Failure of Globalisation

13 Feb 2009

Failure of Globalisation There are many, many issues and I feel I lack any kind of real in-depth of knowledge as to their causes and therefore their remedy. The complexity merits a level of expertise which I lack. However, after much thought and reading, I am suggesting the following points for further discussion. Please bear in mind these are discussion points and represent the issues I see; globalisation has been the excuse for massive greed and imbalance, yet it claims to offer better living standards. It has certainly brought improvement in standards for those at the top end of society, but the general public have been left feeling insecure, and see only unfairness. You may not agree with these as being the root cause. They are discussion points only that may lead, after development to framework for improving fairness. If you disagree then I’d appreciate explanations to improve my understanding. Corporate Competition The massive financial power of multinational corporations does not promote business competition. Microsoft bought over how many companies as a means of obtaining resources? This reduced competitor pool. Globalisation removes the best people from local communities and concentrates them in centres (London, New York) etc. Stringent anti-competitor rules must be implemented on a national and international basis. Payment to resources could also include a compensating payment to the community for lost resources. If we are really going to take nurses from the Philippines rather than producing our own, then we should pay the Philippines the full cost of producing replacement nurses. Additionally, companies and not the migrate worker, must by law, bear full cost or movement and settlement and resettlement. Human Aspects of Globalisation There is a growing disparity between rich and poor, nationally and globally Efforts should be made to equally this situation. Such efforts will foster a greater sense of community within and across nations. Equalisation will reduce the Them and Us Philosophy, and replace it with an appreciation of our similar and disparate values. Globalisation promotes localised hunger. Poor countries can not compete for grain. Markets should have two types of stock markets. Those stocks dealing with life-essentials should be banned from the Casino Market that deals exclusively with luxury resources. There is a vast difference in dealing with wheat as opposed to luxury vast flowers or compact disc materials. Globalisation promotes reduced employee rights and income. All employees should be viewed as stakeholders, All employees should be paid appropriate to company profits. There is no reason why a cleaner should be the in employment of a multi-million pound company, making massive profits and dependant on state top-up benefits to live. If you need a cleaner, then pay them appropriately for the area, maintaining localised living standards as a minimum. Any country participating in global economics must implement a rights and standards charter in order to be permitted into this exclusive club. A factory worker in the UK must ensure her children have clean running water and have food. Currently competition means she cannot do so, when competing with a factory worker in China. This should be standardised across competing populations. Globalisation increases competition. The reality is that globalisation increases stress levels. This increases mental health and subsequent physical health impairment in the population, and the next generation (epigenetic studies, Glasgow, New York). We need a new philosophy of how we live our lives. This must be explored and actively promoted by all leaders Globalisation does not promote full employment. Industrial manufacturing moved east, and now aims for Africa, leaving 2 populations trained and unemployed and displaced. Globalisation leads to a uniform environment. Uniform diets leads to disease epidemics (Latino/American Indian diabetes epidemic). The thought of McDonalds appearing in Cairo, or Kinshasa horrifies me for the loss of local traditions (American Indians had much knowledge and wisdom, but all swept aside in the first wave of imperial globalisation they had seen) and therefore fails to promote individual and international understanding, destroying local cultures. If I ever go to Moscow then I expect to see blinis on the menu, not burgers or pizza! Over-globalisation should be controlled by anti-competition laws? We need more respect for population differences. Local competition and buying power should be equalised by the dominant competitor where cultural impact is forecast locally. If a company is intent on promoting goods that lead to illness, they must pay for that illness to be treated. National Governments Governments find it increasingly difficult to control tax revenues (anyone who thinks tax is bad, think of life without police officers and you kid is missing!) Close of tax loop holes, with severe penalties for all who participate in tax avoidance schemes. All nations should endeavour to simplify tax rules. Tax avoidance laws, should have severe penalties applied (I am thinking of those applied to convicted drug dealers, where all assets are taken), impounding property, cash, investments and all companies, ensuring there is not profit in crime. Globalisation reduces the security of individual countries – Al Qaeda could destabilise any market of its choosing, creating world wide consequences. There were food riots in a number of countries in the past 12 months or so, as a result of activities on global stock markets. The US Federal Government have announced the current credit crisis is the greatest risk to US security at this time – internal strife is the concern. Each nation must ensure economic security. This does not preclude working internationally, but places a stronger emphasis on self-reliance. Politicians are beholden to business leaders and not the electorate. Political systems must be re-aligned to ensure they meet the needs of the local population who elected them. Globalisation and Environment Modern governments and businesses do not use Full Cost Accounting Techniques. This must be implemented across all sectors. Regardless of your personal views on Global Warming, there is not one single reason why you or an organisation should trash planet earth. You would not dream of inviting someone into you home if you thought they would trash your home. Planet earth is no different. Globalisation is based on consumerism. This relies on removing all resources from the earth at a far higher rate than the earth will ever replenish them (limited sources of coltan is one prime example). Full compensation should be appropriate, including the cost of replacement, the cost of landscape wound healing. A global government will be required to administer a global economy (UN Security Council failures, makes this scary). Governments are unable to adapt to localised population needs. This must be enshrined in international laws and economies. Ethics All management and professions should be subject to Oath prior to professional employment, similar to medics. Immoral/dishonest activities will lead to a barring from that and related professions. Banking, Finance and Business. Much of the details of banking and business are beyond my level of knowledge and I have therefore not considered this here. However, I am leaning towards thinking that all regulatory bodies should act as police forces, using the same thought processes at least. No nice telephone calls to announce a visit in a few days etc. Having a bank boss sitting on the regulatory board would have had any police officer worth his salt preparing for an arrest application in due course. I do believe we need a fraud anti/corruption squad, an internationally independent one. One that does not fear dragging a corporation or government to court. I believe politicians in this country must be barred from taking rich pickings employment once they have left politics. All politicians must return to their previous employment, and previous standard of living for a period of 5 years. A dentist should be happy to return to his work, a schoolteacher should be happy to return to teaching. I also believe that politicians should be barred from money making opportunities during their time in office. Politicians should return to an ideal of serving their country rather than themselves. I also believe that any company requiring any debt should be automatically seen as a major investment risk – even if that borrowing is for £10. They should be aiming for massive credits, not debts. We were all taught if you didn’t save up for that toy, you couldn’t have it for a reason. I await the thumping and banging, the screams of hair pulling and a torrent of rants!