RE: *DO* we share a civilization?

[Baardwijk, J. van DTO/SLBD/BGM/SVM/SGM]

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: John D. Giorgis [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Verzonden: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 2:31 AM
> Aan: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Onderwerp: Re: *DO* we share a civilization?

> At 02:37 PM 7/28/01 +0200 J. van Baardwijk wrote:
> >>Foremost among those truths are that:
> >>1) Free-trade benefits *everyone.*
> >
> >Those aren't truths -- it's capitalistic wishful thinking.   :-(
> 
> It has been very well demonstrated that for any two countries, with any
> given set of products, inputs, and productivity, free trade will
> benefit both countries.    This is true even if country A can produce 
> every available product with fewer inputs than country B.

How does free trade benefit, say, dirt-poor people working for
next-to-nothing wages in sweatshops? They still get exploited so someone
else can make a profit...   :-(

Can all those workers suddenly afford decent housing and enough food for
their families? Can they suddenly afford sending their children to school
instead of sending them to the local factory? Do they suddenly leave their
life of poverty behind them? Are they suddenly free of oppression and
violation of other human rights?

When the answer to all those questions is "YES", *then* I could be convinced
that free trade benefits everyone. But till then, I'll consider "free trade
benefits everyone" to be utter nonsense.


Jeroen

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