Once in a while we see those people who stand outside of G8 meetings or WTO talks holding up signs saying "Say NO to globalisation". Well, let's see what their day would be like if they had their way:
Meet Jack, he's your average bloke with a wife and two kids, living a mediocre life in the suburbs. He gets up in the morning and heads over to make some breakfast. Hey look, the cereal he's eating costs him $20 a box because his country is a poor wheat grower. OK, how about some milk Jack? What? No milk? Oh that's right, because you live in Singapore there aren't enough dairy cows (if at all, I genuinely don't know) to produce the milk so you only get rationed 250mL per week.
OK Jack, time to get dressed. Oh, sorry, I forgot since there is no imports, you can't wear that beautiful Italian business suit, instead you've got to wear this $400 T-shirt because our country's labour costs are so high.
OK Jack, off to work. So what car will you drive? Your classy Merc? I don't think so. OK, just choose that Holden Commodore you've been driving around in for the past 20 years. Oh right, because you're now living in Australia, and we don't produce our own oil, you can't drive the thing to work. I guess you'll have to walk Jack. Yes, don't forget that your shoes cost $500 as well.
So it's lunch time, let's go eat, what will you eat today? Chinese food? Italian food? McDonalds? Sorry Jack, globalisation doesn't exist, there is no trade between countries because we might all lose our jobs to the Chinese. So just eat your burger...oh wait, we don't know how to make burgers because there is no trade in intellectual property and hence there is no recipe.
OK, time to get back to work Jack, what is it? You need to write up a report? Use MS Word! Oh, that's right, we don't live in America, we don't get that program. Well, better use the old type writer. Oops, Australia didn't invent the type writer, better just use some ochre and that tree bark.
Time to get home Jack. So you're tired, take a quick nap. What? Where's the bed? Well, IKEA doesn't exist here in China, so you'll just have to sleep on the floor. What? You want to watch TV? All the Japanese are enjoying watching television, but of course we can't buy them here in New Zealand, so we'll just have to watch those sheep instead.
It's been a long day Jack, time to help the kids with their homework. What? You don't know what 1 + 1 is? Oh that's right, the numbers system were not developed here in England, so that's why you don't know.
OK Jack, the kids are asleep, how about some time with the missus? Oh where is she? That's right, I forgot, mail order brides don't exist in a world without globalisation.
Too bad, Jack, really, that's just too bad.
NB: I do realise this is slightly exaggerated. I do realise that globalisation doesn't just mean trade. I also do realise that Jack lives in many countries.
Meet Jack, he's your average bloke with a wife and two kids, living a mediocre life in the suburbs. He gets up in the morning and heads over to make some breakfast. Hey look, the cereal he's eating costs him $20 a box because his country is a poor wheat grower. OK, how about some milk Jack? What? No milk? Oh that's right, because you live in Singapore there aren't enough dairy cows (if at all, I genuinely don't know) to produce the milk so you only get rationed 250mL per week.
OK Jack, time to get dressed. Oh, sorry, I forgot since there is no imports, you can't wear that beautiful Italian business suit, instead you've got to wear this $400 T-shirt because our country's labour costs are so high.
OK Jack, off to work. So what car will you drive? Your classy Merc? I don't think so. OK, just choose that Holden Commodore you've been driving around in for the past 20 years. Oh right, because you're now living in Australia, and we don't produce our own oil, you can't drive the thing to work. I guess you'll have to walk Jack. Yes, don't forget that your shoes cost $500 as well.
So it's lunch time, let's go eat, what will you eat today? Chinese food? Italian food? McDonalds? Sorry Jack, globalisation doesn't exist, there is no trade between countries because we might all lose our jobs to the Chinese. So just eat your burger...oh wait, we don't know how to make burgers because there is no trade in intellectual property and hence there is no recipe.
OK, time to get back to work Jack, what is it? You need to write up a report? Use MS Word! Oh, that's right, we don't live in America, we don't get that program. Well, better use the old type writer. Oops, Australia didn't invent the type writer, better just use some ochre and that tree bark.
Time to get home Jack. So you're tired, take a quick nap. What? Where's the bed? Well, IKEA doesn't exist here in China, so you'll just have to sleep on the floor. What? You want to watch TV? All the Japanese are enjoying watching television, but of course we can't buy them here in New Zealand, so we'll just have to watch those sheep instead.
It's been a long day Jack, time to help the kids with their homework. What? You don't know what 1 + 1 is? Oh that's right, the numbers system were not developed here in England, so that's why you don't know.
OK Jack, the kids are asleep, how about some time with the missus? Oh where is she? That's right, I forgot, mail order brides don't exist in a world without globalisation.
Too bad, Jack, really, that's just too bad.
NB: I do realise this is slightly exaggerated. I do realise that globalisation doesn't just mean trade. I also do realise that Jack lives in many countries.