[ale] Defeated by the offshoring of America....

[George Carless]

Oh, please.  Do you think that, if there were all that much to hunt and
forage, people would be starving in so many places around the world?
Certain exceptions granted, the facts are that in the United States -- as
in the West in general -- one can generally live a very comfortable life,
relative to much of the rest of the world.  Now, that's arguably thanks to
the value system by which we live: the same thought (and economic)
processes that lead to many of us living in comfort lead to those who slip
below the bar to lead uncomfortable lives.  And more in the USA than
elsewhere, given the lack of any real kind of welfare system and the
systematic disenfranchising of parts of the populace.  Nonetheless,
though, it's my experience that a large number of people believe that they
have a "right" to a high-paying job in technology (even when there aren't
too many jobs going around, or when - as here - it's at someone else's
expense) and that they "don't deserve" to go and get a job at McDonald's
or whatnot in order to pay the bills.

Besides, the homeless around my house -- unhappy, certainly, but
nonetheless fed, clothed, and sheltered -- demonstrate that one can at
least survive in the United States without being a part of "bill paying,
working society" (although I do agree that, as suggested above, these
members of society are done a disservice by our culture).  But when you
compare these people with the starving in many foreign countries, you
betray a lack of awareness of the world outside your borders.  Fuel and
work are required to live anywhere -- but so, and to a greater extent, are
food and clean water.

--George

On 14 Apr 2003, Christopher Fowler wrote:

> In some parts of the world, I can hunt to feed my family.  In the US,
> there are laws against shooting little critters at different times of
> the year.
>
> I've known coal miners in WV that spent months during each year hunting
> food for their families.  Not a nice place to be.
>
> I think one thing that sucks in the US is the structure of our society
> and economy.  Food, Water, and Shelter is needed to survive.  In the US,
> it is very difficult to get these items unless you are a member of a
> bill paying, working society,  One just can stop working and find
> alternative means to support themselves.  Fuel and Work are required to
> live in the US.
>
> Chris
>
>
> On Mon, 2003-04-14 at 11:45, George Carless wrote:
> > > > For my part, I'm proud to be a foreigner over here stealing your jobs
> > > > and your women. ;)
> > >
> > > Sorry, even with the ;) I see little humor in folks not being able to
> > > find work...  The sad thing is, you'll likely be in the same boat one
> > > day as you are now in the states, and will require similar income level
> > > to maintain your status quo.
> >
> > I don't quite follow your point.  However, since you elect to take me
> > seriously, I'll take myself seriously and say this: I don't really see why
> > people going without work in the USA (by which we typically mean "without
> > the ideal jobs that pay what we think we deserve") is a much worse thing
> > than people going without work (by which we typically mean "without
> > dinner") in third world countries.  But that's probably just the crazy
> > hippy in me.
> >
> > --George
> >
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