3 ms·
Ask HN: Choice and Benefiting from Globalization
I’ve chosen through my education and career to participate in globalization and I have greatly benefited from it, both personally and monetarily.
For those that have not benefited from globalization or at least can’t see how they directly benefited from it, why are they or why do they perceive themselves to be in this situation? Did they chose not to participate or do they view themselves as not having the choice to participate?
I made choices along the way and I never felt I did not have a choice. Along the way I witnessed other people making choices in their life. Everyone has choices but they are limited by their means. But people can make choices that lead to an increase their means, which ultimately leads to an increase in their choices, and it builds.
On average everyone has benefited from globalization. Those that have benefited the most are surely the “silver spooners”. The next group to have benefited the most, of which I consider myself to be a part of, are those not descended from the “silver spooners” but who have chosen to actively participate.
Those who have benefited the least from globalization are generally (I admit there are cases for which individuals are prohibited or in capable of participating) those who have chosen not to actively participate. But they have passively participated by being caught up in the wave and they have benefited. They just don’t see it directly because human perception is relative. They look at their immediate neighbors and see people that are no better or worse off than them. And they see newcomers they do not relate to. And they see the greater benefits of the “silver spooners” and “active participants”.
If those who benefit greatly from globalization wish for it to continue, whether they be “silver spooners” or “active participants”, they must share more of their benefits with those who have benefited less, even if it is a result of their own choices.