What is globalization? Two words: unmitigated evil.

[Panaconda]

I mean that dead seriously. It is the biggest and worst con that has ever been perpetrated on humanity.

It is a mechanism set in motion by people determined to gather as much of the world's wealth for themselves as possible. Those who control this wealth then control governments; and through those governments, the very lives of millions of people. They destroy ecosystems and societies and cultures. They destroy livelihoods and displace peoples. Instead of societies controlling their own economic system, an economic system is imposed from without that then controls the very fate of that society.

"Free Trade", neo-liberalism, privatization -- these are just different names given to the fundamental act of sucking up the wealth produced through the efforts of the many into the portfolios of the rarefied few. It's a global resource grab, too, of course. It's colonization on steroids.

Invading Iraq was no different than chasing the Lakota out of the Black Hills once gold was discovered.

Globalization is just the same old shit dressed up in fancy economic theory to dazzle the unwary. It even goes right along with the same military component it always has -- the muscle that guarantees access to the plunder.

Our earth is being plundered and despoiled by and for the enrichment of a relative few.

This is the crucial issue of our time, imho. From the predatory capitalism being practiced by the multi-nationals flow the twin ills of war and global warming. It should be fought against without quarter.

If people are to survive, capitalism's rule over the planet MUST be stopped.

A people without economic sovereignty is a people without control over their governments, their livelihoods, their resources, their health and their very lives.

[Hannah Bell]

1. kr

same crap, different name

[Little Star]

2. I agree with you.

[BridgeTheGap]

3. In theory, I agree with the concept of a united humanity. But you're right about globalization

as it has been foisted upon us (by Dems and Republicans alike). It is a greed driven model.

[TBF]

4. Yes, but I look at it this way -

in order for socialism to succeed it is going to have to be worldwide. Capitalism is currently setting the structure for us, now all we have to do is go in and take it back for the people. Solidarity.

[nebenaube]

5. Well this is the third time around...

World Wars and all... It looks like we may become the center of attention this time around.

[Lindsay]

6. Very well said.

And damned depressing.

[WinkyDink]

7. And yet those of us who think there ARE such forces have always had our haberdashery mocked.

But governments will fall and economies collapse before society as a whole "gets it."

And then the military will crush any up-rising.

[Shanti Mama]

8. Folks... it's all powered by demand.

Americans are the ultimate consumers and corporations are responding to their demands. Not that the consumer mentality wasn't carefully cultivated, but we do need to take responsibility for our part in this mess.
Have all of you stopped buying anything produced outside the US? It's nearly impossible, I know. But that's what it will take. A complete shut down of non-US made purchases.

No ipods, flat screens, computers, toys. Few items of clothing. No more bananas or off-season produce.

Globalization is not inherently evil.

From Kathmandu Nepal,
Shanti Mama

[The_Commonist]

11. You are so right.

Globalization has given me the opportunity and the technology to make friends in various parts of the world and communicate with them instantly. Also, I can have fresh strawberries any day of the year. These things are not inherently bad. It is the systems of distribution and wealth management that are bad. They don't have to be. We put up them, so nothing changes.

Want to stop the bad people from ruining everything? Stop buying stuff them.

[Little Star]

13. I'm not very fond of fruit that has to be picked before

it has ripened. I miss the fresher fruit and vegetables I use to be able to buy in the supermarket. I think most of it use to come from here in the USA.

[Cal Carpenter]

12. Pardon my bluntness

but that's bullshit.

The market is driven by what can be profitable for corporations. Not by what people want or need. And when billions upon billions of dollars are spent to convince people of what they need (whether it's dish soap or depression medication), it sort of muddies any idea of what it is people would really want or need if given a fair choice.

Your argument implies that different or better 'consumer choices' could solve the problem. But all that argument does is protect the status quo. It's not about consumer choices - it's about the economic power relationship, it's that the means of production are controlled by those who have no greater goal than increased profits. Doesn't matter if that product is made in the US, made elsewhere by a US company, made in the US by a foreign company...it's all the same capitalist economy, has nothing to do with nations anymore.

Your argument is also a great way for those of us who make 'better' comsumer choices to feel self-righteous about it, to believe that if all those dumb people would just wake up and buy organic and local, or use less paper towel, or drive a Ford hybrid, then things could/would change. This ain't religion and enlightenment, this is about power and exploitation that come as a result of the *system* under which we live. And no cultural force to 'improve our consumerism' can fight the economic force of capitalism.

Without economic democracy, there can be no political democracy.

Without economic justice, there can be no social justice.

As long as the uber-rich, whose loyalties know no national boundaries, control the means of production, 99% of the people on the planet are screwed.

Is it up to the people to do something about it? Well yes, undoubtedly, it's not like those with power will suddenly have a change of heart and give back what they've stolen - the value of our labor, our pensions, our benefits, our land, the health of our water and air and forest - no that ain't gonna happen. But implying that changing our choices as consumers will make a difference is just playing into the bullshit they've been feeding us all along. "Keep buying, but buy this instead of that..."

The problem is systemic, and that system is capitalism. There is no kinder gentler version. It rewards greed above all else and will *always* result in injustice for the majority of the people in this world.

Fuck capitalism. Fuck nationalism. Power to the people.

[Shanti Mama]

19. Why do you have to be so "blunt"?

You could just disagree respectfully.
Anyway, I think many here on DU are highly nationalistic. Don't level out the playing field by spreading jobs out. Keep them in the US and forget the rest of the people.
I agree with most of what you say, but I hold by the idea that, in many ways, we have allowed ourselves to be controlled. I said nothing about organic; that's another, related topic. But, yes, our demand/desire/"need" for stuff made elsewhere enables the grotesque behavior of the corporations. And, furthermore, if you've got a pension plan, it probably owns stock in these companies.
The world is not a simple place, with right and wrong, good and evil. Globalization has, in addition to obscenely enriching a few, created jobs and income for many who had nothing. Not that I believe the overseas jobs are great, but few in the developing world want to turn them away.
I don't think I implied that different choices could solve the problem. I do think it's important to acknowledge that the behavior of Americans over the past 4-5 decades has contributed to the mess we're in. Many shades of gray.

[stray cat]

9. Maybe for the US

[blindpig]

10. The worst of it....

is that many are convinced that it is all our fault, the heedless breeding masses, the mindless consumer demand. Yet from whence come these things? High replacement rate is generally the result of poverty, a product of Capitalism as surely as are cell phones. Consumer demand is lashed forward by the multi-billion dollar propaganda effort called advertising.

Let is get rid of these parasites and see where we stand.

[leveymg]

14. I think the terms that might better apply are Imperialism and Neo-Colonialism

Driving a Toyota to buy Jarlsburg cheese at the local supermarket owned by a Dutch company is globalization. Not quite the same thing as Wounded Knee and the AIG meltdown. But, I get and sympathize with what you're saying.

[dkf]

15. Globalization and illegal immigration are the same thing.

The rich and greedy want to oay the absolute minimum to workers. Both bring down the living standards of Americans through falling wage levels and lead to the decline of the middle class and the rich getting richer.

[Tsiyu]

16. The problem is

no matter the number of humans who suffer from the evil system, there are too many other people - voting and non-voting - who earn their living from what's left of the jobs in that system.

And the most evil of the capitalists make their product more affordable than the competition.

So efforts to boycott the worst of the evil are met with "but I work there" or "but I can't afford the other brand/the brand that doesn't degrade the environment/the brand that isn't made with slave labor."

A majority of people have to be willing to sacrifice.


Most people simply do not want to sacrifice as long as they are somewhat comfortable, and often even when they are very uncomfortable.

[bvar22]

17. "Globalization" is not the problem.

"Globalization" has been happening since the first caveman traded a flint spear point for an animal skin from the next tribe. Globalization can not be stopped, but TRADE can be regulated.

The PROBLEM is that the RICH used smooth talking politicians to sell NAFTA (Free Trade/Globalization) to gullible Americans. The bogus "Free Trade" Treaties allowed the mega-corporations to duck ALL Labor, Human Rights, and Environmental regulations.

Capital will ALWAYS be able to outrun Human Rights.

There is no such thing as "Free Trade".
There is no such thing as a "Free Market".
There is no Giant "Invisible Hand".
The RICH made that shit up!

If you Work for a Living , do not trust ANY politician (Democrat or Republican) who professes a belief in an "Invisible Hand" or a "Free Market".
That politician is NOT your friend.

[Panaconda]

18. Your description

is not what globalization is.

Globalization is business school jargon that gained currency in the 1990's, to describe the dismantling of barriers to the movement of capital and the loss of local and national sovereignties to the interests of transnational firms, helped along by telecommunications and the collapse of the two bloc world.

Pretty much agree with everything else you've said.

[earth mom]

20. They sold globalization to us and promised it would help people in other countries...

but in reality it was all about exploitation.

Workers in China and India make next to nothing while workers in this country can't find jobs, even at McDonalds.

Yep, the powers that be have totally screwed the workers of the world over! :grr: