Zimbabwe's inflation rate under 7000%

[purdueman_in]

From the BBC:

Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate slowed in August to 6,592.8% from July's record of 7,634.8%, according to the Central Statistical Office (CSO).


Not of particular interest to WOXY, but I thought that the rate was worthy of a thread.

[markalot]

Nothin from nothin leaves nothin...

[Homsar]

Never has anyone been so disappointed from an inflation drop of 900%.

Except maybe sometime after WW2.

[Measure Up!]

I wonder if Zimbabweans(?) wallpaper their homes with Zimbabwe dollars like Germans did with Reichmarks.

This would make a lovely pattern:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Dol_zimbabwe.jpg/252px-Dol_zimbabwe.jpg

[ThomasC]

It was explained to me back in an economics class I had in college, but I forget now; how in the world can inflation rates be that high?

All I remember is that Germany or Poland or one of those countries :p once had inflation rates so high that employees got paychecks twice a day so their money wouldn't be completely useless.

[markalot]

Disruption of the food supply could lead to super inflation of food prices.

[ThomasC]

Disruption of the food supply could lead to super inflation of food prices.
The food shortage could have gotten so bad that something like bread doubled in price twice a day? :eek:

[Measure Up!]

Or Zimbabwe could have simply kept printing money to pay off debts to people like the IMF.

[ajax]

I've never felt stronger for a case of assassination until I understood the impact of Robert Mugabe. Why is the US so Apathetic towards Africa Nations. Yes I understand the consequences of nation building. But this shit is out of control. Economic sanctions only give assholes without a conscience more power. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7468818.stm

[miami2112]

Why is the US so Apathetic towards Africa Nations. Yes I understand the consequences of nation building. But this shit is out of control. Economic sanctions only give assholes without a conscience more power. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7468818.stm

the u.s. foreign policy often makes me confused. i've never understood our hardon for some countries/regions and lack of interest in others.

[frizgolf]

the u.s. foreign policy often makes me confused. i've never understood our hardon for some countries/regions and lack of interest in others.

Ever play Risk?
The Middle East, Europe, and Indo-Asia will always be trouble.

[euro60]

I've never felt stronger for a case of assassination until I understood the impact of Robert Mugabe. Why is the US, Europe, and everyone else (including their very own neighbors in South Africa) so apathetic towards Zimbabwe?

corrected that for your benefit ;)

[markalot]

the u.s. foreign policy often makes me confused. i've never understood our hardon for some countries/regions and lack of interest in others.


Define lack of interest. We are going to the security council today. Is the UN not enough? Should we take matters into our own hands like we did in Iraq?

I don't understand.

[Duemellon]

Why is the US so Apathetic towards Africa Nations.Pick whatever ingredient you want to focus on:Racism - Heldover from colonialism kinda racism. Not the chattel-slavery bit, but the mentality that led to chattel slavery.

Resource/Trade - Frankly, they lack it. Really. They got oil? Nope. They got gems? Nope (strictly luxury anyway). The US has no financial interest in the region.

Political Influence - About the only thing interseting to the US is the fact that there are many Muslim entities in Africa & if they make the proper overtures there they can try to balance the current appearance they have of being Islamaphobes. However... well,... look at our current Prez & administration. Really... they just don't get it.

Well, as a detail, it could also be about the chaos they create in the region. After all, if they continue to be at odds with each other they can't unify their resources (see Racism as a possible motivator for that aspect as well).You say "What?" in an incredulous tone perhaps?

Well, I believe those are the major factors in the thought process. Which one is more prevalent? I can't say. But some examples of this:Egypt
They have profound political influence but minimal resources to trade, & we treat them with the most respect because of their political influence. However, we do disrespect, disregard, or brand them as being "the enemy" or at least "uncomfortable friends".

Nigeria
They got oil, but the only realm they show any political influence is in Africa. As if we care.

South Africa
Racism shouldn't be a factor there, but with only the diamond & agriculture trade being the focus, why would we care?

[ahart2001]

Just about the only country giving a shit about Africa as a whole is China. However, their foreign policy is to not interfere with internal affairs of other countries. They just lend assistance when asked.

It really and truely all comes down to where you have an economic stake. America didn't go into WWII because of Germany's invasions of other countries. America was losing it's trade partners and Germany would control all of Europe's resources and would not need to trade with the US. Hence killing our already pathetic economy at the time.

Economics and socio-political influence is what drives the world.

[Shlep]

I've never felt stronger for a case of assassination until I understood the impact of Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe is a world-class, blue-ribbon, 24-karat gold USDA Prime asshole, to be sure. But he's got competition. It's arguable he's not even the worst, unless you look at specific categories such as turning a relatively prosperous country into a collapsing shithole.

Why is the US so Apathetic towards Africa Nations.

Just about the only country giving a shit about Africa as a whole is China.

Bush earmarked $15 billion to combat AIDS in Africa in his first term. He recently led an initiative to cough up another $1.5 billion to fight malaria, and $5.5 billion in education and other humanitarian aid. This, on top of whatever else we already funnel towards that continent as a whole.

For crying out loud...whaddya have to do to look like you "give a shit" these days?

Yes I understand the consequences of nation building. But this shit is out of control. Economic sanctions only give assholes without a conscience more power.

That's funny...I recall that being one of the arguments supporting the decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power. And I'm sure if Bush declared his intent to use force, if necessary, to fix Mugabe's wagon that the rest of the world (not to mention most folk here) would rally behind him.

However, their foreign policy is to not interfere with internal affairs of other countries. They just lend assistance when asked.

I presume you're referring to the time when Tibet asked for assistance from China in getting the shit beat out of them. Or when the Sudanese asked for help shooting members of unpopular tribes in their country, though in the latter case I believe there's some quid pro quo involved since some of the tribes fleeing the slaughter started gathering in numbers on top of Sudanese real estate the Chinese have paid handsomely for to secure oil-drilling rights.

[REMgirl]

I just saw film footage on the news of the full scale slaughter there. Mugabe has forced his competitor to go underground because of death threats. Death squads are torturing anti-Mugabe protestors and slaughtering hundreds of people. Here's the latest from the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7471105.stm

It's heartbreaking.

[akip]

it's a little hard to fathom how we can change zimbabwe if we can't deal with our own inner city issues right here. and consider how little we've been able to accomplish in haiti next door.

i actually agree that going after AIDS is something we should be doing in africa since it's a powerful undertow against progress. malaria's another huge problem. if a country's potential work force is gravely ill, it's not going to get anywhere.

[markalot]

-- on taking out Mugabe...

And what will happen if he is removed? You think he doesn't have supporters who will fight for their way of life? Then what? Do we go in with guns blazing? What happens when the first innocent is killed and makes the news.

Fucking Americans trying to police the fucking world.

I say we learn from Iraq and stay the hell out. If we want change we bomb a few selected targets, preferably with cruise missiles.

[Shlep]

the u.s. foreign policy often makes me confused. i've never understood our hardon for some countries/regions and lack of interest in others.

It's a big, big world we live in, and the US has a finite amount of attention and resources to devote to foreign policy. As such, the sitting government has no practical choice but to prioritize.

Personally, I think that the mystery you describe is but a shallow pool compared to the vast ocean of intrigue to be found when trying to figure out why the US is constantly being savaged and pilloried in the Court of World Opinion for conducting foreign policy as though it has the God-given right to go around being a great big butt-inski and giving other countries' governments the what-for and why-is on how things ought to be...except when it demurs to do so, in which case the US gets ripped a new one for failing to own up to its solemn duty as a primary world power and do that very same thing.

[frizgolf]

It's a big, big world we live in, and the US has a finite amount of attention and resources to devote to foreign policy. As such, the sitting government has no practical choice but to prioritize.

Personally, I think that the mystery you describe is but a shallow pool compared to the vast ocean of intrigue to be found when trying to figure out why the US is constantly being savaged and pilloried in the Court of World Opinion for conducting foreign policy as though it has the God-given right to go around being a great big butt-inski and giving other countries' governments the what-for and why-is on how things ought to be...except when it demurs to do so, in which case the US gets ripped a new one for failing to own up to its solemn duty as a primary world power and do that very same thing.

It's tough being the world's Mommy.

[Shlep]

Pick whatever ingredient you want to focus on:Racism - Heldover from colonialism kinda racism. Not the chattel-slavery bit, but the mentality that led to chattel slavery.

This would be the excuse bandied about by MUgabe and other tinpot African dictators, one which falls curiously short of explaining why Africas' multitude of countries have come to enjoy a wide spectrum of relative economic success as it also does when trying to explain why former colonial holdings in other parts of the world are not also screwed up.

[I]Resource/Trade - Frankly, they lack it. Really. They got oil? Nope.

Of the top 15 countries the US imports oil from, four are located in Africa. Equitorial Guinea, Sudan, and the Republic of COngo are major net oil exporters. Also, Algeria, Angola, Nigeria, and Libya are members of OPEC; I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that one of the key requirements for a country wishing to be granted membership in the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries is that it export petroleum.

They got gems? Nope (strictly luxury anyway). The US has no financial interest in the region.

Africa is positively blessed with a wealth of raw materials, precious metals, and minerals. As for exporting valuable gems, much of Africa's output has been banned for sale as part of the effort to provide a disincentive to chopping peoples' limbs off and stealing their mineral-rich turf.