18 Feb
2003
18 Feb
'03
7:07 p.m.
I've spent the last 25 years traveling all over the world. Many third
world countries (ever been to Djibouti?). Trust me, they're way better
off than they were. And that one dollar a day... it makes them feel
much better than no dollars a day. Trickle down doesn't happen in a
year. It happens over decades. Japan _was_ dirt poor in the 50's.
They're sure not now.
Jan
On Tue, 2003-02-18 at 04:59, Daniel James wrote:
South Korea
had the same situation into
the 70s and 80s. How do you suppose those countries got where they are
now?
That assumes 'where those countries are now' is somewhere where we'd want to
be. Taiwan may be rich but that doesn't mean you'd neccessarily want a
Taiwanese factory workers lifestyle. Or a Detroit one in the 1930's.
And remember $1US a day goes a hell of a lot
farther in China than
it does in the UK or US.
I'm sure that makes them feel a lot better.
Some people get exploited, some get rich.
This is the real world.
This is the Fordist world. There are others, fortunately for me. I personally
do get days off. I have a reasonable amount of control over my own life and
work.
Remember though, the more money we pump into
China the better off those people will be in the long run.
From my visits there I'd say trickle-down
doesn't seem to have worked in the
USA, so I don't see why it should in
China either. I'm not saying don't buy
stuff from there - it's hard to avoid - but just be aware of the economics
that make cheap computer/home recording equipment possible.
Cheers
Daniel