The world is at a crossroads in its existence as war and a new kind of freedom are escalating between competing views of globalization and human rights. At times both sides are hard to understand unless you try and observe from an outside or alien position. The two sides or teams are the Globalization Team (GT) and the Working Stiffs Team (WST).

The GT live in a world of wealth and power. They see positive progress everywhere because from where they view the world government interference is weakening its hold on the rules and jewels of the people. The primary vehicle used by the GT is their support of key government policies that improve the lives of people everywhere by creating the financial and material wealth necessary to end poverty and protect the environment. Now an alien might say this sounds great but looking back over the last ten years no alien is able to see anything other than smoke rising off of the backs of the WST. In any other alien world the WST would be called slaves. These slaves or WST are resilient but an alien might wonder when they are going to realize that their key institutes and assets have been sold to the lowest bidder or are now missing in action or should I say inaction!

It should be noted that the GT see themselves as champions of the political process that erases the economic and political borders that hinder corporate expansion, eliminating the dictatorship of inefficient and intrusive public bureaucracies and unleashing the enormous innovation and wealth creating power of competition and private enterprise. A alien observer might suggest at this point that the GT spell out in their play book the meaning of privatization, deregulation, unrestricted movement of capital and free enterprise better so that the WST can play by their rules. Oh by the way, the WST has no capital to move around so a unrestricted movement of capital definition would have no relevance.

This game between the GT and WST has been brought to you in part by the sponsors of integration & conversion of national economies or environmentally & socially harmful export oriented production; promotion of hyper growth & unrestricted exploitation of the world’s resources; dramatically increased corporate concentration; undermining of national social, health & environmental programs; erosion of traditional powers & policies of democratic nations or states; global cultural homogenization & the intensive promotion of unbridled consumerism.

The WST has traditional tendencies for melodramatic summations and predictions but the reality in spite of what is perceived as irreconcilable differences between these two teams, is one of massive proportion. The WST are being woven together in a very fundamental way that provides power and prestige to the GT which will eventually enslave the WST. This phenomenon has exacerbated all of the WST’s existing problems including the deterioration of the standard of living world wide for masses. Most WST members now find the world too complex to contemplate as their suppressed animosities are emerging as friend against friend or neighbor against neighbor, escalating and extending out into hate against other religions or different cultures.

Perhaps the priorities of building vast military arsenals defending globalization should be directed at new avenues of development addressing issues like cross cultural understanding, socioeconomic inequalities and poverty. The world grows in knowledge and yet fragments in its wisdom as wide spread dissension creates extremism and its deadly brood of terrorism. A new view or set of rules to secure peace and eliminate the threat of any further violence is needed to level the playing field. This can only occur within a democracy which is the essence of peace and positive change. The post game analysis between the Global Team and the Working Stiffs Team might be as simple as; do unto others as they would do unto you!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Peace is not an abstract goal.

Humanity is synonymous with equality.

All of us need to break down the barriers of fear, mistrust and racial prejudice.

The cornerstones of civilization are tolerance, diversity, freedom and democracy.

Poverty is an epidemic and unless treated will eat away the fabric of any society.

Predators with unjust causes, exploit poor countries who battle for food & dignity.

Globalization undermines the safeguards for human rights, values & moral principles.