Thomas L. Friedman: "The World is Flat"

[Drake Tungsten]

The latter is worthless unless it leads to the former.

America translates its economic strength into both a high standard of living and an unmatched amount of real world power. Sweden (and much of Western Europe) uses an economic model that allows them to create a higher standard of living than America, but limits their overall economic strength and, consequently, the amount of power they can exert in the world. That's fine if you want to just sit back and relax in your currently safe neighborhood, but it's pretty worthless if you want to actually play a leading role in world affairs.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Our economy is rapidly restructuring, moving into the areas in which we have a comparative advantage.

such as?

[Agathon]

but it's pretty worthless if you want to actually play a leading role in world affairs.

Given that you guys get your ass kicked by a bunch of kids with machine guns, it seems rather a waste of time, doesn't it?

[DanS]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia


such as?

Moving away from textile manufacturing and into semiconductor manufacturing, f.e.

[Dracon II]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia


such as?

Arms?

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Moving away from textile manufacturing and into semiconductor manufacturing, f.e.

what about the cotton subsidy for growers and producers? the most crushing subsidy on third world farmers then any other?

[Agathon]

The US is screwed. They'll keep whining about it for another ten years or so, and then just accept it.

[DanS]

what about the cotton subsidy for growers and producers? the most crushing subsidy on third world farmers then any other?

Hey, I'm all for getting rid of all of this ridiculousness. But it would be a mistake to focus unduly on this when a lot is happening in industries other than those impacted by protection.

[Whoha]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia


such as?

borrowing.

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

The latter is worthless unless it leads to the former.

America translates its economic strength into both a high standard of living and an unmatched amount of real world power. Sweden (and much of Western Europe) uses an economic model that allows them to create a higher standard of living than America, but limits their overall economic strength and, consequently, the amount of power they can exert in the world. That's fine if you want to just sit back and relax in your currently safe neighborhood, but it's pretty worthless if you want to actually play a leading role in world affairs.

Why would you want to play a leading role in world affairs. The world isn't getting any better because of some schmuck in the white house telling the world what to do so he can earn some more bucks. Besides, Sweden is too small to play a leading role in the world, yet still they have a higher standard of living than you

[Whoha]

Originally posted by DanS


Moving away from textile manufacturing and into semiconductor manufacturing, f.e.

we've been the world leader in that field for close to 20 years now, however that to has been slipping away.

[RGBVideo]

Why would you want to play a leading role in world affairs. The world isn't getting any better because of some schmuck in the white house telling the world what to do so he can earn some more bucks. Besides, Sweden is too small to play a leading role in the world, yet still they have a higher standard of living than you

IF "you" = United States THEN this is false.

[DanS]

Originally posted by Whoha


we've been the world leader in that field for close to 20 years now, however that to has been slipping away.

I don't know that to be true. US companies sell about 1/2 of the world's semiconductors by value, which is about as well as they have ever done. It is true that some of those semiconductors are manufactured by our companies overseas, of course.

[pchang]

I don't think it is a race to the bottom or the top. It seems more like a race to the above average.

[Drake Tungsten]

Why would you want to play a leading role in world affairs.

Eurocoms...