Recently by Simon Black: Why Protecting the Homeland Is Destroying the Economy
I want to start out this end-of-week missive by reiterating one immutable fact: no place is perfect… and in these tumultuous times which I call the “Age of Turmoil,” no country is going to be completely immune to the looming problems which face the world, namely rising prices and resource shortages.
We discuss many countries in this daily column which stand head-and-shoulders above their peers – Brazil, Chile, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Panama, and several others. It would be unfair and inaccurate, however, to say that they are not without a few challenges.
For example, this week in Chile there were some small-scale riots in the extreme south of the country as people protested a 17% hike in gas prices. Chile imports most of its fuel and is thus more exposed to changes in oil prices than, say, food or industrial metals.
That being said, Chile remains among several other countries whose economic fundamentals, resource reserves, arable land and water supplies, and balanced societies will provide significant cushion to weather any trouble ahead with only minor bumps and bruises.
Conversely, the dominant western hierarchy of the past is on course to experience extreme shock and awe as their public finances fail and supranational policies unravel. On the balance, I’ll happily take a mild head cold over the Bubonic plague any day.
On that note, Sharon asks, “Simon, can you comment somewhere about whether citizenship is required for gun ownership in Chile and other South American countries that do permit handgun and other gun ownership?”
There are many gun friendly nations in South America. Chile is one of them, and so is Panama and Uruguay. Residency is required to apply for a permit, but this is fairly easy to obtain. (I discuss a unique option in Chile in our upcoming Sovereign Man: Confidential, which is due out this weekend).
You can also import your own firearms, and this is probably a good idea considering that weapons tend to cost more in Latin America than they do in North America.
Next, Captain writes, “Simon – having already acquired two passports and foreign property, I am slowly preparing to become an expat once I retire from the US military. Since I will be drawing retirement pay, is there any way to stay under the radar while I live abroad?”
First off, if you want to keep drawing your US military retirement pay, you should not consider renouncing US citizenship. Your retirement pay will be cut off if you do so since it’s contingent upon you being able to be recalled to active duty.
