Comments by "Ficus-lovin\x27 Capybara N\x27 pals • 🌟 • 25 yrs ago" (@YourCapybaraAmigo_17yrsago) on "Why Do Poor Countries Stay Poor? (Unequal Exchange and Imperialism)" video.

@444-w8k hold up hoss.... Might doesn't make right. You need to resist the temptation to claim "it was all destined to be this way" or "this is the natural order", just because it happened this way. Might doesn't make Right - it just makes someone successful. Moght doesn't make it right to enslave someone, steal their land or resources, commit genocide, engage in settler-colonialism, or anything else. Somebody doesn't have the right to kill you and take all your personal belongings from your home just because he had a gun and you didn't. That's what laws are for. I don't deny these things happened and in some forms are still happening to a certain degree, I'm just saying they were wrong.
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I don't think it's this simple. Euros had guns and germs, that's what it came down too. Now if you want to say the guns made them strong, I guess so, but I say it was the guns that were strong, the euro colonizers just carried them. Plus let's not ignore that in Africa and the New World, white diseases killed up to 90% of the natives. So in reality, one could say the white viruses were strong, having evolved thru the black death and who knows what else. Between killer germs and guns, native people were hardly on equal footing. Still, could they not have banded together to use mass numbers to overthrow their occupiers??? It's a fair question. I'd wager there's a good answer to that altho I'm not fully informed right now on it. Either way, we have a decision to make going forward - to work together as equal partners all over the world for the common good of everyone, or continue to allow exploitation of the global South i.e. economic racism??? Should we seek global fair trade en route to a goal of eliminating global poverty?? Well yes of course, if you ask me. Fair trade empowers communities, but extractive capitalism only exploits them. It comes down to a difference of values and principles. I believe human beings are more important than a company's greed. I also know and believe we can manage the world's resources in an ethical and sustainable way that benefits everyone - but not under the current greed-first capitalist-only model.
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@444-w8k I'm all for considering any rational idea, but if you're suggesting that there's some inherent superior quality to white colonizers that the global south is missing, I can't agree with that. All I see is deadlier germs, better overall weapons, some organization, and an ability to be murderous or ruthless if deemed necessary or helpful. I'll respond in more detail later.
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Another great summary Hakim. We just need ONE strong Western country to demand that EQUAL ECONOMIC EXCHANGE is a human right. FAIR trade - not "free". Then all others can follow it's lead in due time. Who will be first??? Certainly not those bloodthirsty assholes in DC (I live in the US). Which Western govt will choose DECENCY and humane principles over exploitation for the global south????? Who in the West will be the first to declare that exploitative trade must end and reparations and fair trade must begin??? It seems China is at least making efforts in this regard, but no one yet in the West. How long until a western govt breaks with the US and all economic colonialism??
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@444-w8k well I do agree with you on that. And it is clear in the modern age those in so-called govt roles misuse and enjoy abusing their power all the damn time.
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Oddity yeah no doubt. It's too bad. The West owes a debt to the rest of the world. I believe global fair trade IS possible. I don't believe it's a pipe dream. But it takes the political will of more than one govt at a time and so far that hasn't happened yet. We're getting closer tho. I'm impressed with what I'm seeing with BRICS so far. Alternatives to neoliberalism are happening, a tiny bit at a time, which is very encouraging to see. I hope a lot of positive changes can continue to happen over the next 50 years.
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@wysanniksikondominium584 what does ur username say?
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@wysanniksikondominium584 oh I see. Thanks. Interesting.
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