On worldeconomy and poverty...

I had this lively discussion about poverty and childlabour with A. With all respect to her feelings and opinions, but I can't help being amazed about such opinions. Not only expressed by her but by so many other white, middle class men and women of the western world.

As the world looks today I can't accept forbiding child-labour. It's a very selfish and naive view to think that we should prohibit poor, starving kids from working because they cannot have the standard of living of our kids. Mostly, many are critical of the working conditions of these poor kids. But I can't see how starving, homeless kids would have it any better on the streets. Okay, they work 12, 14 (and sometimes more hours) a day. But if they don't, would you pay for their antibiotics or food or clothes for their younger siblings? What are you afraid they will miss? Soccer practice?

I believe in free trade and I believe in that free trade and education is the answer to solving poverty. If you still wanna buy your Nike-sneakers, and at the same time are not willing to engage or even as a consumer by your free choice do something about these working conditions of children - then don't stand in the way of the development of these children and their countries. Don't let your bad conscience and guilt be an obstacle in their gaining of power, better life quality and eventually development.

I believe that when a kid today works he will gain experience and enough financial resources to be able to put his future kid through elementary school. This new generation will then have enough qualifications to have a better job and a slightly higher salary to be able to on one hand provide for next generations education up to maybe secondary highschool. But also, on the other hand provide for the elderly who gave him/her this chance. And the new generation might have a better chance at providing for their children to continue through higher education and then you have created a country that will develop and be independent of outer financial aid.
These educated generations will now know their rights, how the world looks like, demand for themselves better working conditions, better social security, will create and bring new technology to their countries and be able to allow investment on their conditions and so on.
Look at countries like India, China etc. They are now countries that play with the same conditions as any other developed countries in the world market. And they did it all by themselves all thanks to foreign investments in their countries and their willingness to allow and engage in free trade.

So, let the children work and instead of ruining their chances continue buying your Nike-sneakers and let them have a chance at buying the same one day. If you are not goin to engage in their struggle let them struggle alone, with a fair chance at actually getting somewhere.