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That's amazing. My father had textile factories in South America. During the days of military regime it wasn't uncommon for him to receive visits from "the ge

That's amazing. My father had textile factories in South America. During the days of military regime it wasn't uncommon for him to receive visits from "the general" and a truck full of soldiers with automatic rifles. I was way too young to understand it, that's why I put it in quote. For all I know it could have been a mid-rank idiot but to me he looked like the general. As my father tells tells the story, as power transitioned someone advised him to "evaporate". Since he had business in the US as well it wasn't that hard to pull-up anchor and legally emigrate for the last time. His businesses were usurped by whoever gained power and that was that. A lifetime of work gone "puff" virtually overnight. These are aspects of life people in the US are not tuned into. We have a very linear environment when compared to some of what is daily life in other parts of the world.

pm90 10y ago
Rule of law is(was?) precipitously absent in most South American countries. Only recently have things started to change. But its stories like these that scare away investors really and cause way too much hardship for the nation as a whole, down the line. Something similar exists now in Russia and Venezuela, I imagine.
- tqkxzugoaupvwqr 10y ago
  I read an article about a European business man doing business with a Russian company with ties to the government. The business man’s company produced high technology in some field. At one point in the negotiations, the Russians asked for a substantial discount. One that means taking a loss for the business man. To help their demand, the Russians showed the business man a series of photos of his wife and daughter, taken the very same morning. The business man got the message and agreed to the deal. And after it was done, understandably ceased to do business with Russians.
- ishi 10y ago
  I've heard about an Israeli guy who started a mushroom-growing business in Russia. Something similar to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcrCtVGEsZE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcrCtVGEsZE At some point when it was starting to become successful, a gang of Russian criminals simply told him: "this is ours now", and that was that. Organized crime and corruption is a serious problem there.
- geodel 10y ago
  I think rule of law as it is understood is mostly applicable to first world. E.g. countries like India may not have military dictators and all but deep corruption is way of life. It is not for lacking of laws but because for most of the population it is morally justifiable to take bribes, not pay taxes, jump traffic lights and so on. Why is it morally ok? Because earth is a place of sin anyway and goal is to work towards going to heaven. This is done by performing religious duties. So 'rule of law' is either an inconvenience or irrelevant towards main goal of life.
  - pm90 10y ago
    > Why is it morally ok? Because earth is a place of sin anyway and goal is to work towards going to heaven. This is done by performing religious duties. So 'rule of law' is either an inconvenience or irrelevant towards main goal of life. Heh. If you're smart enough, you can "morally" justify anything I guess. People living in the "mortal plane" do need to accept the laws that govern that plane though...or work to change them if they are not acceptable.

pm90 10y ago

Rule of law is(was?) precipitously absent in most South American countries. Only recently have things started to change. But its stories like these that scare away investors really and cause way too much hardship for the nation as a whole, down the line. Something similar exists now in Russia and Venezuela, I imagine.

tqkxzugoaupvwqr 10y ago
I read an article about a European business man doing business with a Russian company with ties to the government. The business man’s company produced high technology in some field. At one point in the negotiations, the Russians asked for a substantial discount. One that means taking a loss for the business man. To help their demand, the Russians showed the business man a series of photos of his wife and daughter, taken the very same morning. The business man got the message and agreed to the deal. And after it was done, understandably ceased to do business with Russians.
ishi 10y ago
I've heard about an Israeli guy who started a mushroom-growing business in Russia. Something similar to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcrCtVGEsZE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcrCtVGEsZE At some point when it was starting to become successful, a gang of Russian criminals simply told him: "this is ours now", and that was that. Organized crime and corruption is a serious problem there.
geodel 10y ago
I think rule of law as it is understood is mostly applicable to first world. E.g. countries like India may not have military dictators and all but deep corruption is way of life. It is not for lacking of laws but because for most of the population it is morally justifiable to take bribes, not pay taxes, jump traffic lights and so on. Why is it morally ok? Because earth is a place of sin anyway and goal is to work towards going to heaven. This is done by performing religious duties. So 'rule of law' is either an inconvenience or irrelevant towards main goal of life.
- pm90 10y ago
  > Why is it morally ok? Because earth is a place of sin anyway and goal is to work towards going to heaven. This is done by performing religious duties. So 'rule of law' is either an inconvenience or irrelevant towards main goal of life. Heh. If you're smart enough, you can "morally" justify anything I guess. People living in the "mortal plane" do need to accept the laws that govern that plane though...or work to change them if they are not acceptable.