Local entrepreneur heads back to Iraq

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.courier-tribune.com/nws/whitesell110603.html

Candy Whitesell, owner of 3Core Communications in Asheboro, is returning to Sulaimania and Erbil in Iraq with a laundry list of computers, school supplies and computer equipment. It's the second step in a mission that began for the Troy resident in April. It is also a follow-up to her first trip to the country on Aug. 10.

This journey is expected to keep Whitesell in Iraq until Dec. 3. This time, Whitesell is inviting area residents to come along with her - via the Internet.

<snip>

Whitesell said a company named Earth Walk has sent along a portal network server that will be tested at the universities on this trip.

Another company, Novi-tech, is providing a credit card scanning system to be used in a pilot system in a hotel in Erbil.

"If all goes well, there are 30 more (clients) waiting in the wings," said Whitesell.

<snip>

The vultures are circling.

[HighlyAcidic]

1. What

This kind of news is excellent for the people of Iraq. Why are you against entrepreneurship?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. Because I'm a left wing commie. Why are you for it?

Actually, I find it distasteful to make money off of the misfortune of others. That's being a vulture, not an entreprenuer.

[HighlyAcidic]

3. Hurray economics

When someone (say, an Iraqi citizen) makes a transaction with a merchant, he is making a cost/benefit decision - to exchange his money for the service or product he is buying. No one is forcing him to make it.

I'm sure Iraqis are happy they can now buy all sorts of things that were unavailable under Saddam (and because of sanctions) because there was no one selling them.

How would YOU have the Iraqi people purchase goods?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. The majority of the Iraqis are unemployed or working for $10.00

a day.

HOW are they supposed to buy things?

I guess it's fine to kick up plywoood prices in Fla. when there's a hurricane on the way? There's capitalism and then there's economic rape. Just because you can make money doing something does not make the endeavor righteous.

[HighlyAcidic]

5. Who's kicking up prices?

If the guy plans to sell anything in Iraq, obviously he's going to have to price his goods at a rate Iraqis can afford. If he does not, no one will buy them and he will go out of business. It's as simple as that.

Furthermore, his enterprise, like any other enterprise that is hopefully being developed in Iraq, will employ people, which will give them a wage, which then allows them to buy other goods, etc. This is how economies work.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

6. I didn't say that they were... but think about it, that is an expensive

trip, the goods cost the same, the Iraqi phone system is non-existant since we blew the shit out of it...

So, now, instead of helping an Iraqi start his own business back up and sell people phones and computer equipment to replace what we destroyed, we help Americans in an endeavor to keep the Iraqi shop owners down by sending over every Tom Dick and Harry who is going to be selling products made everywhere but here.

Sorry, IMHO, I think we ought to fix what we broke before we start setting up Starbucks and Blimpies on every corner.

[HighlyAcidic]

7. the free market works

The best way to fix Iraq is to allow the free market to develop as freely as possible.

How many cell phones, how much computer equipment is being manufactured in Iraq right now? None. Of course it's going to be imported. If this guy is shipping that stuff over there, there's a demand for it. And hopefully, if an Iraqi needs a computer to start his own business, he will be able to buy one and do so.

I like how you started out with "i'm a communist, fuck entrepreneurs" but are now saying "fuck american entrepreneurs, but iraqis can start business all they please."

But in a country so damaged by war, there isn't much capital for Iraqis to build anything themselves. Every little bit that is imported will help the country get back on its feet.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

8. But is it moral in this case? BTW, I didn't say fuck anything. Keep it

civil and read this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=646895

[SoCalDem]

9. George, Is that YOU???

You left out the phrase.. "a good or a service"..

FYI.. I have a friend who is Iraqi.. He IS there, and most of the "locals" are DIRT POOR.. They are scrambling to find FOOD.. The children actually wander across mined areas, to try and pick dates and figs, so they have csomething to eat.. "Most" of the poor areas still do not have electricity or reliable safe water..