The Hypocritical Globalization Contradiction

Every time I hear, “They stole our jobs!” from people in Western countries I cant help but feel bitter from the irony. Even worse is when people sympathize by saying things like,”Well this is America (or England or Australia, insert your pick there), these jobs belong to Americans.

This, from the countries that spearheaded the Globalization phenomenon? Who stole who’s jobs first? Who took over markets that the local population could not compete with? (I’m sure we’ll never see an Indian chain that can compete with McDonalds. Pepsi, Coke anyone?) Since the time India had decided that Globalization was the right path (which it was) countless cottage industries were destroyed in the process. The West planted the seeds of globalization, created a beast they couldn’t control and when it comes to bite them back they blame the rest of the world?

But that’s not the point. I’m not blaming the West, just revealing the hypocrisy. Globalization is synonymous with progress and competition. The moment you accept globalization, you also have to accept that that precious job you’re talking about belongs to anyone who deserves it. If you truly think that jobs belong to countrymen alone, then go move to North Korea, or live in a forest somewhere if you cant handle progress. Progress and competition go hand in hand. You cant have your cake and eat it at the same time.

Obama’s recent words encouraging kids to work harder as their competition are people from India and China is something I appreciate. He could have easily acted as the usual political demagogue, but he understands that competition is something that is never going to go away. Although I’m sure there will be even more people that take his words in the wrong way and will continue to blame the East for all their problems, hopefully a handful of people will understand that the West cannot rest on its laurels and is required to work like the rest of us.