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Rand is at 6.96...cannot even remember last time it was 7 to 1 USD.

Rand is at 6.96...cannot even remember last time it was 7 to 1 USD.

Old Apr 29th, 2004, 12:14 AM
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Rand is at 6.96...cannot even remember last time it was 7 to 1 USD.

I would say that it probably hasn't been 7 to 1 in at least six months?

Just 17 days ago the Rand was at 6.31, so this represents an 10.5% gain for the dollar against the Rand in that time period.

According to FXHistory (http://www.oanda.com/convert/fxhistory) the Rand has not been at 7.0 since February 6th.

Last time it was at 8.0 was June 09, 2003.

Last time it was at 9.0 was January 22, 2003.

If you are lucky enough to book Singita when the Rand is at 8.95 (since they renegotiate their rates in the event it reaches 9.0 ZAR to 1 USD), you will get Singita for only $760 pppns. Not bad. Maybe a change in U.S. Presidents could spur such a thing, just in time for booking a September, 2005 South African holiday?!

And, ah, the good old days, at least for Americans. March 19, 2004, 12.02 Rand to 1 USD.

Even if the Rand just goes to 8.0 it will drop Singita to $850 pppns, from the $1,080 that it was at just recently. That alone, over three nights, would probably pay for two nights at the Marine Hermanus and two nights at Grootbas!
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Old Apr 29th, 2004, 01:10 AM
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Could it be the dollar is getting stronger overall rather than the Rand getting weaker because, against the GBP it's fallen slightly recently.

Was over 12 to the £ for quite some time and is now 11.88 only.
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Old Apr 29th, 2004, 05:06 AM
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>And, ah, the good old days, at least for Americans. March 19, 2004, 12.02 Rand to 1 USD.

Correction...this was 3/19/2002, as I had just completed my first trip to South Africa, and had enjoyed 11.5+ rates to the dollar for my first trip to South Africa, thus, spoiling me forever more.
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Old Apr 29th, 2004, 05:58 PM
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"Maybe a change in U.S. Presidents could spur such a thing, just in time for booking a September, 2005 South African holiday?!"

Only if you ex-Nader voters will not vote for him again... And if brother J doesn't steal the election again. BTW, when I was touring Robbin Island, our guide "Story" asked the Americans who we voted for. We said Gore. He said, "Yes. The majority of Americans voted for him." Even way over there, they knew.
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Old Apr 29th, 2004, 06:10 PM
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ah, first we have to convince Mr Roccco that he needs to vote.

This is cool, though.
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Old Apr 29th, 2004, 06:28 PM
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Well, I am seeing the true importance in voting...to drive the Rand down!

But, unless I move to Florida, my vote still will not count for much. Kerry takes California in a landslide where Bush will not even bother to campaign.

Still, I have no complaints about Clinton. Have no idea why fellow Christians villify him for a little adultery when Bush has been responsible for so much bloodshed and loss of life yet is up for sainthood, I hear!

Here is something that I hope my fellow Californian's can appreciate. I do wish that we would not tolerate a state like New Hampshire (SANDI!) to have as much representation in the Senate as we do. Come on, Californians, WAKE UP!
With 1.3 million residents, New Hampshire (and other states like it) is about 33 million residents short of California's population, yet they get two senators and California gets two senators. The Senate has as much as power as the House of Representatives and if you happen to be a poor schmo that lives in Washington DC, forget it, you do not even exist and are not appointed two senators (or even one!)

As the third or fourth? largest economy in the world, I cannot believe that someone like Arnold will not take off on this. He could be the first President of California, that is until there is a Civil War between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and we Angelenos have to go kick some butt!

Seriously, though, just the LACK of democracy is enough to make me just want to drop out of the civic process and do what is right for my loved ones and I, without buying too much into the American Apple Pie bit.

The Republic Of California...how about it?!
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Old Apr 30th, 2004, 03:04 AM
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Roccco -

Your statement >>I do wish that we would not tolerate a state like New Hampshire (SANDI!)<<

Sorry, I'm in New York; you're probably thinking SusanLynne who is in New Hampshire.
 
Old Apr 30th, 2004, 03:38 AM
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New Hampshire, New York, whatever!

So, Sandi, how do you feel about New Hampshire getting as many senators as New York, despite having only 5% of the population? This means that each NH resident has 15 times more representation in the U.S. Senate than each NY resident.

New York - 19 million+ residents. 2 U.S. Senators.

New Hampshire - 1.3 million residents. 2 U.S. Senators.

Forget about Iraq, let's invade New Hampshire and implement democracy there, cutting them down to 0.15 senators!
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Old Apr 30th, 2004, 03:47 AM
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New Hampshire probably has 7% of the population of New York, not 5%.

They are not even the worst example.

Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming are each good for less than 1 million residents.

New York City and greater Los Angeles should each get more votes in the U.S. Senate than these states! Where is the democracy?!

How can this practice continue to be allowed? Perhaps California needs to splinter into 30 states to get 60 senators. That would still give California more citizens in each equally divided state more citizens than in any of the states I listed above.

Secession Now!
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Old Apr 30th, 2004, 08:08 AM
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The RAND to dollar was about 7.7 in late 2000, and by fall of 2001, was over 9.0. By the summer of 2002, it has jumped to over 11, and by fall of 2002 was in the 10 plus range. We tracked it carefully as we planned and entered contracts with SA agents. One of the smartest moves we made was agree in late 2002 to a firm price for fall 2004, with no escaltor of 5% normally included.
 
Old Apr 30th, 2004, 11:33 AM
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Roccco - completely off thread, but I believe you Californian's get your numbers in the House of Representatives - that's just the way it is. And right now Arnold has too many problems to be worrying about whether Roccco feels the numbers alloted in the Senate are wrong, let alone breaking up California into little feifdoms (sp).

If you have issues, send an email to one of our Founding Fathers. They're probably having as much difficulty sleeping at nite as you - they're all probably turning in their graves with the way things are going on these days. Generally, I think they knew what they were doing 228-yrs ago.

Now let's get back on thread!

 
Old Apr 30th, 2004, 02:26 PM
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Unfortunately, after a bill is approved by the House of Representatives it can be killed by the Senate, where 500,00 Alaskans have their two senators, and 34 Million Californians have their two senators.

It will change eventually, and one day we will have true democracy.
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Old Apr 30th, 2004, 02:34 PM
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Regarding knowing what they were doing 228 years ago, I don't think any states existed that had 5000% more citizens than another state!

Democracy is a mockery when California can have 1/8 (12.5) of the population in the USA, by FAR the strongest economy in the USA, and only 2% representation in the Senate.

Just waiting for some dimwitted Californian politician to finally wake up and make an issue out of this.
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Old Apr 30th, 2004, 02:36 PM
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OT: Actually the founding fathers didn't have it all "right." They were human and had to deal with politics so they set up the senate to protect the wealthy. There have been several attempts to abolish it (one in 1911) as it is clearly disproportional.

Remember, "states don't vote, people do."

http://slate.msn.com/id/1006400/#ContinueArticle
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Old Apr 30th, 2004, 03:12 PM
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Clematis,

Thanks for that valuable information. If California would ever move up the date of its primary elections, it would have a lot more power with the Executive Branch (President).

It is ridiculous that we have had to live for the last 3.5 years with a President that was not even the highest vote-getter, but that is "democracy" for you.

I do think that Bush will be history after next November, four and out, just like his father.
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Old Apr 30th, 2004, 03:14 PM
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And there was me thinking this was a travel forum.................
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Old Apr 30th, 2004, 03:21 PM
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RuthieC,

When the sitting President may be prolonging a weak dollar, making travel less affordable, it is a travel issue.
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Old Apr 30th, 2004, 10:07 PM
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Roccco,

This is a WORLD travel forum that discusses Africa travel and NOT an American forum that discusses their travel experiences in Africa. Some people are not interested at all as to what the American president does with the Dollar or whether you as a Calfornian live in true democracy or not. As a matter of fact there are very many readers on this Forum who could not care a tingle about the Dollar and are rather more interested in the Euro and Pound. Please dont respond that the Dollar controls the world because clearly it does not. As you bemoan the fact that the Dollar is a problem for American travellers in South Africa right now it is still remains a wonderful proposition for European travellers to visit us as their currencies have maintained a strong level immaterial of the bad Dollar performance.

Overall the subject is an important one POLITICALLY so may I suggest that you please bear the above in mind and discuss the political side of this issue at another internet venue.

Now as has already been said, "back to the subject please"

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa



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Old May 1st, 2004, 06:27 AM
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Selwyn,

With all due respect, this whole thread is then a political thread and is free to be ignored by those not wanting to contribute to a political discussion.

I still see it as a political and travel subject, at least to American travellers. Given that possibly half or more of the Fodorites here are American, I think this is the appropriate place for such discussion. Do you really believe at another "internet venue" that anybody would care about the value of the dollar vs. the rand?

I am amazed that some have so exercise so little self-control and feel that it is mandatory to contribute to a thread that does not interest them!

Personally, when I see a thread that does not interest me, whether it is because it is Northern Africa, Western Africa or something else that doesn't attract my interest, I really do not even bother to read the post, yet less respond to the post. I find such method very effective and advise this method to others.
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Old May 1st, 2004, 01:27 PM
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Roccco,

As per usual you want the last word so this time from my perspective you have got it. Whether I or others agree with you as per what you say is another issue entirely.

Having said my say quite clearly in my previous mail I have nothing more to add.

Just my twopence worth.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa
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