Skip, you will have to explain to gary why capitalism (as an economic system in western Europe and America) is responsible for all the pain and misery in third world countries. He needs to know why capitalism, as an economic system makes it inevitable.Skip wrote:The laws of nature? Like - South Africa was just unfortunate in its inhospitable climate, lack of wildlife and shortage of natural resources, so the natives were at a disadvantage? Or: South Africa was unfortunate in its far too inviting climate, wildlife and resources, so the European business interests swarmed in, backed up by their nations' military might, decimated the natives and then each other fighting over it, threw the people off their land and enslaved them, stripped out all the gold and diamonds for HUGE profit elsewhere, killed off most of the fauna, made a smouldering mess.... and walked away scot free ?garygary wrote: I agree that there are millions in foreign lands who are living in abject poverty. I would dare say they are victims of the laws of nature and the leadership (or lack thereof) of their societies, not of capitalism.
Or, there is the simpler example of a child in India, earning barely enough food to survive, making a carpet that his master will sell for thousands of dollars in America. And the American dealer he sells it through produces nothing at all, but collects a commission which is some pre-agreed percent of the price he can get for it - with no regard to original cost and no percentage going to the producers.
You hinted at it by mentioning "European business interests", but a more detailed description of the cause-and-effect chain could be helpful for gary.
You are so good at explaining things.
Just a thought.
Forty-three percent of all poor households actually own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio. 
