I actually think that an empty stomach and the mere fight for survival does in no way foster civilization, culture or intelligent thought beyond creative ideas to get food on the table and to kill others that threaten the sparse food supply by being hungry themselves as well.
Once borders are secure and bellies are filled, crime in check, cuture tends to flourish and with it intelligentia and arts. Of course, rising numbers of pocket philosophers are then an indication of rising decadence and subsequent slide in levels of education, rise in brutality and ignorance and finally the dominance of the less noble, animalistic instincts we are all prone to fall victim to at times. Asia ist still hungry, but catching up fast. And if Asians continue on a path of cultural regression (in the sense that they are questioning Western ideals and start to look inwards for ethics and guidance), then they are quite likely to succeed in taking the good components of 'Western ways' (such as efficiency, foresight, cooperation) and discarding the rest (demise of family value, glorification of the individual at the expense of others, majority rule, etc.). In the end, it is good economics that make policies of a wise government and foster the well being of the individual through state, community and family. As markets from China to India and to Indonesia mature in the comming decades, the export-driven economiesdepend less and less on foreign markets on life-support. No matter how much the World Bank and IMF try to keep them at bay, it is a matter of time until more and more Asians relize that they are paying for the life support of Western economies - as it is happening already. Then one by one, they will start pulling the plug. The EU is to busy feeding on itself an each other to do anything about it and the US will sooner or later realize that bombs make for bad negotiations when trying to secure raw materials. Time to start thinking about moving, gentlemen :o) Cheers, Robert. "All Americans have to do to hear the Word of God, is to try burning Bush" budget & privacy website hosting http://www.cyberica.net budget domain registrations http://www.u2planet.com privacy domain registrations + mail http://www.u2planet.com/cfdomaintrust.html --- You are currently subscribed to e-gold-list as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use e-gold's Secure Randomized Keyboard (SRK) when accessing your e-gold account(s) via the web and shopping cart interfaces to help thwart keystroke loggers and common viruses.
