Opinion: Trump’s Turnberry is a loser in Aberdeenshire, while Energetica is winning!

In 2008, the business-mogul, the American businessman and Golf Estate builder Donald J. Trump came with giant promises and that a modern golf field in and around Aberdeen would not only be profitable, but also become a major boost of the economy in the North Eastern of Scotland. Now years after and thanks to ‘the Ferret’ and Rob Edwards tireless seeking of information. There are now evidence of the operation the last two years. This after the troubles with neighbors and destruction of the dunes. An environmental disaster done for supposed benefits of business gained by the golfing operation and the hotel on the property. Clearly, this has not happen.

Because on 12th July 2017, the Ferret got the information from the Aberdeenshire Council. This documents that was delivered are revealing of how the lacking promises are delivered to the North Eastern of Scotland. The Trump Organization evidently pumped their swagger-up and sold their tricks of trade without actually having what it takes to build a profitable and establishment worth visiting.

In 2014, the Golf Recreation Scotland Limited or the Turnberry at Minnie in Aberdeenshire lost before taxes £ 3,603,000. That is not a positive results, neither is it in 2015, when the company lost before taxes £ 8,396,000. So the business there isn’t cracking or growing, it is actually going terrible. Within two years lost nearly £ 12 million British Pound. That is not small pocket change and also worrying since the promises made are not in this regard.

Another fact from the document are that in 2014, the whole company had 344 hired, operating staff was 305 and 39 administrative. So as the time goes in 2015, the total staff is 337 working there, operating staff 297 and 40 administrative. Therefore, the company isn’t really big or having a strong impact of jobs, considering this was supposed to be a place that boosted economy. Not only is the golf-course losing money, it is also being short staffed and having few people hired.

The salaries in total has gone from £ 6,796,000 in 2014 and in 2015 it was £ 6,020,000. Therefore, the salaries paid out to the staff isn’t substantial for the changes of environment. The boost of the Aberdeenshire, is not happening now or near future. As the Turnberry at the Minnie.

The profits after the cost of sales in 2014 are £ 3,454,000 and in 2015 it were £ 3,725,000. So the profits have not really gone up. Even if the turnover went from £ 9,209,000 in 2014 and in 2015 it went to £ 11,410,000. Even if the turnover went up with £ 2,000,000, the profits went only up about £ 300,000. So the percentage after cost are minimal. This with the concerning level of staffing. It seems like the Turnberry isn’t made profitable or neither operational in a way that they promised the Scottish government in 2008.

Also, because of the issues with the profits, turnovers and the salaries. The taxation for 2014 were supposed to be £ 774,000, but because of losses they paid none. The similar was in 2015 it was £ 1,697,000, but because of the losses the there were none. So the Aberdeenshire and the North East of Scotland. Has really not earned a dime on it. The salaries haven’t been substantial either.

That this isn’t substantial in any sense that in Aberdeenshire alone, it is over 261,000 people. The total employment is at 132,100. The Turnberry or the Golf Recreation of Scotland and was in 337 people. Therefore, the promises was not kept. While Donald Trump has claimed the Energy building and the wind turbines destroying his business.

With the stark difference to Aberdeenshire Council:

Energetica has attracted £260 million of a potential £750 million investment in its first five years. Construction spend of over £500 million (present value – PV) is expected across the Energetica business parks over the next 20 years. The gross jobs accommodated by new business space on the

parks could be expected to generate around £5.1 billion (PV) gross GVA per annum in 2025. New business space expected to be developed on the Energetica parks could accommodate around 12,400 jobs by 2025” (Aberdeenshire Council – Aberdeenshire Coucil, July 2016).

Therefore, the Energetica actually spends monies in the area, they will hire up to 12,400, which is massive amount of workforce. Also possible adding 12,400. Can doubt a golf-course that is already running badly, will get turnover or even since it losses money. The Energetica will spend fortunes and also generate money in Aberdeenshire. Totally different from what the golf-course will generate. The destruction of the Minnie dunes for the Turnberry clearly hasn’t paid-off.

Golf Digest in 2016 had this statement on the place: “Here is what Turnberry is not: A traditional, lay of the land, or lovably quirky links. The course, which has been through many iterations in between its use as an air base in times of war, has always been fairly straightforward, a fine examination of many shots with beautiful views” (…) “Turnberry makes no apologies for being an Americanized version of an authentic links. Trump added the same 10 foot wide ryegrass walkways that he insisted on through the dunes at Trump International in Aberdeen. While perhaps too clean and carpet-like for most, they do add an elegance to walks as your approach Ebert’s square tee boxes (which fight the landcape a bit)” (Geoff Schackelford – ‘DONALD TRUMP’S TURNBERRY: THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE DELIVERS WITH HIS RENOVATED AYRSHIRE COURSE’ 20.07.2016).

So clearly, his vision has to improve the experience, but business-wise it has been pathetic. With time the Trump Organization might earn monies on it. But right now, the promises are not kept. Neither, seems to be possible, the one that will make difference and boost to Aberdeenshire is the Energetica investments into clean-air and windmills in sea. Peace.

Opinion: The rich are so poor nowadays!

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”Franklin D. Roosevelt

Well, this time in history will be remembered, in the times that the multi-national corporations have most of them fled their regional scenes and put their headquarters and main operations into tax havens. Therefore, with this in mind, the states and republics that actually is where they make the profits get less tax and get fewer monies to spend on public services. That does not make them poor, but smart someone might say. This is legal and the openness of the economies let them do it, but to be frank, we should question this big giant corporations for their fleeing fortunes abroad.

The corporations are not alone in all of this, the rich people themselves cannot sustained this, they cannot afford to pay reasonable taxes, and they need tax-relief so they can salvage their Monte Carlo and their Lamborghini’s. They have their massive mansions and stalls of cars, but cannot pay the percentages on the tax as ordinary working-class do. In addition, the working-class use decades on end to pay down the mortgage on the house and loan on their Ford Fiesta. If they can even afford a house and a car at his point.

The American enterprise and experience is really seeing it, as they plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, because the wealthy are too broke or to selfish to help the working-class who made them rich. That the working-class and industrial worker are falling behind as new schemes to outrun their possibilities. The corporations and the believers of free economies want more flexibility, but do not give equal wages or compensations. Therefore, the loser in the transactions are the workers and not the companies. Secondly, the states earn less without added productivity.

It is naive that the businesses care about other things than the bottom-line is vicious, like the wealthy have the capacity to share the spoils, which they have earned on the commoners and the citizens. Therefore, the spoils, which in some industries entails sweatshop workers and exports to the Western hemisphere with grand profits for the clothing and appeal giants. Something that the workers in Bangladesh or Pakistan doesn’t see anything delivered back, than a filthy industrial complex and possible health hazards for their hours work on end for a lousy T-shirts.

The others are the ones who are doing mining and extraction for the technology and IT businesses that has no issues with the illegal and militias taking controls over mining fields and black-market trading of rare earth minerals or cobalt for that matter. As long as the giant companies trading computers, smart-phones and whatnot get their profits. Certainly, the CEO and other leaders in the corporations should worry of the implications and the lives destroyed while their businesses are earning loads of monies. There should be some sort of certification of the weak trading points; if they knowingly paid, some of the monies on technology could fund militias and illegal armed conflicts.

This is real poverty, that we have systems, salary structures and imports that hurt local areas, while the businesses earn fortunes, that again is flying on the merry to a tax haven in the pacific through a shell-company set-up by lawyers in Panama. In addition, this is legal and just, by law and in society. That the same companies telling their workers that they cannot afford more wages, since they have to stack millions upon millions in the British Virgin Island. So that the shareholders and stakeholders can earn profits for the toils and sweat of fellow workers.

So when I hear that the workers cannot ask for bigger salaries, while the states and republics create tax-holidays and tax-breaks, incentives for “investments” while the big-men are doling away vast fortunes in the middle of the day. Like a legal heist, a theft of both tax and salary, the salaries that could be used more in the system to gain growth, and secondly the added tax that could build roads and infrastructure that the company could need. However, hey, we do not need proper roads and wages, as long as the rich can travel to Monaco and St. Tropez whenever they feel like it. We are foolish to think otherwise!

When you hear that the rich has to get tax-breaks and their taxes cut, know that they are poor in spirit and heart. They may have vast fortunes and riches, but their hearts are empty. They do not see the problems of the day-to-day basis of the ones creating their empires. They do not see the people who buys their labeled products and services. They only see the bottom-line, the empty shells companies’ accounts and the schemes to hide the monies. That is because these wealthy people are so poor; they cannot afford to be like the rest of us.

The wealthy are so poor, they are so poor that they have to avoid taxes or pay taxes, because if they were paying taxes they would be like us. They would have the same responsibilities and have the same understanding of welfare and public services. Therefore, since they do not need the public service, they can afford to travel abroad for health-care; they can afford to send their kids to private schools and can afford to import goods. Then they do not need the support and the base line of the republic or the state. Like you and I do. Therefore, with that in mind, which is why they are so poor. Their poverty is in the mind and in their spirit; they cannot be a part of us, because they want to shield themselves from us. Still, earning our monies and taking our cheap labor, no problem!

This poor people need help, they need guidance, their riches might fall out of their hands, might be lost in coup d’état or worse than they get bankrupt. Than they need the states to salvage their business or their bank, with our tax-monies, without any hesitation, but when it was booming. That was the time they had no need of paying taxes or paying amends to the state through the regulations. Like we do and pay for our right to live and use the needed services of the states.

In these interesting times of ours, we have the riches seeking to pay-less, while the working-class is footing the bills or trying too. While the republics and states make it harder for public service and make it more expensive to pay for the needed services. This are all made in the hands of the wealthy and the multi-national corporations, without considering the implications of the commoner, the working-class nor the middle-class that are all sinking on the behalf of the rich. Certainly, the belief that the trickle-down economy should be a project avoided, but to many still have faith in the paradigm. While very, few have any social mobility or have the capacity to go from one class to the next. Peace.

Out of the Box: The dirty tricks of the Hillary Clinton!

wikileaks-hillary

This is another batch of the leaks happening from WikiLeaks from the PodestaFiles. There been days upon days with new leaks that has happen all through October. Been hard to follow it all and the intelligence you can gather from it in the end, would be how a political machine and election procedures are happening for career politicians like Hillary Clinton. There been some scalps and misgivings in the leak.

Today is a brief spell into the Clinton Foundation first, secondly will be little about the surrogates of Clinton, third on Policy, fourth is on E-Mail Scandal and last Media. These are well-known territory, but I will let the leaks speak for themselves.

  1. On Clinton Foundation:

“Guys – Given the story yesterday about pay equity at the State Department, I wanted to flag something that came out of our research on pay equity at the Foundation. There are huge discrepancies, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they went here next. See a summary below from Karuna” [Ian Mandel to Tony Carrk and Robert Mook “Subject: Fwd: Equal Pay – Foundation” 24th February 2015].

Equal Pay problems in Clinton Foundation:

10 out of the 19 members (52%) of the Clinton Foundation’s Leadership Team, as listed on BHCCF’s website, are women, however only 3 out of the highest paid 11 employees (27%) are women.  The highest paid men average a salary of $294,157.50, while the highest paid women average a salary of $181,576.66, over $100,000 lower than the men. [Clinton Foundation Website, last accessed 12/10/14; Clinton Foundation 990, 2012; Clinton Foundation 990, 2013].

  1. Surrogates:

Use Howard Dean as Surrogate:

“Just watched him on Meet. At this time with Warren and Biden floating around he is the single best voice to speak about HRC as a surrogate. He is measured, thoughtful, talks substance not process, has run himself, the press likes him and he leans left. He was terrific this morning. I strongly suggest you get him out there more” [Gordon Griffin to John Podesta: “Subject: Howard Dean” on 05.08.2015].

Surrogate need advice:

“On April 8, I have gotten hoodwinked into doing Squawk Box on CNBC for 2 hours as a host. I may drag Al along with me. I know I will get tons of questions on the economy, the current fiscal situation, monetary policy, and of course why I’m supporting Hillary. I can’t just say I love her, although I might. What I would like to do is give some personal examples I have as to her effectiveness. But I will also need to comment on her fiscal plans and compare those to Bernie’s and whoever is left in the republican race at that time. Is it possible to get someone to send me some data and research so I can be as persuasive as possible, Thanks so much. Erskine” [Erskine sent to John Podesta on 7th March 2016].

ali-cenar

Turkish funding of DNC:

“John, heard this second hand but more than once. Seems Erdogan faction is making substantial investments in U.S. to counter opposition (CHP, Kurds, Gulenists etc.) outreach to policymakers and USG. Am told that the Erdogan crew also tries to make inroads via donations to Democratic candidates, including yours. Two names that you should be aware of are *Mehmet Celebi* and *Ali Cinar*. Happy to elaborate on the phone, provided you are not shopping at the liquor store” [Michael Werz sent to John Podesta “Subject: Flagging Turkish campaign donations” 19th August 2015].

  1. Policy:

On Cadillac tax:

Very few if any rank and file will be touched by $250K and above. I do think your point about them understanding its repeal is important…so if she says repeal, pauses and says I need some kind of pay for that still relieves this burden on the middle class and therefore folks making over $250K will take the hit…maybe the way to do it? Of course I understand she still has this decision to make” [Nikki Budzinski to Amanda Renteria “Subject: Re: Copy of HRC Memo on Cadillac Tax” on the 25th September 2015].

  1. E-Mail Scandal:

CNN: Email Scandal:

“Hey Nick, I’m writing a story about the formal request Chairman’s Gowdy office sent to David Kendall today asking that Sec. Clinton hand over her email server to the State Dept IG or another independent third party. I’d like to know whether the secretary plans to do so and if she has any response to the letter. I’m on deadline now” [Chris Frates sent to Nick Merrill “Subject: CNN deadline question” 20th March 2015].

Politico: Email Scandal.

One quick follow up– no fingerprints. As you said, there wasn’t a hell of a lot you guys could do after the Schmidt story — the emails were already deleted… etc. What action — OTR — did u advise. What were the decision points. Cheers/Thrush. Glenn Thrush” [Glenn Thrush to John Podesta “Subject: sorry to bother” 5th October 2015].

bernie-sanders

  1. Cozy relationship with Media:

Yahoo Interview:

“Well, I know you had a good weekend! We’ve been working with the campaign folks to reschedule my interview with Secretary Clinton. I wanted to write you about some of the metrics that we are getting and let you know through placement on Facebook we can guarantee 1.5 million views in addition to Yahoo engagement which has been close to 1 million for my political interviews. I’d also like to do a separate piece of business through social media along the lines of “10 things you don’t know about Hillary Clinton” that would showcase her personality and has a lot of viral potential. I know there is a lot of demands on her time, but we have been waiting patiently to schedule something and I’m sure we’ve been driving the campaign staff crazy, but the reach and engagement will be significant and I’m very much looking forward to having the opportunity to talk to her. I have been assured the campaign wants this as well. Can you help make this happen? I’d really appreciate your help” (Katie Couric to John Podesta “Subject: Re: Note from Katie Couric” 22nd February 2016).

monmoth-university

I hope you find these leaks interesting, because they say a lot about the activity and acts of the Clinton Campaign, the relationship they have and how the Democratic Party works. We can see how they together with all Surrogates, Media and others are working. This is important together with internal reports on the payment structure in Clinton Foundation proves the legitimate claims of following old-stereotype payment of men over woman. That deserves to be scrutinized, maybe be another man than me. I am sure that Hannity looks into as we speak (joking). Let’s be clear, this is another day with the same drama, as there aren’t as I’ve seen with today’s leaks many explosives inside the Clinton Campaign team. Still, interesting in the perspective of how they work on the inside. Maybe we will see next time for some more UFO’s and Bernie Sanders bashing Mails again? Peace.

Aga Khan says: “Africa’s moment has come” (21.02.2016)

AKDN

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, 21 February 2016 – His Highness the Aga Khan today extolled Africa’s resilience, economic progress and new willingness to accept diversity.

“What I see emerging today is a refreshingly balanced confidence in Africa – a spirit that takes encouragement from past progress, while also seeking new answers to new challenges,” he said.

The Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims made the remarks in a keynote address to the “Africa 2016: Business for Africa, Egypt and the World” conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, hosted by Egypt’s president, His Excellency Abdel Fattah el Sisi.

The Aga Khan noted the decidedly upbeat spirit about Africa’s economic future that emanated from the speeches of African leaders taking part in the conference. “My enthusiasm today is especially strong because of the message which is at the heart of this Forum. And that message is, quite simply, that Africa’s Moment has come,” he declared.

While cautioning that Africa still faced formidable challenges, including high unemployment levels among the continent’s young people, he said that the continent had made significant progress in a number of key areas.

“The story of Africa’s progress and potential is also impressive – whether we talk about growing GDP and foreign direct investment, whether we look at economic diversification and national resiliency, whether we chart the rise of a vital middle class – and the expansion of consumer spending – now breaking through the one trillion dollar mark,” he said.

He noted that the experience of the Aga Khan Development Network, which is active in 13 African countries and works in an array of sectors ranging from health to education to culture to economic development, supports the positive picture.

He observed that fragmentation has long been one of the continent’s main weaknesses. “The problem of fragmentation has often afflicted Africa, separating tribe from tribe, country from country, the private sector from the public sector – those who hold political power from those who are in the opposition,” he explained.

And yet the Aga Khan noted that Africa has shown new willingness to embrace diversity and emphasised the importance of civil society in creating an enabling environment for progress.

“In sum I believe that social progress will require quality inputs from all three sectors – public, private and Civil Society. Sustainable progress will build on a three-legged stool,” he said, arguing that “cooperating across traditional lines of division does not mean erasing our proud, independent identities. But it does mean finding additional, enriching identities as members of larger communities – and ultimately, as people who share a common humanity. It means committing ourselves to an Ethic of Pluralism.”

Building on this idea, the Aga Khan emphasised the need for strong Civil Society institutions in Africa’s quest for development, noting that Civil Society has often been underappreciated, marginalised or even dismissed.

“I focus on Civil Society because I think its potential is often under-appreciated as we become absorbed in debates about the most effective programs of governments and others, or the most successful business strategies. But, in fact, it is often the quality of the third sector, Civil Society, that is the “difference-maker”. It not only complements the work of the private and public sectors, it can often help complete that work,” he said.

He lauded the positive role Civil Society played at key junctions in Africa’s recent history. “The influence of Civil Society has also been felt at seminal moments in the continent’s recent history, for example: in shaping the Arusha Accords which recently ended 12 years of civil war in Burundi, in the peaceful resolution of the violent clashes in Kenya following the 2007 elections, in the drafting of a new promising Tunisian Constitution, and in the courageous response to the Ebola crisis” he said.

For more information, please contact:

Kris Janowski
Head of Communications
Aga Khan Development Network
Email: kris.janowski@akdn.org

NOTES

His Highness the Aga Khan
His Highness the Aga Khan, the founder and chairman of the AKDN, is the 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. In Islam’s ethical tradition, religious leaders not only interpret the faith but also have a responsibility to help improve the quality of life in their community and in the societies amongst which they live. For His Highness the Aga Khan, this has meant a deep engagement with development for almost 60 years through the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network.

The Aga Khan Development Network
Founded by His Highness the Aga Khan, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of private, international, non-denominational agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in specific regions of the developing world. The Network’s organisations have individual mandates that range from healthcare (through over 200 health facilities including 13 hospitals) and education (with over 200 schools) to architecture, rural development, the built environment and the promotion of private-sector enterprise. Together, they work towards a common goal – to build institutions and programmes that can respond to the challenges of social, economic and cultural change on an on-going basis. AKDN works in 30 countries around the world, employing approximately 80,000 people, the majority of whom are based in developing countries. The AKDN’s annual budget for non-profit development is approximately US$ 625 million. AKDN agencies conduct their programmes without regard to faith, origin or gender.

Donald Trump haven’t only made “Good Deals” he has failed exeptionally well; failures like in Scotland, Atlantic City, Airplane Company and Vodka; with this business-model, I doubt he will able to “make America Great again!”

donald-trump-make-america-great

Donald Trump the Reality TV Star who is famous for saying “You’re fired” and also for hosting a Miss Universe contest. He is not famous for being a politician and therefore I have not taken him seriously as Jon Steward on the Comedy Central bashed him on the day he announced his intention for running as President as he had a speech on the 16th June 2015 as a Republic Party Presidential Candidate.

He usually talks about how he can make good deals and do that in Government, I will show how he has done in the past to prove that he is not all good, and has earned money on government funding, fathers inheritance, and also destroying other people’s possibility to earn while smashing other people livelihood for his own benefit, as he has done in Scotland and Atlantic City.

282503308-stoptrumpus-cease-desist9-22-15-p1-normal

I could have bashed him for his empty rhetoric and for not telling how to really make “America Great Again” as he is an empty suit with no moral fiber what-so-ever as he uses Immigration policy and spread fear  to the public to gain momentum and surge of the angry clue-less white rednecks; who couldn’t open a book or read a Foucault explanation on how “Governance” supposed to be. As he believes he can with he deals structure can fix everything. While I doubt it, as the structures and procedures will stifle him, as he is not an island at the White House and in the Senate and House of Representative in Congress; as he has to follow the guidelines of these outfits.

USA_Government_Branches_Infographic

Something he can’t dictate as he does with his Trump Organization where all the Yes Men follow his every move; the same will not happen there as he cannot be the grand dictator and authoritarian leader who owns Capitol Hill, as it seems the “American Great Again” doesn’t have the pulse. But follows on the fear and not on political framework, unless Mr. Trump himself earns on the new taxation reforms, not for the public; as he is a rich man who doesn’t want to be more taxed. He wants to continue to have low tax on the rich and continue to have close to 30% tax on blue-collars and working-class, not the rich, or giant International Companies, as they have loop-holes and systems to get money to tax-heavens instead of paying tax directly in the United States. This is an international problem, but with the growing debt and less income, while having issues to pay to gain growth, there must be a way of getting the wheels rolling. But I don’t see that from Mr. Trump, rather from Bernie Sanders. That is just me. Let’s take a look at some of the bad-deals of Mr. Trump!

Trump 1990 People's Magazine

His value in 1990 out of his People’s Magazine Article:

“Indeed, Wall Street sources say that the purpose of the bailout is not to get Trump up and running, but merely to buy time for the banks to oversee the sale of virtually all of his assets. Donald Trump’s empire, once valued at $3 billion, may be as good as gone, and even his private wealth is at risk. His debt is said to include $500 million in personal loans, and though he claims to be worth more than that, some analysts assay his net worth at less than zero” (Kunen, 1990).

How he really earned his wealth:

“Trump was born in New York City in 1946, the son of real estate tycoon Fred Trump. Fred Trump’s business success not only provided Donald Trump with a posh youth of private schools and economic security but eventually blessed him with an inheritance worth an estimated $40 million to $200 million” (…)”In 1990, due to excessive leveraging, The Trump Organization revealed that it was $5 billion in debt ($8.8 billion by some estimates), with $1 billion personally guaranteed by Trump himself. The survival of the company was made possible only by a bailout pact agreed upon in August of that same year by some 70 banks, allowing Trump to defer on nearly $1 billion in debt, as well as to take out second and third mortgages on almost all of his properties” (…)”In 1995 Trump took Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc. public and received a substantial financial boost from society and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations that enable the market to function. He initially sold 10 million shares at $14 per share and then in 1996 sold 13.25 million shares at $32.50 a share. This initial public offering granted Trump’s company a stability and legitimacy that would have been impossible without millions of people around the world trusting his organization and investing with the hope of shared success” (Lapham & Miller, 2012).

Now on some of his direct bad deals as the Scottish adventure, Atlantic City’s Casino’s, Trump Shuttle and Trump Vodka, take a look!

golfscenery_TRUMPSCOTLAND

Scottish adventure as his bullies the land of inheritance:

Where he wanted to build a Golf Resort:

“The site comprises the Menie Estate an area of 452 hectares (ha) of estate policies, agricultural land, heath and dune. It is located between the A90 trunk road (A90T) and the sea about 14 km north of Aberdeen city centre, and 8 km from the northern limit of the city at the conference centre. The eastern boundary with the foreshore at the high water mark is approximately 4.2 km long, while the site narrows to the west so that the boundary with the trunk road is no more than 1.1 km. At its widest the site is about 2 km from east to west. Balmedie Country Park lies immediately to the south on the coast, while further to the west and south farmland separates the site from the village of Balmedie” (…)”The Menie Estate was most recently used for a combination of commercial shooting and some agriculture but now forms the operating base for the applicant company; Menie House is undergoing restoration as a residence. Since taking ownership Mr Trump has stopped both shooting and hunting on the land” (…)”Mr Trump has been concerned about the environmental effects of the development from the outset, although he acknowledged that he did not know the land was protected when he bought it” (…)”  A world class golf course also requires world class facilities. The clubhouse would be the nucleus of the development. The hotel would be a grand five star building that would complement the landscape in the same way that the hotels at Turnberry and Gleneagles do. The hotel and conference centre would attract golfers and non-golfers. Mr Trump believes that it would in itself be a major boost to the economy of the north east of Scotland”  (Scottish Government, 2008). That was back in 2008 and was in the recommended because of the economic prosperity in the area at the cost of the special sand-dunes that had an environmental unique place in European standard, but for the price of getting a world-class golf-course was the price the Government of Scotland accepted together with the Aberdeenshire Council” (Scottish Government 2008).

Trump Turbines Aberdeen

Some other local punters – A timeline of actions from Trump in Scotland:

“Then, on 3 November 2008, the Scottish Government granted outline planning permission for the resort, subject to 46 conditions, indicating that ‘there was significant economic and social benefit to be gained from this project’ (Scottish Government 2008b). Again, the response to this decision was predictably polarised. Industry and tourism leaders declared that it demonstrated that the North-east, and Scotland more widely, was ‘open for business’ (Whitaker, 2008a); while environmentalists feared that it would set a ‘precedent which will undermine the whole protected-sites network in Scotland’ (Urquhart, 2008)” (…)”In May 2009, it emerged that Trump International, in preparing its detailed resort masterplan, had advised Aberdeenshire Council that it would be lodging further applications for outline planning permission, but for eight parcels of land not currently owned by the organisation. These included four private homes that Trump International was hoping to acquire through ‘amicable’ discussion. It also emerged, however, that Aberdeenshire Council had prepared a briefing note for councillors which raised the prospect of compulsory purchase orders being used to secure the land (Ross 2009), although Trump International insisted that this would only be pursued as an ‘absolute last resort’ (Urquhart 2009)” (…)”Eventually, in January 2011, Trump announced that he would not be seeking compulsory purchase orders for the residential properties; that he would effectively build his course around them. However, Trump also claimed that ‘we have consistently said that we have no interest in compulsory purchase and have never applied for it’ (Urquhart, 2011). This was despite the existence of a letter from early 2009, released under freedom of information, in which his legal representatives had clearly asked Aberdeenshire Council ‘to exercise its powers of compulsory purchase…to acquire the eight plots of land on behalf of TIGLE’. That letter has become widely available online (see, for example, Scottish Green Party, 2011)” (Baxter, 2014). “In 2013, the Scottish government approved plans for the installation of wind turbines off the Aberdeenshire coast – which would generate enough energy to power 68,000 homes. Trump soon claimed that having this windfarm near his golf course “would spoil the view”, and thus entered into a legal battle against the project. But this was a battle he would lose, leading Alex Salmond to call him “three times a loser” and argue that the legal process had potentially jeopardised “a vital £200 million boost for the economy of the North East of Scotland”. In response to Salmond’s comments, a Trump Organisation spokesman said the former first minister had an “overinflated ego” and that the Scottish government was embarking on a “dangerous experiment with wind energy” which was based on a “foolish, small-minded and parochial mentality”. This in spite of the fact that wind energy is now considered to be the cheapest energy technology available in the UK” (Sabio, 2015).

Alex Salmond regrets Opening business for Trump:

“There is nothing wrong with his golf courses, the problem is that Trump Turnberry is unlikely to ever get on The Open circuit. If Turnberry doesn’t get an Open, then that costs the Scottish economy £100m” (…)“I think the association with Trump is now net damaging to the Scottish economy.” (Schmid, 2016).

This here proves that all of his business is not a good deal as he has taken some of the special areas of Scotland, not followed his promise, stifled the locals and had issues the Government over their own development as the sufficient work with the Golf Course and area that Trump Organization had planned for the area, is not working as well as the Locals or Trump hoped for; as the development of the project never got into the stages that Trump promised.

Donald-Trump-Eminent-Domain

Atlantic City Casinos gone bad, his response to newspaper actually writing about him:

“He said the bankruptcy was the result of external forces beyond his control, specifically an extremely bad economy in 1990. He said he had “the prerogative” to change his mind about using junk bonds in the financing” (…) “I didn’t want to have any personal liability, so I used junk bonds. I accept the blame for that, but I would do it again,” he said. But Trump vehemently denied that the deal represented a personal failing or affected his personal wealth” (…) “This was not personal. This was a corporate deal,” he said. “If you write this one, I’m suing you.” (Bandler, 2016).

vera_coking

Here are outtakes of the deals done in Atlantic City:

“The casino opened in April of 1990. Just over a year later, Trump was not going to be able to make his June payments. The Times said Trump was on the hook for $900 million that year, and the Taj Mahal eventually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Trump lost about half of his interest in the casino, and had to sell his private yacht and plane to help pay his losses. His creditors even put him on a budget (of $5.4 million, so … not that bad of one)” (…)“Trump Plaza was the next to fall out of his control. It was hemorrhaging cash in the early 1990s — Johnston estimates that, in the end, Trump lost about a million courting high-roller Kashiwagi (who was found dead, stabbed 150 times, in Japan in 1992) — and filed for bankruptcy protection in November. The banks took a 49 percent stake in the Plaza in exchange for more favorable terms on the $550 million in debt the building had on it. Trump remained as CEO, but no longer had a role in day-to-day operations” (McQuade, 2015).

How the Locals in Atlantic City feels about Trump:

“Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic) said Trump’s legacy in the city is a “mixed one.” (…)”The notion that he was somehow responsible for the success that Atlantic City had is not accurate,” said Whelan (D-Atlantic), who was the city’s mayor in the 1990s. “Nor is he responsible for the problems we now have.” (…)”Whelan said Atlantic City already had casino gambling for several years when Trump arrived, adding: “It’s not like he was a pioneer.” (…)”Experts said Trump ran his casinos like other owners did — and stressed that he didn’t simply leave the city on his own terms. Though Trump’s casinos were hurt by the same factors as the others in Atlantic City — a sputtering economy and growing competition from neighboring states — and though other casino companies filed for bankruptcy over the years, his companies’ four bankruptcies are also more than any other in town” (Johnson, 2015).

Trump Shuttle

Another deal gone sour was “Trump Shuttle” or his Airlines:

“NEW YORK — The sky became the limit Thursday for real estate mogul Donald Trump with the maiden flights of his Trump Shuttle service – fashioned from the innovative Eastern shuttle — taking off after a fog delay” (…)”The inaugural voyages of the Trump Shuttle, with four newly painted airplanes bearing the developer’s name, were scheduled for 7 a.m. in New York, Washington and Boston. All were delayed at least 20 minutes by thick fog in New York and Boston” (…)”Trump purchased the shuttle for $365 million from strike-battered Eastern Airlines, which is owned by the Texas Air Corp. The deal was approved May 24 by a federal judge overseeing Eastern’s reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code” (…)”Trump hired some 1,000 workers, 800 of them former Eastern employees, for the new service, said Bruce Nobles, the shuttle’s president and chief operating officer” (…)”’People are really tired of being pushed around at Pan Am. Pan Am is not exactly one of the great stalwarts of the industry,’ Trump said. ‘We’ll have the safest, most beautiful planes in the air and we’ll have the best service.‘” (…)”Trump said he expected the fare to remain at $99, the same as Pan Am, but, ‘We’ll match any price on the market’” (Wolfhorst, 1989). Already in 1991: “USAir will retain the Trump Shuttle’s employees and has an “understanding” with its unions over the shuttle’s operations, Goldman said. USAir is holding talks with its unions seeking major concessions to help it ride out the recession and its heavy losses” (…)”The USAir deal must still win final approval from the group of approximately 40 banks involved in Trump’s finances and win regulatory approval from the Transportation and Justice departments” (…)”Trump said yesterday that the deal helps him reduce his debt. “That’s what we’ve been doing for the last year is knocking the hell out of debt,” he said. “USAir is a fine company, and the shuttle is a great asset.” (Hamilton, 1991).  In 1992 this happen to it: “On Mar. 13, he is expected to conclude the final segments of a massive debt restructuring, which will give lenders the Trump Shuttle airline and hand over 49% of the Plaza Hotel in exchange for a lower mortgage-interest rate” (Businessweek Archives, 1992).

Trump_Shuttle_727_safety

In 1993 the result was this: “A USAir Shuttle spokesman says the 87 were fired because the company wanted “an optimized cost-efficient operation.” Their work will now be done by an outside contractor who can do I more cheaply, says Terry Hallcom, manager of the shuttle. (USAir manages the former Trump Shuttle for Citicorp and about 20 other banks that acquired it when Donald Trump defaulted on $380 million in 1991.) “The shuttle management needed to cut jobs to cut costs,” says Citicorp spokeswoman Amy Dates. “We at Citicorp have gone through our own restructuring but have also gotten through it.” (People’s Magazine, 1993). You can say that the Trump Shuttle didn’t work out and the workers lost their jobs on the speculations of Donald Trump. As the Banks to ownership together with 20 Banks who salvaged the ownership of the company. That is a manifestation of how bad this deal was for Trump.

Trump-vodka

Trump Vodka ended with the bottum-up: 

Then we have his fallen throne with the alcoholic beverage Trump Vodka. Here is some on this: “Trump Vodka will be a major player in the vodka arena – it’s a superb product and it’s beautifully packaged,” boasted the teetotaling magnate. Cases of the Dutch-distilled, big-name booze were transported across a red carpet – behind velvet ropes – to a waiting delivery van. A Port Authority police escort accompanied the van to a warehouse in Long Island City, from where Trump Vodka will be distributed. It’s being advertised as “a vodka worthy of the Trump name” and will be sold in a “special gold crafted bottle” designed by graphic artist Milton Glaser, creator of the iconic “I [heart] NY” logo. Patrick Kenny of Drinks Americas Holdings Ltd., said all that matters is that his name is on the bottle. “It’s no secret that Donald Trump doesn’t drink,” he said. “But we’re in the super premium vodka market, and there’s nobody who markets better in the luxury category than Donald Trump” (…) “A one-liter bottle of Trump Vodka will sell for about $30” (Woodberry & Corky JR, 2006). A review of the dink: “The vodka, a five-times-distilled Dutch vodka by renowned distiller Jacques de Lat, is made from select European wheat. After distilling, the vodka is stored in stainless steel tanks for six months, run through a carbon filtration process twice, then a 9-column filtration process, and finally carbon filtered two more times. The vodka is then bottled in a sleek, tapered design from Bruni Glass, with label and packaging by the legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser. The result is what we’ve come to expect from anything branded with the Trump name. For all the attention to detail in the packaging and design, this is a vodka that doesn’t even make a good mixed drink. All of that filtration the vodka goes through has resulted in a spirit more akin to fuel treatment. The burn on the finish is intolerable – more “your mouth’s on fire” than “you’re fired” – with no discernable flavor from the wheat, and an oddly thin consistency for a spirit made from a heavy grain” (Sudo, 2007). In 2009 this happen to the company distributing the beverage: “J. Patrick Kenny, the Company’s CEO, stated, “We believe that this financing is very favorable for the Company especially in this challenging economic environment. The transaction will provide the Company with an immediate and near term cash infusion which will enhance our cash flow and enable us to continue to grow and expand our brands. Prominent in this growth is our imminent beer launch with Kid Rock, our growing Leyrat Cognac business, the continued growth of Trump Vodka and our rapidly growing Olfiant Vodka business, all of which this financing will help facilitate.” (Business Wire, 2009). Something is never seen or heard about since, the reports later said because of lack of interest for the beverage, the production of Trump Vodka went out in 2011. Though there are rumors that is still on sale in Israel as a Israeli Company got the license for in in 2010 from American Holdings Ltd and sell it for 15 years, as it the same year was sued from the Trump Organization, how the court case or beverage is; is not an easy task since there is so little precedence or evidence of actual production, as you can only buy from the early 2000s when the production of it was on Ebay, if you’re a fantastic fan of Trump and get a golden bottle.

Trump Old Newsweek

As I have showed he did not make money from scratch, he is not a self-made Millionaire or Billionaire! He inherent and gained early on the property market after his father’s rise in the business in New York; he did not come with Oliver Twist lifestyle and suddenly by pure genius gain an economic rise. That is somebody else who has done, not him.

Trump Quote

In the 1990s he went totally bankrupt; he was bailed out by big-government and luck of connection in banks as they gave him leverage on the property that could be profitable in the future. A possibility an ordinary person would never achieve or get. The rich also get better service and better treatment then the working-class. He was even at one point valued zero and having accumulated pure debt, while working with most of the banks to restructure his businesses. At this point there we’re none good deals, as he failed in the Air, later in beverage with his Vodka, also Casino’s that was not profitable in Atlantic City and his Scottish adventure that has not become what he promised Alex Salmond or the Aberdeenshire Council as they have lost both green energy source and a future potential tourism site; and a world-class golf course as he didn’t care for the locals, they just had to be happy that he could do as he please and his will was the best, and nothing else did matter. The same way he is discussing matter as a politician.

The Trentonian Trump Front Page

He tells the world he only make “Good Deals” then he must have a reactive memory, or a selective memory, this is not all of them, as this some of the big ones. And a reminder of the matter at hand; if he has plans of making America greater in this way then he will be a Machiavellian Lord who will do as he please without thinking consequence of the ordinary person or the effect of the policy/law. That should be stressed and thought about as the trickledown economics isn’t really a functional and the riches he gained wasn’t by rare luck, though he lived by the posh lifestyle by how he raised. He was raised rich and made himself even richer. There is a saying: “you need money to make money”. That is surely the tale of Mr. Trump. Not a good deal made his wealth, and if it wasn’t for the mercy of the state and the banks in 1990s he wouldn’t have been able to wealthy today. That is why he was positive to the Barrack Obama’s Stimulus Package to save the economy as it was similar to how his own businesses were saved. He could not hate something that saved his own skin. Even if he fear immigrants as his heritage is from Scottish roots and family coming from Europe back in the day. The irony is there and he is surely a strange clone in the elections in the United States. I have now on my page this described and showed something sinister of two candidates there, the first was Jeb Bush and now Donald Trump. I took the economic approach and not his human vision as it is ghastly and not worth spending my mind on or finding his terrible quotes as it is fear-mongering and not worth ink. This is enough for today. Peace.

Reference:

Bandler, Aaron – ‘One Newspaper Wanted To Report About Donald Trump’s Atlantic City Finances. So He Threatened Them’ (22.01.2016) link: http://www.dailywire.com/news/2827/one-newspaper-wanted-report-about-donald-trumps-aaron-bandler

Baxter, Graeme – ‘Open for business? An historical, comparative study of public access to information about two controversial coastal developments in North-east Scotland’ (01.03.2014) link: http://www.informationr.net/ir/19-1/paper603.html#.VrtmAFjhDI

Businessweek Archives – ‘The Donald’s Trump Card’ (22.03.1992) link: http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/1992-03-22/the-donalds-trump-card

Businesswire – ‘Drinks Americas Closes Private Placement for Cash Infusion of Up to $3 Million’ (25.01.2009) link: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090625005282/en/Drinks-Americas-Closes-Private-Placement-Cash-Infusion

Johnson, Brent – ‘Trump’s controversial time in A.C. under new scrutiny with presidential run’ (25.10.2015) link: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/10/trumps_controversial_time_in_ac_under_new_scrutiny_with_presidential_run.html

Kunen, James S. – ‘Pop! Goes the Donald’ (09.07.1990) link: http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20118158,00.html

Hamilton, Martha M. – ‘USAIR REACHES ACCORD TO RUN TRUMP SHUTTLE’ (20.12.1991) link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/12/20/usair-reaches-accord-to-run-trump-shuttle/a5870bec-d890-422f-9e4a-02360de12599/

Lapham, Mike & Miller, Brian – ‘ECONOMY Exposing How Donald Trump Really Made His Fortune: Inheritance from Dad and the Government’s Protection Mostly Did the Trick’ (09.07.2012) link: http://www.alternet.org/story/156234/exposing_how_donald_trump_really_made_his_fortune%3A_inheritance_from_dad_and_the_government’s_protection_mostly_did_the_trick

Lee, Michelle Ye Hee – ‘Donald Trump’s false comments connecting Mexican immigrants and crime’ (08.07.2015) link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/07/08/donald-trumps-false-comments-connecting-mexican-immigrants-and-crime/

McQuade, Dan – ‘The Truth About the Rise and Fall of Donald Trump’s Atlantic City Empire (16.08.2015) Link: http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/08/16/donald-trump-atlantic-city-empire/#M16Ri9meooifJh9z.99

People’s Magazine – ‘Out in the Cold’ (20.12.1993) link: http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20107064,00.html

Sabio, Osio – ‘This is why Donald Trump is not welcome in Scotland’ (18.12.2015) link: http://www.thecanary.co/2015/12/18/donald-trump-not-welcome-scotland/

Schmid, Stefan  – ‘Alex Salmond insists Scotland does not need Donald Trump’s investment’ (18.01.2016) link: http://www.thenational.scot/news/alex-salmond-insists-scotland-does-not-need-donald-trumps-investment.12500

Scottish Government – Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals: ‘Case reference: CIN/ABS/001

  • Site Address: land at Menie House, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire
  • Application APP/2006/4605 for outline planning permission dated 27 November 2006

called-in from Aberdeenshire Council by notice dated 4 December 2007.

  • The development proposed: Golf course and resort development
  • Date of inquiry: 10 June – 4 July 2008 ‘ (10.10.2008)

Sudo, Chuck – ‘A Classy New Vodka From A Man Lacking Class’ (22.01.2007) link: http://chicagoist.com/2007/01/22/a_classy_new_vodka_from_a_man_lacking_class_.php

Woodberry, Warren & Corky JR, Siemaszko – ‘I’M DONALD TRUMP, DRINK MY VODKA’ (07.10.2006) link: http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/donald-trump-drink-vodka-article-1.643186

Wulfhorst, Ellen – ‘First flights take off on Trump’s renamed Northeast shuttle’ (08.06.1989) link: http://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/06/08/First-flights-take-off-on-Trumps-renamed-Northeast-shuttle/6472613281600/

Press Statement: NRM Poor Youth Forum Position (17.09.2015)

Endorsment NRM Poor Youth

Our goal is to defeat President M7 in 2016 Presidential Election.Our Go Forward Candidate is H.E Amama Mbabazi.If TDA summit consider Mbabazi as TDA Presidential Candidate,we will commit our efforts towards actualising the principles of TDA but operating independently as NRM POOR YOUTH Forum as we struggle to bring an end to the reign of president M7.

As NRM POOR YOUTH FORUM, we have no problem with Col Kiiza Besigye contesting as FDC presidential candidate or an Independent candidate.We see no harm .We support this position and it’s an advantage in the struggle to defeat the 30 years dictatorship.We need to reach out to the masses, we must prepare the masses for the aftermath of the election.The bitter truth is M7 must go in 2016.

Lastly, If TDA summit consider Col Besigye Its presidential candidate, NRM POOR YOUTH FORUM will request Hon Amama Mbabazi to contest on Go Forward Ticket.

In other words, Both Besigye and Hon Mbabazi must contest for presidential election if we are to defeat M7 in 2016..M7 strength is only in rigging but with two strong candidates all against him, the rigging will not go him.President M7 has no support .He used to enjoy support in rural areas but things have changed, peasants are for JPAM only anxious for change.Col Besigye has great support in urban areas yet m7 has meagre support in urban areas, Jpam has support amongst the students,elites and middle class yet M7 has support from Asian investors in Uganda.

For God and my country,

We repair Broken Eggs.

Luzindana Adam Buyinza

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