Silver and Gold

As we greet 2011 we're faced with 18% actual unemployment in the United States along with insane debt and a persistent economic crisis.  Congress and the president have been wholly derelict in their duty to uphold their oaths of office not to mention ensure fiscal sanity.  Some have hope that the new 'tea party' members of congress will be an ally in the fight for responsibility; it will be a surprise if this new bunch of politicians are even a little less treasonous than the last.

Plus side for those who hold gold and silver is that we are entering the new year with a 30 year high at $30.91 and ounce and gold at an all-time high of $1421.60/oz.  Many pundits would claim that these are testament to a bubble in these commodities however I am not so sure--after all the people declaring a bubble in these markets are the very same people who failed to foresee the housing bubble or perilous nature of the false economy.

Please do yourself a favor and take interest in economics, it is of the utmost importance that all people of all nationalities understand the basics of real economic theory.  It's only with an populace ignorant of the nature of the economy that the ruling class can fund their global military misadventures which are tantamount to mass murder.

Read the works and view the lectures of actual economists and historians at The Mises Institute they are a breath of fresh air compared to the court pundits that currently infest our airwaves.

Result

Have successfully secured a 90 day visitors visa from the Taiwanese consulate in Chicago.  This can be extended a few times until I can obtain an 'alien resident certificate' which is valid for 3 years.  I don't plan on staying that long, however it will free me from the hassle of constantly renewing shorter-term visas.

Just a quick note for some of my pedantic relatives,  the usage of term 'expatriate' in this blog refer to living outside ones homeland, not a renunciation of ones citizenship.

V for Visa

Finally was able to scrounge up and mail my visitor visa application today.  Thankfully the paperwork was not as over-the-top as it could have been.  Downside is that the fee is $140 US dollars.  According to the website it's only Americans that have to pay this amount, other passport holders pay $50.  Small recompense for the USAs belligerent warfare state perhaps?

First Post!

My name is Andrew, I've been living and working in Central Minnesota for the last 4 years.  While this has been a challenging and enjoyable time in my life I feel the need to strike out and enrich my life with new skills and friends.  Thanks mainly to my dad, who has professional connections in Taiwan I have been given the opportunity to live and learn in Taipei for a couple years.  This blog will chronicle my experiences as an American expatriate living on the other side of the world.

 I won't be completing my actual move to Taiwan until some time in February so in the mean time you may be treated to my inane commentary on the state of the economy and politics in the US.  I guess we'll see!