BlackRock strikes deal to bring ports on both sides of Panama Canal under American control

Goodness.. false dichotomy. If how Blackrock gets rich is generally bad for society that is another reason, no?

 

Blackrock is an investment firm. They are certainly forecasting a return when investing billions of dollars.

 

That and the fact he puts no thought into anything beyond making his opponents (real and perceived) mad.

 

Here you go. And get mad, because I'm going to put Bezos in the good category (his personality aside). Amazon brought value. Amazon is something I use daily, consider an improvement and get real value out of. Even Musk builds things and creates real jobs. . . And then there are parasitic things like Facebook and Twitter and about half of "finance", or more. That's the shit that needs to go. The rent seekers who look to stick their straws in existing revenue streams and just suck, suck, suck off of the productive people in society.

And then there are people like Nancy Walton (google her Yacht), who was just born and inherited it all. Screw them and screw Walmart, who started this race to the bottom. I'll take Bezos and Amazon over the Waltons and Shitmart all day and Sunday too.

Lastly, the best way to beat the "billionaires" is to play them against each other.

 

They're on the team now, so now they're good guys. It really doesn't go beyond that my friend.

 

Say what you will about billionaires, but they understand class solidarity, unlike you. They are perfectly happy for the serfs to fight over what king is good and who's not, keeps people divided.

 

The late 90’s early 2000’s Amazon was great. They even had good customer service then. Of course back then it was mostly buying “stuff” like books or CD’s or DVD’s.

Now it’s more like the world’s biggest flea market, and customer service is long gone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a prime member. It’s hard to avoid it 100%, but i actively try to avoid them for bigger purchases. I never really used them for bigger purchases (maybe an odd iPad or two over the years is about the biggest). Ironically their prime membership encourages me to by cheaper things that I need fast… things where it probably makes no business sense to ship, but hey, as long as they offer me free next day shipping on trivially small packages I’m here for it. Even for that purpose it’s annoying sorting through their junk now, and often finding out it’s not even Amazon as the seller but some sketchy 3rd party probably selling counterfeit or stolen goods. Like I said, world’s biggest flea market.

 

Yeah, as someone who bought books, I was an early user. But what has Bezos done with the money but build penis rockets to take celebrities into space, surveil workers, make the Washington Post suck and produce his passion project of the Lord of the Rings prequels no one asked for and induces nothing other than sleep in viewers?

 

Somewhat, but not always. Egos are egos and these guys have huge ones.

 

Personally? Not a big fan. But how he built Amazon - getting modern investors to invest with no return for at least 10 years - was brilliant. They literally build the entire infrastructure up front then flipped the switch and went nationwide. And, I literally haven't stepped in a Walmart since signing up for Prime.

 

But they understand correctly that if the peasants get too worked up its all their heads, and this has been true throughout time

 

Like anything, you have to be discerning. And I don't "shop" there regularly, but when I need something (or just keep forgetting it at the store) it's so nice to just hit that button and know it's coming tomorrow. Also nice to tag something you like and track it until the price drops.

Meanwhile, what did Facebook give us. A great new way of communicating with and making new friends. . . and then they destroyed all that so scumbag Zucc could stick a few more dimes in his pocket.

 

They were two that came immediately to mind. I don’t follow billionaires but these are two I have knowledge of. Not necessarily the ”best” but examples that refute your categorical characterization.

 

You said they’d monetize the canal. They didn’t acquire rights over the canal. Yes, I’m certain that they intend to make money on those two ports along with the ports they acquired in the portfolio but these two are only notable for their proximity, not control over the canal.

 

I think most billionaires you dont follow are like the other Berkshire Hathaway guy that is less famous than Buffett - Charlie Munger. The guy who thought he was good at architecture because he was rich and designed an ill-conceived prison dorm for UC Santa Barbara as part of his condition for donating money to the school (which they desperately needed). That is sort of the problem of billionaires in any democratic society in a microcosm.

 

Yep. And look at the mindless losers cheering them on!

Sorry if I put you in that category, but it looked like you were cheering it on. But nice to know someone sees Blackrock for what they are. Parasites.

 

I'm guessing there's more money to be made from the ports than "controlling the canal". I put that in quotes because. . . . lets be serious here. We all know who REALLY controls the canal.

 

Yes, there are transshipments (for MAGA this has nothing to do with sexuality) repair and fueling services, storage, etc. But this portfolio of 43 ports was sold for $23B. The Panama Canal alone, ignoring its strategic importance, would sell for upwards of $50B based on a 70% margin and $3.5B ebitda.

 

Interesting, I didn't know that. I just assumed you get a one-way transit fee and that's it.