Text 1717, 119 rader
Skriven 2007-05-20 07:01:40 av shannon talley
     Kommentar till en text av Ward Dossche
Ärende: Re: This Echo
=====================
Hi Ward,

> What is commercially successful? The US internal market itself is huge 
> which,

I lived in the Republic of Panama for quite a few years.  It was a beautiful 
place but because of an extremely corrupt government, the people were really 
very very poor.  However, the people of Panama (those less educated) truly 
believed that the world / the economic world / revolved around their 
country!  They really believed that the entire world revolved around Panama 
because they had the "Canal" and that every country in the world needed it 
to transport their goods through it, and without it, countries would fall.

My point is that people of many nations, including the United States, can't 
see the mountain past the trees.  They believe the world revolves around 
them.  MANY Americans believe exactly the same thing.  Actually, I think its 
epidemic here.  I can guess it's largely because we are separated by this 
very large body of water from Europe, but I may be wrong.  We don't talk 
enough about businesses and cultures in other countries nearly enough in the 
elementary schools, and by large, we don't in graduate / undergraduate 
schools either.  Unless one specifically studies business on the graduate 
level, sociology, or other specific courses of study that introduce them to 
cultures, Americans really aren't expose to international cultures in 
school.

> So I repeat the question: What is economically successful? It can be so 
> many
> things depending on the definition one uses.

There are many paradigms of defining 'commercially successful'.  I have my 
own personal (selfish) way; if I can afford to by everything that I 'need' 
and many things I 'want' and can continue to accrue a substantial savings / 
investments for my future, then I am economically successful.  This is 
really only possible when working in an 'commercially successful' economy. 
Compare this paradigm to countries like Nigeria, Panama, Brazil, etc.  By 
this definition, I think everyone in this echo probably lives on an economy 
that is largely 'economically / commercially successful'.

> Alas, that is correct. The US as a peace-keeper/policing force would be a 
> lot
> more acceptable if it played the UN-card a little more. Like the decision 
> to go
> into Iraq was universally disliked, even in the Allies' countries such as

Well -- the UN Failed for several years ("years") to stop the Iraqi's from 
breaking the UN sanctions.  They failed in this regard.  But -- you know --  
and I know -- why it was important to insert a fighting force in that part 
of the world.  It wasn't just 'because' of the UN Sanctions either.  It's a 
very very large chess board, and now Iran is (debatably) in 'check'.

> Spain did withdraw its troops, or will soon do so, same for Italy and the
> attitude in the UK is going in the same way. So the only Allies remaining 
> are
> those who were coerced into the arena by economic arguments.

I wonder -- seriously wonder -- what really would have happened if those 
countries would have stood up and said, "No".  They were free to do so 
and -- would likely have improved their image and -- perhaps not even 
damaged their economy if they had.

> This is what Bjorn comments on and talks about ... not the ordinary 
> citizen in
> the street. When in trouble or requiring hospitality there is nothing 
> better

This isn't the paradigm he paints...  His comments have been directed at the 
average Joe in the US.

> I'll never forget that day perhaps a decade ago when Ameritech bought a 
> large
> chunck of the shares of my (telco) company. I was in the lobby near the 
> front
> desk 24hrs later when an American walked-in unannounced with a leather 
> travel
> bag and said "Hi, my name is Dennis Johnson, I'm from Ameritech and I have 
> been
> sent here in order to teach you how to conduct proper telecom-business".

This is truly sad....  Don't blame "Americans" -- I'd blame that asswipe, 
Dennis Johnson.  I really hope someone told him off.

> Often it backfires ... e.g. when McDonnald's entered Europe they had to 
> learn
> the hard way about social laws, mandatory health-insurance, 
> social-security ...
> "What? For students working at McD?".

Well -- "WE" don't really like McD here either... There has been a huge 
'wave' against the fast food chains that started about 5 years ago, but it's 
really really strong today.  Fast food companies have noticed a huge 
substantial drop in sales -- especially over the last 3 years.  When the 
Atkins diet revolution kicked in, so did American's realization that 'fast 
food is bad' ('bout time right?).  With popular books, movies, and headlines 
like, "Fast Food Nation" abound, we all realize what's happened.  We -- my 
daughter and I -- 'never' and I mean 'never' eat fast food.  I cook 
everything.... It is "rare" that we go out and eat, and when we do, we go to 
one of a handful of restaurants that are family owned and operated (they 
serve much better food than chain places).  McD, Taco Bell, and Burger King 
(and a few others) largely started marketing to the lower income demographic 
a few years ago, and it's kept them afloat.  They all have a "$1" menu 
that -- well -- only really appeals to those who only have a few dollars in 
their pocket and need to eat.

There are those on both sides of the Atlantic ocean that are guilty of 
believing their country is better than another country, but it's really just 
a matter of paradigm.  It's sociology 101...   I read a study where some 
collage students passed out red hats and blue hats to people going to a pep 
rally at a university.  They watched those with blue hats and red hats 
actually separate themselves (largely) in the facility, and after a long 
time, they started calling each other names, and a fight actually broke out. 
It's natural there will be issues between people.  But there is a definition 
for this behavior -- one that is offensive by name; but it's true 
nonetheless.  It applies right here in this echo.

Cheers!
Shannon 

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5a
 * Origin: FidoTel & QWK on the Web! www.fidotel.com (1:275/311)