Indigenous political movements and multinational corp. wealth

[lostnfound]

Should U.S. military power be used to protect U.S. corporate assets in foreign countries?

What about being used to prevent unfavorable TAXATION on U.S. corporate facilities in foreign countries?

George Soros said "I can already discern the makings of the final crisis.... Indigenous political movements are likely to arise that will seek to expropriate the multinational corporations and recapture the 'national' wealth."

At least a few of our wars (aka "interventions") have been started to safeguard American corporate assets. In some cases, merely the threat of a TAX on exports (such as a bananas or oil) has been enough of an irritant to categorize a leader as "leftist" and prompt military action.

How would YOU resolve the conflict between property and people in other countries? I.e., what is ethical, and what is practical?

[Maple]

1. In the view of most of the world

that's the only reason the US even HAS a military.

[Fall_No_Further]

2. Caveat Emptor.

Corporations without the protection of the military must make the soundest business decision, and a part of that is doing business with countries that protect private property and individual initiative. In the corporate mindset, that means capitalist countries that do not impose high taxes or nationalize industries.

Deprive the corporations of military protection, and they will move their investments towards countries that are more stable, with proven track records, like America.

Promote free trade, take advantage of other countries mistakes, sounds pretty decent to me.

Oh, yes, if the seizure of American property could give the seizing country access to military technology, esp. that could be useful in making WMD, then I'd say go in and protect it.

[Maple]

4. You live in

and do business in other countries...you follow their laws, not yours.

If there was a Chinese company in the US, would you want the Chinese army showing up if you made a law they didn't like?

[Fall_No_Further]

6. What?

I intended to explicitly indicate that I didn't think the government should be involved in protecting American businesses in other countries, with the one exception of technologies with potential military application, esp. WMDs. The idea would be to let free trade teach countries with laws that punished businesses for investing in them a lesson.

How did my post indicate I FAVORED military application? Seriously, 'cause I must have REALLY mistated my position.

[Swede]

3. Before I was enlightened I wondered why all the protesters were

coming out at NAFTA,G8 and WTO meetings. The developed world is looting the developing world and sooner or later we will all regret that.

[lostnfound]

8. Me too; and that's well put! n/t

[Scott Lee]

5. This is the future, and why I don't believe capitalism will last

Dwindling resources, rising populations. That is the formula that will effectively, one day, end the growth potient necessary for capitalism to survive. It will give way to something, much like feudalism gave way to it.

And for what it's worth, Marx was entirely correct in noting that modern wars are fought over money (which translates into control of resources). The US military is correctly perceived by much of the world as little more than a mercenary force for big business. I wish it were the defense force it was intended to be from the beginning.

[SpiralHawk]

7. Indigenous thinking about globalization and related issues

is subtle, complex, and deep in many cases. It is worth researching. John Mohawk and Oren Lyons are two outstanding spokespeople from the North American indigenous communities, but there are many others.

One wee sample:
http://victoria.indymedia.org/news/2003/09/16848.php

"The list of threats to indigenous peoples and their lands is a lengthy one. People who are interested in a global view of indigenous peoples and development are advised to obtain the International Forum on Globalization’s map, "Globalization: Effects on Indigenous Peoples," which locates issues in North, Central and South America, Greenland, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific, and Australia.

"It is truly a monumental, if overdue, piece of work available online at http://www.ifg.org/programs/indig.htm. Although it is impossible in a short column to list more than a few resources, the Third World Network deserves mention (http://www.twnside.org.sg/) as well as its publication, Third World Resurgence, which is found at the same site. "