Shift happens...

[Juneaudave]

This is pretty good to watch...kind of like the book "The World is Flat" in 5 minutes...

http://www.scottmcleod.org:80/didyouknow.wmv

Enjoy

[halfdome, Danny]

I thought your title was a play on words but it's not. Economies are shifting, we could become #2 or #3 especially with all the undocumented workers we have, they'll work for practically nothing because they came from 3rd world countries. I've always thought that if China could get their stuff together they could overtake us in almost every way, India is another one. It's already happened just look at how much in our stores is made in China. Danny

[Juneaudave]

For some reason, I watch this stuff...scratch my head...and find comfort in building a Teardrop trailer, or sharpening a spokeshave to carve a canoe paddle, or a long evening camping. Shift does indeed happen....

[madjack]

...truly, food for thought...kinda skeerrrrry as well...I guess all that means is that ultimately technology and how it is used/applied will decide the fate of mankind...now where did I hide my cave fulla stuff!!!!!!
madjack

[TRAIL-OF-TEARS]

Dang I have worked here for 6.5 years. I guess it is time to look for something else.
I love the Last of the Mohicans music though.

[Miriam C.]

Hey MJ how's your puter? Love the music!!!! Don't you know our parents and grandparents felt like this!

Things to do
Get invested in the English language.

Remind the producers that Muslims are having 10 children to every one Chinese child.

Get the Teardrop done so all that RF flying through the city can't scramble whats left of my brain.

[angib]

Data I've seen here says it is still 30 years before the size of the Chinese economy goes past the US one - and that's the country total, not per person. They have already overtaken the US on 4 of the main factors (steel, coal, grain and meat) because of their huge population, but not oil or money.

The parallel between the US now and Britain about 100 years ago becomes more obvious every day, at least when looking from here. No country gets to stay 'top dog' for very long, though each top dog in turn believes that they will stay there for ever. The parallel extends way beyond economics too - is the current Iraq conflict the US equivalent of the Boer War?

Oh, and by the way, being an ex-top dog doesn't kill - it just forces a little modesty.

Andrew

[Miriam C.]

Data I've seen here says it is still 30 years before the size of the Chinese economy goes past the US one - and that's the country total, not per person. They have already overtaken the US on 4 of the main factors (steel, coal, grain and meat) because of their huge population, but not oil or money.

The parallel between the US now and Britain about 100 years ago becomes more obvious every day, at least when looking from here. No country gets to stay 'top dog' for very long, though each top dog in turn believes that they will stay there for ever. The parallel extends way beyond economics too - is the current Iraq conflict the US equivalent of the Boer War?

Oh, and by the way, being an ex-top dog doesn't kill - it just forces a little modesty.

Andrew

I think the differences between us and the British dynasty is we try to convert to a philosophy and England made England bigger. Where England had an interest in improving the provinces in order to better herself, we may very well turn to protectionism. "One world" is a theory that the worlds wealthy may not be ready for---still.

I would like to see the IQ test for India and China. I wonder with all that brain trust why these countries struggle to bring the majority of their people into the developed world. It is hard to respect a country whose people are so segregated economically---even our own.

[rbeemer]

Miriam,

India is still a caste(class) society, so you can be the smartest person in India but if you are in the wrong caste you won't get anymore money/opportunities than anybody esle in your caste(class)

China is still acommunist country so if you do not know the right government official you are screwed

Just my view

[halfdome, Danny]

Miriam,

India is still a caste(class) society, so you can be the smartest person in India but if you are in the wrong caste you won't get anymore money/opportunities than anybody esle in your caste(class)

China is still acommunist country so if you do not know the right government official you are screwed

Just my view

Is caste the word for generations of cab drivers or generations of store keepers? I understand they are proud of this and each new generation assumes the role of the one before him. Danny

[Miriam C.]

Miriam,

India is still a caste(class) society, so you can be the smartest person in India but if you are in the wrong caste you won't get anymore money/opportunities than anybody esle in your caste(class)

China is still acommunist country so if you do not know the right government official you are screwed

Just my view

Is caste the word for generations of cab drivers or generations of store keepers? I understand they are proud of this and each new generation assumes the role of the one before him. Danny

The term here is "livin above yor raisin." I have a 3rd cousin who will drive up in her Lincoln or SUV and swear the rich people are killing Franklin Co. VA. I choked when I heard it. She works for every dime and so does her husband. It isn''t about how much money it's about what you are born to.

However, I doubt if anyone in the Untouchable caste will choose to be there if not forced/indoctrinated into it. Gandhi removed most of the legal caste issues. The social issues are still there.

[Ira]

I saw on 60 Minutes, years ago, that no one comes close to the Indians when it comes to how many books the average person reads. The Indians with the dots on their heads--not the tomahawks in their hands.

It's some ridiculous figure--that they read on average of 10 times as many books in a year as the Brits. (I didn't want to use the U.S. for this example, because we're such illiterate idiots anyway that the U.S. example wouldn't have much meaning.)

Granted, who knows WHAT they're reading, but on the whole, that has to be a good thing. Plus, they're the most peaceful people on Earth, so they must have learned SOMETHING from all of those books.

[angib]

I think the differences between us and the British dynasty is we try to convert to a philosophy and England made England bigger.

Ah, "might is right"! The powerful always believe that their beliefs are good for others, and they are not just acting in their own self interest.

The Empire Brits firmly believed that they were exporting 'civilisation' and that making themselves outrageously rich was just reasonable repayment for the good they were doing. History clearly says we were wrong and I think history will record that America encouraged or forced an economic system on countries in which its own corporations would flourish.

....we may very well turn to protectionism. "One world" is a theory that the worlds wealthy may not be ready for---still.

It could happen, but I would expect it to be short-lived. It doesn't take very long for it to become obvious that protectionism looks after a minority by making the majority pay for it. Both subsidy and protectionism also breed inefficiency (as well as dependency) because playing the system gives bigger returns than doing business better.

But I would guess that the biggest reason that protectionism isn't likely to take much hold is that I don't think the wealthy of the US will see it as in their interest. Sure, it will help a few of them make a profit from ailing industries, but if it spreads far, it drives up the costs of all other industries who then can't compete internationally, so they pressurise the government to free the markets once again.

Andrew

[Miriam C.]

I think the differences between us and the British dynasty is we try to convert to a philosophy and England made England bigger.

Ah, "might is right"! The powerful always believe that their beliefs are good for others, and they are not just acting in their own self interest.

The Empire Brits firmly believed that they were exporting 'civilisation' and that making themselves outrageously rich was just reasonable repayment for the good they were doing. History clearly says we were wrong and I think history will record that America encouraged or forced an economic system on countries in which its own corporations would flourish.
Andrew

Ahhh, My dear Andrew, The point I was trying to make was that US/multi-national corporations (not the American people or necessarily the government ) might not find it in their interest to improve the lot of the people they wish to indoctrinate. Where the Brits had an agenda somewhat different.

[Joseph]

Right now because of the language barrier, a united China is impossible. Each province in China has it's own spoken language, though the written language is common to them all. I think the Chinese are learning English not only because it's the language of their (current) biggest economic competitor, but also because it will allow people from differing provinces to be able to communicate with one another. When that happens, look out...

Joseph