Economics of Imperialism: I read an article months ago, about the economy of past European Imperialism. The author addressed how nations previously under imperial rule were far better off than they are now. Some how it seems that under their masters they were able to have a much higher standard of living and higher quality of life.
I am myself from Cuba, we came 3 times close to be a US state and for almost 400 years a Spanish colony. Now look what happened when we broke ties with the US and became a USSR satellite; my beautiful Island became a garbage place. The same thing in Africa, Latin America, USSR and in some Asian countries. Although nobody likes to be under imperial rule, what’s the point of being free if it means “poverty”.
It is estimated that 80% of countries previously colonies or satellites are now much worse off than they were before; and this is only economics, I am not talking about wars/civil wars, immigration and stuff like that.
Julio:
I am from Venezuela. Your country is the imperial ideologist of the ruler of my country, who always complains about the evil, decadent, Northern empire.
My country is the imperial supplier of goods & services at subsidized prices to your countries.
And both socialist-communist empires are now in an utter mess.
They have produced citizens such as you and I who spend their entire day writing in this forum to see if somehow we can change the tide during our lifetime.
Art transcends ideology.
http://mises.org/Community/blogs/ruben
Rubén: Julio: I am from Venezuela. Your country is the imperial ideologist of the ruler of my country, who always complains about the evil, decadent, Northern empire. My country is the imperial supplier of goods & services at subsidized prices to your countries. And both socialist-communist empires are now in an utter mess. They have produced citizens such as you and I who spend their entire day writing in this forum to see if somehow we can change the tide during our lifetime.
That makes us brothers my friend. I am very sad your country is under the influence under the same individual who has ruin us all. I hope we can sit together, cuban and venezuelan in a future where Castro and Chavez are no more.
What about trade policy? That's a huge factor. As in the imperial nation who previously colonized you has now embargoed you...is there more or less division of labor? is there more or less capital?
Cuba and Venezuela...socialist sovereignty vs. crony capitalist hegemony...who knows. neither situation could be described as economic freedom.
Check my blog, if you're a loser
"Trading nations seldom make war."
One of the reasons I like so much this forum is because I see North Americans who are not afraid to crticize their system. So I can criticize my Venezuelan system as well or Julio's Cuban one and we are all equal, humans of the Americas.
I wish the State Department lifted the Cuban embargo. It doesn't make any sense to me at this point in history. It is an anachronism.
Regarding Venezuela, I apologize on the name of many citizens from my country for the brutal expulsion from the country of the Honorable U.S. Ambassador. That does not reflect the friendship of the peoples of our countries starting from Francisco de Miranda back during the American Revolution, who was a close friend of George Washington.
I am outragred.
Sarah Palin just proposed imposing sanctions to Venezuela.
Why do I, my family or friends have to endure sanctions? Who is she to decide on my economic welfare? Many of my people are used to go and come back and forth to the Miami becsuse it is virtually a border country. There are about ten daily flights to Miami. It is our neighbor. It is absolute nonsense to start thinking of a war.
Chávez is so scared that his people will lose by a wide margin on the upcoming November local electrions that he is exaggerating his anti US rhetoric. And are Mc Cain and Palin so naive as to fall into his game? Chávez is so narcissistic that his wildest dream is to have his countrymen give their blood for a war on socialism against the empire.
Please, U.S. citizens, most of you have been friends of most Venezuelans for more than two hundred years, please do not fall on this trap.
Obama may have his shortcomings, but at least he is willing to listen to everyone. He is willing to listen to capitalists and communists.
Excuse me if I am endorsing a candidate of an election of a country of which I am not a citizen. But clearly this mentioning of sanctions activated all my mechanisms of self-defense and self-interest.
And above all, it would be so sad that a McCain presidency gives Chavez the pleasure of some sanctions he secretly wishes, because he wants the Venezuelan people to be poor and oppressed so that he can mould our thoughts easier than ever before.
I appreciate your deepest thoughts and considerations to this reality of the rest of the world being fed up with the current, specific style of US government.
Rubén: I am outragred. Sarah Palin just proposed imposing sanctions to Venezuela. Why do I, my family or friends have to endure sanctions? Who is she to decide on my economic welfare? Many of my people are used to go and come back and forth to the Miami becsuse it is virtually a border country. There are about ten daily flights to Miami. It is our neighbor. It is absolute nonsense to start thinking of a war. Chávez is so scared that his people will lose by a wide margin on the upcoming November local electrions that he is exaggerating his anti US rhetoric. And are Mc Cain and Palin so naive as to fall into his game? Chávez is so narcissistic that his wildest dream is to have his countrymen give their blood for a war on socialism against the empire. Please, U.S. citizens, most of you have been friends of most Venezuelans for more than two hundred years, please do not fall on this trap. Obama may have his shortcomings, but at least he is willing to listen to everyone. He is willing to listen to capitalists and communists. Excuse me if I am endorsing a candidate of an election of a country of which I am not a citizen. But clearly this mentioning of sanctions activated all my mechanisms of self-defense and self-interest. And above all, it would be so sad that a McCain presidency gives Chavez the pleasure of some sanctions he secretly wishes, because he wants the Venezuelan people to be poor and oppressed so that he can mould our thoughts easier than ever before. I appreciate your deepest thoughts and considerations to this reality of the rest of the world being fed up with the current, specific style of US government.
The cuban people have been enduring sanctions from Fidel Castro and from Washington for 50 yrs. It has brought misery, ruin in a socio-economic scale. The only scape has been to leave the country mostly to the US. I just hope Venezuela's trajedy is not as long as ours. Or......................