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The "investment" would be in plague prevention, foreign education, and potential war prevention? So that tertiary services can be sold by members of the upper c
by rfrank 10y ago
The "investment" would be in plague prevention, foreign education, and potential war prevention? So that tertiary services can be sold by members of the upper class to citizens of the developing world? This seems like the sort of argument that strengthens Joe Middle America's nationalist sentiment, not alleviates it.
- _rpd 10y agoPlagues and wars don't respect national boundaries. Joe Middle America knows that it's his sons and daughters that would be on the front lines in a large war. Foreign education alleviates the environment of ignorance that allows fundamentalism and extremism to thrive, and also lowers population growth rates that threaten a wide variety of problems. Joe Middle America is almost certainly employed by an organization that provides tertiary services, or else high tech manufacturing that, again, requires wealthy, educated buyers. I'm not saying it's an easy sell. The mood in the developed world is definitely protectionist.
- rfrank 10y agoNone of those things immediately impact the number of dollars in his bank account, or his ability to move upward in the economy moving forward, so Joe doesn't care. "Joe, I know all of your anecdotal experience says quality of life has been declining for you and everyone you know since the 70's, but just go with it a little bit longer and it'll be ok. Check out this chart of global income levels. And this one of happiness in America. See, life is better. Just not for you."