See the companion overview:
Globalization: From Roots to Reckoning
This poem and its companion overview, are not an endorsement of any country’s economic and tradetactics. Rather, they address the Truth that un-repented hypocrisy, including in global trade and competition, often precedes personal, societal and national decline.
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We said, ‘World trade should be free, so come, let’s compete!’
Thus, we increased our ‘Globalization’ drumbeat.
With great zest and pride, all around the world we spread.
In our efforts to change profits to green, from red. 1
Wages and work conditions in our land,
Plus mounting environmental commands,
Squeezed our profits, and productivity.
So to leave, there was great proclivity!
Ahhh, Globalization, doesn’t it have a nice ring?
Academia and government, made it ‘sing’.
The world community soon caught the vibe,
But behind the scene, was it just …a bribe?
Ahhh, ‘foreign direct investment’, what all nations crave,
To help free their people, from poverty that enslaves.
And since our FDI was considered the best,
By our companies, nations desired to be blessed.
Capital, factories, jobs and much more.
Increasingly left America’s shores.
They were warmly welcomed in their new homes,
To produce cheaper goods, for folks back home.
They thrived from cheaper labor and friendly governments,
Whose investment packages had nice entitlements.
They encountered no angst about the environment,
But to create more jobs, they received encouragements.
‘From sea, to shining sea’, in America.
Most folks were enjoying their euphoria,
Demanding more, cheaper, better, etcetera—
A socio-economic myopia!
Years later, our eyes opened to decay within,
As the effects of capital flight then sunk in.
When factories shuttered, cities decayed.
We bemoaned the loss of good jobs and trades.
Yet Globalization thrived, with few ebbs in sight.
Our companies increased their economic might.
China learned the best from this global game,
And required local partners to be trained.
Backed by government subsidies,
These partners learned the ABCs.
We taught them our game, on their home court:
‘Partner, learn, innovate, grow, export.’
These partners’ subsequent innovations,
Triggered global markets inundations! 2
Back home, folks were even more thrilled,
Cheap goods helped inflation to chill.
Politico-cultural shifts,
Expanding global rival rifts,
And Chinese labor market pressures,
Signaled the time to seek …new pastures.
Thus, our companies could no longer compete!
Across Asia, other homes they did seek.
What lessons did they learn in China,
From their Globalization stigma??
Back home, pressures were also growing,
Over trade deficits we’re owing,
Job losses not recovered,
Capital flight belabored.
‘BRING THEM BACK HOME! Make America Great!
This has gone on too long! Much is as stake!’
In bully pulpits, we pounded lecterns,
It’s amazing how tables have now turned!!!
One president used more carrots than sticks,
To balance the books on free trade basics,
The next imposed ‘tariffs reciprocal’,
Some ill-conceived, with prospects recessional! 3
‘They’ve gotta pay!’
He screams, ‘Foul play!
FAIR trade, we now must demand,
For our workers and farmlands!’ 4
We’ve long rode and loved our ‘free Globalization’ waves.
Now, from fruits un-loved, by indignations …we’re enslaved! 5
To our hypocrisy, don’t think Heaven’s blind!
What we dished out, expect to receive in kind.
By human nature, this is guaranteed:
Nothing is fair! Freedom to sin, means greed!
No amount of bullying friends and foes,
Will appease much of our …‘Heaven-sent woes!’ 6
Without genuine repentance,
Heaven promises this judgment:
‘Whatever we sow, that we will reap.’
We now reap from those …we once called weak!!!
See the companion overview:
Globalization: From Roots to Reckoning
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1 Globalization was primarily fed by profit-seeking via access to China’s vast, untapped markets, cheaper labor than in the U.S., and relief from U.S. regulations, including those related to pollution.
2 Enabled by U.S. arrogance or shortsightedness.
3 Many Economists and Finance experts believe President Trump’s broad, ‘whole -country’ tariffs (rather than well-targeted, sector-specific tariffs), are ill-conceived and will likely lead to concurrent inflation and economic recession, i.e., stagflation.
4 A poetic summary of president Trump's rhetoric. Classic economic theory clearly proves it is generally consumers in countries imposing tariffs, who typically pay the explicit taxes that tariffs represent, not the companies in countries on which tariffs are levied. See: How Tariffs Work.
5 America’s economy depends very heavily on consumer spending, and consumers are addicted to low cost products from China and other Asia countries. This addiction triggers huge trade deficits, and restricts opportunities for American companies to compete. Though China has a much bigger population than America’s, its economy is not heavily dependent on consumer spending, but on mass production and export of very affordable products across the world. Thus, Chinese exports out-compete and crowd-out local industries across the world, leading many countries to cry foul and impose tariffs against its unfair trade practices. To get around these tariffs, Chinese companies transfer many factories to countries that do not have tariffs against China. Free or fair trade? You decide…
6 The Lord has iteratively promised, and demonstrated, one way or another, that without genuine repentance, in a time and manner of His choosing, whether in this or the next life, we will reap what we sow. Disbelieving that will not change His policy. Western corporations and companies loved Globalization’s free trade as long as it favored them. Now, they and their governments demand fair trade. My, my, how the ‘the shoe has shifted to the other foot’!
