Cycle Vaduz, Liechtenstein

[@baskooman9651]

Great ride Dave and very entertaining subtitles! I have to admit, there were a few things I didn't know about Liechtenstein. But as you manage to cross the country in 8 minutes, I would say: let's invade the place, have a beer and distribute the $300 billion among the residents of Europe (that is, including the UK!)

[@ComeRideWithMe-js5gc]

Ha, sounds like a plan 😀

[@baskooman9651]

@@ComeRideWithMe-js5gc Next Holliday!

[@davidstuart4489]

Another nice trek, and backing track. I suppose without wealthy folks there would be no wealth management companies, and Liechtenstein might be more like the decaying cities in America that have lost the influence of wealth. Hard to say. Either way, Liechtenstein looks quite clean, organized, and safe.

[@ComeRideWithMe-js5gc]

I'm not against wealth at all, just how the super rich use places like this to avoid paying the tax the rest of us do. And as for the connections to certain African nations...well, it would be naive to imagine this money was invested for the good of the population. Liechtenstein will do just fine without it's banks.

[@davidstuart4489]

@@ComeRideWithMe-js5gc - I try to avoid generalizing. Warren Buffet, Bill and Melinda Gates, and even Jeff Bezos have donated billions. It's actually a very long list of generosity by a long list of wealthy individuals. The wealthy population are similar to all other slices of humanity in that we find good and altruistic acts, mixed in with selfish and harmful acts. It's just the way it is. I'm glad what you've shown us through your rides exists.

[@ComeRideWithMe-js5gc]

@@davidstuart4489 Yes, there's no dispute that a large proportion of wealthy people play tax where they live and earn, and give away a great deal more besides. Just to get back to your point about safe cities, I wouldn't feel completely relaxed walking the streets of Abuja. Is it a coincidence that the late dictator of Nigeria, Abacha, amassed a personal fortune of $3-5biilion during his time in power, and that most of that was stashed away in Swiss and Liechtensteiner banks (and some in the UK too). That money would help in a small way to make Nigeria a better place to live. This is the pattern in many African countries. Yet when sub-Saharan Africans risk their lives crossing the Channel in rubber dinghies, seeking a better life, the vice chairman of our governing party says in an interview last week, "They can f*** off back to Africa". I feel a heavy sense of personal hypocrisy when I allow myself to think about it. 😒

[@davidstuart4489]

@@ComeRideWithMe-js5gc - Yes, we agree. Corruption and altruistic benevolence are way out of balance in many parts of the world. Its maddening my friend.