Author: Jim Rogers, USA
Translator: Zhang Junsheng
Publisher: CITIC Publishing Group
Publication date: October 1, 2024
The first article: From Donkey to Tokyo
Chapter 2: From Tokyo to Donqin
Chapter Three: From Donkey to Cape of Good Hope
Chapter Four: Detour Cape Horn
Flying towards the Soviet Union
I was born in 1942 and am the eldest of five brothers. My parents met at the University of Oklahoma in the 1930s, where they both received scholarships and were members of the Academic Honor Society. During World War II, my father was sent to Germany as an artillery officer. After the war, he partnered with his brother to open a factory in Dimopolis, Alabama. My ancestors have been settling in Alabama since the early 19th century. What do you think about this?
My mother is an only child, but she has given birth to five sons, which is really difficult for her. She allowed us five brothers to fight, play and frolic with each other. My father taught us five brothers how to drive and also taught us how to do what we want to do. We also learned to work hard from our father. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
At YaleI am a helmsman in the fleet, and towards the end of my four-year university life, I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship from Oxford University. What do you think about this?In OxfordI entered Balliol College to study political science, philosophy, and economics. I became the first person in the history of Dimopolis, Alabama to steer the River Thames and participate in the Oxford Cambridge Rowing Competition. Don't forget to share your experience!
I started to put the knowledge I learned from working on Wall Street during the summer into practice and invested it with scholarships. What do you think about this?
After graduating from Oxford University, I joined the army. I manage and invest for the commander in the military. Due to the bull market timing, I allowed him to achieve significant gains. Later, I returned to New York and returned to work on Wall Street. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
I eventually became a junior partner in an offshore hedge fund, a complex fund serving foreign investors, buying and selling stocks, commodities, currencies, and bonds from around the world. Don't forget to share your experience!I work tirelessly, trying to stay as familiar as possible with capital flows, goods, raw materials, and various information worldwide. When I entered the market in 1968, I only had $600, and by the time I exited in 1980, I had already owned a million dollars. However, I also paid a price for it. During this time, I had two brief marriages, and neither of my wives could understand my passion for hard work, which was inherited from my father. When I realize that I can use the money in the market, I won't use it to buy a new sofa. What do you think about this?I used to believe, and still believe, that every dollar saved by young people, if properly invested, will give them a return of 20 times in their lifetime. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
In 1980, at the age of 37, I retired without worriesStart seeking another way of life and give yourself time to think. Working on Wall Street is too stressful and I don't have time to think. Furthermore, I have a dream that besides wanting to switch to another field of work, Don't forget to share your experience!I also want to ride my motorcycle around the world.
Since I realized that Dimopolis in Alabama is not the center of the Western worldI have always dreamed of traveling around the worldFor a long time, my desire for adventure may also stem from this. However, I not only see this trip as an adventure, but also as a way to receive continuing education that has been present throughout my life, which is: Don't forget to share your experience!Truly understand this world and constantly recognize its essenceI want to understand the world and the planet we live on through ground travel.
When embarking on a long journey (such as traveling through China, Pakistan, and India for three months), I believe the best mode of transportation is riding a motorcycle, which allows you to appreciate the scenery and breathe the rural atmosphere in a way that cannot be experienced by driving. You will blend into nature, become a part of it, touch it, appreciate it, taste it, listen to it, and enjoy complete freedom and relaxation. For most travelers, travel itself is a means to achieve their goals. If you travel by motorcycle, the journey itself is the purpose. You ride your bike through places you've never been to before, experience everything about them, make new friends, that's adventure, that's the most enjoyable thing. Don't forget to share your experience!
I want to embark on a long journey, so long that I can forget everything. I will still read The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times, but I want to completely sever ties with my investment career and change my life. This requires a watershed, marking the beginning of a new life. I don't know what I will do after returning from the trip, but I will definitely do something completely different. In my experience the 65000 mile global journey can be considered a watershed. Have you tried this before? Share your story!
In 1980, traveling around the world was very difficult. You can't go to every place you want to go, as there are 20-30 wars going on around the world at that time. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!If I decide to travel around the world, then I will stick to my usual style: either be exhilarating or not do it. Don't forget to share your experience!My dream is to cross six continents, from west to east across China, from east to west across Siberia in the Soviet Union, from the northernmost point of Africa to the Cape of Good Hope, across the vast deserts of Australia, from the southernmost point of Argentina to Alaska. Don't forget to share your experience!
In 1984 and 1986, I went to China twice to negotiate with the authorities about crossing the border by car. I even rented a 250cc Honda scooter and rode it around Fujian Province to see what I could learn. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!Fujian Province is not very large, roughly equivalent in size to LouisianaHowever, at that time, Fujian Province had 26 million residents, which was seven times the population of Louisiana. I rode a motorcycle and flew to several provincial capitals in China, exploring over 2000 miles on a rented motorcycle. What do you think about this?In 1988, I rode my motorcycle across China.
After returning to New York, I visited the Soviets again, and I used to go there often before. At that time, the Soviet Union was still a stumbling block to the World Tour program. I have written several letters and even found someone to vouch for my actions. I definitely encountered an old stubborn person this time. I went to find it Let me know your thoughts in the comments!Ivan GarininHe is the chairman of the Soviet International Travel Agency. He told me that all of this is simply unimaginable, Siberia has nothing but bears, tigers, jungles, and forests. No one wants to go there, and in fact, all the Soviet people sent there want to leave as soon as possible. What do you think about this?
What surprised me was that none of the Soviet people I met had ever been to Siberia,I don't know anyone there either. It seems that no Soviet knows a little bit about Siberia, just like most New Yorkers today know nothing about Alaska. The Soviets told me that I could either take the Siberian train or fly there, only fools or lunatics would ride motorcycles. Have you tried this before? Share your story!
I was introduced to the Soviet ambassador in Washington through some channels, but even he couldn't do anything about it.
I gradually understand the reason behind it, that riding a motorcycle across Siberia and riding a motorcycle across the United States are completely different concepts. What do you think about this?In the United States, highways connect one another, but Siberia is completely different. Maybe they're right, there may really be no way there. But not crossing Siberia means not traveling around the world. If I want to fulfill my wish, I must find a way. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
The map shows that Siberia is over 7000 miles long from east to west, approximately twice the length of the United States from east to west. Have you tried this before? Share your story!Siberia has a population of less than 20 million, comparable to the population of New York State. But no one knows the exact number because no one has ever counted the number of people there. I speculate that Siberia will not be more desolate than northern Canada and Alaska, and In my experience it can still be tolerated. Don't forget to share your experience!
During the despairing period, I showed Ivan Garinin the video of my trip to China, hoping to show him that I was serious. He smiled wearily when he took the videotape, but he still watched it. When I went to look for him again, he said:“ Don't forget to share your experience!You can write a letter to an organizationHowever, he did not know the English name of this organization, he found it in his official manual. He couldn't translate the name of this organization himself, so he wrote all the information including its name and address to me in Russian. What do you think about this?It seems that this is an extraordinary organization called Sovintersport.I took the note home, made a copy, pasted it on an envelope, and attached a letter written in English,The letter expressed my plan to ride a motorcycle from the Pacific to Moscow and then to Poland.
I pointed out in the letter that I will comply with all the conditions attached by the organization - wherever they ask me to stop, I will stop there, accept the necessary guards they deem necessary, and even soldiers guarding me, I don't care. I am determined to go. What do you think about this?Whenever I gaze at the globe, the vast land of the Soviet Union comes into view. If I cannot cross the Soviet Union, then I cannot say that I have traveled the world. If I can't travel around the world, then this is not the travel I want Let me know your thoughts in the comments!I didn't have too much hope. In the past few years, I have already sent 20 similar letters.
A few months later, when I had already forgotten about this letter, I received a reply. The letter said, "Dear Mr. Rogers, you can ride a motorcycle across the Soviet Union. When are you planning to leave?" The letter consists of only two paragraphs, three or four lines, and a person named Have you tried this before? Share your story!Mr. Valery SagorovThe signature.
I can't believe it. It's like sitting outside the door knocking every day, knocking for nine years without opening the door, and then suddenly one day the door opens and someone says, 'Hi, come in.' How did he know I had been knocking there for nine years. What do you think about this?
Afterword
In December, I gave the gold necklace I bought in Buenos Aires to Tabisa, who was pleasantly surprised.
Take a break, we're on our way again, this time to Alaska, so our total journey will reach 65067 miles.
After arriving, we realizedThere are significant differences between the residents of Yukon and Alaska and those of Ottawa and WashingtonLike many residents who have traveled around the world, the people here are not as lively as those who live in the capital, Don't forget to share your experience!They go alone and don't fit in with othersThe harsh natural conditions of their place of residence shape their character.Alaska is thousands of miles away from Washington, separated by several time zonesThis is the largest state among the 50 states in the United States, but with only 500000 residents.
How can Alaskans let Washington manage their lives? Alaska has only one Congressman and two Senators in Washington, which means the capital often ignores the wishes of its residents. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
in fact,Alaskans and their neighbors, the Yukon people of Canada and the Siberian people of the Soviet Union, have a common language Let me know your thoughts in the comments!This relationship is much closer than their official relationships with Washington, Ottawa, and Moscow. Alaska, Yukon, and Siberia are rich in mineral resources, and if they form an alliance to form an independent border country, they will attract huge development investments. Have you tried this before? Share your story!
After two years of travel, Tabisa has opened her eyes. She is now pursuing a master's degree in international relations. Tabitha may be more competent in teaching international relations courses than those who only read books. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
The world is changing too fast, so I have invested in several other countries outside of the United States, including Austria, Italy, Türkiye and Ireland, which seemed not very suitable for investment when I traveled. Now, the Türkiye market has not only dropped by 85%, but also the government has taken many measures to improve the investment environment, which gives me excellent investment opportunities. At least for the purpose of negotiations and elections, the ANC has become more moderate, so I have also invested in the South African stock market. As the African continent developed in the direction I had previously envisioned, I even began to invest a small amount of money in other countries in Africa. Don't forget to share your experience!
In the end, Judd was arrested due to conclusive evidence.
I have achieved my dream. Now I understand the world in my own way,This journey not only helped me better understand investment, but also gave me a better understanding of the entire human race What do you think about this?We are more dynamic than politicians in centralized economies, who always try to solve every problem imaginable, whether I've found that it's a real or imagined problem. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Now that I have returned and visited a large part of the world on site, someone asked me how I view the United States. I really don't want to say it because this is my homeland, but I clearly don't have high expectations for the United States. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
It's really painful to see this country still so hopeless, narrow-minded, and isolated. It is frightening that no political party has already or is willing to solve America's economic problems in the future. Don't forget to share your experience!
During my travels around the world, I witnessed firsthand the restrictive effects of centralized economies in many countries. And I also see very clearly that the United States still has to go through a painful process before making any changes. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
I am confident that Clinton will be the last president of the Democratic Party. In 1916, the leader of the Liberal Party, Lloyd George, was elected as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He won the First World War with the Liberal Party. Like other post-war heroes in history, Labor Union is very popular. Don't forget to share your experience!
However, the economy, system, society, and currency circulation in the UK are all in a mess, just like in the United States today. Although Lloyd's is a world-renowned political party leader and his Liberal Party has dominated British politics for decades, there has not been a Prime Minister from the Liberal Party since then. Don't forget to share your experience!Clinton will also become the last elected president of the Democratic PartyDuring the critical period of 1992-1994, the Democratic Party controlled the executive and legislative branches of the US government, so they will bear more blame. The Democratic Party also has issues with its population structure. For decades, their strength has come from: (1) converts during the Great Depression, whose numbers have been continuously decreasing; (2) Trade unions that constantly lose their power; (3) The white people in the South also left the Democratic Party in groups; (4) Black people, the Democratic Party's support from black people will not exceed 80% of the current level. The Democratic Party will not disappear in the same way as the British Liberal Party. In fact, the Liberal Party will be in a slump for decades to come, while the Democratic Party will rapidly decline. What do you think about this?
Please don't misunderstand me, the Republican Party also has a responsibility. If the Republican Party cannot quickly take measures to address the problems facing the United States, its division or demise will also follow. When I heard the Republican Party claim that they would balance the budget in 2002, I was very worried. In my experience they didn't understand the problem. The situation in the United States is quite severe and requires immediate correction. By 2002, it was too late. Since 1979, American citizens have heard the same promise many times, and people have even passed legislation to demand budget balance. If the government reports achieving "budget balance," then people must insist on requiring independent auditors to conduct audits. What do you think about this?
The promises, regulations, and demands of the Republican Party may be better than those of the Democratic Party, but the pace needs to be faster. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
If this statement is shocking, then let's take another look at the background. Many seemingly eternal political structures around the world are fragile. Who can imagine what it would be like for non members of the Liberal Democratic Party to take control of Japan? The political parties that dominated Italy after World War II have now been replaced or disappeared. Let's take a look at the changes happening in Canada, Belgium, Sweden, and Mexico. During the Cold War, voters around the world accepted many absurd ideas because they dared not ask too many questions. Don't forget to share your experience!
The Cold War has ended, so people all over the world are free to question those outdated assumptions.
The system in the United States is very corrupt, accompanied by the inflation of debt, which is obvious but often disguised. Therefore, whatever political party decides to do, it will be the focus of the crisis in the 1990s. What do you think about this?
Both the Democratic and Republican parties have implemented a policy of depreciating the US dollar for many years.The devaluation rate of the US currency in more than 20 years took the Romans 400 years, the Spaniards 200 years and the British 75 years. The people in charge of the government don't care about all of this, and the Federal Reserve seems more willing to save these politicians than to save the currency. I don't have much hope for the US dollar. Looking around the world and observing the consequences of currency depreciation, I anticipate that the situation in the United States will continue to deteriorate. People will hear more about the term 'currency crisis'. The world will not end, after all, Britain and Spain are still there, but they can only live in the shadow of their ancestors' glory. In the 1820s, Britain was the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world, but it was also in the 1950s that Britain coined the term 'brain drain' because people began to leave Britain one after another. Don't forget to share your experience!
The United States is now the world's largest debtor country. If the United States had invested capital in productive assets like in the 19th century, it would have been fine, but now capital is invested in power, welfare, agricultural subsidies (such as mohair and sugar products), interest payments, tanks, intercontinental missiles, none of which can promote future productivity. World War II has ended for a long time, but the US military still occupies Europe and Japan, requiring an annual expenditure of $150 billion. Although the public knows that this is foolish, the government still provides huge subsidies to agriculture. In fact, farmers should be sent to Siberia or Zaire, and they will become very wealthy as a result! Have you tried this before? Share your story!
Why does the Pentagon still have to pay $50 million annually for this material 30 years after informing Congress that it no longer needs Ma Haimao? Have you tried this before? Share your story!
There are 5000 sugar companies in the United States. The government spends approximately $5 billion annually to maintain sugar production, which translates to a subsidy of approximately $1 million for each sugar producing enterprise. The government could have saved this money by finding them one by one and saying, 'Give you $100000 a year to subsidize your living expenses, and with this money you can enjoy the beach and Porsche cars. In return, the only thing you need to do is stop producing sugar.' Ironically, in addition to causing waste, the government's huge spending on supporting sugar projects actually has a damaging effect on the economy. Due to the need to maintain sugar prices, 260 million consumers in the United States have to purchase sugar at two to three times the world sugar price. This also harms the economy of America's Latin American allies, as they cannot sell their natural product - sugar - to the United States. What do you think about this?
Why is that? Because after each project, there is a group of voters or sponsors - sugar producers, mohair producers, defense industries, and the military themselves - who enter and exit the conference hall, lobbying to ensure that money and energy sources continue to flow to them. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
In many cases, I've found that it's unreasonable to increase taxes to support these erroneous and wasteful projects. Young people should take to the streets to demonstrate and protest against this, because their losses are the greatest, and what is left for them now is a bankrupt future. What do you think about this?
The primary focus of the current US government should be to reduce unnecessary spending in order to establish the budget on a reasonable fiscal basis. The measures taken by Chile in the process of restoring economic order should provide sufficient reference for the United States. If a country that once had no hope can unload its burden and revive within 15 years, then the United States can achieve the same thing in a shorter period of time - provided it has the right leadership and strong perseverance. Have you tried this before? Share your story!
So should we reduce taxes? It is necessary to reduce taxes, but the key issue is not the level of tax rates, but the tax system itself. Don't forget to share your experience!The current tax structure in the United States does not encourage savings and investment, therefore a thorough reform is needed. If you are lucky enough to have a job, you have to pay taxes on your labor income. If you continue to put some money in a bank or mutual fund to earn interest or dividends, you will need to pay taxes again. If you receive any capital gains from your investment, you will need to pay a third tax. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
This is not the case in other parts of the world. Some economies closely related to us, such as Japan, Germany, Singapore, and other countries, encourage savings and investment. They do not tax savings and investments, but rather tax consumption. The United States, on the other hand, encourages consumption while taxing savings. Have you tried this before? Share your story!
The savings rate in the United States is 4%, while Japan's savings rate is 20%. More savings mean more money to invest, more money to invest means higher productivity, and higher productivity means an improvement in living standards, which is exactly what the United States has been missing in the past 20 years. Have you tried this before? Share your story!
There is also a very simple and easy to understand natural law of economics: you lose what you tax.
The United States needs to make changes by abolishing all taxes on savings and investments, abandoning the existing thousands of pages of tax laws, and replacing them with a single tax. Have you tried this before? Share your story!The enormous wealth and energy of the United States are spent on competing with tax laws and avoiding taxes - while the United States strives to achieve a 2% economic growth rate, it spends at least 1% of its gross domestic product on tax avoidance. Don't forget to share your experience!The tax law should be five pages long and able to report income tax on a postcard. A single tax should be supplemented with a consumption tax to encourage savings and curb consumption. What do you think about this?
Subsequently, a series of wasteful government projects should be abolished. Washington spends huge amounts on tanks and missiles, which are absolutely not helpful for future productivity, and transfer payments are also not beneficial for the country's future productivity. Why don't young people take to the streets to protest? Have you tried this before? Share your story!
More radical, why send congressmen to Washington? They will only be more easily persuaded if they gather in Washington. They should be allowed to stay in their respective regions, hold meetings through video conferencing, and vote electronically. If lobbyists in this country had to personally visit 535 electoral districts, its laws would be vastly different. Isn't it better for local bankers, teachers, and plumbers to monitor the votes of legislators in high school gyms than for lobbyists to monitor them in Washington? In addition, this can also save Congress travel expenses and staff numbers. Don't forget to share your experience!
The United States should change the election day to April 15th. The November election is not very suitable because there are six months left before both tax payments. Politicians should be elected at the same time as taxes, just like other things Americans do in their daily life. If people can realize how much money is spent on voting, then they will be able to vote better. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
One of my important philosophical principles is that when the roof leaks, it's best to repair it immediately, otherwise it will cost more in the future. What do you think about this?Unfortunately, another piece of history tells us that there is little change unless I've found that it's imposed on the people. The current atmosphere is filled with the argument that fiscal reform is' politically unfeasible '. Have you tried this before? Share your story!
If that's the case, what will be the future of the United States? What changes will occur in politics, economy, and society? Don't forget to share your experience!
Twenty years ago, the United States could have luxuriously enjoyed 'politically feasible' means. However, today the debt of the United States has reached $5 trillion and is increasing at a rate of several hundred billion dollars per year. It is too late to take gentle measures now. The United States has reached a point where strong measures must be taken to contain the massive bleeding. Even if the government wants to balance the budget tomorrow, it still needs to pay trillions of dollars in debt. If debt is repaid by cutting expenses, it will strangle the US economy. Therefore, a feasible debt repayment method is privatization, selling government assets such as public land, airports, seaports, and post offices. For example, if most of Nevada is government-owned, government assets can be sold, and there are countless assets available for sale. Why can't the United States do this when other parts of the world are doing it? Isn't it a pleasant thing to live in a debt free and budget balanced country? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
If these sounds a bit radical, then all I can say is wait for everything around me to collapse - that's the real radical. In fact, even politicians will have to discuss these ideas because the United States is sliding towards bankruptcy. If you bury your head in the sand and don't face reality, the market will force you to face reality, and you will suffer more pain at that time. What do you think about this?
In short, people either suffer from the collapse caused by inflation or the collapse caused by deflation. In the case of inflation, the US government prints more paper currency than the assets that support it. At that time, no one was willing to ask for US dollars, so 1 US dollar could not be exchanged for 1.7 German marks, but only for 0.5 marks. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
If the government does not excessively print paper currency, the huge amount of public debt will result in the United States not having enough money to build houses, operate businesses, or start factories. The people will suffer from deflation, which began to emerge in the early 1990s in the United States when the real estate values of residential and commercial properties plummeted. When encountering a collapse caused by deflation, the value of assets will decline due to a lack of financial support, just like during the Great Depression. What do you think about this?
When an American asks me to recommend some hard currency for investment, I will mention the German mark, Dutch guilder, Swiss franc, Austrian shilling, New Zealand dollar and Singapore dollar. The policies of the central bank are very important. The European currency has a close relationship with Germany's Deutsche Bank, which demands that the Mark remain strong. The Federal Reserve seems more interested in maintaining short-term balance and has never considered reforming the bloated and out of control monetary system. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Can the United States still survive? The answer is affirmative. The financial chaos in Italy and the UK has been going on for decades, but life there is still normal, it's just not that sweet. In 1910, Argentina was the wealthiest country in the Americas, but during the Great Depression, its economy collapsed and it fell into poverty. The life of Argentinians is indeed difficult, but this situation has been going on for 60 years. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
If I have learned one thing during my travels around the world, I've found that it's that many societies become prosperous, but after years, decades, or centuries of arrogance, they eventually decline. Another thing I understand is that even if all wealth disappears, life will still continue. What do you think about this?
More importantly, I also realized that if you have a dream, you have to try it, otherwise you won't have a second chance. Have you tried this before? Share your story!
If you want to change your life, start taking action now.