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What We Think, What They Think
Posted Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at 11:26 AM
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Americans have the tendency to only care about what we have to say about ourselves, our nation, and our economy.

It's useful from time-to-time to gain another perspective, though, by reading some newspapers abroad. For example, here's a link to what they're saying about the U.S. economy in the United Kingdom: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/useco... Other counties' perspectives of the U.S. will surely gain more importance to us as the U.S. economy becomes more tied to the global marketplace.

It also brings to mind that developing nations in the world could very well take huge leaps forward by jumping over steps in our own evolution of things.

(Think: telegraph => telephone => wireless & cellular)

As a nation, we have had to evolve through the various technological advances in telecommunications, expending vast amounts of capital and effort towards infrastructure to support these now archaic methods. Developing nations can jump right to cell towers and never have to install the vast amount of copper and fiber lines that we have had to develop.

Americans may have blazed the path, but still have the R&D bill to show for it.


Comments
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I just hope everyone is bracing themselves for the oncoming depression. I know I am stocking up on canned and dry food items. Maybe I will start filling up gallon jugs with water.

-- Posted by junkmail on Tue, Jul 29, 2008, at 12:41 PM

There is no reason AT ALL why we shouldn't have Fiber-optic communication right now. Unless you count the money-hungry companies and our government who helps them. We may have paved they way for R&D, but we are now too far in a political hole to get any use out of it. AT&T wants to keep you stuck with a 1024/256 ADSL internet connection, while in Japan you can get a home connection 1000 faster ( http://www.softbankbb.co.jp/en/news/pres... ) and if that's not enough, soon they will have the same speed on their cell phones ( http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-549609... )

It's not my fault the US is committing economic suicide through stupidity, but I sure as hell am trying hard not to be pulled down with it.

-- Posted by per moenia urbis on Tue, Jul 29, 2008, at 2:09 PM

Those developing countries are getting US foreign aid straight outta your taxpaying pocket. That's why they are getting all that new-faggled high speed connection technology. And then they use all the fast connections to send you emails at lightning speed telling you that you've won an enormous inheritance, but first you gotta send them some money.

-- Posted by Dairyman on Tue, Jul 29, 2008, at 7:33 PM

http://geography.about.com/od/lists/qt/t...

According to he Congressional Research Service, the following fifteen countries are the top recipients of U.S. Foreign Aid for fiscal year 2004, the most recent year of data available.

1) Iraq - $18.44 billion

2) Israel - $2.62 billion

3) Egypt - $1.87 billion

4) Afghanistan - $1.77 billion

5) Colombia - $570 million

6) Jordan - $560 million

7) Pakistan - $390 million

8) Liberia - $210 million

9) Peru - $170 million

10) Ethiopia - $160 million

11) Bolivia - $150 million

12) Turkey - $150 million

13) Uganda - $140 million

14) Sudan - $140 million

15) Indonesia - $130 million

Nope, no Nigeria ;)

-- Posted by per moenia urbis on Wed, Jul 30, 2008, at 7:18 AM

While searching for potential grants to benefit Linton-Stockton High School (because I am on a Community Support Committee), I accidentally came across a $300 million grant for education and training. I was elated!

When I began reading the grant information online, I realized that the entire amount was given to an organization called US Aid. That organization granted the money to the United States Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce for workers in that country to be trained.

Then I realized after spending time looking up information on the internet that there is a pipeline being built (in the middle eastern area). It would appear that the workers are being trained to be oil pipeline workers and other support like trucking, etc., for the oil industry. Imagine that.

-- Posted by Greenee on Wed, Jul 30, 2008, at 11:24 AM


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