capitalist progress

[Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tom Kruse nicely emphasized that most remaining indigeneous people today
have been subject to enormous pressures.  They live in the less
hospitable regions; what traditional resources they had in the past have
been largely whittled away.  In desparate poverty, no wonder capitalist
commodities have an appeal.

While not indigeneous people, I think of the people who flock to work
near U.S. army bases.

Doug mentions the capitalist goodies -- antibiotics and the like.  In
truth, 25% of our medicines are lifted from those people without
compensation.  I see little evidence that many of them will be lifted
out of poverty.  Even in the heart of the U.S., Native Americans are
among the most impoverished peoples.  Casinos seem to be their "best"
hope at the moment -- to make a buck.

Probably the institution that gave these people their best shot at
integration into the capitalist world was the Catholic missionary school
-- with all of its obvious faults.

I very much appreciate how most people have approached this thread in a
non-doctrinaire way.  My God, I am even expanding my knowledge of
poetry.
--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 916-898-5321
E-Mail michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx