Comments for Dust Off The Bookshelf http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com Walking through the literary world, one blog at a time. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:45:12 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Economic Snakes and Ladders by Dave http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/09/25/economic-snakes-and-ladders/#comment-102 Dave Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:45:12 +0000 http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/09/25/economic-snakes-and-ladders/#comment-102 A man is driving in his car when he crashes into a powerpole and is flung from his car, he now lies on the road injured. People begin to gather around and discuss how best to help the man who is hemorrhaging blood from his nose. While they are busy discussing what the best method of assistance is, the man dies. What is the moral of the story? Wear your seatbelt A man is driving in his car when he crashes into a powerpole and is flung from his car, he now lies on the road injured.

People begin to gather around and discuss how best to help the man who is hemorrhaging blood from his nose.

While they are busy discussing what the best method of assistance is, the man dies.

What is the moral of the story?

Wear your seatbelt

]]> Comment on An Invisible Divide by dave http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-101 dave Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:36:33 +0000 http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-101 I guess the most interesting aspect of your thought process is looking back 200 years everyone was poor. Well given the current shift in global economies it wouldnt be too much of a stretch to say that that time may yet come back. Stagflation for western economies generally means we as citizens and consumers are royally stuffed, cause no matter how we approach things the cost of surviving will be outpacing any potential growth we may get in our jobs, and that mixed with our debt ridden society the equalisation to debt netural will be incredibly painful for everyone! It all means we should get along better with one another to share the burden, as having wide seperation between have's and have not's is not beneficial to anyone. I guess the most interesting aspect of your thought process is looking back 200 years everyone was poor.
Well given the current shift in global economies it wouldnt be too much of a stretch to say that that time may yet come back.
Stagflation for western economies generally means we as citizens and consumers are royally stuffed, cause no matter how we approach things the cost of surviving will be outpacing any potential growth we may get in our jobs, and that mixed with our debt ridden society the equalisation to debt netural will be incredibly painful for everyone!

It all means we should get along better with one another to share the burden, as having wide seperation between have’s and have not’s is not beneficial to anyone.

]]> Comment on Economic Snakes and Ladders by sarah http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/09/25/economic-snakes-and-ladders/#comment-100 sarah Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:30:19 +0000 http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/09/25/economic-snakes-and-ladders/#comment-100 Good thoughts on a pressing topic! A couple of thoughts, it's important to put the "$1 a day" into context too, remembering that living costs are significantly lower in these countries. Not to say that $1 a day will healthily equip an individual (as we know health), however things are proportional to some degree...they are definitely poor by western standards, but they do get by, somehow! I'm slightly hesitant to accept the ideas around specialisation of business/employment for economic growth. A seemingly valid theory on paper, and there's definitely examples to back it up; an african who set up an 'american cookie shop' to enable those homesick missionaries and tourists (and rich locals) to consume a quick fix of sugar, has led to a successful business. Loopholes (or should I say demands) have been spotted and filled and become beneficial to both parties...although I think the demands are very specific and perhaps minimal, as many locals do not have the need for anything more than the mere basics...and at the cheapest price possible! (I speak of a couple of 3rd world african countries I've spent time in) Agriculturally, everyone is farming, everyone is trying to sell vegetables and fruit and rice, there is sooo much produce, more than there is demand for, so few actually succeed. But where to for them? Keep plodding on? A bad season striked and they have nothing to sell, no money, where do they go? Perhaps many don't have money to start anything other than farming... hmmm...also size of the country is a significant factor, smaller countries are more easily managed/organised and resources can be drawn upon more readily for a bigger picture success...larger countries with no infrustructure or form of development struggle to start from scratch!! Good thoughts on a pressing topic!
A couple of thoughts, it’s important to put the “$1 a day” into context too, remembering that living costs are significantly lower in these countries. Not to say that $1 a day will healthily equip an individual (as we know health), however things are proportional to some degree…they are definitely poor by western standards, but they do get by, somehow!

I’m slightly hesitant to accept the ideas around specialisation of business/employment for economic growth. A seemingly valid theory on paper, and there’s definitely examples to back it up; an african who set up an ‘american cookie shop’ to enable those homesick missionaries and tourists (and rich locals) to consume a quick fix of sugar, has led to a successful business. Loopholes (or should I say demands) have been spotted and filled and become beneficial to both parties…although I think the demands are very specific and perhaps minimal, as many locals do not have the need for anything more than the mere basics…and at the cheapest price possible!
(I speak of a couple of 3rd world african countries I’ve spent time in)
Agriculturally, everyone is farming, everyone is trying to sell vegetables and fruit and rice, there is sooo much produce, more than there is demand for, so few actually succeed. But where to for them? Keep plodding on? A bad season striked and they have nothing to sell, no money, where do they go? Perhaps many don’t have money to start anything other than farming…
hmmm…also size of the country is a significant factor, smaller countries are more easily managed/organised and resources can be drawn upon more readily for a bigger picture success…larger countries with no infrustructure or form of development struggle to start from scratch!!

]]> Comment on An Invisible Divide by andy http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-78 andy Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:04:05 +0000 http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-78 This is actually rose, i'm using my generous flatmate's comp. Thanks andy. Just a thought about your comment on the huge change in the western world since 1820 and how you mention that around 200 years ago everyone was poor. You seem to mean poor in materialistic terms of what we have today compared to what little they people had back then, and there certainly is a massive change. But i consider the people who lived 200 years ago to have a far richer community and they probably had minimal, if non-existent, suicide rates. When people are materialistically poor they need the community around them far more and that is were i consider true riches to exist. Just a thought. Rose This is actually rose, i’m using my generous flatmate’s comp. Thanks andy.

Just a thought about your comment on the huge change in the western world since 1820 and how you mention that around 200 years ago everyone was poor.

You seem to mean poor in materialistic terms of what we have today compared to what little they people had back then, and there certainly is a massive change. But i consider the people who lived 200 years ago to have a far richer community and they probably had minimal, if non-existent, suicide rates. When people are materialistically poor they need the community around them far more and that is were i consider true riches to exist.

Just a thought.

Rose

]]> Comment on BACKGROUND | The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs by Jasmine Blocker http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/09/06/the-end-of-poverty-by-jeffrey-sachs-background/#comment-77 Jasmine Blocker Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:06:43 +0000 http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/09/06/the-end-of-poverty-by-jeffrey-sachs-background/#comment-77 Sachs is a great economist indeed. However, his plans are just a bit too far fetched in many instances. For an alternative, and reality driven argument, read The White Man's Burden - by NYU economist William Easterly. Sachs is a great economist indeed. However, his plans are just a bit too far fetched in many instances. For an alternative, and reality driven argument, read The White Man’s Burden – by NYU economist William Easterly.

]]> Comment on The Bono Ultimatum by Will http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/the-bono-ultimatum/#comment-76 Will Sat, 24 Nov 2007 21:51:22 +0000 http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/the-bono-ultimatum/#comment-76 Hey Bro, Nice to see you blogging about these issues. 'End of Poverty' is a great book. I've got some others I can recommend if you're still keen when you're done with it. It's a good idea to read some material from non-economists who address poverty from a wider perspective than just economic growth (which definitely has it's place). You may enjoy reading this address by the Minister of Home and Cultural Affairs in Bhutan. http://www.gpiatlantic.org/conference/proceedings/thinley.htm It describes why his country has adopted Gross Domestic Happiness (GDH) as a measure of wellbeing rather than GDP. It's a fantastic read and one of the most astute commentaries on the failings of western culture I have ever read. Hey Bro,

Nice to see you blogging about these issues. ‘End of Poverty’ is a great book. I’ve got some others I can recommend if you’re still keen when you’re done with it. It’s a good idea to read some material from non-economists who address poverty from a wider perspective than just economic growth (which definitely has it’s place). You may enjoy reading this address by the Minister of Home and Cultural Affairs in Bhutan.

http://www.gpiatlantic.org/conference/proceedings/thinley.htm

It describes why his country has adopted Gross Domestic Happiness (GDH) as a measure of wellbeing rather than GDP. It’s a fantastic read and one of the most astute commentaries on the failings of western culture I have ever read.

]]> Comment on An Invisible Divide by Sarah http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-75 Sarah Thu, 15 Nov 2007 22:42:46 +0000 http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-75 Oh totally, I didn't mean to suggest that.. At the end of the day I reckon our world's probs can be traced simply (or complexly) to human nature and corruption. As a side point though, I do wonder if many of the "intellectual" discussions and ideas (that feature prominently at the high-level diplomatic relations) are in vain and have limited usefulness, other than to legitimise the acts of the powerful. But those comments are prob a bit random because I know that Sach's has many revolutionary ideas and (although its been a while since I've read his work) he is prob more of an activist than many others... Ya post got me a bit inspired about poverty! I'll try bring a more informed approach next time ;) Oh totally, I didn’t mean to suggest that.. At the end of the day I reckon our world’s probs can be traced simply (or complexly)
to human nature and corruption.

As a side point though, I do wonder if many of the “intellectual” discussions and ideas (that feature prominently at the high-level diplomatic relations) are in vain and have limited usefulness, other than to legitimise the acts of the powerful.

But those comments are prob a bit random because I know that Sach’s has many revolutionary ideas and (although its been a while since I’ve read his work) he is prob more of an activist than many others…

Ya post got me a bit inspired about poverty! I’ll try bring a more informed approach next time ;)

]]> Comment on An Invisible Divide by Elliot http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-72 Elliot Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:54:02 +0000 http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-72 Scotty - I guess, considering the microscale examples you gave, my first question is how in need are those that live just down the road from us in the relative luxury of the Goatshed? Though need is a tough thing to quantify, are we talking I've got a 60GB iPod and they've got a 30GB, or are we talking a daily struggle to put food on the table? If the latter, why do we not know about it? Or do we just choose not to listen? Sarah - I'm not sure I agree that the intellectuals of the world have a fix-it equation for the problems of the world. That would imply they also have a solution, but the present state of the world argues otherwise. Nonetheless, I'm interested to hear your thoughts on what the real root of the problem is. Scotty – I guess, considering the microscale examples you gave, my first question is how in need are those that live just down the road from us in the relative luxury of the Goatshed? Though need is a tough thing to quantify, are we talking I’ve got a 60GB iPod and they’ve got a 30GB, or are we talking a daily struggle to put food on the table? If the latter, why do we not know about it? Or do we just choose not to listen?

Sarah – I’m not sure I agree that the intellectuals of the world have a fix-it equation for the problems of the world. That would imply they also have a solution, but the present state of the world argues otherwise. Nonetheless, I’m interested to hear your thoughts on what the real root of the problem is.

]]> Comment on An Invisible Divide by Sarah http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-65 Sarah Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:54:56 +0000 http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-65 It's a possibility that the entire economic 'growth' paradigm that predominates in international relations, and through which we seek to resolve the dilemmas of our world... poverty and the host of other injustices, may be flawed. Does 'growth' really mean that we can all be happy, healthy and wealthy? Logic seems a little simpler that that. We buy, they don't; we buy for less, they eat less. I reckon the intellectuals of our world have created a complex fix-it equation that masks the real power dynamics going on! Still, more are getting poorer! It’s a possibility that the entire economic ‘growth’ paradigm that predominates in international relations, and through which we seek to resolve the dilemmas of our world… poverty and the host of other injustices, may be flawed.

Does ‘growth’ really mean that we can all be happy, healthy and wealthy? Logic seems a little simpler that that. We buy, they don’t; we buy for less, they eat less.

I reckon the intellectuals of our world have created a complex fix-it equation that masks the real power dynamics going on!

Still, more are getting poorer!

]]> Comment on An Invisible Divide by Scotty Donaldson http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-62 Scotty Donaldson Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:49:56 +0000 http://elliottaylor.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/an-invisible-divide/#comment-62 I am thinking that it is also relevant on a microscale in Wellington. Check out the process of gentrification where rich mobile middle/upper class couples are buying apartments and houses in Newtown, yet you have the slums of the Council Houses just around the corner. I was also aware of this in London. I went to Lords with a mate and we were an hour early for a tour so we went to find some lunch first. You think that Lords is an upper class rich man's place. You should've seen the dive of an area so close to the home of cricket. Similarly I stayed with my cousin in Leytonstone, East London (where David Beckham comes from). You feel uneasy walking the streets, you don't see many white people and there are heaps of incidents around the tube station. One tube stop (2minutes away) in Wanstead and there is open space, posh Brits and wide quiet streets. Don't get me started on social class. I did my third year human geography on the topic using Christchurch as a case study. I have a passion for it! University week long field trips are character building, but unlike our physical geography counterparts we had to go to towns and cities. I am thinking that it is also relevant on a microscale in Wellington. Check out the process of gentrification where rich mobile middle/upper class couples are buying apartments and houses in Newtown, yet you have the slums of the Council Houses just around the corner.

I was also aware of this in London. I went to Lords with a mate and we were an hour early for a tour so we went to find some lunch first. You think that Lords is an upper class rich man’s place. You should’ve seen the dive of an area so close to the home of cricket.

Similarly I stayed with my cousin in Leytonstone, East London (where David Beckham comes from). You feel uneasy walking the streets, you don’t see many white people and there are heaps of incidents around the tube station. One tube stop (2minutes away) in Wanstead and there is open space, posh Brits and wide quiet streets.

Don’t get me started on social class. I did my third year human geography on the topic using Christchurch as a case study. I have a passion for it! University week long field trips are character building, but unlike our physical geography counterparts we had to go to towns and cities.

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