LONDON, Nov. 3 — Scottish officials on Monday approved U.S. tycoon Donald Trump’s controversial plans to build what Trump calls “the greatest golf course in the world” along Scotland’s wind-swept northeastern coast.

Over objections from environmentalists who say local officials have been “blinded by the bling,” government planners gave the go-ahead for Europe’s largest golf and housing resort, a 1,400-acre, $1.6 billion complex of two championship courses, a 450-bed hotel, 500 private houses and 950 time-share villas.

“We are greatly honored by the positive decision and believe that the people of Scotland will be extremely happy with the final product,” Trump said in a statement after winning a two-year battle in which his opponents portrayed him as a greedy outsider with little regard for the area’s fragile ecosystem.

In a telephone interview later, Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland, said environmental concerns had been addressed, adding that “everyone’s going to benefit” from the jobs and revenue generated.

But critics said Trump had “steamrolled” Scottish officials desperate for some good economic news. The project had in some ways become a referendum on the flamboyant New York real estate magnate’s outsize personality, which grated on some local people when the multimillionaire came to visit.

“It’s one set of rules for other developers and another for Trump,” said Jonny Hughes of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

The Scottish government took over consideration of the project last December after a local committee rejected it and Trump suggested moving it to Northern Ireland.

Hughes said Trump had “bullied” the government into accepting his entire project rather than a scaled-back plan that Hughes said would have provided more protection for vast sand dunes that the government has classified as a protected site.

“Scottish ministers were blinded by the bling — the huge economic carrot that overwhelmed the planning system,” Hughes said in an interview.

Scottish business interests and top government officials praised the Trump project as an important economic boost for Scotland. Trump has said the project would create 1,400 permanent full-time jobs and housing for 400 workers and would generate more than $100 million a year for the region’s economy.

“It is entirely right and proper that the resources of the country are harnessed to boost one of our great industries, and tourism is a great Scottish industry,” said Alex Salmond, the chief minister of the Scottish government, whose constituency includes the project site.

Finance Minister John Swinney, who oversaw the government’s review of the project, said the investigation concluded that “there was significant economic and social benefit to be gained from this project.”

Critics have complained that Trump’s project would benefit wealthy golfers from overseas far more than local working families. Others said Trump’s economic projections were far too rosy in view of the current global financial crisis.

“Trump’s plan is to build luxury holiday homes for foreign visitors who may never come, a golf course that few will play and homes that few will be able to afford,” Patrick Harvie, a Green Party member of the Scottish Parliament, told reporters.

“We can only hope that the current economic crisis tears a hole in his business plan and that he fails to get the money he needs to fund the project,” Harvie said. “Even the credit crunch must surely have a silver lining.”

Trump, in the interview, said he had not scaled back his project. It would be “a couple of years” before the golf courses open, he said, and then he would evaluate the economic climate and “see where the world is.”

Trump said the project had adequate safeguards to protect the fragile dunes in the area, which are home to a wide variety of birds and other animals.

But Aedan Smith of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said the project would “cause the destruction of a dune system, with its precious wildlife, on a site that is protected by law and should continue to be available for future generations to enjoy.”

“We, and the thousands of other objectors, consider that this is too high a price to pay for the claimed economic benefits from this development,” Smith said.

Martin Ford, a local Aberdeenshire councilor, said he believed Trump was building a “vanity project” that amounted to a Scottish trophy for his real estate empire.

Trump shook off that criticism, saying, “Owning the greatest golf course anywhere in the world is a great trophy, and I don’t mind saying it.”

Ideas and Opinions from Donald Trump and Trump U Faculty.
Home : The World’s Happiest Nations
The World’s Happiest Nations

Boomers

Posted by Donald J. Trump on 8/8/2008 at 10:50 AM
Posted in Success

How happy are you? Not as happy as if you were living in Denmark, apparently.

Denmark is the world’s most content nation, according to a recent study on global well-being. Surprisingly, I think, the United States is way down the happiness list at the Number 16 spot. Researchers at the University of Michigan said Denmark earned the top spot thanks to economic prosperity, stability and democracy.

“I strongly suspect there is a strong correlation between peace and happiness,” said Ronald Inglehart, a political scientist at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. “There is also a correlation between democracy and peace. Democracies are less likely to fight each other than non-democracies.”

At least the good news is that despite the economy, the housing and credit crises and rising fuel and food prices, we’re all supposedly getting happier. Researchers said that compared to a similar study conducted two decades ago, respondents were much happier.

TOP 10 HAPPIEST COUNTRIES

1. Denmark
2. Puerto Rico
3. Colombia
4. Iceland
5. N. Ireland
6. Republic of Ireland
7. Switzerland
8. Netherlands
9. Canada
10. Austria

10 MOST MISERABLE COUNTRIES

1. Zimbabwe
2. Armenia
3. Moldova
4. Belarus
5. Ukraine
6. Albania
7. Iraq
8. Bulgaria
9. Georgia
10. Russia

Donald J. Trump is Chairman of Trump University.
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[-] Posted by u229222 on 08/08/2008 5:05 PM
Dear Mr. Trump,

Given the state of the US economy, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s difficult for many to be happy… if you have known a luxurious lifestyle, you never want to settle for less. But to keep head above water, I believe education is the key vs. those individuals that don’t even give wealth creation much thought.

From people like Warren Buffet to Bill Gates, they all have a personal business philosophy, which has yielded extraordinary results. In tough economic times, old methods may no longer work and it may be time to improve. Just as you went to business school to compare yourself to the best, we all should take a moment and compare ourselves as well.

The Trump method tends to supercharge me, bringing new dimensions in that were not common for me before. Do I believe in luck? Sure, but I also think intention is one of the luckiest tools we can use.

Sincerely,

Mr. D. Leung
New York
[-] Posted by Business 2000 Foundation on 08/08/2008 6:12 PM
We agree that our culture, laws, and view-points have changed in America. Working so much to try to provide a healthy family. Chasing the money and letting family values change.

What was lost…Inspiration to live.
Too much about materlistic greed, to burn out the true inspration.
[-] Posted by member1842825 on 08/09/2008 3:24 PM
I had sent you an answer abouth this subject but I dont know if computer had worked properly.
Then, I,m write again:
I live in a small and ugly house with my mother, 89 years,I don,t have any conditions to repair it (Only a bedroom, a litlle kitchen, a visit room, a toilett that if you saw, you will never believe (I,m sorry, I don,t know English, I speak only Portuguese) i would like to have a bedroom only for me.
But, I,m happy because I,m in a good health.
Maybe more than someone that live in a palace in Kopenhagen…
Thanks for the opportunity
Dulcinea Sagrado
[-] Posted by member1842929 on 08/09/2008 11:58 PM
Hello

I’m Danish and i do believe, that the Danish people are relatively content with there lives, the reason why, is that we have a more relaxed relationship with our work, and the people that work there, including the chairmen and other high ranking people in the company’s, we are all casual in our tones and among echother, where in the US they have a more rigid way, in regards to what rank one has in the company, the higher the rank the more respect is demanded, for example Sir or Mr. is applied. Where in demark everybody is on first names more or less, and i believe that eases tension and makes a more relaxed and productive atmosphere.
[-] Posted by u266082 on 08/10/2008 12:21 PM
Ah, just as I suspected, Mr. Trump posted this topic. I live in the good, not so old, USA. I have been one of many to be clinically depressed from time to time. So I have some feelings about this topic based upon personal experience.

Happiness is not something that anyone can give you or make for you. I firmly believe that it is an internal thing. Ifnfact I have heard many people say or he or she makes them happy, and the day that person dissapoints them, happiness is fast fleeting. Therefore I never like to depend upon someone or something else to make me happy. I would venture to say that some people could move to the happiest place on earth, Denmark, and still find something to be depressed about. I think that the economy and democracy do play a major role in the potential for happiness. The reallity is that not everyone will fit in such a small country, nor will the majority be able to emmigrate to Canada. So I say if we want to rise above the rung of the 16th nation on the “Happiness” scale, we need to learn the reasons their democracy and prosperity are working.

I am going to start with my personal thoughts: Control. There are a lot the U.S. Citizens who feel they have no choices, but to work at jobs they hate under oppressive bosses. What makes this the land of opportunities is not just because we have so much land, but that we can LEARN what it takes to be successful at any dream we choose. I have always prayed “Dear God, If I ever I am in a bad situation, give me the strength and courage to get out of it, no matter how old I get.” So far in my mid fities, I have been able to to that. Sometimes I tell the employer — “Austa la vista” (in no uncertain terms). Other times they have to cut back and let go of laborers (like educators in California). Granted, I am worry about losing the Medical Benefits and the Retirement Plan. But I want to “turn lemons into lemonade.”
So many cliches are so true. We have to look for “silver linings,” opportunities to take control and not be a victim of circumstances.

In those miserable countries, when and where do they have moments (brief as they are) of happiness? In most photos I have seen and stories I have read, it’s been when they can be with family or loved ones, and if they don’t have either, they make connections to compensate for their losses. I wonder if there is a correlation to what a Nation can give to the world (just as in personal relations ships) that makes them happy. You know that “it is in giving that we recieve,” unless it is in a lopsided codependent relationship where some one is always the taker but never reciprocates the favor.

So I would propse that we measure happiness on more basal levels than democracy and prosperity.
If the USA was to be more prosperousand gave more, would that help? “I du no?” We have given to countries who turned on us. So walking timidly among a world of people with a sure way to defend may be safe, but to be happy we should remember our humble beginnings and History. There will always be opressors, hood swanglers and the like. But the world is made up of individuals who emmit a gentle loving spirit. If we gravitate to those kind people and become happy inside, our happiness will exude too. We will have the courage and faith to start our own businesses because we will attract the kind of people into our lives that make our lives better.

Though along time ago, I had to break up with a user boyfriend, I can’t feel like a looser. Though I was one of 70-some thousand teachers laid off, I have to keep reminding myself what my bosses said to me, “It is not because of your job performance…. You are one of the excellent candidates.” Happiness is that internal gage that gives us confidence and the ability to use our skills somewhere to make a contribution, and not worry about the prosperity, but to just do your best. Be happy with yo
[-] Posted by member1829590 on 08/10/2008 3:26 PM
I’d say Mr. Inglehart is right. Who’s happy about fighting except professional fighters? And even those professional fighters are only happy when they’re winning, but in modern times they don’t even have to worry about death so much. It’s not like the sword fights of old.

Regarding the correlations with democracies… I’m not a history or political major so I can only speak for recent years through memory, but it seems to me like governments usually don’t want to fight each other, considering themselves friend by default (enemy of my enemy is my friend, considering other forms of government their enemies)… I think there’s more to the correlation of happiness with democracies though… People actually feel more safe from their government because they have a strong hand in its actions (at least, they’re supposed to). Even at its worst when the people are convinced they’ve played a major part in their own directions, they can say “at least I’m fighting for something I believe in.”

David Rader
http://chexed.blogspot.com/
[-] Posted by Marius Lombaard on 08/11/2008 9:04 AM
sad to see zimbabwe at the top of the most miserable

i’m from south africa and i feel for zimbabwe, our neigbours to the north. the political situation doesn’t seem to be getting any better with robert mugabe as the leader of the nation. zimbabwe has much potential, and a new ruling party will definitely change their current economic situation.
[-] Posted by Cheryle on 08/11/2008 1:57 PM
The USA works hard at being miserable. In fact they pride themselves on how miserable everything is… like the economy, their drugged-out kids, the price of gas, there body fat, the number of wrinkles around their eyes or mouth and too many more to mention now. The weather channels think it’s a bad day if it rains. Then when there is a drought they think it’s bad.
I can understand not being happy about a hurricane like Katrina, but these people make a big deal about a gentle summer storm.
I think Americans are so far out of wack with the naturally good things in life that the pharmacy and the doctors have replaced mother’s milk and a smile.
It is the best time of summer and the people who love the beach and outdoor activities are being “indoor air-conditioned slaves” in a corporation that will downsize and forget your name.
In some countries workers take the entire month of August off from work. This makes sense. Children are out of school and the parents who brought them into this world and are alive and able to spend quality time with them, should be given every opportunity to do so. Teenagers who want to work would have a better chance of trying out jobs that could benefit them in the future before returning to finish school in the fall.
If Americans aren’t the happiest country in the world after all the “toys” that are available, it might be because they work too hard and don’t play often enough. Ya think?
[-] Posted by member1843359 on 08/11/2008 2:10 PM
wow… so much to say but i will be simplier than i should be.

Happiness for me is subjective where as for others it is objective. It is very hard for me to look at a big house or a fancy car or calling each other by their first names etc as being happy. On the other hand when i see nations coming together to help alleviate problems that gives me that warmness inside. When i can help someone who is suffering or is less fortunate than i am then i am happy. When i can sit down and know to myself that i have exhausted all my efforts to help myself along with other then i am truly happy.

Do any of u honestly feel one nation can be happy knowing that the world is in total chaos while they sit back and do absolutely nothing to help? The ultimate goal in life is to be happy and this cannot and will never be in isolation to all the other existing problems in the world.

TOGETHERNESS/UNITY/SOLIDARITY, HUMANITY, UNDERSTANDING, LOVE …ARE THE SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS FOR HAPPINESS…TRUE HAPPINESS
[-] Posted by member1842580 on 08/14/2008 8:54 AM
I find it very interesting that a majority of the unhappy nations are ones that are struggling Democracies. They have only recently joined the fold and expect the freedoms and rewards that the others have worked years (decades/centuries) to attain.

Looking back at our history, you can see the road wasn’t always easy. Just look at the lives lost in the first few years. If these nations work at it and the people participate, they too will join the ranks of “Happy” Democracies.

Why are we not on the list of the top 10? In my opinion, a majority of Americans do not read, know or understand the road we have been on as a nation and the wealth (non-monetary) that we have in our freedoms. To them I say, get out, participate and learn. You only get out of life what you put into it.

I am VERY HAPPY!

Bill Rippe
http://ThePrepaidSite.Blogspot.com
[-] Posted by member1847434 on 08/17/2008 10:00 AM
I think that for the moment Georgia will rise in the top of the 10 MOST MISERABLE COUNTRIES, now that there is war.
I’m from Belgium and I have to say that I’m pretty happy, I found it strange that the people in N. Ireland would be happier than the people in Belgium.

Beshops
http://www.beshops.org
[-] Posted by Cheryle on 08/18/2008 9:13 AM
At least YOU look happy! If business is good, your organizations seem content, your family and loyal friends are happy and healthy, and you have plenty of money to pay for the things you need and want… what’s there not to be happy about? So enjoy it, you’ve earned every bit of happiness that comes your way.
[-] Posted by member1851133 on 08/22/2008 3:31 PM
This does not surprise me, although “they” (that is to say “we”?) always say Norway_ is the best country to live in. No, it is not, as kindergarden coverage or GDP per capita does not measure happiness, a highly individual and usually varying feeling.

However, Norwegians notice the higher level of general happiness in Denmark, whose tourist agencies use the slogan “It is wonderful to be Norwegian in Denmark”. So Norwegians go to Denmark to be happy (and drink less expensive beer), and then back again to complain (often about the high beer prices and that Norwegians complain so much).

I think “the Danish formula” consist of humour, tolerance and cosiness, with a slight and guilt-free hedonism on top of it. Honesty in politics also helps, I guess.

Best regards from Rudy Wolff, despite all this a happy Norwegian.
[-] Posted by member1505482 on 08/25/2008 3:38 PM
Prosperity, stability and democracy is exactly why I live and give to en_us Thank you for yor comments enjoy life to IT’s fullest and don’t track back on occation. seldom though rereading is not advised once sent to the pubisher the ride might be too inforceing.
[-] Posted by member1852217 on 08/25/2008 6:40 PM
Ukraine and Bulgaria are not in top 10 most miserable countries ! Next time do get it right !
[-] Posted by member1858121 on 10/15/2008 11:09 AM
A little late to comment on this article, but this subject is always important in life. We just went through yet another national election yesterday and I must say, it was a facinating one. I believe our country, Canada, has spoken its mind by voting. The last election was 2 years ago and the participation rate was lower than expected. I don’t know the exact percentage of yesterday’s election, but it seamed higher in numbers.

I believe Canada remains one of the most peaceful, most beautiful place to live in, in the whole world. We are affected by the US financial crises, but our economy is not structured the same as yours, so we don’t feel the stress yet of job losses and money problems for families. We might in the next year or so. We elected a conservative Prime Minister, but in my province, we elected the Bloc Quebecois, which is a party that defends French Quebecers interests.

I sometimes think that our province complains about unimportant things, but I truly believe we are a happy country. We just get bored sometimes because there are rarely any “tragedies” in Canada, even if we are neighbors with the US. We rarely hear about tornados in Canada, major storms or terrible shootings killing innocent students. For all those reasons, I think Canada should remain in the top 10 or even top 5 countries to live in, in the world.

Have a good election in the US, please encourage the whole country to vote, it is not a choice, it is a duty.

Boomers

Is it time you did something to take control back?

Credit-Default Swaps: Understanding the Debacle

Posted by Brett Carman on 10/27/2008 at 11:30 AM
Posted in Real Estate

Before last month, you probably had to be in the trenches of the financial sector to have known anything about credit-default swaps. That’s why it comes as a huge surprise to find out that there’s been a 55 trillion dollar dirty, little secret on Wall Street. It’s almost unfathomable that these types of hedging practices could have brought down some of the largest and oldest financial institutions in our nation’s history… and most of us didn’t even know they existed.

A CDS contract involves the transfer of the credit risk of municipal bonds, mortgage backed securities, or other corporate debt between two parties. It is something akin to insurance because it provides the buyer of the contract, who often owns the underlying credit, with protection against default, a credit rating downgrade, or another negative “credit event.” They don’t exactly call it insurance so as to avoid the regulatory agencies involvement.

So, when the subprime mortgage crisis occurred last year and those CDS contracts were being redeemed at the rate they were, the insurance companies who issued them didn’t have the money in reserves to cover those losses. The ripple effect has been felt around the world at this point and is now become a tidal wave of financial uncertainty to nearly ALL of the stock exchanges in the world!

I am a large proponent of letting the capitalism and free markets run themselves for the most part. But as a taxpayer, if we are ultimately going to be paying the price and having to cover the losses when they occur, then regulation HAS to occur. Many people lost everything they had in terms of retirement savings and personal portfolio value and are at a point in their lives that they no longer have the earning capacity to recover. It’s criminal in my estimation what has happened and I hope the “perps” are brought to justice.

Are there other types of practices going on that present these types of risks to us?

Related Posts:

Bottom Line: This is Not the Bottom of the Financial Crisis
The Shock Market
Real Estate Looms Large but OPEC Controls Economic Recovery

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