Thursday, February 2, 2012

Globalism Comes Home

Globalism's next stage could actually be good for America and the world

Like the proverbial blind squirrel, every once in awhile ChiCom fanboy Thomas Friedman rises above his simplistic pseudointellectualism and mixed metaphors to produce a column that makes sense.



His latest outing is full of CEO quotes about how the global economy continues to evolve, and how America is uniquely poised to take full advantage of it.

The Global Elites are losing their Grip

Continual fragmentation of ideas, manufacturing, and tastes, along with markets fracturing into micro-markets and specialty niches all conspire to make it harder for the global elites to homogenize every last aspect of our lives.

Fellow New York Times columnist, David Ignatius, a liberal who passes for a conservative over there, notes that the Davos Men are more disconnected than ever from us normal people, but he is instead pessimistic. I discount his gloominess because he himself is disconnected, a man in awe of the world elites.

Ignatius is cheered only because the ranks of the elites now include the red and yellow, brown and black, slowly wrenching global thought leadership from the Western White Man's oligopolistic grip.  Reading it makes me long for times past when reporters hated the rich and powerful.
What you see here are some of the smartest business and political leaders in the world gathering to discuss common problems. It's a heady feeling, to see so much global talent in one place.
It's an inclusive elitism: The magnet draws the rising tycoons from developing countries and fuses them with the once-dominant Americans, British, Germans and French. That's the most likable feature of the forum, the way you see Chinese and Indians and Egyptians and Pakistanis shuffling down the streets in their snow boots, along with the Swiss hosts. They are part of the connected world, just as much as the old-line bankers and CEOs from the West. (David Ignatius)
What Ignatius fails to realize is that the global geniuses may have outsize influence, but its the ingenuity of the locals that powers an economy, and we have plenty right here in the good ol' US of A.

Ignatius rightly laments the societal destruction globalism has wrought, but he's singing yesterday's tune.  Friedman has the forward-looking view on this one...
Many C.E.O.’s, though, increasingly see the world as a place where their products can be made anywhere through global supply chains (often assembled with nonunion-protected labor) and sold everywhere.
These C.E.O.’s rarely talk about “outsourcing” these days. Their world is now so integrated that there is no “out” and no “in” anymore. In their businesses, every product and many services now are imagined, designed, marketed and built through global supply chains that seek to access the best quality talent at the lowest cost, wherever it exists.  (Friedman)
He cites a Hong Kong CEO...
Now, said Fung, the rule is: “ ‘Source everywhere, manufacture everywhere, sell everywhere.’ The whole notion of an ‘export’ is really disappearing.”
Words from other CEOs:
Mike Splinter, the C.E.O. of Applied Materials, has put it to me this way: “Outsourcing was 10 years ago, where you’d say, ‘Let’s send some software generation overseas.’ This is not the outsourcing we’re doing today. This is just where I am going to get something done. Now you say, ‘Hey, half my Ph.D.’s in my R-and-D department would rather live in Singapore, Taiwan or China because their hometown is there and they can go there and still work for my company.’ This is the next evolution.” He has many more choices.
Just like Toyota and other foreign firms manufacture products here for our consumption. That is the future. Less import-export of final products, and more build and sell in place when it makes economic sense.
America can thrive in this world, explained Yossi Sheffi, the M.I.T. logistics expert, if it empowers “as many of our workers as possible to participate” in different links of these global supply chains — either imagining products, designing products, marketing products, orchestrating the supply chain for products, manufacturing high-end products and retailing products. If we get our share, we’ll do fine.
The world is on the cusp of an information age equivalent of the Industrial Revolution, and America above all others is best positioned to take full advantage of this decentralize future.
Few deny that technology fuels economic growth as well as both social and lifestyle progress, the latter largely seen in health and environmental metrics. But consider three features that most define America, and that are essential for unleashing the promises of technological change: our youthful demographics, dynamic culture and diverse educational system. (The Coming Tech-Led Boom)
We don't need no stinking national strategies

As usual with the rare Friedman column I agree with, he closes with a conclusion so absurd that I end up wanting to tear my eyes out in frustration...
"If only — if only — we could come together on a national strategy to enhance and expand all of our natural advantages..." (Friedman)
Poor Progressive Tommy, always longing for the Strong Man to make the trains run on time... 

National Strategy? How about a low tax, low regulation environment where you can manufacture things again in this country without 200 government bureaucracies crawling up your ass? That's the strategy we need.

Restore the Rule of Law and give the American workers and entrepreneurs a stable, predictable environment to invent, create and be free, and they will lead this nation again to the sunlit uplands of economic greatness and personal liberty.  Personal liberty and economic freedom:  You can't have one without the other.

Made in the World

43 comments:

Z said...

"the whole notion of exports is disappearing"..man, talk about a true example of globalism.
As for your last 3 paragraphs; would that Friedman's side of the aisle could even begin to understand and honor that. We'd be a lot better off.

Bunkerville said...

And so our economic string upon which we depend, surronds the world in one gigantic loop. Snip it somewhere and we are toast. When one of our "partners" becomes aggresive, what are we to do?

Silverfiddle said...

Bunker: You do what nations have done since the dawn of time. Manage foreign relations the best you can and keep your powder dry.

There ain't a drawbridge big enough...

Jersey McJones said...

Silver, compared to our international peers, we already have a very low tax and regulatory environment. You can't get much lower. We just tried lowering taxes and reducing regulations and it got us nowhere - in fact, it left us in a hole. Our economy thrived when we have more taxes and regulation! Where the hell have you been your whole friggin' life???

Friedman is right. If we want to thrive again, we need to bolster our natural advantages, and I would add to that that we have to stop cannibalizing ourselves. Our energy, communication, education, police, war, and healthcare policies are draining us like giant leeches.

We have among the world's most productive people right here in the USA. We can compete with anyone. But unlike our peers, we have no national healthcare, extremely expensive education, wasteful and counter-productive war and police states, and no national power and communications grid.

We are holding ourselves back by profiteering from things we should be encouraging. It is the moron who rigidly, dogmatically, almost religiously believes the private sector can do literally everything - that is holding us back. Stop being a moron.

JMJ

Silverfiddle said...

@ Jersey: Our energy, communication, education, police, war, and healthcare policies are draining us like giant leeches.

You are right. Federal intervention has totally botched these areas of our private lives. Government is an army of giant leeches. Glad you see that.

We have the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world that is ameliorated only by the swiss cheese of exemptions the rich and powerful purchase for themselves.

The regulatory environment is really what is killing us, along with the capricious bureaucracy and Jefe Maximo Obama raiding guitar factories because the owners don't give generously enough to his campaign coffers.

More government? You must be crazy...

BB-Idaho said...

My financial advisor recommended
Friedman's 'The World Is Flat' a
few years back. Depressing and shallow. Like economics. :)

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

I can't believe that two-word impediment of national prosperity hasn't been mentioned yet:

"unionized labor."

Cue anti-globalization dolts in 5... 4... 3...

republicanmother said...

Global free trade is a good thing, but when it comes with a central global controlling authority its a bad thing. Fortunately, the former may undermine the latter.

I sure hope so.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Silverfiddle said...

@ republican mother: Global free trade is a good thing, but when it comes with a central global controlling authority its a bad thing.

Yes indeed. George Bush I sold us down the river to China, giving them license to infringe copyrights and steal intellectual property, and Bill Clinton let Loral hand them sensitive rocket technology.

We have been our own worst enemy.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

off topic, but pitchforks and torches worthy:

If the Republican Party is FORCED to follow its own delegate allocation rules, NEWT GINGRICH WON FLORIDA!!!

Sit and spin on that, Jennifer Rubin!

[/end angry homocidal war cry]

Silverfiddle said...

I don't get how he won Florida since Romney beat him soundly there...

Joe Cameltoe said...

Jennifer Rubin is a Republican Race Traitor.

Jeff Lords for WHite House Press Secretary!

Jersey McJones said...

Silver,

When you finished your reply to me with "More government? You must be crazy..."

That is such a silly, parochial argument. Can't we talk about effective, efficient government? Why does it always have to be "big or small" with you guys? I'm sorry, but it's so arbitrary and pointless.

You said, "@ Jersey: Our energy, communication, education, police, war, and healthcare policies are draining us like giant leeches.

You are right. Federal intervention has totally botched these areas of our private lives. Government is an army of giant leeches. Glad you see that."

No, government is the vein on which the leeches are feeding.

What don't you understand about that?

"We have the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world that is ameliorated only by the swiss cheese of exemptions the rich and powerful purchase for themselves."

Blah, blah, blah. We also have the lowest top marginal personal income rates, so what are you saying? That the corporate tax is nothing but a scheme to offset taxes on consumers without having an outright sales or even a VAT tax, let a lone higher top income tax rates? Nooooo... You wouldn't be saying that, would you?

"The regulatory environment is really what is killing us,..."

Blah, blah, blah. Name a regulation you don't like. Then picture yourself at the bad end of that repeal. Do you feel smart now? NAME ALL THESE TERRIBLE REGULATIONS YOU SPEAK OF.

"...along with the capricious bureaucracy and Jefe Maximo Obama raiding guitar factories because the owners don't give generously enough to his campaign coffers."

Do you know anything about that story? Ever hear of Teddy Roosevelt? He's the President that signed that law. Here's a perfect example of "big" government, as you call it, doing something the American people want done - conserving the natural world. You don't know anything about that story, do you?

"More government? You must be crazy..."

Well, let's hope I'm as crazy as a "protected" fox.

JMJ

Anonymous said...

"Depressing and shallow. Like economics ..."

You MEANT to say, "like Tom Friedman", of course, didn't you?

~ FreeThinke

Finntann said...

Can't we talk about effective, efficient government?

Hmmm, wonder where we can find one.

Face it Jersey, you're bent over yelling MORE BABY MORE... and don't even realize it.

As to whether or not your crazy as a "protected" fox, I guess that all depends on whether Uncle Sam is wearing a condom.

Cheers!

Silverfiddle said...

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?selectedYearFrom=2011&page.go=Go

Read the constitution Jersey. Your federal government is in gross violation to the point our lives are literally not our own. If you are a company that does not pay money to both parties, you are toast. Ask Bill Gates.

Always On Watch said...

National Strategy? How about a low tax, low regulation environment where you can manufacture things again in this country without 200 government bureaucracies crawling up your ass? That's the strategy we need.

Regulations, particularly those that squash manufacturing, are the undoing of our economic system.

These regulations have crept up on us -- sometimes driven by crisis management (oil spills, for example).

And just who is regulating the regulators?

dmarks said...

Jersey said: "No, government is the vein on which the leeches are feeding. What don't you understand about that?"

The worst leeches by far are those in government.

"Name a regulation you don't like. Then picture yourself at the bad end of that repeal. Do you feel smart now? NAME ALL THESE TERRIBLE REGULATIONS YOU SPEAK OF."

OK, lets name some.

How about the regulations so many states have that bar insurance companies from offering services over state borders? Get rid of this. Restore competition to health care. Who is at the "Bad end" of this repeal? Insurance companies that do a lousy job at serving the public but get away with it because competition is outlawed.

Or the regulation which forces workers in many states to join unions whether or not it is in their interest? Get rid of it. Restore power to working people.

Who is at the "bad end" of this repeal? Union thus who get rich from stolen funds. Tough for them.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Say hello to my obsessed far-left homosexual stalker FJ, the humorless sock puppeteer.

Wave everyone!

No, don't point and laugh, he hates that.

Anonymous said...

Jersey is living proof -- IF we can believe what he says, which always seems dubious -- that some unfortunate beings' only capacity for sensual pleasure resides in their rectal cavity.

There would be no life at all for people of this sort if it weren't for their odd craving to experience a perpetual pain-in-the-ass.

It reminds me of the hoary old joke that made the rounds after Prince Philip, the Greek, married then-Princess Elizabeth:

On the eve of the Royal Wedding the Queen Mother took her daughter aside, and earnestly entreated the young princess not to accede to any request her future bridegroom might make for her to turn over in bed. "These Greeks, my dear, have a very unsavory reputation in matters of that sort, you know," said the mother.

The wedding, as all the world knows, went off splendidly, but the couple did not live happily ever after. Poor Elizabeth was so earnest and determined in taking her mother's advice that after a year of strained conjugal relations Prince Philip finally asked Elizabeth why she so adamantly refused to change her position in bed.

Elizabeth somewhat reluctantly told him of her mother's admonition.

Philip's response was tender and considerate.

"I understand, my dearest darling," he said, "but don't you ever want to have children?"

'Nuff said!

~ FreeThinke

Joe Cameltoe said...

Does anyone here know how many penises are in in Dali's Enigma? Why don't you tell everyone, beamish? According to you, there are at LEAST thirty... but let me warn others. If you're NOT as obsessed with penises as beamish is, you might not count THAT many.

Titan Uranus 2 said...

Hey, I didn't see ANY penises in that Dali painting. That beamish sure must be gay!

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

I see your wife still has two pussies, FJ.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Fellow Cracked Magazine fans, what we have in FJ is the last guy to find out that his hero Salvador Dali was queer.

It's traumatized him so.

Joe Cameltoe said...

My name is beamish, and I see penises EVERYwhere....

...but I'm NOT gay. REALLY!

Anonymous said...

Well, well, well!


Two things have become patently obvious on this thread -- and many other places as well no doubt:


To wit:


Some people get all their kicks from RECEIVING a pain-in-the-ass.


And some people are addicted to BEING a pain-in-the-ass.


A morbid preoccupation with contemporary American politics must be the cause.


Ain' it a shame?


Now, if only they could could get a room somewhere, by have a knock-down-drag-out-orgy, and get it out of their systems!


~ FreeThinke

Anonymous said...

By the way, it's time someone told you the plural of penis is PENES - pronounced PEA-KNEES.

If you're going to be inane, at least use correct grammar.

~ FT

Joe Cameltoe said...

Thanks FT, but inanity often lies in the eye of the beholder. Of course, some people can't see meanings beyond the imaginary PENISES (The penis (plural penises, penes). :)

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

The funny thing FT, is that FJ isn't going to stop until he's convinced everyone he's an imbecile.

He can't stand being disagreed with, see.

Inspector AIPac said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Inspector AIPac said...

I think it's pretty obvious that beamish and I are NOT quite through making the Republican Party safe for Mitt Romney, FreeThinke. Else we wouldn't be here commenting and talking up Newt, our RNC establishment's secret anti-Tea / anti-Ron Paul stalking horse.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Ah yes. My support for Newt Gingrich is really a secret Zionist plot to get Mitt Romney the nomination and you nailed us when we did MKULTRA mind control experiments on Ron Paul to make him disavow the racist smut he's unknowingly published over the last 30 years. Pretty soon, Ron Paul will have to take up sock puppetry to get away from himself as well. LOL

No no, guys, seriously, don't point and laugh at the desperately flailing homosexual stalker. It only makes him more angry and docile.

Joe Cameltoe said...

Hey, making the RNC safe for white people and males is what we do. Knocking all those disgusting minority "Tea Party" riff-raff candidates out of the contest wasn't exactly rocket science. All we had to do was pretend to be angrier at the Republican establishment (ourselves) than THEY were. And who could possibly serve as THAT vessel for anger better than Newt? All we had to do is get Sheldon & Miriam to kick in a $10 million side bet (and pay off a few ho's).

Mitt Romney is now Ronald Reagan's designated heir to the conservative movement. Isn't life wonderful, beamish? Hey beamish, lets go attack some more Paulites. he RNC won't be completely safe until we get rid of all those crazy Constitutionalists and Libertarians.

Joe Cameltoe said...

btw - Are you bringing Newt's race-baiting dog whistle to the Southern Super Tuesday primaries, or am I?

Joe Cameltoe said...

ps - Plan B is more than simply an abortoficant. :)

Speedy G said...

Here's a preview of Newt's Texas dogwhistle...

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

FJ,

I'm sorry the Republican primaries are still one person - one vote. Why don't you make the most of your Ron Paul sock puppetry in a Democrat primary in 2016? I mean, they're all convinced Ron Paul is a Constitutionalist and Libertarian, something Ron Paul can't even pull off in the Libertarian Party these days.

I've already addressed your nonsense. Let it go.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Why a far-left homosexual Naderite like yourself presumes to have any business trying to coach on conservatism in the first place is just farcical anyway.

Inspector AIPac said...

Don't you mean fusionists, beamish? After all, you even claim the Newt is Reagan's conservative heir.

Face facts, beamish, you're not even in the neocon camp except for your self professed joint love of Israel.

And given how you can't even keep sexuality straight, its' no wonder your so cornfuzed politically.

Now lets go brow beat some Paulites. I mean, if you can't beat up a REAL conservative, you're just not fuzing us to Romney Republicanism!

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Pointing out that half of my IQ still nearly doubles yours is getting boring, FJ. And your unrelenting homosexual crush on me is just weird.

It's true, I've never beat up a "REAL conservative."

But perhaps I should think better of slapping around far-left faggots like yourself, if they're all going to turn into desperate stalkers like you and your army of sock puppets.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Build a shrine to me already, loser.

Oh wait, you already have.

::shudders::

Joe Cameltoe said...

Bad examples (of those w/low moral character) are often more instructive than the reverse. :)