Can The US still be an Economic SuperPower

[crystalblue]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071214/ap_on_sc/bali_green_technology;_ylt=AjbqNUyjyPY0wUqTkumerES s0NUE (broken link)

i remember reading somewhere that the World is entering a leveling period, where, do to globailization, the richer countries will stagnate as the jobs move offshore to the poorer countries, until such time that all countries are roughly equal.

[crystalblue]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/77068/page/1

this is kinda related.

[randian]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

i remember reading somewhere that the World is entering a leveling period, where, do to globailization, the richer countries will stagnate as the jobs move offshore to the poorer countries, until such time that all countries are roughly equal.

I won't happen. Most poor countries are poor because their institutions are corrupt: nepotism, bribery, theft, and violence. By and large our institutions are not, which is why so many billions of dollars of foreign investment come here. Don't let the multiculturalists fool you. Our culture is superior, which is why we are successful and they are not.

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by randian

I won't happen. Most poor countries are poor because their institutions are corrupt: nepotism, bribery, theft, and violence. By and large our institutions are not, which is why so many billions of dollars of foreign investment come here. Don't let the multiculturalists fool you. Our culture is superior, which is why we are successful and they are not.

that sounds kinda elitist...

[tallrick]

Originally Posted by randian

I won't happen. Most poor countries are poor because their institutions are corrupt: nepotism, bribery, theft, and violence. By and large our institutions are not, which is why so many billions of dollars of foreign investment come here. Don't let the multiculturalists fool you. Our culture is superior, which is why we are successful and they are not.

Then how can you explain Miami-dade county, where it is just as corrupt and not superior.

[randian]

Originally Posted by tallrick

Then how can you explain Miami-dade county, where it is just as corrupt and not superior.

Foreigners bring the corruption with them. How often have you heard "I didn't call the cops because I don't trust them"? I know there are bad cops here, but I think it's plain as day that in the US "bad cop" is an aberration that will be vigorously stamped out if detected, not the norm. If you can't adapt to your new conditions, how do you resolve issues and grievances in your community? You do it the same way you did back where you came from, in an extra-legal fashion. Thus does crime run rampant.

As for political corruption, it's not that our politicians are better but that the voters keep them in check. Miami-dade has essentially been colonized by illegals from Cuba and South America. Their children vote like their parents would have, perpetuating the pathologies of the old country. It wouldn't surprise me if the illegals themselves vote. Plenty of California cities violate the law, deliberately allowing illegals to vote, by refusing to check immmigration status of registered voters.

It's no different, really, than somebody from New Jersey fleeing its oppressive taxes and regulation, coming to Florida, and continuing to vote Democrat. Get enough such "refugees" and Florida will turn into New Jersey.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by randian

Foreigners bring the corruption with them. How often have you heard "I didn't call the cops because I don't trust them"? I know there are bad cops here, but I think it's plain as day that in the US "bad cop" is an aberration that will be vigorously stamped out if detected, not the norm. If you can't adapt to your new conditions, how do you resolve issues and grievances in your community? You do it the same way you did back where you came from, in an extra-legal fashion. Thus does crime run rampant.

As for political corruption, it's not that our politicians are better but that the voters keep them in check. Miami-dade has essentially been colonized by illegals from Cuba and South America. Their children vote like their parents would have, perpetuating the pathologies of the old country. It wouldn't surprise me if the illegals themselves vote. Plenty of California cities violate the law, deliberately allowing illegals to vote, by refusing to check immmigration status of registered voters.

It's no different, really, than somebody from New Jersey fleeing its oppressive taxes and regulation, coming to Florida, and continuing to vote Democrat. Get enough such "refugees" and Florida will turn into New Jersey.

Did you Canada and many Euro nations are LESS corrupt than the United States is? Most of the scandles in those countries involve sex and not bribery, stealing or pilfering the national treasurey.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by tallrick

Then how can you explain Miami-dade county, where it is just as corrupt and not superior.

Forget Miami. Look at Chicago. It is one of the MOST corrupt places in the world and has been throughout history. Everybody there has a scam and bribes ("gifts") are a normal way of doing business there even today. You don't want a speeding ticket on Lakeshore Drive- put your license in a plastic holder and slip a 20 in behind it- the cop hands you back the license minus the 20 and says "slow down and have a nice day". That is the way Chicago works from top to bottom. Everybody there is on the take from the cops to the telephone man (want it fixed faster, find him in the neighbourhood and give him a 20 with your number and address on it) to the union bosses to the Mayor himself. YET that city is one of the FEW in the snow belt that prospers.

[GregW]

Miami-Dade to Chicago and points east and west. Corruption is a market in action. Desire a favor and the market sets the price. Make the investment in your position and charge the going rate for your favors. Want to sell dope? Learn how much the cops need to ignore you and your protectors and add the cost to your product. Pure capitalism in action.