Globalization what? Democrats who?
Question: If I live in “X” non-American country, why should I care about what happens in America?
Question 2: If I live in the US, why should I can about what happens in “Y” non-American country?
My answer? You should care, moreover, you should inform yourself, because we are living in a global world. Now, I’m not going to write a whole spiel on globalization, because I’m already working on one. (You can read my partial globalization piece if you like.) My point is that (and this is not a criticism of the uninformed) if you live in a global society, it is in your best interest to know as much as you can about it.
Isolation is no longer real for any of the industrialized countries today. Governmental, business, labor decisions made in the US affect people in other countries. How? Well, let’s take each sector and think about their affects in China.
If the US government passes more stringent labor laws that give US Labor Unions more power, the whole dynamic in the US may change. Unions will seek more from corporations, and those corporations who can afford to will probably move their operations to China. (News Flash: this has happened, and will continue to happen.)
Additionally, let’s consider the UK. Labor Unions in the US are developing close ties with Unions in the UK (as well as countless other countries in the world). They are sharing ideas, and strength so that they can beat big business. Business are sharing their corporate strategies in order to fight unions, and fight governments who want to limit their activities.
We all know that governments work together in various situations, for various reasons. We have the United Nations where, I can’t remember the last count, countries are all working together in aid of other countries. We have the International Monetary Fund, where countries like the US, UK, France, etc. are influencing the economic policies in other countries in Latin America, in Asia, in Eastern Europe, all over the world. We have the G-7, the G-8, the G-15, the G-20.
Do you see where I am going here, we are all interconnected, and these, sometimes tenuous, connections are vital for the operation of our now global society.
My point is, that the leaders of countries like the US can influence the actions in forums like the UN, the IMF, etc., and if they are idiots, Lord knows their policies will be idiotic as well.
Can I take your picture?
Ah… the superficial and vain.
7 Comments
I agree that we should stay informed about what goes on in other countries, although I’m not sure in some cases that others should be interfering. Just my opinion though.
Depending on your part in the world, you should stay connected with the events that are going on, however most of the people that have little or no interested probably don’t Vote, or even care, even if they don’t realise by doing so it may in turn dig them, into a bigger hole.
I agree that you should know what’s going on in other countries, because in the end it will effect your own country and therefor your own life.
I was holding my breath when America voted their new president but it didn’t matter they chose Bush while the rest of the world hoped they would chose different.
The US is one of the countries that has most influence on what happens in the world. That is something that I feel needs to change, the world doesn’t need one leader we should all work together to make life for everyone worth living.
I don’t really watch the news and politics, so I don’t have any views, though maybe its because I’m too young for that.
Though I think you should stay informed of the things that are happening in the world, its just that I don’t feel ready to do that.
I agree that you should be informed of the things that are happening in the world, as it affects all countries as well.
I agree. But I also think Governments should start thinking of what their acts are upon the world as well as their own country. I still feel that we don’t do enough for the under developed countries, but there you go. I’m one of those that preaches about wasting and using to much energy and saw the Kyoto (sp?) protocol as a good thing; so when the US decided to back out it annoyed me. I think as soon as the mentality is to think for the world, not just for your country, thinks might improve and people might decide to know more.
Sorry, I just read your comment Amber, and I wanted to reply. I agree with you, the US pulling of the Kyoto Protocol was bad; however, that was Bush’s decision. He wanted to back up his conservative, big business cronies.
There are actually individual states and cities (e.g., my school) that have agreed to abide by the Kyoto Protocol. It’s not a “US” thing, it is a “certain asparagus members of the government and business community thing.”
I for one am very environmentally, socially, and politically conscious. E.g., I no longer eat meat, I don’t drive, and if/when I do, I take the bus, I recycle, etc.