Why does it have to be a choice between liberal-democratic free
trade plus slavery ,Or, the elimination of slavery by a totalitarian
type govt. which so highly regulates society that everyone is
bordering on slavery anyway?
How about, Social and Political order 3.
A deglobalised society, achieved by consumers valiung
environmental, social, and employment security higher than the
illusion of low prices (illusory as MNC's low prices are not inclusive
of externalities such as transport, pollution, etc). This would of
course require a greater level of education to the general
consumers than they enjoy now, so as they can make the
informed choise, if they want low prices and env. damage still,
that's their choice. Still, wonder who's going to educate them, via
the media perhaps? Can't imagine it would be us geographers,
could it?
Hillary Shaw, P/G Geography, University of Leeds
On 20 Apr 01, at 11:00, Paul Treanor wrote:
> All other things being equal, which is the better social and
> political order?
>
>
> Social and political order 1.
>
> A liberal-democracy, where importers are free to knowingly
> import crops grown on plantations on another continent using
> child slave labour; where activists are free to criticise
> them for doing so; and where the importers are free to
> ignore the criticism.
>
> Social and political order 2.
>
> A totalitarian society, where unethical trade practices are
> forbidden, and no unethical trade occurs.
>
>
> --
> Paul Treanor
>
Hillary Shaw, P/G Geography, University of Leeds
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