12-15-2006, 07:59 AM
Daniele,
You're absolutely right, these developments are surely worrying. But we better not go pointing fingers to other parts of the world before we get our our act together. it's useless to deny other economies the wish to emulate our (bad) lifestyles, and even worse to sit on our backs whilst we should lead by example.
India and China already know well enough the devastating effects of the 'new climate' in terms of freak weather, and what it can cost their economies. They will understand, sooner than we did, that 'business as usual is not the way forward. And even if they may not yet act on it, it's just a matter of time before they will.
Besides that, they're the great 'economic equaliser'. Remember that we were so afraid of the other Asian economies, Japan, Korea, Taiwan? They were booming so fast we feared that every car and piece of electronic would soon be produced outside Europe. Has it? Of course not. When economies boom, workers’ demands grow (with their influence and importance for the economy), and as a result salaries rise, causing economic differences to be levelled. And always, as it has turned out so far at least, repressive governments found that they cannot maintain an iron grip on their populations while at the same time expect economic growth. This happened in South America, in Eastern Europe, I expect it also for China in the long run.
That does not make Asia a lesser threat. I’m aware of that. Singapore is an example of a state-controlled and repressive system, yet with a booming economy. But whilst businesses are now transported to these countries, the rate of that production move may slow down.
I hope. If not, we in Europe (or the Old World as were now called) should prepare to earn our income from our internal market and tourism.
ALL THE MORE REASON TO CHERISH OUR ROMAN PAST!!!!! :!: :!: :!:
You're absolutely right, these developments are surely worrying. But we better not go pointing fingers to other parts of the world before we get our our act together. it's useless to deny other economies the wish to emulate our (bad) lifestyles, and even worse to sit on our backs whilst we should lead by example.
India and China already know well enough the devastating effects of the 'new climate' in terms of freak weather, and what it can cost their economies. They will understand, sooner than we did, that 'business as usual is not the way forward. And even if they may not yet act on it, it's just a matter of time before they will.
Besides that, they're the great 'economic equaliser'. Remember that we were so afraid of the other Asian economies, Japan, Korea, Taiwan? They were booming so fast we feared that every car and piece of electronic would soon be produced outside Europe. Has it? Of course not. When economies boom, workers’ demands grow (with their influence and importance for the economy), and as a result salaries rise, causing economic differences to be levelled. And always, as it has turned out so far at least, repressive governments found that they cannot maintain an iron grip on their populations while at the same time expect economic growth. This happened in South America, in Eastern Europe, I expect it also for China in the long run.
That does not make Asia a lesser threat. I’m aware of that. Singapore is an example of a state-controlled and repressive system, yet with a booming economy. But whilst businesses are now transported to these countries, the rate of that production move may slow down.
I hope. If not, we in Europe (or the Old World as were now called) should prepare to earn our income from our internal market and tourism.
ALL THE MORE REASON TO CHERISH OUR ROMAN PAST!!!!! :!: :!: :!:
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
