Comments on: The World Is Flat (Part 1): Competition On Our Plateau http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/ reb•e•lu•tion (reb’el lu shen) n. a teenage rebellion against the low expectations of an ungodly culture. Mon, 6 Oct 2008 22:10:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Coco http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-229555 Tue, 20 May 2008 23:48:33 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-229555 Allison: A few comments about your last paragraph; I would dissagree with what you said about trading with China's being an essential way to build relationships with China's people. First, I want to take into veiw that many of the people in China who are making the products we buy, are being forced to work against their will. Many times, when citizens in China are arrested, for reasons like meeting in underground churches, they are used to make products in factories, without being paid. Kind of like slavery. It seems like trading with China and buying their products is encouraging that. It doesn't really seem like we are building relationships with the citizens of China, to me it more so seems that we are simply strengthening Chinese government. I also want to reccomend a book; "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn. It talks about Chinese government, etc. Again, these are just my thoughts and ideas. I haven't studied Chinese culture in an in-depth way at all, so I don't have any proof for my ideas. Just thoughts. -Coco B. Allison:
A few comments about your last paragraph; I would dissagree with what you said about trading with China’s being an essential way to build relationships with China’s people. First, I want to take into veiw that many of the people in China who are making the products we buy, are being forced to work against their will. Many times, when citizens in China are arrested, for reasons like meeting in underground churches, they are used to make products in factories, without being paid. Kind of like slavery. It seems like trading with China and buying their products is encouraging that. It doesn’t really seem like we are building relationships with the citizens of China, to me it more so seems that we are simply strengthening Chinese government.
I also want to reccomend a book; “Safely Home” by Randy Alcorn. It talks about Chinese government, etc.
Again, these are just my thoughts and ideas. I haven’t studied Chinese culture in an in-depth way at all, so I don’t have any proof for my ideas. Just thoughts.

-Coco B.

]]> by: Allison McCarty http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-183693 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:33:24 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-183693 Bobb: Although China has had problems with lead in the past, this has significantly diminished the reputation of their products. The free markets have been self-policing in that this downturn in reputation causes a downturn in demand, so that the businessmen and government have an incentive to fix the problem. Thus, despite international anarchy, or a lack of regulation and rule of law between nations, international trade is quite and increasingly safe. Additionally, although China is a human rights abuser, trading with them is an essential way to build a relationship with the nation and its people. We not only directly export a system of capitalist enterprise, or economic freedom, but our influence increases political freedom within the region. Such trends towards liberalization are evident in China. I, and many political science scholars, believe the country will no longer be Communist in a number of years. Bobb: Although China has had problems with lead in the past, this has significantly diminished the reputation of their products. The free markets have been self-policing in that this downturn in reputation causes a downturn in demand, so that the businessmen and government have an incentive to fix the problem. Thus, despite international anarchy, or a lack of regulation and rule of law between nations, international trade is quite and increasingly safe.

Additionally, although China is a human rights abuser, trading with them is an essential way to build a relationship with the nation and its people. We not only directly export a system of capitalist enterprise, or economic freedom, but our influence increases political freedom within the region. Such trends towards liberalization are evident in China. I, and many political science scholars, believe the country will no longer be Communist in a number of years.

]]> by: Allison McCarty http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-183689 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:16:32 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-183689 Yes, I'm ready- for the economic gain that will come from global economic development and competition. China (or another nation) may surpass the US someday, but another nation's skills and riches can benefit the US economy in absolute terms because of the principle of comparative advantage. Even if the US is inferior to the other nation in every conceivable area, it will still be beneficial for the totally superior nation to trade with the US (an inferior nation) so that it can gain wealth through specialization. Pretend that Lisa and Sue both grew up baking bread. Sue is a faster baker of better-tasting bread, producing $150 worth of bread a day, while Lisa is relatively slow and only produces decent-quality loaves, only worth $75 a day. However, Sue is also a talented actress. She can make $6000 a day working on the movie sets. What job should Sue focus on? Well, acting, of course. The opportunity cost of having to buy bread from a mediocre baker (Lisa) is well-justified by the benefit of her acting, a higher-profit career. In the same way, China's increased skills and riches should not be a problem for the USA. Of course, improving our economy is always a lofty goal. As they develop better goods and services more efficiently, we can import their improving products at a lower prices. As their citizens become wealthier, they can have more more money and expanded demand to buy our products. Yes, I’m ready- for the economic gain that will come from global economic development and competition.

China (or another nation) may surpass the US someday, but another nation’s skills and riches can benefit the US economy in absolute terms because of the principle of comparative advantage. Even if the US is inferior to the other nation in every conceivable area, it will still be beneficial for the totally superior nation to trade with the US (an inferior nation) so that it can gain wealth through specialization.

Pretend that Lisa and Sue both grew up baking bread. Sue is a faster baker of better-tasting bread, producing $150 worth of bread a day, while Lisa is relatively slow and only produces decent-quality loaves, only worth $75 a day. However, Sue is also a talented actress. She can make $6000 a day working on the movie sets.

What job should Sue focus on? Well, acting, of course. The opportunity cost of having to buy bread from a mediocre baker (Lisa) is well-justified by the benefit of her acting, a higher-profit career.

In the same way, China’s increased skills and riches should not be a problem for the USA. Of course, improving our economy is always a lofty goal. As they develop better goods and services more efficiently, we can import their improving products at a lower prices. As their citizens become wealthier, they can have more more money and expanded demand to buy our products.

]]> by: alycia http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-133639 Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:21:00 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-133639 In response to Bobb Banar, I would like to point out that it has only been in the recent years that China has began openning up to foreigners, in the name of progress. I would thus suggest that if your main motive were to further Christ's cause in this world, supporting the progress of developing countries like China IS the way to go. Coming from a country with close ties to China (Singapore), it has been nothing but encouraging to see the opportunities for spreading the word of God increase, with the increased accessibility to China. For example, Translation of the bible in Chinese and various other ethnic languages found in China have been able to make much progress in Recent years. Perhaps this is the chance for the gospel to reach the ends of the earth. Furthermore, throughout history, the persecution of the Church has often led to periods of revival, and i believe that China is ripe for such a period. What may seem detrimental to your country may in fact be part of God's plan to bring all the world to him. In response to Bobb Banar, I would like to point out that it has only been in the recent years that China has began openning up to foreigners, in the name of progress. I would thus suggest that if your main motive were to further Christ’s cause in this world, supporting the progress of developing countries like China IS the way to go. Coming from a country with close ties to China (Singapore), it has been nothing but encouraging to see the opportunities for spreading the word of God increase, with the increased accessibility to China. For example, Translation of the bible in Chinese and various other ethnic languages found in China have been able to make much progress in Recent years. Perhaps this is the chance for the gospel to reach the ends of the earth. Furthermore, throughout history, the persecution of the Church has often led to periods of revival, and i believe that China is ripe for such a period. What may seem detrimental to your country may in fact be part of God’s plan to bring all the world to him.

]]> by: Bobb Banar http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-125149 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:25:39 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-125149 I believe in free trade and other works of democracy. But the truth is, Americans are losing jobs because of the cheap labor that companies are finding in China, Malaysia and other countries around the world. Are their not enough companies in those countries to sustain a work force? The United States is now being plagued because of our reliance on foreign goods by shoddily-made Chinese products that may or may not be intentionally tainted with lead. We need to bring back our companies and buy American made goods whenver possible. National defense and consumer confidence and security are at stake when we consume massive amounts of Chinese made products. Not only that, but we are also financing a government that is the largest persecutor of Christians in the world. It was estimateds that in 1995, nearly 20% of the Chinese GDP went toward upgrading and modernizing the Chinese military. There is a little tid-bit to ponder. I believe in free trade and other works of democracy. But the truth is, Americans are losing jobs because of the cheap labor that companies are finding in China, Malaysia and other countries around the world. Are their not enough companies in those countries to sustain a work force? The United States is now being plagued because of our reliance on foreign goods by shoddily-made Chinese products that may or may not be intentionally tainted with lead. We need to bring back our companies and buy American made goods whenver possible. National defense and consumer confidence and security are at stake when we consume massive amounts of Chinese made products. Not only that, but we are also financing a government that is the largest persecutor of Christians in the world. It was estimateds that in 1995, nearly 20% of the Chinese GDP went toward upgrading and modernizing the Chinese military. There is a little tid-bit to ponder.

]]> by: Elisabeth Gruber http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-109806 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 01:23:59 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-109806 I think you did well, Brett, for this being your first post... but anyway, I guess it is good though that other countries are able to have access to medical stuff so that they can further their medical tequniques. Hopefully other countries won't follow too closely though in America's footsteps culturally (except in maybe democracy)...we [America, not including most of us Christians] kill babies and call it "woman's rights", accept homosexuality as a norm, and consider outright teenage rebellion as a "coming of age" thing to be expected... It is kind of annoying though that so many computer companies have computer help lines in other countries (like India) that dont speak English well... not because I dont like non-English countries , but because it is really hard to understand them because of the heavy accents. especially with such tedious stuff as computer malfunctions and whattnot. But if other countries are working harder than America, I think they deserve to succeed more than America (even though I live here)... and who knows? maybe that would be a good incentive for us to work harder, and not sit back lazily and expect the little "work fairy" to do it for us... ~Elisabeth J. Gruber I think you did well, Brett, for this being your first post…

but anyway, I guess it is good though that other countries are able to have access to medical stuff so that they can further their medical tequniques.

Hopefully other countries won’t follow too closely though in America’s footsteps culturally (except in maybe democracy)…we [America, not including most of us Christians] kill babies and call it “woman’s rights”, accept homosexuality as a norm, and consider outright teenage rebellion as a “coming of age” thing to be expected…

It is kind of annoying though that so many computer companies have computer help lines in other countries (like India) that dont speak English well… not because I dont like non-English countries , but because it is really hard to understand them because of the heavy accents. especially with such tedious stuff as computer malfunctions and whattnot.

But if other countries are working harder than America, I think they deserve to succeed more than America (even though I live here)… and who knows? maybe that would be a good incentive for us to work harder, and not sit back lazily and expect the little “work fairy” to do it for us…

~Elisabeth J. Gruber

]]> by: David Daniel http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-37127 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:46:51 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-37127 Why is this article on this web-site? There's nothing Christian in it at all. Why is this article on this web-site? There’s nothing Christian in it at all.

]]> by: Ruthie D http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-5470 Mon, 02 Oct 2006 08:36:25 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-5470 Thanks for your reply. Your point is clearer now. I think that unfortunately my country is perhaps following the lead of yours. We also are becoming complacent and sending jobs offshore. I apologise if I was harsh in my comments. America is a very influential country and at times I almost resent it. It frustrates me that people are so much like sheep, following the leader. Keep up the good work with your articles, they are excellent. Your Godly character shows through them and is encouraging. Thanks for your reply. Your point is clearer now. I think that unfortunately my country is perhaps following the lead of yours. We also are becoming complacent and sending jobs offshore.
I apologise if I was harsh in my comments. America is a very influential country and at times I almost resent it. It frustrates me that people are so much like sheep, following the leader.

Keep up the good work with your articles, they are excellent. Your Godly character shows through them and is encouraging.

]]> by: Brett Harris http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-5209 Fri, 29 Sep 2006 17:46:54 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-5209 <b>Ruthie:</b> I guarantee you that neither this post nor the book, \"The World Is Flat,\" on which it is based, are intended to imply that American is THE BEST country/culture. It is without question the strongest nation on earth, however, the purpose of this post (and series) is to show that other countries (including Australia) who are working harder than we are, deserve that title more than America. The whole point is that America has become complacent, unlike other countries. I apologize if this doesn\'t come through clearly enough for you, however, this was the very first post (and series) I ever wrote -- so I expect for there to be many deficiencies. Ruthie: I guarantee you that neither this post nor the book, \”The World Is Flat,\” on which it is based, are intended to imply that American is THE BEST country/culture. It is without question the strongest nation on earth, however, the purpose of this post (and series) is to show that other countries (including Australia) who are working harder than we are, deserve that title more than America. The whole point is that America has become complacent, unlike other countries.

I apologize if this doesn\’t come through clearly enough for you, however, this was the very first post (and series) I ever wrote — so I expect for there to be many deficiencies.

]]> by: Ruthie D http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-5186 Fri, 29 Sep 2006 13:18:19 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/03/the-world-is-flat-part-1-competition-on-our-plateau-3/#comment-5186 Since discovering your website I have been engaged by your writing. You show such maturity for men your age. However, I am disappointed with this article. Whether intended or not, the tone and message that came across is that America is THE BEST country/culture in the world, though unfortunately other "lesser" countries are catching up...the playing field is being leveled. Being an Australian I find that somewhat offensive. If you have never visited or lived here, I think you should do some more research before making broad statements about our quality of work in the past, present or future. And I dislike being labelled "inferior". The tone and attitude of your article is arrogant, and I am disappointed. Since discovering your website I have been engaged by your writing. You show such maturity for men your age. However, I am disappointed with this article. Whether intended or not, the tone and message that came across is that America is THE BEST country/culture in the world, though unfortunately other “lesser” countries are catching up…the playing field is being leveled.

Being an Australian I find that somewhat offensive. If you have never visited or lived here, I think you should do some more research before making broad statements about our quality of work in the past, present or future. And I dislike being labelled “inferior”.

The tone and attitude of your article is arrogant, and I am disappointed.

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