of races in times gone by. Indeed Marco Polo, Herodotus and Strabo all made reference to these types of customs. One must not loose sight of the fact that it was reverence for a dead parent that was the cause of such effect, which is I believe a most sublime facet of ‘civilization’ and not ‘barbarian’ in the least, as we were led to believe in many of the great journeymens' texts.

If however, you are looking for your children or next of kin to remember you and indeed revere you in a different manner, you may want to consider our Trustee Services. Your call entirely.

'Blood on the Streets' and Buying Property.

Baron de Rothschild once voiced the opinion; ‘When there's blood on the streets, buy property’. A somewhat distant response, to say a historical event, which was disturbing so as to have ‘blood on the streets’ would bode well in an Oxbridge entrance exam, as the film ‘History Boys’ would have us believe. In recent years we have seen academics seek to reconcile Hitler with Plato, Genghis Khan with St. Thomas Aquinas and so on. Although it is beyond the limits of this blog to explore these very interesting academic attempts, it seems unique, emotionally isolated interpretations are favoured over all else, even accuracy and utility. It should be stated here that the aforementioned historically important names bar none, occupied a position within an argumentative framework (Collingwood) and engaged in the discourse of their times (Skinner). Their work, be it print or action, were emotionally charged and were a response in line with their convictions and prejudices. Therefore to separate the emotion from a calculated business decision, although held up as somewhat of a Platonic ideal form, is not only unachievable but should be undesirable. How one can possibly argue that the four Aristotelian virtues and platonic morals have not been embedded in capitalism from the start and formed an important part of its functioning is beyond me. A basic understanding of Smith (The Adam-Smith Problem or Paradox) would evidence this.

Now to business. Real Estate in emerging markets does offer an investment opportunity without ‘blood on the streets’. In particular, commodity rich countries from the ex-soviet bloc such as Mongolia offer significant potential capital appreciation and excellent rental yields. Mongolia has a young banking sector on the cusp of a European derived mortgage loan system. Although interest rates are currently14%, they are expected to decrease periodically over the coming years as GDP growth of over 7.5% pa continues. Increasing domestic wealth of course means increasing domestic demand. The first Asian country to ratify the International Criminal Court (Amnesty International - Mongolia) and considerable commercial legislation in place to support and protect foreign investment means that Mongolia has the right balance for the more conscientious or indeed prudent investor.

For further information on Real Estate in Emerging Markets (including Mongolia) see Property Frontiers. For further information on Mongolia go to the Mongolian Development Gateway. For information on how to structure your investment Contact Us at ATC Solutions.

My Journey

As Benjamin Franklin once said ‘in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes’. What is interesting about this quote is that the correlation between the two goes further than just the inevitable. Both can in fact be managed in similar ways. Just as healthy eating, exercise and regular medical checks can help keep the reaper at bay, careful investment, proper planning and regular financial health checks can help prevent and reduce the unavoidable 'wallet biopsy' that the tax man performs with such glee.

This blog will be the story of my crusade to keep the tax man at bay and increase the wealth in your pocket.

ATC Solutions