Hi Marco,
MARCO:
<< Seen from outside, USA is the capital, and it is an
obvious consequence that America is always at our attention. Maybe you are
not
aware of that, but everyday all newspapers here have several articles
commenting
and discussing USA. More than the contrary, I think. That's why we feel
normal
to judge America's actions, and you seem surprised we do. Actually, as you
write, you are Americanizing the rest of the world without a thought.
ROG:
Yes, I agree, without even a thought. I do warn that the selections,
commentaries and excerpts that you get of America may be heavily influenced
by someone's agenda. This 'greed' thing, for example. I suspect it is as
much a matter of resentment and a way to dismiss American success than it is
anything real. It is easier to say "they are greedy" than to say "maybe they
do have a more vibrant social model".
MARCO:
Just a thing. The article I offered ends with: "The Left could learn from
America many things; but, for that, it should rethink itself
radically". This is the conclusion the (rightist) journalist comes to, but
I'm
not in complete agreement. Actually, saying that the left has to rethink
itself
in order to learn something, seems to be the same mistake the journalist
blames:
the dialectical synthesis of two diverging positions. IMHO the left should
search for newer innovative solutions, without losing its nature. In order to
give the individual "a possibly infinite horizon of chances", America has
chosen
the market as paradigm. It works, evidently, but it bears also a lot of
mistakes... the "recipe for resentment" you talk about. I'm well convinced
that
without a kicking left, this market-God America is offering risks to fall in
another dangerous fundamentalism.
ROG:
Despite my above concerns, I agree. There are lots of things not handled
well by markets, and the need for exceptionally subtle, yet effective
regulations, codes and systems to ensure the excesses of the market are
tamed. On the other hand, I suspect countries like France and other European
experiments into modified free enterprise are overly restricting their social
freedom, dynamicness and health. They are choking off economic vibrancy.
Time will tell, though I believe some cultures are more prone to
acknowledging failure and learning from mistakes than others.
Rog
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