[deMolay]

They then call for Rich countries, code for the Western Countries to extend stimulus to 3rd world countries. How is that going to happen. The EU is broke, the US is broke, Australia is broke, etc. I think they should pressure the Chinese and the Saudi's to open the spigot. The fact is I think a die back will commence very soon. These people who live an elite lifestyle dishing out taxdollars are going to become an endangered species themselves. http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/03/08/ ... s/econ.php

[patience]

I'm afraid the poor countries are going to be on their own, with protectionism running rampant soon. Globalization was not the best idea from the start, IMHO, and the furious pace of expansion and shifts inside poorer countries will make the fallback harder on them. All those Chinese who moved to the industrial cities don't have much to go back to, and nothing where they are when their job goes away.

With the spoiled populations in the richer places clamoring to maintain their status quo, politicians bent on retaining the position of power will look first to appeasing their constituents, and relegate foreign aid to history.

[TWilliam]

I'm afraid the poor countries are going to be on their own, with protectionism running rampant soon. Globalization was not the best idea from the start, IMHO, and the furious pace of expansion and shifts inside poorer countries will make the fallback harder on them. All those Chinese who moved to the industrial cities don't have much to go back to, and nothing where they are when their job goes away.

With the spoiled populations in the richer places clamoring to maintain their status quo, politicians bent on retaining the position of power will look first to appeasing their constituents, and relegate foreign aid to history.

"Foreign aid" is more often than not a polite euphemism for "capitalist exploitation". And yes, those countries that have been impoverished by such exploitation will likely have an even rougher go of it once their Western exploiters 'cut bait'. Those countries that haven't been thus exploited, and therefore retain their own local economies (such as they may be), will likely not have major issues...

[mos6507]

"Foreign aid" is more often than not a polite euphemism for "capitalist exploitation".

Care to elaborate? At what point should countries that have reached the level of Soylent Brown be expected to stand on their own two feet?

[jupiters_release]

"Foreign aid" is more often than not a polite euphemism for "capitalist exploitation".

Care to elaborate?

Are you really this ignorant? F""N-A!

[TWilliam]

Care to elaborate?

Not really mos. Not because I can't, but because I can't really do the topic justice in a few hundred words. If you're really interested, you might check out John Perkins' book, Confessions of an Economic Hitman. Quite an eye-opener...

[Ferretlover]

World Bank Issues Dire Warning On Global Economy

Oh. my. gosh! When did all this happen?? Apparently, no-one at the World Bank is a PO member.

[Ludi]

Care to elaborate? At what point should countries that have reached the level of Soylent Brown be expected to stand on their own two feet?

They are expected to conveniently die.

[TWilliam]

They are expected to conveniently die.

'Expectation' is irrelevant, Ludi. When enough people in the first world are feeling like third-worlders, they are not going to have the luxury, much less the ability, to do anything about what's happening in other countries. And they will be royally f*cking pissed (as they rightly should be) if their governments are sending 'aid' elsewhere while people at home starve.

You are very likely going to learn the hard way that charity and largesse, and the liberal idealism that drive them, are largely a product of surplus. When surplus no longer exists, people look out for themselves and their own first.

"Principles have little force, except when one is well fed." ~ Mark Twain

[deMolay]

If you add up all that is owed as debt, the amount is staggering. Some estimate that the EU debt alone is 25 Trillion dollars. I have seen some estimates of US debt of 100 Trillion. Then articles about derivatives collapsing with numbers like 700 Trillion. Add in world drought forecasts for this year. I can't see how western countries can feed the 3rd world anymore. Or supply aid as they have since the ww2. The Green Revolution of the USA fed the world for decades that window is now closing as well. In my opinion it looks like we will see a major die off starting most likely with the 3rd world.

[Ludi]

You are very likely going to learn the hard way that charity and largesse, and the liberal idealism that drive them, are largely a product of surplus

No doubt. Just don't YOU come around here, because I will kick you in the balls, or shoot you. But I will by no means help you, TWilliam.

In other words, fuck off.

[TWilliam]

No doubt. Just don't YOU come around here, because I will kick you in the balls, or shoot you. But I will by no means help you, TWilliam.

In other words, fuck off.

Shoot all the messengers you like Ludi; It changes nothing. And you will eventually run out of bullets...

[deMolay]

Pretty harsh Ludi.

[TWilliam]

Pretty harsh Ludi.

That's ok deMolay. Ludi thinks that because I would prefer to see certain groups of people --namely those that are most likely to be first ravaged or abandoned if/when societal collapse occurs-- compassionately euthanized rather than left to fend for themselves, that I'm therefore an evil bastard. Realists are frequently thought of as such by Idealists. I don't mind...

[hironegro]

"Foreign aid" is more often than not a polite euphemism for "capitalist exploitation".

Care to elaborate? At what point should countries that have reached the level of Soylent Brown be expected to stand on their own two feet?

Hahaha, okay dude.