The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #62241   Message #1006236
Posted By: NicoleC
21-Aug-03 - 10:10 PM
Thread Name: BS: Bombing of UN Baghdad HQ
Subject: RE: BS: Bombing of UN Baghdad HQ
I don't think we can safely blame anything on the evils of global capitalism, as we don't have anything approaching nor anyone in power advocating it. What they usually mean when big, rich powerful countries talk about a global free market means that those who can afford protectionism get it, but poor countries have to have "free markets" that allow subsidized goods from rich countries to be dumped on their economy.

I struggle to even consider the US capitalist in reality, although it's part of our national ideal. The amount of taxpayer money that gets poured into argibusiness and oil is astonishing. It's not chump changel it's huge subsidies. One one hand, it means cheaper prices at the grocery store and the gas pump -- on the other hand, the construct being paraded as "free trade" means that, for example, US taxpayers fund agribusiness corporations like Monsanto, who use that taxpayer funding to sell cheaper goods in poor countries, undermining the business of the local farmers and contributing to world poverty. It's not that Monsanto produces food cheaper or better -- it's that average Americans pick up a big chunk of the cost.

True global capitalism would mean that regions could or could not choose to participate in a global economy, fairly competing with other regions based on the actual costs and quality of the goods. It might work; it might not -- but don't hold your breath because it won't happen in our lifetime.

In most cases, so-called "anti-globalization" movements and protesters want true global trade -- not the protectionist tactics of the WTO and IMF masquerading as free trade.