Darryl Shannon wrote:
>Kat: Perhaps you don't know this, but New Zealand in the past few
>years just went through a massive round of privitization and slashing
>of social benefits. So perhaps it is not exactly the socialist
>paradise you imagine it to be.
Actually I did know that (since I'm going to school there, I figure I may
as well do my homework); I also know they've got the best SustainableAg
record in the world with the possible exception of Ireland, an excellent
environmental science record, a strong stand on nuclear testing, and (at
the moment at least) a working democratic government. The US has none of
the above. I'm aware it's not a socialist paradise, but then again, I'm
not a socialist. I'll take what I can get.
I'm probably not going to immigrate, really... but until the presidential
election I'd never even *considered* it. Which was my point.
<lots of good points skipped for space>
>Should the policy of the US government be to block industrial
>development outside of the US? Should we stop trade with other
>countries? Is this going to A) Help people in the US and B) Help
>people in third world countries? It seems to me that protectionism is
>going to hurt the US economy while at the same time hurting third world
>economies, a lose-lose.
Actually, I agree. I don't think it would be a good idea to keep the US
out of developing countries *who want us there*. All of your points are
quite valid. *However*....
It does *not* change the fact that the United States is raping other
countries for their cheap labor *and* their resources. *Especially* their
resources. I'll agree that maybe, just maybe, having the US and other
devoloped countries hire cheap labor isn't too terrible for them, in some
cases, but as far as the resources go it is stealing. *WE CAN'T REPLACE
THAT.* We are killing their land and giving them the equivalent of a
string of beads, and it is just as wrong now as it was back when we did
it to the American Indians.
My suggestion would be that American based corporations be forced to
follow American law even when they're operating in other countries.
Obviously that won't work all the way- the minimum wage, for example- but
there are a *lot* of laws that I can't see *any* problem with enforcing
elsewhere. Child labor laws, regulations on the length of the working
day, environmental protection standards... these are not optional, they
are moral imperitives that everyone, *everyone*, EVERYONE, should have to
follow, no matter what sort of profit they have to sacrifice. And no
matter what the local laws may be.
Kat Feete
---------------
"Now we've got a truth to die for!"
"No. Men should die for lies. But the truth is too precious
to die for."
--Terry Pratchett
