Andrew wrote:
> On 19 Jul 2001, at 15:10, Ronn Blankenship wrote:
>
> > > > >Inherent problem in the "Western" worldview... (and not one I
> > > > >entirely share). "People are expendable". Bleh.
> > > >
> > > > As opposed to the Eastern (e.g., Chinese) emphasis on the
> > > > importance of the individual?
> > >
> > >Who said anything about China?
> >
> > I did. You said that the "Western" worldview is that "people are
> > expendable." Not only do I disagree with your opinion, but I gave an
>
> Right...you gave an example of a country which is trying to be
> more like the west, I agree.
BZZZZZZT. Wrong, thank you for playing.
China is a perfect example, as are Iran and Iraq. These are all countries
that have rejected the "capitalist" worldview, yet still consider people
expendable. On the other hand, Western nations such as the US, Canada, the
UK, The Netherlands and many, many others have embraced the concept of
individual liberties and of the concept that an individual's rights can come
above the needs of the government. That, IMO, is a darn Good Thing to
embrace.
> I meant certain OTHER countries.
Name one and we can discuss it, then.
> And how else would you describe dog-eat-dog capitalism? "People
> are expendable, money isn't", to quote one economist I know, and
> he was being serious.
Where in the world is this "dog-eat-dog capitalism" practiced? Even in the
US, our market is governed by rules clarifying what is fair trade and what
is not. Quoting some guy you overheard in a bar or whatever isn't evidence
of anything except one fool's opinion. I can get you the opinions of dozens
of fools just by calling people at random on the phone, and it will tell you
not a flipping thing about the way the world is outside of the fact that
people I call in the middle of the night can say some pretty dumb things.
Adam C. Lipscomb
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
ICQ# 32384792
