When did the cold war end?

[Zeroth]

Originally Posted by Smilehoe

The former is better, if most things can be operated under the free market system. That kind of world system sounds Utopian, where most people are civilized and rationale enough to know what is best for themselves and the community.

The second one, er... GDI, anyone?

Haha, GDI? That's just the new UN

I was thinking something like a Federation of all Nations of sorts.

Free trade might have its benefits, but uncompetitive countries and countries that rely on primary exports would be slightly disadvantaged.

[noriepie]

I don't think having open borders and free trade will turn the world into a unified world, because not all countries can be up to par with others like Zeroth mentioned. And also, if everybody starts doing free trade, and then there comes upon an economic crisis - like recently, and economic crises are bound to happen as these things revolve, then we can all end up in a horrible global depression.

I think by 'unified' is when the world communicates and tolerates a lot more. A bit like now, but more. Like we all have our differences, but we recognize that we are one together, a society, human, and all that stuff.

[chongkeat]

Seriously off-topic, but anyway....

I don't think having open borders and free trade will turn the world into a unified world, because not all countries can be up to par with others like Zeroth mentioned. And also, if everybody starts doing free trade, and then there comes upon an economic crisis - like recently, and economic crises are bound to happen as these things revolve, then we can all end up in a horrible global depression.

I agree with the free trade part, but open borders....
I think open borders would make it more efficient to travel around, with less red tape.
Just imagine if we need a passport to travel to other states in Malaysia. Terrible!

Of course, there are some security issues involved in unrestricted travel....

I think by 'unified' is when the world communicates and tolerates a lot more. A bit like now, but more. Like we all have our differences, but we recognize that we are one together, a society, human, and all that stuff.

An idealistic view, but I don't know....

[bluez_aspic]

Originally Posted by noriepie

And also, if everybody starts doing free trade, and then there comes upon an economic crisis - like recently, and economic crises are bound to happen as these things revolve, then we can all end up in a horrible global depression.

It is a myth that laissez-faire capitalism is responsible for the current crisis. Free markets and individual 'greed' have always been a convenient scapegoat for politicians - but the truth is that socialism/central planning has failed, and central banks and governments are the real villains who created the mess. If we do end up in a global depression, you can rest assured that they are the ones who created it too - only they have the power to cause massive systematic economic failures.

In response to the crisis, everyone seems to have decided to print out more money, advocate greater government spending, more regulation and bailouts. I don't understand why they are doing what they are doing - having short term fixes while ignoring long term consequences, addressing the symptoms but not the fundamental cause. The way things are going, we are being setup for an even greater economic crisis some years down the line - this would seem like a Sunday school picnic in comparison.