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Originally Posted by CanuckRasta
Last time I checked the IMF and World Bank were not there to serve American interests, but maybe to provide debt relief and economic counselling to poor countries *gasp*.
One of these days, the USA's economic policy of protectionism is going to blow on them. When American citizens are losing jobs to cheaper labour markets, they can only blame themselves.
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Protectionism is what stops Americans from losing their jobs to cheaper markets. So I'm not sure how you are connecting the dots here. True American Capitalists want the United States to end protectionism, want jobs to go to the cheapest markets (thus creating cheaper prices), and want Americans to get the kind of education that would allow is to produce the most advanced technology and industry in the world. That is the goal of capitalism. So, if you want free trade, you and I are on the same page here. The international economic organizations prevent free trade on both ends of the spectrum.
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Originally Posted by CanuckRasta
To any who doubt it, El Jefe Hugo has clout. 1/9 of American oil imports come from Venezuela. That is a fair bit when you take a look at the soccer moms in their gas-guzzling SUVs. $24 billion is projected value of Venezuelan oil imports alone this year.
Venezuela is also a voting member of OPEC.
The USA can go on thumbing its nose at leaders from "backwards" countries. But, to be blunt, the American foreign policy is an absolute farce. I am a first year political science student, and I could make a better policy.
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The US foreign policy is not much different from any European country when it comes to economic influence. Anyway, the only people the US government is responsible to are the American People. We aren't responsible for anyone else, and in that sense, you are right, we need to stop meddling. However, Hugo Chavez isn't an important world leader. He may have influence over the oil industry, but how much longer will that industry even exist? When the oil runs out, The Middle East will become nothing more than a desert, and Venezuela will have extremely limited resources - and may not be able to survive without its oil revenue.
The US will take a huge hit, but will be able to depend on Nuclear, Coal, Wind, Water, and other kinds of alternative fuels and powers. The US can survive without oil. Once Americans stop being afraid of the future, we'll be able to make better decisions about the present.
11-10-2006, 05:19 PM
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