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I think a billion people out of poverty is a net win. Even if their government hasn't become as democratic as we hoped, the chances of it eventually becoming mo
by speleding 6y ago
I think a billion people out of poverty is a net win. Even if their government hasn't become as democratic as we hoped, the chances of it eventually becoming more democratic aren't much less than 20 years ago. If you only want to do business with democratic regimes you will likely hurt the poor people at the bottom more than the despots in power.
- RestlessMind 6y ago> I think a billion people out of poverty is a net win. On the loss side, we have allowed this despot regime to amass so much power (thanks to the economic growth) that they can take the following steps with impunity 1. ethnic cleansing of Uighur minorities 2. support of a rogue nuclear regime in North Korea 3. Subjugating more than a billion people with perpetual surveillance and authoritarian rule 4. Increasing risks of a strife with multiple neighbors - Japan (Senkaku), S. Korea (via N. Korea), Taiwan (claiming sovereignty), Vietnam (South China Sea) etc. It feels like a net loss to me.
- speleding 6y agoExcept for maybe that last point, I really don't see how having 1 billion people in misery is going to help. Do you have any better solution or would you just hope those regimes change by themselves eventually?